Status Updates From Normal Calm

I remember when I first read this in high school the concept of marrying before falling in love was so strange and foreign to me and perhaps one of the reasons I didn't like the book so much at the time. But the concept stuck with me and I saw it pop up in culture/discussions and I realized it's an actual thing and it's not always bad. Kudos to this book for representing something that many young Muslims go through

Amina has a conversation with her nonMuslim friend about how she can't simply move out of her parents' house even though she's a 22 college grad with a job. I love that so much. The reasons she lists are SO relatable--it's not culturally acceptable, she feels more comfortable at home, she wants to be there if her parents need her, she likes her parents' love and support, and she just simply doesn't want to move out.

I love Amina so much. She's practical, introverted with a few close friends, sincerely wants to make Allah happy (I love that faith isn't a major crisis/conflict in this book), and loves/respects her parents even when she doesn't agree with them. But she's not a Mary Sue because she makes her own share of mistakes, struggles, and gets angry and hurt

I read this for the first time as a high schooler and I have a hunch that I'll appreciate it a lot more this time around

No offence Amina but Mazin sounds like the most boring guy on the planet, and that is totally a valid reason for turning him down. If you get married what would you even do together?

Although this is a story that needs to be told, the writing is pretty simple, and I feel many chapters are missing a climax/ cliffhanger that would truly make the book a page turner.