Welcome to my tour stop for Misfit in Love by S. K. Ali, hosted by Turn the Page Tours. I'm really excited to be a part of this and can't wait to share what I got! Hope you enjoy and please feel free to check out the other tour stops listed on Turn the Page Tours Welcome Post!
In this fun and fresh sequel to Saints and Misfits, Janna hopes her brother’s wedding will be the perfect start to her own summer of love, but attractive new arrivals have her more confused than ever.
Janna Yusuf is so excited for the weekend: her brother Muhammad’s getting married, and she’s reuniting with her mom, whom she’s missed the whole summer.
And Nuah’s arriving for the weekend too.
Sweet, constant Nuah.
The last time she saw him, Janna wasn’t ready to reciprocate his feelings for her. But things are different now. She’s finished high school, ready for college…and ready for Nuah.
It’s time for Janna’s (carefully planned) summer of love to begin—starting right at the wedding.
But it wouldn’t be a wedding if everything went according to plan. Muhammad’s party choices aren’t in line with his fiancée’s taste at all, Janna’s dad is acting strange, and her mom is spending more time with an old friend (and maybe love interest?) than Janna.
And Nuah’s treating her differently.
Just when things couldn’t get more complicated, two newcomers—the dreamy Haytham and brooding Layth—have Janna more confused than ever about what her misfit heart really wants.
Janna’s summer of love is turning out to be super crowded and painfully unpredictable.
Author: S. K. Ali
Genres: Young Adult, OwnVoices, Romance, Contemporary
Publication Date: May 25th 2021 by Salaam Reads
Publication Date: May 25th 2021 by Salaam Reads
Buy link: Bookshop.org
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Thoughts:
I didn't know what I expected going into this book. The first book, Saints and Misfits still remains one of my favorites and I still recommend that book to everyone. I didn't realize Sajidah (S.K.) was planning to do a sequel and wasn't sure if we needed one for Janna because didn't she already get her happily ever after in the last book?
I didn't know what I expected going into this book. The first book, Saints and Misfits still remains one of my favorites and I still recommend that book to everyone. I didn't realize Sajidah (S.K.) was planning to do a sequel and wasn't sure if we needed one for Janna because didn't she already get her happily ever after in the last book?
Apparently not.
This book explores the 'After' bit of the seemingly happy ending in Saints and Misfits and follows the story of Janna Yusuf once again. As the story gradually started to progress, I felt very specific set of emotions while reading Misfit in Love and it's interesting how varied they were.
Happiness.
Anticipation.
Doubts.
Worry.
Frustration.
Sadness.
Pain.
More sadness.
Bittersweet emotions.
All of these as I saw the world through Janna's eyes. We see her brother Muhammad's wedding with Sarah soon approaching and that remains the central incident around which things start to happen. This book deals with issues like anti-Blackness, culture clashes, wedding disasters, heartbreak, loss, learning to reconcile and adapting to changes, letting go of things of the past, present and future, and learning to love life the way it unfolds. If you read the first book and liked it I strongly recommend reading this one. Misfit in Love will take you by surprise because of the depth it contains within its casual, everyday observation of most things. Janna's come a long way since she started in Saints and Misfits, and Sajidah's writing makes it possible for you to witness that journey firsthand as she blooms. The cultural and religious representation aside (which was a treat as always), Misfit in Love does a great job portraying what growing up feels like, especially for a multicultural, visibly Muslim girl like Janna, and especially at a time when we are participating in and encouraging more conversations around prejudices of race, religion or culture.
This book left me with bittersweet feelings because of certain things (no spoilers!!), and while it makes me sad, it also makes me hopeful. I'm thankful to have been a part of Janna Yusuf's story. I love how well constructed the plot is, how each character is able to create its own space on the page and not to mention my all-time, absolute, the ultimate, forever-favorite characters, Zayneb and Adam, making a cameo. I really look forward to seeing Janna, the Niqabi Ninjas and the others making guest appearances in future. If you love books with authentic BIPOC representation, this is a book I will definitely recommend.
Quote love:
When you see the world as divided...it is not about expanding hearts--it's about shrinking our capacity to love."You know the Prophet said that the worst food is what's served at a wedding where people are invited by class, right? Where only the well-off gather?...I didn't want my wedding to be filled with just those who know how to use the right spoon."
If I defined my faith by the evil that some Muslims do, I wouldn't follow it...But I know the opposite is true too. I can define my faith by the amazing things some Muslims do.
Book Playlist:1. A thousand years by Christina Perri 2. Forever by Chris Brown 3. Baraka Allahu Lakuma by Maher Zain
4. Zara dholki bajaao goriyon by Adnan Sami 5. Noya daman by MUZA 6. Nachde ne saare by Royal, Mahadevan and Kaur
Dream Celebrity Cast:
Note: As you may see, some really crucial characters are missing here. I thought and thought and just could not come up with one who could be my perfect Nuah, and he deserves no less so he is not here. Same goes with Muhammad, Sausan and Khadija--the hunt is still on ;)
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