In More than Just a Pretty Face, Danyal Jilani is seen as "just a pretty face," but not much going on elsewhere. His parents are disappointed with his lack of academic ambition, and see his goals of becoming a chef not worthwhile. When he is selected to compete in the Renaissance Man academic competition at his school, he is not confident. But when he begins to seek help from a rishta candidate who was uninterested, he begins to gain confidence in himself and maybe a little more.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. I did not know what I was getting into when I started, but I was definitely ALL IN by the time I finished. I felt so bad for Bisma and I loved Danyal and how he did not allow her past to jade his judgement of her. Her little sister is also amazing. The growth between Danyal and his father throughout the book was also very sweet and relatable for people who grew up with strict parents and high expectations. As a teacher, I loved seeing Danyal begin his research and become passionate about it as he learned more. Wow. I can't say enough how much I enjoyed this.

Pakistani American Danyal Jilani is in his senior year at high school and is coasting through life on charm and good looks. He has little interest in school and wants to become a chef, much to the displeasure of his parents and his crush, Kaval, who want him to go to college and pursue an appropriate career. But then Danyal’s life is upturned: he meets Bishma as a potential match for an arranged marriage and he is surprisingly selected by his cranky History teacher to be a candidate in his school’s annual Renaissance Man competition giving him a chance to shine academically in front of his parents and Kaval.

But when Danyal, with Bishma’s guidance, starts to research his History teacher’s beloved Winston Churchill, he discovers that there are many skeletons in Churchill’s colonial closet, including his role in the Bengal Famine in which 3 million people starved to death. Should he tell this story or should he follow his parents’ and Kaval’s instructions to toe the line?

Though this is a breezy romantic novel, it does tackle some serious topics, including colonialism, slut shaming and gender equity. All of the major characters are Muslim South Asian Americans and the cultural and religious customs as well as the demands and rewards of that community are central to the novel. As Danyal, guided by Bishma, prepares his essay and presentation for the tournament, he begins to see that only by making himself proud can he hope to inspire that in others.

Thanks to Little, Brown and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

Wow. What an amazing read. I loved the characters and the writing really surprised me.I highly recommend this one.

This book was a much-needed interruption to my daily life of selfish thoughts and meaningless concourses. I feel it's only appropriate to quote Mean Girls when describing this book, "...[This book] punched me in the face...It was awesome."

I'm going to start with the negative since this time, it's all wrapped in positives. I often found myself thinking this book was boring yet intriguing. Even odder, there was never a middle ground. I was never mildly interested; only bored or intrigued. This is what contributes to the less than a five-star review. However, my intrigue outweighed my boredom and I finished the book with a smile.

We experience this book through the eyes of Danyal, a good-looking, confident young man who lacks in the intelligence department. So when he's asked to participate in an academic competition, things get interesting. Danyal has a very distinct and consistent voice throughout the book. We learn that he's confident about his looks and flirting with girls, but insecure in his inability to differentiate helium from hydrogen. He is insanely committed to his goal of becoming a chef but fickle in his exact obedience to his religion.

These are a few of the things that make him the best possible narrator through which to experience this story. There were some heavy topics discussed throughout the book, but when presented through Danyal's playful and teenager-y voice, it lessened the blow. Or maybe made it feel more important and attainable.

Along with Danyal, we get to meet some other characters who have left a smile on my face. First on my list is Mr. Tippett, Danyal's history teacher and Renaissance Man sponsor. He and Danyal have a hate/really hate relationship that is both entertaining and insightful. Mr. Tippett is always pushing Danyal to do more and become a better student to which Danyal always protests. I love Mr. Tippett.

Then we have the chef that runs the restaurant Danyal works at, Chef Brodeur. Similar to Mr. Tippett, she is always pushing Danyal to become a better chef and person, but she does so in a way that is both humorous and scary. She is a woman to be feared in the absolute best way. I think I learned almost as much from her as Danyal and his speech. I love Chef Brodeur.

Lastly, we have Bisma. Without giving too much away, I just have to say that I love the dynamic between Bisma and Danyal. It just works. I love Bisma.

These people all work with Danyal in his attempt to portray what he feels and learns about Winston Churchhill and perception vs. truth. My head nearly fell off with all the wisdom that was bestowed upon me as I read this book that I have to wonder what kind of knowledge Masood spits out on the daily. But seriously, the message this book communicates is enlightening, thought-provoking, and much needed in our world today. There were many times as I read this book that I had to stop and just think about what I read. I don't get enough of that in my contemporary romance novels.

Overall, this was a great book on change, love, and speaking up about what you know to be right. There is the perfect amount of romance mixed with the plea to think and act differently than you did before you read this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to receive a chastening, and who is willing to put up with some boring bits to get to the good stuff.

1) love this cover
2) I’m not sure how to rate this one! So I’ll give it a 3.5 to not nudge the scales?? but more positive than average?
3) I appreciated some parts so much. Doctors were casually mentioned as black and brown women, casually badass lesbian head chef etc.
4) I’m not sure how this representation will land depending on family and values ?
5) speaking of landing the writing style / content that was young but then coupled with marriage and sex make it a little tricky as I consider what age range I would pass this to.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This book could not have come at a better time. In the midst of the romance storyline in More Than Just a Pretty Face, there was also a smaller storyline that spoke to the injustice the Indian people faced at the hands of William Churchill––someone seen as an important historical figurehead. Lately the news cycle has been focused on nothing but injustice faced by oppressed groups. I loved and appreciated how Danyal focused his big paper and presentation on this injustice––going against what others thought he should do to do what he knew he needed to do. What an important lesson for all of us.

I love that this book was written entirely from the POV of a high school man. Almost of the YA books I read are written from the perspective of a young woman (or split between a man and woman), so I loved the uniqueness of the narration here. As a non-Muslim, white woman reading this book, I found it interesting to learn more about the traditions and beliefs of the faith. I can't speak to how accurate those descriptions were, and I know other reviewers have more opinions on this part of the novel, but it seemed to line up with other books I've read in the past. This was a wonderful #OwnsVoices YA romance read that I would be happy to recommend to individuals interested in not just romance, but also social justice.

Before I end this review, I wanted to share a bit near the end that really stuck with me:

"There's no point in having a voice if you don't use it, and it isn't enough to use your voice to only speak your truth. . . . We've got to use our voices against narratives of inequality whenever they're repeated, even if we benefit from them. If we're silent in the face of injustice, then we're unjust too." (pages 200-201)

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette for an advance copy of this book.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Danyal Jilani doesn't want to go to college; he wants to be a chef. His parents believe he should marry a nice girl, go to college, and be successful. Danyal's parents set up a rishta, which is the Muslim tradition of starting the process for an arranged marriage. He meets Bisma, who is very different from the girl he is crushing on, Kaval. Danyal also gets thrown into a competition he didn't want to compete in nor does he think he'll do well in. Throughout the novel, Danyal struggles with balancing his family's traditions, needing to make his father proud, and his dream of being a chef.

I really liked More than Just a Pretty Face. It was interesting to see how Muslim traditions differ from Western traditions and to see them explained. As a Christian, I only know what I've learned in school about Islam. I learned more reading a contemporary novel written by an amazing Pakistani author than I would have in school. There is huge character growth throughout the whole novel. It really shines with Danyal and Sohrab (Danyal's best friend). There are two quotes in the novel, one on page 130 and one on page 143, that show the idea of growth in the characters and really stood out to me. Both quotes involve speaking up for your beliefs and not being silent as that won't cause any change in the world.

I would be delighted to read more novels by Syed M. Masood in the future.

This book is a gem! I loved Danyal so much! He was funny and charming. Danyal spent much of the book chasing his perfect girl Kaval. Their friendship was a great part of this book. Bisma is the true star of this story, she's perfectly flawed. She knows she's messed up in the past but is still strong and confident. She helps Danyal with his Renaissance Man project and they become friends. I loved watching all these characters grow. I loved this one!

This was a really cute love story. I loved reading the two characters, both so distinct from each other. Their interactions and them slowly falling each other was so sweet to read. As a desi, it was so heartwarming to read all of the obstacles and insecurities both were trying to tackle. I absolutely adored seeing the beautiful, stupid boy asking the smart girl for help in school work trope only with brown kids and the smart girl isn't an awkward lovestruck girl but a smart and witty woman and the pretty boy is kind and naive at times. As much as I loved reading about two brown kids falling in love, I did not really like brown culture and Islam was used as a plot device or a matter for something the main characters to make a joke out of; the author picked and chose elements of Islam or brown culture to introduce to the reader for convenience. This might not really be a bothersome thing to other people but it definitely irked me a little bit. Regardless, this was a cute book I would recommend to brown kids trying to see more representation in the genre.

-- 4 stars --

This is genuinely one of the best books I've read in a long time. There wasn't an aspect I didn't enjoy—I thought the pacing was smart, the plot was engaging, the food descriptions were wonderful, and I immediately fell in love with the characters. I'm truly sad that I can't be friends with Bisma and Danyal in real life. I could have read an additional 400 pages about these characters and what happens next!

More Than Just A Pretty Face is 100% a book that certainly takes the title and means it. The cast is diverse with the characters each holding a different POV on different situations that occur.

Danyal proves to be the main character that is portrayed as one the unsmart student who when in reality he is so much more. He is more accepting of issues that other men may not have been when faced in that situation. He tackles an issue that others want him to brush aside just so he can succeed but instead he takes the more difficult route even if it means he loses the one thing he thinks he wants.

Bisma is another character that is handed a hard deal in life but instead confronts the problem head on. She doesn’t hide the dirty secret she has from those it could affect but instead proves how strong she is by informing them right away. She steps up and helps Danyal when he needs it and doesn’t back down from any challenges set before her.

While this book was sweet and full of cute moments it also tackles the issues of religion, race, political, and class. This book shows the reader that there is so much more to a character and even what we are taught in school out there. It shows readers that things can twisted to fit a certain light just to please others.

Overall I thoroughly loved and enjoyed this book from the moment I picked it up. I couldn’t put it down and ended up binge reading it which just shows readers how much I enjoyed this book! I want to thank NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for giving me the chance to read and review this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is just such a cute and fun YA romance! The thing that really makes it great are the characters -both Danyal and Bisma are so lovable that I just wanted to keep reading so I could spend more time with them.

Danyal doesn't do well in school and he will admit himself that he's "not very bright," but he's an amazing chef who is absolutely passionate about food. And we're not just told that he's good at cooking- he is constantly talking and thinking about recipes in very specific detail so we KNOW that he's good at cooking, and that its something he genuinely cares about. His dialogue is also super witty and funny a lot of the time. He may not be smart but he's obviously very charming.

He's had a hopeless crush on Kaval since forever. In the beginning, Kaval seems perfect for him. She's beautiful, and they have a lot of witty banter back and forth. But everything about her is surface level: she's pretty, she's rich, but she won't support Danyal's dreams of becoming a chef, and she doesn't really like him for who he is. Bisma, on the other hand, is smart, kind, and down to earth. As they get to know each other as friends I was really rooting for them to be together.

Danyal has to do research about Winston Churchill so he prepare an essay and presentation for an academic award he was unwittingly nominated for. This is when he discovered that Churchill's influence contributed to the Bangali Famine, and nearly three million citizens in India to die from starvation because of British colonialism. I loved seeing Danyal, usually completely apathetic to academic topics, become invested in making an amazing presentation about the racist attitudes that caused the famine and how racism still has an affect on people today. I loved that this lighthearted YA book was not afraid to tackle such a serious issue.

I also loved that there was so much Muslim representation in general. This is a story about Islamic culture as much as it is about a sweet high school romance. Danyal's friend Sohrab is more serious and religious while his friend Zar is more of a non-practicing Muslim. They show a range of opposing attitudes within the Muslim community yet they always feel like real fully fleshed out characters, not just props there to show a point.

The ending was the only part of the book that felt slightly unrealistic. It wrapped up a little bit too quickly and neatly. [Of course, Danyal doing amazingly at the Renaissance Man presentation was a natural high point for the story to go, but I couldn't help but laugh and he got a standing ovation after literally cussing out one of the judges. It was a little bit too much. Still, that is kind of to be expected and overall I had a great time with this book as it is just the right amount of cute fun and serious!

I wanted to enjoy this book but it kept falling short for me. The writing doesn’t flow like I would hope it would. It was very choppy. The culture was nice to see, but sometimes there wasn’t a lot of explanation. I saw myself getting lost in traditions or says without explanation. Also what was present seemed very stereotypical and present such a poor light into the Muslim community.

I didn’t enjoy the story and I kept hoping it would turnaround, but the dialogue that was used felt cheap and made me disconnect with the characters. I didn’t like the way that each person was depicted. I really wanted to like this story but I just think this book wasn’t for me.

I am torn on how to rate this book.

I am not Muslim, so I cannot speak to the representation of that in this book. I have, however, read other reviews by people of that culture who see big problems with how it's portrayed. So I would encourage people to read those reviews.

This book was very crass and full of, frankly, unnecessary language. I can turn a blind eye to a curse word here or there, but this book is saturated with it. If it was a movie, it would be rated R based on language alone.

Also, Danyal (the main character) was stupid. I mean, I get that he's not supposed to be great in school. And that's fine. But to get to be 19 years old and not know the phrase "break a leg" means good luck, not know that helium (not argon or hydrogen) is what gives you a high voice when inhaled, thinking a book said "lions" instead of "loins?" I mean, those felt like very childish things. It made me think of him as an elementary school aged kid instead of a legal adult. There's a way to make a character charmingly less smart than others, but this just made him seem straight up stupid and unlikable.

That being said, I think the story and the conversation presented in this book are very important. People need to read about these things and talk about these things and ponder them.

"History is told by the victors" is a HUGE conversation in this book. Whitewashed history is a problem. Holding people (Winston Churchill is the example in this book) up like heroes while sweeping their terrible decisions under a rug is a problem. This book has given me the desire to learn more about actual history, not just the pretty, neatly packaged kind most of us are fed.

I just wish the author had done it in a...classier way? Because while I want my children to read books that discuss these topics as they get older, I sure don't want them reading books that drop f-bombs multiple times on each page.

Danyal Jilanli is a pretty boy and underachiever who dreams of opening his own restaurant and marrying his best friends’s beautiful twin sister. When he is entered into his school’s Renaissance Man competition, Danyal enlists the help of Bisma, a failed arranged marriage prospect, to prove himself to his family and crush that he’s ~more than just a pretty face~⁣
⁣
I enjoyed Danyal as a main character. He’s goofy and doesn’t take anything too seriously. He’s consistently called dumb and incompetent by everyone around him, but he was a line cook at a rather prestigious restaurant, clearly proving he was determined to chase his dreams. I loved Bisma as a love interest. She was kind, thoughtful, complex, and big old nerd.⁣
⁣
My favorite part was Danyal’s Renaissance Man presentation where he goes for the jugular on Winston Churchill despite everyone telling him to just write a paper praising the man. Instead, he opts to give an honest portrait of Churchill as a tool of British colonialism and it’s negative effects on India and Pakistan. Let’s go!!!!⁣
⁣
This book struggles to find its footing until about 40% in. The plot waffles around and seems unsure where to go. We’re told all about Danyal’s feelings but never really shown how much he’s grown to care for Bisma. I love that this is #ownvoices about a Pakistani Muslim boy, but a couple own voice reviewers on Goodreads wrote about their concern with how Masood portrayed Islam and the purposes of arranged marriages - remember it’s always good to read own voice reviews!⁣
⁣
In the past, one character is non-consensually filmed during sex, and the book does not handle it well. I understand conservative Muslim communities would struggle with this, but as the book is intended for a teen audience it’s disheartening to read so much slut-shaming. Danyal is adamant it doesn’t matter, but that’s not enough. What happened was a crime, and the book needs to pushback more against any other thought.⁣

I'm usually not a huge fan of YA novels, but I loved this one. It had a fun, rom-com feel to it. I loved watching the friendship develop between Danyal and Bisma. I loved their banter and the slow turn from friendship into romantic feelings. I highly recommend this book!

To start off, I am gonna say that I am definitely going to be purchasing this book for my library (probably multiple copies) because it is just so good.

This book follows Danyal a guy who has always been seen as someone with nothing more to offer than his pretty face. Growing up Indian and from a Muslim family there are expectations that they have for their boys- incredibly smart, driven, and going to college. All of which Danyal does NOT identify as. He feels that he is always disappointing his father by not being the brightest and wanting to go to culinary school.

This book is a love story from the boys perspective- think of the traditional geek girl meets jock scenario but you are instead in the jocks point of view. Add on top of that, he shows true vulnerability and emotions that are not often portrayed in male characters.

I know for a fact that my diverse school (with a magnet academy population) would devour this book just as I did. This book has so many quotable lines, and great moral messages! I learned many things I would have never known about Winston Churchill and food. It was a quick and fun read- I look forward to seeing what this author has to follow up with this fabulous first novel!

More than Just a Pretty Face ​by Syed M. Masood will be out in August of 2020!

“They say the devil is in the details, and I’ve always been taught to avoid tangling with the devil whenever possible. In a way, living carefree is the most Muslim thing you can do.”
Honestly, I’m a little conflicted about this book.
On one hand, More Than Just a Pretty Face was a hilarious rom com with a desi twist. Danyal is great; he’s witty, charming, and confident in what he wants. Though his family is traditional, he has made peace with the fact that his father won’t accept his ambitions. He’s an amazing chef (who cooks daal and creme brulee with equal competence), fully acknowledges his flaws, and an overall sweet person. He’s wise, empathetic, and hardworking when he wants to be. His characters develops through the story, in exactly the ways you would expect from this synopsis: what he always wanted was not actually right for him etc.
Truth be told, I came here for the culture, and I got it. From getting thrashed by chappal to Kuch Kuch Hota Hai references, this book was absolutely iconic.
However, the story packs in A LOT more than this. We delve into the arranged marriage structure, which is apparently being pushed on seniors in high school, and the glaring issues that come with it. We also get to follow along Danyal’s project for Renaissance Man, and then hear his entire speech at the end. This is a whole subplot involving history, racism, and colonialism. In fact, there is a point where this exchange between Danyal and his history teacher goes down:
“The history of your country, Mr. Jilani. You were born in India, correct?”
“San Diego, actually.”
Tippett sighed. “Yes, but your parents were born in India, were they not?”
I shook my head. “Pakistan.”
“Those are very nearly the same thing.”
I guess I could say that I’m lucky enough to have grown up in a place where no one makes such awkward racial assumptions, but I literally live in the same city as Danyal. Yes, I’ve been on day trips to Lake Elizabeth just like Danyal and Bisma, and I can take the BART to San Francisco just like he does. Somehow, the subplot of history hiding the horrors of colonialism did not sit well with me because every single history teacher I’ve ever had has gone out of their way to show both sides of the story. Never have I ever had to worry about failing history because I wrote about a lesser-known aspect of it. History,, is history?? As long as your paper is factually accurate and well-written, your teacher won’t fail you just because your opinion differs from their own (unless they’re a horrible human being).
We also get to hear a lot about being Muslim, and more generally, the struggles of balancing a somewhat antiquated culture with being American. Danyal finds himself stuck between his friend Sohrahb, who is becoming increasingly obsessed with Islam, and his friend Intezar, who believes that the traditional rules need not be applied so strictly. Danyal’s struggles with these ideas, and where he finds himself on the spectrum, make up a hefty subplot as well.
Overall, More Thank Just a Pretty Face was a sweet story, with a likable and fresh protagonist. However, the heavy subplots may diminish the glamour of the book if you are not familiar with these subjects. If you, like me, have given significant thought to being a second-generation immigrant, the boundaries of religion, and the truth about colonialism, you will be able to coast through this book. If these topics are difficult for you, you may find this book more somber than it was intended to be.

YES blatantly cocky boy rights! Fun stuff, love the muslim representation and I love how it’s ownvoices which makes everything better.

“Unless there was more than one way that love was supposed to feel, and no one talked about the other kind, the kind that didn’t set fire to the sky or shake the earth but just existed, like the shade from a redwood tree on a hot day.”

**Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Publishers for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!**

This is a really sweet and fun rom-com!

Danyal Jilani is a nineteen-year-old senior in high school who just wants to be a chef. He has a crush on Kaval, his best friend’s twin sister, and tries to prove to her and her family that he’s “more than just a pretty face” (hence the title).

When Danyal meets Bisma Akram on a set-up date for a potential arranged marriage by his parents, he really connects with Bisma, and they begin to develop a real friendship, as she tells him she isn’t looking to date right now, and he gets advice from her on his crush on Kaval.

Danyal’s relationship with Bisma grows as as she helps him prepare for Renaissance Man, a school competition for which he was nominated by his history teacher. The Renaissance Man plot line was super interesting and really important.

I absolutely loved Danyal’s relationship with Bisma. Their banter was so much fun. This is a really great, slow-building romance between two characters who both feel very real, and care a lot about each other.

“‘This book is so boring.’
‘And looking at me is not boring?’
‘It really isn’t.’”

I also love that Bisma and Danyal validate each other and build each other up, and they’re both very protective of each other and have one another’s backs.

Although I loved Danyal’s voice, there were times when he sounded and acted younger than nineteen, and I didn’t always connect with his humor, but I really loved seeing his growth throughout the novel.

At times the book felt too short to cover all of its subplots, and there was one big plot point dealt with in the last 20 or so pages that I wished had been given more time to be resolved.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I loved Danyal’s and Bisma’s relationship. I also really enjoyed the descriptions of Danyal cooking, and his love for food.

**A note: quotations taken from an ARC (pre-published) and are subject to change. For official quotations, please refer to the published work.**