Sofia Khan is Not Obliged: A heartwarming romantic comedy - Tapa blanda

Ayisha Malik has spoiled me for eternity with this book . . .Never in my life has a character touched me as much as Sofia Khan. * Books & Other Distractions * Made me laugh out loud . . . Sofia Khan Is Not Obliged is a contemporary, witty and refreshing women's fiction novel which I thoroughly enjoyed! * A Spoonful of Happy Endings * A brilliant first novel . . . in some ways I enjoyed this book even more than Bridget Jones. * The Book World of Anne * Sofia Khan is NOT Obliged is the new (I dare to say it, better) Bridget Jones. It's intelligent, very funny, sharp, heart-breaking, witty, superbly plotted, realistic, and a feminist love story without gush. It will remind white readers who don't have Muslim friends of Bend it Like Beckham, and it is simply a joy to read. It's also damn well written. * katemacdonald.net * The book is actually HILARIOUS and I mean hilarious; I had to stop reading it in public because i was laughing at every page and everybody eyeing you awkwardly gets...well...awkward . . . a funny, honest portrayal of one woman's journey through some of the hardest and happiest times, featuring a great band of diverse characters full of like and lessons. It was so refreshing to have a humorous take on the customs of this culture without an apologetic voice attached. * The Chronicles of Radiya * It's funny, it's heart-breaking, it's heart-warming and it has a protagonist who's determined to live life and write her book her way. * The Writes of Woman * Sofia Khan is Not Obliged was a welcome change. It offered a cheeky, intelligent, fallible heroine who, although I may not share her faith or culture, I could identify with more easily than most of the other protagonists in the genre. Once I started reading, I could not put the book down - it's the only thing I've read this year that kept me up past midnight. * The Captive Reader * Fun, fresh and funny * Mhairi McFarlane * This is better than Bridget Jones! It deals with such complex issues but at the same time is so funny! (...) This is bloody hilarious and it is one of the most special and brilliant books I read this year -- Just Kiss My Frog * youtube.com * This is a must read and I do not say that lightly and therefore, you are most definitely, obliged. * XXY Magazine * This fictional diary of the dating travails of one righteous romantic is snort-diet-Coke-out-of-your-nostrils funny and will resonate with any woman who's looking for love * Red Magazine * A light-hearted book crammed with witty humour... It's an entertaining debut with laugh-out-loud moments - a contemporary love story you won't want to miss! * Candis Magazine * Laugh-out-loud-funny from the off, this witty, unapologetic, honest, fun and feisty tale fully deserves the buzz it's getting. We can't wait for the inevitable film to follow * Heat Magazine * Fans of Bridget Jones certainly won't be disappointed, since Malik achieves the perfect balance of romance and humour * The Independent * Move over Bridget Jones - there's a new heroine charting her romantic disasters- this time minus the Chardonnay... refreshing and funny * Sunday Mirror * 'highly talented Ayisha Malik, author of the funny and sparky Sofia Khan Is Not Obliged, a smart and acerbic romcom about a young woman writing a book on Muslim dating...read Ayisha Malik's book: it's huge fun.' * The Guardian * Feisty, funny and relatable it's the feminist romantic comedy you've been waiting for * Elle Magazine * Best of the New Books... For fans of Bridget Jones's Diary * Grazia * Must-read... Liven up your daily commute or boost your bedtime routine with [this] page-turner * Marie Claire * A courageous, revealing, fiendishly funny and important book. Genuinely ground-breaking * Vaseem Khan, bestselling author of The Unexpected Inheritance of Mr Chopra * Most refreshing of all, Sofia doesn't need to undergo some sort of wild identity crisis before she gets her happy ending... [a] sharp, funny but ultimately very normal portrayal of life as a British Muslim * The National * Part of "a new wave of female-focussed fiction... Bridget Jones-esque" * Stylist * Fun, feisty and addictive. It deserves to be read * Irish Examiner * Malik hopes that books like hers will continue to increase relatable portrayals of Muslims in popular culture... in creating a host of characters that are normal in their abnormality, relatable yet individual, Malik is undoubtedly making a difference * New Statesman * Malik's novel aims to answer the lack of Muslim heroines in popular fiction and to give a more authentic characterisation of modern Muslims * Kahleej Times * Overall, this was a solid, refreshing read, and a great addition to #MuslimShelfSpace * building Diverse Bookshelves * 'It's a great novel that covers dating, marriage, friendship, and family dynamics. There are also not many chick lit novels with Muslim main characters, and I liked the way that religion was covered in this book.' * Book Riot * 'The book benefits not only from a diary-style format, but also from the fact the focus is less on Sofia's search for love at the personal level, a classic chick-lit topic, but on her search for love at the academic, exploratory level.' * Creative Quibble * What To Read Next, Based On Your Favorite '90s Rom-Com- 'Love 'Bridget Jones's Diary'? Read 'Sofia Khan Is Not Obliged' by Ayisha Malik' review- 'The tragic, hilarious, ultimately hopeful dating experiences of one relatable unlucky in love woman. Need we say more?' * Bustle * It's a great novel that covers dating, marriage, friendship, and family dynamics. There are also not many chick lit novels with Muslim main characters, and I liked the way that religion was covered in this book. * Book Riot * I can't properly express how much I love this book. It's hilarious (it had me laughing out loud right from the start), very difficult to put down and filled with endless anecdotes and witty remarks on being a young Muslim woman in this day and age. Although this book is seemingly lighthearted, the issues that it deals with are very real and relevant to young women, Muslim or not. I'm trying not to hype this for anyone, but it's a must-read. Did I mention I adore the female solidarity in Sofia's life? The sequel is The Other Half of Happiness, and it's just as good but more intense in comparison to the first novel. I need a third book! * Reading Women * The likable thing about Sofia is that she's witty. And since it's her diary, you smile fairly frequently and laugh out loud at some bits. She also hangs out with a cosmopolitan crowd, which makes her more understanding and less judgmental than most. But not perfect! * The Asian Age * This fresh and fun novel will light up your world this summer. After a break-up, Sofia decides to swear off men... until her boss convinces her to write an expose on the Muslim dating scene. Described by readers as the "Muslim Bridget Jones," this warm-hearted, hilarious novel is sure to become one of your favorites. * Bustle.com * 'The book is funny, its cute, its sad & honestly the last half of the book had me switching emotions from laughing & being all "how cute is that" to crying quite a lot. I definitely recommend reading the book.' * The Bookie Rookie blog * Often referred to as the "Muslim Bridget Jones." After finding herself single again, Sofia Khan agrees to write a book about what it means to date as a modern Muslim woman. Along the way she discovers more about herself, her family, and her faith * Book Trib * An entertaining, surprising and delicious novel * Affinity Magazine * I loved it ... whilst religion and racism are portrayed unflinchingly, it's also a great piece of entertainment ... If more people read books like this, I think the world would be a better place * Social Bookshelves *

Ayisha Malik is a writer and editor, living in South London. She holds a BA in English Literature and a First Class MA in Creative Writing. Her novels Sofia Khan is Not Obliged and The Other Half of Happiness, starring 'the Muslim Bridget Jones', were met with great critical acclaim, and Sofia Khan is Not Obliged was chosen as 2019's Cityread book. Ayisha was a WHSmith Fresh Talent Pick, shortlisted for the Asian Women of Achievement Award and Marie Claire's Future Shapers Awards. Ayisha is also the ghost writer for The Great British Bake Off winner, Nadiya Hussain.