I ABSOLUTELY ADORED THIS BOOK. It was just so delightful. Now I'm an admitted nerd, so while I did enjoy the plot and the characters- the archives and mystery were very interesting and I loved the way things pierced together-, what made me give this 5 stars was the literary culture. It's such a beautiful tribute to Dumas and Lord Byron. If you're a literature nerd like me you'll have so much fun with the references!

Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know is a story about 2 very different heroines set a long time apart but their stories intertwine over the course of this month of August in Paris.
Our main character Khayyam has arrived in Paris on her yearly family holidays but she's unsure about her relationship status back home and disappointed that her essay hasn't been enough to win a prize.
She meets a stranger who turns out to be closely linked to her topic research and they have an instant connection.
Over the course of the story they have their good and bad days, misunderstandings, betrayal and some of the best time uncovering a mystery closely linked to his family and her research.
Our other heroine lived several hundred years ago and we get glimpses of how it ties in with Khayyam's search for truth

I liked this book a lot more than expected because of its setting. Going to Paris in August is also our tradition
Having said that I didn't always agree with some of the decisions made by main characters and some of it was quite hypocritical. There's also a touch of cliché but let's remember she's only 17 years old
Two youngsters on a quest to uncover incredible mystery has a touch of optimism to it but I would recommend this book for an entertaining summer holiday read

I went into this knowing that I was only half of the intended audience (Muslim woman), so I won't be rating it based on the fact that I felt a little too old for it at times. That being said, I think people younger than me (22) might be less irked by or might not notice some of the flaws I picked up on.

I didn't particularly like any of the characters. Khayyam, the protagonist, felt naive, self-important, and severely hypocritical. The plot surrounding Khayyam and her relationships with people was very morally grey because there was a lot of cheating which the author tries to justify by the concept of the other half cheating first. Khayyam's relationships are questionable and toxic, so I would definitely be worried if people tried to romanticise them more than they already were.

I liked the mystery element. I was really invested in the whole adventure Khayyam had with Alexandre, trying to figure out Leila's story and to connect current archival findings with the past. I thought the concept of the story was well thought out. There was a lot of depth to it, but superficial writing and bad characterisation pulled the quality down a little.

It has an important overarching narrative about women finding their voices and owning their own stories, which I thought was a lovely touch and definitely something more YA books need.

I liked this story for what it was. I doubt I'll be jumping at the chance to read more by Samira Ahmed, though, just based on the fact that I've heard similar things about her other work from people whose reviews I trust wholeheartedly.

Trigger warnings/Content warnings: Stalking, Adultery, Death.

I loved the premise of this book, and expected a parallel story, to reflect the voice given to Leila. But I found Khyyam's story dull and the literary references tiresome, I'm afraid this didn't quite work for me.

I just loved this book. I was very aware that it wasn't really aimed at my age group (I'm a 30 year old that likes YA don't judge me). And I just couldn't help comparing it to the books I read when I actually was a YA. Don't get me wrong Sweet Valley High was great at the time but to be in the right age bracket and reading this book that dealt with so many issues (sexism, racism) would have been amazing.

Despite some of the pretty heavy issues addressed this still managed to be a light, entertaining book. The only thing holding me back from a 5 star review was that I felt it slowed a bit towards the end.

I can't wait to read all of Samira Ahmed's back catalogue now!

*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!*
2.5 stars.
The beginning of this book was very intriguing- both the academic mystery, and the overall atmosphere. The feeling of the dead of summer in Paris was excellently conveyed through every page. I found myself invested in the budding romance, and I really did like the complexities of Khayyam as a character. But somewhere around the 40% mark, my interest just fell off. I think this is a book for people who are already very knowledgeable and invested in 19th century French and English writers, poets, and painters. I've never even read a Dumas book- so trying to get myself interested in his life was difficult. I found that the beginning of the book was easier to enjoy because the references to Dumas or Delacroix were few and far between, and were very basic. As the book kept going however, they become more and more complex and specific, which I found hard to follow- and hard to WANT to follow. For someone who has already read and enjoyed Dumas' novels, or who has a vested interest in Lord Byron's poetry, or is just generally interested in the artist and literary culture of that time period, this book is an excellent read. But I found that I just didn't care by the end of the book, and I was finding it incredibly difficult to envision things like the Chateau de Monte Cristo. I have nothing bad to say about the author's writing style, I found it more than satisfactory and very charming. I also must praise the duality of Leila and Khayyam's stories, and the general theme of women telling their own story and not being silenced.
It may be the case that this just wasn't the kind of book for me!

-Read as part of the Asian readathon-

I loved everything about Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know. At first, I loved it because it reminded me of one of my favourite books, Possession: A Romance by AS Byatt, another literary mystery. But it is also a coming-of-age story, a romance—though this doesn’t take centre stage, and above all, a heartfelt entreaty to #WriteHerStory and reclaim the narratives of women who have been silenced by history.

Seventeen-year-old aspiring art-historian, Khayyam, lives in Chicago but is staying in Paris for the summer with her parents. Khayyam is feeling bruised from an academic failure and the unsatisfactory ending of a relationship, but when she meets Alexandre, a descendent of the writer Alexandre Dumas—subject of her discredited essay, it seems like destiny, even though Khayyam doesn’t believe in that kind of thing. Khayyam and Alexandre team up to investigate a mysterious woman, subject of Byron’s epic poem ‘The Giaour’, who seemed to have served as a muse for Alexandre Dumas and Eugène Delacroix, as well as Lord Byron. Khayyam is hoping to redeem herself and prove the premise of her essay, that Delacroix gifted Dumas with a particular painting, but she is also attracted to Alexandre and increasingly intrigued by the voiceless ‘woman with the raven tresses’—reduced to being the property of the two men who fight over her in Byron’s poem.

The ‘woman with the raven tresses’ is Leila, a 19th century Muslim woman, living in a harem in the Ottoman Empire. She has risen to an influential position, but she will be killed if the Pasha discovers her secret love affair with the Giaour. She plans a daring escape, but will she ever really be free to tell her own story?

According to Samira Ahmed, Leila’s story was inspired by Byron’s poem and Delacroix’s painting of the same subject, ‘The Combat of the Giaour and Hassan’, rumoured to have once belonged to Alexandre Dumas. Ahmed also wished to address the patronising Romantic Orientalism found in Victorian literature and art, and in particular, the way that Muslim woman are portrayed as passive and servile. You may be confused by the Byron reference in the title—but it seems entirely appropriate that, in this case, Ahmed has appropriated the reference to describe a woman rendered voiceless by the patriarchy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this captivating, beautifully written literary mystery about two inspiring Muslim women, two hundred years apart, finding their voices and telling their own stories.

Well, what an interesting book! A thoughtful, feminist coming of age/romance tied up in an absorbing historical mystery,

Khayyam is spending the summer in Paris where she runs into Alexandre Dumas, a descendant of the celebrated novelist. She cannot believe the coincidence - she has just completed an art history essay for a prestigious contest, looking at a possible link between Dumas and the artist Delacroix. Unfortunately, her essay was slated by the judges and Khayyam feels like a total idiot. But she jumps at the chance to get her art history mojo back by helping Alexandre research the legendary lost Dumas treasure. As they investigate, tantalising hints uncover the story of Leila, a mysterious woman with raven tresses, who may have inspired Byron, Delacroix and Dumas.

Of course, Khayyam and Alexandre's relationship becomes more than just academic, but Khayyam has left her sort-of boyfriend Zaid back in Chicago. Her feelings about both men are conflicting and she wonders if she should ignore them all and stick purely to the academic task at hand.

Khayyam is a very likeable character. She is determined not to let her feelings about the men in her life dictate her decisions, whilst acknowledging how difficult that can be. As the story of Leila is revealed, Khayyam's concern not to exploit Leila is thoughtful and touching. A very enjoyable and fascinating read.

Have you ever read a poem, or looked at a painting and wondered who it was about or what the figure in the painting was like? What the real story behind that enigmatic smile is? Or who that fair youth was? Well if the answer is yes, then this novel is all about uncovering such mysteries and will definitely satisfy fans of historical fiction, literary intrigue and adventure.

Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know is a refreshing and deeply entertaining novel which merges fact and fiction in the most delightful ways. The story follows 17 year old Khayyam, as she begins what she is sure is going to be an uneventful summer in Paris. Still smarting from an academic fiasco of epic proportions as well as being ghosted by Zaid her boyfriend who isn’t really her boyfriend, she can’t see what comes next. However, after a chance encounter with a handsome stranger, who also happens to be a descendant of Alexander Dumas, Khayyam sees an opportunity to get her life and work back on track. The further they go, and the more Khayyam and Alexandre uncover about the mysterious Leila and each other, the more complicated it seems to get…

What drew me to this novel in the first place was the whole concept behind it; a young muslim woman in the modern day, discovering and telling the story of a muslim woman from the past, with art history and a literary mystery and Byron? and Dumas? SIGN ME UP! I was kept interested the entire time as Khayyam and Alexandre work to figure out the various clues through letters, documents and art, and trace Leila’s life and story. It was like a literary treasure hunt and it was just so good! I also liked how fact and fiction were interwoven in the novel, using real paintings and poems from Dumas, Byron and Delacroix to form a basis but Samira Ahmed makes them all fit her narrative which I loved. I feel like this is creative license / freedom done really well. I also liked the little detail that Khayyam is named after the Persian poet Omar Khayyam whose poetry is beautiful, if you haven’t read any of his work before, do yourself a favour and do it!

I enjoyed the fact that we got to read from Leila’s perspective and while the entire book has some beautiful quotes, Leila’s sections in particular have some stunning passages. I felt so deeply for this young woman whose choices were taken away for so long, who finally makes a bid for her freedom and reading how it all plays out was satisfying, but also deeply saddening too. I also liked the connection that Khayyam feels to Leila despite the fact that they’re generations apart and have obviously never met, and how committed she got to telling Leila’s story, and even deliberating on whether this is the right thing to do. I thought it was quite profound that Khayyam strives to give Leila an agency of sorts, one that she sadly wasn’t allowed during her lifetime.

Also, it would be impossible for me to write this review and not mention how gorgeously Ahmed writes Paris. I know objectively and from reading other peoples experiences that the city of lights isn’t all macarons, walks by the Seine, boulangeries and quaint bookstores but I was happy to see it this way in the novel. I’m keeping these rose tinted glasses on and no-one can stop me!

One of the things I didn’t love so much were some instances of unnecessary repetition which felt a little heavy handed and like I was being hit over the head with this one point ie; womens voices being silenced, when a reader would know this already from reading the book and after the 10th time Khayyam says it like we know! I also think the constant back and forth and ‘dilemma’ that Khayyam has in regards to the two love interests felt a bit tired and again very repetitive after a certain point. I feel like the novel would have worked better for me with slightly less of this shallow stuff.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable read for me and I can’t wait to read more of Samira Ahmed’s books in the future. This was exactly the fun, romantic and intriguing read I needed right now after some heavier books and everything else going on in the world, I was transported to the little lanes and quaint libraries of Paris and it was amazing. I would definitely recommend this for readers who may be seeking some escape, as well as a genuinely clever story.

Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know is full of twists, romance and art. Here are three reasons I think everyone should read it this summer:

1. Khayyam is a superb protagonist. She jumps off the page with every word. I loved her quick humour, sarcasm and her very relatable insecurities. She cares so much about Leila, and her story, ensuring that the reader can't help but care too. She also brilliantly analyses who gets remembered by history and why. She's a brilliant YA heroine I think teenagers will love.

2. One of my favourite things about Love, Hate & Other Filters were all the technical details about cinematography, that really reflected Maya's love for the subject. In Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know, Ahmed goes into the same level of immersive detail with art, poetry and literature. I don't know very much about art, so I love coming across artist and their works in literature as it encourages me to discover more about them. This story has had me googling Delacroix, digging out books with Byron poems in and wanting to read Dumas for the first time. I'm also keen to read some of the beautiful Persian poetry features in the novel.

3. The setting is beautiful. Even in the height of Summer abandoned by the Parisians, Paris is a perfect story location - especially for one packed with swoonworthy romance (and very yummy cakes). My family and I had a long conversation afterwards about how much better Orangina tastes in the little glass bottles you can always buy in France, and the descriptions of the patisseries were mouthwatering!

If you like romance, dreamy locations, art or cake, you will love this story!

This was an enjoyable read!!! The setting was dreamy (because obviously... Paris is amazing) and the investigation was really fun to read about! There were some things that happened romance-wise that I wasn’t a fan of, but other than that I feel like this is a fun summer-y (or spring even) read!! I really want to revisit Paris now 😂🙈

Mad, Bad & Dangerous To Know is a young adult novel with an unravelling mystery, as a seventeen year old budding art historian ends up on the heels of a lost painting, and a woman forgotten by history. Khayyam is spending August in Paris as she does every year, dealing with the mess of a failed essay prize and almost-ex boyfriend she left behind in Chicago. When she meets a descendent of Alexandre Dumas, a young Parisian guy with access to documents about Dumas' life, she starts to try and unravel the story of a lost Delacroix painting given to Dumas, which in turn reveals a woman with connections to these men and to Lord Byron, and whose story needs to be told.

Ahmed weaves together Khayyam's summer with the story of Leila, fighting for her true love in the Ottoman empire two hundred years previously, to bring together works of literature and art with fiction. The novel is an enjoyable mixture of fiction, real elements of history, and a protagonist realising she wants to fight for women's stories. Khayyam's desire to unravel the mystery, and the parallels she finds with elements of her own life and identity, give the book a powerful meaning, but these are combined with the fun of the Parisian setting and the drama of Khayyam's love life to make it a book that would be ideal to read on holiday (especially one in a old city, with a sense of these kinds of stories waiting to be discovered). For some people, the historical figures will just be part of the narrative, but for others this might spark an interest in Dumas, Byron, or looking for the lesser known woman around these or other men.

This is a perfectly pitched YA mystery that combines secrets of the past with a young woman hoping to prove herself. As a Byron fan that element was an extra bonus, especially the focus on The Giaour, but there's no need to know anything about the historical figures in the novel to enjoy it.

Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know was an adventure, a travel in time and places; reading it gave me a whole new perspective about history, art, and paris.

the story garantees history of arts, a summer of adventures in paris and cute boys. while i found it slightly boring towards the middle, the book was a delightful one. reading it was a blast. i found myself so invested in the lives of khayyam and leila that they felt real to me. i wanted to know what happened next. it’s what kept me reading, especially towards the end.

i found myself relating to the main character, not only in the fact that she’s muslim, but also in her drive to know more about the truth. her development throughout the book was wonderfully executed; she became stronger, wiser, and more mature. however, i wish we got more of all the other characters, especially alexandre, the love interest, because even though he was very present during the book, i felt like he was two-dimensional during half of it. looking back, i get why, but it still felt lacking to me.

i was also astonished to find that the author’s writing improved so much. i have read samira ahmed’s debut, Love, Hate & Other Filters, which is one of my favorite books ever, and even though i read that one over two years ago, i did notice how better the author’s writing style has got.

overall, i really enjoyed this book. it is the perfect summer read for art history lovers, and for anyone who enjoys adventure. i highly recommend you to pick it up as soon as it comes out!

Disclaimer - I received a free digital download of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“I live in between spaces. The borders between nations, the invisible hyphen between words, the wide chasm between “one of us” and me alone. French American. Indian American. Muslim American. Biracial. Interfaith. Child of immigrants.”

If I could have given this book more than 5 stars I would. It was an absolutely enchanting read from the very first page. Not only was it steeped in intrigue and history, but the underlying story of a young teenage girl growing into herself and discovering her worth and what she truly deserves has made this a book I truly wish I’d been able to read as a teenage girl. The author seems to know a great deal around her subjects of choice and has done an impressive amount of research. The book has a wonderful storyline that really draws you in to the potential mystery and makes you truly invested in the outcomes for the main characters.

This was such a fantastic and page-turning read! I fell in love with Laila and Khayyam- especially Khayyam being such a fascinating character! The writing was amazing and I can't wait to read more by this author.

The Dumas family history was something I hadn't heard of before, but as the story progressed, I lost myself in this fantastical world and writing. Probably one of my favourites although I don't really read much mystery-centred books. But with a biracial and woman of colour, this is an important story that I think EVERYONE needs to pick up immediately!

I can't wait to get myself a copy because this cover is amazing as well as the alternate edition :)

Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know is two distinct and beautifully written stories. One, set in modern day France, follows a young woman struggling with her identity whilst attempting to solve a centuries old mystery. The other, two hundred years earlier, tells the story of a woman with no power who sets out to seize a life of her own.

It was not immediately clear what connected these two stories. Leila's parts were brief which made it harder to connect with her as a character. However, this does reflect the fact that her story has been forgotten in history, and only fragments remain. By the end though, I was thoroughly invested!

Khayyam meanwhile is a likeable character with typical teenage concerns (romance, not fitting in, etc). I loved how she came from a mix of different cultures and although she was not entirely comfortable with how they intersected, she worked hard throughout the book to find a fit for herself.

The plot was strong and engaging, with the mystery keeping my attention throughout. I really adored the book and the stories it told!

This review has been posted to Goodreads and will be submitted to Amazon after release.

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. This is not my usual genre, I’m more of a crime/thriller reader therefore am extremely pleased and grateful for opening up my mind to something totally different. 4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know by Samira Ahmed is the story of two modern day teens on the hunt for a missing work of art, interwoven with snippets of the story of the mysterious woman who was not only the subject of the painting but also the inspiration for some of the poetry of Byron. In current day France we meet 17 year old Khayyam, a Muslim american teen with an Indian mother and a French father. Every year they spend a month in Paris , and this year Khayyam is spending the time licking her wounds following a failed attempt to win a place at her dream college while also feeling frustrated by her sort of boyfriend back home , who seems to have ghosted her. A chance encounter with a charming young man soon turns into a historical treasure hunt. As a descendant of Alexander Dumas he is keen to reclaim some of his family's legacy and so the pair begin a quest to track down a potentially priceless painting which would not only change Alexander's family's fortunes, but might prove that Khayyam has the art history credentials she needs to win her way into college. Khayyam's story is interwoven with that of Laila, a mysterious courtesan who lived in an Ottoman Harem and inspired artistic greats including Dumas, Delacroix and even Lord Byron.
While I enjoyed Laila's story it definitely felt like the secondary plot, the majority of the book is focused on Khayyam. However I did like the point the author made about the many unwritten stories of women in history, the stories which have largely been lost because women were so rarely regarded as anything more than a second class citizen, Khayyam is a thoroughly modern young woman, whose family and faith are important to her, but who is determined to prove herself.. She is fiercely feminist, yet still struggles with placing too much importance on how others, particularly her ex boyfriend ,see her.
Overall a really enjoyable book, a good blend of romance and mystery.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.