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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
funny
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
Thought I’d leave this overnight to see if I’d feel like getting back into it. But nah. The central conflict doesn’t make much sense (someone left to go study and apparently that’s ’leaving everyone behind’?) and the way they meet up again - through a funeral - is skipped over really quickly when a bigger event happens. The Eid flashbacks about them as kids are an attempt at making the romance fatalistic, but I just found it a bit… forced? Apparently Muslims dislike this because it’s haram and not a halal romance, because the characters date, hug and - God forbid - there’s a lesbian in there (see the top comment on Goodreads…) But non-Muslims dislike it because it’s vanilla and the plot doesn’t make much sense.
hopeful
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:
No
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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:
No
DNF @ 22%
This was so cute but, unfortunately, I have too much religious trauma to enjoy a book discussing religious practice/spaces in the ways this does. I hoped that it being non-Christian would help but it was still an issue. My decision to not continue has nothing at all to do with the quality of the story. This is a very sweet YA that’s exceptionally well-written. If you can enjoy devoutly religious characters, I strongly recommend it! Bummed I couldn’t get into this one.
This was so cute but, unfortunately, I have too much religious trauma to enjoy a book discussing religious practice/spaces in the ways this does. I hoped that it being non-Christian would help but it was still an issue. My decision to not continue has nothing at all to do with the quality of the story. This is a very sweet YA that’s exceptionally well-written. If you can enjoy devoutly religious characters, I strongly recommend it! Bummed I couldn’t get into this one.
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
Boring and also not really anything to do with much ado about nothing at all. also doesn't really go into anything either.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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:
Yes
An absolute dream team collab! This isn't my favorite story by any of these authors (not by a long shot) but still, it was very sweet. Even though the romance didn't really work for me (I lowkey think Said and Julian would've made a better couple, just putting that out there), the nonetheless heavy focus on an (estranged) friendship pulled me in. All in all, it's an entertaining read but I also can't help but feel like neither Jaigirdar's nor Àbíké-Íyímídé's skills shone through like they do in their separate works.