It was a cute YA novel. Nothing gripping, for me personally- it actually took me longer than normal to get through. Madhuri just wasn't a likable enough character for me, and I though Arjun deserved better. There were definitely elements of this book that I liked a lot.
1. I love a friends to lovers trope
2. Fake dating trope
3. LOVED the Indian culture represented in this book. You really don't see this often in this genre, which made the read refreshing.
4. It gave me strong Never Have I Ever vibes, I'm a fan of the show on Netflix, so I think other fans will enjoy this read too.
Things I did not like:
1. I didn't feel like Madhuri's character was developed well enough. She would swear she would never have feelings for Arjun, but like... why? She was annoyed by her mother's readings and "didn't believe them" but then why was she so pressed at her mother's prediction? A lot of moments with her just felt a little too angsty for my taste, but another teenager might find her attitude relatable.
2. I wish Arjun would have had more of a character arc. he just kind of plateaus midway and ultimately makes him a bit unforgettable / boring.
Other than that, I could definitely see young adults falling in love with this book. It was very cute and a fun little insight into some Indian culture.
1. I love a friends to lovers trope
2. Fake dating trope
3. LOVED the Indian culture represented in this book. You really don't see this often in this genre, which made the read refreshing.
4. It gave me strong Never Have I Ever vibes, I'm a fan of the show on Netflix, so I think other fans will enjoy this read too.
Things I did not like:
1. I didn't feel like Madhuri's character was developed well enough. She would swear she would never have feelings for Arjun, but like... why? She was annoyed by her mother's readings and "didn't believe them" but then why was she so pressed at her mother's prediction? A lot of moments with her just felt a little too angsty for my taste, but another teenager might find her attitude relatable.
2. I wish Arjun would have had more of a character arc. he just kind of plateaus midway and ultimately makes him a bit unforgettable / boring.
Other than that, I could definitely see young adults falling in love with this book. It was very cute and a fun little insight into some Indian culture.