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We Created You in Pairs: Book 1
Two hearts, one divine plan� in this life, and in the next.
When Ilyanna and Riyadh nearly collide at an intersection one fateful night in London, it does not feel like an accident. Rather, it looks like fate—the hand of God—propelling them onto each other's path.
Ilyanna, an ambitious North African law undergraduate with an adrenaline addiction and dazzling baking skills fighting to achieve the strong independent woman fantasy, initially distrusts Riyadh's marriage intentions. On paper, he sounds too perfect to be an attractive junior doctor, sharing her love of superbikes, and head over heels for her after mere minutes of having met her, seems a little too easy.
But after all, does not God write the best love stories? Does He not bring together the two halves of the same soul according to His perfect design? What if Ilyanna is Riyadh's missing rib? What if they are truly meant for each other?
As they learn to wade a tempestuous sea of cultural stigma, religious growth, personal traumas and familial conflicts, Ilyanna and Riyadh need to find trust between each other. Through their love, they get closer to God, and closer to achieving the fairy tale ending, which they had both been too scared to dream of for themselves, lest reality break their heart.
We Created You in Pairs is a contemporary fiction novel in three instalments, centring around a young Muslim romance perfect for fans of S. K. Ali's Love from A to Z.
When Ilyanna and Riyadh nearly collide at an intersection one fateful night in London, it does not feel like an accident. Rather, it looks like fate—the hand of God—propelling them onto each other's path.
Ilyanna, an ambitious North African law undergraduate with an adrenaline addiction and dazzling baking skills fighting to achieve the strong independent woman fantasy, initially distrusts Riyadh's marriage intentions. On paper, he sounds too perfect to be an attractive junior doctor, sharing her love of superbikes, and head over heels for her after mere minutes of having met her, seems a little too easy.
But after all, does not God write the best love stories? Does He not bring together the two halves of the same soul according to His perfect design? What if Ilyanna is Riyadh's missing rib? What if they are truly meant for each other?
As they learn to wade a tempestuous sea of cultural stigma, religious growth, personal traumas and familial conflicts, Ilyanna and Riyadh need to find trust between each other. Through their love, they get closer to God, and closer to achieving the fairy tale ending, which they had both been too scared to dream of for themselves, lest reality break their heart.
We Created You in Pairs is a contemporary fiction novel in three instalments, centring around a young Muslim romance perfect for fans of S. K. Ali's Love from A to Z.
370 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2024
6 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 30, 2024
Update no.1 (because I know I’ll write another review I just need to collect my thoughts )
WOW WTH WAS THIS ARRGGGHH
I’ve never cried in a book like I did in this book and it wasn’t even sad !!! Lina how do you feel after you wrote a book I will NEVER get over 😍!! How am I supposed to marry a normal man after reading about Riyadh 😍💔
** I have things to say about certain things that are religiously unexpected ^haram^ but I thought the author maybe doesn’t know about **
1.chatting and calling with a non-mahram ( even with the intention of getting married he has to propose first )
2. Meeting alone ( khalwa + you have to have mahram around looking at you )
3. Holding hands or touching in general ( even if you’re engaged she is still not your wife yet )
4. Riyadh was real flirty but ngl I liked that I mean GUILTY I know but my guy is PERFECT !!
WOW WTH WAS THIS ARRGGGHH
I’ve never cried in a book like I did in this book and it wasn’t even sad !!! Lina how do you feel after you wrote a book I will NEVER get over 😍!! How am I supposed to marry a normal man after reading about Riyadh 😍💔
** I have things to say about certain things that are religiously unexpected ^haram^ but I thought the author maybe doesn’t know about **
1.chatting and calling with a non-mahram ( even with the intention of getting married he has to propose first )
2. Meeting alone ( khalwa + you have to have mahram around looking at you )
3. Holding hands or touching in general ( even if you’re engaged she is still not your wife yet )
4. Riyadh was real flirty but ngl I liked that I mean GUILTY I know but my guy is PERFECT !!
October 22, 2024
As the author, it may feel conceited to review my own book--but having worked hard on it, I'd like to think it deserves the five-star rating!!
This novel is contemporary fiction, featuring a halal / Muslim romance, Arab characters, cultural and religious practises, and urban life. It will also appeal to motorsports enthusiasts, fans of urban fiction, and baking lovers.
For anyone having read it, reading it, or debating doing so, thank you, and feel free to let me know your thoughts and opinions!! I do hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.
The book is available for purchase on Amazon, and one third of author sales profit is donated to humanitarian causes.
Best x
Lina
This novel is contemporary fiction, featuring a halal / Muslim romance, Arab characters, cultural and religious practises, and urban life. It will also appeal to motorsports enthusiasts, fans of urban fiction, and baking lovers.
For anyone having read it, reading it, or debating doing so, thank you, and feel free to let me know your thoughts and opinions!! I do hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.
The book is available for purchase on Amazon, and one third of author sales profit is donated to humanitarian causes.
Best x
Lina
April 20, 2025
Amazing!!! I got hooked literally from the first pages and couldn’t stop reading. The story pulls you in right away, and you get attached to the characters so fast!! like, I fell in love with them almost instantly. It’s one of those books where you feel like you’re living inside the story. Super emotional, super engaging. I honestly loved it!!
April 25, 2025
This is genuinely one of the cutest books I've ever read. What I really loved about the book is the exposure of normalized problems in the Muslim world. Our society would be so much better if we legitimately followed the laws and rules of Islam that guide us to be better, but sadly culture tends to get mixed up and the 'traditions' we must follow even though Islam made it simple and easy for us. I also loved how you showed us the valid fears and insecurities we Muslim women feel because in this generation, sadly boundaries have faded away and I related so hard to Ilyana. I pray that Allah sends all the good Muslim men towards our way and the bad ones away from us. Really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the second!!! Huge props to you Lina!!!
March 10, 2025
Honestly, it was a lovely surprise. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much when I first started the book. I was more intrigued than anything else. But believe me, Lina’s writing is gentle, addictive, engaging, and poetic. Even without any real action or a gripping plot to follow, she manages to draw us into a simple love story that would usually lose my interest quickly. It’s rare for authors to give depth and intrigue to such a straightforward tale. Sure, the rapid development of Riyadh and Illyana’s relationship bothered me a bit at first, but you quickly adapt and overlook it as you turn the pages. And of course, I can’t share my thoughts without mentioning what makes this book unique: its religious aspect. The book beautifully conveys the essence of faith in a gentle manner; I felt chills with every reference to our sacred text, and I even cried while reading certain verses included in the story. In short, it’s a beautiful book by a very promising author.📖🤍
February 4, 2025
I loved the start of Ilyanna and Riyadh’s love story.
Their love was beautifully written and the Islamic reminders throughout the book were perfect; tied it all together.
Ilyanna is one FMC who I could relate to� a lot. Whenever I read her chapters, it felt as though she was talking directly to me.
And Riyadh???? His chapters were my favourite to read; his love for Ilyanna was so pure, you could see it in every single one of his words 🩷
"I want to spend the next decades of my life learning every single thought behind those bewitching eyes � Entrust me with your doubts, Ilyanna, like I've entrusted you with my heart. Tell me what's on your mind, and I'll only love you harder for it."
Dr Riyadh Badri the man you are! ***faints***
"If you're even remotely interested in paradise, Ilyanna, you'll go home and wait for me to call you when I'm not so close to breaking every single rule in the book.
The last thing I wish for is to dishonour myself and you. Let me be the man you deserve."
I did not want this book to end at all.
I’m still reading and rereading the parts I tabbed 🩷
Can’t wait to continue reading to see how their story develops
Their love was beautifully written and the Islamic reminders throughout the book were perfect; tied it all together.
Ilyanna is one FMC who I could relate to� a lot. Whenever I read her chapters, it felt as though she was talking directly to me.
And Riyadh???? His chapters were my favourite to read; his love for Ilyanna was so pure, you could see it in every single one of his words 🩷
"I want to spend the next decades of my life learning every single thought behind those bewitching eyes � Entrust me with your doubts, Ilyanna, like I've entrusted you with my heart. Tell me what's on your mind, and I'll only love you harder for it."
Dr Riyadh Badri the man you are! ***faints***
"If you're even remotely interested in paradise, Ilyanna, you'll go home and wait for me to call you when I'm not so close to breaking every single rule in the book.
The last thing I wish for is to dishonour myself and you. Let me be the man you deserve."
I did not want this book to end at all.
I’m still reading and rereading the parts I tabbed 🩷
Can’t wait to continue reading to see how their story develops
October 22, 2024
The writing is great u can’t tell this is a debut! The characters are well written and have depth to them
I like how ilyanna had multiple interests and wasn’t just a one dimensional character
We love a soft mmc :)) + he has a cat! green flag
I liked the portrayal of culture and religion, if you’re not familiar with it you might find it hard to understand the characters and how they act but I appreciated how relatable it felt as this is something I don’t usually get from stories with a different background
The romance was very cute I got very jealous while reading haha
The story didn’t necessarily follow a plot, it focused on following the progression of the relationship dealing with all the doubt that comes with it so some might find it slow
One thing I didn’t like tho was the lack of character development, that might be more prevalent in the next books however.
February 27, 2025
i went into this expecting it to be like the other “halal� romances i’ve read, but i was pleasantly surprised to find that the muslim representation was so good in here!! reading this felt like it wasn’t just for my own entertainment, but also to help strengthen my eman! i loved both characters so much, i frequently found myself pausing mid-reading to raise my hands and pray that my future husband is as wonderful as riyadh😭🫶🏻
April 4, 2025
I’ve been really busy with exam season, but I had to take a moment to talk about this beautiful book. 🎀
At a dimly lit intersection, an accident nearly occurred between a biker and a woman who despised the car she was driving. That moment changed everything. From the instant Riyadh laid eyes on Ilyanna, he knew she was the woman of his dreams.
It is a romance novel featuring two Muslims trying to balance their religious and cultural beliefs. You get to watch them grow, each struggling in their own way. The Muslim representation was excellent and something you don’t often see even in books by Muslim authors. The characters were shown praying, and you could actually read the prayers they recited, which added so much depth.
One thing that did bother me was how flirty and touchy the characters were before marriage, which isn’t actually allowed in Islam. However, in the author’s note, Lina explained that she wanted to show a realistic picture of how culture can influence religion. That context made it more understandable for me.
This was such a fluffy read , there wasn’t any major conflict, just a wholesome journey as their romance developed. The characters were so lovable. Ilyanna had such a great personality and wonderful qualities, and Riyadh? Such a green flag. Where can I find someone like him?
It was so entertaining that I kept reading and reading until I suddenly hit the acknowledgments, completely shocked that it was over.
I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC from the author herself. She was so kind and thoughtful, she even provided me with a. picture that I’m using for the review on instagram.
I’m so grateful for getting this and I would love to read the rest of the series in the future. 🫣
At a dimly lit intersection, an accident nearly occurred between a biker and a woman who despised the car she was driving. That moment changed everything. From the instant Riyadh laid eyes on Ilyanna, he knew she was the woman of his dreams.
It is a romance novel featuring two Muslims trying to balance their religious and cultural beliefs. You get to watch them grow, each struggling in their own way. The Muslim representation was excellent and something you don’t often see even in books by Muslim authors. The characters were shown praying, and you could actually read the prayers they recited, which added so much depth.
One thing that did bother me was how flirty and touchy the characters were before marriage, which isn’t actually allowed in Islam. However, in the author’s note, Lina explained that she wanted to show a realistic picture of how culture can influence religion. That context made it more understandable for me.
This was such a fluffy read , there wasn’t any major conflict, just a wholesome journey as their romance developed. The characters were so lovable. Ilyanna had such a great personality and wonderful qualities, and Riyadh? Such a green flag. Where can I find someone like him?
It was so entertaining that I kept reading and reading until I suddenly hit the acknowledgments, completely shocked that it was over.
I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC from the author herself. She was so kind and thoughtful, she even provided me with a. picture that I’m using for the review on instagram.
I’m so grateful for getting this and I would love to read the rest of the series in the future. 🫣
July 7, 2024
i’m so bad at writing reviews but please believe this is such a beautiful love story i was kicking my feet and smiling ear to ear through the whole book!!!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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