A modern-day Muslim Pride and Prejudice for a new generation of love.

Ayesha Shamsi has a lot going on. Her dreams of being a poet have been set aside for a teaching job so she can pay off her debts to her wealthy uncle. She lives with her boisterous Muslim family and is always being reminded that her flighty younger cousin, Hafsa, is close to rejecting her one hundredth marriage proposal. Though Ayesha is lonely, she doesn't want an arranged marriage. Then she meets Khalid, who is just as smart and handsome as he is conservative and judgmental. She is irritatingly attracted to someone who looks down on her choices and who dresses like he belongs in the seventh century.

When a surprise engagement is announced between Khalid and Hafsa, Ayesha is torn between how she feels about the straightforward Khalid and the unsettling new gossip she hears about his family. Looking into the rumors, she finds she has to deal with not only what she discovers about Khalid, but also the truth she realizes about herself.

Ayesha at last is a debut novel of Uzma Jalaluddin and spin off of Pride and Prejudice. Set in Canada, it tells of the Muslim Community, their ways and challenges. Although the book somehow has been categorized as a Pride and Prejudice spin off, I fail to understand why? Nowhere while reading the book did I get any P&P feels. Neither I could relate to any of the characters in such a manner. 

Anyhow, the novel starts off with Ayesha and her routine in Canada. She is depicted as a 'Labelled" spinster by her own family since she is unmarried crossing her late 20's. Ayesha lives with her mother, brother and maternal grand parents. The family moved to Canada on their uncle's behest, years ago after Ayesha's father passed away. Ayesha's uncle supported them in early years as he is portrayed as a well off, established Muslim residing in Canada. Uzma is currently a school teacher and the book starts off by telling us her routine on the way to school. While picking up a coffee along the way, Khalid notices her. Khalid is the other lead in the book who is a staunch practicing Muslim to an extent that he comes off as a fundo as he dresses in jubba and mosque cap to work as well. 

Uzma and Khalid meet each other at the community center of the mosque to organize an event. The event was originally supposed to be organized by Hafsa, who happens to be Ayesha's cousin but Hafsa requests Ayesha to do it on her behalf. Somehow Ayesha misses the chance to introduce herself and everyone at the mosque assumes her to be Hafsa. On the other hand, Hafsa leaves home by saying that she is off to the mosque to make arrangements for the event but disappears for something else. Things change for Khalid at workplace when a new manager comes in who is Islamophobic. She tries her best to put Khalid in awkward situations that would embarrass him and humiliate him. Despite his appearance, Khalid is quite good at his job and manages to enthrall the clients with his work which doesn't settle well with his manager. She tries to pin code of conduct breach cases on Khalid but the HR manager is a good person and friends with Ayesha. She makes sure that Khalid is able to save his job and his reputation. 

The desi lifestyle, mind set and habits are aptly depicted in the book. Gossiping and judging others are traits that are widely prevalent in the community despite years of living in Canada. Khalid's family is haunted by their past and they are cornered to some extent. Khalids's mother is textbook desi mom we read women complaining about, as their mother in law. She is old school and believes in fully controlling her children. If anything, Khalid is more of her minion than her child. Khalid's mother mentions proposal for Hafsa and Khalid mistaking Ayesha as Hafsa, agrees. When its disclosed that Ayesha is not Hafsa, it starts a whole new chain of gossip for Ayesha. Even Hafsa blames her for sabotaging a good proposal by trying to hijack it. Hafsa's mother tells Ayesha's mother that Ayesha is no longer welcome in their home. Observing Khalid's inclination towards Ayesha, his mother tries her utmost best to cut Ayesha off from the community by assassinating her character. Someone who was already labelled as spinster falls further into the abyss of social norms. 

A romance is no romance without a villian in it. Is it? We are introduced to a new character somewhere mid book. Find out the complete story by reading the book. Where does Hafsa disappear off to? What is Khalid's family's dark secret? Would Khalid be able to marry Ayesha? Does Ayesha even like Khalid? To get answers to all these questions, read the book, you will enjoy it. It contains drama, suspense and halal romance. 

Ayesha at last is a light read that aptly depicts South Asians as a community living abroad. Their lifestyles, rishta culture and family set ups are beautifully explained. I don't find any resemblance to Pride & prejudice though but would suggest you to give it a read. 

If you have read this book, share your review with me. Stay healthy and beautiful. xoxo!!!