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bookishmillennial's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
Disclaimer if you’ve read other reviews by me and are noticing a pattern: You’re correct that I don’t really give starred reviews because I don’t like leaving them. Most often, I will only leave them if I vehemently despised a book.I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all.
Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless if I add stars or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
I adored this second-chance, forced proximity, fake dating Indian romance! This is the first book I’ve read by Mona Shroff but it will *not* be my last.
The details about Indian culture were so perfectly woven in! From the wedding traditions, to the food descriptions, to the elegant wedding attire, to the cultural conversations surrounding divorce, children, or family, Shroff clearly took such great care in representing Indian culture!
This is a great example of why representation matters, and how good representation illustrates nuance and layers of any identity. I felt the frustration and exhaustion of Nikhil in constantly feeling second-best when it came to his family, and I felt the deep love and protection that Tina (Nikhil’s sister) had for her older brother, even during a time that was supposed to be all about her and her relationship!
I felt the shame that Anita felt when admitting how much she missed Nikhil’s side of the family, and I felt the pressure from some elders who constantly questioned when they would have babies! This is why the setting of a wedding is a goldmine, because it’s the perfect mix of stress, excitement, and joy. Family is complicated, but gosh, do these people love each other!!
The dynamic between Anita & Nikhil was full of antagonistic quips, devastation, & major “the one who got away” energy. However, the journey towards reconciliation was so much fun as it all unfolded. As these two let go of assumptions and accepted the person who stood before them today (rather than the person who signed divorce papers three years ago), they allow their pain & heartbreak to finally be acknowledged & only then, can they decide if it’s something worth repairing.
This is a closed door romance but there’s plenty of angst, tension, longing, & swoon-worthy moments! Shroff wrote a beautiful story about forgiveness, growing up, & rediscovering lost love.
Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless if I add stars or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
I adored this second-chance, forced proximity, fake dating Indian romance! This is the first book I’ve read by Mona Shroff but it will *not* be my last.
The details about Indian culture were so perfectly woven in! From the wedding traditions, to the food descriptions, to the elegant wedding attire, to the cultural conversations surrounding divorce, children, or family, Shroff clearly took such great care in representing Indian culture!
This is a great example of why representation matters, and how good representation illustrates nuance and layers of any identity. I felt the frustration and exhaustion of Nikhil in constantly feeling second-best when it came to his family, and I felt the deep love and protection that Tina (Nikhil’s sister) had for her older brother, even during a time that was supposed to be all about her and her relationship!
I felt the shame that Anita felt when admitting how much she missed Nikhil’s side of the family, and I felt the pressure from some elders who constantly questioned when they would have babies! This is why the setting of a wedding is a goldmine, because it’s the perfect mix of stress, excitement, and joy. Family is complicated, but gosh, do these people love each other!!
The dynamic between Anita & Nikhil was full of antagonistic quips, devastation, & major “the one who got away” energy. However, the journey towards reconciliation was so much fun as it all unfolded. As these two let go of assumptions and accepted the person who stood before them today (rather than the person who signed divorce papers three years ago), they allow their pain & heartbreak to finally be acknowledged & only then, can they decide if it’s something worth repairing.
This is a closed door romance but there’s plenty of angst, tension, longing, & swoon-worthy moments! Shroff wrote a beautiful story about forgiveness, growing up, & rediscovering lost love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Pregnancy
100_pages_hr's review
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
5.0
I absolutely adored this book. It fulfilled so many of my favorite tropes and had me turning the pages anxious to see how the happily ever after would work out.
Shroff is one of my favorite Indian Own Voices authors because she writes authentic, loveable stories that allow me to escape but also teach me more about the culture. It is especially fun learning about the culture surrounding weddings.
I really loved the realistic character flaws that Nikhil and Anita had. The storyline was very believable because it was easy to relate to the family dynamics and situations even if I haven't experienced the exact same thing.
The fake relationship and forced proximity in this book was amazing. I appreciate that while Shroff doesn't write explicit scenes she does make it clear in a clean way what is happening behind the mostly closed doors. The chemistry in this book was really good and I loved the romantic moments so much.
I really loved that Shroff basically took her characters down to their most desperate in this book and helped them dig back out. I cannot wait to see what Amar's story brings us!
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.
Shroff is one of my favorite Indian Own Voices authors because she writes authentic, loveable stories that allow me to escape but also teach me more about the culture. It is especially fun learning about the culture surrounding weddings.
I really loved the realistic character flaws that Nikhil and Anita had. The storyline was very believable because it was easy to relate to the family dynamics and situations even if I haven't experienced the exact same thing.
The fake relationship and forced proximity in this book was amazing. I appreciate that while Shroff doesn't write explicit scenes she does make it clear in a clean way what is happening behind the mostly closed doors. The chemistry in this book was really good and I loved the romantic moments so much.
I really loved that Shroff basically took her characters down to their most desperate in this book and helped them dig back out. I cannot wait to see what Amar's story brings us!
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Miscarriage, Racism, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
Divorce
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