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Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'
Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar
12 reviews
bitsandbobsdivination's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.25
This books was one I listened to almost all in one day and then took a month to finish the last like twenty minutes 😂 …
This isn’t because the book was bad, I just got busy and kept not getting back to it, but!! That all to say! It was a beautiful book and one that tackles quite a few important issues such as biphobia, xenophobia, lesbiphobia, and family dynamics when it comes to a parents expectations and a child’s dreams, wants, and needs. Also horrible toxic friendships and how when you are that young you sometimes don’t know they are toxic because you’ve never known anything else.
Overall a beautiful read, would have only liked to have more in the end as there is definitely room for a sequel.
This isn’t because the book was bad, I just got busy and kept not getting back to it, but!! That all to say! It was a beautiful book and one that tackles quite a few important issues such as biphobia, xenophobia, lesbiphobia, and family dynamics when it comes to a parents expectations and a child’s dreams, wants, and needs. Also horrible toxic friendships and how when you are that young you sometimes don’t know they are toxic because you’ve never known anything else.
Overall a beautiful read, would have only liked to have more in the end as there is definitely room for a sequel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Toxic friendship, Xenophobia, Toxic relationship, Racism, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Bullying
theespressoedition's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Well, this was not the story I was hoping it would be.
I was looking forward to a queer fake dating book, and while yes, that's the primary plot, all I felt like I got from this one was a bunch of teen angst and bullying. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I realize that YA means there will be a more juvenile take. However, it seemed like a bit of a letdown to have what could have been a really great story full of depth and character development feel so shallow. It was heavy without having any actual emotional weight to carry it.
In a lot of ways, it reminded me of how I felt after reading I Kissed Shara Wheeler. There was a lot of potential but it didn't live up to any of my expectations. Great concept with poor execution. And while I thought it would be cute, it really wasn't. None of the romance was even really swoon-worthy... it was just lacking in so many ways.
Definitely not my kind of book, sadly.
I was looking forward to a queer fake dating book, and while yes, that's the primary plot, all I felt like I got from this one was a bunch of teen angst and bullying. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I realize that YA means there will be a more juvenile take. However, it seemed like a bit of a letdown to have what could have been a really great story full of depth and character development feel so shallow. It was heavy without having any actual emotional weight to carry it.
In a lot of ways, it reminded me of how I felt after reading I Kissed Shara Wheeler. There was a lot of potential but it didn't live up to any of my expectations. Great concept with poor execution. And while I thought it would be cute, it really wasn't. None of the romance was even really swoon-worthy... it was just lacking in so many ways.
Definitely not my kind of book, sadly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Islamophobia, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Cursing
sunsetcity's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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: Biphobia, Cultural appropriation, Homophobia, Bullying, Gaslighting, Islamophobia, Lesbophobia, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
whatjasread's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
- I think my general summary of this is that I liked it but am also a little underwhelmed
- I, as a Muslim, would like to see 'Muslim love stories' that don't involve some kind of political rally or a need for someone to be a big figure at the mosque - we can be Muslim without being politicians
- loved the sapphic elements, though i did want more of the conflicted feelings and close calls
- the ending felt a bit abrupt to me, could easily have been 50 pages longer
- loved the exploration of different family dynamics, and the whole 'sibling doubt' that ishu has with nik, very well done from my personal perspective!
- was occasionally (constantly) very angry at hani's decision to play the doormat :)
TWs: microaggressions, Islamophobia, biphobia, lesbophobia, toxic friendships, gaslighting, racism, parental abandonment, alcohol consumption, bullying, strained family relationships
Tropes/themes/rep: Queer Muslim FMC, bisexual Indian FMC, Bengali MCs, fake dating, high school setting
- I, as a Muslim, would like to see 'Muslim love stories' that don't involve some kind of political rally or a need for someone to be a big figure at the mosque - we can be Muslim without being politicians
- loved the sapphic elements, though i did want more of the conflicted feelings and close calls
- the ending felt a bit abrupt to me, could easily have been 50 pages longer
- loved the exploration of different family dynamics, and the whole 'sibling doubt' that ishu has with nik, very well done from my personal perspective!
- was occasionally (constantly) very angry at hani's decision to play the doormat :)
TWs: microaggressions, Islamophobia, biphobia, lesbophobia, toxic friendships, gaslighting, racism, parental abandonment, alcohol consumption, bullying, strained family relationships
Tropes/themes/rep: Queer Muslim FMC, bisexual Indian FMC, Bengali MCs, fake dating, high school setting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Biphobia, Islamophobia, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Abandonment and Bullying
Minor: Toxic relationship and Alcohol
booksdogsandcoffee's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
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
One of the best books I have read this year! Fake dating to real dating. Tackles so many real life issues that all of us go through. Who are your true friends, how do I identify, and will my parents love me for my true self. It has an amazing mother daughter relationship portrayed in it as well as sister relationship. All around an amazing and diverse read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Islamophobia, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Abandonment
lattefairies's review
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
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
4.5
Characters:
I was so frustrated with both ishita and hani so much. The sister relationship and the friendship and the families. I only liked hani's mom for a good portion of this book.
The best part was the little hints of how ishita is actually on the inside (if she acted without inhibition) that made the way she treated hani towards the end not feel awkward or out of place.
Relationships:
It didn't make sense that ishu's sister kept contact with her horrible parents but not her sister. The last people I'd want to keep contact with are parents who only give me value based on grades, but I guess the guilt parents always install in us since childhood would prevent that. Im glad it got better half way through, that made me happy.
As for hani's friendship..... it was disgusting I gotta say. I was so frustrated partly because I saw my high-school self in her. But that made me love her Character development the most.
Community:
This book was so diverse. Arab restaurants being mentioned without it being drawn as "exotic" and "its..... different" was exciting. And then everyone wasn't the same ethnicity.
The author did really well showing white privilege and white tears and other micro aggressions woc face in white countries. I know people would say "im reading fiction to escape reality", but I'd rather the young poc would know what to expect from the world and be ready for it than to satisfy privileged queer people from the guilt of their privilege.
Lastly I'm very pleased with the muslim rep. It was so satisfying to see hani hold firm on her beliefs unlike everything else. That's where non-muslim authors fall short, when they think we take our faith as lightly as they do.
In conclusion. Im glad i didn't stop reading because I was frustrated, because the end was SO WORTH IT.
I was so frustrated with both ishita and hani so much. The sister relationship and the friendship and the families. I only liked hani's mom for a good portion of this book.
The best part was the little hints of how ishita is actually on the inside (if she acted without inhibition) that made the way she treated hani towards the end not feel awkward or out of place.
Relationships:
It didn't make sense that ishu's sister kept contact with her horrible parents but not her sister. The last people I'd want to keep contact with are parents who only give me value based on grades, but I guess the guilt parents always install in us since childhood would prevent that. Im glad it got better half way through, that made me happy.
As for hani's friendship..... it was disgusting I gotta say. I was so frustrated partly because I saw my high-school self in her. But that made me love her Character development the most.
Community:
This book was so diverse. Arab restaurants being mentioned without it being drawn as "exotic" and "its..... different" was exciting. And then everyone wasn't the same ethnicity.
The author did really well showing white privilege and white tears and other micro aggressions woc face in white countries. I know people would say "im reading fiction to escape reality", but I'd rather the young poc would know what to expect from the world and be ready for it than to satisfy privileged queer people from the guilt of their privilege.
Lastly I'm very pleased with the muslim rep. It was so satisfying to see hani hold firm on her beliefs unlike everything else. That's where non-muslim authors fall short, when they think we take our faith as lightly as they do.
In conclusion. Im glad i didn't stop reading because I was frustrated, because the end was SO WORTH IT.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Islamophobia, Biphobia, Xenophobia, and Toxic relationship
forlorn_traveller's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Islamophobia, Biphobia, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
alanareadsalot's review
funny
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Biphobia and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Racism
rainbowshelves's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.25
A lovely, heartwarming romance between two queer Bengali girls. Take note of the Author's content warning in the front of the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Racism, and Toxic relationship
librariangeorgia's review
emotional
lighthearted
slow-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: Racism, Homophobia, Biphobia, Islamophobia, and Toxic relationship