The Henna Wars

 Jaigirdar, Adiba. The Henna Wars. 2020. 400p. ISBN 9781624149689. 

Originally from Bangladesh, Nishat and her family moved to Ireland, and settled in Dublin. Her father runs a restaurant, and her mother takes care of both Nishat and her sister Priti. Attending an all-girl Catholic school, Nishat sticks out like a sore thumb with her dark skin, her Muslim faith, and the secret that she likes girls. Attending a Bengali wedding, she decides it's time to tell her parents. At the wedding she is reunited with Flávia, a girl from her elementary years. Flávia is half-Brazilian, half-Irish, and her brown skin looks a lot like Nishat's own. Nishat is instantly smitten, but can't act on her impulse, plus it's unlikely she'll run into Flávia again.

Finally mustering the courage following the wedding, she tells her parents that she is a lesbian, only to be met with incomprehension. Only her sister Priti supports her. Returning to school for a new school year, Nishat is shocked to see Flávia is not only now attending school, but their lockers are right next to each other. Unfortunately, Flávia happens to be China's cousin, and China is the biggest gossip and the meanest girl in school, and has been demeaning Nishat since they were freshmen.

At school, a business competition is announced, and Nishat decides she will draw henna designs, used in traditional Bengali weddings, as her business. Unfortunately Flávia, who's a great artist, joins forces with China and they also offer henna designs, something Nishat perceives as an appropriation of her culture. Torn between loving Flávia and hating her, Nishat faces hard decisions about her life, her sister, her family, and her own identity.

Fans of When Dimple Met Rishi will appreciate Nishat's resilience and the vivid descriptions of her culture and her home life. Nishat is strong and refuses to break in the face of adversity. Her parents eventually come around to her sexual identity, and though she doesn't win the business competition, she does win Flávia's heart.