Reviews

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

rosatulipan's review against another edition

3.0

3.5!
This is the first book I've read in almost one sitting for a while now, and it was really sweet and necessary.

lindseyam's review against another edition

3.0

★★★ ½

a cute sapphic romance with good bit of typical romance tropes.. which is exactly what i wanted so!! not many complaints on that front besides i wish their first kiss felt more romantic/well written instead of feeling so forced and focused on making this ‘romcom’ type moment

anyways! i <3 heart ishu so bad.. like that’s my new fictional gf guys

stillmonster's review against another edition

4.0

finished reading at almost 6am bc i couldnt breathe so i just woke up and started reading to keep my congested self alive (barely managed)

THIS WAS SO CUTE!!! frustrating as all hell at times (aisling im looking at your stupid ass) and pining-esque at others (the double pov just brought it all together tbh) but SO SO CUTE!!! i loved reading about their cultures, their differences, their quirks, their Head Empty Love Girl Only™️ thoughts, their habits, their little love gestures…

it was definitely a cozy book (for the most part! beware of the Biphobia/Lesbiphobia and Ignorance with a side of very obvious Racism+Islamophobia) that touched upon lots of subjects and kept me wanting for more. Give me more IsHani content pls

pandoramedusa's review against another edition

5.0

The ending realy got me

art1610's review against another edition

I got tired of the characters and lost interest in the plot.

idiothan's review against another edition

4.0

This was a really cute book that I really enjoyed. I liked the relateable-ness of both of the characters, as in them being high school girls with really dramatic friends. On the other hand, it was also fun and interesting to read about their Bengali and Muslim cultures. I realized while reading that you actually don't often see couples in media that have the same race. One of them always has to be white, so this was very refreshing. I never cried, but I definitely got emotional at some points.

Spoiler

I did feel that their first kiss was a tad out of the blue, and it felt almost unnatural.

Regardless, it was still a nice read and I would probably pick it up again sometime.

uranusgreen's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful 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

4.0

gracepizza40's review against another edition

4.0

4.3
Adiba Jagirdar is so good at writing super mean and annoying characters....

Before reading
I want to read this so bad
4 more months!!

fiat_panda's review against another edition

5.0

i loved that it ended with just Nik, Hani and Ishu being happy. i really liked how there was no coming out story for Ishu with her parents, because it shows that you don’t have to come out to everyone to be a valid queer individual. THANK YOU AUTHOR, for making sure Hani wouldn’t go back to aisling and dee, and thank you for sprinkling in a new friendship between Hani and Aisha. I loved most characters but Ishu has to my favourite, i looked forward to her chapters the most because i liked her pessimistic nature that would often change around Hani. i just like the grumpy x sunshine dynamic tbf

isabelvegga's review against another edition

emotional 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Biphobia, Islamophobia, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Abandonment, Racism, Gaslighting, and Bullying