Rating : 4.5 stars.

I loooved this book. It was such a cute and enjoyable read.
The MCs were so endearing, and I loved Said's sister and need her to be my spirit character.
One thing I appreciated was all the cultural and religious references, and how acurate they were. I mean, there's something about a great book by Muslim authors that just hit different.

I loved seeing Tiwa and Said navigating life, family situations and their relationship. It just unfolded so naturally. And the center point of it all being them trying to save the Islamic Center was just sooo appropriate here.

I ended up doing the audio for this one and I definitely loved it. I'd recommend it for my audio people out there !

Thank you NetGalley, Usborne Publishing and the authors for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Usborne Publishing, and the author for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Also, a big thanks to Usborne Publishing UK and Fritha for sending me the physical copy and inviting me to the book launch.

Okay, so this YA romance totally surprised me. It’s super sweet but also doesn’t shy away from the tougher stuff, which I really appreciated. Tiwa and Said used to be besties until Said moved away for boarding school, and now they’re basically pretending the other doesn’t exist. But then their mentor, Ms. Barnes, dies, and their Islamic Centre burns down, and suddenly they have to team up to save it—because the mayor wants to tear it down for apartments. Tiwa’s brains and grit plus Said’s art skills make a solid combo.

But it’s not just about saving a building. Said is struggling big time with telling his parents he doesn’t want to be a doctor, and Tiwa’s hoping saving Eid will bring her dad home for a visit. So, there’s a lot going on under the surface.

Loved how they’re dealing with stuff a lot of teens know—family pressure, missing someone, feeling caught between worlds. Their friendship kind of fizzled out, but they’re both way too stubborn (or scared?) to admit how much they actually miss each other. The parts where they work together? So good. You can really see why they fit. And the book doesn’t talk down to teens—it’s honest about faith, community, and not always feeling like you belong. Some moments were pretty emotional, but it also gives space for readers to think about everything they’re juggling.

Having said all that, I loved Said's sister, who is also Tiwa's best friend, more than the two main characters. Her relationship, in my opinion, deserved more page space. I quite did not understand the setting of this book being in America because the authors are English and Irish, respectively. However, when we asked them this question, they said it's a crazy story, and all the crazy things happen in America, so we cannot fight with that logic now, can we? There are some elements that I did not really like and felt a bit forced, like the twist in the story (a wittle bit).

The grudge that Tiwa held against said sort was very, very childish, but again, she was a child, so I get it. All in all, I enjoyed this book.

Four Eids and a Funeral was a mildly enjoyable YA book, but I wanted so much more from it! It was very promising, and I liked the characters and the premise, but for me, the pacing didn't work. I found it slow and difficult to read which was a real disappointment; I wanted to love this book but I didn't. I would try another book from these authors though.

I really enjoyed this read, it was quick and fun and exactly the kind of book I would've loved when I was younger.

Included in my June 2024 TBR

I'm trying to request fewer review copies in 2024, but I do have a couple on my list for this month, beginning with this contemporary YA that has been co-written by two authors who I have previously enjoyed. It's a romance about two former best friends who must work together to save their Islamic Centre from demolition on the run-up to Eid, and I'm excited to see where it goes.

I loved this! Said and Tiwa used to be best friends now they'd be better classed as enemies but when tragedy befalls their towns Islamic centre they have to put their differences aside in order to save it.

I flew through this. I loved Said and Tiwa and watching them trying to work together after spending so long apart. There's a lot of sad tragic moments throughout this but seeing everyone come together to help their community was heartwarming. I liked that even though this is a love story there wasn't much romance in it and that it was more about two friends realising how much they loved each other and coming back together. I highly recommend.

Overall this was a pleasant read, but I found a couple of things didn't sit well with me. I tried to put myself back into the mindset of a teenager while reading this book, so I wouldn't be biased in my review.

There is quite a lot of miscommunication in this book. There are a lot of conversations between Tiwa and Said that should have been had, and things which should have been said. I also highly disagreed with the actions of Safiyah and Justin, as discovered in the later quarter of this book.

While I understand Tiwa needing to vent to her best friend, as it's something we all do, I found it highly inappropriate she spent some of this book ranting about and badmouthing Said to his own sister. It felt really out of the ordinary, and I'm glad Safiyah called her out on it.

I can't speak for the Muslim representation here but I really enjoyed the depiction of Eid and the celebrations surrounding it.

I really liked the idea of this book and warmed to both of the main protagonists. Both Tiwa and Said are hardworking and passionate about the own interests. They used to be best friends but have not spoken for a long time.
When the local Islamic is destroyed by fire, Said and Tiwa are forced to put aside Thier differences to work together and try and save the centre for the community.
I can't comment if the Muslim representation - but it is always good to see diversity in YA fiction especially with teenagers being normal teenagers.
I felt this was a bit too long. Some of the flashbacks dragged and didn't really add much. Their reasons for not being friends weren't convincing either. But overall it was an interesting and enjoyable read.

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