Written in the Stars: A Novel

Product Information

With nods to Bridget Jones and Pride and Prejudice, a charming #ownvoices queer rom-com debut about a free-spirited social media astrologer who agrees to fake a relationship with an uptight actuary until New Year’s Eve—with results not even the stars could predict! This may be a contemporary YA romance novel, but I promise you this is different. Good different. This may be one of the most wonderful romantic stories I’ve read in a very long time. Such a lovely romance that was sweet and sizzling in equal measure. I absolutely loved both of the main characters. Elle, who believes in star signs and destiny, and Darcy, who seems emotionally closed off and cynical about love. Probably my only gripe is that the miscommunication went on for one or two too many rounds for my liking. Still a gorgeous romantic read. Our protagonist in this story is Naila, a Pakistani American teenager in her last year of high school – good lord she is so YOUNG – who is part of a very conventionally desi household. She has to attend lunches her brother gets to skip, she might be two years older but her 15-year-old brother gets the driving lessons, and so on. But these are injustices most desi girls learn to swallow because that’s just the way things are. Soon Naila will be going away to college, something she looks forwards to because she will finally be able to spend time properly with her boyfriend Saif. Naila’s conservative immigrant parents have always said the same thing: She may choose what to study, how to wear her hair, and what to be when she grows up—but they will choose her husband. Following their cultural tradition, they will plan an arranged marriage for her. And until then, dating—even friendship with a boy—is forbidden.

Astrology and magic and soul mates.Darcy has had to deal with her overprotective younger brother for all her life...and recently, he's become more meddlesome than she can handle. "Quit trying to marry me off like I'm some Regency spinster in one of your favorite Austen novels."I am giving this four stars because I am not it's intended clientele. I'm gay but I don't enjoy romance or erotica in literature. And this book has them in spades. I really did like this book though. It stood out despite not being my preferred genre. I was so nervous to read this book because I had heard that it was “steamy”. You know I have a love hate relationship with romance books. Well, I am happy to report I liked it! This was my first female/female romance book and I really enjoyed it. Darcy and Elle are set up on a blind date by Darcy's brother, Brendon. The date is a bit of a disaster and the two go on their separate ways. That is until Darcy decides to tell Brendon she hit it off with Elle and they are now dating. A bit of a spur of the moment idea but this will hopefully get Brendon to stop playing matchmaker. Elle agrees to go along with the whole fake dating scheme because now she can bring her as her date to her family's Thanksgiving dinner. Maybe now Elle's family won't look at her as such a disappointment if she is "dating" someone like prim and proper, Darcy. This fake relationship might actually turn out to be mutually beneficial in more ways than one. For Naila’s parents, the idea that Naila could conceivably have a boyfriend is beyond the realms of possibility. This particular aspect of the story felt very true to life, because most Pakistani parents are like this. I say most, because there is great variation amongst the types, of course. Some might not care at all, or might actually encourage their children to find their potential partners, while others are ready to kill their own children who dare to fall in love without parental permission.

We follow our protagonist Naila as she forced to go on a holiday to Pakistan to reconnect with her roots, after her incredibly strict parents find out that she has a secret boyfriend. Little does she know, this trip isn't merely a holiday and her life is about to change completely. From there develops a, quite frankly, terrifying tale about the reality for some women living in South Asian countries and the culture pressures and norms around marriage. An interior designer learns to rebuild her love life from the ground up with zero blueprints in this new romantic comedy by Ashley Herring Blake, author of Delilah Green Doesn't Care. Everything seems fine until it isn’t anymore as Naila’s life drastically changes or more accurately, her whole future is taken away from her and she herself is taken away from the boy she loves when her parents decide to marry her off to some man and leave her in Pakistan for good.Overall I did enjoy Darcy’s and Elle’s relationship and how it progressed throughout the book. After their initial terrible first date they do stay open minded about each other and their interests and build a good understanding of each other throughout. Elle and Darcy have little in common beyond pushy family trying to create a romance. Sure, they have sparks but that’s not enough to build a relationship on, is it? Quit trying to marry me off like I’m some Regency spinster in one of your favorite Austen novels.” “Your name is Darcy.” “And I might be a single woman in possession of a good fortune, but I’m not in want of a wife.” My parents knew it was a good match, and they were right. You’ve seen others, your third cousin Roohi, who chose not to listen. Look at her now, divorced with young children. Her parents can’t even leave their home without hanging their heads in shame. Who wants to marry her now?” This book, I devoured it in only a little more than three hours. I didn’t do anything else once I started reading it.

Definitely recommend if you are in the mood for a good romcom! And I am very happy to learn the author has a book in the works featuring a character from this one.Naila is hiding a secret from her parents: She's in love with a boy named Saif and if her parents were to find out, they'd be furious. The choosing of her husband is left to up to them, with no input from her. As a result, This may see like too much involvement for some, but for Naila culture, it's a deep level of trust and love for her parents that motivates her to accept this... kinda. The problem is that since she has found someone who she's fallen in love with, she no longer wants that for herself. But the worst does happen, and Naila suddenly finds herself whisked off to Pakistan, far away from the boy she loves and a life she wants. Speaking of, fandoms and fandom spaces were brought up a few times throughout this book but it never felt very organic and always a little contrived and off. of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

Life hasn’t been easy, but it gets less painful every day, and as I look at Saif, I know that love—in its essence, at its core—is the most bittersweet thing there is. Elle was so cute and chaotic, with her heart on her sleeve, and Darcy was just a loveable mush ball surrounded by spiky thorns for her own protection! I loved Elle's vulnerability, but equally understood where Darcy was coming from. pros: the main characters were likable and relatable in their own way. i LOVED darcy so much throughout the entire book. even when she was doing things that made me want to scream “girl what are you doing?!” i still loved her.I hate keeping secrets from her. But how can I explain that I see the world a little differently and my way of looking at the world isn’t bad, not if it means their daughter has found someone she loves, someone who makes her completely and unbelievably happy? Without doubt, this would open a lot of doors for plenty of women. Perhaps, more stories like these should not go unnoticed. What a powerful, and life changing read. Thank you to Aisha Saeed for bravely sharing this story with us. A sapphic rivals to lovers rom com for fans of Ted Lasso and A League of Their Own, where two soccer teammates are at odds before falling in love as their team gears up for the World Cup.