Review: Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating

Hello friends! I was sent an early copy of this lovely book in exchange for review, and I’m so excited to sahre all my thoughts with you.

About the Book:

Everyone likes Humaira “Hani” Khan—she’s easy going and one of the most popular girls at school. But when she comes out to her friends as bisexual, they invalidate her identity, saying she can’t be bi if she’s only dated guys. Panicked, Hani blurts out that she’s in a relationship…with a girl her friends absolutely hate—Ishita “Ishu” Dey. Ishu is the complete opposite of Hani. She’s an academic overachiever who hopes that becoming head girl will set her on the right track for college. But Ishita agrees to help Hani, if Hani will help her become more popular so that she stands a chance of being elected head girl.

Despite their mutually beneficial pact, they start developing real feelings for each other. But relationships are complicated, and some people will do anything to stop two Bengali girls from achieving happily ever after.

My review:

When I saw that this book followed two Asian girls in a relationship I was immediately on board and preorders this book. So when I was sent the arc, my entire month had been made. Let me tell you that Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating did not disappoint at all. 

My favorite things:

• The characters!!! Hani was super relatable. I totally understand the fear of confrontation and need to be loved by friends (even though they,) and I saw so much of myself in her. Ishu was confident and loud spoken, which is everything I wish I was. I adored that she knew how to stand up for herself and she even helped Hani become more confident. The two of them really complimented each other, and I really loved their romance. 
• The pacing was great. I read this in one day because I couldn’t put it down. I was so invested in not only the girls relationship, but also how the school would handle the situation that happens a little over half way through. There was one thing that I didn’t love, having to do with a decision that Hani makes, but I think she really does make up for it by the end. 
• The representation was so validating for me to read. While I’m not Bengali, I am a bisexual Wasian girl who is always looking for bisexual main characters. This is one of the handful I’ve read (among They Both Die at the End and Perfect on Paper), and this is the first book I’ve read where both main characters are bisexual! I loved reading about all the clothes and food described throughout, and I think the discussion of white privilege in this book was so important. 

Overall, this was such a great book and I will read anything that Adiba Jaigirdar writes in the future! I will be recommending this book for years to come 🙂

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Thanks for reading!!