Happy Tuesday! Today I have a review of Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal and publishing on January 15, 2019 by Random House/Ballantine. I adored this Pride & Prejudice retelling!
My Thoughts:
Wow, this one blew me away! If you are a Pride and Prejudice fan, don’t miss this one. If you aren’t, don’t miss this one. If you are a fan of diverse, multi-cultural reads, don’t miss this one. Moreover, if you are a fan of impeccable storytelling, Unmarriageable is a book not to be missed!
Unmarriageable is set in modern day Pakistan. The Binat family consists of five sisters and their parents. A scandal erupts that causes the family to lose their fortune and any chance at desirable marriages for their daughters.
Alys is the second sister in line, and she’s a pragmatist. She teaches English literature to school-aged girls who are unlikely to further their educations and will likely marry young. Of import to her teaching is Jane Austen because she believes this will inspire her students to dream.
One day an invitation arrives for a fancy wedding, one the likes of which the village has never seen before. Mrs. Binat is hard at work getting her daughters in shape for possible bachelors attending the wedding.
The oldest sister, Jena, has attracted an eligible bachelor, but his friend, none other than Valentine Darsee, is not a fan of the family, and Alys overhears him saying so. As the wedding continues, Jena awaits a proposal while Alys becomes more interested in Darsee…
Unmarriageable is steeped in the culture of a Pakistani family. I especially loved the dialogue between the sisters and with their mother. The idioms added to the authenticity of the story. The characters are so well-developed, and I loved the comparisons to Pride and Prejudice; so many connections and Easter eggs of commonalities to discover.
Unmarriageable is a smart, evocative retelling of a classic that reads just like a modern classic. Everything about the story is perfection, intriguing, and completely enthralling. It was enjoyable and engaging from start to finish and receives my highest recommendation.
Thank you to Random House Ballantine for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
In this retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice set in modern-day Pakistan, the five Binat sisters and their marriage-obsessed mother navigate a world where money trumps morality and double standards rule the day.
A scandal and vicious rumor in the Binat family has destroyed their fortune and prospects for desirable marriages, but Alys, the second and most practical of the five Binat daughters, has found happiness teaching English literature to school girls. Knowing that many of her students won’t make it to graduation without dropping out to marry and start having children, Alys teaches them about Jane Austen and her other literary heroes and hopes to inspire them to dream of more.
When an invitation arrives for the biggest wedding their small town has seen in years, Mrs. Binat excitedly sets to work preparing her daughters to fish for eligible–and rich–bachelors, certain that their luck is about to change. On the first night of the festivities, Alys’s lovely older sister, Jena, catches the eye of one of the most eligible bachelors. But his friend, Valentine Darsee, is clearly unimpressed by the family. Alys accidentally overhears his unflattering assessment of her, quickly dismissing him and his snobbish ways.
But as the days of lavish wedding parties unfold, the Binats wait breathlessly to see if Jena will land a proposal–and Alys begins to realize that Darsee’s brusque manner may be hiding a very different man.
Have you read Unmarriageable, or is it on your TBR? Do you have a favorite Pride & Prejudice retelling? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
Fantastic review! I’m not a fan of Pride and Prejudice but thus sounds great. One retelling I loved was a tv series called Lost in Austen which I thought was hilarious. 😀
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Thank you, Nicki! That series sounds like so much fun! I’ll see if I can find it!
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I’ve never read Pride and Prejudice, but it’s on my classic’s list. This book sounds unique and very interesting! Love that you enjoyed it so much, Jen. Thanks for the recommendation! ❤💚❤
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Thanks, favorite M! Even not having read it, it’s a wonderful story on its own. It completely stands alone, and I may even like it better than the original because it’s so fun and all the culture involved. ♥️ xoxo
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Pride & Prejudice is one of the rare classics i actually enjoyed 😀
I’m oddly intrigued by this one as well!
Lovely review.
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Thanks, Norrie! I know you aren’t the biggest classic fan, so that is saying something about P&P. This book is just so, so good. I clicked with it right from the start. ♥️
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🙋♀️🙋♀️🙋♀️ Pride and Prejudice fan right here!!! This sounds so wonderful—I think I’d love this!!! Beautiful review, Jennifer!!!
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Thanks, Mack! I absolutely think you’d love this for so many reasons! It’s still on NG if you want to pick it up to review. It’s worth it! ♥️
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Wonderful review Jen! And that flower–wow!! I’ve never read Pride and Prejudice. Sad right?
Have an awesome day my friend!🤗🎄💗
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Not sad, I have missed so many classics! It’s a good one if you ever have time to fit it in. Thanks so much, and I hope you have a great day, too! I’m so grateful I planned ahead on as many of these pics as I could because that hibiscus is missed here in the middle of December! 😂 ♥️ xo
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Wonderful review, Jennifer. It sounds like a winner. I enjoy reading about other cultures. I added it to my tbr list. Happy Tuesday. 💗📚🌺
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Thank you, Virginia! The culture in this one added so much. I hope you enjoy this one, too! ♥️
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I loved P&P, so I guess I shouldn’t miss this one. 😉 Great review, Jennifer. (I’m a pragmatist too 😊.)
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Thanks, Laurie! Pragmatists are the best! Yes, you definitely should check this out. It was so impressive! ♥️
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😉
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I absolutely love P&P retellings, and this one sounds fabulous! One more book for the list🤣
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It’s SO good, Tammy! I hope you enjoy it if you get a chance to try it out.
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This sounds AMAZING!! I love P&P retellings…. As I’m sure you know by now. This one just sounds so unique!! I’ll defintitely be picking this one up for a JAFF Cozy Sunday in the near future! Thank you for drawing it to my attention. 💖💖😊
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Yes, I know this about you, and I’m trying to remember the last one we talked about! This one is absolutely amazing, and I hope you’ll get a chance to read it some time, Nicole. 💗
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Oh, I’m sure I’ll squeeze it in at some point! I manage to find the time when it comes to P&P. 😉
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Oh…and a drink option! Yes! Can’t wait for that!
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Defintitely!! 🍻
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I’ve never read Pride & Prejudice but feel like I have because of the number of other books compared to it. I love, love, love your review, Jennifer! It has so many of the elements I like in a story. Putting this one on my shelf.
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Thanks, Jonetta! Yes, there are so many great things about this book, and my favorite aspect was the culture! I hope you enjoy this one, too, if you give it a shot, and I can’t wait to hear what you think!
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For some reason I really love P&P retellings, so this is definitely going on my TBR! Glad you loved it!
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Thanks, Angela! You are for such a treat with this one! Yay! I’ll be watching for your review!
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Great to know that you rate this book so highly! Wonderful review.
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Thanks, Chrissi! I have so much love for it! ♥️
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I have not read this one. It sounds terrific! Wonderful review, Jennifer!
Happy Tuesday! 💗📚
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Thanks so much, Virginia! I hope you’ve had a terrific Thursday! 💕
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Just might be adding this one……sounds wonderful!
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Marialyce, this one is right up your alley. I could definitely see you enjoy it. ♥️
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I really love the sound of this one – thank you for a passionate and enthusiastic review, Jennifer:)
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Thanks, Sarah! I was probably over-the-top, but I’m glad my enthusiasm came through! I dearly loved this one.
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I always love enthusiastic reviews, Jennifer:)
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Fab review! 🙂 I’ve not heard of this book before but you’ve totally sold it to me, I’m going to add it to my wish list now. I find it hard to resist retellings of classics so this sounds like my kind of book.
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Thanks, Hayley! If you enjoy a good retelling, there’s so much to love here. It’s such a great read all around!
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I was hooked as soon as you mentioned Pride and Prejudice!! This sounds like it was a wonderful read!!
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It was soooooo good, LP! I’m just on cloud 9 about this book!
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This sounds like fun! I’m not usually a fan of retellings, but the Pakistan setting really appeals – makes it different enough to intrigue! Great review. 😀
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Thanks, FF! You could almost forget it’s a retelling because she doesn’t try to mirror the original. The setting added so much interest for me, too.
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Well if I had not already requested this I would be now! Wonderful review and I am moving this up my list I will start it after my next read! Thanks friend!💕💕
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Thanks, Berit! I wish I had read it with you, and I WILL discuss with you. I was proud of myself for reading a January book! Can’t wait to hear what you think! 🥰
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Yes! I just finished my second January book! Actually my third forgot about anonymous!🎉🎉🎉
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I’ll definitely have to read this one! I LOVE P&P, and I need a “Retelling of a Classic” for a Popsugar 2019 prompt…win-win! Beautiful review, my friend! I know that I’ll love this one, but I think I’ll just buy it since I don’t have time for anymore January review reads right now, lol! xoxo ♥
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Thanks, Steph! Oh, I happen to feel really strongly about you loving this one! And, yes, it will fit perfectly in your challenge! I may end up buying it, too, because THAT cover and I loved it so much, I can see myself re-reading it. 🥰 xoxoxo
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You’re welcome! It is gorgeous! And if you say that I’ll love it, then I know that I will!! xoxo It definitely seems like the type of book you would reread again and again! ❤
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Sounds great! Fabulous review Jennifer!! 💜
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Thank you, Lindsay! It was soooo good! I loved it! ♥️ Happy Holidays to you and your sweet family! Xoxo
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Happy holidays to you too Jennifer!!!! 💚❤️🎄
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Fantastic review! Sounds great.
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Thank you, Darinda! I loved it!
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Excellent review, Jennifer. This sounds like my kind of read. I haven’t read Pride and Prejudice but I love diverse reads and I don’t think I have read any set in Pakistan.
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Thanks, Diana! I think it will read beautifully as a standalone without knowing P&P. It’s very much its own book, and such a good one at that! I love diverse reads, too, and we definitely need more!
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I’m always up for a P&P re-telling Jenni, fantastic review!
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Thanks, Beth! You will LOVE this one. It just blew me away! ♥️
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I gotta read this! wow!
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Yes, definitely give it a read! It’s so good!
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