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Courting Samira

A Novel

Audiobook (Includes supplementary content)
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

Set in Sydney, Australia, Courting Samira is a charming and frothy romantic comedy about a twenty-seven-year-old Palestinian woman who finds herself in an unexpected love triangle—a sparkling ode to meddling best friends, traditional courtship, The Princess Bride, and, of course, the possibility of love.

"Come for the drool-worthy mentions of kanafeh and baklava; stay for the wit and relatable family politics. A must-read for anyone looking for a romantic comedy that's heavy on the comedy, with a heavy sprinkling of sweet, clean romance." —Sara Sharaf Beg, author of Salaam, With Love

Coming from a moderately traditional Muslim family, twenty-seven-year-old Samira Abdel-Aziz has endured her fair share of arranged matches—first dates she calls "doorknock appeals," where she and her possible suitors eat snacks in her living room in the company of both sets of parents. Her general rule: no shoes with tassels, no cheesy leather jackets, no mustaches. A girl has to have some standards, right? The truth is, Samira is already experiencing enough wedding drama as an assistant at Bridal Bazaar magazine and as a gofer for her soon-to-be-married cousin and nemesis Zahra. She's not sure she needs to add any of her own.

When she meets the charismatic Menem at a work retreat, Samira finds herself intrigued. But her best friend Lara insists Menem isn't right for her, and now her childhood friend Hakeem has begun behaving oddly. Adding to the confusion, Samira is seeking a promotion at work, yet isn't sure it's the job of her dreams. Suddenly, her life is full of drama and complications, and she realizes that part of growing up is making difficult choices about what—and whom—she really wants.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

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    • Publisher's Weekly

      September 11, 2023
      With this sweet contemporary, Awad (Bitter and Sweet) introduces 27-year-old magazine editor Samira Abdel-Aziz, a Palestinian Muslim living with her parents in Sydney, Australia. For Samira, dating is a family endeavor, requiring the approval of her parents and her suitor’s parents, as well as back-and-forth negotiations between the families with the understanding that marriage is the goal. After a string of lackluster arranged matches, she meets handsome, charming Menem by chance at a team-building retreat with her office. They run into each other again when it turns out that Menem’s brother is marrying Samira’s bridezilla cousin, and she learns that he is Lebanese, Muslim, single, and interested in her. They decide to keep the fact that they’ve already met each other quiet and clandestinely work to get their parents to set them up. All is going well, until another suitor, her childhood friend Hakeem, makes a play for Samira’s heart and she reluctantly finds herself at the center of a love triangle. Awad brings a great deal of nuance, specificity, and heart to her depiction of Muslim culture, especially the differences between Samira’s Palestinian and Menem’s Lebanese backgrounds. Readers will have no trouble rooting for Samira to find true love. Agent: Katy McEwen, Pantera Press.

    • Library Journal

      February 15, 2024

      Twenty-seven-year-old Palestinian Australian Samira Abdel-Aziz has had it with men. After a string of arranged meetings with Muslim suitors, none of whom live up to her favorite romantic hero, Westley from The Princess Bride, she asks her parents for a break from the rigors of courtship. In true rom-com fashion, almost immediately after this declaration, Samira meets charming, funny Menem on a work trip. As her connection with Menem grows, Samira is astonished to find that her dear friend Hakeem is suddenly showing interest in her too. Throw in work drama, a cast of wacky meddling friends, and the upcoming nuptials of a demanding cousin, and listeners are presented with the makings of an entertaining Austen-inspired journey toward self-discovery and possibly love. In Samira, Awad has created a witty, relatable heroine whose faith and community play a central part in her life. Listeners will enjoy the music that opens and closes the audiobook, as well as Australian narrator Randa Sayed's use of inflection and various accents to bring each character to life. A glossary of Arabic words and phrases is included with the audiobook. VERDICT A humorous, heartfelt romantic comedy that will appeal to readers who enjoy gentle romance.--Katie Lawrence

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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