Love Marriage

Love Marriage

  • Downloads:2560
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2022-01-23 00:51:44
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Monica Ali
  • ISBN:0349015481
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

Set in London, a fresh and wickedly incisive novel about the daughter of Indian immigrants navigating love, family, and culture—by the acclaimed author of the New York Times bestselling Brick Lane, shortlisted for the Booker Prize。

Yasmin Ghorami is twenty-six, in training to be a doctor (like her Indian-born father), and engaged to the charismatic, upper-class Joe Sangster, whose domineering mother, Helen, is a famous feminist。 Though both Yasmin’s parents and Joe’s mother approve of the marriage, the cultural gulf between Yasmin and Joe is vast。

The novel opens as Yasmin and her family pile into their car, packed with Indian food prepared by Yasmin’s mother, to go to dinner to meet Joe’s mother in her elegant townhouse in one of London’s poshest neighborhoods。 Contrary to all of Yasmin’s fears, her unsophisticated mother is embraced and celebrated by Helen and her friends。 But before long, complications ensue when Yasmin discovers Joe’s promiscuous nature, her brother is banished from the house by her father, and Yasmin’s mother moves to Helen’s house in protest。 ​

Bold, intimate, and entertaining, Love Marriage is a multi-layered story that explores how the secrets people keep hidden affect their most intimate relationships—and how sometimes, it takes extreme upheaval, to find ourselves and our lives, truly transformed。

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Reviews

Drea

I love a character driven book with complex characters - this book is just that。 Set in England, issues culture and identity and growth flood the pages。 It’s beautifully-written and although at just under 500 pages, I loved the short chapters with clever titles for each。 The characters are flawed (who isn’t) and unlikeable at times and throughout I was rooting for them。 Is it too long? Yes。 Am I glad I read it。 Oh yes。 Heartfelt thanks to Scribner for the advanced copy。

Paromjit

Monica Ali writes of relationships, love and family drama, full of humour and heart, reflecting the complex nature of the modern world。 Set in London, 26 year old Yasmin Ghorami lives at home, following in her father's footsteps, a trainee doctor working in the hospital geriatric and dementia wards。 She lives at home, just like fellow doctor, Joe Sangster, who she is going to marry, a 'love marriage', just like the one she naively believes her parents, first generation Bengali immigrants done go Monica Ali writes of relationships, love and family drama, full of humour and heart, reflecting the complex nature of the modern world。 Set in London, 26 year old Yasmin Ghorami lives at home, following in her father's footsteps, a trainee doctor working in the hospital geriatric and dementia wards。 She lives at home, just like fellow doctor, Joe Sangster, who she is going to marry, a 'love marriage', just like the one she naively believes her parents, first generation Bengali immigrants done good have。 The families are set to meet for a dinner in Primrose Hill at Joe's mother, Harriet's home, an anxiety inducing event for Yasmin, embarrassed by her mother, Anisah, her choice of dress, and the fact that she insists on taking plastic bags full of home made indian dishes to the dinner。 Yasmin and Joe's plans for a small, inexpensive wedding are shot to pieces with Harriet manipulating and comandeering the arrangements, making it a more Islamic religious affair。That evening is to prove to be the trigger for Yasmin to re-evaluate her judgements and assumptions about all those close to her, no one more so than her mother whom Harriet (a well known feminist, writer and activist) connects with and takes to big time。 When her family experiences major conflict with regard to her father and his difficult relationship with her unemployed brother, Arif, it results in her mother leaving home and finding sanctuary with a Harriet who welcomes her with open arms into her home。 Harriet is instrumental in providing the religiously devout Anisah with the space to seek surprisingly unexpected and unconstrained freedoms that shock Yasmin to her core, particularly the relationship with Flame。 Joe seeks therapy for his addiction with Sandor who guides him to face up to and address his relationship his mother。 As Yasmin sees the world as she knows it begin to disintegrate when it comes to Joe and her family, she is forced to re-examine her sense of identity, the reality of love marriages, her concerns over her profession, family and work out what it is she really wants。Ali writes a engaging novel full of warmth, and great characters, it has to be said that Anisah does rather steal the show, although I also had a soft spot for Yasmin's best friend, Rania, a solicitor and ninja。 I found myself completely immersed in the story from beginning to end, its focus on 2 generations of an immigrant family, being a parent, whilst providing a social commentary on gender, race, class, religion, culture, and geriatric care in hospitals。 This might not be a read for everyone, but I have to say that I loved it。 Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC。 。。。more

Sonal

I hate putting a book on the "DNF" list but I've realized life is too short and my "to be read" list too long to waste time on books I don't enjoy。 I knew as soon as I started reading that this would be one of those books with long drawn out writing, using big words, but not really helping the story。 Still, I pushed myself to give it a chance。 The more I read, the more it proved me right。 I felt like nothing was really happening, the characters were bland, and I ended up skimming the rest of the I hate putting a book on the "DNF" list but I've realized life is too short and my "to be read" list too long to waste time on books I don't enjoy。 I knew as soon as I started reading that this would be one of those books with long drawn out writing, using big words, but not really helping the story。 Still, I pushed myself to give it a chance。 The more I read, the more it proved me right。 I felt like nothing was really happening, the characters were bland, and I ended up skimming the rest of the book。 I found that everything is pretty much summed up in the last few chapters and the rest of the book just dragged itself there。 That said, I think the revelations that are made towards the end are probably some of the best parts of the book and I wish the first 3/4's of the book had been as interesting to read。 Thank you to Netgalley and Scribner Publicity for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review。 。。。more

Jesika

This is a long book for those who enjoy largely character driven books。Monica Ali uses her large character list to explore interesting and important situations, attitudes and experiences in the modern world。 Trigger warnings for addiction, racism and rape。 This is not a light read, but it is a rewarding one if you can stick with unlikeable characters as they work through the worst of themselves and start to become someone a bit better。The book explores what it means to love someone, what it mean This is a long book for those who enjoy largely character driven books。Monica Ali uses her large character list to explore interesting and important situations, attitudes and experiences in the modern world。 Trigger warnings for addiction, racism and rape。 This is not a light read, but it is a rewarding one if you can stick with unlikeable characters as they work through the worst of themselves and start to become someone a bit better。The book explores what it means to love someone, what it means to he active in your authenticity, what it is to stand up for who you really want to be。 From a doctor's responsibility for their patients though to the responsibility children and parents feel towards each other, from the experience of discrimination through to the ignorance of one's prejudice, this book captures and asks the reader to think about so much。It is very well done。 It is is also very long and relatively slow, I wish I had been in the mood for that kind of read。 As it was it took me longer to read this than I would normally and I struggled with it because of that - my advice would be to pick this one up when you are in the right mood for a long book you can live in for some time。 。。。more

Natalie

A total charmer! I enjoyed this very timely tale。 Loved the descriptions of the immigrant family。 Beautifully written with descriptions that brought me into the scenes。 Such a cast of “characters”。 Ali has created a terrific novel about this memorable family。 Thank you Netgalley for this ARC。

Lydia

This book was hard to read。 It was very slow and took me almost 2。5 weeks to complete however I do think it was a good examination of characters who are deeply flawed and their relationships。

Stephen Dilley

Monica Ali's Love Marriage is both a great read and a thought-provoking exploration of relationships, love and marriage across different cultures。 The novel appears to centre around the relationship between Yasmin and Joe, two London-based junior doctors who are engaged to be married。 They come from different backgrounds: Yasmin is from a Muslim family and her parents came to Britain from India after they married; Joe is the son of a leading feminist activist, writer and intellectual who has bro Monica Ali's Love Marriage is both a great read and a thought-provoking exploration of relationships, love and marriage across different cultures。 The novel appears to centre around the relationship between Yasmin and Joe, two London-based junior doctors who are engaged to be married。 They come from different backgrounds: Yasmin is from a Muslim family and her parents came to Britain from India after they married; Joe is the son of a leading feminist activist, writer and intellectual who has brought him on her own after separating from his father。 At the start of the novel, Ali explores the tensions which Yasmin (in particular) must navigate between their parents' desires and her own as they plan their wedding; however, the novel also begins to interrogate a number of other relationships, including Yasmin's disaffected brother's relationship with his British girlfriend, Joe's very close relationship with his mother, and Yasmin's parents' own "love marriage" between her wealthy mother and her penniless but ambitious father, a story that Yasmin has grown up hearing which defied the cultural expectations of its time。 I was completely absorbed by Yasmin's experiences - she is a sympathetic protagonist and the dilemmas she faced felt completely believable。 In particular, Ali is very adept at drawing out the role that embarrassment can play when trying to move between different social milieus; some of these moments of embarrassment have a comedic element, but Ali also identifies the acute sense of pain or shame that can arise from these experiences in a way that rang very true。 I also really liked the complexity of the novel's fairly large cast of characters, who are not homogenised by their backgrounds; for instance, Yasmin and her father, mother, brother and close friend all embody different aspects of what it means to be British and Muslim: for instance, her father considers himself a "secular Muslim" but fiercely resists any suggestion that British Muslims are affected by Islamophobia, while her mother is far more devout but also proves more liberal in many of her attitudes。 They also, almost without exception, demonstrate the ability to change and develop in ways which are often surprising but also feel authentic and believable。 About three quarters of the way through the novel I worried that some characters were in danger of becoming caricatures but the brilliant final section of the novel totally allayed this concern, and there were a number of twists that I did not see coming。I found this a very enjoyable and compelling novel overall - thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending an ARC to review! 。。。more

Karen

LOVE MARRIAGEBY MONICA ALII have been dying to get to the BRILLIANT and TALENTED Monica Ali's BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN new book called,"LOVE MARRIAGE。" I had read and loved her first book ever written called, "BRICK LANE," when it was published and I thought it was shortlisted for the Booker Prize approximately 19 years ago。 I still have that hardcover First Edition, First Printing in the English Edition in one of my favorite bookshelves。 It did however win many American Awards and I believe that "LO LOVE MARRIAGEBY MONICA ALII have been dying to get to the BRILLIANT and TALENTED Monica Ali's BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN new book called,"LOVE MARRIAGE。" I had read and loved her first book ever written called, "BRICK LANE," when it was published and I thought it was shortlisted for the Booker Prize approximately 19 years ago。 I still have that hardcover First Edition, First Printing in the English Edition in one of my favorite bookshelves。 It did however win many American Awards and I believe that "LOVE MARRIAGE," is just as STUNNING and I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! Monica Ali truly understands the dynamics of humanity and her newest book sparkles and pops with her innate knowledge of it。 She plumbs the depths of what it is to love and the many different ways we love。 Whether it be husband and wife, an engagement of two people who plan to marry, the way a mother and father love their children, sibling love, how we perceive how our parent's love us and the miraculous love of a baby and its powerful ability to heal and bring families together that have been estranged。Monica Ali also has a deep understanding of the caste system in India and how hard it is to assimilate and what it feels like to be any body whose skin isn't White。 How difficult it is to be born poor but how hard the born under privileged are willing to work to make a better life for themselves and their families。 How sometimes in striving to give our children the love that we didn't get we are likely to hurt our children by loving them too much。 How we all have the best intentions for our children but end up passing down inter generational pain and dysfunction that we are often blind to ourselves。This is an epic multifaceted tale that explores the many kinds of love there is that exists and it centers on two different families that live in London。 It took me a little bit to become immersed in this story, but once that I did I couldn't put the book down and read most of it in one sitting。 I had an immediate love for the warm style of writing and could relate to the engaging storytelling。 It is hard for me to express how much I loved this and the engaging way that when beginning this it felt like my kind of book。 Monica Ali does an excellent job at her characterization and plot。 When I finished this I was sad that it ended but I felt uplifted and inspired by reading this。 I felt that this book came along at just the right time for me and it was one that I was saving to read after finishing a beautiful but heartbreaking book that I read just before this one。 I needed something family oriented that would be deep and that would resonate with me and this one not only delivered in rewarding me with an outstanding storytelling, but it left me with an ending that gave me hope for both families involved。 Frankly, I went into this blind and hadn't read any reviews and had forgotten the synopsis because I wanted to save it。 It surely paid off to not remember what it was about because I have found that the less I know the more I enjoy the surprise thus my reading experience is more enhanced。 I knew that if Monica Ali was the Author that it would be terrific and it was! I can't praise this book high enough and it by far exceeded my high expectations。 This is Literary Fiction at its best and I am so grateful to have read this。 It is very realistic and if you love contemporary fiction based on many universal truths you will love this one as much as I did。 I highly, highly recommend this and will be spreading the word about this to all of my family and friends who love outstanding writing and fantastic storytelling that in UNIQUE and UNFORGETTABLE!Publication Date: May 3, 2022A Huge debt of gratitude and a Thank you to Net Galley, Monica Ali and Scribner for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review。 All opinions are my own。#LoveMarriage #MonicaAli #Scribner #NetGalley 。。。more

Lisa of Hopewell

I learned of this book via this post: https://alifeinbooks。co。uk/2022/01/bo。。。 I learned of this book via this post: https://alifeinbooks。co。uk/2022/01/bo。。。 。。。more

Sarah

DNF at 20%Yawn。 I found every character’s personality to be lacking in nuance, the pace to be glacial and the plot to be contrived。 Not for me!

Bob Hughes

As a fan of her novel ‘Brick Lane’, it was an absolute delight to read her latest book。 Focusing on a family in the midst of various crises but keeping up appearances, we watch as slow changes and the unsaid threaten to engulf them all。 But the book always manages to feel light and propulsively readable as it goes along。 Family members seek to unravel the secrets, neuroses and trauma that has been stewing for years, and the end result is a book that feels cathartic and enjoyable, even whilst dea As a fan of her novel ‘Brick Lane’, it was an absolute delight to read her latest book。 Focusing on a family in the midst of various crises but keeping up appearances, we watch as slow changes and the unsaid threaten to engulf them all。 But the book always manages to feel light and propulsively readable as it goes along。 Family members seek to unravel the secrets, neuroses and trauma that has been stewing for years, and the end result is a book that feels cathartic and enjoyable, even whilst dealing with heavy topics like addiction, abuse, and racism。 I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more

Anthea

I was sent this book by Net Galley to preview this book。 This book covers too many issues in the book。 It starts off as a possible Love Marriage, but reading between the lines I knew early on, it wasn't going to go the way some books go。 It is a heart rendering story and takes the reader into the story of two cultures, two families in Britain today。 The story grips the reader with the introduction of Joe's mother, Harriet,who is on a mission to shock and does。 Then Yasmin's family issues throw u I was sent this book by Net Galley to preview this book。 This book covers too many issues in the book。 It starts off as a possible Love Marriage, but reading between the lines I knew early on, it wasn't going to go the way some books go。 It is a heart rendering story and takes the reader into the story of two cultures, two families in Britain today。 The story grips the reader with the introduction of Joe's mother, Harriet,who is on a mission to shock and does。 Then Yasmin's family issues throw up new dimensions and together with Joe,who Yasmin is engaged to, who is a handsome doctor, confronting issues within his family broken by separation of mother and father and Yasmin and her over bearing father and brother who is broken and her mother, together with Harriet, Joe's mother, and her entourage encouraged by Harriet, throw up even more taxing challenges。 Certainly this is a book for our times, who we are and how we respond to love in our times in Britain, with every complication of life, desire, marriage and family within and without a Muslim marriage。 I enjoyed the book, but it was 200 pages too long 。 。。。more

michelle

a funny, heartwarming look at love and families and sex, like an indian bridget jones or love actually。 can't tell you how refreshing it is to read about these things from a non-white pov, and ali really nails it with how fully she develops her dialogue and characters。 excited to see it adapted for the big screen! a funny, heartwarming look at love and families and sex, like an indian bridget jones or love actually。 can't tell you how refreshing it is to read about these things from a non-white pov, and ali really nails it with how fully she develops her dialogue and characters。 excited to see it adapted for the big screen! 。。。more

Annie

A long book 。 I was not blown away by it to start off with。 It was too slow moving and I was not really taken with the characters。 The story is mainly told by Yasmin , a Doctor living at home with her parents and brother。 She is engaged to Joe, who has had a completely different upbringing。 Yasmin seems at times hellbent on damaging all areas of her life 。As the book progressed, it held my interest more and the last third of the book, I could not put it down。 Not everything is as it seems and as A long book 。 I was not blown away by it to start off with。 It was too slow moving and I was not really taken with the characters。 The story is mainly told by Yasmin , a Doctor living at home with her parents and brother。 She is engaged to Joe, who has had a completely different upbringing。 Yasmin seems at times hellbent on damaging all areas of her life 。As the book progressed, it held my interest more and the last third of the book, I could not put it down。 Not everything is as it seems and as I came to understand the characters more, I liked them better。Now that I have finished, my opinion is that it was a good read, with plenty of food for thoughtThank you to Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review 。。。more

Karen Carter

This is a book that will get people talking。 It deals with a whole host of issues that face us today in our supposedly modern and forward thinking world and presents some difficulties that we perhaps wish we could leave behind in the past。 It is a novel about accepting who you are but also not being afraid to be yourself and move on from the restraints that you allow to direct your route through life。 It is about love, ambition, control, betrayal, hope, acceptance, culture, family, tradition, ch This is a book that will get people talking。 It deals with a whole host of issues that face us today in our supposedly modern and forward thinking world and presents some difficulties that we perhaps wish we could leave behind in the past。 It is a novel about accepting who you are but also not being afraid to be yourself and move on from the restraints that you allow to direct your route through life。 It is about love, ambition, control, betrayal, hope, acceptance, culture, family, tradition, change, and, very importantly about healing。 It is a book that is both incredibly tender and heartrending but also shows humankind with all its strength and weaknesses; its most beautiful and its most ugly。 It reminds you that we all have a history and we can never assume anything about anyone, no matter how closely we think we know them。 I found Love Marriage to be a moving read and, whilst I didn't warm to every character, I did feel for each and every one。 。。。more

Miki

I haven’t read Monica Ali’s first novel, Brick Lane, so I didn’t approach Love Marriage with any preconceived notions。 I was very, very excited about receiving an ARC from NetGalley。What I enjoyed most about Love Marriage was Ali’s dedication to writing about current events and topics that I found interesting and important at this time in western society, specifically the dichotomy between what’s right and wrong, especially as “right” and “wrong” apply to: the ways in which people who belong to I haven’t read Monica Ali’s first novel, Brick Lane, so I didn’t approach Love Marriage with any preconceived notions。 I was very, very excited about receiving an ARC from NetGalley。What I enjoyed most about Love Marriage was Ali’s dedication to writing about current events and topics that I found interesting and important at this time in western society, specifically the dichotomy between what’s right and wrong, especially as “right” and “wrong” apply to: the ways in which people who belong to religious groups may or may not follow or adhere to certain aspects of that religion; infidelity; and the problems between first generation (immigrant) parents and their second generation children。 I also enjoyed the characters' conversations that centred on feminism, sexual identity and sexual assault (including PTS)。What I didn't enjoy was the number of characters that are written about。 While I enjoy reading from multiple POVs, this novel felt like it explored too many of them。 In fact, I felt like by focusing so much on other characters, I didn’t completely get to learn about Yasmin, who grows and develops so much throughout the book, and yet, we really only get to learn about her at pivotal moments in her life in which we don’t see her fully reflect on her reactions, behaviours and feelings。 Those moments, feel too short and undeveloped。 At one point while I was reading, I didn’t even feel like Yasmin was the protagonist。Also, while I appreciate all of the issues that are addressed in the novel, I felt like it was overwhelming。 I can understand that all of the issues in the novel are important, but it felt a bit heavy。 I feel that had Ali only focused on two or three of the issues, the story/stories would have been more streamlined。Overall, I think that Ali’s writing was great, and I loved the premise of the story and the complexities of the romantic relationships—even the sacred and idealized notion of a love marriage。 I'm half Japanese, and we have the same concept。 It's just as over-hyped and idealized there (in Japan)。 In addition, I just wish I’d had more time with certain characters and less with others in order to focus on what was happening with each one because the characters were fascinating! My favourites were Ma (Anisah, Yasmin’s mother) and Joe。 I love their journeys to self-discovery and how they develop and grow as individuals。I can't wait to read what Ali releases next and will, in the meantime, add Brick Lane on my TBR!Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for an ARC of Love Marriage in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more

Girish

"Calling someone racist is worse than being racist?""I'll put it like this: one is easier to get away with than the other。" Monica Ali's innocuously titled book with a first chapter of meeting of the parents explodes into a complex, raw novel about dysfunctional families, identity, love, fidelity and the role of Parents。 The Ghoramis are settlers in England from Calcutta and their daughter Yasmin, a geriatric trainee doctor, is all set for her love marriage to Joe, a gynecologist。 Harriet, the g "Calling someone racist is worse than being racist?""I'll put it like this: one is easier to get away with than the other。" Monica Ali's innocuously titled book with a first chapter of meeting of the parents explodes into a complex, raw novel about dysfunctional families, identity, love, fidelity and the role of Parents。 The Ghoramis are settlers in England from Calcutta and their daughter Yasmin, a geriatric trainee doctor, is all set for her love marriage to Joe, a gynecologist。 Harriet, the groom's mom is a reformist and feminist and she welcomes the Ghoramis into her household - especially her mother Anisah。 The setting is the plot of most NRI marriage stories inspired by Mira Nair, but then that is when Ms。Ali decides she has a lot to cover。 At the core of the story is what Yasmin and Joe are each going through。 From minor frustrations to infidelity to guilt - both characters are blown apart。 Joe's therapy sessions seem like needless pricking of scabs and soon you start wondering where this is headed。 Yasmin is going through her own trials of workplace politics and an impulsive recklessness。 The focus shifts onto all the characters so that everyone is taken along their respective arcs。 Her brother jobless brother Arif whose experience makes him want to do a documentary on Islamophobia。 There is a long passage on Microaggression which is very apt and applies for very many of today's '-isms' which we consciously or subconsciously do。 There is her friend Rania, his therapist Sandor, the strict father, her mother's friend Flame and even patients and doctors。 The book will surprise you, if not shock you。 An unexpected ride。Note: I would like to thank Little Brown Books and Netgalley for the ARC of the book for honest review。 The book is releasing in Feb 3rd 2022。 。。。more

Alyson

Yasmin Ghorami, a trainee doctor is engaged to be married to Joe, a fellow doctor。 Ahead of the wedding planning Yasmin's family go to meet Joe's feminist mother。 I loved the description of this dinner: Yasmin's reluctant and no good brother, her frantic cooking mother who takes enough food over to last a week, and her very straight doctor father who all meet the eccentric and firebrand Harriet。 However after this evening Yasmin's life begins to unravel and all the things she held true appear un Yasmin Ghorami, a trainee doctor is engaged to be married to Joe, a fellow doctor。 Ahead of the wedding planning Yasmin's family go to meet Joe's feminist mother。 I loved the description of this dinner: Yasmin's reluctant and no good brother, her frantic cooking mother who takes enough food over to last a week, and her very straight doctor father who all meet the eccentric and firebrand Harriet。 However after this evening Yasmin's life begins to unravel and all the things she held true appear unreliable and she had to ask herself whether her love marriage to Joe is the best thing for both of them。 All the characters in this novel are confused: Yasmin is uncertain whether she should marry, Joe has problems for which he seeks therapy。 Harriet has to explore her own past as do Yasmin's parents。 Arif is an angry young man and Yasmin's friends and colleagues all have their problems too。 I found this was quite a heavy load and longed for an 'ordinary' character。There are some very funny moments in this book and there is also some intense moments but I did find the story dragged a little and could have been tightened somewhat。 It covers a broad range of topics, love, incest, racism and addiction amongst others but it is at the heart a love story。 I am sure this book will be popular when it is released after the success of Brick Lane and I'm grateful to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for a chance to read an arc copy in return for an honest review。 。。。more

Robin Brown

I generally love long books with lots of plot and characters but this was way too long and plodding。 As others have mentioned, way too many Important Issues are tossed in but ultimately skimmed over。

Kerry

I had very high hopes for this novel and was delighted with a pre-pub copy via Netgalley, for which I am grateful。 I loved the premise of this novel。 Its contemporariness is commendable, and Ali has clearly tried to tackle all kinds of 'issues' concerning culture and life in the UK today。 The drive of this novel based around relationships (which centre around the idea of what a 'love marriage' might be both in muslim and christian cultures), multiculturalism, feminism and also sex。 The 'big reve I had very high hopes for this novel and was delighted with a pre-pub copy via Netgalley, for which I am grateful。 I loved the premise of this novel。 Its contemporariness is commendable, and Ali has clearly tried to tackle all kinds of 'issues' concerning culture and life in the UK today。 The drive of this novel based around relationships (which centre around the idea of what a 'love marriage' might be both in muslim and christian cultures), multiculturalism, feminism and also sex。 The 'big reveal' is not one I'll go into here, but involves a highly traumatic event meant to offer an explanation of the relationship between two significant characters, and comes as a complete surprise to other characters in the novel。 Fine。 Here are the downsides: the quality of the writing is good, where I'd expected excellent; the narrative is a little low where I'd expected a bit more pace; unless the publishers are going to correct them, there are some major bloopers in the editing; most importantly, I guessed a lot of what was going to happen, so some of it literally made me yawn。 I'm aware that my opinion is marred by disappointment because my expectation had been so high, and if you haven't read Ali before, you might think this novel is brilliant。 But for me to say, 'I've read worse' in the same breath as 'Monica Ali' sums it up。 。。。more

Barbara

Monica Ali has come a long way since Brick Lane with it's raw 'slap you in the face with its message' style of writing。 She's more polished。 She's more considered。 She paces her story。 But。。。。。。。and it's a but I offer with some regret。。。。。。 the gaining of polish goes alongside the loss of urgency, realism and raw pain。I loved Brick Lane - despite some terrible but forgivable errors in the writing - but Love Marriage left me a bit cold。 It's undoubtedly well written and there's nothing wrong with Monica Ali has come a long way since Brick Lane with it's raw 'slap you in the face with its message' style of writing。 She's more polished。 She's more considered。 She paces her story。 But。。。。。。。and it's a but I offer with some regret。。。。。。 the gaining of polish goes alongside the loss of urgency, realism and raw pain。I loved Brick Lane - despite some terrible but forgivable errors in the writing - but Love Marriage left me a bit cold。 It's undoubtedly well written and there's nothing wrong with a book whose protagonists are hard to love or admire。 The problem is, it just feels like a REALLY long story in which not much happens。 Perhaps that's unfair。 Actually, quite a lot does happen。 But it happens so slowly and gently and (sorry, ouch!) boringly that it took me nearly two weeks to drag my regretful butt through the book。 It's all just so。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。searching for the right word。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。"polite" which seems deeply inappropriate to the themes being explored。 We have sex addiction, affairs, racism and its partner crime of 'accusing people of racism' (or letting people interpret what you've NOT said as an accusation of racism)。 We have a father disowning his son, an Asian medical professor undermining his Asian junior doctor。 We have a counsellor smacking his client with some fairly objectionable opinions about his maternal relationship。 We even throw in a sweet and delightful cross-cultural lesbian affair and polish it off with a delicious 'reveal' that challenges all of the protagonist's beliefs about her parents and their relationship。 In short, we have all the ingredients for a stunning recipe but all that comes out of this mix of top-class plot ingredients is a bland Victoria Sponge with a soggy bottom and not much flavour。 I really wanted to love this book but when I got the end, I just felt a bit sad and disappointed。Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my copy。 。。。more

Nish Misra

Thank you @NetGalley and @LittleBrownBookGroupUK for a digital reviewer copy of this book in exchange for an honest review。 There is much hype and anticipation surrounding Monica Ali’s Love Marriage as her first novel Brick Lane was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize Award for fiction。 Although I haven’t read Brick Lane, I had heard of Monica Ali before I requested this and had high expectations myself; unfortunately for me, it didn’t deliver。 Publication Date: 03/02/2022 Rating: 2/5Genre: Gen Thank you @NetGalley and @LittleBrownBookGroupUK for a digital reviewer copy of this book in exchange for an honest review。 There is much hype and anticipation surrounding Monica Ali’s Love Marriage as her first novel Brick Lane was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize Award for fiction。 Although I haven’t read Brick Lane, I had heard of Monica Ali before I requested this and had high expectations myself; unfortunately for me, it didn’t deliver。 Publication Date: 03/02/2022 Rating: 2/5Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Women’s FictionTrigger warning: mention of rape, violence, blood, sex and nudity Yasmin and Jo are both doctors, working in London and engaged to be married。 ‘Love Marriage’ explores the relationships, dynamics and interactions of those who live in today’s diverse and mutli-cultural Britain, it seeks to thwart the stereotype surrounding an immigrant Bengali family and addresses the complexities that can arise in the personal and professional lives of ordinary people。 Starting with aspects I did enjoy, due credit must be given to Ali’s prose and courage to write about difficult issues with poignancy and clarity。 For some this is the marmite aspect of the book – you will either love it or hate it as it draws on morals and ethics。 Ali knows how to set the scene and although a slow-burner at the beginning, there was a certain point where the story got more interesting and engaging and the potential kept me going to the end。 I loved Yasmin’s relationship with her patients and this particular element of her life as a working doctor, and also with the psychiatrist, were heavily researched and to entwine them within the plot of the story was brilliantly done。 Now without trying to give any spoilers, there were some things about the plot that did grate on me and put me in a bit of a dilemma。 As a British Asian of Indian descent, I thought I would relate to Yasmin a lot but unfortunately, I was wrong。 I understand the author’s intention may have been to present flawed protagonists, again, the idea that no one is perfect does have a certain appeal to it and Yasmin is definitely hypocritical and unsympathetic in her decision making and the author is not afraid to address that in the narrative。 Personally, however, I found it isolating and it did spoil the read for me。 Separately, I also found it quite offensive and insensitive that Ali chose a Hindu symbol of worship and associated it with sex stimulation in the book。 It was definitely unnecessary and not vital to the storyline。 I wish Ali had spent some time doing her research on this too。 As it is my personal opinion and experience which is highlighted here, perhaps not all readers will focus as heavily on this reference in the book。 ‘Love Marriage’ presents the idea that although issues can be labelled, put simply, this is just life and the experiences it brings based on the choices we make everyday。 My personal experience aside, it is an interesting read for those who want to read something that is imperfect and forgiving。 。。。more

Cassie Holland

From a distance this is a love story between Jo and Yasmin。 Jo’s mother is obsessively possessive。 At first Yasmin’s family, originally from Bengali, seem very typical but as events unfold they too are revealed as dysfunctional。There are so many topics covered in this novel but it is a well written and interesting read。I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley in return for an honest review。

Aoife McMenamin

The forthcoming novel from the Booker shortlisted author of Brick Lane, Love Marriage is a gorgeous, layered and immersive tale of a Bengali Muslim family living in London。 Yasmin Ghorami is a junior doctor, engaged to upper middle class doctor Joe Sangster。 As the wedding approaches and Yasmin’s parents (Ma and Baba as she calls them) are set to meet Joe’s mum, outspoken feminist writer Harriet, Yasmin finds herself examining what she wants from life and her relationship with Joe, and what a “l The forthcoming novel from the Booker shortlisted author of Brick Lane, Love Marriage is a gorgeous, layered and immersive tale of a Bengali Muslim family living in London。 Yasmin Ghorami is a junior doctor, engaged to upper middle class doctor Joe Sangster。 As the wedding approaches and Yasmin’s parents (Ma and Baba as she calls them) are set to meet Joe’s mum, outspoken feminist writer Harriet, Yasmin finds herself examining what she wants from life and her relationship with Joe, and what a “love marriage” actually is (as opposed to an arranged one)。 Joe meanwhile is having his own personal crisis and is going through therapy, the ramifications of which begin to spill over into their lives。 I loved how the story unfolded。 We get to know all of the characters, some in more detail than others, and Yasmin goes on a voyage of self-discovery that I found relatable and moving。 I’m not sure how I felt about the ending (too neat perhaps?), but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book。 There’s an examination of race, class and identity in British society woven into the story very neatly and cleverly so that it never feels forced。 Islamophobia, Brexit and racism are explored if not exactly superficially, then sufficiently to leave you pondering after you’ve finished reading。 Mostly though, it’s a warm-hearted look at how we live, love and connect with each other。 I found myself lost in the pages。 Recommended。 4/5 ⭐️ *Love Marriage by Monica Ali will be published on 3 February 2022 and it’s one to watch out for。 Many thanks to the publishers @littlebrownbooks and @netgalley for the ARC。 As always, this is an honest review。* 。。。more