She pulled the laptop from the coffee table onto the couch she was lying on, stomach down, and began two-finger-typing the introduction for her social studies project. we go from makkah to madinah (sorry i really can't stand the way it's spelled in the book) on an umrah journey, where both adam and zayneb (but prerogatively adam) are hoping to reconnect.

Another thing I would like to add is that the Prophet (PBUH) met his wife Sayeda Maymunah during Umrah. One aspect I questioned was if the amount of free mixing between unrelated men and women in this book – and indeed a number of “halal romance” books in recent years – was excessive considering it sets something of an example for how young Muslims interact appropriately with the opposite gender. On the trip of a lifetime, Adam and Zayneb must find their way back to each other in this surprising and romantic sequel to the “bighearted, wildly charming” (Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author) Love from A to Z that’s a “contemplative exploration of faith, love, and the human condition” ( Kirkus Reviews , starred review). There was also a lot of pettiness and and insecurities that I feel were conflict-driven more than character-driven--issues that were put there for the sake of the conflict, not something that made complete sense to the characters.

Not to mention this was such a realistic take on performing umrah while struggling with real life issues. it's a truly beautiful novel, with descriptions so apt and rich that it really felt like i was very much in saudi arabia with them. Adam leaned back in the chair and rubbed his face, hoping it hadn’t turned red when Hanna crept up like that—when he’d been staring at Zayneb and the way she’d let her cardigan fall away so artfully. serious, since they're married and all, but i was not ready for what was mostly 300 pages of vague thoughtlessness (mostly adam), dramatic and impulsive jumping-to-conclusions, and never honestly communicating about any of it.

I loved how SK Ali had put such an amazing depth in such a simple way because these get highs and lows make us to want to be better and good humans and Muslims. that feeling is caused by so many factors tbh like i didn't feel ready to go so i kept having these am i good enough to visit the holy land?

i'll forever, and forever, love this book for that, if for nothing else: that it reconnected me to my faith in so many, seemingly mundane ways.