Love from A to Z by S.K. Ali is a heartfelt, beautifully written romance that tackles faith, identity, and resilience. Zayneb and Adam meet by chance and find solace in each other's perspectives as they navigate personal struggles and injustices. With deep themes and emotional honesty, it’s perfect for fans of meaningful, character-driven YA romance that explores important issues.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. While I struggled to get through this book, it is frequently checked out by teens at my location.

So many people have described this book as "unapologetically muslim" and I have to say I agree and that's why I enjoyed it so much. I loved learning about the culture of the main characters, and while I didn't fully connect with the writing style, I loved being with the characters and seeing their journey. It's a great combination of romantic, adorable, and real.

Now that there is legitimately a genre of YA Islamic Romance out there told in Own Voice, the expectations are high that a book is compelling, realistic, and unique somehow. While the author’s first book, Saints and Misfits was pretty ground breaking, this 342 page was a great read, but not nearly as remarkable or memorable. Granted it is not fair to compare the two books, and each day I do age out of the target demographic, but while the story reads authentic and true, albeit a bit serendipitous, it doesn’t have the teeth or grit I was kind of hoping for, and with a mother who suffers from multiple sclerosis my emotions were pretty invested.

SYNOPSIS:

Told from both Adam and Zayneb’s perspectives by way of their individual “Oddities and Marvels” journals, our two characters are presented by a narrator who keeps their story on track and interjects when their versions of an event differ.

Zayneb is a high schooler and activist who has recently been expelled for threatening a teacher who consistently lets his Islamaphobic beliefs take over the days lessons. In an environment filled with micro aggressions against Muslims, Zeynab’s parents are at a loss at how to keep their daughter from making waves, and thus allow her to leave her Indiana home a week before spring break to visit her aunt in Doha, Qatar.

Adam is at University in London where he has recently been diagnosed with MS and as a result has stopped going to classes, and is literally “making” the most of the time he has by making things. As the term ends and he officially withdraws from school, he heads home to Doha to tell his dad and sister that he has the same disease that took his mother’s life years early.

The two characters meet at the airport briefly and then again on the plane and then at Adam’s house and the needless to say their accidental meetings allow for friendship to grow, attraction to be built upon and a relationship to develop. Both characters have their own lives and own obstacles and own maturity that needs to occur in order for a happy ending to take place, and thus the book keeps you interested, invested and cheering them on.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I love the dynamic of how the book and characters are set up. Both are practicing Muslims, both characters don’t cross a line, both characters have diverse mixed cultural backgrounds, and one is a convert and the other the daughter of a convert. She is fiery and impulsive and emotional, he is pragmatic and calm and quiet. While they have some background in common, their life experiences are rather different and it is very much a story about opposites attracting.

I’ve been waiting for this book to come out, and so I knew my expectations would be too high. That being said the book warns it is a love story and in some ways, that was what I kind of felt was lacking. There was the physical attraction that was mentioned fairly often, but the deep connection of ideas or growing seemed a bit lacking.

I really liked Adam, and his internal stresses and struggles and coming to grips with his disease seemed pretty developed. Somehow though, and I’m probably in the minority, I didn’t love Zayneb. She is impulsive and definitely learned and grew from the start of the book to the end, but I didn’t love her nuances with dealing with the Emmas and her friends back home and unraveling her teacher, it felt kind of forced and I can’t articulate why. I’m glad she matured and she got answers about her grandmother, but maybe I should have felt so much in common with her and when I didn’t, I felt a little irritated. Clearly I get too invested in fictional characters, I’ll admit that.

I like that Islam is presented in a non defensive way. The parents aren’t evil, there is no rebelling, even the awful teacher spawns backlash and allies to Zayneb and her cause. There is no apologizing or overly explaining if the characters are pushing boundaries established by Islam or if they are establishing their own boundaries based on their understanding of Islam. I like this, because it shows that Muslims are not a monolith, we are not one way good or bad. Zayneb covers and prays and has friends that are boys and her family is kept in the loop of what she does, which alone breaks so many of the predominate stereotypes about Muslims. Adam himself converted at age nine and plays the guitar and has friends that are girls, and is close to his sister, and likes dogs. A side character is noted to be incredibly religious, but doesn’t cover. The story takes place in an Islamic majority country, but attitudes at the swimming pool don’t allow Zayneb to dress modestly while she swims.

Overall, the book is a delightful read that manages to keep the religious integrity in the characters and show their personalities as they come of age. It may not be memorable years after reading, but what you do remember will be positive, and while you are reading it, you will have a hard time putting it down.

FLAGS:

There is angsty romance, and talk of sex. The two main characters keep it pretty clean, but the side characters joke about hooking up, being horny, and sneaking off to hotel rooms. The non Muslim aunt has a secret alcohol and cigarette stash that she gets called out on, but nothing more is mentioned about it. I think 9th or 10th grade and up will be perfectly ok to read.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

There is a lot to unpack in this book and I think if one just listens, teens will naturally add their own opinions and perspectives on EVERYTHING the characters experience, feel, question, and cope with. The book just came out, but I would imagine that over time discussion questions will appear.

Author’s website: https://skalibooks.com/books/

Interview with the author: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/teen/an-interview-with-s-k-ali-author-of-love-from-a-to-z/

Are you looking for a heartwarming contemporary that will melt your heart but also make you feel empowered to take on the world? *slams hand on table* Do I have the book for you!

It’s difficult for me to capture into words how impactful of a read Love From A to Z is. Filled with sweet moments of romance and family, this story is both highly relevant and thought-provoking as it explores topics of Islamophobia, physical and mental health, and more.

Love From A to Z follows the perspectives of Zayneb and Adam. After being suspended from school for standing up against her notoriously Islamaphobic teacher, Zayneb is sent by her parents to Doha, Qatar to spend two weeks with her aunt.

On her flight, she runs into Adam, a soft, cinnamon roll counterpart to Zayneb’s fiery and independent nature. Adam has returned to Doha to spend his Spring Break after dropping out of university and being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, or MS.

As the first lines of the story suggests, this book largely focuses on the budding romance between Zayneb and Adam. While at first glance both characters appear to be polar opposites in personality, S.K. Ali talently crafts an opposites attract trope that is bound to steal your heart.

Through their dual POV, we explore more of their personal identities and how they learn from one another. Zayneb, who is half-Pakistani and half-West Indian, is faced with blatant racism and Islamophobia from her history teacher at school and externally in her everyday life.

Meanwhile, Adam, who is half-Chinese and half-Canadian, battles with how to tell his father and sister that he’s been diagnosed with the same disease that took his mother’s life. S.K. Ali explores both these topics with such understanding and care, and her writing will easily captivate you from the first page.

Overall, Love From A to Z was a beautifully written sophomore novel, and I only wish that I read it sooner. It’s a story that speaks on so many important topics but also leaves you feeling warm inside.

A solid YA novel that was a good purchase for my library. Students have read and enjoyed it, and I purchased it because of this review copy.

SUCH a charming YA contemporary romance. Loved the ownvoices representation of a Muslim teen. I really related to Zayneb, and her intense frustration with the world around her while still maintaining a strong sense of empathy. I think a lot of teens will be able to see themselves in her. I also really enjoyed Adam--he was soft and sweet and everything I look for in a YA love interest. Comparing Zayneb and Adam's experience being Muslim was also great. I thought there could have been a little more in terms of conflict, but overall an awesome read.

Love from A to Z is the kind of hopeful romance you look for in the YA section of the bookstore. It forces you to confront some previously held assumptions and see things from another perspective. While I don't want my main characters to be sad all the time, Zayneb and Adam's struggles at school and home help shape who they are and make their chance encounter at the airport all the sweeter.
This is a perfect read for fans of The Statistical, Probability of Love at First Sight and more.

It's so nice to have a book that actually features Muslim characters. The main characters of this book (except Zayneb's aunt) are all Muslim. These characters aren't just there to fill some diversity quota for the publisher. The author showcases the beautiful variety within Muslim communities and elements of Islamic art, literature, and culture. I'm not Muslim, but I am so very glad for this book because it teaches us all that we are more alike than we are different. My students from rural America desperately need narratives like this that expose them to the wider world and to characters who do not look, think, act, or look like they do.

But this story is written in a way that even my rural American students will understand what these characters are thinking and feeling. Zayneb has a teacher that pushes his Islamophobia on students. (Now, hopefully my students don't relate to that, but I do expect they'll appreciate the fight against authority.) These characters are also dealing with real world issues. Zayneb is dealing with the consequences of her actions to stand up for justice as well as with her grief for her grandmother who died in Pakistan. Adam is also grieving the loss of his mother, even though it happened years ago. He tries to stay as strong as possible for his family and attempts to deal with his medical diagnosis on his own.

This book feels infinitely hopeful. Adam is able to rely on the kindness of strangers when he is need. Zayneb and Adam both have wonderful families and supportive friends. Through art and literature they connect with one another.

The writing flows effortlessly and teens will appreciate that these characters are more than just romantic feelings.

** For teachers and parents, there are no mentions of sexual content in this book. One kiss is mentioned in the book and it's pretty chaste. The characters do say a few curse words, like "ass". Islam is represented as a beautiful religion that doesn't fix problems, but helps people tackle them with a sense of peace. Issues like honor killings are addressed, especially in the ways that they contribute to false narratives that such issues only happen in Islamic culture. **

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book that I received in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book kind of made me mad if I’m being honest.

Everything about it made me want to love it. Islamic representation in a Ya novel, a highlight of the discrimination that Muslims openly face in American public school, a little bit of love, health issues. It sounded like such a great and real depiction of the struggles of the American teen.

And honestly, it was. The characters were well written, the marvels and oddities journals was a charming touch, the book had tons going for it. But it was just boring. It was slow, slow, slow. Things didn’t unfold fast enough and it’s not like it was really building towards anything, either. We knew what the characters were struggling with so the conflict was right there the whole time. I think this book definitely could have been better.

This book had me smiling from start to finish!! I loved these two characters so much and really enjoyed the setting of Qatar. It was so sweet and lovely and I found it really hard to put down once i started to read it. Can't wait to see what Ali comes up with next!

I wish Contemporary YA authors would quit using so many Harry Potter references. There seemed to be one about every three pages in this story. I also think this book would be more relatable if the female MC was middle class and not rich (and whiney), Someone making a protest at a swanky gym in her family's own country, even if it was a predominantly white membership, pales in comparison to what Muslim teens have to go through in common everyday life in the US. It also didn't help that some of her thoughts were violent. That shocked me the most because wouldn't an Own Voices author want to be squashing the stereotype of violent Muslim protest? It was never really resolved as a bad thing either, so that confused me even more. Yes, there were a few enlightening messages in this book, but very few and many more questionable and sometimes irresponsible messages, so it failed as a diverse representation book for me.

Love from A to Z was such a cute book. I thought it was a great own voices YA romance. These characters are so charming. I love how the each are facing their own unique challenges. You can't help but fall in love with this book.

LOVE FROM A TO Z is one of those stories that will stick with readers long after they've finished the last page. It's an interesting blend of humor, friendship, heartbreak, struggle, family, racism, and romance. Add to that characters easy to relate to and love and a plot that is full of heart, and you have a contemporary YA that readers will love.

I loved these characters! Zayneb and Adam are so very different with just a few things that connect them, but those things are powerful as is the actual connection they both feel. I thought their differences made them into such good choices for each other, kind of balancing the other out. I could relate to so much of the prejudice that Zayneb faced and the somewhat obliviousness of Adam with many issues that Zayneb and her family dealt with. I was so happy that this story showed how people can be open and those who we may think are enemies are just uninformed and can become allies. I also could relate in many ways religiously, even though I'm not the same religion. It's so rare to find religious characters in YA books or in fiction generally. It was a very enjoyable part of this story. What I loved most was the humor and sweetness between Zayneb and Adam, and the how the romance unfolds in this story.

I also thought the story brought up some interesting topics. It's hard to want justice and to be angry, but not to turn into what you are fighting against. Racism and prejudice does not discriminate by race, ethnicity, or religion. It can be found in all. I remember one time when in one of my college classes we were all presenting papers and a black girl showed so much hatred for white people that she was racist and then two presenters later, also black, was the exact opposite. This story made me think about that. I liked that it brought some issues forward that not all readers may be aware of.

There was very little I didn't like about this story. Some of the dialogue was a little rough in places and could have been smoothed out. Some of Zayneb's anger bothered me when she used it on those she shouldn't have and when it consumed her. I also would have loved it cleaner.

In the end, was it what I wished for? I really enjoyed reading this! The mix of humor, heartbreak, hope, friendship, and romance was so perfect. I adored the characters and I felt like it prompted some good thinking. Definitely one I'd recommend to contemporary YA fans.

Content: Some innuendo, swearing, sexual references.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a positive review nor affect my review in any way.

DNF @ 21%

I'd started this one and was SUPER enjoying it, but that was back in May, and all these months later, I'm just uninterested in returning to the book. But I definitely want to give it a second try someday, because I think it'd be worth it.

What can I even say about this book? Nothing will do it justice. This is a masterpiece. The writing is phenomenal. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, but most importantly I learned so much.

As someone who is very close to someone with a later stage of MS and knowing her struggles, this book breaks my heart for Adam and what he will most likely go through. It broke my heart for his dad who will likely have to relive the trauma of his wife all over again.

This book just did so many things with my emotions and I already want to pick it back up and read it again. This is a beautiful book.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book.

S.K. Ali is slowly becoming one of my favorite contemporary authors. Last year I fell in love with Saints and Misfits and now I am loving this title.

Adam and Zayneb are both such strong and well developed characters that it was hard to not fall for them and their love story. We meet them after both have been dealt serious blows, Adam a diagnosis he has feared and Zayned is suspended after an incident with a teach who is xenophobic. Both are traveling to Qatar for their spring breaks and meet in the airport.

Watching these characters grow and their relationship grow was so amazing. I can't wait to see what Ali comes up with next.

I had a really good time reading this! There was so much about family and friendship on self love and standing up for your beliefs. Characters who were 3D and tough topics on Islamophobia and racism. This book is so important and I'd HIGHLY recommend it.

Love from A to Z is an unconventionally structured romance, narrated in dual POV but also through the lens of a third party who is (with permission from the characters) telling their story in large part by connecting the dots between their journal entries. For the most part, it reads like a typical dual-perspective romance, but there are a few breaks where the author breaks the fourth wall and talks about how two people can see the same event in totally different ways. It fits the story, especially because the two main characters meet while traveling, come from different backgrounds, and there's a distance between them the entirety of the book. They're bound by certain things, such as Islam and their Marvels and Oddities journals, but most of the book consists of them figure out how to bridge the gaps between their many differences.

Zayneb is a high school senior from Indiana and Adam has dropped out of college in London and returned to his dad and sister where he grew up in Doha, Qatar. Zayneb is unfairly suspended from school for a "threatening" drawing she made in the class of an Islamophobe teacher. They meet as he is returning to his family and she is on her way to visit her aunt for a couple of weeks. The two of them see the world very differently, in part because Zayneb is visibly Muslim (she wears a hijab) and Adam is not immediately assumed to be due to his Chinese heritage. Zayneb has experienced Islamophobia her entire life in The United States and is self-described as always angry. She hopes to learn peace during her trip, but that's not quite how it works out. Adam is peaceful by nature, always looking for the beauty in things, but his laid back view makes Zayneb feel like he doesn't care about justice. In the end, there's a beautiful line about how Adam isn't great at confrontation, but he is great at supporting. He's basically saying that he won't be as angry (passionate) as Zayneb, but he will be there to listen and to fill her world with beauty. They'll balance each other out.

There are definitely messages in this book, such as how mass protests might not work, but change can happen on an individual level. How drone strikes are allowed to continue and to murder innocent civilians because of Islamophobia. How even if a teacher isn't ripping off a student's hijab, they can be spreading the sort of subtle prejudice that enables entire populations to view others as inferior, backwards, lesser.

And it's absolutely a romance. It's a sweet romance that, were it in the adult romance category and not YA, would be placed in the Inspirational sub-genre. Yes, Adam has multiple sclerosis. Yes, it's a difficult illness and a major part of of his life. And yes, they have enough hope and love to get them through.




Content Warnings: Islamophobia, parental death from MS and then child has the same disease, grief, death of a grandparent by drone strike, on-page MS flare-up




Suzanne received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher, but purchased and read it on audio.

Wow this book was amazing, I'm kicking myself for not picking it up sooner! Love From A to Z is told through journal entries between Zayneb and Adam, two teens who keep running into each other while Adam is home from college and Zayneb is visiting family during vacation.

Going in, I knew this story was going to be emotional. Zayneb gets to see family early because she's suspended for standing up for herself to her Islamophobic teacher, and Adam is dealing with grief because the anniversary of his mother's death is coming up, as well as trying to figure out how to live with his multiple sclerosis diagnosis. Even though there was a lot going on in the novel, it was handled really well and each topic was explored in depth and given enough attention.

"What riles me is that people think Islamophobia is these little or big acts of violence. Someone getting their hijab ripped off, someone's business getting vandalized (...) No, there's the other kind too, and it's a more prevalent kind: the slow, steady barrage of tiny acts of prejudice, these your-people-are-trash lightsaber cuts that tear and peel strips off your soul until you can't feel your numbed heart any longer."

I loved reading both character's journal entries, but I have to say I loved reading Zayneb's the most. In the author's note S.K. Ali said that some of the Islamophobic experiences Zayneb has were taken from her own experiences, and while reading I could tell just how painful these experiences were. I also enjoyed being in Zayneb's head, and seeing her learn the best way for her to standup for herself and for Muslims. 

Zayneb and Adam were such great characters, and I loved getting to see their relationship progress. There was the physical attraction they both experienced when they met for the first time, and then the emotional attraction that grew after spending more and more time together and getting to know each other more. I really enjoyed reading how they were both on the same page about their relationship, and were open to discussing it instead of skirting around the topic and their feelings which I don't see much of in YA novels. I think the fact that both characters were so mature because they had to grow up pretty quickly because of the circumstances they were in.

"the way that it felt like the space between us folded and folded, and kept folding until the distance shrank, until we made sense to each other."

Even though this novel definitely dealt with some difficult topics, it was still a fun book to read. Hanna, Adam's sister, really added some levity to the novel. She was such a cute, fun little sibling that loved rocks as well as her brother. I laughed basically every time Adam or Zayneb wrote about her in their journals.