Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar

33 reviews

averyrembish's review

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Biphobia, Bullying, and Racism

Minor: Alcohol

xtsukix's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I highly recommend reading this book, it was so wholesome and lovely, and a beautiful exploration of cultures I was not that knowledgeable about beforehand. There really aren't enough sapphic novels out there, and it warms my heart to see more and more being released. This book left such a warm fuzzy feeling in my heart <3.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Racism, Islamophobia, and Biphobia

Moderate: Outing, Bullying, Cursing, Alcohol, and Abandonment

Minor: Homophobia

juliannereads's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Islamophobia, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcohol and Cursing

Minor: Sexual content, Colonisation, and Outing

peachani's review against another edition

emotional hopeful slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Islamophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, and Xenophobia

ninahuynh's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Lovely book! There is a lot of discrimination in the book, so please read content warnings. There are some characters that are so hateful I wanted to throw the book a few times. The fake dating trope was good, and the duo perspective helps us see both sides and their yearning. Love the representation of Bengali people and queer people and family dynamics in an Asian household.

Only reason not 5 stars is there are a few typos and mismatched quotations marks that I can't help but notice and keep track. Not sure if it's just in my copy, but wanted to note that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Islamophobia, Racism, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, and Biphobia

Minor: Religious bigotry

lindseyhall44's review

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This is the fake dating book of dreams and yet another masterpiece by Adiba Jaigidar.
Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating follows one unlikely alliance as they team up to form a fake relationship which they both need, albeit for different reasons. Hani has recently come out to her best friends as bisexual, however they don’t validate her sexuality because she has never dated a girl. Ishu craves to meet her parent’s expectations of becoming head girl, but is not popular enough to secure the votes. Together their scheme will highlight individual growth, and just maybe kindle a true relationship in the process.
In all honesty, Fake dating is usually not a trope I love, because the third act miscommunication can often be pointless and frustrating. That being said, Jaigidar creates a believable and complex plot, which displays the growth of both characters extremely well.
Overall, I would recommend this book to any romance lover, as well as the author’s debut novel The Henna Wars!
*There are some more serious topics intertwined with the romantic elements so make sure to check trigger warnings before reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Bullying, Lesbophobia, Racism, Islamophobia, Xenophobia, Gaslighting, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Abandonment and Alcohol

Minor: Colonisation

fairy_internet's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Toxic friendship, Antisemitism, Biphobia, Islamophobia, Lesbophobia, Abandonment, and Racism

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, and Alcohol

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Biphobia, Islamophobia, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Abandonment and Bullying

Minor: Toxic relationship and Alcohol

gardenroses23's review

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted tense 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

AMAZING! ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Islamophobia, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, and Biphobia

collinsd's review

emotional funny lighthearted reflective 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

3.25

Very refreshing to read a book utilising the fake dating trope with South Asian Queer leads. The pacing was a little off with it personally feeling little long and then rushed towards the end. Would've loved more insight into Nikhita and Ishita's relationship growing up as well as more information on Humaira's Brothers. I loved the contrast between the Deys and Khans and how it affected the upbringing of Ishita and Humaira.

The toxic friendship between Deidre, Aisling and Humaira was done well to show the microagressions, islamphobia, biphobia and racism throughout their friendship. Additionally I was fuming at Aisling's actions against Ishita and I'm glad Humaira was able to tell them off.

Also Humaira's mother Adithi and Ishita's sister were absolute angels and have my entire heart.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Islamophobia, and Racism

Moderate: Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, and Biphobia

Minor: Alcohol and Abandonment