⭐ RATING: 4/5
✨ INTRODUCTION
The Henna Wars is a book I had been so excited to read, and overall it did not disappoint. Written by Adiba Jaigirdar, this story follows two Bengali‑Irish girls, Nishat and Flávia, who find themselves rivals when they both launch henna businesses for their school enterprise competition. What starts as competition and disagreement slowly turns into understanding, friendship and something deeper, all while navigating identity, culture, family expectations and who you really are. It is open, honest and covers topics that matter deeply — here is exactly what I thought.
💭 MY THOUGHTS & FEELINGS
There were parts of this book that hit me harder than I expected, and lines that stayed with me long after I read them.
💔 One moment that really stood out and hurt to read:
“It’s the most that Ammu has said to me since I came out to her a few weeks ago, and it sends a jolt of pain through me that I hadn’t expected. I guess you never really get used to your parents treating you like you’re worth nothing.”
This part was heartbreaking. It captures that quiet, heavy pain of coming out and not receiving the love or acceptance you hoped for — and the realisation that this kind of hurt doesn’t just go away quickly. It made me feel so much for Nishat, and it is written so honestly you can almost feel it yourself. It shows how much courage it takes to keep being yourself, even when the people closest to you struggle to accept you.
❌ Something I didn’t feel worked quite so well:
There was one quote that I personally felt wasn’t needed and didn’t add anything positive:
“White people like to pretend that race is only as deep as the color of our skin — maybe because the color of their skin gets them so many benefits.”
I wasn’t a fan of this line at all. It felt unnecessary, too broad and generalised, and I don’t think it added anything helpful to the story or the message. It felt out of place compared to how careful and thoughtful the rest of the writing is.
💛 And the perfect ending line that says everything:
The very last sentence of the whole book is honestly one of the best closing lines I have ever read:
“It doesn’t seem like much. But sometimes just being yourself — really, truly yourself — can be the most difficult thing to be.”
I absolutely loved this. It rings true for absolutely everyone, no matter who you are, where you come from or what you go through. It sums up the whole heart of this story perfectly — that being yourself is brave, hard and the most important thing you will ever do. I closed the book feeling like that message will stay with me forever.
📚 OVERALL OPINION
✅ What I loved most:
This book is incredibly open and honest about how different cultures, traditions and communities view sexuality and identity. It shows that things aren’t simple — that love, acceptance and understanding can look different depending on where you come from, and that you can love your culture and be fully yourself.
I also really appreciated how it handled bullying and prejudice in school — something so many young people go through and relate to. It puts it into such a clear perspective: no matter what people say, no matter how they treat you or what they think, you still have the right to hold your head high, be proud and live as you are.
💡 Why 4/5 not 5/5?
Only because of that one quote I mentioned earlier — otherwise this would easily have been full marks. It’s a beautiful, meaningful, important story and I would absolutely recommend it.
📌 WHO IS THIS FOR?
- If you want stories about culture, heritage and belonging
- If you want honest, real representation
- If you love stories about courage, friendship and staying true to yourself
👉 Have you read it? I’d love to know what you thought, especially that last line! 🧡
Love&Pages
J💛
Books For The Soul 