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maya_ahmed's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Islamophobia, and Grief
Moderate: Medical content and Death of parent
Minor: Cursing and Cultural appropriation
aishallnot's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 stars
this was such a cute love story between two muslims in a halal way! im glad ive got the time to read it especially bc its well received among muslim readers. i was the same age as these characters when this book was released and i think had i read it then, i wouldve related to the characters more. even now i saw parts of myself with zayneb's character and her sense of empathy, justice, and handling her emotions in a healthier way. adam is such a sweetheart 🥺 i really liked him a lot. im definitely going to read the eid gift and can't wait for the second book of adamzayneb
this was such a cute love story between two muslims in a halal way! im glad ive got the time to read it especially bc its well received among muslim readers. i was the same age as these characters when this book was released and i think had i read it then, i wouldve related to the characters more. even now i saw parts of myself with zayneb's character and her sense of empathy, justice, and handling her emotions in a healthier way. adam is such a sweetheart 🥺 i really liked him a lot. im definitely going to read the eid gift and can't wait for the second book of adamzayneb
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Death, Death of parent, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Grief
moonchildshine's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
One thing that makes me want to read this book is the amount of people who are crazy about Adam Chen. The soft-spoken artsy mualaf guy. So, naturally, Im curious about him.
And after finished the book, well, turned out that everyone isn't wrong about him. He's THAT lovable (and I associate him with peace). That's why Zayneb is such a great fit for him, in my opinion. A slytherin-gryffindor girl who's loud and brave.
Reading this remind me of how I love my religion and how grateful I am to be muslim :") and there's alot of Harry Potter and ATLA reference here, i love it alot haha.
PS. NOEMI IS THE FREAKING MVP SHE'S FREAKING HOT. PLS MARRY ME.
And after finished the book, well, turned out that everyone isn't wrong about him. He's THAT lovable (and I associate him with peace). That's why Zayneb is such a great fit for him, in my opinion. A slytherin-gryffindor girl who's loud and brave.
Reading this remind me of how I love my religion and how grateful I am to be muslim :") and there's alot of Harry Potter and ATLA reference here, i love it alot haha.
PS. NOEMI IS THE FREAKING MVP SHE'S FREAKING HOT. PLS MARRY ME.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Religious bigotry, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Grief
Minor: War and Cultural appropriation
bookcaptivated's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Hate crime, Medical content, Murder, War, and Cultural appropriation
literautres's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
maybe that's what living is - recognizing the marvels and oddities around you.
after i finished this book at one in the morning, i went to sleep with my heart felt as if it was floating in the air like a giant balloon. (which is crazy if you think about it because if my heart is outside my body i'm as good as dead)
anyway, i love it. I LOVE IT. i love it SO MUCH i don't know what to say about it except that i love love love it and that everyone should read it and now i finally found The One. by 'the one' i mean my favorite romance of All Time and the fictional character that i can truly say the love of my life: adam chen. because forget fictional men written by women, this is Fictional Muslim Man Written by Muslim Woman. so you understand the effect it had on me, because of course the writer got EVERYTHING RIGHT.
oh my God i just love it. did i say i love it? because i'm gonna say it again. i love it. the characters, the plot, the discussion on islamophobia, racism, terrorism, activism, the way the story covers the topic on grief as well, the friendship that grows between the characters, the flow of adam and zayneb's relationship, the ups and downs, their interactions, everything. i love that zayneb and adam are solid characters where their story can stand on each their own but also when it blends together it was amazing as well. the fierce zayneb and calm adam argh they are just perfect for each other. the way they yearn for each other. hAAAA. i was really ready to throw a fit if they didn't sort out their misunderstanding and decided to never talk to each other again.
the writing is so honest i wanted to punch myself. i don't know why, i just really wanted to punch myself lmao. i ABSOLUTELY LOVE the water metaphor that's one of my favorite parts and when adam said 'my water' i was about to slam my head on the wall for real (i did get twisted in my blanket, it almost choked me because i was rolling on my bed in such intensity). the marvels and oddities journal, the main aspect of their very lovely fate, i just. that's it. i'm gonna start one now let's see if i can commit to it, whether it will bring me to my own adam chen or not because the concept of it does seem interesting. (the journal concept, i mean)
the elements of islam are written and represented so very accurately that i teared up several times. there were parts where the author quoted qur'an verses (my favorite was the sky one) and i opened my qur'an application and bookmarked them. i also really like that talk between adam and his father when he was eleven, about his father looking for peace through islam. cried on that part too. i think if we're going to talk about how many times i cried during reading the book this will go on pretty long so i'm gonna stop.
anyway, this is so fitting to be a ramadhan read and i'm kinda pissed off at myself for not picking this up sooner but well better late than never!
after i finished this book at one in the morning, i went to sleep with my heart felt as if it was floating in the air like a giant balloon. (which is crazy if you think about it because if my heart is outside my body i'm as good as dead)
anyway, i love it. I LOVE IT. i love it SO MUCH i don't know what to say about it except that i love love love it and that everyone should read it and now i finally found The One. by 'the one' i mean my favorite romance of All Time and the fictional character that i can truly say the love of my life: adam chen. because forget fictional men written by women, this is Fictional Muslim Man Written by Muslim Woman. so you understand the effect it had on me, because of course the writer got EVERYTHING RIGHT.
oh my God i just love it. did i say i love it? because i'm gonna say it again. i love it. the characters, the plot, the discussion on islamophobia, racism, terrorism, activism, the way the story covers the topic on grief as well, the friendship that grows between the characters, the flow of adam and zayneb's relationship, the ups and downs, their interactions, everything. i love that zayneb and adam are solid characters where their story can stand on each their own but also when it blends together it was amazing as well. the fierce zayneb and calm adam argh they are just perfect for each other. the way they yearn for each other. hAAAA. i was really ready to throw a fit if they didn't sort out their misunderstanding and decided to never talk to each other again.
the writing is so honest i wanted to punch myself. i don't know why, i just really wanted to punch myself lmao. i ABSOLUTELY LOVE the water metaphor that's one of my favorite parts and when adam said 'my water' i was about to slam my head on the wall for real (i did get twisted in my blanket, it almost choked me because i was rolling on my bed in such intensity). the marvels and oddities journal, the main aspect of their very lovely fate, i just. that's it. i'm gonna start one now let's see if i can commit to it, whether it will bring me to my own adam chen or not because the concept of it does seem interesting. (the journal concept, i mean)
the elements of islam are written and represented so very accurately that i teared up several times. there were parts where the author quoted qur'an verses (my favorite was the sky one) and i opened my qur'an application and bookmarked them. i also really like that talk between adam and his father when he was eleven, about his father looking for peace through islam. cried on that part too. i think if we're going to talk about how many times i cried during reading the book this will go on pretty long so i'm gonna stop.
anyway, this is so fitting to be a ramadhan read and i'm kinda pissed off at myself for not picking this up sooner but well better late than never!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Islamophobia
Moderate: Death
annie_17's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia and Grief
turtlebrainlibrarian's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Death of parent, Grief, and Chronic illness
rhm04's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Islamophobia, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Cultural appropriation and War
nitya's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Read for MLIS elective
Content warning: Islamophobia, racism, death of a loved one, chronic illness (specifically multiple sclerosis), Harry Potter references (this was written in 2019 but I'll note it)
Content warning: Islamophobia, racism, death of a loved one, chronic illness (specifically multiple sclerosis), Harry Potter references (this was written in 2019 but I'll note it)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Racism, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Medical content, Death of parent, Grief, and Death
dalmavatai's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Ah, this book. The first half worked for me just fine, but it kind of lost me in the second half. I thought there was just way too much telling and not enough showing, which meant we didn't really get to know any of the side characters and their relationships with the main characters. It also meant that I often felt disconnected from what was happening as well as from our main characters' emotions.
Basically, I enjoyed Adam's storyline because his struggle with MS was something I've never read about and his internal conflict about telling his father definitely made me feel for him. I even teared up at the end of one chapter when he recounted the french fries story about his mom, which was honestly so beautiful and touching.
Unfortunately I had a harder time connecting with Zeyneb because her main struggle was with this Islamophobic teacher at school, and I just didn't feel there was enough internal conflict or complexity involved for me to feel invested. Basically she and her friends are trying to hold this teacher accountable for his Islamophobic comments, but nothing interesting really happens, like there's no deeper conversation about why someone might be Islamophobic, or exploring the structural and systemic dimensions, etc. There were so many things I would've enjoyed reading about if the author had explored it. That said, Zeyneb's story is a very important one and I'm sure it reflects so many people's lived experience which is awesome and very needed, especially because Muslims are a marginalized and deeply stigmatized community in 'Western' countries.
The romance was very slow-burn, we don't get much dialogue between these two and we don't really understand why they're even falling for each other. For this reason, I didn't even get to enjoy Adam's chapters in the second half of the book.
Overall, I thought the concept and the emotional and social dimensions explored were super interesting, but there was so much telling without showing that made me disconnect from the characters, and I felt that there was no growth/direction in Zeyneb's storyline.
Basically, I enjoyed Adam's storyline because his struggle with MS was something I've never read about and his internal conflict about telling his father definitely made me feel for him. I even teared up at the end of one chapter when he recounted the french fries story about his mom, which was honestly so beautiful and touching.
Unfortunately I had a harder time connecting with Zeyneb because her main struggle was with this Islamophobic teacher at school, and I just didn't feel there was enough internal conflict or complexity involved for me to feel invested. Basically she and her friends are trying to hold this teacher accountable for his Islamophobic comments, but nothing interesting really happens, like there's no deeper conversation about why someone might be Islamophobic, or exploring the structural and systemic dimensions, etc. There were so many things I would've enjoyed reading about if the author had explored it. That said, Zeyneb's story is a very important one and I'm sure it reflects so many people's lived experience which is awesome and very needed, especially because Muslims are a marginalized and deeply stigmatized community in 'Western' countries.
The romance was very slow-burn, we don't get much dialogue between these two and we don't really understand why they're even falling for each other. For this reason, I didn't even get to enjoy Adam's chapters in the second half of the book.
Overall, I thought the concept and the emotional and social dimensions explored were super interesting, but there was so much telling without showing that made me disconnect from the characters, and I felt that there was no growth/direction in Zeyneb's storyline.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Islamophobia, and Grief
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Death, Medical content, Racism, and War