gfalkenb 's review for:

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

4.0

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A young adult book about being true to yourself and friendships, new and old. The main characters in this book are both queer, Bengalis girls, one of who actively practices her Muslim faith, living in Ireland. It is a manifesto for loving yourself - and being yourself - even if it is not the social “norm.” There are a lot of heavy topics like racism, homophobia, and familial rejection that I think are covered well without being too heavy. I loved the “fake dating” story line and the relationship between Hani and Ishu, and I enjoyed learning about cultures I was not familiar with. However, the miscommunication trope was heavily used throughout and it was a little frustrating at times.