Reviews

The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar

cassieroisman's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted fast-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

3.0

i enjoyed this book, it was really cute, and i LOVED the sibling dynamic so much

hownovelle's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• 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

2.75

maisiewrites247's review

4.0

Content Warning: Racism, Homophobia, Bullying, Character being outed. The Henna Wars follows Nishat, who is Bengali, Muslim, and a lesbian. The story revolves around her coming out to her parents and taking part in a school business competition, where she competes with two classmates who also open a henna business. As a romance book, I wasn’t completely on board with the love interest because I think her views on henna were problematic, and because they were rivals for so much of the book, you couldn’t see any good qualities in her until towards the end, and she did have good qualities but I didn’t see enough of that. I also didn’t expect the racism and homophobia to be so rampant, mainly because I read Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating first and it wasn’t that extreme, but that’s my fault for assuming. My favourite character was Nishat and my least favourite character was Chyna. I recommend this book because it’s sapphic, it has an enemies to lovers vibe, and it’s a coming of age story. However I do not recommend it if you are triggered by racism or homophobia. I love Nishat and how she stands up for herself and the things she believes in. ‘What I want more than anything else in the world is to feel like being myself isn’t something that should be hidden and a secret.’

batbaby's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective tense fast-paced

• 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

pageobsessed17's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

ezramol's review against another edition

4.0

This was a very sweet story and I'm glad to have read it. What I appreciate the most is how skillfully it touches on the importance of one's culture through a very relatable story. While the romance was lovely I especially enjoyed the sister&sister relationship, though the overall dynamic of the family was sometimes hard to read (poor baby Nishat) it was realistic and well portrayed. I had a nice time 

kiri_and_baki's review

5.0

4.75

elizabethmalousek's review against another edition

emotional medium-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? No

3.75

tenshifae's review

4.0

3.75 rounded up.

The Henna Wars is a sweet story that explores the first real feelings a lesbian girl experiences. It discusses it in such a way that gives you those butterfly feelings, and the anxiety that comes from it. Nishat experiences the flurry of your feelings exploding in front of you and watching as your world changes in a terrifying way.

The Henna Wars is not simply a love story though, and it does explicitly explore the racism experienced by Nishat as a Bengali girl in Ireland. As I was reading this book, I almost wanted a split POV to be able to explore some of the thought process of Flavia and the feelings. However, I do completely understand the decision and love being able to see Nishat's world as she perceives it. The way that she is able to face the things said about her at school, and even done to her. This book shows the multifaceted experience of queer POC women in a white society and done in a way that it still leaves you with butterflies knowing that regardless of these things you can still experience love for another.

TW: racism and homophobia

trixster33's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0