Book Review of Sofia Khan is not Obliged

Sometimes I wonder if I have a sense of humor. But I do laugh so I must? Sofia Khan Is Not Obliged one of those books that makes me doubt myself. Many reviews mention how funny but I thought it was trying to be funny and failing. Many it’s because I found the characters a bit shallow or single-dimensional. Maybe I’ve outgrown frivolous, silly, romance novels.

Light and Single-Dimensional

Sofia Khan Is Not Obliged is a romance novel by Ayisha Malik. Sofia Khan is a 29-year old Muslim Londoner on a journey to get married. She’s a devout Muslim who chooses to wear a scarf even though her mother thinks that is part of the reason she is still single.

“… funny how age is always inserted into the equation of love.”

Sofia wants to marry a Muslin man. She was engaged to marry Imran but broke it off because of a hole in a wall.

It’s not a spoiler to share why Sofia breaks off her wedding because we find out almost immediately in the book. I’m not sure if the idea of a hole in the wall is supposed to be funny but the author mentions it again and again and again.

When Sofia mentions this and other incidents in Muslim dating that her colleagues cannot relate to, her boss thinks she should write a fun book about Muslim dating and a book deal is borne.

Through Sofia’s notes for her book and the writing shared, we experience her dating escapades and those of her sister and closest friends. They are all on a quest for love and marriage, and they all find some version of it.

Sofia Khan is not Obliged ends with a grand gesture, and while I appreciate grand gestures, this ending is too pat for me. It’s not believable.

Final Verdict of Sofia Khan is not Obliged

This book tries hard to be funny but the banter fell flat for me. Throw in casual racism against Black people and it’s clear this book is not for me. The issue is dealt with a bit too casually so I wonder what use it’s serving in the book. You could argue that the anti-Black racism portrayed in South-East Asian communities is common. Maybe what I have issue with is the world we live in and Malik’s portrayal comes too close to home.

I put Sofia Khan is not Obliged squarely in the fairytale category. I don’t find any of the characters to be particularly likeable although there is some character evolution in the book. However, I have to admit that I got a bit teary eyed reading about her father. I distinctly remember this because I was on a bus in Sardinia and was thankful no one was sitting beside me in case there were actual tears (there weren’t).

I’m not sure who the author wrote this book for. There is an element of explanation of Islam, daily prayers and fasting but for the most part, the story is single dimensional, focused on the obsession to marry amongst the women. In some reviews, Sofia Khan is not Obliged is called the Muslim Bridget Jones Diary. 🤔

The optimist in me hopes that the sequel is more believable and more multidimensional. Based on the last chapter, I have hopes that it is. That chapter sets the stage for a book that is more whole-hearted about life. If you’ve read the sequel, let me know what you think.