"Arranged marriages are like a family version of Tinder."
Dr Amir Khan will release his debut novel, How (Not) To Have An Arranged Marriage, in September 2023.
The book follows the life of a young Muslim student doctor as he is torn between his traditional family and his heart.
As he finishes his medical degree in London, protagonist Yousef’s life looks to be mapped out for him.
Yousef will become a doctor and marry a suitable girl of his parents’ choosing.
But Yousef’s life takes a turn when he meets Jess.
Dr Amir’s book explores his own personal dating knowledge, where he was previously set up on dates by his family and friends, but he says he did not have an arranged marriage himself.
He also used his experiences of South Asian weddings he attended.
Dr Amir Khan explained: “It’s my debut novel. It is based on my experiences and some observations.
“I work in Bradford and come from Bradford.
“Part of South Asian culture is arranged marriages. Friends and family are present for a lot of that process.
“It’s an interesting process. I’ve been fascinated by it for years.
“Word spreads in the community about an arranged marriage and everyone gets involved.
“Everybody wants to find a match for that person. It always happens within the community. Everyone wants to find that match for you.
“Loves comes after the wedding in arranged marriages. It’s adapted to the times.
“Arranged marriages are like a family version of Tinder. You’ve got to make quick decisions.
“I did not have an arranged marriage myself.
“What I really wanted in this book is a big fat wedding and that’s something that South Asian people do well. There are two big fat Asian weddings in this book.
“Bradford does feature in the book, but it’s not based there. This book is not about me.
“One of the brides in the book comes to Bradford to buy her wedding dress on White Abbey Road. She finds her wedding dress in Bradford.”
Morning!
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!?
My NEW NOVEL, “How (NOT) to have an Arranged Marriage” is available to pre-order NOW!
It follows 3 British Asians and their VERY involved parents through a heartwarming, hilarious and sometimes disastrous Arranged Marriage process! pic.twitter.com/fz9Wa3oCrx
— Dr Amir Khan GP (@DrAmirKhanGP) May 3, 2023
It is Dr Amir’s second book after The Doctor Will See You Now – The highs and lows of my life as an NHS GP, which was released in 2020.
He is also set to release a children’s book in 2024.
Dr Amir Khan also shared his pride for his hometown.
“I love Bradford. I’m really glad it got the City of Culture in 2025. I love the vibe that Bradford has.”
“Everyone knows it for its food. I love Bradford for the people here. It’s a community as a city there. It gets a bad reputation, which is really unfair. It has some of the best countryside in the country.
“I’m really proud to be from Bradford. It is a city that is reflective of a lot of northern cities.
“I like going down to London, but it’s not where I’m from. Bradford is the city where I grew up.”
As he marks 20 years in the NHS, Dr Amir Khan highlighted the continued pressures of being a GP.
He said: “It’s really busy. We do what we can to see as many patients as we can safely.
“There are not enough GPs, people are waiting ages for hospital appointments. It’s hard. I have been training GPs for over a decade now. I say to them it’s a really tough job, but it’s still really rewarding.
“It’s good. I have found a happy medium between being a doctor and the media stuff. It comes in fits and starts.”
How (Not) To Have An Arranged Marriage will be released on September 7, 2023.
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