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skutty's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A good slow-burning 2nd chance romance but I did find myself being taken out of the story a few times due to some clunky writing. It was great representation, reading through the various Indian wedding festivities and exploring the nuances of Indian cultural norms as they pertain to broken marriages (the negative view on divorce, forced facades to keep up appearances, etc.). However, I felt that while the author touched on a lot of those topics, she didn't dive resolutely into the difficult subject matter. All in all, I enjoyed the book but wasn't enthralled by it.
kimsquatch's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
allingoodtime's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a new-to-me author and the culture the characters are from is one I don’t know a whole lot about. I’m always interested in learning more about other cultures, especially the way they integrate into living in the United States. When the first-generation Americans are still very much alive and part of the story, but the main characters are second or third generation and are expected to straddle so many different expectations. In this story, I didn’t feel the main characters were pulled in too many directions with these expectations, but Nikhil’s mom sure was. And that’s what got everyone into so much trouble.
This a beautiful second-chance romance with a bunch of forced-proximity and fake spouse thrown into the mix. Nikhil’s mom never told the rest of the family that he had gotten divorced from Anita and here it is his little sister’s big wedding celebration. Five days of festivities where Anita will be expected to be in attendance. Anita and Nikhil have not talked, let alone seen each other, in years. It hurts too much. They were still very much in love when they divorced, only they didn’t talk things out so they don’t really know that. There is a lot of hurt and baggage for them to wade through. Not that either is really thinking they’re going to do that. They just want to act their part, keep Nikhil’s mom and grandfather happy, and go on their way. Neither can handle the heartbreak a second time.
We all know how plans like this tend to go. There is too strong of a connection between Anita and Nikhil for them to not fall into old habits and buried feelings. While I always felt that connection, and even a low simmer of heat, there was only once where I felt the full-on butterflies and fireworks of this couple. But that works for this story. It’s more about them finding their way back to each other and learning how to properly communicate. The chemistry and caring were there, they just needed to dig a bit.
I thoroughly enjoyed the imagery of the wedding celebrations; the clothes and food and entertainment. The author blended the story with the setting in such a way that I felt as though I learned a lot without feeling like I was being schooled. She is certainly an author I will be reading more from.
This a beautiful second-chance romance with a bunch of forced-proximity and fake spouse thrown into the mix. Nikhil’s mom never told the rest of the family that he had gotten divorced from Anita and here it is his little sister’s big wedding celebration. Five days of festivities where Anita will be expected to be in attendance. Anita and Nikhil have not talked, let alone seen each other, in years. It hurts too much. They were still very much in love when they divorced, only they didn’t talk things out so they don’t really know that. There is a lot of hurt and baggage for them to wade through. Not that either is really thinking they’re going to do that. They just want to act their part, keep Nikhil’s mom and grandfather happy, and go on their way. Neither can handle the heartbreak a second time.
We all know how plans like this tend to go. There is too strong of a connection between Anita and Nikhil for them to not fall into old habits and buried feelings. While I always felt that connection, and even a low simmer of heat, there was only once where I felt the full-on butterflies and fireworks of this couple. But that works for this story. It’s more about them finding their way back to each other and learning how to properly communicate. The chemistry and caring were there, they just needed to dig a bit.
I thoroughly enjoyed the imagery of the wedding celebrations; the clothes and food and entertainment. The author blended the story with the setting in such a way that I felt as though I learned a lot without feeling like I was being schooled. She is certainly an author I will be reading more from.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
cakt1991's review
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
This is a sweet, fun multicultural romance. The premise is great, with a divorced couple agreeing to pretend to still be married for the duration of a family wedding. Both Nikhil and Anita are lovely, and while they did have legitimate issues that led to their divorce, they still have sparks between them, making it easy to fake that nothing happened between them. Shroff embeds the story with cultural details about the wedding and family traditions, as well as getting you invested in the different familial bonds that will likely carry over throughout the rest of the series. However, she never neglects her main couple and their sizzling chemistry.
I really enjoyed this fun, cozy read, and I’m excited for more from this series!
This is a sweet, fun multicultural romance. The premise is great, with a divorced couple agreeing to pretend to still be married for the duration of a family wedding. Both Nikhil and Anita are lovely, and while they did have legitimate issues that led to their divorce, they still have sparks between them, making it easy to fake that nothing happened between them. Shroff embeds the story with cultural details about the wedding and family traditions, as well as getting you invested in the different familial bonds that will likely carry over throughout the rest of the series. However, she never neglects her main couple and their sizzling chemistry.
I really enjoyed this fun, cozy read, and I’m excited for more from this series!
bookwormbullet's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
l0streader's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
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
Divorceavidreader87's review
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
4.5
This slow burn, second chance for Anita and Nikhil is absolutely lovely. The main characters are SO loveable and the whole time I was just cheering for their second chance.
The story was it's own very unique spin on the second chance trope and the author nailed the right amount of outside twists to keep their story interesting. When thinking back on the book, the characters and their storylines are so deep and detailed, you learn so much about the main characters' separate and united pasts, and yet never felt overdone or convoluted.
I loved the author's display of how loving and being loved aren't straight forward or easy things to give and get - sometimes we try and miss, and sometimes we don't try. The main and side characters struggle to love others in the way they need to be loved, struggle to see the love they are given, especially struggle to see the love they aren't giving, and yearn for the love the love they lack.
Just an absolute love for me.
The story was it's own very unique spin on the second chance trope and the author nailed the right amount of outside twists to keep their story interesting. When thinking back on the book, the characters and their storylines are so deep and detailed, you learn so much about the main characters' separate and united pasts, and yet never felt overdone or convoluted.
I loved the author's display of how loving and being loved aren't straight forward or easy things to give and get - sometimes we try and miss, and sometimes we don't try. The main and side characters struggle to love others in the way they need to be loved, struggle to see the love they are given, especially struggle to see the love they aren't giving, and yearn for the love the love they lack.
Just an absolute love for me.
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