Book Review - The London City Read

Sophia Khan is Not Obliged by Aylisha Malik is the May London City read. There have been various events in local libraries in my area, including an author talk. Unfortunately, I found out about that too late. There was also a related walk in London.

In the story Sophia is a scarf wearing Muslim, newly single having ditched her sort-of boyfriend who expects her to move in with her in-laws and other family on marriage. They live in two houses with a connecting 'hole-in-the-wall'. Still, Sophia is not seeking marriage even though her parents, aunties and uncles seem keen to marry her off.

Meantime, Sophia, who works for a publicist, is asked to write a book about Muslim dating. And so her research begins, including meeting 'the hottie' and Naim who she can't make up her mind about.

This is a fun book, a sort of Muslim Bridget Jones Diary with a cast of relatives and friends who all have their say. Then there is Conall (who her mother always calls Colin), her Irish next door neighbour whose house she uses to write in at the weekends. Then the former boyfriend comes back with a compromise she feels she cannot refuse. When tragedy strikes Sophia is heartbroken. Her life seems to be in a mess of what her heart says verses her mind. Can Sophia find love and happiness?

This keeps you hanging on until nearly the end for the resolve. This was a feel-good read. It plunges you into the world of Muslim life and Sophia's faith, which is important to her. However, this is never dry. Humour runs throughout as Sophia writes down everything in a stream of conscious. There are hilarious moments and deeply sad ones. There is a follow-up book, a sort of what-happened next, and Aylisha Malik is currently writing a third book totally unconnected with this story.