Desperate In Dubai - Ameera Al Hakawati

DESPERATE IN DUBAI

ISBN - 978-81-8400-171-6
FIRST PUBLISHED - 2011
PUBLISHERS - Random House
PAGES - 554
GENRE - Fiction
BINDING -Mass Market Paperback
SOURCE - Publishers

AUTHOR - Ameera Al Hakawati

SYNOPSIS - Oozing with men, money, and Maseratis, Dubai is the ultimate playground for the woman who knows her Louboutins from her Louis Vuittons. 

But for some, there's a lot more at stake than a Hermes Birkin. Leila has been in search of a wealthy husband for over a decade. Nadia moves to Dubai to support her husband s career, only to have her sacrifices thrown in her face. Sugar escapes the UK in an attempt to escape her past. Lady Luxe, the rebellious Emirati heiress, scoffs at everything her culture holds sacred. Until the day her double life starts unravelling at the seams. 

Set against a backdrop of luxury hotels and manmade islands, Desperate in Dubai tells the tale of four desperate women as they struggle to find truth, love, and themselves.

QUOTES - 

“And every time she hears from him, another pebble of hope joins the little cluster she has collected.” 

FL Speak - Goodness knows why I even pick up these books? Desperate in Dubai is exactly what it says. DESPERATE [in Dubai]. Dubai, the city of gorgeous men, hot Emirati women, moolah, bling and sleaze. A man's paradise, a woman's playground.

DiD is a story of 4 girls. Nadia, who's married to an American convert, Lady Luxe who's supposedly a heiress of a filthy rich family, Sugar who gets a second chance at life and Leila who's getting no so younger by the day and will do anything to snare a filthy rich guy with her feminine wiles.

This book is a mixture of Desperate Housewives, Sex and the City and Gossip Girls. I repeat, I don't know why I picked up this book. Lady Luxe and Leila are friends and thus Leila is aware of Jennifer, Lady Luxe's alter-ego for parties and everything un-Islamic. Nadia and Sugar are friends as well. And as the story progresses, everyone meets everyone else at one point of time or another. 

Everybody has problems. Wellofcourse. Nadia's husband is cheating on her with Jennifer, Lady Luxe falls for a certain Mr. Delicious [oh for the sake of everything dear, what's next? McDreamy??], Leila falls for Lady Luxe's brother but doesn't know that his sister is Lady Luxe and Lady Luxe will do anything to keep her gold-digging friend away from her family, Sugar meets a certain Goldenbwoy but still misses her ex-husband who is currently the new crush in the life of Nadia. And everyone is oblivious to each others fun moments.

Trust this author to make a Bollywood movie in style. So what happens when girls finds out that their friends are the reason their life is hell? Cmon, I know you know the answer. Yessshhhh, they go diabolical. Enter bitchiness and revenge. I once again question my IQ. Anyway, so you know what happens, plans hatch and go wayward, love realizes its a pain, people realize reputations are at stake, specially if you're a Muslim and you take part in haram activities.

Finally, the book ended. Ameera has written a tale that most people in Dubai knows of but will hardly come forward. It was a bold decision, hence the pseudonym. The writing is not legendary, but it will make for an airport read. Oh girls will love this book. I can hear them squealing and giving air hi-fives to the characters.

What I absolutely hated was the logic of this book. You write a bold book, then be completely bold. Many a times some of these characters bring a man home. I rub my hands in glee and turn the page only to find that its morning. Hello????? I don't expect a porno, but hell, I'd like some action, since I don't remember the last time I got any in real life. Lady Luxe was my favorite. Her alter-ego as Jennifer is delightful. Why is it okay for a Muslim guy to be whoring around but not the girl? Go Lady Luxe, you ze man! 

In the end, Ameera Al Hakawati's book is about Muslim women, their freedom and their actions and their portrayal in the world. Fun read, try at your own expense. 

My Rating -  3/5 stars

PRICE - INR 299/-