Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
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:
N/A
5/5 This book is the epitome of adoring sunshine π«π«π«π«π«
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
OMG, I didn't know I needed this!π₯πππ As a North African British plus-sized Muslim girlie currently in the looking-for-marriage phase I cannot believe how much peace of mind this has given me!I've never felt more connected to characters in a book. I love Anas and Hayat and little Souhila! The love shared in this story was heart-melting. The writing was a little difficult to read at first but I gave my narrator an accent similar to my mothers and voila the story became so much more readable. LOVE THIS BOOK and will be returning to reread when I do find a love interest of my own. Thank you Neya and thank God for Islam πππβ€οΈ
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Sexual content
βββ.5
βI know. Ana tani nmout aβlik baba.β I would die for you too, baba.
I think I would've liked this a lot better if I had kept my expectations a bit low. I really had problem with Neya's writing style since she did a lot of grammar mistakes and in using pronouns and stuff. The thing that really irritated me was that Anas and Souhila both called each other baba. That got a bit confusing considering I normally had problem distinguishing who was saying what.
Also, I went in hoping there wouldn't be much strong romance in this but it did. It's probably a lot less than normal Romance books but I can't really judge this as this was my first ever proper Romance book. But I was really disappointed to read that Neya, despite being a Muslim author still did not know the limits. Yes, she didn't go far but just...maybe not for me. That's all I'll say. And it also felt like a drag at some places and got really boring later on.
Aside from all these problems I really loved the relationship between Anas and Souhila as well as of Hayat and Salim. The Muslim representation was done in a great way and I really enjoyed at many places. (Hydra, where in the entire book did you find the part where you ended up squealing, huh?)
Really bad of me, I know, but there was definitely something between Faudel and Kamila. I wished their banter was shown more often and why the hell they hated each other. Also, why were mothers on both sides of the family shown as bad? That's so...unfair.
I really loved the way Anas and Hayat followed all steps of the tradition for marriage. It felt really good to read something like that in a good way (this does not imply that I saw it ever being done in a bad way. Not that I've ever read something like it lol). Anddd, why the hell was Zahia shown in a way that we sympathise with her and then she turned out to be a sneering woman, huh?
I was about to give this book 2.5 or 2 stars when I finished it but after I read the acknowledgements (yes, I always read them), I definitely changed my mind. First of all, I forgive Neya for the mistakes she made because it's her debut book. Second, she specifically mentioned that English is not her first language and this was her first time ever trying to write a whole book completely in English and the efforts can definitely be seen and I understand why those mistakes were made now.
Unintentional and unofficial buddy read with Tush. (We read it at the same time together so I'll call it buddy reading whether you like or not).
NOTE: Please, I beg you, read the acknowledgements before judging [a:Neya B|32673155|Neya B|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1686063997p2/32673155.jpg] in a bad way based on her writing.
βI know. Ana tani nmout aβlik baba.β I would die for you too, baba.
I think I would've liked this a lot better if I had kept my expectations a bit low. I really had problem with Neya's writing style since she did a lot of grammar mistakes and in using pronouns and stuff. The thing that really irritated me was that Anas and Souhila both called each other baba. That got a bit confusing considering I normally had problem distinguishing who was saying what.
Also, I went in hoping there wouldn't be much strong romance in this but it did. It's probably a lot less than normal Romance books but I can't really judge this as this was my first ever proper Romance book. But I was really disappointed to read that Neya, despite being a Muslim author still did not know the limits. Yes, she didn't go far but just...maybe not for me. That's all I'll say. And it also felt like a drag at some places and got really boring later on.
Aside from all these problems I really loved the relationship between Anas and Souhila as well as of Hayat and Salim. The Muslim representation was done in a great way and I really enjoyed at many places. (Hydra, where in the entire book did you find the part where you ended up squealing, huh?)
Really bad of me, I know, but there was definitely something between Faudel and Kamila. I wished their banter was shown more often and why the hell they hated each other. Also, why were mothers on both sides of the family shown as bad? That's so...unfair.
I really loved the way Anas and Hayat followed all steps of the tradition for marriage. It felt really good to read something like that in a good way (this does not imply that I saw it ever being done in a bad way. Not that I've ever read something like it lol). Anddd, why the hell was Zahia shown in a way that we sympathise with her and then she turned out to be a sneering woman, huh?
I was about to give this book 2.5 or 2 stars when I finished it but after I read the acknowledgements (yes, I always read them), I definitely changed my mind. First of all, I forgive Neya for the mistakes she made because it's her debut book. Second, she specifically mentioned that English is not her first language and this was her first time ever trying to write a whole book completely in English and the efforts can definitely be seen and I understand why those mistakes were made now.
Unintentional and unofficial buddy read with Tush. (We read it at the same time together so I'll call it buddy reading whether you like or not).
NOTE: Please, I beg you, read the acknowledgements before judging [a:Neya B|32673155|Neya B|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1686063997p2/32673155.jpg] in a bad way based on her writing.
Actual rating: 2.5
Let me start with the positives: this was cute and fun! The Muslim representation is good and I really did like parts of this book
My main issue is the writing and flow of the book. It reads really clunky to the point where Iβm thrown out of the story and the plot doesnβt flow well either. We jump time often, skipping around events, it was just very disorienting.
But on the terms of Muslim rep and halal romance, this knocked it out of the park!
Let me start with the positives: this was cute and fun! The Muslim representation is good and I really did like parts of this book
My main issue is the writing and flow of the book. It reads really clunky to the point where Iβm thrown out of the story and the plot doesnβt flow well either. We jump time often, skipping around events, it was just very disorienting.
But on the terms of Muslim rep and halal romance, this knocked it out of the park!
emotional
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
A beautiful and joyful read, honestly my first 5 star βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ book of the year!
lighthearted
fast-paced
60% towards the ending of the book is kinda rushing.
too much conflicts suddenly and one of the conflicts is still hanging.
but i enjoyed the book anyway. it gets rid of my reading slumps.
too much conflicts suddenly and one of the conflicts is still hanging.
but i enjoyed the book anyway. it gets rid of my reading slumps.
