Written in the Stars

Great critique of conservative Indian and Pakistani societies. Chilling because every desi knows someone who’s been in a similar position.

Naila is a 17 yr old Pakistani girl, born and brought up in America.She is brilliant and has been able to qualify the entrance test for undergraduation in medicine. Her mother drops her and picks her up from school. And she is not allowed to attain any soccer match or after school party. Since her childhood , her parents have always made it clear to her that she can choose many things like her career, her hair style ,her shoes but definitely not her husband, her husband will be chosen by them .Yet she falls in love with her classmate ,Saif. Despite concealing it from her parents for a year , they find them dancing together at the school prom. And they immediately decide to fly to Pakistan to marry Naila off to a suitable groom of their choice ,but without the knowledge of Naila. What happens to Naila and her dream of becoming a doctor ? Will she ever be able to reunite with the love of her life ?Naila's story deals with the issue of honor-killing and forced marriages that is prevalent at a huge scale in developing countries like India , Pakistan and Bangladesh .Aisha Saeed has very bravely brought it to the forefront since most of these cases go unnoticed and unregistered. It is also a tale of undying and true love .My Rating:-⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5.

💫No review or blurb can ever describe how precious this book is. #WrittenInTheStars by @aishacs is a masterpiece and I regret coming across it so late. I treasure this piece of writing. 320 pages filled with intense emotion about such face of society that'll send chills down your spine.A gripping tale of the horrible face of society veiled with 'love' has been amazingly penned down by @aishacs .I doubt if I would ever come across a teenage couple as strong, determined and true like Naila and Saif.💫 Since Naila was a kid her parents have fed her with the view that 'she can choose which shoes and clothes she wants to wear, which course she wants to take up, she can do whatever she wants to do, but she is forbidden from choosing her husband' because you know what ? Marrying someone whom her parents didn't choose would bring shame to her family.How serious are Naila's parents about this view ? Even she didn't know, until the caught her with her boyfriend Saif at last prom of school.Are they gonna punish her by just locking her up ? Or are they gonna do something barbaric ?But they're parents, right ? They love her, right ?Do you deceive, drug and abuse your own child just because she fell in love with a guy ?Oh yes, they did.Forced marriage.Marital rape.Fear of honour killing.As much as I want to write about each page of this book, like the author I also want everyone to read this book. I want everyone to be caught off guard by the raw emotions of this book like I did.💫 Simple yet strong writing.💫 Although set in Pakistan, the author hasn't commented on any religion.💫 All the characters are formed very well.💫 You won't even find a single page unnecessary.💫 Sequence of events are given the appropriate time they need and nothing is dragged.💫 I couldn't find a single thing to criticize.💫 Incase you're scared of coming across such deep emotions ending on a heartbreak, then rejoice people, it's a happy ending.💫 I loved it.