Sommers in London

Sommers in Love #1

by Meenah

Let's be clear.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.

Fatima Sommers wasn’t supposed to be dumped at the airport right before her study abroad trip to London. But here she is in a new country, freshly brokenhearted, and stuck in a semester-long project with her Londoner classmate, who wants nothing to do with her—she thinks.

Iyad Ahmed wasn’t supposed to want anything to do with Fatima. But why, three years after his father’s passing, does he only ever seem to smile when she’s around?

Thrown together in a series of unforgettable class trips, an early morning rescue mission, and unexpected moments of vulnerability, will their supposed reluctant partnership turn into something more?

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2026

About the author

Meenah is a Black, Muslim author who’s always been known for having a book in one hand and a pen in the other. She plans to rock with this persona until the wheels fall off—that is to say, she hopes they never do. Meenah earned her B.A. in English, focusing on Creative Writing and Multicultural U.S. Literature, from Hollins University in 2020, and has a minor in watching one too many dramas and anime. She writes selfishly for her younger self, who rarely ever saw girls who looked like her in books—much less as the main character. Her interests include her bed, her couch, good food, cute trinkets, and overthinking disguised as self-guided meditation.

Reviews

[Meerah · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝘚𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦
𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 𝓸𝓯 𝓐𝓭𝓿𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓭 𝓬𝓸𝓹𝔂 𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓮𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓭 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻(𝓜𝓮𝓮𝓷𝓪𝓱)

3.5★

𝓖𝓮𝓷𝓻𝓮 : Romance, Islamic Fiction

𝓼𝔂𝓷𝓸𝓹𝓼𝓲𝓼 : Fatima Sommers is on her way to London when she gets dumped by her boyfriend. While in London she battles letting her feeling for him go and also getting back into her faith.

𝓥𝓲𝓸𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓮 : None ig

𝓒𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰 : None

𝓡𝓸𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮 : It is halal. No physical contact until later

𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 : Death of parent, dealing with grief, flashback of a car crash

𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼

𝓣𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷'𝓽 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓷𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓷𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓼: Don't get me wrong, I think nicknames are cute but I just felt like the nicknames in the book are kinda irrelevant. The nicknames kinda made me cringe a bit because I didn't feel like they were needed and they didn't suit the characters. I felt like most of the characters didn't need to have nicknames. "Fatima" being called "Ti", "Sadiyah" being called "Sads", "Iyad" being called "Yad" just felt kinda forced, there are no backstory as to while they are called this(unless I don't remember that part cause I read this while I was almost in reading slump, so I wasn't that focus). I was able to get used to the nicknames but the one that I didn't like at all the most is "Mohammed" being called "Mo". That is a prophets name and I kinda felt uncomfortable saying Mo and I felt like it wasn't needed at all.
𝓢𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓲𝓻 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼: Ngl a lot of their conversation just felt sorta cringe(to me at least), and I don't know why but that could be different for others.

𝓣𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 𝓘 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓭
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷: No one can ever understand how happy I was to find a book with Black Muslim characters
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓯𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓘𝓼𝓵𝓪𝓶: I love the quoting of the Hadith and the Quran, also the proper use of PBUH when needed, I really appreciated that.

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼 :
𝓕𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓪 : I don't know why but I don't really like her🫣. She felt kinda whiny and I don't understand why she couldn't get over somethings and she kept going back to it. I do relate a bit with her struggle with religion
𝓢𝓪𝓭𝓲𝔂𝓪𝓱 : She was a lovely character, I really liked her and her personality. She was the only one keeping Fatima going. And to me she carried the book, I am so glad we are gonna learn more about her in future books
𝓘𝔂𝓪𝓭 : He was okay. I felt bad for him and his struggles. But all I gotta say is that this guy is so nosy💀
𝓙𝓪𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓻 : Bro can rot in Tartarus and never come back

𝓡𝓮𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓭 𝓪𝓰𝓮 : 13+

𝓢𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓮 𝓵𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓵 : None

𝓞𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵 : I really like this book. The representation was fantastic. It was quite medium paced so I was able to get through it really quickly.

𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚊 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝙼𝚞𝚜𝚕𝚒𝚖𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚘 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚏 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚐𝚐𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚏𝚊𝚒𝚝𝚑. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝙰𝚕𝚜𝚘 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚏𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚁𝚊𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚊𝚗

[Nas · Rating 4 out of 5]

No spoilers because this is a must read especially for the college girlies and whoever else loves reading college romances.

I enjoyed a different setting than traditional college campus. It was refreshing to travel with our character and to get glimpses of international whether it was through the FMC’s likes, education, or just her life in general. I adore Fatima and am so happy that she FULLY got her happy ending.

This book is real in so many ways. Firstly recognizing that struggles with Faith is real for so many people.

Iyad’s story is so raw and I’m happy he also experienced Love after loss because so many people are stuck at where they experienced loss they miss out on love.

I wasn’t really a fan of Sadiyah at first but she grew on me and I am sooo ready to read her story. One thing I’ll say is everyone deserves at least one friend that sticks through it with us but is very real at the same time.

Overall, this is a must read I think everyone can learn a thing or two from this novel. It is a very cutesy read but real. From the loss, to finding love, to finding identity, to friendship, and to finding Faith.

and

To the author, congratulations on your very first publishing of many!!!!! I am readyyyyyyy for book 2😭🥰

[Nora Amel · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review:
Rating: 3.8⭐

I have received a digital ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

This review will contain mild spoilers.

Pros:
This book is very well researched. It feels as if I am strolling around the streets of London as I read about Fatima and Saad's adventures and trips. It is filled with heart and the storylines are very interesting.

Fatima faces a disconnect from her religion after she abandoned it years ago for a boy in high school and has to find her way back to it on her own terms, struggling against her own biases with what society thinks and what she thinks she deserves (and what she thinks she doesn't)

She also has to learn to let go of a toxic boyfriend who has put her through a lot. It's frustrating to read at certain points because she spends a lot of time being mopey and blind to his flaws but it is part of her character arc and it makes sense in the long run.

Iyad has his own struggles too. After his father died three years ago from a heart attack, Iyad ended up shutting down, blaming himself for his death for not being serious about the family shop, and pulling away from his uncle, his father's twin brother. I loved seeing him pull himself out of grief long enough to realize that the people around him still cared for him, still loved him, and were ready to give him as much space as he needed, knowing he would find his way back to them. His scenes with his family were some of my favorites.

Side characters: Sads is the best friend we all need. The few glimpses we get from her POV are some of my favorites. She's fun, encouraging, and practical and I loved the contrast between her and Fatima in the way they see life, deen, boys, and everything else. She's definitely the character I relate to the most. Claudette was also amazing. She was only in a few chapters but I wanted more of her every time she appeared. Louisa on the other hand.... yeah no. The author sure knew how to make us hate someone who we barely even see.



Cons:

The main con I have about this book is the writing style. I understand that this is a debut novel, so I am not going to be as strict with it as I would be with a different book, but there are many, many paragraphs that are very redundant. I usually don't mind being in the character's head, but there are points in this book where we spend pages reading about random things the character went through or thinks about, only for them to be mentioned in yet a more paragraphs one chapter later. I feel like these kinds of things could have been shaved down during an editorial run. Similarly, there are some scenes that are merely created so that we can be inside the character's head thinking with them, when in reality, those thoughts could have just been integrated into the next scene instead.

Overall, it's not that bad, but it was a personal ick for me because it made me want to skim over some parts to get back to the current plot line.


Lastly, I would like to mention that I genuinely did enjoy the last few chapters so much. I think those chapters were everything I wanted from this book. Navigating a halal relationship that still held tenderness and affection while also incorporating Islam in a major way. Small scenes of them having Ramadan iftar together or mentions of them reading the Quran made it feel like such a real thing that for a moment I forgot I'm reading about fictional characters. And it was absolutely adorable to read. It made me smile and giggle to myself. And I guess I wanted to see more of Fatima and Iyad in love like that more which is a testament to the Author's talents.


Thanks again to the author. This was a wonderful book. It was refreshing to read about muslim characters going through life challenges and still coming out the other side happy and in love. I cannot wait to see how her writing improves and what else she will give us in her next book in this series.

[Ihriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

**WARNING: Slight spoilers**


This was such a sweet read, it brought me back to those fluttery feelings of first love, a sweetness that is just right. I could feel the tension between Iyad and the Fatima all the way through, and it was worth it 💓

Sommers in London is a beautifully written story, with all the pieces of Fatima's life slowly coming into place to give the reader a cohesive resolution. Sometimes the descriptions the work a character does feels irrelevant to the main plot, but in this case I'm happy to say that is not the case at all: I cared about every aspect of Fatima's life, and I genuinely rooted for her to find herself after the disaster with her ex.

Iyad was such a sweetheart, and the subtle (and not so subtle) moments of yearning made my heart melt. Reading him on page felt like a warm embrace with a touch of peace and healthy love. Some parts where he devoted himself to caring for Fatima were the sweetest - we love a protective man 😩😩


Some parts about representation come off like the author is speaking directly to us using the character, which could be considered on the nose by some, but I thought that it suited Fatima's character. The depictions of racism and Islamophobia were very realistic, especially because no matter how hard you try, some people will never change the way they treat you. I really liked the way those themes of identity are addressed, and how she goes back to Islam not because she likes Iyad, but because she wants to recover that part of herself and grow in the process.

I give it 5/5 stars for being so inspiring, heartwarming, and plentiful love ❤️❤️


(Maybe my only complaint is that I would've liked to see more of Mo in the second half of the novel 🤪 he's such a silly goose)

Thank you for giving me the honor to review this book as a beta reader, and I'm looking forward to reading your next book with Sadiyah as the main character 🩷🤍 she deserves it after being the most hardworking wing-woman LOL

[Reem · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Reader

I'm so sad Fatima and Iyad's story is over, I want more!!

Tropes:
- He falls first
- SLOW burn
- Muslim Romance
- College Romance
- Rediscovering Islam
- Coming of Age
- Yearning

Reading about Fatima's struggle with Islam and trying to let go of a toxic relationship was emotional, frustrating, sweet, and healing. I was so proud of Fatima's self-growth from where she began in the book to where she ended. Her character growth was everything. Re-discovering Islam and her struggling with religion was so relatable, because no one is perfect when it comes to religion, we all struggle in different ways, but we can try every day to be better. It was very emotional reading Fatima's religious journey. Her toxic relationship...y'all don't even know how many times I yelled, "girl if you don't leave that man," I was so frustrated. But I loved reading about Fatima finding who she was again.

Iyad's story was also emotional, and a loss will do that to you. Reading about his grief and trying to heal from it was heavy and I'm so proud of his growth throughout the book. He was a sweet, gentle man who was just trying to not drown in his grief and here came Fatima, who without realizing, helped him. Iyad was exactly the man Fatima needed, and Fatima was exactly the woman Iyad needed.

"And We created you in pairs" (Quran 78:8)

Overall, I felt so many emotions throughout this book. I laughed, cried, was frustrated, and angry. The author really knows how to put you through an emotional roller coaster.

I do wish we got a little bit more of Fatima and Iyad's life together after marriage!

[haweya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this expecting a love story between two Black Muslims (YAY!) in my favorite city and Oh. My. Gosh. I got so much more than I bargained for, and man, am I grateful!

Fatima’s struggle with religion and a codependent relationship was incredibly well written and provided a great arc for her character growth. I truly loved reading her come back into herself, and for someone like myself who’s faith can be an intermittent struggle, it was comforting. Revealing. I learned a lot about myself reading this.

Iyad’s story of familial loss hit me hard too. I have to say, his story was my favorite, but that might be the romantic in me! I adored the way Fatima saw Iyad, and how the author describes her love for Iyad in reference to religion: calm morning prayers and Friday jummah. It makes sense.

Iyad is tender, funny, and achingly sweet. Fatima is in pain and hurting in a different way, and Iyad sees that, even in his own world of hurt. To be so calm and loving still while he’s learning to cope through his struggles is a testament to him and shows how great of a character he is.

I also really loved Sadiyah and was hoping for more of her the entire time I was reading Sommers In London. She did feel too much like a side character - but knowing her story was coming next made that feeling pretty much go away. So excited to read the second book that follows her journey!

No spoilers from me, but just know my book is tabbed up with quotes, scenes, etc.

Wholeheartedly recommend!

note: ARC provided!

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars *** No Spoilers

I would like to thank Meenah for sending me an ARC of her debut book!

I adored the relationship between the main character, Fatima, and her best friend, Sadiyah. I was giggling throughout the book at their banter with each other. I love love love the representation in this book. I have never come across a romance book that has a black Muslim lead, and I am super excited for the girlies out there that can identify with Fatima. I also enjoyed that there was no spice in this novel. It was refreshing. Excited to see where Meenah takes Sadiyah's story in the second book.

If you are not a fan of a miscommunication trope then you will likely not vibe with this story since it is used multiple times throughout the book. I found myself frustrated saying " Just talk to each other!!"

My favorite line from the book was from Iyad: " Once you go spoiling us, we get rotten. "
Aint that the truth lol.

[Nahid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sommers in London is exactly the kind of book I wish i could have read when I was in college. The story of young, halal(!) love and good friendship between two young girls was definitely missing in that era! This book made me laugh and reminisce on those small but mighty feelings of young love. The MMC is as adorable in the book as you make him out in your mind. It was fun but still touched on really serious topics (grief, racism) that make for a more realistic narrative. It also focused on the MFC finding her way back to Islam, after some not-great decisions, which is so relatable for many young girls. I really enjoyed reading it and I think it’s the perfect book to pick up for a friend, cousin, niece, or anyone who wants to slip into a sweet story of finding yourself and just maybe the love of your life, if you let fate do its thing! Looking forward to more books from Meenah in the future iA!

[Allison Majano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story from beginning to end. Seeing Fatima's growth all throughout the book was endearing and I found myself relating to her perspectives on religion. Fatima was an interesting character, you can see how the people around her play a key role in influencing the person she is.

Sadiyah was beautifully written, she's by far my favorite character of the whole book and I cannot wait to see where Meenah takes her story. Her optimism on life and relationship with Fatima was so endearing, I LOVE THEM!!!!

Overall, the romance was epic. I love LOVE, and loved how sweet the protagonists' love was. A real slow burn.

[Abbie Lafleur · Rating 5 out of 5]

(no spoilers)
From the moment this crossed my path on social media, I knew it would be a favorite. As if I needed more convincing to move to London, omg!!!
I LOVED every bit of this, honestly. The world needs love stories more than ever right now, especially this one. What a beautiful, sweet, vulnerable romance. And a FMC who loves Star Wars? Oh my goodness. Obsessed.
This features YEARNING, slow burn, study abroad/travel, forced proximity, coming of age, faith, and truly immaculate vibes all the way through. So excited for this to reach its target audience. Go grab your copy now!!!!!!!!!!
---
Thank you Meenah for sending an ARC my way <3

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNFed at 19%

Loved the characters, thought the story was interesting, but unfortunately, the writing style was a huge turn-off for me. A lot of ideas were repeated multiple times within a few pages, and it was enough to make me put it down. (A VERY personal ick for me was the Hispanic ex-boyfriend, but that's a me problem and not an author problem).

I hope the author continues to write and hone her craft! The characters all felt very distinct, I liked the storyline and felt it was pretty different, and appreciated that the author didn't shy away from the heavier topics.

[Waddle_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

||ARC review||

‘Sommers in London’ was an incredibly enjoyable read for me. This book has been one of my all time favorite contemporary romances that I’ve ever read, so props to the author!! The characters were well written and relatable with their struggles and experiences, and their relationships were realistically written, which I found incredibly refreshing! I loved absolutely everything about it, and I can’t wait to read more of Meenah’s work.