I’m normally not into contemporary realistic teen stories. And yet, I was so immersed in the story that I stayed up late at night reading, and, more shockingly, I got up early to squeeze in an hour or two of reading before going to work. What is happening? Why am I reading a contemporary teen drama? And why am I enjoying it so much? It tackles complicated issues of race, identity, class, and religion, and paints a portrait of teenage ambition, angst, and alienation that feels both inventive and universal. This beautifully written debut novel from Tanaz Bhathena reveals a rich and wonderful new world to readers. And as her story is pieced together, told through multiple perspectives, it becomes clear that she was far more than just a girl like that. So how is it that eighteen-year-old Porus Dumasia has only ever had eyes for her? And how did Zarin and Porus end up dead in a car together, crashed on the side of a highway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia? When the religious police arrive on the scene, everything everyone thought they knew about Zarin is questioned. You don't want to get involved with a girl like that, they say. She’s also the kind of girl that parents warn their kids to stay away from: a troublemaker whose many romances are the subject of endless gossip at school. Sixteen-year-old Zarin Wadia is many things: a bright and vivacious student, an orphan, a risk taker. A timeless exploration of high-stakes romance, self-discovery, and the lengths we go to love and be loved.
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