The queer romance you didn't know you needed!
Dates Read: 27/03/2022 to 11/04/2022
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Word to describe: Wholesome
Genre: Young Adult Romance
TW: Homophobia, someone being outed, cultural appropriation, bullying.
The Henna Wars was the second queer romance I read by best-selling author Adiba Jaigirdar. After falling in love with the characters in Hani and Ishu's Guide To Fake Dating I knew this book would follow suit as a delightful and heartwarming teen romance, and I was right.
This book introduces two characters, Nishat and Flavia, destined to fall for each other but their romance doesn't go as smoothly as planned. As part of their business studies, the girls have to create their own unique idea to sell a product and make the most money. The complication? Both characters choose to give henna tattoos to their peers. Nishat is outraged that Flavia, another person of colour, would follow her white cousin Chyna's idea to use henna without knowing the history behind it. Flavia doesn't understand the problem, surely she is adding awareness to this beautiful art? When their competition and rivalry turn sour, after Nishat is outed as a lesbian at school, the two girls resort to sneaky tactics to win the competition.
I really enjoyed how many topics this book covered in a short amount of time. From the internalised homophobia from queer women of colour to racist stereotypes being used to bully characters. The characters and their problems were portrayed in such a manner that they could climb out of the page and feel real. Each character has its own flaw, albeit some may be worse than others it shows that nobody is perfect.
The topic of cultural appropriation is discussed really well in this book. As something that not everyone remains mindful of, Adiba Jaigirdar brilliantly explains the negatives of cultural appropriation and how it affects those. For example, Nishat is bullied for her family's traditional foods but her bully Chyna takes henna tattoos and turns them popular amongst her white schoolmates - this perfectly shows how cultural appropriation works by taking some parts of someone's heritage as fun and others as weird and shameful.
Another part of this book that stood out and fed my love for this story is the evolving and complicated relationships between the characters. Nishat and her sister Pritti, Nishat and her parents (who are learning how to be an ally), Flavia and Chyna, and Flavia and Nishat. These relationships are messy and real. The romance between Flavia and Nishat is not magical and Disney certified with a happy ending. The two characters have fought and their relationship evolves naturally. Readers see how these characters grow to love each other and respect each other's differences. The acceptance of their queer identity is a subplot that works amazingly with their characters and the bonding over strict and traditional-minded parents.
Overall, this story is amazing. It discusses social issues and weaves them into the story naturally. The characters are charming, flawed, and live up to their potential. The ending is open but I can guarantee that these characters have lived happily ever after.
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