The fourth book in the beloved Huda F graphic novel series once again expertly weaves humor, life lessons, relatability, and unapologetic Islamic rep. Add in that the book is framed around a “Life and Work of Jane Austen” class, goes meta blurring tropes and plot points, and features strong real and fictional Muslim women, and I think this might be my favorite Huda F book yet, yes I’m hoping it isn’t the last. SuhanAllah truly, the author and her books are such a blessing to us all.  At 256 pages this book is a solid YA, but I think older and younger audiences, boys and girls alike, will enjoy and benefit.  The surface is a bit of a rom com, coming of age, Huda finding herself in the summer after high school with friends and family away on their own adventures, and her wanting to get married. Alhumdulillah, the author’s style and the graphic novel format keeps the story from being didactic but the character’s growth is articulated clearly to ensure the messaging does not miss.  The book dives into marriage readiness, expectations, self awareness, and as I’ve always said since her very first books, they are great conversation starters with the young people in your life.  Whether discussing mental health, family dynamics, hijab, and in this one, love, the author really has a knack for conveying powerful and important themes in Islamic ways that are hilarious, consumable, and lingering.  I highly recommend mamas (aka aunties) also read it as a reminder (haha) for how we should help our kids at this stage in their lives.

SYNOPSIS:
From the publisher
It’s the summer after Huda’s high school graduation, and love is in the air! Or it’s about to be, anyway. Because Huda has the ingredients for a perfect love story: a butt-kicking girl power squad of new friends, and a plan to woo all the aunties into setting her up with their eligible sons. But when she finds herself caught between her friends and her heart, gender roles and ambitions, and her fears and dreams, Huda begins to realize that finding her own “happily ever after” might require changing herself—or her expectations.

WHY I LIKE IT:

I love the Jane Austen references and the tropes of enemies to lovers, slow burn, and friends to lovers pages with the period inspired drawings, seriously had me squealing and feeling seen. I also love that no one is forcing her to marry, it is completely on her, and that everyone is supporting her to find her self, not compromise who she is, and not rush anything.  I know the disclaimer says it is all fictionalized, but the references to earlier books, and the layers of the character Huda, really make her feel very very real.  I also love how Khadijah RA and Fatima Al-Fihriyyah are brought in and mentioned, that there is a niqabi biker, and that even with Huda having sisters, she also needs her sisters in Islam.

FLAGS:

Relationships, gossip, misleading presentation

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

This should seriously be required high school Islamic school, college/university MSA, masjid older youth group required reading. We need to be having these conversations with our youth that are wanting to get married, and humor is such a great vehicle to address the topic.  To see what awareness about our own expectations is and how it might need to be adjusted, and how to assess the potential spouse and their motives, along with building a community that truly will support you in your own growth whether marriage is the goal or not, is so needed.  Truly a great book, with a lot of entry points and utilization.