Reviews with content warning for Xenophobia - Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating

Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

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

59 reviews

crimsonreadlips's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-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

Content Warnings

bitsandbobsdivination's review against another edition

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emotional 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? It's complicated

4.25

This books was one I listened to almost all in one day and then took a month to finish the last like twenty minutes 😂 …

This isn’t because the book was bad, I just got busy and kept not getting back to it, but!! That all to say! It was a beautiful book and one that tackles quite a few important issues such as biphobia, xenophobia, lesbiphobia, and family dynamics when it comes to a parents expectations and a child’s dreams, wants, and needs. Also horrible toxic friendships and how when you are that young you sometimes don’t know they are toxic because you’ve never known anything else.

Overall a beautiful read, would have only liked to have more in the end as there is definitely room for a sequel.

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rickireadss's review against another edition

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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? It's complicated

5.0

this was everything i would want in a YA sapphic fake dating rom-com. it was a giant warm hug to all my fellow bisexuals out there <3 there is some major homophobia and biphobia from toxic friends so be warned of that!

i just wanted to hug hani&ishu so much. their flirty interactions where they weren’t sure if the other was actually flirting made my heart so full. if i had read this at 16, i think i would have cried more than i did because back then, i was still struggling with my sexuality. now, as a proud bisexual, i just loved every second of this, and i’m so happy i got the opportunity to read this book.

it’s definitely one of those books that i read, and immediately wanted to read again. also, the narrators for the audiobook were PERFECT!!! i just loved every second of this, and it is on my list of books to buy once i’m off my book buying ban in the new year :)

please check the cw listed below, as there are some heavy topics dealt with and experienced by our two mcs

⚠️tw/cw: racism, homophobia, biphobia, islamophobia, xenophobia, bullying, toxic friendship, gaslighting, abandonment (parental)

Content Warnings

friendofdorothea's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted 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? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

onebook_more's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.0

After reading The Henna Wars earlier this month I was super excited to dig into Adiba Jaigirdar’s second book, and it was just as poignant and heartwarming as its predecessor.

Hani and Ishu have always tried to keep their distance from each other. As two of the only Bangladeshi students in their Irish high school, they don’t want to be forced into a friendship just because they are from the same community. Besides, Hani already has a close group of friends and Ishu prefers her own company and would rather study than be social. Then, Hani comes out as bi to her friends and is faced with skepticism and Ishu finds herself in need of a popularity boost. The two girls decide to trick their classmates into thinking they’re dating via an elaborate plan involving google docs, fake dates and social media. The experiment becomes more complicated with Hani and Ishu beginning to question not only how they feel about each other, but how far they are willing to go to be the friends, daughters, and sisters that their community expects of them.

From the outset, Hani and Ishu’s relationship is engaging and multilayered and their developing chemistry is fun to read. Overall, the relationships in this novel, whether familial, romantic or plutonic, are the most interesting element. Hani’s battle with toxic and unsupportive friends is very relatable and concludes in a particularly satisfying way. Another thing I really enjoyed was how this story manages to avoid some of the more overused tropes in queer coming-of-age stories, which makes it feel fresh and exciting to read. As with The Henna Wars, there are some very important insights into how culture, race and religion intersect to form our identities. It is clear that Jaigardar speaks from her own lived experience and this authenticity highlights why #ownvoices work is

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dododenise's review against another edition

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emotional fast-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

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bluberrybooks's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful 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

4.5

Content Warnings

peachani's review

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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

Content Warnings

tinyjude's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

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

4.5

I loved both protagonists. I was giggling not even 100 pages in and loved their mutual yearning. I just wished that Ishu stood up to her parents about her studies more and the school properly punished the cheater and liar of Aisling, but I understand why that didn't happen. Nonetheless, they were adorable and I LOVE THEM, I need more cute cheesy sapphic romances + it is always good to get a bit of an insight into other cultures and find social commentary in between the more romcom parts.

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autumnnovels's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

4.0

Content Warnings

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