The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage: Heartwarming and hilarious British Chick Lit with a multicultural twist

· Hayat House
5.0
4 reviews
Ebook
250
Pages

About this ebook

Winner of the 2021 Bookbrunch Selfie Award for Best Adult Fiction.


Meet the Bengali Bridget Jones...

The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage – A Hilarious Romcom That Will Redefine Your Views on Love and Matchmaking!


Meet our British-Bengali protagonist, a spirited, acerbic woman on a quest for Mr. Right. But in a world where tradition and modernity collide, her journey to find love takes a delightfully unexpected turn.


Young, free and single, our heroine finds herself caught between two worlds, never fully fitting in with her English friends or her Asian community. As time ticks away, she embarks on a dual mission—her own dating adventures and the rollercoaster ride of an arranged marriage orchestrated by her larger-than-life family.


From her adorable yet overbearing mum to the army of pretend aunties and profiteering opportunists, everyone becomes invested in finding her the perfect match. With humour and wit, she embraces the chaos of this unconventional approach to love, never quite sure if her ideal partner lies within the boundaries of tradition or if she’ll discover something entirely unexpected.


The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage is a fresh and captivating debut novel by former journalist Halima Khatun. Through her acerbic humor, Khatun explores the complexities of family dynamics, identity, and the eternal search for belonging. This is not your average arranged marriage romance—it’s a romcom that breaks barriers and challenges preconceptions.


Prepare to be swept away on a laugh-out-loud journey filled with unexpected twists and turns. Get ready to redefine your view of matchmaking and immerse yourself in a story that will leave you smiling long after you’ve turned the final page.


The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage is a romcom like no other, defying stereotypes and offering a fresh perspective on the joys and pitfalls of love. Don’t miss this heartwarming and hilarious tale. 


Reader reviews:

"This is a great book to read on transport or going on holidays. I finished mine in no time and laughed lots!"


"I loved reading this book! Such an enjoyable read which was hilarious at some points but also really highlighted how arranged marriages are viewed from different perspectives, especially in western society. It’s hard to find a book that isn’t too ‘heavy’ but also covers important issues and makes you really empathise with the main character - I even shed a tear at one point! This would be great to pack with you for your holidays or for the daily commute, it’s a real page turner and is actually very relatable even if the concept of arrange marriages is something you’re not familiar with. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a fun read but something a bit different from the usual chick-lit."


"I started this book late one evening and just couldn’t put it down! i really enjoyed it. I love the writing style and the self-deprecating humour. it’s a real window into a world I don’t know at all and I found it fascinating. I’m left wanting to know what happens next!"

Read the whole The Secret series! 


#1 The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage

#2 The Secret Diary of a Bengali Bridezilla

Free related short story from the mother of the bride’s perspective: No One Ever Asks Mum.


Keywords: arranged marriage, books by woc, women of colour, women of color, strong Muslim female, Muslim girl books, British chick lit, British-Bengali, British Muslim, British Asian, diverse reads, funny chick-lit, women’s fiction by women of colour, women’s fiction, sweet romance, cultural insight, women in Islam, British Bangladeshi, biographical fiction.


About the author


Halima Khatun is a former journalist (having worked for ITV and the BBC), writer and PR consultant.


Since she was a child, she knew that words would be her thing. With a lifelong passion for writing, Halima wrote her first novel - a coming-of-age children’s story - at the age of 12. It was politely turned down by all the major publishing houses. However, proving that writing was indeed her forte, Halima went on to study English and Journalism and was one of just four people in the UK to be granted a BBC scholarship during her postgraduate studies.


She has since written for a number of publications including the HuffPost and Yahoo! Style, and has been featured in the Express, Metro and other national publications. Halima also blogs on lifestyle, food and travel and parenthood on HalimaBobs.com. This is where she also shares updates on her novels, as well as her author website HalimaKhatun.co.uk.


Halima is a regular guest on the BBC Asian Network and frequently contributes to the HuffPost.

Ratings and reviews

5.0
4 reviews
Lilly Rose
July 22, 2021
I was intrigued by the title 'a secret diary of an arranged marriage' as the blurb grabbed my attention almost immediately. I wanted to read this. This book is beautifully written from a perspective alien to many. The taboo subject of an arranged marriage is not widely spoken about and the audience is often under the misconception that its all doom and gloom and the unfortunate couple are haphazardly paired as absolute strangers... however the author cleverly demistifies all those pre-misconception straight away. Written in a honest yet humorous style I could almost hear the authors voice talking directly to me as she discusses the pangs and pleasures of this daunting journey very akin to Bridget Jones woes. I found myself hooked on every word, it was impossible to put down.. There is nothing like this out there. An absolute fantastic first book i thoroughly enjoyed every second. Cant wait for the second installment! Highly recommended to lift spirits during the current restrictions.
Stacey Pleasants
July 28, 2021
I absolutely devoured this book! It is a wonderful beach read or curled up on a rainy day. Halima Khatun is a very funny woman and her wit is at the forefront of her writing. It's also great to have someone bring forth the reality of Asian traditions so that non-Asians can see another side that's not the usual Hollywood version....which is always skewed. I was devastated when this book ended and within 3 minutes had downloaded the sequel The Secret Diary of a Bengali Bridezilla.
Lukman Ali
November 17, 2022
lovely heart warming and hilarious book. author has done an amazing job

About the author

Halima Khatun is a former journalist (having worked for ITV and the BBC), writer and PR consultant.


Since she was a child, she knew that words would be her thing. With a lifelong passion for writing, Halima wrote her first novel - a coming-of-age children’s story - at the age of 12. It was politely turned down by all the major publishing houses. However, proving that writing was indeed her forte, Halima went on to study English and Journalism and was one of just four people in the UK to be granted a BBC scholarship during her postgraduate studies.


She has since written for a number of publications including the HuffPost and Yahoo! Style, and has been featured in the Express, Metro and other national publications. Halima also blogs on lifestyle, food and travel and parenthood on halimabobs.com. This is where she also shares updates on her novels.


Halima is a regular guest on the BBC Asian Network and frequently contributes to the HuffPost.

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