Title: The Love Match
Author: Priyanka Taslim
Genre: Young Adult
First Published On: January 3, 2023
Publisher: Salaam Reads / Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Source: physical
Pages: 400
Synopsis:
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before meets Pride and Prejudice in this delightful and heartfelt rom-com about a Bangladeshi American teen whose meddling mother arranges a match to secure their family’s financial security—just as she’s falling in love with someone else.
Zahra Khan is basically Bangladeshi royalty, but being a princess doesn’t pay the bills in Paterson, New Jersey. While Zahra’s plans for financial security this summer involve working long hours at Chai Ho and saving up for college writing courses, Amma is convinced that all Zahra needs is a “good match,” Jane Austen style.
Enter Harun Emon, who’s wealthy, devastatingly handsome, and…aloof. As soon as Zahra meets him, she knows it’s a bad match. It’s nothing like the connection she has with Nayim Aktar, the new dishwasher at the tea shop, who just gets Zahra in a way no one has before. So, when Zahra finds out that Harun is just as uninterested in this match as she is, they decide to slowly sabotage their parents’ plans. And for once in Zahra’s life, she can have her rossomalai and eat it too: “dating” Harun and keeping Amma happy while catching real feelings for Nayim.
But life—and boys—can be more complicated than Zahra realizes. With her feelings all mixed up, Zahra discovers that sometimes being a good Bengali kid can be a royal pain.
My thoughts
(Spoiler free)
Oh how I adored The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim! This Pride and Prejudice inspired novel about Zahra, a Bangladeshi American teen whose mother is determined to make her a good match, is utterly delightful. Wonderfully immersive, I had the best time—and learned a lot, too!
Once upon a time, I had Amma to thank for my love of storytelling, but now she’s become the reason I guard my hopes so deep inside my chest, where a callous comment can’t blow them away like a stolen wish on dandelion fluff.
Priyanka Taslim, The Love Match
When Zahra’s mother decides Harun, the son of a wealthy family in their community, is the perfect match for Zahra, she decides to play matchmaker, arranging dinners with his family. Neither Zahra or Harun are interested in being matched, so they devise a plan to thwart their parents’ intentions by fake dating. And, of course, things go a little off-track. Especially since Zahra is falling for Nayim, the dishwasher who works with Zahra at Chai Ho.
Zahra and Harun’s creative fake dates are fun and refreshing. The family drama between both sides of their interfering families is intrusively adorable, since it clearly comes from a place of love. But I still felt for both of them, hoping they’d find peace for themselves, without hurting their families too much in the end.
Taslim does a perfect job of fully immersing the reader, treating them as smart enough to follow along, even if they are unaware of much of the culture of the characters. I was never lost because she handled it so beautifully. But I learned so much, googling words, foods, and places. I had no idea there’s a waterfall in New Jersey! But I loved discovering it. And it’s beautiful! Taslim described it in such detail, I couldn’t help but search it out. And the food!! I had no idea what so much of it was, but I yearned to sit at the table with Zahra and her family. I especially wanted to try all the variations of Chai tea, my favorite tea to indulge in.
The author does such a good job of creating these characters, that even by the middle of the book, I didn’t know who Zahra would end up with. I’d completely forgotten it was inspired by P & P, but even if I would have remembered, it was still never clear, both love interests holding their own. And writing a well-balanced love triangle is so very hard. Taslim does it flawlessly!
The book was absolutely perfect for me—up until the last several chapters. I still loved the story, but there was a lot happening—and very quickly. It left little time for me to process everything. However, I was very happy with how it wrapped up, completely satisfied!
This beautiful book has so much diversity, and it’s absolutely refreshing. With an immersive cultural experience, sapphic characters, familial challenges, it touches on so many important issues but with a light hand that manages to get the point across while still being joyful. Delightful. And please, give us more of this pronto!
I received the advance copy in my Book HookUp subscription box from The Strand Bookstore.
(All quotes are taken from the advance copy and are subject to change in final print.)
Rating:
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About the Author
A Song For A Book
I scoured the web for a book playlist to go with The Love Match but was unsuccessful. It’s a book screaming for one. I can only hope the author will make one someday. The artist playing in my head with this book was Sara Bareilles. Her heartfelt, poppy sound makes the best soundtracks for love stories. I’ve chosen “Uncharted” which perfectly captures Zahra’s life at the moment.
And HOW have I never seen the video for this song (included below), which looks like it was made during the pandemic (and with so many celebrities!), but was actually made over a decade ago?! Sara was ahead of her time! 😃
No words, my tears won’t make any room for more
And it don’t hurt
Like anything I’ve ever felt before
This is no broken heart
No familiar scars
This territory goes uncharted
Just me in a room sunk down in a house in a town
And I don’t breathe
No, I never meant to let it get away from me
No, too much to hold
Everybody has to get their hands on gold
And I want uncharted
Stuck under the ceiling I made
I can’t help but feeling
I’m going down
Follow if you want I won’t just hang around
Like you’ll show me where to go
I’m already out
A foolproof idea, so don’t ask me how
To get started, it’s all uncharted…
Have you read The Love Match? Did you add it to your tbr? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Wandering!
Great review, Dedra. It sounds like a fun story.
Thanks Carla! This one hit all the right notes!
Terrific review, Dedra. I was hooked when I read “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before meets Pride and Prejudice”
Yay!! I would love to hear what you think of this one. 🙂
Yes. We have nature in NJ.You made me giggle with that part. Anyhow, this sounds like quite a fun retelling and a sweet and charming story on its own
Haha! I do know you have nature, I just didn’t know there was such a big and beautiful waterfall. 😃
I didn’t say that nature was near me, but we have it.
I’m not a fan of love triangles but I really want to give this book a try. I can tell how much you enjoyed it and that’s always exciting to see! Great review and song choice (I love that video)! 😃
Yes! I would say this is a love triangle book for people who don’t like love triangles. 😃
This sounds really cute!
It was a breath of fresh air!
I’m glad you enjoyed this one so much. It sounds good and the cover is beautiful.
It was such a fun one. I’m still thinking about it. 🙂
I haven’t read it yet, but it’s on my TBR. Glad you loved it!
Yay!! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!