By Anika Hussain (author)
"Cute, complicated and entertaining, this “will they, won’t they?” page-turner sees an endearing British-South-Asian teenager write her own real-life romcom script"
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Shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2024
Best friends, fake dating, friends-to-lovers twists and a whopping web of secrets — Anika Hussain’s This is How You Fall in Love has a wonderful Desi girl at its beating heart and reels with romcom entertainment.
Though she’s obsessed with romcom novels and movies, Zara has yet to star in her own love story. In the meantime, her life revolves around her beloved Desi family and her best mates - Sadie, who sets about making a documentary film project about love, and Adnan, her best friend since childhood, who everyone thinks would be her ideal leading man, including their parents.
While both Zara and Adnan insist that will never happen — they’re close friends, that’s it — the tide turns when Adnan needs to cover-up his real girlfriend and begs Zara to pretend they’re an item. How hard can it be? Very, as things turn out. First up, there’s a whole lot of practical issues around how they behave towards each other, and around Adnan’s actual girlfriend.
Then there’s jealousy, and the problem of Zara falling for someone for real. With a fun meta-fiction vibe (a romcom about romcom with entertaining romcom twists), the besties-to-couple trope is thrust to the fore from the off: “that’s literally how every YA romcom starts. Boy and girl are besties, they get involved in a fake dating scheme and then BAM they get together for real.”
All of which leaves readers expecting that very thing to happen to Zara and Adnan. Cue much confusion and soul-searching realisations on the path to heart-stirring happiness.
Zara loves love in all forms: 90s romcoms and romance novels and grand sw eeping gestures. And she's desperate to have her own great love story. Crucially, a real one.
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So when her best friend Adnan begs her to pretend to date him to cover up his new top-secret relationship, Zara is hesitant. This isn't the kind of thing she had in mind. But there's something in it for Zara too: making her parents, who love Adnan, happy might just stop them arguing for a while. She may not be getting her own love story, but she could save theirs.
So Zara agrees and the act begins: after all, how different can pretending to be in a relationship w ith your best friend be to just hanging around with them like usual? Turns out, a lot. With fake dating comes fake hand-holding and fake kissing and real feelings... And when a new boy turns up in Zara's life, things get more confusing than ever. The course of true love never did run smooth, but Zara's love story is messier than most.
A highly entertaining and readable romcom featuring all your favourite tropes: fake dating, friends to lovers, love triangles and plenty of pining. Rich, warm and humourous, with realistic teen characters and friendships at its heart.
A debut from an exciting author, who centres British-South-Asian characters, and dispels stereotypes about and celebrates Desi culture.
'Funny, heartwarming and wholly original. An absolute joy to read!' - Ravena Guron, author of This Book Kills
' This Is How You Fall In Love is a love story that will have you swooning!' - Adiba Jaigirdir, author of Hani and Ishu's GUide to Fake Dating
'Full of heart and candour.' - Observer
Anika Hussain was born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden but currently lives and writes in Bath, Somerset. She is a graduate of the Bath Spa MAWYP.
Not having seen herself in the books she read as a teenager, Anika writes YA novels with South Asian characters at the heart of the story. Aside from writing and working as an Operations Manager, Anika is involved with the Hawkins Project, founded by Dave Eggers, to elevate the voices of young people in the publishing industry. In her free time, Anika rewatches Love Island , listens to too many true crime podcasts, and sings pop-punk songs loudly around her apartment.
The YA Book Prize 2024 shortlist has been announced
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Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating
Zara wants someone who takes her by surprise and… Adnan is her best friend and he’s convinced he’s found ‘the one.’ But to stay with his new girl, he has to fool everyone into believing it is Zara…. But what Zara gets is so beautifully unexpected.
‘With Fake Dating comes Real Feelings’
Anika Hussain has delivered a young adult novel with humour, surprise and glee. I loved the feeling of anticipation as I waited for the falling in love to begin already!
What it’s about: Zara wants someone who takes her by surprise… who she feels comfortable with. Adnan is her best friend and he’s convinced he’s found ‘the one.’ No, it’s not Zara. But to stay with his new girl, he has to fool everyone into believing it is Zara….
Zara loves her romcoms, she loves reading about turbulent romances while in the safety of her bedroom. She knows that fake dating leads to the real thing.... Read Full Review
Zara loves love in all forms: 90s romcoms and romance novels and grand sw eeping gestures. And she's desperate to have her own great love story.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed This Is How You Fall In Love and determined it is suitable for children aged 13-18 years old
This Is How You Fall In Love features in the following genres: Featured Books for 13+ readers, Recommendations, Funny, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, PSHE: Multiculturalism, Diversity and Inclusion, Personal Social Health Economic (PSHE), Romance / Relationship Stories, Featured Books for Young Adults
Paperback. £8.09, down from the £8.99 cover price. In Stock.
This Is How You Fall In Love was written by Anika Hussain and published by Hot Key Books an imprint of Bonnier Zaffre
This Is How You Fall In Love has 385 pages
£8.09, reduced from £8.99. In Stock.
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