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Dina Gets Lucky: A Novel
At a sumptuous family wedding, two former friends rediscover their own love story and the lies that tore them apart in a chaotic and swoony second-chance romance by the author of Yours for the Season.
Toronto attorney Dina Haq is looking forward to her influencer sister’s lavish South Asian wedding. She wouldn’t dream of overshadowing the event of the season by revealing her carefully guarded Her own marriage has gone bust. She just needs to make sure her odious ex keeps his mouth shut, too. Complications arise once she discovers that the groom’s best man is none other than Luqman “Lucky” Latif, a law school crush who ghosted her six years ago.
Forced to abandon his lawyerly ambitions to help his struggling family in Chicago, Lucky rebuilt his life, and a successful contracting business, and has moved on from past hurts…or so he thinks. Then he sees Dina again, the woman who not only rejected him but also had the nerve to marry his best friend instead. He’s not sure his heart can survive another encounter.
As the wedding festivities unfold, Dina and Lucky rediscover their connection and begin to unravel the part her manipulative ex-husband played in their almost-love story. The past isn’t quite what they thought, but is it too late to imagine a new future together?
Toronto attorney Dina Haq is looking forward to her influencer sister’s lavish South Asian wedding. She wouldn’t dream of overshadowing the event of the season by revealing her carefully guarded Her own marriage has gone bust. She just needs to make sure her odious ex keeps his mouth shut, too. Complications arise once she discovers that the groom’s best man is none other than Luqman “Lucky” Latif, a law school crush who ghosted her six years ago.
Forced to abandon his lawyerly ambitions to help his struggling family in Chicago, Lucky rebuilt his life, and a successful contracting business, and has moved on from past hurts…or so he thinks. Then he sees Dina again, the woman who not only rejected him but also had the nerve to marry his best friend instead. He’s not sure his heart can survive another encounter.
As the wedding festivities unfold, Dina and Lucky rediscover their connection and begin to unravel the part her manipulative ex-husband played in their almost-love story. The past isn’t quite what they thought, but is it too late to imagine a new future together?
285 pages, Paperback
Published October 27, 2026
About the author
Uzma Jalaluddin
9 books2,898 followersI write funny, nuanced stories about Muslims, South Asians, Canadians, people. MUCH ADO ABOUT NADA (June 2023), THREE HOLIDAYS AND A WEDDING (Sept 2023), HANA KHAN CARRIES ON (2021) and AYESHA AT LAST (2019). Find out more at www.uzmajalaluddin.com and thanks for visiting!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
May 22, 2026
If Uzma writes it, I read it. And I was particularly excited about this book as a soon-to-be-practicing-female-Muslim-lawyer myself! I adored Dina and her strong sense of self despite her struggles in figuring out how to make everyone (her family especially) accept her. And I also really loved how Lucky was somewhat unconventional as an MMC, at least in the Muslim/desi sense. He was a tradesman and suffered a lot of turned up noses because of that, but he also had a strong sense of self and was content with his life. They made a really great couple because they were both opposites and the same — they filled each other’s gaps in a really compatible way.
I will say that I was STRESSED reading this though!! I kept hoping and praying that all the secrets would come out soon and kept wanting to hide behind my fingers whenever more miscommunications happened. I think that the ending was a tad rushed in that sense, because after all the build-up with the secrets, things came out and were resolved a bit too quickly. But I didn’t even mind because I was just happy that Dina and Lucky actually COMMUNICATED!
And, in true Uzma fashion, the side characters stole the show. Deepak and Hassan made me laugh. And Lisa and Aliyah made the best girl gang ever — I want to be friends with them. Also, Arshad can go die in a hole ✌️
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Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC!
I will say that I was STRESSED reading this though!! I kept hoping and praying that all the secrets would come out soon and kept wanting to hide behind my fingers whenever more miscommunications happened. I think that the ending was a tad rushed in that sense, because after all the build-up with the secrets, things came out and were resolved a bit too quickly. But I didn’t even mind because I was just happy that Dina and Lucky actually COMMUNICATED!
And, in true Uzma fashion, the side characters stole the show. Deepak and Hassan made me laugh. And Lisa and Aliyah made the best girl gang ever — I want to be friends with them. Also, Arshad can go die in a hole ✌️
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Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC!
2026
May 15, 2026Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Okay, so where do I start? I‘ve got a lot of words swimming around in my brain, and I honestly don’t know if I’ll be able to package them in a way that I’ll be understood.
The urge to DNF this book was really strong right after chapter one because of the miscommunication trope that was introduced very early in the story. Without it, there actually wouldn’t have been a book, because it really could have been that easy - Lucky and Dina just had to have a 5 minute conversation and everyone would have been happy.
The writing style also didn’t agree with me, as I felt it was stilted and didn‘t flow nicely. I forced myself to keep reading though, because I hate writing a review without having read every single letter in a book (yes, even the acknowledgments).
The story did pick up around the 20% mark and I found myself enjoying the book somewhat. I especially liked the suspense and thrill of Dina and Lucky‘s reunion after years of no contact. I have a soft spot for second chance romances, so I flew through those parts.
Where the story lost me again was when I realised that Dina literally cannot make a single decision on her own. The way she let herself be ordered around actually made me mad.
I also just do not get how Lucky and Dina kept talking in circles, with one weird misunderstanding after another. They would seem to be making some progress, and then one of them would randomly decide, for no rational reason whatsoever, to just run away from the situation. It got really frustrating. The way they were acting was really immature and just plain infuriating. They sounded more like 16 year olds than people in their 30s.
Another thing I hated, was how Lucky doesn’t know Dina is divorced, yet he keeps pursuing her and having all these moments with her.
As readers we know she is divorced, but he doesn’t and Dina knows that he doesn’t. So from both of their perspectives, she is still a married woman. That made all of their romantic moments feel really uncomfortable to me. I have a strong aversion to any cheating related tropes or whatever, no matter if it’s not technically cheating. If everyone involved believes it is, then for all intents and purposes, it still feels like it. Also it was really weird and icky to read how Lucky had married women approach him before but he always felt sorry for them but when it comes to Dina he just thinks she’s amazing and can do no wrong. If something is wrong and immoral, it’s wrong and immoral for everyone. Just because you like someone they shouldn’t become an exception.
Which brings me to my next point: the Muslim representation really didn’t work for me. The book presents Lucky and Dina as ostensibly practising Muslims, yet many of their interactions felt completely disconnected from that identity. It’s not that Muslim characters can never struggle or make mistakes, but the narrative treated behaviour that would generally be considered religiously inappropriate as though it carried no weight or internal conflict. Apart from wearing hijab and occasionally dropping Arabic words, there really wasn’t much that reflected a lived Muslim experience I could identify with. As a Muslim reader, that felt very surface-level and ultimately inauthentic.
Dina’s sister Hania was insufferable, their father just plain annoying and their mother seemed like a very unpleasant person. Arshad was an Asshat, as expected, but honestly his villainy became almost caricature-like. His actions and role as the antagonist were built up so much, only for everything to end up feeling pretty insubstantial. It was a very anticlimactic payoff.
Samir and his family were really the only likable characters.
The book touched on some genuinely difficult themes, such as grief, loss, the stigma surrounding divorce in many cultures and how lonely and lost one can feel while outwardly appearing to have the perfect life. Sadly, all those topics were dealt with quite superficially, lacking the depth and nuance they deserved.
To sum it up, it was a fun read, but sadly it lacked any real depth or substance for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
The urge to DNF this book was really strong right after chapter one because of the miscommunication trope that was introduced very early in the story. Without it, there actually wouldn’t have been a book, because it really could have been that easy - Lucky and Dina just had to have a 5 minute conversation and everyone would have been happy.
The writing style also didn’t agree with me, as I felt it was stilted and didn‘t flow nicely. I forced myself to keep reading though, because I hate writing a review without having read every single letter in a book (yes, even the acknowledgments).
The story did pick up around the 20% mark and I found myself enjoying the book somewhat. I especially liked the suspense and thrill of Dina and Lucky‘s reunion after years of no contact. I have a soft spot for second chance romances, so I flew through those parts.
Where the story lost me again was when I realised that Dina literally cannot make a single decision on her own. The way she let herself be ordered around actually made me mad.
I also just do not get how Lucky and Dina kept talking in circles, with one weird misunderstanding after another. They would seem to be making some progress, and then one of them would randomly decide, for no rational reason whatsoever, to just run away from the situation. It got really frustrating. The way they were acting was really immature and just plain infuriating. They sounded more like 16 year olds than people in their 30s.
Another thing I hated, was how Lucky doesn’t know Dina is divorced, yet he keeps pursuing her and having all these moments with her.
As readers we know she is divorced, but he doesn’t and Dina knows that he doesn’t. So from both of their perspectives, she is still a married woman. That made all of their romantic moments feel really uncomfortable to me. I have a strong aversion to any cheating related tropes or whatever, no matter if it’s not technically cheating. If everyone involved believes it is, then for all intents and purposes, it still feels like it. Also it was really weird and icky to read how Lucky had married women approach him before but he always felt sorry for them but when it comes to Dina he just thinks she’s amazing and can do no wrong. If something is wrong and immoral, it’s wrong and immoral for everyone. Just because you like someone they shouldn’t become an exception.
Which brings me to my next point: the Muslim representation really didn’t work for me. The book presents Lucky and Dina as ostensibly practising Muslims, yet many of their interactions felt completely disconnected from that identity. It’s not that Muslim characters can never struggle or make mistakes, but the narrative treated behaviour that would generally be considered religiously inappropriate as though it carried no weight or internal conflict. Apart from wearing hijab and occasionally dropping Arabic words, there really wasn’t much that reflected a lived Muslim experience I could identify with. As a Muslim reader, that felt very surface-level and ultimately inauthentic.
Dina’s sister Hania was insufferable, their father just plain annoying and their mother seemed like a very unpleasant person. Arshad was an Asshat, as expected, but honestly his villainy became almost caricature-like. His actions and role as the antagonist were built up so much, only for everything to end up feeling pretty insubstantial. It was a very anticlimactic payoff.
Samir and his family were really the only likable characters.
The book touched on some genuinely difficult themes, such as grief, loss, the stigma surrounding divorce in many cultures and how lonely and lost one can feel while outwardly appearing to have the perfect life. Sadly, all those topics were dealt with quite superficially, lacking the depth and nuance they deserved.
To sum it up, it was a fun read, but sadly it lacked any real depth or substance for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Uzma Jalaluddin has become one of my favorite authors. I look forward to her books, especially because of the way that she showcases Muslim culture.
Dina Gets Lucky is a contemporary second chance romance. The heroine is Dina a Toronto lawyer. The story revolves around her influencer sister Hania's lavish South Asian wedding.
Six years earlier Dina, Lucky and Arshad were law students at the University of Toronto. Dina and Lucky both had romantic feelings for each other. But Dina ended up married to Arshad.
Dina and Lucky were such interesting characters. I loved how Lucky was so family focused. And I was definitely rooting for these two to get together.
There was so much that I liked about this book. The wedding was extravagant and the fact that the wedding events took place over weeks was so fascinating. I also loved everything to do with the Muslim culture and many of the older characters were so fun.
There were definitely some characters that were self-absorbed and inconsiderate. The miscommunication trope went on too long. I am not sure if Dina and Lucky were naive or clueless. Dina's ex-husband was a horrible narcissist. And I hate that Dina wanted to hide that they were no longer a couple. But Arshad was obviously meant to be terrible. The author did a good job making the reader excited for him to get what he deserved.
Audiobook thoughts:
I did immersive reading for this book. So I listened to the audiobook narrated by Francine Pinheiro. I loved her voice. The book has dual POVs. But for the most part I loved how she did this audiobook. She uses her regular voice for every chapter. But changes her voice for the dialogue. She is amazing at the older Muslim characters. I loved her voice for Dina and all of the female characters. But the voices that she chose for Lucky and Arshad were not the best.
Overall, this book really highlights Muslim characters and showcases a fabulous wedding. I can't wait to read what the author writes next.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for the ebook, and Brilliance Publishing for the audiobook.
Dina Gets Lucky is a contemporary second chance romance. The heroine is Dina a Toronto lawyer. The story revolves around her influencer sister Hania's lavish South Asian wedding.
Six years earlier Dina, Lucky and Arshad were law students at the University of Toronto. Dina and Lucky both had romantic feelings for each other. But Dina ended up married to Arshad.
Dina and Lucky were such interesting characters. I loved how Lucky was so family focused. And I was definitely rooting for these two to get together.
There was so much that I liked about this book. The wedding was extravagant and the fact that the wedding events took place over weeks was so fascinating. I also loved everything to do with the Muslim culture and many of the older characters were so fun.
There were definitely some characters that were self-absorbed and inconsiderate. The miscommunication trope went on too long. I am not sure if Dina and Lucky were naive or clueless. Dina's ex-husband was a horrible narcissist. And I hate that Dina wanted to hide that they were no longer a couple. But Arshad was obviously meant to be terrible. The author did a good job making the reader excited for him to get what he deserved.
Audiobook thoughts:
I did immersive reading for this book. So I listened to the audiobook narrated by Francine Pinheiro. I loved her voice. The book has dual POVs. But for the most part I loved how she did this audiobook. She uses her regular voice for every chapter. But changes her voice for the dialogue. She is amazing at the older Muslim characters. I loved her voice for Dina and all of the female characters. But the voices that she chose for Lucky and Arshad were not the best.
Overall, this book really highlights Muslim characters and showcases a fabulous wedding. I can't wait to read what the author writes next.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for the ebook, and Brilliance Publishing for the audiobook.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dina Gets Lucky is set mainly in Toronto within the Muslim community. It is another book from Uzma Jalaluddin and again I very much enjoyed it. She is an automatic read for me.
Dina is a lawyer and works for her father's firm. She was married to Arshad until she secretly divorced him some months back. Now he is a truly devious, social climbing monster and thank goodness she did. However she has kept it secret from her family because her father loves Arshad who works for the firm too. Look at his name and you can guess what his nickname is.
When Dina was at university she was also with Luqman or Lucky and they kind of liked each other, even more than that. But remember what I said Arshad was very devious and he played them foul.
The story leads through all the intricacies of Dina's sister Hana's wedding and the gradual reveal of what has happened for Lucky since. Dina has some great friends and meets another at the wedding (the wedding is about a week long). They combine with woman power to set much to right.
Dina being the eldest has endeavoured to family please and do what is expected of her. That is kind of frustrating but then I guess many of us do our own people pleasing little things. Lucky is just the best guy out and his values are certainly very good. The book has a number of delightful side characters with of course Arshad balancing out for the dislikable side.
The book sucked me in and it was very easy to pick it up and read it.
Dina is a lawyer and works for her father's firm. She was married to Arshad until she secretly divorced him some months back. Now he is a truly devious, social climbing monster and thank goodness she did. However she has kept it secret from her family because her father loves Arshad who works for the firm too. Look at his name and you can guess what his nickname is.
When Dina was at university she was also with Luqman or Lucky and they kind of liked each other, even more than that. But remember what I said Arshad was very devious and he played them foul.
The story leads through all the intricacies of Dina's sister Hana's wedding and the gradual reveal of what has happened for Lucky since. Dina has some great friends and meets another at the wedding (the wedding is about a week long). They combine with woman power to set much to right.
Dina being the eldest has endeavoured to family please and do what is expected of her. That is kind of frustrating but then I guess many of us do our own people pleasing little things. Lucky is just the best guy out and his values are certainly very good. The book has a number of delightful side characters with of course Arshad balancing out for the dislikable side.
The book sucked me in and it was very easy to pick it up and read it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Dina Gets Lucky ✨Review ✨ thank you so much partner @otrpr @AmazonPublishing for the gifted copy!
Dina Gets Lucky
by Uzma Jalaluddin
At a sumptuous family wedding, two former friends rediscover their own love story and the lies that tore them apart in a chaotic and swoony second-chance romance by the author of Yours for the Season.
My thoughts 💭 :
This was such a fun, quick read! I have to say, all the secrets had my anxiety HIGH because I just needed everyone to spill the truth already. I really loved the side characters in this one, and I really enjoyed watching Dina and Lucky reconnect and find their way back to each other. They were a good match, and I was rooting for them as they worked through the misunderstandings and messy history between them. If you’re looking for a quick, entertaining romance filled with secrets, wedding festivities, and a second chance at love, this one is definitely worth picking up!
Happy reading 📖 ✨🥂
Dina Gets Lucky
by Uzma Jalaluddin
At a sumptuous family wedding, two former friends rediscover their own love story and the lies that tore them apart in a chaotic and swoony second-chance romance by the author of Yours for the Season.
My thoughts 💭 :
This was such a fun, quick read! I have to say, all the secrets had my anxiety HIGH because I just needed everyone to spill the truth already. I really loved the side characters in this one, and I really enjoyed watching Dina and Lucky reconnect and find their way back to each other. They were a good match, and I was rooting for them as they worked through the misunderstandings and messy history between them. If you’re looking for a quick, entertaining romance filled with secrets, wedding festivities, and a second chance at love, this one is definitely worth picking up!
Happy reading 📖 ✨🥂
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love Uzma Jalaluddin’s books and this was no exception. Dina is a lawyer who tries to do everything to make her family happy, even hide that she’s divorced from her narcissistic piece of garbage husband, Arshad. Lucky is a contractor in a community that doesn’t value that kind of work. Dina and Lucky are convinced the other never had feelings for each other even though they did because of, you guessed it, Arshad.
I was stressed throughout this book because there was so much back and forth and will they won’t they with Lucky and Dina, with both parties missing some vital information about the fact that they both had feelings for each other all along. I got super invested in what would happen! This was also a really fun cast of characters and I loved Dina and Lucky’s building relationship.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC!
I was stressed throughout this book because there was so much back and forth and will they won’t they with Lucky and Dina, with both parties missing some vital information about the fact that they both had feelings for each other all along. I got super invested in what would happen! This was also a really fun cast of characters and I loved Dina and Lucky’s building relationship.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC!
October 24, 2026
Jalaluddin’s books are always a win for me. Always. Her characters and their families and lives are so real and charming and complicated. This story we learn in the acknowledgements started as a screenplay and I can see it unfolding on screen. We have a younger sister’s (an influencer) big Indian wedding. We have Dina our FMC hiding her failed marriage from her family and begging her awful cheating ex to pretend to still be her husband through the wedding. We also have her law school crush, that she wished she’d gotten with instead of her terrible husband, coming to the wedding. THERE IS DRAMA AND FEELINGS and I ate it all up.
This was super fun and an easy read.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the advance review copy. Dina Gets Lucky is out October 27, 2026.
This was super fun and an easy read.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the advance review copy. Dina Gets Lucky is out October 27, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dina and her ex-husband are pretending to still be married in order not to ruin her sister's upcoming nuptials. At the wedding, Dina is shocked to see her old crush Lucky in attendance. What are the odds that he knows the groom? As the two spend more time together reconnecting, it's evident that old feelings are still there.
I always enjoy this author's novels describing desi culture. This was a solid read and one that had me rooting for Dina to hurry up and let her secret out into the open so that she and Lucky could finally get together! The romance was sweet but I also found myself laughing out loud in certain parts of the book. This was another winner by this author and it was fantastic to listen to on audio.
I always enjoy this author's novels describing desi culture. This was a solid read and one that had me rooting for Dina to hurry up and let her secret out into the open so that she and Lucky could finally get together! The romance was sweet but I also found myself laughing out loud in certain parts of the book. This was another winner by this author and it was fantastic to listen to on audio.
September 20, 2026
I love me a good wedding drama romance novel, and I’m happy to say Dina Gets Lucky by Uzma Jalauddin is one of them.
This story follows Dina Haq, a lawyer out of Toronto who is getting ready to celebrate her sister Hania’s big day despite the fact that her own marriage to her fellow law school friend Arshad has gone kaput. They haven’t told anyone and Arshad agrees to play along for the wedding. When she arrives for the celebration, she learns that the groom’s Best Man is Luqman “Lucky” Latif, her law school crush that ghosted her six years ago. Lucky’s life hasn’t been easy. After his father passed away six years ago, he’s been rebuilding his life and now has a successful contracting business. He’s never forgotten about Dina though. As they start to reconnect, they uncover what happened six years ago and the meddling of Arshad. Their past has been rocky, but maybe their future will be brighter.
Generally, I liked this one! I thought it was well plotted and though Dina and Lucky’s story is a bit of a slow burn, I liked the way it was told. I also liked the wedding dynamic, with Hania’s extravagance contrasted with Dina wanting to stay out of the limelight, but appease her sister. I liked the dynamic between Lucky’s family as well and the way they were fleshed out. I did struggle a bit with Dina’s relationship with Arshad, as he felt a bit too snivelly. I also wished Dina’s big reveal to her family had come a little sooner, as it felt like there was a lot packed into the ending and the epilogue.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: 10/27
July 10, 2026
I recently read a review copy of Dina Gets Lucky by @uzmajalaluddin, and this fun romance is one you will want to add to your TBR!
Dina, Arshad and Lucky were in law school together, and make a great trio for studying, and also a bit of a love triangle... When Arshad noticed a connection between his two friends and had to find a way to keep them from getting together, as it really wasn't really part of his plan to watch his friend get the girl. When Lucky and Dina each separately tell Arshad about their feelings for each other and ask his advice about acting on their feelings, Arshad is quick to shut them both down rather than letting them know that the feelings were mutual. Shortly after, Lucky moves to Chicago and loses touch with Arshad and Dina.
6 years later, Dina and Arshad have been married and are now divorced, but are keeping the end of their relationship a secret from Dina's family partly because her sister's wedding is coming up and she doesn't want to bring any dark clouds to her sisters quite grand series of events, and partly because both Dina and Arshad know that this news will make a big impact at work since they both happen to work for the same law firm, the one run by her father! Dina and Arshad are both pretty surprised when Lucky shows up as part of the groomsmen. How will Dina get through this crazy multiday wedding celebration with her jerk of an ex husband looking for ways to get back at her, the man she had feelings for suddenly back in her life, all while keeping the divorce a secret from everyone around her? You'll just have to read to find out!
This fun romance is just what you would expect from Jalaluddin, filled with quirky characters and situations and events that quickly get out of hand! It is a fairly quick and light read, with a little bit of light mystery/suspense thrown in near the end (reminiscent of her cozy detective series). Whether your a Jalaluddin fan like me, or new to this author, Dina Gets Lucky is a great book to add to your TBR, it comes out this October! Thanks to @netgalley and @amazonpublishing for giving me the chance to read and review this fun book!
Dina, Arshad and Lucky were in law school together, and make a great trio for studying, and also a bit of a love triangle... When Arshad noticed a connection between his two friends and had to find a way to keep them from getting together, as it really wasn't really part of his plan to watch his friend get the girl. When Lucky and Dina each separately tell Arshad about their feelings for each other and ask his advice about acting on their feelings, Arshad is quick to shut them both down rather than letting them know that the feelings were mutual. Shortly after, Lucky moves to Chicago and loses touch with Arshad and Dina.
6 years later, Dina and Arshad have been married and are now divorced, but are keeping the end of their relationship a secret from Dina's family partly because her sister's wedding is coming up and she doesn't want to bring any dark clouds to her sisters quite grand series of events, and partly because both Dina and Arshad know that this news will make a big impact at work since they both happen to work for the same law firm, the one run by her father! Dina and Arshad are both pretty surprised when Lucky shows up as part of the groomsmen. How will Dina get through this crazy multiday wedding celebration with her jerk of an ex husband looking for ways to get back at her, the man she had feelings for suddenly back in her life, all while keeping the divorce a secret from everyone around her? You'll just have to read to find out!
This fun romance is just what you would expect from Jalaluddin, filled with quirky characters and situations and events that quickly get out of hand! It is a fairly quick and light read, with a little bit of light mystery/suspense thrown in near the end (reminiscent of her cozy detective series). Whether your a Jalaluddin fan like me, or new to this author, Dina Gets Lucky is a great book to add to your TBR, it comes out this October! Thanks to @netgalley and @amazonpublishing for giving me the chance to read and review this fun book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Uzma Jalaluddin is a must read author for me. I love her sweet and funny romances, and Dina Gets Lucky was another winner!
One pivotal night in law school, Dina and Lucky both trust the wrong person. Despite their mutual crush, they are each told the other isn't interested, and they go their separate ways. Six years later, Dina's sister is having an elaborate Muslim Desi wedding, and Lucky is the groom's best man. Dina and Lucky are instantly drawn to one another, and their friendship picks up like they were never apart. Both begin to wonder what happened that terrible night that ended their relationship in the first place. There's also the added complication that Dina has been married to a cheater for the last five years and is secretly divorced, just waiting for the wedding is over to end to come clean to her family. All set amidst a gorgeous and elaborate wedding festivities with multiple venues.
This book has some DRAMA. A lot of it felt really out there... it was hard for me to believe that young Dina would really have married the scumbag that she did. But, I recognize that culturally this community marries pretty quickly and also lots of men across many cultures are gross, and smart, capable women get hoodwinked all the time. I really appreciated the story of Dina breaking free from a toxic relationship, and coming to own her past and gain agency over her future. Lucky is a really charming MMC, and his back story of caring for his widowed mom and younger brother was really sweet, but ultimately he didn't have the same level of depth to me as Dina did. That being said, this story was really cute and gets the happily ever after that we all want when we read a romance.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.
One pivotal night in law school, Dina and Lucky both trust the wrong person. Despite their mutual crush, they are each told the other isn't interested, and they go their separate ways. Six years later, Dina's sister is having an elaborate Muslim Desi wedding, and Lucky is the groom's best man. Dina and Lucky are instantly drawn to one another, and their friendship picks up like they were never apart. Both begin to wonder what happened that terrible night that ended their relationship in the first place. There's also the added complication that Dina has been married to a cheater for the last five years and is secretly divorced, just waiting for the wedding is over to end to come clean to her family. All set amidst a gorgeous and elaborate wedding festivities with multiple venues.
This book has some DRAMA. A lot of it felt really out there... it was hard for me to believe that young Dina would really have married the scumbag that she did. But, I recognize that culturally this community marries pretty quickly and also lots of men across many cultures are gross, and smart, capable women get hoodwinked all the time. I really appreciated the story of Dina breaking free from a toxic relationship, and coming to own her past and gain agency over her future. Lucky is a really charming MMC, and his back story of caring for his widowed mom and younger brother was really sweet, but ultimately he didn't have the same level of depth to me as Dina did. That being said, this story was really cute and gets the happily ever after that we all want when we read a romance.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dina Gets Lucky by Uzma Jalaluddin was such a refreshing read! This story explores the pressures immigrant families can place on their children to be successful, find successful partners, get married, and have children. As a woman of color, I was so happy to read a story that reflected some of the familiar cultural expectations I experienced growing up. Although Dina's family isn't Hispanic like mine, there were so many similarities that made this story feel relatable and meaningful to me.
I can't express how refreshing it was to see these experiences represented in a story. There were definitely moments when Dina frustrated me, and I wanted to scream, "JUST TELL THEM!" But at the same time, I understood why it wasn't that simple. When you're trying to balance your own happiness with your family's expectations, it can be difficult to speak up, especially when you don't want to disappoint the people you love.
Add in a second-chance romance, and this book completely won me over! I loved the combination of cultural expectations, family dynamics, personal growth, and romance. This story was a wonderful reminder that finding your own path isn't always easy, but you deserve the chance to build a life that makes you happy.
I don't want to give too much away, but I highly recommend picking this one up! If you enjoy heartfelt romance with relatable family dynamics, cultural representation, and a second chance at love, Dina Gets Lucky is definitely worth reading!
#arc #netgalley #dinagetslucky
I can't express how refreshing it was to see these experiences represented in a story. There were definitely moments when Dina frustrated me, and I wanted to scream, "JUST TELL THEM!" But at the same time, I understood why it wasn't that simple. When you're trying to balance your own happiness with your family's expectations, it can be difficult to speak up, especially when you don't want to disappoint the people you love.
Add in a second-chance romance, and this book completely won me over! I loved the combination of cultural expectations, family dynamics, personal growth, and romance. This story was a wonderful reminder that finding your own path isn't always easy, but you deserve the chance to build a life that makes you happy.
I don't want to give too much away, but I highly recommend picking this one up! If you enjoy heartfelt romance with relatable family dynamics, cultural representation, and a second chance at love, Dina Gets Lucky is definitely worth reading!
#arc #netgalley #dinagetslucky
Review of advance copy
Dina, Arshad, and Lucky are law students in Toronto. Lucky is in love with Dina, but too shy to speak up, so he asks Arshad to intercede. Arshad, having designs of his own on Dina, lies to Lucky, denying any interest on Dina’s part. Due to family circumstances, Lucky is forced to move to Chicago, where he must abandon law school and becomes a successful contractor. Arshad marries Dina with designs on becoming a partner in her parents’ law firm.
Disgusted with Arshad after a few years of marriage, Dina divorces him but keeps it a secret, not wanting to disappoint her Islamic South Asian parents or interfere with her sister’s upcoming wedding. Much to her surprise, the wedding serves to reunite Dina with Lucky, and that attraction is still there. Will they have another chance at love?
This is a fun second-chance romance novel that features what has to be one of the most over-the-top wedding celebrations ever. It is a very entertaining read, with a look at the Desi culture in North America, showcasing delicious South Asian food and vibrant clothing. There is a villain and a hero, chaos, family drama, some screwball comedy, and a somewhat satirical look at the world of influencers, of which Dina’s sister is one. While some readers may want to shake Dina into finally standing up for herself and coming clean with her family, I do understand her plight.
Thanks to @NetGalley and @AmazonPublishing for the DRC.
Disgusted with Arshad after a few years of marriage, Dina divorces him but keeps it a secret, not wanting to disappoint her Islamic South Asian parents or interfere with her sister’s upcoming wedding. Much to her surprise, the wedding serves to reunite Dina with Lucky, and that attraction is still there. Will they have another chance at love?
This is a fun second-chance romance novel that features what has to be one of the most over-the-top wedding celebrations ever. It is a very entertaining read, with a look at the Desi culture in North America, showcasing delicious South Asian food and vibrant clothing. There is a villain and a hero, chaos, family drama, some screwball comedy, and a somewhat satirical look at the world of influencers, of which Dina’s sister is one. While some readers may want to shake Dina into finally standing up for herself and coming clean with her family, I do understand her plight.
Thanks to @NetGalley and @AmazonPublishing for the DRC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have wanted to read a book by this author for a while, so I was pleased to receive this ARC
We meet the main characters in a prologue scene, when Dina, Lucky, and Arshad are still in college, and it sets the stage for what we know will be a rocky road.
When we are brought to the main story, hotshot lawyer Dina is due to be a huge part of her influencer sister Hania's wedding, and nothing can go wrong - except she is hiding a huge secret from the whole family for fear of how it might look or affect her sister's special day: she and Arshad are divorced.
Through the wedding, she comes into contact with Lucky again, their old college friend, and someone Dina liked a lot at college. Crossed wires, and some of those aforementioned lies surface as the story progresses.
Lucky is a guy from a simple family - he's done well for himself, but his trade is still not what is considered 'worthy' by some: a contractor, whereas Dina is working in her family business with her ex-husband, who is bandied about as the perfect partner.
I loved all the over-the-top pre-wedding and wedding scenes, and I could feel the tension as Dina fights to keep an enormous secret from everyone while wrestling with her feelings for someone else.
We meet the main characters in a prologue scene, when Dina, Lucky, and Arshad are still in college, and it sets the stage for what we know will be a rocky road.
When we are brought to the main story, hotshot lawyer Dina is due to be a huge part of her influencer sister Hania's wedding, and nothing can go wrong - except she is hiding a huge secret from the whole family for fear of how it might look or affect her sister's special day: she and Arshad are divorced.
Through the wedding, she comes into contact with Lucky again, their old college friend, and someone Dina liked a lot at college. Crossed wires, and some of those aforementioned lies surface as the story progresses.
Lucky is a guy from a simple family - he's done well for himself, but his trade is still not what is considered 'worthy' by some: a contractor, whereas Dina is working in her family business with her ex-husband, who is bandied about as the perfect partner.
I loved all the over-the-top pre-wedding and wedding scenes, and I could feel the tension as Dina fights to keep an enormous secret from everyone while wrestling with her feelings for someone else.
October 24, 2026
Dina Haq’s sister, a media-savvy influencer, is getting married. Of course the wedding is a full-on circus which her sister is maximizing for her social media presence. Dina is gritting her teeth and getting through all the wedding events while avoiding her ex-husband Arshad as much as possible. She has to be civil to him and act normally because no one knows yet that they are divorced, including Dina’s parents. Also attending the wedding, much to Dina’s shock, is Luqman (Lucky) who broke her heart years ago in university.
Lucky is dreading seeing Dina after she broke his heart years ago in university. After he had to quit pursuing law to support his family, he rebuilt his life in Chicago and has become a successful contractor. He has never settled down and has never forgotten Dina.
This is a cozy little romance set in Toronto and Chicago, with a plot based around the duplicity of a friend and crossed wires of communication. I enjoyed the easy banter between Lucky and Dina and the over-the-top antics of her sister Hania. I could also relate to Dina’s experience of being the first-born child trying to fulfil all the expectations. However most of the characters besides Dina and Lucky are rather one-dimensional and in particular, Arshad is a vaudevillian evil character. Is anyone really that diabolical?
Overall this is a fun read and a great break from any heavy reads or horror novels for this time of year. If you enjoy a wholesome romantic comedy you won’t be disappointed.
Lucky is dreading seeing Dina after she broke his heart years ago in university. After he had to quit pursuing law to support his family, he rebuilt his life in Chicago and has become a successful contractor. He has never settled down and has never forgotten Dina.
This is a cozy little romance set in Toronto and Chicago, with a plot based around the duplicity of a friend and crossed wires of communication. I enjoyed the easy banter between Lucky and Dina and the over-the-top antics of her sister Hania. I could also relate to Dina’s experience of being the first-born child trying to fulfil all the expectations. However most of the characters besides Dina and Lucky are rather one-dimensional and in particular, Arshad is a vaudevillian evil character. Is anyone really that diabolical?
Overall this is a fun read and a great break from any heavy reads or horror novels for this time of year. If you enjoy a wholesome romantic comedy you won’t be disappointed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love Uzma Jalaluddin’s mysteries for its wonderful characters and complex plots and I was hoping to find the same in this romance novel. Unfortunately, that was not the case. While Kausur is so sure of herself and can stand up for herself, Dina is the complete opposite and flounders in everything she does, barely able to make decisions. I understand oldest child syndrome and constantly needing to follow the advice of your parents, but she has no backbone and it hurts to watch her waffle throughout the book. Her sister is just as annoying and if it hadn’t picked up if Lucky’s arrival, I was going to give up on this one. It does pick up but this story, rife with miscommunications and missed chances was not for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Brilliance Publishing for the review copies.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Brilliance Publishing for the review copies.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars. Sooooo much yearning. I also just love Uzma’s writing. Dina and Lucky were so well-suited for each other. I’ll come back and add more thoughts later, but such a cute book!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!
October 28, 2026
I loved Yours for the Season, Uzma Jalaladdin’s last book, and was excited to read and listen to Dina Gets Lucky. Dina is a successful attorney who is a leader at her family firm outside of Toronto. Her marriage fell apart and she is divorced, though she is keeping that secret from her family. Lucky is a successful contractor and artist who was close to Dina when they were in law school together, but they went their separate ways and haven’t kept in touch.
Dina and Lucky run into each other again years later at her sister and his best friend’s wedding. The wedding festivities were my favorite part of this book. I loved learning about all of the traditions that are part of a Desi wedding, and almost wished Dina’s sister Hania was an actual influencer so I could see her wedding photos online. Sparks fly between Dina and Lucky at the wedding, but they just can’t seem to have an honest conversation about their feelings. Dina is also pretending that she and Arshad are still married, which was confusing when she and Lucky were also clearly interested in each other.
I got frustrated with Dina and her family. Her parents and her sister were selfish and unkind to Dina. They didn’t seem to understand or appreciate her at all. Dina seemed frozen, unable to act if there was a possibility she would hurt her family. She is divorced because her husband was unfaithful, yet continues to pretend that they are married just because she doesn’t want to upset her parents. She and Lucky have so many opportunities to catch up at the wedding, yet she can’t be honest with him about her feelings or her marital situation. She was miserable but unable to make choices to honor herself or her decisions.
I also got tired of the miscommunication between Dina and Lucky. They had so much going for them, and so many opportunities to be honest with each other about their feelings, but they stayed stuck in their self-doubt and insecurity until the end of the book. It was tiring after a while. It didn’t feel like they would ever share their feelings or give love a chance because they just could not communicate. Overall, I was disappointed in both of them. They were both successful and assertive in their lives in many ways, yet they were unable to communicate and also paralyzed by acting in a way that would displease others.
I enjoyed the audiobook version of Dina Gets Lucky. Francine Pinheiro, the narrator, does a great job with the female voices and correct pronunciation of words in Urdu and Arabic. Her male voices didn’t really work for me, but overall she narrated this book well.
I wanted to love this novel, but the love story and characters didn’t live up to my expectations. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for an advance reader’s copy and to Brilliance Publishing for an advance listener’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Dina and Lucky run into each other again years later at her sister and his best friend’s wedding. The wedding festivities were my favorite part of this book. I loved learning about all of the traditions that are part of a Desi wedding, and almost wished Dina’s sister Hania was an actual influencer so I could see her wedding photos online. Sparks fly between Dina and Lucky at the wedding, but they just can’t seem to have an honest conversation about their feelings. Dina is also pretending that she and Arshad are still married, which was confusing when she and Lucky were also clearly interested in each other.
I got frustrated with Dina and her family. Her parents and her sister were selfish and unkind to Dina. They didn’t seem to understand or appreciate her at all. Dina seemed frozen, unable to act if there was a possibility she would hurt her family. She is divorced because her husband was unfaithful, yet continues to pretend that they are married just because she doesn’t want to upset her parents. She and Lucky have so many opportunities to catch up at the wedding, yet she can’t be honest with him about her feelings or her marital situation. She was miserable but unable to make choices to honor herself or her decisions.
I also got tired of the miscommunication between Dina and Lucky. They had so much going for them, and so many opportunities to be honest with each other about their feelings, but they stayed stuck in their self-doubt and insecurity until the end of the book. It was tiring after a while. It didn’t feel like they would ever share their feelings or give love a chance because they just could not communicate. Overall, I was disappointed in both of them. They were both successful and assertive in their lives in many ways, yet they were unable to communicate and also paralyzed by acting in a way that would displease others.
I enjoyed the audiobook version of Dina Gets Lucky. Francine Pinheiro, the narrator, does a great job with the female voices and correct pronunciation of words in Urdu and Arabic. Her male voices didn’t really work for me, but overall she narrated this book well.
I wanted to love this novel, but the love story and characters didn’t live up to my expectations. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for an advance reader’s copy and to Brilliance Publishing for an advance listener’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
October 27, 2026
Dina Gets Lucky by Uzma Jalaluddin is a charming second chance romance with all the fun and glamour of a big Desi wedding and is the perfect book to pick up if you are looking for a feel good read with a little bite.
Dina is the oldest daughter in her family and has done everything expected of her, gone to law school and joined the family firm and married a "perfect " man, her college friend Arshad (not so affectionately renamed as Arsho*e by this Irish reader) who also works for her father. Now it is her little sister's time to shine. As an up and coming influencer Hania is determined to have the perfect wedding, and is gunning for her own reality tv series so the pressure is on. Unfortunately Dina is also feeling the pressure because she has been hiding a secret - she and Arshad are divorced, and have been for the last six months. Nobody in her family knows and the only person at work is Dina's best friend Lisa, a fellow lawyer in the family firm. This means keeping Arshad in her life, at least for long enough to get through the wedding before she tells her family the truth. To further complicate matters it turns out that the groom's best man is none other than Lucky, another old law school friend who left Toronto to move to Chicago in their final year, breaking Dina's heart in the process. Oh and he just happened to have been Arshad's best friend too...so that's not at all going to be a problem.
Now a big disclaimer - if you hate miscommunication tropes this is definitely not the book for you, it starts with a huge one, and that theme continues throughout, and while I don't mind the use of miscommunication in general , this book did take it to the extreme. I stuck with it because I liked Dina and Lucky as characters, and I love to hate a villain, so Arshad was perfect for that. I also give props to several of the secondary characters, most notably Lisa, the kind of ride or die best friend that every girl needs, and Aliyah, a smart no nonsense woman who knows what she wants and is not afraid to go for it, but who is also a real girls girl. (I think Aliyah needs her own book , I know I'd be first in line to read it). I did think the pacing could have used a little work, it did drag a little in the second half , it felt like the author was killing time before the crucial conversation between Dina and Lucky. Overall the romance was sweet if a little drawn out, and the exploration of the pressure to meet family expectations added a nice amount of depth to the story.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Dina is the oldest daughter in her family and has done everything expected of her, gone to law school and joined the family firm and married a "perfect " man, her college friend Arshad (not so affectionately renamed as Arsho*e by this Irish reader) who also works for her father. Now it is her little sister's time to shine. As an up and coming influencer Hania is determined to have the perfect wedding, and is gunning for her own reality tv series so the pressure is on. Unfortunately Dina is also feeling the pressure because she has been hiding a secret - she and Arshad are divorced, and have been for the last six months. Nobody in her family knows and the only person at work is Dina's best friend Lisa, a fellow lawyer in the family firm. This means keeping Arshad in her life, at least for long enough to get through the wedding before she tells her family the truth. To further complicate matters it turns out that the groom's best man is none other than Lucky, another old law school friend who left Toronto to move to Chicago in their final year, breaking Dina's heart in the process. Oh and he just happened to have been Arshad's best friend too...so that's not at all going to be a problem.
Now a big disclaimer - if you hate miscommunication tropes this is definitely not the book for you, it starts with a huge one, and that theme continues throughout, and while I don't mind the use of miscommunication in general , this book did take it to the extreme. I stuck with it because I liked Dina and Lucky as characters, and I love to hate a villain, so Arshad was perfect for that. I also give props to several of the secondary characters, most notably Lisa, the kind of ride or die best friend that every girl needs, and Aliyah, a smart no nonsense woman who knows what she wants and is not afraid to go for it, but who is also a real girls girl. (I think Aliyah needs her own book , I know I'd be first in line to read it). I did think the pacing could have used a little work, it did drag a little in the second half , it felt like the author was killing time before the crucial conversation between Dina and Lucky. Overall the romance was sweet if a little drawn out, and the exploration of the pressure to meet family expectations added a nice amount of depth to the story.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Dina Gets Lucky was an enjoyable second-chance romance with plenty of wedding chaos, family drama, and emotional misunderstandings, but it wasn't without some frustrations for me.
Uzma Jalaluddin does a wonderful job capturing the energy of a large South Asian family wedding. The festivities, family dynamics, and cultural details brought the story to life, and I found myself invested in Dina and Lucky's history from the start. Their chemistry was believable, and I appreciated how their relationship was built on a foundation that had existed long before the events of the novel.
That said, I struggled with Dina at times—not because she wasn't a sympathetic character, but because I found myself frustrated by how much power she allowed the people around her to have over her decisions. Intellectually, I understand why. Family expectations, cultural pressures, and emotional manipulation are significant forces, and they are central to the story. Still, as a successful attorney, I found it difficult to watch Dina repeatedly prioritize keeping the peace and protecting others at the expense of her own happiness.
Of course, that frustration is partly a reflection of my own biases as a reader. I have a hard time with stories where accomplished women allow fathers, husbands, or family members to exert so much influence over their lives. While it serves an important purpose in the narrative, there were moments when I wanted Dina to stop worrying about disappointing everyone else and start choosing herself.
Fortunately, Lucky was a strong counterbalance. I appreciated his growth, his loyalty, and the way he genuinely cared for Dina. As the layers of the past were peeled back and the truth about their separation emerged, I found myself rooting for them despite my frustrations.
Overall, this was a warm, entertaining romance with strong family themes, a compelling second-chance storyline, and plenty of heart. While some aspects of Dina's journey didn't fully work for me, I still enjoyed the ride and would recommend it to readers who enjoy family-centered romances with emotional depth and a satisfying reunion.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Uzma Jalaluddin does a wonderful job capturing the energy of a large South Asian family wedding. The festivities, family dynamics, and cultural details brought the story to life, and I found myself invested in Dina and Lucky's history from the start. Their chemistry was believable, and I appreciated how their relationship was built on a foundation that had existed long before the events of the novel.
That said, I struggled with Dina at times—not because she wasn't a sympathetic character, but because I found myself frustrated by how much power she allowed the people around her to have over her decisions. Intellectually, I understand why. Family expectations, cultural pressures, and emotional manipulation are significant forces, and they are central to the story. Still, as a successful attorney, I found it difficult to watch Dina repeatedly prioritize keeping the peace and protecting others at the expense of her own happiness.
Of course, that frustration is partly a reflection of my own biases as a reader. I have a hard time with stories where accomplished women allow fathers, husbands, or family members to exert so much influence over their lives. While it serves an important purpose in the narrative, there were moments when I wanted Dina to stop worrying about disappointing everyone else and start choosing herself.
Fortunately, Lucky was a strong counterbalance. I appreciated his growth, his loyalty, and the way he genuinely cared for Dina. As the layers of the past were peeled back and the truth about their separation emerged, I found myself rooting for them despite my frustrations.
Overall, this was a warm, entertaining romance with strong family themes, a compelling second-chance storyline, and plenty of heart. While some aspects of Dina's journey didn't fully work for me, I still enjoyed the ride and would recommend it to readers who enjoy family-centered romances with emotional depth and a satisfying reunion.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3/5
This is an honest review of this ARC received from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.
Good girl Dina Haq is hiding something from her family...she's divorced and keeping up a farce to get through her influencer sister's wedding. She just wants to get this over and done with, but the universe throws a wrench in her plans by way of Lucky Latif, her former uni crush...and the groom's best man. Dina is forced to confront her emotions, Arshad -her slimeball ex-husband who is clearly up to something at her dad's law firm, Lucky and Arshad's unspoken tension from their uni days, and keeping up family appearances. Behind the scenes shenanigans, lots of yearning, and wedding drama has Dina running ragged. Will she finally run towards what she really wants?
Uzma has done it againnnnn. This was such an entertaining read, I could barely put it down.
Mainly plot heavy, it focuses on Dina reclaiming her sense of self from her family and societal expectations.
Now, as a Muslim reader, there are lots of elements in this book that don't comply with the faith and has some very liberal characters. I think the author may alienate part of her audience with that.
As reader who can analyze and separate fact from fiction, I didn't really have any major issues with this. The following much be a spoiler, read on if you don't care. These elements include:
The only thing that feels a little unreal is a woman hiding her divorce from the community. For Dina and Arshad to have gotten divorced, they would've needed to go through a dissolution process with a local religious leader. How would they have kept that quiet?
Lots of loopholes in this plot as it's built on lots of things a practising Muslim would not do...it almost seems like it wasn't written for a Muslim cast? It just felt like the faith was an accessory and not a lifestyle which doesn't align with the plot. Liberal Muslims exists and do all the above that I have listed. As a reader with a little insight, the plot falls apart if the faith was actually practised in the story.
I still enjoyed my time reading this. Uzma has a way with hooking you in, laying out the drama, and you get to laugh along and gasp as you read.
I might read this again in the near future to see if my perspective has changed.
Any thoughts?
This is an honest review of this ARC received from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.
Good girl Dina Haq is hiding something from her family...she's divorced and keeping up a farce to get through her influencer sister's wedding. She just wants to get this over and done with, but the universe throws a wrench in her plans by way of Lucky Latif, her former uni crush...and the groom's best man. Dina is forced to confront her emotions, Arshad -her slimeball ex-husband who is clearly up to something at her dad's law firm, Lucky and Arshad's unspoken tension from their uni days, and keeping up family appearances. Behind the scenes shenanigans, lots of yearning, and wedding drama has Dina running ragged. Will she finally run towards what she really wants?
Uzma has done it againnnnn. This was such an entertaining read, I could barely put it down.
Mainly plot heavy, it focuses on Dina reclaiming her sense of self from her family and societal expectations.
Now, as a Muslim reader, there are lots of elements in this book that don't comply with the faith and has some very liberal characters. I think the author may alienate part of her audience with that.
As reader who can analyze and separate fact from fiction, I didn't really have any major issues with this. The following much be a spoiler, read on if you don't care. These elements include:
The only thing that feels a little unreal is a woman hiding her divorce from the community. For Dina and Arshad to have gotten divorced, they would've needed to go through a dissolution process with a local religious leader. How would they have kept that quiet?
Lots of loopholes in this plot as it's built on lots of things a practising Muslim would not do...it almost seems like it wasn't written for a Muslim cast? It just felt like the faith was an accessory and not a lifestyle which doesn't align with the plot. Liberal Muslims exists and do all the above that I have listed. As a reader with a little insight, the plot falls apart if the faith was actually practised in the story.
I still enjoyed my time reading this. Uzma has a way with hooking you in, laying out the drama, and you get to laugh along and gasp as you read.
I might read this again in the near future to see if my perspective has changed.
Any thoughts?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The story is centered on Dina who is a Toronto lawyer and she’s dead set on not ruining her sister's wedding day by keeping her divorce a secret, and even hoping her awful ex stays quiet too. But things get messy fast when she meets the groom’s best man: Luqman “Lucky” Latif, her old crush who vanished without a word.
Lucky’s got his own side of the story. He gave up his dreams to help his family, built a great business from scratch, and thought he was over Dina. After all, she “rejected” him and married his best friend, Arshad! Seeing her again brings all those old feelings rushing back, and he’s not sure if he can handle it.
As all the fun, crazy wedding events go on, they start reconnecting and realize everything between them was a lie. Arshad manipulated them both just to get close to Dina and her family’s law firm. Now the truth is out, they hope it's not too late for a little rekindling.
It’s such a fun, sweet second-chance romance, full of wedding chaos, family drama, and old misunderstandings. Dina and Lucky’s chemistry feels totally real, it’s not just a quick spark, it’s based on years of knowing each other.
I really loved how Uzma Jalaluddin writes about the South Asian cultures: the delicious food, loud joyful family gatherings, and how divorce can still carry a stigma in these communities.
As for the characters, I really like Lucky. He’s such a great guy. Loyal, hardworking, kind, and exactly the steady support Dina needs. Meanwhile, Dina's character is a little disappointed. She’s such a smart, successful lawyer, but she lets people walk all over her and puts everyone else’s feelings before her own. Even though, I understand how family pressure and manipulation are hard things to fight, especially for someone like Dina who comes from restrict family, I really want to see her stand up for herself.
Overall, Dina Gets Lucky is such a warm and enjoyable read, perfect if you crave a second-chance romance with great characters and lots of lovely cultural details.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with the review copy.
Lucky’s got his own side of the story. He gave up his dreams to help his family, built a great business from scratch, and thought he was over Dina. After all, she “rejected” him and married his best friend, Arshad! Seeing her again brings all those old feelings rushing back, and he’s not sure if he can handle it.
As all the fun, crazy wedding events go on, they start reconnecting and realize everything between them was a lie. Arshad manipulated them both just to get close to Dina and her family’s law firm. Now the truth is out, they hope it's not too late for a little rekindling.
It’s such a fun, sweet second-chance romance, full of wedding chaos, family drama, and old misunderstandings. Dina and Lucky’s chemistry feels totally real, it’s not just a quick spark, it’s based on years of knowing each other.
I really loved how Uzma Jalaluddin writes about the South Asian cultures: the delicious food, loud joyful family gatherings, and how divorce can still carry a stigma in these communities.
As for the characters, I really like Lucky. He’s such a great guy. Loyal, hardworking, kind, and exactly the steady support Dina needs. Meanwhile, Dina's character is a little disappointed. She’s such a smart, successful lawyer, but she lets people walk all over her and puts everyone else’s feelings before her own. Even though, I understand how family pressure and manipulation are hard things to fight, especially for someone like Dina who comes from restrict family, I really want to see her stand up for herself.
Overall, Dina Gets Lucky is such a warm and enjoyable read, perfect if you crave a second-chance romance with great characters and lots of lovely cultural details.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with the review copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 stars
Ah, Uzma, do you ever miss?
Dina Gets Lucky follows Dina Haq, a Toronto-based attorney and recent divorcee, as she tries her best not to overshadow her influencer sister’s lavish wedding. Things get complicated when Luqman “Lucky” Latif, her law school crush who ghosted her six years ago, reappears as the groom’s best man. As the wedding festivities unfold, Dina and Lucky rediscover their connection and begin to unravel the role her manipulative ex-husband played in their almost-love story.
I absolutely devoured this book. I read it in one sitting—I started at 9 p.m. and couldn’t put it down until 2 a.m. It’s such a quick, enjoyable read; it’s genuinely hard not to love.
It’s not often I connect with a character so deeply that I feel like physically fighting people on her behalf, but here we are. Dina must be protected at all costs. Even though the book is centered on Desi culture (specifically Desi in the diaspora), Dina’s experiences feel like a universal POC experience, especially when it comes to navigating family expectations. It’s incredibly relatable.
I was triggered beyond belief while reading. I needed her to swing at Arshad so badly (and maybe her little sister at times). He’s such a cartoonish villain that it’s hard to take him seriously. But honestly, that kind of adds to the book’s enjoyability. He kind of reminds me of a villain from a Zee World drama (I really hope people get this reference).
I loved that the story was centered around a wedding. Not only did it give Dina and Lucky a perfect excuse to spend time together (forced proximity, my beloved), but it was also a wonderful way to showcase Desi culture.
The only thing I didn’t love was how cowardly Dina could be at times. After the fifth time she backed off from telling her parents her marriage had ended, I was like, “Girl, you’re doing this to yourself now.” Whatever Arshad gets away with is because she’s allowing it. Grow a pair, Dina!
Anyways, I enjoyed the book. Which is not a surprise; Uzma Jalaluddin is definitely one of my if they write it, I'll read it authors.
Ah, Uzma, do you ever miss?
Dina Gets Lucky follows Dina Haq, a Toronto-based attorney and recent divorcee, as she tries her best not to overshadow her influencer sister’s lavish wedding. Things get complicated when Luqman “Lucky” Latif, her law school crush who ghosted her six years ago, reappears as the groom’s best man. As the wedding festivities unfold, Dina and Lucky rediscover their connection and begin to unravel the role her manipulative ex-husband played in their almost-love story.
I absolutely devoured this book. I read it in one sitting—I started at 9 p.m. and couldn’t put it down until 2 a.m. It’s such a quick, enjoyable read; it’s genuinely hard not to love.
It’s not often I connect with a character so deeply that I feel like physically fighting people on her behalf, but here we are. Dina must be protected at all costs. Even though the book is centered on Desi culture (specifically Desi in the diaspora), Dina’s experiences feel like a universal POC experience, especially when it comes to navigating family expectations. It’s incredibly relatable.
I was triggered beyond belief while reading. I needed her to swing at Arshad so badly (and maybe her little sister at times). He’s such a cartoonish villain that it’s hard to take him seriously. But honestly, that kind of adds to the book’s enjoyability. He kind of reminds me of a villain from a Zee World drama (I really hope people get this reference).
I loved that the story was centered around a wedding. Not only did it give Dina and Lucky a perfect excuse to spend time together (forced proximity, my beloved), but it was also a wonderful way to showcase Desi culture.
The only thing I didn’t love was how cowardly Dina could be at times. After the fifth time she backed off from telling her parents her marriage had ended, I was like, “Girl, you’re doing this to yourself now.” Whatever Arshad gets away with is because she’s allowing it. Grow a pair, Dina!
Anyways, I enjoyed the book. Which is not a surprise; Uzma Jalaluddin is definitely one of my if they write it, I'll read it authors.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Many times in romance novels, miscommunication is part of the plot--the reason that romantic relationships are either destroyed before they start or ruined in progress, leading this reader to want to pull out my hair or yell at one or more of the characters because all that agony could have been avoided. But, of course, then there might not be much of a plot.
In Dina Gets Lucky by Uzma Jalaluddin, miscommunication is the overarching plot device, preventing attorney Dina from finding happiness with Lucky (Luqman), her law school crush, and leading to her marriage to fellow law student Arshad and ultimately their divorce. Now she is about to attend her younger sister's extravagant South Asian wedding week in Toronto, and she is worried that Lucky might attend, as he is a friend of the groom. Naturally, it turns out that he is indeed the best man. Neither one knows why the other didn't care enough to try for a lasting relationship. and Dina doesn't understand why Lucky had moved from Toronto to Chicago without letting her know. Neither realized that Arshad might have had a hand in it, nor did they question him about it. To further aggravate the situation, Dina decided to wait until after the wedding to tell her family that she and her loathsome husband had divorced months ago. Arshad had agreed but promised there would be a payback.
It was fun reading about the over-the-top wedding, but I had a difficult time connecting with Dina, her super-influencer sister Hania, and their wealthy parents. Lucky is sweet but not decisive enough. Arshad knows how to present a charming front but has absolutely no redeeming qualities. And Dina and Lucky shy away from asking the questions that would have been enlightening to both. I would have enjoyed a bit more nuance to be able to root for the protagonists without reservation. On the positive side, it was a quick read that had a pleasing ending and a brief epilogue.
My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of this book.
In Dina Gets Lucky by Uzma Jalaluddin, miscommunication is the overarching plot device, preventing attorney Dina from finding happiness with Lucky (Luqman), her law school crush, and leading to her marriage to fellow law student Arshad and ultimately their divorce. Now she is about to attend her younger sister's extravagant South Asian wedding week in Toronto, and she is worried that Lucky might attend, as he is a friend of the groom. Naturally, it turns out that he is indeed the best man. Neither one knows why the other didn't care enough to try for a lasting relationship. and Dina doesn't understand why Lucky had moved from Toronto to Chicago without letting her know. Neither realized that Arshad might have had a hand in it, nor did they question him about it. To further aggravate the situation, Dina decided to wait until after the wedding to tell her family that she and her loathsome husband had divorced months ago. Arshad had agreed but promised there would be a payback.
It was fun reading about the over-the-top wedding, but I had a difficult time connecting with Dina, her super-influencer sister Hania, and their wealthy parents. Lucky is sweet but not decisive enough. Arshad knows how to present a charming front but has absolutely no redeeming qualities. And Dina and Lucky shy away from asking the questions that would have been enlightening to both. I would have enjoyed a bit more nuance to be able to root for the protagonists without reservation. On the positive side, it was a quick read that had a pleasing ending and a brief epilogue.
My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Dina Haq cant wait for her younger sisters wedding. A lavish south Asian affair that will be constantly livestreamed by her influencer sister.she just needs her heinous ex husband to keep his mouth shut about their divorce until after the festivities are over.
Lucky hasn't been back to Toronto since college, following his family to Chicago and having to abandon his lately dreams. He also hasn't seen Dina since she rejected him and shattered his heart, only to marry his best friend...ex best friend. Now he's the best man at her younger sister's wedding.
But as the two of them reconnect they begin to unravel the part their manipulative ex husband/friend played in their almost love story. Is everything they know about the past wrong? And is it too late to imagine a future for them together?
I normally love Jallaludin's FMCs. These beautiful strong women who are sassy and full of drive and passion, even whilst setting aside their own feelings for family. Dina....Dina annoyed me. She lets her family completely stomp all over her and puts up zero fight. For me she wasnt in line with Jallaludin's typically subtle badass FMCs and was a bit less enjoyable for me because of that.
Lucky though, Lucky I absolutely loved. He was strong and fierce and my favorite character of the book. Pivoting when life kept throwing him massive curveballs and refusing to give up or wallow. Cutting off people who needed to be cut off but not sitting there dwelling and stewing over it.
In all this was a medium read for me. Jallaludin is one of my favorite authors and still remains an instant read for me, this just wasn't my favorite of hers.
Getting an arc of it was literally a dream come true and I'm incredibly grateful to Jallaludin, Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review. It comes out tomorrow, and I will always recommend her books, even if this particular one wasn't my favorite of hers it was still an enjoyable read.
Lucky hasn't been back to Toronto since college, following his family to Chicago and having to abandon his lately dreams. He also hasn't seen Dina since she rejected him and shattered his heart, only to marry his best friend...ex best friend. Now he's the best man at her younger sister's wedding.
But as the two of them reconnect they begin to unravel the part their manipulative ex husband/friend played in their almost love story. Is everything they know about the past wrong? And is it too late to imagine a future for them together?
I normally love Jallaludin's FMCs. These beautiful strong women who are sassy and full of drive and passion, even whilst setting aside their own feelings for family. Dina....Dina annoyed me. She lets her family completely stomp all over her and puts up zero fight. For me she wasnt in line with Jallaludin's typically subtle badass FMCs and was a bit less enjoyable for me because of that.
Lucky though, Lucky I absolutely loved. He was strong and fierce and my favorite character of the book. Pivoting when life kept throwing him massive curveballs and refusing to give up or wallow. Cutting off people who needed to be cut off but not sitting there dwelling and stewing over it.
In all this was a medium read for me. Jallaludin is one of my favorite authors and still remains an instant read for me, this just wasn't my favorite of hers.
Getting an arc of it was literally a dream come true and I'm incredibly grateful to Jallaludin, Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review. It comes out tomorrow, and I will always recommend her books, even if this particular one wasn't my favorite of hers it was still an enjoyable read.
October 28, 2026
💛 Dina Gets Lucky 💛
((Spoiler-Free ARC Review))
Title- Dina Gets Lucky
Author- Uzma Jalaluddin
Genre- Contemporary Romance
Series- Standalone
Format- EPUB
Page Count- 283 Pages
Published By- Lake Union Publishing
PR Company- Over the River PR
Pub Date- October 27, 2026
Thank you Over the River PR for sharing this ARC with me! Happy Pub Day to the brilliant Uzma Jalaluddin! 🫶🏻
The scene is set years prior in the library in Toronto. Best friends Lucky, Dina and Arshad study together at law school. A manipulation that night by one of the friends changes the course of everyone’s lives. Fast forward to present day, Dina and Arshad have separated and are secretly divorced after she caught him cheating. The two decide to keep that under wraps per cultural/ family expectation and for professional reasons. Dina and Arshad work for Dina’s father Aziz and their family law firm. With the impending nuptials of her sister Hania and her fiance Sameer, Dina and Arshad are forced to lightly pretend they’re still married. Hania is an influencer and Sameer’s family owns one of the most successful construction companies. The wedding is expected to be lavish and over the top. Dina runs in to the one that got away at the airport. Lucky is Sameer’s best friend and best man so after years of no contact and tons of confusion, they’re forced to be around each other. Dina eventually expresses her confusion and some of the dots are connected. I love how these characters are written. I love the depth each carries. The level of petty, manipulative and cunning is impressive. The level of genuine, nicety, family oriented love is impressive. The loyalty is impressive. And yet, my favorite part is when Dina puts herself first regardless of what’s expected by her family. She can truly start living when she stops living for everyone else. I enjoyed the twists of family drama, professional drama and behind the scenes plotting. It kept me so intrigued. I also finished with a rather aggressive hate for Arshad 😂. This is so well done! Add this to your TBR, friends.
XOXO,
The Calm Chapter
((Spoiler-Free ARC Review))
Title- Dina Gets Lucky
Author- Uzma Jalaluddin
Genre- Contemporary Romance
Series- Standalone
Format- EPUB
Page Count- 283 Pages
Published By- Lake Union Publishing
PR Company- Over the River PR
Pub Date- October 27, 2026
Thank you Over the River PR for sharing this ARC with me! Happy Pub Day to the brilliant Uzma Jalaluddin! 🫶🏻
The scene is set years prior in the library in Toronto. Best friends Lucky, Dina and Arshad study together at law school. A manipulation that night by one of the friends changes the course of everyone’s lives. Fast forward to present day, Dina and Arshad have separated and are secretly divorced after she caught him cheating. The two decide to keep that under wraps per cultural/ family expectation and for professional reasons. Dina and Arshad work for Dina’s father Aziz and their family law firm. With the impending nuptials of her sister Hania and her fiance Sameer, Dina and Arshad are forced to lightly pretend they’re still married. Hania is an influencer and Sameer’s family owns one of the most successful construction companies. The wedding is expected to be lavish and over the top. Dina runs in to the one that got away at the airport. Lucky is Sameer’s best friend and best man so after years of no contact and tons of confusion, they’re forced to be around each other. Dina eventually expresses her confusion and some of the dots are connected. I love how these characters are written. I love the depth each carries. The level of petty, manipulative and cunning is impressive. The level of genuine, nicety, family oriented love is impressive. The loyalty is impressive. And yet, my favorite part is when Dina puts herself first regardless of what’s expected by her family. She can truly start living when she stops living for everyone else. I enjoyed the twists of family drama, professional drama and behind the scenes plotting. It kept me so intrigued. I also finished with a rather aggressive hate for Arshad 😂. This is so well done! Add this to your TBR, friends.
XOXO,
The Calm Chapter
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*** ARC Review ***
I absolutely LOVED Yours for the Season by Uzma Jalaluddin, so I was really looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, it didn't quite work for me this time.
Dina is attending her sister's wedding when she runs into Lucky, the guy she had a massive crush on back in law school. Since then, she's married another former classmate, gotten divorced, and somehow managed to keep that last bit a secret from her entire family.
So obviously, there's plenty of potential for chaos. And chaos we get!
Second chances, family expectations, wedding drama, old feelings, heartbreak, secrets, and SO MUCH miscommunication.
Now, I usually don't mind a little miscommunication in my romcoms. It comes with the territory, right? But this time I found myself wanting to scream JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER! a few too many times.
I especially struggled with Dina. She's a successful lawyer, clearly intelligent and perfectly capable of navigating a demanding professional life, yet when it comes to her personal relationships, some of her decisions felt almost teenager-like. I understand that family expectations and cultural pressures can make things incredibly complicated, but I still had a hard time believing just how incapable of communicating she sometimes seemed to be.
That said, I did enjoy the lively South Asian wedding setting, the family dynamics, and Lucky as a love interest. There's definitely heart here, and I can see why this story would work really well for readers who love a second-chance romance with lots of emotional drama.
I just wish the characters had spent a little less time keeping secrets and a little more time having actual conversations.
Not a bad read by any means, but after loving Yours for the Season so much, I was hoping to fall in love with this one too. Sadly, that didn't quite happen.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I absolutely LOVED Yours for the Season by Uzma Jalaluddin, so I was really looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, it didn't quite work for me this time.
Dina is attending her sister's wedding when she runs into Lucky, the guy she had a massive crush on back in law school. Since then, she's married another former classmate, gotten divorced, and somehow managed to keep that last bit a secret from her entire family.
So obviously, there's plenty of potential for chaos. And chaos we get!
Second chances, family expectations, wedding drama, old feelings, heartbreak, secrets, and SO MUCH miscommunication.
Now, I usually don't mind a little miscommunication in my romcoms. It comes with the territory, right? But this time I found myself wanting to scream JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER! a few too many times.
I especially struggled with Dina. She's a successful lawyer, clearly intelligent and perfectly capable of navigating a demanding professional life, yet when it comes to her personal relationships, some of her decisions felt almost teenager-like. I understand that family expectations and cultural pressures can make things incredibly complicated, but I still had a hard time believing just how incapable of communicating she sometimes seemed to be.
That said, I did enjoy the lively South Asian wedding setting, the family dynamics, and Lucky as a love interest. There's definitely heart here, and I can see why this story would work really well for readers who love a second-chance romance with lots of emotional drama.
I just wish the characters had spent a little less time keeping secrets and a little more time having actual conversations.
Not a bad read by any means, but after loving Yours for the Season so much, I was hoping to fall in love with this one too. Sadly, that didn't quite happen.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐️
“Everyone’s scared, all the time. Do the scary thing anyway, Dina. Just say ‘bismillah’ and leap.”
𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 is a second-chance romance featuring Indian immigrant Muslims in Canada who attend a desi wedding that rekindles the love lost between the two MCs.
𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐇𝐚𝐪 is a smart, witty and determined lawyer working at her family’s esteemed law firm. And 𝐋𝐮𝐪𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐟 is a sweet, funny and compassionate MMC, the eldest son in his family who works as a contractor.
This book had an interesting opening and I loved how the characters were described in the author’s quirky style.
The desi wedding and feast really made me want to attend a wedding myself 🤣. And just like how every desi wedding has its own charm and chaos, this one was no less :p
What I really wished to see in the novel was more of how their friendship blossomed into love in the past, because I felt their relationship was more surface-level.
Also, the part where it took Dina so long to disclose her divorce to Lucky was dragged out in the book. That kinda made the second half of the book a tad bit boring and uncomfortable to me :/ Especially because Lucky didn’t know about it and his feelings for Dina were getting stronger while he was unsure of where Dina’s relationship status stood.
Other than that, this book also shows the struggles of coming out of a relationship with a narcissistic and self-absorbed man. It also highlights how divorce is still seen as a taboo in society and by parents
And how it’s often the women who end up being blamed, though this wasn’t explored further.
So, I felt these were the topics that could have added more depth to the book and made it even more enjoyable to read.
Overall, It was a fun and feel-good read! With equally likeable and unlikeable characters in the book ;)
P.S. thank you @netgalley and @lakeunionpublishing for the e-arc. All opinions expressed here are my own :)
“Everyone’s scared, all the time. Do the scary thing anyway, Dina. Just say ‘bismillah’ and leap.”
𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 is a second-chance romance featuring Indian immigrant Muslims in Canada who attend a desi wedding that rekindles the love lost between the two MCs.
𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐇𝐚𝐪 is a smart, witty and determined lawyer working at her family’s esteemed law firm. And 𝐋𝐮𝐪𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐟 is a sweet, funny and compassionate MMC, the eldest son in his family who works as a contractor.
This book had an interesting opening and I loved how the characters were described in the author’s quirky style.
The desi wedding and feast really made me want to attend a wedding myself 🤣. And just like how every desi wedding has its own charm and chaos, this one was no less :p
What I really wished to see in the novel was more of how their friendship blossomed into love in the past, because I felt their relationship was more surface-level.
Also, the part where it took Dina so long to disclose her divorce to Lucky was dragged out in the book. That kinda made the second half of the book a tad bit boring and uncomfortable to me :/ Especially because Lucky didn’t know about it and his feelings for Dina were getting stronger while he was unsure of where Dina’s relationship status stood.
Other than that, this book also shows the struggles of coming out of a relationship with a narcissistic and self-absorbed man. It also highlights how divorce is still seen as a taboo in society and by parents
And how it’s often the women who end up being blamed, though this wasn’t explored further.
So, I felt these were the topics that could have added more depth to the book and made it even more enjoyable to read.
Overall, It was a fun and feel-good read! With equally likeable and unlikeable characters in the book ;)
P.S. thank you @netgalley and @lakeunionpublishing for the e-arc. All opinions expressed here are my own :)
September 28, 2026
4/5 stars, closer to 3.75 - thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
What initially drew me to this book was its celebration of Desi culture and characters -- representation matters and I love seeing more multicultural stories out there. Though there's a lot of food talk, which made me quite hungry at times.
The story primarily alternates POVs between main characters Dina and Lucky, though the prologue is from Arshad's POV. Arshad is immediately unlikeable as a toxic narcissist and unfortunately basically has zero redeeming qualities (HE EATS HER CAKE BAR), which made him annoying to read about. Luckily, Lucky (Dina's love interest) is someone I was able to really root for; he is kind and perceptive (for example, noticing Dina's panic when her evil ex-husband tries to humiliate her with a dance).
There is lying, secrecy, and suppressed longing galore. If I got anything from the story it was to ~just communicate~ (for goodness sake). And communicate honestly. All I can say is thank goodness for Aliyah.
Here is a taste of the romance you get in this beachy kind of read:
- "You always matter to me"
- love interest sleeping on the threshold, reminiscent of Outlander with Jamie guarding Claire's room (iykyk)
Writing-wise, some of the prose felt somewhat long-winded, not quite smooth, and perhaps a bit..."academic"? One sentence started with "in contrast." For me, the writing took a minute to get used to. I also wish the chapters had been labeled with Dina/Lucky depending on which POV was in it. I think there might have been a plot discrepancy with the airport scene and Lucky acknowledges not telling her about moving to Chicago (lie by omission) but later on in chapter 13 he claims he did tell her.
Overall, still a fun and not too heavy read, great for romance lovers!
What initially drew me to this book was its celebration of Desi culture and characters -- representation matters and I love seeing more multicultural stories out there. Though there's a lot of food talk, which made me quite hungry at times.
The story primarily alternates POVs between main characters Dina and Lucky, though the prologue is from Arshad's POV. Arshad is immediately unlikeable as a toxic narcissist and unfortunately basically has zero redeeming qualities (HE EATS HER CAKE BAR), which made him annoying to read about. Luckily, Lucky (Dina's love interest) is someone I was able to really root for; he is kind and perceptive (for example, noticing Dina's panic when her evil ex-husband tries to humiliate her with a dance).
There is lying, secrecy, and suppressed longing galore. If I got anything from the story it was to ~just communicate~ (for goodness sake). And communicate honestly. All I can say is thank goodness for Aliyah.
Here is a taste of the romance you get in this beachy kind of read:
- "You always matter to me"
- love interest sleeping on the threshold, reminiscent of Outlander with Jamie guarding Claire's room (iykyk)
Writing-wise, some of the prose felt somewhat long-winded, not quite smooth, and perhaps a bit..."academic"? One sentence started with "in contrast." For me, the writing took a minute to get used to. I also wish the chapters had been labeled with Dina/Lucky depending on which POV was in it. I think there might have been a plot discrepancy with the airport scene and Lucky acknowledges not telling her about moving to Chicago (lie by omission) but later on in chapter 13 he claims he did tell her.
Overall, still a fun and not too heavy read, great for romance lovers!
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