First Date x Indie Bookshop Week: Adiba Jaigirdar

Independent Bookshop Week has arrived and this year it finds us gearing up for Scotland's inaugural festival for romance writing: First Date  takes place at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on June 25th.

If you're not in Edinburgh for it, fear not. The panels will not only be livestreamed, but we've also invited some of our favourite authors of romance fiction from further afield to take part in the celebrations virtually by recommending their favourite romance reads!

The time has come for Adiba Jaigirdar to recommend her favourite romance books!

Adiba Jaigirdar is the award-winning, critically-acclaimed and bestselling author of The Henna Wars, Hani & Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating, A Million to One, and The Dos and Donuts of Love. A Bangladeshi/Irish writer and former teacher, she has an MA in Postcolonial Studies from the University of Kent, England and a BA in English and History from UCD, Ireland. She is the winner of the YA book prize 2022, the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards 2021, and was a finalist for the 2022 Lambda Literary awards. All of her writing is aided by tea, and a healthy dose of Janelle Monáe and Hayley Kiyoko. When not writing, she is probably ranting about the ills of colonialism, playing video games, or expanding her overflowing lipstick collection. She can be found at adibajaigirdar.com or @adiba_j on Twitter and @dibs_j on Instagram.

Adiba will be appearing at First Date Festival as part of the Feeling Good is freedom panel.

Over to Adiba!

Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry by Joya Goffney - A phenomenal book that’s sizzling with chemistry.

Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali - Romance that makes the longing between characters feel palpable is truly difficult to pull off, but S.K. Ali manages it brilliantly here

The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim - Packed full of the best romance tropes, this book both pulled at my heartstrings and had me swooning over the romance.

My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth - This book is all about STEM and explores it in the best way possible and of course, there’s a romance at its heart that’s difficult not to root for.

She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen - This book is enemies to lovers, fake dating, jock/cheerleader, sapphic perfection!

From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon - Written as letters to famous female directors and starring a messy brown girl protagonist, this book is as creative and fun as it is romantic and sweet!

Follow #FirstDateFestival on our social media and keep an eye out for more recommended romance reads through Independent Bookshop Week. Info about First Date Festival can be found HERE.