The Newlyweds is the story of Amina and her relationship with George. She is a young Muslim woman from Bangladesh, he’s an older American man. They meet online, he travels to Bangladesh to meet her in person, then she moves to the US where they marry and start their life together, one based not so much on love but on each being able to provide something the other wants.

Cross-cultural marriages are somewhat of a niche reading interest of mine and it was that aspect of the book which first attracted my attention. I was also interested in Amina’s personal journey as she adjusted to a new country and culture, and began the process of melding her old and new life circumstances, working out which aspects of her identity she wanted and needed to keep and which she was willing to shed. Immigration can involve gains but it also involves losses and this story shows some of both. Watching her negotiate certain conflicts eg her parents’ expectations that she would arrange for them to join her in America and they would live with her and George, and his reluctance to consider that arrangement highlighted the importance of communication, openness to new ideas, and compromise, but also the potential for power imbalances. Power imbalances are possible in any relationship but are more likely when one person is living far away from friends and family, and still adjusting to an unfamiliar culture and language.

There were other aspects to this story - both Amina and George have secrets they would prefer stay hidden- but it was the cross-cultural issues that kept me interested.