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Arabian Nights
Book #2 in the Fairytale Series, an Aladdin/1001 Nights retelling. Blair Bakhtiar always wanted to be royalty. Zayn al-Haydar wanted to be anything but. When one fateful summer brings them together, the two discover that maybe it's not that much better on the other side... but the journey there is always full of surprises, with love being the biggest surprise of them all. This is a sequel to Once Upon a One Night Mistake , but can be read as a standalone.
390 pages, Paperback
Published April 27, 2023
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July 9, 2026
Pure ragebait ending. Fuck this book.
“Me and you, hayati. Me and you.”
Okay the book started good. I was invested as hell. The first chapter was in the king's pov and when he mentioned he had 11 children, my heart cried for his wife. Atp I would have appreciated him having multiple wives than a single woman bearing so much pain. Had they never heard of the term contraception because wtf???
Did I picture zayn malik as zayn al haydar the whole book? Absolutely. Did it make him 100x hotter in my eyes than as he was described in the book? Without a doubt. I loved zayn's personality so much. He is portrayed as someone who is very religious and honestly idc about these things. But the respect he shown for Laleh in the book had me screaming. He did not even look at her ffs. He casted his eyes down whenever laleh was in a room with him. He had an incredible control over himself. He refused to touch and look in her direction and honestly RESPECT. I love it when men make me feel respected and it is bare minimum but it made me feral.
Laleh, the fmc remained 17 for 95% of the book where she was constantly lusted after and prostituted for marriage by her father. The author could have easily snucked her bday ch wherever she wanted in the whole book but no the author was playing out some fetish. More than half of the book revolved around her forced marriage but I was not even given a proper reason for it except that her father wanted to sell her off to the highest bidder so, he can profit out of it. AT LEAST GIVE ME A DAMN REASON FOR MY SUFFERING FFS. I said thank god when zayn asked her the reason for it and it was brushed off completely. I had to do the guesswork the whole book. Apparently, the reason is clearly explained in the first book in the series which is about her friend. Like wdym you won't tell me the reason for this marriage because it will spoil some part of the first book??? This is not how you write a book.
She was lusted after continuously as an underage. Don't even start on the fact that the guy her father chose to marry her off to was double her age and he apparently had seen her in some club when she was 15 and commented on how he had seen her almost all of her body when she met him for the first time. The guy said she can do her bachelor's after getting married and even masters if that's what she wished but then he said he will expect babies from her in 3-4 years bc he isn't getting any younger and I was sitting there asking didn't you think about it when you were younger??? he even shouted at her on their first meet- obvs red flag. Also, they would have gotten married before she turned 18.
Now to romance or should I say, he doesn't love me and idek if I love him but i do wanna fuck him as the last act of rebellion before my father marries me off to some jerk??? He literally called her hayati and she still thought that he was being forced into being with her by everyone. There was this constant back n forth between them which in the start I was loving but the repetition of such things makes it annoying. Zayn did not want to even touch her out of respect and because he was religious and it was all considered haram. Laleh knew about this and she still tried seducing him for the major portion of the book. Why can't people be respectful of one another's beliefs is beyond me. The plot moved to her father forcing both of them to marry and zayn and laleh were happy by it obvs (they still hadn't confessed) but laleh was still in the dilemma that it wasn't her her choice and her father was forcing it even though that is what she also wanted it. Then she also think zayn was also being forced into and there was again a lot of back and forth about it. In the end zayn stated that he wanted to marry her bc he loved ber but what did she do? She said no and went on a self discovery journey- which honestly I appreciated because she was never given a choice to make in her own life and when she finally got the opportunity she grabbed it and flea to her own little corner. But no she had to mop all through the chapter about how she was missing zayn and blah blah. She fucking then turned 18, started a foundation for helping woman in need and I am kinda proud of her- she did come a long way from how she was in the start. She did thr self discovery thing for a year, went to malikabhri, married the guy and had her child all before she even turned 21 (no judgment to young moms out there). Laleh said she wanted a husband and children but not anytime soon and then she did what she was exactly against from the start. Ik people can change and this time it was her choice but I hate it when a woman's identity in the end just turns into being a wife and a mother. Laleh did not even know at 97% if she wanted to upend her whole life in USA to be with zayn as a queen of a whole ass nation. The king was against the marriage because no way a nation would accept an outsider as a queen. It could have made for a few juicy chapters in the end but no what I got what in the end was her having a baby. The epilogue was not even 5 pages long and for a romance novel, I expect a better end to the romance than a measly chapter. The whole point of a romance novel is to have actual romance and not this shit. I needed a little more explanation to why she chose to come back to malikabhri and how the nation took their marriage instead of 3 year time jump. Plus before laleh went on this self dicovery journey, zayn begged to her to be with him. He said we can have a long engagement but please don't leave me in peril and i can understand him but WHY ARE WE IGNORING THE FACT THAT SHE IS STILL 17 AND WHY HURRY MARRIAGE?? DOES HE WANNA GIVE HIS FATHER A COMPETITION IN HAVING CHILDREN?? WHAT THE HELLY?? but as I said zayn was a very respectful man, he never contacted laleh. He respected her decision and left her alone but he did write her letters every single day for the year without getting a single response!! I DO NEED A MAN LIKE ZAYN PLEASEEEEEEEE.
Also, I have heard the first book never had a proper ending. For the ending, people had to dwnld some other pricey app and I started seeing red when at 97%, there was no sign of a hea. It would have been 1 star if something like that had happened with this one.
Mahmood, her father's right hand man and the only person who actually cared about her who later become her legal guardian as well. I liked him the whole book until the part where he called Taliana, a friend to laleh a prostitute for wearing a short dress or wtv when in reality Laleh dressed as maddy from euphoria the whole book. It was literally her whole personality before her character dev of sorts.
Khalid, cousin to Laleh and the bestie of zayn from oxford. He was a fun personality but I would have loved to see more of him maybe. He was always very protective of Laleh but only in voicing out. He did jackshit whenever Amir (her father) beat her up or threatened her. This guy is 20, works out but still can't become a shield for Laleh. The last act was his saving grace. 🚨I did a little yay when he killed amir. But he had to rot in jail for 6 months because he couldn't get a bail when he very justifiably killed the man who was beating Laleh up. Yes he went a little deranged in the end but can't we give this man a little leeway, he was just protecting his sister?? Khalid was literally besties with the crown prince of the country and brother to the girl who was gonna marry him and the heir of one of the biggest oil company in the world- HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN THE BAIL THOUSAND TIMES OVER FFS. plus laleh literally left him to rot in the jail cell of malikhabri to go back home in US. idts I could have done to my brother who saved me from my abuser!!!🚨
Amir bakhtiar was the worst father and good riddance to when khalid lost his temper in the end.
For a wattpad book, it was written very well. The multiple and third pov sang to me. This book sadly had a plot as well which made me roll my eyes more than I can count. I wanted a stupid book lol. Did the plot make sense? Yes. But it has been done thousand times before so I was bored. I expect lots and lots of smut from wattpad (can you blame me) but it had none except a little kiss and it shouldn't have considering the tag of YA🤣 but as expected from a wattpad, there were a lot of inconsistencies and I mean a lot. Sebastian and Taliana did not make sense at all. They should have been together considering their book was the first cuz the problem must have been resolved before this one happened as the timelines don't concide. It took place before this one. The time gap never made sense. At one point laleh's bday was weeks away and a week later it was 6 days later. Also laleh and zayn did fall in love in mere weeks which honestly I hate.
AND YKW, I HATE SKIM READING BUT I SKIMMED A LOT AND THIS BOOK STILL DID NOT END. I CHANTED TO MYSELF THAT WE DON'T DNF BOOK NAT 90% MARK.
Well, right then he was just sad he wasn’t flanked by the Secret Service, because if he had to dodge another snotty-nosed, red-cheeked child, he was going to scream. me core
“I mean, how badass would it be to fuck a royal? Then I’d be able to say I was royally fucked and actually mean it.” I mean where's the lie. also I loved laleh and taliana's friendship sm
The onus was on him to resist, not on her to make things easier for him. He knew that, and he knew it well, but it had never been this hard to remember it. need more men like him cuz real world is shit
“And Khalid did say he’s religious as well. But that doesn’t stop a lot of men.” She’d seen firsthand how many of them picked and chose which parts of religion suited their desires.
There were few things more degrading than having no autonomy.
“I am not a card you tuck up your sleeve and play when you need a win. Why can’t anyone see that?” laleh joon was speaking facts throughout the book like these.
If there’s a lesson to be learned from this, Laleh, please never allow your own father to choose your husband alone, because the opinion of one man is never enough.
“Always trust yourself and never anybody else." I loved Laleh's mom. she would have loved how laleh leaned to embrace herself. plus also the whole plot the letters was stupid but CUTE AF. I LOVED THOSE SCENES SO MUCH. stupid because has laleh never heard of google translator before??
“Just to see you smile again is a blessing. Believe me, Laleh, there’s no place else I’d rather be.”
Going to her that first night had been like going home. Like he’d finally found the one place he belonged. There. With her. loved how zayn talked about her!!!
~~~~~
I don't even remember the last time I read a wattpad book but this has been on my tbr for very long and honestly such high rating has always intrigued me!! hoping it to be good<33
“Me and you, hayati. Me and you.”
Okay the book started good. I was invested as hell. The first chapter was in the king's pov and when he mentioned he had 11 children, my heart cried for his wife. Atp I would have appreciated him having multiple wives than a single woman bearing so much pain. Had they never heard of the term contraception because wtf???
Did I picture zayn malik as zayn al haydar the whole book? Absolutely. Did it make him 100x hotter in my eyes than as he was described in the book? Without a doubt. I loved zayn's personality so much. He is portrayed as someone who is very religious and honestly idc about these things. But the respect he shown for Laleh in the book had me screaming. He did not even look at her ffs. He casted his eyes down whenever laleh was in a room with him. He had an incredible control over himself. He refused to touch and look in her direction and honestly RESPECT. I love it when men make me feel respected and it is bare minimum but it made me feral.
Laleh, the fmc remained 17 for 95% of the book where she was constantly lusted after and prostituted for marriage by her father. The author could have easily snucked her bday ch wherever she wanted in the whole book but no the author was playing out some fetish. More than half of the book revolved around her forced marriage but I was not even given a proper reason for it except that her father wanted to sell her off to the highest bidder so, he can profit out of it. AT LEAST GIVE ME A DAMN REASON FOR MY SUFFERING FFS. I said thank god when zayn asked her the reason for it and it was brushed off completely. I had to do the guesswork the whole book. Apparently, the reason is clearly explained in the first book in the series which is about her friend. Like wdym you won't tell me the reason for this marriage because it will spoil some part of the first book??? This is not how you write a book.
She was lusted after continuously as an underage. Don't even start on the fact that the guy her father chose to marry her off to was double her age and he apparently had seen her in some club when she was 15 and commented on how he had seen her almost all of her body when she met him for the first time. The guy said she can do her bachelor's after getting married and even masters if that's what she wished but then he said he will expect babies from her in 3-4 years bc he isn't getting any younger and I was sitting there asking didn't you think about it when you were younger??? he even shouted at her on their first meet- obvs red flag. Also, they would have gotten married before she turned 18.
Now to romance or should I say, he doesn't love me and idek if I love him but i do wanna fuck him as the last act of rebellion before my father marries me off to some jerk??? He literally called her hayati and she still thought that he was being forced into being with her by everyone. There was this constant back n forth between them which in the start I was loving but the repetition of such things makes it annoying. Zayn did not want to even touch her out of respect and because he was religious and it was all considered haram. Laleh knew about this and she still tried seducing him for the major portion of the book. Why can't people be respectful of one another's beliefs is beyond me. The plot moved to her father forcing both of them to marry and zayn and laleh were happy by it obvs (they still hadn't confessed) but laleh was still in the dilemma that it wasn't her her choice and her father was forcing it even though that is what she also wanted it. Then she also think zayn was also being forced into and there was again a lot of back and forth about it. In the end zayn stated that he wanted to marry her bc he loved ber but what did she do? She said no and went on a self discovery journey- which honestly I appreciated because she was never given a choice to make in her own life and when she finally got the opportunity she grabbed it and flea to her own little corner. But no she had to mop all through the chapter about how she was missing zayn and blah blah. She fucking then turned 18, started a foundation for helping woman in need and I am kinda proud of her- she did come a long way from how she was in the start. She did thr self discovery thing for a year, went to malikabhri, married the guy and had her child all before she even turned 21 (no judgment to young moms out there). Laleh said she wanted a husband and children but not anytime soon and then she did what she was exactly against from the start. Ik people can change and this time it was her choice but I hate it when a woman's identity in the end just turns into being a wife and a mother. Laleh did not even know at 97% if she wanted to upend her whole life in USA to be with zayn as a queen of a whole ass nation. The king was against the marriage because no way a nation would accept an outsider as a queen. It could have made for a few juicy chapters in the end but no what I got what in the end was her having a baby. The epilogue was not even 5 pages long and for a romance novel, I expect a better end to the romance than a measly chapter. The whole point of a romance novel is to have actual romance and not this shit. I needed a little more explanation to why she chose to come back to malikabhri and how the nation took their marriage instead of 3 year time jump. Plus before laleh went on this self dicovery journey, zayn begged to her to be with him. He said we can have a long engagement but please don't leave me in peril and i can understand him but WHY ARE WE IGNORING THE FACT THAT SHE IS STILL 17 AND WHY HURRY MARRIAGE?? DOES HE WANNA GIVE HIS FATHER A COMPETITION IN HAVING CHILDREN?? WHAT THE HELLY?? but as I said zayn was a very respectful man, he never contacted laleh. He respected her decision and left her alone but he did write her letters every single day for the year without getting a single response!! I DO NEED A MAN LIKE ZAYN PLEASEEEEEEEE.
Also, I have heard the first book never had a proper ending. For the ending, people had to dwnld some other pricey app and I started seeing red when at 97%, there was no sign of a hea. It would have been 1 star if something like that had happened with this one.
Mahmood, her father's right hand man and the only person who actually cared about her who later become her legal guardian as well. I liked him the whole book until the part where he called Taliana, a friend to laleh a prostitute for wearing a short dress or wtv when in reality Laleh dressed as maddy from euphoria the whole book. It was literally her whole personality before her character dev of sorts.
Khalid, cousin to Laleh and the bestie of zayn from oxford. He was a fun personality but I would have loved to see more of him maybe. He was always very protective of Laleh but only in voicing out. He did jackshit whenever Amir (her father) beat her up or threatened her. This guy is 20, works out but still can't become a shield for Laleh. The last act was his saving grace. 🚨I did a little yay when he killed amir. But he had to rot in jail for 6 months because he couldn't get a bail when he very justifiably killed the man who was beating Laleh up. Yes he went a little deranged in the end but can't we give this man a little leeway, he was just protecting his sister?? Khalid was literally besties with the crown prince of the country and brother to the girl who was gonna marry him and the heir of one of the biggest oil company in the world- HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN THE BAIL THOUSAND TIMES OVER FFS. plus laleh literally left him to rot in the jail cell of malikhabri to go back home in US. idts I could have done to my brother who saved me from my abuser!!!🚨
Amir bakhtiar was the worst father and good riddance to when khalid lost his temper in the end.
For a wattpad book, it was written very well. The multiple and third pov sang to me. This book sadly had a plot as well which made me roll my eyes more than I can count. I wanted a stupid book lol. Did the plot make sense? Yes. But it has been done thousand times before so I was bored. I expect lots and lots of smut from wattpad (can you blame me) but it had none except a little kiss and it shouldn't have considering the tag of YA🤣 but as expected from a wattpad, there were a lot of inconsistencies and I mean a lot. Sebastian and Taliana did not make sense at all. They should have been together considering their book was the first cuz the problem must have been resolved before this one happened as the timelines don't concide. It took place before this one. The time gap never made sense. At one point laleh's bday was weeks away and a week later it was 6 days later. Also laleh and zayn did fall in love in mere weeks which honestly I hate.
AND YKW, I HATE SKIM READING BUT I SKIMMED A LOT AND THIS BOOK STILL DID NOT END. I CHANTED TO MYSELF THAT WE DON'T DNF BOOK NAT 90% MARK.
Well, right then he was just sad he wasn’t flanked by the Secret Service, because if he had to dodge another snotty-nosed, red-cheeked child, he was going to scream. me core
“I mean, how badass would it be to fuck a royal? Then I’d be able to say I was royally fucked and actually mean it.” I mean where's the lie. also I loved laleh and taliana's friendship sm
The onus was on him to resist, not on her to make things easier for him. He knew that, and he knew it well, but it had never been this hard to remember it. need more men like him cuz real world is shit
“And Khalid did say he’s religious as well. But that doesn’t stop a lot of men.” She’d seen firsthand how many of them picked and chose which parts of religion suited their desires.
There were few things more degrading than having no autonomy.
“I am not a card you tuck up your sleeve and play when you need a win. Why can’t anyone see that?” laleh joon was speaking facts throughout the book like these.
If there’s a lesson to be learned from this, Laleh, please never allow your own father to choose your husband alone, because the opinion of one man is never enough.
“Always trust yourself and never anybody else." I loved Laleh's mom. she would have loved how laleh leaned to embrace herself. plus also the whole plot the letters was stupid but CUTE AF. I LOVED THOSE SCENES SO MUCH. stupid because has laleh never heard of google translator before??
“Just to see you smile again is a blessing. Believe me, Laleh, there’s no place else I’d rather be.”
Going to her that first night had been like going home. Like he’d finally found the one place he belonged. There. With her. loved how zayn talked about her!!!
~~~~~
I don't even remember the last time I read a wattpad book but this has been on my tbr for very long and honestly such high rating has always intrigued me!! hoping it to be good<33
March 20, 2023
“You and me, hayati. You and me.”
I had my doubts about thus book but Simone PULLED THROUGH. if your looking for a middleastern Muslims romance than y’all THIS BOOK ATE. Now don’t get wrong, heading into this book you’ll probably hate the annoying fmc whose Muslim but does not adhere to any of the rules of Islam and tries to get one of the good Muslim men to falter his religion. You’ll hate that at first…but as my friends said TRUST THE PROCESS.
The beautiful thing about this story is not just the way the romance evolved, but the way the characters were trying to find themselves and the right path. It’s how the romance even came to be. Zayn is a good Muslim, although not perfect he does what he can to respect the religion he’s always loved. Lelah grew up in a household not very respective of it. She was constantly neglected by her own father and it caused her to take a path not so pure. Eventually Zayn and lelah met and even though it was love at first sight for Zayn, to lelah it was trying to break his interior and seduce him, only to realize he’s such a good man that she would hate to make him do something he wouldn’t want.
Zayn fell in love with lelah but he always made sure to lower his gaze and not touch her to the best of his ability till the time was right. He knew she did things she wasn’t supposed to do but HE NEVER, not once forced her into anything. He waited until she was ready to make her own choices, which eventually got her to reflect and become a better person to the point that in the days of their marriage she would be the one to wake him up for fajr.
Words cannot describe enough how beautifully written this story is. And how the journey in Islam is different for evreyone but eventually it will be a path of understanding. The plot was even immaculate.
So if it wasn’t obvious READ THIS BOOK OR UR DANIAPHOBIC🙅🏻♀️
I had my doubts about thus book but Simone PULLED THROUGH. if your looking for a middleastern Muslims romance than y’all THIS BOOK ATE. Now don’t get wrong, heading into this book you’ll probably hate the annoying fmc whose Muslim but does not adhere to any of the rules of Islam and tries to get one of the good Muslim men to falter his religion. You’ll hate that at first…but as my friends said TRUST THE PROCESS.
The beautiful thing about this story is not just the way the romance evolved, but the way the characters were trying to find themselves and the right path. It’s how the romance even came to be. Zayn is a good Muslim, although not perfect he does what he can to respect the religion he’s always loved. Lelah grew up in a household not very respective of it. She was constantly neglected by her own father and it caused her to take a path not so pure. Eventually Zayn and lelah met and even though it was love at first sight for Zayn, to lelah it was trying to break his interior and seduce him, only to realize he’s such a good man that she would hate to make him do something he wouldn’t want.
Zayn fell in love with lelah but he always made sure to lower his gaze and not touch her to the best of his ability till the time was right. He knew she did things she wasn’t supposed to do but HE NEVER, not once forced her into anything. He waited until she was ready to make her own choices, which eventually got her to reflect and become a better person to the point that in the days of their marriage she would be the one to wake him up for fajr.
Words cannot describe enough how beautifully written this story is. And how the journey in Islam is different for evreyone but eventually it will be a path of understanding. The plot was even immaculate.
So if it wasn’t obvious READ THIS BOOK OR UR DANIAPHOBIC🙅🏻♀️
January 27, 2021
this book is gorgeous, and i mean it. SIMPLY GORGEOUS.
this book not only has an absolutely beautiful plot that unravels a bit at a time, and leaves you guessing, but also very intimate, intricate details, rich aesthetics, poetic dialogues, and an overall stunning vibe. no matter how many times i reread this book, my love for it will never falter, not even a bit.
this book not only has an absolutely beautiful plot that unravels a bit at a time, and leaves you guessing, but also very intimate, intricate details, rich aesthetics, poetic dialogues, and an overall stunning vibe. no matter how many times i reread this book, my love for it will never falter, not even a bit.
August 9, 2023
no matter how many times i read this book, it will always be more beautiful than the previous time
February 24, 2021
Hope someone one day turns this into a (really good) film.
March 1, 2018
A story that will leave you guessing about what's going to happen next. The story holds the interest of the Reader from the starting and continues till the end. The story is about the crown prince named Zayn, of a place called Malikbahr. He becomes the crown prince when he least expected it and then he meets Laleh, a beautiful girl and sister of his roommate. Laleh has an image of her own which is not likeable by her family. Still, she manages to make her place in Zayn's heart.
This story is not only about love but it is full of mysterious secrets, family, suffering, friendship, betrayal and so much more. It is a complete package and the story is very wonderfully written.
I was engrossed in the story from the beginning till the end. I loved everything about this book. I would recommend everyone to read it because it is one of a kind.
This story is not only about love but it is full of mysterious secrets, family, suffering, friendship, betrayal and so much more. It is a complete package and the story is very wonderfully written.
I was engrossed in the story from the beginning till the end. I loved everything about this book. I would recommend everyone to read it because it is one of a kind.
April 28, 2018
This book left me speechless.
I am so happy I found this book and decided to read it. You know that feeling, when you're going through Wattpad, just browsing, hoping to find something exceptional. Well, once upon a time, I was doing just that. And I found this jewel.
I am so happy I found this book and decided to read it. You know that feeling, when you're going through Wattpad, just browsing, hoping to find something exceptional. Well, once upon a time, I was doing just that. And I found this jewel.
September 28, 2023
4.5 stars ( ★★★★☆)
Zayn and Laleh/Blair are my Roman Empire.
Note: this review is written years after having read the book multiple times on Wappad and off Radish
WHERE TF DO I START? I rarely get into Contemporary Romance/Drama books as I mentioned in my The Ex Talk review because I rarely get impressed by them. Not this one, no.
This book managed to instill such beautiful relationships of subtlety and pure romance in it that I fell in love almost instantly. The MMC (Zayn, a prince and an heir to the throne of a small middle-eastern country) is extremely pious, and finds his faith to ground him to the best version of himself. This also means that premarital intercourse is not something he is remotely interested in. He is next in line for the throne and looking for some peace in his life before he gets thrown into a world of politics and royal secrets.
Alternatively, the FMC ( Blair Bakhtiar) is like Ruby from Sex Education and her confidence matches Maddy Perez from Euphoria. She's rich, hot, in tune with her sexual needs and she knows her worth. At least, she shows that she knows it. She's been sexualized at a young age by her father, where he forced her to find suitors at an age when she should be worried about college and grades. She has internalized such feelings, which means that she sees seduction as her biggest weapon. Forced to have a marriage of convenience that benefits her father's business, she has to find a suitable partner before her father throws her at some random man's feet in exchange for power. When she meets Zayn, it becomes crystal clear that she has to bag him in order to get out of her living hell. The issue? Zayn isn't baggable.
All her plans come to a halt when she realizes that she just can't simply seduce the MMC in her ways, because he isn't someone like that. He's soft, kind, and extremely self aware. I loved watching Zayn time and time against blow her off, and her realizing that Zayn isn''t someone to fawn over sexy bikinis and promises of wild sex. Hell, he won't even wait long enough for Blair to finish her sentence. I love how his softness and truthfulness creates such an a positive environment around Blair that she begins to find her walls breaking down, and Simone captures her emotions perfectly. There is so much accurate representation in this book, which is a strong point in its favour. The way these two come to a beautiful unification in a way that uplifts both of them as individuals and as lovers is SO WELL DONE.
Review: I read it a while ago when it was available on Wattpad/Radish, which means that nothing I say now should ever be held against me, but I strongly recommend this book. Although Romance is it's main genre, it deals with so many sub-plots that I absolutely enjoyed. I loved seeing their romance blossom in such a non-sexual way, which reminded me of my favourite characters from Skam (Yousef and Sana).
P.S: the letters at the end??😭😭😭😭💫 Zayn is literally MY BOOK BF. FUCK BOOKTOK AND BOOKSTAGRAM BFs, THIS MAN IS THE REAL DEAL. HE IS LITERALLY A MODERN-DAY DARCY.
gonna go re-read it asap.
Zayn and Laleh/Blair are my Roman Empire.
Note: this review is written years after having read the book multiple times on Wappad and off Radish
WHERE TF DO I START? I rarely get into Contemporary Romance/Drama books as I mentioned in my The Ex Talk review because I rarely get impressed by them. Not this one, no.
This book managed to instill such beautiful relationships of subtlety and pure romance in it that I fell in love almost instantly. The MMC (Zayn, a prince and an heir to the throne of a small middle-eastern country) is extremely pious, and finds his faith to ground him to the best version of himself. This also means that premarital intercourse is not something he is remotely interested in. He is next in line for the throne and looking for some peace in his life before he gets thrown into a world of politics and royal secrets.
Alternatively, the FMC ( Blair Bakhtiar) is like Ruby from Sex Education and her confidence matches Maddy Perez from Euphoria. She's rich, hot, in tune with her sexual needs and she knows her worth. At least, she shows that she knows it. She's been sexualized at a young age by her father, where he forced her to find suitors at an age when she should be worried about college and grades. She has internalized such feelings, which means that she sees seduction as her biggest weapon. Forced to have a marriage of convenience that benefits her father's business, she has to find a suitable partner before her father throws her at some random man's feet in exchange for power. When she meets Zayn, it becomes crystal clear that she has to bag him in order to get out of her living hell. The issue? Zayn isn't baggable.
All her plans come to a halt when she realizes that she just can't simply seduce the MMC in her ways, because he isn't someone like that. He's soft, kind, and extremely self aware. I loved watching Zayn time and time against blow her off, and her realizing that Zayn isn''t someone to fawn over sexy bikinis and promises of wild sex. Hell, he won't even wait long enough for Blair to finish her sentence. I love how his softness and truthfulness creates such an a positive environment around Blair that she begins to find her walls breaking down, and Simone captures her emotions perfectly. There is so much accurate representation in this book, which is a strong point in its favour. The way these two come to a beautiful unification in a way that uplifts both of them as individuals and as lovers is SO WELL DONE.
Review: I read it a while ago when it was available on Wattpad/Radish, which means that nothing I say now should ever be held against me, but I strongly recommend this book. Although Romance is it's main genre, it deals with so many sub-plots that I absolutely enjoyed. I loved seeing their romance blossom in such a non-sexual way, which reminded me of my favourite characters from Skam (Yousef and Sana).
P.S: the letters at the end??😭😭😭😭💫 Zayn is literally MY BOOK BF. FUCK BOOKTOK AND BOOKSTAGRAM BFs, THIS MAN IS THE REAL DEAL. HE IS LITERALLY A MODERN-DAY DARCY.
gonna go re-read it asap.
December 30, 2023
wanted to see if the best Wattpad book i can remember was actually good or not. It was decent
February 25, 2021
An amazing and gripping story from the very first page. Riveting, new, exciting and thrilling, this novel is among the few that can boast of a deep romance, plotting and revenge, friendship and rivalry all in one.
Blair might not resonate with a lot of people, because let's be honest, many have had their guys stolen by such Divas, but Laleh is a wonderful person. Swapping the varying personalities, the author keeps you glued to find out which one is the real her. There is no deep similarity to Arabian Nights, except when Zayn reads her mother's letters to her, in the night, stopping at dawn; much like Princess Scherzade. Yet, in its own right the story is a marvel.
Blair might not resonate with a lot of people, because let's be honest, many have had their guys stolen by such Divas, but Laleh is a wonderful person. Swapping the varying personalities, the author keeps you glued to find out which one is the real her. There is no deep similarity to Arabian Nights, except when Zayn reads her mother's letters to her, in the night, stopping at dawn; much like Princess Scherzade. Yet, in its own right the story is a marvel.
December 18, 2018
I think I have a new favorite female character.
June 14, 2019
I absolutely hate Blair when I first had a glimpse of her (or maybe more) in OUANS but here in Arabian Nights, I kinda pity her like Amelia kind of pity (a character from another book) because inside that strong and bratty facade is a weak and insecure girl who just wants happiness. All her life she was treated like trash by none other than someone who should be her confidante, her protector, her fortress: her father. Then came Zayn who at first made her feel so much worse but later on, someone who is truly that kind of balance she needs. They may be polar opposites but they have so much more in common. Zayn is definitely one of my favorite male characters because...just because (lol). He's such a gentleman and pious and well-mannered and using Laleh's word, he's just so good. And Laleh, I luv her as well, she really changed like from being someone who's just a play thing in her dad's life to being someone so strong and influential in the future. I love these two characters, really. They both garnered this soft spot inside my heart already. I need a special chapter! Harhar.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2022
i have been obsessed with this book since i was 16 and i have read it no less than 4 times. ZAYN AL-HAYDAR is the standard i have said what i said. this man is just everything i will ever ask for in a man. the way he is so fucking poetic is so beautiful and precious and the way he talks about laleh is everything i want to have.
laleh esfandiary is my queen and she is who i want to be when i grow up. yes i am aware she is my age. she has been through so much shit and yet she still came out on the other side victorious with a man candy for a husband. their relationship is nothing short of phenomenal and heart warming. the care and love they had for one another even before they were together makes me want to scream. i just i love them so much. and if this is the last book i read for 2022, then truly this is a good reading year. happy new year everybody!
laleh esfandiary is my queen and she is who i want to be when i grow up. yes i am aware she is my age. she has been through so much shit and yet she still came out on the other side victorious with a man candy for a husband. their relationship is nothing short of phenomenal and heart warming. the care and love they had for one another even before they were together makes me want to scream. i just i love them so much. and if this is the last book i read for 2022, then truly this is a good reading year. happy new year everybody!
August 29, 2019
I have to say hands down this one has been my favorite of the fairytale series.. I’m just at a loss for words. I love the play on her own version of Aladdin and Simone captures so much more than that. She is so talented and I find myself searching for more of her work.
September 26, 2019
This entire series is just mind blowing. But Arabian nights is such a magnificent book. I literally cried so much reading it. Simone has captured such raw emotions which is absolutely mind boggling!!!
I have read the series quite a few times now!!!
I have read the series quite a few times now!!!
December 2, 2021
Read it on Wattpad. A rollercoaster ride, some good some bad. Words can’t describe how much I love Laleh and Zayn as individuals and even more so as a couple. Definitely meant to be. I love their love story.
June 18, 2022
Loved loved this book!
Both leads had really see personalities and development throughout the book.
Blair is a flawed but beautiful flawed woman. And Zayn, oof, this man is the sweetest.
I loved the buildup throughout the entire series and all the influential characters.
Definitely a must read!
Both leads had really see personalities and development throughout the book.
Blair is a flawed but beautiful flawed woman. And Zayn, oof, this man is the sweetest.
I loved the buildup throughout the entire series and all the influential characters.
Definitely a must read!
May 5, 2024
This is the OG. I fell in love with this book when it was just on Wattpad. Now that I have spending money, I went and looked for its published copy just to safekeep.
Although it's 3rd POV, the storyline and dynamic of the characters is worth it. Simone will not disappoint.
Although it's 3rd POV, the storyline and dynamic of the characters is worth it. Simone will not disappoint.
April 14, 2018
I don't think ima read the other books in this series, but this one was AMAZING. I might no think so tomorrow, but right now I am in love
March 10, 2019
blair bakhtiar will always be my favorite wattpad female character.
April 25, 2019
I’m in love. Zayn must be protected at all costs. ‘Hayati’ 🤧
September 23, 2019
Loved every thing about it. The character development is amazing and eventhough i didnt like the heroine at first she’s absolutely one of my favorites right now.
January 29, 2020
One of my favorite book!!!! Blair and zany you stole my heart 💕💕
January 7, 2022
My favourite book in the world. Stole my heart.
January 13, 2022
love love love
March 7, 2022
Loved it!
February 22, 2023
This book to this day is the one of those books I will continuously re read. So beautifully written and reminded me of my love for the Arabic language.
August 19, 2023
4.25 stars
November 3, 2023
No words. Amazing
October 28, 2024
Blair bakhtiar you don't know how much you've affected my life
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