This Is How You Fall in Love

Best friends Zara and Adnan must navigate the twists and turns of fake dating, family dynamics and cultural stereotypes in this swoon-worthy YA Desi rom-com.

Zara loves love in all forms: rom-coms and romance novels and grand sweeping gestures. She's desperate to have her own great love story-a real one.

Everyone thinks Zara and her best friend, Adnan, obviously belong together. And they do love each other-just not like that. So when Adnan begs Zara to help cover his new, secret relationship by pretending to be his girlfriend, she doesn't really hesitate. How difficult can it be? It isn't the kind of great romance she had in mind, but with fake dating comes fake hand-holding and fake kissing and . . . real feelings?

And when a new, exciting boy arrives in Zara's life, things get more confusing than ever. Her fake romance might be making everyone around her happy, but should it be real, and can Zara and Adnan really be in love if they both have real feelings for somone else?

Anika Hussain's hilarious and heartfelt debut follows best friends as they fall through the twists and turns of fake dating, family dynamics, and friendship in this swoon-worthy young adult rom-com.

Author: Anika Hussain
Publisher: Bloomsbury YA
Published: 02/13/2024
Pages: 400
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.1lbs
Size: 8.35h x 5.83w x 1.42d
ISBN: 9781547614509
Audience: Young Adult


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 12/01/2023
Booklist 02/15/2024 pg. 56

About the Author
Anika Hussain was born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden but currently lives and writes in Bristol, England. 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 work, 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. Twitter: @huanika www.anikahussain.co.uk