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fromjuliereads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a good read! I tend to struggle a little more with YA books these days but this had so many fantastic moments and important elements to it that I read it fairly quickly. I admit that the familial relationships and friendships were my favourite parts over the main characters' romance. I liked them and they are a good fit, but the moments with Adam and his dad, or his friendship with Connor? The conversations with Zayneb and Aunty Nandy? Those moments were my favourites. Those were the parts that made me tear up. S.K. Ali writes fantastic familial relationships and friendships, and the moments that show them.
Also I had no idea that S.K. Ali is Canadian until the acknowledgements, but what a welcome surprise!
Warning: a LOT of HP references. I know this was written a little bit ago but it was too much for me...
Also I had no idea that S.K. Ali is Canadian until the acknowledgements, but what a welcome surprise!
Warning: a LOT of HP references. I know this was written a little bit ago but it was too much for me...
Moderate: Death of parent, Islamophobia, Xenophobia, Medical content, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, and Grief
Death of grandmother - killed by drone strike Harry Potter references throughoutohlovehandles's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The concept of the book is great, but I honestly took a long time to get through it. There were points where I loved the writing and enjoyed where it was going. Then other parts where it dragged on and made it difficult to enjoy.
It's a beautiful love story and I'm glad that we're finally getting to a point where halal romance books could be a mainstream thing that a lot of Muslims could just walk in a bookstore and get. I still would've liked for more care to have gone into the structure and writing.
Overall I think someone who's 13 would enjoy this a bit more and not necessarily be too critical on the writing. The thing is, it's a romance following characters who are 18+ and touching on a lot of dense and dark topics, it should have aimed to be written with the standard of readers within that age range and maturity in mind.
It's a beautiful love story and I'm glad that we're finally getting to a point where halal romance books could be a mainstream thing that a lot of Muslims could just walk in a bookstore and get. I still would've liked for more care to have gone into the structure and writing.
Overall I think someone who's 13 would enjoy this a bit more and not necessarily be too critical on the writing. The thing is, it's a romance following characters who are 18+ and touching on a lot of dense and dark topics, it should have aimed to be written with the standard of readers within that age range and maturity in mind.
Graphic: Racism, Religious bigotry, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Grief, Hate crime, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Cursing, Cultural appropriation, and Violence
Minor: Car accident
thebankofbooks's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
This beautiful book shone a light on MS, Islamophobia, and finding love in between.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Islamophobia, Medical content, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Death, Gaslighting, and Grief
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