Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.
It was a fun read, this is my first YA book for a while and it was refreshing and sweet. In fact I did t really notice it was a YA book. Said and Tiwa were besties but now they are not! There is a simmering amount of lust from them both and that carries on through the book. Safiya is tiwas bestie and Saids sister. Muchly complicated! Through many Eid’s this story is told. It’s a fun read and I liked it a lot.

A lovely, funny, heartfelt and nostalgic YA read. I loved Four Eids and a Funeral so very much. Huge thanks to the authors and publisher, for the chance to read this ARC, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I devoured this utterly charming romantic comedy, and It’s a breath of fresh air, infusing the genre with a much-needed dose of cultural diversity and representation. This is a delightful tale, that appreciates the beauty of different cultures and backgrounds.

We meet Said (pronounced Saa-eed), a funny and spirited Bengali-American boy struggling to find his identity amidst his family's expectations and desires. Perhaps an ex-friend, Tiwa, is the answer to reconnecting him to his old self. Tiwa, is the beautiful, smart-mouthed girl aspiring to be a lawyer one day. The chemistry between these two is undeniable, and their banter is simply witty.

The authors’ thoughtful representation of diverse cultures will not go unnoticed by readers. They have done an incredible job of showcasing the richness of Bengali, Muslim, and African (Nigerian) cultures, making them feel authentic and integral to the story. The characters' faith, traditions, and values are woven seamlessly, adding depth and nuance to the story.

The supporting cast is equally well-developed, with memorable characters like Said’s quirky family members and Tiwa’s wise and witty best friend. The authors' writing is engaging, humorous, and relatable, making it easy to become invested in the characters' lives.

If I'm being nitpicky, there were a few moments when the pacing or dialogue felt a tad forced. However, these minor quibbles didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book.

So… If you're looking for a lighthearted, feel-good read with a strong emphasis on cultural diversity. If you want to see yourself reflected in the characters.... this is the one.

I received this book from Netgalley UK for review consideration. All opinions are my own and completely honest.

For fans of: Rom-coms, diverse representation, Bengali/Muslim/African culture, banter, and lovable characters.

Get ready for snarky banter, Pokémon, art, privileged white people, and lots of baked goods - Four Eids and a Funeral has humour, trauma, and much much more to offer.

I thought the personalities and anxieties of both Said and Tiwa were well expressed, and both felt realistic as characters so I found myself sympathizing with both. Said is struggling with how to tell his family he wants to apply to art school, and Tiwa is fighting to keep her family together in whatever way she can. After the local Islam Center burns down, the pair realise they have a common goal - convince the mayor to rebuild and save Eid. The only problem is that they can't stand one another...

The bickering and flushed faces are endearing, and their relationship felt really organic until the ending. I really didn't like how abrupt and scripted the conclusion was. For me it just didn't fit the vibe of the rest of the story.

I loved the representation in this book, and the book is really positive overall, but I felt like some of the bigger issues that were introduced (like the prejudice Tiwa was facing by the aunties or her mum's silence about their loss as well as the way Said finds it hard to practice religion at school) were never actually addressed. This left the story falling a little flat for me.

Overall, this is a lovely YA romance that showcases the importance of community support, religious spaces, and tradition.

It was a fun, easy read for summer! The characters were likable and it made the reader root for them.

Said and Tiwa have been best friends since their childhood. They spent most of their childhood together at the neighborhood library and Islamic center. When Said moves to a boarding school for better education, their friendship started wavering. A funeral brings back Said to his home town for the Summer and is forced to work together with Tiwa to save the local Islamic center. Will they be able to save the place that means a lot to them and the Islamic community? Will they rekindle their friendship and possibly love? Read to find out!

However, I found the plot a little weak and entirely predictable.

Four Eids and a Funeral
By Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Adiba Jaigirdar
A Review by Jamilla (@ LandsAwayBooks, a wordpress blog)

Four Eids and a Funeral is a delightfully sweet romance featuring two former best friends turned archenemies, Tiwa and Said.

The story takes us through past events depicting their initial immediate connection and how it withered away to the now distinct frost between them. In the present, the two are reluctantly pushed together to save the one place in town Muslims can come together to pray and celebrate, the Islamic Community Center.

From dealing with forced proximity, to parental expectations and micro aggressions, the barriers between the two slowly crumble and we see the feelings that they had for each other rise to the surface.

YA romance fans will enjoy the bickering, delight in their saccharinity
and live for the cast of secondary characters!

Four Eids and a Funeral delivers on its promise of being a story of two doofuses in love.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an eARC in exchange for a honest review.

Four Eids... is another fun read by Àbíké-Íyímídé, this time co written with Jaigirdar. A classic will they won't they romance or misunderstanding, missed opportunities and familial expectations.

Centring on the relationship between Said and Tiwa the book explores key themes of identity, assimilation and privilege. Told in part in flashback, the book see's Said return to his home town where he rediscovers his religious identity and reaffirms his childhood love for Tiwa as they are flung together in order to save the Muslim community centre.

A fun YA tale of contemporary America.

I so so wanted to love this, and for 90% of the book I did. But u cannot get past the fact that they all knew the town loves murals, they know enough to go to the mayor, but no one at all knows buildings with murals are protected. That part infuriated me, as did the way it all resolved. Which is a shame because apart from that this is a great book!

This was such a cute, lighthearted, and fun YA read that can be read in one sitting! I loved Said and Tiwa’s dynamic and their interactions. My Muslim heart is so happy to have a book like this! The writing style was great and the structure of the story made me laugh out loud! It’s not only giggles/humour though - I especially adored the portrayal of grief. The depiction of racism was written so well, you can’t help but empathise. I recommend this if you’re looking for a feel good novel that’ll keep you turning pages!

This was a lovely YA read. I learnt lots about Eid and traditions I didn’t know. The characters were likeable and I enjoyed to slow reveal of why they were no longer friends. I’d say a good read for a teen reader.

This was a cute YA romance with endearing characters. I enjoyed the narrative structure of the book, in which we are shown glimpses of Said and Tiwa's relationships through chapters of past Eid's whilst trying to figure out what went so wrong in their friendship that they are now enemies in the present day as they have to work together to save the Islamic centre.

However, the main conflict and the resolution of the conflict in this book fell flat for me - it relies heavily on the characters miscommunication, which I don't generally enjoy, and the reveal at the end of what it was that came between them seemed really underdeveloped and out of nowhere. I also found some of the dialogue felt quite clunky at points.

Overall, a cute read but probably not one I will revisit.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this arc!

This was a really enjoyable read! The story was well paced and easy to read, you wouldn't know two authors had worked on it as it all flows really well. I was really rooting for Said and Tiwa to succeed and I was invested in their journey. I really liked both main characters and the dynamic between them and it was fun to watch their relationship develop. I liked getting background information from their pasts and it helped to make me invested in the characters and their friendship. I wished the aspects of grief had been developed a little bit more as they were just mentioned but not really explored. Overall, I think this is a great YA read and would definitely recommend it.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the E-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so good, not only is the cover absolutely gorgeous but the story of Tiwa and Said rekindling their friendship and working together to save the Islamic centre was just so enjoyable to read about. Tiwa and Said were amazing characters, reading from their POV’s felt so genuine and I really liked that took a while for open up to one another instead of them just making up instantly. I do wish that the conflict with Said’s sister was developed a bit, it felt like that situation worked itself out too quickly. But overall, this was such a stunning story written by two incredible authors!

This was my first ever arc and what an absolute pleasure it was to read. This YA romance had me feeling all of the emotions. It follows the journey of Said and Tiwa and how they navigate love, loss and life in general and I loved the two of them. I will have a soft spot for Said for a very long time.

If you want that wholesome, feel good, keeps you on the edge of your seat whilst also low key making you want to cry kind of read - this is the book for you.

Firstly, the setting of this book was dreamy and made me desperate to visit New Crosshaven - I want to walk around a town of murals! Also, from the moment Laddoo the cat was introduced, I knew I was going to carry on reading - he was definitely a highlight. 🐈😅
I loved Tiwa and Said, each with their own flaws but both with the very best of intentions. It was really fun reading about their past Eids, and I was intrigued as to why they had fallen out, and rooting for them to make up throughout.
The most important thing I took from this book though, was that I learnt so much about the Muslim faith, genuinely quite a few things that I read that I wasn't aware of - for example, I was interested to learn that Tiwa was often treated differently by Asian Muslims as a Black Muslim, something I'd never even thought would be a thing before. There were some really important themes and I'm so glad I've read this book!
I struggled to put this one down, it was an absolute joy to read, honestly such a wholesome story. I was already a fan of Faridah's, and will now be seeking out more of Adiba's books to read!

3.75 ✯

This was a beautiful, comforting read about two friends falling in love, a shared custody of an orange cat called Laddoo and a whole lot of forgiveness.

This book was so easy to read, I loved every second of it. All the characters were so loveable and understandable (everyone except the mayor). I loved the sister-like bond between Niwa and Safiyah. The way the town was portrayed was beautiful with all its murals, especially now with Saids mural.

Niwa and Said’s banter made me smile many times. I loved watching them rebuild their friendship while trying to save their towns Islamic centre. The scene in the restaurant together was adorable.

As someone who isn’t familiar with Islamic traditions, I felt it was all explained fairly well for me to understand, although I did sometimes have to look up things like the clothes or food.

The romance was very slow, Niwa and Said only started becoming friends about halfway through the book. I didn’t think we got enough thoughts from them about their hidden love for each other, there's a few times they catch each other's eye, or they get butterflies, but we never get much of their thoughts until the love confession at the end.

I wish we had more about how Tiwa and Said grieved for the loss of their mentor, I felt like it was forgotten about after the funeral at the very beginning. She was very important to both characters, so this part of the story didn’t feel right. I also thought that Timi (Tiwa’s younger brother) wasn’t spoken about enough considering he died only 2 years ago.

I felt that forgiveness was far too easily given at the end of the book, for something that had ruined a very good friendship. I wish there had been more explanation and a little more conflict before it was resolved.

Thank you so much to @NetGalley and @UsborneYA for the eARC of Four Eids and a Funeral by @dibs_j and @Faridahlikestea

The overall story was really enjoyable and a quick read, but the writing felt quite juvenile. I really liked the slow burn friendship being rekindled, but other parts of the story felt rushed, including a lot of moments that felt very pivotal to the story and the characters identities.

I thought this was really sweet and I wish I had this type of book when I was growing up. I liked the exploration of the themes and the characters were likeable.

As a Muslim reader, finding good, YA/NA Muslim rep books can be difficult. I’ve read a few gems, but ultimately a lot of them fail to balance and represent the culture well. But this book absolutely blew me out of the park.

Faridah (an author I have previously read and adored their works - ace of spades being one of my all time favourite books) and Adiba have come together to alternate povs of the two characters in this feel good, hilarious contemporary novel which explores a rich heritage and culture, the community in which they have grown up in and of course love and friendship.

Four Eids and a Funeral is about two ex-best friends, Said and Tiwa, who didn’t always hate eachother, but one event that happened a few Eid’s ago led to their feud and they became distant from one another. But when their local Islamic center burns down, they have no choice but to band together and save the community they love so much.

I love the banter that comes with a friends to enemies to lovers trope, especially as the characters know each other from before so everything they say holds a lot more weight. I loved how the authors handled the delicate balance between injecting the book with good humor and scenes, whilst also sensitively handling serious topics such as death, grief, parental divorce and racism. It made the book a really well rounded experience that made me laugh just as much as it pulled at my heartstrings.

As a Muslim I felt the representation was done very accurately, I could relate to so many scenes in the book but didn’t just look at Muslims through one lense. The book touched upon antiblackness within the community which was really important to highlight. As a British-Bangladeshi, I really connected with Said and his family. All in all, this was a well thought out and respectful book which is perfect for teens of today as it’s not just a muslim love story, but also has many lessons that relate to the current climate of today.

Ps. I love the name ladoo for a cat wish I thought of that myself 😭

Thank you so much to netgalley, the publishers, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Abida Jaigirdar for my arc in exchange for an honest review! 🩵

I didn't know what to expect from this crossover of authors, but I'm happy to say I liked it well enough.

The thing I liked most about this book was the Muslim rep. Tiwa's dedication to restoring the Islamic Center, Said restoration of his faith, the casual and little things their family and friends do around them to celebrate Eid, it was all very sweet. My favorite scene was when Said and his dad attend jummah (Friday prayer), and Imam Abdullah was talking about the importance of the center and how it brought together a seemingly sparse population of Muslims together before leading prayer. It was such a sweet scene; despite me being nonreligious, I can see how powerful seeing this kind of rep could do for a Muslim teen.

The main characters were cute. I was more invested in Tiwa than Said, but both were easy to follow along. My biggest gripe against them was the true reason their friendship fell apart So, it was Safiyah, Said's sister, who broke their friendship. She was getting bullied at school, and she thought Said would make friends while he was away at school through isolating him from Tiwa. She coordinated with his roommate Julian to intercept the duo's letters to get them to think one ghosted the other. She never confessed, nor did it seem like she was ever going to before Said found Tiwa's letters stacked inside her closet. I get that her intentions were good, but she went about it so horribly. She knew the exact reason why Said and Tiwa weren't friends, and yet she actively encouraged them whenever one of them called the other "the enemy." Like, what the fuck Safiyah? They accepted her flimsy explanation and apology too quickly, completely absolving the massive manipulation she pulled. This reveal also created a huge plot hole, too. Why did Said and Tiwa resort only to physical letters to keep in touch? It was mentioned Tiwa didn't get a phone til after Said left, but they still could have emailed or something. I dunno, there could have been a more substantial reason to why their friendship broke. This is why contemporary enemies-to-lovers rarely ever works; there's almost never a solid reason for it.

All in all, this was a cute read, but I personally found the book's internal logic kinda dumb.