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, 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.
It'll change your view of matchmaking for good...