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angelfireeast24's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Islamophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Homophobia
Moderate: Cursing
This is a really good book but at times the racism and bigoty was hard to read. The story is worth it. Read itstacy_27_'s review against another edition
lighthearted
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
4.25
The romance was so cute and I loved Hani and Ishu's characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Islamophobia, and Racism
Minor: Bullying
_p0ssum_'s review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
4.25
This is my second riding of a book from Adiba Jaigirdar and I said this about the henna wars and I'll say it about this book to if I could this would be a 100 . I absolutely love Adiba jaigirda's books and always will . So I will sum up this book and all of Adiba Jaigirdar's books with one word. YES .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Racism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Abandonment and Gaslighting
iz_kap1225's review
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
LGBTQIA+ :D!! Character growth, religiously, familially, and romantically... good read if you're looking for something LGBTQ+.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Racism, Toxic friendship, and Bullying
emilyhv's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Biphobia, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Racism
Moderate: Lesbophobia and Islamophobia
zombiezami's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Biphobia, Bullying, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Toxic friendship, and Racism
Moderate: Cursing and Alcohol
Minor: Colonisation, Pedophilia, and Animal death
abi2xoxo's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
- 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
3.75
I read this book in two days so to say it was a quick read is an understatement.
I honestly did enjoy the book.
pros-
It is set in Ireland! I love Ireland. Funnily enough, I fly to visit my family in Ireland this Saturday so this book was fun.
The characters were so diverse. They are both Bengali and most writers would have either put both of them in the category of Muslim or non- muslin. And I am happy to announce Jaigirdar didn't do this. The characters Ishu and Hani both have different faiths. I liked the fact that the Muslim faith wasn't shy of being shown. It was a lovely side to Hani's character and I am glad the author tapped into it.
If you have ever read any of my other reviews you know I love a two-sided story. I will leave it at that.
I LOVE when Hani's Abba speaks about the troubles he had when we left Bangladesh and moved to Ireland and how they felt disconnected from how they were brought up. This is such a lovely few pages and it gave great depth into Hani's parents.
The biphobia was handled in a good way. could have been better, but that's like with anything.
The writer is a lovely and compassionate author. I would read another one of her books.
cons-
The friends Hani had didn't really have any background. I know that the background of background characters doesn't really matter but I was just left a little confused as to why they were behaving like that or how they were raised may have differed from Hani's.
I think the book was a little rushed. It is clear the author is a good one and that she has lots of ideas but it all felt a little speedy. I know this book is aimed at teens so to keep their attention you do need to keep it a little shorter. This book has great potential and it could be made much longer.
It was annoying how the fact that the only way they knew they liked each other is when Ishu kissed Han on page 323. They never had a conversation even though both of them were written like they would have the emotional maturity to do so. It was strange how I was reading two people who liked each other and they just expected the other to know. Because they said in the same sort of way through each chapter I had to keep going back and checking who I was reading.
Also, I wasn't very satisfied with the outcome but that's just me.
I don't know if it is because I read it too fast or because it actually didn't happen but I swear Ishu never came out to her parents. When I was reading the content warnings on the story graph it says 'parental abandonment and I was thinking "gosh that means Ishu may get kicked out?" never happened.
Definitely give this a read and if you want it for your child I would say it is definitely tame enough for them. The biphobia isn't anything too strong and it is a lovely queer story!
I honestly did enjoy the book.
pros-
It is set in Ireland! I love Ireland. Funnily enough, I fly to visit my family in Ireland this Saturday so this book was fun.
The characters were so diverse. They are both Bengali and most writers would have either put both of them in the category of Muslim or non- muslin. And I am happy to announce Jaigirdar didn't do this. The characters Ishu and Hani both have different faiths. I liked the fact that the Muslim faith wasn't shy of being shown. It was a lovely side to Hani's character and I am glad the author tapped into it.
If you have ever read any of my other reviews you know I love a two-sided story. I will leave it at that.
I LOVE when Hani's Abba speaks about the troubles he had when we left Bangladesh and moved to Ireland and how they felt disconnected from how they were brought up. This is such a lovely few pages and it gave great depth into Hani's parents.
The biphobia was handled in a good way. could have been better, but that's like with anything.
The writer is a lovely and compassionate author. I would read another one of her books.
cons-
The friends Hani had didn't really have any background. I know that the background of background characters doesn't really matter but I was just left a little confused as to why they were behaving like that or how they were raised may have differed from Hani's.
I think the book was a little rushed. It is clear the author is a good one and that she has lots of ideas but it all felt a little speedy. I know this book is aimed at teens so to keep their attention you do need to keep it a little shorter. This book has great potential and it could be made much longer.
It was annoying how the fact that the only way they knew they liked each other is when Ishu kissed Han on page 323. They never had a conversation even though both of them were written like they would have the emotional maturity to do so. It was strange how I was reading two people who liked each other and they just expected the other to know. Because they said in the same sort of way through each chapter I had to keep going back and checking who I was reading.
Also, I wasn't very satisfied with the outcome but that's just me.
I don't know if it is because I read it too fast or because it actually didn't happen but I swear Ishu never came out to her parents. When I was reading the content warnings on the story graph it says 'parental abandonment and I was thinking "gosh that means Ishu may get kicked out?" never happened.
Definitely give this a read and if you want it for your child I would say it is definitely tame enough for them. The biphobia isn't anything too strong and it is a lovely queer story!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Toxic friendship, Biphobia, Homophobia, and Gaslighting
Minor: Cursing
ashylibrarian's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.5
Amazing. I will absolutely be reading every book that Adiba Jaigirdar writes.
The fake dating trope always amuses me. I absolutely adore Hani and Ishu very quickly grew on me. All of her friends can jump ship because these two deserve the world and everything around it.
I will definitely be recommending this one!
The fake dating trope always amuses me. I absolutely adore Hani and Ishu very quickly grew on me. All of her friends can jump ship because these two deserve the world and everything around it.
I will definitely be recommending this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Racism, Islamophobia, and Bullying
Moderate: Gaslighting
bookishsapphicshay's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Biphobia, Toxic friendship, Bullying, and Racism
stressedoutreader's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Islamophobia, Racism, Homophobia, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Abandonment and Gaslighting