First Comes Marriage Audiobook By Huda Al-Marashi cover art

First Comes Marriage

My Not-So-Typical American Love Story

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First Comes Marriage

By: Huda Al-Marashi
Narrated by: Jeed Saddy
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When Huda meets Hadi, the boy she will ultimately marry, she is six years old. Both are the American-born children of Iraqi immigrants, who grew up on opposite ends of California.

Hadi considers Huda his childhood sweetheart, the first and only girl he's ever loved, but Huda needs proof that she is more than just the girl Hadi's mother has chosen for her son. She wants what the American girls have - the entertainment culture's almost singular tale of chance meetings, defying the odds, and falling in love. She wants stolen kisses, romantic dates, and a surprise proposal. As long as she has a grand love story, Huda believes no one will question if her marriage has been arranged.

But when Huda and Hadi's conservative Muslim families forbid them to go out alone before their wedding, Huda must navigate her way through the despair of unmet expectations and dashed happily-ever-after ideals. Eventually she comes to understand the toll of straddling two cultures in a marriage and the importance of reconciling what you dreamed of with the life you eventually live.

Tender, honest, and irresistibly compelling, First Comes Marriage is the first Muslim American memoir dedicated to the themes of love and sexuality.

©2018 Huda Al-Marashi (P)2018 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books Biographies & Memoirs Cultural & Regional Religious Women Muslim American
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memoirs are my favorite way to understand other people and cultures so when I found myself craving a memoir, I immediately was drawn to “First Comes Marriage: My Not So Typical American Love Story” by Huda Al-Marashi by both the beautiful cover art and the publishers summary.
Immediately, it feels as though you know Huda and are sitting down to hang out with her. Her writing style is just so personal & Jeed Saddy does a perfect job at making you feel right at home; her voice is full of such warmth.
While Huda’s life and family/relationship dynamics are very different from my own, I was still able to relate my mom to her mom (strong personalities full of love and a mischievous sense of humor), and nothing felt so different as to create division - rather the differences felt both celebrated & understood in a very intimate way.
Definitely a good memoir to pick up if you are in the mood!

Like talking to a best friend

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I really appreciate the honesty and vulnerability of the author. Her disposition comes off as mature and affable as she beautifully tries to embody two cultures.

Towards the middle she begins to whine incessantly and comes off as a spoiled unrealistic brat. It takes compassion and empathy to complete the book without ripping your hair out and writing it off as another woe is me memoir.

I discovered that the redemption comes in empathy. Being able to witness a young mind evolve from a "sky is falling, self centered irrational" state to a better "you" is worth the listen.

The inner dialogue is brutal and runs the gamut of remorse, jealousy and so much more.

The narrator is phenomenal and conveys the emotions exquisitly.

Thank you Huda Al-Marashi for your honesty and vulnerability!

First Comes Whining and then Comes Appreciation

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This book was difficult to finish because it was quite painful at times to listen to the main character whine, pick and complain throughout every chapter. I rarely leave negative reviews because we have opinions and just because I find something to be meh, I don’t want to discourage others from reading. However, this one was bad enough I feel obligated to warn you. lol. I thought this book would be more about cross-cultural challenges and those of growing up as a Muslim in America. Definitely NOT the case. There was a tiny bit of that mixed in with a lot of the primary character’s self absorbed, pretenuous and critical ranting. Would not recommend.

To give credit, the writing was not bad and the narration was also good.

Tale of a selfish brat

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I loved this book! What a great story that anyone can relate to. She is a Muslim, 1st generation American girl - I am none of those things and yet I completely related to the innocence, the vulnerability, the comparing oneself with others and resultant self-pity, and so much more. Bravo!!

Such a wonderful story of a young girl becoming a mature woman

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Looking for a good listen through changing scenarios in my own life, this book was a gift. It connected with my mind and my heart, although I am on a different continent in different cultures and decades. Not only did this help my connection with other people around me, but contributed to my reflection on myself, my own upbringing, belief systems, challenges and views of my marriage.
The narrator certainly made this possible.

A capturing and moving book

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