A review by justreaditem
The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar

emotional funny hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book definitely brought the information surrounding henna and where it comes from. Nishat loves art, and it really shows throughout the book. You could really feel how hurt she was that her family were ashamed of her sexuality. Considering she is Bengali, but also Irish, you’d think that her family would be a little bit more accepting. Flavia comes across as a really selfish person. I wasn’t really a fan of her throughout the book but I did like that she was pushing Nishat out of her comfort zone. 

I really liked the element of culture appropriation that was threaded throughout the book. I think it brought a simple realness and honesty to the story. It’s so easy to take elements of a culture that you like and just use them as you wish. But without understanding and respecting where it comes from, it can cause a lot of pain and make life even more difficult for those from that culture.

The end was sweet and I like how it wrapped up. I can’t wait for the author’s next book.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings