More Than Just a Pretty Face

I picked up a teen romance novel after ages and thoroughly enjoyed it! Didn’t really have great expectations but was blown away by the mastery and subtlety with which many serious themes like history written by victors, religious fundamentalism, immigrant cultural identity, parent child conflicts and others were woven into a light hearted narrative! As a parent of teens and being a first generation immigrant I also got an insight into the world and pressures my teens face. I will watch out for some pitfalls now! Would urge Immigrant South Asian Parents of teens to definitely give it a read!

witty and brainy. Deep and deeply funny. Danyal is an Indian-American with typical teenage problems. He is a culinary whiz kid and the kitchen is his happy place but he has always had trouble in school. And he has a crush on a girl. In the Muslim world of arranged marriages a crush is complicated. His parents have already started lining up eligible young ladies for him to think about and the girl of his dreams hasn\’t made the list. But, then, as a joke, he gets nominated for the biggest school contest of the year. He is the slacker with the lowest GPA competing with a group of high scoring, hard working scholars. But the intensity of the Renaissance Man competition takes hold and Danyal finds a tantalizing and heady subject and an unlikely mentor, Bisma, a mysterious young woman with a complicated life of her own. This book crackles with quiet brilliance. It examines so many subjects, history, food, family, cultures, and love and does it with a pungent intensity that will keep the reader turning pages until the last moment. There is a reason this book was chosen as one of YALSA\’s Top Ten Best Fiction Books in 2021. It is a book to savor and to think about long after it is finished.

One of the most authentic stories written as a reflection of a culture that resonates with most immigrants. Well developed characters and laugh out loud moments. This books compells one to look deeper within oneself and gives several opportunities for introspection, especially towards the end. Bravo to this author on his debut novel. Cannot wait till November to read his next book.

This book was a DELIGHT! I read on my kindle and highlighted my favorite funny lines- there were SO MANY! I absolutely LOVED this book.

4.5 Stars MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE is an #ownvoices story about a boy who is trying to figure out his place among his peers, as well dealing with his parents\’ and cultural expectations. It\’s a story well balanced between everyday teen life (school, girls, etc.) and a search for truth, forgiveness and understanding. Readers will fall in love with these characters and find that they can\’t help the messages that will resonate in their hearts long after the last page is read. There is a lightness and cuteness to this story, plus all the sarcasm, humor, and good food (oh my gosh, the food!), but this story is so much more than it\’s cute cover and title would have you believe. It\’s a story about a boy who has no interest in excelling academically or living up to the expectations of others. A boy who has his own dreams and talents, even if they aren\’t valued as important by others. And a boy who is more than his good looks (thus the title). During the course of this book he comes into his own and the journey is well worth experiencing with him. It\’s also a bit of a story about a girl who, in her rebellion, makes a terrible mistake that is then publicized and she pays for it with no relief or hope for a happy future. I wasn\’t sure how I would feel about this book at the beginning. The first page was Danyal checking out one of this friends and making innuendo in his head about her, and dropping an f-word (not my cup of tea). However, I kept reading and couldn\’t help loving Danyal with his mix of confidence, self-depreciation, humor, and sense of what is right. Really, he\’s just a good guy in a very genuine way and someone I think all of us can relate to. He could be more successful if he cared to be, but his interests don\’t lie there. Instead they lie in his family, his friends and in cooking. He\’s mostly skating through life until two things happen: he meets Bisma and he is selected to compete in an academic contest. I loved Bisma and I loved her and Danyal together. I also loved the character development, but also how Bisma and Danyal balanced each other—they don\’t have the same dreams and goals, but they do have the same respect for and acceptance of each other. Things take Danyal a bit of time to figure out though, so he may never figure that out. I also appreciated that the author has a very genuine way of writing, including his characters, and he didn\’t let anything come too easily or everything to be tied in a nice little bow at the end. There was heartache, work, and effort, a well as some people to win over. I really loved all the messages in this story. They were so poignant for life now. The story points out that you can be be too radical one way or the other, about balancing living life and being happy amid the terrible things that still happen in the world. It points out that heroes aren\’t perfect and most of them write our histories, but how important it is to learn all sides and to tell all sides today. It talks about a loving God, forgiveness, and the importance of fighting for love. There were a few particular passages that were wonderful pieces of wisdom, such as: \”We come to the New World and forget, I think, that the Old World still has things to teach us.\” \”Our humanity is dependent upon our recognition of their humanity. Either we\’re all human, or none of us are.\” I also just have to mention this one scene… Danyal walks into a library for the first time maybe ever and says: \”Let me get this straight, \” I said. \”You\’re like a Netflix for books?\” That whole scene made me laugh hysterically. Bravo to the author for something so hilarious and something I could see someone who is very unfamiliar with a library, but very familiar with technology might say. Plus it just shows how well the author did in making this entertaining, with some lightness to the story, while also weaving in some tough topics that made me think (as well as some that made me quite angry). And I never felt like I was being preached to, especially since even when an idea was being explored, there were opposing sides and questions posed as well. Really, my only complaints would be the language (consistent use of f-words and s-words, and blatant/crude comments) and some of the innuendo or references used. They made it a book that I would recommend for older teens and those who don\’t mind the content. In the end, was it what I wished for? Honestly, I was expecting a cute read and instead got this really well written, genuine, sweet romance with lots of depth that just about blew me away. A story that tugged on my heart and pulled on my emotions. Definitely recommended to YA contemporary fans. Content: Swearing (including the f-word and s-word), innuendo, crude references, verbal abuse. Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.

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