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Requited Unrequited Love
A full-fledged adult in the eyes of society, but not in the eyes of her mother, who follows the norms of their culture blindly. This is Kristina—a daughter of two Egyptian immigrant parents—and her doomed reality. She still lives at home and has absolutely zero freedom, both preventing her from crossing off the mundane items on her many bucket lists.
As a psychology major, Kristina tries to cope—for instance, by talking with her pen pal, Adam, as her online persona, Eve. Even though she avoids men at all costs because of her past, he happens to be the only exception.
Kristina is aware that if she were to get married, then—poof—magically, that would all change. Because by gaining a husband, she would be gaining her freedom, although compromising her detestation for her desire. It’s an unfortunate two-package deal, but the only solution.
Enter Augustine and his—quite literal—proposal. The only problem? He’s a rude, arrogant, ill-mannered demon of a man who Kristina cannot stand. Neither can he stand her, but he has his own two-package deal—his own hidden gain.
So, the feeling is mutual; they get married, pretend to love each other in front of others, and live their separate lives, keeping their distance from one another when no one is watching.
Also mutual? They’re both unaware of the fact that they’re already close—as Adam and Eve.
A win-win for all indeed. Strictly business.
What could possibly go wrong? Other than facing a new set of mundane items, such as deception, love, and rejection.
As a psychology major, Kristina tries to cope—for instance, by talking with her pen pal, Adam, as her online persona, Eve. Even though she avoids men at all costs because of her past, he happens to be the only exception.
Kristina is aware that if she were to get married, then—poof—magically, that would all change. Because by gaining a husband, she would be gaining her freedom, although compromising her detestation for her desire. It’s an unfortunate two-package deal, but the only solution.
Enter Augustine and his—quite literal—proposal. The only problem? He’s a rude, arrogant, ill-mannered demon of a man who Kristina cannot stand. Neither can he stand her, but he has his own two-package deal—his own hidden gain.
So, the feeling is mutual; they get married, pretend to love each other in front of others, and live their separate lives, keeping their distance from one another when no one is watching.
Also mutual? They’re both unaware of the fact that they’re already close—as Adam and Eve.
A win-win for all indeed. Strictly business.
What could possibly go wrong? Other than facing a new set of mundane items, such as deception, love, and rejection.
476 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 20, 2023
415 people are currently reading
9464 people want to read
About the author
Mina Ramzy
1 book163 followersWith a passion for psychology and storytelling, the Egyptian author, Mina Ramzy, decided to combine them into books. Her goal is to raise awareness on important topics, but also to show the strength of human relationships. And to try and let everyone feel represented in her work.
She loves romantic stories the most—especially when the love interests somehow hate each other. Ah yes, in hate and in love, till the slow burn do them part, only to bring them together at the end of the ceremony. Honestly? She wouldn't have it any other way.
In her free time, she can be found enjoying her me time, planning her life, daydreaming, cuddling with her cat, eating loads of chocolate, and consuming stories. Or, plotting her next one.
She loves romantic stories the most—especially when the love interests somehow hate each other. Ah yes, in hate and in love, till the slow burn do them part, only to bring them together at the end of the ceremony. Honestly? She wouldn't have it any other way.
In her free time, she can be found enjoying her me time, planning her life, daydreaming, cuddling with her cat, eating loads of chocolate, and consuming stories. Or, plotting her next one.
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February 1, 2023DNF @ 30%
This book had a lot of potential, especially bc it had some of my fave tropes - enemies to lovers, secret penpals, marriage of convenience etc
And yet this was so boring. It’s told in single POV from the FMC perspective and there was just too much inner monologue for me to enjoy her as a character. I did not like being in her head at all. She was whiny and a little bit annoying.
The author also has a note at the start of the book that “Some passages in this book might be considered more non-fiction. These parts aim to raise awareness of mental health and cultural suppression” and while I appreciate wanting to raise awareness for various issues, it felt too much like an info dump that was perhaps a copy and paste from google.
This book had a lot of potential, especially bc it had some of my fave tropes - enemies to lovers, secret penpals, marriage of convenience etc
And yet this was so boring. It’s told in single POV from the FMC perspective and there was just too much inner monologue for me to enjoy her as a character. I did not like being in her head at all. She was whiny and a little bit annoying.
The author also has a note at the start of the book that “Some passages in this book might be considered more non-fiction. These parts aim to raise awareness of mental health and cultural suppression” and while I appreciate wanting to raise awareness for various issues, it felt too much like an info dump that was perhaps a copy and paste from google.
February 5, 2023
ok lol I can't write a review 💀 maybe I will the second time around- just know I'm not exaggerating when I say this book literally spoke to my soul
augustinekristina thank you for making me believe I'll have a marriage of convenience with my sworn enemy only to fall in love with them I love you guys so fucking much <3
and my feelings about have never felt so valid so thank you mina for writing this book i haven't cried this hard since finals season <3
p.s mina if you ever come past this review please let us know if delanofarah are getting a book I NEED IT LIKE I NEED AIR PLEASE 🙏
augustinekristina thank you for making me believe I'll have a marriage of convenience with my sworn enemy only to fall in love with them I love you guys so fucking much <3
and my feelings about have never felt so valid so thank you mina for writing this book i haven't cried this hard since finals season <3
p.s mina if you ever come past this review please let us know if delanofarah are getting a book I NEED IT LIKE I NEED AIR PLEASE 🙏
February 14, 2023
DNF
couldn’t even finish the first chapter, whats the point of marketing this entire book as ‘arab rep’ if ur going to make her hate being arab and write lines like “im not fond of egyptians”
also shes super cringey like i wanted to rip my eyes out reading her dialogue
couldn’t even finish the first chapter, whats the point of marketing this entire book as ‘arab rep’ if ur going to make her hate being arab and write lines like “im not fond of egyptians”
also shes super cringey like i wanted to rip my eyes out reading her dialogue
April 16, 2023
Wow.. this book was so bad but so catchy at the same time.
It had so much inner monologue, I actually found myself skipping pages, which I never do. It was like reading an essay. It had the structure too because "to conclude" (and many more) was used way too many times. Do some people really talk like this to themselves? Do they really think like this?
Also, the dialogue was not believable at all. That's not how people talk in real life, God forbid if they do, it was so cringe.😬
The action was good, the random information dump was not. Though, I did like the fact that me and the author, Mina, share the same thoughts on topics she talks about. About religion, patriarchy, men in general, women and so much more.
I, however, absolutely adore how Augustine calls Kristina "love". It reminds me so much of Warner, as well as his actions. I do actually think it was inspired by him. 1.5 stars for that because duhh
The smut also took me by surprise. Didnt know it had any, let alone this much. I should have known honestly, but oh well.🤷♀️
It had so much inner monologue, I actually found myself skipping pages, which I never do. It was like reading an essay. It had the structure too because "to conclude" (and many more) was used way too many times. Do some people really talk like this to themselves? Do they really think like this?
Also, the dialogue was not believable at all. That's not how people talk in real life, God forbid if they do, it was so cringe.😬
The action was good, the random information dump was not. Though, I did like the fact that me and the author, Mina, share the same thoughts on topics she talks about. About religion, patriarchy, men in general, women and so much more.
I, however, absolutely adore how Augustine calls Kristina "love". It reminds me so much of Warner, as well as his actions. I do actually think it was inspired by him. 1.5 stars for that because duhh
The smut also took me by surprise. Didnt know it had any, let alone this much. I should have known honestly, but oh well.🤷♀️
March 6, 2023
booktok lied to me .
this read like a miraculous ladybug ao3 fanfic written by a 15 year old who threw every trope they could into the pot bc they wanted to reach a word count .
the dialogue made me want to die. the mc was annoying. what made it worse was her inner monologue lasted 12 pages per chapter. the author tries to touch on deep topics , but just info dumps in the middle of her story. mc has a gay bestfriend , serves no purpose .
augustine’s groveling carried .
spoiler 🙈 !! the author not even bothering to give the mc’s abusive ex a name or description was so ew. forcing your female mc to go thru sa to force development is not good writing & i hate this trope .
this read like a miraculous ladybug ao3 fanfic written by a 15 year old who threw every trope they could into the pot bc they wanted to reach a word count .
the dialogue made me want to die. the mc was annoying. what made it worse was her inner monologue lasted 12 pages per chapter. the author tries to touch on deep topics , but just info dumps in the middle of her story. mc has a gay bestfriend , serves no purpose .
augustine’s groveling carried .
spoiler 🙈 !! the author not even bothering to give the mc’s abusive ex a name or description was so ew. forcing your female mc to go thru sa to force development is not good writing & i hate this trope .
May 31, 2023
Yeah hated this from the beginning I only finished quick bc I skipped so much of it omg. There was so much random info dumping like they were reciting straight from google, and along w that, so many proverbs trying to sound woke. HATED THE FEMALE LEAD HOLY FUCK ME AND HER WOULD BE GOING AT IT W FISTICUFFS THE SECOND SHE OPENED HER MOUTH. Annoying and immature asf and for what.
Cringey evil plan speech at the beginning.
The hissing ???
Unnatural sounding conversations
Fucking Goose and Teen???
Worst dirty talk
weird monologues
I’m PISSED that Augustine’s mom died while only Kristina was in the room bruh her kids didn’t get to say goodbye and then she had the audacity right after to tell Augustine it was UNFAIR that he didn’t tell her HIS mom was sick when they were literally still enemies then
Forever be a hater of children why is there always an epilogue w CHILDREN
Also TW if u do wanna read this
Cringey evil plan speech at the beginning.
The hissing ???
Unnatural sounding conversations
Fucking Goose and Teen???
Worst dirty talk
weird monologues
I’m PISSED that Augustine’s mom died while only Kristina was in the room bruh her kids didn’t get to say goodbye and then she had the audacity right after to tell Augustine it was UNFAIR that he didn’t tell her HIS mom was sick when they were literally still enemies then
Forever be a hater of children why is there always an epilogue w CHILDREN
Also TW if u do wanna read this
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2023
Ummm this feels like a trauma dump? So much hate nothing was good in the egyptian culture? Hell I’m not even egyptian but girl got so much hate
July 14, 2023
⭐2, booktok needs to stop playing with me. Listen, this plot had a HUGE potential, its 450 pages but 99% of this book was an inner monologue. I really wanted to like this book, but no. Author's writing style was so boring and exhausting to read.
January 16, 2023
“Two pained souls helped each other heal. She proved to him that he could love a woman and treat her right. He proved to her that she could love a man and be treated right”
Think of the movie ‘you’ve got mail’ mixed with a marriage of convenience in Arab culture.
All my life I was looking for a story that can encapsulate the kind of effect a culture can inflict on you especially when you live in a Americanized society. To be more clear, I speak of marriage. It’s a concept I never really understood. We’re expected to know things about it that our parents refuse to tell us. We’re expected to accept it, and to be prepared to drop evreything and give ourselves to a man. And it’s not a bad thing…but because we don’t understand it, we end up making it seem like a villainized concept. So i get scared, and constantly speak how I would never marry an Arab man.
Then a wonderful author came knocking into my dms and to sum up she said :“I saw you struggle being a middleastern and hate marriage, let me give you a book with exactly what your feeling and reel in your hate, to love”
Reading this book as a Syrian American, in the perspective of a Egyptian, made me realize how SO similar we view our culture for the younger generation. She poured everything into the story that I’ve always wished to be able to explain.
But to make something very clear, I need ANY MENA girl to realize that if your Muslim and plan to read this book…don’t read it because your Muslim, read it because you are MENA. Read it because of CULTURE. This is not in the perspective of a Muslim women, however, it needs to be said loud and clear that we are one in the same back in our blad, our countries, we have ALWAYS lived as one. Never able to differentiate who we are because we always had our culture holding us from the roots. We all have arranged marriages, it’s frankly who we are.
Kristina’s mind was everything I feel put into one. My hate for love, marriage, Arab men, HATING this culture makes things mysogintic, and HATING how our own parents confuse it for religion. Whether it be Islam, Christianity, or Judaism (being the main source in our countries), NONE teach you that women can’t do what men do. Yet the problem stemmed from how our culture manipulates us into thinking it does.
Mina Ramzy captured that perfectly. She didn’t make you hate your culture, but she made you understand it. She helped you accept and love it despite the up and downs, despite the difference of opinions. She makes you love LOVE. And I cried from how beautiful it was. That we do, surprisingly, have men out there in our culture who are GOOD. We just need to find that one Romeo in a world filled with trumps.
Fair warning!! There is spice scenes between two Arab adults, and there is some triggering content related to past trauma!
Thank you Mina, for writing it to some of the Arab girls who always felt this way.
P.s. ur acknowledgment made me sob uncontrollably, I love how so many of this came from your real life and that it inspired you
Think of the movie ‘you’ve got mail’ mixed with a marriage of convenience in Arab culture.
All my life I was looking for a story that can encapsulate the kind of effect a culture can inflict on you especially when you live in a Americanized society. To be more clear, I speak of marriage. It’s a concept I never really understood. We’re expected to know things about it that our parents refuse to tell us. We’re expected to accept it, and to be prepared to drop evreything and give ourselves to a man. And it’s not a bad thing…but because we don’t understand it, we end up making it seem like a villainized concept. So i get scared, and constantly speak how I would never marry an Arab man.
Then a wonderful author came knocking into my dms and to sum up she said :“I saw you struggle being a middleastern and hate marriage, let me give you a book with exactly what your feeling and reel in your hate, to love”
Reading this book as a Syrian American, in the perspective of a Egyptian, made me realize how SO similar we view our culture for the younger generation. She poured everything into the story that I’ve always wished to be able to explain.
But to make something very clear, I need ANY MENA girl to realize that if your Muslim and plan to read this book…don’t read it because your Muslim, read it because you are MENA. Read it because of CULTURE. This is not in the perspective of a Muslim women, however, it needs to be said loud and clear that we are one in the same back in our blad, our countries, we have ALWAYS lived as one. Never able to differentiate who we are because we always had our culture holding us from the roots. We all have arranged marriages, it’s frankly who we are.
Kristina’s mind was everything I feel put into one. My hate for love, marriage, Arab men, HATING this culture makes things mysogintic, and HATING how our own parents confuse it for religion. Whether it be Islam, Christianity, or Judaism (being the main source in our countries), NONE teach you that women can’t do what men do. Yet the problem stemmed from how our culture manipulates us into thinking it does.
Mina Ramzy captured that perfectly. She didn’t make you hate your culture, but she made you understand it. She helped you accept and love it despite the up and downs, despite the difference of opinions. She makes you love LOVE. And I cried from how beautiful it was. That we do, surprisingly, have men out there in our culture who are GOOD. We just need to find that one Romeo in a world filled with trumps.
Fair warning!! There is spice scenes between two Arab adults, and there is some triggering content related to past trauma!
Thank you Mina, for writing it to some of the Arab girls who always felt this way.
P.s. ur acknowledgment made me sob uncontrollably, I love how so many of this came from your real life and that it inspired you
Want to read
January 21, 2023I heard arab-rep , the good the ugly ALL OF IT and so I ran 🏃
plz be good , plz plz be good
plz be good , plz plz be good
February 23, 2023
I wanted to love this book soooooo bad yall. The inner dialogues were cute at first, but my God does this gurl like to think and overthink everything. Pages upon pages of inner dialogues that weren’t necessary, and I wished I would have skipped.
Also I tried liking the main characters but the girl was jarring and the guy was pathetic. I usually love it when guys are desperate for the girl, but Kristina practically treated the man like shit up until the last 10% of the book while Augustine was amazing to her the entire book.
The enemies/“I hate him” part was so childish 🙄. The entire book was a bunch of cliches and tropes and it was too much.
Also I tried liking the main characters but the girl was jarring and the guy was pathetic. I usually love it when guys are desperate for the girl, but Kristina practically treated the man like shit up until the last 10% of the book while Augustine was amazing to her the entire book.
The enemies/“I hate him” part was so childish 🙄. The entire book was a bunch of cliches and tropes and it was too much.
March 7, 2023
I really wanted to like this, I reaaallly did. Like hello? Ethnic mothers and the hypocrisy on how daughters and sons are treated?? I was ready to eat this up. Unfortunately, while the vision was there… the execution was not.
1. The female lead really hated on my main man for no damn reason 😭 like girl WHAT WAS THE REASON?!
2. Her constant internal monologue like she’s fckin Hamlet reciting his soliloquy and how she constantly just word dumps text book definitions for EVERYTHING. Like ma’am if I wanted to learn about what the frontal cortex lobe cerebellum I would have googled it. No one cares. The way I just skipped all of her internal dialogue cause ain’t nobody got timeeee. And honestly without the constant internal thoughts the book could have easily been 300 pages MAX.
3. I think the author wanted her to sound very intelligent but went overboard with it? Like girl was about to recite the psychology 101 text book word for word.
4. Female lead doesn’t really have any redeeming qualities.
5. Male lead is a bit blah but mc did not deserve him
6. I guess the author is like trying to bring awareness to a lot of topics in the book she touched on but just didn’t deliver unfortunately.
7. The constant hate and shitting on her own culture and people lmaoooo like damn I get you feel you’ve been oppressed your whole life which as an ethnic woman I can relate to but literally her whole personality was “I hate Egyptians. All Egyptians are this and that and blah blah blah”
The book could have been really great - the idea was there.
1. The female lead really hated on my main man for no damn reason 😭 like girl WHAT WAS THE REASON?!
2. Her constant internal monologue like she’s fckin Hamlet reciting his soliloquy and how she constantly just word dumps text book definitions for EVERYTHING. Like ma’am if I wanted to learn about what the frontal cortex lobe cerebellum I would have googled it. No one cares. The way I just skipped all of her internal dialogue cause ain’t nobody got timeeee. And honestly without the constant internal thoughts the book could have easily been 300 pages MAX.
3. I think the author wanted her to sound very intelligent but went overboard with it? Like girl was about to recite the psychology 101 text book word for word.
4. Female lead doesn’t really have any redeeming qualities.
5. Male lead is a bit blah but mc did not deserve him
6. I guess the author is like trying to bring awareness to a lot of topics in the book she touched on but just didn’t deliver unfortunately.
7. The constant hate and shitting on her own culture and people lmaoooo like damn I get you feel you’ve been oppressed your whole life which as an ethnic woman I can relate to but literally her whole personality was “I hate Egyptians. All Egyptians are this and that and blah blah blah”
The book could have been really great - the idea was there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2023
I'd give 0 stars if it's possible
December 6, 2023
GOODREADS DELETED MY 13 PARAGRAPH REVIEW
March 9, 2023
i’m Egyptian and everything u said about Egypt and its culture is downright wrong!
January 30, 2023
yalahwiiii. this book right here, hit too close to home. Not only are the main characters Arabic, but they’re EGYPTIAN. what more can i ask for?
Augustine is LITERALLY the Arabic version of Aaron warner. you could just tell the man was OBSESSEDDDDD with her from the very beginning.
And Kristina literally says what everyone is thinking in our culture (although she did hate a lil too much on our culture), bas bardo alet hagat we’re all thinking. and this book also had ALL the tropes anyone could ever wish for. enemies to lover✅ marriage of convenience✅ forced proximity✅ one bed✅. this was just so nostalgic for me. not only an Arab, but an Egyptian romance novel is just❤️🩹❤️🩹 AND the love confessions were in Arabic???? YALAHWETYYYY😻
this got two stars off bc the writing could use a lil work, and a lot of this book was rambling about psychology and life, which some people can find boring, bas personally, i loved.
Augustine is LITERALLY the Arabic version of Aaron warner. you could just tell the man was OBSESSEDDDDD with her from the very beginning.
And Kristina literally says what everyone is thinking in our culture (although she did hate a lil too much on our culture), bas bardo alet hagat we’re all thinking. and this book also had ALL the tropes anyone could ever wish for. enemies to lover✅ marriage of convenience✅ forced proximity✅ one bed✅. this was just so nostalgic for me. not only an Arab, but an Egyptian romance novel is just❤️🩹❤️🩹 AND the love confessions were in Arabic???? YALAHWETYYYY😻
this got two stars off bc the writing could use a lil work, and a lot of this book was rambling about psychology and life, which some people can find boring, bas personally, i loved.
May 27, 2023
should’ve stayed unrequited
January 30, 2023
I really really enjoyed reading this book.
I don't even know where to start. The book itself inconcules a lot of tropes that I'm obsessed with. It includes; Enemies to lovers, Marriage of convenience, Forced proximity & Slow burn. And it had me hooked.
The chemestry between "them" got me hooked. I felt it so bad and it made me wanting to read it whenever I got the time. It also has been a while since I've read a book where I also loved the side characters also so much. Like. Alex. We all owe you.
As some of you may know... I. Can't. Annotate. I don't know why. But let me tell you that I couldn't stop annotating this book. It contains so many important life lessons. The book also made me change my perspective on certains subjects. I caught myself that I also told them to my friends yesterday. So, this book impacts you in such a good way.
Sometimes the chapters were almost at the long side but as I said, "sometimes" and "almost." So, don't it scare you away! I just felt to share it with you!
Oh? My heart? Yeah... no. Shattered. How could Mina Ramzy do this to me. You better prepare y'all!
Make sure you check the trigger warnings before you read the book though.
I do recommend this book!
- Lars
I don't even know where to start. The book itself inconcules a lot of tropes that I'm obsessed with. It includes; Enemies to lovers, Marriage of convenience, Forced proximity & Slow burn. And it had me hooked.
The chemestry between "them" got me hooked. I felt it so bad and it made me wanting to read it whenever I got the time. It also has been a while since I've read a book where I also loved the side characters also so much. Like. Alex. We all owe you.
As some of you may know... I. Can't. Annotate. I don't know why. But let me tell you that I couldn't stop annotating this book. It contains so many important life lessons. The book also made me change my perspective on certains subjects. I caught myself that I also told them to my friends yesterday. So, this book impacts you in such a good way.
Sometimes the chapters were almost at the long side but as I said, "sometimes" and "almost." So, don't it scare you away! I just felt to share it with you!
Oh? My heart? Yeah... no. Shattered. How could Mina Ramzy do this to me. You better prepare y'all!
Make sure you check the trigger warnings before you read the book though.
I do recommend this book!
- Lars
May 30, 2023
DNF at 10%
I was first so happy that this had an Egyptian representation, but god the FMC was SOOO ANNOYING
Like all she takes about in her inner monologue is her hate for Egyptian and even tho the double standard is real miss girl here all she said about them was how mean and annoying they are
Her friend took her to meat a group of Egyptian people and all this girl did was judge them
Like you say you hate mean egyptions yet since the moment you met these new people all you did was judge them for being married at 24 or that they have a six year difference with there husbends LIKE UGHH SHUT UP YOU JUDGYY BITCHHH
I was first so happy that this had an Egyptian representation, but god the FMC was SOOO ANNOYING
Like all she takes about in her inner monologue is her hate for Egyptian and even tho the double standard is real miss girl here all she said about them was how mean and annoying they are
Her friend took her to meat a group of Egyptian people and all this girl did was judge them
Like you say you hate mean egyptions yet since the moment you met these new people all you did was judge them for being married at 24 or that they have a six year difference with there husbends LIKE UGHH SHUT UP YOU JUDGYY BITCHHH
February 14, 2023
A ridiculous ridiculous book.
1st Kristina is an asshole, she made sure I hate her guts enough. Augustine deserved a whole lot better. She'd rather love a pen pal a virtual person rather than her husband for an unknown reason. When she found herself thinking of Augustine she'd literally be like 'NO NO I LOVE ADAM' Girll Adam isn't even his real name.
She was also set on hating Augustine and making his life hell when he was the sweetest. He was caring and kind and she was shitty. Why?
The trauma/scars/past relationship part was so uncalled for, we don't anything about her abuser, his name, how they met how he lured her into falling in love with him.
Instead of telling us about that to make Kristina's trauma valid Ms. Mina proceeds to put in a crazy amount of filler paragraphs. They weren't even good at all to keep me indulged in reading, I skipped half of the book and was perfectly up to date.
Another part that bewildered me was how she was traumatised by the only relationship she ever got in and then proceeded to say yes to Augustine like they knew each other their entire life. Doesn't. Add. Up.
Also, very funny, Kristina's whole character revolves around hating the Egyptian people and culture. My baby is such a drama queen and a pick me that she feared going to church on Sundays because Egyptians are so bad. F you, Kristina, really.
This book attacked a lot of the bad parts about the egyptian culture in the most absurd way, how hasn't a full ass adult seen the sunrise ever in her life? It's unrealistic. The oppression of women is everywhere but it isn't as problematic as the writer viewed it. And guess what? Miss Mina is from the Netherlands, I really want to know what the hell she was even talking about.
Let's move on to Alex, she's committing a huge sin by being queer and she knows it, yet she compared her sin to theft, what? Yet, she expects people to accept her, just because she's still human. You're sinning a huge sin and you still go to church with audacity and without repenting, girl what? Criticizing an opinion or a culture is like expressing your point of view is fine, I accept it, but the basic rules of a RELIGION no. That is overstepping every line. You can sin all you want, but don't blame the religion, the rules god has put to on earth to make us evolve.
Absolutely disgusting.
The only reason I am giving this book the second star is Augustine. He kept me going.
1st Kristina is an asshole, she made sure I hate her guts enough. Augustine deserved a whole lot better. She'd rather love a pen pal a virtual person rather than her husband for an unknown reason. When she found herself thinking of Augustine she'd literally be like 'NO NO I LOVE ADAM' Girll Adam isn't even his real name.
She was also set on hating Augustine and making his life hell when he was the sweetest. He was caring and kind and she was shitty. Why?
The trauma/scars/past relationship part was so uncalled for, we don't anything about her abuser, his name, how they met how he lured her into falling in love with him.
Instead of telling us about that to make Kristina's trauma valid Ms. Mina proceeds to put in a crazy amount of filler paragraphs. They weren't even good at all to keep me indulged in reading, I skipped half of the book and was perfectly up to date.
Another part that bewildered me was how she was traumatised by the only relationship she ever got in and then proceeded to say yes to Augustine like they knew each other their entire life. Doesn't. Add. Up.
Also, very funny, Kristina's whole character revolves around hating the Egyptian people and culture. My baby is such a drama queen and a pick me that she feared going to church on Sundays because Egyptians are so bad. F you, Kristina, really.
This book attacked a lot of the bad parts about the egyptian culture in the most absurd way, how hasn't a full ass adult seen the sunrise ever in her life? It's unrealistic. The oppression of women is everywhere but it isn't as problematic as the writer viewed it. And guess what? Miss Mina is from the Netherlands, I really want to know what the hell she was even talking about.
Let's move on to Alex, she's committing a huge sin by being queer and she knows it, yet she compared her sin to theft, what? Yet, she expects people to accept her, just because she's still human. You're sinning a huge sin and you still go to church with audacity and without repenting, girl what? Criticizing an opinion or a culture is like expressing your point of view is fine, I accept it, but the basic rules of a RELIGION no. That is overstepping every line. You can sin all you want, but don't blame the religion, the rules god has put to on earth to make us evolve.
Absolutely disgusting.
The only reason I am giving this book the second star is Augustine. He kept me going.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2023
My first ever DNF and my first ever 0.5stars the book had a lot of potential and so many good tropes but i couldn't get through ch3 and the fact that the author is egyption so are the characters and both hates egypt is a big turn off “Truth be told, I’m not that fond of Egyptians. The only thing they can do is judge, gossip, and act all holy and mighty. " a big fat zero
March 25, 2023
I have never written a review for a book before this one! OMG this books was atrocious! Kristina our main character is soo unbearable! I have never met a worse main character! The main guy was literally the sweetest and deserved better. The constant slander of her Egyptian culture was too much! Say your piece and move on! Every other sentence was Egyptian are this or Egyptians are that! Also her hatred toward Augustine being based on ONE encounter was crazy! Like you would’ve thought this man did the unthinkable. Anyways what a waste of time! This book was way too long and unbearable but I have a thing about DNF books, but I should’ve. Read at your own risk
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2023
Kinda struggled to finish it. Definitely skipped some PAGES because of how boring those parts were. I went in with big expectations, but honestly I was disappointed… I’m guessing English is the author’s second language since some phrases were oddly put but made sense if you’ve read books in Arabic. Honestly it was just like reading a wattpad book (don’t get me wrong used to loove them when I was 13).
March 7, 2023
I desperately wish I could rate something 0 stars. This is the worst thing I’ve read this year, and unfortunately that’s a very low bar.
November 17, 2023
I absolutely adored this book.
January 13, 2023
Requited Unrequited Love is a steamy romance with a well deserved HEA. It features the tropes enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience, forced proximity, slow burn, age gap, and secret identities.
CONTENT WARNINGS
The following content may contain elements that are not suitable for some audiences. Reader discretion is advised.
- Mention and depiction of sexism
- Mention of drunk driving and car accidents
- Mention of queerphobia
- Mention of mental/personality disorders (eating disorder, addiction, psychopathy)
- Mention of suicidal thoughts, suicidality and suicide
- Depiction and mention of self-injurious behavior (self-harm)
- Depiction and mention of death
- Depiction of excessive or gratuitous violence
- Depiction and mention of blood
- Abuse (physical, mental, emotional, verbal)
- Child abuse
- Rape and sexual assault
- Depiction and mention of cancer
- Use of profanity / Cursing and vulgar language
- Explicit and graphic sexual content
DISCLAIMER
Some passages in this book might be considered more non-fiction. These parts aim to raise awareness of mental health and cultural suppression.
CONTENT WARNINGS
The following content may contain elements that are not suitable for some audiences. Reader discretion is advised.
- Mention and depiction of sexism
- Mention of drunk driving and car accidents
- Mention of queerphobia
- Mention of mental/personality disorders (eating disorder, addiction, psychopathy)
- Mention of suicidal thoughts, suicidality and suicide
- Depiction and mention of self-injurious behavior (self-harm)
- Depiction and mention of death
- Depiction of excessive or gratuitous violence
- Depiction and mention of blood
- Abuse (physical, mental, emotional, verbal)
- Child abuse
- Rape and sexual assault
- Depiction and mention of cancer
- Use of profanity / Cursing and vulgar language
- Explicit and graphic sexual content
DISCLAIMER
Some passages in this book might be considered more non-fiction. These parts aim to raise awareness of mental health and cultural suppression.
February 7, 2023
ya alllahhhhhhh 🫶🏻🫶🏻 i adore this book with everything in meeeeee ITS SO personal and i feel like every arab girly would relate to this!!
ARAB REB MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE ONE BED TROPE SIXK TROPE ENEMIES TO LOVERS as well as her being a psych major and an absolute girlboss ❤️🩹 everything kristina mentioned i thought about and before w a5eeran 7asait ena 7d truly saw me and the sayingssss youm gallha “yalla, love” I DIEDDDDD “ana bahebik” and “w ana bahebak augustinus” 🤭🤭🤭
i’ve waited for this FOR SOOO LONG and i need more of mina’s writing ASAPP!!! i m sooo OBSESSED
ARAB REB MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE ONE BED TROPE SIXK TROPE ENEMIES TO LOVERS as well as her being a psych major and an absolute girlboss ❤️🩹 everything kristina mentioned i thought about and before w a5eeran 7asait ena 7d truly saw me and the sayingssss youm gallha “yalla, love” I DIEDDDDD “ana bahebik” and “w ana bahebak augustinus” 🤭🤭🤭
i’ve waited for this FOR SOOO LONG and i need more of mina’s writing ASAPP!!! i m sooo OBSESSED
January 24, 2023
Thank you to Muslim BookTok that gave me the first videos and snipets, and for the author who told me that there would be a paperback version of this book available. This was an intense read for a romance book, and would caution folks to check the list of the TWs/CWs that the author provides, as some of the material that appears in the book can be triggering to readers.
Kristina is a 25 year old Egyptian Copt girl living in an unamed American city (the only way I was able to reference that it was America was because of later contextual clues that come up) with her mom Diana and brother Delano. As a favor for a friend, she meets with his accountant about a financial situation when she meets Augustinus, a 33 year old Egyptain Copt male. No meet cute happens here folks, as that meeting cements Kristina hating Augustine, and Augustine is not keen on her either. A couple of other meetings lead to Augustine proposing a marriage of convenience between the two of them. By becoming married, Kristina will finally have the freedom that she so desperately craves from her mother and antiquated Coptic Egyptian views, and Augustus will have his hidden agenda achieved as well.
The premise was centered around enemies to lovers, and while I am not always fond of marriage of convenience, I felt that for a debut author, Ramzy does fantastic job keeping the enemity going, and also for the story to not go in the general direction that we expect it to. It is semi slow burn, and while there are comedic moments, it is not a formulaic romance novel (indeed, for you romance readers, the narrative is self aware and tries to not fall into those expected tropes). Nevertheless, the debut is enjoyable from a narrative plot. I also appreciated the appraoch to diversity that Ramzy injected into the novel - the queer rep, the various cultural and ethnic characters, ages, and even neurological characters made this seem real, and not a fantasy.
Now, though its a strong debut, and the plot is perfect (in my opinion), there were some stylistic choices that I felt hindered the book. First, I am not sure if this more a narrative that follows Kristina and her "intrusive thoughts", but for a lot of the chapters I would get tired of her explaining concepts to me. I would parts of the narrative or the character POVs because as characters are having dialogue, Kristina goes on a mental rant/ramble on some concept, idea or presence that shifts away from the narrative and you as the reader miss a lot of what is going on with characters. For such a descriptive book with English, Arabic, French, Dutch, and Portugese, I wish we had gotten more descriptors about the environments that our charcters were in. What was so special about the "pub" that Kristina frequented? The church that she and Augustinus were a part? What made their home, a home (especially one that seemed small but cost a million bucks??). Another issue for me was the conversations between Adam (Augustus) and Eve (Kristina), rather, the lack thereof. Acting like preludes to the chapter themselves, you see the conversation between Adam and Eve on the app, but then much of the begining of the chapter is spent by Kristina answering the messages to herself, and not with Adam (Augustinus does it once or twice as well when we get his POV), and while I know that they have been talking with each other for a while, it seemed weird to me that the convos that we got to see between them were so stunted. Finally, I appreciated that the nuances between Coptic Egyptian and Islamic Egyptian cultures was handled so well, but Kristina aversion to other Egyptians, and her culture, that were not dictated by her mother and that relationship of limitations, didn't sit right with me at times. I recognize that this is more indicative from the author and her experience as an Egyptian living abroad, but it did strike me as strange when it came to Kristina and her reticence against other Egyptian people.
Those negatives aside, I really did love this book, Kristina and Augustinus, and I can see myself easily rereading this book.
Kristina is a 25 year old Egyptian Copt girl living in an unamed American city (the only way I was able to reference that it was America was because of later contextual clues that come up) with her mom Diana and brother Delano. As a favor for a friend, she meets with his accountant about a financial situation when she meets Augustinus, a 33 year old Egyptain Copt male. No meet cute happens here folks, as that meeting cements Kristina hating Augustine, and Augustine is not keen on her either. A couple of other meetings lead to Augustine proposing a marriage of convenience between the two of them. By becoming married, Kristina will finally have the freedom that she so desperately craves from her mother and antiquated Coptic Egyptian views, and Augustus will have his hidden agenda achieved as well.
The premise was centered around enemies to lovers, and while I am not always fond of marriage of convenience, I felt that for a debut author, Ramzy does fantastic job keeping the enemity going, and also for the story to not go in the general direction that we expect it to. It is semi slow burn, and while there are comedic moments, it is not a formulaic romance novel (indeed, for you romance readers, the narrative is self aware and tries to not fall into those expected tropes). Nevertheless, the debut is enjoyable from a narrative plot. I also appreciated the appraoch to diversity that Ramzy injected into the novel - the queer rep, the various cultural and ethnic characters, ages, and even neurological characters made this seem real, and not a fantasy.
Now, though its a strong debut, and the plot is perfect (in my opinion), there were some stylistic choices that I felt hindered the book. First, I am not sure if this more a narrative that follows Kristina and her "intrusive thoughts", but for a lot of the chapters I would get tired of her explaining concepts to me. I would parts of the narrative or the character POVs because as characters are having dialogue, Kristina goes on a mental rant/ramble on some concept, idea or presence that shifts away from the narrative and you as the reader miss a lot of what is going on with characters. For such a descriptive book with English, Arabic, French, Dutch, and Portugese, I wish we had gotten more descriptors about the environments that our charcters were in. What was so special about the "pub" that Kristina frequented? The church that she and Augustinus were a part? What made their home, a home (especially one that seemed small but cost a million bucks??). Another issue for me was the conversations between Adam (Augustus) and Eve (Kristina), rather, the lack thereof. Acting like preludes to the chapter themselves, you see the conversation between Adam and Eve on the app, but then much of the begining of the chapter is spent by Kristina answering the messages to herself, and not with Adam (Augustinus does it once or twice as well when we get his POV), and while I know that they have been talking with each other for a while, it seemed weird to me that the convos that we got to see between them were so stunted. Finally, I appreciated that the nuances between Coptic Egyptian and Islamic Egyptian cultures was handled so well, but Kristina aversion to other Egyptians, and her culture, that were not dictated by her mother and that relationship of limitations, didn't sit right with me at times. I recognize that this is more indicative from the author and her experience as an Egyptian living abroad, but it did strike me as strange when it came to Kristina and her reticence against other Egyptian people.
Those negatives aside, I really did love this book, Kristina and Augustinus, and I can see myself easily rereading this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2023
2.85
This would have been a straight 2 stars but the romance kinda made up for it.
Now here is what made wanna rate this 2 stars:
First of all: The dialogue between the characters was so badly written. That is definitely not the way people talk in real life. I was cringing so hard. "Black like your soul." Excuse me????? She did not seriously say that💀 Also "are you hungry for me?"???? Bro what???
Also i am so confused: when did Kristine actually fall in love with Augustine? The last part in the book was so confusing to me.
Second of all: As an Egyptian person, reading about an Egyptian women who HATES and DESPISES the culture was so frustrating. Kristine talking about how Egyptians are so rude, mean and judgmental made me so angry. She was the one who was being rude, a brat and a freaking judgmental person ("23 and engaged? What’s the rush? That’s too young." No it’s not stop judging them). What’s the point of marketing this book as Arabic and Egyptian if you’re gonna make it all about hating on the culture???
Third of all: As an Egyptian women myself who has a brother and mid strict parents, i can assure you that is not the way we live here. This is definitely Kristine’s mother who has issues not all Egyptians. Kristine was so fucking frustrating,annoying and disrespectful when she kept insulting Egyptians, and their ways of doing things. She keeps saying they’re judgmental yet i haven’t seen someone as judgmental as her. I would have loved to read about the beauty of my culture, especially since the author herself is egyptian, not read an entire distasteful book for it. It was such a bad representation for Egypt, its culture and honestly the entire middle east culture. Each culture is different and beautiful in its own way and it’s important to respect it as we grow into it. Promoting the Egyptian culture as a bad and a self destructive one is so disrespectful to me, because it’s definitely not. Kristine’s mother of doing things might be too much but that’s all her, not all Egyptians. If the author went through something similar and that’s her personal experience, then that’s her own shit alone. Not all Egyptians.
Lastly: I normally don’t like bringing up religion because it’s a private matter, but it was a topic in the book… and let me just say that this book showed zero respect for God’s religion. It ruined it. Ruined everything about it. Now i am not Christian, i am muslim but God’s rules are the same in these 2 religions. "It doesn’t matter which god we pray for as long as we don’t sin" I AM SORRY WHAT? The biggest sin (in Christianism and Islam) is being polytheism…
This would have been a straight 2 stars but the romance kinda made up for it.
Now here is what made wanna rate this 2 stars:
First of all: The dialogue between the characters was so badly written. That is definitely not the way people talk in real life. I was cringing so hard. "Black like your soul." Excuse me????? She did not seriously say that💀 Also "are you hungry for me?"???? Bro what???
Also i am so confused: when did Kristine actually fall in love with Augustine? The last part in the book was so confusing to me.
Second of all: As an Egyptian person, reading about an Egyptian women who HATES and DESPISES the culture was so frustrating. Kristine talking about how Egyptians are so rude, mean and judgmental made me so angry. She was the one who was being rude, a brat and a freaking judgmental person ("23 and engaged? What’s the rush? That’s too young." No it’s not stop judging them). What’s the point of marketing this book as Arabic and Egyptian if you’re gonna make it all about hating on the culture???
Third of all: As an Egyptian women myself who has a brother and mid strict parents, i can assure you that is not the way we live here. This is definitely Kristine’s mother who has issues not all Egyptians. Kristine was so fucking frustrating,annoying and disrespectful when she kept insulting Egyptians, and their ways of doing things. She keeps saying they’re judgmental yet i haven’t seen someone as judgmental as her. I would have loved to read about the beauty of my culture, especially since the author herself is egyptian, not read an entire distasteful book for it. It was such a bad representation for Egypt, its culture and honestly the entire middle east culture. Each culture is different and beautiful in its own way and it’s important to respect it as we grow into it. Promoting the Egyptian culture as a bad and a self destructive one is so disrespectful to me, because it’s definitely not. Kristine’s mother of doing things might be too much but that’s all her, not all Egyptians. If the author went through something similar and that’s her personal experience, then that’s her own shit alone. Not all Egyptians.
Lastly: I normally don’t like bringing up religion because it’s a private matter, but it was a topic in the book… and let me just say that this book showed zero respect for God’s religion. It ruined it. Ruined everything about it. Now i am not Christian, i am muslim but God’s rules are the same in these 2 religions. "It doesn’t matter which god we pray for as long as we don’t sin" I AM SORRY WHAT? The biggest sin (in Christianism and Islam) is being polytheism…
March 18, 2023
I FINISHED THIS LAST NIGHT AND OH MY DAYSSSS
this book. omg this book?? is an utter and absolute masterpiece i will never ever relate to a book like this ever in my life. i swear it was like it’s reading my thoughts and writing down AND THERE WAS SO MUCH EGYPTIAN REPRESENTATION AND I ALMOST CRIEDD it’s so amazing reading about so much stuff you’ve eaten or seen or understand words you’ve spoken there is just something about that that warms my masri heart 🫶🏻😭 and let us not talk about the storyline? that stuff is genius?? like girly omg i cannot. i need an augustine in my life that man knows how to make a girl fall for you head over heels. and kristina omg KRISTINAAA i wish to be her when i grow up that’s all i have to say🤍
anyways 5 start 10/10 all the top ratings you can give 🫶🏻
this book. omg this book?? is an utter and absolute masterpiece i will never ever relate to a book like this ever in my life. i swear it was like it’s reading my thoughts and writing down AND THERE WAS SO MUCH EGYPTIAN REPRESENTATION AND I ALMOST CRIEDD it’s so amazing reading about so much stuff you’ve eaten or seen or understand words you’ve spoken there is just something about that that warms my masri heart 🫶🏻😭 and let us not talk about the storyline? that stuff is genius?? like girly omg i cannot. i need an augustine in my life that man knows how to make a girl fall for you head over heels. and kristina omg KRISTINAAA i wish to be her when i grow up that’s all i have to say🤍
anyways 5 start 10/10 all the top ratings you can give 🫶🏻
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