Winter 2020 Reading Group Indie Next List
“Romantic, utterly swoon-worthy, and heartfelt. What sets this romance apart is how developed each character and her own circumstances are. While their shared attraction and issues form the core of the romance, Rachel and Sana each have questions about their own identity and purpose, and this aspect makes the story come to life.”
— Rebecca Waesch, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, OH
Description
Aminah Mae Safi's Tell Me How You Really Feel is an ode to romantic comedies, following two girls on opposite sides of the social scale as they work together to make a movie and try very hard not to fall in love.
The first time Sana Khan asked out a girl–Rachel Recht--it went so badly that she never did it again. Rachel is a film buff and aspiring director, and she’s seen Carrie enough times to learn you can never trust cheerleaders (and beautiful people). Rachel was furious that Sana tried to prank her by asking her on a date.
But when it comes time for Rachel to cast her senior project, she realizes that there’s no more perfect lead than Sana--the girl she's sneered at in the halls for the past three years. And poor Sana--she says yes. She never did really get over that first crush, even if Rachel can barely stand to be in the same room as her.
Told in alternative viewpoints and set against the backdrop of Los Angeles in the springtime, when the rainy season rolls in and the Santa Ana's can still blow--these two girls are about to learn that in the city of dreams, anything is possible--even love.
About the Author
Aminah Mae Safi is a Muslim-American writer. Safi was the winner of the We Need Diverse Books short story contest, and that story appears in the anthology Fresh Ink. She lives in Los Angeles, California, with her partner and cat.
Praise For…
Not the Girls You're Looking For:
"These authentic teen girls are smart, complicated, sexual, and sensitive. Their friendships can be mean and messy, but they are also fiercely loyal. This rich story also explores biracial and mixed culture identity (Lulu has a white mom and an Arab dad) in all its joys and struggles." —School Library Journal
"As hilarious as it is heartwarming, this beautiful story about family, friendships, and one amazingly complex teenage girl will leave you begging for more." —Sandhya Menon, New York Times bestselling author of When Dimple Met Rishi
"Deftly written and darkly funny." —Katy Upperman,author of Kissing Max Holden