This was a simple, fun, easy and quick read. The perfect type of book for your holiday, beach, pool kind of read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

I adored this somuch, Humaira made such a great ‘Emma’ she was perfectly loveable whilst still interfering and annoying at the same time too, never truly disliked, it’s such a fun and light-hearted romance, it’s exactly what I hoped for and can’t wait to read more from the author

"If I Loved You Less" by Aamna Qureshi is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of love, identity, and self-discovery. Qureshi’s writing is lyrical and emotionally resonant, offering readers a deep dive into the intricacies of relationships and the challenges of understanding one’s own heart.

The story likely centers around a protagonist who is grappling with their feelings for someone they are unsure they should love—whether due to societal pressures, personal insecurities, or the fear of the unknown. As they navigate their emotions, they are forced to confront their own biases, desires, and the expectations placed upon them by others. The novel delves into themes of cultural identity, the struggle between duty and passion, and the courage it takes to follow one’s heart even when the path is uncertain.

Qureshi’s characters are likely to be richly developed, each bringing their own perspectives and experiences to the narrative. The protagonist’s journey is one of self-reflection and growth, as they learn to balance their own needs with the expectations of those around them. The romance is likely both tender and challenging, offering a nuanced portrayal of love that is both realistic and deeply moving.

"If I Loved You Less" is perfect for readers who enjoy contemporary fiction that tackles complex emotional landscapes and explores the intersection of love and identity. Aamna Qureshi has crafted a novel that is both poignant and powerful, making it a must-read for anyone who appreciates stories that delve into the heart of what it means to love and be loved. This book is sure to resonate with readers who are looking for a deeply emotional and thought-provoking story about the choices we make in love and life.

i loved loved loved this book. Aamna is a favorite writer of one of my best friend's and now i can absolutely see why. i'll have to dive into the rest of her work. slow burns that are *too* slow usually lose my interest fairly quickly, but i think the pacing Aamna sets her book in is absolutely delightful and is written in a way that's just too impossible to not want to continue to read.

also this is just absolutely beautiful representation all throughout the book. Emma is my favorite Jane Austen novel, so this re-telling truly just delivered everything for me.

I dnfed very early on, didn’t like the writing and the Jane Austen references were laid on a little too thick for my liking. But I want to support my Muslim authors ❤️ I think I’ll come back to it one day bc it may have just been the wrong day.

Very romantic adaptation of Emma in a modern twist - Austen adaptations can be tricky to get right but this is delightfully done, with the New York setting and Humeira encapsulating all the Emma character traits, as irritating as she is. Situating the story in a Pakistani desi culture is inspired, as it added dimension of a female Muslim perspective which perfectly fit a traditionally
Also, I have never seen so much chemistry in a closed door chaste romance! It was a slow build that was literally dreamy and excellently done.
Thoroughly enjoyed all the Clueless references too- in places all the descriptions of fashion and interior design were slightly long, adding lag to a story which is not pacy at the best of times.
On the whole, a joyful and insightful read!

4! I absolutely loved this book! I found myself relating so much to the main character, Humaira. The story follows her as she navigates the complexities of love and relationships, surrounded by friends who are all falling in love. Humaira dreams of finding her true love in a man named Rizwan, but a family friend, Fawad, disapproves of him. As she tries to play matchmaker for a new friend, she unexpectedly starts to develop feelings for Fawad. They are so Emma and Mr. Knightley! This book had me tearing up by the end—the twists and revelations were incredible, and I loved watching Humaira’s character grow. The author was truly able to capture the essence that is Emma and portray it in Humaira. Also, I loved the South Asian representation! If you’re a fan of Jane Austen’s Emma, this book is a must-read! I can’t wait to dive into the rest of this author’s works and I hope she does more Jane Austen retellings (imagine pride and prejudice)!

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for this eARC.

I am surprised at how much I liked this given that Emma is one of my least favourite JA novels. This was funny, well written and a pleasure to read.

A woman who prides herself on her match-making success gets a hitch in her plans when she sets out to make her own match. Little does she know that the family friend right under her nose who drives her crazy might be just who she’s seeking. A Muslim American modern retelling of Emma had me sitting up and taking notice. That cute cover and a new to me author to try were additional incentives to draw me in.

If I Loved You Less introduces Humaira, a wealthy, somewhat spoiled woman living on Long Island, New York and very caught up in the heady power and fun of making matches. Not gonna lie, she danced on my nerve a lot when she was heedless of others and missing the signs she was off base. But, fortunately, she wasn’t all annoying, interfering rich girl and there was Fawad, who wasn’t dazzled by her greatness and saw her better than she saw herself. He called her on all her mess ups when no one else would even while he was jealous of the man who did have her smiles and attention. He also had the long-sightedness to love her, flaws and all, and was there for her growing through her mistakes. There is much humor as the pair sass and snarl and the fun of fumbling and bumbling of love and relationships among an engaging circle of characters.

Humaira and Fawad come from an Asian Muslim community and so they and most of the surrounding characters were good representation. I am speaking from ignorance, but the backdrop, character actions and dialogue all felt authentic and respectfully written. I enjoyed reading a Jane Austen story in a culturally diverse American setting. The author captured the humor and the beauty of a slow burn friends (though not always friendly) to lovers sweet romance.

Those who enjoy light Romantic Comedy with a social butterfly, sassy-mouthed heroine looking for her HEA in the wrong place and a serious and quiet attractive hero waiting for her to figure this out definitely want to pick this up.

DNF. I only managed to read 40% in. The main character is so annoying and feel so entitled. The fact that it's a love triangle was my last resort before I decided to DNF it.

This was a fun and light-hearted romance, inspired by one of my favourite Jane Austen books, Emma. As soon as I saw the title I knew that this was one I had to read! And I had loads of fun along the way.

Similar to Bride and Prejudice, the transition works so well because, as the main character Humaira points out, there are a lot of similarities between courting in Regency England and in modern-day Desi communities. One of the hardest parts of adapting Emma is making the main character unlikeable and frustrating but still lovable, and Humaira fit the bill perfectly.

At times I felt like the story stuck too closely to Emma, and in particular the latest film version. Some scenes felt lifted line-for-line and while it meant we got to keep all the swoon-worthy Knightley lines, I don’t know if the characters really got to break outside the Austen mould.

Occasionally the writing got bogged down in the details, but overall this was an enjoyable read and a great addition to the world of Jane Austen retellings.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

This was a warm and mouth-watering read (the food descriptions alone make this worthwhile to check out!).
Loved the nods to other adaptations like Clueless.
The main character Humaira's voice was so strong throughout, you could hear her talking in your head. The love story was sweet and well-developed.
There was also a very thoughtful character study of Humaira and her context as well as her family and relationships which provided new insight into the original story.
The story flowed really beautifully and it was a really easy and wholesome read overall.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

This was a delightful novel. It was cute and swoonworthy. It also has Muslim cultural representation, so it is a great #OwnVoices novel. I loved the chemistry in this book and it was so sweet. This is a great book to read if you want to escape from your daily life.

Highly recommend this book!

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Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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In this <i>Emma</i> interpretation, Humaira - handsome, clever, and rich, and also an observant Pakistani Muslim in the suburbs of New York - tries to help her inexperienced friend Shanzay secure a partner but despairs of ever finding her own great love. As any good retelling, it builds an absorbing and affecting story on the scaffolding of a classic - and, as a great one, it casts new light on the original.

The original Emma is perfect. Handsome! Clever! Rich! Unites the best blessing of existence; has lived nearly twenty-one years with very little to distress or vex her. But in Humaira, we have a version of Emma who is handsome and clever and rich and actually quite sad. She mourns her mother and misses her sister and aunt. Her father is needy and fretful, and her love and respect for him clash with her desire for independence. She longs for romance but won't settle for just any partner, and she fears that if she allows her family and friends to see her imperfections they will cast her off. She is both a very typical young woman and uniquely herself.

<i>If I Loved You Less</i> follows the Emma story faithfully, barring some simplification in the third act. Humaira and her struggles are fully realized, and the secondary characters are vivid and interesting. The translation of Austen's England to Pakistani-American culture was insightful and interesting. Best of all, Humaira and Fawad's chemistry and sexual tension was amazing, particularly for two people who barely even touched. 5++

[I received a complimentary ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. Opinions are my own.]

**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

I’ve never read Emma so can’t really draw any comparisons to the classic but from the parts of P&P that I have read I think I can say that this book truly gives modern day Austen vibes and pairing this with all the desi/Pakistani culture and melodrama was a genius idea because it works so well!

Our protagonist Humaira Mirza is a pampered princess so be ready for her to get on your nerves a bit. She is a big believer in true love and as she searches for “the One”, past successes in matchmaking her sister and Phuppo (aunt) means she can’t help but meddle with other people’s love lives. Only this time round it lands her in all sorts of trouble.

She has a bit of an ego, the tendency to name drop all the designer brands for the things in her life as well as not see what is right in front of her but she someone who has her heart in the right place. Seeing her interactions with her family (especially her father) and her friends make her a character that you eventually warm to after the initial irritation and who by the end you really want to root for.

Now this romcom does not come without its cliches and somewhat obvious plotlines but I had so much fun with it. It definitely gives off peak desi tv serial vibes both with the characterisations of everyone as well as all the drama. There are times when certain details are repeated one too many times within the narrative but for the most part the story flows really well and draws you in. Plus the halal romance has the right balance of tenderness and angst but be ready to facepalm at all the antics too.

Additionally, at the end of the book there are recipes (there is SO MUCH food and baked goods in this and I will most definitely be giving that soup one a try!), the character’s reading lists and a song playlist which were a really nice touch.
Final Rating – 4.25/5 Stars

This had the most beautiful love confession I’ve ever read in my life and I wish I could read it for the first time again.

This book followed Jane Austen's Emma right down to some of the exact phrases. I really enjoyed the diversity and fun that the author brought to the story to make it fresh. I was able to pick out all of my favorite characters from this modernization and I love when it follows the book so well. The drama at the end seemed taken care of a little better too, so I enjoyed that little difference. If you love modernizations like I do, you don't want to miss this one.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK, Netgalley and Aamna Qureshi for an early copy.

I was super drawn to the premise of this book––I'm a sucker for any Austen retelling, particularly Emma. The specific cultural context was fascinating, and I loved all the bonus material near the back cover. Especially the Melina Marchetta shoutout! But I wasn't drawn to the narrative voice; it leaned more YA than I expected, and the writing isn't as strong as I would have hoped.

A sweet Emma retelling with Pakistani characters and a romance to warm your heart.

I admittedly have not read Emma or any Jane Austin but the vibes were clear and really enjoyable. The character growth that Humaira has in this book is so wonderful, seeing her eventually reflect and fix her mistakes was so satisfying. I liked how Fawad walked the "grumpy" line in the grumpyxsunshine without actually being mean.

The writing felt a little awkward to me at times which made it harder to fully absorb into the story.

“Beloved Humaira, I will be a fool for you a thousand times over.”

I absolutely adored this book. This is a contemporary Emma retelling with Muslim characters and a halal romance.
Humaira is so chaotic and Fawad was so exasperated with her but also completely smitten. I loved seeing their story develop throughout the book.

Humaira loves playing matchmaker and is also looking for the love of her life and she thinks she’s found him in Rizwan but her neighbour & friend, Fawad seems to disagree.

When I first started the book, Humaira wasn’t very likeable or relatable, but I loved seeing her character development throughout the book as she reflects on her behaviour and her perceptions of what is important in the world and actually tries to make amends and improve herself.
There was also some great discussions on how she feels her value is based on what she does for others. That they will only love her when she can be useful to them.

I loved Fawad and how much he truly cares for Humaira, he sees all of her. The messy imperfect woman and loves all of her.

I also loved the Pakistani rep and just the celebration of our culture was so wonderful to see.

If you love a slow burn romance where they’re both idiots in love, a grumpy cynic and a hopeless romantic dynamic then definitely pick this book up!