Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin

32 reviews

trips's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book was a lovely read, I am very happy to have had it recommended to me. However, I don't feel like its all that much like Pride and Prejudice? Yes, the 2 love interests have the pride and prejudice traits down but the surrounding plot just doesn't echo the Austen novel all that much.

Regardless, I enjoyed Ayesha and Khalid's own stories and seeing how they each navigated them. Ayesha especially is a badass, and while I wasn't sure how I felt about Khalid, by the end, I liked him too. They have some really adorable moments together, but I was left wanting more! I give this a pass because the familial drama was so fun to read about but, for a romance, I'd like a bit more between the heroine and hero!

 I found that the antagonists were a bit too obviously awful, literally no one likes people like Sheila. It also felt like the other antagonist only existed to create a third act conflict. 

Overall, Ayesha At Last is a fun, light-hearted romance with some good family feels. I appreciate reading from a perspective I don't see a lot in media. Would love to read more from this author.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Child abuse, Islamophobia, and Death of parent

Minor: Abortion

deidrelj's review against another edition

inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Super sweet romance. Despite the cultural and religious differences, the characters felt very relatable in how parental and religious pressures can simultaneously enlighten you and yet lead you astray of your best path!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

Minor: Abortion and Abandonment

le3713's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Very fun Pride & Prejudice inspired (not a direct retelling) romcom set in a close-knit Toronto Muslim community. Some of the dialogue and plot points felt forced, but the concept and cast of characters carried this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent

Minor: Abortion

rachelfayreads's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Xenophobia, and Sexual harassment

maya_reads_books's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Minor: Abortion and Murder

nrhilmer's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Grief, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Death of parent

ms_read's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Trafficking, Abortion, and Murder

isabellarob73's review against another edition

funny lighthearted relaxing tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I enjoyed this book, and enjoy anything that resembles Pride and Prejudice. I thought the two romantic leads were endearing, I just wish the book spent more time on their romance. The book had too many plots, involving too many characters to the point where I was frustrated with everyone in the book and forgot that it was even supposed to be a romance. Still, I enjoyed Ayesha and Khalid, and Nana, of course!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, and War

shelbybelby's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Death of parent

questingnotcoasting's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was fun. It's a loose Pride and Prejudice retelling set in a Muslim community in Toronto and while Jalaluddin takes some of Austen's characters and themes, the plot doesn't follow the original that closely. The themes of reputation, classism and family translated perfectly and I felt it had the same great mix of family drama and comedy as P&P. I listened to the audiobook and it did take me a little bit to settle into it because there are quite a few names introduced in the first few chapters - something I often struggle with on audio. However I soon got to grips with all the characters and then really enjoyed it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Islamophobia

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment