REVIEW: The Big Day by Aliya Ali-Afzal

Noor has no interest in getting married (much to the aunties' distress). Growing up she saw first-hand how divorce tears families apart... But then, she falls in love.

Soon, Noor’s engaged and planning an intimate wedding that feels perfect for her and her fiancé Dan. But when Noor discovers her mother Leena also has grand plans for the Big Day, their once-close relationship starts to unravel. Noor can’t understand why Leena is determined to have an elaborate Desi celebration when their lives have been anything but traditional. And after a lifetime following other people’s dreams, Noor is determined not to back down.

As Leena and Noor clash over every point on their to-do lists, it begins to look like there will be two weddings and only one bride. And when family secrets shake the women’s bond further, will there even be a wedding at all?

"When your life has not gone according to plan from an early age, you live in fear of it happening again, and because you know things can go wrong, you prepare yourself by mentally always being ready for the next strike."

I have been waiting for Ms Ali-Afzal to grace my life with another masterpiece since I tore through her debut in one sitting and now the Big Day is finally here!

The Big Day has all the all the dramatic intensity and hidden secrets that I’d hoped for but with such a dose of heart and warmth that shine through in her writing. She finds a way to create an almost thriller vibe in daily circumstances by showing the real life stakes and consequences that happen every day and absolutely masters that feeling of being on the ledge before everything falls apart.

Her characters are beautiful - our leading lady was a delight, a woman a little lost and not keeping to societies timeline for her life but trying her best to keep it together. She leads us slowly through her life, her engagement, wedding planning — little snapshots of her daily life that all come together, the crushing pressures, the family traditions and the struggles to succeed as well as the beautiful moments. It moves slowly but at an excellent pace and felt more like a conversation than a a story at times. Noor truly captures the feeling of being pulled between people who have expectations of you and feeling like you’re about to rip.

A stunning emotional story about family and love that absolutely has to be on your shelves.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Big Day will be available from June 6th with Aria & Aries. I was gifted an advanced reviewers copy of this title in return for a review.

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