By Aliya Ali-Afzal.
Content warning - Single parenting, absentee father.
"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."
Meddling aunties are a universal phenomenon, and The Big Day captures this perfectly. When Desi and Italian cultures collide, especially in London, the result is bound to be tumultuous. Noor embodies the modern young woman, navigating the pressures of tradition in an era where people marry later or not at all.
This book is intensely emotional, making you feel every bit of Noor's anxiety and fear—a testament to the author's skill. The story beautifully depicts Noor's struggle between her simple desire for an English wedding and her mother's elaborate plans, rooted in cultural expectations.
What appeared to be a light read turned out to be a rich exploration of identity, culture, and love, with superbly drawn characters and a compelling narrative about balancing modern life with tradition.
Thank you so much to the author - Aliya Ali-Afzal as well as Zuzanna and the team at Tandem Collective and Head of Zeus for running this read-along.
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