"Love Marriage," by Monica Ali

Monica Ali’s new novel, “Love Marriage” (Scribner, 2022), is as good as her wonderful earlier novel, “Brick Lane.” The setting is England, and many of the main characters are of Indian heritage. The theme is whether arranged marriages or “love marriages” are better. But that sentence is reductive, as this novel is bursting with vivid characters, many plot points, much talk, family life, social and cultural themes, and yes, love, as well as various infidelities and other complications. In other words, the novel is bursting with life. The writing is excellent and generous, the novel is thought-provoking but at the same time great fun to read.