Unfortunately many south Asian girls are caught up with finding Mr. Perfect. This story was weaved around that idea. International Pop Poll Awards – RTHK". RTHK. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022 . Retrieved December 24, 2022. The plot is decent albeit slow and I think it does a decent representation of modern south asian culture with a slight bit of whitewashing which makes sense as it is set in modern British south asian society and that is being integrated into our culture. Finding the right romantic partner is never easy, but in this funny and fascinating novel Zara is coming under a lot of pressure. She is twenty nine, and her mother is threatening to send her from London to Bengal to find a husband if she is not married by her thirtieth birthday. Family and cultural expectations clash with Zara’s mainly happy life in this brilliantly written novel which is narrated in her honest, bewildered voice as she struggles to decide what is sufficient for a happy married life. I know it takes a lot to write a book and how hard it is to satisfy everyone’s version of Muslim representation in women of their culture so I have to applaud the author for rooting this novel in a sense of place and with a character which has her feet planted in both her British and Bengali culture.

Listening to Zara’s voice, one that is unfortunately not very often listened to, or shared, is probably the most beautiful thing about this novel. Zara’s story stands for Muslim women, women of colour and countless people who try to find love, are being heart-broken and stand up again. Zara’s heart beats for love, family and friendship and I think it is safe to say that there is a little bit of Zara in all of us because she is such an authentic and flawed, crazy and beautiful character (I think I sound like Adam now). Mr Perfectly Fine is the first and only romcom I’ve read by a Bangladeshi author, and I loved it. I felt a personal relatability to the book – sometimes, I felt like I was literally in the book, especially in the scenes with the aunties! Garvey, Marianne (April 7, 2021). "Taylor Swift surprise releases second 'From the Vault' song, 'Mr. Perfectly Fine' ". CNN. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021 . Retrieved April 7, 2021.

Well it would spoilers to let you know if Zara manages to wriggle through this mammoth task of finding the right for now husband, and arranging a marriage in less than a year. I really appreciated that the book was authentic to our culture and did not try to portray Muslims as being ‘perfect’ in our practice but at the same time did not try to whitewash our religion to suit the non-Muslim narratives.

As Zara juggles messaging men, going on dates with Hamza who seems a nice guy and shared her values but she sadly doesn’t fancy and then she starts feeling sparks with Adam the graphics designer at work suddenly the waters are very muddy! If Adam was a spice, he would be paprika. A little smoky, a little spicy, the perfect spice to give a curry a depth of colour. Hamza, on the other hand, is more like turmeric. Plain but dependable. You need it in every curry, but you don’t really know why.’ She joins Muslim Mate an online dating app and even goes speed-dating – the husband hunt is most definitely on. I found this book worked for me on several levels including the story of Zara as a young woman engaged in her job, family and friends who has to negotiate another hurdle, and the internal debate about what is truly necessary for the happily ever after which her mother and other relatives want for her. It overturns expectations in many ways and challenges things like the culture of social drinking, while being solidly down to earth in the perils of late nights, the question of what to wear and the distractions of social media. This book’s greatest strength lies in its cast of characters, ranging from the determined mother to the work colleagues who have so much influence on Zara’s thoughts. There is the quiet Nani who quietly takes Zara’s side, as well as a whole group of female relatives who alternatively support Zara and make her life more complicated. Zara describes her mother “I’m lumbered with a mum that is the worst of both my worlds; tech savvy and cynical like a Western mum, but still clinging on to old traditions like the village mum she claims she isn’t.” Needless to say Zara and her mother clash, most significantly over the hunt for a husband that her mother claims is all she needs for happiness, while Zara has reservations. Empire, Kitty (April 10, 2021). "Taylor Swift: Fearless (Taylor's Version) review – a labour of revenge, but also of love". The Guardian. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021 . Retrieved May 22, 2021.Suffice it to say, soon enough you will become Zara’s most intimate friend! Her family will become yours and by the end of it, you will spend the week reflecting on her life and oddly missing her in yours. British single certifications – Taylor Swift – Mr Perfectly Fine (Taylor's Version)". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved June 1, 2023. Fearless (Taylor's Version): The Halfway Out The Door Chapter - EP". Apple Music. May 13, 2021. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021 . Retrieved May 19, 2021. Horton, Ross (April 9, 2021). "Taylor Swift reclaims her pivotal moment by breathing new life into Fearless". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on April 9, 2021 . Retrieved April 9, 2021. Even though it’s fiction it’s kind not really highlighting the right way and I feel like it takes away from how inspiring it could’ve been had the author played it right the religious aspect is a big part of marriage in the Bengali community and others as well and so it just felt like the author was taking the piss and whitewashing the culture. Like there are modern day approaches to marriage that don’t include things that go against the religion. I feel like the constant issues in the book were a bit too over exaggerated and I just genuinely think this book was unrealistic. And even if it’s fiction I feel like it can influence the youth a lot and make them think that the way the main character approached marriage and finding a partner in this book is okay but it’s not. It literally felt like someone who wasn’t a Bengali Muslim was trying to have a go at writing about how they thought a Bengali muslim went about marriage