Courting Samira by Amal Awad | Book Review

If you’ve ever felt stuck between what your family expects and what your heart wants, Courting Samira by Amal Awad is the book for you. It's a rom-com that feels like a warm hug with a side of cultural insight. Meet Samira, a 27-year-old Palestinian-Australian Muslim woman who’s over her family’s old-school matchmaking attempts (awkward "door-knock appeals," anyone?). Stuck in a meh job and dreaming of a Princess Bride-level romance, she’s basically all of us navigating adulthood with aunties meddling in her love life. Whether you’re here for the swoony moments, the messy family dynamics, or just a heroine who’s equal parts witty and real, this book’s got you covered.

(Kalau kamu pernah ngerasa terjepit antara ekspektasi keluarga dan keinginanmu sendiri, Courting Samira oleh Amal Awad ini buku yang cocok buatmu. Bayangin rom-com yang kayak pelukan hangat, tapi dibumbui insight budaya yang keren. Kita bakal kenalan sama Samira, cewek Muslim Palestina-Australia umur 27 tahun yang udah bosen sama acara lamaran ala keluarganya (door-knock appeals yang awkward). Ngerjain kerjaan yang gak terlalu seru sambil mengkhayal cinta ala Princess Bride, dia tuh basically kita semua yang lagi melewati fase dewasa, tapi dengan bonus omelan tante-tante yang ikut campur urusan asmara. Mau baca demi kisah romancenya, dinamika keluarga yang messy, atau sekadar nyari tokoh utama yang relatable tapi tetep lucu? Buku ini jawabannya.)

TL;DR: Samira, 27, is tired of her fam’s awkward matchmaking and her boring bridal mag job until she meets hot, mysterious Menem. But between her childhood BFF Hakeem’s secret feelings and her bridezilla cousin’s drama, choosing love gets complicated. Hilarious, heartfelt, and 100% relatable if you’ve ever felt stuck between traditions and your own dreams

🔥 PERFECT FOR YOU IF

You’ve ever side-eyed your mom’s "when are you getting married?" texts

You want a book that gets the vibes of being young, Muslim, and figuring it out

You low-key judge people’s dating app profiles

BOOK REVIEW

Courting Samira is your next fun, and heartfelt take on modern Muslim love in Australia. Meet Samira Abdel-Aziz: a 27-year-old editorial assistant, book lover, movie buff, and all-around witty Palestinian-Muslim woman trying to figure out how to make her heart happy without disappointing her family. The problem? She's stuck in the "door-knock appeal" system aka traditional matchmaking where your parents basically host mini-dates with potential spouses and their families.

Spoiler: the suitors she’s met so far are not great. From overly serious "fundies" to super-secular types who barely relate to her world, Samira’s been through the wringer. And working at Bridal Bazaar magazine isn’t helping, every day is another reminder that everyone around her is obsessed with weddings except maybe her. Then, during a cringe-worthy team-building event (you know the type), she meets Menem. He’s Lebanese, Muslim, blond, charming, and somehow doesn’t make her want to run for the hills. They click instantly, and even though they both know the rules (no dating, only halal-approved meetings), they find sneaky little ways to stay connected, think cute coffee shop bump-ins and flirty texts after work.

Love Triangle Alert

But of course, nothing stays low-key forever. Enter Hakeem, her childhood friend who's always been chill until now. Suddenly he's acting weirdly protective, maybe even jealous? Meanwhile, Lara, her chaotic cousin with zero chill, drops the bomb that Hakeem might actually have feelings for Samira. Like, this whole time? Ugh, complicated.

Now Samira's caught between two very different guys who are both solid options, but they also represent two totally different paths for Samira. Hakeem is safe, familiar, and comfortable, the guy who knows all your inside jokes and gets your family weirdness. Menem? He's new, exciting, and kind of unpredictable, which is thrilling but also kinda scary. Choosing between them is about what kind of future she sees for herself. That inner conflict is so relatable, especially if you've ever felt stuck between what others expect from you and what you truly want for yourself.

And just when you think things can't get more dramatic, there's Zahra, the cousin from hell, getting ready to tie the knot and dragging Samira into full wedding mode. Between dodging Zahra's diva demands, keeping her vibe with Menem secret, and trying to decode Hakeem's confusing energy, Samira's got a lot on her plate.

Why This Book Hits Different

What makes this book such a standout is how real it feels. Like, this isn't just another rom-com with a cute meet-cute and zero stakes. The author dives deep into what it's like to live between cultures, being Muslim in Australia, balancing family expectations with your own dreams, and trying to figure out love when everyone around you has an opinion on who you should marry.

It's messy, it's emotional, and honestly? A lot of us can relate. This book totally gets that push-pull feeling, respecting where you come from while wanting to do things your own way. And the best part? It shows traditional courtship can actually be kinda sweet (even with all the meddling aunties), proving love dilemmas are universal no matter your background.

Samira Is Actually All Of Us

But this book isn't only about love. Oh no, it also tackles the pressure so many women feel when it comes to careers, success, and adulting in general. Samira's job might not be her dream gig, but it gives her a taste of independence and that's something her family doesn't always understand.

She's not some lost girl looking for answers. She's smart, self-aware, and knows who she is, even if she's still figuring out what happiness looks like. That's why she's such a good main character: she doesn't have it all figured out, but she's not afraid to ask the hard questions and follow her gut.

Her voice is chatty, funny, and full of those relatable little observations we all have, like how some suitors feel like they walked straight out of a manga or why every wedding seems to come with at least one dramatic auntie meltdown.

Muslim Rep That Feels Real

The way Islam is portrayed here feels so refreshingly normal. Some characters are faithfully doing all the religious laws, others more relaxed, just like real life! Samira's faith journey is especially relatable, from her secret guilt over little rebellions to her quiet prayers when she's confused.

This book quietly smashes stereotypes (newsflash: religious women can want romance too!) while showing there's no one "right" way to practice. It's about as far from preachy as you can get.

Keeping It Real Till The End

One thing this book nails is showing that relationships are about communication, boundaries, and knowing when to walk away. Whether it's with Hakeem, Menem, or even her own relatives, Samira learns that being honest, even if it's uncomfortable, is always better than pretending everything's fine. And TBH, that's kind of a life lesson we could all use.

No spoilers, but don't expect some fairy-tale perfect ending. The finale stays true to real life, messy, complicated, but ultimately hopeful. Sure, the book isn't perfect, but that's almost part of its charm. By the end, you'll feel like Samira's your best friend, flaws and all. If you've ever felt torn between who you are and who everyone expects you to be, this book gets it. The real happy ending? Learning to choose yourself.

(Courting Samira tuh kayak temen curhat yang seru banget, ceritanya lucu, touching, sekaligus relate buat anak muda Muslim zaman sekarang. Kenalin Samira Abdel-Aziz: cewek Palestina-Australia umur 27 tahun yang kerja sebagai asisten editor, doyan baca buku, suka film, dan punya selera humor yang tajam. Masalahnya? Dia lagi berusaha cari jodoh tanpa bikin kecewa orang tuanya, yang masih pakai sistem door-knock appeal alias acara matchmaking tradisional di rumahnya, di mana calon pasangan dateng bareng keluarganya buat ngobrol bareng.

Sayangnya, calon-calon yang dia temui sejauh ini gak ada yang cocok. Ada yang terlalu kolot, ada juga yang terlalu westernized sampai gak nyambung sama dunianya. Kerja di majalah Bridal Bazaar juga bikin tambah stres, setiap hari diingetin soal pernikahan, padahal dia sendiri aja belum nemu yang pas.

Tapi semuanya berubah pas Samira ketemu Menem di acara team-building kantor yang cringey. Dia tuh Muslim Libanon, pirang, charming, dan yang paling penting bikin Samira ternak kupu-kupu di perutnya. Meski mereka berdua tahu aturannya (no dating, cuma boleh ketemu dengan cara halal), mereka tetap nemu cara buat keep in touch, kayak "gak sengaja" ketemu di kafe yang sama atau kirim-kirim pesan flirty.

Love Triangle Alert!

Nah, di sinilah drama mulai masuk. Hakeem, temen lama Samira yang biasanya santai, tiba-tiba jadi posesif dan kayaknya cemburuan? Belum lagi Lara, sepupu Samira yang bawel, bilang kalo Hakeem sebenernya suka sama Samira dari dulu. Wait, what?

Sekarang Samira terjepit di antara dua cowok yang sama-sama baik, tapi mewakili dua jalan hidup yang beda banget: Hakeem: Aman, nyaman, udah kenal lama, dan ngerti seluk-beluk keluarganya. Menem: Baru, seru, penuh kejutan, tapi juga bikin deg-degan karena belum pasti. Pilihan Samira gak cuma soal milih calon, tapi juga soal masa depannya. Ini bener-bener relate buat siapa aja yang pernah merasa terjepit antara ekspektasi orang lain dan keinginan sendiri.

Belum lagi ada Zahra, sepupu drama queen Samira yang lagi sibuk persiapan pernikahan dan nyuruh-nyuruh Samira kayak asisten pribadi. Jadi, bayangin aja: Samira harus menghadapi tuntutan Zahra, sembunyi-sembunyi ketemu Menem, dan berusaha memahami sikap Hakeem yang tiba-tiba berubah. Stress level: expert.

Kenapa Buku Ini Beda?

Yang bikin Courting Samira spesial tuh karena ceritanya real banget. Ini bukan cuma rom-com biasa yang cuma manis-manis doang. Buku ini bahas gimana rasanya jadi anak Muslim di Australia, di mana kamu harus jaga budaya tapi juga pengen fit in, tekanan keluarga vs. keinginan pribadi, dan gimana caranya menemukan cinta di tengah semua aturan dan ekspektasi.

Ceritanya emosional, kadang bikin senyum-senyum sendiri, tapi juga bikin mikir. Yang paling keren? Buku ini nunjukin kalo tradisi matchmaking itu sebenernya sweet juga, meskipun dikelilingi tante-tante yang suka ikut campur.

Samira adalah Kita Semua

Nggak cuma bahas percintaan, buku ini juga ngomongin tekanan yang sering banget dirasain cewek-cewek zaman sekarang, soal karir, kesuksesan, dan tantangan jadi orang dewasa. Samira mungkin nggak terlalu suka kerjaannya di majalah bridal, tapi setidaknya itu memberinya kebebasan finansial, sesuatu yang nggak selalu dimengerti keluarganya.

Yang keren, Samira ini bukan tipe cewek labil yang bingung mau apa. Dia cerdas, sadar diri, dan tahu banget identitasnya, meskipun masih proses mencari tahu seperti apa kebahagiaan itu. Makanya karakternya begitu relatable, dia nggak punya semua jawaban, tapi berani bertanya hal-hal sulit dan mengikuti kata hatinya.

Cara bicaranya itu loh, santai, lucu, dan penuh observasi kecil yang bikin kita manggut-manggut. Kayak pendapatnya tentang beberapa calon pasangannya kayak baru keluar dari manga, atau gimana di setiap pernikahan pasti ada tante-tante yang rempong.

Representasi Muslim yang Natural

Penggambaran Islam di sini tuh segar banget. Ada karakter yang taat banget, ada juga yang lebih santai persis kayak di kehidupan nyata! Perjalanan spiritual Samira juga super relatable, dari rasa bersalah diam-diam saat sedikit "memberontak", sampai doa-doa kecilnya saat lagi bingung.

Buku ini berhasil menghancurkan stereotip (ya kali cewek religius nggak boleh mengharapkan cinta) sambil menunjukkan bahwa nggak ada satu cara "benar" untuk beragama. Sama sekali nggak terasa menggurui.

Tetap Realistis Sampai Akhir

Satu hal yang buku ini sukses banget adalah menunjukkan bahwa hubungan yang sehat itu butuh komunikasi, batasan yang jelas, dan tahu kapan harus mundur. Baik itu dengan Hakeem, Menem, atau bahkan keluarga sendiri, Samira belajar bahwa jujur meski sulit, selalu lebih baik daripada pura-pura semuanya baik-baik saja. Dan jujur aja, itu pelajaran hidup yang kita semua butuhkan.

Tanpa spoiler, endingnya nggak semanis kayak dongeng. Tapi justru karena realistis, berantakan, rumit, tapi tetep ada harapan, akhirnya malah bikin terharu. Iya, bukunya nggak sempurna, tapi justru itu yang bikin charm-nya nendang. Pas selesai baca, rasanya Samira kayak temen deket sendiri, lengkap dengan segala kekurangannya. Kalau kamu pernah merasa terjepit antara jadi diri sendiri dan memenuhi ekspektasi orang lain, buku ini bakal bikin kamu merasa dimengerti. Happy ending sesungguhnya? Belajar milih apa yang terbaik buat diri sendiri.)

THINGS I LOVE

■ Culture that feels real. One of the best things about this book is how it dives into Arab and Muslim culture and traditions without making it feel like a lecture. Samira’s family expectations, the matchmaking drama, and the little cultural details (like the infamous "door-knock appeals") are woven into the story so naturally that you get a real sense of how her background shapes her choices. It’s like getting an insider’s look at a world that’s rich, complicated, and full of heart, not just a list of stereotypes.

■ Faith that’s not one-size-fits-all. This book gets that religion isn’t black and white. Some characters are super faithful, others are more laid-back, and Samira’s somewhere in the middle, trying to figure out what faith means to her. It’s refreshing to see a story where being Muslim isn’t just a label, but more a personal journey, with room for questions, doubts, and even a little rebellion. Whether you’re religious or not, you’ll appreciate how real it feels.  

■Family and friendships that actually feel true. Samira’s relationship with her cousin Lara? So relatable. They love each other, but there’s also tension, competition, and that complicated mix of loyalty and frustration that comes with family. This book also nails how friendships shift over time, some grow stronger, some fade, and some take you by surprise.

■ Big themes, zero preaching. Even if you’re not Arab or Muslim, this book hits on stuff everyone deals with: How much should family influence your choices? Can you really "have it all"? And why is growing up so dang messy? Samira doesn’t have all the answers (who does?), but her struggles feel real, her wins feel earned, and her journey? Totally worth following.

(■Budaya yang nyata banget. Salah satu hal terbaik dari buku ini adalah caranya menyelami budaya Arab dan Muslim tanpa terasa kayak pelajaran sekolah. Ekspektasi keluarga Samira, drama perjodohan ala door-knock appeals, sampai detail kecil kayak obrolan antar tante-tante semuanya mengalir natural dan bikin kita paham gimana latar belakangnya membentuk pilihan Samira. Rasanya kayak dikasih akses khusus ke dunia yang kaya, kompleks, dan penuh kehangatan, bukan sekadar stereotip.

■ Agama yang nggak kaku. Buku ini paham banget bahwa beragama itu nggak cuma hitam-putih. Ada karakter yang super taat, ada yang lebih santai, dan Samira ada di tengah-tengah, lagi proses mencari makna iman buat dirinya sendiri. Seru banget lihat cerita di mana jadi Muslim itu bukan sekadar label, tapi perjalanan pribadi yang boleh ada ruang buat pertanyaan, keraguan, bahkan sedikit "pemberontakan". Mau kamu religius atau nggak, bakal apresiasi betapa real-nya penggambaran ini.

■ Hubungan keluarga dan pertemanan yang relatable. Dinamika Samira dan sepupunya, Lara? Sooo relate. Mereka saling sayang, tapi juga ada ketegangan, persaingan, dan campur aduk kesetiaan hingga frustasi yang khas hubungan keluarga. Buku ini juga jago banget nggambarin perubahan pertemanan, ada yang makin erat, ada yang renggang, dan ada yang bikin kaget. Persis kayak di kehidupan nyata!

■ Tema berat, tapi nggak menggurui. Bahkan kalau kamu bukan orang Arab atau Muslim, buku ini tetep bakal menyentuh karena mengangkat masalah universal: Seberapa besar keluarga boleh memengaruhi pilihan kita? Bisakah kita benar-benar "punya segalanya"? Dan kenapa jadi dewasa itu selalu berantakan? Samira emang nggak punya semua jawaban (siapa sih yang punya?), tapi usahanya terasa nyata, kemenangannya well-earned, dan perjalanannya? Worth to follow banget!)

THINGS I DON'T LIKE 

■ The love triangle fell flat. Look, I get that love triangles are a romance staple, but this one didn’t quite land. Hakeem, the childhood-friend-turned-love-interest, barely got enough page time to feel like a real contender. Because of that, all the "Will she choose him or Menem?" drama lacked punch, it was pretty obvious where things were headed. Missed opportunity to make Samira’s choice actually tough!

■ The humor in this book was also hit-or-miss for me. Some modern references and slang aren't always understood and felt dry (always risky in books!), and a few punchlines straight-up distracted from the story instead of adding to it. And, the tone sometimes skewed too young, like, I kept forgetting Samira was 27 because some scenes read more like YA than adult romance. Not a dealbreaker, but it did make certain moments feel less grounded.

■ Side characters that needed more depth. Zahra, the "bridezilla cousin," was basically a walking stereotype, zero backstory. We’re just told she’s the worst, but never shown why (beyond Samira’s grumbling). And Hakeem? Sweet guy, but his "secretly in love with the heroine" arc felt recycled from every rom-com ever. Would’ve loved more layers to make these characters feel real, not just plot devices.

(■ Love triangle-nya agak garing. Jujur aja, segitiga cintanya kurang nendang. Hakeem yang harusnya jadi saingan Menem, malah jarang muncul sampe rasanya kurang greget. Alhasil, drama "Dia milih siapa sih?" jadi gak seru karena keliatan banget endingnya mau kemana. Sayang banget padahal bisa bikin lebih menegangkan!

■ Humor yang kadang gak nyambung. Beberapa jokes pakai referensi jaman now sehingga kurang bisa dipahami dan jatuhnya jadi garing (risiko pakai kebanyakan slang di buku). Ada juga joke yang malah ganggu alur cerita ketimbang bikin lucu. Terus vibe-nya kadang terlalu ala-ala remaja, Samira kan udah 27 tahun tapi beberapa adegan rasanya kayak YA novel. Gak fatal sih, tapi bikin beberapa bagian terasa kurang matang.

■ Karakter sampingan yang kurang dikembangkan. Zahra si sepupu bridezilla tuh datar banget, cuma jadi karikatur "tukang nyuruh-nyuruh" tanpa latar belakang yang jelas. Kita cuma dikasih tau dia nyebelin, tapi gak dikasih lihat kenapa. Hakeem juga, manis sih tapi arc-nya "diam-diam naksir si heroine" itu klise banget kayak di rom-com biasa. Sayang banget padahal bisa lebih dalam!)

CONCLUSION 

Courting Samira is that rare book that makes you laugh, sigh, cringe, and feel, sometimes all at once. Sure, it’s got a few rom-com clichés (we see you, predictable tropes!), but Samira’s charm and the vibrant Muslim-Australian cultural backdrop more than make up for it. By the final chapter, you’ll be fully invested in her messy, endearing world, rooting for her to choose love and herself, even when tradition tugs her the other way. Fans of Ayesha at Last or Bridget Jones will devour this, but really, it’s for anyone who’s ever struggled to balance what they want with what’s expected of them. Bottom line? Awad’s debut is a winner, leaving you grinning, and maybe texting your bookclub about how good it is.

(Courting Samira adalah salah satu buku langka yang bikin kamu ketawa, senyum-senyum sendiri, cringe, dan terharu, kadang semua sekaligus. Iya, ada beberapa cliché rom-com yang bisa ditebak (looking at you, predictable tropes!), tapi charm Samira dan latar budaya Muslim-Australia yang hidup bikin semua itu bisa diabaikan. Pas sampai bab akhir, kamu bakal totally invested sama dunia berantakan tapi bikin gemes ini, dan berharap Samira bisa milih cinta dan dirinya sendiri, meskipun tradisi berusaha narik dia ke arah lain. Buat yang suka Ayesha at Last atau Bridget Jones, buku ini bakal langsung kamu lahap. Tapi sebenernya, siapa aja yang pernah kesulitan menyeimbangkan keinginan sendiri di tengah tekanan keluarga bakal relate. Intinya? Buku debut Awad ini juara, bikin kamu senyum-senyum sendiri, dan mungkin langsung text klub buku kamu, "Eh, ini buku bagus banget sih!")