3,7 stars

I'm usually a big fan of the hate to love trope. I get that misunderstandings are pretty much the backbone of said trope, but there's an art to executing it without it being annoying or plain stupid. A pretty big thing on the list is that the main characters need to be likeable, at least to an extent. If you want to have a character be a bit of an asshole, then at least make her a loveable asshole. Effectively, when I'm reading a romance, I need to be able to actually root for the couple.

What I liked:
- Both Sana and Rachel's families. They had their flaws, but they were there, and they loved the girls.
- I thoroughly enjoyed the cultural representation. As a pasty white atheist Finn, I have no idea how accurate it is, but I love that it's there.
- I loved Sana as a character. Sure, she acted like a dick to her parents (what teenager doesn't?) but other than that she was sweet and kind and doing her best to struggle under the pressures placed on her.
- Diesel was the ultimate bro in the best way possible.
- The ending where the girls got together while still both pursuing their respective dreams

What I disliked:
- Rachel. I get she was supposed to have a character arc from an insufferable shedevil to a redeemed love interest, but I just didn't get there. I still have no idea what Sana saw in a girl who was never anything but rude and dismissive toward her. And yeah, Rachel has baggage, but who the hell doesn't? Being insecure is no excuse to treat other people like shit.
- The conflict. I hate when the conflict in a romance is effectively nothing but miscommunication. If the main conflict could have been resolved with people being honest and having a ten minute conversation, then that's just the author being lazy.

If I reviewed this book as a romance, this would be closer to a two star read. However, if I pretend the romance didn't happen, we get to the 3,7 stars, which I'll round up simply for mathematical reasons. ( )

(2.5)

Tell Me How You Feel is a perfectly fine book, there’s nothing actively wrong with it but I never became engaged with the relationship and the leads. The book takes place over the course of a month so their relationship felt rushed and very insta-lovey. Overall a middling read that would have been better if more time had been taken to develop their relationship. ( )

Unless this book has the worst writing, nothing will stop me from reading this.
I adore the cover. The plot contains a trope I'm such a sucker for. Plus I haven't read many romances between women. Especially in the genres I'm a sucker for.

diverse teen fiction; "will they or won't they" lgbtqai love story (brown-skinned Muslim-American cheerleader meets brown-skinned Mexican/Jewish scholarship film student, #ownvoices rep)
Two 17-/18-y.o.s try to sort out their feelings during one complicated month of family relations and looming deadlines. Lots of movie references throughout (most of which went over my head).
A slower read, but an engaging story. Would recommend. ( )

sana khan- i love you! ( )