Siobhan's Reviews > The Newlyweds

Nell Freudenberger has populated The Newlyweds with characters so real and alive it felt as if I were reading non-fiction. Amina has escaped the poverty and difficulties of her life in Bangladesh as a modern day "mail-order" bride. She is adjusting to her new life in Rochester, NY with her husband George whom she met on an international dating site. Amina struggles with differences in culture and climate and spends her time working towards the goals of bringing her parents to the U.S., a college degree, and having a baby. Of course life has a way of taking unexpected turns and Amina learns that no matter how carefully she plans and thinks things through everything is fluid and can change unexpectedly- even herself.

I loved the vivid descriptions of Amina's life in NY & especially in Bangladesh. Her parents are very flawed but loveable characters. Many times throughout the book I would've liked to give them a hug :) At turns exciting, contemplative, humorous, and heartbreaking this novel contains the full range of human emotion and experience. I would love if there were a sequel to the Newlyweds so I could find out what happens next to these compelling characters!