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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
I had so high expectations for this one but it was pretty disappointing.
At the start, I enjoyed it a lot. I love how calm both Hayat and Anas were in the face of difficulties. The way Hayat looked at hard situations. Like they were another challenge she needed to complete.
Anas's love for Souhila was the most beautiful thing everrrrr. It somtimes made me cry because he became so helpless due to fear.
"A man like him, trembling like a leaf after his daughter screamed in pain"
And Hayat's relationship with her father >>
"Ana tani nmout a’lik baba." (I would die for you too, Baba)
Hayat's and Anas's relationship with their mothers is so sadddd. But its so true. The fact that sometimes, mothers care too much about what the society will say that they fail to understand their child's feelings.
Plot-wise, it was good.
Writing-wise? VERY HARD TO READ. Sometimes, I had to read 2-3 times to understand who said what. Who did what. What was happening. It was pretty messed up.
Another thing that annoyed me was the nicknames. Souhila called her father "Baba". That fine. but why does he also call her "Baba"? Yea, it means something both ways, but dude...dont do that. please
At the start, I enjoyed it a lot. I love how calm both Hayat and Anas were in the face of difficulties. The way Hayat looked at hard situations. Like they were another challenge she needed to complete.
Anas's love for Souhila was the most beautiful thing everrrrr. It somtimes made me cry because he became so helpless due to fear.
"A man like him, trembling like a leaf after his daughter screamed in pain"
And Hayat's relationship with her father >>
"Ana tani nmout a’lik baba." (I would die for you too, Baba)
Hayat's and Anas's relationship with their mothers is so sadddd. But its so true. The fact that sometimes, mothers care too much about what the society will say that they fail to understand their child's feelings.
Plot-wise, it was good.
Writing-wise? VERY HARD TO READ. Sometimes, I had to read 2-3 times to understand who said what. Who did what. What was happening. It was pretty messed up.
Another thing that annoyed me was the nicknames. Souhila called her father "Baba". That fine. but why does he also call her "Baba"? Yea, it means something both ways, but dude...dont do that. please
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a very refreshing change to the usual romance books I read. As a Muslim myself and as a person born and raised in the Middle East I felt seen throughout the book. It was like someone took the romance in my head that I want and wrote in a book. Thank you Neya B I was giggling and kicking my feet so much. I wish for your writing to get better and looking forward for future books
slow-paced
i was seated for the halal romance but this was unfortunately not engaging enough for me to connect nor care about any of the characters and the conflict seemed forced????
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked that there was a representation of halal romance in the sense of the muqabalas and making sure that there was a mahram present at all times before marriage. It did raise my standards to see these efforts represented. However, I wouldn’t say there was character development or reflections on Islamic principles to strengthen themselves but at the same time, the book never promised to do so. The main conflict within myself I felt when reading the book was the lack of lowering the gaze or stress on physical appearance even while wearing the hijab, which by its nature emphasises modesty. It gives power by getting to choose who gets to see your beauty. I didn’t give this book a rating because I think the book’s trope subjectively was enjoyable regardless of objective merit of the issues I felt in. I would love to see more halal romances that has more atmospheric language like purple prose and characters with more depth. I enjoyed the experience despite not feeling the barebone prose appropriate at times.
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I want to preface this review by adding on the fact that, I don’t normally read 1st narration style books and that might have been something that also impacted my experience while reading this book. But that isn’t to say that, I based my whole review on it. I think it’s always good to be honest and give constructive criticism so that authors are able to improve themselves, and thus, our experience while reading their books. Without further ado, let me provide my own thoughts on this book.
It wasn’t a bad book per the rating, but it lacked the depth that a book should have. But knowing that this is a debut novel, I feel like this was a good start. The book gave me insight into the life of a Muslim and how they handle courtship and since that was the author’s main goal, it fulfilled the criteria exceptionally.
Do I think that this could have been executed better, definitely. But I also know that everyone has to start somewhere, and this was a great start. The journey might be longer for some, but the destination is what matters most.
It wasn’t a bad book per the rating, but it lacked the depth that a book should have. But knowing that this is a debut novel, I feel like this was a good start. The book gave me insight into the life of a Muslim and how they handle courtship and since that was the author’s main goal, it fulfilled the criteria exceptionally.
Do I think that this could have been executed better, definitely. But I also know that everyone has to start somewhere, and this was a great start. The journey might be longer for some, but the destination is what matters most.
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No