I found this an enjoyable read. Having read books by both these authors, I found the merging of their writing styles was quite well done.

The romance was a bit odd and some of the chemistry felt forced, but the pacing was good and made me want to keep reading. A lot of references to culture and society, which was interesting to read about. Overall, a good book but could have improved more on the character development.

When I saw two of my favourite YA authors were writing a book together, I KNEW it would be excellent and this absolutely did not disappoint! The two main characters were so well written, and I let out a giggle multiple times.

This is a really cute YA romance that doesn’t shy away from some more difficult topics, and is perfect for YA readers. Tiwa and Said used to be best friends, until Said moved away for boarding school. Both are determined to pretend the other doesn’t exist, but they’re thrust together when their mentor, librarian Ms. Barnes, dies, and their Islamic Center burns down. Discovering the mayor plans to demolish the whole thing to make way for an apartment block, Tiwa and Said realise it’s up to them to save the Center, and combining Tiwa’s determination and intelligence, and Said’s artistic skills, they come up with a plan.

But Said is struggling with telling his parents he doesn’t want to be a doctor, and Tiwa is desperate to save Eid so her father will come home, at least for a visit.

The struggles these two face are relatable to most teenagers, even if the circumstances are specific; Said doesn’t want to disappoint his parents, but he has his own dreams. Tiwa misses her father, who moved away when her parents split up. The two main characters read as teenagers trying to make the most out of bad situations, frustrated at each other for the way their friendship fizzled out, but neither able to articulate how much they miss one another.

The scenes where they work together really show why they fit so well. The book also touches on some other topics, outside of their relationship – it doesn’t shy away nor talk down to teenagers, but reflects the reality with the situations they’re dealing with. The couple get the happy ending, but just like in life, not everything is resolved. I really appreciated that the authors took the time to show how difficult it was for Said to keep his faith while away from his home and community, and how the community Tiwa gives so much to doesn’t always see her as one of their own. There are some sad moments here, and ones which – I think – will give teenage readers space to reflect and consider what these two are dealing with.

This was such a wonderful read, with a really sweet story between Said and Tiwa, and a heartwarming ending. Like the best YA, it’s great for teen readers and those of us who still feel like teens at heart.

"Four Eids and a Funeral" by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Adiba Jaigirdar is a vibrant and emotionally rich novel that beautifully captures the complexities of friendship, family, and cultural identity. Àbíké-Íyímídé and Jaigirdar, both acclaimed authors, bring their unique voices together to create a story that is both heartwarming and poignant. The novel follows a group of friends as they navigate the ups and downs of life, love, and loss, all set against the backdrop of the four Eids—a time of celebration, reflection, and connection within the Muslim community.

The characters are vividly drawn, each with their own struggles and triumphs, and the authors skillfully weave together their individual stories into a cohesive narrative that explores the importance of tradition, faith, and the bonds that hold us together. The title, "Four Eids and a Funeral," hints at the blend of joy and sorrow that permeates the novel, offering readers a realistic and touching portrayal of how life’s biggest moments are often a mix of both.

With its authentic representation of diverse cultural experiences and its exploration of universal themes, "Four Eids and a Funeral" is a must-read for anyone looking for a story that is both deeply relatable and richly layered. It's a novel that will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on the importance of the people and traditions that shape our lives.

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Caroline Fielding
@CazApr1
Can't believe I had to go so far back in time to find these photos...finally read #FourEidsAndAFuneral (pub.d last Thu) & it is fab. It says it is "a book about love" & it really is, love in all forms: families & friendships wonderfully portrayed (& a lot of love for librarians).

Quote Caroline Fielding @CazApr1
Mar 14
.@Usborne know how to get a librarian to read their proofs 🤓 Also, sounds like a brilliant book! @faridahlikestea @adiba_j write great #UKYA / #IrishYA, but very different, so am looking forward to reading their collaboration. #FourEidsAndAFuneral publishes in June. Thanks guys!

Well my heart has been warmed
This was so lovely and charming! This gave me the warm and fuzzies! Like chicken soup for the soul or like watching a comforting 90s/00s romcom (despite having a contemporary setting, it just had that special kind of comfort)
I loved the characters and I am a sucker for a friendship story. The family members were also so lovely and supportive and my heart just swelled!
This book just made me feel so happy and hopeful
Also, there was a cat
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Broken hearts lurk in the background of this tale of fractured friendship. Doing the right thing for your community is a noble gesture, but with Tiwa and Said, their complicated history means that working together is charged with tension.

I loved the unravelling of the history of the two main characters around the cultural event of Eid. The title alone is brilliant! Showing the various facets of romance for teenage Muslims, the authors give us an authentic and charming love story that I’m sure young adults will immediately engage with.

This was fun, emotional, but also quite chaotic and cliché and not really much of a romance. I wish that the cultural aspects were explained a bit more in depth so that the readers can learn and understand more about them.

I liked all the references and discussions on different relevant topics, though - from family to community and from art to food, this book covered it all in a realistic, but positive manner. In fact, this novel is somewhat in between 3 and 4 stars for me, as I really enjoyed some of these elements but other parts were maybe a bit too simplistic.

While the book has its charming moments and a heartfelt premise, it falls short in several areas. The enemies-to-lovers trope feels somewhat forced and predictable. Additionally, the emotional depth of the characters’ struggles is not fully explored, leaving some plot points feeling underdeveloped.

Overall, Four Eids and a Funeral offers a sweet but somewhat lackluster read. Fans of YA romance might find some enjoyment, but it may not stand out in a crowded genre.

Great book with dual povs and different timelines. An interesting take on a romance book for ya readers - especially those of us who don’t know much about the Muslim culture.

After reading the excerpt of this book via @faridahlikestea @worldbookdaysocial I wanted to read the whole book because I enjoyed reading it. Finally,finished reading the complete book which was good as I expected,read books from both authors previously and I recommend you to pick up their books. Would love to read another book written by both authors.

Four Eids and a Funeral,is a build up love story between our two main characters- Tiwa and Said. This two were inseparable until an incident that happened Eids ago made them not want to see each other eye to eye. The funeral of their adored librarian and the burning down of the Islamic center will need them to work together to not only restore the Islamic centre but also live up to the responsibility their librarian has left for them.

This book was so relatable,and I enjoyed reading how both authors infused their backgrounds into this book, I call it the Afro Asian fusion book you never expected,that you need to pick up when it publishes.

The story was so well written and descriptive as well. Grief death of a loved one and discrimination were explored in this read and was well detailed.

This is the second book of the author(s) that has my name and my sister has a character,the first has the name of my mum. At this point if you both need my family tree for character names do let me know.

A cute, compelling and well written story that made me smile and root for the characters.
I'm always fascinated by different cultures and this was a good way to learn and something more
Liked it, entertaining.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This was a fun read - I've enjoyed both authors' books individually so knew I'd probably like a collaboration between them. It's also a less than conventional love story. Although you know the two main characters will inevitably end up together, the journey isn't necessarily predictable and there are some fun twists and turns. As a librarian myself, I also enjoyed the pivotal role a librarian plays in their relationship!

Thanks to the publisher via NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was super excited to pick up this holiday romance about a holiday I hadn't seen given the Hallmark treatment quite yet. Beyond the framing device (the titular Four Eids and Funeral), this is a fairly by-the-book romance. Two friends who have fallen out are brought back together by circumstance (saving their Islamic Centre), who through proximity come to develop even stronger feelings for one another. The characters of Tiwa and Said are sweet, and I thought there were some really interesting observations about racism within the Muslim community (Tiwa is black and doesn't wear the hijab), but otherwise, this just didn't quite shine for me. The conflict was resolved incredibly quickly, which after 200 pages of build-up felt like a bit of a letdown. Ultimately, a readable and enjoyable book.

My one petty quibble with this one is the setting - the authors are a British-Irish duo, so I'm not sure why they've decided to set this in the US. The use of the word 'knobhead' throughout didn't feel very natural.

I love Faridah and Adiba's books as individual authors, so I was very excited to see them writing a book together, and this was very cute! I loved going back to see previous Eids in the characters' lives, navigating the topic of grief for Said and Tiwa. I really appreciated getting to see other religions and celebrations depicted in YA other than those of Christian/Jewish traditions - while I can't speak on how the Muslim representation is depicted in here, both the authors are Muslim, and I really liked seeing Eid celebrated in YA. I didn't like that the whole argument was basically just a big misunderstanding, but otherwise, this was cute and sweet, and I loved seeing the various familial, romantic and platonic love stories in here.

I loved this book! It was a fun YA romance with a rivalry between two former friends who slowly rekindle their friendship (and more) along the course of the novel, with the destruction of the Islamic centre bringing them together. I loved all the characters, especially reading about the different Muslim sub-cultures across families. As someone with limited knowledge of Islam, I found the book to be casually informative and I really enjoyed reading about the different types of prayers and holidays, as well as other traditions. I thought both authors worked really well together and I have loved books by both previously so I’m glad this was just as good as I was hoping. It was a really fun read and I loved the cat side character too!

I have loved books from these two authors separately, but this joint venture is just a masterclass in coming if age, real life teen stories with the biggest heart.

A delightful love story following two friends as they navigate life, following their ups and downs and inevitable romance. Overall I did really enjoy the story and the characters. I'm not a Muslim and don't know a lot about the culture at all, so I can't comment on the representation but I enjoyed learning about Eid and Muslim culture. It's a well-written and easy-to-read story, with relatable and loveable characters.

I received an ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review from NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley and Usborne Publishing for the advance reader copy.

I enjoyed this book once I got into it, but did find I took some time for me to be invested in the story.

I enjoyed that the story centred around Eid and the Muslim community - especially including both black and brown community.

Overall a good read - although the beginning was a bit of work.

Absolutely loved this book! The plot, the banter, the friendship and romance - the representation and the references was so wonderfully written. I always read books by Faridah & Adiba