• Age: 13 to 18
• Grade: 5
• Reading age: 9 to 10

Nisha has always been a good Tamil daughter. She tries to keep her grades up so she can meet her parents' high expectations of her. They want her to become a doctor or an engineer, and of course she is not allowed to be in a romantic relationship while she is still a teenager. Nisha has discovered that what she really loves to do is write. As she devotes more of her time and attention to her creative writing class, she also finds that who she really loves is her classmate Todd. How can Nisha get her parents to understand that she needs to live her own life? And when she has to choose between her dreams of life on her own terms and being with Todd, how can Nisha decide where her true feelings lie?

TASHA NATHAN graduated from York University with a degree in sociology as well as a diploma in counselling for abused woman and children. She is a strong supporter of women's rights and has worked alongside community organizations in Toronto as well as internationally to promote gender equality. She is a contributor to TamilCulture, the first Tamil online lifestyle magazine. She lives in Toronto with her husband.

Tasha Nathan's profile page

"Nathan's message is clear and positivestand up for yourself, but do so without disrespecting those who have made sacrifices for youand her representation of the South Asian domestic and dating experience feels authentic, insightful, and respectful."

Booklist Online

"Follow Your Heart is to be applauded for presenting an authentic Tamil Canadian voice in young adult fiction. This diversity, only starting to be seen in contemporary teen novels, is a much-needed story that belongs on our bookshelves."

CM Magazine: Canadian Review of Materials

"I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the journey it took me on and the characters. Definitely a gripping recommended read."

NetGalley

"It is so rare to see novels with South Asian MCs. Even rarer to find one with a Tamil MC. And this was a novel that resonated with me."

NetGalley

"It beautifully represents Sri Lankan culture, the nuances and complexities of growing up as a brown girl in Canada, and the hardships of dealing with parental expectations as a teenager."

NetGalley Reviewer