bookobsessedmommy 's review for:

Hani And Ishu's Guide To Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar

3.5

emotional lighthearted 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: Complicated

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This is the first book by an Irish Asian authors that I've ever read, but the situation could easily be in any country where brown, Muslim people are a minority. The set up of trying to 'prove' your bisexuality by fake dating a girl you didn't even know was queer is pretty wild, but I had a good time. Hani's friends are absolutely infuriating and they were so realistic i wanted to slap everyone involved. Her experience of realizing her friends are assholes was so heartbreaking, but the fact that she doesn't realize it until they show how incredibly biphobic they are just compounded it. Ishu is under so much pressure to be the perfect daughter and student, and she has zero real support in the beginning. The way she thinks her sister will use her sexuality against her is sad. I can't imagine being pitted against a sibling to the point that I'd believe they would out me so our parents would like them. I wanted a bit more from their fake dating, cause it felt like they spent most of the book avoiding each other for various reasons. I did appreciate how the resolution wasn't perfect and tidy, but we still get glimmer of hope. I would love to see where Ishu and Hani end up later in life.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Toxic friendship