Picture a Bangladeshi-American storyteller spinning heartfelt tales of love, family, and identity—meet Priyanka Taslim! A lifelong New Jersey resident and high school English teacher, Taslim burst onto the young adult literature scene with her debut novel, The Love Match. Her stories, infused with vibrant Bangladeshi culture and swoony romance, capture the universal quest for self-discovery while celebrating underrepresented voices.
With a knack for crafting spunky heroines and immersive communities, Taslim’s work feels like a warm hug from a favorite auntie, paired with the thrill of first love. Let’s dive into her journey, from her roots in a bustling diaspora to her rise as a fresh voice in YA romance!
The Making of Priyanka Taslim
Growing up in Paterson, New Jersey, Priyanka Taslim was surrounded by a tight-knit Bangladeshi diaspora community—think extended family, meddling aunties, and endless drama. This vibrant backdrop shaped her storytelling, rooted in the liminal space between her American upbringing and Bangladeshi heritage. As a voracious reader, she devoured books but rarely saw characters who looked like her, sparking a desire to write the stories she craved. Initially, Taslim wrote fanfiction and stories with non-Bangladeshi casts, doubting her own culture’s place in publishing. But in college, a light bulb moment led her to center Bengali characters, unlocking her authentic voice.
By day, Taslim teaches 9th-grade English, channeling her love for stories into the classroom. By night, she pens novels, signing with agent Quressa Robinson of Folio Literary Management after years of persistence. Her journey from fanfiction to published author is a testament to her resilience and passion for representation.
Priyanka Taslim’s Unforgettable Stories
Taslim’s debut, The Love Match (January 2023, Salaam Reads), is a delightful YA rom-com likened to “Jane Austen meets Bengali cinema.” It follows Zahra Khan, a Bangladeshi-American teen navigating family pressures, a fake-dating scheme with wealthy Harun Emon, and unexpected feelings for her charming coworker, Nayim Aktar. Set in a Paterson tea shop, the novel blends humor, heart, and cultural nuance, earning starred reviews from Kirkus and praise as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection.
Her upcoming adult debut, From Mumbai, with Love (St. Martin’s Press), explores a woman’s journey to Mumbai after discovering her father’s identity, weaving family secrets and business rivalries. Taslim’s latest YA novel, Always Be My Bibi (February 2025), promises her “funniest, swooniest” rom-com yet, brimming with Bengali flair. Her style—vivid, witty, and emotionally resonant—centers spunky Bengali heroines grappling with love, duty, and dreams, often against a backdrop of community gossip and natok-style drama.
Taslim’s stories stand out for their effortless integration of Bengali language and culture, from Sylheti phrases to diaspora traditions, without heavy-handed translations. Readers are drawn to her ability to balance lighthearted romance with deeper themes like class disparity, parental expectations, and the immigrant experience, making her work both escapist and grounded.
Why Priyanka Taslim Matters
Priyanka Taslim is carving a vital space in YA and adult fiction, where Bangladeshi-American stories shine. Her work resonates with readers who see themselves in Zahra’s struggles or find joy in her vibrant community, offering representation that was scarce in Taslim’s own youth. By centering working-class brown girls in epic, tropey romances, she challenges stereotypes and proves that diverse heroines deserve center stage. Authors like Adiba Jaigirdar and Sandhya Menon paved the way, but Taslim’s fresh voice adds a new layer to South Asian storytelling.
Her impact extends beyond the page. As an educator, Taslim inspires young readers to embrace their stories, while her social media presence (@BhootBabe) connects her with fans eager for Bengali rep. In a genre often dominated by Eurocentric narratives, Taslim’s novels are a beacon of cultural pride and universal heart.
- Born: New Jersey, USA
- Key Works: The Love Match (2023), From Mumbai, with Love (forthcoming), Always Be My Bibi (2025)
- Notable Recognition: Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, starred Kirkus review
- Fun Fact: She’s a proud cat mom to a dapper tuxedo cat named Loki!
Ready to fall in love with Priyanka Taslim’s swoony, heartfelt world? Grab The Love Match and immerse yourself in her vibrant YA rom-coms!