Thank you so much to Simon Teen for an arc of this title! 3.5 Stars

Always Be My Bibi first caught my attention via the title (an interesting play on "Always Be My Baby" by Mariah Carey). It follows teenage Bibi who is stuck working with her family chicken business after getting grounded. When her sister decides to get married, she has to make the trip to Bangladesh for the celebration. There she finds friendship, love, and community. This book is full of beautiful Bangladeshi cultural practices and rituals. It's also a coming of age story about a young girl attempting to find a balance between tradition and carving her own path. Though there were moments where I found it difficult to keep up with all of the various elements, Taslim did a great job developing Bibi as a character. There were moments where my heart both broke and rejoiced for her. Overall, this was a solid read and I'm looking forward to checking out more from Taslim in the future. If you're interested in hearing more of my thoughts about this one, be sure to check out my reading vlog where this title was included: https://youtu.be/aIuV134VnsQ

This book was a delight.

YA books about Bangladeshi characters make me so happy and it makes me even happier that ALWAYS BE MY BIBI was even SET in Bangladesh! Throw in a motherland destination wedding (because there’s ALWAYS a wedding in our culture), a mission to break up their siblings' looming wedding and feuding future in-laws, this Bangladeshi romantic romp in the tea gardens of Sylhet was so fun. I don’t ask much of my YA literature other than a cute and meaningful storyline, good imagery and character development (what is a coming of age story without a coming of age?) and Priyanka Taslim delivered on all fronts. The love that she has for her Sylheti roots and New Jersey based Bangladeshi American community is so palpable. I’ve never been to Sylhet, but the tea gardens have been on my travel bucket list for practically my whole life - you can bet that when I visit, I’ll be bringing a copy of this book with me for a photoshoot.

Thank you Simon Teen for the e-arc! Always eagerly awaiting Priyanka's next title.

Thank you so much Simon Teen for the complimentary copy of this book!

This book is out now!

"When I'm with you, I want to try to be brave, too, because I..I like you. I like you a lot."

I thought this book was a cute YA romance! This was slated as a Clueless meets Jenna Evans Welch (whom I never read) but I have seen Clueless and I really didn't get that vibe. Perhaps because Bibi is a privilege teen in the sense that her family is wealthy thanks to her father's chicken franchise. The way she acted though didn't seem too far off on how I feel like teenagers act. She just wore expensive clothes while doing it. I thought her relationship with her family also seemed pretty realistic. Now I am not Desi but from media, the parents have high expectations of their children and especially those who own businesses it's expected that the children take over it. We didn't see this so much with Bibi but with Sohel and Sunny's parents, we did.

I thought Bibi and Sohel's relationship was fun to read on page! I like to see how their relationship grew from this awkward first meeting to being in love (which as 16-17 year olds I'll use love loosely). Sohel is very wise beyond his years. He knows that his family is hard to deal with. It ended up putting a strain on his relationship not only with his parents but with his brother Sunny and with Bibi. I also think Bibi's expectation of Sohel to stand up for their relationship was a little premature as they only had known each other for a short time and she was expecting so much from him (granted he put that seed into her brain that this was a forever thing and teenagers are impressionable).

"All I do is make things harder for everyone around me with my schemes and antics. My family loves me because they have to, but that must be the reason everyone else walks away."

Boy did this book make me want to travel to Bangladesh!! Granted Bibi was in a very fancy resort which my budget would not allow me to afford but hey that's the fun of books. The way that Taslim described the resort just made it all sound so beautiful! I was not familiar with all the traditions that those who are Desi. I also liked how the author explored the marriage expectation amongst Desis. The idea of figuring out who your partner will be at 16 just seems so mind boggling but culturally this is acceptable. And I like how Bibi was like "uhhh I don't want to marry anyone. I just want to go on a date with a boy. I just want my first kiss." I had to laugh how there is literally a binder full of eligible teens for her to pick through.

Whew the Rahmans made me want to scream. They were difficult for absolutely no reason! I thought they could have been a little nicer and welcoming to Bibi's family. They travelled all this way to support their daughter Halima's engagement and upcoming marriage with their son Sunny. I just felt so bad for Hossain family.

I thought the storyline trying to find Bibi's grandmother's first love was not necessarily needed but I guess the author needed a way to put Bibi and Sohel together.

Overall I thought this book was cute but it did take me awhile to get through as it just wasn't something I actively was feeling a pull towards. Perhaps it was because I am not the demographic for this book?

3.5

This was a fun book. I have never read a book that takes place in bangledesh so it was really fun having it set there. I liked seeing more about the culture there both good and bad. It was really interesting. I enjoyed the romance aspect of the story as well. I was rooting for Bibi and Sohel from the moment they met. I loved their dynamic. One little detail I liked was seeing them comment back and forth in Bibi's book of boys. That was cute and funny. Overall a great book with a beautiful setting and a pairing with a good dynamic.

content warning: classism

This was a quick and easy read, making it a nice palate cleanser. Because of the level of drama in this book, I think it would be great for fans of desi dramas and Uzma Jalaluddin. It was predictable and reminded me a lot of It All Comes Back to You (you'll see why). The romance was really cute, but I still don't know how I feel about (view spoiler). I also wasn't a big fan of the Muslim rep in this book since the only actual Muslim was the main character's older sister and even then her decisions were very questionable (she was in a "halal" relationship without her parents knowledge, the man she married was implied to not be practicing, etc,). It was very obvious that the author/characters lacked basic knowledge of Islam, and honestly, it was disappointing, especially considering that this was published by Salaam Reads, a publishing company that's supposed to focus on stories about Muslims. Yes, cultural Muslims like the main character exist, but from what I've seen, they're not the majority of Muslims in the US, so why are their stories prioritized over those of practicing Muslims? Are we not writing enough books? Is it islamophobia or a general repulsion towards religion? What's going on? Anyway, when I put aside those feelings, I kind of enjoyed reading about these characters. The main character was kind of a brat, and the constant brand mentions were annoying, but it wasn't too intolerable. It was kind of nice seeing the main character grow, and I liked the commentary on social class and gender roles in Bangladesh, even if I wish they went more into depth. That's all there is to say about this book. There's not much that's worth talking about with this book, to be honest.

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5

BOOK REVIEW: airport edition
While this book wasn't my current day cup of tea think this would be the perfect book for a younger version of myself. Clueless with an Indian flair! I loved seeing the impact of culture throughout the story and the young girl humor sprinkled throughout. If you find yourself looking for something light hearted and fun with a splash of nostalgia this is the book for you!

I am pleasantly surprised with how much FUN I had with this book! I dove in without context and was greeted with a fun Emma-esque character, plenty of cultural context, and excellent commentary on colonial legacies that continue to haunt South Asia and it's diaspora.

Habiba is our protagonist and reminiscent of Austenian tradition, we aren't supposed to "like" her as much as we are supposed to cringe at her choices and endear ourselves to her attempts at repair. I appreciated her no-BS attitude, in complete juxtaposition to her elder sister's character, and also the many ways in which she challenges her cultural upbringing. I actually loved that the majority of this story takes place in Bangladesh because we're offered a very fish-out-of-water perspective for Bibi and how she navigates her time there.

The commentary on colonial legacies of tea farms and exploitation of Indigenous Bangla labor, classism and colorism in South Asian cultures, distribution of wealth, historical trauma from Partition and the Bangladesh Liberation War, inter-generational dynamics, and many other nuanced topics was not only refreshing but also incredibly accessibly-written (especially for folks who may not have background knowledge on the history of Bangladesh!).

While the romances in this book played a key role in the plot and character development for Bibi, I also enjoyed that that her dating adventures were also lighthearted while simultaneously didactic. Bibi and Sohel's chemistry is fun from start to finish and I think their pairing complimented the story as a whole.

I'd recommend Always Be My Bibi to fans of frustratingly endearing FMCs, those who enjoy a Black Sheep protagonist, and stories that explore cultural heritage from multi-faceted perspectives.

Bibi's sister announces a surprise engagement that leads to the whole family traveling to Bangladesh for the wedding. But Bibi and her future brother-in-law's younger brother Sohel team up to stop the wedding.

There's a lot I liked about this book. I loved way food and culture were described and how tradition came up against love. Sohel was a fun love interest. And I enjoyed the writing, which was fun and engaging throughout.

For a book that hinges on sabotaging the engagement, the two really didn't do much on that front. I much preferred the subplot involving Bibi's Thathu. Bibi was a bit too spoiled and self centered, but she stands up for love in a solid way.

If you enjoy YA romance with snarky characters, you'll have fun with this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

This book follows Bibi as she is banned from interacting with boys during the summer. Soon after, her sister tells her family that she is getting married to her college love, Sunny. They fly over to Bangladesh for the event. On her trip, Bibi collaborates with Sunny's younger brother, Sohel, to stop the wedding. I love the descriptions of the settings and food. It felt like I was in there experiencing everything with Bibi. I enjoyed the exploration of the different families and their beliefs. There is one scene that I wish Bibi were present for. This book should be picked up for a movie or even a mini-series. I would love to see this book adapted for the screen. However, I did not enjoy the third act and how easily it was resolved. I will continue to read from this author!

Adored this YA rom-com! A lovely mix of humor and swooniness, with some heartfelt moments and family bonding thrown into the mix. Enjoyed the reverse parent trap storyline (or in this case, reverse sibling trap where Bibi and Sohel work together to break up their siblings engagement.) Great setting in Bangladesh with traditions and cultural expectations layered on.

The romance was very cute, and I grinned like a fool during Bibi's shenanigans.

If I had to describe it, I would say it's the Bangladesh version of Crazy Rich Asians and Bridesmaids for teens.

unfortunately not for me. i may be experiencing a slight YA burnout so i could see myself returning to it another time

A sassy Bengali teen. A tea garden. A not quite enemies, but also not quite friends to lovers. The Big Book of Biodata used as a way for our main characters to have sarcastic conversations. South Asian family squabbling. Honestly, what’s not to like about Always Be My Bibi?

While Always Be My Bibi is billed as a ya romance, I think it’s really a book about relationships. Between daughters and parents. Between grandkids and grandparents. Between soon to be newlyweds and in-laws. And between siblings (real and found). The use of all the various parts of a Bengali wedding is the perfect way to highlight the nuances of all these relationships, how different they are to each other, but also how intertwined and connected they all are.

Seeing the entire story unfold through Bibi’s eyes helps us see the various relationships in interesting—though not always complete—ways. Sohel is a wonderfully sarcastic foil to Bibi’s stubborn belief that she’s always right. As the central characters in the middle of many of the book’s adventures, together, they create a really dynamic story.

My favorite relationship/aspect of the book was the side story with Bibi and her Thathu. Honestly, I’d love a whole detective-y short story or novella of the lead up to the conclusion of that plot point or even a follow-up short story to follow Thathu’s story after the book ends.

My second favorite aspect was watching Bibi go from being quite materialistic and not understanding her privilege to having a much better grasp of just how much hard work goes into creating and maintaining a dream.

Together, Always Be My Bibi is wonderful sophomore book from Priyanka Taslim that I highly recommend. (And readers of The Love Match will especially love the little easter egg referencing that book.)

This was a cute YA love story. I loved to see the cultural diversity, but the fmc was a bit over the top. I don't know if this is really how things are in Bangladesh, but yikes.

Thanks for the read!

Thank you to Simon Teen for the gifted e-arc!

Bibi is a materialistic boy crazy Bangledeshi-American teenage girl who visits Bangladesh with her family for her sister’s wedding to a tea garden heir. There is tension between the two families as the grooms family don’t believe they are good enough for their heir. At this, she and the grooms brother devise a plan to “break up” the engagement, but in the process could there be another love connection brewing?

I really enjoyed this! This is a heartwarming YA title about love, culture, and the merging of two families! I am enjoying reading books about cultures other than my own. I’m learning more about the Asian culture and how marriage is often arranged and about pedigree over love.

I enjoyed getting to learn more about Bangladeshi culture. I’ll never get tired of reading about young love and coming of age! I loved seeing the growing pains and character growth of Bibi.

DNF at 20%. The Clueless comp should have been an indicator this could be very hit-or-miss for me. I don’t mind an unlikable heroine (I love them, even), but the way the book was executing “privileged girl gets a job” felt rather obnoxious. “Farmer chic?,” complete with name-brand everything?

What a fun, refreshing YA romcom!

I loved Taslim's previous novel, so I was very excited to meet Bibi and get wrapped up in her hijinks! I really adored the Bangladeshi culture and everything we learned and saw through Bibi's eyes; all the descriptions of the food and cities really made me want to visit!

I really loved Bibi and Sohel's romance; they were both so snarky with each other, but it soon gave away to some blooming sweetness between them and it had me kicking my feet and blushing once they realized their feelings for each other! I also really loved seeing Halima and Sunny come into their own while dealing with both their families, and finally showing who they truly are to their loved ones, even if it went against everything they wanted for them. I also loved that Bibi stuck by her sister's and family's side throughout it all, and in the end, got to experience her own little romance story!

All in all, another fun read from Taslim - I look forward to more in the future!

really fun and swoony romcom with a nice set of protagonists and a plotline that's remarkably effective. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Thank you Simon teen for an arc!!

Absolutely loved this book. It was a heartfelt, emotional story about sisterhood, family and romance. Bibi was hilarious and overly dramatic which I deeply enjoyed as someone who is also a drama queen. :)

Bibi almost get her first kiss but her parents have to ruin it. After she getting caught hanging with boy her parents grounded her by make her work at her family restaurant. Her father one rule is no boys until her older sister gets get married. But things change when her sister Halima coming back home with her mysterious new fiancé. The mysterious fiancé is Sunny is the heir is a princely estate turned tea garden in Bangladesh. The next things she knows, she is on plane to Sylhet for her sister wedding. That’s where she meet Sunny family, the Rahmans who disapprove of this engagement. So Bibi team with up Sunny younger brother Sohol to broke them up. Along the way Bibi start to catch feelings for Sohol. Now would she get her happily ever after she stirs up trouble for her sister engagement?

💭I love Always be my Bibi. This is second book I have read from Priyanka Taslim. Her first book I have read is The love match (I believe it’s my first YA rom-com, which open the door for me to rom-com/romance books) Both time she have make me cry. I really try not to spoilers. I love she wrote the relationship with family, specially the relationship with bibi and her grandma. I favorite chapter is 23. Since I get e-arc and I believe is not the final copy, I kind dislike the great big book of Biodatas parts bc I can’t understand what going on. So hopefully in physical copy i hopefully will understand it.
4.75 ⭐️

Always Be My Bibi not only has a catchy title and beautiful cover, but the story inside is upbeat and fun! The premise could've easily become too heavy, but that author keeps the story moving and entertaining for the reader.

3.25 stars rounded down

I liked the story overall. I enjoyed Bibi and her growth as a character. I LOVED her love interest, Sohel, and his backstory and sweet/sassy personality. I really liked their siblings and the dynamics of their families. The setting was beautiful, and I liked being in Bangladesh for the majority of the story.

So why a middle-of-the-road rating? This book was trying to do too much. There were 3 "major" plots, so none of them were able to breathe and fully given the time they needed in the story. Plot 1) The wedding and "sabotaging" it. I did read an arc copy, so I'm hoping this was better fleshed out in the final version, because I didn't see them do much to sabotage their siblings' wedding. There were a couple of things, but nothing major or unforgivable. Plot 2) Bibi finding a boyfriend by going on dates according to biodata. This was pretty random. Plot 3) Finding Bibi's grandmother's lost love. This was pushed in a couple of times and shoehorned in at the end for Bibi to realize something about her own romance. I liked all of these plots, but they would randomly come in and out because the author was trying to do too much in too little time.

Overall, this was a fun, low-stakes story about first love. I enjoyed myself.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.