Book Reveiw: Four Eids and a Funeral by Faridah Abike-Iyimide

Friends to enemies to friends to lovers? Muslim teenagers Tiwa and Said must work together to save their town's Islamic Center from destruction while navigating old hurts and new feelings.

3 / 5 Stars

The sad death of an inspirational teacher brings ex-best friends Tiwa and Said back to their hometown. The two had been inseparable growing up, but when Said left for boarding school, things fell apart. Determined to put their differences aside to pay respects to their teacher, the two are reunited, with plans to go their separate ways again. That is, until the Islamic Center in town burns down and the mayor announces no new plans to rebuild it.

Amidst the campaign to save the center, Tiwa is trying to plan the upcoming Eid celebration in the hopes of impressing her father enough for him to stay this time. Said is trying to come up with a way to break it to his more conservative parents that he wants to be an artist, not a doctor as they originally planned. Can they solve their own problems, the town's problems, and the problems they face while watching a cat in addition to figuring out what went so wrong between them? Is there hope for a friendship, or even a relationship, between these two in the future?

This was a cute book if you are in the mood for a rom-com, coming-of-age story with minimal spice. The framing of the story (in a similar way to the movie Four Weddings and a Funeral) allows for readers to weave in and out of the different stages of the relationship between Tiwa and Said. It wasn't anything groundbreaking, but it was very enjoyable. Consider adding this to your TBR list as this year's Eid celebrations have come to a close.