I loved Aaliyah’s friend group and I enjoyed how the author handled the themes of grief and trauma. The book also deals with fatphobia, especially in the familial context when it’s disguised as wanting “what’s best” and saying that she doesn’t fulfil those expectations because of her weight. Aaliyah follows a great arc in that regard and ultimately decides to choose her happiness. 

While Aaliyah’s dates at Ahmad’s bar were perfect for building their chemistry, the dates got repetitive fast and almost formulaic, and there was SO MUCH miscommunication/poor communication. I didn’t think I had terminology preferences for sm*t, but there are words I never want to read in this context again!! It was a fun romance with characters with great banter, but the vibe was just not entirely there for me, and the ending was abrupt.