Debut
"...it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single Muslim man must be in want of a wife..."
Can you tell what classic retelling this is??
While a contemporary romance is not my genre of choice, this was a fun read. I enjoyed the Muslim take on a classic novel (its been years since I've read the original!); I enjoyed being exposed to diversity in reading. This is Jalaluddin's debut novel and I look forward to future writings by her!
Summary from Goodreads: Ayesha Shamsi has a lot going on. Her dreams of being a poet have been set aside for a teaching job so she can pay off her debts to her wealthy uncle. She lives with her boisterous Muslim family and is always being reminded that her flighty younger cousin, Hafsa, is close to rejecting her one hundredth marriage proposal. Though Ayesha is lonely, she doesn't want an arranged marriage. Then she meets Khalid, who is just as smart and handsome as he is conservative and judgmental. She is irritatingly attracted to someone who looks down on her choices and who dresses like he belongs in the seventh century.
When a surprise engagement is announced between Khalid and Hafsa, Ayesha is torn between how she feels about the straightforward Khalid and the unsettling new gossip she hears about his family. Looking into the rumors, she finds she has to deal with not only what she discovers about Khalid, but also the truth she realizes about herself.
Quotes: "'I would rather you stay single for the rest of your life than quote that fool poet [Shakespeare] and think the world is a comedy when it always turns out to be a tragedy.'"
"'A woman plays many roles in her life, and she must learn to accept them as they come. Men are not so flexible'"
"'Just remember to pack light. Dreams tend to shatter if you're carrying other people's hopes around with you.'"
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