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dhiyanah's review
challenging
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
After thoroughly enjoying 'Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating,' I was excited to check out more works by this author. The writing and characters didn't disappoint. The plot structure felt so keyed in to the emotional tension of the main character that I often felt stressed for Nishat.
Adiba Jaigirdar has a way of affirming, in her writing, the unique struggles of growing up within South Asian diasporas, weaving it with her experiences within the Irish immigrant context. I thought at first that I wouldn't feel connected to the latter since Ireland feels so far away from me and my reality here in the global south, but she writes in a way that makes space for familiar challenges and the life-affirming possibilities so many of us in the global diaspora dream up in our free time just to get by. The ending was an adorably soft landing and I appreciate how hopeful that felt.
Adiba Jaigirdar has a way of affirming, in her writing, the unique struggles of growing up within South Asian diasporas, weaving it with her experiences within the Irish immigrant context. I thought at first that I wouldn't feel connected to the latter since Ireland feels so far away from me and my reality here in the global south, but she writes in a way that makes space for familiar challenges and the life-affirming possibilities so many of us in the global diaspora dream up in our free time just to get by. The ending was an adorably soft landing and I appreciate how hopeful that felt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Outing
Moderate: Homophobia, Xenophobia, and Cultural appropriation
filipacmiranda's review against another edition
2.5
I enjoyed the plot, found the characters likeable and wanted them to succeed. Despite this, the story fell short regarding cultural representation and romance.
Being one of the first times I read a book with a Bengali main character, I expected The Henna Wars to contain much more detailed descriptions of the celebrations that were included in the plot and for Nishat and her family's cultural background to be one of the main focuses of the story. I was also very excited when I realised Flávia was Brazilian rather than Hispanic! Reading my native language (Portuguese) in a book written in another language was fantastic. However, Brazil has a vast and diverse culture that I would have liked to see reflected in the small moments Nishat shared with Flávia and her mother.
The same is true for Nishat and Flávia's romantic relationship, which seems to grow unsteadily just to become suddenly official.
Being one of the first times I read a book with a Bengali main character, I expected The Henna Wars to contain much more detailed descriptions of the celebrations that were included in the plot and for Nishat and her family's cultural background to be one of the main focuses of the story. I was also very excited when I realised Flávia was Brazilian rather than Hispanic! Reading my native language (Portuguese) in a book written in another language was fantastic. However, Brazil has a vast and diverse culture that I would have liked to see reflected in the small moments Nishat shared with Flávia and her mother.
The same is true for Nishat and Flávia's romantic relationship, which seems to grow unsteadily just to become suddenly official.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cultural appropriation and Outing
Moderate: Lesbophobia, Xenophobia, and Homophobia
Minor: Toxic friendship
wlwism's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I refuse to rate anything that mentions Harry Potter a five star read, and at times it felt like it was trying to make me feel for the racist white girl, but I do appreciate the focus on familial and sisterly relationships, which I thought were developed beautifully!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cultural appropriation and Xenophobia
Moderate: Outing
cosmicwillow's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This was cute! I like how it dealt with heavier topics like race/racism and cultural appropriation, and homophobia, but ultimately I found it to be an adorable queer rivals (because they were hardly enemies lol) to lovers story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Outing, Lesbophobia, Bullying, Xenophobia, Homophobia, and Cultural appropriation
kalzeb's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Outing, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
clairebbear's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Racism, Cultural appropriation, Homophobia, and Xenophobia
smartie_chan's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Xenophobia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Racism
emily_mh's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I think the main reason I adore Jaigirdar’s romance books is that the story is never just about romance. The MCs always have a full life outside of the love they may be pursuing which makes for dynamic characters and a layered story.
Nishat and Flávia were so sweet together. I think a few more conversations between the two of them would have been nice, but this wasn’t a biggie. I loved the way Jaigirdar described how a crush feels, and I was so impressed that she got me to like Flávia and root for her romance with Nishat after the way she acted in the beginning/middle of the book! Alongside the romance the book confronts cultural appropriation, exhibiting its hypocrisy and how it feels to have your culture stolen. Additionally, the story shows what coming out looks like, both when you’re accepted or not, or have have a choice in it or are outed, and also the complicated role family can play in it all.
Nishat was such a great MC. I liked how she stuck to her guns but also went through personal growth, too! I loved that the writing made me feel what she was feeling. Her relationship with her sister Priti was amazing and exactly like what my relationship was like with my sister in our teens.
On top of all this I really liked reading about henna, especially the descriptions of Nishat’s designs and how henna can be passed down as a tradition in Bengali families. I cannot wait to read more by this author!
Nishat and Flávia were so sweet together. I think a few more conversations between the two of them would have been nice, but this wasn’t a biggie. I loved the way Jaigirdar described how a crush feels, and I was so impressed that she got me to like Flávia and root for her romance with Nishat after the way she acted in the beginning/middle of the book! Alongside the romance the book confronts cultural appropriation, exhibiting its hypocrisy and how it feels to have your culture stolen. Additionally, the story shows what coming out looks like, both when you’re accepted or not, or have have a choice in it or are outed, and also the complicated role family can play in it all.
Nishat was such a great MC. I liked how she stuck to her guns but also went through personal growth, too! I loved that the writing made me feel what she was feeling. Her relationship with her sister Priti was amazing and exactly like what my relationship was like with my sister in our teens.
On top of all this I really liked reading about henna, especially the descriptions of Nishat’s designs and how henna can be passed down as a tradition in Bengali families. I cannot wait to read more by this author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Outing, Hate crime, and Homophobia
Moderate: Racism, Bullying, and Xenophobia
Minor: War, Alcohol, Sexism, Vomit, Cursing, Excrement, and Ableism
Moderate: 2 HP references Minor: internalised colourism, divorce, capital punishment, disownment, sick loved onekingrosereads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Cute sapphic coming-of-age YA about a Muslim Bengali girl in an all-girl Irish Catholic school.
The story follows 16-year-old Nishat, a child of two immigrant Bengali parents growing up in Dublin. Nishat is dealing with recently coming out to her parents as gay and struggling with their reaction. Nishat is given the ultimatum either be herself and bring shame to her family or go back into the closet. At school, Nishat deals with racism and eventually being outed. Nishat experience homophobia, casual appropriation of her culture, and harassment from her classmates. And to top it off, the girl she likes is her rival for a school competition.
The way that this book was advertised to me was that it was a cute sapphic YA romance, but it’s more of a coming-of-age. The two most distinctive relationships Nishat has are with Flávia (her crush) and Priti (her younger sister). I think her relationship with Priti was more in-depth and shelled out more than her relationship with anyone else. I loved their banter and close relationship. It shows them tease each other, fight, and make-up. I think Nishat and Flávia had decent chemistry, but not enough for me to think a romance is blooming. It’s strange to me she could like Flávia given all that is happening. The comments about how you can’t culturally appropriate art and Nishat not being a real artist was enough for me to immediately veto her as a love interest. I could see it being left open for a relationship at the end but before then? No.
Nishat’s development is also done extremely well. I hated that everyone made her feel like crap about her emotions and that she too busy to care about anyone else. Given she receives harassment on the daily and is then outed, I think Nishat gets a pass on being a little neglectful with her friends and sister. Is she a little childish in her mission to win the competition? Yeah, she’s 16, but I also see her reaction as being valid. I love her cute, adorable, and totally relatable panic about Flávia and whether or not she liked girls and over analyzing conversations and eye contact. Ahhh to be a teen with a crush.
I think the serious tones were handled very well. I also like this complicated love that Nishat has with her culture. Though she criticizes the Bangladesh politics and stance on the LGBTQIA+ community she still celebrates the good parts of her culture: food, henna, clothing, language, etc.
I adore her parents. I can say my parents and siblings were completely fine when I came out, but I can’t say the same about my grandmother, who’s one of the most important person in my life. Like Nishat’s parents, my grandmother didn’t want to acknowledge it and she wanted to pretend I never came out. But eventually, like Nishat’s parents, she came around. And I think it’s a special thing to have in this book. Because it’s not your stereotypical brown immigrant disowning a child but it’s also not this hearts, flowers, and rainbows. I found it to be more realistic and hopeful, particularly for queer brown girls who might read this book.
I obviously can’t speak for its authenticity of representation, but I trust that Jaigirdar knows her stuff. I love that this book is unapologetically desi, just like Nishat. It’s very clear that this book was written for a desi audience. It’s one of the few books I’ve read by a South Asian author that doesn’t spend time explaining the food or clothing or the (in this case) Bengali vocabulary. I would’ve liked a little help with the few French and Portuguese sentences but Google Translate came in clutch.
Definitely read this book. Check trigger warnings! It’s a great read that was hard for me to put down. Nishat is my hero and part of me wished she punched Chyna, but it’s all good.
The story follows 16-year-old Nishat, a child of two immigrant Bengali parents growing up in Dublin. Nishat is dealing with recently coming out to her parents as gay and struggling with their reaction. Nishat is given the ultimatum either be herself and bring shame to her family or go back into the closet. At school, Nishat deals with racism and eventually being outed. Nishat experience homophobia, casual appropriation of her culture, and harassment from her classmates. And to top it off, the girl she likes is her rival for a school competition.
The way that this book was advertised to me was that it was a cute sapphic YA romance, but it’s more of a coming-of-age. The two most distinctive relationships Nishat has are with Flávia (her crush) and Priti (her younger sister). I think her relationship with Priti was more in-depth and shelled out more than her relationship with anyone else. I loved their banter and close relationship. It shows them tease each other, fight, and make-up. I think Nishat and Flávia had decent chemistry, but not enough for me to think a romance is blooming. It’s strange to me she could like Flávia given all that is happening. The comments about how you can’t culturally appropriate art and Nishat not being a real artist was enough for me to immediately veto her as a love interest. I could see it being left open for a relationship at the end but before then? No.
Nishat’s development is also done extremely well. I hated that everyone made her feel like crap about her emotions and that she too busy to care about anyone else. Given she receives harassment on the daily and is then outed, I think Nishat gets a pass on being a little neglectful with her friends and sister. Is she a little childish in her mission to win the competition? Yeah, she’s 16, but I also see her reaction as being valid. I love her cute, adorable, and totally relatable panic about Flávia and whether or not she liked girls and over analyzing conversations and eye contact. Ahhh to be a teen with a crush.
I think the serious tones were handled very well. I also like this complicated love that Nishat has with her culture. Though she criticizes the Bangladesh politics and stance on the LGBTQIA+ community she still celebrates the good parts of her culture: food, henna, clothing, language, etc.
I adore her parents. I can say my parents and siblings were completely fine when I came out, but I can’t say the same about my grandmother, who’s one of the most important person in my life. Like Nishat’s parents, my grandmother didn’t want to acknowledge it and she wanted to pretend I never came out. But eventually, like Nishat’s parents, she came around. And I think it’s a special thing to have in this book. Because it’s not your stereotypical brown immigrant disowning a child but it’s also not this hearts, flowers, and rainbows. I found it to be more realistic and hopeful, particularly for queer brown girls who might read this book.
I obviously can’t speak for its authenticity of representation, but I trust that Jaigirdar knows her stuff. I love that this book is unapologetically desi, just like Nishat. It’s very clear that this book was written for a desi audience. It’s one of the few books I’ve read by a South Asian author that doesn’t spend time explaining the food or clothing or the (in this case) Bengali vocabulary. I would’ve liked a little help with the few French and Portuguese sentences but Google Translate came in clutch.
Definitely read this book. Check trigger warnings! It’s a great read that was hard for me to put down. Nishat is my hero and part of me wished she punched Chyna, but it’s all good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Xenophobia, Racism, and Hate crime
thereadinglemon's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, Racism, Xenophobia, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Toxic friendship