TJ POWAR HAS SOMETHING TO PROVE

Though Tejindar “TJ” Powar’s palms get sweaty while she’s launching into a debate speech, she’s pretty, plays soccer, and hangs out with cool, confident friends and her doting athlete boyfriend.

So what if that sheen of perfection comes at the cost of a world of hurt and hours spent at the salon getting waxed and threaded? But when her cousin Simran becomes the subject of a derogatory viral meme comparing her negatively to TJ, it gets very personal. TJ sets a debate resolution, striving to prove the point that inner beauty matters more than outer beauty. As things heat up, with TJ ditching her razors and epilator, she finds herself in even hairier situations with her friends, family, and peers—and they’re much more painful than any salon treatments. There’s much to appreciate about this book, especially the cool girl protagonist who begins to question her self-worth. Fans of school stories will enjoy the humor, romance, and fun characters who navigate lost relationships, friendships that endure, and reminders that some people will always have your back—no matter how hairy it may be. Also refreshing is the way the book unpacks South Asian heritage, focusing on characters who are Punjabi Sikh Canadians without pandering to stereotypes or othering cultural elements by overexplaining them. This crisp read covers beauty, body image, gender expectations, and conformity without feeling labored or pedantic.

An entertaining novel that confronts toxic beauty standards.