Despite facing years of abuse after arriving in Canada as a teenage bride in a hastily arranged marriage, nothing could stop Samra Zafar from pursuing her dreams

At fifteen, Samra Zafar lives with her family in Pakistan and has big dreams: she will go to university and forge her own path in the world. Then, with almost no warning, her dreams evaporate when her parents arrange her marriage to a stranger in Canada. Her new husband and his family promise that the marriage and the move will be a fulfillment of her dreams. But as the walls of Zafar’s new home slowly become a prison, she realizes how deeply she has been betrayed.

Desperate to get out and refusing to give up, she hatches an escape plan for herself and her two daughters. Somehow, she finds the strength to not only build a new future, but also to walk away from her past, ignoring the pleas of her family and risking cultural isolation by divorcing her husband.

A Good Wife tells Zafar’s harrowing and inspiring story, following her from a young girl with big dreams to a woman who finds strength in the face of oppression and battles through to empowerment.

SAMRA ZAFAR is an international speaker, human rights activist, scholar, author and social entrepreneur. After arriving in Canada as a teenage bride in a forced marriage, Samra faced more than a decade of oppression and opposition to her dream of getting an education. Today, she is the youngest alumna serving as a governor for the University of Toronto and has a rewarding career in commercial banking. Her impressive speaking portfolio includes platforms such as Amnesty International, Women in Leadership, and major universities, banks and corporations.

Samra’s story is one of Brave Beginnings, the name of the non-profit organization she founded to support abuse survivors in their journey to build lives of respect and freedom. Her story and work have been featured on prominent media platforms, including Toronto Life, CTV, CBC, Global News, Yahoo Canada and many others. Her free time is dedicated to her two daughters and her passion for empowering others through advocacy and non-profit work.

Samra Zafar's profile page

Meg Masters is a Toronto-based writer and editor. She has worked with many bestselling Canadian authors and has penned eleven books.

Meg Masters' profile page

“Whether you are trying to escape a life you never chose or the one you did, Samra’s resolve and ingenuity will inspire you to honor every flicker of longing for freedom.” — Shauna Singh Baldwin, author of The Tiger Claw and The Selector of Soul

“I cried while reading this book, but I was also left in awe of Samra Zafar’s epic grit and bravery. Her story will stay with you long after the last hope-filled page is turned.” — Lisa Gabriele, author of the bestselling novel The Winters

“A thoroughly engaging story of strength, feminism and refusal to conform to societal and familial expectations. I found it difficult to put this book down.” — Cea Sunrise Person, bestselling author of North of Normal

“Samra Zafar has penned a rare memoir, a life story worth reading and an emotional rollercoaster that will leave you feeling empowered at the end. This is a modern-day fairy tale where the heroine saves her own life.” — Sharon Bala, bestselling author of The Boat People