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starlitpage's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I picked up this book because I thought it would be fun to read about Indian weddings, and my expectations on that were met. The culture shone off the page! The character arcs were neat and well-foreshadowed. The plot, however, was not only contrived but poorly paced. Realizations were come to suddenly, out of the blue, and too neatly verbalized. And for a main character who values open communication, the quick forgiveness and moving on at the end was not only unbelievable but left a bad taste in my mouth. It's not bad for a light romance, and the Indian flavor adds a lot, but imo the plot arc isn't it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Racism, Misogyny, Grief, Body shaming, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Car accident
jennp28's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Closed-door romance with some instalove and self discovery. I enjoyed learning about Indian culture along with the protagonist.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
hendrixpants's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Xenophobia
Minor: Homophobia
kshertz's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Super cute light and fluffy romance book. I love that she gets in touch with who she is and that prompts her to start over. I do wish the trip to the Indian wedding started a little earlier in the book as that’s where it really gets going. But it’s perfect as a light, quick read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Racism, Infidelity, and Gaslighting
jadatrack's review
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Grief
Moderate: Homophobia, Death of parent, and Infidelity
soobooksalot's review
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Sari Not Sari is not only about finding love with another person, but with your culture and yourself.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and Netgalley for my eARC for review!
Manny Dogra is the owner of a mega-successful company called Breakup, which specializes in custom breakup emails and bootcamps for various relationship issues.
She's engaged to Adam and has rescheduled their wedding date repeatedly. Manny also lost her parents in recent years and never had the chance to learn about her South Asian heritage.
Enter Sammy Patel. While seeking a service Breakup doesn't offer, he whisks Manny to a Patel family wedding and in the process teaches her how to embrace her inner Indian.
Sari Not Sari is an absolutely lovely immersion into Indian celebrations and culture. Sonya Singh's writing is witty, charming, and carefully crafted to bring a slow burn to Manny and Sammy's attraction.
Also a great pick for Asian Heritage Month. Recommended!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and Netgalley for my eARC for review!
Manny Dogra is the owner of a mega-successful company called Breakup, which specializes in custom breakup emails and bootcamps for various relationship issues.
She's engaged to Adam and has rescheduled their wedding date repeatedly. Manny also lost her parents in recent years and never had the chance to learn about her South Asian heritage.
Enter Sammy Patel. While seeking a service Breakup doesn't offer, he whisks Manny to a Patel family wedding and in the process teaches her how to embrace her inner Indian.
Sari Not Sari is an absolutely lovely immersion into Indian celebrations and culture. Sonya Singh's writing is witty, charming, and carefully crafted to bring a slow burn to Manny and Sammy's attraction.
Also a great pick for Asian Heritage Month. Recommended!
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
argylelove's review
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Racism
mackinseyjoy's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I found Manny's struggles as a South Asian woman in a very white male dominated industry to be extremely grounded and interesting. Her family struggles with race and identity were also relatable to many people of color. While I enjoyed the gradual exploration of her culture and community, I did find Singh's decision to make some aspects of Indian culture the butt of the joke to be disappointing. It's a quick, lighthearted read that does a decent job with South Asian representation. I'd love to read more about the peripheral characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Racism
Minor: Infidelity
meshell's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I generally enjoyed this book, but it wasn't entirely for me.
I especially enjoyed the first half of build up and character development of Manny, a successful business owner, and CEO. I thought it started out strong, I loved Manny's solid friendships, and the build up towards the mediocre fiancé. I wasn't entirely sold on the love story part of things, nor with a few of the moments of conflict that occur in the book. The ones I'm thinking about just seemed to be tacked on for some reason, and I didn't connect with them or their resolutions.
I generally prefer romance novels where I get to see the other side of the story, or some insight into the other lead characters internal development which I didn't see here with Sammy. I enjoyed the premise of the book - reconnecting with roots and discovering oneself a lot, I would have happily read this book without any of the romantic elements. I got the impression that Sammy was ultimately a good person - but I don't feel we get to know him well enough to know why Manny was in love with him.
In my opinion most romance novels require some kind of suspension of disbelief, there are definitely some romantic tropes in this book, which I actually enjoyed, but if that's not for you - be advised they are there.
I left feeling sort of conflicted about the book, but overall enjoyed reading it. There were a lot of great moments of humour and I loved the friendships and self discovery. Thank you to netgalley for the ARC.
I especially enjoyed the first half of build up and character development of Manny, a successful business owner, and CEO. I thought it started out strong, I loved Manny's solid friendships, and the build up towards the mediocre fiancé. I wasn't entirely sold on the love story part of things, nor with a few of the moments of conflict that occur in the book. The ones I'm thinking about just seemed to be tacked on for some reason, and I didn't connect with them or their resolutions.
I generally prefer romance novels where I get to see the other side of the story, or some insight into the other lead characters internal development which I didn't see here with Sammy. I enjoyed the premise of the book - reconnecting with roots and discovering oneself a lot, I would have happily read this book without any of the romantic elements. I got the impression that Sammy was ultimately a good person - but I don't feel we get to know him well enough to know why Manny was in love with him.
In my opinion most romance novels require some kind of suspension of disbelief, there are definitely some romantic tropes in this book, which I actually enjoyed, but if that's not for you - be advised they are there.
I left feeling sort of conflicted about the book, but overall enjoyed reading it. There were a lot of great moments of humour and I loved the friendships and self discovery. Thank you to netgalley for the ARC.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
brazenbookbabe's review
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
This is marketed as a romance and while yes, it had romance aspects, I felt the relationship between the two main characters was very forced. We never saw Sammy’s POV, so he felt a little flat to me. Manny, while I enjoyed the plot line of her reconnecting with a part of herself she never had an opportunity to connect with, I did not get her “falling for” Sammy. They spent very little time together on page, and she spent most of her time interacting with other people who were telling her to get with Sammy. It just was hard for me as a reader to see why she developed feelings for him when they barely interacted on page.
As a romance, this book felt very flat to me.
As a romance, this book felt very flat to me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
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