The Henna Wars is a LGBTQ+ romance novel by Adiba Jaigirdar. Nishat is surprised by the lack of response that she receives when she comes out as a lesbian to her parents. She soon realizes, however, that her parents think that it's a phase which will pass if they simply don't mention it. Nishat tries to go along with the plan, with hopes of proving to her parents that being a lesbian is okay, when a childhood friend, Flávia, walks back into her life. Nishat falls for her instantly and her life becomes infinitely more complicated when she realizes that Flávia will be attending the same school as her.
The Henna Wars contains a great mix of intense and sweet elements. It deals with appropriation and prejudice while also celebrating culture and love. The main character, Nishat, is compelling, as well. She deals with real life scenarios, makes mistakes, and grows from those mistakes. However, people may find her off-putting because of the way she distances herself from people who she thinks are a negative influence. Many of the plot points, in addition, were obvious chapters before hey happened but that doesn't necessarily weaken the story. The writing style is a bit bland and there is very little that sets the writing of the book apart from that of others. Overall, The Henna Wars is a simple book with a mild plot that deals with large issues very well. In my opinion, that is the most impressive aspect of the novel.