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The Other Half of Happiness

(Sofia Khan #2)

Ayisha Malik (Goodreads Author)

3.49 · Rating details · 1,015 ratings · 175 reviews

Sofia Khan is just married. But no-one told her life was going to be this way . . .

Her living situation is in dire straits, her husband Conall is distant, and his annoyingly attractive colleague is ringing all sorts of alarm bells.

When her mother forces them into a belated wedding ceremony (elopement: you can run, but you can't hide), Sofia wonders if it might be a chance ...more

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Kindle Edition, 448 pages

Published April 6th 2017 by Zaffre

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Lists with This Book

Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah

Sofia Khan is Not Obliged by Ayisha Malik

Love in a Headscarf by Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

Muslim fiction/non fiction

187 books — 92 voters

Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

Not the Girls You're Looking For by Aminah Mae Safi

A Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi

2018 Muslim YA/MG books

16 books — 13 voters

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Apr 04, 2017 Warda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: author-of-colour, characters-of-colour

OUT TODAY!!!

Oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh.

Before I discuss the spoilery aspects of the story, I believe this duology has to be picked up and read, purely for the sake that it's by a Muslim author. Not only must we support authors that are in the minority, but it's incumbent upon publishers to realise (and publish) that more stories such as this (#ownvoices) have to become popularised, normalised and not be such a rarity. Kudos to Ayisha Malik for mentioning this in the book. The fact that even whe ...more

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Jun 21, 2017 Malia rated it it was ok

Shelves: women-s-fiction

Hm... on the one hand, I really zipped through The Other Side of Happiness and it is very readable largely due to its chatty nature. On the other hand I am left feeling quite disappointed. This book had none of the lightness and much less of the clever humor that made Sofia Khan is Not Obliged (the first book in the series) such a treat. I had really been looking forward to something lighter and Bridget Jones-ey without being predictable and silly, and what I got was a slightly disjointed and ra ...more

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Apr 13, 2017 Emer (A Little Haze) rated it liked it

Shelves: challenge-easter2017, read2017, reviewed, cried-me-a-river, light-fiction, 3stars, adult-fiction, contemporary, books-owned-eformat, books-owned-all-formats

AHHHHHHHHHHH I AM SO VERY CONFUSED AND CONFLICTED!!!!!!!

I both love and hate this book.

Do you know that wonderful song by Michael Kiwanuka called "Love and Hate"???? It's also the title of his most recent album. The whole time reading this book that song was playing in my head. I think the lyrics of it are perfect for this book because again, this book is more that your usual chick lit. It's complicated and it's messy. It's about love and hate, trust and mistrust and the fine lines between such AHHHHHHHHHHH I AM SO VERY CONFUSED AND CONFLICTED!!!!!!!

I both love and hate this book.

Do you know that wonderful song by Michael Kiwanuka called "Love and Hate"???? It's also the title of his most recent album. The whole time reading this book that song was playing in my head. I think the lyrics of it are perfect for this book because again, this book is more that your usual chick lit. It's complicated and it's messy. It's about love and hate, trust and mistrust and the fine lines between such things. Check out the song on YouTube

The remainder of this review is going under spoiler tags because it would basically ruin the first Sofia Khan book and I would therefore urge you to go read that book before you even dream of reading under the tags!!!!!!! My review for book one, Sofia Khan Is Not Obliged can be found by clicking here.

DON'T RUIN THE EPICNESS OF BOOK ONE BY CLICKING VIEW SPOILER!!!!!! You have been warned lol!!!!!

(view spoiler)
On the whole, this was a really great read and another brave piece of writing. The book certainly didn't fall into too many chick-lit cliches and because of the overall personal journeys that the characters took in the book it felt quite gritty and real. There was much to enjoy in this book and much to cry about...but also much to feel hopeful for too. It really felt like a coming of age tale for marriage and adult relationships and though it does somewhat take the gloss off the shiny, happy ending of book one this book does make for a satisfying read... (view spoiler)

A very mixed up but positive three stars ...more

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Jul 03, 2017 K. rated it liked it

Shelves: 2017, setting-asia, setting-uk, audience-adult, contemporary, poc-narrator, own-it-kindle, own-voices

Trigger warnings: Some bombings during the sections set in Pakistan, though they don't impact on the main characters. Discussions of radicalisation.

So here's the thing. I really REALLY loved Sofia Khan Is Not Obliged. Sped through it. Loved the characters. Laughed a lot. Was super excited to read this one.

But pretty much from the get go, I knew I wasn't going to like this one NEARLY as much as I liked the first one. A lot of the plot revolves around poor communication, which annoyed the shit ou ...more

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Mar 28, 2017 Jane (It'sJaneLindsey) rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2017-read, 2017-release, first-reads-arcs

I need to start this review by saying that I loved Sofia Khan Is Not Obliged, and fully expected to love this sequel. Sadly, The Other Half of Happiness fell somewhere between disappointing and infuriating. Everything that I loved about Sophia and her story (and her family/friends) was gone in this second book. I didn’t like anyone or their choices, and I realized that I should stay away from marriage novels in the future because I find them boring at best. I did, however, really enjoy Sophia’s ...more

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Apr 02, 2017 Aoife rated it it was ok

Shelves: adult-contemporary, diverse, own-voices, kindle, disappointing

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I received a free digital copy from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I’m not even sure where to start with this book because I just feel so disappointed in it and I’m still working through my feelings and trying to accept how flat and downright depressed I was after finishing this book.

The Other Half of Happiness is the second book in the Sofia Khan series and starts off with Sofia in Karachi, Pakistan, and dealing with a whole load of new changes in her life.

T I received a free digital copy from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I’m not even sure where to start with this book because I just feel so disappointed in it and I’m still working through my feelings and trying to accept how flat and downright depressed I was after finishing this book.

The Other Half of Happiness is the second book in the Sofia Khan series and starts off with Sofia in Karachi, Pakistan, and dealing with a whole load of new changes in her life.

This book started to feel off to me from the very start when we find out that Sofia is staying around a dingy apartment all day while Conall is off doing humanitarian work. At the end of the first book, Sofia left to get involved in this and I couldn’t figure out why she no longer helped out, or had she ever helped out with this or when she reconnected with Conall, all those plans fell to the wayside.

Then immediately, things start becoming really tense and frustrating. I was frustrated with multiple characters in this book for about 98% of it, mostly Sofia for just NOT USING HER WORDS. She lets people make decisions for her all the time, and then she will let others let her make the wrong decisions for herself and dictate her life at times and I hate it. She was guilty of this in the first book but I felt by the end she had grown but she went five steps backwards in this book.

The tension between Conall and Sofia from the start was just forced and annoying. There seemed to be a lot of problems for them made up in thin air. Conall not taking time off to attend his own damn wedding was just insane, and I couldn’t figure out his logical reasons for being so obstinate and infuriating. I also hated the Hamida thing thrown in, and there was obvious tension between her and Conall and then of course she ends up being gay?! But she still follows him around, butts into his business with his wife and acts like she’s in love with him and wants Sofia out of the picture. AND then she has the tenacity to blackmail Sofia into divorcing Conall? This is not a nice person people.

In book one, there was a few mentions of Muslim radicals and ‘fundos’ but they were often brought up in a humorous way and in a way that made it clear that this is something an average, normal Muslim family worry about and discuss. I liked the honesty about this but i liked that Ayisha Malik was also able to include it in a comedic way. However, in this book there was so much emphasis on the possibility of Conall becoming a “fundo”and while part of this was used to show how people can misunderstand what it is to be openly religious and talk about your faith and still be a normal person, I just felt like it was brought up way too much and it just became irritating. As was the times Sofia was told that Conall only converted for her - because she never asked him to do that, and she shouldn’t have to deal with guilt of ‘changing’ someone when all he did was find a faith he could connect with and something that could help heal him.

Conall’s character was just completely off for me. He was not the Conall I fell in love with in the first book. Nothing in the first book about him made the fact he had a secret family make sense. And come on, the kid having cancer? Total overload.

When Sakib entered the story in literally the first chapter, I knew what was coming down the road. It was so predictable and annoying. While he wasn’t necessarily a bad character and perhaps in the long run he would be good for Sofia, he’s not Conall. And he’s so serious too. I also didn’t like the way he was so quick to tell Sofia she had to give up the business if she was thinking of finding Conall.

The few things I did like in this book: Her mom’s storyline was great and I loved how she shrugged off people’s opinions and finally focused on her own happiness. Sofia’s interactions with Conall’s dad, particularly when he walked in on her ablutions and was very concerned that she dry her feet properly. I also like that Sofia helped create a publishing company that was focused on publishing Muslim authors.

Side note: Would have liked to have had some kind of detail about how Sofia’s first book did in sales? It was published and then we literally heard nothing about it.

The end of this book just felt like a bit of a kick in the teeth to be honest. ...more

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May 27, 2017 Aaliyah rated it it was amazing

even better than the first. an emotional rollercoaster. i am not ok.

update:

having slept on it... WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT ENDING?!!! very frustrating :(

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Mar 31, 2017 naomi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Rating this really isn't easy. I mean, I read it in a day and I enjoyed it a LOT, but WTF was that ending? What did Ayisha Malik think? And why isn't she writing another Sofia Khan book? I need more closure!! And a less frustrating ending to a story I was very, very invested in. ...more

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Aug 14, 2017 Amena rated it really liked it

Not as good as the first one but a great continuation of characters and plot. The ending was okay. Just that. Okay. I can see why readers may have had a problem with it but it kinda worked. It's difficult to review this without giving any spoilers away!

I wasn't laughing out loud as much and I did think parts of the story line were a bit far fetched as well as reactions to it. for example, I can't see any parent let alone a Muslim one just taking it Conall's story in her stride. I expected more ...more

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Jun 11, 2017 Juwi rated it it was ok · review of another edition

2.5 stars

I really enjoyed Sofia Khan is Not Obliged so i was really excited to start the sequel...especially after that ending!

but wow...was i disappointed.

the characters were all over the place. the writing is all over the place. i was confused most of the time...who is speaking? why are they saying this? WHY CAN'T PEOPLE JUST COMMUNICATE?! smh

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

the song 'The Story of Us' by Taylor Swift is relevant here:

'Oh, a simple complication
Miscommunications lead to fall out
So many thin ...more

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Mar 31, 2017 booksofallkinds rated it it was amazing

I was absolutely delighted when I got the opportunity to review THE OTHER HALF OF HAPPINESS by Ayisha Malik, even though it was my first encounter with the beloved character of Sofia Khan. Although I had not read the first book in this series, it did not remotely take away from this beautifully emotional and entertaining story as the author effortlessly filled in any gaps I may have had. But when you find an author as good as Ayisha Malik, I would recommend buying all of her books!!

Sofia Khan is I was absolutely delighted when I got the opportunity to review THE OTHER HALF OF HAPPINESS by Ayisha Malik, even though it was my first encounter with the beloved character of Sofia Khan. Although I had not read the first book in this series, it did not remotely take away from this beautifully emotional and entertaining story as the author effortlessly filled in any gaps I may have had. But when you find an author as good as Ayisha Malik, I would recommend buying all of her books!!

Sofia Khan is married to Conall, her Irish next-door neighbour who converted so they could be together, and she loves him beyond measure. But married life is not exactly turning out as she planned. Firstly Sofia finds herself back in London alone, dealing with the fallout of her elopement with her overbearing, over-involved family, while her husband is across the world working on his own personal crusade with the very attractive Hamida. And then she finds herself writing a book on marriage for her new editor, while she begins to realise that she doesn't really know her husband that well. Add in an impromptu wedding organised by her mother, an unexpected engagement, and many hilarious escapades with her friends, and Sofia's life is like a rollercoaster. But when Conall returns he tells her something that will change her life forever. Finally, Sofia begins to understand why Conall travels the world in search of peace and absolution, but while she can understand his reasons, it changes who she thought he was, and at the same time her life is changing as she starts to build something purely for herself without Conall - can there be any way back for both of them?

I laughed, I cried, and I learned about another culture in this wonderful story of love, family, friendship, and facing your past. All of the characters in this book are compelling in their own ways, and I felt completely immersed in all of their emotions and needs as the story developed. Well-paced and interesting throughout, I read this book in one sitting and I really didn't want it to end (fingers crossed this will not be the last we see of Sofia Khan). THE OTHER HALF OF HAPPINESS by Ayisha Malik is more than a romantic comedy, it is a relatable tale about the heart and soul of what makes us love, laugh, and cry, our mistakes, our dreams, and our faults. THE OTHER HALF OF HAPPINESS is just one of those special books that make your whole body hum, and I cannot recommend it highly enough!!!

*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher ...more

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Mar 10, 2017 Emily rated it really liked it

When I first found out about The Other Half of Happiness, I was lowkey scared I wouldn't like it as much as I loved Sofia Khan Is Not Obliged. But Ayisha Malik knows what's up and as soon as I started reading it I was HOOKED. I didn't want to stop reading it and when I actually did it I wanted to pick it back up as soon as possible.

Sofia is still a great narrator and I LOVE HER!! I loved her friends, her sister, her mother, her family, EVERYONE. All relationships are amazing and I loved every si ...more

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Apr 13, 2020 Hussaina Gambo rated it did not like it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. IF YOU LOVED SOFIA KHAN AND HAVE NOT READ THIS THEN PLEASE DONT READ IT
I am so angry, I could hit something. I absolutely saw no point in writing this sequel. It was very annoying and frustrating.
First off, from the beginning, all we saw about Sofia and Conall’s new life was problems lurking ahead, unanswered questions and just a reluctant dose of romance. I wish we had been given the good stuff first before the problems reared their ugly heads.
Now, the lightness and fun in the first book was vi IF YOU LOVED SOFIA KHAN AND HAVE NOT READ THIS THEN PLEASE DONT READ IT
I am so angry, I could hit something. I absolutely saw no point in writing this sequel. It was very annoying and frustrating.
First off, from the beginning, all we saw about Sofia and Conall’s new life was problems lurking ahead, unanswered questions and just a reluctant dose of romance. I wish we had been given the good stuff first before the problems reared their ugly heads.
Now, the lightness and fun in the first book was visibly nowhere to be found in this book. It was too heavy and serious all the way. The marriage guide book she wrote in this book, I actually feel sorry for the publishers if it were a real book. They actually commissioned a funny book, there was nothing funny about the excerpts we saw.
All the characters that made the first book special only conspired to make this book annoying. The mum kept butting in at inappropriate times. The friends always surfaced at the most inappropriate times. It was bit too much and all over the place. Times were when she would send text message upon text message to the girls and no one would respond. In fact she spent days after returning to London but none of them visited her. I thought that was her queue to learn that other people had actual lives to live not just attend to her and her problems. The mother appeared progressive, getting engaged nine months after her husband’s passing.. The author had to spoil even that one by making the mother break the engagement. All of a sudden she began to care what other people thought. So so exhausting.
Every good story must have a conflict. The conflict here was contrived. It was like they had to search for a problem to pin on Conall. So it turns out that he had a family, I wish the problem was that he had not divorced the wife which means he was married when he married Sofia. That would have been a problem. I sincerely don’t get how Conall couldn’t just have mentioned that he abandoned his family. But she forgave him and they moved on. But they had to manufacture another problem again. A stupid one at that.
I feel cheated having read the book. My rational self was telling me to steer clear of a sequel, they usually end badly but Sofia Khan was so nice and funny I thought this one couldn’t go wrong. How wrong I was.
I don’t even have the energy to discuss the ending. Where is it written that if you are going to divorce someone, you don't care about him anymore even though people have been calling you that he is doing badly? And just as if Sofia woke up from a slumber, she then decided she cared enough to go to Karachi. One would think nearly losing him would make her revaluate her choices, but she was hell bent on the divorce. I think the author just wanted to say Sofia got a divorce so as to give Sakib a chance. I don’t know why the insistence on the divorce. Is that how people get divorced? You talk about it once and then it’s over? As if London was half way across the world from Ireland.
Why were there only two choices, either to go to Ireland with Conall or get divorced? Couldn’t she work from Ireland? Or even continue with the relationship while she was still in London? What is this conflict, please?
This book is badly written because the author is coming out with a third book. A bit like milking the first story for all it is worth. I already know how it is going to end. Sofia will marry Sakib and Sakib will die or they will get a divorce and she will marry Conall again. Unfortunately I am not sticking around to confirm this.
My sisters are all waiting for me to read the book but I won’t give it to them. Won’t want them to waste their time as I did.
Before I sign off, that Hamida bit was so so so so annoying and unnecessary.
And I also did not appreciate her extreme awareness of Sakib when she was still married and heartbroken. That didn’t seem like the behaviour of someone who was heartbroken.
Fin ...more

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Apr 05, 2017 Bookread2day rated it liked it · review of another edition

I didn't expect The Other Half Of Happiness to be so funny. This is a funny perfect romance. The story opens up with Oh my actual God. There's a man in my bed! A real man. And what are the rules on Pakistani daughter swearing? Sofia Khan is like a Muslim Bridget Jones. It does seem that Sofia had to fight that little bit harder to find her place in the world. This book hasn't been written with an agenda to educate readers about people on the lives of modern Muslim women and neither did the story ...more

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Apr 27, 2017 Robin Stevens rated it really liked it

I love Ayisha's writing and I love Sofia Khan. There's so much brilliant, funny stuff here about British Muslim life, both the good bits and the bad, and about how tough it can be when you fall in love with someone from another culture than your own. Unexpectedly heartbreaking and expectedly well-observed, I'm looking forward to seeing what Ayisha does next. 14+

*Please note: this review is for recommendation purposes only. Please do not reuse online or in print without my permission. Thank you!* ...more

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Sep 25, 2019 Oda Renate rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

Great addtion to the series, it went in unexpected ways but I liked it.

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May 17, 2017 halfirishgrin rated it it was ok

Shelves: reviewed, aoc, muslimshelfspace

There were a lot of things that I liked about this book, but unfortunately, it wasn't exactly what I had hoped it would be.

So Sofia Khan is now married - great! And this sequel to Sofia Khan is Not Obliged look into the other side of marriage, once you get past the whole fairy-tale idealism of it. That marriage is not just falling in love and living happily after, it is much much more.

And I was really glad for it - honestly - but I don't understand why being faced with the reality that marriage ...more

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Aug 07, 2017 A P rated it did not like it

Shelves: august-2017-december-2017

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 10, 2020 Mani rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 3-star-reads, books-read-in-2020

Having read the first book “Sofia Khan is not Obliged” last year for book club I couldn’t wait to pick this follow up book.

The Other Half of Happiness continues to follow Sofia as she moves to Karachi, Pakistan with her new husband Conall, who is currently on a work assignment out there. From the very beginning I knew this was going to be a very different read and basically the whole book revolved around the poor communication, hidden feelings and family secrets between Sofia and Conall. To me t ...more

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Jun 25, 2017 Joanne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: muslim-authors, ownvoices, ramadan-readathon-2017, adult-romance, adult-contemporary

Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.

I absolutely adored Sofia Khan is Not Obliged by Ayisha Malik - so much so that I bought the sequel, The Other Half of Happiness before I was even half way through the first. I opened the second book looking forward to visiting these incredible characters again, and the humour that is a huge part of Sofia's personality. And although there is some humour, The Other Half of Happiness is a very different book. Where the first was a romcom, The Other Half is Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.

I absolutely adored Sofia Khan is Not Obliged by Ayisha Malik - so much so that I bought the sequel, The Other Half of Happiness before I was even half way through the first. I opened the second book looking forward to visiting these incredible characters again, and the humour that is a huge part of Sofia's personality. And although there is some humour, The Other Half of Happiness is a very different book. Where the first was a romcom, The Other Half is more of a drama. And it was absolutely incredible.

Where Sofia Khan is Not Obliged was lighthearted and humorous for the most part, The Other Half is a lot more emotional. I think it would be unfair to say, "Don't pick up this book expecting the first," because the characters are still the same people - there's Sofia's mum making hilarious but inappropriate comments, there are Sofia's friends being absolutely incredible, wonderful women, and there's Sofia being Sofia, who who I just love and so wish I could be friends with - but Sofia soon finds herself in completely different circumstances, and levity is hard to find.

I spent most of the book with a heavy heart. Not only is she finding it difficult to deal with the revelation of Conall's secret, but she's still grieving her father's death, plus feeling upset and kind of betrayed that her mother has decided to marry her childhood sweetheart, when her dad hasn't been dead a year yet. I got to a point where I was thinking, "What?!", gobsmacked and angry and upset on Sofia's behalf, wondering how Sofia was meant to get past this roadblock, but as the story continues, things just spirals more and more out of control. I was reading with a feeling of desperation, so emotionally involved in the story, and hoping so much that things would go a certain way, but then the story takes a turn that filled me with a differnt kind of desperation, one of fear and uncertainty.

The Other Half of Happiness had a surprising ending, and yet maybe it shouldn't have been surprising, because it was realistic. I have thoughts, but they will be spoil the story, so don't click the button if you have yet to read the novel and don't want it spoilt for you.

(view spoiler)[
In the end, it doesn't come down to the fact that Sofia doesn't forgive Conall for lying and for leaving her to be with his son, Eamonn. It comes down to happiness. If Eamonn and his mother lived in London, there's not a doubt in my mind that she and Conall could have worked through things. But he didn't, he lived in Ireland, and Conall needed to right the wrongs of his past and be there for his son. And Sofia's choice came down to going with Conall to Ireland, or staying in London to be a part of something important, something that she loved and was passionate about. There was sacrifice to either choice. And sometimes, love just isn't enough. Because she does love Conall. And yes there's compromise, but when do you stop compromising and put your happiness first? I think she's learnt from her mother, how her marriage wasn't really a happy one, and now she's finally found a chance at real happiness. Sure, Sofia isn't choosing between two men, she's choosing between the man she's in love with, and a chance to actually make a real difference with co-founding a new publishing house, but when there's a chance at a fulfilled and happy life, even though it will be hard to be without Conall, and a life in Ireland where she will be unhappy... why should she sacrifice what will make her happiest in the long run? And there's no question that Conall should - must - go to Ireland and be with his son, Sofia isn't asking him to stay.

Yes, as a reader, I'm upset that things didn't turn out differently, that somehow Conall could be with his son, Sofia could start her new publishing house, and they could be together. Of course I wanted that happy ever after for them both. But this ending is more realistic. Things don't always work out in real life. Life isn't a fairy tale. And I'm actually happy that Sofia put herself first, her happiness first. I'm proud of her. Subtle feminism has run throughout both these two novels, but I feel it really plays its part here; love isn't necessarily everything, finding a partner isn't the only dream a woman has, and women should fight for and go for their dreams. I'm not sure that's necessarily the message of the book, but it's what I felt about Sofia's choice. A woman chose herself over a man. And I absolutely bloody love that. (hide spoiler)]

The Other Half of Happiness isn't the book I was expecting. It was hugely emotional and heart-wrenching, but all the better for it. I may have adored Sofia Khan is Not Obliged, but I love The Other Half of Happiness more. It's real, it's raw, and it's beautiful. And I will absolutely read everything Malik writes in the future. I cannot recommend these two books enough. ...more

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Nov 10, 2017 Clair Sharpe rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: library-books, 2017, female-authors, hardbacks, chick-lit, pakistan

Following on from the novel Sofia Khan is not Obliged, we join Sofia and her newly converted husband in Karachi, as they start married life together, as a Muslim couple. Told in the form of diary entries over the course of a year, it's very much like Bridget Jones (which the author readily admits was an influence) but with a Muslim protagonist, family and friends. I love Sofia's voice and I find the whole immersion into the Muslim culture fascinating. I lookibg forward to seeing what Ayisha Mali ...more

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Jun 05, 2017 Shelley rated it it was ok · review of another edition

The writing was fine. I liked the day/month structure of the book; made it really easy to get through (and easy to convince yourself you'll read just one more chapter before bed). I do think it was necessary for Malik to re-introduce Sofia's friends better. It's been a year since I'd read the first book and it was a bit difficult remembering which friend had which personality and which friend ended up with which guy. Strangely, being unable to remember her friends well, their personalities/lives ...more

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Jan 26, 2017 Jess rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, anticipated-2017-releases, read-in-2017, 2017-poc-author-challenge, 100-authors-of-colour-challenge

Check out this review and more on my blog!

I received an ARC of The Other Half of Happiness from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Check out my review of Sofia Khan is Not Obliged here!

3.5 Stars

Last year I read Ayisha Malik's debut, Sofia Khan is Not Obliged, and really enjoyed it, so I was thrilled when I was approached by the publisher and offered the chance to receive an ARC of the sequel, The Other Half of Happiness. If you haven't read Sofia Khan is Not Obliged and you're plann Check out this review and more on my blog!

I received an ARC of The Other Half of Happiness from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Check out my review of Sofia Khan is Not Obliged here!

3.5 Stars

Last year I read Ayisha Malik's debut, Sofia Khan is Not Obliged, and really enjoyed it, so I was thrilled when I was approached by the publisher and offered the chance to receive an ARC of the sequel, The Other Half of Happiness. If you haven't read Sofia Khan is Not Obliged and you're planning to then I suggest you stop reading this review now; I try to keep my reviews spoiler-free, but as this book is a sequel there will be spoilers for the end of the first book here.

One of the things I mentioned in my review of the first book was that it felt like two different books in one; the first half of the book was very much a Muslim Bridget Jones's Diary while the second half took a more serious turn, leaving me a little unsure as to the kind of tone the book was trying to hit. The Other Half of Happiness felt much more like the latter half of the first book, but Malik has still littered the story with a great sense of humour and Sofia is still such a fun protagonist to follow.

Honestly, I found this book difficult to rate and see-sawed between 3 and 4 stars for a long time before I finally compromised and settled on 3.5. I loved the relationship between Sofia and Conall in the first book - the end of Sofia Khan is Not Obliged definitely gave me the warm fuzzies - and I'm still not sure how I feel about what happens to their relationship in this book. As the blurb suggests, Sofia discovers that Conall has a pretty big secret and that secret turned Conall into someone I wasn't sure I liked anymore. I appreciated that Conall became more complex, that he's definitely not perfect despite Sofia's idolisation of him in the first book, but the secret he keeps from Sofia is not okay (the keeping it from her that is, not the secret itself) and I got a little frustrated by the way he seemed to look down on Sofia's writing career in this book while expecting her to put up with his own passion project. This was especially confusing considering he was so supportive of her in the first book.

What Sofia was lacking in romance in this book, however, she certainly made up for in the relationships with the other women in her life. I loved that Malik chose to explore the relationship Sofia has with her mother, in particular, as well as her sister and her friends. They're all incredibly supportive of Sofia, and it was nice to see this focus when so much of the first book was focused on Sofia's romantic life. So much of Sofia's life seems to have been focused on romance and marriage that, in this book, it felt as though she was finally able to pour more of her energy into the other areas of her life, such as her career.

Unfortunately, I didn't quite enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed the first one. I loved the themes that Malik chose to explore, but so much of the book was Sofia being sad and moping; this is completely justified considering what happens, but it didn't make for particularly thrilling reading. In fact parts of this book felt like reading the first book again, with Sofia once again unsure where her life is going or what's going to become of her career - I desperately wanted her to use her own initiative more rather than simply jumping on the opportunities other people offered her. She's a bright woman, she just needed a bit of a kick up the backside from time to time.

I did still like this book, though, and I recommend both Sofia Khan books - particularly if you enjoy contemporary, and especially if you're interested in reading a Muslim protagonist written by a Muslim author. ...more

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Feb 09, 2019 Halima Naveed-Hussain rated it really liked it

A cliff hanger throughout

Very different to the first book and not as optimistic and fun to read much more serious however enjoyed it but was hard work reading as had emotions all over the place. So many options available to end the book and think a better ending would be more satisfying. Maybe author is setting a lead to another book and if so get it written already.....

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Apr 28, 2017 Kadidja May rated it really liked it

Shelves: diverse-protagonist

I really love the themes of this duology: the obsession of having a significant other by the time you're 30 (as a woman), the expectation that it has to be perfect once you do, the duty of pleasing your family, the stigma of separations and new beginnings, the challenges between mix-raced couples paired with the evolvement of conversion... As someone from a Muslim background, and as a woman today, I can't but be grateful for these topics being part of literature.

One of the things I love about So I really love the themes of this duology: the obsession of having a significant other by the time you're 30 (as a woman), the expectation that it has to be perfect once you do, the duty of pleasing your family, the stigma of separations and new beginnings, the challenges between mix-raced couples paired with the evolvement of conversion... As someone from a Muslim background, and as a woman today, I can't but be grateful for these topics being part of literature.

One of the things I love about Sofia is her no-BS, no lovey-dovey attitude. It's one of the same reasons I love Lizzie Bennet. They're not pining for a man or seeking validation through one, and their resolution to follow their heart (eventually) against mainstream expectations is a model of woman that should be much more present. Because even with a partner, what's right for you and your growth?

On to this volume specifically: A lot happens. I found large parts frustrating, which was justified as the characters themselves were frustrated too (and I was sitting there thinking, well great! because my life isn't frustrating enough already), but I can really appreciate it now. Sofia's focus goes beyond romance and she dedicates more time to understand her family, her friends and herself.

I also enjoyed reading more about his story too, finally! What are his motivations, where is he from, who is he??

There's a different feel to the characters, which might be due to it being a second volume, or maybe it's a result of new circumstances. It's easy to be annoyed at characters not communicating with each other properly, but let's be real, this happens all the time IRL.

Ultimately, the title sums it up pretty well. Was I rooting for how it developed? Of course not. Do I understand it? Yes. Loved this Quran verse being mentioned, "You may hate something that is good for you and you may love something that is bad for you." What are the solid things in Sofia's life? What's the sensible choice to stand strong on her own two feet? Who can support that, and are feelings enough to bridge priorities? Maybe yes, maybe no, but having a partner isn't the end of it all. Sometimes the other side of happiness can be the best place to grow, and who knows what greater things you could gain there? ...more

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Apr 03, 2017 Katherine Sunderland rated it really liked it

I was absolutely thrilled to receive a review copy of this novel as I have been eagerly anticipating it's arrival since finishing the last page of Ayisha Malik's first book a year ago. This novel is a continuation of Sofia's story. It is possible to enjoy as a stand alone, but probably makes more sense to read Sofia Khan is not Obliged first as this story continues to share with us the ups and downs and ins and outs of the relationship between Sofia and Conall who are now married.

I'm also absolu ...more

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Jun 11, 2017 Nadira rated it really liked it

#NadirasPointOfReview: The Other Half of Happiness by Ayisha Malik. This is the sequel #2 to Sofia Khan is Not Obliged.
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Synopsis: Sofia Khan is just married. But no-one told her life was going to be this way. Her living situation is in dire straits, her husband is distant, and his annoyingly attractive colleague is ringing all sorts of alarm bells. When her mother forces them into a belated wedding ceremony, Sofia wonders if it might be a chance to bring the families together. But when it forces ...more

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Mar 18, 2017 Ellie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit, we-need-diverse-books

I loved Conall's character in the first book so I was a little disappointed in the direction the sequel took. However, married life is never going to be perfect and the reality of marrying someone she barely knows hits Sofia not long after the deed is done. This must be a real problem for those who don't do long term relationships before marriage, whatever culture you're from. Doubled with the fact that divorce is so frowned upon.

Following her father's death, it's clearer that Sofia's mother did ...more

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May 20, 2017 Shagufta rated it liked it

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I loved reading a book with a a Muslim character figuring out marriage and her spouse.
My full video review can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqqHM... ...more

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Jun 02, 2020 Romana rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit-and-romance-adult

3.5 stars.

Ultimately, I didn't enjoy The Other Half of Happiness as much as its prequel, but I was still happy to return to Sofia's world and laugh along with her and her family.

Sofia Khan is finally married to the perfect man. Or, so she thinks. But her neighbour-turned-husband, Conall, is becoming increasingly secretive and distant as Sofia returns to London and begins what she hopes will be their long future together. As the couple approach a belated wedding ceremony hastily arranged by Sofia 3.5 stars.

Ultimately, I didn't enjoy The Other Half of Happiness as much as its prequel, but I was still happy to return to Sofia's world and laugh along with her and her family.

Sofia Khan is finally married to the perfect man. Or, so she thinks. But her neighbour-turned-husband, Conall, is becoming increasingly secretive and distant as Sofia returns to London and begins what she hopes will be their long future together. As the couple approach a belated wedding ceremony hastily arranged by Sofia's mother, the buried secrets of Conall's past begin to bubble to the surface, forcing Sofia to ask herself how well she really knows her husband.

One thing became certain with the first few pages of this novel: Sofia's voice is great. Whilst in SKINO (the first book) her narration was overshadowed by its somewhat uncomfortable similarities to Bridget Jones, this time I felt much more confident in Sofia's individuality and self-assurance, even aside from the famous chick-lit heroine that she is partially based on. I think Sofia is funny and relatable, and at the end of the day, that is what I expect from a comic protagonist.

Having said this, Sofia does have a tendency to ramble and repeat herself. This is in part an aspect of her character, but I think that Ayisha Malik could have cut back on this and given a little more focus to the novel's plot. At times I found myself wanting to skim read because the repetition of the same comic phrases and observations became tiring. Similarly, whilst the satirical humour was indeed funny, Malik did get carried away at times. Conversations which largely took place between Sofia and her mum became uncomfortable to the point where I started disliking the characters, even though I don't think Malik intended it this way. I think it could have been brought down a notch, or at least addressed with some commitment by Sofia and her sister.

I am torn about the actual plot of TOHOH. In a lot of ways, I believe that Malik made the right decisions about where to take Sofia's story, but at the same time...I wouldn't have been mad if she had chosen alternative options? No further comment.

Overall, I was relatively satisfied with this book, even if it didn't quite live up to my expectations. I remain grateful to Ayisha Malik for creating a strong, female, Muslim protagonist and supporting characters who I think are authentic and true to themselves. From what I've gathered from interviews and author's notes, I have a feeling that Malik will begin to move away from the chick lit genre, into more political territory, whilst maintaining a focus on religion - something she has already begun to do with her latest book. I am definitely not against reading her future publications for this exact reason. I think she will thrive without the 'comedy' label which I think can be somewhat restrictive or difficult to navigate when an author wants to explore sociopolitical issues and/or religion in depth. ...more

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About Ayisha Malik

Ayisha Malik

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Ayisha is a British Muslim, lifelong Londoner, and lover of books. She read English Literature and went on to complete an MA in Creative Writing (though told most of her family it was an MA in English Literature – Creative Writing is not a subject, after all.) She has spent various spells teaching, photocopying, volunteering and being a publicist. Now, when she isn’t searching for a jar of Nutella ...more

Other books in the series

Sofia Khan (2 books)

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Sofia Khan is Not Obliged (Sofia Khan #1)

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“Some people stay the same their whole life; consistent. And then some people just evolve a little later. I went from this weird, geeky kid to, I don’t know. This.’ He opened up his arms. ‘And now that I’m here I think we both realised we didn’t work any more.’ He looked at the ground. ‘She said she loved that geeky kid.” — 0 likes

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