The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage

By: Halima Khatun

Narrated by: Halima Khatun

Meet the brown Bridget Jones...

If you like British chick lit books with strong women of colour, then this is for you.

What the press are saying about The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage:

Blurb

A British-Bengali girl looking for Mr Right. A motley crew of men, some hoping it’s them. A mum on a mission to match make. And an age-old tradition with a twist.

Welcome to the world of the arranged marriage.

“While I’m young, (somewhat) free and single, time is - by Bengali standards - marching on. I’ve got to meet my dream man, or at least someone I can grow to like, and get married. The trouble is, having never fully fit in with my English friends or Asian community, I don’t really know what - or who – I’m looking for.

Luckily (or not) for me, arranged marriages are still a thing. So alongside my own dating efforts, it’s everyone’s business - from my adorable yet overbearing mum, to pretend aunties and profiteering opportunists - to find me a match. With all this help, I’m pretty sure I’ll land a husband, but will he be ‘The One’?”

The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage lifts the lid on the intriguing world of British-Bengali matrimony. The debut novel from former journalist Halima Khatun explores family, identity and belonging with acerbic humour.

Not your average arranged marriage romance and unlike any of the muslim girl books you've read, It’ll change your view of matchmaking for good…

©2020 Halima Khatun (P)2023 Halima Khatun

Critic reviews

Winner of the 2021 Bookbrunch Selfie Award for Best Adult Fiction

“Rebranding arranged marriages.” —BBC Asian Network

Halima Khatun decided to write a book because nobody was talking. More specifically, nobody was talking about arranged marriages.” —MyLondon