Advanced Praise
—POPSUGAR: Best 2019 Summer Books for Women
“The Marriage Clock is a warm, funny debut novel about love, how we find it, and how we can keep it.”
—Cosmopolitan: Best Beach-Worthy Books of July 2019
“Please cancel your weekend plans, because once you dive into The Marriage Clock, it’ll be impossible to tear yourself away. This romantic and insightful book introduces us to Leila Abid, who’s torn between her traditional parents trying to arrange her marriage and her own desire for agency.”
—BookTrib: Best Romances to Get You in the Swing for Wedding Season
“In her debut The Marriage Clock, Raheem contributes thoughtful humor, well-drawn characters and a beautiful portrait of navigating cultural expectations with personal fulfillment.”
—The Times of India: Best Romance Novels to Read in 2019
“This is a relatable story of the challenges of falling in love in the modern time.”
—Bustle: 21 New Novels to Spice Up Your Summer Reading
—Bookriot: Five New Diverse Romantic Comedies
—Bookriot: 50 Must Read Books by Debut Authors
—The Everygirl: Best Beach Reads for Summer 2019
—Women.com: New Romance Novels for July 2019
—Goodreads Blog: Best Romance Books of July 2019
—Library Journal: Summer/Fall Best Debut Novels 2019
ADDITIONAL PRAISE / REVIEWS
“An intimate and entertaining glimpse into the life of a young Muslim American woman whose family wants her married. Now! You’ll want to read this in one sitting.”
—Susan Elizabeth Phillips, New York Times bestselling author
“Raheem’s debut uses chick-lit tropes to smartly skewer modern ways of dating and to bring humor to more traditional South Asian ones.”
—Booklist
“Zara Raheem’s The Marriage Clock is a unique, beautiful story about a woman coming to accept herself – and the notion that maybe marriage isn’t everything.”
“Raheem dedicates the book to every woman who has ever been told she wasn’t enough. In the face of ubiquitous cultural traditions—not just Indian ones—that measure a woman’s worth by her marriageability, Leila’s journey shows us that the true measure of a woman’s worth is that she values herself.”
"The author portrays this experience in an authentic and at times funny and heartbreaking way, and Leila’s struggles will speak to many. The ending may surprise some readers and make others applaud. This charming and humorous novel will appeal to a wide audience and should be an excellent fit for all public libraries.”
“With all the traction that representation and diversity has been getting in books and film, The Marriage Clock is a strong contributor to the conversation.”
“Zara Raheem’s The Marriage Clock, however, takes a unique and charming look at the beliefs we hold in regard to love and marriage. And that’s precisely why readers should be adding this novel to their August TBR piles.”
“The Marriage Clock” by Zara Raheem offers a glimpse into what the conversation about marriage is like within South Asian families.”
“Zara Raheem’s debut novel, The Marriage Clock, is entertaining and incredibly visual…We loved how Zara tackled the subject of arranged marriages in the Indian community…[and] the realities of our cultural upbringings in the novel – not the usual stereotypes, but one that reminds us of the young women we know who have found a comfortable balance between their inherited traditions and their chosen trajectory.”
“The Marriage Clock is a tale of love, family, friends and marriage…A fast-paced story with lots of laugh-out-loud moments…Raheem’s writing is engaging with fun, tongue-in-cheek humour and satire that keeps readers hooked.”
News
‘The Marriage Clock’ Author Debunks Myths on Arranged Marriage.
Arranged marriages take a modern spin in recent novels by South Asian American authors.
"There was still a choice that existed within the process — a choice that ultimately belonged to me.”
Misconceptions about arranged marriage abound. Romance authors are here to help.
“New books dismantle stereotypes and invite critical discussion about cultural traditions.”
What is Arranged Marriage Like in America Today?
“Love stories can take shape in a multitude of ways.”
Up and Coming - Meet Some 2019 Debut Authors
Interviews
In ‘The Marriage Clock,’ author Zara Raheem explores clashing cultures, arranged marriage and falling in love.
Author Zara Raheem talks to Stephanie Ford about her debut novel “The Marriage Clock.”
Balli Kaur Jaswal, author of “The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters,” and Zara Raheem, author of “The Marriage Clock,” ask each other questions about their books, traditions, and life as South Asian writers.
Book Q&A’s with Deborah Kalb - “The Marriage Clock”