Winner of the 2021 Bookbrunch Selfie Award for Best Adult Fiction. Meet the brown Bridget Jones... I know I'll land a husband… but will he be the one? The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage – A hilarious romcom that will redefine your Your views on love and matchmaking! Meet our British-Bengali protagonist, a spirited, acerbic woman on a quest for Mr Right. But in a world where tradition and modernity collide, her journey to find love takes a delightfully unexpected turn. Young, free and single, our heroine finds herself caught between two worlds, never fully fitting in with her English friends or her Asian community. As time ticks away, she embarks on a dual mission—her own dating adventures and the rollercoaster ride of an arranged marriage hunt orchestrated by her larger-than-life family. From her adorable yet overbearing mum to the army of pretend aunties and profiteering opportunists, everyone becomes invested in finding her the perfect match. With humour and wit, she embraces the chaos of this unconventional approach to love, never quite sure if her ideal partner lies within the boundaries of tradition or if she'll discover something entirely unexpected. The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage is a fresh and captivating debut novel by former journalist Halima Khatun. She explores the complexities of family dynamics, identity, and the eternal search for belonging. This is not your average arranged marriage romance—it's a romcom that breaks barriers and challenges preconceptions. Prepare to be swept away on a laugh-out-loud journey filled with unexpected twists and turns. Get ready to redefine your view of matchmaking and immerse yourself in a story that will leave you smiling long after you've turned the final page. The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage is a romcom like no other, defying stereotypes and offering a fresh perspective on the joys and pitfalls of finding love, or a boy you can at least grow to like. Don't miss this heartwarming and hilarious tale. Reader reviews: "This is a great book to read on transport or going on holidays. I finished mine in no time and laughed lots!" "I loved reading this book! Such an enjoyable read which was hilarious at some points but also really highlighted how arranged marriages are viewed from different perspectives, especially in western society. It's hard to find a book that isn't too 'heavy' but also covers important issues and makes you really empathise with the main character. Highly recommend if you're looking for a fun read but something a bit different from the usual chick-lit." About the author Halima Khatun is a former journalist (having worked for ITV and the BBC), writer and PR consultant. With a lifelong passion for writing, Halima wrote her first novel - a coming-of-age children's story - at the age of 12. It was politely turned down by all the major publishing houses. Halima went on to study English and Journalism and was one of just four people in the UK to be granted a BBC scholarship during her postgraduate studies. She has since written for a number of publications including the HuffPost and Yahoo! Style, and has been featured in the Express, Metro and other national publications. Halima also blogs on lifestyle, food and travel and parenthood on HalimaBobs.

I found me a man, now I just need to figure out how to live with him… Step into the world of The Secret Diary of a Bengali Newlywed – An Unputdownable Tale of Love, Identity, and the Journey of Starting a New Life! Our acerbic protagonist is about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. With a new husband by her side, a new city to explore, and a set of in-laws with their own set of expectations, she's ready to embrace the next chapter of her life as a Bengali bride. They say that when you marry someone, you marry their entire family. And as she navigates her way through this new phase, she quickly learns the truth behind that statement. After the whirlwind of finding a man and surviving the chaotic planning of her big fat Bangladeshi wedding, she assumes that the newlywed phase will be a walk in the park. But as reality sets in, she realizes that there's much more to this journey than meets the eye. Will she find her place in this new dynamic, or will she face unexpected challenges along the way? In this latest installment of The Secret series, award-winning author Halima Khatun weaves a captivating narrative that delves deep into themes of race, identity, belonging, and the intricacies of family dynamics. With her signature blend of self-deprecation and acerbic humor, Khatun invites readers to join her glass half-full heroine as she navigates the twists and turns of her biggest life changes yet. The Secret Diary of a Bengali Newlywed is a heartfelt exploration of love, self-discovery, and the complexities of cultural expectations. Through the eyes of our relatable protagonist, Khatun takes us on a poignant journey that will resonate with readers from all walks of life. Immerse yourself in this page turner that showcases Halima Khatun's unrivaled ability to capture the essence of human emotions and the triumphs and tribulations of life.

The first three books in The Secret Diary series, starring the brown Bridget Jones, our acerbic heroine, will have you laughing, crying and desperate for one more chapter. From book 1, The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage: A British-Bengali girl looking for Mr Right. A motley crew of men. 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, free and single, time is - by Bengali standards - marching on. I must meet my dream man, or 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 to find me a match. I’m pretty sure I’ll land a husband, but will he be ‘The One’? From book 2, The Secret Diary of a Bengali Bridezilla: And I thought finding a husband was hard... One couple. Three months. 600 guests (most of whom I’ve never met) and LOTS of opinions. Welcome to my big fat Bangladeshi wedding. To do: Find top makeup artist Create meaningful favours Outdo my cousins impending nuptials Have nervous breakdown? I’ve found my dream man but will my wedding day be a nightmare? From book 3, The Secret Diary of a Bengali Newlywed: New husband. New city. New in-laws and new expectations. Welcome to my life as a Bengali newlywed. They say you don’t just marry the guy, you marry the whole family. They also say you don’t really know someone until you live with them. But, surely, after the challenge of finding a man, and the nightmare of planning my big fat Bangladeshi wedding, this newlywed phase is the easy bit, right? Right?! About the author Halima Khatun is a former journalist (having worked for ITV and the BBC), writer and PR consultant. With a lifelong passion for writing, Halima wrote her first novel - a coming-of-age children's story - at the age of 12. It was politely turned down by all the major publishing houses. Halima went on to study English and Journalism and was one of just four people in the UK to be granted a BBC scholarship during her postgraduate studies. She has since written for a number of publications including the HuffPost and Yahoo! Style, and has been featured in the Express, Metro and other national publications. Halima also blogs on lifestyle, food and travel and parenthood on HalimaBobs. Keywords: diverse romcom, diverse books, diverse reads, romantic comedy, muslim comedy, british bengali, women's fiction, clean and wholesome romance.

The follow up to award-winning The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage, by former journalist Halima Khatun. Acerbic British with with a multicultural twist at its best.

Adrian Mole's first love, Pandora, has left him; a neighbor, Mr. Lucas, appears to be seducing his mother (and what does that mean for his father?); the BBC refuses to publish his poetry; and his dog swallowed the tree off the Christmas cake. "Why" indeed.

The only way to secure her dream is to marry a handsome stranger . . . When Rose and Jack meet, she has just lost her uncle, and with him her dream of owning a coffee shop. Rose wanted nothing more than to open a café in her uncle’s building. But her uncle’s will is clear – the building goes to Rose’s husband. Not to her. Then, his lawyer, Jack, offers an unusual solution… she can marry him. She’ll get the café and he’ll get the building. For some reason, Rose agrees. It might be a marriage of convenience but it’s anything but simple. Despite it being his idea, Jack is unbearably surly... But then he does something that shows Rose he might just have a softer side. Maybe love can start with a contract… but will Rose still feel that way when she learns the full terms of their deal?