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Still With You
In a bustling Tokyo café, a secret admirer, a rose, a note, and a matcha latte... Met with a strange note from "Anonymous" at Nathan’s Café, Ayeza's life takes an unexpected turn. We leans on her faith, discovering that hope can bloom even in the midst of pain. Will she find her place in the world, navigating faith, family, expectations and love?
"Still With You" is a sweet tale of having high hopes and firm faith in God's plans. Ayeza Aarib, a religious middle-class Pakistani girl, lives in Tokyo in a joint family. She isn't able to study after highschool due to her parents' financial situation so she decides to get a job, work hard and save up for her MBA. As a career-oriented woman, she's shocked and worried when she finds out that her parents were pressurized by her aunt to have her engagement fixed with Zaid Khan, a man who isn't be good by character.
While walking home from work one day, she stumbles upon a new café in her neighborhood and decided to have a matcha latte. The waiter gives her a strange and mysterious note from "Anonymous" along with a rose... and that is where it all began.
"Still With You" is a sweet tale of having high hopes and firm faith in God's plans. Ayeza Aarib, a religious middle-class Pakistani girl, lives in Tokyo in a joint family. She isn't able to study after highschool due to her parents' financial situation so she decides to get a job, work hard and save up for her MBA. As a career-oriented woman, she's shocked and worried when she finds out that her parents were pressurized by her aunt to have her engagement fixed with Zaid Khan, a man who isn't be good by character.
While walking home from work one day, she stumbles upon a new café in her neighborhood and decided to have a matcha latte. The waiter gives her a strange and mysterious note from "Anonymous" along with a rose... and that is where it all began.
- GenresRomance
300 pages, Paperback
Published November 26, 2024
About the author
Mishel Zara
2 books35 followersMishel Zara is a teen indie author with a huge obsession with reading and writing. When not reading or writing, she’s daydreaming about her favorite characters. As a Pakistani Muslim student, she speaks Urdu, English, intermediate Korean, and is learning Japanese. Connect with her and explore her work @authormishelzara on social media.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 19, 2026
⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･
𐔌 . ⋮ Reading Summary .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
▸⋮ ⌗ read┆jun 15 - jun 17 (2026)
▸⊱ ۫ ׅ rating: 1.75 ✧˖°
This is a spoiler free review
بِسْمِ ٱللهِ
Firstly, thank you so much to my twin & bestie Zeynep for suffering through this with me. Rest assured we made the experience hella fun regardless (˶>⩊<˶) and I cherish our endless conversations ૮₍ ´ ꒳ `₎ა Here’s to SO MANY MORE BUDDY READS TOGETHER!!
⤷ ゛ SEE HER CUTESY REVIEW HERE ˎˊ˗
۫ · ⤷ 🌸 ゛MINI REVIEW: ˎˊ
This book was not it. (╥﹏╥)
I really really wanted to like it (the premise was really cute and I'm so here for supporting young indie authors), but as much as I tried it just did. not. work. Everything just started off on the wrong foot and I ended up reading the whole thing with an eye for criticism.
ᯓ➤ The writing style was so unpalatable. I realised about halfway through that this read like a 13 year old’s diary. The sentence formulations made me want to rip my eyelashes out. Some of the words she used? I don’t understand? Why?
ᯓ➤ With a premise so cute and simple, it was really surprising when the author tried to shove so many themes down our throats; halal love story, islamophobia, activisim, self-harm, desi culture, wannabe self-help, Islamic teachings, idek.
ᯓ➤ I can’t speak for the cultural rep, considering I’m not desi, but as far as I know, I’m lowkey questioning some of the things we saw. Some things just came across as weird and unnecessary to the story.
ᯓ➤ Everything was SO. FLIPPING. UNREALISTIC. Not even in a fun whimsical way, just straight up what the hell am I reading. The family dynamics, the love story, the characters behaviours, the dialouges, the extra quirks & details, just everything. Like what do you mean that this grown man of like 30 is sat doing face masks and eating popcorn on his wedding night. Come on.
ᯓ➤ The plot was so unclear, so nonlinear, I never really understood what we were building up to. Everything was unpredictable and inconsistent, and so, so, repetitive, AND THE PACING UGH JUST KILL ME NOW.
ᯓ➤ The dialogue was so cringe, pick-me and wattpad coded; it genuinely hurt to read.
ᯓ➤ My girl has done no research writing this, and some of her obvious mistakes made me crashout. GPA is not used in the UK. Crime and Punishment was written by Fyodor Dostoevsky, not Franz Kafka. ¥200K is not a large mahr for a CEO of some huge ahh business. Bsfr.
ᯓ➤ The second half the book was literally a copy and paste of the first half. LITERALLY.
ᯓ➤ The fmc's alpha male super-cold introverted inaccessible CEO husband acts like a teenage girl. I rest my case.
The only thing that didn't keep this from being a 1 star was the actually valid Muslim rep and the occasional cute moments.
۫ · ⤷ 🌸 ゛BOTTOM LINE: ˎˊ
Really disappointed, the premise was cute but flopped. So many better halal romances out there, my loves.
⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･
𐔌 . ⋮ Reading Summary .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
▸⋮ ⌗ read┆jun 15 - jun 17 (2026)
▸⊱ ۫ ׅ rating: 1.75 ✧˖°
This is a spoiler free review
بِسْمِ ٱللهِ
Firstly, thank you so much to my twin & bestie Zeynep for suffering through this with me. Rest assured we made the experience hella fun regardless (˶>⩊<˶) and I cherish our endless conversations ૮₍ ´ ꒳ `₎ა Here’s to SO MANY MORE BUDDY READS TOGETHER!!
⤷ ゛ SEE HER CUTESY REVIEW HERE ˎˊ˗
۫ · ⤷ 🌸 ゛MINI REVIEW: ˎˊ
This book was not it. (╥﹏╥)
I really really wanted to like it (the premise was really cute and I'm so here for supporting young indie authors), but as much as I tried it just did. not. work. Everything just started off on the wrong foot and I ended up reading the whole thing with an eye for criticism.
ᯓ➤ The writing style was so unpalatable. I realised about halfway through that this read like a 13 year old’s diary. The sentence formulations made me want to rip my eyelashes out. Some of the words she used? I don’t understand? Why?
ᯓ➤ With a premise so cute and simple, it was really surprising when the author tried to shove so many themes down our throats; halal love story, islamophobia, activisim, self-harm, desi culture, wannabe self-help, Islamic teachings, idek.
ᯓ➤ I can’t speak for the cultural rep, considering I’m not desi, but as far as I know, I’m lowkey questioning some of the things we saw. Some things just came across as weird and unnecessary to the story.
ᯓ➤ Everything was SO. FLIPPING. UNREALISTIC. Not even in a fun whimsical way, just straight up what the hell am I reading. The family dynamics, the love story, the characters behaviours, the dialouges, the extra quirks & details, just everything. Like what do you mean that this grown man of like 30 is sat doing face masks and eating popcorn on his wedding night. Come on.
ᯓ➤ The plot was so unclear, so nonlinear, I never really understood what we were building up to. Everything was unpredictable and inconsistent, and so, so, repetitive, AND THE PACING UGH JUST KILL ME NOW.
ᯓ➤ The dialogue was so cringe, pick-me and wattpad coded; it genuinely hurt to read.
ᯓ➤ My girl has done no research writing this, and some of her obvious mistakes made me crashout. GPA is not used in the UK. Crime and Punishment was written by Fyodor Dostoevsky, not Franz Kafka. ¥200K is not a large mahr for a CEO of some huge ahh business. Bsfr.
ᯓ➤ The second half the book was literally a copy and paste of the first half. LITERALLY.
ᯓ➤ The fmc's alpha male super-cold introverted inaccessible CEO husband acts like a teenage girl. I rest my case.
The only thing that didn't keep this from being a 1 star was the actually valid Muslim rep and the occasional cute moments.
۫ · ⤷ 🌸 ゛BOTTOM LINE: ˎˊ
Really disappointed, the premise was cute but flopped. So many better halal romances out there, my loves.
⋆.ೃ࿔🌸*:･
June 18, 2026
2⭐
Before i start this review, i wanna say that this is NOT a hate review of the book. (though it may sound like that, at some points.) i understand that the author intended to do good by writing this, and the general premise was really good, actually. So i want to write this review, hoping that it'll help her with writing better books in the future.
I am not in the mood to gather my thoughts in a cohesive review, so i'll just list things that i liked and disliked.
Let's start with things i didn't like/hated:
- first of all the writing was so painful to read. I usually can, to an extent, overlook some grammatical errors here and there, but this one was just too much. This is common in indie authors i guess, with a lack of a proper editor, but still.
- Again, about the writing; it was written like diary entries, with slang words, short forms of some words, and just informal language in general.
- from the beginning, there was wayyy too much unnecessary info in the story. Who went where and when, and did what, etc., things that had nothing to do with the actual story.
- the amount of characters that were just presented at once in the beginning, to every little detail, including their height… it was so overwhelming, and I couldn't remember who was who until i had read at least like 10 chapters.
-
- the fmc is gifting her best friend the book "Crime and Punishment by Franz Kafka" …. I don't think i need any further talk about this. But like, I can definitely understand if you don't know about the book or the author. It's totally understandable, BUT when writing a whole book and choosing to include this in it, you had to look it up. It's just one google search away.
- The fmc, Ayeza's height, as it was mentioned in the beginning of the book, was 5'8" (roughly 172 cm) and there were multiple times she was called SHORT! Like, if THAT is short, i don't wanna know what is normal. And, as far as i know, Pakistanis aren't especially tall overall, are they. As a Short Person™️myself, this offended me 😭
- There was this unnecessary mention of a character trying to commit suicide. And that was FOR A BOY. This was SO out of the blue, and had absolutely no point being there.
- even though i liked the Islamic aspect of the book generally, it felt like the author tried to put every single Islamic topic into this one book. She tried to address EVERY SINGLE aspect (everything from the importance of hijab, to halal-haram, to palestinian g*nocide, to have faith in Allah's plan, and much, much more…) in one book, and that was really overwhelming, in my opinion. If it had just focused on one or a couple of topics and had done it well, it would be much more beautiful. At some point, it even felt like an Islamic self-help book instead of a novel, with all the info and 'inspirational speech' listed up.
- the fmc (and also mmc, at some point) often acted like a teenager when she was actually 28 years old!
- One last thing is that there were SO many cliches and 'stolen' scenes/lines that made it boring at times.
Sorry, this was long…
but now comes things i actually liked:
- the Islamic representation. I am seriously in awe of how well most of the Islamic lifestyle and the correct way of acting with/around non-mahram was shown in this book. This must be the most halal romance i've ever read. (Though it was an arranged marriage, there was still love, and it was, in essense beautiful.) The way this book showed the beauty of Islam was the biggest reason i didn't rate this lower.
- The way Ayeza's non-muslim friends were so kind to her and sensitive with her food being halal and such. It was so cute, and if someone did those things to me in real life, i would literally melt.
- The overall getting-secret-notes-at-a-café premise was really cute as well.
- andd, that's it? There weren't many things i liked, unfortunately.
I really see the potential in the author's writing skills, and if those things i mentioned above were fixed, the book would be much, much better in my opinion. I'm planning to read her newer novel as well, and insha'Allah it'll be much better than this one.🤍
A HUUGEE thanks to my sweet girl trix for buddyreading this with me and for suffering through this with me 😭💖 It was nonetheless so funnn and I'd LOVE to do many more brs with you in the future insha'Allahh💖💐
Don't forget to check out her review HERE
Before i start this review, i wanna say that this is NOT a hate review of the book. (though it may sound like that, at some points.) i understand that the author intended to do good by writing this, and the general premise was really good, actually. So i want to write this review, hoping that it'll help her with writing better books in the future.
I am not in the mood to gather my thoughts in a cohesive review, so i'll just list things that i liked and disliked.
Let's start with things i didn't like/hated:
- first of all the writing was so painful to read. I usually can, to an extent, overlook some grammatical errors here and there, but this one was just too much. This is common in indie authors i guess, with a lack of a proper editor, but still.
- Again, about the writing; it was written like diary entries, with slang words, short forms of some words, and just informal language in general.
- from the beginning, there was wayyy too much unnecessary info in the story. Who went where and when, and did what, etc., things that had nothing to do with the actual story.
- the amount of characters that were just presented at once in the beginning, to every little detail, including their height… it was so overwhelming, and I couldn't remember who was who until i had read at least like 10 chapters.
-
- the fmc is gifting her best friend the book "Crime and Punishment by Franz Kafka" …. I don't think i need any further talk about this. But like, I can definitely understand if you don't know about the book or the author. It's totally understandable, BUT when writing a whole book and choosing to include this in it, you had to look it up. It's just one google search away.
- The fmc, Ayeza's height, as it was mentioned in the beginning of the book, was 5'8" (roughly 172 cm) and there were multiple times she was called SHORT! Like, if THAT is short, i don't wanna know what is normal. And, as far as i know, Pakistanis aren't especially tall overall, are they. As a Short Person™️myself, this offended me 😭
- There was this unnecessary mention of a character trying to commit suicide. And that was FOR A BOY. This was SO out of the blue, and had absolutely no point being there.
- even though i liked the Islamic aspect of the book generally, it felt like the author tried to put every single Islamic topic into this one book. She tried to address EVERY SINGLE aspect (everything from the importance of hijab, to halal-haram, to palestinian g*nocide, to have faith in Allah's plan, and much, much more…) in one book, and that was really overwhelming, in my opinion. If it had just focused on one or a couple of topics and had done it well, it would be much more beautiful. At some point, it even felt like an Islamic self-help book instead of a novel, with all the info and 'inspirational speech' listed up.
- the fmc (and also mmc, at some point) often acted like a teenager when she was actually 28 years old!
- One last thing is that there were SO many cliches and 'stolen' scenes/lines that made it boring at times.
Sorry, this was long…
but now comes things i actually liked:
- the Islamic representation. I am seriously in awe of how well most of the Islamic lifestyle and the correct way of acting with/around non-mahram was shown in this book. This must be the most halal romance i've ever read. (Though it was an arranged marriage, there was still love, and it was, in essense beautiful.) The way this book showed the beauty of Islam was the biggest reason i didn't rate this lower.
- The way Ayeza's non-muslim friends were so kind to her and sensitive with her food being halal and such. It was so cute, and if someone did those things to me in real life, i would literally melt.
- The overall getting-secret-notes-at-a-café premise was really cute as well.
- andd, that's it? There weren't many things i liked, unfortunately.
I really see the potential in the author's writing skills, and if those things i mentioned above were fixed, the book would be much, much better in my opinion. I'm planning to read her newer novel as well, and insha'Allah it'll be much better than this one.🤍
August 4, 2025
I read @authormishelzara 's book so long ago but forgot to review it here...I hope you'll forgive me, Mishel.
✨️"Still with you" is one of the cutest and coziest books I've ever read, the kind of story you want to pick up on a rainy evening and curl up on the couch reading until the dusk falls outside. The one that has you smiling and blushing because the main leads' chemistry is so sweet. It was a very good read, and a very good book for a debut novel, @authormishelzara you are already one of my favourite authors and I pray you make it big InshaAllah.
🎤 "Still with you" follows the story of Ayeza and Hamza who are first cousins living in a joint family in Tokyo. As it's perfectly halal, Ayeza and Hamza have barely talked to each other before Nikah. And Ayeza has a mysterious admirer who keeps sending her flowers and encouraging notes. The twist happens when Ayeza's parents force her to marry Zaid, a man who isn't worthy of her at all. Ayeza asks Hamza for help and the story enters its most interesting phase after that...which of course you'll have to read to find out.
🎙 "Still with you" contains the best version of all the popular book tropes, the male lead is a CEO but instead of being dependent on him, the female lead is an entrepreneur herself. It's true portrayal of islamic values and culture. And the dialogues and setting is so ravishingly beautiful.
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
.
✨️"Still with you" is one of the cutest and coziest books I've ever read, the kind of story you want to pick up on a rainy evening and curl up on the couch reading until the dusk falls outside. The one that has you smiling and blushing because the main leads' chemistry is so sweet. It was a very good read, and a very good book for a debut novel, @authormishelzara you are already one of my favourite authors and I pray you make it big InshaAllah.
🎤 "Still with you" follows the story of Ayeza and Hamza who are first cousins living in a joint family in Tokyo. As it's perfectly halal, Ayeza and Hamza have barely talked to each other before Nikah. And Ayeza has a mysterious admirer who keeps sending her flowers and encouraging notes. The twist happens when Ayeza's parents force her to marry Zaid, a man who isn't worthy of her at all. Ayeza asks Hamza for help and the story enters its most interesting phase after that...which of course you'll have to read to find out.
🎙 "Still with you" contains the best version of all the popular book tropes, the male lead is a CEO but instead of being dependent on him, the female lead is an entrepreneur herself. It's true portrayal of islamic values and culture. And the dialogues and setting is so ravishingly beautiful.
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2024
I had the chance to read this book as a beta reader and I have to say that it’s one of the best romance I’ve read. It’s the first halal romance I’ve ever read and i’m not even into romance usually but the way it had me GIGGLING??? I was blushing to my phone like that was so CUTE
anyway… that’s a really good book with great lessons on life and I even learned a bit on pakitanis culture while reading, y’all MUST take a look at it i’m sure you’ll love it too!
anyway… that’s a really good book with great lessons on life and I even learned a bit on pakitanis culture while reading, y’all MUST take a look at it i’m sure you’ll love it too!
May 17, 2026
This book 🥹 is my favorite now and I loved it sooo muchh 💗✨ It’s so sweet, beautiful and poetic 🌸 — every line feels like it was written to stay in your heart. Hamza and Ayeza’s bond struck me so hard 🫠🥺, the way Hamza loves, respects and supports Ayeza is everything 🔥🫶🏻 so pure and real, he made me feel like home is a person. That airport rain scene 🌧️ where he holds the umbrella for her while getting soaked himself made me cry so much 😩🥹. I was literally screaming in excitement while reading his letters 📩 and I couldn’t stop reading once I started because the author was so creative with the story, by making the lines so deep and poetic. The characters were so beautiful, especially Yumna, Hania and how she got reformed, and Hamza’s mother too, plus the kids 🤍. I especially loved the cute moments between Ayeza and Hamza like they all made me blush and giggle at times, it was all so sweet. What I loved most is how halal and pious their love is 🌷 and how their connection with Allah made me want to be better too. Like, my works will be less to describe the beauty of this book and the characters 🫠🫶🏻 Now I'll miss them so much as I'm done reading 🥹😭😭 Especially Ayeza and Hamza🫀. And I think every Muslim girls' would want someone like Hamza 🫠😩✨ Thank you Mishel Zara for writing something so full of heart 💗🫶🏻, you deserve all the love for this story ❤️❤️
July 29, 2025
This book is amazing and a great way to show hope to hopless, muslim romantics like me. This book is amazing and HAMZA was the best. It was really pretty and shows a story that i can relate to since you can see so many cultural and islamic refrences. The main character really makes you think about how you should try and live your life and it has given me motivation to take my islam more seriously and be proud of my hijab. Please read this book and trust me, you will not regret it. <3 Also thank you to Mishel Zara for making the best book for young girls like me.
June 10, 2026
I love this book so much. Thank you so much Miss Zara for giving a free copy of Still With You. This book is an amazing as the stars and as a Pakistani Muslim teen author/writer girl it has inspired me to keep working on my deen. The story is so true and relatable and sooo cute. Thank you for making my day. I literally could not put it down.
August 7, 2025
This was a simple but beautifully written book, this genre was deffo out of my comfort zone, but I still enjoyed it! I love how I could relate to it because of it's themes in Islam and culture. I aspire to be like Ayeza, can relate with her✨ And Hamza is a dream husband for any muslim girl😩 This book had me blushing, giggling and kicking my feet in the air! This book has also taught me to put your complete trust in Allah, and His plans are always greater than ours🙌🏻. I love how it explores themes of hope, love and life and just the little things like promoting kindness, helping each other out and whatnot! Would love to see author Mishel Zara grow in her writing🤍
btw I rated it 4.25⭐ but Goodreads is just stubborn :/
btw I rated it 4.25⭐ but Goodreads is just stubborn :/
July 26, 2025
This was SO a good definitely a must read!
April 23, 2025
A book that blew away and broke so many myths ; A halal Muslim romance, CLEAN romance which people like me die for.
Ayeza is that sunshine, self supporting sunflower in her and other's life living on faith and hope no matter what happens. This book has my heart for all it's themes and little details- girl's education, the beauty of marriage with the right person, the cute little letters, women empowerment and finally joint family systems.
These days you don't find much good books covering all such important themes. The author Mishel Zara has written it all from her heart, and it reaches the heart of her readers too including me. This is a coming of age story, and it's a must read for all people, no matter your culture or religion. I love how the writing style is simple, sober and in a few details the author manages to steal away the reader's attention so smoothly and making them addicted to the story.
Ayeza is that sunshine, self supporting sunflower in her and other's life living on faith and hope no matter what happens. This book has my heart for all it's themes and little details- girl's education, the beauty of marriage with the right person, the cute little letters, women empowerment and finally joint family systems.
These days you don't find much good books covering all such important themes. The author Mishel Zara has written it all from her heart, and it reaches the heart of her readers too including me. This is a coming of age story, and it's a must read for all people, no matter your culture or religion. I love how the writing style is simple, sober and in a few details the author manages to steal away the reader's attention so smoothly and making them addicted to the story.
May 7, 2026
Read in one day? Yes.
Read while giggling and kicking my legs? Yes.
Read while feeling hundreds of emotions at once? Yes.
Read BEFORE Mishel Zara becomes famous InshAllah? Yes.
Read while feeling completely inspired to become a halal romance author InshAllah LIKE Mishel? Yes.
Read while realising I (a teen) really want a husband? Yes.
Read just in time to claim Hamza as my own? YESSSS!!!
Read while giggling and kicking my legs? Yes.
Read while feeling hundreds of emotions at once? Yes.
Read BEFORE Mishel Zara becomes famous InshAllah? Yes.
Read while feeling completely inspired to become a halal romance author InshAllah LIKE Mishel? Yes.
Read while realising I (a teen) really want a husband? Yes.
Read just in time to claim Hamza as my own? YESSSS!!!
June 19, 2025
Still With You is such a beautiful, gentle, and soul-touching read.This book honestly surprised me in the best way. From the very beginning, I found myself immersed in the story it’s simple yet meaningful, and carries such a comforting vibe throughout.
This was actually my first halal romance, and oh my God it had me giggling, smiling like crazy, and feeling all kinds of soft! 🥹💗 The chemistry was so sweet, clean, and wholesome, yet it still gave me butterflies. I loved how the romance was built on genuine moments and mutual respect something we rarely get to see portrayed so beautifully.
What really stood out to me was how naturally Islamic teachings were woven into the narrative. The inclusion of Quranic verses and Islamic lessons didn’t feel forced at all they blended so beautifully with the storyline. It actually made me reflect deeply, shift my perspective, and inspired me to make small changes in how I view things and how I practice my faith. It made me want to be a better Muslim and that’s something I truly cherish about this book.🫶🏻
The characters felt real, and the scenes were so cute and cozy. The café scene? My absolute favorite! I kept looking forward to it while reading it had that comforting, butterflies-in-the-stomach kind of magic.😭🤭
This book is soft, powerful in its own quiet way, and filled with sincerity. You can truly feel the author poured her heart into it. I’m so grateful she trusted me with a copy and I’ll definitely be cheering her on for all her future books! 💛✨
This was actually my first halal romance, and oh my God it had me giggling, smiling like crazy, and feeling all kinds of soft! 🥹💗 The chemistry was so sweet, clean, and wholesome, yet it still gave me butterflies. I loved how the romance was built on genuine moments and mutual respect something we rarely get to see portrayed so beautifully.
What really stood out to me was how naturally Islamic teachings were woven into the narrative. The inclusion of Quranic verses and Islamic lessons didn’t feel forced at all they blended so beautifully with the storyline. It actually made me reflect deeply, shift my perspective, and inspired me to make small changes in how I view things and how I practice my faith. It made me want to be a better Muslim and that’s something I truly cherish about this book.🫶🏻
The characters felt real, and the scenes were so cute and cozy. The café scene? My absolute favorite! I kept looking forward to it while reading it had that comforting, butterflies-in-the-stomach kind of magic.😭🤭
This book is soft, powerful in its own quiet way, and filled with sincerity. You can truly feel the author poured her heart into it. I’m so grateful she trusted me with a copy and I’ll definitely be cheering her on for all her future books! 💛✨
January 1, 2025
This book was really sweet tbh! Like a Pakistani version of a kdrama but make it a book. I like how it addressed real issues present in desi societies/households such as racism, colour discrimination, fight for power and money + how it drives families apart in midst of their rivalries.
I also like that the female main character was independent since it obviously promotes independence in the female population of our country which is something Islam promotes but is frowned upon duo to misogyny in a typical desi society.
Furthermore Hamza is an ideal example of a loving supportive husband and sets the standards for women when choosing a partner for themselves. The story was a bit cheesy at bits but hey what’s a romance novel without the cheesy part huh?
Also the mystery on who the masked messages guy was (ifykyk) was really intriguing but tbh I forgot who it was cus I read this book a long time ago (I put Jan 1st as finish and start dates cus I’m just a girl who can’t track dates 🥲😛)
Would I recommend this?
For the sake of diversity and for those people specifically looking to expand their genres and introduce themselves to new cultures, authors and storytellers, def give this book a go! Although I can also see why this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, keeping in mind how the theme of Islam is very deeply discussed and explored in this novel so people of other religions may not be as open and comfortable with this book, but it also depends on every person and what they’re comfortable with so idk just read it man it’s a good book 😭
Thank you for listening to my TedEd talks. See u in the next episode :)
(Also I rated this 3.5 but since Goodreads hates everyone I was forced to mark it as a 3)
I also like that the female main character was independent since it obviously promotes independence in the female population of our country which is something Islam promotes but is frowned upon duo to misogyny in a typical desi society.
Furthermore Hamza is an ideal example of a loving supportive husband and sets the standards for women when choosing a partner for themselves. The story was a bit cheesy at bits but hey what’s a romance novel without the cheesy part huh?
Also the mystery on who the masked messages guy was (ifykyk) was really intriguing but tbh I forgot who it was cus I read this book a long time ago (I put Jan 1st as finish and start dates cus I’m just a girl who can’t track dates 🥲😛)
Would I recommend this?
For the sake of diversity and for those people specifically looking to expand their genres and introduce themselves to new cultures, authors and storytellers, def give this book a go! Although I can also see why this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, keeping in mind how the theme of Islam is very deeply discussed and explored in this novel so people of other religions may not be as open and comfortable with this book, but it also depends on every person and what they’re comfortable with so idk just read it man it’s a good book 😭
Thank you for listening to my TedEd talks. See u in the next episode :)
(Also I rated this 3.5 but since Goodreads hates everyone I was forced to mark it as a 3)
March 10, 2026
This book was everything. It was so beautiful💜
December 19, 2025
Alhumdillah, such a cute read.
Ayeza Aarib, a religious, middle-class Pakistani girl living with her joint family in the bustling city of Tokyo. Forced to put her dreams of an MBA on hold due to financial constraints, Ayeza takes up a job to save money. Her life is further complicated when she is pressured into an engagement with Zaid Khan, a man of questionable character.
The narrative shifts when Ayeza visits a neighborhood café and receives a mysterious note and a rose from an "Anonymous" admirer. This small spark of mystery begins a journey of self-discovery, testing her faith and her ability to navigate the complex expectations of her family.
Ayeza Aarib, a religious, middle-class Pakistani girl living with her joint family in the bustling city of Tokyo. Forced to put her dreams of an MBA on hold due to financial constraints, Ayeza takes up a job to save money. Her life is further complicated when she is pressured into an engagement with Zaid Khan, a man of questionable character.
The narrative shifts when Ayeza visits a neighborhood café and receives a mysterious note and a rose from an "Anonymous" admirer. This small spark of mystery begins a journey of self-discovery, testing her faith and her ability to navigate the complex expectations of her family.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2024
tthis book is phenomenal, not even kidding you or anything. its literally so inspiring, such a good novel, the halal romance and the relation between everyone is so good that i cant even describe it. its just ayeza living her life, conquering every fear, every obstacle with hope in Allah. its just so heartwarming, i love it. if youre looking for a book to read, in any situation, any hardship, anything in general, READ THIS!!
February 2, 2026
If any young or debut author needs reassurance to self-promote, this is your sign.
I loved this book for everything it was and everything I wasn’t. Reading with the understanding this story was written by a young, new author with a story to tell. Seeing all the pieces of the author that shine through the story. The beauty of the story itself. Amazing.
I loved this book for everything it was and everything I wasn’t. Reading with the understanding this story was written by a young, new author with a story to tell. Seeing all the pieces of the author that shine through the story. The beauty of the story itself. Amazing.
September 29, 2025
perfect
March 11, 2026
My Dear Author
Mishel Zara
I read your book “Still With You” a long time back, mostly in December, but I forgot to give a review. I apologise for that.
When I first read the blurb, I found it intriguing and cute, so I decided to give it a shot. By the time I finished it (it took me just 2.5 days exactly, I would have finished it in less than a day if not for college stuff), I was.. no, I’M SOO obsessed with the characters, their chemistry, the plot, the whole book itself, and I didn’t forget the author, either. I love the lessons the book has, the Islamic rep. It revolves around the themes of loving Allah and getting up when life becomes hard. It’s the cutest and most romantic book I've ever read.
I couldn’t stop giggling and blushing after reading some scenes.
1. When Ayeza’s nephew, Musa, shot water at her and ran away. Her poor husband, Hamza, had to deal with a glass of cold water on his head.
2. And during the reception, when those sweet little devils wanted to sit next to Ayezat, but Hamza just shooed them away. Those dialogues AHH…. I can’t stop blushing as I’m writing this.
3. My favourite one is when Hamza’s tongue ‘accidentally’ slips and he says ‘My Love’.
There are many more scenes I would like to write about, but I’m trying my best not to make this review A WHOLE BIG ESSAY>>>>>
AHH.. my heart. MY DEAR AUTHOR, YOU’RE LITERALLY FEEDING MY DELUSIONAL SELF, DON’T STOPP!!!
I WILL READ IT AGAINN!!!
Mishel Zara
I read your book “Still With You” a long time back, mostly in December, but I forgot to give a review. I apologise for that.
When I first read the blurb, I found it intriguing and cute, so I decided to give it a shot. By the time I finished it (it took me just 2.5 days exactly, I would have finished it in less than a day if not for college stuff), I was.. no, I’M SOO obsessed with the characters, their chemistry, the plot, the whole book itself, and I didn’t forget the author, either. I love the lessons the book has, the Islamic rep. It revolves around the themes of loving Allah and getting up when life becomes hard. It’s the cutest and most romantic book I've ever read.
I couldn’t stop giggling and blushing after reading some scenes.
1. When Ayeza’s nephew, Musa, shot water at her and ran away. Her poor husband, Hamza, had to deal with a glass of cold water on his head.
2. And during the reception, when those sweet little devils wanted to sit next to Ayezat, but Hamza just shooed them away. Those dialogues AHH…. I can’t stop blushing as I’m writing this.
3. My favourite one is when Hamza’s tongue ‘accidentally’ slips and he says ‘My Love’.
There are many more scenes I would like to write about, but I’m trying my best not to make this review A WHOLE BIG ESSAY>>>>>
AHH.. my heart. MY DEAR AUTHOR, YOU’RE LITERALLY FEEDING MY DELUSIONAL SELF, DON’T STOPP!!!
I WILL READ IT AGAINN!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2026
Still With You is literally the best. book. ever! No other book can ever change that. Ever since I started reading this book, I have become more aware and reflective, and I have felt a stronger connection to my faith. I started connecting with Ayeza and her feelings and realized how much I relate to her. Ayeza is my inspiration. The way she remains modest, patient, and deeply connected to her faith makes me want to become a better person myself. Even when life becomes difficult and she faces challenges that would overwhelm many people, she continues to trust Allah and turns back to Him for guidance. Her strength comes from her faith, her character, and the way she handles every situation with dignity and respect. Reading about her reminded me that true success is not about popularity or perfection but about staying close to Allah no matter what happens.
Hamza is also an incredible character. He controls his feelings, thinks carefully before acting, and is never afraid to stand up for what is right. In a world where many people follow the crowd, Hamza follows his values. His respect for others, his patience, and his strong sense of responsibility make him both inspirational and motivational. He shows that true strength comes from self control and good character. I admire the way he remains firm in his beliefs while still showing kindness and understanding toward others. His actions taught me important lessons about courage and staying true to yourself.
The other characters in this book were just as meaningful. Each one had their own struggles, strengths, and weaknesses, which made them feel realistic and relatable. Their experiences made me think about my own daily life, the choices I make, and the type of person I want to become. Some characters reminded me of challenges that many people face, while others encouraged me to look at situations from a different perspective. Together, they created a story that felt real and meaningful rather than just entertaining.
This book has been the best book I have ever read, and I truly believe it always will be. It did more than tell a story; it changed the way I think. It helped me strengthen my connection with my faith, appreciate the importance of good character, and view life with a wider perspective. One thing I especially loved was how the book included verses from the Quran and showed characters practicing pure Islamic habits that are encouraged in the Sunnah. Seeing faith naturally woven into the story made it feel meaningful and authentic. Not many books do that, and it was incredibly inspirational to read about characters who tried to live according to Islamic values in their everyday lives. It reminded me that Islam is not only something we practice during acts of worship but something that guides our character, choices, and relationships every day. This book inspired me to become a better Muslim, a better friend, and a better person. It also inspired me to make a positive impact on the world around me, no matter how small that impact may be. Through the characters and their experiences, I learned that even simple acts of sincerity and faith can make a difference in someone's life. The book reminded me that I should always remember Allah no matter what challenges, distractions, or difficulties come my way. No matter what happens in life, turning back to Allah brings comfort and guidance. Long after finishing the book, its lessons, reminders, and examples of faith will stay with me.
To the author, thank you so much for writing this incredible book. I honestly do not think you realize how much of an impact your words can have on someone. This is not just a story that I read and moved on from, but it is a story that stayed with me. The characters felt so real that I found myself thinking about them even when I was not reading. Their struggles and faith made me reflect on my own life in ways I never expected. Through this book, I laughed, reflected, learned, and grew closer to my faith. It reminded me of the importance of turning back to Allah and trying to become a better person every day.
What makes this book so special is that it did not simply entertain me, rather it inspired me. It inspired me to think differently, to make a positive impact on the people around me, and to be more mindful of my relationship with Allah. There are very few books that can leave such a lasting impression on a reader's heart, but this one certainly did. Thank you so, so much for sharing this story with the world and for creating characters and lessons that I will carry with me for a very long time. I know this is a book that I will never forget!
Hamza is also an incredible character. He controls his feelings, thinks carefully before acting, and is never afraid to stand up for what is right. In a world where many people follow the crowd, Hamza follows his values. His respect for others, his patience, and his strong sense of responsibility make him both inspirational and motivational. He shows that true strength comes from self control and good character. I admire the way he remains firm in his beliefs while still showing kindness and understanding toward others. His actions taught me important lessons about courage and staying true to yourself.
The other characters in this book were just as meaningful. Each one had their own struggles, strengths, and weaknesses, which made them feel realistic and relatable. Their experiences made me think about my own daily life, the choices I make, and the type of person I want to become. Some characters reminded me of challenges that many people face, while others encouraged me to look at situations from a different perspective. Together, they created a story that felt real and meaningful rather than just entertaining.
This book has been the best book I have ever read, and I truly believe it always will be. It did more than tell a story; it changed the way I think. It helped me strengthen my connection with my faith, appreciate the importance of good character, and view life with a wider perspective. One thing I especially loved was how the book included verses from the Quran and showed characters practicing pure Islamic habits that are encouraged in the Sunnah. Seeing faith naturally woven into the story made it feel meaningful and authentic. Not many books do that, and it was incredibly inspirational to read about characters who tried to live according to Islamic values in their everyday lives. It reminded me that Islam is not only something we practice during acts of worship but something that guides our character, choices, and relationships every day. This book inspired me to become a better Muslim, a better friend, and a better person. It also inspired me to make a positive impact on the world around me, no matter how small that impact may be. Through the characters and their experiences, I learned that even simple acts of sincerity and faith can make a difference in someone's life. The book reminded me that I should always remember Allah no matter what challenges, distractions, or difficulties come my way. No matter what happens in life, turning back to Allah brings comfort and guidance. Long after finishing the book, its lessons, reminders, and examples of faith will stay with me.
To the author, thank you so much for writing this incredible book. I honestly do not think you realize how much of an impact your words can have on someone. This is not just a story that I read and moved on from, but it is a story that stayed with me. The characters felt so real that I found myself thinking about them even when I was not reading. Their struggles and faith made me reflect on my own life in ways I never expected. Through this book, I laughed, reflected, learned, and grew closer to my faith. It reminded me of the importance of turning back to Allah and trying to become a better person every day.
What makes this book so special is that it did not simply entertain me, rather it inspired me. It inspired me to think differently, to make a positive impact on the people around me, and to be more mindful of my relationship with Allah. There are very few books that can leave such a lasting impression on a reader's heart, but this one certainly did. Thank you so, so much for sharing this story with the world and for creating characters and lessons that I will carry with me for a very long time. I know this is a book that I will never forget!
May 18, 2025
63 down, 237 to go.
Genre - Romance
Still With You
Ayeza Aarib has to marry a man who is of a questionable behavior. She soon discovers that everything may just fall into place for her.
---My Thoughts---
Ayeza was strong and didn't let the society bend her. She stood for what she thought was right and continued to live a life worthy of emulation.
While there were numerous moral lessons, I liked that women weren't portrayed as weak but were encouraged to be seen as capable of doing great things in little ways.
Lessons:
1. When we think things are falling apart, it is often when things are falling into place.
2. It is important to educate the society that women are more than their physical attributes.
3. Don't worry about people's opinions. Focus on doing what is right.
4. No one deserves to be discriminated against because of their skin color.
5. Strive to be as kind because a small act of kindness can change someone's life.
6. Emotions are like Rubik's Cube. The more you practice solving it, the better you become at handling it.
Genre - Romance
Still With You
Ayeza Aarib has to marry a man who is of a questionable behavior. She soon discovers that everything may just fall into place for her.
---My Thoughts---
Ayeza was strong and didn't let the society bend her. She stood for what she thought was right and continued to live a life worthy of emulation.
While there were numerous moral lessons, I liked that women weren't portrayed as weak but were encouraged to be seen as capable of doing great things in little ways.
Lessons:
1. When we think things are falling apart, it is often when things are falling into place.
2. It is important to educate the society that women are more than their physical attributes.
3. Don't worry about people's opinions. Focus on doing what is right.
4. No one deserves to be discriminated against because of their skin color.
5. Strive to be as kind because a small act of kindness can change someone's life.
6. Emotions are like Rubik's Cube. The more you practice solving it, the better you become at handling it.
December 29, 2024
I’m a beta reader of this novel - I’ve always been looking for a romance novel that is clean and highlights social and cultural issues, especially because there are several things that affect both men and women, but unfortunately, society has a lot of stigma attached to them. Still With You defies this, addressing these issues, empowering women and reminding people that the all the good things they do can make a difference, while upholding Islamic values. This book contain beautiful messages to women and men, Muslim and not, and I highly recommend it to anyone who’s looking into reading halal romance books.
May 7, 2026
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT IS A REALLY GOOD STORY, SPLENDID NOVEL, AND STRONG SETTING. A GOOD EXECUTION OF HALAL YA NOVEL. I HOPE THAT ALL THOSE WHO ARE THERE HAVING THIS BOOK IN THEIR TO-DO READING LIST, MUST READ AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO ENCOURAGE THIS YOUNG AUTHOR IN ACHIEVING HER SUCCESS AS A WONDERFUL AUTHOR. ONCE AGAIN............ WHAT A SPLENDID READ!!!!!Mishel Zara
IT IS A REALLY GOOD STORY, SPLENDID NOVEL, AND STRONG SETTING. A GOOD EXECUTION OF HALAL YA NOVEL. I HOPE THAT ALL THOSE WHO ARE THERE HAVING THIS BOOK IN THEIR TO-DO READING LIST, MUST READ AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO ENCOURAGE THIS YOUNG AUTHOR IN ACHIEVING HER SUCCESS AS A WONDERFUL AUTHOR. ONCE AGAIN............ WHAT A SPLENDID READ!!!!!Mishel Zara
May 19, 2026
I loved this book so much. The author’s writing style is beautiful and easy to understand. It was absolutely worth reading. I was hooked from the start till the ending. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is into halal writings.
The Quranic ayahs and the characters genuinely inspired me to get closer to my deen. Even the moral of the story was so beautiful. The way the scenes were described made it so easy to imagine everything without even trying.
The Quranic ayahs and the characters genuinely inspired me to get closer to my deen. Even the moral of the story was so beautiful. The way the scenes were described made it so easy to imagine everything without even trying.
April 2, 2026
Gyuzz I read this book and literally this book is soo good!!!! I really like this book. And yk the best part of this book is that this book is not just about halal romance bcoz it also teaches and inspire us many things. It has so many information about Islam and Haya which we may find difficult to practice in our daily life. I recommend y'all to read this amazing and great book!!!!
May 3, 2026
I have read both of her books and literally they are so comforting. The themes, the guidance, the Islamic talks, the story, the romance, they are all in point. This book too was marvelous. Anyone who loved reading "Jannat ke pattay" will surely enjoy it. I expect her writing more of these novels because they heal your heart.
December 24, 2024
I highly recommend reading this book! From the characters, to the plot, everything is really thought provoking. The emphasis on halal romance, mood swings, arguments, hard-work, hijabi problems, family life, everything was soooooo fun and exhilarating to read. Def 5/5
April 2, 2025
Way too cute! Great glossary in the beginning to help you understand the words. Very sweet and beautiful love story. I enjoyed every chapter and plot twists. Not overly religious even with the Muslim theme. I highly recommend this book for romance readers! :)
May 27, 2026
I enjoyed reading Still With You. It was inspiring in a calm and meaningful way.
I loved the reminders about dua, tawakkul, naseeb, and trusting Allah’s plan. It showed love in halal and beautiful realistic way. And it honestly made me want to become a better person.
I loved the reminders about dua, tawakkul, naseeb, and trusting Allah’s plan. It showed love in halal and beautiful realistic way. And it honestly made me want to become a better person.
June 30, 2025
To read a book and come away learning something while also enjoying every page is a dream come true. A beautiful story :)
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