MuslimVoices Romance: Saints & Misfits and Misfit in Love

Saints and Misfits is a realistic fiction, young adult book written by S.K. Ali.  It's about 15 year old American Arab-Indian girl named Janna who is struggling in her life.  She has been sexually assaulted by a prominent member of her mosque and she is developing a crush on Jeremy, a classmate who is not Muslim at all.  Janna wants to expose her assailant but is afraid of the backlash she could receive from her religious community.  Ali expertly writes about the different ways people express their religious beliefs and it is an eye-opener for those who want to learn beyond the Muslim stereotypes.

Misfit in Love is the sequel to Saints and Misfits but it can stand on its own.  In this story it is summertime and Janna's plan is to move forward with her feelings for Nuah, the boy who was there for her when she was assaulted the year before.  It's her brother, Muhammad's wedding and for Janna, that is the perfect time to reveal to her friends and family that she also has feelings for Nuah.  Except the wedding's not going as planned, Nuah is acting detached and Janna's even more confused when she meets two more men who are attending the wedding: Haytham, the handsome poet/singer who is amazing with kids and Layth, the equally handsome, yet broodingly mysterious one who has his own struggles he's keeping within.  The wedding is also a time that Janna can finally spend with her mom and possibly, her mom's new love interest since divorcing her father.  The weekend is full of family, relationship breakthroughs, laughter, music, dancing, swimming, eating, family and friendship.   The Janna who starts the story is not the same one who finishes it.  

 Ali explains the nuances within the various types of  Muslim cultures and brings into the mainstream the way modern-day people's Muslim faith is a part of their daily lives.  She tackles the complicated dynamics of joining families with different cultural roots, even while sharing a religious one.  I learned a lot about Muslim wedding ceremonies, nikahs, burkinis, dabke dances, niqab hijabs and many more terms that I enjoyed looking up while reading this story. Here is her interview for Entertainment Weekly where Ali discusses Misfit in Love and more!