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A review by wanderlust_romance
Say You'll Be Mine by Naina Kumar
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
If you like romances that highlight fake relationships, fake dating, fake engagement, etc…YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK! I’m always fascinated by fake dating romances. Actual relationship dynamics are a challenge, especially when you’re getting to know one another, that trying to fake your relationship adds a whole other complicated dynamic to the picture. The entire book is a lovely and nuanced exploration of all manner of relationships - siblings, parental, friendships, professional, romantic.
What an absolute and utter delight Say You’ll Be Mine was to read! With pacing somewhere between medium and fast, it never sacrificed or skimped on the plot or character development. And these characters? You are rooting for them from the very start. Somewhere in the middle of the story I desperately wanted to grab them both, give them a little shake, and smash them together with the amount of chemistry and tension between them. KISS ALREADY YOU FOOLS! SYBM is a slow burn in terms of physical on page intimacy, but the emotional intimacy was gorgeous.
I loved Megna’s tenacity, wit, and humor. I loved how much she had to grapple with the complications of her friendship with Seth, former love interest and current writing “partner,” as she assumed the role of “best man” at his wedding. I loved Karthik’s initial reserve and stoicism, and especially his gradual warming towards Megna…even if he kept his feelings to himself. Karthik’s professional journey was also great to see, as he eventually realizes that the job he thought he wanted wasn’t going to provide the fulfillment he needed without any passion behind it. Megna and Karthik both played their true feelings cards close to the vest: afraid of getting hurt, of hurting their parents if the truth came out, of contending with their relationship becoming all too real.
This is a debut book and I was so impressed by the writing. I cannot wait to read more by Naina Kumar!
What an absolute and utter delight Say You’ll Be Mine was to read! With pacing somewhere between medium and fast, it never sacrificed or skimped on the plot or character development. And these characters? You are rooting for them from the very start. Somewhere in the middle of the story I desperately wanted to grab them both, give them a little shake, and smash them together with the amount of chemistry and tension between them. KISS ALREADY YOU FOOLS! SYBM is a slow burn in terms of physical on page intimacy, but the emotional intimacy was gorgeous.
I loved Megna’s tenacity, wit, and humor. I loved how much she had to grapple with the complications of her friendship with Seth, former love interest and current writing “partner,” as she assumed the role of “best man” at his wedding. I loved Karthik’s initial reserve and stoicism, and especially his gradual warming towards Megna…even if he kept his feelings to himself. Karthik’s professional journey was also great to see, as he eventually realizes that the job he thought he wanted wasn’t going to provide the fulfillment he needed without any passion behind it. Megna and Karthik both played their true feelings cards close to the vest: afraid of getting hurt, of hurting their parents if the truth came out, of contending with their relationship becoming all too real.
This is a debut book and I was so impressed by the writing. I cannot wait to read more by Naina Kumar!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting and Sexual content
Minor: Misogyny and Sexual harassment