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The Mis-Arrangement of Sana Saeed
Perfect for fans of Sonali Dev and Uzma Jalaluddin, Noreen Mughees’s sparkling debut novel reunites star-crossed childhood sweethearts against all odds, only for their second chance to clash with their parents’ strict beliefs.
Thirty-three-year-old hijabi Sana Saeed has put away her childhood dream of ishq—an all-consuming, sweeping love. The arranged dates she’s agreed to have failed time after time, and she has responsibilities to consider—namely her sweet, autistic younger brother, Zia. Sana and Zia are a package deal, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. But their traditional mother won’t allow Sana to be named as his future guardian… unless she’s married.
When Daniel Malik walks into Sana’s office at the Department of Environmental Conservation, she’s astonished—their childhood friendship has been a cherished memory ever since a feud between their families put an end to it eighteen years ago. But there’s no chance of them becoming close again; Daniel may be as hot as a Bollywood heartthrob, but not only is he Sana’s new boss, her mother would disown her if she ever brought him home.
With the clock ticking, Sana agrees to a marriage arranged by her family. She’s seen plenty of arranged marriages grow into love; maybe that will happen for her too. But when a high-stakes case at work forces Sana and Daniel to team up, they find themselves less able—and willing—to play their parts of “good desi children.”
Now Sana must make a choice: family and security, or the one man who claimed her heart long ago…
Thirty-three-year-old hijabi Sana Saeed has put away her childhood dream of ishq—an all-consuming, sweeping love. The arranged dates she’s agreed to have failed time after time, and she has responsibilities to consider—namely her sweet, autistic younger brother, Zia. Sana and Zia are a package deal, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. But their traditional mother won’t allow Sana to be named as his future guardian… unless she’s married.
When Daniel Malik walks into Sana’s office at the Department of Environmental Conservation, she’s astonished—their childhood friendship has been a cherished memory ever since a feud between their families put an end to it eighteen years ago. But there’s no chance of them becoming close again; Daniel may be as hot as a Bollywood heartthrob, but not only is he Sana’s new boss, her mother would disown her if she ever brought him home.
With the clock ticking, Sana agrees to a marriage arranged by her family. She’s seen plenty of arranged marriages grow into love; maybe that will happen for her too. But when a high-stakes case at work forces Sana and Daniel to team up, they find themselves less able—and willing—to play their parts of “good desi children.”
Now Sana must make a choice: family and security, or the one man who claimed her heart long ago…
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2023
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July 26, 2023
TW: death of parent, Islamophobia
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single Desi woman, in want of getting her nagging mom off her back, must eventually settle for the most boringly eligible rishta alive.”
This South Asian contemporary romance had me hooked from the first line! The book cover is also gorgeous!
I loved that it was so unapologetically Muslim and had plenty of Bollywood references! It is the story of the struggle between choosing familial obligation over love. It is a childhood friends to lovers romance with a love triangle caused by a family feud. It also includes autism representation.
Sana is in love with her childhood best friend, Daniel, who she got separated from because of a feud between their families. Now he is back in her life as her boss but she agrees to get engaged to a man her mom chooses because her mom would never agree to her marriage with Daniel.
I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and highly recommend this debut novel especially if you enjoy these tropes:
- Childhood friends to lovers
- Love triangle
- Forbidden romance
- Workplace romance
- Forced proximity
- Closed door romance
“..it’s as if Allah listened to that checklist I made about my dream man. Daniel is all my duas answered in one forbidden package.”
Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for the gifted eARC. All opinions are my own.
I’ve already preordered the physical copy, which releases on Oct 10th!
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single Desi woman, in want of getting her nagging mom off her back, must eventually settle for the most boringly eligible rishta alive.”
This South Asian contemporary romance had me hooked from the first line! The book cover is also gorgeous!
I loved that it was so unapologetically Muslim and had plenty of Bollywood references! It is the story of the struggle between choosing familial obligation over love. It is a childhood friends to lovers romance with a love triangle caused by a family feud. It also includes autism representation.
Sana is in love with her childhood best friend, Daniel, who she got separated from because of a feud between their families. Now he is back in her life as her boss but she agrees to get engaged to a man her mom chooses because her mom would never agree to her marriage with Daniel.
I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and highly recommend this debut novel especially if you enjoy these tropes:
- Childhood friends to lovers
- Love triangle
- Forbidden romance
- Workplace romance
- Forced proximity
- Closed door romance
“..it’s as if Allah listened to that checklist I made about my dream man. Daniel is all my duas answered in one forbidden package.”
Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for the gifted eARC. All opinions are my own.
I’ve already preordered the physical copy, which releases on Oct 10th!
October 13, 2023
: What are some of the cultural traditions that you have that are often subjects of controversy or debate?
I am not usually lover of the romance genre until and unless the novels are based in familiar settings that I can relate to. South Asian author Noreen Mughees gives her readers an insight into the lives of South Asian women who face the prospect of arranged marriages. Moreover, Sana also practices wearing the hijab. By doing so, Mughees calls attention to the ways in which certain cultural practices and customs are seen as archaic and even considered “oppressive” for some. However, through her novel, we see that Sana is feisty, independent, assertive, and not afraid to speak her mind. In fact, I would argue that such novels give us a way to rethink of what we see as “agency” within feminism, and what counts as being empowered versus what does not.
For instance, my mom completed her PhD in chemistry (her ambition was to become a medical doctor), and then met my dad through the arranged marriage process, and then chose to become a stay-at-home mom/wife rather than pursue a career as her own mom had been a college professor and used to work to maintain a family of six.
Mughees’s debut novel also explores salient issues surrounding the SA communities including hare crimes and xenophobia, as well as, the way in which the pressure women face to become wives and mothers. This is a timely novel, and am so happy that more SA authors are pursuing topics that need to be talked about but are often considered uncomfortable. The novel released on October 10th, and is a solid 5✨ for me!
Thank you @alcovepress and @noureen_lehkak for the gifted copy!
#NoureenMoughees #TheMisArrangementofSanaSaeed
#BIPOCauthor #BIPOC #AlcovePress #Debut #SouthAsian #Muslim #shnidhi
I am not usually lover of the romance genre until and unless the novels are based in familiar settings that I can relate to. South Asian author Noreen Mughees gives her readers an insight into the lives of South Asian women who face the prospect of arranged marriages. Moreover, Sana also practices wearing the hijab. By doing so, Mughees calls attention to the ways in which certain cultural practices and customs are seen as archaic and even considered “oppressive” for some. However, through her novel, we see that Sana is feisty, independent, assertive, and not afraid to speak her mind. In fact, I would argue that such novels give us a way to rethink of what we see as “agency” within feminism, and what counts as being empowered versus what does not.
For instance, my mom completed her PhD in chemistry (her ambition was to become a medical doctor), and then met my dad through the arranged marriage process, and then chose to become a stay-at-home mom/wife rather than pursue a career as her own mom had been a college professor and used to work to maintain a family of six.
Mughees’s debut novel also explores salient issues surrounding the SA communities including hare crimes and xenophobia, as well as, the way in which the pressure women face to become wives and mothers. This is a timely novel, and am so happy that more SA authors are pursuing topics that need to be talked about but are often considered uncomfortable. The novel released on October 10th, and is a solid 5✨ for me!
Thank you @alcovepress and @noureen_lehkak for the gifted copy!
#NoureenMoughees #TheMisArrangementofSanaSaeed
#BIPOCauthor #BIPOC #AlcovePress #Debut #SouthAsian #Muslim #shnidhi
March 21, 2023
3.5 ⭐️ The first line of this debut desi romance novel is a tongue-in-cheek co-opting of Jane Austen's famous opening in Pride and Prejudice. [As an aside, I felt like I had read a similar opening before, so for my own notes, it's [book:Polite Society|42968309] by Mahesh Rao] Throughout the book, the characters reference Bollywood and Pakistani dramas as well as famous stars in their banter and good-natured jibing. There are certainly some recognizable drama tropes in this: the love triangle, overbearing parents who have a longstanding feud, missed opportunities and misunderstandings, forced proximity with work (male lead is boss of course), rescues by male lead, the patient kind second male lead, separation by plane, birth mothers and hinted birth secrets etc. When Sana's mother does that monumentally -- thing and her friend nonchalantly normalizes it as something Desi MILs and moms do, I gasped.
The storyline is grounded though by the deep family ties that bind. Marriage within this close-knit South Asian community isn't only between two people, it's also the joining of two families and groups. Sana wrestles with herself whether to be with someone who is kind, a safe choice and approved by family versus a childhood love who makes her heart race but is inscrutable. Sana, Shahri and Adam have to balance fulfilling their families' wishes against following their own hearts. Thanks to the author for introducing the concept of ishq to us readers unfamiliar with the term. The world of Desi matchmaking with rishta, biodata and chaperones is interesting. I liked how Urdu was interspersed in dialogues.
Content warning for Islamophobia and racial slurs. Being Muslim Indian, Sana's parents had escaped race riots in India to the United States. Sana wears a hijab and is a target of Islamophobes. What is depicted in the book is chillingly realistic. March 15th has been declared by the United Nations as International Day to Combat Islamophobia with the goal of taking “concrete action in the face of rising hatred, discrimination, and violence against Muslims”.
Thanks to Alcove Press and Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The storyline is grounded though by the deep family ties that bind. Marriage within this close-knit South Asian community isn't only between two people, it's also the joining of two families and groups. Sana wrestles with herself whether to be with someone who is kind, a safe choice and approved by family versus a childhood love who makes her heart race but is inscrutable. Sana, Shahri and Adam have to balance fulfilling their families' wishes against following their own hearts. Thanks to the author for introducing the concept of ishq to us readers unfamiliar with the term. The world of Desi matchmaking with rishta, biodata and chaperones is interesting. I liked how Urdu was interspersed in dialogues.
Content warning for Islamophobia and racial slurs. Being Muslim Indian, Sana's parents had escaped race riots in India to the United States. Sana wears a hijab and is a target of Islamophobes. What is depicted in the book is chillingly realistic. March 15th has been declared by the United Nations as International Day to Combat Islamophobia with the goal of taking “concrete action in the face of rising hatred, discrimination, and violence against Muslims”.
Thanks to Alcove Press and Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for an arc! This was such a fun read! I love the Muslim representation and a childhood friends to lovers trope! Sana and Daniels banter and chemistry was so good! The second chance romance aspect had me on the edge of my seat rooting for them. The family drama and societal and religious pressures was super relatable especially being Muslim. I also enjoyed the autism representation and Sanas relationship with her little brother was so wholesome.
February 28, 2023
Thank you so much to Alcove Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Phew! This book was a whirlwind! The Mis-Arrangement of Sana Saeed feels like it's just out of a Bollywood movie or Indian soap opera. The dramatic family feuds, immigrant parent x eldest daughter dynamics, and childhood love felt so representative of so many of the South Asian stories we know and love. I enjoyed following Sana and Daniel navigating their families' tumultuous relationship with each other and their lingering feelings for each other. There were moments where the story did seem to be dragging on a bit, especially with Sana's constant back and forth feelings for being with Daniel vs. Adam, but I think this story did a good job of showing how emotional and life-changing an arranged marriage can be for South Asians and South Asian Americans.
Overall, I think fans of more serious, grounded romances with themes of intergenerational trauma and conflict or South Asian Muslim love stories like ones written by Uzma Jalaluddin will enjoy The Mis-Arrangement of Sana Saeed! I'm not sure if Noreen Mughees has more stories planned for this world and characters, but I would definitely be interested in a book following Daniel's brother, Saleem and his ex-wife Reema. 👀
Follow me on TikTok | Instagram | Twitter for more book reviews & recommendations!
Phew! This book was a whirlwind! The Mis-Arrangement of Sana Saeed feels like it's just out of a Bollywood movie or Indian soap opera. The dramatic family feuds, immigrant parent x eldest daughter dynamics, and childhood love felt so representative of so many of the South Asian stories we know and love. I enjoyed following Sana and Daniel navigating their families' tumultuous relationship with each other and their lingering feelings for each other. There were moments where the story did seem to be dragging on a bit, especially with Sana's constant back and forth feelings for being with Daniel vs. Adam, but I think this story did a good job of showing how emotional and life-changing an arranged marriage can be for South Asians and South Asian Americans.
Overall, I think fans of more serious, grounded romances with themes of intergenerational trauma and conflict or South Asian Muslim love stories like ones written by Uzma Jalaluddin will enjoy The Mis-Arrangement of Sana Saeed! I'm not sure if Noreen Mughees has more stories planned for this world and characters, but I would definitely be interested in a book following Daniel's brother, Saleem and his ex-wife Reema. 👀
Follow me on TikTok | Instagram | Twitter for more book reviews & recommendations!
March 27, 2023
I appreciated a lot about this...I liked that it was unapologetically Muslim, and as someone from a very similar family as the one our MC (Sana) has, I understood the arguments, points of view, and cultural and religious reasoning behind every decision characters made. Fine. I can deal with that.
What I could not swallow lightly was the pretty insufferable toxicity, gaslighting, and manipulation that came with it.
In a minor (and early) spoiler of the book, the mother of Sana is withholding guardianship of Sana's autistic brother from her, unless she gets married. I will add that while Zia (the brother's) character is a driving force behind almost every action taking place in this, we rarely see him. And when we do, it's a pretty narrow-minded representation of people on the spectrum.
Her mother is also feuding with her love interest's (Shari, now called Daniel for some poorly explained reason) family. In pushing Sana into the arms of another, Sana has to choose between her childhood crush (she "loved" him at 15, is now in her early thirties, and hasn't spoken to him since...forgive me for being skeptical) and another, perfectly lovely (and honestly the better choice), of a man who is being dragged along on this miscommunication farce.
With the stage set, the mother does some truly heinous manipulative bullshit to get Sana to get married and forget Shari/Daniel. The religiosity also got to be a little much for me (again, growing up with that, I understood it, but it's a personal trigger for me and it just annoys and angers me to no end). It felt like religion was the thing they were hiding behind, giving the characters barely any meat to them, and making them pretty one-sided. If you took away the religious speak, I don't think you'd really have book, or anyone with a personality.
I also couldn't follow along the conflict of the book until about halfway...something about the environment and a company doing something to the water and random witness who is somehow pivotal, and is written like an extra in a The Sopranos.
If there is an equivalent to an Amish or Christian romance, it's this Muslim, prayer heavy version. If that's your speed, I encourage it.
Netgalley gave me an ARC of this (also pretty poorly edited) in exchange for an honest review.
What I could not swallow lightly was the pretty insufferable toxicity, gaslighting, and manipulation that came with it.
In a minor (and early) spoiler of the book, the mother of Sana is withholding guardianship of Sana's autistic brother from her, unless she gets married. I will add that while Zia (the brother's) character is a driving force behind almost every action taking place in this, we rarely see him. And when we do, it's a pretty narrow-minded representation of people on the spectrum.
Her mother is also feuding with her love interest's (Shari, now called Daniel for some poorly explained reason) family. In pushing Sana into the arms of another, Sana has to choose between her childhood crush (she "loved" him at 15, is now in her early thirties, and hasn't spoken to him since...forgive me for being skeptical) and another, perfectly lovely (and honestly the better choice), of a man who is being dragged along on this miscommunication farce.
With the stage set, the mother does some truly heinous manipulative bullshit to get Sana to get married and forget Shari/Daniel. The religiosity also got to be a little much for me (again, growing up with that, I understood it, but it's a personal trigger for me and it just annoys and angers me to no end). It felt like religion was the thing they were hiding behind, giving the characters barely any meat to them, and making them pretty one-sided. If you took away the religious speak, I don't think you'd really have book, or anyone with a personality.
I also couldn't follow along the conflict of the book until about halfway...something about the environment and a company doing something to the water and random witness who is somehow pivotal, and is written like an extra in a The Sopranos.
If there is an equivalent to an Amish or Christian romance, it's this Muslim, prayer heavy version. If that's your speed, I encourage it.
Netgalley gave me an ARC of this (also pretty poorly edited) in exchange for an honest review.
Read
April 1, 2023DNF at 25% :(
February 26, 2023
Noreen is such a beautiful writer. The storytelling is as captivating as Sonali Dev, but is completely unique and refreshing. I was invested in every character, and as a reader who’s not so emotional, I found myself tearing up at various points in the book. Noreen makes you feel every emotion that’s being discussed. I also loved this quote.
“I must leave, uncertain of my fate, and if you had given me a look, or even affirmed that you do love me, it would have been easier to find a way to stay”
“I must leave, uncertain of my fate, and if you had given me a look, or even affirmed that you do love me, it would have been easier to find a way to stay”
2023
October 22, 2025ANHPI TBR
Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press
Valentine's Day TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press
October 11, 2023
An incredibly moving and heartfelt debut about a 33 year old hijabi Sana who is torn between being a good Desi daughter and trying to find that elusive ishq (true love).
Sure true love isn't in the cards for her, Sana agrees to enter an arranged marriage in order to become guardian of her autistic younger brother only to be reunited with her forbidden childhood sweetheart and new boss.
Part workplace romance, part love triangle, part Erin Brockovitch-esque, environmental mystery/suspense but 100% enjoyable. This was also good on audio and perfect for Jane Austen lovers and anyone who's read and enjoyed books by Uzma Jalaluddin.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review! I'm excited to read more by this talented new author!
Sure true love isn't in the cards for her, Sana agrees to enter an arranged marriage in order to become guardian of her autistic younger brother only to be reunited with her forbidden childhood sweetheart and new boss.
Part workplace romance, part love triangle, part Erin Brockovitch-esque, environmental mystery/suspense but 100% enjoyable. This was also good on audio and perfect for Jane Austen lovers and anyone who's read and enjoyed books by Uzma Jalaluddin.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review! I'm excited to read more by this talented new author!
April 22, 2023
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single desi woman, in want of getting her nagging mom off her back, must eventually settle for the most boringly eligible rishta alive."
The story follows Sana Saeed who is torn between love and her duty to her family with Jane Austen references and a bit of a Romeo and Juliet feud. It features gossiping aunties, family drama, as well as complex relationships with parents.
TW: death of a parent, grief, Islamophobia
- The main character's brother is autistic which is representation we don't see often. I just wish he was more developed as a character.
- The environmental justice themes with their job were very interesting and unique
- I would classify this as a 90% halal romance because I don't really know how I feel about the forced-proximity-in-the-workplace thing. There is some casual touching, maybe like 2 hugs, and the car scene and stuff idk if it passes the halal check irl
- My main issue with the book though was how her "romance" with Daniel developed while she was engaged to Adam. It just didn't sit right with me.
- I have to admit that I considered DNFing a few chapters in, but because the author had personally reached out, and that I make a point of always giving books by Muslim authors a chance especially when they feature Muslim characters, I committed to reading it. I really really wanted to like it, I'm so sad I ended up disappointed.
Personally I would only recommend this to someone who's facing the same dilemma as the MC
e-arc received from the author via NetGalley
The story follows Sana Saeed who is torn between love and her duty to her family with Jane Austen references and a bit of a Romeo and Juliet feud. It features gossiping aunties, family drama, as well as complex relationships with parents.
TW: death of a parent, grief, Islamophobia
- The main character's brother is autistic which is representation we don't see often. I just wish he was more developed as a character.
- The environmental justice themes with their job were very interesting and unique
- I would classify this as a 90% halal romance because I don't really know how I feel about the forced-proximity-in-the-workplace thing. There is some casual touching, maybe like 2 hugs, and the car scene and stuff idk if it passes the halal check irl
- My main issue with the book though was how her "romance" with Daniel developed while she was engaged to Adam. It just didn't sit right with me.
- I have to admit that I considered DNFing a few chapters in, but because the author had personally reached out, and that I make a point of always giving books by Muslim authors a chance especially when they feature Muslim characters, I committed to reading it. I really really wanted to like it, I'm so sad I ended up disappointed.
Personally I would only recommend this to someone who's facing the same dilemma as the MC
e-arc received from the author via NetGalley
December 26, 2023
Thank you Alcove for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t even know where to begin to tell you how much I LOVED this Desi romance novel filled with family drama, childhood love, Incredible Autism individual/family rep, this honestly felt like probably I was watching one of my Asian dramas/soap opera
It had me intrigued from the first pages and I could not help but to love the vivid scenes, cultural/family dynamics, the food, the chai.. I swear I could smell every dish mentioned on this novel. ( it made me hungry and jealous quite a few times)
33 year old hijabi Sana Saeed is the middle child and due to be up for marriage. ( arranged marriage by her mother) it’s the only way for her mother to agree to leave her as the guardian of her sweet, autistic younger brother, Zia.
Sana and Zia are a package deal, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
She has given up in finding her true love, her childhood love and agrees to her mothers terms. Everything seemed to be finally in place until THAT childhood love..appears out the blue. Now we find Sana *engaged* to another man, and with her childhood love back in her life.. she’s gonna have to make life changing decisions.
I don’t even know where to begin to tell you how much I LOVED this Desi romance novel filled with family drama, childhood love, Incredible Autism individual/family rep, this honestly felt like probably I was watching one of my Asian dramas/soap opera
It had me intrigued from the first pages and I could not help but to love the vivid scenes, cultural/family dynamics, the food, the chai.. I swear I could smell every dish mentioned on this novel. ( it made me hungry and jealous quite a few times)
33 year old hijabi Sana Saeed is the middle child and due to be up for marriage. ( arranged marriage by her mother) it’s the only way for her mother to agree to leave her as the guardian of her sweet, autistic younger brother, Zia.
Sana and Zia are a package deal, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
She has given up in finding her true love, her childhood love and agrees to her mothers terms. Everything seemed to be finally in place until THAT childhood love..appears out the blue. Now we find Sana *engaged* to another man, and with her childhood love back in her life.. she’s gonna have to make life changing decisions.
March 11, 2023
A story about a thriving Muslim girl, fighting multiple battles. I feel that the story had a lot of potential elements. The knight-in0shingg-armor from the past, the cute tattooed rishta prospect Reading the book, I couldn't find it realistic, I believe if each scene had been given more time to develop, it could have been ana amazing story.
Coming to character's Sana's character made some really stupid choices that felt very un-Sana of her. The fact that she kept leading on Adam for so long was very weird. As for Daniel, his character had no consistency. He was cold from Sana's perspective but soft from his own and the actions were not aligned in both perspectives. Another character I found problematic was Sana's friend who, instead of helping Sana, was shown to be taunting and sarcastic, she got on my nerves every time she opened her mouth.
Conclusively, the writing felt rushed to me, the characters had minimum development arc and it had potential.
Coming to character's Sana's character made some really stupid choices that felt very un-Sana of her. The fact that she kept leading on Adam for so long was very weird. As for Daniel, his character had no consistency. He was cold from Sana's perspective but soft from his own and the actions were not aligned in both perspectives. Another character I found problematic was Sana's friend who, instead of helping Sana, was shown to be taunting and sarcastic, she got on my nerves every time she opened her mouth.
Conclusively, the writing felt rushed to me, the characters had minimum development arc and it had potential.
September 3, 2023
Best friends, second chance romance, and mutual pining my beloveds 🥺
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the e-arc!!
Content warning: racism, Islamophobia, death of parent(s), past abuse
Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the e-arc!!
Content warning: racism, Islamophobia, death of parent(s), past abuse
July 6, 2023
Rating: 3 stars
★★★✩✩
I'm a little conflicted in reviewing this one, as I was anticipating it but it couldn't quite meet my expectations. I definitely think that the manuscript could be better and benifit from last last minute revising & polishing but assuming that I was given an early copy, it would all be better in the published version. The book, in itself, was great. Although the first and second parts of the book were wholly different, I'm glad that the latter was the better part.
The romance, especially in the beginning, had little to no chemistry and I daresay I wasn't actively rooting for the main love interest. But it progressively dod get better and I'm glad for that. I had hoped that we'd see more of Sana's brother as he was one of the main driving force behind the plot, but all we got was mere pages of him. But my favourite part of the book was how unapologetically Muslim and South Asian it was. From their linguistics to their mannerisms, that's gotta be my favourite part, even though some may think it was overdone or exaggerated.
— Thank you NetGalley and Publisher, for presenting me with an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.
★★★✩✩
I'm a little conflicted in reviewing this one, as I was anticipating it but it couldn't quite meet my expectations. I definitely think that the manuscript could be better and benifit from last last minute revising & polishing but assuming that I was given an early copy, it would all be better in the published version. The book, in itself, was great. Although the first and second parts of the book were wholly different, I'm glad that the latter was the better part.
The romance, especially in the beginning, had little to no chemistry and I daresay I wasn't actively rooting for the main love interest. But it progressively dod get better and I'm glad for that. I had hoped that we'd see more of Sana's brother as he was one of the main driving force behind the plot, but all we got was mere pages of him. But my favourite part of the book was how unapologetically Muslim and South Asian it was. From their linguistics to their mannerisms, that's gotta be my favourite part, even though some may think it was overdone or exaggerated.
— Thank you NetGalley and Publisher, for presenting me with an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 18, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
This book was cute! I enjoyed learning more about her traditions and culture throughout the story.
I wasn’t super in love with all of the characters, especially her friends/family, and the MMC’s actions didn’t always make sense to me in the context. But I enjoyed this!
This book was cute! I enjoyed learning more about her traditions and culture throughout the story.
I wasn’t super in love with all of the characters, especially her friends/family, and the MMC’s actions didn’t always make sense to me in the context. But I enjoyed this!
October 31, 2023
This book is labeled "romance," and, boy, does it fall heavily into that genre. There were plenty of longing looks, agonizing over each other, and the general torture that comes from unfulfilled love. If you're looking for that kind of book, this is most definitely for you.
I loved that this book featured all Muslim characters and that we got to learn more about these families' cultures. There were so many beautiful details, and anyone who isn't familiar with Muslim people will get a lot of insight from reading this novel. The author gets five stars from me on that part of the book.
However, the story crawls at a snail's pace. I get that this is romance and that the main concern is the main character and her love interest and the "will they/won't they" question at the heart of pretty much all romance novels. But there were other elements of the book that were sorely lacking. The narration shares early on that Sana is a law student taking classes online. After that first mention, her studies are mentioned only one other time in the entire novel. How is this girl balancing her job and her education and marriage prospects without running out of steam? And why don't we hear more about her desire to become a lawyer?
The irony is that Daniel, her love interest IS a lawyer. They reconnect after years apart. Even though they're torturing themselves and each other about whether they should ultimately be together, they're forced to work together. Why doesn't Sana ask Daniel, even once, about anything connected to her education? If the main focus of the book is romance, then surely Sana could have used her desire to become a lawyer as a way to stay in close proximity to Daniel, despite her common sense telling her not to. Yet not once do they discuss it. It's a shame, because I thought that was a major missed opportunity for the characters to be a part of one another's orbit even more, despite their families insisting otherwise.
Also, the two work together, but the details of their jobs are surface level at best. It feels like we get just enough information to reassure us that, yes, they both do go to their jobs every day, but there isn't enough grounding in what those jobs actually are. Conversations about professional matters feel vague most of the time. Even after reading the entire book, I still am not sure what Sana's actual job was. I know I read her title somewhere, and there are a couple of scenes where we see her in the professional setting. But it's not really clear what she does.
Lastly, the book is supposed to be in NYC, but you'd never know it. This was another major missed opportunity. As large as New York is, I'm sure there's an established Muslim community there with stores and restaurants and gathering spots and more. The author could have highlighted those places for readers to showcase a completely different side of New York and to emphasize that the city really is different versions of itself to different communities (which is one of the most beautiful things about NY.) But, again, descriptions were so vague that I felt like this book could have been set in pretty much any city in the U.S. and nothing at all would have changed.
Ultimately, though, I'm excited to see more diverse voices in the world of books, which is why I'm giving this three stars.
I loved that this book featured all Muslim characters and that we got to learn more about these families' cultures. There were so many beautiful details, and anyone who isn't familiar with Muslim people will get a lot of insight from reading this novel. The author gets five stars from me on that part of the book.
However, the story crawls at a snail's pace. I get that this is romance and that the main concern is the main character and her love interest and the "will they/won't they" question at the heart of pretty much all romance novels. But there were other elements of the book that were sorely lacking. The narration shares early on that Sana is a law student taking classes online. After that first mention, her studies are mentioned only one other time in the entire novel. How is this girl balancing her job and her education and marriage prospects without running out of steam? And why don't we hear more about her desire to become a lawyer?
The irony is that Daniel, her love interest IS a lawyer. They reconnect after years apart. Even though they're torturing themselves and each other about whether they should ultimately be together, they're forced to work together. Why doesn't Sana ask Daniel, even once, about anything connected to her education? If the main focus of the book is romance, then surely Sana could have used her desire to become a lawyer as a way to stay in close proximity to Daniel, despite her common sense telling her not to. Yet not once do they discuss it. It's a shame, because I thought that was a major missed opportunity for the characters to be a part of one another's orbit even more, despite their families insisting otherwise.
Also, the two work together, but the details of their jobs are surface level at best. It feels like we get just enough information to reassure us that, yes, they both do go to their jobs every day, but there isn't enough grounding in what those jobs actually are. Conversations about professional matters feel vague most of the time. Even after reading the entire book, I still am not sure what Sana's actual job was. I know I read her title somewhere, and there are a couple of scenes where we see her in the professional setting. But it's not really clear what she does.
Lastly, the book is supposed to be in NYC, but you'd never know it. This was another major missed opportunity. As large as New York is, I'm sure there's an established Muslim community there with stores and restaurants and gathering spots and more. The author could have highlighted those places for readers to showcase a completely different side of New York and to emphasize that the city really is different versions of itself to different communities (which is one of the most beautiful things about NY.) But, again, descriptions were so vague that I felt like this book could have been set in pretty much any city in the U.S. and nothing at all would have changed.
Ultimately, though, I'm excited to see more diverse voices in the world of books, which is why I'm giving this three stars.
June 15, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley & Alcove Press for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.
I really liked Sana at first. She seemed strong and independent and I was looking forward to her love story.
And then it all fell apart. Love triangles are never ideal but it made me uncomfortable how one relationship developed while Sana was technically engaged to be married. It felt deceitful and out of character for what we already knew about Sana. And the level of manipulation applied to her by the people in her life was gross.
I feel like the bones were there for a unique and interesting love story. Some lines were crossed here for me and I couldn't enjoy it much afterwards.
I really liked Sana at first. She seemed strong and independent and I was looking forward to her love story.
And then it all fell apart. Love triangles are never ideal but it made me uncomfortable how one relationship developed while Sana was technically engaged to be married. It felt deceitful and out of character for what we already knew about Sana. And the level of manipulation applied to her by the people in her life was gross.
I feel like the bones were there for a unique and interesting love story. Some lines were crossed here for me and I couldn't enjoy it much afterwards.
March 27, 2024
Imma go 3.5. For a debut novel this was actually so cute! I liked the story line and there is definitely potential for this author to be really good. I’m sure the more she writes the better it will be. I think my happiness at being able to relate to a Muslim character is also what made me really enjoy this book. Aside from cultural differences, the religious aspect was nice to connect to. From chaperoned dates, to crazy families, and even having to face Islamaphobia and feeling like you don’t belong and want to change to fit in. I felt for Sana and Daniel so much. Can’t wait for her next one 😊😌
October 15, 2024
Picked up this book per a tik tok recommendation. Unfortunately, I failed to realize that I have long outgrown this genre. I'm sure 10 years ago, when I was fueled by teenage angst and hormones, I would have eaten this type of story up. However, I no longer find the wattpad style of writing appealing. The plot was too cherry picked and the characters felt flat.
April 8, 2024
Love is holding on, and sometimes when you are in something more than love, in Ishq, it's also about letting go.
The dedication of the book got to me 🥰 I genuinely enjoyed this book and had my fair share of giggles, and 'I wish it were me ' moments. This book gave A LOT of Uzma Jalaluddin's books vibes, especially the description of food and the desi culture. The story I felt, even though it was not mentioned in the summary, felt like a retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion but with a heavy dramatic Desi twist to it. There was a lot of emotional black-mailing, grudges, evil desi aunties, etc. To be honest , this would have made a great movie or mini series !
The story was simple and your typical desi-romance book. The plot line contained instances of Islamophobic incidents, loss of a parent , and family feuds. But what caught my attention was how the author wrote about being on the Autism spectrum and how she integrated it with the plot. Coming to the romance, I loved it way too much, especially with the bollywood references of movies/songs and actors. The chemistry and banter between Sana and Daniel were great and enjoyable!
Now coming to the downfall of the book: it started off with a bang and kept me hooked for a good 15-20 chapters but after that the intense slow burn and push and pull of the main characters was getting irritating. The plot started to get draggy, and unnecessary drama was there. The book could have been shorter. Towards the end, I felt the book was rushed and matters resolved with a quick and simple sorry.
I am happy that nowadays, we are getting a lot of Muslim representation with visible Muslim main characters. * Here comes the big but!* But what is with the intense opposite gender interactions?! Like, bruh, they could've been smooching in the next scene if she/he did not realize that they could not because of their faith. Like come on, be faithful to the tenets of faith if you are going to represent Islam in your storyline.
All in all, it was a fun yet dramatic read !
Actual rating: 3.5 🌟 (one additional star for the bollywood masala 😝)
Buddy read with H❤️ who felt it was a bit Wattpadish...
P.s. why do I feel that the authors next book would be based on Saleem and Reema 🤔
The dedication of the book got to me 🥰 I genuinely enjoyed this book and had my fair share of giggles, and 'I wish it were me ' moments. This book gave A LOT of Uzma Jalaluddin's books vibes, especially the description of food and the desi culture. The story I felt, even though it was not mentioned in the summary, felt like a retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion but with a heavy dramatic Desi twist to it. There was a lot of emotional black-mailing, grudges, evil desi aunties, etc. To be honest , this would have made a great movie or mini series !
The story was simple and your typical desi-romance book. The plot line contained instances of Islamophobic incidents, loss of a parent , and family feuds. But what caught my attention was how the author wrote about being on the Autism spectrum and how she integrated it with the plot. Coming to the romance, I loved it way too much, especially with the bollywood references of movies/songs and actors. The chemistry and banter between Sana and Daniel were great and enjoyable!
Now coming to the downfall of the book: it started off with a bang and kept me hooked for a good 15-20 chapters but after that the intense slow burn and push and pull of the main characters was getting irritating. The plot started to get draggy, and unnecessary drama was there. The book could have been shorter. Towards the end, I felt the book was rushed and matters resolved with a quick and simple sorry.
I am happy that nowadays, we are getting a lot of Muslim representation with visible Muslim main characters. * Here comes the big but!* But what is with the intense opposite gender interactions?! Like, bruh, they could've been smooching in the next scene if she/he did not realize that they could not because of their faith. Like come on, be faithful to the tenets of faith if you are going to represent Islam in your storyline.
All in all, it was a fun yet dramatic read !
Actual rating: 3.5 🌟 (one additional star for the bollywood masala 😝)
Buddy read with H❤️ who felt it was a bit Wattpadish...
P.s. why do I feel that the authors next book would be based on Saleem and Reema 🤔
January 23, 2024
4.25 stars ✨
BRO THIS AUTHOR ATE!!!! it was emotional it was tearful it was a roller coaster of a ride, there was NEVER. A dull moment. Someone else might think author but off more than she can chew with how many plots were going around but I am here to tell you that she DELIVERREDDDDDDDDD.
THERE WERE SO MANY SAD/CUTE MOMENTS IN THIS BOOK I CANT RECOUNT ALL OF THEM BUT TRUST ME WHEN I SAID CHILDHOOD BEST FRIEND YEARNING LEVELS ARE OFF THE CHARTS WITH THIS ONE
Anyway, I’m on a roll with the amount of south Asian lit I’ve consumed this month and I’m both pleasantly surprised and absolutely thrilled
BRO THIS AUTHOR ATE!!!! it was emotional it was tearful it was a roller coaster of a ride, there was NEVER. A dull moment. Someone else might think author but off more than she can chew with how many plots were going around but I am here to tell you that she DELIVERREDDDDDDDDD.
THERE WERE SO MANY SAD/CUTE MOMENTS IN THIS BOOK I CANT RECOUNT ALL OF THEM BUT TRUST ME WHEN I SAID CHILDHOOD BEST FRIEND YEARNING LEVELS ARE OFF THE CHARTS WITH THIS ONE
Anyway, I’m on a roll with the amount of south Asian lit I’ve consumed this month and I’m both pleasantly surprised and absolutely thrilled
October 1, 2023
I have always been fascinated by arranged marriages and enamored with the strong faith and commitment to beliefs that seem to exist within the Muslim community so I was extremely eager to read this book.
Sana comes from a strict Muslim family with a mother who is set to arrange her marriage. This old time custom is at odds with modern Sana; however, she is desperate to find a partner so she can assume guardianship of her 17 year old autistic brother. The only problem is that the age of 33, she still pines for her teen crush.
I enjoyed watching the struggle Sana experienced as she was pulled between familial expectations and her heart. This was a solid debut and I will definitely look for more by this author.
Sana comes from a strict Muslim family with a mother who is set to arrange her marriage. This old time custom is at odds with modern Sana; however, she is desperate to find a partner so she can assume guardianship of her 17 year old autistic brother. The only problem is that the age of 33, she still pines for her teen crush.
I enjoyed watching the struggle Sana experienced as she was pulled between familial expectations and her heart. This was a solid debut and I will definitely look for more by this author.
September 21, 2023
This was so much fun to read! It felt like I was watching a soap opera the whole time, wondering if the love interests would confess their love for one another!
This book had everything, family drama, childhood fiends to lovers, and representation!
I really loved watching the love between Sana and Daniel become more and more inevitable the deeper we got into the story. I also loved how much they cared for their family and would do anything for their happiness.
I also enjoyed the muslim & autism rep. that was mentioned throughout the novel so beautifully and wholesome.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book had everything, family drama, childhood fiends to lovers, and representation!
I really loved watching the love between Sana and Daniel become more and more inevitable the deeper we got into the story. I also loved how much they cared for their family and would do anything for their happiness.
I also enjoyed the muslim & autism rep. that was mentioned throughout the novel so beautifully and wholesome.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2023
This book was so good. I loved that though the focus was a romance, there was a secondary storyline that was an analogy for the pollution hatred can be if we don’t let it go. No spice at all but damn did I cry like three time.
December 27, 2023
I absolutely love the relationship between Sana and Zia, not many stories show a healthy sibling relationship and I appreciated this one. Now, onto Sana’s men… I wanted to really hate one of them, to know that one was the wrong guy, yet I didn’t. And I love that. I love that, despite history and family struggles, neither Daniel nor Adam was really a bad guy. Definitely recommend this sweet romance, especially if spice is NOT your thing! If you like Crazy Rich Asians or My Big Fat Greek Wedding, this is the book for you.
February 13, 2024
A beautiful story of finding yourself, fighting for your love, and healing generational conflict!!!
And can we get an alhamdulillah for the powerful Muslimah representation! 💛🤲
And can we get an alhamdulillah for the powerful Muslimah representation! 💛🤲
March 24, 2024
this was sooo good oml. the drama was amazing, the love declarations too🥹. i loved everything about the book🫶🏾. actually i do not like everything about the book. i hate her mom.
August 26, 2023
6 stars. best book ever.
April 7, 2024
I was lucky enough to win a ARC of this book and let me say oh am I happy I did!
I want to say that this is not my typical genre of reading but I absolutely fell in love with it. Its such a familiar format but was told with its own love and flair. You fall in love with Sana like a friend through the whole book I cheered for her and I felt her pain. This book is everything I want in these kinds of stories and it also gave me a little peek into Desi couture that was easy for anyone in or out of to smile and fall into.
I say its worth a read, I enjoyed it cover to cover. The love and passion and just herself that Noreen Mughees puts into this book and these characters is charming and I'm so happy I get to keep this book in my collection.
I want to say that this is not my typical genre of reading but I absolutely fell in love with it. Its such a familiar format but was told with its own love and flair. You fall in love with Sana like a friend through the whole book I cheered for her and I felt her pain. This book is everything I want in these kinds of stories and it also gave me a little peek into Desi couture that was easy for anyone in or out of to smile and fall into.
I say its worth a read, I enjoyed it cover to cover. The love and passion and just herself that Noreen Mughees puts into this book and these characters is charming and I'm so happy I get to keep this book in my collection.
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