A woman who prides herself on her match-making success gets a hitch in her plans when she sets out to make her own match. Little does she know that the family friend right under her nose who drives her crazy might be just who she’s seeking. A Muslim American modern retelling of Emma had me sitting up and taking notice. That cute cover and a new to me author to try were additional incentives to draw me in.

If I Loved You Less introduces Humaira, a wealthy, somewhat spoiled woman living on Long Island, New York and very caught up in the heady power and fun of making matches. Not gonna lie, she danced on my nerve a lot when she was heedless of others and missing the signs she was off base. But, fortunately, she wasn’t all annoying, interfering rich girl and there was Fawad, who wasn’t dazzled by her greatness and saw her better than she saw herself. He called her on all her mess ups when no one else would even while he was jealous of the man who did have her smiles and attention. He also had the long-sightedness to love her, flaws and all, and was there for her growing through her mistakes. There is much humor as the pair sass and snarl and the fun of fumbling and bumbling of love and relationships among an engaging circle of characters.

Humaira and Fawad come from an Asian Muslim community and so they and most of the surrounding characters were good representation. I am speaking from ignorance, but the backdrop, character actions and dialogue all felt authentic and respectfully written. I enjoyed reading a Jane Austen story in a culturally diverse American setting. The author captured the humor and the beauty of a slow burn friends (though not always friendly) to lovers sweet romance.

Those who enjoy light Romantic Comedy with a social butterfly, sassy-mouthed heroine looking for her HEA in the wrong place and a serious and quiet attractive hero waiting for her to figure this out definitely want to pick this up.

DNF. I only managed to read 40% in. The main character is so annoying and feel so entitled. The fact that it's a love triangle was my last resort before I decided to DNF it.

This was a fun and light-hearted romance, inspired by one of my favourite Jane Austen books, Emma. As soon as I saw the title I knew that this was one I had to read! And I had loads of fun along the way.

Similar to Bride and Prejudice, the transition works so well because, as the main character Humaira points out, there are a lot of similarities between courting in Regency England and in modern-day Desi communities. One of the hardest parts of adapting Emma is making the main character unlikeable and frustrating but still lovable, and Humaira fit the bill perfectly.

At times I felt like the story stuck too closely to Emma, and in particular the latest film version. Some scenes felt lifted line-for-line and while it meant we got to keep all the swoon-worthy Knightley lines, I don’t know if the characters really got to break outside the Austen mould.

Occasionally the writing got bogged down in the details, but overall this was an enjoyable read and a great addition to the world of Jane Austen retellings.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

This was a warm and mouth-watering read (the food descriptions alone make this worthwhile to check out!).
Loved the nods to other adaptations like Clueless.
The main character Humaira's voice was so strong throughout, you could hear her talking in your head. The love story was sweet and well-developed.
There was also a very thoughtful character study of Humaira and her context as well as her family and relationships which provided new insight into the original story.
The story flowed really beautifully and it was a really easy and wholesome read overall.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

This was a delightful novel. It was cute and swoonworthy. It also has Muslim cultural representation, so it is a great #OwnVoices novel. I loved the chemistry in this book and it was so sweet. This is a great book to read if you want to escape from your daily life.

Highly recommend this book!

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Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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In this <i>Emma</i> interpretation, Humaira - handsome, clever, and rich, and also an observant Pakistani Muslim in the suburbs of New York - tries to help her inexperienced friend Shanzay secure a partner but despairs of ever finding her own great love. As any good retelling, it builds an absorbing and affecting story on the scaffolding of a classic - and, as a great one, it casts new light on the original.

The original Emma is perfect. Handsome! Clever! Rich! Unites the best blessing of existence; has lived nearly twenty-one years with very little to distress or vex her. But in Humaira, we have a version of Emma who is handsome and clever and rich and actually quite sad. She mourns her mother and misses her sister and aunt. Her father is needy and fretful, and her love and respect for him clash with her desire for independence. She longs for romance but won't settle for just any partner, and she fears that if she allows her family and friends to see her imperfections they will cast her off. She is both a very typical young woman and uniquely herself.

<i>If I Loved You Less</i> follows the Emma story faithfully, barring some simplification in the third act. Humaira and her struggles are fully realized, and the secondary characters are vivid and interesting. The translation of Austen's England to Pakistani-American culture was insightful and interesting. Best of all, Humaira and Fawad's chemistry and sexual tension was amazing, particularly for two people who barely even touched. 5++

[I received a complimentary ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. Opinions are my own.]

**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

I’ve never read Emma so can’t really draw any comparisons to the classic but from the parts of P&P that I have read I think I can say that this book truly gives modern day Austen vibes and pairing this with all the desi/Pakistani culture and melodrama was a genius idea because it works so well!

Our protagonist Humaira Mirza is a pampered princess so be ready for her to get on your nerves a bit. She is a big believer in true love and as she searches for “the One”, past successes in matchmaking her sister and Phuppo (aunt) means she can’t help but meddle with other people’s love lives. Only this time round it lands her in all sorts of trouble.

She has a bit of an ego, the tendency to name drop all the designer brands for the things in her life as well as not see what is right in front of her but she someone who has her heart in the right place. Seeing her interactions with her family (especially her father) and her friends make her a character that you eventually warm to after the initial irritation and who by the end you really want to root for.

Now this romcom does not come without its cliches and somewhat obvious plotlines but I had so much fun with it. It definitely gives off peak desi tv serial vibes both with the characterisations of everyone as well as all the drama. There are times when certain details are repeated one too many times within the narrative but for the most part the story flows really well and draws you in. Plus the halal romance has the right balance of tenderness and angst but be ready to facepalm at all the antics too.

Additionally, at the end of the book there are recipes (there is SO MUCH food and baked goods in this and I will most definitely be giving that soup one a try!), the character’s reading lists and a song playlist which were a really nice touch.
Final Rating – 4.25/5 Stars

This had the most beautiful love confession I’ve ever read in my life and I wish I could read it for the first time again.

This book followed Jane Austen's Emma right down to some of the exact phrases. I really enjoyed the diversity and fun that the author brought to the story to make it fresh. I was able to pick out all of my favorite characters from this modernization and I love when it follows the book so well. The drama at the end seemed taken care of a little better too, so I enjoyed that little difference. If you love modernizations like I do, you don't want to miss this one.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK, Netgalley and Aamna Qureshi for an early copy.

I was super drawn to the premise of this book––I'm a sucker for any Austen retelling, particularly Emma. The specific cultural context was fascinating, and I loved all the bonus material near the back cover. Especially the Melina Marchetta shoutout! But I wasn't drawn to the narrative voice; it leaned more YA than I expected, and the writing isn't as strong as I would have hoped.

A sweet Emma retelling with Pakistani characters and a romance to warm your heart.

I admittedly have not read Emma or any Jane Austin but the vibes were clear and really enjoyable. The character growth that Humaira has in this book is so wonderful, seeing her eventually reflect and fix her mistakes was so satisfying. I liked how Fawad walked the "grumpy" line in the grumpyxsunshine without actually being mean.

The writing felt a little awkward to me at times which made it harder to fully absorb into the story.

“Beloved Humaira, I will be a fool for you a thousand times over.”

I absolutely adored this book. This is a contemporary Emma retelling with Muslim characters and a halal romance.
Humaira is so chaotic and Fawad was so exasperated with her but also completely smitten. I loved seeing their story develop throughout the book.

Humaira loves playing matchmaker and is also looking for the love of her life and she thinks she’s found him in Rizwan but her neighbour & friend, Fawad seems to disagree.

When I first started the book, Humaira wasn’t very likeable or relatable, but I loved seeing her character development throughout the book as she reflects on her behaviour and her perceptions of what is important in the world and actually tries to make amends and improve herself.
There was also some great discussions on how she feels her value is based on what she does for others. That they will only love her when she can be useful to them.

I loved Fawad and how much he truly cares for Humaira, he sees all of her. The messy imperfect woman and loves all of her.

I also loved the Pakistani rep and just the celebration of our culture was so wonderful to see.

If you love a slow burn romance where they’re both idiots in love, a grumpy cynic and a hopeless romantic dynamic then definitely pick this book up!

If I Loved You Less by Aamna Qureshi is a delightful and heartwarming romance that will leave you swooning.
The characters chemistry is palpable…. making the pages practically turn themselves

Thank You NetGalley and One More Chapter for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, charming and I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed this book and will look for more books by this author.

If I Loved You Less by Aamna Qureshi is a delightful modern retelling of Jane Austen's ‘Emma’, infused with humor and charm. This romance novel is both light and bubbly, often eliciting chuckles and smiles from the reader. While some moments in the book are weighed down by overly detailed descriptions that slow the pace, the overall experience is undeniably cute and enjoyable.

The story centers around Humaira Mirza, a 23-year-old civil engineer from Long Island who happens to be a passionate matchmaker. Having successfully found matches for her aunt and sister, Humaira decides it's time to focus on her own love life. She sets her sights on the handsome and mysterious Rizwan Ali. However, her journey to find love is complicated by the disapproval of her family friend, Fawad Sheikh, with whom she shares a long history of playful banter and teasing.

Humaira is portrayed as a sunshine-filled, sarcastic, and slightly spoiled character who uses her matchmaking skills to subtly manipulate others for what she believes are their best interests. Despite her outwardly superficial and meddling nature, Humaira's actions are driven by a genuine desire to make others happy and feel useful. Beneath her confident exterior lies a deep loneliness and numerous insecurities, adding layers to her character that make her relatable and compelling.

The dynamic between Humaira and Fawad is particularly engaging. Fawad, who initially comes across as closed off and even a little grumpy, reveals a big heart through his interactions with Humaira. Their relationship is a blend of witty banter, fleeting glances, and sweet, tender moments that build up to a satisfying romantic conclusion.

I was so giddy reading the last chapter, it was crazy. This was my first book read by Aamna Qureshi and definitely won’t be my last 🫶🏽

This was really cute. I kind of wish it was dual pov so we knew what was going on in his head. It took her a while to realize that she loved him but I'm glad she finally did.

I received an arc through netgalley.

What if Emma had been a civil engineer living in New York...?

In this modern day retelling, Humaira yearns for a match of her own after much success with her family and friends. However, is what she most needs hiding right under her nose?

I did enjoy this book, and I adore retellings, but I felt it took a while to get going, and the dialogue was at times too similar to that of Jane Austen herself. I probably enjoyed the last 20% of the book more than the rest, but overall it was a lovely read.

I really enjoyed this Emma retelling. It's cute and so sweet. The main characters father was by far my favorite character. But really the best part of this book is just that it is a Muslim American retelling. How often do we get that?? Almost never. So I really enjoyed that aspect.

I love reading about Pakistani characters so I ran to read this book. I thought Fawad and Humaira were almost there. I just wished they had more of a connection. I felt like their interaction was a sidebar and didn’t make for a rom-com. It was just told through Humaira’s inner that Fawad likes her.

Humaira’s character felt like an archetype of Emma without the necessary character work. Like the Emma character was a copy/paste for Humaira without personalizing Humaira’s lived experience to suit her shallow, judgmental archetype. There wasn’t much to her besides going to dawats and scheming as a matchmaker. Fawad on the other hand felt too much of a mysterious book boyfriend. She’s shallow, annoying, and bratty - so why did Fawad like her? I would’ve preferred more of a grounding that Fawad loves her despite her flaws.

Then the story felt like a genealogy with constantly telling how everyone is related to one another. A majority of conversations are about how her papa is grumpy about his daughter being married off. Repeated mentions of stuff that’s already been mentioned only a few pages earlier: like she speaks proper English because of her mother or how her father’s annoyed by Asif marrying his daughter and taking her away. Or how she’s missing her sister. More than any of those, I wish her loneliness was dug into more. Otherwise the story felt superficial.

A retelling of Austen's Emma, If I Loved you Less has a fresh outlook on the love story and showcases Pakistani culture. I also kept thinking about the 90s Clueless film, when I was reading it, apart from the fact that Humaira is not a teenager like Cher.

I loved Humaira and Fawad from the onset. It was nice seeing a hijabi protagonist who is an engineer and accomplished yet still seeks fun in matchmaking and girly pursuits. Even if she can be quite cheeky and out of touch with the real world it was an entertaining and humorous read.

Fawad and Humaira were the perfect frenemies to loves / neighbours. I also loved the friendship / sister dynamics and Humaira's relationship with her father.

A quote I liked: 'Perhaps all I am is a glossy veneer, shiny and polished, to cover the coarser truths hidden just beneath the surface.'