The Sticky Note Manifesto of Aisha Agarwal by Ambika Vohra, 368 pages. Quill Tree Books (HarperCollins), 2024. $20.
Language: PG13 (15 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
Aisha is plagued by the essay question for her Stanford college application asking how she has gotten out of her comfort zone. A question she can’t answer because everything about her life has been about staying in her comfort zone of studying and school extracurriculars, like crochet club. But then Aisha ends up crying in another student’s car and convinces him to help her cross things off her new manifesto list of things outside her comfort zone.
Full of funny scenarios and brilliant metaphors, Aisha’s story captures a piece of every reader that struggles to find a place to belong. It’s easy to think that everything will be better if we are better, if we are more, if we could just be like so-and-so. But just because something isn’t on your manifesto list doesn’t mean it isn’t a good thing—and something being on the list doesn’t mean it is the only absolutely right thing. Aisha’s story is about learning to be happy with being the best version of yourself who can weather the storms of life and find joy in both rain and sunshine.
Aisha is Indian, Brian is Chinese, Quentin is Filipino-Italian, and Kevin is Black. Also, Marcy is bi. The mature content rating is for underage drinking, mentions of drugs and nudity, kissing, and mild innuendo. The violence rating is for a joke about murder.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Starting this, I was immediately charmed by the fresh, funny but heartfelt writing style. Aisha is a hilarious, relatable, loveable main character. There's the exact right amounts of chaos and heart, of coming of age and romance, to keep things balanced and interesting. I could easily picture this as a romcom movie, or a Netflix show.

The Sticky Note Manifesto of Aisha Agarwal" by Ambika Vohra is a creative and engaging read. The story is uniquely told through sticky notes, offering a unique way to see the perspective on Aisha's life and thoughts. The format is fun and allows for quick reading, while the story itself is both relatable and insightful. It's a light yet meaningful book that leaves a lasting impression.

This is such an incredible multi-plot story that weaves in multi-faceted characters, numerous plot lines, and an honesty that keeps you reading to the very last page.
There were so many intriguing parts of this story from the humor, boy - girl romance, personalities / mental illnesses, to the angst of college and expectations of the future. The author did an excellent job of making you feel empathy and aggravation at the characters behaviors while still keeping the story real and relatable.
This is a book worth your time.
Enjoy!

Aisha Agarwal is a senior in high school getting ready for college. She is determined to be valedictorian and get acceptance to Stanford University. When she tries to write her essay for admissions she realizes that she hasn't really ever come out if her comfort zone. She comes up with a plan she calls the sticky note manifesto where she will challenge herself to get out of her comfort zone so she will have some material for her essay. Along the way she finds out about herself. This books is very relatable to today's teens. I really enjoyed this book.

Fun premise for a book - I loved the lists and following Aisha as she tried to discover what truly matters to her. She was funny and relatable, though at times cringey. I liked the diversity representation in this book and especially that it was just part of the subtext, but never too over the top or forced.

This was a quick and sweet story, but maybe sometimes a little bit predictable. I have a lot of students who will relate to this one though, so I can’t wait to add it to my classroom shelf.

If your teens are loving the teen romcom series on Netflix & other streaming services right now, you need to hand them this book. It has everything you could want from a high school romance: the pressure of being "enough" to set yourself up for the future you've dreamed of, a handsome stranger whose too good to be true, and a deal struck to help both parties reach their goals.

When Aisha Agarwal gets stood up by her childhood ex-best friend at a high school dance & is left outside, in the cold, ALONE, she knows something has to change. What she doesn't expect is that her rule-following self will hop into a strange boy (Quentin)'s car that night, stealing a grandmother's ride home & setting off a chain reaction that will change their lives. As the two work together to help each other accomplish their goals, you see them grow through painful experiences & learn to not only love each other, but also themselves.

This was an adorable book. It personified teenage life well, and I also learned a little about Indian culture. I fell into it easy and quickly, which was pleasing.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Ambika Vohra's debut novel, "The Sticky Note Manifesto of Aisha Agarwal," is a delightful coming-of-age story that will have you laughing out loud while rooting for the relatable protagonist, Aisha. Faced with a college essay prompt that demands an experience outside her comfort zone, Aisha finds herself in a whirlwind adventure thanks to a case of mistaken identity and a proposition from the charming Quentin Santos.
Vohra's witty writing brings Aisha and her friends to life. Their banter is realistic and funny, making you feel like you're part of their inner circle. The "sticky note manifesto" itself, a series of challenges designed to push Aisha out of her shell, becomes the source of many hilarious situations. From attending a high school party to stealing a kiss at midnight, Aisha's escapades are both cringe-worthy and endearing.
While the humor is a strong point, the novel doesn't shy away from exploring the emotional complexities of senior year. Aisha grapples with friendships, crushes, and the pressure of college applications. The challenges on her sticky notes become more than just fodder for her essay; they force her to confront her fears and discover who she truly is.
A fun read for everyone.

Sticky notes and listicles…I felt seen reading this book. It was so good! I recommend high achievers and former high achieves read it to realize that life doesn’t always go as plan but it is the unexpected that makes it joyful.

This was such a fun, heartfelt, fully-realized YA contemporary! The characters were so real, sympathetic, and intriguing from the jump, and I loved following their adventures as they grew and fell in love.

Rarely do I read a high school romance where the characters actually seem to be attending high school so *massive* plus on this one. Around the story of relationships (parents, siblings, friends, possible romances) is the setting of tests, reports, admissions essays, and group projects. This was a rare YA book that feels like it focuses on a specific slice of life as a teen, rather than dropping me into spring or summer break (ie: vacation) mode.

Aisha is a delight, as a driven, first generation student who is trying hard to measure up to some nebulous bar set by her older sister, parents, and society at large. As the story progresses she realizes the bar is mostly her own creation and she shifts in her perception of the world around her and how she fits into it.

There’s a fish/bird dichotomy that Aisha keeps invoking that drives a lot of her decisions. As an adult reader, it’s hard to keep encountering this line of thought because I believe (decades after high school) there’s a lot more nuance to life. But I think the author does a good job of capturing the ways I thought about the world as a high school senior, so it ultimately worked.

This is a good YA book looking at taking steps out of your comfort zone and conquering your insecurities in the process.
Aisha is a good character with some insecurities and has a crush on a guy that doesn't really deserve her crush. He was her friend a long time ago, but he seems pretty full of himself now.
I liked how Quentin brought Aisha out of her comfort zone and what blossoms between them.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

I love Never Have I Ever on Netflix and this was like reading the book version! So soooo good. Very relatable. Had me laughing and crying. One of my ya favorites for 2924 although all ages will enjoy it

The Sticky Note Manifesto feels like a mix between Never Have I Ever and Book Smart, and I was digging it. I loved the personality of the main character, Aisha, even though some of the love decisions she was making were cringey from the very beginning. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves snappy, YA fiction.

Looooved Aisha’s voice. She’s funny; she’s dramatic; she would be right at home in a Netflix teen comedy, but she doesn't feel like a carbon copy of any existing characters (that I know of). Her narrative voice--along with the array of colorful secondary characters--made this a joy to read.

This is absolutely adorable. All the characters, but especially Aisha and Quentin, are so well written. The family dynamics, high school worries, and daily struggles are so well written. You’ll be cheering for Aisha from the first page.

Absolutely adored this book. It had wonderfully unique perspective, multiculturalism, and recognition of the overly stressed life of American teens. Aisha is a straight A, scholarship student at a prestigious private prep school. She is 1st generation Indian American and highly focused on college admissions. Actually, she is stumped by the essay prompt for her dream school, Stanford, which asks her to write about a time when she left her comfort zone. Unfortunately, in her goal to get top grades, she has not really lived her life. She thinks that her luck has finally changed when her crush asks her to the winter formal and then stands her up.

Like the rom-com this is, cue the drama and the decision to make a change. Of course, before she can make that decision, she gets into a car meant for a friends' grandmother and has a good sob. Fortunately, the driver is also a high school senior going to the local public school and he is failing math. The two strike up a deal to help each other and of course a love triangle is created. While hitting the cheesy rom com tropes at times, all in all, this was a really wonderful story.

The Sticky Note Manifesto of Aisha Agarwal is entertaining. This could have even been a four-star read if not for Aisha.

In my opinion, Aisha is incredibly unlikeable. She comes across as controlling and can sometimes be snobby. I am sympathetic to the fact that Aisha has been shaped by her insecurities. Even so, if we knew each other in real life, I would actively avoid her.

Also, Aisha is delusional.

I saw no reason for her to like Brian. I understand romantic feelings can be irrational, but Brian hasn't done anything crush-worthy. Brian is not charming. He is a desperate, serial monogamist who took advantage of Aisha. As the reader, I remained unconvinced that Brian could ever be an option.

But don't let my review scare you because Aisha does have a believable redemption arc.

On the flip side, I am such a fan of Quentin. He is the reason why I kept reading. I had to see Quentin get his happy ending.

Plus, the cultures represented by both main characters warm my heart. I love that there is foreign language dialogue. It makes the story more immersive. In particular, I love love love the depiction of Filipino culture. As a Filipino-American, I am always happy to see some of my traditions in books.

The Sticky Note Manifesto of Aisha Agarwal is a delightful debut. This book is a perfect snapshot of an American high school experience. It's too bad I did not like it more.

Bottom line: I feel validated in my stationary collection.

Aisha realizes she needs to write a stronger essay about sharing a time you left your comfort zone for her Stanford application. She accidentally meets Quentin who needs help with Math, and they agree to help each other. Aisha makes her manifesto or to-do list with Quentin’s help. Aisha tells Quentin she needs help in getting Brian to like her again. As Aisha and Quentin become better friends working on her to-do list, Quentin asks Aisha if Brian is really the one she likes. When she says yes, Quentin walks away, but Aisha wonders could she like Quentin? Does Aisha end up with Brian? Does she complete her to-do list?