Reviews with content warning for Islamophobia - Salaam, with Love

Reviews tagging 'Islamophobia'

Salaam, with Love by Sara Sharaf Beg

36 reviews

onthesamepage's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring lighthearted 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

I mean, it should probably be 4 stars, but my heart was so full after finishing this that I just don't care.

"I know Ramadan is supposed to be this amazing, special time of year for us. But...I don't feel that. And with being here, it's too different. You should hear how Mom and Dad speak of you all--they think you're perfect young Muslims, and that's not me. I don't measure up." My voice cracked. "I don't fit in."

The Muslim representation here is the closest I've ever come to what I felt like growing up as a teenager. At the beginning of the book, when her parents tell Dua that they will be spending Ramadan with her much more religious uncle and his family, Dua is annoyed because she doesn't want to spend the entire month being preached at. Her struggle with finding a connection to her faith and to Allah reminded me of my own struggles, and how I used to see Ramadan as an opportunity to improve the things I felt were lacking. And even as an adult, the struggle is still real. It's not like it suddenly becomes easier after you hit your twenties; I'm still constantly looking to do better, and some days are better than others. I loved the steps Dua took, and the plan she created for herself to find that closeness to God.

I read this book during Ramadan, which made it extra special and relatable. It's in the minor details, like having low energy levels because of fasting, the extra prayers, the importance of the last ten nights. I really appreciated the way the author highlighted the characters actually practicing Islam--there was praying, supplication, reading Quran. Usually a Muslim book will show some of these aspects, but I've never read anything else where it's this often and constant, and such a major part of the story, and I loved it.

The book also has some great, diverse representation. Dua and her family are desi, while Hassan and his family are Arab. There's also disability representation in Ibrahim. There is a very sweet, wholesome, halal romance between Dua and Hassan, which isn't the focus of the book, but I thought it was really cute nonetheless. I also liked the way the author explored interracial/intercultural relationship and the challenges that come with that.

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amberinpieces's review against another edition

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emotional 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? Yes

4.0

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karina_dreamsinwords's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

I absolutely adore Salaam, with Love! Rich in culture, faith and family, this young adult novel is a delightfully heartwarming read. You can feel how grounded the author is in her faith and family because of how beautifully she was able to portray that on the page.

As a non Muslim reader, I truly appreciated the backdrop of Ramadan and watching our protagonist partake in it's traditions with her extended family. The ultra sweet, slow burn romance between Dua and Hassan was so darn cute- especially with the wholesome ending!! YES.

From perusing reviews by Islamic readers, the representation in this gem is amazing! Further still, I encourage you to check out some own voice reviews to get the full effect on how incredible this book is.

I hope Beg has future projects in the works because I will definitely be reading anything she puts out.

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goldenelegy's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

4.5

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kingdom_of_bookish_things's review against another edition

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adventurous 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? It's complicated

5.0

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fiwwa's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted 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

"No one deserves to be insulted because of their faith or because of how they choose to dress. It's not right."

Salaam, with Love was my first muslim romance book that I read and let me tell you I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK. SO MUCH. It has the perfect combination of romance, friendship, family, and faith with a great representation of Islam particularly during Ramadan.

Let's talk about the characters first, starting with Dua. Oh, that girl. As a muslim girl, I can relate so much to Dua's characters, we have a lot of similar views on Islam and even about ourselves. Dua's character growth is wonderful, especially how she nailed her Ramadan list. And she isn't the only one who has grown in faith because seeing her development inspired me so much, so I did too.

And Hassan? The perfect boy I need, every muslim girls dream boy, the ideal man muslim parents want their daughters to marry. He's the perfect golden boy; smart, respectful, and not to mention he's a hafiz (yes, as in a person who has memorized the whole Quran) (yes, I did screamed when they mention that).

Each of the supporting characters aka Dua's family and friends, is endearing in their own way. The family dynamics amongst them are incredible, I loved how supportive they are of one another. They even treat their friends as though they were family. Haya and Mahdi would probably be my favorites. Haya is the type of girl who can brighten our day and cheer us up when we're down, she's the best friend and sister we could ever ask for. And Mahdi, as the youngest child is just the cutest, I loved how honest he is.

I see nothing is missing from the plot. There was one part of the book that shattered my heart, no one deserves to be treated like that. I liked how the author shows that a Muslim woman's appearance, whether they're a hijabi or not, does not reflects their faith. And the ending? Perfect. Yes. Definitely interested.

A perfect wholesome read for Ramadan and would totally recommend this especially when you need more proof that halal relationship is indeed possible. When you have free time, read this before Ramadan ends.

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librocubicularist_x's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring 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

This book beautifully highlights the struggles and positives of being a modern day Muslim, it gives outsiders a clear representation of how Muslims truly are and how no matter what they'll always have faith in Allah. As a Muslim myself it really gave me a chance to reflect and rethink certain aspects of my life

And also I’d to make a quick tribute to Dassan❤️ Hassan and Dua's relationship is everything I want

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alychee's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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

4.5

the only thing this book didn't have is the spice of a double pov, everything else was so cute and so perfect !

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fandomsandfiction's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring lighthearted 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

3.0

What a precious story! Think Bollywood romcom drama with a spiritual twist, set during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan :D

Sara Sharaf Beg's debut novel Salaam, with Love is heart-warming, emotional and very relatable for a young Muslim woman like me. As sweet as kulfi, as comforting as biryani and as warm as a freshly brewed cup of chai, this is a story written in a way that anyone and everyone can enjoy, regardless of your religion or culture. ☕

For a first time author, it's not bad. The writing, pacing and timeline could use improvement. I noticed many inconsistencies among the plot (most of them subtle enough that many readers won't be bothered). The story holds several realistic emotions and real lived experiences, but it's viewed through the fantasy-coloured lens and romanticism of most YA fiction and desi dramas (so if that's what you're into, then this is the book for you!)

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lynnmarier99's review against another edition

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hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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

4.0

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