Love From A To Z by SK Ali

YA Romance, 2019 by Salaam Reads, 384 Pages 

Note: I’m not Muslim so I can’t speak to the realism of the way these Muslim characters are written.

What I Didn’t Like:

• The Harry Potter references get old immediately. I wanted something else … anything else. It comes up a lot. 
• Some of the narrative is sloppy and forced. I think this was an attempt to sound more like a young adult in a diary but it didn’t always work. 
• I wasn’t a fan of the narrator breaks or interludes. I could’ve done without them altogether.

What I Did Like:

• Adam. His chapters were relatable. He’s an amazing character. I absolutely adored his half of this book. He’s a guy facing a lot who can admit when he is wrong. He’s amazing! 
• Ending. I loved the epilogue, which addressed one of my major issues with Zayneb. I loved the note from the author regarding the research. I just loved the way this one closed out! 
• The MS angle was well written. It came across as believable instead of a ploy. It didn’t feel like all the other stories I’ve read like this and I liked that.
• I adore diverse stories that introduce me to cultures and lifestyles that I am not a part of. This does that in a beautiful way and I enjoyed this journey. 

Who Should Read This One:

• Fans of diverse stories, specifically related to Muslim characters. 
• Fans of contemporary stories featuring a character learning to deal with an illness. 

My Rating: 3 Stars

• This is a good book but the voice and style might not work for everyone.