Tell Me How You Really Feel

by Aminah Mae Safi

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250251022
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	10/13/2020
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	430,222
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

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. Her first book was Not the Girls You're Looking For. She lives in Los Angeles, California, with her partner and cat.

Editorial Reviews

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

From the Publisher

★ 05/06/2019

Insecurities, misunderstandings, and pride lead to a feud that ignites into passion in this sweet YA romance by Safi (Not the Girls You’re Looking For). In Los Angeles, Jewish-Mexican Rachel Recht is both poor and brilliant. She’s determined to make a name for herself as a director, and her next big steps all depend on her senior project, which is coming apart at the seams. Then her film teacher forces her to cast her archnemesis, perpetually perfect cheerleader Sana Khan, in a film to showcase by the end of the month. Mean-while, Persian–South Asian Sana is chafing under living up to her family’s expectations that she attend Princeton and become a surgeon. When Sana begins to work closely with her crush-turned-enemy, she is forced out of predictable patterns and in turn helps Rachel resolve some of her aggression. As the two of them embrace their feelings for each other, they find the confidence to step into the futures each hopes to create. A beautifully diverse cast, a hopeful look at growing up, and a blossoming spring romance between well-developed characters are sure to spark joy in teen readers. Ages 13–up. Agent: Lauren MacLeod, the Strothman Agency. (June)

Publishers Weekly

★ 05/01/2019

Gr 9 Up—Two high school seniors find their voices and first love in this enemies-to-lovers story told from dual perspectives. Brusque and controlling filmmaker Rachel Recht, a Jewish scholarship student at the prestigious Royce School, wants nothing to do with Sana Khan, cheerleading captain and model human being. But when a literal run-in forces them to work together on a film, their tense relationship morphs into something beautiful and unexpected. As they collaborate, they begin to share their most private feelings. Sana, who is Muslim, reveals that she's been having a crisis about her future, hasn't sent her down payment to Princeton, and has secretly applied to a fellowship. Rachel knows she's NYU-bound if the scholarship funds come through, but her future is in jeopardy if she can't get this last film finished. Working together on this project about a woman forging her own path could be transformative for both, if only they could stop arguing and misjudging each other's intentions. Determined to find success on their own terms, the ambitious girls learn to stand up for themselves as they challenge, support, and infuriate each other. Immensely readable with strong characters and quick, clever dialogue, this romance has real depth. Though there is no question that the girls will end up together, it's a joy to watch them fumble toward their eventual happy ending. As much about finding yourself as it is about finding love, this smart, feminist story shows that expectations shouldn't dictate the future. VERDICT This well-written and supremely satisfying romance should be in all collections.—Amanda MacGregor, Parkview Elementary School, Rosemount, MN

School Library Journal