A review by illstoptheworldandreadwithyou
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

hopeful

5.0

 
Dimple Shah just wants to live her own life and make her own decisions. When she gets into an app development program the summer after high school graduation and her parents miraculously agree for her to go, she’s excited to step away from the IIH (Ideal Indian Husband) talk, her hovering mamma, and the opinionated aunties at home. Six weeks of STEM-focused activities and a chance to meet her idol—what could be better than that? 
 
Rishi Patel is the dutiful, oldest son, and he’s pining for an arranged marriage like his parents. When he’s handed a photo of a scowling girl with glasses and unruly curls and sent off to meet her at the six-week STEM-focused program, he feels like the rest of his life is about to start. 
 
Rishi is all set to meet his future spouse. It’s too bad no one gave Dimple the memo. 
 
Oh my heart, y’all! I absolutely adored this one. 
 
I know this isn’t a new book, but when I saw that Simon Audio had it available as one of their November picks, I just had to grab it. 
 
Read it for 
  • Rishi’s adorable excitement (I loved feeling the rush of falling in love right along with him.)
  • The discussions of traditions vs. trying to find oneself and of parental and cultural explanations, obligations and duties vs. dreams
  • How different characters react and respond to the feeling of not fitting in
  • How Rishi stands up for Dimple
  • The STEM rep
  • How different characters respond to wealth and status
  • Dimple’s spunkiness
  • How Rishi and Dimple encourage each other to grow and achieve their dreams in their own ways
  • The growth in the sibling relationship between Rishi and his brother
  • The swoony first non-date
  • The South Asian representation


 
I could gush about this one for a long time, but suffice it to say that this book is like a warm hug. If you are in the mood to read something that will give you the warm fuzzies, this is it.
 

 
I adored the audiobook narration by Vikas Adam and Sneha Mathan. They captured Dimple and Rishi’s youthfulness and temperaments so well. I I especially liked how they portrayed the first blush of love for Dimple and Rishi and enjoyed how they captured the accents and dispositions of the varied cast of characters.
 

 
I received a copy of the audiobook from Simon and Schuster Audio. All review opinions are my own.