More Than Just a Pretty Face

I loved this book you guys. I loved it so much. I felt so SEEN in this book and honestly this doesn’t happen a whole lot but this was such an experience™. Syed M. Masood has written a funny, sweet and relatable contemporary novel with a sarcastic, earnest protagonist aka Danyal, well developed secondary characters and an utterly cute and believable romance. I genuinely couldn’t stop reading and smiling the whole time, this book is such a brilliant addition to the Y/A genre AND it’s own voices for Pakistani, Muslim rep.

It’s not often that I read books with a desi male protagonist and I was a tiny bit concerned about if I would be able to connect with the character or the story but my worries couldn’t have been more unfounded. I related to Danyal and resonated with the wider story on so many levels. Danyal’s sarcasm and irreverent wit made him a fun leading character and I loved his journey through the course of the novel and how he really comes into his own.

When we first meet him the only thing he really knows for sure is that he wants to cook, is a failure in the eyes of his parents and has a crush on Kaval, his best friends twin sister. However as the novel progresses and he meets Bisma, he starts to reevaluate who he is and his capability. I also really liked the fact that he grew to understand his dad a lot more too through his research into the Bengal famine and how this generational trauma continued. I think this will serve to educate readers who may not have heard of this moment in history before and the part Churchill had to play in it specifically.

Growing up in an Indian Muslim household, there were a lot of cultural references and other elements I understood and loved to see included. Down to the food references – keema, biryani, khichdi, achar to name just a few, it was just so nice to read. I also appreciated that the not so great sides of the desi community were touched upon and explored. This all felt realistic and was honest without being stereotypical or overly critical, it just felt true, at least in my experience. Stories like Bisma's are not uncommon and there needs to be change within communities to disable the cycle of shame so I'm glad Masood chose to include this storyline.

As well as Danyal being an engaging protagonist, I liked the secondary characters just as much. I think this is because all of the characters felt like people I’ve known or met myself, so they felt familiar and I understood them. Danyal’s lifelong best friends; Intezar and Sohrab were each interesting and provided two different but important perspectives. While Sohrab chooses to adhere to Islam more faithfully, Intezar is less so which causes a bit of friction between the two. Danyal is sort of stuck in the middle but I appreciated that Islam wasn’t vilified and each of the these characters paths and choices were respected, each persons relationship with faith is complex and deeply personal and I feel like the story reflected this. I also loved Suri aka Soraiya, Bisma’s younger sister who provides some relatable younger sibling banter as well as being the ultimate matchmaker and just wants to see her big sister happy.

One of the best things and a central part of the novel is the romance element, and I for one, loved the way this was done. When Danyal and Bisma first meet, it’s under pretty unique circumstances aka an arranged marriage meeting and they don’t expect to see each other again but they end up staying in contact. Bisma is bookish and into superheroes and reads comic books, wears quirky tshirts and wants to be a microbiologist. She’s the exact opposite of Danyal’s long time crush Kaval who he always dreamed he’d end up with but as he comes to some key realisations, he realises he may have been wrong all along. True love might be a girl in a Captain America t-shirt, who knew? Not Danyal! Their relationship and the build up of them falling for each other was so perfect and felt so natural. It never once felt forced or contrived and it had the right balance of humour and sweetness. There were so many lines I highlighted because they were just too cute for words. Seriously guys, go read this book!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I'll definitely be looking out for whatever Syed M. Masood writes next. If More Than Just a Pretty Face is anything to go by, I'm sure it will be brilliant.

This book was just WAY TOO CUTE! These are 4 stars completely well deserved now that my heart is filled with love and joy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

More Than Just a Pretty Face follows Danyal Jilani, a high school senior with a dream of becoming a chef. Danyal comes from a very traditional family who are constantly trying to find the right woman for him to marry, and constantly trying to get him to go to college. But Danyal is happy with his choice of going to culinary school and trying to achieve his dream of becoming a chef, no matter what anyone else thinks.

Unexpectedly, Danyal is chosen to represent his History class in the Renaissance Man - a school wide academic competition. And with the pressure of trying to not completely fail his essay and presentation, Danyal accepts the help of Bisma Akram - a microbiology student with a love for comic books and libraries.

Danyal and Bisma's story was just so heartwarming and incredibly cute that I can't help being giddy about them. This book covers teenage romance in a way that will just fill your heart with love and hope that teenage romance can be so much more than what you might be used to.

Not only is Danyal and Bisma's story a love story, it is also a story of family, tradition, heartbreak, and societal expectations. More Than Just a Pretty Face ropes in very serious societal and political issues into the story that give it much more depth and all the more reason to love these characters.

I must admit I found it pretty difficult to get past the first half of this book, but after that the story was sailing and interesting and page gripping.

If you are looking for a fun light hearted young romance which also involves some pretty serious world issues, this is the book for you!

Want a book that makes you laugh out loud on one page and nearly cry with frustration the next? Then More Than Just A Pretty Face is the book for you.

An engaging read which questions social norms while exploring loyalty to our family and friends.

It's well written with strong characters who you empathise with and root for as the story unfolds.

Okay. So I'm not sure how I'm going to get through this review without shouting my words in excitement. If I could stand on a rooftop this very minute and sing to all below (bear in mind my singing voice is not up to par but lets continue for the sake of emphasis) with the greatest 70s pop song it would still not show how good this book is. But one thing that it will show is that I am now angry at not being able to experience the same joy that I did for the very first time that I was able to read it. Just imagine now, I am in my hermit hole crying my eyes out because I am not sure how I am meant to carry on with life, let alone read another book.

I think that we might just have a hopeless romantic on our hands. Danyal is undeniably a down-to-earth guy who unfortunately needs a little push in the right direction. However, he can also be seen to be a guy who is too good to be true. Almost like how a star might shoot over the night sky, but can easily be missed if your not in time to see it. Danyal can also be seen as being a very relatable character. He's real, he's breathing, he has real life problems, he doesn't have some stupid fantastical power that makes him the main character because he is more than that. I kind of wish that he is my friend too. But now that I have closed the final chapter, he feels more like a good old friend that I used to know but still appreciate. Like a fine wine I guess.

The main storyline is set in The Renaissance Man contest that happens every year at Danyal's school. This is where it is widely understood that the people who are chosen to compete in this contest is through the nominations of the teachers from various departments throughout the school are the brightest and the most gifted. Danyal comes to learn what it means to follow your own dreams and the dreams that are placed upon you. He also comes to realise that maybe it's good to question what is seen to be right, when obviously, there are times where we must show that even the biggest heroes are not all good as they are said to be. Even in the most hardest of times when things don't seem like they are going right, it doesn't mean that you can't be happy or optimistic. Because when all fails, we all have the joy of food to give us the feeling that everything will be ok.

Some of the characters are fun and quirky. I loved Bisma and Danyal's mother who always made me laugh nearly every time that she entered the room. Suri, oh don't get me started on Suri she is sweet yet hilarious in the same way and I wish there was more of her to be honest. What can I say, this was a perfect book with some perfect characters. I just loved them all in their own ways. This book seems like one you can't get enough of, even if you have read it for the fifth time. It's just brilliant.

So I've decided to stop waffling and give this book five stars because it cannot be described in the best way possible without reading the book yourself. Take the leap. You won't be disappointed.

Danyal Jilani isn’t the best student–his grades definitely could be better, and he may be failing history for the second time in a row. But he doesn’t mind that much: not lacking in either looks or confidence, he is much more interested in convincing his crush–the absolutely-perfect Kaval–that he is marriage material despite his unusual career choice of wanting to become a chef. When his history teacher unexpectedly nominates him for the school’s yearly essay competition, he sees his chance to convince her that he is more than just a pretty face. But when the kind of nerdy, definitely-not-interested-in-him Bisma starts helping him with the project, he starts to realize that happiness may be closer than he thinks.

Oh my GOD I loved this book. It is so good. I will start this review off by saying: if the concept appeals to you, just stop reading and buy the book. I promise you, you will not regret it! If you need some more convincing, do keep reading!

Danyal is such an amazing, incredibly likeable main character! He keeps on following his dream of becoming a chef, even though his father is (quite vocally) against it. He has been told so many times that his self-worth is defined by his academic success that he has started to believe it, which is absolutely heartbreaking to read. His entire character arc throughout the story is so satisfying, and the ending just put the biggest smile on my face!!

Bisma is no less fantastic! Her life is being overshadowed by a mistake she made in the past, that neither her family no society will ever let her forget about. The sheer unfairness of it really sets your teeth on edge. She is smart and supportive and kind, even after all she’s been through. The way her and Danyal’s relationship develops is clutch-your-heart adorable and so incredibly heartwarming.

Honestly, I would give this book 500 stars if I could. It is a fantastic, funny and heartwarming romcom, with a powerful and affirming message of love and support. And at the same time it discusses the impact of social media on the way history is written, how most white people ignore (or are unaware) of just how much of a racist Churchill was, and the necessity of challenging white supremacy and systemic racism every day. My jaw was on the FLOOR. I could not recommend this book more!!

More than Just a Pretty Face follows Danyal as he tries to navigate life despite of his lack of self-confidence. He enters a competition and rescruits Bisma to help him, and the two start to realise they may have more in common than thy think.

This novel was surprising as I was expecting a light-hearted rom-com for young adult readers but it does touch on some sensitive issues that, although written respectfully, some readers may find upsetting. This didn't detract me from absolutely loving this novel. Quite the contrary, I thought it was so refreshing, especially since it is told from a male point of view.

All in all, a delightful read.

Disclosure: I'd like to thank the publisher for my advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

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5 stars

loved the plot and everything in this book! you just need to pick this up during the raya season it really got me hooked to the book! cannot wait to read more from this author

-Please not that while I have an Asian background, I am not an own voices reviewer for the desi/Muslim representation in this book. This book is a love letter to this community & I can’t wait to read future own voices reviews on it- ⠀
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This YA contemporary romance has been one of my biggest surprise reads of this year so far. I still have so many happy feelings from reading this book, mainly because of the book’s easy tone yet nonetheless very important background. Featuring a main character who, as he like to claim himself, isn’t the brightest in town, we meet an anything but stereotypical American-Pakistani boy. He is, in fact, what some in the desi community might call a ‘Pakistani failure’ because his interests (girls and cooking) aren’t exactly an South East Asian immigrant parent’s dreams which made the perfect set-up for this book. He is a character who has his heart in the right place though and he and the side characters never failed to surprise me because of their willingness to grow. ⠀
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The author’s nods to his own background are also evident by how the desi community is represented in this book — diversely and so full of surprises. Whether it’s the liberal ones, the religious ones etc, we all get little glimpses on their lives and everyone gets a chance to tell their stories. This is probably what I appreciated the most about this book — it’s not about ‘breaking free’ from your religion and cultural background but redefining the values and finding your place in it, despite all the differences. Throughout the book the author also addresses other important issues such as social and political issues and colonialism from a non-conqueror POV as he highlights different events of history that are whitewashed in the western world. I truly appreciated this seriousness to the book.⠀
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In the end it was an absolute delight to see Danyal and Bisma slowly fall for each other. This book isn’t your typical YA romance, it’s a force of energy and an important read both for the desi community and everyone else

4.5/5 stars
THIS BOOK WAS SO CUTEI had such a fun time reading this book! It was really sweet and the characters were well developed and fun. Also there was lots of food which was amazing.

Danyal is a really engaging main character. His first person narration is sweet and really entertaining to read. I was rooting for him throughout the whole book.

I also really enjoyed the discussion of Churchill and Colonialism in this book. I think its a really relevant topic given the current discussion regarding historical figures and I think this book handled it really well.

The secondary characters in this book were also wonderful. Bisma and her sister were two of my favourites, I loved the they had and of course I loved watching the romance between Bisma and Danyal progress.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a more diverse, sweet rom com. I can't wait to read what Syed Masood writes next! <3

*4.75 Stars*

Let's be honest. When I first started this, and realized the narrator was a guy, I was disappointed. Then, I read on a little and the conversation he was having with a girl in the first chapter put me off so I just started something else and put this one aside.
I made myself start this back closer to release date, and once I passed that first chapter and whatever issue I first had, I fell deeply in love.
The characters are deep, layered and flawed and just hooked me in. I honestly loved everything about this... the background, the storylines, the romance, the relation to school but also the friendships, just everything.
It was deeply moving and just took me there, in this neighborhood, with these amazing characters.

Absolutely loved this so much, what can I say. Danyal I loved him as soon as we meet him, he’s such a warm character, he may love the wrong woman and be a little vain when we first meet him but his heart, kindness and love show through from the very start. I absolutely loved what a man he was when he first met Bisma, more of a man than her father or his father was to him. I loved the fact he isn’t ‘clever’ and the emphasis and value placed on book learning and education when in life it isn’t always cut and dry, that some education can’t be taught, some people will never learn as much as Danyal already knows. I also loved the fact of role reversal the author comments on that Danyal would technically take the female role in a traditional arranged marriage in looks and Bisma was the brains and traditional male role. Danyal’s sarcasm and humour, along with his self deprecation (despite his looks) are just endearing.
Bisma is another character I fell in love with as soon as I met her, love her backbone, independent, full of Strength, what she has been through and she knows what she wants and yet loves her family to still try and protect them and not herself. I love as a geek the reference Other being a superhero for her mum. Syed just writes wonderful characters, every one is crafted and fully developed, no two dimensional villains or heroes, there is a rhyme and reason to everyone, each has their story and like the fathers in this, have their reasons for their actions, while not always justifies their actions, it does give them depth and understanding. (Although the mother’s are legends and just fabulous, loved them and you would want them on your side)
I loved the torment Danyal has trying to decide what to do over the Renaissance man and Churchill essay, deciding between the truth and impressing his teacher, doing his father justice, getting people to see that Churchill isn’t the great hero people hold him up to be (when let’s face it that man did many awful things in addition to the Bengal famine and I liked the fact this echoes recent discussions in the UK about him and the fact we need to re-evaluate how we look at our leaders and ‘heroes’ who we hold up on a pedestal need to be looked at more in depth, Danyal is almost a metaphor for this recent discussion in this book.) This was just beautiful, it’s such a great look at YA life, choices, family, relationships and the decisions that are so instrumental in Desi culture.
Overall, this isn’t the light YA romance I was expecting, it is so much more and one of my favourite reads this year, for the ability to make me feel so much and also think In depth, while laughing out loud on the next page. I simply find I cannot express in words how much I loved this book ( apart from saying love constantly) I will say pick this book up, male or female, young or old , romance fan or not, this book is for everyone, it will leave you in a better state than when you opened the first page, whether intellectually or emotionally, what you get from this is down to you, but you should definitely read this, you won’t regret it.
I regret that Syed doesn’t have a ton of other books I can buy and read now. Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion, but mostly thanks to Sued for a wonderful story and contribution to the reading world.

I really loved this book! It was so heartwarming and just a joy to read. Danyal was a really complex character and I enjoyed watching him learn and grow throughout the novel. I thought the romance in here was super sweet and just make me smile. And don't get me started on the food in here, it made my mouth water it all sounded so delicious. I wish we had spent some more time with some of the more minor characters as I felt like I wanted a little more of their story however overall I thought the characters were really well developed. I really enjoyed seeing their family relationships and enjoyed seeing and learning about how their culture and religion played into those dynamics. I thought the plot in here was really well done and it had me wanting to read on to find out what happened and found the competition element to be really fun and taught me loads about history that I was just completely unaware of and would now like to find out more as a result.
I would highly recommend this one!
5 out of 5 stars.

I loved loved loved this book.

Danyal the protagonist is handsome but not particularly academic and his history teacher decides somewhat spitefully to enter him into an academic contest: his presentation has to be about Churchill. In researching Churchill he learns about the Bengal Famine and he has to decide between: trying to honour his heritage & trying not to let his father down (the subject is important but his dad doesn't think his son can do it justice...) OR just do a basic job on how Churchill is a hero, pass history, and maybe win the hand of the girl of his dreams.

Along the way he realises that the girl of his dreams is maybe just in his dreams, he has to square his developing feelings for another girl with the requirements of his Muslim faith and his family but she has a difficult past. His two best friends are also Muslim but are dealing with their faith in different ways and between the three of them they help Danyal figure out what to do but also how to connect with their faith better.

PLUS! Syed Masood, the author, is from Pakistan, a Muslim, and 100% down for calling out bullshit (that last part I added)
Why did I add the last part? Because the history teacher said to Danyal:
"We're learning about your history"
"Oh?"
"Yes, the history of India"
"I'm from Pakistan"
"Basically the same thing"
And damn if I a) didn't want to punch the teacher in the face b) wanted to high five Syed Masood so badly