Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating

This was such a cute story! There is something about Adiba's writing that is so easy to read and makes for such an enjoyable time, even when things are happening in the story that make me want to scream with frustration.I thought the characters were both very realistically portrayed and while the romance is definitely of the slow-burn variety, I loved every minute of this fake-dating, friends to lovers romance. I think my only complaint would be the ending. I know some things can't be wrapped up in such a short amount of time, but I was hoping for a bit more at the end in terms of sub-plot drama.Overall, this was a great read and I can't wait to read whatever the author comes up with next!

I really wish this story was around when I was younger because I could totally relate to some of the things that Hani and Ishu had to deal with. I didn’t think that I would have loved this story more than The Henna Wars but I really do! Adiba Jaigirdar always creates heart-tugging and realistic stories that have endearing characters who are trying their best to be themselves even when they are faced with homophobia, racism and xenophobia. I’m already looking forward to reading more books from this author.

I haven’t read a book this quickly in years. It’s a real page-turner, and with a cute wlw romance to boot. It’s a great read, with invaluable lessons on friendship and boundaries and more. The fake dating trope was what pulled me in, but everything else—the characters and story and writing style—made me stay.Ishita Dey is probably my favorite character. She doesn’t take bs from anyone.(Slight spoilers)Also, I liked the parallel of the elections for head girl and for counselor, and the contrast of the results in comparison to what the characters wanted. I think it’s definitely scary for a lot of people to go after what they want, but this book makes you stop and consider where you are, and if you want to be where you are, and if you like your current trajectory. I could have used a book like this a little over a year ago, when I was really struggling with that stuff. I wasn’t in a place I wanted to be, and it took a lot of willpower to get out of that. This book portrays that struggle well. I hope someone picks this book up and finds that it gives them the strength to make those hard decisions, because I think it would have for me.I know I’ll be thinking about this book for a while.

Not being Desi or a teen, I know I’m not the target audience for this book. But dear heavens, it was such a sweet delight of a book and a joy to read. May we all find our Hani or Ishu in the world.

Spent most of today curled up reading Hani & Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar because it was so GOOD.There was a certain coziness I felt thought out as I hung out with the main characters in Dublin. It's a good narrative focused on the fake dating trope.Anyway, I just loved this book so much and also loved The Henna Wars. Pls read them both. Can't wait to see what else Adiba Jaigirdar writes in the future.

Really enjoyed this. Hard to put down. And one of the things I liked best was that one of the protagonists was a grumpy girl with sharp edges who just wanted to study — until she realized she wanted more. Also really nice to read about the kind of warm, loving Muslim families I’ve seen IRL. I agree with all the other reviews calling this book sweet. It is.

Overall, I thought the story was sweet. Romances aren't my usual thing (I think I hit precisely zero of the target market markers), but all said I enjoyed it. I learned a few things about Bengali culture and had to look things up, but that's a good thing for me.

I loved this book. I finished it in a single day. I love the tropes included -- fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, etc. I also feel like I learned more about South Asian culture, which was wonderful. This book was exactly what I was looking for, lighthearted but powerful all at once. The author subtly included commentary on white feminism and Islamophobia in this YA novel, while also giving chance for charming South Asian characters to glow and shine. Loved it!!!

Arrived quickly and in good condition- cheers*Review of the actual bookIt was a lovely book. The friends pissed me off so much, the islamaphobia, the lesbian-phobia, the biphobia and just being awfu. it was refreshing to see a queer Muslim character and having her parents support her (books tend to fall into negative stereotypes). The romance was so sweet tho I got so annoyed when they both clearly liked each other but both thought the other girl didn’t like them back BUT THEY DID. The principal really pissed me off as well, she is definitely racist or her actions were at least racially motivated. When a girl (Ishu) who always works hard and gets super high scores gets accused of cheating by a (white) girl who gets bad scores and only does well on this one test the principal still ruins Ishu’s image and stops her being head girl which she’s tried so hard for but when it’s discovered the white girl is the cheater? The principal does nothing. Also I feel for the most part it was super realistic on the portrayal of teens but having enough money to constantly go to expensive places, going round each other’s house so much without even asking parents (what in the tidy house??) and the school girls cares to much about Ishu supposedly cheating. Realistically no-body would care past 3rd Period. I have given my criticisms but I loved this book GO READ NOW. IT MAKES MY BI HEART EXPLODE GO READ.

Critically acclaimed author Adiba Jaigirdar is back after her debut ‘The Henna Wars’ with this YA romance set in ireland with sapphic and bengali main characters.Hani and Ishu both want something, and pretending to date may just get that done.the best YA romance i have read!!Characters:Ishita Dey (ishu)- My favourite character, she is a closeted academic overachiever who certainly isn’t the most popular. after telling her parents she is applying to be head girl she agrees to fake date Hani- the popular girl, as a last effort to secure head girl.Humaira Kahn (hani)- Hani is the popular girl, however she forces herself to fit in by downplaying her religion and culture; even allowing her friends to call her ‘maira’. Hani comes out to her friends as bisexual, which they don’t believe because she has only dated men. In an effort to make her friends believe her about her bisexuality, she says she is dating Ishu (someone who her friends hate). “ Sometimes I think that maybe I like guys more as a concept than a reality”content warnings: islamaphobia, biphobia, toxic friends, racism and gaslighting.

I read the whole of Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating in one day, on a lazy Sunday where I just wanted to read and relax. I love a good fake dating trope, and there just aren't enough cute f/f romances around. And I am always here for good bisexual rep.The story is told from both Hani and Ishu's points of view, with chapters usually alternating between the two. I know some people aren't so keen on double POV romance but I love it, particularly when you have both characters pining for each other and you just want to bop them both on the head and go "sort it out already!"It takes several chapters before we get any real interaction between Hani and Ishu, which was a little frustrating at the time but all of the family and friends drama that we learn about in those first chapters becomes relevant later on Once the relationship gets going it's as cute and squee-worthy as I hoped, interwoven with musings on race (Hani and Ishu are the only South Asian girls in their year), religion (Hani is Muslim, Ishu is not religious) and growing up without ever feeling too heavy for a YA romance.Overall, as I summed it up to a friend: It was really cute! And a nice easy read without being insubstantial. Would highly recommend, and I'm looking forward to rereading at some point (with the usual caveat of when my tbr list isn't killing me! 😂)

Absolutely loved this book. (Spoiler warning)The story follows Hani, and Ishu, two Indian girls who are pretending to date to gain something in their personal lives.Hani, trying to prove to her friends she isn't lying about being bisexual, pretends to date Ishu, the first person who comes to mind.Ishu deals with family life and her parents expectations, seeing her sister be alienated from the family as she dropped out of uni to get married.Overall, I really recommend this book. Stunning piece of queer literature, this review doesn't do it justice

This book felt a little like when I was starting to read full books in English and had to research terms every 50 words or something. At first, I was so lost because terms like "Abba", "Abbu", "Amma" and "Ammu" were literally foreign to me and the book doesn't care to explain them at all (so it took me a while to realise they were not names, but the words for "father" and "mother").My first reaction to this was like... why didn't they put a footnote or whatever? It doesn't bother me in particular since I was 1) reading on Kindle, and 2) I like researching different terms when I'm reading something I don't understand, but it could keep more impatient people from reading it.But then the narrative and the characters made me realise how wrong I was for thinking like that. Why should the book explain it to me? Why should a Muslim person have to keep justifying their traditions? Why should people from other cultural backgrounds have to explain how they behave? People of colour and queer people fight every day for recognition. It's hard enough without them having to answer the same dumb questions over and over. If everyone just tried to do their own research, educating themselves, it would make things at least a bit easier.I know how it is to be put in a box and have many misconceptions been thrown my way. But I just can't imagine how difficult it must be to live in a country that treats you so badly for your customs and habits and the colour of your skin. I strongly sympathize with Hani because my instincts are always to hide aspects of myself that make people look at me differently, but the fact remains: while I can hide it, people like Hani can't. Because you can't hide your surname and the colour of your skin even if you want to, even if you feel you need to hide it to make your life easier and make your friends like you more.To me, reading the book was a fantastic lesson and experience. It was gentle and kind, but strong enough to pass the message. I loved it!