Love on Sight: for fans of Queenie

by Asli Jensen

 
A universal story that will resonate far and wide, Love
on Sight captures the heat and hope of the city,
and the magic of falling in love for the first time ...  

'Jensen smashes stereotypes about life on a London estate,
infusing warmth and hope into a rich tapestry of culture and community.'
THE OBSERVER


'A book that will stay with you long after its finished ...
fearless, tender and refreshing' ANIKA HUSSAIN, AUTHOR
OF HEARTBREAKER


'Love on Sight is a gorgeous, swoony, emotional roller
coaster of a ride. Think Kidulthood, but 2025.' @jotheblackbookworm



'I loved every page … This book nails the
electric pull of love-at-first-sight while staying honest about the
realities that come with it.' @codedreader



Sabrina has her life planned out – she’s going to
pass her A levels and go to university. But then she meets Jalaal,
a boy trapped on the wrong path, desperate for a way out.


An English Jamaican girl and a Somali Muslim boy being together
isn’t straightforward, with cultural expectations, disapproving
family and religious differences to overcome.


But is that the struggle you face when you fall in love on sight?




The outstanding debut novel from the Lime New Storyteller
2023 award winner, Asli Jensen.
An uplifting contemporary YA romance, which draws on
the author’s experience of growing up in inner-city London.

A modern dual narrative Romeo-and-Juliet story, perfect
for fans of Danielle Jawando and Candice Carty-Williams. 

Explores themes of family, culture, friendship, redemption,
class, faith and different forms of love in a fresh and authentic
style, which will resonate universally.

Genres: Romance

Kindle Edition

Published August 14, 2025

Reviews

[frog · Rating 5 out of 5]

glorious, actually

[liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just really liked this, so fresh, them London vibes

[mila_readss · Rating 4 out of 5]

˖°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗢𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁  ˖°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Contemporary Romance 
𝗟𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵: 320 pages 
𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4 ⭐ 

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:

• First love
• Acts of service 
• London urban setting
• Insta-love
• Cultural topics
• Faith & spirituality 
• Good girl x bad boy 
• Somali X Jamaican 

𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴!

Let me start off by saying that, this isn't your usual cheesy insta-love romance. Instead, it dives into deeper themes, exploring various cultures, experiencing first love, and navigating a relationship through tough challenges. It's all about fighting for what feels right and making it work, no matter the obstacles.

Even though the characters are teens, I genuinely believe they display a lot of maturity. The way they supported each other during tough times was truly beautiful and highlights how important communication is in a relationship.
But it also shows how family can unite during such moments.

If you're on the hunt for a touching young love story filled with hope, this is the one for you.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed watching Sabrina and Jalaal get to know each other and fall in love despite being from different worlds. Asli perfectly captured what it felt like as a teenager to have a crush on someone. There were so many cute scenes! The language and tone throughout the book were so relatable to younger audiences.

While I love that it was written with the current YA generation in mind, I worry that once the slang in the book becomes out of date, so will the book. Regardless, it’s a culturally relevant book for current YA readers.

This bit is just me being overly conservative but I found a line or two a bit too “sexual” for what I’d expect in a YA novel. Granted teenagers probably use this language often and it was actually just two or three lines in the entire book.

If you’re looking for a cute relatable romance, this book is for you 🎉

[Selina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book, to start with loved the font it’s written in, the story was relatable loved the characters in the book. The book touched on so many different topic without going too deep just enough to make you think. Could see this story on a Netflix series. Can’t wait to read more from this author.

[Alicia Webster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for school reading list.com

[Nessa’s Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know that dizzy, summer-in-your-chest feeling you get when a book reminds you what it was like to fall in love for the first time?

Love on Sight has it in spades. It’s tender, fierce, and refreshingly grounded in real-life complexity, think Romeo and Juliet if they had homework, WhatsApp groups, and parents with strong opinions.

Sabrina has it all mapped out: study hard, escape the noise, build a future.

Jalaal? He’s caught in a life where options feel like luxury. But when these two lock eyes, it’s game over for logic and game on for navigating the layered mess of cultural pressure, religion, class, and the undeniable pull of wanting more.

Told in alternating perspectives, Jensen cleverly gives both Sabrina and Jalaal room to breathe, grow, and sometimes stumble hard. Their chemistry is electric, but what makes the story unforgettable is how rooted it is in community, family dynamics, and inner-city London with all its beauty and grit.

This isn’t insta-love fluff. It’s a romance that wrestles with what it means to love someone not despite, but with their whole world attached. It’s about possibility. It’s about choice. And it’s a heartfelt reminder that sometimes the biggest revolution is choosing tenderness, even when everything tells you not to.


Big-hearted, brave, and beautifully written, Love on Sight doesn’t just tug at your heartstrings, it plays a whole symphony. A standout YA debut that dares to hope out loud.

[Qonita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet love story! I really enjoyed getting to know Sabrina and Jalaal and seeing how two unlikely people came together. I like how the book touches on their different backgrounds and faiths, the conflicts they face seem quite believable and it was a joy to read how they got closer through all the obstacles.

Jalaal is such a likeable character, despite being on road and having it rough when his father left, he's still a caring older brother and has a heart of gold. It was so endearing to read how much he loves his younger brother Ibby (and other family members!) as well as how much love he's able to give to Sabrina.

I'm not too familiar with the Somali language, so it was a nice bonus to learn some words through reading this too!

Sabrina was also a sweet character to follow, I found myself relating to her at times as an eldest daughter. The way she loves her sisters and has that fierce yet nurturing side made for a really interesting character. The two of them had such a fun banter and I found myself smiling while reading how they bounce off each other.

Highly recommend reading this book if you're looking for a cute and fun romance!

[Zahira · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely beautiful, sun‑soaked read that made the younger version of me feel truly seen in ways books of my time did not. It tenderly captures the hopes and tensions of growing up on London estates, the multicultural world that shapes you, and the ache of reaching for a life just out of reach. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who grew up in similar circumstances and longed for a way out - this book understands.

[Caspy :3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The roadman talk was a bit too much but it’s accurate to how they talk. Good luck finding a roadman that actually acts like the mmc tho.

[Sofia]

rec nadelle alexa on tiktok

[Rayo Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sabrina meets Jalaal, a boy trapped on the wrong path, desperate for a way out. An English Jamaican girl and a Somali Muslim boy… it’s so wrong but feels so right.

I know it sounds cliché, but the moment these two met, I felt their chemistry. It was off the charts, you could practically feel the love between them. But of course, love isn’t always easy.

Jalaal my boy ❤️ Initially, I found him rude and snobbish, but as I got to know him, he totally won me over. He knew what he wanted and went after it with everything. And the way he said and did all the right things (as a teenager!) — I was shocked 😭 He was mature, grounded, and so sure of himself.

If you loved the show Forever, you’ll absolutely love this book too ❤️☺️