On this episode of Everything is Canon, Steve talks with Adiba Jaigirdar all about her brand-new book, Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating, which is described as, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before meets LGBTQ romance in this funny, heart-warming rom-com about first love and identity.”
Here’s the summary…
When Humaira “Hani” Khan comes out to her friends as bisexual, they immediately doubt her. Apparently, she can’t be bi if she’s only dated guys. Cornered into proving her sexuality, she tells them she’s dating someone—Ishita “Ishu” Dey, the straight A student who seems more concerned with studying than relationships.
When Hani approaches her about fake dating, she agrees on one condition–that Hani help her become more popular so she can win the school’s head girl election. It’s the perfect plan to help them achieve their goals, until Hani’s friends become jealous that she’s spending more time with Ishu. They’ll do everything they can to drive a wedge between them and ruin Ishu’s chances of becoming head girl.
Now, Hani has a decision to make: does she break off her relationship with Ishu for the sake of her friends? Or does she tell Ishu how she really feels and turn their “fake” relationship into something real?
Like her first published book, The Henna Wars, Adiba once again delivers a ridiculously charming and wonderfully complex story about falling in love, family, and gleefully dunking on bigotry all while giving us a lesson in dignity and empathy. It’s as important as it is entertaining and finds that perfect balance between allegory and saccharine.
It’s an thoughtful examination of not only the diversity within the Muslim community itself, but also how they are often times wrongly perceived by those around them. I really, really loved this fake dating to lovers story and fell absolutely head over heels for Humaira and Ishita, and you will to.
Steve and Adiba talk about the diversity within the Muslim community, the fake dating to lovers trope, Hani and Ishu of course and the theme of affirmation, the current state of publishing, and much, much more.
Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating is out now, so click HERE to order a copy today!
