zluvsreading's Reviews > Four Eids and a Funeral

INFINITY STARS

Gosh, where do I even start???? I know I say this with almost every book, but

THIS.
WAS.
AMAZING.

This deserves an infinity rating from me. I truly cannot believe such a great book is (almost) out in the world for everyone to read and enjoy. I can’t believe such talented writers exist and that they are simply not praised for such an amazing thing being published. (What are words, you understand what I mean)

When I read the dedication, I was immediately enamored and knew I was going to love this.

I adored the writing style this was written with. The “acts” and how it’s sometimes narrated made me laugh so hard. (Not in a haha what a joke, but in a genuine aw I love that haha) It felt very Shakespearean (I have never read a word of Shakespeare in my life) and I just cannot help but love it. It was very easy to fly through, and that I did. I started it last night and read through half of it before finishing it this morning.

These characters are great, I connected with them in so many different ways, although I myself am not Muslim. I think that just goes to show the authors’ talent. It was very great to see more of that Muslim culture, especially around Eid and all the celebrations and traditions that go into it. Religion can be a very divisive topic, but I felt very happy reading about it in this novel. I would definitely read it again and again and recommend it to anyone and everyone, no matter what religion you practice. However, I think if you are Muslim, you will enjoy seeing yourself in this just that much more.

Tiwa was very funny, I adored her. Her with Ladoo was amazing. It’s interesting to see her in the flashbacks vs. present time and it just goes to show how much time can change you and how when certain things happen around you, it shapes you in a huge way.

The way grief was written in this packed a punch. My heart feels so heavy for her whole family. The way she deals with the hostility and racism from others just because she is Black and Muslim made me want to give her a hug so badly. Tiwa deserves the world and I will fight anyone who doesn’t think so. Her and Said? I have words! I HAVE WORDS!!! I loved her sister/friendship bond with Safiyah. They are almost like polar opposites, but they mesh together really well. It was funny to see how Tiwa set herself up to becoming a future lawyer with everything that went down in this (no spoilers!).

Said was so sassy, I loved him. His sense of humor and goofiness that came out around certain people (wink wink) was just so fun to read about. I liked that he pursued his art passion and we got to read about how he really gets swept up into it and feel the love he has for art. His friendship with Julian was interesting to see, in contrast to his (former) friendship with Tiwa that we see a little bit of in the flashbacks. Julian was a huge goofball, I couldn’t take him serious. (Except for THAT part). But alas, no spoilers! Find out for yourself!

Said and Tiwas friendship was very complicated and delicate, but I liked to see how they navigated it as older teens as opposed to when they were just kids, in a way, when they had a fall out. I’ve always said all great relationships have to start with a friendship and this book holds firmly to that belief. It’s more of a childhood best friends to enemies (ish) to friends to lovers. Maybe just skip some friends parts? It’s very complicated to explain but when y’all read it, y’all will understand. Remember, this is a love story.

DAMN this book has one of my favorite microtropes ever, that’s also very heartbreaking but saying it would essentially spoil one of the main plot lines so I will refrain. But, feel free to ask me after the book comes out or if you have read it, so we can discuss. Hehe.

I love to see all the representation in this!! We have the main characters of course, Tiwa and Said who are both Muslim. Tiwa is Nigerian and Said is Bangladeshi. We have lesbian rep from Saf and Ishra. There’s all kinds of South Asian Rep in general that I think we get from the Muslim community in New Crosshaven. It doesn’t go into detail about any particular person in the community but it is briefly mentioned, which I liked! Julian is Puerto Rican which we find out later in the book.

Overall, I think this book is for anyone and everyone. You can find yourself in the pages and quickly block out the world in this immersive writing. I’d recommend it to anyone and everyone. I have to preorder now, even though I have a physical arc, I need more.

JUNE 4TH PPL MARK UR CALENDARS AND PREORDER I PROMISE YALL WONT REGRET IT 💋💋

~ pre-review: sorry people, I couldn’t resist picking it up and then I couldn’t resist finishing it bc it was THAT good…full rtc

what would y’all say…if I told y’all…..i got a physical arc of this…..? 🫠