IBW X FIRST DATE: ROMANCE FICTION RECOMMENDATIONS FROM AAMNA QURESHI

Independent Bookshop Week starts on 15th June, and this year it coincides with the second edition of our festival for romance writing: First Date takes place at Summerhall on 14-15 June!

If you're not in Edinburgh for it, fear not. The panels will not only be livestreamed, but we've also invited some of our favourite authors of romance fiction from further afield to take part in the celebrations virtually by recommending their favourite romance reads!

Today, we're joined by Aamna Qureshi, recommending three of her favourite comfort reads.

Aamna Qureshi is a Pakistani, Muslim American author of the YA romantasy duology The Lady or the Lion and The Man or the Monster, as well as the YA literary novel When a Brown Girl Flees. If I Loved You Less is her adult debut. She grew up on Long Island, New York, in a very loud household, surrounded by English (for school), Urdu (for conversation), and Punjabi (for emotion).

Much of her childhood was spent being grounded for reading past her bed-time, writing stories in the backs of her notebooks, and being scolded by teachers for passing chapters under the tables. When she's not writing, she loves to travel to new places where she can explore different cultures or to Pakistan where she can revitalize her roots. She also loves baking complicated desserts, drinking fancy teas and coffees, watching sappy rom-coms, and going for walks about the estate (her backyard). She currently lives in New York. Look for her on IG @aamna_qureshi and Twitter @aamnaqureshi_.

These are Aamna’s recommendations!

• Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin: The banter, the push-and-pull relationship, the tension, all of it is immaculate and will have you at the edge of your seat.
• You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle: This book is pure chaos and absolute fun, you will be laughing out loud.
• Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore: Achingly romantic and tender, this is quite possibly my favorite romance book ever, and is perfect for fans of period dramas, especially the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice.

Follow #FirstDateFestival on our social media and keep an eye out for more recommended romance reads this week! Info about First Date Festival can be found HERE.

Author photo credit: Noor Nazar