Counting Down with You by Tashie Bhuiyan
COUNTING DOWN WITH YOU
-Tashie Bhuiyan
Hi!!!! It's been a while since I wrote a review. Law school's been slowly sucking the living crap out of me. Anyways, I'm back with another romcom suggestion for you. So, be prepared to feel all those butterflies in your stomach and enjoy this rollercoaster of a book.
Without further delay, let's dive right into the plot. This book follows a Bangladesh teenager living in America who suffers from severe anxiety due to the countless rules and regulations imposed by her parents. Her life turns around when her parents leave for Bangladesh for a month, and she gets to experience something that she has never before- freedom.
28 days of fake dating later, her anxiety is under control, and she feels happier than ever. But as all good things come to an end eventually, her parents come back with more expectations and restrictions. This time she finds herself at an impasse. Does she continue being her obedient self or does she stand up for herself?
This book isn't just about a girl going behind her parents' back to date a boy. It's about facing fears and learning to trust. It's packed with character growth and development, and I assure you; it will definitely keep you hooked.
What I really enjoyed about this book was how relatable it felt. Dealing with parents' expectations can be challenging, especially if you're Indian (or Bangladeshi in this case), and this book perfectly captures how it feels to be the focal point of all those hopes, expectations and pressures. The author beautifully portrays teenage emotions and thought processes and has also conveyed them with depth and skill. A solid 8/10.
P.S. I’d love it if you could leave a comment after reading! Anything helps—even just a thumbs up—because then I’d know someone is actually reading, and it would make the writing process so much more fun and enjoyable for me!