The Henna Wars

Nishat doesn't want to lose her family, but she also doesn't want to hide who she is, and it only gets harder once a childhood friend walks back into her life. Flávia is beautiful and charismatic, and Nishat falls for her instantly. But when a school competition invites students to create their own businesses, both Flávia and Nishat decide to showcase their talent as henna artists. In a fight to prove who is the best, their lives become more tangled--but Nishat can't quite get rid of her crush, especially since Flávia seems to like her back.

As the competition heats up, Nishat has a decision to make: stay in the closet for her family, or put aside her differences with Flávia and give their relationship a chance.

Adiba Jaigirdar is a Bangladeshi and Irish writer and teacher. She has a BA in English and History, and an MA in Postcolonial Studies. She is also a contributor for Book Riot. Currently, she lives in Dublin, Ireland, where she writes with the help of many cups of tea and a lot of Hayley Kiyoko and Janelle Monáe.

One of TIME's 100 Best YA Books of All Time

"This is a book that will speak to teens who are navigating their own tightrope of identities and assure them that it's okay to be messy, as long as you own up to your mistakes and try to be better moving forward." --NPR

"[ The Henna Wars] will give you a deeper understanding of social justice and friendship. And, how to ALWAYS be the best version of yourself, even if you're a baller." --Teen Vogue

"If lesbian enemies-to-lovers between rival Henna business-owning teen girls set in Ireland can't sell you on a book, nothing will." -- Buzzfeed

* Authentic and inspiring, this debut is one to seek out. --Shelf Awareness, starred review

* "Debut author Jaigirdar seamlessly weaves issues of racism and homophobia into a fast-moving plot peopled with richly drawn characters...Impossible to put down."
--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

a wholly uncontrived story with lesbians who aren't just brown but diverse in a multitude of ways.
--Booklist

Deeply satisfying... Highly recommended for fans of school stories that celebrate intersectional experiences.
--SLJ