“Right now, all men seem overwhelmingly unattractive – except the ones on the Netflix shows I watch.”

Everyone likes Humaira “Hani” Khan. She’s one of the most popular girls at school, but when she comes out to her friends as bisexual, they invalidate her identity. Ashling and Dee, her best friends, claim that she can’t bi if she’s only dated guys. In her panic, she blurts out that she’s in a relationship with a girl her friends can’t stand—Ishita “Ishu” Dey. A girl who is the complete opposite of Hani, an academic overachiever with pretty much no social life. Thinking she’s backed herself into a corner and all hope is lost Hani is shocked with Ishu agrees to help her, but there is a catch. Hani needs to help her become more popular so that she can become elected head girl. As their mutually beneficial arrangement continues, they start to develop real feelings for each other, but relationships are complicated and some people will do anything to stop two girls from achieving their happily ever after.

This was absolutely adorable. Like pink birthday cake pop, teeth rotting sweet. I mean that in the best way, though I’ve always been more of a chocolate cake pop girl myself. Hani and Ishu complemented each other in such an amazing way and it left me wanting more. I want to know what their futures are going to be like and if they’re still going to be together. I want to know how their parents deal. This also had some of the most frustratingly real antagonists that I have seen in a book like this in a long time. And my favorite part was that none of the angst and drama in this book revolved around anyone coming out to their parents.

Hani and Ishu, despite being the only two South Asian girls in their school, couldn’t be more different in personality. Sometimes I find perspectives can sound similar, but I didn’t have any problems knowing which character’s chapter I was on. Hani is very positive and a people pleaser, where Ishu is a bit grump and definitely an overachiever. I enjoyed their separate character arcs as well. Hani’s about fitting in, which could be at the expense of yourself and your connection to your culture. Ishu’s about how dreams can change and how parent’s can push their dreams and desires onto their children. Both of these characters will resonate with many readers.

Now, for me the fake dating aspect of this was a bit of a let down. For me, I guess I was looking for even more fake dating. I enjoy the playing up the relationship for the crowd and the extra P.D.A. and the like with extended looks across the room. Both girls really had each others back and it became pretty obvious, I think even to them that they weren’t going to be fake dating for long. Also, even though their relationship was supposed to be fake, they both did things for their partner that some would only do if they in “real” relationships.

I’m not South Asian, so I can’t really speak to the South Asian representation, though from other reviews they seem to have pretty positive things to say. Also, I’m not bisexual, but I’ve repeatedly seen this getting comments about it being good representation. Also, a lot about how the biphobia was not only shown but handled. The biphobia here comes not from an outside force, but from someone who is meant to know and love Hani, but are harming her in ways that they don’t even realize. The girls had to defend each other against a plethora of microaggressions, some of which may not appear harmful outright, but have connotations and implications behind them, regardless of intent.

Overall, it’s beautiful to see two South Asian girls, one of them Muslim, fall in love all while staying true to their religious, cultural, and personal values. It’s not a face paced or action packed read, but the characters were great and the messages even better. Definitely would recommend this to anyone who feels even vaguely interested. Also, I’m planning on catching up on The Henna Wars sometime soon and find myself willing to give anything else that Adiba Jaigirdar decides to write.

Have you read Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating? What did you think? What’s your favorite queer or sapphic romantic relationship in a book? Let me know in the comments below!

Important Bits:
Length: 352 pages
Published: May 25, 2021 by Page Street Kids
Content Warnings: Racism, Coming Out, Biphobia/Bimsia, lesbophobia/lesbomisia, islamophobia/islamomisia, alcohol consumption discussed, disownment, toxic-friendships (theme), bullying, falls allegations of cheating in school.
Awards: None yet
Hani & Ishu: Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating (2021), Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Real Roadtrips (2021)
Also by: The Henna Wars (2020), A Million to One (2022), Donut Fall in Love (2023)