A review by half_bloodreader
The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar

hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

YA Sapphic Romance with Muslim Bangladeshi* mc

Rivals to lovers & childhood crush returns

Written in 1st person, present tense.

"of course Muslims can be gay. How can anyone think otherwise? The two aren't mutually exclusive. I am the living, breathing proof."

Set in Ireland, this book follows Nishat, a lesbian Bengali teen, as she decides to set up a henna business, something dear to her for it is a part of her culture and it connects her with her home country and Nanu back in Bangladesh. Unfortunately, her crush and her terrible cousin, who makes half the population in school miserable on the daily, appropriate henna for profit.

Nishat just came out to her parents and was met with tense silence, so she is understandably upset, heartbroken. This alienation at home is combined with the racism she faces daily at her all-girls Catholic school. It seems like only her younger sister Priti is on her side!

Then beautiful confident black Brazilian-Irish Flávia enters the picture. Nishat's childhood crush seems to have awakened from its slumber and she can't stop her heartbeat from speeding up at Flávia's presence. But before things can take its natural romantic course, Flávia also decides to sell mehndi (henna tattoos) for a business class + business competition, and things go sour. Still, Nishat can't stop thinking and being affected by Flávia's presence.

The competition that follows escalates, bringing with it thoughtful questions about racism and cultural appropriation. There's complex characters who make mistakes, have trouble standing up for themselves (I did wish many times Nishat would at least file a formal complaint at school when there was evidence and not just word of the mouth) and are just plain trying to juggle who they are and who they want to be, what they can't change and what they can fix.

I knew this book would touch on the subject of cultural appropriation, but I still went in thinking it would be soft, before seeing the CW. Silly me. The depictions of racism, bullying and homophobia hit where it hurts, amidst some softness. The bad things were coming from all sides: family, peers, close family friends.

Be it homophobia or racism, this book tackles how complex people and relationships can be. Family is messy! You all know a case of someone racist/homophobic saying they can't be because they're friends or family with someone who belongs to one of those communities. But what they don't realise is that maybe they made an exception for those very specific individuals they love!

My favourite thing was Nishat and Priti's relationship! They are such close sisters and Priti was tireless in her support!

I also appreciated the call-out on religious hypocrisy. (Take "appreciated" as slapping the touch in satisfaction). So many people pick what is convenient from religion to base their hatred and prejudice, and gloss over everything else, including being basic decent humans being with empathy, kindness and love for every single person, plant and creature. I'm a not going to tell you how many times you need to pray, or that you need to go to a religious place of prayer at all to be religious or spiritual. But for some people, and it's not just Muslims, this book just happens to have Muslim homophobic characters, they only pull the religion card when it's convenient, and never practise the biggest teaching of all: unconditional love.

"Muslims aren't gay," she whispers, like this is a hard and fast rule. (...)
"Sunny Apu, and you don't even pray namaz. (...) When was the last time you even went to the mosque? Or just prayed?"
She frowns, like she's thinking really hard about this. If you have to think that hard about the last time you prayed to Allah, I don't think you get to hate gay people on the basis of God.
"That's not important"


Yup, she dismisses it, and then further proves her intolerance and ignorance. Dismisses the fact that her commitment to her religion is only important when controlling how people should live: by the very limited set of standards you set for others in your head. 

One thing I did wish Nishat would grow better at was being a friend. She kind of whines about how her 2 school friends are closer to each other than her, and how they occasionally message her, but when we start paying attention, it is clear she doesn't put much of an effort. Be it texting back, starting a conversation herself occasionally, paying attention to their opinions on the business endeavours, even if she doesn't have to agree/go along with them, is the bare minimum. She is so self-involved at a point, she isn't even there for Priti. Friends pay attention, friends listen, friends support and call each other out as needed. Not saying there is a wrong or right side, all of them make mistakes, say hurtful things, need to learn and grow. I just wish that part of her had a bit more growth by the end is all.

Another complaint I have is that of the almost ten Portuguese lines one has a mistake. This is not directed at the author, it's not her job to speak it, but at the publisher's team! They couldn't pay someone to check that nobody, even colloquially would say <i>"É essa a garota de que você <b>te</b> me falou?"</i> There is no reason for that "te" to be there, makes no sense. Hire translators, we need jobs! 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings