Hello, bookworms! Today I have for you my review of More Than Just a Pretty Face by Syed M. Masood. I read this book for the #asherreadsathon hosted by Asher at @asher_reads (go check out his bookstagram, it's awesome!). I read it in just two days--I couldn't put it down! This review is spoiler-free, so don't worry if you haven't read this book yet (but make sure to go and read it immediately after this!). So, without further ado, let's get started! More Than Just a Pretty Face is a YA rom-com that stars nineteen-year-old Danyal Jilani. He might not be the best at school, but he makes up for it with his gorgeous face, clever wit, and flawless charm. Oh, and he's also great at cooking, currently working at a French restaurant to gain experience for his career as a chef. When he's not cooking, he's crushing hard on the beautiful Kaval Sabsvari--though, unfortunately, he knows that her parents would never agree to an arranged marriage between them, what with his "lack of school success" and all. When Danyal accidentally gets chosen for Renaissance Man, an academic championship at his school, he's determined to take advantage of this opportunity. He knows his grades need help, and if he wins this contest, maybe Kaval's parents will be a little more impressed by him. He enlists the help of Bisma Akram, a smart girl who's suffering from past mistakes, and the two of them set off on a mission to turn Danyal into a winning Renaissance Man. I was actually surprised by how much I loved this book. I must admit: I only picked up this book because of the cover. I know, I know: you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover. But I'm a sucker for gorgeous illustrated book covers, so when I noticed this one while scrolling through my library's website, I immediately placed a hold on it. But get this: this book's content is a million times more amazing than its cover! This story is stunning, honest, and eye-opening. It was a wonderful blend of romance, self-discovery, and humor, sprinkled with important lessons and moments of truth. I liked how this book had a lighthearted feel that was balanced by some serious subject matter. It offered valuable cultural insights, and it was fascinating to view the world through Danyal's eyes. Important topics like racism, parent-child conflicts, and cultural expectations were discussed, and it dove deeply into the issue of history being written by victors, which Danyal discovers when researching Winston Churchill and learning his role in the horrific Bengal Famine. Because Danyal is an aspiring chef, there were lots of food descriptions, all of which made my mouth water (especially the croissants!). Also, the humor was flawless; Danyal is definitely one of the most hilarious characters in history. The romance was very cute, but I liked that it didn't overpower the other themes in this book. I loved Bisma's character; she's such a nerd, so I felt like I could easily identify with her, and also so honest and sweet. I felt bad that she was going through such a miserable situation because of a single mistake she'd made, and I'm so glad that she found someone like Danyal who gives her the compassion and kindness she deserves. This book had me laughing and cheering these characters on the entire time, and it's definitely one of my favorite books of 2020!
That's it for my review of More Than Just a Pretty Face! I highly recommend this book, especially for fans of Sandhya Menon. I gave this book Five Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Thanks for reading!
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Hey there, bookworms!My name is Rose (she/her) and I'm the creator of Books of Magic and Mystery. I love reading YA books, especially fantasy and mystery. When I'm not reading, you can find me baking, studying, or cuddling with my super-furry pets. Visit me on Instagram @booksofmagicandmystery! Archives
November 2021
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