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literarypenguin's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
5.0
From the moment I read the last page, i felt such a feeling of warmth and happiness come over me. This book was truly a joy to read.
I loved this book from the very beginning to the very adorable end. I loved Nishat, I loved Priti, I loved how this started out at a wedding, I loved how Nishat knew Flavia before when they used to go to school together and she might have been her very first crush, I loved how the author laid down the ground work of what's to come in the first few chapters.
I knew cultural appropriation would be a major issue in this book but I think the way that it was handled was very appropriate and well done. How the feeling comes out of nowhere for Nishat, how someone she liked and someone who has made fun of her culture for years could do something like this.
The arguement of art and where exactly the line can be drawn is a nuanced one. I am very happy to see it be explored in this story. It was truly heartbreaking to read Flavia asking Nishat if it really was that important to her because she had been doing it for such a small amount of time. Henna has always been a very important part of her life and it connected her too her culture. It made her think of home and where she came from. It shows how everyone has something that connects them to their culture and how people can share it with others within a community. It means something to so many people because it is shared, it makes people feel like they belong.
A part that really sits with me is how Flavia said she was making it adaptable for white people and how people were fawning over her designs when those very same people never were interested before when Nishat wore it. I love how this is opening the door to talk about cultural appropriation like this, showing how elements of a culture can be taken and enjoyed by people but without the cultural context.
This book also handles racism and talks about things people dont want to talk about or try to hide away. How Nishat feels like the token POC, when she goes to a school where most of the student body is white. How she feels so isolated in a place where she should feel anything but. Their are so many layers of racism this book explains, it is truly amazing how the author managed to put them all in.
This book truly explains that racism from Flavia and Nishat's points of view. Nishat feels like she is the only girl like her in a school that ridicules and puts her down for just being herself. Flavia has to deal with being a mixed girl and having two sides of her family she has to continue to impress. How her mother encourages her to show them up and do better knowing that will be the only way she gets the opportunities and acknowledgement she otherwise would never get.
The homophobia Nishat receives from her schoolmates is awful, it is made even worse when her parents treat her the same. While it is unacceptable, parents should always support and love their children no matter what, it goes deeper then that. It is more then just one issue but it also stems from a cultural pressure.
Beyond the social commentary, I loved the characters in this book. They felt so real and alot of them were so relatable. They weren't perfect in the slightest but instead were flawed and made mistakes. I really appreciate when characters are written like that. How the MC is written to be flawless and can do no wrong, this definitely doesn't happen here and I love it. The character growth is so good in this book, how everybody grows and changes and we see it right before our very eyes. I really liked Chyna, the main bully, was handled. Showing how people can defend the people they love and care about while turning around theg can be absolutely vicious to a complete stranger. Family can be complicated and while people you love can be so cruel sometimes.
The relationship between Flavia and Nishat was just so adorable and sweet. I liked how it built up over a period of time and how they had to navigate the complicated business rivalry they formed with each other, fighting their feelings for each other for the sake of the competition. They got some really tender and sweet moments, like holding hands in the rain. Just such a sweet moment. Nishat really didn't want to fall for Flavia because she was deeply hurt by her but as time went on she realized she couldn't hide her feelings for her. There was never any real hatred between the two and by the end a blooming new romance was formed between them.
Seeing two girls be happy and in love after going through alot just to get to this point made me truly happy and filled me with utter joy and warmth. I am glad to have read this.
I loved this book from the very beginning to the very adorable end. I loved Nishat, I loved Priti, I loved how this started out at a wedding, I loved how Nishat knew Flavia before when they used to go to school together and she might have been her very first crush, I loved how the author laid down the ground work of what's to come in the first few chapters.
I knew cultural appropriation would be a major issue in this book but I think the way that it was handled was very appropriate and well done. How the feeling comes out of nowhere for Nishat, how someone she liked and someone who has made fun of her culture for years could do something like this.
The arguement of art and where exactly the line can be drawn is a nuanced one. I am very happy to see it be explored in this story. It was truly heartbreaking to read Flavia asking Nishat if it really was that important to her because she had been doing it for such a small amount of time. Henna has always been a very important part of her life and it connected her too her culture. It made her think of home and where she came from. It shows how everyone has something that connects them to their culture and how people can share it with others within a community. It means something to so many people because it is shared, it makes people feel like they belong.
A part that really sits with me is how Flavia said she was making it adaptable for white people and how people were fawning over her designs when those very same people never were interested before when Nishat wore it. I love how this is opening the door to talk about cultural appropriation like this, showing how elements of a culture can be taken and enjoyed by people but without the cultural context.
This book also handles racism and talks about things people dont want to talk about or try to hide away. How Nishat feels like the token POC, when she goes to a school where most of the student body is white. How she feels so isolated in a place where she should feel anything but. Their are so many layers of racism this book explains, it is truly amazing how the author managed to put them all in.
This book truly explains that racism from Flavia and Nishat's points of view. Nishat feels like she is the only girl like her in a school that ridicules and puts her down for just being herself. Flavia has to deal with being a mixed girl and having two sides of her family she has to continue to impress. How her mother encourages her to show them up and do better knowing that will be the only way she gets the opportunities and acknowledgement she otherwise would never get.
The homophobia Nishat receives from her schoolmates is awful, it is made even worse when her parents treat her the same. While it is unacceptable, parents should always support and love their children no matter what, it goes deeper then that. It is more then just one issue but it also stems from a cultural pressure.
Beyond the social commentary, I loved the characters in this book. They felt so real and alot of them were so relatable. They weren't perfect in the slightest but instead were flawed and made mistakes. I really appreciate when characters are written like that. How the MC is written to be flawless and can do no wrong, this definitely doesn't happen here and I love it. The character growth is so good in this book, how everybody grows and changes and we see it right before our very eyes. I really liked Chyna, the main bully, was handled. Showing how people can defend the people they love and care about while turning around theg can be absolutely vicious to a complete stranger. Family can be complicated and while people you love can be so cruel sometimes.
The relationship between Flavia and Nishat was just so adorable and sweet. I liked how it built up over a period of time and how they had to navigate the complicated business rivalry they formed with each other, fighting their feelings for each other for the sake of the competition. They got some really tender and sweet moments, like holding hands in the rain. Just such a sweet moment. Nishat really didn't want to fall for Flavia because she was deeply hurt by her but as time went on she realized she couldn't hide her feelings for her. There was never any real hatred between the two and by the end a blooming new romance was formed between them.
Seeing two girls be happy and in love after going through alot just to get to this point made me truly happy and filled me with utter joy and warmth. I am glad to have read this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Bullying
Moderate: Islamophobia, Biphobia, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Death of parent
irlchaosdemon's review
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Death of parent
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