[MPOV] The Accidental Malay

My rating: 4/5

Goodreads rating: 3.52/5

Published: January 1, 2022

Author: Karina Robles Bahrin

Genre: Asian lit, romance, fiction

Jasmine Leong wants to be the next CEO of Phoenix, her family's billion-ringgit company known especially for its bak kwa. But when Jasmine discovers she is actually a Malay Muslim, her newfound identity threatens to upend her life and ambitions. Set in Kuala Lumpur and other areas of Malaysia, The Accidental Malay examines the human cost of a country's racial policies, and paints a portrait of a woman unwilling to accept the fate history has designated for her.

Initially, I was kinda uninterested to read this novel even though the title has caught my attention. It's influenced by the fact that the author has won an award for it. Ya, I'm a little doubtful with award winning titles as I usually find it overrated. I was gifted this by chance, so I took the plunge and read it. 

"You can never do enough. You will always need to do better. Nothing is ever promised to girls."

Lo and behold, I found it to be funny, predictable yet entertaining, similarly to Kevin Kwan's Lies and Weddings. It was a well written novel, but I was taken aback with its overly mentioned religious coup and the stereotype upbringing. That aside, it is an easy read with an engaging prose that definitely had me wanting to finish it. It took me a while to finish it as I stopped during the festive period and then picking it up where I left off was a breeze!

"You're only in love with the idea of us," she says, gathering herself and sitting up. She turns to him, holding his wan face in her hand. "We should have ended a long time ago. Neither of us can save the other."

I do understand why it is a controversial book especially since it is related to religion. As I have mentioned, it was insinuated a little too often. Luckily, the overall premise of the story is entertaining for me and though it may or may not be a truthful depiction, this is a work of fiction. I'm more to the romance aspect of this novel which I find a little weird. Why weird? Well, the way how Jasmine fell out of Iskandar (who has been stringing her along) and fell in love with Kuan Yew (the swoon worthy one). I guess I would have wanted more flourish LOL! I know, too much Harlequins, LOL!!!

Oh well, I've enjoyed it and now moving on to my next read!