A review by alainajreads
Love from A to Z by S.K. Ali

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.75

I read S.K. Ali’s Saints and Misfits a few years ago and enjoyed Love from A to Z even more! Everything I wanted from a Young Adult romance— sweet, emotional, and hopeful, and oh-so-swoony. With a fateful first meeting at the airport on their spring break trip to Qatar, Adam and Zayneb find their paths crossing again and again. Adam is hiding his Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis from his family as his mother died from the same disease years earlier. Zayneb and her friends are trying to take down an Islamophobic teacher when she is suspended from school in the process. The similarity— they both have a Marvels and Oddities journal to reflect about the universe.
 
I was captivated by Adam and Zayneb’s love story, and how their connection was emotional and respectful as according to their Muslim faith, as both are devout and their religious identity is a large part of their relationship. Adam’s MS is handled with sensitivity and care and he and Zayneb help each other grow and bring out the best in each other, and his relationships with his father and sister truly shine. This novel addressed social issues such as Islamophobia, white feminism and how it can be weaponized against hijabi women, and drone strikes and war (which hit especially hard when considering the U.S.’ role in the genocide in Gaza), and Zayneb is a passionate and outspoken activist. Though didactic at times, these topics were all handled well and inspired by the author’s own experiences as a Muslim woman. There are a number of HP and other references which dated the book a little bit for me but didn’t impact my overall enjoyment or rating of the book. With beautiful messages about family, grief, young love, and the complexities and beauty of the universe and our place in it, Love from A to Z is unforgettable.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings