From Aunty Ayesha and the Jinns with Love: Decoding Desi Marriages

by Ayesha Muzaffar

Asma couldn’t hold on to her ever-loving Akhtar, but you can. Rubina stayed in an abusive marriage, but you don’t have to.

Step into the vibrant and chaotic world of desi marriages, where love is as complicated as a Bollywood plot and family dynamics are as unpredictable as the Lahori monsoon rains. Bestselling author Ayesha Muzaffar, along with her ever-present jinns, brings you a candid, humorous, and deeply emotional guide to navigating the intricate maze of South Asian relationships.

Prepare to be captivated by real-life tales that are as heartwarming as they are heart-wrenching. Ayesha’s storytelling, enriched by the mischievous yet wise jinns, offers practical advice wrapped in the allure of timeless folklore.

Genres: Nonfiction

122 pages, Paperback

Published August 10, 2024

Reviews

[Beenish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a Ayesha Muzaffar book that’s not supernatural horror. I absolutely adore how the book has been written. Uses humour to direct sense into troubling relationships and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Will definitely want every Pakistani woman to read this.

[Eman Asif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful wonderful writing!!! The bestest advice ever.
It’s impossible if Ayesha muzaffar writes something and it doesn’t turn out to be a gem. This book is filled with wisdom and power, desi ghar ghar ki baatein and even their solutions!!! One thing that I learned from this book is ke letting go is not always dreadful and sometimes it’s necessary so if you are struggling with any type of distress in your relationship this book would be profitable or even while navigating a teenage relationship.


NOTE: it’s non-fiction but it doesn’t signify that it’s boring (I find other non-fictions boring and hard to get through)

[Nisa Wasim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading it! It was something different and appealing.

[Nadia Imran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a love letter for all South Asian women. Not creepy like her previous works, unless you consider marriage creepy. I’m happy she explored something outside horror.

[Maliha Rao · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start by saying how much I LOVE Ayesha and have all her books. They were spine-tingling and creepy as well as imaginative.

I know this current book is not supposed to be supernatural, but I still bought it (i had to, it's Ayesha!), but realised it's not my cup of tea, which is fine because books and genres are subjective.

It is a self-help book with case studies about Marriage with relatable stories we have all heard from one person or the other. It is a good book for those who enjoy self-help books and a great option if you are looking for marriage guides, as you usually won't find any decent ones. This is perfect for you.

It may not be a book I usually read, but I am sure many others will enjoy it.

[Maheen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written.👌🏻

[Khadija]

As it’s wedding season, I decided to read this book to see what Ayesha and Jinns have to say.
And I must say, they have some solid advices. The Bakery A and Bakery B analysis will stay with me for sure.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up from the attractive cover and the intriguing title. I expected it to be a book of funny marriage stories and while it had a little bit of that, it was so much more. Pre warning- this is a non-fiction book and it is more like a desi self-help marriage book.

Traditional values with modern solutions was the plot and it was feminist AF. I love how the author did not shy from topics that are generally stigmatized in our communities, including marrying the wrong person, cheating and divorce while also offering practical advice, with a humorous touch.

Chapter 10 has a collection of tidbits of advice that are incredibly valuable including;

“If you have dressed a certain way all your life and done things that are drastically different from your husband-to-be, and you're constantly worrying about the discomfort you're going to it face, but you're told that this discomfort is nothing compared to the generational wealth you're gaining, don't listen. Unlearning twenty-five years of your life and going against your comfort is not compromising; it's letting go of a part of yourself for no valid reason other than this is just how things are here.”

I would highly highly recommend to any friends who are about to be married or married, it’s such a fresh take for the community and really covers every aspect of the complexity of desi relationships.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the hadith mention at the end.

And some practical tips on how to take care of a manchild that is the desi husband. (Obviously, while also keeping your sanity). The rest, though, not for me :) It's not fictionalized in a way that's impactful, or thorough enough for a self help.

But the writing made me curious to read more of the author's work - yay!

[Hijab · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really liked this approach of hers towards a non fiction book, having read her previous 2 books, this one had alot of knowledge towards how desi marriages regulate, how one should treat their partners and not be run over by them, a very short, sweet and simple guide book for us south Asians in the relam of partners, marriages and much more.

[Aunum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written and gripping due to its relatability. I feel there was much more that could have been written. The 2nd last chapter with all the 'keys to wisdom' was brilliant.
3 stars, because of what she said about Sialkot, my hometown
😁

[Nawal · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book!!! It beautifully decodes our desi households in such an intricate yet humorous way. I read it with my husband, and we both truly enjoyed the perfect desi tarka running through every chapter. It’s a must read for every woman/couple!!!

[Fatima Bilal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: From Aunty Ayesha and the Jinns with Love: Decoding Desi Marriages by Ayesha Muzaffar

The advice and stories in this book are so deeply relatable — I even handed it to my mom to read, and she loved it just as much as I did. It’s beautifully written: poignant, poetic, and full of heart.

Ayesha captures the desi marriage experience with such honesty and humour that I often felt like I was reading my own life story. It’s real, resonant, and incredibly touching.

This book stands apart from her usual work — refreshingly different, yet equally powerful. A delightful and insightful read for anyone navigating the waters of marriage or the rishta scene. An absolute must-read!