Written in the Stars

Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed tells the story of Naila, raised in America and having American values but brought up by strict Muslim parents. Her parents have always told her that she may choose what to study and how to wear her hair, but they will choose her husband. As part of their cultural tradition, they will plan an arranged marriage and until then, dating, even friendship with a boy is forbidden. Naila has only known kindness and consideration from her parents so she believes that eventually when she introduces her boyfriend, Sarif, to her parents all will be well. Unfortunately they find out that she has been seeing a boy behind their backs and immediately they pack the family off to Pakistan. Thinking she is only there to show more meet her relatives she is shocked to learn that they are planning to marry her off and leave her in Pakistan.

This well written YA book wasn’t an easy read as the author pulls no punches in how Naila is drugged, beaten and forced into a marriage. Her new mother-in-law isn’t understanding and she finds she has an actual enemy with her new husband’s sister. This young girl had excellent grades, was looking forward to university and perhaps a career as a doctor, now she is being held a virtual prisoner, always watched and never allowed to express her opinions.

Written in the Stars is made all the more potent by the accompanying author’s note about the practice of arranged marriages that goes on in today’s world. Some of these marriages are happy, the author herself experienced a successfully arranged marriage, but in many cases these young women are forced against their will with drugs and violence by the very people they love and trust. Written in the Stars is a riveting and emotional story and a powerful debut novel. show less

I finished this book in less than two hours, teary eyed and on edge the whole time. A book about a forced marriage, it was not so clear black and white as I thought it would buffer. I liked the distinction the author made at the end of the book about her happy arranged marriage, her and her husband being willing participants, and the forced marriages that happen in our world today. There weren't any "bad guys", everyone was just trying to do what they thought was best which made the story so gut wrenching.

This book was so hard to read. So full of betrayals and so true to life that I found it gut-wrenching. If you want an excellent book on the plight of women in the world and arranged marriages from an inside view, this one has a lot to say. Naila's story made me angry, but I appreciate that the author tried to offer a balanced perspective on the subject.

Advanced copy provided by Edelweiss.

I am fascinated by tales of people living within extremist religious communities. This YA books starts off in Florida and ends in Lahore, Pakistan, where Naila is taken by her parents after she disobeys them by attending her senior prom with her secret boyfriend, Saif. Saif's Pakistani family is considered disgraced because their own daughter has married an American. In any case, Naila's strict parents would never have allowed her to date anyone, and they plan to be in complete control of her eventual arranged marriage. She is headed to college when her parents, in the guise of a vacation, take Naila back to Pakistan and force the 17 year old girl into marriage, dashing her plans of becoming a doctor,tying her to a man she has met but show more once, and separating her from Saif back in Florida.

Author Saeed claims that "In the United States, forced marriage is a silent epidemic". Who knew? She includes resources for those who need help and tell the story of her own happy marriage in the afterword. This is a frightening look at a culture that is not uncommon outside of North America and Europe. show less

It was a page-turner, for sure. And it met one of my goals for the Diverse Authors Project: I'd never spent time in modern-day Pakistan through a novel before. But I found the prose unimpressive and the character forgettable. It felt like the book was walking its characters around to make a point, rather than having the point grow from the characters.

I must say, this book made me cry. Like damn, I feel really bad for Naila and the whole situation is terrible and it tugged at my emotions and all that -
But, I will review this book as objectively as possible.


Plot - Girl fighting to be free to love who she wants while defying her parents and her heritage - I'd comment on the rather rushed storyline, but I'll save that for the flow. This book had its tragic and heart-wrenching moments, like when Naila was drugged/raped, but after all of that, I'm glad the book had a happy ending, showing that she never lost who she really was. I only wish readers got to see what happened when she finally sees her parents again after all those years. Saeed touched on topics that affect many young women show more today, and tried to portray the situation as accurately as possible.

Characters - I don't know what to say exactly, beyond the fact that Naila's entire family (sans her cousin and her brother and several others) were completely convinced that an arranged marriage was the only way to go, no matter what, and this could be seen as antagonistic. But they really believed what they were doing for Naila was good, so the characters cannot be seen entirely in black and white, which paints a more realistic setting.

Flow - My one criticism for this book, as I finished this in a few hours. The chapters were shorter, the scenes were short, and perhaps could have been described more. Prom, for instance, was only a page or so, before Naila's parents come in and take her away to Pakistan.

Overall - It was a great, short read. Not really for the faint of heart or younger audiences, imo. But if you're looking for something emotional, it's something to read.


4.25/5 stars show less