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Lyrics of My Heart
A contemporary-yet-nostalgic tribute to the rom-coms of the 90s and early 00s. With all the quintessential quirks of life as a modern British Pakistani, this novel is the ‘cup of tea and a biscuit’ read that will make you feel lovely-jubbly inside.
Leena Ahmed hides a secret, a guilty shadow that follows her everywhere she goes, but in her small world that consists of her grandmother – Dadi – and her best friend – Avah – there is little time to dwell on anything other than her future dreams.
After a horrifically awful insta-story going viral and Dadi forcing her to meet marriage suitors, life could not be going more downhill. And then she meets Zubaid. A ghost from a past she would rather forget… not only because he teased her.
But then, like any classic Bollywood tale, a mutual wedding forces Leena and Zubaid together, and Leena finds there may be more to Zubaid than she initially thought. Amidst the crazy dholki traditions, sneaking around after dark, and mehndi dance practices, Leena finds her calling.
A voice for the voiceless.
Leena Ahmed hides a secret, a guilty shadow that follows her everywhere she goes, but in her small world that consists of her grandmother – Dadi – and her best friend – Avah – there is little time to dwell on anything other than her future dreams.
After a horrifically awful insta-story going viral and Dadi forcing her to meet marriage suitors, life could not be going more downhill. And then she meets Zubaid. A ghost from a past she would rather forget… not only because he teased her.
But then, like any classic Bollywood tale, a mutual wedding forces Leena and Zubaid together, and Leena finds there may be more to Zubaid than she initially thought. Amidst the crazy dholki traditions, sneaking around after dark, and mehndi dance practices, Leena finds her calling.
A voice for the voiceless.
Unknown Binding
Published November 1, 2024
About the author
Maya Mirza
6 books2 followersMaya Mirza has always loved storytelling and writing; having given up a career in medicine, she pursued a degree in English Literature, and began writing her own novels.
So far, she has written and self-published a delightfully funny and Bollywood-like coming of age novel, Lyrics of my Heart, the heart-gripping romance book, Before I Blink, and the captivating sci-fi trilogy: Struck, Lost, and Fate.
Since growing up in the countryside of Oxfordshire, Maya has travelled and lived in many different cities. Now nestled in heart of Berkshire, Maya lives with her husband, three boys, and their fluffy cat, Tedi.
So far, she has written and self-published a delightfully funny and Bollywood-like coming of age novel, Lyrics of my Heart, the heart-gripping romance book, Before I Blink, and the captivating sci-fi trilogy: Struck, Lost, and Fate.
Since growing up in the countryside of Oxfordshire, Maya has travelled and lived in many different cities. Now nestled in heart of Berkshire, Maya lives with her husband, three boys, and their fluffy cat, Tedi.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 13, 2026
This novel sits comfortably within desi Muslim chick lit, but what makes it linger is the tenderness with which Maya Mirza handles her characters. Beneath the humour, the family chaos, and the familiar cultural rhythms, there’s a quiet emotional intelligence that gives the story more weight than its exterior suggests.
At the heart of the book is Leena, shaped by the early fracture of losing her parents. She moves through the world with a carefulness that feels almost like muscle memory — a quiet instinct to protect what’s left of hersel She has learned to keep people at arm’s length, not out of coldness but out of self‑preservation. The author draws her with a gentle hand: she’s guarded, yes, but never closed; cautious, yet still quietly yearning for connection. Her gradual willingness to be seen feels understated and deeply human.
Alongside her are autistic characters written with warmth and respect, their presence woven into the narrative rather than treated as a plot device. Their perspectives add texture to the story, grounding the humour in something more sincere. The book doesn’t sensationalise autism; instead, it lets the characters exist as full people — funny, sharp, vulnerable, and wonderfully themselves. There is depth where other authors might reach for dramatics, and that restraint is one of the novel’s quiet strengths
The dialogue, at times, carries a faint, well‑intentioned awkwardness — a soft cringe that feels more endearing and fitting to the story rather than distracting. It’s the kind of clumsiness that comes from characters trying their best to articulate feelings they’ve spent years avoiding. And also the kind that comes from youth, from trying to say romantic things you’ve never said out loud before. The awkwardness becomes part of the emotional landscape rather than a flaw.
Where the novel truly shines is in its emotional pacing. The author understands the quiet ache a young woman wanting closeness but fearing its cost, and she captures that tension with remarkable restraint.
The cultural and religious details are handled with the same light touch: familiar without being stereotypical, warm without being sentimental and educational in a soft, quiet manner. It feels like stepping into a world like my own life that understands the push‑and‑pull of desi family life, the humour, the expectations, the unspoken loyalties.
One of the most striking threads in the novel is Leena’s relationship with her Daadi. The way she hesitates to ask for certain things — not out of fear of conflict, but out of the quiet dread of being refused or gently shut down — felt deeply familiar. It’s a nuance that sits at the heart of so many desi households, where love is abundant but emotional openness can be cautious, almost fragile. Seeing that dynamic reflected with such tenderness was unexpectedly affirming. It captured a truth of our culture without turning it into a stereotype, and it made Leena’s bond with her grandmother feel both intimate and recognisable.
This representation matters, and part of what drew me to this novel was how naturally it reflects experiences close to my own. As someone with Pakistani heritage and a faith that shapes the quiet architecture of my life, this story understands those cultural textures without flattening them. There is a comfort in seeing those familiar rhythms honoured — the humour, the hesitations, the unspoken expectations — not as stereotype but as lived experience. It made the book feel less like escape and more like being understood
By the final chapters, what stays with you isn’t the romance alone, but the sense of watching someone slowly, bravely reopen their life. It’s a story about love, but also about safety, belonging, and the courage it takes to let yourself be known.
It’s a charming, heartfelt read — imperfect in places, but sincere in all the ways that matter.
I received this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own and completely honest.
At the heart of the book is Leena, shaped by the early fracture of losing her parents. She moves through the world with a carefulness that feels almost like muscle memory — a quiet instinct to protect what’s left of hersel She has learned to keep people at arm’s length, not out of coldness but out of self‑preservation. The author draws her with a gentle hand: she’s guarded, yes, but never closed; cautious, yet still quietly yearning for connection. Her gradual willingness to be seen feels understated and deeply human.
Alongside her are autistic characters written with warmth and respect, their presence woven into the narrative rather than treated as a plot device. Their perspectives add texture to the story, grounding the humour in something more sincere. The book doesn’t sensationalise autism; instead, it lets the characters exist as full people — funny, sharp, vulnerable, and wonderfully themselves. There is depth where other authors might reach for dramatics, and that restraint is one of the novel’s quiet strengths
The dialogue, at times, carries a faint, well‑intentioned awkwardness — a soft cringe that feels more endearing and fitting to the story rather than distracting. It’s the kind of clumsiness that comes from characters trying their best to articulate feelings they’ve spent years avoiding. And also the kind that comes from youth, from trying to say romantic things you’ve never said out loud before. The awkwardness becomes part of the emotional landscape rather than a flaw.
Where the novel truly shines is in its emotional pacing. The author understands the quiet ache a young woman wanting closeness but fearing its cost, and she captures that tension with remarkable restraint.
The cultural and religious details are handled with the same light touch: familiar without being stereotypical, warm without being sentimental and educational in a soft, quiet manner. It feels like stepping into a world like my own life that understands the push‑and‑pull of desi family life, the humour, the expectations, the unspoken loyalties.
One of the most striking threads in the novel is Leena’s relationship with her Daadi. The way she hesitates to ask for certain things — not out of fear of conflict, but out of the quiet dread of being refused or gently shut down — felt deeply familiar. It’s a nuance that sits at the heart of so many desi households, where love is abundant but emotional openness can be cautious, almost fragile. Seeing that dynamic reflected with such tenderness was unexpectedly affirming. It captured a truth of our culture without turning it into a stereotype, and it made Leena’s bond with her grandmother feel both intimate and recognisable.
This representation matters, and part of what drew me to this novel was how naturally it reflects experiences close to my own. As someone with Pakistani heritage and a faith that shapes the quiet architecture of my life, this story understands those cultural textures without flattening them. There is a comfort in seeing those familiar rhythms honoured — the humour, the hesitations, the unspoken expectations — not as stereotype but as lived experience. It made the book feel less like escape and more like being understood
By the final chapters, what stays with you isn’t the romance alone, but the sense of watching someone slowly, bravely reopen their life. It’s a story about love, but also about safety, belonging, and the courage it takes to let yourself be known.
It’s a charming, heartfelt read — imperfect in places, but sincere in all the ways that matter.
I received this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own and completely honest.
February 7, 2026
I would like to thank the author, Maya, for sending me this book to read and review.
I always find myself enjoying books that showcase cultures different than mine, as I love to see the differences and similarities between us. In this case it was seeing the Pakistani culture in the langauge, the mannerism, the food, the celebrations, and more. It was interesting seeing different versions of families, like Leena and her Dadi, Avah and her parents, Zubaid and Eesa, they all have very different dynamics but all of them share the similarity of the importance of family, the one you have and the one you grow.
The book also brings to light topics that are sometimes considers taboo by many communities, and I won't go into details as to not spoil the story, but I will say that I enjoyed reading about people overcoming certain fears, and seeing Leena especially use everything she is passionate about to face her own fears and help others face theirs.
As for Leena and Zubaid, I found their story incredibly sweet (sometimes too sweet that I found myself putting down the book). Seeing all the things they go through separately and trying to help each other realize they are not burdens was really nice. Of course it's quite a long book which I think made their story better because you truly wait for it, but of course the wait is worth it.
I also especially loved seeing the side characters and their own stories in the background and how much Leena is involved and slowly allows herself to care for all these new people.
Overall I think it's a sweet read, and one I definitely recommend if you're looking for a romance that's a little unrealistic but also a story with other topics that are.
I always find myself enjoying books that showcase cultures different than mine, as I love to see the differences and similarities between us. In this case it was seeing the Pakistani culture in the langauge, the mannerism, the food, the celebrations, and more. It was interesting seeing different versions of families, like Leena and her Dadi, Avah and her parents, Zubaid and Eesa, they all have very different dynamics but all of them share the similarity of the importance of family, the one you have and the one you grow.
The book also brings to light topics that are sometimes considers taboo by many communities, and I won't go into details as to not spoil the story, but I will say that I enjoyed reading about people overcoming certain fears, and seeing Leena especially use everything she is passionate about to face her own fears and help others face theirs.
As for Leena and Zubaid, I found their story incredibly sweet (sometimes too sweet that I found myself putting down the book). Seeing all the things they go through separately and trying to help each other realize they are not burdens was really nice. Of course it's quite a long book which I think made their story better because you truly wait for it, but of course the wait is worth it.
I also especially loved seeing the side characters and their own stories in the background and how much Leena is involved and slowly allows herself to care for all these new people.
Overall I think it's a sweet read, and one I definitely recommend if you're looking for a romance that's a little unrealistic but also a story with other topics that are.
April 21, 2025
A sweet and gentle romance between two lost teenagers - both broken in their own ways finding happiness again together. This book is a tender look into the world of dholki wedding traditions, halal romance and coming of age as a British Pakistani teenager. It’s easy to get lost in the nostalgia and romance, but at its heart this book is also a poignant look at grief and an eye opening exploration of prejudices against neurodiverse individuals. Definitely recommend!
January 10, 2025
Such a tender but deeply impactful story! Leena and Zubaid were the dream, but all the characters were so intricate - Avah and Dadi especially! A great representation of life as a south Asian and also an important conversation around neurodivergence and the misconceptions in the desi community! Fab read
January 18, 2025
A beautiful story.
July 18, 2026
Very interesting book. Saw this off tiktok and HAD to read it!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews