School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--Despite being the only two Bengali students in their Irish high school, popular, unassuming Hani and intimidating, ambitious Ishu are barely more than passing acquaintances. But when Hani needs to convince her friends of her bisexuality and Ishu needs to stir up votes for Head Girl, they strike a deal. This book is charming and packed with rich and nuanced depictions of Desi culture (Ishu and Hani's families are significantly different despite their shared heritage). Whether drawn by the classic romance trope or the diverse representation, readers will appreciate how genuine Hani and Ishu's growing affection feels. Each girl is easy to cheer for as her relationship becomes a tool for escaping the toxic patterns she was immersed in alone. Jaigirdar tactfully weaves universal teen struggles like gossip and jealousy with issues of biphobia, racist microaggressions, and Islamophobia. Some Irish references may be unfamiliar to American readers, but don't weigh down the text. VERDICT A sweet queer romance with outstanding Desi representation. Recommended for all collections.--Amy Diegelman, Chicago P.L.
Horn Book Review
Each of the two narrators of this Ireland-set rom-com has something to gain from faking a relationship. Sociable Hani thinks it will prove to her longtime (if undeserving) friends that she isn't making up her bisexuality. Prickly, studious Ishu hopes it will help her become popular so she can be elected Head Girl to please her parents. The two strike a deal, complete with a Google Doc with rules for the ruse: they will pretend to date each other until both have achieved their goals. Hani, Ishu, and their families exhibit diversity in many senses among people of Bengali ethnicity. Both narrators are constantly working to counter others' perceptions of them, and when Hani's white friend Aisling falsely accuses Ishu of copying off her paper (the reverse is actually true), that conflict frustratingly culminates in Aisling being believed. Jaigirdar (The Henna Wars, rev. 9/20) again provides a lighthearted read -- the main plot is an entertaining iteration of what readers expect from the fake-dating trope -- while story elements interwoven with aspects of the characters' identities add nuance. Shoshana Flax July/August 2021 p.112(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Pretending to like one another turns into something more in this charming take on love, family, and personal integrity set in Dublin. The only two brown girls in their year, Hani and Ishu, while both Bengali, are hardly friendly--and worlds apart. Hani is Bangladeshi Irish and in with the popular crowd, her Muslim faith brings comfort, and she is out to her family as bisexual. Ishu is Indian Irish and a studious, prickly misanthrope; an atheist from a Hindu family, she's queer and closeted. Being friendless and living in the shadow of her perfect older sister, Nik, are difficult for Ishu. Hani's two White best friends, Aisling and Dee, make her feel like she must hide her true self or be rejected. When Nik announces, to their parents' horror, that she's leaving medical school and getting married, Ishu seizes the chance to score points by running for Head Girl. Meanwhile, Hani comes out to her friends, who disdainfully dismiss her bisexuality as theoretical. Distressed, Hani blurts out that she is dating Ishu--who agrees to go along with the ruse if Hani helps her become popular enough to win the Head Girl vote. Deception, reflection, revelation, and hard-won growth ensue. Jaigirdar's layered exploration of the many identities and relationships that make up our messy, complex, lovable selves is handled with a deft touch against the background of a delightfully romantic storyline enhanced by perfect pacing and well-rounded characterization. An intelligent, insightful, and utterly swoon-y coming-of-age story. (Romance. 12-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Hani and Ishu have never been friends, just two girls sometimes lumped together by their classmates who assume that because they're both Bangladeshi, they must have a connection. But when Hani's friends question her bisexuality, she finds herself inventing a fake girlfriend, and Ishu's name is the one she blurts out. Ishu barely wants a platonic relationship, let alone a girlfriend, but when she realizes proximity to Hani's popularity could help her win Head Girl, she agrees to the charade, and their fake dating guide is born. As time goes by, Hani and Ishu realize their relationship might be more than an act. Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating joins the great canon of YA dating schemes, but what sets it apart is the way it tells the story of outgrowing friendships--and how painful and ultimately freeing that can be. This novel is perfect for readers looking for a slow-burn romance that is fueled by personal growth as much as by longing looks.
