Married Without Benefits

by I.I.E.

Genres: Romance, Marriage, Slow Burn, Enemies To Lovers

457 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 25, 2026

Reviews

[Hooria · Rating 4 out of 5]

literally pulled me from a deep romance slump. Absolutely devoured it. Lily is the anxious avoidant muslim girl representation i deserve!!!!!!!!!!

[Ikram · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't come here and start lying that the writing isn't beautiful and really great, but I can still acknowledge that the MCs inner monologues were way too freaking long... they just kept coming and never stopped. Sometimes I had to imagine the other characters just looking at her while she zoned out to think about them essays... like damn...

I love how he loved her, I love how her relationship with her mother got resolved.
Did I stay sceptical about her "best friend" being actually a best friend? Yeah, I sure did, but to each their own I guess.


Some of the plot felt like it came out of nowhere... I can't even really judge if it was necessary, but also ok, lol

It was good, but truly too long... would've been way better if it was shorter, but that's also just my opinion🤷‍♀️


Edit: I just remembered a plot point that was EXTREMELY unnecessary. I'm 100% sure it was used just to cause a third act "break-up" -in this case separation- for absolutely no reason, especially after they were happy tgthr. Pissed me off!

[Nourmiyy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book 6 stars? I'd give it 10/5. SUCH a good book.

It played with my feelings in the best possible way 😭 One minute I'm crying, the next I'm giggling through my tears. Emotional whiplash in the best sense.

I loved how I.I.E handled the mother-daughter relationship—something we all see but barely anyone actually talks about. It felt real. It hurt. It healed.

And the best part? I never felt like I was reading this book. I understood the characters like I already knew them. Like they were my friends, my family, me.

Just read it. You'll thank me.

[itsyourfriendlyneighbourhoodreadergianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was devastatingly good, the build up, the banter, the beautiful slow act of falling in love was so well thought out and delivered that I will probably be thinking about this for a very long time.
I will admit that I was slightly concerned about how the author would weave the religious aspects in throughout the book because it is something that often makes me cringe in books because authors tend to go overboard until it's just not enjoyable anymore BUT this one was done perfectly it was just the right amount and at no point in time did it feel like a bump in the story it flowed so seamlessly and added depth and meaning/relatableness to the story, depth that I didn't think I'd appreciate as much as I did.
STUNNING READ

[لمى · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT'S PERFECTION.
It's everything I was looking for.
And for someone who usually doesn’t read or enjoy romance books that much, I really really really loved this one.
And now I’m praying god every day to give me someone just like Khalifa (I hate men and I don’t want to get married) but now I’m to delusional thanks to you IIE 😭😭😭

[Mak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so so so much. And I loved that Lilly could be herself. Her messy, loud self, and he loved her so much more for it. I can’t wipe my smile off my face and I’m just very happy I stumbled across this author a while ago because I love their stuff. Ugh. 10/10

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 stars

—- Possible spoilers —-

The book started off so well… I was planning to rate it a 4.5 stars

Then… the 70% mark hit with the absolutely horrible and unnecessary plot twist… I cannot believe how the author messed up a book I was going to rate so high… I wish she had just ended the book before that…

My Lillian did not deserve that and that wasn’t in line with Khalifa’s character… it kept getting progressively worse from that point… I’m devastated

[Azra · Rating 5 out of 5]

got me out of a reading slump

[luluwa ⋆˙⟡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I binged this book over a day and a half and REALLY liked it. The only issue I had with it is the fact that it did have spice (going into it I didn’t expect a muslim romance book to contain this content and was disappointed with that).

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

a breath of fucking fresh air!!!!!!! es visu laiku esmu uzskatījusi, ka grāmatas pārsfara reprezente to "happy ever after" stāstu. to, kas beidzas ar kāzām.

šis bija tik skaisti, tik svaigi, tik īsti. es ļoti priecājos, ka noticēju anotācijai ar 50+ atsauksmem. šī ir pirmā grāmata, kas man parādīja īstās dzīves problēmas, mazos sīkumus, lielos strīdus, brīžus, kas kliedz "es netiksu šim pari".

no smutt, no bs.

i loved this book.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so beautiful, funny, and relatable in ways i wasn’t expecting. I was anxious after reading Dear Ana.. I wasn’t ready to sob hysterically again but thankfully no tears were shed.

I love reading I.I.E’s books as i get to learn so much about Arab culture and customs. Like Mahr? excellent tradition 🙂‍↕️

I am going to stop putting off reading Dear Maya soon just so i can read more stuff from this amazing author. I will most definitely cry though

[Samia · Rating 5 out of 5]

big fan of this book.
seeing lilian fall in love with herself and stand up to her mom was nice. i enjoyed that it wasn't all happy endings and that her mom was too much of a coward to get over everything and make up. bc that's life

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I was lowkey invested in these peeps and their relationship.

Intrigued to see how this author further develops their craft.

[Doraemon_the_baddest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I enjoyed it. Like it was funny and the banter was so enjoyable to read. The plot was interesting too.

However, there were alot of monologues regarding mommy issues to the point that it just got really repetitive. At the end of few chapters, I just skimmed read everything cuz it was too much, ngl.

But enjoyable overall.

[Aliyah Ashraf · Rating 5 out of 5]

😖😖😖🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 my babies both of them, this was the perfect summer book and like i love how lillian lowk goes against every muslim stereotype and i really really appreciate the author making khalifa go down a humanities route bc it lowk healed him bruh, ALSO I LIKE HOW SHE FIRST DIDNT EVEN FIND HIM CUTE and i was suprised too. love love love love this

[g.♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

6/5 starssss!!!!!!
I dont really write reviews but this book really deserved one i dont even know where to start because this book did not have a single thing i hated or despised my first 5 stars of the year a book that will never leave my mind and always have me aching for this kind of romance the pure,thoughtful,little perfect acts that just made love so beautiful i was holding my heart the whole time scared that anything is gonna happen to the main characters (read her first 2 books to understand) i was so glad they got their beautiful perfect ending they both deserved the writing style is just beautiful whenever i read a line i wanted to highlight it immediately but if i did i will end up highlighting the whole book thats the thing about the author of this book she writes romance books so beautifully and gracefully but could also write topics about grief,sadness,loneliness so vastly and infinite i read her first book dear ana 2 years ago and it never left my mind i kept reading the highlight notes re-reading the book more than once this while the other one was utterly heavy this was as light as a feather romantic and so alluring you just kept going without realizing so for anyone reading this review read this book because the author deserves a raise deserves to be a bestselling author and share her words to everyone who loves to read i think this review is more for the author than the book but i think she deserves it.
I would read anything she writes because im so deeply attached to her writing style.

[Ema · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️
I knew i was a hopeless romantic but the way this book made me feel is INSANE.
For someone who is raised on the same beliefs as Lilian and Khalifa, I really understand both sides.
With all their flaws and cracks they found each other the most kind and beautiful thing they ever seen. In some ways I saw myself in Lilian, (im not tall as her lol) but the 'too much, too loud' was the same. So I stopped talking much or laugh as loud, I bite my tongue so I won't be an interruption to anyone.
But seeing Lilian took all the judgements and turn it into a strength the was so wholesome and powerful.
And for all the girlys out there, I know we all deserve a Khalifa who care, love, cook and be kind for us. (Or at least I want that)😝😚

[Alexine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wanted to give this five stars, but ughh, Khalifa, you are an insufferably messy asshole!

Plucked this out without reading the synopsis. Just really wanted something easy to read after a horrible book slump, and yup, here we are, learning cultures and religions that (at least for me) are hard to decipher. What I liked about this book is the MUSLIM FMC representation- well, both of them are Muslims, the FMC and MMC-but it was so refreshing to see the perspective of Muslim women.

Yeah, me learning how they struggled hard in the workforce without being discriminated against because of their appearance. Or how disgustingly educated they are—the more men from Muslim society are threatened—wow, just wow. And I love our FMC. She is so unapologetic, raw, very real, honest, and knows her value so well that she doesn't waver. And THANK GOD she broke the generational curse towards the end because, yeah, her daughter doesn't deserve how her mother treated her.

And Khalifa, YOU OWE HER BIG TIME. I AM NOT LETTING THIS SLIDE.

[Ghalz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would definitely give this a 6 stars if I could. Wow, I absolutely loved this book and I so do not regret reading it. This is the 2nd book I read by this author and it was as good as Dear Ana. Genuinely nothing bad to say 🤍

[janaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this book. The perfect representation of an Islamic arranged marriage and a Muslim couple 🥹🥹 my babies.

Lillian and Khalifa, I love you.

[Zylith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ya Allah give me a man like khallifaa !!!

AMEEEEEENN

[astr0girl 🔮🪴✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The emotional complexity of this book actually took me by surprise which is always refreshing! I loved the dynamic between all the characters and the depth they were written with. Truly a spectacular book <3

[Seline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminded of what it feels like to read for the very first time😭😭

I miss my old self and this book somehow brought her back.

[AJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Umm it was yummy idk what happened

[minnah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 ⭐️

it was so cute and a muslim romance. i genuinly really really REALLY liked it at first. it touched on social issues, had so many cute moments. but honestly this book should’ve ended like 10 chapters ago..
it just dragged on too much towards the end, with pointless plot twists

[jou ‎ꫂ᭪݁ · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was beautiful. definitely filled with angst.

“I tried to imagine what it must be like to live this way as an innocent civilian in Lebanon, in Palestine, in so many places across the Middle East, to raise children amid uncertainty, to fall in love under the constant threat of loss, to keep going while the rest of the world watched in distant silence.”

free palestine 🇵🇸❤️

“You’re a helper. You’re the light people see when they’re surrounded by darkness, when they think it’s all over. And I know that because...you’re my light, Lillian.”

they were cute, the banter was so funny. there was so many sad moments but also so many funny ones. the angst was painful and real. i loved it so much.

and there was a happy ending, which i deserved after dear ana devastated me and wrecked my soul thank you very much.

[ronniesus · Rating 3 out of 5]

didn’t appreciate that the second villain in this book is named after me..
guy is lebanese yet not one mention of phoenicia


“All that stuff you told me about your mom not wanting you?” His eyebrows lifted, mock sympathy curling at the edges of his mouth. “Be honest, Lillian. Who would want you?” that came out of NOWHERE

[aminahthebooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

An arranged marriage between a history professor and a gynaecologist. One is broody and quiet, while the other is extroverted and loud. The premise of their marriage is built upon that need to live their own life and not be constantly coddled by their parents. They’re both in their 30’s, past the age of ‘average’ marriage candidates.

The male lead is a Lebanese history professor who is meticulous in everything he does. His apartment is clean, dark, and brooding, just like him. When Lillian, the female lead enters her new home with her husband she buys a paint in the colour of burgundy and paints her entire room. Her mom never let her paint her room, constantly made every choice for her in life. Despite the constant disengagement her family had in her life, she sought out medical school and become a gynaecologist. Giving birth to babies day in and day out. Going to the hospital’s nursery and looking at all the babies and wondering what each of their futures would be.

As the youngest child, Lillian didn’t get that attention that was normally expected for the last child. Instead she got silence, and often comments about her appearance, her work, ‘when is she getting married? Or when is she leaving this house already?’. It forced her to be confident the hard way, gain all the opportunities she could on her own.

When they fall in love with each other, it’s comfortable and reassuring. Almost like a warm blanket tucking you in at night.

One of my favourite quotes:

"I'm sorry that I come across as emotionally unavailable," he continued, voice hoarse.

"The emotion is there, it consumes every part of me, it's just clogged. I don't know how to let it out without drowning in it. I'm sorry I can't be more, can't give you more, but if I were capable of being that for anyone..."

He paused, eyes flicking down to my lips, then back to my eyes.

"I think I would choose that person to be you. I'd want it to be you, Lillian.”

[BookWoman · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars? I freshly finished the book and ran here to write so maybe with time my review could change.
I loved ruining my days, or running from my days just to read this book! It was so well written and complete and I always wanted to continue it. So besides bad sleep, and missing out my train station, I have only positive things to say.

It was my first real romance with a Muslim couple. It was new and nice for me to read about their characters and faith without overdoing it, just the realistic way most people are. The slow burn was everything. Usually I get bored or I'm not into the professional part of the characters but in this book every part of the story was made right. I was just watching a lengthy series and each episode was entertaining.

The last part - it might be my fault/toxicity - I felt too long all the love confessions always too well developed and so much face holding in their hands. I wish them well but as an audience it felt repetitive. But I get it, as much hate someone received, love should overtake it.

Apart from this, I loved Khalifa. He sets standards so high for being just a manly man as says Lillian. I loved to read all the anger and trust issues from her point of view. Of course we would love more if we had his pov but everything was well described for us to read him by her side.

They're definitely a hot couple and powerful. Vulnerability and stubbornness also great. I would totally recommend this book for all the drama, the emotions we go through with them, the questions that could rise, the depth of their relationship. But for the last pages I would have to tell them it got the romance book signature with lovey dovey conversations.

First time reading this author and I'm pleased with this experience she gave me. I think this is in my favorite books shelf.

[prisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/10

I was so, so, so excited to read this book, like it's been on my TBR for so long. To me, personally, there were so many ups and downs in the plot of this book, which is not my thing. It felt like every single time something was going right for the main characters, something else came in and just absolutely blew the place up. I mean, the plot twists were so diabolical, so messy, which is not a bad thing, just not for me. I think the trauma these characters have experienced throughout their lives manifested in ways that were not always healthy, and sometimes a little toxic, but I also know it's because they're a result of their families and I think that was explored really well, especially how they grew from that. At one point, the writing in this book just didn't hit the spot for me, and the story felt a little lacklustre, but then the plot just worked out so well, and then it just made me mad (iykyk). For me personally, I don't love a book with such inconsistency. The entire last part of the book didn't sit right with me, I think the third-act breakup was needed but I don't think everything was resolved well. There are certain moments that make me question the character a little too much, and I really don't love having to question the FMC. This book was good, but it just did not meet my expectations, and while the plot was well developed, I was unable to form a clear opinion on the main characters because of how the book just felt like a mediocre roller coaster with some exceptional drops.