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New coming-of-age rom-coms seem to be published every week. They’re generally cute but fluffy—light but generally forgettable feel-good reads. But every once in a while, an author puts a little something extra into the story to make it more charming, more lovable, more memorable—like Syed M. Masood did for Sway with Me.
The story navigates the challenges of high school with Arsalan Nizami, an awkward but intelligent Pakistani teen who lives with his 100-year-old great-grandfather in Sacramento. Before his mother died, she told Arsalan to find love, but he doesn’t think he’s capable of doing that on his own—so he approaches Beenish, the outspoken step-daughter of a well-known matchmaker, to enlist her help. But Beans asks for a favor in return. She wants Arsalan to dance with her to shake up her sister’s wedding. And though Arsalan knows nothing about dancing, he agrees—and he gets so much more out of the deal than he expected.
As you might expect, as their story plays out, these two vastly different teenagers begin to find a middle ground. On the surface, it’s a typical teen rom-com: awkward boy meets headstrong girl, and though their personalities couldn’t be more different, they end up forced to work together. On its own, that makes for a cute story. The characters are lovable: rebellious Beans, who’s struggling with the expectations placed on her and her family, and sweet, self-conscious Arsalan, who acts (and talks) like a 100-year-old man. Together, they make an unusual—but entertaining—pair.
But Sway with Me is more than just teen chick lit. Arsalan is such a lovable character—and the more you learn about the pain in his past and the challenges in his present, you’ll want so desperately for things to work out for him. He struggles to protect his great-grandfather and keep his alcoholic father out of the picture—and that makes this coming-of-age story all the more heartfelt.
The author also brings more color and personality to the novel through its cultural touches. These aren’t the typical rom-com characters. They were raised in the Muslim Pakistani culture—which gives them their own religious and societal pressures and expectations. And the story’s added drama and culture and color makes it a moving and memorable read.
If you’re looking for the light and uplifting story of the typical coming-of-age story, you’ll find all of that here—but you’ll find so much more, too. It’s a charming read that’s brimming with character and drama.
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