A review by lucyp21
When Michael Met Mina by Randa Abdel-Fattah

4.0

This book is not something you come across in YA romance contemporary and that definitely set this book apart. It was obvious, going into the book, exactly what Michael and Mina are going to do in their character arc and you know they're going to do it because it's not a tragic book. So I really liked how both of them developed, not only in their relationship with each other but also with everyone else. However, I wasn't expecting the family centric feel of this book, in the best way possible. Michael and Mina are both learning, Michael more than Mina, how to have their own opinions and their parents are people too and they can be wrong. I loved how Abdel-Fattah showed that Michael's father wasn't a bad father and it was hard for Michael to reconcile his loving parents with his new view of the world. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to punch Michael's father several times in the book (Michael too, but less so) because some of the stuff was just so wrong and you just knew if you talked to him, then he would be very calm and set in his views, despite them being so wrong. However, it was good to see the two sides of him and how Michael still loved his father at the end, despite disagreeing with him strongly.

Now Mina, I loved from the start. Her worry over her family, her want to do well even as she knows it's what her parents want as well and her awareness of the world around her were things I loved about her character. I really liked Paula and hers friendship and how the friendship between the three girls was an important subplot, as well as the friendship between Michael and Terrance (though the latter was definitely not touched on as much thankfully). I liked how Mina loved and respected her mum but also was growing into her own person, in a different world to her mother.

I really loved this book but there were just a few niggling things that made me drop it a star. I wished there had been more a focus on Mina in the book. Michael had the biggest character arc, which I was fine with since he was the one who had to change the most, but I wish Mina had been explored just a little more. Plus I think the book ended rather abruptly.

So, I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it but I don't think I would buy it in hard copy or read it again.