Fake dating trope stans: rejoice! This is the year of fake dating it seems, with so many authors – YA and adult romance alike – and HANI AND ISHU’S GUIDE TO FAKE DATING is a gem amongst so many fantastic releases of 2021.

Additionally, if you adore
- The one bed trope
- Opposites attract
- Kissing in the rain
- Fluttery, first love feels
- South Asian family expectations
- So saccharinely sapphic that you just scream for more
- AND SO MUCH MORE

…then HANI AND ISHU is your next comfort read. Seriously. This book felt like a hug the entire time I was reading it.

Right from the first chapter, I was so utterly engrossed in Hani and Ishu as two distinctive characters. They are so different from each other and yet they see each other. They understand each other’s boundaries. Ishu is aspirational in how self-assured and self-aware she is. And every person of color has gone through the microaggressions of so-called friends that Hani experiences. If I had to describe HANI AND ISHU in a word, that word would be relatable.

One point I really need to make… the Bengali representation! I rarely feel so seen as an adult reading young adult (indeed I normally err towards reading YA fantasy and have done so pretty much all my life since representation as a Bengali-American has been so rare in literature) so I’m so incredibly happy that future Bengali-American children will have this book to read and love.

Also! (shameless self-plug) I was so fortunate to be part of the launch week events for Hani and Ishu which is why I was able to get an e-ARC. You can view my Youtube Q&A with Adiba, Priyanka Taslim (the author of the upcoming YA rom-com THE LOVE MATCH) and Shubhangi Karmakar here: https://youtu.be/Rf2aQdtgEaY
I’m already planning a re-read of my finished copy because I loved it so stinking much. Read this book. That is all.

The Henna Wars was one of my absolute favorites of 2020, so you can bet that Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating was one of my most anticipated reads this year! I just finished it a few days ago and it was PERFECT. ⁣
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When Hani comes out to her two best friends as bisexual, they quickly dismiss her. To make them see her identity, Hani claims to be dating the first girl who comes to mind: Ishu, who Hani's friends can't stand. Ishu agrees to go along with her scheme, if Hani helps her get elected Head Girl. What could possibly go wrong?
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I adored this fake-dating sapphic YA romance between two Bengali girls (one of whom, Hani, is also Muslim). It was a sweet, fluffy romance that also tackles some big topics, like biphobia, racism, Islamophobia, toxic friendships, and the weight of familial expectations. ⁣
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Hani and Ishu were total opposites, and I loved watching them fall for each other! I was rooting for them to get their happy ending from start to finish. This book was the perfect balance of a light-hearted romance that also addresses serious themes in such a sensitive and authentic way. ⁣
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If you enjoyed The Henna Wars, you won't want to miss Adiba's sophomore novel! I’ll be recommending it to fans of Sabina Khan, Sandhya Menon, or Sophie Gonzales. And of course, it’s a must-read if you enjoy the fake dating trope.⁣
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Adiba Jaigirdar is easily one of my all-time favorite YA authors, and her books will always be auto-buys for both my personal shelves and my library’s teen collection. Her sapphic romances are truly *chef’s kiss* and I cannot wait to see what she does next. ⁣

Thank you to Page Street Kids (via NetGalley) for the ARC!

This was such a comforting, lovely, soft book and I loved reading it <3

Hani and Ishu are two teenage girls trying to navigate secondary school, friendships, family and figuring themselves out. They have very different personalities, and never really became friends. As Ishu said, she didn't want to be "pigeonholed" into becoming friends with Hani because they're the only two Bengali girls in their school. But when Hani's friends don't take her coming out well (major biphobia warning!), and Ishu decides she needs to up her popularity game to make Head Girl and avoid disappointing her parents, they decide to date. Well, fake date. As soon as Hani's friends accept her bisexuality, and Ishu has garnered enough votes to become Head Girl, they'll end it. It will be easy. Right?

Sure, until real feelings get in the way! Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, and it is done so well here. I love the progression of not-quite-friends to something more that is undefined. I love the questioning from both sides--am I the only one feeling these things? Is this still fake?? When did it stop being fake???

I liked that there was no huge blowout between Hani and Ishu. Most of their conflict came from external sources, namely Aisling, Hani's longtime friend, who actively tried to come between her and Ishu. That was one subplot I thought was done particularly well. Hani outgrew her friends and realized that just because you've been friends with someone most of your life, that doesn't mean it will always stay that way. Friendship breakups can be hard, and I appreciated the way this one was handled. Hani really had a hard time coming to terms with the fact that her friends weren't the same people she had met as a young girl, which is an all-too-real feeling, especially for teenagers.

A few other things I loved:
1. Hani's relationship with her mom. They were so sweet together, and I love that Hani felt safe enough in that relationship to tell her mom basically anything. Plus their conversation about Hani's coming out was very touching.
2. The food! The food descriptions were delicious, and I am definitely craving some Bengali food after reading this
3. The language tidbits. I always love when authors include bits of their own language in the books they write. And especially when it's not translated for English-speakers! This may sound odd, but monolingual English-speakers are so often catered to in literature that it's refreshing to come across a language that I don't understand. Jaigirdar includes phrases that aren't translated to English, but the reader can figure out the context of them by the rest of the conversation. Translation isn't necessary to understand what's going on in the story. Plus, it's good opportunity to learn a bit of a different language!

I definitely recommend this book, and will be buying it for my library next school year :)

This book was a pure delight.

I love contemporary YA books that explore more than just the central plot and the issues surrounding it and Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating does just that all whilst being extremely wholesome and funny in places.

I really liked the two main protagonists; I think their personalities complimented each other really well and you could see throughout the book how their trades began to rub off on one another.

What’s really stuck with me from reading this was the portrayal of toxic friendships. When you’re a teenager it’s so easy to just accept or partake in friendships that are extremely toxic and harmful and I haven’t read many books that explore the issue in this way so that was really great to see.

My only issue (I guess) would be that the book dealt with a lot in such a short space of time and not all of it was resolved but that’s life I guess so I can happily look past that.

All in all, a lovely read, great writing and characters and loved the plot.

Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating had me racing through the pages, sweating with anxiety, and feeling all the feels! It was intense from start to finish and deals with some very important issues like biphobia, Islamophobia, and racism, as well as parental expectations, being queer in a Catholic school and as part of the Muslim community, immigrant experiences, politics, bullying, and, or course, fake dating. The fake dating arrangement, while admittedly formed with a shaky premise, provides lighthearted moments. I loved watching Hani and Ishu, two girls who weren't even friends at the start, gradually let down their barriers and open up to each other. Both of them are able to point out each other's blindspots and ask uncomfortable questions that provoke and inspire change. They learn from each other, support each other, and go from faking to real feels... with all the attendant drama, of course! Speaking of drama, there are several characters that I absolutely despise (hence the anxiety sweat and rage reading) and I'm still fuming about them being the worst.

So much happens in this story: there's conflict, resolution, and - in some cases - reconciliation. It's a story about first loves but also about the characters finding themselves, being honest, and learning when to let some people go. I loved it! Hani and Ishu put my heart through the ringer and I came out the other side feeling better for it.

This was such a good book. So many layers and depth to the characters and what's going on. This book made me happy, angry, sad and thrilled. Not as light and fluffy as The Henna Wars. I look forward to the next book from Adiba. I really like the authenticity and inclusiveness.

"Our plan is working. It will probably succeed with Hani's help.
But for some reason, that thought doesn't fill me with the happiness that it should. Instead, I just feel a strange emptiness as I lay in bed, looking at the pictures. We could pass for a real couple. We look happy. We look like we could be in love. But the whole thing is staged. I don't know why that sends a jolt of hurt through me."

Humaira is popular, friendly, and ever-helpful. Ishita is kind of a grump, definitely meets the Irish stereotype of swearing like a sailor, and is top of the class. They're pretty different - except in the eyes of a lot of their classmates, who just see two Bengali girls. They don't really run in the same social circles; Ishita doesn't even have a social circle. All her time outside of school is spent studying in preparation for their upcoming Leaving Cert so she can meet her parents' high expectations. Humaira, meanwhile, is being pulled in two directions. She wants to help her dad with his campaign. If he gets a seat on city council, he'll be both the first South Asian and the first Muslim. But Aisling and Dee want Maira (as they call her) to spend all her time with them, as they try to hook her up with someone.

After a triple date with her friends that she hated, Hani finally comes out to them as bisexual. But they immediately question her, asking if she's even dated a girl. In a moment of desperation, Hani lies and pulls the first name she thinks of, claiming that Ishita is her girlfriend. She proposes a fake dating setup to Ishu, who declines. But then Ishu's sister returns home, for only the second time since started her medical studies in London two years ago, and tells Ammu and Abbu that she's taking a year off school to get married. Their parents do NOT approve, and don't understand where they could have gone wrong. It's clear to Ishu that her parents now think of Nik as a failure, and they're not sure about her future, either. So to win their approval, she claims she'll be voted Head Girl this year. The only problem is, now she has to get people to like her. Then Ishu remembers Hani's proposal. Maybe they can both get what they need - Ishu elected Head Girl, and Hani's friends to accept her sexuality.

I'm really not a romance reader, but this one piqued my interest. A sapphic romance between two Bengali girls, one with the goal of proving to her friends that she's bi? Most of the plot points were fairly predictable to me, but that was okay. This book delves into identities - not only sexual, but cultural and religious as well, and expectations for ourselves and of others based on that. I thought the relationships in here were really well done, between friends, sisters, and parents, especially looking at how complicated they can be and how they can change over time. The book is narrated by both Hani and Ishu, though at times the writing styles for the two perspectives were so similar I momentarily forgot whose chapter I was reading. I'd recommend this for fans of romance, especially fake dating books like She Drives Me Crazy or Hot Dog Girl, as well as those like me who don't usually go for romance but want to stretch outside their box a little. Content warnings are provided at the top: racism, biphobia, lesbophobia, Islamophobia, toxic friendship, gaslighting, and parental abandonment.

Thank you to Page Street Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC. Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating was published May 25th.

Thank you NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for a digital ARC of this book!

Hani and Ishu's guide to fake dating was so good! I loved it so much.

I was so happy to read a wlw book with the fake dating trope because 1. amazing trope 2. not enough wlw fake dating books. The book felt real. The book advanced a bit slow at the beginning but it picked up after a bit and once it did, IT DID. I was hooked.

I loved Hani and Ishu: their characters, their relationship, everything.

On this episode of Everything is Canon, Steve talks with Adiba Jaigirdar all about her brand-new book, Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating, which is described as, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before meets LGBTQ romance in this funny, heart-warming rom-com about first love and identity.”

Like her first published book, The Henna Wars, Adiba once again delivers a ridiculously charming and wonderfully complex story about falling in love, family, and gleefully dunking on bigotry all while giving us a lesson in dignity and empathy. It’s as important as it is entertaining and finds that perfect balance between allegory and saccharine.

It’s an thoughtful examination of not only the diversity within the Muslim community itself, but also how they are often times wrongly perceived by those around them. I really, really loved this fake dating to lovers story and fell absolutely head over heels for Humaira and Ishita, and you will to.

Steve and Adiba talk about the diversity within the Muslim community, the fake dating to lovers trope, Hani and Ishu of course and the theme of affirmation, the current state of publishing, and much, much more.

For the full interview with the book's author, click the link below.

https://www.cinelinx.com/off-beat/shows/everything-is-canon-hani-and-ishus-guide-to-fake-dating/

This book was so cute and comforting!! I love Hani and Ishu and it was just an amazing book. I will read anything by Adiba!!

5/5 recommend!!!

This book was so cute! Fake dating to actual dating is one of my favorite tropes. I loved seeing Hani and Ishu navigate their relationships with both their classmates and families. It was super interested to see how differently two Bengali families reacted to the same situations. So so good.

Obviously the premise is in the title, but what’s not to love about a queer fake dating story? And one that takes place in Ireland, with South Asian main characters?! Amazing. Hani and Ishu are dealing with the child of immigrants expectations, with Ishu trying to outshine her perfect older sister and Hani trying to help her father win a city council position. While this story deals with homophobia and passive aggressive xenophobia, it really is a beautiful story about 2 girls figuring out who they really are while putting on a show for others. I loved the duel perspectives, and loved both girls so much!

Adiba Jaigirdar's new novel, 'Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating,' is exactly what you think it is: two girls in high school create a google doc in which they detail the rules and procedures for "fake dating." What could possibly go wrong? True, this plot could have come straight from a John Hughes movie, but Jaigirdar brings a nuanced discussion of culture clash, assimilation, and homophobia/biphobia to the pages of her latest novel.

First, for a reader used to, say, Becky Albertalli's Creekwood novels, 'Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating' requires some orientation. Hani and Ishu live in Dublin, Ireland; both girls are Bengali. Hani struggles with fitting in, constantly working to maintain friendships with popular white girls. Ishu, meanwhile, could not care less about what those white girls think; instead, she is trying to outwork and outshine her big sister. The novel begins with a dual complication. Hani outs herself to her friends as bisexual, and Ishu's sister reveals that she is "taking a break" from university so that she can get married. Ishu senses an opportunity, while Hani needs a girl to date so that her friends believe her. The two girls, who have never been more than acquaintances, reach an agreement: Ishu will "date" Hani in return for Hani's assistance in helping Ishu to become head girl. Hijinks ensue.

Jaigirdar does some great character work in this novel. I am, of course, referring to Hani's friends Aisling and Dee. They are the worst. I knew who these characters were immediately. Even removed geographically and culturally from Hani's world, I felt like I was right there the whole time. I appreciated that Jaigirdar could put me there so quickly, which allowed me to consider elements of Hani's (and Ishu's) life that I wasn't so familiar with. Then, of course, there is homophobia and biphobia to consider. Of course Aisling thinks bisexuality isn't a real thing! I've been reading more and more YA novels that are doing the work of normalizing queer relationships; to me, it's not an exaggerated claim that novels like 'Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating' are helping to stamp out homophobia and biphobia one reader at a time.

The one aspect of the novel that initially fell flat to me was the contrivance of the relationship. But that is pretty much the spine of the novel, right? Am I saying the novel didn't work? Stay with me—what I mean is that it is clear very, very quickly that Hani and Ishu like each other. You know, "like" like. Does that take away from the novel? No...and the more that I thought about it, the novel doesn't work as well if they aren't so well-matched. For the concept of the novel to work, there needs to be some "will they/won't they" tension. Or does there? Perhaps that is not the main focus of the novel. That got me to thinking...

If 'Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating' is a romcom, they end up together, right? In fact, my romcom pop culture training is probably what tipped me off in the first place that Hani and Ishu would be a great couple. But we have to play the genre charade first—that is, unless the novel isn't meant to be a romcom. Then all bets are off, right? In real life, people who would work well together in a relationship never find themselves in relationships with each other all the time. Again, homophobia and biphobia certainly play a role in that.

Is 'Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating' an escapist romcom, a meditation on homophobia and biphobia as roadblocks to healthy adolescent relationships, both, or more? You'll have to read it to find out.

this book is very good! the main characters both have such relatable personalities and they complement each other so well that you cannot help but root for them to get together. adiba jaigirdar has managed to publish a sophomore novel that more than stands up to the level and beauty of her debut!

An incredibly cute sapphic romance. A Dina Jaigirdar has become an instant buy author for me with her unique ideas (or rather her fun new takes on old cliches)

This ARC was offered in exchange of an honest and unbiased review:
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3*
Pros: PoC and queer leads (both Bengali and one of them Muslim). Stars one of my favourite tropes, fake-dating! Wholesome little romantic moments. Talks about embracing who you are, and being unapologetic about it. A very important focus in toxic friendships, which is not often featured nowadays. Deals with huge parental expectations and standards, and the pressure they bring.
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Cons: Unfortunately uneventful and somewhat lacking in emotional depth.

Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating has been one of my most anticipated releases of 2021. After all, a sapphic fake-dating story written by the author of The Henna Wars? What more could a girl want?
Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating follows Humaira “Hani” Khan, and Ishita “Ishu” Day; two girls who find themselves in a mutually beneficial fake relationship. After Hani’s friends invalidate her bisexuality, claiming that she can’t be bi if she’s never kissed a girl, Hani accidentally says that she’s dating Ishu. While initially opposed to the idea, Ishu soon realizes that she could benefit from this agreement — Hani’s one of the most liked people at school, and to become Head Girl, Ishu could certainly benefit from the popularity boost.
Told in dual-POV, Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating was filled with moments that made me laugh out loud, and moments that made me teary-eyed. I loved getting to know more about Hani and Ishu, and what they were thinking and going through in each moment. As a reader, I think I’ve come to appreciate dual-POV romances a lot more as it allows us further insight and a peek into more character growth and development.
As our main character, Ishu reminds me of a close friend of mine — so much that shorty after finishing the book, I went and preordered Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating for them as a present. Like a lot of younger siblings I know, Ishu has spent a lot of her life in her older sister’s shadow, and being compared to her older sister, Nikita. So much of Ishu’s personality (her drive, her ambition) comes from wanting to make her parents’ sacrifice worth it, and which results in some tension between her and Nik. I can’t talk about Ishu without talking about my love for her relationship with Nik. I loved watching the two of them repair their relationship, show up for one another and move forward.
“My parents immigrated here with nothing… they have this tiny shop now. When we first came here, my dad used to drive a taxi and we used to live in a tiny one-room apartment. They missed my nana, nani, dada, and dadi’s funerals. They did all of it so that we could be … you know, the best versions of ourselves. So we could have the best life. The lives that they had to sacrifice … we can have that. I don’t want my parents to think that they did it all for nothing.”
Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating is filled with snippets and quotes that remind me so much of my own experiences as an immigrant child. Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating is a story that I wish I had when I was younger — one that I wish so many of my friends had when they were younger too, but one that I’m so glad exists now.
If Ishu is the human equivalent of a storm, Hani is pure sunshine. Hani is just pure joy, and one of the bubbliest love interests I’ve ever met. In the same way that Ishu’s arc is about making her own path & mending her relationship with her sister, Hani’s arc is about standing up for herself and being her own person. One of my favorite things about Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating is the character growth between Hani and Ishu. Both have their own arcs aside from the romantic one, with their own struggles and personalities and I truly appreciated that.
Together, Hani and Ishu were adorable. They’re truly the grump/sunshine trope, and a perfect example of the fake-dating trope. I loved how seriously they took their fake dating agreement, with a Google Docs documenting their entire plan and relationship. I actually wrote “Google Docs My Beloved” in my Hani and Ishu notes. They’re fascinating as individuals, and lovely as a pairing. It was really wholesome to watch them learn from one another, and becoming better versions of themselves as a result.

I read this book in a matter of hours, I couldn't put it down.

This books follows Hani and Ishu, two Bengali girls living in Ireland. They both start to fake date for their own personal reasons/gain, but things get complicated when real feelings start to emerge.

The first amazing thing about this was the representation. This is the second book I've ever read that has good Desi rep, and it made me so happy.

Next, the characters. I thought all of the characters were so well written. They all had flaws that affected who they were as a person. I loved Nik, Hani, and Ishu the most.

Hani and Ishu's relationship made me want to cry with how perfect they were. They made me feel every emotion possible, and they had such a cute dynamic.

Overall, 5/5 stars. Highly highly highly recommend.

Included as a top pick in bimonthly May New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

Review from my 13-year-old daughter:
I was extremely looking forward to this book, and was so excited to receive an ARC of it. While I didn't like this book as much as Adiba Jaigirdar's other book, "The Henna Wars," which I gave 4.5 stars, I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

This book could be considered similar to "The Henna Wars," based on the fact that it follows teenagers at an all girls school in Ireland, but not only is the plot very different, but it's dual perspective. This follows Hani, whose identity is invalidated when she comes out to her friends as bi. Her friends say that she can't be bi if she's only ever dated guys, so in a panic she says that she is secretly dating Ishu, who her friends despise. Instead of confronting her friends, she asks Ishu if they can pretend to fake date. Ishu agrees on the condition that Hani will use her popularity to get her elected Head Girl, since Ishu doesn't really have any friends because she focuses so much of her time on her studies. As they continue with their scheme, they start to realize that they may have real feelings for each other.

My biggest problems with this book lie with Hani's side of the story. All in all, I feel like Ishu's side of the story was much stronger and much more developed. Hani's character seemed flimsy, and almost all of her conflicts and relationships didn't seem like they were explored as well as they could have been. Her character seemed to change from chapter to chapter, so I feel like I personally never got a good sense of what she was like. I had to keep being told by people how much she hates confrontation, so much so that sometimes it seemed like her only trait. It's also mentioned that she has brothers, but I'm not even sure if they're even mentioned more than once or twice. We have absolutely no clue what Hani's relationship with them is like, which seemed so odd considering that Ishu's relationship with her sister was explored so in depth. We also never really got a sense for what Hani's father was like until close to the end. He was a politician, but until around the last 25%, we hardly learn a single thing about him or his campaign. There was a conflict towards the end surrounding Hani's feelings towards her father's campaign, but we hadn't seen those feelings grow throughout the book. It just seemed like she suddenly had extreme feelings about something that she had appeared so neutral towards before.

I have very few issues with Ishu, one of the only ones being that her parents weren't very well developed. She hardly interacted with them, and when she did they almost seemed like the same person. Also, I feel like Ishu running for Head Girl was treated as more of the concept of reaching a goal, rather than the reality of getting there. Ishu was always talking about how she needed to be Head Girl, but we only saw her doing things to try and get to that position once or twice. I feel like there should have been a much bigger focus on that, because Hani's dad is a politician, which means that she could have offered quite a bit of insight into Ishu's campaign, but that didn't happen.

And finally, my biggest problem with this book, other than Hani, was the pacing. I feel like everything with their relationship happened way too early, leaving a period of time about 2/3 of the way through where I feel like the author wasn't sure what to do with their relationship. But then the conversations that I think the author wanted to have surrounding race, bisexuality, toxic friendships, and relationships with one's family were extremely rushed at the end and not given nearly enough time. I also feel like almost nothing was properly resolved, and while I think the ending was realistic, I would have appreciated a bit more resolution.

But despite all of my problems with this book, there were still many things that I did really like about it. As much as Hani fell short for me, Ishu truly shined. I adored her character and felt that she had so many layers. She had such a distinct personality, made clear in every interaction she had. Plus, I enjoyed how different Hani and Ishu were, although I do feel like Ishu's character was given a lot more attention. Ishu's sister, Nik, was one of my favorite characters, second only to Ishu. In the beginning I wasn't quite sure how I felt about her, but as the story progressed, I began to appreciate her more and more. Not only did I like her as a side character in Ishu's story, but I also found her own story to be intriguing and well explored.

As for Hani, one of the things that I did like about her side of the story was her mother, who, unlike the rest of the parents in this story, was given a distinct character throughout the entire book. I also like how the author really makes you detest Aisling. Not only is she homophobic and racist, but she is also extremely manipulative. Yet despite how terrible she is, it is in line with what we've been told about Hani's character that she stood by her side for so long. Honestly, Aisling reminded me quite a bit of Chyna from "The Henna Wars."

Overall, this was an adorable book with a cute relationship that I recommend if you are a fan of young adult contemporary.