Ayesha at Last

By: Uzma Jalaluddin

Narrated by: Roshni Shukla

As seen on The Today Show! One of the best summer romance picks!

One of Publishers Weekly Best Romance Books of 2019!

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.

Critic reviews

Praise for Ayesha at Last

“A delicious and entertaining novel.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"There’s an overabundance of Pride and Prejudice retellings, but few are as thoughtful and creative as this stellar debut from an author to watch."—Library Journal (starred review)

“Jalaluddin cleverly illustrates the social pressures facing young Indian-Muslim adults...a highly entertaining tale of family, community, and romance.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"'Ayesha at Last' is light and incandescent and deeply pleasurable from start to finish."—The Christian Science Monitor

"Jalaluddin constructs a timely and enlightening narrative that validates the experiences of many South Asians and Muslims today, while weaving in universal themes of identity, class, and discrimination....Ayesha at Last's fictional universe acts as a microcosm of a diverse and oft-misunderstood community, and Jalaluddin's compassionate and sensitive writing about it radiates off the page."—NPR

“This sweet debut novel ticks all the boxes for one of summer’s best reads: it’s smart, witty, romantic and utterly charming.”—Canadian Living

“Come for Darcy reimagined as a hyper-conservative young man and Elizabeth Bennet as a wannabe poet frustrated by family obligation; stay for Uzma Jalaluddin’s warm portrait of life for twentysomething Muslims in suburban Toronto struggling to honor their heritage while pursuing their dreams.”—The Globe and Mail

“[An] irresistible debut.”—Goodreads

“An uproarious romp, filled with farcical cases of mistaken identity, disastrous proposals and a big Bollywood wedding.”—Toronto Life

“This is the book I’ve been waiting for since my long-running Jane Austen obsession. Move over Darcy, Khalid’s in town.”—S. K. Ali, author of Morris Award finalist, Saints and Misfits

“Uzma Jalaluddin blazes a brilliant new trail with Ayesha At Last, a captivating romance set in the Muslim community, brimming with humour and heart. You will fall in love with Ayesha and Khalid—an Elizabeth and Darcy for our times.”—Ausma Zehanat Khan, author of A Dangerous Crossing

“Ayesha At Last is the modern Pride & Prejudice retelling I never knew I needed. Warm, witty, romantic, and relatable. Honestly, Darcy who? Khalid is everything.”—Alisha Rai, award-winning author

“Ayesha At Last is a beautiful testament to the power of family, kindness, and getting out of one’s own way.”—Entertainment Weekly

Modern Muslin Marriage Rituals

A bit slow in the middle, but eventually picked up the pace. A close view of family traditions and cultural differences. Very well performed.

great read!

I loved almost every second of this book. From the characters that had me snickering constantly to the ones that had me rolling my eyes. all of it. then again I'm a sucker for a good love story.😏

I absolutely loved it!

I truly LOVED Ayesha at Last! It is a wonderful take on Pride & Prejudice. I couldn't wait to finish it so I could hear the rest of the story, but I was sad when it was over. I will definitely be listening to it again.

A bit disappointing

I enjoyed the book until it began to copy Jane Austen‘s pride and prejudice, almost verbatim. I lost interest then as there was nothing that felt fresh or unique. The story became too flippant, which I found disappointing, as it had potential to be lighthearted while more realistically portraying the nuances of life in a country so culturally different from one’s country of origin.

Beautiful modern day romance

I truly enjoyed this book. I felt all the emotions of the characters and could not put it down. I especially appreciated the cultural and religious aspects woven into the story. It’s great to be able to pick up a romance novel that mirrors a society, traditions and culture with which you are familiar.