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My Brother's Wedding
Q, Y, X, T, T and B are not merely high-scoring Scrabble tiles; they represent the people in Saba’s life who feature on her blog, My Brother’s Wedding. Saba’s brother, Y, is to get married and, since the day her mother and sister began scanning the horizon for prospective brides, there’s never been a dull moment at home. Saba, though, just cannot understand what the fuss is all about. A literature student pulled away from her beloved books, she finds the blogosphere a good place to rant in and to share with the world how a wedding can make everything around you go haywire.
Join Saba and her family as they quarrel over shopping, expenses and responsibilities, and as they realize gradually that there’s nothing like a wedding to bring a family together.
Join Saba and her family as they quarrel over shopping, expenses and responsibilities, and as they realize gradually that there’s nothing like a wedding to bring a family together.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
24 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Andaleeb Wajid
77 books207 followersAndaleeb Wajid is the author of more than 35 novels. She writes romance, young adult, horror and speculative fiction.
For more details, check her website.
For more details, check her website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 23, 2019
An Indian chiklit ..Was a fun and fast read.
December 29, 2015
This was a fun read, especially the first 3/4th. Would have been 4 stars if the last quarter wasn't that bizarre as to boggle my senses. Saba is an intelligent 20 year old who is physically outshone by her dazzling elder siblings, and starts venting her feelings in a blog, which soon explodes beyond her expectations. The story revolves around her brother's wedding festivities. Life is not smooth for the upper middle class family as unexpected hurdles are thrown their way, which become a little too much towards the end.
All in all, I enjoyed peeking into their upper middle class family life, vicariously enjoyed the festivities of a religion different than mine, and followed Saba keenly in her literary and romantic pursuits.
All in all, I enjoyed peeking into their upper middle class family life, vicariously enjoyed the festivities of a religion different than mine, and followed Saba keenly in her literary and romantic pursuits.
June 2, 2013
Brilliantly written, it's fun, juvenile, full of what is next? type curiosity. while readng it i felt like watching a complete bollywood masala movie by imagining all the lead stars of bollywood as Q,Y,X,T AND B.
December 22, 2021
Some scattered thoughts on 'My Brother’s Wedding':
•So refreshing to read a book about contemporary Muslim characters, and ones who are not in the story as token insertions or political statements. I need to read more about people with (beautiful!) names like Rabia, Saba, Uzair, Zohaib.
•Andaleeb Wajid has no pretensions that she is writing “great literature” that is inaccessible to many readers. She’s writing about people she knows, mostly from a middle-class, urban background (Though I must read Kitestrings and see if the milieu is different), with their concerns about what to wear for a wedding and whether they will pass an exam. This is similar to Asmara’s background in 'Asmara’s Summer' as well.
•I like how her young heroines, even after they fall in love, are unsure whether they are ready for a lifelong commitment.
•The blogs didn’t work well for me. I found the third-person narration much more enjoyable. And the thing is, the blogs don’t work as a standalone story—you need the other background the author gives us to really enjoy them. So it is hard to imagine getting hooked on to those entries if you just see them in isolation. And at least in the beginning, they provide too much minutiae, making it seem like the author (and not Saba) narrating incidents.
•Wajid is a natural writer who makes her characters seem like family members to us, but I thought this book could do with some more editing to restructure the narrative to avoid some repetition and clunky phrases.
•But altogether, I had a smile on my face while reading this book and would recommend this and Wajid's other books for readers looking for fresh, fun, contemporary Indian fiction.
•So refreshing to read a book about contemporary Muslim characters, and ones who are not in the story as token insertions or political statements. I need to read more about people with (beautiful!) names like Rabia, Saba, Uzair, Zohaib.
•Andaleeb Wajid has no pretensions that she is writing “great literature” that is inaccessible to many readers. She’s writing about people she knows, mostly from a middle-class, urban background (Though I must read Kitestrings and see if the milieu is different), with their concerns about what to wear for a wedding and whether they will pass an exam. This is similar to Asmara’s background in 'Asmara’s Summer' as well.
•I like how her young heroines, even after they fall in love, are unsure whether they are ready for a lifelong commitment.
•The blogs didn’t work well for me. I found the third-person narration much more enjoyable. And the thing is, the blogs don’t work as a standalone story—you need the other background the author gives us to really enjoy them. So it is hard to imagine getting hooked on to those entries if you just see them in isolation. And at least in the beginning, they provide too much minutiae, making it seem like the author (and not Saba) narrating incidents.
•Wajid is a natural writer who makes her characters seem like family members to us, but I thought this book could do with some more editing to restructure the narrative to avoid some repetition and clunky phrases.
•But altogether, I had a smile on my face while reading this book and would recommend this and Wajid's other books for readers looking for fresh, fun, contemporary Indian fiction.
May 7, 2013
There have been very few books that I've completed, at a stretch, being glued to my seat and this gets added to the list. Three words to describe the book- Smooth, Breezy and Racy. And it is this pace that doesn't allow you to put the book down.
The character Saba is someone who you would instantly fall in love with. I don't want to sound diplomatic, but the book has got all the necessary ingredients to call it a good read. Relationships, emotions, responsibilities and 'colour'.
The book leaves me with:
a. A new item on the 'must do' list. To attend a Muslim wedding.
b. The cliched 3 words, that one's relatives pose after a wedding "You Are Next," staring at me.
The character Saba is someone who you would instantly fall in love with. I don't want to sound diplomatic, but the book has got all the necessary ingredients to call it a good read. Relationships, emotions, responsibilities and 'colour'.
The book leaves me with:
a. A new item on the 'must do' list. To attend a Muslim wedding.
b. The cliched 3 words, that one's relatives pose after a wedding "You Are Next," staring at me.
August 13, 2013
This is my favourite of the Andaleeb collection. I loved Saba and Shahid. I fell in love with Shahid and could have slapped Zohaib multiple times. That's how well these characters are etched out. With this book (her third book, but I read it before her second book. Get it?), she has really worked on her characters, etched them out, not made them as predictable as it was in Kite Strings (my review on this point: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...)
One of the things I love about Andaleeb's characterisation is how she portrays the parentals. All parents (doesn't matter how open minded - hahahaha! or progressive they are) come with rules. And rules are very subjective and convenient. I like that Andaleeb shows this and doesn't paint a black and white picture of that generation. What Saba's parents went through is what my parents do/would have/went through.
The only thing that got me confused was the use of initials on the blog. Initially, I thought Saba was too smart a character to have made her blog public. But as the story progressed, I see where that change came in. And why. That realisation was quite nice :)
Great work, A! I'd love to read a lot more of you.
One of the things I love about Andaleeb's characterisation is how she portrays the parentals. All parents (doesn't matter how open minded - hahahaha! or progressive they are) come with rules. And rules are very subjective and convenient. I like that Andaleeb shows this and doesn't paint a black and white picture of that generation. What Saba's parents went through is what my parents do/would have/went through.
The only thing that got me confused was the use of initials on the blog. Initially, I thought Saba was too smart a character to have made her blog public. But as the story progressed, I see where that change came in. And why. That realisation was quite nice :)
Great work, A! I'd love to read a lot more of you.
January 5, 2016
A fun breezy interesting read :)
Though this is the kind of book you would want to finish in one sitting, it took me nearly a week as I could only find so much time to read.
I just wish Andaleeb Wajid was more popular, because she actually deserves it :)
(unlike numerous other writers of so-called 'National Bestsellers')
Looking forward to reading her other books which I have procured recently :D
Though this is the kind of book you would want to finish in one sitting, it took me nearly a week as I could only find so much time to read.
I just wish Andaleeb Wajid was more popular, because she actually deserves it :)
(unlike numerous other writers of so-called 'National Bestsellers')
Looking forward to reading her other books which I have procured recently :D
August 7, 2016
This is the type of book which you start reading and then you cannot keep it down until you are finished. The language and the style of writing is so simple that you can quickly relate to each of the characters. I literally fell in love with Shahid. Do boys like Shahid exist in real? I doubt. Overall I had a wonderful and lovely experience with this book. :)
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August 9, 2018A light read, you can almost relate to all the characters to your everday life. The romance between saba and shahid is beautifully portrayed, not crossing limits like animals and also with all lovely goosebumps of love here and there!!!
There could have been a little twist when the family comes to know about saba's blog, i felt a little bland at that portion.
Neverthless it is a light and fun read, pick it up when you want to read a no nonsense, happy feel book!!!
There could have been a little twist when the family comes to know about saba's blog, i felt a little bland at that portion.
Neverthless it is a light and fun read, pick it up when you want to read a no nonsense, happy feel book!!!
August 19, 2013
There are some books we buy because we like the author, some because we have heard about and there are some we buy because we like the name, it is catchy, its different. I bought this book because of the name, My Brothers Wedding and the cover, a girl sitting with a laptop and the cursive font in which the title is written. I had never heard of Andaleeb Wajid or even known that she has a blog. Once I started reading, I could not keep the book down, even while I was teaching my kids till I read the last page.
Saba, 19, is the youngest of three siblings is a college student. Her elder sister Rabia is married to Rafiq and feels she has an authority around the house. Her brother, Zohaib tells his parents that he wants to get married and that they should look for a suitable girl for him. Saba’s best friend and confidant is Riya. There is Shahid, her father’s cousins son, who shares her thoughts about her sister and is her brother’s best friend.
While her parents and sister are bride hunting and Saba is attending college, she starts her blog, My Brothers wedding. In this she portrays her characters as English alphabets Q, T, Y, X and B and starts to unburden her thoughts and feelings.
The author has really written the story very well, moving from the blog to real life. Like describing some thing in her household in Saba’s blog, in the next chapter, she smoothly describes the next part in real life. The chapters are well written and the flow is smooth.
A light read overall, not very bold. Can be read definitely.
Saba, 19, is the youngest of three siblings is a college student. Her elder sister Rabia is married to Rafiq and feels she has an authority around the house. Her brother, Zohaib tells his parents that he wants to get married and that they should look for a suitable girl for him. Saba’s best friend and confidant is Riya. There is Shahid, her father’s cousins son, who shares her thoughts about her sister and is her brother’s best friend.
While her parents and sister are bride hunting and Saba is attending college, she starts her blog, My Brothers wedding. In this she portrays her characters as English alphabets Q, T, Y, X and B and starts to unburden her thoughts and feelings.
The author has really written the story very well, moving from the blog to real life. Like describing some thing in her household in Saba’s blog, in the next chapter, she smoothly describes the next part in real life. The chapters are well written and the flow is smooth.
A light read overall, not very bold. Can be read definitely.
March 21, 2016
Being an avid lover of Weddings and events that happen around it, I have been wanting to read this book for quite sometime.. Also, I had read a newspaper article about the Author, Andaleeb and was quite impressed with the way she had explained her works.. Neverthless to say, Muslim Wedding Biriyanis are the best !
Coming to the book itself.. Though it seemed otherwise like a dramatic family story , the major twist comes from the youngest in the family who chooses the cyberspace to vent out her feelings. This attracts a huge number of readers than what she expected. It also affects the events that are planned.. In the end, all is well..
The book is interesting and you could finish it entirely in a train journey or if u burn the midnight oil for a day. All the characters are well established and they are sure to stand out in the readers' minds for sometime. however there is a tint of predictability and bollywood style drama which makes the reader to not be entirely enthralled.
Coming to the book itself.. Though it seemed otherwise like a dramatic family story , the major twist comes from the youngest in the family who chooses the cyberspace to vent out her feelings. This attracts a huge number of readers than what she expected. It also affects the events that are planned.. In the end, all is well..
The book is interesting and you could finish it entirely in a train journey or if u burn the midnight oil for a day. All the characters are well established and they are sure to stand out in the readers' minds for sometime. however there is a tint of predictability and bollywood style drama which makes the reader to not be entirely enthralled.
August 14, 2013
It's been ages since I read a book that had me completely engrossed in it, so much so that I completed it in just two readings :)
I loved the character Saba. I could relate to her multiple times - feel her excitement, sadness, doubts, and her confusion and desperation towards Shahid (who is my other favorite character). I hated and then sympathized with Rabia as the book progressed. Kudos to the author for making them all look so real!
I loved that every other chapter of the book was a blog post. The transitions between Saba's narration and the author's were perfect.
I also liked the author's style of writing. It was not only simple & modern.enough to make it a quick read, but was also descriptive enough to create visual images for the reader.
Overall, I'd give this book a 4/5 rating and would recommend it to all. Looking forward to more books by Andaleeb!
I loved the character Saba. I could relate to her multiple times - feel her excitement, sadness, doubts, and her confusion and desperation towards Shahid (who is my other favorite character). I hated and then sympathized with Rabia as the book progressed. Kudos to the author for making them all look so real!
I loved that every other chapter of the book was a blog post. The transitions between Saba's narration and the author's were perfect.
I also liked the author's style of writing. It was not only simple & modern.enough to make it a quick read, but was also descriptive enough to create visual images for the reader.
Overall, I'd give this book a 4/5 rating and would recommend it to all. Looking forward to more books by Andaleeb!
March 16, 2015
When 19-year-old Saba seeks out the anonymity of cyberspace to vent about the insanity related to her brother’s impending nuptials, she’s fairly certain all she’s offering is a secret blog that records ‘everything that happens in a typical Muslim wedding in detail’. Of course, airing the antics of her near and dear ones is flirting dangerously close to ‘revenge, disownment and quick annihilation’ in case the origins of the blog are ever traced back to her. So she assigns a single initial to each family member. Y, Q, X and T seem ambiguous enough, but then, the Web is not as anonymous as we might think…
Full review here.
Full review here.
May 26, 2017
The book talks about about Saba, a 19 year old girl who runs a secret blog to rant about all the drama surrounding her brother’s wedding. Things take a turn and the limelight shifts from the wedding to her own life.
The book obviously caught my attention due to the blogging angle and then there was a big fat Indian wedding in the story, so basically everything pointed out that it will be a good read however I was left a little disappointed.
I love the story, its different than the usual run-of-the mill plots you find these days and the author’s writing style is simple and humorous and totally keeps you interested in the book. She has done a brilliant job with....Read complete review here: http://www.coml13.com/my-brothers-wed...
The book obviously caught my attention due to the blogging angle and then there was a big fat Indian wedding in the story, so basically everything pointed out that it will be a good read however I was left a little disappointed.
I love the story, its different than the usual run-of-the mill plots you find these days and the author’s writing style is simple and humorous and totally keeps you interested in the book. She has done a brilliant job with....Read complete review here: http://www.coml13.com/my-brothers-wed...
May 18, 2013
I'm a lazy reader and have managed to finish reading very few books in their entirety. This is one such, thanks to its fast paced story line and the sudden turn of events. The protagonist Saba, is a young adult whose character one will easily fall in love with. The new format of the interspersed blog and narration is a first that I have come across and find it very engaging. Overall a great read!
January 5, 2022
A little on the lines of a daily soap. But highly gripping and keeps you hooked till the end. A fun and easy read.
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September 3, 2021My brother's wedding is the story of Saba who is 19 years old (eventually turns 20 during the course of the story ) and an english literature student . She is also the youngest of the three siblings and mostly feels like the ignore or unwanted child of the family . Her brother Zohaib (Y) is about to get married and to rant about the madness with respect to the wedding preparations and her family she starts a secret blog . Especially
her ,sister Rabia (Q) .
Everything starts going haywire when her blog starts getting viral and she is unable to keep her and her family's identity a secret .
The sole exception to her chaotic life is the sizzling romance with her charming cousin Shahid (T) and the friendship with her best friend Riya (X).
The book was nail biting and unputdownable. There was nothing much that you will be able to guess in this book which you can while reading most of the romcoms .
Though ,was a bit of melodrama too but I will say that it wasn't unbearable.
All the characters are weaved very well and the book will leave you with a smile in the end .
To me an ideal romcom should br around 200 or at max 300 pages because after a point there is not much to write and the plot starts becoming either boring or expected but author has done a good job here by keeping the book limited to 266 pages.
Another reason that I liked this book is that it almost gives us an elaborate picture of Indian Muslim weddings which most of us are unacquainted about.
Lastly,the pretty cover of the bookis an icing on the cake.
Note - Saba used these alphabets insteadof the real names for her secret blog.
her ,sister Rabia (Q) .
Everything starts going haywire when her blog starts getting viral and she is unable to keep her and her family's identity a secret .
The sole exception to her chaotic life is the sizzling romance with her charming cousin Shahid (T) and the friendship with her best friend Riya (X).
The book was nail biting and unputdownable. There was nothing much that you will be able to guess in this book which you can while reading most of the romcoms .
Though ,was a bit of melodrama too but I will say that it wasn't unbearable.
All the characters are weaved very well and the book will leave you with a smile in the end .
To me an ideal romcom should br around 200 or at max 300 pages because after a point there is not much to write and the plot starts becoming either boring or expected but author has done a good job here by keeping the book limited to 266 pages.
Another reason that I liked this book is that it almost gives us an elaborate picture of Indian Muslim weddings which most of us are unacquainted about.
Lastly,the pretty cover of the bookis an icing on the cake.
Note - Saba used these alphabets insteadof the real names for her secret blog.
February 4, 2019
The story is set amidst the wedding preparations of Saba's elder brother, Zohaib. Saba decides to blog about it on a regular basis with updates about the wedding, her parents, her haughty elder sister, Rabia, her best friend, bawdy aunties visiting their family & her cousin Shahid.
The story and Saba's blogposts run parallel throughout the story. Each character is going through their own emotional turmoil. Zohaib's past haunts him and the wedding is almost called off. Rabia leaves her husband and stays with her parents. Saba has confused feelings of love.
All of this is up on the blog. Does the blog brew more trouble or comes in as a saviour? Read this easy breezy story to find out.
This was a nice weekend read with the right amount of humour, twist and turns in the story. I loved the writing style of the author. It was crisp and had a pleasant feel about it. Do read it and share your views.
The story and Saba's blogposts run parallel throughout the story. Each character is going through their own emotional turmoil. Zohaib's past haunts him and the wedding is almost called off. Rabia leaves her husband and stays with her parents. Saba has confused feelings of love.
All of this is up on the blog. Does the blog brew more trouble or comes in as a saviour? Read this easy breezy story to find out.
This was a nice weekend read with the right amount of humour, twist and turns in the story. I loved the writing style of the author. It was crisp and had a pleasant feel about it. Do read it and share your views.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2020
This was such a cute book, I devoured it in a few hours. I loved the setting- the Indian Muslim wedding angle was so unique and fun. Thanks to Bollywood, I've grown up on a lot of stereotypes about Muslims (the Roohafza remark was so spot on). So this book educated me a lot about their customs. So, education+ entertainment? Please, bring it on!
I loved the characters. Saba was a level-headed girl and I liked how she stood up for herself when her family wanted to marry her off. I love authors who write strong heroines, so yes, I'm going to be reading a lot of Andaleeb Wajid in future.
I'm knocking off one star only because the last 10% of the book felt gimmicky to me, and a bit over the top.
PS: This author deserves to be more famous.
I loved the characters. Saba was a level-headed girl and I liked how she stood up for herself when her family wanted to marry her off. I love authors who write strong heroines, so yes, I'm going to be reading a lot of Andaleeb Wajid in future.
I'm knocking off one star only because the last 10% of the book felt gimmicky to me, and a bit over the top.
PS: This author deserves to be more famous.
September 30, 2018
It's been some time since I got so hooked to a book that I finished it in 2 days... I would have finished it in one sitting, one day even, but zalim Zindagi has some things you HAVE to attend to...
It was such a refreshing read!! I loved the descriptions Andaleeb gives and I liked "the other T" a lot and fell in love with "T" myself! I also hated Q, laughed at the Idiot... And had heaps of fun reading this book!! Anything more I say would be spoilers so I am now 🤐
But I LOVED the book and I felt really sad that it got over.... I finished it last night, and today morning I am still thinking of all the characters!!
Looking forward to read more from Andaleeb Wajid...
It was such a refreshing read!! I loved the descriptions Andaleeb gives and I liked "the other T" a lot and fell in love with "T" myself! I also hated Q, laughed at the Idiot... And had heaps of fun reading this book!! Anything more I say would be spoilers so I am now 🤐
But I LOVED the book and I felt really sad that it got over.... I finished it last night, and today morning I am still thinking of all the characters!!
Looking forward to read more from Andaleeb Wajid...
January 1, 2019
Andaleeb Wajid is a good writer and this YA novel starts off really well. But as the protagonist herself confesses halfway in, the story veers away from the brother's wedding and into other aspects of her life. This meandering plot does mar the narrative as do
That said, the characters are quirky. There are a couple of love stories weaved in and their progress is also well-sketched. A good read though far from perfect.
That said, the characters are quirky. There are a couple of love stories weaved in and their progress is also well-sketched. A good read though far from perfect.
July 31, 2021
My love for indian authors continue..
My latest read My Brother's Wedding gives a glimpse of weddings in india. I will say india and not a particular religion because they more or less are the same.
This books depicts the chaos that takes place in every arranged marriage , from the looking for the bride/groom to the actual wedding day. Cute crushes during the wedding to few actually falling in love with their soul mates.
It's a well written romantic book with sibling squabbles and a few insecurities and loads of falling in love. The only minus for me in the book was the bollywood style twist. Other then that it's a pleasant easy read.
4/5 for me.
My latest read My Brother's Wedding gives a glimpse of weddings in india. I will say india and not a particular religion because they more or less are the same.
This books depicts the chaos that takes place in every arranged marriage , from the looking for the bride/groom to the actual wedding day. Cute crushes during the wedding to few actually falling in love with their soul mates.
It's a well written romantic book with sibling squabbles and a few insecurities and loads of falling in love. The only minus for me in the book was the bollywood style twist. Other then that it's a pleasant easy read.
4/5 for me.
June 30, 2018
This is my first book by Andaleeb Wajid and I enjoyed it so much that I finished it in less than a day. It’s a light, easy, fun read that in its simple language, gives you a glimpse into the life of a typical Muslim family.
You might think “Who behaves like that today?” But the truth is that there ARE people who follow such traditions like an unmarried woman not visiting her brother’s would-be bride.
But on the whole, I loved it for its honesty as well as how it leans towards the modern world.
You might think “Who behaves like that today?” But the truth is that there ARE people who follow such traditions like an unmarried woman not visiting her brother’s would-be bride.
But on the whole, I loved it for its honesty as well as how it leans towards the modern world.
August 16, 2018
Encounters with an anonymous blog! ;)
A delightful read leading upto to the wedding of a brother from the eyes of 19 turned 20 year old sister! It was fun to read Saba's blog entries interpresed with actual storyline moving with wedding preparations, a new sweet love and the conundrums of Saba with regards her family, studies and her romance. This book was a much better read than The Crunch Factor. All the characters felt real and you felt like you could know them. Shahid, Saba and Riya took top points for me and Rabia was delightfully over the top to read!
A delightful read leading upto to the wedding of a brother from the eyes of 19 turned 20 year old sister! It was fun to read Saba's blog entries interpresed with actual storyline moving with wedding preparations, a new sweet love and the conundrums of Saba with regards her family, studies and her romance. This book was a much better read than The Crunch Factor. All the characters felt real and you felt like you could know them. Shahid, Saba and Riya took top points for me and Rabia was delightfully over the top to read!
April 18, 2018
More like 3.5 Stars
Not a fan of the genre and therefore haven't read any book in the genre for years now. But what pulled me was the context. It was interesting to know how a muslim wedding happens. Enjoyed the plot and the progress for better part of the book but then it took many filmy turns like any typical book in the genre.
Not a fan of the genre and therefore haven't read any book in the genre for years now. But what pulled me was the context. It was interesting to know how a muslim wedding happens. Enjoyed the plot and the progress for better part of the book but then it took many filmy turns like any typical book in the genre.
April 25, 2022
Began this a few days before Ms Wajid was to visit our college for an event. While the incestous main relationship (whether or not it is REALLY incest is not up for debate with me) was rather off-putting, it was a fairly enjoyable read otherwise. Ms Wajid is also a very lively talker irl and I'm grateful to have met her and asked her questions :)
October 5, 2018
This one was fun, entertaining and pacy read! The ending was a bit abrupt, wish it had been slightly fleshed out but otherwise was a fun read!
October 8, 2018
Quick, light, fun read.
January 28, 2019
Fun read,completed in a stretch.
February 18, 2019
This is like a fairly silly soap opera.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews