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fzainabs's review against another edition
3.0
Cute plot and loved how it was centered around Islam and getting closer to your deen, but there was a lot lacking in terms of how far this book could have been pushed. The writing also felt somewhat sloppy or not organized but I can understand that it is a YA book so it works well for that age range. I would have loved to read this when I was younger!
heylittlesiren's review against another edition
4.0
Salaam, With Love follows a story of Dua who has to go to Queens, New York to spend a whole Ramadhan with her cousins and family.
This book was written perfectly! This story was stinking cute! It was adorable, packed of family love that potrays Islam beautifully.
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This would be my first time reading hijabi book that really explored growth in faith. I love seeing some hadith in it. It was great experiance reading it during Ramadhan.
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I love reading the tradition of Dua’s family and their clothes sounds really beautiful
This book was written perfectly! This story was stinking cute! It was adorable, packed of family love that potrays Islam beautifully.
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This would be my first time reading hijabi book that really explored growth in faith. I love seeing some hadith in it. It was great experiance reading it during Ramadhan.
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I love reading the tradition of Dua’s family and their clothes sounds really beautiful
caylieratzlaff's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.
Errr....I was not expecting to finish this in a day? like...in a few hours?? Because I couldn't put it down? Anyways...I wouldn't really classify this as a romance...but it's definitely a coming-of-age, identity story. Mostly, I requested it because of the Islam and Muslim representation it could bring to my classroom library, and I probably will be adding this title once it is released.
Dua is Pakistani, yet feels disconnected from her religion of Islam when compared to her relatives she ends up spending Ramadan with. Not only does Dua find herself, but she discovers more about Islam....and also Hassan (of course). The ending was a bit abrupt, but it makes sense in context. Also, the education of Islam is beautiful in this book. I learned quite a bit, and it was just a beautiful, mostly light hearted read.
Errr....I was not expecting to finish this in a day? like...in a few hours?? Because I couldn't put it down? Anyways...I wouldn't really classify this as a romance...but it's definitely a coming-of-age, identity story. Mostly, I requested it because of the Islam and Muslim representation it could bring to my classroom library, and I probably will be adding this title once it is released.
Dua is Pakistani, yet feels disconnected from her religion of Islam when compared to her relatives she ends up spending Ramadan with. Not only does Dua find herself, but she discovers more about Islam....and also Hassan (of course). The ending was a bit abrupt, but it makes sense in context. Also, the education of Islam is beautiful in this book. I learned quite a bit, and it was just a beautiful, mostly light hearted read.
_zahra_'s review against another edition
5.0
Real rating: 4.5 ⭐️
There is a certain amount of trust that goes into reading a book with Muslim representation becuase while it is always exciting and gives you a thrill it is also scary as you don’t want to be misrepresented.
It is slightly inaccurate for this book to be called a love story because more than that it is a spiritual love story. The main character starts with little Imaan (faith) and so at first I was a little worried about this book but as I continued it I understood that it was there to gain a really heartwarming character arc. This is the first YA book (or maybe even any book) that I’m reading that’s set in Ramadan and it was really nice to see that. The MC, Dua, is going to her cousin's place this Ramadan where her cousins practice their faith more than her and so she is nervous as they haven’t met for years. But when she reaches she realises she wants this Ramadan to be different and makes a checklist of things she wants to achieve. She struggles a lot with balancing her faith while also wanting to seek a stronger relationship with Allah which many Muslim teens can find very relatable.
Even though this book seems very light, it tackles intense islamophobia with extreme gun violence being part of it and we see Dua struggling to accept the fact of how Muslims can be viewed. I absolutely did not expect to cry when I picked up this book but some parts were really heart wrenching and scary to read about.
Nevertheless, the family dynamic that we get to see and the friendship as well as the halal romance as the side plot was very enjoyable to read about.
The book really illustrates what Islam is about and I’m really happy that it exists to show and convey the struggles.
The only thing that deterred me from the book is the mention of music that came up quite often during Ramadan that I was unsure about but the other aspects of the book overtook that portion and I still really enjoyed and would recommend it!
There is a certain amount of trust that goes into reading a book with Muslim representation becuase while it is always exciting and gives you a thrill it is also scary as you don’t want to be misrepresented.
It is slightly inaccurate for this book to be called a love story because more than that it is a spiritual love story. The main character starts with little Imaan (faith) and so at first I was a little worried about this book but as I continued it I understood that it was there to gain a really heartwarming character arc. This is the first YA book (or maybe even any book) that I’m reading that’s set in Ramadan and it was really nice to see that. The MC, Dua, is going to her cousin's place this Ramadan where her cousins practice their faith more than her and so she is nervous as they haven’t met for years. But when she reaches she realises she wants this Ramadan to be different and makes a checklist of things she wants to achieve. She struggles a lot with balancing her faith while also wanting to seek a stronger relationship with Allah which many Muslim teens can find very relatable.
Even though this book seems very light, it tackles intense islamophobia with extreme gun violence being part of it and we see Dua struggling to accept the fact of how Muslims can be viewed. I absolutely did not expect to cry when I picked up this book but some parts were really heart wrenching and scary to read about.
Nevertheless, the family dynamic that we get to see and the friendship as well as the halal romance as the side plot was very enjoyable to read about.
The book really illustrates what Islam is about and I’m really happy that it exists to show and convey the struggles.
The only thing that deterred me from the book is the mention of music that came up quite often during Ramadan that I was unsure about but the other aspects of the book overtook that portion and I still really enjoyed and would recommend it!
fizreads's review
3.0
There is a saying that comments on people trying to hard… and I feel like it relates to this book. When I was reading this book, I just couldn’t help but think it’s trying to hard. I definitely think the second half (so probably when Mahnoor breaks of the engagement) it picks up and is written so much better and is much more readable than the first half.
The representation was great in this book but I think it lacked the fluidness of it. I think because the author goes into soooo much detail of a certain thing that it’s not natural so it reads as if its forced. I loved (and need to see more of) the main character’s progression in her faith, and her spirituality. It is so important to have representation and this book delivered on that, I could relate to so many situations and I loved how the author raised awareness to issues such as islamophobia and the dangers of it, how she gave an insight into how Ramadan is celebrated.
I feel like the main character having an interest in music (is completely fine) was not really needed I felt it was a kind of annoying distraction having the emphasis on music when really you want to read about her experience of Ramadan and what she gets up to with her cousins. Also I know this is a YA but the ‘hot boys’ and every second she can’t go without mentioning boys, like it was kind of roll your eyes moment.
I did love the main character’s growth and like I said the ending was a lot more better than the beginning, I loved the closeness she developed with the family and it was just nice to see rather than the trope of forceful desi aunties and uncles. I also can’t write this review without mentioning how cute Mahdi is- so adorable. I rounded my rating to 3, it was just an okay book.
The representation was great in this book but I think it lacked the fluidness of it. I think because the author goes into soooo much detail of a certain thing that it’s not natural so it reads as if its forced. I loved (and need to see more of) the main character’s progression in her faith, and her spirituality. It is so important to have representation and this book delivered on that, I could relate to so many situations and I loved how the author raised awareness to issues such as islamophobia and the dangers of it, how she gave an insight into how Ramadan is celebrated.
I feel like the main character having an interest in music (is completely fine) was not really needed I felt it was a kind of annoying distraction having the emphasis on music when really you want to read about her experience of Ramadan and what she gets up to with her cousins. Also I know this is a YA but the ‘hot boys’ and every second she can’t go without mentioning boys, like it was kind of roll your eyes moment.
I did love the main character’s growth and like I said the ending was a lot more better than the beginning, I loved the closeness she developed with the family and it was just nice to see rather than the trope of forceful desi aunties and uncles. I also can’t write this review without mentioning how cute Mahdi is- so adorable. I rounded my rating to 3, it was just an okay book.
minsbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
this was a fun read but i couldn't get past some of the Muslim representation
rooh_2004's review against another edition
3.0
Lovely, but as I was expecting Naive, and unrealistic. Still, it can be a quit good view to clear the accusations Muslims get. And a warm read that should have been in Ramadan, but still I kinda needed this now. Like NOW!
Dua is a graduate high school student, that she will have to apply on her major pluse can't decide about making her parents dream of her holding a Muslim Student Association. She's struggling with her beliefs too, and entwined with music, will she channel all those thoughts in the right direction??
We may know that by going through with her. She will be with her cousins on summer, where it was timed with the holy month Ramadan, they are religious and she did not see them in years, so she's a bit anxious.
Whatever, you liked it or not, it was umm simple, quite great introduction to me for the Pakistanis and their food and dresses and thoughts, we may be alike though, I loved them, their warmth,
I liked it, The Lebanesehere, weren't the best view ever, I think she didn't know their culture well, so I couldn't feel them, but alright.
She discussed the marriage, the arranged marriage, all those such, but I didn't understand (why did she framed a normal 18 yrs old want to marry that disparate. As an Islamic life. '-' ) she tried to show how merciful is god, how sweet and gracious is islam, how dua had been from barely had beliefs to being quit alarm of god precense and his plans and faith, it can fit with all religions though, we are all believers right?, her college degree desires and her parents acceptance, family issues and how valuable are they, many good things she tried to show, but believe me there's
no plot at all.
Dua is a graduate high school student, that she will have to apply on her major pluse can't decide about making her parents dream of her holding a Muslim Student Association. She's struggling with her beliefs too, and entwined with music, will she channel all those thoughts in the right direction??
We may know that by going through with her. She will be with her cousins on summer, where it was timed with the holy month Ramadan, they are religious and she did not see them in years, so she's a bit anxious.
Whatever, you liked it or not, it was umm simple, quite great introduction to me for the Pakistanis and their food and dresses and thoughts, we may be alike though, I loved them, their warmth,
I liked it, The Lebanesehere, weren't the best view ever, I think she didn't know their culture well, so I couldn't feel them, but alright.
She discussed the marriage, the arranged marriage, all those such, but I didn't understand (why did she framed a normal 18 yrs old want to marry that disparate. As an Islamic life. '-' ) she tried to show how merciful is god, how sweet and gracious is islam, how dua had been from barely had beliefs to being quit alarm of god precense and his plans and faith, it can fit with all religions though, we are all believers right?, her college degree desires and her parents acceptance, family issues and how valuable are they, many good things she tried to show, but believe me there's
no plot at all.
itsmiwaaa's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
3.75