Love from A to Z by S. K. Ali

Love from A to Z

by S. K. Ali

A Today Show Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

“The bighearted, wildly charming, painfully real love story I’ve been waiting for.” —Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

From William C. Morris Award Finalist S.K. Ali comes a “heartfelt and powerful” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) romance that’s The Sun Is Also a Star meets Anna and the French Kiss, following two Muslim teens who meet during a spring break trip.


A marvel: something you find amazing. Even ordinary-amazing. Like potatoes—because they make French fries happen. Like the perfect fries Adam and his mom used to make together.

An oddity: whatever gives you pause. Like the fact that there are hateful people in the world. Like Zayneb’s teacher, who won’t stop reminding the class how “bad” Muslims are.

But Zayneb, the only Muslim in class, isn’t bad. She’s angry.

When she gets suspended for confronting her teacher, and he begins investigating her activist friends, Zayneb heads to her aunt’s house in Doha, Qatar, for an early start to spring break.

Fueled by the guilt of getting her friends in trouble, she resolves to try out a newer, “nicer” version of herself in a place where no one knows her.

Then her path crosses with Adam’s.

Since he got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in November, Adam’s stopped going to classes, intent, instead, on perfecting the making of things. Intent on keeping the memory of his mom alive for his little sister.

Adam’s also intent on keeping his diagnosis a secret from his grieving father.

Alone, Adam and Zayneb are playing roles for others, keeping their real thoughts locked away in their journals.

Until a marvel and an oddity occurs…

Marvel: Adam and Zayneb meeting.

Oddity: Adam and Zayneb meeting.

Reviewed by Sam@WLABB on

5 of 5 stars

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Rating: 4.5 Stars

I automatically wanted to read this book, because Ali had won my heart with her debut, Saints and Misfits, but she had me all in with the opening sentence:
This is a love story. You've been warned.

I am here to say, Ali more than delivered on that promise.

From their meet-cute to their serendipitous re-meetings, I loved the dynamic between Zayneb and Adam, and I found myself very invested in Zayneb, Adam, and Zayneb+Adam. I also liked the way Ali wove their worlds together so tightly. They almost seemed destined from the way all the pieces snapped into place, and I enjoyed that a sort of fate surrounded their union.

Zayneb was described as angry, but I saw past that reactionary anger to the passion underneath. She believed in justice for all, and I liked that there were people on her side to guide her and help her harness her passion in order to bring about change.

I so adored Adam, and when he revealed his diagnosis, my heart ached and crumbled for him. Part of that pain is personal, because I have been watching MS rob my uncle of his motor skills for years, but also, because Adam saw this disease take his mother too soon, and how it devastating it must be for a young person to have to come to terms with the same diagnosis. My solace came in the form of Adam's wonderful family and friends, who were amazing and supportive and bursting with love for him.

One thing I love about Ali's books is how much of herself she shares with us. It was easy to see how personal many parts of this book were, and that was why the negative things experienced by Zayneb were so infuriating and heartbreaking. But, it's not just what she shares, but how she shares it that make it all so meaningful for me.

I like that books like this exist. It's important to have positive and honest representation out there. I live and grew up in diverse areas, but there are still a lot of very homogenous places in this world. The media tends to highlight the negatives, and never present the full picture of any group of people. Thus, books like this are necessary to combat those negative stereotypes and educate people.

I smiled and cried my way through this book, but I think I cheered during the epilogue. Everyone knows the way to my heart is through a great epilogue, and this one was perfection for me. I'm getting all verklempt thinking about it now. Ali just gave me what I needed in order to let Zayneb and Adam ride off into the sunset, and I am grateful for that.

Overall: A beautiful story of love, family, friendship, and justice for all.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 19 April, 2019: Finished reading
  • 19 April, 2019: Reviewed