Full review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books 
 I totally enjoyed Sofia Khan is Not Obliged. It's a little bit Bridget Jones (given that it has a tribute to Pride and Prejudice and a journal format and opens with some resolutions) and a little bit My Big Fat Greek Wedding (several weddings take place during the course of the story and they all involve huge immigrant families) but mostly it has its own unique charm. 
 There's not a ton of plot here overall. Sofia is single and by the end of the book she isn't. While this book is not a redo of Pride and Prejudice, it does pay tribute to Pride and Prejudice in its male characters. Imran is boring, safe, conservative, and adored by Sofia's family. Naim is charming and funny and flirty and totally unreliable. Next-door neighbor Conall barely says a word for at least half of the book. Guess who Sofia will end up with? 
 One thing I loved about this book is that it presents Muslim characters in non-stereotypical ways. Sofia wears a hijab, but it's not because of pressure from her family. In fact, her family pressures her to take it off - for one thing, her mother thinks it will make it harder for Sofia to meet a husband. 
 Sofia is both devout and feminist. Her friends make many different choices about relationships ranging from conservative to liberal, but all are portrayed as the decisions of women with intelligence and agency. 
 This book succeeds because Sofia is so delightful. She's devout but she sneaks cigarettes sometimes (often, actually). She's smart and funny, but also young and uncertain. She makes a lot of mistakes but she's always trying to do the right thing. She loves her family and they love her. Her voice is distinctive and endearing. 
 Next year we are getting a sequel, and I'm looking forward to it - not so much because I'm wondering what happens next, but because Sofia is so enjoyable to spend time with. I feel like I can say, "Oh, in 2017, I get to hang out with my pal Sofia again." That's the kind of book this is: it makes the characters feel like people who you know and want to spend time with. 
 Well, except for Imran. No one wants to spend time with Imran. That guy's a drip. 
 - Carrie S.