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aalsbad's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
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? No
5.0
LOVED this book so much!!!
lately i've been a bit of a lazy reader only reading here and there but i knew i wanted to finish this one and so i sat down and read. and my gosh, did this book not disappoint me.
i loved the family dynamics, the friendships, how Islam was broadly discussed as well as interracial marriages and the problem of islamophobia that unfortunately is still a very active problem in the world. i loved how there was not only one romance that was told but two and both beautifully told might i add!
i think this book would also be good for non-muslims to read as it's a good insight into what ramadan is all about and a lot of the core values of muslims and what our religion is truly about.
this is a book i will no doubt be talking about for ages and it's definitely up there in my favourites! i'll definitely be re-reading it too! it was so wholesome.
lately i've been a bit of a lazy reader only reading here and there but i knew i wanted to finish this one and so i sat down and read. and my gosh, did this book not disappoint me.
i loved the family dynamics, the friendships, how Islam was broadly discussed as well as interracial marriages and the problem of islamophobia that unfortunately is still a very active problem in the world. i loved how there was not only one romance that was told but two and both beautifully told might i add!
i think this book would also be good for non-muslims to read as it's a good insight into what ramadan is all about and a lot of the core values of muslims and what our religion is truly about.
this is a book i will no doubt be talking about for ages and it's definitely up there in my favourites! i'll definitely be re-reading it too! it was so wholesome.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Gun violence, and Violence
stuckinatimeloop's review against another edition
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
2.75
wholesome overall, but it felt like it was written for a middle grade audience. maybe it's because it's the author's first book (as far as i know). everything that happened felt like it came out of nowhere. I don't know why dua and hassan like each other. there is almost no chemistry between them and they don't even have much screen time together to develop their relationship. everything was rushed. it's a nice book with nice ideas but could have been done better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, and Islamophobia
Minor: Ableism
pallasreads's review against another edition
funny
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? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Islamophobia
shelline_laca's review against another edition
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia
hereforthefunofit's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
This book, for me, has become the perfect example of spoiling itself simply because it is too short. In my opinion, absolutely nothing gets to develop well and readers are left with a surface level recollection of a month-long event.
My main supports for this position:
1. Something genuinely horrendous happens in this book and it is placed so far back in the backburner that it is actually ridiculous. It happens in one chapter, talked about how sad it is for a half of another, then 2 or 3 chapters go by where it is barely mentioned, if at all, then everything is completely fine. I was shocked when it happened, yes, but was hoping that it would draw something more from me.
2. The whole main point of this book is her religious journey. Tell me why there's only starting point and finishing line. There is no progress, no journey. She starts out shaky and all of a sudden, she's praying up a storm, has so much faith and this and that. She literally only makes her checklist so ambitious in attempt to look better than her cousins that Ramadan and I would've loved if we were given the privilege to understand her mind as it changed - see her struggle, see her stumble, watch her persevere but...nothing. I was craving her thought process, but the book was so busy trying to give line space to other aspects of the story that it neglected arguably the most important part.
3. The relationship with Hassan...like...WHERE'S THE SUBSTANCE??? WHERE???
4. Lots of characters that can barely be differentiated between. Rabia's only character trait is that she talks a lot...the one and only thing. Hassan is perfectly fine and nice. Manhoor was moody but is now perfectly fine and nice. Adam is perfectly fine and nice. Haya is perfectly fine and nice. Kat is-
5.Adam only be relevant when he needs to get hate-crimed is crazzzyyy cus his character is so useless to the story otherwise. They only start mentioning him frequently until right beforer it happens and he is sprinkled in abirtrarily afterwards. He adds nothing because this could have easily been a different character. It's like they wanted it to happen but didn't want it to be a character people were already more attached to. Because when i tell you...I did not know this child existed until the chapter before he got shot, I am telling the honest truth.
The book really suffers from too many characters, especially too many characters that are echoes of each other. There is nothing to make them important in a reader's head. They are sadly too forgetable. That being said, I think I could overlook too many boring characters if we got the MANY plots fully fleshed out with 3 interesting MAIN characters.
It's just frustrating because I was wanting to love this so bad.
My main supports for this position:
1. Something genuinely horrendous happens in this book and it is placed so far back in the backburner that it is actually ridiculous. It happens in one chapter, talked about how sad it is for a half of another, then 2 or 3 chapters go by where it is barely mentioned, if at all, then everything is completely fine. I was shocked when it happened, yes, but was hoping that it would draw something more from me.
2. The whole main point of this book is her religious journey. Tell me why there's only starting point and finishing line. There is no progress, no journey. She starts out shaky and all of a sudden, she's praying up a storm, has so much faith and this and that. She literally only makes her checklist so ambitious in attempt to look better than her cousins that Ramadan and I would've loved if we were given the privilege to understand her mind as it changed - see her struggle, see her stumble, watch her persevere but...nothing. I was craving her thought process, but the book was so busy trying to give line space to other aspects of the story that it neglected arguably the most important part.
3. The relationship with Hassan...like...WHERE'S THE SUBSTANCE??? WHERE???
4. Lots of characters that can barely be differentiated between. Rabia's only character trait is that she talks a lot...the one and only thing. Hassan is perfectly fine and nice. Manhoor was moody but is now perfectly fine and nice. Adam is perfectly fine and nice. Haya is perfectly fine and nice. Kat is-
5.
The book really suffers from too many characters, especially too many characters that are echoes of each other. There is nothing to make them important in a reader's head. They are sadly too forgetable. That being said, I think I could overlook too many boring characters if we got the MANY plots fully fleshed out with 3 interesting MAIN characters.
It's just frustrating because I was wanting to love this so bad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Islamophobia
nitya's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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
3.0
Very cute!!
And I loved the more nuanced portrayal of Islam and the Desi community 💕
And I loved the more nuanced portrayal of Islam and the Desi community 💕
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence and Islamophobia
kitabtrovert's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Blood, Gun violence, and Islamophobia
ariana_m's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
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
4.0
This was really good! I liked reading about Dua and Hassan's story. I feel like I learned a bit about the Muslim culture and a bit about Islam as well. I like how Dua founded herself over the time she spent with her family over Ramadan. You can truly see how she changed her views toward her culture. I liked all the side characters, they were all great. I love the bond Dua ended up forming with all of her family before she left. Overall this book was a very enjoyable read, a bit heavy at times but it was great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia and Gun violence
aishallnot's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, and Islamophobia
a_libra_library's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
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
4.75
One of the best coming-of-age stories ive read in a while. It was a bit slow in the beginning but I thought that matched Dua's attitude towards her family, warming up as the story continues
As a non-Muslim I never felt lost, or confused about the traditions of Ramadan, but the reader isn't spoon fed everything going on either.
As a non-Muslim I never felt lost, or confused about the traditions of Ramadan, but the reader isn't spoon fed everything going on either.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Islamophobia, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Ableism, Gun violence, Medical content, and Racism