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First Comes Marriage: The perfect slow-burn romcom you won’t be able to put down this year!
Zafar and Reshma might be husband and wife.
But now it's time to fall in love...
Zafar is the perfect son. After all, he does spend his head buried in the family business and sets the right example for his younger brothers. But being the perfect husband doesn't come so easily to him...
Reshma didn't expect romance when she agreed to marry Zafar. And definitely not love. But there's something just about Zafar Saeed that makes her long for the romance she reads in her books, so falling for him was easy. The only issue is that he barely acknowledges her!
And when Zafar and Reshma are reluctantly swept away to beautiful Mombasa for a family wedding, avoiding each other becomes even trickier. Forced to be in close proximity, Zafar and Reshma are about to discover that sometimes falling in love comes after saying 'I do'.
*Heartwarming and achingly romantic, First Comes Marriage is just the slow-burn, grumpy-sunshine romance you need to read in 2023. Perfect for fans of Sara Desai, Sonali Dev and Talia Hibbert!*
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 25, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 19, 2024
I’m not entirely sure what to say here. The writing style was quite difficult for me to get into on this book, and while First Comes Marriage was a cute story, i found it difficult to get through.
July 21, 2024
I've been looking forward to reading this book for a while and was not disappointed.
I am a huge fan of South Asian-based fiction, stories that resonate with me as a South Asian woman.
Laila Rafi's story is a culturally sensitive Halal romance with many relatable points.
Zafar and Reshma were married using the traditional arranged marriage route. She has visions of romance and slowly falling in love after their nikkah. He's just happy he's ticked off a box—another thing required of him as a son.
A wedding from Reshma's side in the gorgeous setting of Mombasa becomes the catalyst for them to truly get to know one another and find that connection they have been missing.
Zafar isn't keen. Business is at the forefront of his mind as he strives to keep his grandfather's dream alive. However, sometimes you have to accept that another person's dream may not be the best for you.
I don't need heaps of spice to keep me reading. This is a true closed-door romance, where you get the hints, which is enough.
It was good to see how both characters grew and changed through the story, learning about themselves and their families and how others have shaped their thinking, sometimes for the better and for the worse,
I enjoyed this, especially as it was mainly set in Mombasa, where I spent many childhood holidays!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for an ARC.
I am a huge fan of South Asian-based fiction, stories that resonate with me as a South Asian woman.
Laila Rafi's story is a culturally sensitive Halal romance with many relatable points.
Zafar and Reshma were married using the traditional arranged marriage route. She has visions of romance and slowly falling in love after their nikkah. He's just happy he's ticked off a box—another thing required of him as a son.
A wedding from Reshma's side in the gorgeous setting of Mombasa becomes the catalyst for them to truly get to know one another and find that connection they have been missing.
Zafar isn't keen. Business is at the forefront of his mind as he strives to keep his grandfather's dream alive. However, sometimes you have to accept that another person's dream may not be the best for you.
I don't need heaps of spice to keep me reading. This is a true closed-door romance, where you get the hints, which is enough.
It was good to see how both characters grew and changed through the story, learning about themselves and their families and how others have shaped their thinking, sometimes for the better and for the worse,
I enjoyed this, especially as it was mainly set in Mombasa, where I spent many childhood holidays!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for an ARC.
October 11, 2025
I loooooved this book. Such a cute, wholesome, romance. I loved reading as these characters fell in love, post-marriage. (It was also very refreshing to read something that wasn’t full of smut lol)
I can’t even count how many times I said “awwwwh” while reading this!
I can’t even count how many times I said “awwwwh” while reading this!
December 17, 2024
This novel beautifully captures the complexities of arranged marriage and the journey to love after commitment. It is a tender, slow-burn romance with a heartwarming narrative and rich cultural backdrop. This book is a delightful read for any fan of grumpy-sunshine dynamics and complicated relationships.
Zafar and Reshma's marriage begins as a practical arrangement rather than one made out of love. Zafar, a dutiful son consumed by the family business, struggles to balance his responsibilities with emotional connection. Reshma, a dreamer at heart, yearns for the romance she’s read about in books but finds herself grappling with Zafar’s emotional unavailability. Their relationship takes a turn when they attend a family wedding, where their close proximity sparks both friction and undeniable chemistry.
I liked the way the novel presented the realistic depiction of two individuals learning to navigate their differences and gradually falling in love. Zafar’s reserved, grumpy nature contrasts beautifully with Reshma’s hopeful, sunshine personality, creating a dynamic that feels authentic and endearing. The family setting and cultural aspects add depth to the story, making it more than just a romance, also weaving in exploration of identity and tradition.
Overall, this was an endearing romantic tale about discovering love where you least expect it and I had a lovely time reading it.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Zafar and Reshma's marriage begins as a practical arrangement rather than one made out of love. Zafar, a dutiful son consumed by the family business, struggles to balance his responsibilities with emotional connection. Reshma, a dreamer at heart, yearns for the romance she’s read about in books but finds herself grappling with Zafar’s emotional unavailability. Their relationship takes a turn when they attend a family wedding, where their close proximity sparks both friction and undeniable chemistry.
I liked the way the novel presented the realistic depiction of two individuals learning to navigate their differences and gradually falling in love. Zafar’s reserved, grumpy nature contrasts beautifully with Reshma’s hopeful, sunshine personality, creating a dynamic that feels authentic and endearing. The family setting and cultural aspects add depth to the story, making it more than just a romance, also weaving in exploration of identity and tradition.
Overall, this was an endearing romantic tale about discovering love where you least expect it and I had a lovely time reading it.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
May 21, 2024
I saw the ad for First Comes Marriage in October 2023, and it immediately became a must-read on my Goodreads list.
Reshma and Zafar have been married for 13 months after an arranged marriage but still lack the deep connection Reshma yearns for. At the insistence of his father and grandmother, Zafar accompanies Reshma to her cousin's wedding in tropical Mombasa. This trip unearths old resentments, evokes tears, ignites sparks, and rekindles love.
I enjoy reading books by South Asian authors because I can relate to the culture and traditions they depict. Having grown up on the East African coast, the vivid descriptions of Mombasa felt particularly close to home, making this a delightful read. I loved the slow burn and the chemistry between Zafar and Reshma. The portrayal of family dynamics was heartwarming, especially the characters of Daadi and Uncle Jawad.
Although it is a halal romance, I wish it had been a bit more open-door with its romantic scenes. We need more books that blend all the classic romance tropes, like grumpy x sunshine and arranged marriage, with a halal twist.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishers for the ARC! I am so thrilled to have had the opportunity to read and review this ahead of the release date.
Reshma and Zafar have been married for 13 months after an arranged marriage but still lack the deep connection Reshma yearns for. At the insistence of his father and grandmother, Zafar accompanies Reshma to her cousin's wedding in tropical Mombasa. This trip unearths old resentments, evokes tears, ignites sparks, and rekindles love.
I enjoy reading books by South Asian authors because I can relate to the culture and traditions they depict. Having grown up on the East African coast, the vivid descriptions of Mombasa felt particularly close to home, making this a delightful read. I loved the slow burn and the chemistry between Zafar and Reshma. The portrayal of family dynamics was heartwarming, especially the characters of Daadi and Uncle Jawad.
Although it is a halal romance, I wish it had been a bit more open-door with its romantic scenes. We need more books that blend all the classic romance tropes, like grumpy x sunshine and arranged marriage, with a halal twist.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishers for the ARC! I am so thrilled to have had the opportunity to read and review this ahead of the release date.
August 9, 2024
First Comes Marriage is your next five star read! Couple of months ago I came across this book and immediately added it to my tbr list. I took the extra step and messaged Laila Rafi and she kindly sent a digital arc that I read while on vacation.
Zafar and Reshma are one year married but are going through the struggles of an arrange marriage. Poor communication, external pressures, and intense scrutiny of community and family. As a couple their arranged marriage isn't getting better, but now forced together at a family wedding they both find respect, love and admiration for one another. It's a slow burn read with such wonderful character development.
Laila Rafi highlights two grown adults willing and ready to save their marriage but importantly are putting in the work to ensure their relationship grows. The result is such a good love story.
Zafar and Reshma are one year married but are going through the struggles of an arrange marriage. Poor communication, external pressures, and intense scrutiny of community and family. As a couple their arranged marriage isn't getting better, but now forced together at a family wedding they both find respect, love and admiration for one another. It's a slow burn read with such wonderful character development.
Laila Rafi highlights two grown adults willing and ready to save their marriage but importantly are putting in the work to ensure their relationship grows. The result is such a good love story.
August 9, 2025
No se que decir está bien pero algo le falta , eso de que parecen ser musulmanes pero mencionan a Jesús? Como que la escritora está algo confundida y muy reburujada! No esa mal pero falta pulir este libro! Para. I es un 3.2
Want to Read
August 16, 2023I WANT TO READ IT ASAP!!!! Sorry, I need to let out my frustration!! Cause it sounds like the perfect halal relationship we’ve all been waiting for!! 😭😭 thank you for writing and publishing it ✨✨
September 1, 2024
4.25 ⭐️- the last 50 pages were cringey
October 18, 2024
intriguing but not that strong as a work, honesly. could have used more. but with how it is, still a nice lil thing. tysm for the arc
June 2, 2024
2.5 stars ✩
➳ not good, but also not the worst.
i am very 50/50 on this book. the beginning was really amazing and super engaging but towards the end it just started dragging tbh.
💌 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽:
⤿ dual pov
⤿ grumpy x sunshine
⤿ slow burn
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ arranged marriage
⤿ halal muslim romance
౨ৎ • 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽: reshma wasn’t expecting romance when she married zafar, the perfect son - but never the perfect husband - of his family, but falling for him was so easy. after the pair are reluctantly swept away to the beautiful city of mombasa, avoiding each other becomes a problem..
౨ৎ • 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮: very eh. at times i could feel a lot of tension and chemistry between them but then it just dissipated.
౨ৎ • 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰: dual pov in the third person is honestly my greatest enemy. it felt very detached and i felt connected to the characters in what otherwise could have been a very cute story. i also found myself skimming after the first half of the book as the pacing becomes a lot slower and the writing more clunky.
౨ৎ • 𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼: i honestly loved the setting of mombasa and how it was a halal romance since they were already married before the story began. i would’ve written a longer, more in depth review but i’m just not too sure what else needed to be said.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!
➳ not good, but also not the worst.
i am very 50/50 on this book. the beginning was really amazing and super engaging but towards the end it just started dragging tbh.
💌 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽:
⤿ dual pov
⤿ grumpy x sunshine
⤿ slow burn
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ arranged marriage
⤿ halal muslim romance
౨ৎ • 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽: reshma wasn’t expecting romance when she married zafar, the perfect son - but never the perfect husband - of his family, but falling for him was so easy. after the pair are reluctantly swept away to the beautiful city of mombasa, avoiding each other becomes a problem..
౨ৎ • 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮: very eh. at times i could feel a lot of tension and chemistry between them but then it just dissipated.
౨ৎ • 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰: dual pov in the third person is honestly my greatest enemy. it felt very detached and i felt connected to the characters in what otherwise could have been a very cute story. i also found myself skimming after the first half of the book as the pacing becomes a lot slower and the writing more clunky.
౨ৎ • 𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼: i honestly loved the setting of mombasa and how it was a halal romance since they were already married before the story began. i would’ve written a longer, more in depth review but i’m just not too sure what else needed to be said.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews