review: a girl like that by tanaz bhathena

A timeless exploration of high-stakes romance, self-discovery, and the lengths we go to love and be loved. 

Sixteen-year-old Zarin Wadia is many things: a bright and vivacious student, an orphan, a risk taker. She’s also the kind of girl that parents warn their kids to stay away from: a troublemaker whose many romances are the subject of endless gossip at school.  You don't want to get involved with a girl like that, they say. So how is it that eighteen-year-old Porus Dumasia has only ever had eyes for her? And how did Zarin and Porus end up dead in a car together, crashed on the side of a highway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia? When the religious police arrive on the scene, everything everyone thought they knew about Zarin is questioned. And as her story is pieced together, told through multiple perspectives, it becomes clear that she was far more than just a girl like that.

This beautifully written debut novel from Tanaz Bhathena reveals a rich and wonderful new world to readers. It tackles complicated issues of race, identity, class, and religion, and paints a portrait of teenage ambition, angst, and alienation that feels both inventive and universal. ~ Goodreads

Source: ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Review:
A Girl Like That doesn’t pull any punches right from the first line in the prologue:

“ The wails that Masi let out were so heart-wrenching, you would think I was her only daughter lying dead before her instead of the parasite from her sister’s womb as she had once called me.”

I’m not spoiling anything that isn’t in the summary but the book starts with Zarin and her friend Porus dead – hovering above their car wreck, watching their families mourn and the police make judgement on Zarin’s character rather than investigate the crash. As Zarin points out from her ghostly state – few things rile up the authorities in Saudi Arabia than a girl being in the company of a boy that is not her brother or husband.

We start from the time of death and then the story is told in non-chronological order, describing the events that led to the accident.

You can tell right from the start that Zarin is troubled, haunted and uses indifference and harsh words as a shield to protect herself from all those who have and will fail her. This defense mechanism leads people to unfairly judge her based on rumors and double-standards for girls vs boys.

Bhathena is unflinching in her portrayal of, misogyny, rape culture and the bullying/gossip (from both boys & girls) that happens to a “girl like that”.  She also explores the regional religious beliefs and cultures through a sometimes harsh lens but also with nuance and respect.

There are multiple pov’s. Zarin the MC – who is betrayed, broken and feels unworthy of love or kindness, Porus – the boy who loves Zarin and the only one true friend that she can rely on. To a lesser extent, the pov’s of Farhan a boy who dates Zarin and Mishal  - the sister of another boy Zarin had dated.

Each pov intertwines and adds a layer to the story. Although extremely difficult to read at times, it shows what it’s like for boys to be exposed to the idea that girls should be shamed while boys protected and celebrated and how that affects every step of their lives and expectations for their future.

While I do believe that the added pov’s of Farhan and Mishal provide troubling insight as to how Zarin reaches the point of no return - it also slowed the story somewhat for me. Every pov was relevant – but wasn’t always as compelling as Zarin or Porus.

I felt like I had read a version of this story many times before (even in this non-chronological format just a year ago) but the prose is beautiful and Zarin  a fierce and unforgettable character.

Highlight for content warnings: drugging/attempted date rape/sexual assault, one scene of animal cruelty/death, child abuse, bullying