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A review by beautynbks
Kismat Connection by Ananya Devarajan
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
I did not expect to love this book as much as I did! Kismat Connection drew me in from the cover and I was interested in reading a YA Indian love story. This book did not disappoint.
Madhuri Iyer and Arjun Mehta have been friends all of their lives. Madhuri comes up with a scheme to change her fate. Her mother reads her astrology chart and it's not good, which sends Madhuri into a tailspin. Of course, Arjun has been in love with Madhuri their whole lives and she only sees him as her best friend. He agrees to be her fake boyfriend to please her. I wasn't a fan of Madhuri at all. It rubbed me the wrong way that she wanted to erase her culture to fit in with her "white" classmates. I understand she was bullied but after a while, I didn't believe that was a good enough reason to "assimilate". Arjun and her family were so supportive.
Arjun is the ultimate boyfriend. I wanted to date him! My heart broke for him because he didn't receive the love from his immediate family he was in desperate need of. His mother was trash. The way Madhuri's family, especially Madhuri's mom embraced him made my heart smile. The bond Mehta shared with the woman he affectionately called Auntie was beautiful to experience.
I appreciated the way the author exposed the reader to Indian culture. As a Black woman, I appreciated reading about their culture and history so authentically. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this amazing book.
Madhuri Iyer and Arjun Mehta have been friends all of their lives. Madhuri comes up with a scheme to change her fate. Her mother reads her astrology chart and it's not good, which sends Madhuri into a tailspin. Of course, Arjun has been in love with Madhuri their whole lives and she only sees him as her best friend. He agrees to be her fake boyfriend to please her. I wasn't a fan of Madhuri at all. It rubbed me the wrong way that she wanted to erase her culture to fit in with her "white" classmates. I understand she was bullied but after a while, I didn't believe that was a good enough reason to "assimilate". Arjun and her family were so supportive.
Arjun is the ultimate boyfriend. I wanted to date him! My heart broke for him because he didn't receive the love from his immediate family he was in desperate need of. His mother was trash. The way Madhuri's family, especially Madhuri's mom embraced him made my heart smile. The bond Mehta shared with the woman he affectionately called Auntie was beautiful to experience.
I appreciated the way the author exposed the reader to Indian culture. As a Black woman, I appreciated reading about their culture and history so authentically. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this amazing book.