Release: January 4th 2022
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Underlined
Source: Amazon
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N
__
__
This heartfelt and humorous YA contemporary follows Dua, who spends the month of Ramadan making unexpected discoveries about family, faith, and first love.
Squeezing herself into a house in Queens with her cousins is not how Dua envisions her trip to New York City. But here she is, spending the holy month of Ramadan with extended family she hasn’t seen in years.
Dua struggles to find her place in the conservative household. And finds difficult to connect with her aloof, engaged-to-be-married cousin, Mahnoor. And fasting the whole day was itself tiring enough. She must also battle her hormones whenever she sees Hassan, the cute drummer in a Muslim band. Besides , he has a habit of showing up at her most awkward moments.
After just a month, Dua surprises herself to find that she’s learning a lot more than she bargained for about her faith, relationships, her place in the world and cute drummers. . . .
About the Author:
Sara Sharaf Beg got inspiration from her own experiences as a Pakistani American Muslim while writing Salaam, with Love, her debut novel. A graduate of the University of Central Florida and Northwestern University, Sara was a freelance writer before becoming a mental health counselor.
She lives in Texas with her husband, where she likes to cook , binge Bollywood movies. And plays video games when she’s not writing or reading.
Salaam with Love Review:
“Salaam, with Love” is an adorable young adult, contemporary romance that also touches on the Muslim culture during the time of Ramadan and is a fun read.
The highlight of the story was the main character, Dua. I enjoyed how she grows in the story. From her decision in the MSA (Muslim Student Association) to her bond with Mahnoor and feelings for Hassan, Dua goes through a lot, and I enjoyed her journey. The author portrayed Dua nicely and progressed her feelings well. Similarly, Mahnoor is also adorable, and I liked how she bonds with Dua.
The author beautifully touches on how important family and faith are, as Dua experiences the meaning of Ramadan. Similarly, the author also adds a touch of humor when Dua’s father talks to her about Hassan. It was also interesting to see how the author touched on Islamophobia and people’s perception of being Muslim. As I am not a Muslim, I also liked learning about the various terms, like surahs and the Arabic text, along with assorted pop culture references like Sami Yusuf. The timeline spans during the Holy Month of Ramadan, and it was nice to see the various traditions the family followed to prepare for Eid.
Moreover, I liked the budding romance between Dua and Hassan. Their scenes together have a touch of innocence and were so sweet to read. I enjoyed Hassan’s fondness for music, and it emanated in the storyline. Similarly, the author also adds family drama to the tale, making you feel part of your family.
Overall, “Salaam, with Love” stands out because of its theme, yet it has all the correct elements of adorable young adult romance.
