By Amal Awad
ISBN: 9780063317673
Courting Samira is a delightful and uplifting read, serving up a delicious mix of cultural flair and familiar feels. Yes, it’s a bit predictable, but who doesn’t love a good fairy tale. This charming tale pays homage to timeless tales like The Princess Bride, with a fresh, playful spin. With its charm and playful take on love, this novel is a treat for rom-com and chick lit fans.
Synopsis
Set in Sydney, Australia, Courting Samira is a charming and frothy romantic comedy about a twenty-seven-year-old Muslim 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. 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 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 offered a promotion, 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.
What’s to like
Amal Awad’s writing feels like chatting with a close friend who knows just what to say—it’s warm, heartfelt, and gets you thinking. Her stories pull you in, making you feel like you’re living through the same ups and downs as the characters. Awad doesn’t just tell a story; she makes you reflect, feel, and grow alongside Samira, sharing in every struggle and triumph.
What makes this book shine is its characters, especially Samira. She’s such a breath of fresh air—navigating life and love at her own pace. As a Muslim woman in her 20s, she’s balancing the expectations of her culture with her own personal dreams. Her journey feels so real and relatable, and you can’t help but cheer her on as she deals with the pressures of society, family, and the pursuit of true love. Her moments with her well-meaning but meddling friends, along with how she handles the complexities of a love triangle, show just how layered and likable she really is.
Hakeem and Menem’s characters are well crafted and they’re not perfect, but their flaws make them ridiculously relatable. It was a tough choice to make between them as they both felt compatible with Samira, and for Samira it was a journey of self-discovery and what she wants from life. The choice she made felt right at the end.
As a Muslim I connected to it at so many levels, and had such an amazing time reading it. If you crave stories that speak to the human experience – with all its messy beauty – then ‘Courting Samira’ is your next must-read.
What’s not to like
The plot is enjoyable, but there’s a sense of predictability to it, and a few moments feel a little too convenient. You know that feeling when you’re reading a story and think, “Yep, I know exactly where this is headed”? That’s the vibe with Courting Samira. The story flows in a way that feels familiar—like walking down a path you’ve traveled before.
It’s engaging and easy to follow, but it doesn’t really surprise you. More often than not, you’ll guess what’s coming next, and chances are, you’ll be right.
Book Review Rating: 3.5/5 – Feel-good read
Content Rating: None
Age advisory: 13+