This combo of historical fiction, mystery sleuthing, romance, and cultural education by Samira Ahmed is a winner! Ahmed is really great at writing about first love and first heartbreak. Her characters are always different and have great diverse and cultural representations. The setting in Paris was interesting, especially as Ahmed introduced more of the history through her characters. This will be another well loved book of my teens.

Terrific romance and mystery while weaving history throughout. I was compelled to research where fact and fiction met when I closed the book because the threads were woven together so seamlessly and believably. Such a fun book with compelling and thought-provoking undertones made this a page-turning read. Characters that were likeable and real; with thoughts that mimicked my own as the story and relationships unfolded. The settings of modern day Paris juxtaposed with 19th century India stimulates the reader's imagination senses, making it even more enticing to stay immersed in the luxury of this wonderful book.

Bilingual, biracial high school art historian Khayyam Maquet is in France for the summer with her Indian mom and French dad, eating pastries and trying to prove an Art Institute critic wrong. Khayyam has a theory about Delacroix and Dumas and then meets a descendant of the latter but finds that she's more interested in the story of an unnamed mystery woman. We follow Khayyam and Alexandre Dumas the nth around Paris (and pastries) and discover the ways that they--and pretty much everyone but Khayyam's parents--are duplicitous.

The unnamed mystery woman element is of particular interest to me because of the French right to be forgotten legislation, which I kind of think is bs. Khayyam is conflicted. She wants the woman to be identified and remembered, but not exposed against her will. The dead woman, that is.

"People are lost in history all the time." Alexandre shrugs. "C'est la vie."

to which Khayyam thinks,

A woman who doesn't even get a name of her own. There are literally centuries of women who never got to tell their stories. An invisible hand squeezes my heart for the nameless women history brushed aside.

She wants the woman's story known, but is conscious that she herself is an outsider with something to gain. She's conflicted. I appreciate that! I also appreciate the teen historian-ness of statements like

When we kiss, I can taste the grime from this place on our lips, and it occurs to me that a lot of our kisses are sprinkled with the dust of centuries past.

I think thoughts like that sometimes, especially in old places. My friend Bridget lives in a building built in 1790. When I climb the narrow twisty stairs, I wonder if they're original, and when we eat and talk and watch TV, I wonder about the 200+ years of conversations and meals that have taken place in that house on Water Street.

Khayyam is a thoughtful person in many regards, considering Alexandre's positionality, as a descendant and what their mission means to him. Even so, they get into it a little.

"I only want to save the Château and Dumas's legacy. I'm not expecting to get rich off it. Of course, being an American, you think everything comes down to money."

"And I guess being a man, you think you can steal a woman's story and make it your own."



Neither of them is wrong, amirite? I've read all three of Ahmed's YA novels (Internment and Love, Hate, and Other Filters are the other two so far), and this is my favorite.

I dig me some Samira Ahmed. And this combo of historical fiction, mystery sleuthing, romance, and cultural education was just what I needed! I always feel just a little smarter and a whole lot inspired by her books and this one is no exception. I look forward to recommending it to my kids at school and to my own daughter. 🤓💜📚

#MadBadDangerousToKnow #NetGalley
Another enchanting book from Samira Ahmed, I love this author so much. Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know is a lovely book filled with history, art, and Paris, France. The intertwining of two very amazing young women, growing up on different paths, but not so different as we begin to see. The book is a fresh look at how our lives can be transformed and we can be our own champions!

Another great YA book from Samira Ahmed! History and present day intertwine in this novel about a Desi-French-American girl spending the summer in Paris. When she crosses paths with the however-many-greats grandson of Alexandre Dumas, the subject of her recently rejected admission essay to the art history program of her dreams, who becomes her co-conspirator in an investigation into a possible connection between Dumas, Byron, Delacroix, and a mysterious woman depicted in all of their work. Lots of girl power and feminist undertones as well as tons of fun details for art / history / literature nerds.

It's a fascinating read mixing historical accounts with modern day. The flashbacks to Leila's perspective were a nice touch. And I'm eager to get my hands on a finished copy which will hopefully include some notes about the history / research behind the story as well, because I'd love to find out just how historically accurate it is. But regardless of that, a fun and enchanting read picking yourself up after failure and carving your own path.

This book was so good! I will recommend it to everyone who comes into the store because I think it will end up on my favorites of the year list.