Dr Amir Khan writes an insightful and character driven narrative about the contemporary state of arranged marriages and families, the clash between the 'traditional' and the modern, growing up caught between British and Pakistani life and culture. I have to admit it took me a little time to become immersed in the storytelling, initially I found it doing a little too much telling rather than showing, and it was over explaining points of culture, but it soon grabbed my attention. Yousef is the apple of his proud mother, Feroza's eye, his more rebellious sister, Rehana, pushed into the shadows as she chooses to study English Literature at Leeds University and embarking on a teacher training course..

The obedient Yousef has followed his mother's strict plans for him, studying Medicine, where at the beginning of his course he makes the cardinal mistake of falling for unsuitable fellow football playing medical student, Jess, beautiful and full of the joys of life. Whilst she has been open about her relationship with him to her parents, he has kept her secret from his, although continually promising to come clean. It is the end of their course, with Yousef having insufficient strength to fight the traditional future planned for him. He breaks up with Jess, despite loving her, breaking her heart in the process. We follow the trials and tribulations, the lives, engagements, and weddings of various characters over 4 years, including Yousef and Jess, Rehana, and his accountant friend Rohit.

Khan paints a colourful and vibrant picture of close knit Pakistani family and community life in Birmingham, the culture and traditions, the need to outdo others, the gossip and the threat of 'shame' if rules and expectations are broken. Of going over the top when it comes to celebrations, the tasty food, the clothes, the rich descriptions of traditions and ceremonies in Britin and India, outlining the different types of arranged marriages at play. We observe Feroza's shock when Yousef plans to derail the future she had forseen for him, he turns out to be far more difficult than Rehana, where will it all end? This is a delightfully entertaining read, with plenty of humour, and characters that caught my interest. I think many readers will enjoy getting a glimpse of warm hearted modern Pakistani life, family, culture and marriages. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

I chose to read this book as I thoroughly enjoyed Dr Amir Khan’s memoir and was intrigued to read his first work of fiction, and I was delighted to discover that this too is a great read. I really liked that the story, whilst focusing mainly on the story of Yousef and his quest for happiness in love and life, was told from the perspective of many different characters all of whom were well rounded and made each chapter thoroughly enjoyable. The book also covers other characters searches for love, giving differing perspectives on the issues of dating, love marriages and modern arranged marriages.
It is refreshing to read a new perspective on the arranged marriages in British Asian society today. It is an easy read, with lighthearted and some laugh out loud moments together with so many touching moments with Yousef’s family and friends.
I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this lively, funny and often poignant novel examining parental pressure, cultural clashes and the unexpected ways we find love.
Yousef is his mother's pride and joy, handsome, kind and best of all a newly qualified doctor, soon to start specialising as a heart surgeon, her dream since he was a baby. Now all he needs is a wife. But Yousef is not at all sure he wants to be a surgeon and the only person he wants to marry his Jess, his university girlfriend. But Jess is white, not a Muslim, and just knowing they were dating would break his parents' heart and worse, bring shame upon the family. Whatever Yousef does he will hurt someone. Meanwhile all his sister Rehana wants is for her mother to be as proud of her as she is of her brother, and so when their mother decides to employ a matchmaker Rehana agrees. Besides, she might have been lucky enough to go to university in a different city but the only way she'll ever be able to really leave home is as a bride.
Peopled by a rich cast of characters from Jess, stolidly working through her heartbreak, Rohit, always in his brother's shadow, Feroza, fiercely protective of her children and Seema trying to understand the culture her parents have eschewed, this is a very entertaining read. Recommended.

I loved everything about this book! It gives a good insight into traditional Pakistani families and their culture, traditions, and family values. I love the ‘aunties’ of this culture and the way that they are fiercely competitive, terrible gossips and immensely funny with it. Feroza, the matriarch of the family, is one of these stereotypical aunties and is hugely protective of her family. She is obsessed with ensuring that her son and daughter both marry well and this causes some problems along the way. She is abrasive, demanding, overpowering and presides over every member of her family….although her tough outer shell conceals a mother who just wants the very best for her family. Dr Khan shows us glimpses into this fascinating culture, with humour, love and a touch of glamour thrown in for good measure…..what’s not to love?!

I have been looking forward to diving into this since I saw it on several social media channels, and having read the blurb, it felt like a story right up my alley.
And I was not mistaken.
A fantastic story rooted in Pakistani British culture.
Yousef is the golden boy. Born to Pakistani-born parents, he has been brought up to live a certain way and schooled to study a certain career in order to have the best chances in life afforded by his parents.
Dilemmas strike when he is finally independent and at university, meeting different folk from other backgrounds. But he doesn't expect romance to be a factor in his study of Medicine.
Meanwhile, his sister is feeling the pain of being a daughter and a bit of a burden on her family.
Both are of marriageable age and that is when plenty of problems can arise...
I don't want to go into this too much, but I can definitely say I loved this book.
There was the multi-generational POV which, as a British Asian myself, I can see as being key to those from different backgrounds needing, so they can understand the dilemmas faced by British-born Asians and understand a little about the familial pressures put upon us as well.
I could relate to so many situations, despite not being from a Muslim background. There are some embarrassments that are universally Asian, not just belonging to a certain religious background.
The fear of what others will say, competing with the other families, parents wanting the best for their children, despite not really knowing what might be best for them, illicit relationships, falling in love after marriage, and the dreaded falling for someone outside of your cultural background... So much to take in, and so well written.
It was entertaining, educational and relatable.
Can't wait for more fiction from the Dr.!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC.

This was a fun time! I am always wanting to read more Muslim stories and I appreciated this one for what it was. I laughed out loud quite a few times which is always a good sign.

The book begins in Karachi, Pakistan in 1991. Feroza's parents arrange her marriage to Abdul, who is planning to move to England.
The story then moves to England and follows the fortunes of Feroza and Abdul's children and their friends as they seek marriage partners.
Some of the descriptions of London in 2011 are not very convincing. In fact, I felt that I was reading about the UK of decades earlier. We are told that Yousef's parents looked out of place in their Pakistani clothes when they took him to London University in 2011. However, their clothes would not have been a novelty in London at this time. The number of white students on the course also appears to be over-stated as BME groups were being increasingly represented in higher education. Yousef binned the food that his mother provided because he didn't want to smell of curry. Given that chicken tikka masala was voted the UK's most popular dish in 2011 he needn't have worried.
The book covers a number of religious and cultural practices so the glossary at the back of the book is very useful in explaining the terms used.
As the book progressed, I became more absorbed in the story of the characters and the book became an engrossing and enjoyable read. The way each chapter followed a different character worked very well.
A recommended and entertaining read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc. All opinions are my own.

This book was a warm, generous look at the love lives of three British Asian young people considering settling down. It follows the lives of a brother, his friend and his sister. I loved seeing the three stories compliment and contrast each other, seeing these young adults grow and flourish as they tackled the pressure of their cultures, family and religion. Dr Khan was refreshingly good at writing a female perspective, a rare find in male authors and I had a wonderful time digging in and seeing the romances spark.

I found the story was a little slow to begin. It starts with a scene 20 years earlier which I think might have best served the story if it had been added later on but once the story really gets going it's hard to stop. I would fully recommend this book and I'll be looking forward to the sequel coming out.

I was drawn to this title having seen the author, Dr Amir Khan, on television for several years. I was interested to see how his foray into fiction would go, and I am not disappointed! What a charming read this was. I found that I was looking forward to my reading time and itching to see what was happening in this romantic tale of how modern life in 21st Century Britain and arranged marriages as in Asian culture work.
We meet several young men and women who are at the point in their lives where they are contemplating marriage - or rather, their parents who believe their grown children should be marrying.
I found the novel a gentle and undemanding read; along the way I was fascinated by the details of the wedding customs which are woven through the story. Dr Khan's descriptions of wonderful outfits and food were so vivid I felt I was invited to share the celebrations.
I would recommend this as a story which embraces all cultures, a romantic read with gentle humour threaded throughout.
I am grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this pre-publication copy.
The comments and views reflect my personal opinions.

A glorious, relatable book that covers so much in such a short number of pages and yet everything feels like it was covered perfectly. I really enjoyed this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Such a fabulous read! Entertaining, funny, informative and so well written!
Knowing nothing about other cultures I devoured this read as we follow a traditional Pakistani family through the history, culture and process of arranged marriage! So enlightening and interesting to read about the process and procedures leading up to the big day!
Fantastic characters a typical family unit, mum a force to be reckoned with running a tight ship and with high expectations of her children! Dad in the background working hard to provide and doing as he’s told! Son the apple of his mothers eye, he who can do nothing wrong and is the favoured child! Daughter never quite good enough and a bit of a disappointment!
Despite differences of opinion, cultural beliefs and expectations life doesn’t run smoothly or to plan but with give and take, brutal honesty and forgiveness, family is what matters most and a wonderful outcome is achieved!
Would highly recommend
Thank you netgalley for this early read

This book was amazing. So detailed and so full of life and colour. I loved everything about this, from it starting way way back at the beginning with Feroza’s story to then following in great detail the story of Yousef and Rehana and Rohit (and kind of Seema) as they tried to find their own paths in love, with the assistance of some match making of course! The characters felt really authentic and believable and there were many moments which caused me to chuckle- I’m not sure I could have coped with a mother as blunt as Feroza, even if her intentions were pure! I loved learning about the process of matching making and then marrying either within the Indian or Pakistani culture and it’s made me hope that one day I’ll get to go to an Indian wedding!

I’ve been looking forward to this for ages. Even before I really knew what it was going to be. I loved Dr Amir’s memoir and when he said he was writing again I knew I would want to read it!

This book was fabulous. The writing was incredible and the story or should I say stories were exceptional. This book was so many peoples story. I am absolutely exhausted and I only read it. I can’t imagine living life with these kind of expectations. This book made me cry and it made me laugh. It taught me things. It made me be thankful for what I have and appreciate some things I’ve previously taken for granted.

This book has chapters from so many different perspectives but it didn’t once feel confusing and only enhanced the story. There are some absolutely stunning descriptions of ceremonies in this book. I felt as though I got to attend them without worrying about what to wear or how to appropriately conduct myself.

There are so many characters in this book and they all experienced so much growth. They learnt so much about themselves and each other. What a journey this book was. Events happened I expected, while others didn’t. And so many beautiful things happened I couldn’t possibly have thought of. I loved every moment of this wonderful book.