A review by noraaa_9999
The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar

emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I really liked the story, though it was sometimes hard to read about Nishats struggles. Lots of drama, but well it's teenagers, and they act accordingly. It was interesting but also infuriating to read how a lesbian and BIPOC girl has to navigate and is treated in an mainly-white girl's school.
I wished there would have been a bit more though. I guess it is just realistic like that, but many people were not held accountable for what they did. Still, I would have liked there to be a bit more accountability / apologies 
  (also I was surprised Nishats parents didn't do anything after what happened at school)
. Also I was not very invested in the romance story (because of the same reasons,
the love interest did some nasty stuff, like ignoring Nishat when she tells her about her cultural approbation, siding with her cousin for so long, and then getting away with a lackluster apology at the end

Still, I'd recommend the book to someone who likes YA books, likes sapphic stories, strong sibling relationships, and wants to learn about the struggles of a queer, BIPOC girl in a white, sometimes homophobic and racist environment.
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