Book Reviews
And for this reason, Red Dress is a must-read novel
by Atika Nadaf
“We try to drift sometimes, but we get hurt and come back to the harbour again”, says Paula, the protagonist of the novel Red Dress. The author, Amena Khan, in her debut novel, vividly describes the struggles and emptiness two individuals go through in their respective marriages, and how they find solace in each other dating online.
Amena Khan has courageously handled this subject with sensitivity, maturity, and without judgment. And for this reason, Red Dress is a must-read novel. #reddress
Finally!!! I came to and end with both Paula and Robin.
The end was not a happy one for both of them. First, they never learned how to cope with their marriage problems. They were very responsible and loved their family, but that was not enough. They were very unhappy. These situations happen when there is differences in characters and personality and that’s when we have to work very hard if we want to save the marriage.
Paula and Robin were not able to cope with their marriage problems and instead they tried to find it outside which is never a solution to the marriage. There were two things lacking from their marriage: “love and maturity”. When you are in love you work hard to save it, but they didn’t.
Congratulation!!! The book is very well written and I have enjoyed it very much. 
Angela Argimon
When I saw the cover, I was little bit confused, but curious. I ordered the book. Received the book on time. Took me couple of weeks to read. I had no idea about the story prior to read. That's a amazing story. Loved it. Writer deserve 10 of 10. All the best.
Shafi Mahmud
What happens when two people with marital trouble meet online than in person? Amena Khan gives the reader a deep, complex, and emotionally draining story about two people who want to slip away or escape their marriages. Paula’s dreams about a soulmate and Robin’s desire is to play outside the ring. Their choices are vividly described and all too real. The red dress is a fantasy that never came true. For those who have been through or are thinking about online dating, this novel is a must-read.
Richard Lutman
“As an editor of this book, I can say it has been a labor of love, and I'm so happy to see it finished. The theme of love and how it affects the characters' relationship and marriages is elegiac and thoughtful, and the conclusion is satisfying. I recommend this book for readers of clean romances and anyone who enjoys an examination of the genre.” (Tarryn Thomas, a book editor)
Tarryn Thomas
A page-turning novel for its plot, the complex dynamic of human relationships of modern time, and for the flow of high standard literary language. The insight of the author will extend our horizon of understanding human interaction and interpersonal relationships. The novel will win the heart of readers of all ages.
Mushfique Chowdhury
When Paula’s parents married her off, she went with her husband, Shan, to live in the United States. However, the marriage lacked the love and intimacy she longs for, from the word go. A decade passes, and there’s no sign of improvement, so Paula opts to try random online chatting. While here, she chats up a guy named Robin, who also faces marriage hiccups following an aggressive, loud, and vulgar wife.
Paula has no intention of having extramarital affairs; instead, she solely wants to escape reality and strike conversations with random dudes. Robin is in for something more. Following his wife’s bullying, he has taken part in hanky-panky before without getting caught. Following their online rendezvous, Robin perceives something unique in Paula. Similarly, Paula seems to be enjoying Robin’s company and intellectual dialogues. Nonetheless, the two have invested their time and years in their marriages and do not want to throw that away. What will they do? Importantly, is Paula up for more than just a platonic relationship?
Marriage is not a walk in the park, and the author is exceptional at showcasing this. More so, I like how issues arising from arranged marriages are addressed in the novel. This may appear weird, but I enjoyed how uncaring Shan was towards his wife. His cold nature added flavor to the story. It pushed Paula to explore more options in matters of affection and communication.
The suspense that came with the book’s title was worth noting. I kept wondering what a red dress had to do with a romance tale. Then the meaning came in chapter nineteen, and my concern was ultimately quenched. Robin was honest with Paula, and I liked that. He confesses his past extramarital affairs and how his wife never knew. That way, beforehand, Paula knew the kind of guy she was engaging.
Finally, lately, when I decide to escape from reality by delving into fictitious installments, I hardly enjoy those that talk about COVID-19 and the wearing of masks. Let’s face it; it’s becoming cliché, is it not? With this work, however, Amena Khan intertwined romance and COVID-19 matters so masterfully that I could not put it down.
Red Dress by Amena Khan deserves 4 out of 4 stars. It does so because it is well-edited, having encountered only two errors. Plus, I did not dislike anything. Any reader looking for an old-school romance novel addressing problems arising from arranged marriages will enjoy this one.
Paula has no intention of having extramarital affairs; instead, she solely wants to escape reality and strike conversations with random dudes. Robin is in for something more. Following his wife’s bullying, he has taken part in hanky-panky before without getting caught. Following their online rendezvous, Robin perceives something unique in Paula. Similarly, Paula seems to be enjoying Robin’s company and intellectual dialogues. Nonetheless, the two have invested their time and years in their marriages and do not want to throw that away. What will they do? Importantly, is Paula up for more than just a platonic relationship?
Marriage is not a walk in the park, and the author is exceptional at showcasing this. More so, I like how issues arising from arranged marriages are addressed in the novel. This may appear weird, but I enjoyed how uncaring Shan was towards his wife. His cold nature added flavor to the story. It pushed Paula to explore more options in matters of affection and communication.
The suspense that came with the book’s title was worth noting. I kept wondering what a red dress had to do with a romance tale. Then the meaning came in chapter nineteen, and my concern was ultimately quenched. Robin was honest with Paula, and I liked that. He confesses his past extramarital affairs and how his wife never knew. That way, beforehand, Paula knew the kind of guy she was engaging.
Finally, lately, when I decide to escape from reality by delving into fictitious installments, I hardly enjoy those that talk about COVID-19 and the wearing of masks. Let’s face it; it’s becoming cliché, is it not? With this work, however, Amena Khan intertwined romance and COVID-19 matters so masterfully that I could not put it down.
Red Dress by Amena Khan deserves 4 out of 4 stars. It does so because it is well-edited, having encountered only two errors. Plus, I did not dislike anything. Any reader looking for an old-school romance novel addressing problems arising from arranged marriages will enjoy this one.
Online Book Club
Red Dress: A Blue Caveat by Amena Khan is a story of an unlikely romance between Paula and Robin, two souls who found solace in each other’s company. They both are married with children, and are responsible professionals in their respective fields. They bonded over their shared experience of seemingly failed marriages. Their spouses are there with them occupying huge space in their outermost world but they feel no inner connection to them. They find that inner connection in each other that they were missing in their marriages. However, what they want from their relationship is quite different. Robin wants Paula in his life as a lover, and only as a lover. He doesn’t love his wife Rosy but he still is loyal to her. He defends his cheating as nothing but his needs for love and happiness in his life. It almost feels like he is trying to punish Rosy by cheating on her. Paula on the other hand is ready to be with Robin. Paula never loved her husband Shan, just learned to peacefully cohabitate. Shan is the indifferent type who never took any interest in Paula. Their life became nothing but a parallel line. And Paula so wants a life with little warmth, care and love and starts to believe that there must be someone who could fill that void in her heart. So when Paula starts chatting with Robin, she increasingly starts to feel at ease with this affair. She loves Robin but doesn’t want to be physically intimate with him. Robin has been ready to love her passionately but couldn’t plan life with her. In a way both characters wants to break away from their situation but just didn’t know how. Paula decides not to see Robin anymore knowing their wants are completely different and can’t be met. Paula wants commitment but Robin cannot commit to her. Robin likes Paula, finds her attractive, lovable but does not want to leave Rosy, neither does he want to forget Paula. You can call it as irreconcilable differences. They fell prisoner to their mental stigma- one who couldn’t break away from a bad marriage and other who couldn’t make love to the only man who she ever loved. So they are equally constricted with their pre conceived notion of what is acceptable. Robin saw divorce as a selfish act where children suffers. He couldn’t bear to be like his father who left them for another woman. So he is willing to live through the hell of a marriage. Paula is raised in a conservative family where physical form of love is frowned upon between a man and a woman who are not married. While Paula guarded her physical purity, she slowly slips deeper and deeper into Robin. But she could live with that mental slip but could not accept physical intimacy. She would not cross that bridge until Robin marries her! And that’s why the story ended the way it did. This love affair has to end since they stubbornly refuse to sacrifice anything for the sake of love. It is a story of two flawed humans who couldn’t be together despite loving each other. The plot is well woven with characters that you get to know well. Story telling could feel a little elaborate and at times a bit awkward but it is probably due to author trying to give perspectives on characters that came from a different set of cultural norms and values. Once you start reading this book, you would want to finish it.
Tasneem Khan
Hi Amena,
I just finished reading the first chapter of your book. I am amazed by your writing and become a fan of yours. The novel started with a suspense and it keeps the reader’s concentration till the end. I can not wait to review it though I only read first chapter.
Thank you so much Parvez for your insightful inputs. I’m amused! Please read the rest of the book and let me know your valuable opinions. Thanks again!
Hi Mahmud, thanks for your all offers and features about the web design. Allow me some time and go through all details and I will contact with you later. Thanks again!