I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Before reading this, I had no idea about the gaps in my knowledge of Bangladesh and its culture, but the cultural framing Priyanka Taslim puts into her book is effective; I felt like I learned a lot, and Zahra is such a compelling protagonist that I couldn't put the book down. Her struggles with familial devotion, compromising her life plans, and trying to make time for her best friends are relatable to me as an adult and will definitely resonate with younger readers too. The romance is also dramatic and angsty in a way that works well with the narrative--while Zahra makes some cringe-worthy decisions, the climax of her romance with her chosen suitor is satisfying. (I wish we had gotten to see more of their relationship at the end, though!)

If you're a fan of South Asian Cinema (Bolly-, Tolly-, Dhallywood, etc.), you'll love this.