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The Frustrated Women's Club
Escaping meddling Punjabi family and first dates with both sets of parents present, Alia Arora is excited to reclaim her London-bred independence with a move to Dubai, city of dreams and endless possibilities.
But Indian parents rarely back down, and Alia finds that the pursuit of the idealised version of herself - effortless career and a banging social life - isn't quite as easy as she'd hoped. From arranged-marriage suitors to managing accusations of having become a 'coconut', Alia navigates it all with her trademark grace and irreverent wit.
Narrated in a series of hilariously funny and searingly honest blog posts, The Frustrated Women's Club is a love letter to the Indian Millennial.
But Indian parents rarely back down, and Alia finds that the pursuit of the idealised version of herself - effortless career and a banging social life - isn't quite as easy as she'd hoped. From arranged-marriage suitors to managing accusations of having become a 'coconut', Alia navigates it all with her trademark grace and irreverent wit.
Narrated in a series of hilariously funny and searingly honest blog posts, The Frustrated Women's Club is a love letter to the Indian Millennial.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 26, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 26, 2023
I picked this book up on a whim at the Emirates Lit Fest 2023, I'm always interested to read from authors who are based in the Middle East and from the blurb this one looked very topical.
'Where are you from?'
I hear this question daily in Dubai, it's one of the biggest expat communities worldwide, but for a percentage of people born in the UAE this is a complicated question.
Our main character here is born to Indian parents in the UAE, she has never lived in India, but she's not and never will be a UAE passport holder.
This is a snapshot of a multicultural woman finding her path in a complicated environment.
Very refreshing and I'm sure very relatable for many. For me, it was another insight added to the daily life I see played out as part of living in this society.
Four stars.
'Where are you from?'
I hear this question daily in Dubai, it's one of the biggest expat communities worldwide, but for a percentage of people born in the UAE this is a complicated question.
Our main character here is born to Indian parents in the UAE, she has never lived in India, but she's not and never will be a UAE passport holder.
This is a snapshot of a multicultural woman finding her path in a complicated environment.
Very refreshing and I'm sure very relatable for many. For me, it was another insight added to the daily life I see played out as part of living in this society.
Four stars.
December 22, 2022
5 ⭐️ (believe me if I could i would give it more)
What can I say about the book that is basically your life in words.. the book is about Alia an expat - who basically was raised in UAE (hmm hello meee - well was raised in Oman). .. if you are fed up of hearing that age is the factor to get married and not the fact of requiring true love pick this book ASAP..
Love how the book shows how it is difficult to understand and accept certain requirements of "society"especially when we never stayed in this society..
The characters are well written. The moments of falling in love, state of confusion in accepting, heartbreaks, being ghosted, the importance of friendships ❤️.
Well eagerly waiting for book 2 🥺
What can I say about the book that is basically your life in words.. the book is about Alia an expat - who basically was raised in UAE (hmm hello meee - well was raised in Oman). .. if you are fed up of hearing that age is the factor to get married and not the fact of requiring true love pick this book ASAP..
Love how the book shows how it is difficult to understand and accept certain requirements of "society"especially when we never stayed in this society..
The characters are well written. The moments of falling in love, state of confusion in accepting, heartbreaks, being ghosted, the importance of friendships ❤️.
Well eagerly waiting for book 2 🥺
January 26, 2023
It's not often you find a book that speaks to who you are as a person, or where the character reflects your current mood and surroundings.
This book is such a fun piece to read, and by the end of it, you are hooked, you want to know more, you cry happy tears, not because the character's role demands it but because you see yourself in her shoes.
Cannot recommend Alia's journey enough - read it, you'll see why!
This book is such a fun piece to read, and by the end of it, you are hooked, you want to know more, you cry happy tears, not because the character's role demands it but because you see yourself in her shoes.
Cannot recommend Alia's journey enough - read it, you'll see why!
January 11, 2023
Another great book!! How Indian girls are always living under pressure to get married as soon as they are 21. I loved it!!
May 29, 2025
There are only a handful of reviews, so far, on Amanda Ahaju's novel, "The Frustrated Women's Club." There are only 7 reviews, so far, yet the book was written in 2022. I have to wonder if most of the reviews were from people who know the author, or are somehow connected to her or the publisher. I will be interested to see how the rating look when hundreds of readers have finished this book. I found it FRUSTRATING, indeed, especially because the main character, Alia Arora, often spoke of herself in 3rd person, adding a qualifier, such as "Sassy Alia," which drove me crazy. Not being Indian, I wondered for most of the book if there were another character named Alia, but that Sassy might mean a cousin or sister. I am not even sure if she was saying Sassy, since it sounded like "Sossy" in the audiobook. There were other qualifiers in front of her name, leading me to wonder whom each person might be. After several hours of listening, I figured out that this was all one person, and a very annoying one, at that.
The author actually narrates the novel, and I had to wonder of it was somewhat autobiographical, but if so, I hope she is not one of those annoying people who talks about herself in the 3rd person! Alia is only 25, but her Punjabi parents want to arrange her marriage NOW. She has no interest in marrying anyone her parents choose. I get it, but how she goes about things felt cold and desperate to me. She joins a dating app, "Click," and tells readers that men are, basically, all louses. They ghost her, they respond coldly, they are self centered, not ready for commitment, etc. Ok, but at 25 she is still young, and it is ridiculous to be so determined to find a spouse.
I was bored at Alia's antics, and came away grateful that my own daughters, in their late 20s, have been far more mature than Alia, even when they were 25. I disliked the character, disliked the men she dated, disliked everything about her, so the frustration in the title is about me, the reader, who forced myself to finish listening to this novel. 2 stars, and that is overly generous.
The author actually narrates the novel, and I had to wonder of it was somewhat autobiographical, but if so, I hope she is not one of those annoying people who talks about herself in the 3rd person! Alia is only 25, but her Punjabi parents want to arrange her marriage NOW. She has no interest in marrying anyone her parents choose. I get it, but how she goes about things felt cold and desperate to me. She joins a dating app, "Click," and tells readers that men are, basically, all louses. They ghost her, they respond coldly, they are self centered, not ready for commitment, etc. Ok, but at 25 she is still young, and it is ridiculous to be so determined to find a spouse.
I was bored at Alia's antics, and came away grateful that my own daughters, in their late 20s, have been far more mature than Alia, even when they were 25. I disliked the character, disliked the men she dated, disliked everything about her, so the frustration in the title is about me, the reader, who forced myself to finish listening to this novel. 2 stars, and that is overly generous.
July 23, 2024
It started with all the relatable struggles almost every asian/Desi/ brown girl (I can say brown girl because l'm brown 🙃) at some point go through in their lives.. After few more chaps in it got really interesting and I stayed awake to finish it because I really wanted to see what happens next in Alia's life, felt a little bad for Alia too... It was a fast read, it kept me entertained and didn't get boring for me at any point. Other thing that I loved about this book is that it was all set in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. I just expected a little more from the ending.
But I guess we have to wait for the second book. Anyway I really enjoyed her style of writing, and witty humor. looking forward to her next book.
3.75/5🌟
But I guess we have to wait for the second book. Anyway I really enjoyed her style of writing, and witty humor. looking forward to her next book.
3.75/5🌟
May 17, 2026
Witty honest and human!
The Frustrated Women’s Club captures the chaos, comedy, frustration, and catharsis of modern womanhood in a deeply familiar and emotionally honest way.
At its core, the book is about trying to make sense of who women are supposed to be, allowed to be, and what happens when those expectations start collapsing into each other.
The writing is witty, self-aware, and emotionally observant without trying too hard to sound superior. The book reads like watching your best friend trying to untangle life in real time.
There’s also something refreshing about a book that understands that most people don’t actually have life figured out, no matter how polished they may appear on the surface.
Funny, reflective, messy, and very human.
The Frustrated Women’s Club captures the chaos, comedy, frustration, and catharsis of modern womanhood in a deeply familiar and emotionally honest way.
At its core, the book is about trying to make sense of who women are supposed to be, allowed to be, and what happens when those expectations start collapsing into each other.
The writing is witty, self-aware, and emotionally observant without trying too hard to sound superior. The book reads like watching your best friend trying to untangle life in real time.
There’s also something refreshing about a book that understands that most people don’t actually have life figured out, no matter how polished they may appear on the surface.
Funny, reflective, messy, and very human.
September 20, 2023
This was such an insightful and enjoyable read into understanding how difficult indeed it is to be a young Indian woman trying to navigate a decent dating life around our lovable yet tough Indian parents! Being an Indian girl in the same age, I could totally relate. I throughly enjoyed the author's style of writing (witty humour) as well. Kudos to you, look forward to your next book!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews