I had a fun time reading this book. I've read quite a few of @yesimhotinthis comics. I've enjoyed them and literally laughed out loud at some. So when I saw eARC of this book I made sure to read it as soon as possible. I wasn't disappointed.

The book starts with a list of common Arabic terms that everyone might not know in advance. As a hijabi myself, I could relate to many of the incidents. The book is not just humorous, it also busts some preconceived notions about hijabis and Muslims at the same time. Even serious matters are portrayed hilariously that I just couldn't help myself laughing out loud.

The book is about how Huda (the author) meets her husband and marries him. She navigates through mismatched suitors, gossiping aunties, and societal expectations for Muslim women hilariously. The illustrations are perfect. It's a short and sweet read which you can finish in one sitting.

My Rating: 4/5

Thank you to Netgalley and Andrew McMeel Publishing for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Excuse me while I squeal because I absolutely adored this comic book and I have already read it several times and oh my god I cannot wait for me to get a physical copy so I can appreciate all the art even more! This book has already become one of my favourite reads of the year.

I am going to fangirl several times throughout this review. You have been warned!

I absolutely adore Huda’s comics on Instagram and her first book Yes, I’m Hot in This was so funny and relatable that as soon as she announced this book I pre-ordered so fast! Then I saw it on netgalley and literally squealed with joy! This book is hilarious and adorable and so relatable and I cannot even begin to coherently express how much I loved this book! Also the clarification about her hijab at the beginning had me giggling because wow I have dealt with these questions for so many years.

Huda starts her book with her own twist on the iconic line from Pride and Prejudice and I just about died. Pride and Prejudice is one of my favourite books and any reference to it has me squealing! They are even wearing clothes that are reminiscent of the clothes the sisters wear in Pride and Prejudice and I just loved it all so much! I also loved how she doesn’t shy away from saying that actually when she saw her now husband she thought he was cute because we all do even though the Asian aunties would probably have a stroke if they ever found out!

I loved how Huda included all the etiquettes and Islamic rulings on interactions between genders but not in a preachy way, it was light hearted and fun to read and honestly can we all be taught this way instead of the popular fire and brimstone method. Reading about the different suitors was so hilarious and cringe worthy because I also experienced this and the sheer horror of being interrogated by his family and trying to talk to the guy you may end up marrying without 50 people trying to listen into the conversation.

The comparisons between Pride and Prejudice and Islamic courtship was so much fun to read and so true! (Maybe that’s why I love it so much hmm) Jane bint Austen had me cackling and honestly I just loved the Austen inspired clothes throughout the story too.

I loved how she incorporated seeing the red flags and that we deserve better than a man who won’t respect and appreciate us. It’s something that is so important yet rarely discussed in these situations. I loved reading about how she focused on herself and it was so relatable and attending the Islamic studies conferences which is something me and my friends did a lot in our twenties.

When I read bout her wedding and how Huda walked in doing her own zaghrouta I just sat there thinking wow I wish I had, had the guts to have more fun on my wedding! I also need to mention how absolutely adorable I find Huda and Gehad in the comics and they honestly remind me of me and my husband and how we are with each other. It was just so lovely to read.

Also special mention goes to Huda’s mum who I absolutely love in the comics and it totally reminded me of the women in my family who had to constantly tell me to “behave like a bride” on my wedding and I gleefully ignored them.

This whole book is hilarious and yet still filled with important themes which Huda never shy’s away from discussing and she written them in such a way that they balanced so well with the lighter funnier parts. I loved this from the first page to the very end. It was exactly the type of book I had hoped for when I started and honestly this is a book that I will read repeatedly because I jist love it so much.

I have actually already read it twice and I fully intend to read it several more times this year. It’s a book that you can read it again and again never tire of it. Everyone please do yourselves a favour and go and read this book and also go read her first book and check out her comics on her social media. You will not regret it!

//"I'm wearing pants on my wedding day!"
"You wouldn't dare."
*on the slab of her mom's grave*
-Her Daughter Got Married In Pants-//

I relate to this quote from the book on the deepest level of my core. I will not be able to thank Andrews McMeel enough for this e-arc through NetGalley!

Reading this book was pure joy as Huda explores her religion's take on courtship and love in the 21st century, where arranged marriages are non-existent on a major scale. As I come from a society where arranged marriages are respectful and regarded as the only true mean of marriage, most of this felt relatable and vocalised! Even though this book revolves around the topic of arranged marriages, it also deals with Huda's journey into discovering self-worth, self-growth and self-love. It also explores her relationship with her mother, her parent's marriage and their skill in weeding out the bad suitors.
Huda has brought in comparisons from Jane Austen by adapting Austen's essence and it just makes this read so much more fun! The illustrations accompanied are humorous and super-cute! I will never be able to get enough of them!
As totally adorable and informative, this read is truly joyous and is very necessary for today's evolving cultural climate for bringing the balance between the traditions and independent choice.

I screamed, "You go girl!" when I read the acknowledgements. This is one of the best quick read I have had recently! I enjoyed this and I assure anyone who picks this up will...

Rating: 5/5

This is a sweet memoir that starts with Huda’s childhood her introduction to Muslim courtship customs and ends with her marriage a few weeks before she turns 26. In between, we learn about her hopes (that she won’t turn into an elderly cat lady) and dreams (how to find the perfect husband??) as well as see some of the, well, not-so-successful suitors.



Huda, an English major who admits she read a very large amount of Jane Austen, compares Muslim courtship to Austen-era courtship, and while it leads to several funny running gags, it’s also a pretty apt comparison. It’s a very different process than typical American dating (chaperones and the amount of parental involvement were the two that really made me raise my eyebrows), but Huda does a good job explaining why it’s important to her. She doesn’t shy away from both the pitfalls of the process (how to even meet guys?) and the strengths (avoiding getting involved in a relationship just for the sake of being in a relationship). So, while it’s very different from my experience in some ways, in others, not so much!



I really liked the advice she got from a sheikh. When she tells him about her checklist of what she wants in a husband, he gently points out that she wouldn’t pass her own checklist (fluent in Arabic, memorized the Quran, etc), and that she should look for someone at the same level who wants to grow together. Good advice for anyone, I think.



The art style is simple but colorful, and the faces are hilariously expressive. My one criticism is that it wasn’t fully “illustrated” – most pages would have a paragraph or two of text at the top of the page followed by a drawing. I wish all of the text could have been incorporated into the images, as the differences in style between the two fonts was pretty jarring.

Overall, I found this a fascinating and sweet glimpse into a different culture’s view of romance. I’ll definitely be looking up her previous book!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

<i>That Can Be Arranged</i> tells the story of author Huda Fahmy's own arranged marriage by drawing parallels between contemporary Muslim dating customs and the rules of courtship in Jane Austen's novels.

The book is a combination of brief paragraphs describing, and illustrations and comic strips illustrating, the series of events that led Fahmy to meet and marry her husband. The text was witty and sprinkled with fun pop-culture references, and all the characters were fun, from perpetually-internally-screaming Huda to the usual supporting cast of gossipping mamas and embarrassing in-laws. The illustrations were a bit too simplistic for me to really adore them, but the characters' expressions were well-done and definitely served to get the story across.

I chuckled at "A weight I never even knew I carried had been lifted". That's a new one for the "breath I hadn't realized I was holding" hall of fame...

3,5 stars, rounded up.

3.50 stars ⭐

I read this only knowing a few basic things about Islam, even though we came from different worlds, I could easily relate to her struggles.
Her journey is one worth reading, I'm very happy that she put herself first and didn't go for anyone who would want her.
It's a good read for those who don't know much about arranged marriages and the Muslim culture.

That Can Be Arranged by Huda Fahmy is one Muslim woman's account of the trials, tribulations and rites of passage involved in courtship and marriage, in a simply illustrated and honest yet funny graphic novel.

The book opens with a riff on the opening line of Pride and Prejudice, and the author notes that Austen is one of her favourite authors, and one that she references again at a couple of points during the book. As a devout Muslim woman, Huda wears the hijab and always draws herself wearing it . In her introduction at the start of the book she clarifies the differences between arranged and forced marriage, and reiterates her happiness with her husband. The author is very open about her experience ( or lack thereof) of dating and how when she did go on a date with a potential suitor, it was always chaperoned, as was any communication between them. Her anecdotes are charming and funny, and I am sure many women, Muslim or not will relate , but what I enjoyed most about the book was the journey of self acceptance that Hulda went on as she became more self aware and more aware of what she wanted and needed in a life partner.
The artwork is deliberately simple, yet still expressive , and the authors wit and personality leaps off the page. She is not afraid to wear her heart on her sleeve, and open up in the pages of this wonderful little book.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.

DISCLAIMER: I received an eARC of THAT CAN BE ARRANGED from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5*

Listen, as a Muslim girl, if there is a book centered around a Muslim out there, you know I'm going to read it. If it is a graphic novel memoir, I'm definitely going to request it. My expectations for THAT CAN BE ARRANGED were rather high, and this book did deliver. Fahmy's art style is quirky, but it's mutual to how lighthearted the book is.

I'm pretty young to say that I relate to this, since I'm not married, and I'm aro/ace. But Fahmy shows the expectations a Muslim woman has to meet for a relationship to go well. I don't want to spoil, but I'm well-reminded of these said expectations. Because of this, I found the book fun to read.

Do I recommend this?
Yes. It will be especially fun to all Muslim girls.

More Muslim rep, please!
I loved this. It was so cute. I'm glad that I found it on Netgalley's Read Now Section. I've always loved Huda Fahmy's comics on Instagram (@yesimhotinthis); they're hilarious, fun and fresh.
Being a Muslim and hijabi myself, oftentimes I could relate to her.

'That Can Be Arranged' was an easy read. I got through it in less than an hour.
Thank you to Netgalley for the Arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was easily my favorite graphic novel of the year, and I know it's still early but nothing is going to top this. I already love Huda from her Instagram, Yes I'm Hot in This, and I loved reading this. It was a super light, easy read and it was lots of fun! I enjoyed getting to know a little more about the Muslim faith, and I really liked how it shed new light on arranged marriages. American society could do with learning a little more about different cultures, and I think this was a cute way to offer that perspective. I would highly recommend this graphic novel!

I loved this graphic novel soooo much! It was funny, romantic, and insightful. Also, I totally want to be friends with Huda Fahmy in real life now!! There aren’t many people that I wouldn’t recommend this book to!!

I follow Huda online and I was so excited to read this book! I loved her previous book, Yes, I'm Hot in This. She's hysterically funny and very open about what it's like to be a Muslim woman who wears a hijab. She describes all the ridiculousness that she has to deal with on a daily basis and still manages to be positive despite people's ignorance.

Initially, I thought this book would be in graphic novel format, but I was glad to discover that it was almost more of a (long) picture book style, with longer text passages that are illustrated. I really appreciate getting to hear her story firsthand, sort of in her own words rather than reenacted. Does that make sense? It feels like you're sitting down with your new friend as she "once upon a time"s her life.

Anyway, I loved this book and can't wait to see what she does next!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing a digital copy.*

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was definitely a graphic novel in the most ‘novel’ sense of the word. Though there is a lot of artwork in the book, the story itself is conveyed mostly in the narrative, which is embellished by the clean, funny art. The story itself is simple – a girl grows up, dates a bit, goes for an arranged marriage, happily ever after. Fahmy’s telling of the story, however, lends heart and empathy to the tale. It’s a nice, heartfelt romance. What really makes this book stand out is the way that Fahmy demystifies how things work for Muslim youths. The author explains how things work, and digs into her personal experience to really engage with readers who aren’t familiar with Muslim customs work or wonder how arranged marriages can possibly be something any young person wants. The novel warmly welcomes the reader to explore these elements and the author’s romance – it’s a sharing of her culture and heritage and life, and it’s truly a beautiful thing.

I've been following Fahmy's Instagram for quite some time and always thought her comics and content were truly funny and great. And this book definitely delivered. 'That Can Be Arranged' is an endearing read where we follow Fahmy's journey to finding a husband. I liked the insights Fahmy shared upon her journey (self-worth, self-love, taking initiative, staying true to your belief, etc.) and how she kept a light-hearted tone despite covering some serious topics.

I truly enjoyed this read. There were plenty of moments that made me smile and chuckle. I'd definitely recommend this to any hopeless romantics, fans of Jane Austen, and anyone curious about this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've seen some of Fahmy's comics on Twitter before and found them pretty funny so I was looking forward to reading this one. I really like her sense of humour, it's slightly sarcastic and I found myself grinning and even laughing out loud at points. One of my favourite scenes was a conversation Huda has with her mother after her first meeting with her future husband, where she says "but we had such chemistry!" and her mum says "well...you did get that B in chemistry" - probably because I could imagine my mum or one of my aunt's coming out with a come back like that! I'm also a real sucker for books/comics written by Muslim authors with Muslim protagonists as I get really excited by characters and conversations that I can relate to on that level, and this comic didn't disappoint.

Another thing I liked about this comic was that despite it being quite lighthearted there are moments where the author reflects seriously on things she has learnt but without it changing the tone of the comic. For example, her comments about realising her self-worth following her first proposal. The comic is also quite honest about the pressures Muslim women can experience from family, friends and the community to get married before they're "too old", and the loneliness you can feel when everyone around you seems to be getting married and you've never been on a date.

Lastly, this was a super cute love story. Huda and Gerad's story is really sweet. One line that I particularly liked was, when talking about her first meeting with him, Huda says "with Gehad, I knew almost instantly that our souls had met before".

Overall, a lovely short read which is genuinely funny and has great illustrations.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It can certainly be arranged, especially if you do it yourself.

Social media has certainly helped create FOMO, but I believe that relationship status is one thing that has had women compete for the longest time. No matter what culture you come from, it's difficult to see friends and family get hitched before you. Particularly as you start maturing in age. It was interesting to see how Huda wasn't an exception. It was only once she starts to release that pressure and focus on herself that the universe brings a perfect suitor for her.

Witty and short.

I’ve been following Huda Fahmy’s Instagram (@yesimhotinthis) for a while now and love all her content. So when I got my hands on an #AR copy of her upcoming book, That Can Be Arranged, I was super excited. And, boy, she doesn’t disappoint.

This book isn’t a comic book but rather more of picture book about her journey to finding a husband. She shares the traditions and the crazy aunties who make finding a husband just a bit more difficult for young Muslim women but, she also provides a lot of food for thought. I think her experience and the lessons she shares will be valuable for any young Muslim, boy AND girl, who is in that season of life.

Moral of the story is that there is no ticking clock. You don’t have an expiration date regardless of what the Auntie Brigade say. Having your priorities straight and waiting for the right person will pay off.

A short fun read. Would have liked it even more if it was longer,kinda ended all of a sudden. I guess I wanted to hear more from her. HAHAHA.

Absolutely incredible! This is the book I wish I had when I was little. It’s funny and super relatable. I actually wasn’t expecting to connect with it this much, but it has the representation (both Islamic and cultural) I needed and wanted. The rules part was perfect and 100% described me when I was 5. And the different kinds of suitors cracked me up, especially the visa one 😂 I just want Huda to write and draw more because I can never get enough of her comics and stories!

I didn't expect to love this one so much!!!
It was really funny and yes, fun to read. The artstyle complimented the story so well and the way it's written was really wholesome for a graphic memoir.
This is the story of a woman belonging to the Muslim community whose life revolved around marriage at one time of her life so much that she almost got into some weird arranged dates. She used to have insane thoughts and perceptions regarding her own worth, to be someone who could decide things on her own. The book told about the various experiences she had while looking for a suitor ever since she was 17. Yes, it happens like that in some communities and families in order to marry off their daughters. Sad thing that such practices are still happening. Women in their early 20s are considered 'old' and 'broken' if not married.
This story has been illustrated really well, hilarious at times and so damn relatable.
I specifically loved the parts where the main character started gorging on Jane Austen's books and also when she considered taking classes to be better than just mopping around being sad and rejected.

Overall, this was such an amazing read. Thank you #NetGalley for the copy of #ThatCanBeArranged.