Reviews

This book is not something you come across in YA romance contemporary and that definitely set this book apart. It was obvious, going into the book, exactly what Michael and Mina are going to do in their character arc and you know they're going to do it because it's not a tragic book. So I really liked how both of them developed, not only in their relationship with each other but also with everyone else. However, I wasn't expecting the family centric feel of this book, in the best way possible. Michael and Mina are both learning, Michael more than Mina, how to have their own opinions and their parents are people too and they can be wrong. I loved how Abdel-Fattah showed that Michael's father wasn't a bad father and it was hard for Michael to reconcile his loving parents with his new view of the world. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to punch Michael's father several times in the book (Michael too, but less so) because some of the stuff was just so wrong and you just knew if you talked to him, then he would be very calm and set in his views, despite them being so wrong. However, it was good to see the two sides of him and how Michael still loved his father at the end, despite disagreeing with him strongly.

Now Mina, I loved from the start. Her worry over her family, her want to do well even as she knows it's what her parents want as well and her awareness of the world around her were things I loved about her character. I really liked Paula and hers friendship and how the friendship between the three girls was an important subplot, as well as the friendship between Michael and Terrance (though the latter was definitely not touched on as much thankfully). I liked how Mina loved and respected her mum but also was growing into her own person, in a different world to her mother.

I really loved this book but there were just a few niggling things that made me drop it a star. I wished there had been more a focus on Mina in the book. Michael had the biggest character arc, which I was fine with since he was the one who had to change the most, but I wish Mina had been explored just a little more. Plus I think the book ended rather abruptly.

So, I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it but I don't think I would buy it in hard copy or read it again.

chantellouise's review

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5.0

Fair warning I'm a total leftist, feminist, sjw, libtard cuck, so keep that in mind. But this book was incredible, it hit so many amazing points, there were those perfect mic drop moments, it made me cry without romanticising anything and becoming inspiration porn. It made you think without being a story made for you to consume so that you can say that you came out better or enlightened afterwards and anyone who does... isn't really reading it properly. Everyone deserved what they got, and I think they deserved a happy ending at least in this fictional depiction of the real life struggles of not only so many Australians, but so many people around the world. Of course like any book I review that deals with such personal topics that I'm not intimately familiar with, I advise you to take my opinions with a grain of salt because while I may be "woke" I'm neither a Muslim or a refugee and therefore don't really have a relevant perspective on this issue, that being said, in my opinion this was a brilliantly written book that hazard led what can be (but should be) difficult topics well and I implore everyone to read it.
Who I recommend this book to: everyone especially those on the fence about asylum seekers
I give this book 5/5 roses 🌹

sirjen's review

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4.0

*3.5 stars

saajidhosein's review

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5.0

Hold on while I look for my wig.

amrap's review

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5.0

I love this book. Randa has managed to write such a beautiful love story and use it as a backdrop to really show the horrible rhetoric that those against refugees and asylum seekers spew. While the backstory was amazing Michael and Mina were such well written characters and their love story was so fresh and real. Can't recommend this highly enough.

gisellenguyen's review

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3.0

Sweet book with a great message. Dialogue felt stunted and unrealistic at times though, and there was a bit of a didactic feel overall that made it fall a little flat for me. Still, an important read that will make an impact on its intended teenage audience, and start some crucial conversations.

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