You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

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

144 reviews

peachani's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

atlas_shruggs's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad 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

I thought this was a very nice, cute romance that gave me a good insight into bengali culture, which I really liked. 
The bare bones of the story is Hani and Ishu deciding to fake-date to each achieve their own goals, but as the story progresses you get to explore their relationships with their culture and their families, as well as watching them discover their feelings for each other. 
The writing wasn't exactly my favourite, it felt a bit repetitive at times (I can't count how many times someone surprised someone else my answering a message immediately as if they had been waiting for it), but it was still a very enjoyable experience. The biphobia was a bit more triggering for me than I was expecting, being a pansexual person who has had a lot of doubts about their sexuality, so just keep that in mind before you read. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ninahuynh's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

esme_t's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

sunsetcity's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

the_readingfox's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional inspiring 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

5.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

em_of_swags's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional 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

Loved it even more than The Henna Wars. I like how the author dove even deeper into her culture and defied the entire "All Muslims are unaccepting of queer people" stereotype.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

amybun's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

cardanrry's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

niamhc_reads's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful 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

4.0

This has to be one of my favourite reads of the year so far.

I really enjoyed this story. I loved the whole grumpy/sunshine trope and it felt nostalgic of 2000s rom-coms but with way better diversity.

Hani's struggle with coming out to her friends as bisexual, and the resulting biphobia, was so relatable and accurate that it hurt. 

I hate Aisling more than any character I have ever met. She insighted a rage and hatred that almost made me stop reading. Her biphobia, ignorance and intolerance were horrid and I thought she deserved more consequences than she got.

The scenes with the headmistress made me so uncomfortable. How she handled the whole issue was heartbreaking and infuriating. It made me really sad for Ishu that she didn't get the apology or the treatment she deserved.

I would have liked more from Hani and Ishu's relationship. It was very slow burn and I would have liked to see more cute and fluffy interactions.

Overall this is a great book that touches on some very important topics and I would recommend to anyone.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings