Publishers Weekly
04/01/2024
The week before summer break, junior Said Hossain is pulled out of class at his prestigious Virginia boarding school by his older sister Safiyah, who shares devastating news: Said’s beloved childhood librarian and mentor, Ms. Barnes, has died and they must return home to New Crosshaven, Vt., for the funeral. There, Said encounters his former best friend Tiwa Olatunji; their simmering distaste for each other has only grown in the years they’ve spent apart. But when New Crosshaven’s Islamic center catches fire the day of Ms. Barnes’s funeral, Said and Tiwa set aside their feud to try and raise the money and support to both restore the building and throw an amazing Eid celebration. Their well-intentioned plan becomes complicated by family drama, a ticking clock, Safiyah’s sisterly meddling, an unsupportive mayor, Said and Tiwa’s joint ownership of Ms. Barnes’s cat, and the teens’ annoyingly amorous feelings. Via flashbacks to Eids past, Àbíké-Íyímídé (Where Sleeping Girls Lie) and Jaigirdar (A Million to One) craft a lighthearted rom-com that’s bookended by potent depictions of cultural customs, personal revelations, past hurts, laugh-out-loud moments, and a satisfying romantic conclusion. Said is Bengali American and Tiwa is Nigerian American; both are Muslim. Ages 14–up. (June)
From the Publisher
"The engaging writing tackles grief, anti-Black racism within the Muslim community, and the teens’ navigating and reconciling parental expectations with personal dreams. A love story that successfully blends the lighthearted with the serious to demonstrate the power of community." —Kirkus
"Writing duo Àbíké-Íyímídé and Jaigirdar pen a charming tale of two teens whose love for their community restores their strained relationship. The funny intro and excellent overarching themes create the enjoyable dual perspective of miscommunications and growth as Said and Tiwa face challenges within their families and friends. A sweet romance about finding your way back to those who matter most." —School Library Journal
"Àbíké-Íyímídé (Where Sleeping Girls Lie) and Jaigirdar (A Million to One) craft a lighthearted rom-com that’s bookended by potent depictions of cultural customs, personal revelations, past hurts, laugh-out-loud moments, and a satisfying romantic conclusion." —Publishers Weekly
"Even while touching on some thorny topics—racism within the Muslim community, microaggressions—the novel creates a dynamic sense of second-generation immigrant Muslim teenage life. . .the captivating characters and their unique voices make for an entertaining and lively read." —Horn Book
"A warm hug of a book. FOUR EIDS AND A FUNERAL feels like coming home for the summer. Readers are certain to root for Tiwa, Said, and of course, Laddoo the cat." —Farah Naz Rishi, author of It All Comes Back to You
"Hilarious and heartfelt, this young adult romance about ex-best friends thrown back together to save their local Islamic center—-and perhaps their fractured relationship—-is a charming collaboration between two of the best Muslim authors in contemporary YA. Àbíké-Íyímídé and Jaigirdar are a dream team!" —Priyanka Taslim, author of The Love Match
“Bursting with joy, humour and so much love – for romance, for community, for home and the people who make us – Four Eids and a Funeral is a beautiful and poignant rom-com. I would do anything for Tiwa and Said and their enemies to lovers romance is fraught with tension, complexity and yearning – not to mention a very excellent cat.” —Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen
“Said and Tiwa’s love story is sweet and uplifting, and their quest to save their community’s Islamic centre will have you cheering! A fresh take on the classic friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romcom.” —Michelle Quach, author of Not Here to Be Liked
“I loved the representation of two Muslims who are at different stages in their faith walk but they both are passionate about fighting for the Islamic Centre and making sure that Muslims are represented in their community. Four Eids and a Funeral is a slow-burn, will-they-won't-they, sweet romance that celebrates faith, community and second chances.” —Abiola Bello, bestselling author of Emily Knight I am
School Library Journal
06/01/2024
Gr 9 Up—Said and Tiwa haven't been friends for years; in fact, they may just despise each other. But a funeral for their favorite librarian brings Said back to town on the same day a fire destroys their community's Islamic Center. With the mayor planning to demolish the rest of the Islamic Center, Tiwa reluctantly reaches out to Said for help. What begins as an art piece Said needs for his art school application becomes an earnest project to not only save the Islamic Center but also Said and Tiwa's relationship. Writing duo Àbíké-Íyímídé and Jaigirdar pen a charming tale of two teens whose love for their community restores their strained relationship. The funny intro and excellent overarching themes create the enjoyable dual perspective of miscommunications and growth as Said and Tiwa face challenges within their families and friends. The representation of the diverse Muslim American community, grief over lost loved ones, and familial expectations bring heart to this story, but would thrive with a little more expansion. Even with some fragmented moments, the story ties up nicely (if a bit too easily) and will satisfy readers. Said's family is Bangladeshi and Tiwa's family is Yoruban. VERDICT A sweet romance about finding your way back to those who matter most.—Emily Walker
Kirkus Reviews
2024-04-05
Tragedy reunites estranged childhood friends.
When Ms. Barnes, his beloved hometown librarian, dies, Said Hossain’s older sister, Safiyah, picks him up from boarding school a week before summer vacation so he can return home to Vermont for the funeral. The somber occasion puts Said back in contact with childhood friend Tiwa Olatunji, who hasn’t forgiven him for leaving her and their community behind. Thrust back together, Said and Tiwa must reconcile their past while dealing with current challenges, which include saving the local Islamic center (after being damaged by a fire on the day of Ms. Barnes’ funeral, it’s now slated to be torn down and replaced with apartments), ensuring that the upcoming community Eid celebration can go off without a hitch, and figuring out how to heal their friendship and move forward as romantic feelings grow between them. Told from Said’s and Tiwa’s alternating first-person perspectives, the narrative successfully transitions between the co-authors’ equally strongly executed chapters. The engaging writing tackles grief, anti-Black racism within the Muslim community, and the teens’ navigating and reconciling parental expectations with personal dreams. The characters reflect the lived diversity of the American Muslim community: Said is Bangladeshi American, while Tiwa, who’s Black, is Nigerian American; lesbian Safiyah embarks on a sweet relationship with another girl from the Islamic center.
A love story that successfully blends the lighthearted with the serious to demonstrate the power of community. (Romance. 14-18)
