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grace05's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Bullying, Cultural appropriation, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Hate crime
ghulsona's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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? Yes
3.75
I enjoyed this book a lot! I was trying to find something lighthearted to read in between reading 'The Poppy War' series to find a reprieve from all the death and misery, and this did the trick. Though, there is something painful in reading about the main character Nishat's experiences when I can relate so deeply to them.
This is one of the few times I've seen a Bengali character featured prominently in a story. I don't care much about representation, but there was a thrill in finally relating to every aspect of a main character when I've never been able to do so and understanding every single cultural reference brought up. The detail of the guidance counselor pronouncing her name as 'niche hat' made me laugh a lot. There was this one part where Nishat is called to talk with her parents weeks after she came out to them, and she's just pleading to God in her mind as she goes to to them, repeating over and over "Allah please please please please please please please please please let them still love me". That resonated with me so much; I can't recall the countless times where I have gone to my parents and thinking this same exact thought :( Nishat's struggles and pain with wanting to be accepted by her communities hit really hard, and it was written incredibly well. I thought Nishat as a character had good flaws, with single-mindedness and recklessness being major ones. She had good and natural development, with her having to overcome these traits in order to not hurt the ones closest to her.
I enjoyed a lot of the other characters too! Nishat's relationship with her sister, Priti, was great and reminded me of my own relationship with my little sister. I'm glad it was at the forefront of the book. I honestly am kind of shocked that a lot of people didn't like the love interest, Flavia. I really enjoyed her scenes and her relationship with Nishat. I do wish they got more development because they did feel kind of rushed; if there ever is a sequel to this book, I hope the author fleshes out Flavia's character and their relationship more. But for what we got, I'm pretty satisfied with her character. I didn't really like Nishat's 2 friends that much, especially her white friend, Jess. I thought she was way too insensitive and just really ignorant, dismissing Nishat's concerns regarding cultural appropriation and even getting angry when Nishat insisted on talking about it. From my own experience, I think this is a pretty realistic depiction of some white friends, which is why she really rubbed me the wrong way. I don't have strong opinions on Nishat's other friend, Chaewon, but I do wish she had stuck by Nishat's friend when their white friend was being purposefully ignorant. Chyna, of course, is a massive bitch. I don't expect anyone to have come away from this book liking her. I thought Nishat's parents and their struggle to accept their daughter was so realistic; I really can't say much except how hard it hit home.
However, there are obviously some things that aren't perfect regarding this book. I think the conversation surrounding cultural appropriation could've been more nuanced; I'm sure other reviews go in depth into this, so I won't offer the entirety of my thoughts. Overall, I think it was okay, especially to an audience who is reading about it for the first time, but I was expecting . . . more in certain parts. In some parts, it felt very in your face about it, and in other parts, it didn't feel like enough. Also, (kind of a spoiler) I think the characters who spread racist rumors and generally acted very bigoted towards Nishat should have faced more consequences??? I was surprised that the character who literally outed Nishat was barely discussed or even confronted by any of the main characters. I've mentioned before how Nishat's white friend, Jess, is kind of insensitive and rude to her, and I feel like she didn't get enough repercussions for that. As I mentioned before, I think the romance was a bit rushed, but I don't really mind since the book is obviously about Nishat's identity.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book. Reading about a relatable Bengali character made me incredibly happy; I'm glad I was able to read this book. I'd definitely recommend this book to others and pick up the sequel if one ever was written.
This is one of the few times I've seen a Bengali character featured prominently in a story. I don't care much about representation, but there was a thrill in finally relating to every aspect of a main character when I've never been able to do so and understanding every single cultural reference brought up. The detail of the guidance counselor pronouncing her name as 'niche hat' made me laugh a lot. There was this one part where Nishat is called to talk with her parents weeks after she came out to them, and she's just pleading to God in her mind as she goes to to them, repeating over and over "Allah please please please please please please please please please let them still love me". That resonated with me so much; I can't recall the countless times where I have gone to my parents and thinking this same exact thought :( Nishat's struggles and pain with wanting to be accepted by her communities hit really hard, and it was written incredibly well. I thought Nishat as a character had good flaws, with single-mindedness and recklessness being major ones. She had good and natural development, with her having to overcome these traits in order to not hurt the ones closest to her.
I enjoyed a lot of the other characters too! Nishat's relationship with her sister, Priti, was great and reminded me of my own relationship with my little sister. I'm glad it was at the forefront of the book. I honestly am kind of shocked that a lot of people didn't like the love interest, Flavia. I really enjoyed her scenes and her relationship with Nishat. I do wish they got more development because they did feel kind of rushed; if there ever is a sequel to this book, I hope the author fleshes out Flavia's character and their relationship more. But for what we got, I'm pretty satisfied with her character. I didn't really like Nishat's 2 friends that much, especially her white friend, Jess. I thought she was way too insensitive and just really ignorant, dismissing Nishat's concerns regarding cultural appropriation and even getting angry when Nishat insisted on talking about it. From my own experience, I think this is a pretty realistic depiction of some white friends, which is why she really rubbed me the wrong way. I don't have strong opinions on Nishat's other friend, Chaewon, but I do wish she had stuck by Nishat's friend when their white friend was being purposefully ignorant. Chyna, of course, is a massive bitch. I don't expect anyone to have come away from this book liking her. I thought Nishat's parents and their struggle to accept their daughter was so realistic; I really can't say much except how hard it hit home.
However, there are obviously some things that aren't perfect regarding this book. I think the conversation surrounding cultural appropriation could've been more nuanced; I'm sure other reviews go in depth into this, so I won't offer the entirety of my thoughts. Overall, I think it was okay, especially to an audience who is reading about it for the first time, but I was expecting . . . more in certain parts. In some parts, it felt very in your face about it, and in other parts, it didn't feel like enough. Also, (kind of a spoiler) I think the characters who spread racist rumors and generally acted very bigoted towards Nishat should have faced more consequences??? I was surprised that the character who literally outed Nishat was barely discussed or even confronted by any of the main characters. I've mentioned before how Nishat's white friend, Jess, is kind of insensitive and rude to her, and I feel like she didn't get enough repercussions for that. As I mentioned before, I think the romance was a bit rushed, but I don't really mind since the book is obviously about Nishat's identity.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book. Reading about a relatable Bengali character made me incredibly happy; I'm glad I was able to read this book. I'd definitely recommend this book to others and pick up the sequel if one ever was written.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Racism
fayereadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
really enjoyed this book and thought it was a fab read. Loved the relationship between Nishat and her sister Priti.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Homophobia
Moderate: Hate crime, Religious bigotry, and Biphobia
water_violin's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Xenophobia
Minor: Islamophobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
caregorman's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
OMGGGG sapphics doing henna!!! At first I was very annoyed w the love interest but I appreciate the character dev and how the kids learned. Loved the representation, the ending was kind of everything
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Hate crime
amberinbookland's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Bullying, and Hate crime
magi's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? Yes
An emotional read for me because it's basically the coming out of a lesbian muslim girl, which validates my existence.
The way the girl experiences homophobia and racism from family friends strangers and enemies might seems drastic but they are nevertheless realistic and relatable. Especially the frustration u feel when friends and family wont take ur concerns seriously which lead to even more emotional behaviour/ outbursts and mistakes which then again will be seen as even more "crazy", is really relatable I think.
But still it was a hopeful read even though everything seems against her, she is her biggest supporter, she always gains more power from the support she gets inbetween.
Mild spoiler:
I enjoyed the way it ended as well, because i was afraid it might invalidate some stuff for the sake of a happy ending, but I think it handled it well and still gave us something like a happy ending
The way the girl experiences homophobia and racism from family friends strangers and enemies might seems drastic but they are nevertheless realistic and relatable. Especially the frustration u feel when friends and family wont take ur concerns seriously which lead to even more emotional behaviour/ outbursts and mistakes which then again will be seen as even more "crazy", is really relatable I think.
But still it was a hopeful read even though everything seems against her, she is her biggest supporter, she always gains more power from the support she gets inbetween.
Mild spoiler:
I enjoyed the way it ended as well, because i was afraid it might invalidate some stuff for the sake of a happy ending, but I think it handled it well and still gave us something like a happy ending
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Xenophobia, and Hate crime
Moderate: Religious bigotry
amandathebookishlibrarian's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Racism
Minor: Hate crime
herfleurs's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Eu adoro ler livros que tem uma narração fluida, que a gente ler super rápido mas não sente a história sendo corrida e The Henna Wars é muito bom nesse sentido.
Eu gostei que a protagonista muitas vezes mostrou dificuldade em chamar o que ela sofria do que realmente era, muitas vezes para pessoas racializadas esse receio é muito presente. E quando superamos ele, como vemos no livro, até pessoas próximas de você diminuem isso fazendo a gente se sentir envergonhades. E é nesse ponto que quero deixar minha crítica, eu achei que dentro da narrativa seria muito interessante se as meninas tomassem a decisão de não aceitarem meias desculpas, ou que até no momento que foi falado (e parece que nem foi a primeira vez que Jesse disse algo do tipo) ela conseguisse expressar o quanto é racista o que ela diz. Deixando claro que não estou falando sobre ficar educando pessoas brancas a te tratarem com respeito, de forma nenhuma quero dizer isso. É justamente ao contrário, as duas melhores amigas de Jesse são pessoas racializadas, ela ganhou reconhecimento em cima de uma determinada coisa que é da cultura asiática, achei extremamente triste que as meninas estão presas em laços afetivos com ela que aceitam sempre esse tipo de comportamento. Seria um ótimo momento pra mostrar sobre como não devemos continuar em determinadas relações, do mesmo jeito que a Flávia poderia ter tido uma atitude no final do livro. Eu estou cobrando porque a autora traz essas pautas no livro mas finaliza tudo muito simples e sinto que todo momento é momento para ensinarmos nosses garotes a se amarem e não aceitarem migalhas e abusos racistas.
Sobre a relação dos pais eu queria dizer que me identifiquei até, mas em resumo, como não teve realmente uma conversa ficou algo "ninguém pode machucar nossa filha além de nós mesmos". Na verdade a mãe dela, porque o pai nem sequer senti ele presente.
Eu sinto que, apesar de entender, eu sinto que a autora também deveria ter colocado as meninas em algum momento procurando uma ajuda, seja da diretora, da conselheira, não sei. Sinto que foi mais uma oportunidade perdida de incentivar sempre a não deixar situações como essa passarem em branco.
Eu gostei que a protagonista muitas vezes mostrou dificuldade em chamar o que ela sofria do que realmente era, muitas vezes para pessoas racializadas esse receio é muito presente. E quando superamos ele, como vemos no livro, até pessoas próximas de você diminuem isso fazendo a gente se sentir envergonhades. E é nesse ponto que quero deixar minha crítica, eu achei que dentro da narrativa seria muito interessante se as meninas tomassem a decisão de não aceitarem meias desculpas, ou que até no momento que foi falado (e parece que nem foi a primeira vez que Jesse disse algo do tipo) ela conseguisse expressar o quanto é racista o que ela diz. Deixando claro que não estou falando sobre ficar educando pessoas brancas a te tratarem com respeito, de forma nenhuma quero dizer isso. É justamente ao contrário, as duas melhores amigas de Jesse são pessoas racializadas, ela ganhou reconhecimento em cima de uma determinada coisa que é da cultura asiática, achei extremamente triste que as meninas estão presas em laços afetivos com ela que aceitam sempre esse tipo de comportamento. Seria um ótimo momento pra mostrar sobre como não devemos continuar em determinadas relações, do mesmo jeito que a Flávia poderia ter tido uma atitude no final do livro. Eu estou cobrando porque a autora traz essas pautas no livro mas finaliza tudo muito simples e sinto que todo momento é momento para ensinarmos nosses garotes a se amarem e não aceitarem migalhas e abusos racistas.
Sobre a relação dos pais eu queria dizer que me identifiquei até, mas em resumo, como não teve realmente uma conversa ficou algo "ninguém pode machucar nossa filha além de nós mesmos". Na verdade a mãe dela, porque o pai nem sequer senti ele presente.
Eu sinto que, apesar de entender, eu sinto que a autora também deveria ter colocado as meninas em algum momento procurando uma ajuda, seja da diretora, da conselheira, não sei. Sinto que foi mais uma oportunidade perdida de incentivar sempre a não deixar situações como essa passarem em branco.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Racism
Minor: Hate crime
skyesreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
The timeline was not developed or described very well. The story and characters were impeccable but I just remained confused because of the timeline.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Xenophobia