Starred Review This crossover coming-of-age book will take your breath away. Anisa has made efforts to appear perfect ever since her parents decided she would marry her childhood friend, Isaac. And why shouldn't she strive for perfection? Isaac is smart, handsome, rich, and comes from a good family. But even with her skilled hand at makeup and her measured grace, she can't seem to hold Isaac's attention when they go away to college. Despite attending schools that are right next to each other, Anisa rarely sees Isaac due to his busy schedule. When her class partner, Marlow, positions himself as her love coach and promises to help her get through to Isaac, Anisa agrees to look past his atrocious fashion sense and take him up on his offer. As the two begin working closely, Anisa lets her guard down and learns that maybe being perfect isn't the answer. Rishi balances comedy with serious issues easily; Anisa's charming narration guides the reader through all of it. While Anisa's materialistic views may be off-putting, she finds her opposite in easygoing and nurturing Marlow. Their swoon-worthy relationship will capture the hearts of readers, but it's Anisa's journey to vocalizing her needs that steals the show. Sympathetic and complicated characters make this one an instant reread.

A college student gets a much-needed lesson in letting go of perfectionAnisa Shirani, a young Pakistani American Muslim woman, strives to maintain a picture-perfect image for her Instagram followers, peers, and almost-fiance, Isaac Jamil. Lately, however, Isaac has seemed distant, and tensions at home are escalating between Anisa's parents. Anisa is paired with Marlow Greene, a Jamaican boy who's Black and Indian, for a project for her Race & Ethnicity class. She's initially put off by his fashion sense (cargo shorts and Crocs?) and open demeanor, but when Marlow witnesses Isaac flirting with another girl, he offers to be Anisa's "love coach" and help her win him back. When Anisa and Marlow build an actual relationship, complications arise as they confront secrets and disapproval. The novel provides a realistic backdrop and a refreshingly diverse set of characters but lacks depth. While Anisa's struggles with perfecting her image and Rishi's use of trending pop-culture references may be relatable to some readers, Anisa's obsession with her looks largely feels like a caricature, and her eventual growth doesn't come across as earned or satisfying. Marlow's romantic interest in Anisa isn't convincing, particularly given her apparent judgmental behavior when they first meet. Similarly, the progress in most of Anisa's relationships isn't built on a foundation of believable interactions, making the happy outcomes feel rushed.Timely themes undermined by an absence of the emotions required to make a lasting impact.(Romance. 14-18)