What do you think?
Rate this book
The Wedding Planner
After surviving a tumultuous marriage, Nayela Faruqi returns to her hometown of Awadh. She buys the royal Shanbagh Palace not only to convert it into a wedding house but because of the connection she felt with the old harbor of the Royals of Awadh.
If not great, Nayela is at least living a peaceful life with her daughter Maira when someone strums the chords of her life.
In walks, Yasir Ahmad Shah, Nayela’s brother-in-law and the owner of the vast Shah Empire.
Nayela is taken both by shock and surprise when she meets Yasir after a long distance of six years. Someone she could really count on after her parents.
Yasir had a soft corner for Nayela. He in fact loved Nayela but accepted Nayela and Faraz’s marriage as his brother fell head over heels for Nayela.
Now, when Faraz is gone and Nayela struggles with the hardships of single motherhood while establishing her foothold in the wedding business of Awadh will Yasir’s presence carve any impression on Nayela’s lonely heart.
Will Yasir bring any change in Nayela and Maira’s dull and lonely lives? Will Yasir ever be able to show his heart to Nayela?
And will Nayela ever be able to see Yasir more than a friend. Will she ever realize Yasir’s love ignoring the reality of Yasir being her dead husband’s brother?
And if the lonely hearts ever find love in each other will Zareen Ahmad Shah, Yasir’s mother and Nayela’s mother-in-law, accept Nayela back in the Shah Household?
Author's Note: It's a clean and lighthearted sweet romance with a Happily Ever After. If you're looking for passion, intrigue, and suspense, please try my other book - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
If not great, Nayela is at least living a peaceful life with her daughter Maira when someone strums the chords of her life.
In walks, Yasir Ahmad Shah, Nayela’s brother-in-law and the owner of the vast Shah Empire.
Nayela is taken both by shock and surprise when she meets Yasir after a long distance of six years. Someone she could really count on after her parents.
Yasir had a soft corner for Nayela. He in fact loved Nayela but accepted Nayela and Faraz’s marriage as his brother fell head over heels for Nayela.
Now, when Faraz is gone and Nayela struggles with the hardships of single motherhood while establishing her foothold in the wedding business of Awadh will Yasir’s presence carve any impression on Nayela’s lonely heart.
Will Yasir bring any change in Nayela and Maira’s dull and lonely lives? Will Yasir ever be able to show his heart to Nayela?
And will Nayela ever be able to see Yasir more than a friend. Will she ever realize Yasir’s love ignoring the reality of Yasir being her dead husband’s brother?
And if the lonely hearts ever find love in each other will Zareen Ahmad Shah, Yasir’s mother and Nayela’s mother-in-law, accept Nayela back in the Shah Household?
Author's Note: It's a clean and lighthearted sweet romance with a Happily Ever After. If you're looking for passion, intrigue, and suspense, please try my other book - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
162 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 20, 2017
11 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Mariyam Hasnain
66 books69 followersMariyam Hasnain writes the kind of unapologetically steamy and emotionally devastating romances that ruin your sleep schedule and melt your Kindle. Her stories pulse with desire, tension, heartbreak, and raw chemistry—where one touch is dangerous, one kiss is life-altering, and one night can rewrite destinies.
From sinful contemporary heroes who smolder with dominance to paranormal alphas driven by dark, forbidden longing, Mariyam creates worlds where the heat never fades—and neither do the feelings.
Her books promise obsession, tenderness, redemption, and emotional gut punches wrapped in addictive passion, leaving your heart aching one moment and racing the next.
If you crave unfiltered steam, explosive chemistry, and love stories that scorch your soul while breaking and healing it in equal measure…
Welcome to Mariyam Hasnain’s universe.
When she isn’t crafting wickedly sensual and emotionally rich romances, Mariyam is a mischievous night owl, a devoted mom, and a woman who believes life should be lived with passion—on and off the page. She pours that same fire, vulnerability, and fierce tenderness into every story she writes.
From sinful contemporary heroes who smolder with dominance to paranormal alphas driven by dark, forbidden longing, Mariyam creates worlds where the heat never fades—and neither do the feelings.
Her books promise obsession, tenderness, redemption, and emotional gut punches wrapped in addictive passion, leaving your heart aching one moment and racing the next.
If you crave unfiltered steam, explosive chemistry, and love stories that scorch your soul while breaking and healing it in equal measure…
Welcome to Mariyam Hasnain’s universe.
When she isn’t crafting wickedly sensual and emotionally rich romances, Mariyam is a mischievous night owl, a devoted mom, and a woman who believes life should be lived with passion—on and off the page. She pours that same fire, vulnerability, and fierce tenderness into every story she writes.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 20, 2018
The Wedding Planner is a sweet romance about a pair of youthful friends who reconnect as adults after life has forced them in different directions.
I enjoyed the addition of the glossary at the first of the book to decipher all the included cultural words I was unfamiliar with.
This was an enjoyable quick read and I’d be happy to try more from this author.
I enjoyed the addition of the glossary at the first of the book to decipher all the included cultural words I was unfamiliar with.
This was an enjoyable quick read and I’d be happy to try more from this author.
January 11, 2018
4 STARS= Very Good= Enjoyable= I liked it very much...!
The Wedding Planner was a sweet and touching love story. Both Nayela and Yasir were highly likeable characters. I was rooting for their happiness right from the start. It was lovely to see them reconnect with each other, resolve their past issues and overcome current obstacles. Their feelings were real and seemed to grow stronger and stronger with each passing scene. The bond between Nayela and her daughter was also heart-warming and I loved how naturally Yasir fit in with them. In short, I found this book an enjoyable read and would definitely be reading other books by the author as well :-)
Disclosure: Received a free copy from the author in exchange of an honest review.
The Wedding Planner was a sweet and touching love story. Both Nayela and Yasir were highly likeable characters. I was rooting for their happiness right from the start. It was lovely to see them reconnect with each other, resolve their past issues and overcome current obstacles. Their feelings were real and seemed to grow stronger and stronger with each passing scene. The bond between Nayela and her daughter was also heart-warming and I loved how naturally Yasir fit in with them. In short, I found this book an enjoyable read and would definitely be reading other books by the author as well :-)
Disclosure: Received a free copy from the author in exchange of an honest review.
July 7, 2018
Interesting story. I liked the shifting POV and the author has dealt with it beautifully. It takes us to the wedding scene where there is a lot of love and laughter. Both Nayela and Yasir and well-etched characters with the chemistry between them, I would say out of 10 a definite 7. Romance lovers will love this book. Ethnic and subtle romance.
May 1, 2019
Book Title: The Wedding Planner
Author: Mariyam Hasnain
Genre: Fiction/Romance
Book Title:
The book title,' The Wedding Planner ' is interesting.
Book Cover:
The book cover is an image of a couple in love. There is nothing much to be described on the cover, but definitely, the colors are bright and nice.
Plot:
The story is about two people, a boy, and girl, who are childhood friends and have grown up together with siblings and cousins around. The innocent love between them grew and blossomed into an unconditional love story. The happiness and harmony in their little world were disturbed for some unforeseen reasons, and thus the friends had to part their ways. It was only after some years, the destiny played its game and they meet together in some unaffordable situations. The evils like ego, mistrust, vengeance, and selfishness when overpowering the good virtues in a man, the relationships he or she built around him or her collapse resulting in utter dismay. In the web of these, two tender hearts had to suffer, i.e. the male and the female protagonists.
The story starts with a wedding. a wedding plan, a wedding planner and a wedding place. The wedding place holds great importance in the story. The author has beautifully used the wedding place as an object that travels through the story. It should be observed that a love story need not always be a college romance or a bubbly and cute story. Love is an abstract noun, it can happen anywhere, anyhow and between anyone. Everything in this life has a second chance and Love is not an exception.
In the book, the love story between the main characters travels between past and present where many other people are also seen involved. The love of a brother on his sister, the love, and respect for his mother, the love towards his work and the acceptance ability of any situation tangled with love are the traits of the male protagonist. Adaptability, acceptance, self-strength, and confidence are the traits of the female protagonist.
The story takes many turns and amidst these constraints, will the love story have a happy ending? Well, you must read the book!
What I liked:
1. Narration
2. The storyline
3. Matured love story
What I didn't like:
Nothing to dislike.
Narration:
Very interesting style of narration in the first person according to the characters is a great breakthrough from general style of storytelling.
Characters:
Every character in the story is justified.
Language Grammar:
Good language and rich vocabulary are used.
My Verdict:
An excellent, practical and a matured love story!
Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover: 3/5
Plot: 4/5
Narration: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Language Grammar: 5/5
Final Rating: 4/5
Author: Mariyam Hasnain
Genre: Fiction/Romance
Book Title:
The book title,' The Wedding Planner ' is interesting.
Book Cover:
The book cover is an image of a couple in love. There is nothing much to be described on the cover, but definitely, the colors are bright and nice.
Plot:
The story is about two people, a boy, and girl, who are childhood friends and have grown up together with siblings and cousins around. The innocent love between them grew and blossomed into an unconditional love story. The happiness and harmony in their little world were disturbed for some unforeseen reasons, and thus the friends had to part their ways. It was only after some years, the destiny played its game and they meet together in some unaffordable situations. The evils like ego, mistrust, vengeance, and selfishness when overpowering the good virtues in a man, the relationships he or she built around him or her collapse resulting in utter dismay. In the web of these, two tender hearts had to suffer, i.e. the male and the female protagonists.
The story starts with a wedding. a wedding plan, a wedding planner and a wedding place. The wedding place holds great importance in the story. The author has beautifully used the wedding place as an object that travels through the story. It should be observed that a love story need not always be a college romance or a bubbly and cute story. Love is an abstract noun, it can happen anywhere, anyhow and between anyone. Everything in this life has a second chance and Love is not an exception.
In the book, the love story between the main characters travels between past and present where many other people are also seen involved. The love of a brother on his sister, the love, and respect for his mother, the love towards his work and the acceptance ability of any situation tangled with love are the traits of the male protagonist. Adaptability, acceptance, self-strength, and confidence are the traits of the female protagonist.
The story takes many turns and amidst these constraints, will the love story have a happy ending? Well, you must read the book!
What I liked:
1. Narration
2. The storyline
3. Matured love story
What I didn't like:
Nothing to dislike.
Narration:
Very interesting style of narration in the first person according to the characters is a great breakthrough from general style of storytelling.
Characters:
Every character in the story is justified.
Language Grammar:
Good language and rich vocabulary are used.
My Verdict:
An excellent, practical and a matured love story!
Book Title: 3/5
Book Cover: 3/5
Plot: 4/5
Narration: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Language Grammar: 5/5
Final Rating: 4/5
January 2, 2018
A Love Story Told From Two Perspectives…
Told in the first person by both Nayela and Yasir in alternating chapters, “The Wedding Planner” delights insofar as it offers the insights of both our main characters as the story unfolds, and while each perspective is told with skill, Nayela’s story takes the lead by a shade in importance if for the simple reason that the novel begins with her. After returning from Mumbai to her hometown of Awadh with her young daughter Mairi, Nayela buys Shanbagh and converts it into a wedding house. She is widowed, and on the day her husband Faraz Shah is laid to rest, the entire Shah household, including Faraz’ younger brother Yasir, reject her, holding her responsible for Faraz’s demise, so her feelings toward Yasir are now complicated. She is angry at him but she has always been undeniably attracted to him as well. After a apologetic message, Nayela begins to warm to the idea of a relationship with Yasir, but since the Shahs don’t know about Mairi—largely due to the overbearing presence of Zareen Ahmad Shah, Mairi’s grandmother, who may wish to take her away—Nayela tries to hold back from getting involved with Yasir. Yet, they have always been crazy about each other, and fall in love they do, with Zareen eventually finding out about Mairi and, as Nayela feared, wishing to take her away. Can Yasir stand up to his mother for once and put his love for Nayela first? Can Nayela find a way to heal the family dynamics or will her life be torn apart? These are the issues brought forth and handled deftly by the author as she weaves both Nayela’s and Yasir’s perspectives together with great tenderness, insight, and emotional resonance. And, as an added bonus, terms unfamiliar to the reader are addressed at the outset so that you can easily immerse yourself in the culture and all its richness.
Told in the first person by both Nayela and Yasir in alternating chapters, “The Wedding Planner” delights insofar as it offers the insights of both our main characters as the story unfolds, and while each perspective is told with skill, Nayela’s story takes the lead by a shade in importance if for the simple reason that the novel begins with her. After returning from Mumbai to her hometown of Awadh with her young daughter Mairi, Nayela buys Shanbagh and converts it into a wedding house. She is widowed, and on the day her husband Faraz Shah is laid to rest, the entire Shah household, including Faraz’ younger brother Yasir, reject her, holding her responsible for Faraz’s demise, so her feelings toward Yasir are now complicated. She is angry at him but she has always been undeniably attracted to him as well. After a apologetic message, Nayela begins to warm to the idea of a relationship with Yasir, but since the Shahs don’t know about Mairi—largely due to the overbearing presence of Zareen Ahmad Shah, Mairi’s grandmother, who may wish to take her away—Nayela tries to hold back from getting involved with Yasir. Yet, they have always been crazy about each other, and fall in love they do, with Zareen eventually finding out about Mairi and, as Nayela feared, wishing to take her away. Can Yasir stand up to his mother for once and put his love for Nayela first? Can Nayela find a way to heal the family dynamics or will her life be torn apart? These are the issues brought forth and handled deftly by the author as she weaves both Nayela’s and Yasir’s perspectives together with great tenderness, insight, and emotional resonance. And, as an added bonus, terms unfamiliar to the reader are addressed at the outset so that you can easily immerse yourself in the culture and all its richness.
January 25, 2018
The wedding planner is a beautiful romance story which combines powerful and realistic characters with the scenery of India.
The characters jump off the page, and we become engrossed in their world from the first chapter. The alternating narration between the two main characters Nayla and Yasir allows us to learn each character’s thoughts intimately. From the beginning of the story we root for them to find their way to each even though family trouble initially make it seem impossible.
The art of a good story is its ability to transpose us to a different world and make us forget that we are reading a book, and the Wedding Planner does that through the strength of its characters.
The author also did a great job of mixing in sensory detail in a way that makes the setting feel realistic without slowing down the pacing of the story.
The characters jump off the page, and we become engrossed in their world from the first chapter. The alternating narration between the two main characters Nayla and Yasir allows us to learn each character’s thoughts intimately. From the beginning of the story we root for them to find their way to each even though family trouble initially make it seem impossible.
The art of a good story is its ability to transpose us to a different world and make us forget that we are reading a book, and the Wedding Planner does that through the strength of its characters.
The author also did a great job of mixing in sensory detail in a way that makes the setting feel realistic without slowing down the pacing of the story.
March 26, 2018
I very much enjoyed this story. It was set in India, which was new and fascinating for me. I loved the landscape of the story as well as learning about the cultural differences. This was a sweet, clean romance, based around Nayla and Yasir. I couldn't help but hope that these two would find their way through difficult family situations and real world drama. The pacing of the story was excellent and I became deeply engrossed in the story and the world in which these characters live in.
If you're a fan of sweet, clean romances, this is definitely the one for you!
If you're a fan of sweet, clean romances, this is definitely the one for you!
March 8, 2018
The Wedding Planner is told in alternate point-of-view of Nayela and Yasir, both likeable characters. Nayela is a single mother and Yasir her brother-in-law. Their history and background are peppered throughout the chapters. The cultural references help build a credible world of Shanbagh with sensory details that do not distract from the storyline.
It is also reminiscent of Harlequin light romance. Yet, IMO, there is much more depth in the characters and every chapter keeps the plot flowing forward. The glossary is extremely useful. What I love here, and really lifts the book IMO is the depth of the characters, the flow of the writing and the author’s open discussion of prejudice here. As Nayela’s mother-in-law –who obviously finds no fault in her elder son- puts it:
It was her [Nayela] duty to not let her man go on a lust ride. She should have worked on her relationship with Faraz. Even if it required quitting her job and staying at home for him.
How cruel to blame it on Nayela for her husband’s affair. How harsh to call her a witch. How awful to say that it’s okay for her son to cheat as ‘it’s a part of a royal blood.’
Nayela here portrays women’s strength as she raises her daughter by herself, refuses to accept help from her parents, and starts her own business.
An enjoyable book with a clean romance that I do recommend.
It is also reminiscent of Harlequin light romance. Yet, IMO, there is much more depth in the characters and every chapter keeps the plot flowing forward. The glossary is extremely useful. What I love here, and really lifts the book IMO is the depth of the characters, the flow of the writing and the author’s open discussion of prejudice here. As Nayela’s mother-in-law –who obviously finds no fault in her elder son- puts it:
It was her [Nayela] duty to not let her man go on a lust ride. She should have worked on her relationship with Faraz. Even if it required quitting her job and staying at home for him.
How cruel to blame it on Nayela for her husband’s affair. How harsh to call her a witch. How awful to say that it’s okay for her son to cheat as ‘it’s a part of a royal blood.’
Nayela here portrays women’s strength as she raises her daughter by herself, refuses to accept help from her parents, and starts her own business.
An enjoyable book with a clean romance that I do recommend.
February 28, 2018
Rating: 3.5
The Wedding Planner is essentially a novel about a single mother who finds love in her life again and learns to love her life and forgive in turn.
The book's main characters Nayela and Yasir are both detailed characters. Both of them have a complicated, "intertwined-with-one-another's" past in which they both loved each other but too afraid to admit it. The rest of the story is basically a testimony of how they got together and what tore the two apart in the first place. It's very reminiscent of Durjoy Datta books and other successful chick-lit. Plot-wise too, it is rife with interesting detail.
The narrative style is surprisingly well executed. When I first began reading, I was extremely skeptical because the entire novel is told in two perspectives: one of Yasir's and one of Nayela's. The problem that often arises with this form of storytelling is the inability to keep the events in order; but, Hasnain manages to perform this feat with ease with one charming technique. Each chapter ends with a neat transition into the next perspective. Hasnain highlights her ability to effectively narrate a story between multiple perspectives while maintaining clarity on the events and each character's perspectives on those events.
However, there are some things that do falter in the novel. For example, the spacing of the plot could be a little more effective because there is a lot of background information given suddenly in one chapter. Rather, I think spacing the events in novel would be a little easier on the reader. Likewise, some of the chapters were unnecessarily erotic to the point where the love Yasir felt for Nayela felt a little in-genuine.
Overall however, the Wedding Planner is successful at being an entertaining, sweet novel and provides some insight about forgiveness and fighting for true love. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who feels desperate in their situation after a breakup.
Disclaimer: I was asked by the author, Mariyam Hasnain, to review this book in an honest, consise manner and all opinions in this review are formulated by me and have no external influences.
The Wedding Planner is essentially a novel about a single mother who finds love in her life again and learns to love her life and forgive in turn.
The book's main characters Nayela and Yasir are both detailed characters. Both of them have a complicated, "intertwined-with-one-another's" past in which they both loved each other but too afraid to admit it. The rest of the story is basically a testimony of how they got together and what tore the two apart in the first place. It's very reminiscent of Durjoy Datta books and other successful chick-lit. Plot-wise too, it is rife with interesting detail.
The narrative style is surprisingly well executed. When I first began reading, I was extremely skeptical because the entire novel is told in two perspectives: one of Yasir's and one of Nayela's. The problem that often arises with this form of storytelling is the inability to keep the events in order; but, Hasnain manages to perform this feat with ease with one charming technique. Each chapter ends with a neat transition into the next perspective. Hasnain highlights her ability to effectively narrate a story between multiple perspectives while maintaining clarity on the events and each character's perspectives on those events.
However, there are some things that do falter in the novel. For example, the spacing of the plot could be a little more effective because there is a lot of background information given suddenly in one chapter. Rather, I think spacing the events in novel would be a little easier on the reader. Likewise, some of the chapters were unnecessarily erotic to the point where the love Yasir felt for Nayela felt a little in-genuine.
Overall however, the Wedding Planner is successful at being an entertaining, sweet novel and provides some insight about forgiveness and fighting for true love. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who feels desperate in their situation after a breakup.
Disclaimer: I was asked by the author, Mariyam Hasnain, to review this book in an honest, consise manner and all opinions in this review are formulated by me and have no external influences.
May 16, 2019
I Have Said It Time & Again Earlier And Have Absolutely No Hesitation In Repeating It Again. The Effortless Flipping Of The POV Of The Lead Characters Is Definitely The USP Of MARIYAM HASNAIN Unique Storytelling Style That Instantly Draws In The Readers To Her Tales That Are Mostly Heartwarming And Soul Stirring Too.
Each Time I Get To Pick Up A New Book Penned By MARIYAM HASNAIN It Is Almost Like A Long Overdue Homecoming After A Long And Tiring Journey.
Maybe I Could Be Wrong But The Feel I Personally Get Is That The Shift In The POV Narrating The Story Adds Depth To The Characters Thus Offering An Engulfing Bigger Picture To The Readers Rather Than Telling The Same Story From A Unidimensional Plain.
There Is An Old World Charm That Is Bound To Tug The Heartstrings, More So, If You Happen To Be Anyone Who Has Ever Felt The Pain Of A Broken💔 And Has Believed That Love Will Sparkle Their Lives Again ‘The Wedding Planner Has Been Most Thoughtfully Dedicated To Those Who Have Loved & Lost And Yet Believe That Love & Life Shall Come Together To Give Them A Second Chance.
Not Too Sure Which Came First ‘The Wedding Planner’ Or ‘The Wedding Photographer’ But Both Had A Lot In Common Apart From Love That Is The Leitmotif Of All Her Soul Stirring Romantic Stories But Perhaps It’s The Backdrop Of Lucknow That Stirs A Feeling Of déjà vu Between These Two Tales Penned So Absolutely Beautifully By MARIYAM HASNAIN.
‘The Wedding Planner’ Is A Complicated Yet Soul Searching Love Story That Revolves Around Nayela Faruqi Her Fatherless Daughter Maira & The Two Men In Her Life Faraz & Yasir Ahmad Shah Who Are Entangled In This Lovestory...How Destiny Throws Them Together & Keeps Pulling Them Apart Cruelly..All Said & Done It’s Nayela Who Is Torn Apart By Circumstances As Destiny Mocks Her By Threatening To Snatch Away Every Person She Has Loved More Than Her Own Life. If Realistic Love Stories Are What You Connect With Then Indeed ‘The Wedding Planner’ Is Right Up Your Alley!!!”
Each Time I Get To Pick Up A New Book Penned By MARIYAM HASNAIN It Is Almost Like A Long Overdue Homecoming After A Long And Tiring Journey.
Maybe I Could Be Wrong But The Feel I Personally Get Is That The Shift In The POV Narrating The Story Adds Depth To The Characters Thus Offering An Engulfing Bigger Picture To The Readers Rather Than Telling The Same Story From A Unidimensional Plain.
There Is An Old World Charm That Is Bound To Tug The Heartstrings, More So, If You Happen To Be Anyone Who Has Ever Felt The Pain Of A Broken💔 And Has Believed That Love Will Sparkle Their Lives Again ‘The Wedding Planner Has Been Most Thoughtfully Dedicated To Those Who Have Loved & Lost And Yet Believe That Love & Life Shall Come Together To Give Them A Second Chance.
Not Too Sure Which Came First ‘The Wedding Planner’ Or ‘The Wedding Photographer’ But Both Had A Lot In Common Apart From Love That Is The Leitmotif Of All Her Soul Stirring Romantic Stories But Perhaps It’s The Backdrop Of Lucknow That Stirs A Feeling Of déjà vu Between These Two Tales Penned So Absolutely Beautifully By MARIYAM HASNAIN.
‘The Wedding Planner’ Is A Complicated Yet Soul Searching Love Story That Revolves Around Nayela Faruqi Her Fatherless Daughter Maira & The Two Men In Her Life Faraz & Yasir Ahmad Shah Who Are Entangled In This Lovestory...How Destiny Throws Them Together & Keeps Pulling Them Apart Cruelly..All Said & Done It’s Nayela Who Is Torn Apart By Circumstances As Destiny Mocks Her By Threatening To Snatch Away Every Person She Has Loved More Than Her Own Life. If Realistic Love Stories Are What You Connect With Then Indeed ‘The Wedding Planner’ Is Right Up Your Alley!!!”
January 7, 2018
A sweet and beautiful love story written in POV of both the protagonists Nayela and Yasir who meet after six years. The author has beautifully weaved a very realistic and emotional roller coaster relationship of two childhood friends who are separated due to misunderstandings . Both Nay and Yasir’s characters were well developed and didn’t feel rushed the story was written from both their perspective which gave insights of from each characters perspective as the story unfolds. The author has beautifully described the culture and rich heritage of the city even though I have never visited India I felt I was enjoying a royal ambiance. I enjoyed how effortlessly the author has weaved beautiful Urdu words in her sentences making the story more authentic and giving it a regal feel. The author has beautifully captured the intricacies of close relationships , the beautiful friendship and bond that started from the childhood innocence to adulthood between Nayela and Yasir, The bond of friendship and trust formed due to similar circumstances between Nayela and Ezra, the beautiful mother daughter relationship between Nayela and Maira, the bond between siblings that Yasir and Shama share and the complex relationship between Mrs Shah and her kids how she manipulate her kids even knowing where their happiness lies and on the other hand Nayela parents and their relationship with her and how well they understand their daughter feelings and aspirations , the story has beautifully captured different shades and variations of relationships so seamlessly. This was the first story I have read written by Mariyam and I would definitely be reading more books by this talented author. A beautiful love story which couldn’t be kept down until I was done reading it . I read it in one sitting it just pulled me in from the first page, A total page turner. Definitely a must recommend.
January 7, 2018
The wedding planner is a touching love story which begins with the meeting of old friends Nayela and Yasir. The story alternates between their point of view and the two characters as well as the cast of other characters including their family and friends are all well-drawn and believable. Nayela and Yasir are both very likable characters - strong yet vulnerable and you will be rooting for them from the beginning!
The story moves quite quickly - a bit too quickly in places as some events were swiftly resolved and over before they started. However, the Indian setting of the story was evocatively portrayed bringing the sights, sounds and smells of India vividly to life. As the story progresses more fo the backstory is revealed and is skillfully intertwined with the characters' developing relationship. As well as the romance we also see how they interact with the other characters including their parents and siblings and these relationships are complex and believable. Yasir's mother is a particularly interesting character as someone who has had to recover from tragedy yet is also the architect of many of the obstacles to the happiness of Nayela and Yasir and ultimately herself.
This is a story which takes in a range of emotions from grief to mistrust to love in all its forms and I found it hard to put down. Overall I would say if you enjoy a good love story, this one is well worth reading.
The story moves quite quickly - a bit too quickly in places as some events were swiftly resolved and over before they started. However, the Indian setting of the story was evocatively portrayed bringing the sights, sounds and smells of India vividly to life. As the story progresses more fo the backstory is revealed and is skillfully intertwined with the characters' developing relationship. As well as the romance we also see how they interact with the other characters including their parents and siblings and these relationships are complex and believable. Yasir's mother is a particularly interesting character as someone who has had to recover from tragedy yet is also the architect of many of the obstacles to the happiness of Nayela and Yasir and ultimately herself.
This is a story which takes in a range of emotions from grief to mistrust to love in all its forms and I found it hard to put down. Overall I would say if you enjoy a good love story, this one is well worth reading.
February 1, 2018
Wedding Planner Checks All the Boxes ...
Husnain brings a fresh innocence and engaging spirit to the romance novella. And what is mood without wallpaper? Pastoral scenes are richly painted but the details don’t stop there. My favorite, a smile flashing to show “all of her stained teeth dyed red from years of chewing areca nuts and tobacco wrapped in betel leaves.” Now that’s life. A brief index to Indian vocab is provided to help insert the reader into the culture without missing a beat. The author knows her landscape well.
I marveled at how Nayela’s actions and thoughts constantly seemed to be at loggerheads, keeping the reader guessing. Such is the fragile-but-frugal second chance at love. The plotting maps out well with a few twists progressing the pent-up passion in the duty-bound backdrop of arranged marriages. Did I say passion? It’s a clean, teasing read from “that crooked but kind smile with double-barreled dimples” all the way to when “pleasure bubbles had formed inside of me.” There’s a sugary sweetness to it all. The Wedding Planner is an enjoyable, expertly crafted read.
This review was written in exchange for a free copy.
Husnain brings a fresh innocence and engaging spirit to the romance novella. And what is mood without wallpaper? Pastoral scenes are richly painted but the details don’t stop there. My favorite, a smile flashing to show “all of her stained teeth dyed red from years of chewing areca nuts and tobacco wrapped in betel leaves.” Now that’s life. A brief index to Indian vocab is provided to help insert the reader into the culture without missing a beat. The author knows her landscape well.
I marveled at how Nayela’s actions and thoughts constantly seemed to be at loggerheads, keeping the reader guessing. Such is the fragile-but-frugal second chance at love. The plotting maps out well with a few twists progressing the pent-up passion in the duty-bound backdrop of arranged marriages. Did I say passion? It’s a clean, teasing read from “that crooked but kind smile with double-barreled dimples” all the way to when “pleasure bubbles had formed inside of me.” There’s a sugary sweetness to it all. The Wedding Planner is an enjoyable, expertly crafted read.
This review was written in exchange for a free copy.
March 17, 2018
Mariyam Hasnain's The Wedding Planner is not your regular love story with bits of tragedy sprinkled over it; this story is deeply subjective, and brims with emotions.
I have to say this straightaway — I loved every bit of it!
Full of hope and faith in love, The Wedding Planner is not just a sweet love novel; it is a life lesson that every person should inculcate within themselves. The plot has two equally independent protagonists — Nayela and Yasir — who justify their thoughts, yet give in to the bond of love and friendship that they share with each other.
The Wedding Planner is also an encouragement of hoping again. Today, in this semi-dystopian postmodern life, where we are troubled to strike a balance between emotions and duties, the notion of "hope" is facing away gradually.
So, the reassurance of hope in matters of love and family reverberates through ever instance in The Wedding Planner.
In short, The Wedding Planner is a story of hope.
I hope Hasnain will keep up the good work!
I have to say this straightaway — I loved every bit of it!
Full of hope and faith in love, The Wedding Planner is not just a sweet love novel; it is a life lesson that every person should inculcate within themselves. The plot has two equally independent protagonists — Nayela and Yasir — who justify their thoughts, yet give in to the bond of love and friendship that they share with each other.
The Wedding Planner is also an encouragement of hoping again. Today, in this semi-dystopian postmodern life, where we are troubled to strike a balance between emotions and duties, the notion of "hope" is facing away gradually.
So, the reassurance of hope in matters of love and family reverberates through ever instance in The Wedding Planner.
In short, The Wedding Planner is a story of hope.
I hope Hasnain will keep up the good work!
December 29, 2017
Nayela is one of the most beautiful characters I’ve read in a long while. This is also one of the most realistically presented loved stories I’ve read as well. I simply adored that the relationships made sense, felt real, and had some truly hard issues to deal with. This was about more than romantic love. It was about love on the whole.
The mother and daughter bond between Nayela and Maira was marvelous, and heartwarming. I also thought that the family complexities with Yasir and his mother, as well as his mother and Nayela made for some very tense moments but also lead to my absolute favorite part.
The end was so spectacular on several levels. The emotions I felt were so real, I couldn’t stop reading, needing to know how things would end for everyone. I’m so glad I read this beautiful story of love and I highly recommend you do too.
The mother and daughter bond between Nayela and Maira was marvelous, and heartwarming. I also thought that the family complexities with Yasir and his mother, as well as his mother and Nayela made for some very tense moments but also lead to my absolute favorite part.
The end was so spectacular on several levels. The emotions I felt were so real, I couldn’t stop reading, needing to know how things would end for everyone. I’m so glad I read this beautiful story of love and I highly recommend you do too.
January 30, 2018
The Wedding Planner is a sweet romance about long lost friends who reunite and realize their feelings for one another haven't changed over the years. Nayela and Yasir still have many obstacles to overcome before they can have a happily-ever-after but true love is worth the fight! Circumstances beyond their control might have kept them apart, but the truth will always win out in the end.
Ms. Hasnain did a remarkable job of creating the sights, sounds and smells of India. I was immersed in the story so much that it felt like I was smack dab in the center of Awadh. I especially enjoyed the Glossary in the beginning of the book which clearly stated the word and their meaning. Cleverly done!
The Wedding Planner was an enjoyable read and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a sweet romance.
Ms. Hasnain did a remarkable job of creating the sights, sounds and smells of India. I was immersed in the story so much that it felt like I was smack dab in the center of Awadh. I especially enjoyed the Glossary in the beginning of the book which clearly stated the word and their meaning. Cleverly done!
The Wedding Planner was an enjoyable read and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a sweet romance.
January 18, 2018
This book is like a sweet cup of tea on a warm and sunny afternoon.
It's a light easy read and I very much enjoyed it. I like how the pov alternates between Yasir and Nayela.
The love story between the two main characters seems doomed at first due to the complex family relationship. It is so obvious the affection they have for each other but Nayela's motherly priority is to her daughter. A relationship which is loving and caring and stands in sharp contrast with the manipulative relationship Zareen has with her children.
The author is very skilled at bringing the culture into the story, it is not just the background of the story but in a way, it is the reason for the story. The culture explains a lot of the family dynamics.
It's a light easy read and I very much enjoyed it. I like how the pov alternates between Yasir and Nayela.
The love story between the two main characters seems doomed at first due to the complex family relationship. It is so obvious the affection they have for each other but Nayela's motherly priority is to her daughter. A relationship which is loving and caring and stands in sharp contrast with the manipulative relationship Zareen has with her children.
The author is very skilled at bringing the culture into the story, it is not just the background of the story but in a way, it is the reason for the story. The culture explains a lot of the family dynamics.
February 26, 2018
Set against the beautiful scenery of a fictional area of the Awadh region in Northern India, the Wedding Planner provides a sweet and light romantic read. The will they, won’t they, nature of the romance between Nayela and Yasir is fraught with conflict - From family battles to past involvements and a long-held secret. I enjoyed the storyline but found some of the language and expressions difficult to follow. It took me a while to get used to this. There is a glossary of words at the front which I found helpful. This, however, did not distract from my enjoyment of the story itself, and the cultural aspects were informative and central to the story.
For contemporary romance readers, a warming read for those rainy days or dark nights.
For contemporary romance readers, a warming read for those rainy days or dark nights.
May 20, 2018
This is a sweet romance with just the right amount a tension with Nayela and Yasir's family. Nayela was married to Yasir's brother and after his death, his family reacted totally in the wrong way. I kept wondering what happened with Nayela and Faraz, but it was revealed towards the end. Even the bad guys (Yasir's family) has a good side and you see it towards the end. They aren't really bad, just went through bad situations.
If you like sweet, clean and realistic romances, this book is for you. The only reason I docked it a star is that sometimes, it seemed like the wrong words were used in some places and perhaps needed a editors. There's no typos or grammatical errors, it would just be sometimes, I was reading and I would think, "I don't think that word it right."
If you like sweet, clean and realistic romances, this book is for you. The only reason I docked it a star is that sometimes, it seemed like the wrong words were used in some places and perhaps needed a editors. There's no typos or grammatical errors, it would just be sometimes, I was reading and I would think, "I don't think that word it right."
February 21, 2018
This is a story of Nayela and Yasir, old friends who moved away from each other because of some sad circumstances. They meet after a long time and could feel sparks flying. I will not talk much about the story as its totally worth reading.
I loved the way the book is written. Its told in first person by both the characters. You know exactly how both of them are feeling and what they are thinking. My favourite of both the characters is that of Nayela. She is a strong woman who is trying make a good like for herself and her daughter. There are other characters that are required in the story but are not as important. However, I feel that the author has done a great job in describing various relationships like that of a mother-daughter, son – mother, friends and also that of siblings.
Read the complete review on my blog - http://blushesandsparkle.com/the-wedd...
I loved the way the book is written. Its told in first person by both the characters. You know exactly how both of them are feeling and what they are thinking. My favourite of both the characters is that of Nayela. She is a strong woman who is trying make a good like for herself and her daughter. There are other characters that are required in the story but are not as important. However, I feel that the author has done a great job in describing various relationships like that of a mother-daughter, son – mother, friends and also that of siblings.
Read the complete review on my blog - http://blushesandsparkle.com/the-wedd...
May 9, 2018
A very moving love story between childhood friends that kept me turning the pages until the very end. A must read
June 5, 2018
lovely read. Crisp emotional romantic drama of two broken souls. would recommend it to those who enjoy reading second chance romance.
January 3, 2018
"The Wedding Planner" is really a sweet love story. Even though there are two point of views to the story, it flows smoothly. Nayla and Yasir meet after six years. Their last meeting was not on a happy note. Will they clear all misunderstandings? Will love triumph? Will Nayla's daughter accept Yasir? Will Yasir's mother stop blaming Nayla for what happened? Will Nayla's dead husband's ghost hang over them?
Family, emotion forms the basis of the story. Additionally, the fragrance of Awadh floats while reading about it.
Nicely woven. I would recommend to all who like romance books.
Family, emotion forms the basis of the story. Additionally, the fragrance of Awadh floats while reading about it.
Nicely woven. I would recommend to all who like romance books.
January 16, 2019
This is a clean romantic read about a single mom finding love again. Yasir and Nayela become good friends in college and the sparks fly, but Nayela marries another. A few years later Nayela meets Yasir again at her wedding venue, Shanbagh Palace, when he plans his sister’s wedding.
The story takes off from there and we learn why Nayela married Faraz instead of Yasir. Lots of family details and customs added interest to the plot. The narrative flows smoothly and is told from both Nayela and Yasir’s viewpoints.
I connected with Nayela and Yasir and enjoyed the mystery of their romantic past and potential for a future together. There are revealing and devastating emotional blows for Nayela about her husband that keep the reader engaged.
The pace at the beginning was slowed down by so much background information. Sometimes I felt the story got lost because of this. There are some issues that could benefit from editing and yet this is an enjoyable romance and a nice easy read. 4 Stars.
The story takes off from there and we learn why Nayela married Faraz instead of Yasir. Lots of family details and customs added interest to the plot. The narrative flows smoothly and is told from both Nayela and Yasir’s viewpoints.
I connected with Nayela and Yasir and enjoyed the mystery of their romantic past and potential for a future together. There are revealing and devastating emotional blows for Nayela about her husband that keep the reader engaged.
The pace at the beginning was slowed down by so much background information. Sometimes I felt the story got lost because of this. There are some issues that could benefit from editing and yet this is an enjoyable romance and a nice easy read. 4 Stars.
May 19, 2018
This was a touching love story set in India. The author delivers beautiful prose and vibrant scene descriptions that made me feel fully absorbed by the setting—especially as I imagined the sparkling Shanbagh Palace at night. I genuinely liked and was rooting for the two main characters, Nayela and Yasir, from whose perspective the told. The plot moved rather slow, although since this was a character driven story rather than a plot-driven story that’s to be expected, and the author kept me hooked by dropping hints without fully revealing the mystery of Nayela’s complicated past with the Shah family until quite late in the story. Overall, an enjoyable read that I would recommend.
September 3, 2018
I love reading short, simple and no fuss-no mess stories...This is one of them...but there are so many loose ends in the story...No one knows what happened that night with Nayela....I felt like story ended abruptly....but good work...I like desi feel stories...
June 1, 2018
Sweet Second Chance Romance
Enjoyed reading the story of friendship and love. I liked the alternating POVs and that made me feel connected to both characters equally. A sweet read!
Enjoyed reading the story of friendship and love. I liked the alternating POVs and that made me feel connected to both characters equally. A sweet read!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews