Janna Yusuf (Saints & Misfits) is excited about her brother Muhammad's upcoming nikah to Sarah - and about finally admitting to Nuah that she likes him back. But things are shifting in Janna's family: her mother's old college friend "Uncle Bilal" has suddenly reentered her life, catching Janna off-guard; she realizes that her dad doesn't approve of her and Nuah because Nuah is Black; and she is trying to ignore the suspicion that Nuah is avoiding her. Also, Sarah's cousin Haytham and Uncle Bilal's nephew Layth are proving distracting in different ways. In a nutshell...it's a big family event, with all the drama, and Janna has to rise to the occasion for her brother and sister-in-law's sake, facing romantic disappointment, anti-Black racism in the Muslim community, and her best friend Tats' surprise boyfriend.

Quotes

Believing that whatever we've faced and survived we can turn into growth for ourselves and the world is a way forward. (217) ( )

Teen fiction (muslim romance/non-romance with focus on speaking up against racism/microaggressions even when it's your family)

You should read Saints and Misfits first, as this book assumes you already know the characters. This sequel wasn't as 'fun' but it did a great job of tackling another serious topic--Looking forward to more from this author. ( )

3.5 out of 5 stars!

As the heroine copes with the upcoming wedding of her older sibling, she encounters changes in her relationships with family, friends, new people, and more. Throughout the journey towards the wedding day, she learns more about herself and how she reacts to certain situations that shapes her growth in life.

This is the second book in this S. K. Ali book series. Any relevant information about the first book is given in this story, so this book can be read as a stand-alone. The first part of the book didn't gripe as much as the last half of it because I wasn't enamored of the heroine until after that latter part. I did like the various group of characters, especially the heroine's older sibling and her best friend. I also liked how the book illuminated differences within the Muslim community and how certain characters dealt with them. Overall, it's an enjoyable book that will make you think about certain subjects that are relevant in the present.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.** ( )