CW: depression (lead), parental abuse (emotional, verbal)
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Despite the heavy moments, I had so much fun reading this book. I haven’t been reading YA much anymore, and this book reminded me why I’ve loved these books so much. Heartfelt and hopeful, the friendships and sisterhood and romantic relationship in this book warmed my heart.
Seeing Mina fall in love with her city reminded me of a time in my life when I saw my hometown with new eyes after some time healing when I lost my dad. Once Mina finally realizes that she cannot outrun her trauma, she can finally see past the fog and see that it’s possible to carve out a better life for herself.
I liked Mina and Emmet together. Watching the two of them let down their walls for each other made me feel so soft. Though they have different home experiences, they relate to one another in their shared belief that they’ve both missed out on fully embracing and experiencing their cultures.
I liked Mina. I have a feeling some people will label her as an unlikable main character, but I truly enjoyed her. She can be a little snappy, and she is very focused on her main goal. She read like a real teen, dealing with real hardships, struggling to manage all of these relationships and commitments while also fighting self doubt and depression. I think her best friend and sister could have shown her more grace, but I do realize not everything works out this way. Her parents, for example— ideally, they could have acknowledged their abuse and Mina could have gotten closure, but sometimes the best thing is to focus on yourself instead of trying to change others.
I thought 5-years-later epilogue was cute! I really like when there’s a glimpse within fandoms, and I think that tweets are a cute way to show that.
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4.5 stars, A SHOW FOR TWO by Tashie Bhuiyan is available May 10! Thank you to HCC Frenzy and Netgalley for the chance to review an eARC.

All opinions are my own and reflect my own views. That you to the publisher and author for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Love this book ! Just freaking love it love love love!!! It deals with real life and a hard to tackle issues but it makes sense and transports the reader to another world of nyc ! I love the endings but I’ll be greedy and say I want another book because it was just that good.

This review is on Goodreads.
At first, A Show for Two seemed like it was going to be fairly cliche and straightforward—not necessarily a complaint! I love a good trope filled romance, and the diversity was already enough to make it different from other books in that vein. I connected to Mina right away, not just because of some things I have in common with her, but because she seemed very real and raw. She hides her feelings from those around her but she is incredibly developed for the reader on the page.
Her relationships grew this story into something more than just the average romance. Her parents were simply awful, but in a weird way, it made the book so much better. Usually, YA parents are either absent for most of the book or they're incredibly involved, wise, and loving. No matter how the character screws up, the parents have a hug and speech waiting for them to get them through the last conflict of the book. But here, the parents gaslight and demean and it's so hard to see how they treat their children, but it's also so realistic. Some parents are truly like this and you almost never see it. I honestly expected them to end up having a heart to heart at some point and change their ways, but Mina and her sister Anama standing together against their parents is so much better.
As Mina explores her own desires and how she has impacted/is impacted by the relationships around her, A Show for Two becomes much deeper than expected. I was more and more captivated as the story went on. Mina honestly inspired me to think about my own life.
Plus, the romance was adorable. I loved the occasional addition of social media reactions to Mina and Emmitt. Bhuiyan is very talented at the voices of the young adults; sometimes when people try to write youthful slang or like they are trying too hard, but the author really nailed their speech, both verbally and through social media.
A Show for Two is incredibly cute and fun, with one of the best enemies to romance stories I've read in awhile and some really amazing character growth and introspection.

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much to inkyard press for providing me with an ARC of this book! This book so cute! I loved the main characters so much. SOMEONE FIND ME AN EMMITT AMOS!!!!!!
*quick half spoiler*
The little tie ins to her other book makes my heart happy! Also the little tributes to Chloe Gong🥹🥹🥹

I FLEW THROUGH THIS BOOK. A novel inspired by Tom Holland? Sign me up. Emmitt is obviously different from Tom but keeping the fact that it was inspired by the author's own experience at her high school with Spider-Man made the book so much more fun. It's a love letter to New York and it's a love letter to young love, new opportunities, and complex family dynamics. This book exemplifies why I love reading YA. Pre-ordering this book immediately!! Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you so much to Tashie Bhuiyan, the publisher, and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

While I initially wanted to read this book because of the real-life inspiration behind the story, after reading it I have found that it is one of my favorite reads of 2022 so far! It has an abundance of representation in the POC leads (Bangladeshi-American/Muslim & Spanish/Chinese) as well as for the LGBTQ+ community.

A Show For Two follows Mina Rahman, who is as she deals with her last few months of high school, her family, and a certain film competition that is essentially her ticket out of New York.

I don't typically read contemporary romance, but this novel might have inspired me to dip my toes into the genre a little more. I am a sucker for more dark/realistic themes, which is why I particularly liked the inclusion of the impact that generational trauma can have on the children of immigrants as well as the general mental health of Mina.

There was a wonderfully balanced focus on both relationships within families as well as the families that are created through friendships. There are several dynamics like the relationship between Mina and her sister, as well as between her and her friends, her and her dreams, and her as the leader of the film club. The main romance itself between Mina and Emmitt was very cute and ended up playing out quite naturally between the two.

One thing that did stand out to me was the inclusion of very 2022 references to music, movies, and pop culture. While these references fit in perfectly fine this year, I do wonder if they will "age" the book several years down the line when people from different generations read this. The passage of time and pop culture is both a blessing and a curse.

On another note, I loved the references to fellow author Chloe Gong that were scattered throughout the novel. Its little easter eggs like these that add to my enjoyment of the novel.

Ultimately this is a very raw novel and I encourage anyone interested in getting a copy themselves!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for providing me an ARC for an honest review.

4.25 (4 stars)

A Show For Two is a young adult contemporary novel about Mina Rahman, who plans to win the student film competition. Her goal in winning lies on Emmitt Ramos, the indie film star, who just enrolled in her high school with a secret identity to do research for his next role. He offers to be in her film if she helps with his photography contest.
It is haters to lovers, celebrity love interest with poc romance, Mina being Bangladeshi and Emmitt being half-Chinese.

This book is super cute and such a quick read. If love romcoms, you will definitely love this.

Also, it's based on the author's experience when Tom Holland went to her school undercover as a student.
And yes, the many Taylor Swift references. Cornelia Street and London boy.

Tw: parental abuse (verbal and psychological), depression

thank you to the author & netgalley for this ARC!
+release date: may 10th 2022

this was such a cute read!! celebrity love interest?? reverse grump x sunshine?? ahh!!

i really liked mina’s character! as an older sister i felt like i could really relate to her. i love how she came to terms with her mistakes & made up for them, & i particularly liked that her decisions were not influenced by those around her!

the romance was so cute! i do wish it had been developed a bit more, but the moments & their banter was beyond adorable! emmitt?? are you kidding me?? i’m in love with you.

if this book wasn’t on your radar yet, make sure it is now!

A Show for Two is a sweet contemporary YA fiction book. Part coming of age, part romance, part POC/own voices... this book has it all without being too overwhelming in any one category. I enjoyed being immersed in Mina and Emmitt's world for a few days... learning about life as high schooler in NYC, about Bangladeshi/Muslim culture, about parental expectations and LQBTQ norms in schools, about self awareness of mental health in high schoolers (which was NOT a thing when I was that age), and so much more. This book, though YA, is full of so much depth. It really took me back to high school friendships and the challenging ways of relating to parents/family when everything feels like SO MUCH.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced ebook copy. All opinions are my own.

This was incredible. An absolutely beautiful story that consists of mental illness, specifically depression representation, as well as own-voices Muslim and Bangladeshi representation! Mina's story felt so familiar to me, and the dynamics explored within her relationship with her parents developed the complexities of coming-of-age as well as the painful but necessary realization that sometimes, parents don't know everything. This book made me believe in my own choices, and I loved how the development of the story emphasized the importance of self-determination and independence. Besides the amazing writing, fantastic characters, and adorable romance, this book truly just felt like a wonderful exploration of young-adulthood. Please read it!!!!!

I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS STORY. Tashie Bhuiyan has wrote yet another incomparable YA novel. I love the premise of this book, the sisterly bond, how she addresses harmful family dynamics, the CHEMISTRY the main couple, the way she takes us throughout NYC, and how she describes being passionate about something your parents will not support. One of my favorite elements of this story is the banter and flirting between Mina and Emmitt! Truly some of the best I have ever read!! Bhuiyan did such a great job making the romance feel real and natural between two people from two different worlds. I cannot wait to buy a physical copy. 5/5 stars!!

This ARC was provided by Inkyard Press via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review

Thank you to #NetGalley, Tashie Bhuiyan, and the publisher for the eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Mina has been dreaming of getting away from NYC and head to California for a new experience and to get away from her controlling parents. The only way she will be able to do that though is by winning a film competition and win a scholarship which will be hard. With the help of a teen celebrity working undercover at her school, she just might have a chance, but she also has to help him in return. Will Mina be able to do both and win the competition?

This book was enjoyable but also dealt with a topic that was very hard for me to understand/read. Mina's parents were very verbally abusive to both her and her sister. I know this is topics teens deal with frequently, but as someone who never dealt with that, it was hard to read. I do feel it made me more sympathetic to teens dealing with these types of environments. Emmitt (teen star) was also difficult to deal with at the beginning but as he and Mina warmed up to each other, he was definitely a more likeable character.

ms bhuyan does it again!!!! ok so obvs no spoilers because this is an arc but i absolutely loved this book. as a new yorker away from home, i felt genuinely homesick reading this book. the way the city is described in the book is so warm and loving, and i love that the book covers every corner of it. mina and emmitt are such an adorable couple i loved them every step of the way. the way this book touched on so many things that made me want to sob into my pillow but still managed to leave me smiling was incredible. also, as someone who lived through the tom holland undercover at my high school scandal in addition to tashie, i loved how she captured the energy of that moment in time. honestly every single time i read one of her books i feel nostalgic for the good parts of high school. every single relationship in this book is absolutely spectacular and unique. don’t know how to describe it but mina and emmitt felt very modern day lizzie and darcy to me. rosie and sofia were so cute and anam made me want to cry with joy every time she talked.<3 i love love love love this book and i can’t wait for everyone to read it.

SPOILERS FOR NETGALLEY ONLY:
the HOME picture at the end made me sob, and the tweets were so cute and such a nice touch!! emmitt being so clearly gone for mina since he heard her talk about her passion for film was beautiful and i love that mina grew to care about him in time. ALSO i loved the little shoutouts to cdwy and foul lady fortune they were adorable and made me smile so big!!!

a love letter to new york city, sisterhood, and following your heart, "a show for two" felt like a sun-drenched afternoon in greenwich village. maybe it's because this story was inspired by her actual high school experience, but this book felt so genuine and personal, i felt my heart aching and soaring right alongside mina. her exhaustion and the unrelenting repetition of her fights with her parents, the guilt of maybe leaving her sister for university, the reluctance and eventual falling in love -- this book encompasses so much feeling. throughout it all, though, i loved seeing mina's view of new york change from a place she needs to escape to a place that can be anything she wants it to be, including a real home. there are some lovely messages about sisterhood, love and what home really is here, along with some squeal-worthy moments and, of course, a taylor swift reference (would it be a tashie book without one?). i didn't feel as invested in the romance as i thought it would -- it takes the backseat to mina's family issues and college goals for a good chunk of the book. so, while i did enjoy the book overall, i didn't see it as a romance, but more of a coming-of-age story.

Feeling understood by an author through the characters they write is one of my favorite experiences as a reader. The K-pop, film-loving characters in this book made me feel as if I could really be friends with them were they to fall from the page and into the real world. It takes a special talent to write characters who feel real, and Tashie Bhuiyan has a gift for this facet of writing.

Tashie Bhuiyan also writes the cutest romances. Counting Down With You (Bhuiyan's first novel) exceeds the romance in this book exponentially in my opinion, but lovers of romance (specifically ya romance) will be satisfied with the forced proximity, dislike to love relationship within the pages of this book. What pop culture obsessed person hasn't fantasized about meeting and falling in love with their celebrity crush in real life? I certainly have and this made me root for the MC even more.

Contemporary romance lovers will be satisfied with this book, but I also was impressed with the depth of the book outside of the relationship focus. The MC has some very real issues going on at home and with her mental health that I think are addressed thoughtfully. However, I do wish the relationship with her parents had been explained better. The reader was just expected to accept certain things without explanation.

My biggest complaint with this book was that it felt too short. Certain things weren't fully explained because there simply wasn't enough time. I didn't completely believe the biggest conflict because it wasn't explained to me. I didn't even realize it was an issue until the characters abruptly brought it up. This could be because I was reading from the MC's point-of-view, so I wasn't supposed to know the issue until she did... but I don't think that's the case. The author probably just expected me to know it because SHE knows it. Which... she knows everything about her book/characters so it makes sense to her, but not to me who is coming in blind.

It was a super quick read (which I liked) & Bhuiyan is an auto-buy author for me after CDWY. ^.^

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am excited for my physical copy to come in the mail when it's released. An E-ARC was provided to me through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I don't know why I didn't enjoy this book. It might be the fact that this is a YA book and I'm an adult, but honestly I still enjoy YA and MG books most of the time so I don't think so.
The main character felt very Y/N and self insert-y, which is fine, but I don't like noticing it in any novel I'm reading.
I think a lot of people will still be able to enjoy and appreciate this book. The writing was pretty good and the pacing was fine. If you enjoy YA romance with a hint of self inserting from the author, you will probably like this book and the characters in it.

Omg I loved this one just like her previous book and the ship has my hearttttt . The anxiety rep was done great and also the biracial rep of Emmett !!

Full rtc

4.5 STARS!!!

Thank you NetGalley for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

Wow, where do I begin?? This book was incredible. We follow Mina, a senior in high school, who is determined to get into USC and get the heck away from New York. Her one-way ticket is hingeing on a win from the Golden Ivy Movie Festival. What Mina doesn't realize is that along the way, she is not only going to build unbreakable bonds, but she is also going to find herself.

I adored this book from start to finish. I almost having nothing negative to say. We'll start with a deep-dive on the characters. Mina is strong, determined, intelligent, etc. She is everything that I look for in a female protagonist. Anam, Mina's sister, is kind, smart, strong, determined, etc. (are we sensing a pattern?) Emmitt is an English "bad boy" with a secret soft side which is TO. DIE. FOR. Rosie is the sweet lil lesbian friend who has curly, unruly red hair and a fiery attitude to match. The entire film club at Mina's school is full of a diverse cast of characters and I was here for it. Obviously, New York City is one of my favourite places on this planet, to visit, and to read about so setting this not just in the heart of New York City, but in the different boroughs was unmatched. I thought the pacing was wonderful and the plot flowed extremely well from point A to point B.

A big theme in this book was relationships and let me tell you, they were done brilliantly. Not only am I talking about the obvious romance, but I'm talking about friendships, siblings, parents, community, etc. Each relationship had a point. Mina's relationships made sense. They were difficult but beautiful. I loved how the author portrayed each and every interaction that Mina had with everyone. There was purpose and intent and I loved it. And the ENDING!!!! I can't say enough about the end of this book!!!! It was perfect and exactly what it needed to be for this story.

My only criticism of this was the writing style of the author, which is very minor compared to my love of this story. I'm not a fan of pop culture references in books and although it can make a story feel more realistic when a book mentions my favourite band (and not only that, but my favourite member of that band???), but it's something that has always bothered me in books. Not to mention the abundance of cussing that all of the characters did. I'm not saying it's not realistic, because let's be honest, teenagers swear like their lives depend on it (I know because I used to), but reading about it and having it be so prominent felt a little jarring at times.

Overall, I could not rave about this book enough and I will definitely checking out more by this author!

I loved the chemistry between Mina & Emmitt!! They both have their own personal battles to face, but whenever the two are in a setting together it's like everything is right in that moment. And it's so sweet once you realize why the book is called A Show for Two <3 Emmitt is such a heartthrob and you can't help but fall in love with him from the way he is written. His charisma just flows off the page. Personally, it was difficult for me to relate to Mina and her level of angst, but because of her circumstances with strict and emotionally abusive parents, it did make sense to the story and may provide strength to those who are going through the same things.

There was a lot of diversity in the book and it was cool to see the variety in New York. Even though Mina and Emmitt were the main characters, their friends and family had important stories of their own. As someone who has not yet been but has New York on their travel bucketlist, the book definitely made me want to go even more :)

This book made me so happy. I empathize with Mina as a character so much, even though our relationships with our families are very different, the way she learns meaning of home and brings that into her life spoke to me. I also love the role photography and New York City played in the story.