Rating: 4 stars
Release Date: May 30, 2017
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Genre: young adult contemporary romance
Format/Source: arc, ALA
Status: standalone but When Ashish Met Sweetie is its companion
Summary:
Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right?
Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself.
The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?
Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.
Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself.
The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?
Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.
Review:
I desperately need more books like When Dimple Met Rishi. This book is so sweet and fun and swoony and smart, and, of course, it is a contemporary romance featuring an Indian-American couple written by an Indian-American author, and that is awesome! It's really fantastic to read a fluffy romance featuring characters of color who embrace their culture and customs aren't just white characters given darker skin. I just need a thousand more of these stories, and we'll be headed in the right direction.
Dimple is a headstrong and ambitious main character. It's frustrating because a lot of readers equate those awesome traits with being unlikable, and that's really unfortunate. Why is it that girls aren't allowed to be ambitious and goal-oriented without also being immediately relegated to the role of bitch? I LOVE that Dimple knows what she wants to do and works hard for it. Not only does Dimple set large goals for the future, she also sets smaller, more readily achievable goals that push her in the right direction, and I find that immensely admirable.
Indian heritage is important to both Dimple and Rishi and plays a big role in their story, and I loved seeing how their families and their families' culture affected their characters. One thing that is consistently said in the discussion about diversity is how people of any marginalization are not a monolith and stories should not be written as if they are. I love the way Sandhya writes Dimple and Rishi, who have so much in common, but who also have very different approaches to their culture and traditions and those difference inform who they are. That contrast allowed them to learn from one another and witnessing it on page was really interesting.
The single thing I would change about WDMR is that I wanted WAY more of of Insomnia Con! Dimple and Rishi work a bit on their project on page and of course, there's the talent show. But considering how much Dimple's ambitions inform her character, I would have liked to see some scenes of their classes and more of the day-to-day of the program. Don't get me wrong; I love how much of the book is focused on the relationship and kissing and tummy butterflies, BUT I still would like to have seen just a smidge more of the actual reason Dimple and Rishi were put together.
Dimple is a headstrong and ambitious main character. It's frustrating because a lot of readers equate those awesome traits with being unlikable, and that's really unfortunate. Why is it that girls aren't allowed to be ambitious and goal-oriented without also being immediately relegated to the role of bitch? I LOVE that Dimple knows what she wants to do and works hard for it. Not only does Dimple set large goals for the future, she also sets smaller, more readily achievable goals that push her in the right direction, and I find that immensely admirable.
Indian heritage is important to both Dimple and Rishi and plays a big role in their story, and I loved seeing how their families and their families' culture affected their characters. One thing that is consistently said in the discussion about diversity is how people of any marginalization are not a monolith and stories should not be written as if they are. I love the way Sandhya writes Dimple and Rishi, who have so much in common, but who also have very different approaches to their culture and traditions and those difference inform who they are. That contrast allowed them to learn from one another and witnessing it on page was really interesting.
The single thing I would change about WDMR is that I wanted WAY more of of Insomnia Con! Dimple and Rishi work a bit on their project on page and of course, there's the talent show. But considering how much Dimple's ambitions inform her character, I would have liked to see some scenes of their classes and more of the day-to-day of the program. Don't get me wrong; I love how much of the book is focused on the relationship and kissing and tummy butterflies, BUT I still would like to have seen just a smidge more of the actual reason Dimple and Rishi were put together.
When Dimple Met Rishi is a fun, fluffy story that will suck you in. It's incredibly satisfying to read. Sandhya is a new talent in YA, and I very much look forward to reading more of her work including a companion book about Rishi's brother called When Ashish Met Sweetie. Can't wait!
Purchase Links:
About the Author:
Sandhya Menon is the New York Times bestselling author of the smash-hit When Dimple Met Rishi and From Twinkle, with Love. She was born and raised in India on a steady diet of Bollywood movies and street food, and blames this upbringing for her obsession with happily-ever-afters, bad dance moves, and pani puri. Now she lives in Colorado, where she’s on a mission to (gently) coerce her husband and children watch all 3,220 Bollywood movies she claims as her favorite. Visit her online at SandhyaMenon.com.
Author Links:
I adored this book. It made my top ten list of books I am thankful for today. It was so fun and left me feeling incredibly happy. More InsomniaCon would have been fun, but I enjoyed what we were given so much.
ReplyDeleteYes! I love when a book just makes me feel happy and satisfied after I'm finished reading. I have a feeling all of Sandhya's books will be like that, and I'm so excited to read more!
DeleteI haven't read this novel yet everything I read about it is positive. I like that their heritages plays a major role in the novel. I think the book cover just doesn't do anything for me and that is why I haven't picked it up. It might have to be a December read for me.
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to read this book. hopefully i can do that on 2018
ReplyDeleteThis has had so much praise! A swoony read sounds good!
ReplyDelete