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Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'
Hani And Ishu's Guide To Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar
13 reviews
ctara2123's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Biphobia, Cursing, and Racism
Moderate: Bullying and Toxic relationship
Minor: Islamophobia
bitsandbobsdivination's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This isn’t because the book was bad, I just got busy and kept not getting back to it, but!! That all to say! It was a beautiful book and one that tackles quite a few important issues such as biphobia, xenophobia, lesbiphobia, and family dynamics when it comes to a parents expectations and a child’s dreams, wants, and needs. Also horrible toxic friendships and how when you are that young you sometimes don’t know they are toxic because you’ve never known anything else.
Overall a beautiful read, would have only liked to have more in the end as there is definitely room for a sequel.
Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Racism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
theespressoedition's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I was looking forward to a queer fake dating book, and while yes, that's the primary plot, all I felt like I got from this one was a bunch of teen angst and bullying. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I realize that YA means there will be a more juvenile take. However, it seemed like a bit of a letdown to have what could have been a really great story full of depth and character development feel so shallow. It was heavy without having any actual emotional weight to carry it.
In a lot of ways, it reminded me of how I felt after reading I Kissed Shara Wheeler. There was a lot of potential but it didn't live up to any of my expectations. Great concept with poor execution. And while I thought it would be cute, it really wasn't. None of the romance was even really swoon-worthy... it was just lacking in so many ways.
Definitely not my kind of book, sadly.
Graphic: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Islamophobia, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Cursing
sunsetcity's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Homophobia, Racism, Toxic relationship, Islamophobia, Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
whatjasread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
- I, as a Muslim, would like to see 'Muslim love stories' that don't involve some kind of political rally or a need for someone to be a big figure at the mosque - we can be Muslim without being politicians
- loved the sapphic elements, though i did want more of the conflicted feelings and close calls
- the ending felt a bit abrupt to me, could easily have been 50 pages longer
- loved the exploration of different family dynamics, and the whole 'sibling doubt' that ishu has with nik, very well done from my personal perspective!
- was occasionally (constantly) very angry at hani's decision to play the doormat :)
TWs: microaggressions, Islamophobia, biphobia, lesbophobia, toxic friendships, gaslighting, racism, parental abandonment, alcohol consumption, bullying, strained family relationships
Tropes/themes/rep: Queer Muslim FMC, bisexual Indian FMC, Bengali MCs, fake dating, high school setting
Graphic: Biphobia, Racism, Islamophobia, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying and Abandonment
Minor: Toxic relationship and Alcohol
booksdogsandcoffee's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Biphobia, Toxic relationship, Islamophobia, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Abandonment
lattefairies's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I was so frustrated with both ishita and hani so much. The sister relationship and the friendship and the families. I only liked hani's mom for a good portion of this book.
The best part was the little hints of how ishita is actually on the inside (if she acted without inhibition) that made the way she treated hani towards the end not feel awkward or out of place.
Relationships:
It didn't make sense that ishu's sister kept contact with her horrible parents but not her sister. The last people I'd want to keep contact with are parents who only give me value based on grades, but I guess the guilt parents always install in us since childhood would prevent that. Im glad it got better half way through, that made me happy.
As for hani's friendship..... it was disgusting I gotta say. I was so frustrated partly because I saw my high-school self in her. But that made me love her Character development the most.
Community:
This book was so diverse. Arab restaurants being mentioned without it being drawn as "exotic" and "its..... different" was exciting. And then everyone wasn't the same ethnicity.
The author did really well showing white privilege and white tears and other micro aggressions woc face in white countries. I know people would say "im reading fiction to escape reality", but I'd rather the young poc would know what to expect from the world and be ready for it than to satisfy privileged queer people from the guilt of their privilege.
Lastly I'm very pleased with the muslim rep. It was so satisfying to see hani hold firm on her beliefs unlike everything else. That's where non-muslim authors fall short, when they think we take our faith as lightly as they do.
In conclusion. Im glad i didn't stop reading because I was frustrated, because the end was SO WORTH IT.
Moderate: Biphobia, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Islamophobia
forlorn_traveller's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Islamophobia
alanareadsalot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Biphobia and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Racism
rainbowshelves's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Islamophobia