Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating

The thing about romance books, is they often behave like people have single-issue lives, when we all know that's not really the case. Yes, its a romance so that's the focus, but it always feels a little like there's something missing. And then a book like Hani and Ishu comes along and shows you what you were missing. Not only is the (reluctant) chemistry between the leads and the awkwardness of teen crushes spot on, all the little nuances and problems of their lives are captured in laser-sharp detail AND if you need more convincing, this might actually be a fake dating book with a justification for the pretending that's good enough to suspend belief. Rare, I know. You should read it just to appreciate that!

I really enjoyed this book.Well. That's not precisely accurate. Some of it I didn't enjoy so much - it made my stomach twist with nervousness and tension. But that is a kind of enjoyment. This book is a great read. Some parts of the book made me cheer - the second half is definitely the most exciting. More than that, this is an inspirational book. Reading it makes me want to be a better person, standing up for myself and others more.I do have some criticisms. The main one is the characters revealed. Hani and Isn't seem very similar. This is strange, as the book keeps telling us how enormously different they are. But they think and speak and narrate events in the same way. I often had trouble keeping track of which one was which. Did the author know this? Was that why the chapter headings had the narrator's name on them? I do think better characterisation would have improved the story.That aside, it's a great story - by turns, funny, tense, tragic and exciting, with a fine ending. A well-known deserved four out of five stars.

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.

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! 😂)

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.