This was enjoyable and I see many of my students liking this novel. It is a good story about a girl discovering her identity in a complicated world. She struggles with her own ideas vs those of her family & culture. It has a great viewpoint, and many teens will enjoy it.

The pacing could have been a lot better. This was a hard book to get into, though it did pick up at the end, and then abruptly ended right when I was getting into it and wanting more.

That being said, I enjoyed the plot. A girl coming into her own learning what is important and how to stand up for herself. This is a young adult book so the issues were not as relatable for me and that might have been why the beginning was so hard to get into but it did open up to bigger issues and the character growth was there which I appreciated.

This was an interesting look into another culture for me and I learned a lot of a different way of life. I would recommend this book especially to middle school/ high school kids.

This might have been one of the most frustrating but so good books I've read in quite a while. Janna was such a good character, one that I just immediately cared for and wanted to like, even despite her flaws. I wish there would have been a bit more of a resolve with her mom and brother, and with her attempted assault reveal, but I was okay with how it ended knowing the sequel comes out soon!

A lot of the characters for me were hard to read, because with the exception of maybe a handful, most of them were so hot and cold towards Janna, especially Tats who was supposed to be her best friend. So I wish there would have been a bit more of an acknowledgement with how shitty Tats acted towards Janna? Especially with the ending, and knowing how much Tats DOES care for her and wants to be a good friend, but how she acted about/with Jeremy and Janna just didn't come off as a pleasant person or a good friend.

My personal feelings aside for how the characters acted, I did love this book because it was so well written and you actually felt for the characters, even when they made mistakes. The only real issue I had with the book itself WAS the resolve towards the ending, and on the kindle edition there were a few spelling issues and wording issues, but it might have been the format itself.

Musings:

I loved this book for being about a girl embracing her heritage and ultimately accepting that there is strength is facing the darkness that touched you. Saints and Misfits may have been a light read, but the ending pulls everything together and makes an impactful mark on your heart.

What I loved:

Getting to know a bit about Muslim culture. I don’t really know much about what it means to be Muslim and this was a nice little drop of knowledge for me. Reading stories like this one helps me understand more and see a fragment of the beauty of Muslim culture.

The value of religion and family. Janna falls for Jeremy and in the book she comes to decide weather or not they should pursue anything further then a crush. Her faith matters deeply to her and the question of dating someone outside of her faith being good for her or not is an important question.


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Janna’s relationship with the older man she helps take care of. I love how adorable it is that she helps this man and he talks to her and recites poems that she writes down and saves for later reading. This wholesome relationship in the book was so cute to read about.

No one is perfect no matter how put together they seem to be. I love that this novel explores this in both a darker sense and in a lighter way too. You never know what’s going on beneath the surface in others lives and from a glance you can think someone is infallible, but taking the time to know someone you see they are human just like you are. In the darker sense sadly some people are more nefarious and that’s a sad thing to think about.

All in all:

I really enjoyed reading this. It felt real and full of teen drama. What it’s like to deal with internet problems and issues between friends and trying to balance family, grades, and life in general. So much lives inside Saints and Misfits. It was a wonderful read.

I'm not new to Muslim YA books. My kids have read their fair share from 5th grade on up. I felt like this was more of an education on Muslim religion itself in some chapters and not really about the young girls story. One could say they are one and the same. But not necessarily. There are conflicts that are not well explained. Especially, why the father dislikes the hijab and why she even chose to where it in the first place. Because it is made clear it is a choice. I have other thoughts that I will chose to keep to myself, but special thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali is a fascinating look into the teen mind of a Muslim in America and what it’s like to reconcile being a Muslim and being an American teen and deal with the monsters that live among us. Janna Yusef reads as an authentic voice that gave me a new understanding and appreciation for the Muslim religion and its beliefs. And allowed me to explore what it is like as a young Muslim girl blossoming into a young woman trying hard to find her place in the world. I found Janna’s story of how she worked through the Monster to be very touching. Sexual harassment and assault are serious problems facing teens today. I loved how this story showed a light on a topic that is often hidden in the dark. Janna is a lovely girl with a heart of gold. Her relationships, especially with the senior citizen she takes to the Community Center, gave me all the heart-warming feels I would want in a story. Misfits can be saints, and saints can be misfits, and they are all delightful characters that I would love to read more about in the future. If you are looking for a book to open your mind and your heart, this Y.A. Contemporary read is just what you’ve been seeking.

Saints and Misfits is the second book I’ve read by SK Ali and it’s my favorite, by far! She explores some pretty heavy topics in the book and does it just beautifully.

Janna is your typical #hijabi #Muslim teen with an affinity for the color black and too many layers. She also has a secret. She’s a victimized by a monster who masquerades around the community, posing as a pious man. Everyone’s bought his cover but he haunts Janna’s past and her present. Can she reveal the truth and set herself free? Will anyone believe her?

The story is masterfully written and it’s always a treat to read a book with an unapologetic Muslim female protagonist. I was however a little confused with Janna’s relationship with her hijab. She deliberately chose to take it off on a few occasions. I guess I can chalk it up to her being young and still figuring things out but it did leave me a little confused.

I am now eagerly looking forward to reading Misfits in Love soon!

#saintsandmisfits
#skali
#misfitsinlove
#netgalley

YA Fiction that mirrors real life which draws its inspiration from another culture is a portal for becoming more familiar with the lives and cultures of the world.. The dramas that enfold with the main character's insistence that she do things her way leads to misunderstandings and challenges but is a good reminder that we all have a path and that path is never perfectly paved. Growth comes from challenge and a good book's character brings us along the path of growth.

As an extra bonus bonus we learn about the Muslim faith and social issues through the eyes of a young woman finding her path between her beliefs and the world she lives in between her divorced parents.

A well written, gripping and poignant story.
I loved the style of writing, the well developed characters and how the author talks about their lifestyle and religion.
An excellent story that I strongly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I will say that I don't read contemporaries very often but I do enjoy reading about different religions. I haven't read a lot about Muslims so this seemed like a good place to start. Unfortunately, the overall story just wasn't for me. I did find the Muslim aspects interesting as I knew so little about the religion. It was really the other aspects of the book that didn't appeal to me. One of the main things I didn't like was the chapters being labeled Saints or Misfits. It feels like that should have just been subtly shown through the story. It is possible the main problem is that I am not the right audience for this type of book anymore as I am not a teenager. I think this would be good for someone who enjoys teenage drama, especially first crushes.

I received an eARC of this from Netgalley and the publisher; All opinions are my own.

Ahh sad it is over but excited for the sequel! Saints and Misfits is the perfect YA book it covers all the bases from cyber bulling to a "monster" situation along with forbidden love and trying to find a little more freedom. This book covers all the bases. I enjoyed the book immensely and was sad when I finished I can't wait for the next one! Trigger warning sexual assault.

Janna Yusef is fifteen years old. She has a lot to deal with - newly divorced parents with new families, high school math, mean girls, and discrimination among all the other regular teen problems. Janna is Muslim and has chosen to wear a hijab. Her choice conflicts with her Father's new family but she sticks to it. She also has a very close brush with attempted sexual abuse from an adult who should have been trustworthy. Ali writes Janna with honesty and sensitivity, giving us a strong, brave character with many layers. This is an excellent book for people who want to learn what it's like to be a Muslim teen in present day America. I learned a lot and I'm grateful to Net Galley for the opportunity to read a copy.

This books handles topic of sexual assault and disrespect of the Main Characters faith. The main character is a teenage Muslim girl by the name of Janna. Janna explains to her dad that it is her choice to wear a burkini and not anyone else. We see Janna trying to figure out who she is , what her values are, and who she can and cannot trust. Then when she get's sexually assaulted by her best friend's cousin who everyone thinks in perfect and she finds herself unsure what to do. Who would believe her? Will Janna find the power to confront her monster?

I highly recommend this book. It talks about heavy topics but, I felt it was written well and it was nice to see a diverse book which we need more of!

This book made me think a lot about the way that we tend to reduce people to being just one or two things– because it did the opposite so well. Each character is so different and has so many layers. I feel like we often see people of faith represented in sort of cookie cutter ways, and I loved seeing all the varied representations of different types of people here. It might be the most honest, authentic stories centered around a faith community that I’ve ever read. (I loved ONCE WAS LOST by Sara Zarr, too.)

Janna faces her own misjudgments about the people around her as well as being pleasantly– and sometimes unpleasantly– surprised by those around her. I loved her relationship with her elderly neighbor and the way his friendship impacted her and her friendships with Tats and Sarah and Sausun. Janna learns a lot about courage, finding her voice, and learning to speak up for herself. It’s about confronting evil even when it emerges in what should be a sacred space.

The book doesn’t just tackle hard issues and relationships and faith questions, though. It’s quirky and funny and so much fun to read. Janna’s voice is often self-deprecating and wry and smart. I loved that.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading SAINTS AND MISFITS, and I totally bawled through the big climactic scenes where Janna does the thing she most needs to do. MISFIT IN LOVE, a new adventure about Janna and her family and friends, comes out soon, and I really can’t wait to read it.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I wish I had a physical copy of this so I could have took my time to read this. I feel a slump coming on due to the fact that another book I am reading at the moment just sucks and this book is the 40th book I have read this year. Needless to say, I gave this a 3 stars. I enjoyed learning more about the Islamic religion and seeing the daily life of this normal Muslim American teenager as she tries to get through final exams, dealing with her brother's courtship, trying to brand her own identity and learn how to speak up after she is sexually assaulted by a guy who is well loved in the community. She fights against being a silent sufferer because it is known that girls in the Islamic religion are not taken seriously and are often blamed for the violent acts that occur to them.

I thought the ending was OK. I was super happy for Janna for speaking up and telling her family and that's it. There is no closure. There is no justice against Farooq. I am hoping that we see something done against the "monster" in the sequel. I am anticipating more heartbreak, angst, betrayal, anger and shame.

This YA novel features Janna, a Muslim teenager grappling with her Muslim religion and mosque community, high school, friendships in the aftermath of being sexually assaulted by an esteemed member of her community. This book features awesome and not-so-great friendships, accountability, loss, first love, sexual assault, fear, wanting to fit in, familial support and love, sibling love, the joys and struggles of community.

I really enjoyed this book. I quickly became very invested in Janna's character and story. This is story written for Muslim American teenagers, to normalize their experiences. To see them. To make it possible for them to see themselves. And at least from my outsider's perspective, I think that this book does this very well. It mirrors give you one view of a hijab-wearing teenager involved in a religious community, with the challenges associated with being othered. And yet, it also shows an ease, a normality, within a community.

I also appreciated that this book doesn't shy aware from more challenging aspects of Janna's community - especially when it comes to sexual assault as well as traditional and modern expressions and expectations of faith. I loved so many aspects of her relationship with her family and friends and her fight to stand up for herself. It's an excellent book. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for providing me with an e-arc!

After first becoming familiar with S K Ali's writing in Love from A to Z, I was so looking forward to going back to one of her earlier smash hits - and I wasn't disappointed. This is such a heart warming and hugely important story that I am so thrilled is getting the adulation it has.

Such a beautiful and important story; I really loved it. I am so happy to see this book getting the adoration and praise which I believe it deserves. Thanks so much to Netgalley for giving me access to this arc, I am extremely glad that I read it.

ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

This was a fantastic contemporary realistic fiction novel, with the perfect balance of heavier topics, light romance, and cultural and religious representation, and I really don't think I will do this book review justice. READ IT!

In the opening moments of the book, Janna is wearing a burkini at the beach and needs to explain to her own father that it is her choice to wear it, not any one else. Janna shows her strength in this opening scene, and slowly we learn of her "monster" and experiences.

Like most young adult novels, Janna is trying to figure out who she is as an individual, her values, beliefs, and identity. She makes human mistakes, and yet is judged for her mistakes. Janna goes through many tough situations in the book, most relating to her being a hijabi, Muslim teen, but also a teenage girl trying to figure out her place in the world.

I instantly fell in love with Janna, her family. and her community. S. K. Ali surrounds Janna with smart, powerful, independent women who fight for what they believe in and act.

This book was well-written and I would recommend it to some of my more mature students. I am really glad that I was able to get the sequel on NetGalley too!

Trigger Warning: Sexual assault

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Janna is a Muslim Egyptian-Indian teenager in the United States, trying to find her place in the world and figure out where she belongs. Janna thinks she can place people into one of three categories: saints (like the woman her older brother wants to marry), misfits (like herself), and monsters (those who seem to be saints on the outside, but inside are horrible).

I loved the character development of all the characters in this book. They were realistic and well-rounded, each person with their own unique strengths and flaws. I am excited to see that a sequel is coming out later this year once again starring Janna, but I would love to see the author do a spinoff on some of the other strong women in the story, such as Sarah or Sausun, or even a non-YA book about Janna's mom. Ali made this story accessible to non-Muslims, such as me, by explaining things we might not know about the religion. The story dealt with a lot of important issues, too, without becoming too bogged down. I recommend checking out this book!