This novel beautifully captures the complexities of arranged marriage and the journey to love after commitment. It is a tender, slow-burn romance with a heartwarming narrative and rich cultural backdrop. This book is a delightful read for any fan of grumpy-sunshine dynamics and complicated relationships.

Zafar and Reshma's marriage begins as a practical arrangement rather than one made out of love. Zafar, a dutiful son consumed by the family business, struggles to balance his responsibilities with emotional connection. Reshma, a dreamer at heart, yearns for the romance she’s read about in books but finds herself grappling with Zafar’s emotional unavailability. Their relationship takes a turn when they attend a family wedding, where their close proximity sparks both friction and undeniable chemistry.

I liked the way the novel presented the realistic depiction of two individuals learning to navigate their differences and gradually falling in love. Zafar’s reserved, grumpy nature contrasts beautifully with Reshma’s hopeful, sunshine personality, creating a dynamic that feels authentic and endearing. The family setting and cultural aspects add depth to the story, making it more than just a romance, also weaving in exploration of identity and tradition.

Overall, this was an endearing romantic tale about discovering love where you least expect it and I had a lovely time reading it.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

intriguing but not that strong as a work, honesly. could have used more. but with how it is, still a nice lil thing

can we just take a minute to talk about this cover? Because it is absolutely gorgeous. It was a cover that I was instantly drawn to and I love arranged marriage, slow burn, and grumpy sunshine so honestly this book should have been an easy 5 stars. The issue is that I just struggled connecting to the characters and I just didn't really get the emotional payoff from the romance either.

I've been looking forward to reading this book for a while and was not disappointed.
I am a huge fan of South Asian-based fiction, stories that resonate with me as a South Asian woman.
Laila Rafi's story is a culturally sensitive Halal romance with many relatable points.
Zafar and Reshma were married using the traditional arranged marriage route. She has visions of romance and slowly falling in love after their nikkah. He's just happy he's ticked off a box—another thing required of him as a son.
A wedding from Reshma's side in the gorgeous setting of Mombasa becomes the catalyst for them to truly get to know one another and find that connection they have been missing.
Zafar isn't keen. Business is at the forefront of his mind as he strives to keep his grandfather's dream alive. However, sometimes you have to accept that another person's dream may not be the best for you.
I don't need heaps of spice to keep me reading. This is a true closed-door romance, where you get the hints, which is enough.
It was good to see how both characters grew and changed through the story, learning about themselves and their families and how others have shaped their thinking, sometimes for the better and for the worse,
I enjoyed this, especially as it was mainly set in Mombasa, where I spent many childhood holidays!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for an ARC.

I saw the ad for First Comes Marriage in October 2023, and it immediately became a must-read on my Goodreads list.

Reshma and Zafar have been married for 13 months after an arranged marriage but still lack the deep connection Reshma yearns for. At the insistence of his father and grandmother, Zafar accompanies Reshma to her cousin's wedding in tropical Mombasa. This trip unearths old resentments, evokes tears, ignites sparks, and rekindles love.

I enjoy reading books by South Asian authors because I can relate to the culture and traditions they depict. Having grown up on the East African coast, the vivid descriptions of Mombasa felt particularly close to home, making this a delightful read. I loved the slow burn and the chemistry between Zafar and Reshma. The portrayal of family dynamics was heartwarming, especially the characters of Daadi and Uncle Jawad.

Although it is a halal romance, I wish it had been a bit more open-door with its romantic scenes. We need more books that blend all the classic romance tropes, like grumpy x sunshine and arranged marriage, with a halal twist.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishers for the ARC! I am so thrilled to have had the opportunity to read and review this ahead of the release date.

2.5 stars ✩
➳ not good, but also not the worst.

i am very 50/50 on this book. the beginning was really amazing and super engaging but towards the end it just started dragging tbh.

💌 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽:
⤿ dual pov
⤿ grumpy x sunshine
⤿ slow burn
⤿ forced proximity
⤿ arranged marriage
⤿ halal muslim romance

‎ ‎౨ৎ • 𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓽: reshma wasn’t expecting romance when she married zafar, the perfect son - but never the perfect husband - of his family, but falling for him was so easy. after the pair are reluctantly swept away to the beautiful city of mombasa, avoiding each other becomes a problem..

‎ ‎౨ৎ • 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮: very eh. at times i could feel a lot of tension and chemistry between them but then it just dissipated.

‎ ‎౨ৎ • 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰: dual pov in the third person is honestly my greatest enemy. it felt very detached and i felt connected to the characters in what otherwise could have been a very cute story. i also found myself skimming after the first half of the book as the pacing becomes a lot slower and the writing more clunky.

‎ ‎౨ৎ • 𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼: i honestly loved the setting of mombasa and how it was a halal romance since they were already married before the story began. i would’ve written a longer, more in depth review but i’m just not too sure what else needed to be said.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!

I’m not entirely sure what to say here. The writing style was quite difficult for me to get into on this book, and while First Comes Marriage was a cute story, i found it difficult to get through.

"First Comes Marriage" by Laila Rafi is a poignant and captivating tale of love, tradition, and the complexities of family dynamics. Rafi skillfully weaves together the lives of protagonist Zara and her family, as they navigate the pressures of arranged marriage and societal expectations. Through richly drawn characters and vivid descriptions, Rafi immerses readers in the vibrant culture, while also exploring universal themes of identity and independence. With its engaging narrative and thought-provoking insights, "First Comes Marriage" is a compelling read that resonates long after the final page, offering a fresh perspective on the age-old institution of marriage.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'First Comes Marriage' by Laila Rafi.

After a while of pondering over how to review this book, I think I finally know what to say. I'm someone who blindly dives into books but with this one, I actually did read the blurb and that was the only reason why I was excited to read this ARC. However, it fell flat on me because Rafi's writing style just wasn't enjoyable for me. Which is a shame but that's how it goes.