Always Be My Bibi

by Priyanka Taslim

Clueless meets Jenna Evans Welch in this young adult rom-com about a spoiled American teenager who faces some major culture shock—and potential romance—when she jets off to Bangladesh for her sister’s wedding.

Bibi Hossain was supposed to get her first kiss this summer.

Too bad her father finds out and grounds her for breaking his most arcane rule: No boys until your sister gets married.

Just when Bibi thinks she’ll be stuck helping him at their popular fried chicken chain until school reopens, her oh-so-perfect older sister Halima drops a bombshell: she’s marrying the heir of a princely estate turned tea garden in Bangladesh. Soon, Bibi is hopping on the next flight to Sylhet for Halima’s Big Fat Bengali Wedding, hoping Abbu might even rethink the dating ban while they’re there.

Unfortunately, the stuffy Rahmans are a nightmare—especially Sohel, the groom’s younger brother. The only thing they can agree on is that their siblings are not a good match. But as the two scheme to break their siblings up, Bibi finds it impossible to stay away from the infuriatingly handsome boy.

Could her own happily ever after be brewing even as she stirs up trouble for her sister’s engagement—or is there more steeping at the tea estate than Bibi knows?

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Rom Com, Young Adult Romance, Bangladesh, Family

368 pages, Hardcover

First published June 10, 2025

About the author

Priyanka Taslim is a writer, teacher, and lifelong New Jersey resident.

Having grown up in a bustling Bangladeshi diaspora community, surrounded by her mother’s entire clan and many aunties of no relation, her writing often features families, communities, and all the drama therein.

Currently, Priyanka teaches English by day and tells all kinds of stories about Bengali characters by night. Her writing usually stars spunky Bengali heroines finding their place in the world…and a little swoony romance, too.

Her debut young adult novel, THE LOVE MATCH, is releasing from Salaam Reads, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, in January 2023.

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Simon Teen for an arc of this title! 3.5 Stars

Always Be My Bibi first caught my attention via the title (an interesting play on "Always Be My Baby" by Mariah Carey). It follows teenage Bibi who is stuck working with her family chicken business after getting grounded. When her sister decides to get married, she has to make the trip to Bangladesh for the celebration. There she finds friendship, love, and community. This book is full of beautiful Bangladeshi cultural practices and rituals. It's also a coming of age story about a young girl attempting to find a balance between tradition and carving her own path. Though there were moments where I found it difficult to keep up with all of the various elements, Taslim did a great job developing Bibi as a character. There were moments where my heart both broke and rejoiced for her. Overall, this was a solid read and I'm looking forward to checking out more from Taslim in the future. If you're interested in hearing more of my thoughts about this one, be sure to check out my reading vlog where this title was included: https://youtu.be/aIuV134VnsQ

[Priyanka Taslim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello, I'm the author of ALWAYS BE MY BIBI, and have just reread it for pass pages, so I can say with full confidence that BIBI is my funniest, swooniest, most dreamy romcom yet! Follow me on socials (@bhootbabe for all, but I'm most active on Instagram) for information about how to get an ARC, preorder goodies, and more!

What can you find in BIBI? (Only take a gander if you like a sneak peek at tropes and CWs)

1. Bratty fashionista x Broody farm boy (MC is a Cher Horowitz/Elle Woods type)

2. Bride's little sister x Groom's younger brother

3. Scheming together to sabotage their siblings' wedding for their own good

4. Set at a gorgeous, ethereal tea resort in Sylhet, Bangladesh

5. Big city heroine in a small town vibes, forced to give up her phone and embrace nature

6. Bangladeshi American heroine who mostly considers herself American meets British Bangladeshi hero who mostly considers himself Bangladeshi

7. About the relationship between sisters (and, to a lesser extent, brothers) when you're always in your older sibling's shadow

8. Other strong platonic relationships on the side

9. A little bit about the history of Bangladesh, especially its relationship to tea as one of the major exporters of tea now

10. Major Bollywood/natok vibes

11. The MC is NOT particularly religious and the book doesn't have religious themes, but there is a sweet halal romance between side characters

12. And they were coworkers [on the tea estate] (but not by choice)

13. Matchmaking, both done to and done by the heroine

14. Writing each other notes

15. Nicknames

16. Fun interstitials

17. Trying to solve a family mystery stemming from the war (Letters to Juliet vibes, iykyk)

18. Fried chicken princess meets pretentious tea prince

19. There's a hot cricket player, I'm just sayin'

Annnnd I think that's it for now, since I don't want to give too much away, but here are some light content warnings as well (nothing too egregious because the book is mostly lighthearted):

Vague references to colonization and the violence that occurred during the Liberation War, some light on page sexism and colorism, some light on page mistreatment of tea laborers, some classism (never supported by the narrative)

If all of that sounds like your *cup of tea* (wink wink, finger guns, pun absolutely intended and there will be more in the book), I hope you'll consider adding ABMB to your tbr shelf, preordering a copy (the preorder art print for readers ordering from select indies will be BREATHTAKING and everyone who fills out my preorder form and provides a receipt will at least get access to it digitally), and/or requesting that your local library add a copy to their collection!

I'll actually be donating $1 for every preorder, no matter format or where you are, to BDesh Foundation, a nonprofit charity involved in poverty alleviation, health and sanitation, and educational projects in Bangladesh!

[If you're someone in the media interested in an interview or anything else, feel free to reach out via my website and contact form.]

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun YA rom-com! Always Be My Bibi follows a Bangladeshi-American girl who wants a boyfriend but is banned from dating until her older sister gets married. When her perfect sister announces her engagement, they all travel to Bangladesh for a summer wedding. Bibi has some chaperoned dating escapades and there's lots of family drama with the groom's family who feel superior. There's a lot of cool cultural elements about the history of Bangladesh and how dating and marriage ceremonies work, but it's also fun and light-hearted with an outgoing main character who likes to push boundaries, and just maybe will find love along the way! I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[amarachireads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love cute YA books that are easy to read, have great characters and a great plot. This book follows the fmc as she serves her summer punishment and goes to Bangladesh for her sister wedding. I loved the fmc so much, she is an almost 17 year old thats over the top in the best way, outspoken and sure of herself. I loved all the trouble she got in even when it was an annoying teenager move. I loved all the culture and cultural aspect of the book as they are from Bangladesh. This is a destination book and the descriptions of when they were in Bangladesh transported me there and i want to go. I also loved all the challenges the fmc and her sister faced regarding the wedding and fitting in with the fiancés old money and very cultural family.

The romance was so cute, its a slow burn that was properly earned especially with the first meeting and the dislike to love. I liked the matchmaking aspect and the friendship build and all the shenanigans. Overall this was a great ya romance and i recommend. Thanks to Simon Teen for this arc!

[tahaslibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

bengalis love drama and cha

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, light, and entertaining Muslim YA rom-com. I have been gravitating to lighter reads recently (while still reading the dark and twisted as well 😜).

This book just put a smile on my face. Bibi is a Bangladeshi American teen living in NJ. Her sister is getting married and the family travels to Bangladesh for the summer wedding. While there, Bibi meets her soon to be brother-in-law's brother, Sohel. Bibi and Sohel become friends, and possibly more When Bibi wants his help to try and break up her sister and her fiance, because she feels like they're not good for each other. I'm not going to tell you any more. It's a really fun book with great characters and you deserve to read it for yourself.

Such a cute book and I really enjoyed the Muslim representation and learning more about the culture too.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[snazzy pen ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

This was such a fun and breezy read! It seems that no matter the mood I'm in, I'm always down to devour a YA romcom. Expect rich kid shenanigans, designer brand name drops, and mouthwatering descriptions of food. Exactly my cup of tea :)

Bibi is spoiled, yes, but she is so likeable that you can't help but root for her. She's confident, caring, and she loves hard— her familial relationships were one of my favourite parts about this book. The new friendships that Bibi made were also cute! And of course, her blooming romance with Sohel was just romcom perfection. Snarky at first, then sweet (also, obsessed with how the author described them as bratty fashionista x broody farm boy and fried chicken princess meets pretentious tea prince)! I loved the little messages they wrote to each other in Bibi's book of potential matches (The Great Big Book of Biodatas). I felt that both Bibi and Sohel were really well-written characters, as their motivations, dreams, and thoughts were realistic and understandable, so even when I disagreed with some of their actions, I could see where they were coming from.

Priyanka Taslim's writing is so gripping and the imagery in this book so vivid, which allowed me to immerse myself in the gorgeous setting of the tea garden. I also liked the discussion of the history of Bangladesh, especially with its relationship to tea, since that is a topic I know very little about. Again, I really loved the writing style, so I'll definitely check out 'The Love Match' when I can!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Fizah(Books tales by me) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to the SimontEEN and NETGALLEY for this early copy
Who doesn’t like a rom-com with rich culture? I am all about finding POC, exploring their culture and finding love. Grand weddings are a bonus. I was so excited to read a book about Bangladesh’s culture.

Habiba “Bibi” is a spoiled brat. Her father's Royal Fried Chicken is a successful food chain in the USA, so they are rich. Halima is her older sister, who is smart, pretty, independent, and all the other qualities a good desi daughter can have. She had her mind set on going to law school, where she was even accepted. So, it was a surprise when she announced that she wanted to get married to Sunny in Bangladesh and settle there, skipping the law school plan. Sunny’s family is rich in Bangladesh and more traditional than Bibi’s family. Bibi is dying to date, and this summer in Bangladesh allowed her to date with her parents’ permission.

Okay, so the book had so much potential to explore culture beautifully, but it quickly fell into a secondary or tertiary role. The author tried to tackle many topics, but it quickly turned into a messy, underdeveloped, and shallow narrative. She also kept introducing new half-baked characters like Pokémon and dropping them on the way to never mention them again. Everything was more about words than action. The characters were either annoying or completely selfish, especially the protagonist, Bibi. She didn’t come across as sassy and funny, but more disrespectful, self-absorbed, and selfish. There was supposed to be a good relationship with her sister, but I never felt that she kept hurting her. Though I agree with her reasoning, the way she tackled things was just naive. Her age and her actions also didn’t match, at least make her 18-20, if she is just planning to get married to every other guy. The romance felt forced, with zero chemistry in all of the supposed couples. Haleema’s character took a 360 turn and turned into a damsel in distress, which doesn’t make sense, but I guess it was necessary so the story could proceed.

I also don’t like this narrative in POC books, where MCs born and raised in the USA go back to their parents’ homeland and instead of learning and respecting the traditions, try to change everything. The author clearly made the other characters unlikable so that Bibi could come off as some kind of hero with a “savior complex.” I agree that there are several issues in different cultures, but there certainly can be some middle ground or better way to navigate these problems.

I wrote this rant, which means this book frustrated me a lot. I was hoping to find a cute rom-com instead I got a book with a desperate and spoiled teenager who thinks everyone is stupid.

[zai · Rating 4 out of 5]

i almost forgot to review this, but this is a sweet, fun romcom, in the backdrop of sylhet, bangladesh, where bibi travels for her elder sister's wedding but is determined to break the marriage along side the groom's brother, who can't stop bantering with her.

i really enjoyed the banter, the progression of the romance and the setting of sylhet, the history of bangladesh and the genocide of bangladeshis that was talked about in the book, since it isnt much talked about in main stream media.

what did bother me from time to time was bibi's age and i felt she was far too young (16) to meet suitors and yes the author confirmed it was just meeting and her parents wouldnt let her actually date, it still felt weird at times, if she was 18 it would've been better.


5/6
3.75 (?)
it was a cute little read, i do have some critiques but i'll come back to it in a few days.

[Eden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always Be My Bibi not only has a catchy title and beautiful cover, but the story inside is upbeat and fun! The premise could've easily become too heavy, but that author keeps the story moving and entertaining for the reader.

3.25 stars rounded down

I liked the story overall. I enjoyed Bibi and her growth as a character. I LOVED her love interest, Sohel, and his backstory and sweet/sassy personality. I really liked their siblings and the dynamics of their families. The setting was beautiful, and I liked being in Bangladesh for the majority of the story.

So why a middle-of-the-road rating? This book was trying to do too much. There were 3 "major" plots, so none of them were able to breathe and fully given the time they needed in the story. Plot 1) The wedding and "sabotaging" it. I did read an arc copy, so I'm hoping this was better fleshed out in the final version, because I didn't see them do much to sabotage their siblings' wedding. There were a couple of things, but nothing major or unforgivable. Plot 2) Bibi finding a boyfriend by going on dates according to biodata. This was pretty random. Plot 3) Finding Bibi's grandmother's lost love. This was pushed in a couple of times and shoehorned in at the end for Bibi to realize something about her own romance. I liked all of these plots, but they would randomly come in and out because the author was trying to do too much in too little time.

Overall, this was a fun, low-stakes story about first love. I enjoyed myself.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pretty good, Priyanka has done it again ❤️ This is how you do YA romance.

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book by this author, The Love Match, and when I heard about this one, I was so excited to get an advanced copy to read! I was not let down either, as this had so much fun, family, and new culture for me to learn. Like I didn’t even know that tea was brought to the area, and that originally they drank coffee! I also once again have so many new foods that I want to try. And I wish we had a Royal Fried Chicken restaurant to eat at as well.

I have to say that like the author says in her acknowledgement section at the end, I can’t necessarily relate to Bibi as I am also the older, responsible daughter/sister in the family. However it was easy to fall in love with Bibi, and unlike in other stories where the character like that might annoy me, I totally still understood all the things she was feeling. I mean kind of. Bibi had to deal with the cultural aspect of parents who wouldn’t even let her date until her older sister got married, which gets the story started off, because she is currently grounded and having to work the summer at her father’s restaurant because she got caught trying to meet up with a boy. Nothing salacious, she just wanted to get her first kiss, and even just spend time with the cute boy she had a crush on, who also seemed to like her back.

But then, surprise surprise, her sister shows up and guess what, she’s getting married! Of course this thrills Bibi, knowing that hopefully she’ll get to start dating soon. This wedding is going to happen quickly though, and they even are going to fly almost right away to Bangladesh, their families’ home country. And while Bibi thinks it will just be a big vacation, nope, that’s not what happens.

First she runs into a surly boy who says he works on the tea garden, only to show up at the dinner that night and find out he is her future brother-in-law’s younger brother. Her future in-laws are not very nice. They are very wealthy, old money, and they are very snooty and look down on Bibi and her family, and even let rude, cutting remarks slip around her sister. Then, because Sunny, her sister’s fiance, is now coming home to learn how to run the tea garden/estate, both Bibi and her sister Halima are told they need to learn how the estate runs as well. So now Bibi is still working, and this is a lot of outdoor work, and Bibi, sooooo not an outdoorsy girl. She’s really into fashion, which of course her thoughts on a gap year to travel and then going to fashion school also do not endear her or her family to the Rahmans.

But, after hearing she can now date, all of a sudden all the aunties and people in the family have a book full of eligible bachelors, or the Big Book of Biodata as they call it. She goes out on a few dates. The first one being with a really rich boy that she of course develops a crush on. And also as you might expect, he isn’t about calling/texting her right back or setting up another date right away. He is a cousin of Sohel and Sunny, and Sohel does not like him, says he is a player and Bibi shouldn’t date him. And it does turn out to be true, although not quite in the way I expected!

Sohel, the younger son, really is the one who has always wanted to run the estate, to take it over, so he has a bit of anger issues with his brother now coming back and seeming to take away what he’d thought could be his. Not in a bad way though, just that he had been the one who wanted it, and his brother was only coming back because his family told him if he did come back to take over, they would approve of this marriage. Sohel has so many changes he wants to make in this still colonialist type of world. He already makes sure the people working there are getting paid better and that they are treated fairly. He is friends with the people from the villages around, and they all appreciate what he does.

Of course being in another country and dealing with all of the family drama, the wedding, suddenly/finally getting to date, Bibi has all sorts of chances to get into trouble/cause more drama. Not that she’s trying to, it just follows her as she is someone who stands up for those around her and doesn’t let people talk to her unfairly. I love the way this author can keep me hanging to see what is actually going to happen. How things will be solved in the end, as well as what types of obstacles might pop up that are unexpected, or if expected – still so different from the norm. And I also loved all the cultural aspects of the story, learning so much that I didn’t know.

This is another book that I can’t wait to share with my students next school year, and I am definitely highly recommending it to everyone else as well!

Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.

[Gayatri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable novel overflowing with humor and wit.

This is the kind of light hearted storytelling that Priyanka does skillfully. Her love for her culture and community shines through the romance and shenanigans. I found myself chuckling out loud just as often as I nodded along to relatable cultural commentary. It’ll make you think while being entertained.

Highly recommend for summer reading and gifting.

[Anne Fiewig · Rating 4 out of 5]

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5

BOOK REVIEW: airport edition
While this book wasn't my current day cup of tea think this would be the perfect book for a younger version of myself. Clueless with an Indian flair! I loved seeing the impact of culture throughout the story and the young girl humor sprinkled throughout. If you find yourself looking for something light hearted and fun with a splash of nostalgia this is the book for you!

[USOM · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

What starts off with the classic, "I need to break my sister's engagement up" premise, quickly turns into a story about dreams and family. It's about what happens when dreams change and about how we can try to find people who weather this period with us. At the same time, the theme that really stands out is how Taslim explores family. With the generational and cultural differences in Always Be My Bibi, are we strong enough to go against these forces for love? What does it take to be a person like that?

[Kirin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had pretty low expectations going into this 368 page YA romcom- as often YA is really "adult" and if the characters/author are Muslim in a "romance" it tends to become a heavy handed rebellion against Islamic principles. So imagine my surprise when the book really is meant for teenage readers. The protagonist loves her culture, and it is established really early on that they are Muslim, but aren't religious.  Sure as an "Islamic School Librarian," I wish the characters practiced Islam, and that the the kissing and hugging was labeled as haram, but for the fictional story on the page, that is cultural based, it is a delightfully chaotic and fun read.  Note, the kissing and haramness occurs when they are "sneaking out," and reads as if they are sneaking out from parental rules, not Islamic ones, as they do not view the world through an Islamic lens.  The protagonist's sister is presented as religious in that she wears hijab, and left a prestigious private school to attend a local Islamic one, but it is not a major plot point, and if anything shows that Islam is not a monolith or something forced, really though it just shows how different the siblings are.  Does that mean the writing is some literary genius? No, not really, but it is a quick light summer read that I enjoyed. The main character, Habiba, aka Bibi, reads as a Bangladeshi Cher from Clueless through and through, and while at the start it was a bit annoying, I ultimately found her endearing by the end.  There are plot holes, but I didn't care too much given the quick pace and the nature of the book. The ending though, was drawn out and too long, and the book could have been easily 50 pages shorter. All in all it was fun to be transported to a tea estate in Bangladeshi for a wedding, and I wouldn't have a problem with 15 - 16 year olds or so reading the book.

SYNOPSIS:

Bibi is in hot water with her father for sneaking off to prom with a boy, the deal has always been no dating until her older, perfect, law school bound, sister Halima gets married.  And her punishment for the summer is working at the family restaurant, one of the many Royal Fried Chicken locations in the chain they started that makes her family, chicken royalty. When hijab wearing, no haram dating Halima springs on her family that she is getting married, the family all heads to Bangladesh for the summer to get to know the groom's family on the massive tea estate, and celebrate the wedding. Oh and Bibi's punishment will be transferred from working fast food, to working in the fields under her new brother-in-law to be's grumpy, serious, younger brother, Sohel.  Bibi also holds her father to his end of the deal and when the big book of biodatas arrives, she is ready to have her chaperoned dates as promised.

As the prickly family of inlaws look down on Bibi and her family, Bibi and surprisingly, Sohel join forces to break the pair up. As the book unfolds their mission changes, the bio data book causes drama, old flames are sought after, and the wedding takes some surprising turns.

WHY I LIKE IT:

As I write this, I'm rolling my eyes at the fact that I really did read it in two sittings and was amused. Bibi is spoiled and clueless and yet does have a good heart.  As with most romantically inclined books, a whole lot of suspension of reality takes place and side characters are not fully fleshed out.  Halima and Sunny met in college, and there families are from the same part of Sylhet, infact Baba worked on the Rahman's tea estate before coming to America.  The grandma is woefully underdeveloped, I get that she is a side character but the girls spend so little time with this woman they love so dearly is a blaring hole. I really didn't get some of the scenes after the midpoint, they felt like filler and they felt forced: friends coming from America, the bachelorette party turned amusement park trip, Sohel not sticking up for Bibi, the half hearted love triangle, and the Bibi Baba multiple rehashings.

I did like that the title of the book though comes from something Baba says to Bibi, and not from a love interest, that made me smile. And I liked that the "dates" were supervised, it is vague if the dates in America would have been, or if once Halima was married she would have been allowed to "date" with a western definition, but I kind of liked that it wasn't defined.

FLAGS:

Disrespect, sneaking out, kissing, hugging, close boy girl friendships, sneaking out, language.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:
Definitely not a book to spotlight as a book club selection, but one that I would have on the shelf and not mind older high schoolers reading.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taslim, Priyanka. Always Be My Bibi
June 10, 2025 by Salaam Reads
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Bibi Hossain's family is very wealthy and fairly easy going, but when she sneaks out to prom and her parents find out, they ground her. In Bibi's mind, she didn't have any other choice, since she is forbidden to date until her older sister, Halima, gets married. Since Halima is finishing up her degree at and heading to law school, that seems too long to wait. Just a week into her stint working at a restaurant in her father's Royal Fried Chicken fast food restaurant, which is beyond mortifying, Halima shows up to announce her engagement. Not only that, but her fiance, Sunny, is from a family near the Bangladeshi village where her father grew up and her grandmother (Thathu) still lives. Flying first class and staying in Sunny's family's resort on the tea plantation that they run seems a whole lot better than serving up fried chicken in Princeton, New Jersey. The plantation is vast, and Bibi's father tells her that he worked there when he was young, and Thathu ran the guesthouse. Sunny seems to dote on her sister, who throws herself into trying to learn as much about the running of the family enterprise as possible, but his brother, Sohel, doesn't get a long with Bibi. True, she thinks a little too much about fashion (she wears $100 t shirt and designer overalls to work on the plantation), and she has a bad habit of saying the right thing, but she doesn't feel she should have to still be grounded and have to work, especially alongside Sohel. Her parents backpedal on allowing her to date now that Halima is getting married, until an auntie shows them a BioData book of eligible guys Bibi's age and say that since Halima is getting married, there has been a lot of interest in Bibi. Because the family is Muslim, they insist of chaperones, and since Sunny is often traveling for business, Sohel is often cast in this role. Bibi is smitten with Akash, a cricket player from a wealthy family whose reputation as a lady's man Bibi is willing to ignore. Bibi is glad to spend time with Thathu, and loves learning about her gramdmother's college years, before her family arranged a marriage for her. As the wedding approaches, Halima starts to have her doubts about relocating to Bangladesh, and Bibi's romantic interests take a predictable turn. How will both sisters balance their own needs with the wishes of their family?

Setting this book on a Bangladeshi tea plantation that is trying to better the lives of its workers was so fascinating, and young readers will adore the Crazy Rich Asians style details like having a servant run one's bath, and carrying $2,000 Louis Vuitton bags. Of course, Bibi also understands what it is like to have to work (even if her fried chicken stint is short), and gets along well with other workers. The visit to the grandmother's village points out some of the dichotomies in the culture.

Enemies to lovers style romances are popular, and while Bibi and Sohel spar at the beginning, there's never any high level of animosity, which made their relationship more realistic to me. Bibi comes across as a pampered, stereotypical American; she even knows this and doesn't try very hard to change in order to help Sunny's family like her. Sohel is a big proponent of education and hard work, so I liked him a lot more than Bibi for most of the book.

Weddings have been fascinating to high school and middle school readers since Cleary's 1963 Sister of the Bride because when older sisters get married, there are a lot of moments for their younger counterparts to shine. Toss this one over your shoulder to readers who enjoyed other multicultural wedding books like Bajpai's Sister of the Bollywood Bride, Avachat's Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment, Richardson's The Meet-Cute Project and even Liang's Never Thought I'd End Up Here, which starts with a wedding and involves travel abroad, but doesn't have as many details about the wedding planning as the other books.

[Stephanie ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - Thank you so much Simon Teen for the complimentary copy of this book!

This book is out now!

"When I'm with you, I want to try to be brave, too, because I..I like you. I like you a lot."

I thought this book was a cute YA romance! This was slated as a Clueless meets Jenna Evans Welch (whom I never read) but I have seen Clueless and I really didn't get that vibe. Perhaps because Bibi is a privilege teen in the sense that her family is wealthy thanks to her father's chicken franchise. The way she acted though didn't seem too far off on how I feel like teenagers act. She just wore expensive clothes while doing it. I thought her relationship with her family also seemed pretty realistic. Now I am not Desi but from media, the parents have high expectations of their children and especially those who own businesses it's expected that the children take over it. We didn't see this so much with Bibi but with Sohel and Sunny's parents, we did.

I thought Bibi and Sohel's relationship was fun to read on page! I like to see how their relationship grew from this awkward first meeting to being in love (which as 16-17 year olds I'll use love loosely). Sohel is very wise beyond his years. He knows that his family is hard to deal with. It ended up putting a strain on his relationship not only with his parents but with his brother Sunny and with Bibi. I also think Bibi's expectation of Sohel to stand up for their relationship was a little premature as they only had known each other for a short time and she was expecting so much from him (granted he put that seed into her brain that this was a forever thing and teenagers are impressionable).

"All I do is make things harder for everyone around me with my schemes and antics. My family loves me because they have to, but that must be the reason everyone else walks away."

Boy did this book make me want to travel to Bangladesh!! Granted Bibi was in a very fancy resort which my budget would not allow me to afford but hey that's the fun of books. The way that Taslim described the resort just made it all sound so beautiful! I was not familiar with all the traditions that those who are Desi. I also liked how the author explored the marriage expectation amongst Desis. The idea of figuring out who your partner will be at 16 just seems so mind boggling but culturally this is acceptable. And I like how Bibi was like "uhhh I don't want to marry anyone. I just want to go on a date with a boy. I just want my first kiss." I had to laugh how there is literally a binder full of eligible teens for her to pick through.

Whew the Rahmans made me want to scream. They were difficult for absolutely no reason! I thought they could have been a little nicer and welcoming to Bibi's family. They travelled all this way to support their daughter Halima's engagement and upcoming marriage with their son Sunny. I just felt so bad for Hossain family.

I thought the storyline trying to find Bibi's grandmother's first love was not necessarily needed but I guess the author needed a way to put Bibi and Sohel together.

Overall I thought this book was cute but it did take me a while to get through as it just wasn't something I actively was feeling a pull towards. Perhaps it was because I am not the demographic for this book?

[Cammy]

I didn’t finish it but I read most of it so I feel okay marking it as read. I feel like this didn’t really get a lot of promotion, which frustrated me, but I’m also wondering how much attention the publisher gave this in general because it feels sometimes like it wasn’t edited very throughly.

So I have to say Bibi is a really fun character. I would say the first third of this is really fun. She’s spoiled and clueless and silly, but also relatable. I enjoyed reading about Bangladesh and her relationship with her family and the tea house!

But I feel like there were a lot of plot lines that didn’t come together. She and Sohel are trying to break up the wedding, but it feels half hearted, and the thread drops and starts a lot. Sometimes they’d be doing something to sabotage the wedding and it felt so random and disconnected from the rest of the story I felt I’d missed pages. Then her parents are letting her date a bunch of boys while she’s there, but only while chaperoned and I don’t really know why they allow this when the boys in Bangladesh are looking for wives and Bibi is very much not. Her parents aren’t looking to marry her off either, so I don’t get it. And then she’s also trying to find her grandmother’s lost love. There’s so much going on but not enough time spent on each storyline, so I felt confused and not as invested as I should’ve been.

I stopped reading when one of her suitors tells her he’s engaged to someone else (I don’t feel bad spoiling — this is an Emma retelling). I honestly had forgotten that he was around because he disappeared for so long. She’s upset when he tells her, as she should be, but she’s like.. jealous? And she figured their spark could’ve grown into something more? But they only met twice. Like…

I get there’s supposed to be a love triangle, but she’s with Sohel all the time and Akash disappears so it’s like… of course I know things won’t work out with him. And it doesn’t even feel like we tried to pretend they would. I’m mostly just annoyed at the storylines stopping and starting.

I’m also annoyed because I feel that an editor should’ve caught these things. It would make sense for an early draft for sure and I feel like the basics are there — the voice and the conflict and the love interest and the beautiful setting. But the more it red the more I felt that I was paying closer attention to the book than the editor.

[Arisha (Free Palestine 🇵🇸) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review

This was a quick and easy read, making it a nice palate cleanser. Because of the level of drama in this book, I think it would be great for fans of desi dramas and Uzma Jalaluddin. It was predictable and reminded me a lot of It All Comes Back to You (you'll see why). The romance was really cute, but I still don't know how I feel about in-laws dating each other. I also wasn't a big fan of the Muslim rep in this book since the only actual Muslim was the main character's older sister and even then her decisions were very questionable (she was in a "halal" relationship without her parents knowledge, the man she married was implied to not be practicing, etc,). It was very obvious that the author/characters lacked basic knowledge of Islam, and honestly, it was disappointing, especially considering that this was published by Salaam Reads, a publishing company that's supposed to focus on stories about Muslims. Yes, cultural Muslims like the main character exist, but from what I've seen, they're not the majority of Muslims in the US, so why are their stories prioritized over those of practicing Muslims? Are we not writing enough books? Is it islamophobia or a general repulsion towards religion? What's going on? Anyway, when I put aside those feelings, I kind of enjoyed reading about these characters. The main character was kind of a brat, and the constant brand mentions were annoying, but it wasn't too intolerable. It was kind of nice seeing the main character grow, and I liked the commentary on social class and gender roles in Bangladesh, even if I wish they went more into depth. That's all there is to say about this book. There's not much that's worth talking about with this book, to be honest.

[Kara Dennison · Rating 4 out of 5]

16-year-old Bibi Hossain was convinced she wouldn't get to date for years, thanks to her father's rule: no boyfriends until Bibi's big sister Halima gets married. But things could be turning around, because Halima is engaged to tea garden heir Sunny, and the whole family is flying to Bangladesh for the wedding! For Bibi, though, this means splitting her time between wedding prep and putting in hours on her soon-to-be in-laws' tea garden. While there, she meets Sunny's younger brother Sohel. And while the two don't initially hit it off, they eventually become reluctant friends with a few shared goals in mind.

Goal 1? Break up Halima and Sunny so Halima doesn't have to give up on her law school dreams. Goal 2? Find Bibi a summer boyfriend from the local eligible bachelors. And, seemingly most impossible of all, find Bibi's grandmother's long lost college boyfriend. The first two of these goals are going swimmingly at first, but social and generational expectations threaten to cause a much bigger rift than either of them anticipated. Worst of all, Bibi might be catching feelings for Sohel.

While Always Be My Bibi does follow the teen rom-com novel format ("Boy meets girl, girl makes massive mistakes, rinse and repeat"), the novel's rooting in Bengali culture and tradition makes things a little less cut-and-tried than they might be in other books. The novel celebrates the beauty of the region while calling out its turbulent history; it praises the strength and importance of certain traditions while acknowledging that others could perhaps do more harm than good. This isn't the story of one teenager messing up constantly—it's the story of two families finding themselves at the intersection of their youngest members, and deciding what faith and tradition should look like at that intersection. This, presented through the eyes of a narrator who's imperfect but earnest and relatable, makes for a delightful summer romance.

(Reviewed on karadennison.com)

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bibi Hossain is facing a summer of “No Boys Until Your Sister Gets Married.” When the whole family decamps from New Jersey to Bangladesh for the wedding, the rules are relaxed a bit, just in time for Bibi to experience chaperoned dates from a book of eligible bachelors. Then there’s Sohel, her brother-in-law-to-be’s brooding and annoying younger brother. He’s her boss in her mandated service to the tea garden where the family is staying. He also becomes an ally of sorts when Bibi asks his help in breaking up her sister and his brother. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t work! And Bibi and Sohel fall in love.

This is a charming and immersive Muslim romance story with lots of love for Bengali culture. All main characters are Bangladeshi, and some, such as Bibi’s sister, wear the Hijab. Bangla words and phrases are sprinkled through out the story when English just doesn’t do to describe a parent’s admonition, a special food, or a part of the wedding. Bibi narrates and she’s an astute observer of the animosity between her rags-to riches family and the ultra-rich family of her brother-in-law, as well as of caste divisions among family and workers, and, fashion. She’s a confident, funny narrator and readers will enjoy her excitement at meeting boys and her comments on the over-the-top setting for the wedding. It was interesting seeing Halal dating practices (no touching at all) and how American-born Bibi’s bright, energetic personality sometimes clashed with Bangladeshi roles for women.

Interestingly, the title is a line uttered by her father; this reflects the importance of family in Bibi’s life and upbringing. In all, a fun and entertaining romance in a richly described setting.

I would have appreciated definitions to the many Bangla words in the text, especially the food!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! To me this is Pride and Prejudice meets Never Have I Ever as well as Clueless meets Bangladeshi Bridgerton! Who wouldn't want to read that????

This was a 100% modern Pride and Prejudice retelling. It had the similar elements and plot points, but for me, that was a huge plus and a great surprise. First impressions aren't correct and people need to see more than quick prideful judgements. Traditional verses modern views are challenged and potential romantic partners aren't always what they seem.

The main character reminded me a lot of Devi from the TV show Never Have I Ever. She has a good heart, but she often acts before she thinks and as a result makes a lot of mistakes that unintentionally hurt those she loves. Her voice is also very modern and sarcastic and she has a lot of growing up to do. She does mature a lot during the story and learns to be less of Cher from Clueless diva. In the end, she learns to value the right things and treat people with more grace.

This story also reminds me a little bit of a YA Bridgerton. Part of this is the the fact that the setting is a beautiful, extravagant tea garden estate owned by a traditional (old fashioned), meddling family who judges if the new money family is good enough to join with theirs. Also, Because of the traditional values in the older families, dates are supposed to be chaperoned romantic partners kept at arms' length while courting.

All in all, this was a fun surprise of a book with a lot of fun and a lot of heart. I really enjoyed this one.

[sunny_reads_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m living for all the new South Asian books releasing this year, and this might be one of my favorites.

Always Be My Bibi follows Bibi Hossain, a spoiled Bengali teenage girl living in America. After getting caught breaking her father’s #1 rule- no dating, she’s forced to work at her family’s famous fried chicken chain all summer. When her sister suddenly announces she’s getting married, Bibi finds herself staying at her to-be brother-in-law’s tea estate in Bangladesh. After meeting the horrible family her sister’s marrying into, she is determined to stop the wedding at all costs, even if that means teaming up with the groom’s insufferable younger brother.

This was such a fun summer read. I loved Bibi’s character development, as well as the romance. The history of both the tea estate, as well as the families was explained really well. I also appreciated the classic South Asian family dynamics that were shown in this book. Both relationships, (Bibi and Sohel as well as Halima and Sunny)’s relationships were adorable to read about, and the obstacles both couples had to overcome made this book hard to put down. It had the right balance of being a quick, fun summer read, as well as a book about the importance of a healthy family.

[caro | sanjariti · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun, refreshing YA romcom!

I loved Taslim's previous novel, so I was very excited to meet Bibi and get wrapped up in her hijinks! I really adored the Bangladeshi culture and everything we learned and saw through Bibi's eyes; all the descriptions of the food and cities really made me want to visit!

I really loved Bibi and Sohel's romance; they were both so snarky with each other, but it soon gave away to some blooming sweetness between them and it had me kicking my feet and blushing once they realized their feelings for each other! I also really loved seeing Halima and Sunny come into their own while dealing with both their families, and finally showing who they truly are to their loved ones, even if it went against everything they wanted for them. I also loved that Bibi stuck by her sister's and family's side throughout it all, and in the end, got to experience her own little romance story!

All in all, another fun read from Taslim - I look forward to more in the future!

[Denae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Simon Teen for the gifted e-arc!

Bibi is a materialistic boy crazy Bangledeshi-American teenage girl who visits Bangladesh with her family for her sister’s wedding to a tea garden heir. There is tension between the two families as the grooms family don’t believe they are good enough for their heir. At this, she and the grooms brother devise a plan to “break up” the engagement, but in the process could there be another love connection brewing?

I really enjoyed this! This is a heartwarming YA title about love, culture, and the merging of two families! I am enjoying reading books about cultures other than my own. I’m learning more about the Asian culture and how marriage is often arranged and about pedigree over love.

I enjoyed getting to learn more about Bangladeshi culture. I’ll never get tired of reading about young love and coming of age! I loved seeing the growing pains and character growth of Bibi.

[Kanan Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Priyanka Taslim's Always Be My Bibi is a delightful YA rom-com about a Bangladeshi American teen who gets more than she bargained for on a family trip. Sixteen-year-old Bibi Hossain heads to Bangladesh for her sister's wedding after getting grounded for breaking her father's "no boys" rule. There, she clashes with the groom's handsome but grumpy younger brother, Sohel.
As the two team up to sabotage what they believe is a mismatched engagement, they unexpectedly find themselves drawn to each other. The book blends a fun "enemies-to-lovers" romance with a "fish-out-of-water" narrative, as Bibi navigates culture shock and family expectations. Critics praise its humorous, charming tone and voicey protagonist, making it a perfect quick read for fans of classic teen romantic comedies. It also offers a transporting look into Bangladeshi culture and the complexities of balancing tradition with personal desires

[Rayo Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request to read this e-ARC and provide my honest opinions.

I absolutely love YA romance, and this one was such a cute, slow-burn story! Bibi may be spoiled, but she’s also confident, outspoken, and unafraid to chase what she wants.

Apart from the romance with Sohel, one of the things that endeared me to the story was the description of Bangladesh; it felt as if I was right there, experiencing all the shenanigans Bibi was up to.

Through the course of her sister’s wedding to the wealthy, traditional Rahman family, we see Bibi grow from a spoiled girl into someone who truly values the little things.

Overall, I adored the slow burn, the character development, and the beautiful cultural backdrop. Thank you again for the e-ARC!

[Jasmine Shouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bibi's sister announces a surprise engagement that leads to the whole family traveling to Bangladesh for the wedding. But Bibi and her future brother-in-law's younger brother Sohel team up to stop the wedding. 

There's a lot I liked about this book. I loved way food and culture were described and how tradition came up against love. Sohel was a fun love interest. And I enjoyed the writing, which was fun and engaging throughout. 

For a book that hinges on sabotaging the engagement, the two really didn't do much on that front. I much preferred the subplot involving Bibi's Thathu. Bibi was a bit too spoiled and self centered, but she stands up for love in a solid way. 

If you enjoy YA romance with snarky characters, you'll have fun with this one. 

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review. 

[Becca shybookstagramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book. I have never read a book that takes place in bangledesh so it was really fun having it set there. I liked seeing more about the culture there. It was really interesting. I enjoyed the romance aspect of the story as well. I was rooting for Bibi and Sohel from the moment they met. I loved their dynamic. Even though having the love interest be named sohel was weird for me just because I kept picturing my friend’s cousin who has the same name. It’s always weird reading romance books when you know someone of the same name. One little detail I liked was seeing Bibi and Sohel comment back and forth in Bibi's book of potential dates. That was cute and funny. Overall a great book with a beautiful setting and a pairing with a good dynamic.

content warning: classism

thank you to simon teen for the gifted copy. all thoughts are my own