Book Review: Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin

Publication – April 4th, 2019.

Publisher – Corvus

Genre – Muslim Romance Fiction

A smart young Muslim Canadian woman navigates the complexities of career, love, and family in this lively homage to a Jane Austen classic. “While it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single Muslim man must be in want of a wife, there’s an even greater truth: To his Indian mother, his own inclinations are of secondary importance.” With that nod to Pride and Prejudice firmly in place, Jalaluddin lays the groundwork for a raucous story that mixes a zany cast of characters with a tightly wound plot.

I really didn’t know what to expect when reading Ayesha at Last, all I knew it was a Muslim romance and I was sold, especially because on the cover Ayesha is clearly wearing a hijab.

I am a Muslim, so I really have a soft spot for Muslim romance, but if I am being honest with myself I haven’t read a lot and the ones I have read features Muslims from the Asian communities.

This one is not any different, but it is different because this is the first romance I am reading with a Muslim who wears the hijab and I love how it isn’t made a big deal of because honestly wearing the hijab or tying a scarf is as natural as wearing normal clothes to many Muslim females.

Ayesha is in her late twenties and isn’t married, which according to all her aunties means she’s old and may never get married. I’m twenty-three and all my “aunties” are always asking me about my boyfriend and when I’m going to get married and I’m very single lol, so I could relate with Ayesha here because just like her I am currently focused on my career and making sure I am chasing my passion.

Ayesha is such a wonderful character, and I’m so happy we share the same name because she is my favourite character in a book this year.

Then there’s Khalid the male main character, the Muslim brother that takes Islam very seriously and doesn’t want to commit haram, which made me come across as stand-offish and a fanatic, but I stan…I can get with a Muslim brother like that, that would you know make me a better version of myself and let me love Islamic religion more in a not overbearing way.

There’s a lot of drama in the book, that has to do with family, I can’t remember the term but religious intolerance at work, haram, you know what the side stories/drama is too much for me to list out, why not read and find out yourself.

This review is brief and not exactly a review, but me just gushing about this book which I completely adore, because it makes me want the kind of relationship Ayesha and Khalid have. I 100% recommend this book to everyone who is looking for a fluffy beautiful romantic read.