"A dual narrative rom-com brimming with authentic representation as well as heart and humour."
With possibly one of my favourite titles of the year, this dual narrative romantic comedy written by two highly acclaimed YA novelists, manages to not only be an excellent example of the enemies to lovers trope, but also creates an authentic insight into a vibrant Muslim community and to deal with some powerful topics such as grief, anti-Black racism within the Muslim community, and the potential conflict between fulfilling personal dreams and family expectations.
Growing up, Said Hossain and Tiwa Olatunji were inseparable, but they have barely spoken since The Incident many Eids ago. But when Said comes home for a funeral and the town's Islamic Centre burns down on the same day, they are thrown together again. They both have a good reason to try to save both the Centre, which is now slated by the local mayor to be torn down and replaced with apartments, and the community’s Eid celebrations.
The main story is interspersed with flashback scenes with alternating perspectives of Tiwa and Said. The authors do not reveal who wrote each character but their voices merge seamlessly and the two characters are equally well developed. The chemistry between them and the witty banter is delightful.
A real strength of the book is the thoughtful representation of diverse cultures, showcasing the richness of Bengali, Muslim, and Nigerian cultures. Details of faith, traditions, and values are interwoven seamlessly, adding depth and nuance to the story. There is a great supporting cast of memorable characters and a lovely LBGTQ+ side romance too. Warm, funny, engaging and relatable, this is bound to be another popular bestseller!
Let's get one thing straight: this is a love story.
Said Hossain hates Tiwa Olatunji. And Tiwa would happily never see Said again in her life.
Growing up, the two were inseparable, but they have barely spoken since the incident many Eids ago and both of them would like to keep it that way. But when Said comes home for a funeral and the town's Islamic Centre burns down on the same day, they have to face each other again and sparks fly. Both of them want to see the Islamic Centre rebuilt. For Tiwa, it represents the community that she loves and a way to keep her fractured family together. For Said, it's an opportunity to build his portfolio for his secret application to art school, where he hopes that he'll be able to pursue his dreams of becoming an artist, rather than a doctor.
Working with your sworn enemy is never easy, and this could be the hardest thing that Said and Tiwa have ever done. But in trying to save the Islamic Centre and Eid, could these enemies become something else...?
A gorgeous, bright and swoony YA Muslim rom-com from two bestselling, award-winning stars of YA: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Adiba Jaigirdar
Four Eids and a Funeral features in the following genres: Young Adult Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Romance / Relationship Stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Relationship stories, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Dating, relationships, romance and love, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Multicultural, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Racism and anti-racism, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Family and home stories
Four Eids and a Funeral is available in Paperback
Four Eids and a Funeral was written by Faridah Abike-Iyimide and published by Usborne Publishing Ltd. an imprint of Usborne Publishing
Four Eids and a Funeral has 375 pages
£8.09
