Andaleeb Wajid

The Henna Start-up

Young Adult Duckbill 2023

Abir Maqsood is angry.

She has things to a career to carve, money to earn, and, in the small stuff, a dining table to fix. But there are many obstacles in the lack of money, her parents’ over-protective attitude, and a most annoying distraction in class called Arsalan.

When her mother is not paid her dues for her henna service, Abir resolves to help her by creating a henna app. Her college is also running a programme for student start-ups, so things look most fortuitous. But the path to getting funding is littered with more thorns than roses.

As Abir navigates through college, friendships, and social pressures with determination, will she find the freedom that she is truly looking for?

A delightfully inspiring story that champions loving yourself - Kirkus Reviews

Reviews & praise

What readers are saying

“The writing paints a realistic and relatable portrait of barriers that girls from conservative families must deal with. Though the enemies-to-lovers trope is continually underscored, the book posits many thoughtful questions about societal restrictions and shows there is room for grace in shifting one’s perspective about oneself and others.rnrnA delightfully inspiring story that champions loving yourself.”

— Kirkus · Blogger review

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★★★★★
“The Henna Start-up is another fantastic book by acclaimed award-winning YA-author, Andaleeb Wajid who weaves a story as intricate as a mehendi pattern. It’s layered with ambition with a swirl of rebellion and a love triangle to add to the geometry!”

— Kids Book Cafe · Blogger review

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“Through Abir’s story, the book beautifully captures the theme of following one’s passion and being independent and the obstacles that one faces in between, especially of the family’s economic background, parenting, and the pressure of marriage. It shows how marriage as an institution especially affects the life of women in Indian society.”

— Jainand Gurjar · Blogger review

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“The story deftly combines themes of ambition, tradition, and ties to the family. Abir gives the age-old art form a new twist by choosing to assist her mother’s modest henna company with a modern strategy—the development of a henna app. This creative concept not only advances the story but also acts as a symbol for the fusion of modernity and tradition.”

— Read React Review · Blogger review

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