More Than Just a Pretty Face

by Syed M. Masood

Overview

This sweetly funny coming-of-age story about falling in love, family expectations, and being a Renaissance Man is perfect for fans of Becky Albertalli and Jenny Han.
  Danyal Jilani doesn't lack confidence. He may not be the smartest guy in the room, but he's funny, gorgeous, and going to make a great chef one day. His father doesn't approve of his career choice, but that hardly matters. What does matter is the opinion of Danyal's longtime crush, the perfect-in-all-ways Kaval, and her family, who consider him a less than ideal arranged marriage prospect.

When Danyal gets selected for Renaissance Man, a school-wide academic championship, it's the perfect opportunity to show everyone he's smarter than they think. He recruits the brilliant, totally-uninterested-in-him Bisma to help with the competition, but the more time Danyal spends with her...the more he learns from her...the more he cooks for her...the more he realizes that happiness may be staring him right in his pretty face.
 
In this young adult debut full of depth and heart, author Syed M. Masood will have readers laughing, sighing, tearing up, and shouting "YES!" at the top of their lungs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316492362
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	08/03/2021
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	667,923
Product dimensions:	5.45(w) x 8.25(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Syed M. Masood grew up in Karachi, Pakistan, and now lives with his wife and children in Sacramento, California, where he is a practicing attorney. He wrote a few couplets in Urdu when he was a teenager, and his family still tells everyone he is an Urdu poet. He is not. More Than Just a Pretty Face is his debut young adult novel.

Editorial Reviews

2021 Best Fiction for Young Adults (BFYA)
An Illinois Teen Readers’ Choice Award Nominee

"A deliciously entertaining rom-com that delivers genuine cultural insight while questioning societal norms. Danyal is hilarious, authentic, and disarmingly humble, though I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with all the vivid and multifaceted characters in the book."—Nandini Bajpai, author of A Match Made in Mehendi

"A laugh-out-loud yet heartwarming story about familial obligations, friendship, and love. Syed M. Masood has created an unforgettable cast of characters with the utterly charming, hilarious, and most endearing Danyal Jilani at the center of it. A thoroughly enjoyable read and a great addition to any bookshelf."
—Sabina Khan, author of The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali

"Funny, open-hearted, and utterly charming, More Than Just a Pretty Face perfectly captures the joys of friendship and first love, as well as all the complexities of identity, faith, and family. This is a spectacular debut."—Katie Henry, author of Heretics Anonymous

"Hilarious and teeming with heart, More Than Just a Pretty Face challenged me, wounded me, made me laugh, and made me love. Danyal has secured his place as a heroic protagonist for the ages who only wants the very best for those he loves. His friends and family are so lucky to have him, and readers will be lucky to have Syed M. Masood's debut. I am a forever fan."—Erin Hahn, author of You'd Be Mine and More Than Maybe

"Fresh, funny, and timely, More Than Just a Pretty Face is a wildly entertaining, stereotype-shattering rom-com debut. Total Netflix movie material."—Sarah Henning, author of Throw Like a Girl and the Sea Witch dulology

"I couldn't have been more charmed by Danyal, the hapless pretty-boy and aspiring chef. One of the most unique and likable characters I've come across.This book has such a kind, expansive heart, and I'm immensely thankful that it exists.—Rahul Kanakia, author of We Are Totally Normal

"Masood deftly explores religion, culture, class, and awkward teenage love in this refreshingly candid 'tell it like it is' desi romantic comedy. You'll root hard for Danyal and will be two-fists-high-in-the-air overjoyed when you get to the end."—Suzanne Park, author of The Perfect Escape and Loathe at First Sight

"More Than Just A Pretty Face is the kind of book I've been searching formy entire life!Not only is ithilarious and heartwarming, with characters you can't help but be charmed by, but it honestly portrays the pressures of living up to family expectations and how history shapes our present and future. This is a must-read for everyone."—Adiba Jaigirdar, author of The Henna Wars

"Entertaining.... [A] broadly relatable story that offers plenty of food for thought. Readers will root for Danyal as he evolves and proves he is more than meets the eye. A charming teen romance with real substance."
—Kirkus Reviews

"A humorous exploration of [the novel's] characters' desi backgrounds, touching upon familial and religious expectations.... Vivid."
—Publishers Weekly

"[Danyal] grapples with both historical prejudices against India and contemporary prejudices within his own community.... Refreshing.... [A] delightful debut."
—SLJ

"Danyal's seismic character arc, Bisma and his evolving love, and fascinating historical insights make for an entertaining read."—Booklist

From the Publisher

06/22/2020

Masood’s debut spotlights the ever-optimistic 19-year-old Danyal Jilani, a confident Pakistani American aspiring chef who has long harbored a crush on classmate Kaval Sabsvari, his best friend Sohrab’s twin sister. When he is nominated for his school’s Renaissance Man competition, a cutthroat academic championship with a $5,000 prize, Danyal seizes the opportunity to boost his subpar grades and spend more time with Kaval, who offers to help. Danyal’s topic of Winston Churchill leads him to enlist the assistance of Bisma Akram, 19, originally introduced to him as a potential prospect for an arranged marriage. Her complicated relationship with her own family forges a growing bond between them; Danyal’s realization that Kaval disdains his atypical career aspirations, while Bisma supports them, strengthens their connection. The novel features a humorous exploration of its characters’ desi backgrounds, touching upon familial and religious expectations. Though supporting characters lack nuance—Sohrab’s growing devotion to Islam, for example, correlates with an increasingly limited viewpoint—Danyal develops into a more mature and endearing protagonist as he researches colonialism’s horrors. Throughout, his vivid narration remains charmingly relatable. Ages 14–up.Agent: Melissa Edwards, Stonesong. (Aug.)■

Publishers Weekly

07/01/2020

Gr 9 Up—Danyal Jilani gets by in high school by putting in as little effort as possible, and he dreams of a future where he can pursue his true passions. In his case, this means culinary arts and wooing the most beautiful (and unattainable) girl in school. His carefree world comes to an abrupt halt when Danyal is forced to participate in an exclusive school-wide academic competition. Concurrently, he is also introduced to Bisma, an intriguing bridal candidate with a deeply painful past. Although there are some clunky moments of dialogue in this debut novel, Masood finds his groove in this high-stakes coming-of-age story. He places Danyal at an intersection between South Asia and America, and it is a pleasure to watch Danyal's growth and development as he grapples with both historical prejudices against India and contemporary prejudices within his own community. This is also one of the first YA novels that prominently features the atrocities of the 1943 Bengal Famine. It is refreshing to read an #OwnVoices novel that portrays Islam as it is for many Muslim American teenagers: a belief and culture that can be beautiful, complex, occasionally long-winded, and often sagacious. VERDICT This delightful debut will make a fine addition to any YA collection, and includes a much-needed historical and contemporary perspective of Western culture through a South Asian lens.—Maria Paz Alegre, Allen-Stevenson Sch., New York

School Library Journal

Narrator Ariyan Kassam portrays Danyal, a good-looking Pakistani-American who has a crush on Kaval, a smart and beautiful girl. Danyal plans to be a chef, which is not a desirable career in his culture, so his marriage prospects are lowered. At Kaval's behest, Danyal tries to win Renaissance Man, his school’s academic award program. At the same time, his parents arrange for him to meet Bisma; starting out as friends, they slowly begin feeling more for each other. Kassam does a fantastic job embodying a flippant young man full of disbelief and questions who is expanding his ideas. Kassam depicts this initial growth through pacing and tone, and then shifts his cadence as Danyal recognizes his developing feelings for Bisma. S.K.G. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

OCTOBER 2020 - AudioFile

Narrator Ariyan Kassam portrays Danyal, a good-looking Pakistani-American who has a crush on Kaval, a smart and beautiful girl. Danyal plans to be a chef, which is not a desirable career in his culture, so his marriage prospects are lowered. At Kaval's behest, Danyal tries to win Renaissance Man, his school’s academic award program. At the same time, his parents arrange for him to meet Bisma; starting out as friends, they slowly begin feeling more for each other. Kassam does a fantastic job embodying a flippant young man full of disbelief and questions who is expanding his ideas. Kassam depicts this initial growth through pacing and tone, and then shifts his cadence as Danyal recognizes his developing feelings for Bisma. S.K.G. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

OCTOBER 2020 - AudioFile

2020-05-16
California teen Danyal Jilani knows he is good looking, but is that enough to win over fashionable and vivacious Kaval Sabsvari, the girl he’s long had a crush on?

The Pakistani American high school senior’s looks and charming personality don’t impress his father, who is disappointed by his poor academic performance and desire to attend culinary school. But when he meets smart college freshman Bisma Akram through his parents for potential future marriage purposes, Danyal learns of her scandalous secret—one that has made other families decide she isn’t a suitable marriage prospect. Danyal is surprisingly picked as a candidate for the prestigious Renaissance Man competition by his private school’s history teacher, and he finally has a chance to prove he is worthy of Kaval’s affection. But after Bisma offers to help him with his essay entry on Winston Churchill, Danyal has to decide whose opinions he values and whether or not to speak up about the hard truths he learns. An entertaining mix of humor, teen drama, cultural references, and serious themes around colonialism, nationalism, and religious identity, Masood’s debut novel is a broadly relatable story that offers plenty of food for thought. Readers will root for Danyal as he evolves and proves he is more than meets the eye.

A charming teen romance with real substance. (Romantic comedy. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews