Janna Yusef is a young Muslim girl who has chosen to wear a hijab. In this sequel to Saints and Misfits, Janna is excited about her brother's upcoming wedding. She's missed her mother over the summer and her friend Nuah is coming. In Saints and Misfits, she wasn't ready return his feelings, but now she's ready for college and ready for love. But what wedding is perfect? Her brother Muhammad and his fiancé are disagreeing about everything, her father is acting weird and her mother chooses the company of her "friend" over Janna's. To top it off, Nuah is treating her differently. She meets two new guys and becomes more confused than ever. The summer of love that she planned is not working out at all, forcing Janna to examine what she really wants. S. K. Ali is a great writer and stays true to her characters. As with Saints and Misfits, I learned a lot and I'm grateful to Net Galley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Misfit in Love was a book I read in a matter of days. Ali balances a story full of heart and falling in love, with conversations about intercultural dating, racism, and heartbreak. Even though it's been a while since I read Saints and Misfits, I sunk right into the book. All in all, Misfit in Love describes all the things, the expereinces, and thoughts, that happen when life doesn't turn out as we planned. When we think we want small, cozy, familiar, and then all of a sudden things begin to change. The conflicts in our heart between attraction and sense, between love and jealously, support and calling out.

Misfits in Love

Misfits in Love is a relatable coming of age story about a Muslim American teen going through the monumental transition from high school to college.

What I Liked

I enjoyed the in-depth look at a Muslim ceremony that is one I have never heard of before. A nikah is a marriage ceremony but is somehow different from a formal wedding. We never get to see the wedding that Sarah's parents have planned for Sarah and Muhammad, so I'm not sure the exact difference between the two except perhaps the formality. A nikah is a party where the couple is legally married, but it is very casual.
It is not held in a mosque. In this instance, it is held in the lakeside gazebo on the groom's father's lake home. The family's reactions to various aspects of the party are intriguing and eye-opening. I feel like I've moved up more rung on the ladder to understanding the Muslim religion and culture.

I found the exploration of racism to be very informative and relatable to feelings inside of other cultures. Sometimes, the worst discrimination occurs within a culture. For white Americans, there is inner discrimination found among different socio-economic classes. And, in Muslim culture, there is discrimination based on country of origin. I was shocked by Janna and her father's first discussion about how Nuah is black and that this could be an issue. This started a conversation that spurred a much larger dialogue about racism among all the different countries of origin for Muslim people – Syrians. Egyptians, Europeans, Arabs, etc... I found the conversations to be very insightful and illuminating of the pervasiveness of racism.

The main character, Janna, totally frustrated me but in a relatable way that any American teen would. Janna can act so immature and disrespectful that, at times, I would just have to close the book for a while. Then she would have a moment of maturity and clarity that showed she is growing up and forming her own thoughts and opinions separate from her family. These moments were a relief, as her immaturity exhausted me, which is much the way parents of teens feel all over the country. I use to say that teenagers of this age have to be impossible for parents to deal with because it helps them make the transition of the separation that is to come.

To Read or Not to Read

The look into the Muslim community and authentic conversations about racism make this an eye-opening read for anyone and everyone. It's the perfect addition to your summer reading!

This is the third book I have read from author S.K. Ali, and I'm so happy to say that this not just a sequel to Saints & Misfits, but it also includes characters from Love from A to Z!!! It's the whole wonderful universe of characters that the author has created, all rolled up in to one gigantic wedding event! The author shows just some of the various traditions, beliefs and rituals of an Islamic wedding. She also shows just how much variety there is in that religion. There are as many ways to practice Islam as there are various cultures that embrace it. And that creates some of the tension in the story. I loved learning a little bit more about Janna and her world. She is a marvelous character who's religion is a major force in her life. I love that this book shows how people put their beliefs into daily practice. This is true of teens who are Christian, and Jewish, as well. In Janna's world, the religion is Islam.

But this is definitely a book about teens! Every teen has to navigate crushes, temptations, rules, and parental expectations. There are particular rules for Janna to follow regarding boys that are accepted, with many other young adults, and guardians enforcing them along the way. This is a joyous book about family, love, and teens making the transition from children who are taken care of, to young adults who must make decisions for themselves. I loved this book so much!

What I Liked:

Characters:

Janna is every nerdy teen girl, full of dreams about the future, but painfully awkward in the present. Just gathering up the nerve to talk to her crush is so familiar to read. But Janna is not boy-crazy. She has a lot of changes going on in her life. With college starting soon, her brother getting married, and her divorced mom showing signs that she is ready to have romance back in her life, Janna feels like too much is happening all at once. Her secure world is being ripped away.

Janna meets several young people in the run up to her brother's wedding, including the very handsome Haythem (the bride's cousin), and Layth, who looks like a brooding Zayn Malik. I liked that Layth represents those teens who aren't sure about religion yet. He seems really mean at first. But as Jeanna gets to know him, Layth shows himself to be caring, and dedicated to working towards a better world. I really liked how complicated Layth was.

Religion:

Religion is central to the story, as Janna's practice of Islam affects every aspect of her life. If you don't know anything about Islam, I urge you to read all the books in the series. The author patiently explains many parts of Muslim culture and practice that I didn't know about before. This is all done in a respectful way that honors Janna's culture, while making it clear that she is an American.

And in case you think this is an idealized picture of Islam, it isn't. Not every character shares Janna's deep convictions. There are several characters who are questioning everything, something that many teens do when they start to become adults. With so many different cultures that participate in Islam (Syrian, Pakistani, Indian, Egyptian, and so on), there is also various tensions between these groups. These are brought to the forefront as the parents of the bride and groom argue over which traditions, rituals, food, and clothing will be featured in the ceremony.

Dealing with Racism:

There is also some racism that is dealt with in this novel. Nauh, Janna's crush, is a Black Muslim. One of the things Janna starts to realize is that her culture is not immune to prejudice. But what is she willing to do about it? Will she make a scene with her family over Nauh's treatment? Sadly, it's a common experience for teens to realize their elders have some beliefs that are not okay. How can we point this out, and will they listen?

Story:

Janna begins the book by describing her brother's upcoming nuptials as "My Big, Fat Muslim Wedding", and that's an apt description. Weddings are often high stress, high drama, and lots of fun. I think that's a good description of the story, as well. Janna, who needs lots of structure in her life to feel secure, finds all the chaos of the wedding to be really stressful. Plus, she is finally ready to let Nauh know that she likes him (a big step that would eventually lead to marriage ). But Nauh is giving out conflicting signals, and there are several boys that Janna is finding quite distracting. Plus, she can never seem to find time to talk with her mom, her anchor.

I loved learning about all the different relationships, and all the various conflict that this wedding brings forth. This, along with highlighting Janna's culture and religion, make this a wonderful book.

In this YA sequel to Saints and Misfits, we return to Janna's life a few years later. It's her last summer before college and her brother is getting married! She's dreaming of a perfect summer spending time with her maybe-more friend Nuah. But somehow everything seems to not want to fall into place. Her father is acting weird, her mother seems preoccupied with reconnecting with an old friend and potentially kindling relationship, and her budding almost relationship with Nuah also seems to be strained. And all around a chaotic wedding!

This is such a sweet sequel! While in the first book, we see Janna struggling with assault and loss and shame, in this book, we start off thinking, we are going to get a more typical summer romance. Janna is definitely preoccupied with her crush, but this story is more than that. It's her growing and changing relationship with her mother. It's her relationship with her relationship with brother. It's her disillusionment with her father and understanding of her family from a new perspective.

This book has wonderful characters and is really Bout friendship and family. It also touches on the pressure to achieve is a certain way and to grieve in a certain way. But one of my favorite parts of the book was actually getting to see a beautiful part of Janna's culture, where there is a beautiful camaraderie amongst all the women, especially at the wedding events; it made my heart sing.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon And Schuster for a gifted copy of the e-book!

This is the second in the series about Muslim teen Janna. She has just graduated from high school, and is looking forward to going to college. Her brother Muhammad is getting married, and Janna can't wait to celebrate with him and Sarah, who has become like a sister to her. And Nuah will be at the wedding - Janna feels she is finally ready to tell him she likes him.

But of course, nothing goes as planned. Nuah is distant, Sarah is worried about some of Muhammad's choices (blue and yellow decorations?), her mother is acting strange around an old friend of hers, Bilal, who happens to be single himself, her father keeps frowning at her when she talks to Nuah, and there are two new boys, Sarah's brother Haytham and Bilal's nephew Layth, who have potential as boyfriends for Janna.

But what does Janna want? Is it that important to have a boyfriend, or should she be focusing on college and life, knowing that the right person will come along in time? The wedding gives her a chance to hang out with Sausun, Soon-Lee, Sandra and Mrs. Kolbinksy, and Tatyana before she moves to Chicago for college. There are some big surprises in store for Janna during the wedding weekend, but in the end, love will win out.

This is a feel-good book, and a nice light romance. I loved catching up with Janna and her friends and family, and learning more about Islam and their wedding traditions. This book also touches on racism, anti-racism, and specifically, racism within the Muslim community. Racism and anti-racism is a subject that is heavily on our minds in 2021, but the nuances of how it manifests in this specific community was new to me, and may be new to many readers.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this fun, sweet book!

3 things I liked (a list) :
1. The traditional dances performed
2. The theme of family and love
3. Adam and Zayneb cameo

Now, look. I went into this book hoping a certain mc would have done some soul searching and maturing during the 2 years(!) Between stories. But nope. Janna is such a downer throughout the whole book. I was not feeling her. She is a bit self centered. And a whole lot boy crazy. Like all she thinks about is boys I swear...like I get it she is a senior in hs, but damn if she didn't find every boy to look her way attractive.
Also, she whines a lot.
However, Dawud for the win.

Her brother's wedding was turning into a much bigger affair than originally planned, but Janna didn't care. All she knew was that her crush Nuah was attending, and she was finally ready to declare her feelings for him. Would Janna be able to make it through this weekend with her heart intact?

It was so wonderful to return to the world of Saints and Misfits. I loved catching up with everyone, seeing how their lives had changed, and even getting to touch base with Zayneb and Adam from Love From A to Z. It was just an utter delight!

The story revolved around a celebration - the nikah ceremony for Muhammad and Sarah. It was easy to get lost in preparations and being with family and friends, but Ali also explored issues such as racism, anti-blackness, and ethnocentrism. Ali always impresses me with the way she approaches difficult topics, and she continued to so with this book.

The synopsis hinted at some sort of romantic encounters for Janna, and it was interesting to meet all these eligible young men. They were all so different from each other, but I could see the appeal of each one. I am not going to get into that part of the story, because I want the reader to fully experience it on their own, but it was a nice little detour for Janna as she tried to come to terms with all the other changes that were impacting her life at that time.

This may have have been a story about a wedding, but it was also about different kinds of love, healing, and figuring out who you are. It was about confronting hard truths and facing the future. Ali did a beautiful job exploring all these different issues and blending them together seamlessly to deliver a heartwarming tale which hit all the right emotional notes for me.

4 stars

Great sequel. I was so excited to read it because you don't really need to have read the first book ( i haven't) and while there is the occasional reference most of it is easily understood. I loved seeing this Muslim rep as well, good to show that all Muslim people aren't a monolith. Also, she normalizes parent-teen communication on topics such as remarriage, anti-racism, romantic love and crushes. I used to only see on TV and books the harmful stereotypes villainized Muslim parents that are too strict and closed-minded, showing medias' intention to smear a marginalized community with ignorance & poor research.

There is also a HUGE topic about people growing apart and changing, especially when it comes to college time, and how that doesn't make them bad people. I think that message struck me the hardest, drifting is normal.

Oh my gosh, this book was so wonderful. I'm reviewing this for a blog tour and my review will be up soon! 5 stars all the way!

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.**

Thank you Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It is one of my most anticipated read of 2021. I was beyond excited when I got this e-ARC. I totally love S.K Ali's writing and the Muslim rep is always so on the point.

Muhammad's and Sarah's wedding is around the corner and everyone is busy in preparation. It's been a couple of years since Saints and Misfits. Janna is mentally ready to be with Noah who is away for study and will come to the wedding. It is a fast-paced book that takes place in a week.

At the start, I thought it is going to be a love triangle and I wasn't happy with this idea. Fortunately, I was wrong and it turned out way more than I thought. This book is a FAT-MUSLIM-WEDDING family drama with a few serious topics. I loved and enjoyed everything about it. It is the first time I read a book that focused on a Muslim wedding. 

S.K Ali talks about racisms within a community and religion. I really liked her approach of talking about such things without making it over the top. Most of the new characters were so interesting and old characters developed really well with time. Haytham and Layth were so opposite but fun to read. Janna is mature than before and her character development was interesting.  I love Muhammad and Janna's bonding. I really liked the ending. This book was everything I was expecting it to be and more.

This was one of my most anticipated releases on the year and I was overjoyed to have been approved for an ARC! The sequel to Saints and Misfits, Misfit in Love picks up two years later, in the midst of wedding preparations for Janna's brother. Everybody knows what a drama fest weddings can turn into, and of course that's exactly what happens here. In addition to last minute wedding changes, Janna is dealing with drama of her own, as she attempts to understand her feelings about the love square (yes, you heard that right) that seems to be closing in.

First things first, let's get this out of the way: the Muslim rep was impeccable. S.K. Ali always does a phenomenal job making me feel represented, and she carried that through this book. Muslim weddings can look a lot different than what most non-Muslims do, but this was handled beautifully and you do not have to be Muslim to understand and enjoy the festivities depicted. I actually DM'd the author at one point because she included one of Kareem Salama's songs that I haven't heard since I was a child and I immediately burst into tears. Books that can do THAT. That's what we need.

There was a lot of character growth in this book. Janna is a flawed main character, she has a lot of faults and can be a little frustrating at times. A stark contrast to S.K. Ali's other MC, Zayneb (who makes an appearance!!!), Janna is relatable in her strengths and shortcomings, and I absolutely love seeing her grow on the page. This Janna is a far cry from the Janna we met in Saints and Misfits, she's become more comfortable in her own skin and is continuing to develop after the events of the first book. In addition to battling her feelings for Nuah, and the introduction of two(!!) other love interests (it was WILD), Janna also undergoes changes in her relationships with her parents. This book brought up the discussion of anti-blackness in the community when speaking to Janna's father, as well as the way different cultural groups can often view each other. I absolutely loved how protective Janna was of her mother, and the development in their relationship.

While I was expecting a romantic contemporary, this book is so much more than that. It's a celebration of love and growth, and learning that life isn't always what we expect, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's bad. I couldn't stop smiling while reading this, and I will definitely doing a reread ASAP.

Some spoiler thoughts: I am SO happy she doesn't actually end up with anyone. The fact that she chooses HERSELF was amazing. Also, Nuah was kind of irritating but that's okay because LAYTH IS RIGHT THERE.

I received an e-arc of this title from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Salaam Reads, Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, and the author for early access to a free advanced readers version in exchange for my fair and honest review.

Janna and her family and friends return to celebrate her brother's nikah ceremony. The story, taking place in less than a week, is a rollercoaster ride of anticipation, excitement, confusion, heartbreak, and hope. In Saints and Misfits, Janna grows into her self; in Misfits in Love, she learns to understand others and her relationships with them.

While this is a fast and fun read, S.K. Ali tackles some tough issues through Janna's experiences and conversations with her parents, brother, brother's new inlaws, and friends old and new. The number of characters could have easily become overwhelming, but Ali weaves them into the story smoothly and effectively. Each one, especially three boys who tug at her heart in different ways, plays a key role in Janna's developing understanding of the herself, others, and the world.

While I wish that Ali had explored the racism and anti-racism more, she explains in the notes that her experiences limit her ability to do so with authenticity. In the end, I admire the way she addresses the journey everyone is on in this respect.

Just as with Saints and Misfits, Misfits in Love left me with a greater awareness of the experiences of Muslim youth and their families. Looking at their faith from Janna's perspective and exploring different ranges of that faith from different charachters, gives me a clearer view of life for my Muslim students and issues they may
encounterr in their own families. This is an underrepresented group in YA literature in North America, and I'm glad to have been given the chance to read S. K. Ali's books.

ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

I am so glad I was able to get this sequel from NetGalley right after finishing Saints & Misfits because I needed more of these characters! S. K. Ali has an art of creating characters that feel like your friends and you can't get enough of them.

This book starts a few years after Saints & Misfits ends and the setting is solely the wedding weekend of her brother Muhammad. Janna may be even more excited to reunite with Nuah, who the last time she saw him, she wasn't ready to reciprocate his feelings for her; but now, she is.

While the wedding is the focus and the drama of a what was supposed to be a small wedding turned into a 300 person event, there are also many subplots. Janna has to deal with her mom moving on in her own life in a way Janna didn't expect and also the newfound racism she sees in her father.

While this book is a sequel, it does a good job of mentioning/referencing the first book to give a first time reader of the series just enough information to understand the moments. In a way, this book seemed lighter than the first, but still dealt with heavy topics like racism.

Another beautiful read by S.K. Ali. I am truly a fan.

Like the first book, Saints and MIsfits, this book centers on Janna, a Muslim teenager who chose, in middle school, to wear a hijab like her mother, instead of not wearing one, like her father's female relatives. Now recently graduated from high school and looking forward to college, Janna has spent the first part of her summer vacation helping prepare for her borther's upcoming nikah, or marriage contract, to Sarah, the "saint" from the previous book, who has now become one of Janna's favorite people. Janna is looking forward to the ceremony, and to seeing the friends and relatives who are also coming - particularly Nuah, who helped her after she was sexually assaulted by a friend's cousin, and with whom she thinks she might have a future. But Nuah has been away at college, and his texts have gotten sparser, and as the weekend of the wedding goes on, Janna becomes less sure that Nuah returns her affections. And then there are the other young men present for the wedding, both new to her - Haymuth and Layth, both very good looking and with very attractive personalities, but in very different ways. Along with these complications comes Janna's realization that her father doesn't like Nuah for the color of his skin - not until he finds out that Nuah has been attending CalTech, something that might outweigh the fact that Nuah, while Muslim, is not white.

Janna spends the week leading up to her brother's nikah dealing with these and other issues, working her way through communication gaps and complicated relationships in a way that readers can easily relate to. This was an enjoyable, and occasionally thought-provoking book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it - to the point that, like its predecessor, I couldn't put it down, and read the entire book within a couple of days. Not just as good as Saints and Misfits, but even better.

This was a wonderful follow up to Saints and Misfits. I loved seeing how each character grew over time, and how Janna’s relationships have changed.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to read an arc of Misfit in Love. It was wonderful to spend more time with Janna on the page and get to know her more through this sequel. In terms of content, as a Black Muslim, I appreciated seeing how racism within the Muslim community was tackled in the story. It was clear that the author approached the topic with sensitivity and had did the necessary research in order to address the issue. I also enjoyed just being immersed in a story about a Muslim wedding and all of the fun and joy that brought to me as a reader. Lastly, I really liked the ending of the story, and its emphasis on self-love and compassion,

Unfortunately, there is no option to send this to Kindle. The type on the NetGalley app is too small on my phone. This looks like an interesting series, but it is impossible for me to read it as is.
Thank you for the opportunity NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's.

I recently reviewed the first book, Saints and Misfits, here: http://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2021/03/realistic-ownvoices-for-elementary-and.html . At the time, I said I couldn’t wait to read the sequel.

You can just imagine how excited I was to see that it was available for review—and then to get an ARC of it! As with the first, I raced through it in two sittings.

This book begins about two years after the previous one. Janna has graduated from high school and is preparing for college. She’s had therapy and has mostly healed from being assaulted. This time, we cover only a few days, the preparation and execution of Muhammed and Sarah’s wedding. Honestly, some of these days feel like way too much happens for them to be single days.

Janna is finally ready to accept Nuah’s interest, even as she meets a couple of other boys who are quite interesting! I don’t want to spoil things for you, but this definitely does not go the way I thought it would. Not that that’s a bad thing!

We get to see more of Janna’s relationship with her parents. For the positive, she realizes that her mother is ready for a new relationship, and comes to terms with that. For the negative, she realizes that her father is rather racist. It’s in how Janna deals with these things that she—and we—grow.

As with the first book, Ali does a wonderful job of introducing us to Muslim culture as…just a way people live. As with any religion, people are more and less devout, and more and less good as examples of their faith.

Janna is still a delightfully complicated character. She is filled with self-doubt, jumps to conclusions, has trouble trusting, and loves fiercely.

After two books, I have fallen in love with so many of the characters, and I really, really, hope there will be another book in the series. Ali leaves us at a place where there certainly could be. So please, everyone, buy this book so the publisher will go forward with another!

Who might like this book:
As before, those who like to learn about other cultures, those who like coming of age, those who like stories about family and complex relationships.

Possible objectionable material:
Racism, though not with any outrageous behavior or outright slurs. The characters are devout Muslims, so boys and girls are never alone together, although a couple of boys appear shirtless once or twice. Periods are mentioned, as is a possible extramarital affair, and a fatal car accident that kills a child.

I received this book for free from the publisher, through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.