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A review by lattefairies
Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.5
Characters:
I was so frustrated with both ishita and hani so much. The sister relationship and the friendship and the families. I only liked hani's mom for a good portion of this book.
The best part was the little hints of how ishita is actually on the inside (if she acted without inhibition) that made the way she treated hani towards the end not feel awkward or out of place.
Relationships:
It didn't make sense that ishu's sister kept contact with her horrible parents but not her sister. The last people I'd want to keep contact with are parents who only give me value based on grades, but I guess the guilt parents always install in us since childhood would prevent that. Im glad it got better half way through, that made me happy.
As for hani's friendship..... it was disgusting I gotta say. I was so frustrated partly because I saw my high-school self in her. But that made me love her Character development the most.
Community:
This book was so diverse. Arab restaurants being mentioned without it being drawn as "exotic" and "its..... different" was exciting. And then everyone wasn't the same ethnicity.
The author did really well showing white privilege and white tears and other micro aggressions woc face in white countries. I know people would say "im reading fiction to escape reality", but I'd rather the young poc would know what to expect from the world and be ready for it than to satisfy privileged queer people from the guilt of their privilege.
Lastly I'm very pleased with the muslim rep. It was so satisfying to see hani hold firm on her beliefs unlike everything else. That's where non-muslim authors fall short, when they think we take our faith as lightly as they do.
In conclusion. Im glad i didn't stop reading because I was frustrated, because the end was SO WORTH IT.
I was so frustrated with both ishita and hani so much. The sister relationship and the friendship and the families. I only liked hani's mom for a good portion of this book.
The best part was the little hints of how ishita is actually on the inside (if she acted without inhibition) that made the way she treated hani towards the end not feel awkward or out of place.
Relationships:
It didn't make sense that ishu's sister kept contact with her horrible parents but not her sister. The last people I'd want to keep contact with are parents who only give me value based on grades, but I guess the guilt parents always install in us since childhood would prevent that. Im glad it got better half way through, that made me happy.
As for hani's friendship..... it was disgusting I gotta say. I was so frustrated partly because I saw my high-school self in her. But that made me love her Character development the most.
Community:
This book was so diverse. Arab restaurants being mentioned without it being drawn as "exotic" and "its..... different" was exciting. And then everyone wasn't the same ethnicity.
The author did really well showing white privilege and white tears and other micro aggressions woc face in white countries. I know people would say "im reading fiction to escape reality", but I'd rather the young poc would know what to expect from the world and be ready for it than to satisfy privileged queer people from the guilt of their privilege.
Lastly I'm very pleased with the muslim rep. It was so satisfying to see hani hold firm on her beliefs unlike everything else. That's where non-muslim authors fall short, when they think we take our faith as lightly as they do.
In conclusion. Im glad i didn't stop reading because I was frustrated, because the end was SO WORTH IT.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Islamophobia, Biphobia, Xenophobia, and Toxic relationship