The Marriage Clock

The Marriage Clock by Zara Raheem (2019) 342 pages

Leila Abid is an only child, age 26, still living with her parents as she works as an English teacher. Her parents' long marriage was arranged in India, before their move to the U.S. Their love for each other has them making the case that since Leila hasn't yet found a husband, she should agree to an arranged marriage herself. As the parental pressure ramps up, Leila agrees that if she doesn't find a husband in three months, she will let her parents choose a husband for her. Much of the story follows the various dates she has, including some that her mother insists on arranging for her, and how unsuitable Leila finds them. Some heart-to-heart talks with friends attempt to hone in on qualities that Leila finds important in a potential mate.

I found Leila to be headstrong and opinionated (much like her mother) and hard to sympathize with, especially when she sets herself up for a task that is already difficult, even without such a hard time constraint. However the novel was a fast read and kept my attention while I waited to see whether Leila would indeed find a spouse within three months.