Winner of the Bookbrunch Selfie Award for Best Adult Fiction. Meet the brown Bridget Jones…A British-Bengali girl looking for Mr Right. A motley crew of men, some hoping it’s them. A mum on a mission to match make. And an age-old tradition with a twist. Welcome to the world of the arranged marriage.
“While I’m young, (somewhat) free and single, time is – by Bengali standards – marching on. I’ve got to meet my dream man, or at least someone I can grow to like, and get married. The trouble is, I don’t really know what – or who – I’m looking for.
Luckily (or not) for me, arranged marriages are still a thing. So alongside my own dating efforts, it’s everyone’s business – from my adorable yet overbearing mum, to pretend aunties and profiteering opportunists – to find me a match. With all this help, I’m pretty sure I’ll land a husband, but will he be ‘The One’?”
The first book in The Secret Diary of a Bengali Woman series, The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage lifts the lid on the intriguing world of British-Bengali matrimony. The debut novel from former journalist Halima Khatun explores family, identity and belonging with acerbic humour.
It’ll change your view of matchmaking for good…
For free reads, check out Halima’s newsletter at: https://halimakhatun.co.uk/newsletter-sign-up/What the press say:
“Halima Khatun decided to write a book because nobody was talking. More specifically, nobody was talking about arranged marriages,” MyLondon
“It’ll make you laugh a lot… and maybe cry a bit,” Asian Life magazine.Reader reviews:
“This book was so lovely reading through whilst reminiscing my own experiences of finding someone to settle down with. It’s so relatable for British Asians. Especially for those who have avoided the dating scene, or tried and gave up on relationships, and then wanted to go through the ‘proper’ or ‘traditional’ way of finding a spouse, this book will mirror the different paths you may have taken. If not yours, then at least someone very close to you.”
“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. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a fun read but something a bit different from the usual chicklit.”
“Very much enjoyed this and it is a bit “Bridget Jones Diary”.”
“Really enjoyed this book. It gave me an insight into a culture of which I knew little. Look forward to reading the next book in series.”
The books in The Secret Diary of a Bengali woman series:
1) The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage
2) The Secret Diary of a Bengali Bridezilla
3) The Secret Diary of a Bengali Newlywed
4) The Secret Diary of a Broody Bengali
5) The Secret Diary of a Pregnant Bengali
6) The Secret Diary of a Bengali Mum
and
7) Sister of the Bride
About the author
Halima Khatun is a former journalist (having worked for ITV and the BBC), PR consultant and British Asian author. Throughout her life, she never found any asian author’s books that resonated with her, so she wrote her own!
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. 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.
