“Because while it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single Muslim man must be in want of a wife, there's an even greater truth: To his Indian mother, his own inclinations are of secondary importance.”

For the April Birmingham Public Library Diversity Reading Challenge, I picked a few books to read that I thought would be fun – the first one being Ayesha At Last by Uzma Jalaluddin. And while it’s described as a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, the reader won’t be bored with a repeat of the original. There are definitely some unexpected twists and, more importantly, since Ayesha is a person of color with a Muslim heritage living in Canada (like the author herself!), we get a P&P retelling from a different perspective. Ayesha is a poet, teacher, and as her family likes to point out, a spinster, struggling with the expectations she has for herself and the ones that her family has for her. Many of the conflicts in this book touch on matters that women feel conflicted about in our modern world, which is why this retelling connects with me in a new way. While Khalid may not have surpassed the beloved Mr. Darcy, in my opinion, the characters are wonderfully created, and the story of love and growth in this novel is beautiful.

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of #AyeshaAtLast

I've read a couple of Pride and Prejudice retellings in my day, but I'll be honest and say I haven't actually made it through the original (don't hate me - it's one of those books I always mean to read and then just...don't. But I've seen all versions of the movie!). The great thing about Ayesha at Last is that your relationship to Pride and Prejudice really doesn't matter. You can see the connections if you're looking for them, but more than that it's just a great story.

Ayesha Shamsi lives in Canada and is working as teacher even though she has dreams of being a poet. Then there's Khalid, who Ayesha hates pretty much immediately, despite his manly shoulders and hard-to-not-look-at-face. Or wait...does she like him? No, he's too judgemental....Or is he? Either way, it turns out he's marrying Hafsa - Ayesha's cousin, so Ayesha needs to just get over it. Hafsa is younger than Ayesha - something Ayesha and us readers are constantly reminded of - but she's already had marriage proposals aplenty. Khalid's is just a drop in the bucket until his mother decides to intervene...

This story provides a great window into the inner workings of Muslim communities and the author skillfully explores the complexities of family relationships and how to deal with staying true to your personal beliefs while you're being pushed and pulled from all sides. She portrayed the many challenges faced by immigrants today in a way that keeps you engaged and also enraged. Khalid's discrimination at work was particularly rage-inducing, but I'm sure situations like it happen all too often.

Around 75% into the book, things started to drag a little. It was still enjoyable, but I was starting to become impatient to have all the drama end already. It almost seemed as if there were too many points of drama - Hafsa, Tarek, Farzana, Zareena - it was a lot! But the ending wrapped everything up perfectly. I have faith that Khalid and Ayesha are happily abroad writing poems and cooking together. And that their wedding was drama-free!

OMG this book was everything. and it will be featured in my summer guide next month.

Even though I was expecting a retelling of Pride and Prejudice this story transported me to a different world. I loved Khalid's journey as he finds love in Ayesha and discover new things about himself. I loved how religion was so prominent in this story. I felt like I learned more about things that I didn't know about.

One thing that I found unique about this book is that we got Claire's POV when it comes to Khalid workplace situation. It added a layer of depth to the story.

I loved that the romance was a slow burn and it was a tone of hate to lovers. Those are some of my favorite romances.

Thank you Berkeley for letting me read this book. I will post an in depth review and will feature this book in the Summer Guide next month on What to Read Next Blog.

I thought this book was an interesting take on Pride and Prejudice (more or less) - enjoyable and unique insight into the Muslim community.

Any time something is described as a modern-day Pride and Prejudice I'm in! This will not disappoint, just read it!

Ayesha at Last is likely one of the better Pride and Prejudice retellings I’ve read. Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE Pride and Prejudice. But it’s been retold so many times that often retellings can be super predictable. And a little boring. However, with this infusion of traditional South Asian Muslim culture into Austen’s classic, this reimagining felt very original and new.

I was thoroughly charmed by Uzma Jalaluddin’s debut but it’s certainly much more than a light and fluffy Pride and Prejducie story. Uzma doesn’t shy a way from pulling the curtain back on the discrimination many Muslims face living in Western cultures. She does a great job revealing how anti-Muslim attitudes are so harmful to so many undeserving people.

Ayesha at Last is set to release this June and you can pre-order it now. It’s sweet and timely and you should absolutely give this a read! Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

A lot of things about this book were over the top for me. Khalid is a devote Muslim. So devote that he does not believe in even touching a woman, even shaking her hand. His mother is manipulative and would rather see her son marry someone he does not love than someone beneath his status. His boss lived in Saudi Arabia and has preconceived bias against all Muslims so is out to get him. Each situation by itself is believable but they just kept piling on top of each other. I had had enough when Khalid attends an AA meeting in support of a coworker. Khalid is approached by someone at the meeting assuming he is there for himself. The person asks him "Do you drink because you're angry at the United States and their foreign policy?" Khalid doesn't take offense at the question he just tries to explain that he is not an alcoholic. It was just too much for me.

I didn't know I needed a modern day Muslim re-telling of Pride and Prejudice, but I did. I really did.

Ayesha has recently completed her teaching credential and got her first job substitute teaching at a local high school. Her large and overly involved Muslim family have decided that if she won't let them arrange a marriage for her, at least teaching is a better career than her true passion as a poet.
Khalid is a devout Muslim man who works with Ayesha's best friend and is anxiously awaiting the day his mother picks his wife. When he and Ayesha meet they hate each other. And then they don't...and then they do again...and then they don't. It's better than I'm making it sound, I swear.

Setting aside the fact that I spent way too much money ordering copious amounts of Indian take-out while reading Ayesha at Last (because the cravings were real) this was easily one of my favorite reads of the year.

I really enjoyed this one. Muslim rom-com with clear hints at feminism and the tensions caused by expectations of religion and culture, and how that intersects with current Millenial life. I appreciated that it wasn't too mushy, and I appreciated that it didn't resort to physicality that normal romance does. Strong female characters don't bend the knee to the men in their lives, and by extension, the men in the story interact and learn from the women. I was pleasantly drawn in and would absolutely love to recommend this to any reader, whether a romance lover, fellow Muslim, and anyone wanting humorous insight into a version of Islam that is beautiful and relevant.

I haven't read it yet but I was so excited about it that I purchased the UK version of it from Book Depository!

An enjoyable retelling of a classic. The story was familiar, but the characters and setting were brand new.

Ah! So good! This is something you will not want to put down! I'm loving how diverse these books are getting, it's so refreshing. Being from Canada, this has already been published, but for one reason or another, I have never picked it up. When I was available here, I knew I needed to read it and it did not disappoint!

Great take on pride and prejudice without having to stick to the original in ways that would confine current story. Funny and insightful. Great for non-romance readers.

If you love Pride and Prejudice, this is the book for you! A familiar, nostalgic feeling story with a modern twist. 6/10 stars

A lovely, diverse retelling of Pride and Prejudice that Jane Austen would be proud of. What I love about this retelling is that it has the romance, but addresses gender, class, racism, and religion in a sharp and clever way. It's modern and contemporary, but matches the old-fashioned feel of Austen style courtship, which was totally refreshing. Jalaluddin is definitely one to watch.

Ayesha at Last is a Muslim own-voices retelling of Pride and Prejudice, and begins with a clever restatement of Austen’s famous opening line: "Because while it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single Muslim man must be in want of a wife, there's an even greater truth:To his Indian mother, his own inclinations are of secondary importance.”

This P&P re-telling is set in Scarborough, ON in a South Asian Muslim community. In a rare turn of events in Islamophobic modern times, the hero, Khalid is a practicing conversation Muslim. It’s nice to see those who faithfully practice their religion faithfully viewed in a favorable light rather than as token Muslims or terrorists. Khalid wears a thobe and a skullcap and hasn’t cut his beard in years. He believes in chastity and believes his mother will find him an appropriate wife. Ayesha, the heroine, is aging out of the marriage market at age 27. Her mother has encouraged to be independent, so she isn’t certain she wants an arranged marriage—or marriage at all. These two butt heads immediately as they each make snap decisions about the other.

As this is a retelling, there’s no need to summarize the plot or to worry about spoilers—everyone P&P knows the story. The hero and heroine eventually redeem their impulsive first opinions about each other and fall in love.

I enjoyed Uzma Jalaluddin’s deft way at revealing Islamophobic sentiments and anti-Muslim discrimination in the work place and in schools. Overall, a cute book that also provides an important service: reinforcing that humans are more alike than different.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I cannot even begin to tell you how many adaptations of Pride and Prejudice I've read. I'm a complete sucker for them. From the superficial where Darcy is a pole dance teacher to the time traveling and more. Lately, I've seen this trend of Pride and Prejudice being adapted to different cultures and it's fascinating to see how each author works the elements around.
This book? This is the top of the pile. This is the example of how to take the most important elements of a classic story, update them, and weave your own culture into the story. I have not read many books involving Muslim culture and these days, most entertainment does not give it a fair chance. This story gives it more than a fair chance. It is rich in tradition with arranged marriages, faith, family loyalty, and more. We're given different sides to the culture with Khalid being more extreme and to the letter and Ayesha being more relaxed about it all. Plus, how often are Muslims portrayed in romantic comedies with happy endings?
When I first started this book, I was in the 3 star range because it takes its time to build its foundation. Khalid has a lot on his place and his new boss, Sheila, is out to make it worse with her racist views. I was ready to slap her within 2 pages of meeting her. That's when I knew I was hitting 4 star territory. Khalid is meek and afraid to step out of line in the beginning. His growth throughout the book is one of my favorite parts. He's able to experience so much with the help of friends. Ayesha is a great contrast to him and the way they butt heads in the beginning is classic. Their banter and their conversations are top notch. There's a classic misunderstanding that was making me yell at the book so I knew this was going to be good. Everything got better from there. Some characters from Pride and Prejudice are not really featured in this and I think that's for the better. Others are just heightened by Uzma's writing, which is incredible. She takes some time to do it but she sucks you in and you start devouring this book halfway through. The drama only got better and better as the story went on. This is a rich adaptation of Pride and Prejudice that will leave nobody disappointed.

Ayesha at Last was a book I just couldn't wait to get my hands on to because:
a) Look at that gorgeous cover!
b) P&P retelling!
c) Brown people falling in love!
d) Did I mention, the gorgeous cover?????
I'm so happy that Ayesha at Last hit all the right notes for me. It was such a gorgeously written debut and I, for one, can't wait to see what Uzma comes up with next!

Ayesha at Last was charming from start to finish, and a lot of it has to do with the characters. I adored each and every one of them. They will seem very familiar to readers who have read or watched Pride & Prejudice, but Uzma Jalaluddin still manages to make them across as fresh and delightful. I adored Ayesha. She was feisty, smart and very bull-headed, exactly like Lizzie Bennett. She had dreams and hopes of being a poet and was very passionate about the art. A misunderstanding at the local mosque pushes Ayesha to take the identity of her colorful cousin, Hafsah, and to be forced in the proximity of Khalid, a man she had previously met at a poetry lounge who had made assumptions about the kind of Muslim girl she was. Khalid, at first glance, may not seem anything like Ayesha. He was very devout and conservative and as a result, seemed a little quiet and stoic. To say that I loved Khalid would be a serious understatement. He may have initially judged Ayesha when he first met her, but he was such a kind soul. There was something very genuine and innocent about his character that I could not resist.

Ayesha and Khalid's romance was one that was developed slowly. I loved watching them gradually connect with each other and become acquainted with each others' real personalities. They meshed beautifully together and there were so many heartwarming and adorable scenes the two shared. These two certainly had my shipper heart very giddy! Admittedly, this isn't a romance novel that has any physical scenes of any kind between the couple, but that does not mean there is no sense of intimacy between the pair. In fact, I think the lack of actual physical scenes made Ayesha and Khalid's romance all the more intense for me. They both had a lot to overcome and their path to a happily ever after was far from without any obstacles. If you know anything about dramatic brown families, then you know exactly the sort of upheavals to expect with this book. I was delighted though so many of the faces were familiar. I especially adored Ayesha's grandparents, who were just breaths of fresh air. I also loved how rich in culture Ayesha at Last was. You see so much of both Ayesha and Khalid's traditions throughout the book. In particular, I was pleased with how Uzma Jalaluddin showed just how diverse and sometimes personal religion and faith can be to people. You see all shades of Muslims in this book and no one is villainized.

Ayesha at Last is definitely a book whose interior is just as lovely as the exterior. It was a beautiful and important tale of love, family, faith, and life, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

This was the sweet Muslim romantic comedy retelling of pride and prejudice I didn’t know i needed!!

Oh my god I loved this so much. I’ve never read anything like this before. I learned so much about Muslim culture and it was so entertaining but also heartbreaking at times with the racial bias from others and even people in their community.

This was just so good. 5/5 would recommend.

I am an Indian, someone whose family is originally from Hyderabad, and who is of marriageable age.

Even I found many, many things to learn while reading this book. I can't speak to the immense value that this book adds in terms of valuing and understanding the spectrum of Islamic beliefs, and how those beliefs tie into society. As a fellow Indian, there were so many beautiful things that overlapped and reminded me of home...and as a Hindu, there was so much to learn.

Uzma Jalaluddin weaves a masterful story of two twenty-somethings who question the way they grew up, their values and who they are as they fall for each other. Each character has depth and logic, and you feel for those who wear a hijab, niqab, or any other religious wear as they're discriminated in society and face microaggressions...and it challenges your own beliefs too.

I wish my rambly review made more sense but I'm still in awe of this book and sorting out how to express what I feel. I'll be writing a review on my blog when I let the greatness sink in.