Finding Mr Perfectly Fine: 'I loved it. Utterly charming' Jenny Colgan, the freshest and funniest romcom of 2022

Finding Mr Perfectly Fine is a laugh-out-loud funny rom-com of a book where a 29-year-old British Bengali girl from North London has a deadline to find “the one” or face her mummy’s wrath, in the shape of a ‘fresh from the desh’ prospective from ‘back-home’. Though it is a light-hearted read, it has unexpected dark turns that will have you crying and then screaming in frustration, whilst simultaneously rooting for protagonist Zara!It will definitely give prospective marriage candidates food for thought, thinking about their own personal boundaries and how one can reconcile matters of the heart alongside the practicalities of life. For me, it brought up questions about whether finding a spouse is really the be-all and end-all? Why can’t society and culture allow you to be simply as you are?Bear in mind, those who know me know I take months to finish a book! I haven’t read this fast since my pre-marital years and it certainly took me back! As I read the book, I shared my insights, my predictions, frustrations and raucous laughter with my friend. When I finished the book though, my final words were: “This had better not be the final ending! I need more!”As a British Bengali myself and living in North London, having also gone through the myriad of candidates imposed on me by my elders, I completely felt at home at the familiarity of Zara’s mum and grandmother. The sibling relationship was also very relatable and entertaining. Zara’s quest to find Mr Perfectly Fine was not easy and having a time-pressure on top meant that she had to move fast and try out all ‘desperate’ measures.It does bring up the question though, is being married to anybody better than being single and happy? How does the latter sit in today’s culture and society? Whilst it’s more common now to remain single or marry much later, first-generation parents are often conflicted and find this hard to accept.Zara is a stylish, modern NON-HIJABI girl (feel like I need to emphasise this as I kept imagining it was Tas and was gasping in shock at some of Zara’s antics only to be vehemently reminded, Zara is NOT Tasneem). Zara is a spiritual person in her own right; she chooses not to wear hijab though she tries to practice – much like many of our young British adults today. Although she is a bold character, she has an unspoken vulnerability about her.Tasneem struck the right balance in developing this character to show that non-hijabis are not all ‘loose’ or without strong morals. Zara is a highly spiritual individual and practices many aspects of Islam in a positive way, though she recognises her own weaknesses and knows what is and isn’t permissible in Islam.I really appreciated that the book was authentic to our culture and did not try to portray Muslims as being ‘perfect’ in our deen but at the same time did not try to whitewash our religion to suit the non-Muslim narratives.As a book of fiction, it reflects the society we live in, and I would even go as far as to say, it is also conservative at times. I only have to speak to young adults for five minutes to hear how crazily unislamic Uni and work life is for many Muslims, hijabi’s or not. It is a hard thing to balance and I applaud Tasneem for giving it a good go!I believe Tasneem did an excellent job explaining the differences between cultural norms within Sylheti Bangladeshi communities and Islam; this was consistent throughout the book. At one point, the hijab was depicted as subduing one of the character’s beauty, this being very common in our culture where hijab is associated with being unattractive, unappealing or something that old people wear. I have witnessed this attitude first-hand unfortunately, and true of cultural attitudes in both Bangladesh and the UK. As a Muslim hijab-wearer, I can understand how this may be misconstrued, that it feeds into the mainstream narrative that the hijab is ‘ugly’. However, you have to read this in context as it is reflective of non-mainstream Bengali attitudes too, not to mention that in Islam, hijab is meant to ‘hide’ your beauty, not display it.Being Bengali, I appreciated all the nuances of our culture, the humour, the quick wit. Tasneem ensures that the book was accessible to non Bengalis and non Muslims by translating or explaining these connections without sounding ‘preachy’. Also, as an honorary North Londoner, I absolutely LOVED reading about my old haunts, recognising many of the landmarks Tasneem writes about; the tube journeys, the vibe. It was a nice change from the typical depictions found in books – Bengalis from Brick Lane or other parts of East-London.Zara’s mother had me choking with laughter where I no doubt startled the elderly on the orthopedic ward that I was in. In the middle of the night, I found myself snorting with stifled laughter. Zara’s mum is sharp, unwittingly hilarious with her sarcasm and a dry sense of humour. She knows exactly how to have the last word, seamlessly leading Zara into a dance with words. The lovely nani (grandma) is everyone’s nani; we can all relate to this supportive figure who agrees with her daughter like an echo whilst feeling every emotion of her grandchildren, even when it is at discord with her own ideals of marriage and expectations.This book has all the ingredients that one needs to make it relatable and entertaining, surprising readers with unexpected twists and revelations with an unpredictable ending.I have so much to say about Zara’s love interests and other twists and turns in the book but I really don’t want to give anything more away at this early stage where people are still reading it. I found myself getting frustrated with Zara sometimes as I kept willing her to……I will end this here. I’m afraid you will need to read the book to find out more!Suffice it to say, soon enough you will become Zara’s most intimate friend! Her family will become yours and by the end of it, you will spend the week reflecting on her life and oddly missing her in yours.Bring on the sequel I say! It can’t come soon enough!This book makes a great buy for gifts. I literally bought twelve copies to give away as gifts!

iv had this book sitting in my room for 6 weeks but i eventually picked it up about 6 days agoand wow what a brilliant readi was reading away whilst my kids were in my bed watching tv and burst into hysterical laughter so much so i had tears coming out after reading one part of the story. the next morning i was driving the kids to karate and again remembered what i had read the night before and burst into a loud laughter that i couldn’t stop.but that’s not all - i thoroughly enjoyed the book from start to finish and was desperate to get back to it, there was so much i could relate. i haven’t felt this about a book in many years. thanx to tasneem abdur-rashid.

Could not put this book down! It felt like snippets of conversations with my own family and friends, I connected with it immediately. It is so important and validating to find characters in a novel that look, talk, think like me, share experiences that I have had, even speak the language at home that I do. I don’t think I ever have until this novel. Representation matters and in writing this novel, Tasneem has cemented a place for the British Bangladeshi identity to proudly stand on its own right and merit rather than being an in between of cultures, not quite belonging to either.This novel was heartwarming, fun, energetic and an easy read. The characters were well developed and the main protagonist Zara is savvy, intelligent and endearing who strives to find the perfect match whilst overcoming personal turmoil and trials. There MUST be a sequel to this, a pre-order list must be set up!

Absolutely loved reading this book, totally relatable in some parts,funny, exciting and really enjoyable to read! Can’t wait for the next book!

A brilliant easy to read RomCom. Totally relatable with laugh out loud moments. Some emotional points reflect on the realism of this story as so many young Muslim women experience during their life.Gave me and my husband a lot of food for thought in regards to the societal pressures of marriage at a certain age. I hope this allows many to pause and reflect on the institute of marriage and what it truly means to commit to someone. The ending was a surprise but much needed. Really would like to explore Zara’s journey further…anticipating book 2!

I loved reading, Finding Mr Perfectly Fine by, Tasneem Abdur-Rashid!It was humorous, heart warming and a captivating read! The book deals with culture and diversity in a charming way. It was refreshing and bold to!Being a woman from a Bengali Asian background myself I could definitely relate to some of the stereotypes and pre conceived notions and challenges that different characters experienced in the novel.You know it's a really good read when you don't want the last page to arrive!

A brilliant story based mainly in Haringey, North London, different parts of London and a dash of Dubai. This book takes you on an incredible journey with laughs, heartache, love, friendship and family.So interesting to see the portrayal of a North London Bengali family, absolutely loved every bit. If you’re in two minds about it- don’t be, you won’t regret it. I was laughing my head off on the train reading this. Highly recommend.

I couldnt put it down, loved every minute. To read a book about a british bengali girl struggling with her place in life was such a breath of fresh air. Its amazing to finally read stories that feel so familiar. Zaras ups and downs had me feeling all the feels! I really hope theres a second book because I need to know what happens next!