Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating

By: Adiba Jaigirdar

Narrated by: Reena Dutt, Shubhangi Karmakar

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Everyone likes Humaira "Hani" Khan - she’s easygoing and one of the most popular girls at school. But when she comes out to her friends as bisexual, they invalidate her identity, saying she can’t be bi if she’s only dated guys. Panicked, Hani blurts out that she’s in a relationship...with a girl her friends absolutely hate - Ishita "Ishu" Dey. Ishu is the complete opposite of Hani. She’s an academic overachiever who hopes that becoming head girl will set her on the right track for college. But Ishita agrees to help Hani, if Hani will help her become more popular so that she stands a chance of being elected head girl.

Despite their mutually beneficial pact, they start developing real feelings for each other. But relationships are complicated, and some people will do anything to stop two Bengali girls from achieving happily ever after.

©2021 Adiba Jaigirdar (P)2021 Listening Library

Nothing Fake About the Themes

The author, Adiba Jaigirdar, uses a common plot devise of a fake relationship to peal away the skin of prejudice, fear, jealousy and bullying. She does a wonderful job of developing two main characters who are unique in their family experience, religion, expectations and history. The girls struggle in their lives and understanding but find unexpected connection in the turmoil of high school. A great read for young adults.

LOVED IT!!

Absolutely loved it from beginning to end so much that I didn’t want it to end. The story and narration was exquisite!

Liked it, cute + great visibility

Cute, a little slow to start but good read. Also great narration. Really great to see this story

Cute story with amazing narrators

This was such a cute story with well developed characters. My favorite part of listening to this was the narrators. They had such beautiful voices and really captured both Hani and Ishu.

Wonderfully written

Adiba captures and paints a picture for many that don’t live in the skin of the immigrant parented, the brown skin person’s experience and the blind racism of Euro-Anglo human beings.

With defined details she shares and gives example to “bi-sexual erasure and bisexualities validity beyond how someone else understands.

There are many great layers and nuances written here and would be a great read

Loved it!

Great book!
(Filling in words so I can just submit my review cause I don’t like typing)

Engaging

I started listening to this as a way to sleep but quickly became invested in the plot, characters, tropes and overall story. This is the only book I’ve been able to listen to in one sitting.

only book i always re-listen to

great story, two great narrators, it's really cute, sweet, interesting, and especially on audiobook, i keep re-listening and i rarely do that

Sweet awkward angsty perfection

Lovely coming of age story that reminded me what it was like going through school and trying to figure yourself, meet family expectations, do well in class, and try to date... Let alone get away with "fake dating" 😂 At first there are elements that seem predictable but the character arcs and events that occur will definitely surprise you throughout! It was also interesting to have alternating perspective of who was talking each chapter. I loved the representation and the story kept me intrigued. 🌈✨

Voices and relatability

The voices helped breathe life into the book for me and this book brought about so many emotions. It was excellent, enjoyable and emotional