I don’t write everyday. Between my day job, my faulty brain and the ongoing disaster that is the world around us, I don’t always have the time or energy or will to live. So while I continue to wait for my first ever notes from the editor, I’m going to distract myself with some rambling.
I don’t read everyday either, but I’m more consistent with that than my writing. I’ve found audio books to be a saving grace, as they let me do something with my hands while I’m lost in another world. This is key for my ADHD and has increased both my reading and my knitting.
I just finished reading/listening to Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar. I was in love from the get go and may have stayed up until 1am more than once muttering “just one more chapter” to myself. It’s cute, it’s queer and the voice work is amazing. The characters are so real and Ishu in particular is relatable to me (I too was an angry, sweary, too smart for my own good teenager and I will defend Ishu to my dying day).
What I really love about it though is the glimpses it gives me into a world I’ve never experienced. Yeah, I grew up queer and middle class, but I did it while being white. Experiencing the way Hani and Ishu have to hide parts of themselves, have to compartmentalise their lives, is heart wrenching. I will never fully understand that, but watching it play out gives me the smallest idea and I’m glad for it. I’m especially glad that there are young people who will read this and see themselves reflected on the page. Ah, the power of books will always amaze me.
I only got the book on a whim (thank you Twitter Writing Community for splashing this master piece across my feed) and started it because I didn’t feel like anything too heavy. I figured it’d be an enjoying read, something light before I inevitably fall down a horror rabbit hole.
This book had me swearing at characters, cheering on the heroines and biting back tears (both happy and sad). The pacing, the tension, the pay offs; it all made me so happy. There is also so much celebration of culture and religion. Adiba Jaigirdar shares her love for her roots so honestly through her words and her characters, it was a privilege to be able to experience it.
I completely recommend Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating for anyone needing some cute, queer YA in their lives.
Bronwen Write 