TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL

Rachel Recht and Sana Khan are either mortal enemies or star-crossed lovers.

Jewish-Mexican Rachel has hated South Asian–Persian Muslim Sana ever since Sana asked her out during their freshman year at their exclusive private school as a prank. At least, Rachel assumed it was a prank—why else would a perfect cheerleader like Sana want to date a scholarship student like her, even if Rachel is a brilliant filmmaker? So when Rachel’s film teacher forces her to cast Sana in her final film class project—a project that will determine whether she gets a scholarship to her dream college, NYU—Rachel is sure that the whole thing will be a disaster. Until she realizes that seemingly perfect Sana is wrestling with her own demons—including her family’s unreasonable expectations and her own doubts about her future. Before long, sparks start to fly, and Rachel and Sana discover parts of each other that they cannot help but love. Safi (Not the Girls You’re Looking For, 2018) expertly weaves a fast-paced will-they-or-won’t-they story of two American girls trying to decide who they are and what they want. While Sana and Rachel’s sexual orientation is an important part of the story, it is just one part, allowing Safi to create layered, nuanced characters who keep readers enthralled.

A queer romance that will sweep readers away.