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cateemma's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia and Outing
Moderate: Racism and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Islamophobia
cristalwrites's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
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
4.25
I appreciated this story for the way it perfectly highlights the possibility and importance of queer, diverse love and how sexuality isn't a choice one makes, but a part of them that's always been there. At times, I found the writing a bit "youthful" in the sense that it felt like a sixteen-year-old telling her story herself, but this wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Overall, the characters were likeable and made for a wonderful, sweet read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Outing
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
rayne_1906's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.5
Audiobook - 4 hours 42 minutes - I liked this book more than I was expected. I liked the way it touched upon many issues such as cultural appropriation and intersectionality of race and sexuality. The main character was likeable and realistic and yet still flawed in a way that seemed natural. The character made mistakes but there was always an understandable reason behind it, and it never felt like they were forced for the sake of plot. I mostly liked the main relationship - I feel there maybe needed to be a little more resolution between the two midway through the book, but for the most part this was a very good book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, and Lesbophobia
Minor: Islamophobia
noxii's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Cultural appropriation
queergoth_reads's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.0
This was such a good story. I really loved the characters and the story. It was very emotional. I did read this after reading Hani and Ishu which I did enjoy more but this is still a great book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, and Outing
thebookishbrief's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing
Moderate: Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Islamophobia, and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Misogyny
hippiequeen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? No
5.0
A cute romance between queer Brown and Black girls living in Dublin. Sometimes I wished Flávia acted different, spoke up more for Nishat, but I guess every character has their own journey and that was hers. We really need more South Asian / South American lesbian/bisexual representation in young adult literature, so I recommend this book to whoever is into the genre. It also brings up considerations about cultural appropriation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Racism, Islamophobia, Lesbophobia, and Outing
radiodarkblue's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
"Maybe ... sometimes people don't see the things they do as wrong, but they can see the wrong in what other people do - especially if it's done to someone they care about," I say. "When it happens to someone else, it doesn't feel as important as when it happens to someone we love."
It took me so much time to get around this book and it's entirely my fault! I really blame myself because I would have loved it even more than I already do. I started this book in July 2021 ans finished it in August 2022,,, stupid reading slump!
I find it very powerful when YA novels such as The Henna Wars tackled important themes such as cultural appropriation, racism or homophobia. When you read Abida Jaigirdar's words you feel how much she loves her culture and it's such a pleasure to read. It's so important to have books like this one that focus on queer people of colour. Priti and Nishat's relationship was everything, I love reading sibling relationships so much and they gave everything! Also we love reading the word lesbian so many times, definitely one of the greatest lesbian representations <3
"I'm not ashamed of it. It's who I am. I am comfortable being a lesbian."
I want to add that once in this book they talk about Elliot Page before his coming out as the book was published before he came out, so it mentions his deadname.
It took me so much time to get around this book and it's entirely my fault! I really blame myself because I would have loved it even more than I already do. I started this book in July 2021 ans finished it in August 2022,,, stupid reading slump!
I find it very powerful when YA novels such as The Henna Wars tackled important themes such as cultural appropriation, racism or homophobia. When you read Abida Jaigirdar's words you feel how much she loves her culture and it's such a pleasure to read. It's so important to have books like this one that focus on queer people of colour. Priti and Nishat's relationship was everything, I love reading sibling relationships so much and they gave everything! Also we love reading the word lesbian so many times, definitely one of the greatest lesbian representations <3
"I'm not ashamed of it. It's who I am. I am comfortable being a lesbian."
I want to add that once in this book they talk about Elliot Page before his coming out as the book was published before he came out, so it mentions his deadname.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Racism, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Cultural appropriation
Minor: Deadnaming
maxsslurpee's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
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? No
3.75
thought this was cute, but more stressful than I was expecting
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Outing
queerghstbuster's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Outing