Member Reviews

This was a super cute, super quick read. I had a really fun time reading it! Winnie and Dev were cute together and I liked how their relationship developed. I really liked how Winnie stood up for herself and how passionate she was, both about her culture and her dreams (both literal and figurative, ha). It's a perfect summer read and I definitely recommend it.

Was this review helpful?

DISCLAIMER: The closest I have come to watching a Bollywood film was Bride & Prejudice, which is a Bollywood style adaptation of Pride & Prejudice (and quite wonderful, if I do say so myself). However, I do not believe one must be well versed in Bollywood films to enjoy this book, but it may inspire you to check a few out.

•Pro: Winnie was wonderful! How I could I not love a girl, who was so fierce and feisty, that she stole back her DVDs and held a burial in the woods for them? This girl had dreams, this girl had goals, and no boy was going to keep her from attaining them.

•Pro: Dev, just writing his name brought a smile to my face. He was a good son, a good friend, and absolutely swoon worthy. There were so many things he said and did, that made me all warm and fuzzy and heart-eyed. Add him to the list of superior book boyfriends!

•Pro: I may be the only person that loved this, but the setting. You have to understand, there were scenes, which took place walking distance from where I live. It's sort of cool to know every place they went in a book. In fact, I think Sharma fictionalized one of my favorite ice cream places in the book, and now I can't stop thinking about their blend-ins.

•Pro: Three cheers for a fantastic bestie. I adored Bridget, and thought she was a pretty spectacular friend.

•Pro: The book was so much fun! I know people were staring at me and the stupid grin I was wearing as I read this book.

•Pro: I want the Mehta family to adopt me. Seriously, Winnie's parents and her grandmother were so nurturing and loving, and who wouldn't want to be part of an awesome family like that?

•Pro: Lots of great bits of Indian culture woven into this tale. We got to sample the food and dress, and even attend an event via this book, and I always love learning more about different cultures.

•Pro: The romance was so sweet and adorable, and I had no problem shipping Dev and Winnie.

Overall: A fantastic rom-com with a Bollywood touch, which didn't cease to delight me and left me floating on cloud of happiness.

Was this review helpful?

I read this book about a month ago and I hadn't reviewed it yet because I simply didn't really know what to say. I enjoyed the book overall, and I quite liked the writing style, but overall? It was just a bit... mediocre. At times I couldn't stop reading, but at other times I really struggled to pick the book up. I don't know.
The book's biggest strenght were the movie related things. Even though I've never seen a Bollywood movie before, seeing how passionate the main character was about them made me like reading about it. I love passionate main characters.
The book's biggest flaw was definitely how the main character's entire storyline was focused on boys. Every single thing she did was because of a boy. I don't mind a romance, but I really don't like it when the love interest basically becomes the sole focus of the main character.
Overall, I did enjoy the book and I would recommend it to friends, but it definitely had quite a few flaws. I do plan on picking up more books by this author in the future.

Was this review helpful?

delivered exactly what it promised: a wild, humorous, lovable contemporary romance that doubles as a tribute to film geek culture and Bollywood

parts I didn't like/reason for 4 instead of 5 stars: the female antagonist was your typical bitchy girl who is awful to the protagonist due to perceived competition over a dude; plus ableist language in describing said antagonist (on top of general/typical ableist language)

Was this review helpful?

I have never seen a Bollywood movie and this book made me seriously regret that. Winnie is so obsessed with Bollywood films and was constantly referencing them in this book and it just made me want to watch some of the movies so bad. I’m not surprised seeing as it was a book that got me into K-dramas as well.

Winnie is so confused in this book and doesn’t know what to do, should she follow her heart or should she follow her destiny. She just broke up with her boyfriend and is trying to finish her senior year and get into the school of her dreams. I feel like eventually she comes to terms with how she feels about her destiny and if her life is really her choice or if it was predetermined. Raj was just so detestable in this book…he proclaims to love Winnie but proceeds to act contrary to that statement. Overall I enjoyed this book.

I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

Was this review helpful?

Winnie Mehta was never really convinced that Raj was her soulmate, but
their love was written in the stars in My So-Called Bollywood Life. Literally, a pandit predicted Winnie would find the love of her life before her 18th birthday, and Raj meets all of the qualifications. Which is why Winnie is shocked to return from her summer at film camp to find her boyfriend of three years hooking up with Jenny Dickens. Worse, Raj is crowned chair of the student film festival, a spot Winnie was counting on for her film school applications. As a self-proclaimed Bollywood expert, Winnie knows this is not how her perfect ending is scripted.
Then there’s Dev, a fellow film geek, and one of the few people Winnie can count on to help her reclaim control of her story. Dev is smart charming, and challenges Winnie to look beyond her horoscope to find someone she’d pick for herself. But does falling for Dev mean giving up on her prophecy, and her chance to live happily ever after? To get her Bollywood-like life on track, Winnie will need a little bit of help from fate, family, and of course, a Bollywood movie star. 
Like an expertly choreographed Bollywood dance scene, Nisha Sharma’s off-beat love story dazzles in the lime light. (via Goodreads)
I RECEIVED AN EARC OF MY SO-CALLED BOLLYWOOD LIFE FROM NETGALLEY, COURTESY OF CROWN BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
My So-Called Bollywood Life is a delightful romantic comedy that would rival any Bollywood movie I've seen. Granted, I am whiter than some white bread, so it's not necessarily a large number. It's got pining, heartbreak, dramatic breakups, a star reading and of course, an awesome dance number.

I really enjoyed this debut novel by Nisha Sharma. I recently read and reviewed Sandhya Menon's From Twinkle, With Love, which has another stubborn Indian-American female filmmaker at its center. Twinkle and Winnie would either get along greatly or hate each other. For us readers, if you enjoyed For Twinkle With Love, you'll enjoy My So-Called Bollywood Life, and vice versa.

This book didn't really surprise me, but it did delight me. That's what counts for me. I adored Bridget and her love of Indian culture without being appropriative. The dreams with Shah Rukh Khan were so much fun, and a great view into Winnie's subconscious. Her family was a huge part of this story, which is always great to see.

My So-Called Bollywood Life did feature a love triangle, but it was incredibly realistic. Winnie never wanted to be with both guys at the same time. She knew exactly what she wanted once she figured it out. The resolution between Raj and Winnie was exactly what this story needed. It was honest, hard-won and just lovely. 

I didn't love the story's stereotypical treatment of Jenny as The Other Woman. It's something I'm willing to look past, though. There should be a content warning for use of ableist language towards her, and some slut-shaming by her. 

Overall, I really enjoyed My So-Called Bollywood Life. Whatever Sharma writes next, I'm definitely going to pick up. I laughed, I felt for the characters, but most of all, I didn't want to put the book down. Pick up a copy for yourself on Amazon or Indiebound! I doubt you'll regret it.



DISCLAIMER: ALL LINKS TO INDIEBOUND AND AMAZON ARE AFFILIATE LINKS. IF YOU BUY THROUGH THOSE LINKS, I WILL MAKE A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY OFF OF THE SALE.

Was this review helpful?

I am in love with this cover! I completely read a book based on a cover and this one called to me so loudly. Those colors pop beautifully and I can imagine in a bookstore they would do so even more. I’m a huge Sonali Dev fan from her first book, which I’ve talked about a ton here, so I was excited to see a Bollywood YA book like this. I’m so happy to say this book completely lived up to what I wanted.

Winnie is a High School senior obsessed with all films, but particularly knowledgeable in Bollywood films because she’s grown up in that culture. She is that rare person who knows exactly what she wants to do with her life – something in film for sure. She never wavers from that even though everyone around her certainly wants her to. The book opens with her boyfriend of forever, Raj, and Winnie breaking up and throwing her life into some chaos. Fate and destiny had said they were meant to be and if that isn’t going to happen…then what is?

I’m not a Bollywood movie watcher but after reading this book I have a list of movies that I NEED to watch! Even though I didn’t have those references down I did not feel like I was missing out on anything. I loved how passionate Winnie was about movies, the scenes where she and her father joked about movies and her mother was exasperated with them for going on and on were some of my favorites because it felt so specifically right to me. Like a snapshot of a family that had those exact conversations.

I really liked Dev and the encouragement he provided to Winnie. The side characters in general were all very strong which are always important to me. Her best friend was great because there were arguments but not over the top, and that felt very real to me. I loved her grandmother and parents as well. There were 2 side characters I was not a fan of and I know we weren’t supposed to be. The advisor of the film club was super frustrating for me. He was there to provide some tension but I was literally yelling at my book – WHY ARE YOU STILL VENTING TO HIM!? I also wasn’t a huge fan of Raj’s new girlfriend Jenny as she felt a little too… 1-note to me.

“As much as I love Bollywood damsels in distress, I don’t need saving. I’m my own hero.”

Overall I loved this book. I loved reading a YA book with diverse characters and have been seeing so much more of this in the YA genre particularly. I hope this continues and grows in the adult genres as well.



Rating: 4.5 Stars

Reviewer: Melinda

Title: My So-Called Bollywood Life

Author: Nisha Sharma

Release Date: May 15th, 2018

Don’t miss any of the bookish fun. Subscribe now!

Was this review helpful?

I gotta admit, this book is adorable.

Now, I don't know much about Bollywood films-- just the drama and dance numbers, and the main character is a huge Bollywood fangirl, so there are times I totally didn't understand references. Yet, her enthusiasm and love for the films, made me feel like I loved them too, even if just through her. Winnie is such a fun, bubbly character, I just loved learning about her life.

Winnie totally pulled me through this book. She is adorable, dramatic, and super hard-working. The other characters were also fun and helped the book be great. Dev is sweet, I only wish we got more of him in the book. Raj though, grrrrr, I don't think I would have forgiven him as quickly.

The romance seemed so quick, I wish we had more build up and understanding, but honestly since they weren't commenting on each other's looks every time, I found them to be quite believable. I liked that they liked different parts about each other.

The star chart is interesting. I will say I don't believe in fate and horoscopes, but they are fun. I saw were the plot was going, at least with the romance, but I was still into the book. I'm glad with where the plot went with that.

Hope to recommend this one to some people soon!

Was this review helpful?

Winnie might still believe in prophesies, but she is dead set that the one about finding the love of her life before her eighteenth birthday is wrong. Especially since Raj cheated on her while she was away at film camp. So Winnie’s moving on. She’s focusing on leading the film club (even if she has to do it alongside Raj) and making the student film festival perfect so that she’ll be a shoe-in at NYU. Except then she reconnects with Dev, an old friend who is sweet and thoughtful and everything that Raj isn’t. And especially, especially not a part of the prophesy. Only destiny isn’t always that simple. And as much as Winnie doesn’t like the idea of her life being preordained, sometimes destiny and free will are one and the same.
This is such a cute book. Sort of a Bollywood-esque romcom, which is appropriate since Winnie lives her life according to the tenets of Bollywood movies. I loved how lighthearted and fun the books is, with only a little bit of teen drama, but mostly about falling in love and figuring out what's important. Sometimes you just want to read a lighthearted romcom about a girl in love with Bollywood films! And now you can.
The only part of the book that fell short for me involved a situation toward the end where Winnie made a decision that her friends and family (and everyone really) said was her selfishly choosing her future over her new boyfriend. That bothered me on two levels. First, the implication that her only motivation for the decision had to be selfish (and that her loved ones couldn’t even consider any other reasons) and, second, that prioritizing her career as a film critic (something made clear is of paramount importance to her from almost page one) over her relatively new relationship would be wrong and selfish. Those implications and the other characters reactions to the decision (as well as the fact that literally no one disagreed with that assessment) was actually jarring enough to me that it took me out of the book for a few chapters. It's sort of resolved by the end, but it still bothered me.
Still, overall, a really cute and really fun book that I would definitely recommend to others! Particularly anyone who loves Bollywood, YA romcoms, or books like When Dimple Met Rishi or The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the Best Burgers in Los Angeles).

Was this review helpful?

First off, serious heart-eyes for this cover. I’m a humongous fan of illustrated covers, and I’ve seen some amazing ones lately in YA, but this is my new favorite. Like the story itself, it’s delightfully over-the-top. There’s a prophecy, lots of Bollywood movies (with an extra helping of Shah Rukh Khan), a musical number (at a school dance, of course), a loving and supportive family, and so many laughs.

“He shook his finger at the screen, and the gold ring on it glinted. “I think I understand. Your and your parents’ star charts are the most beautiful I’ve ever read. You’re afraid that if it comes true, you’ll be disappointed because it’s a choice you didn’t make. But wouldn’t you be equally disappointed if it doesn’t come true? Finding a jeevansathi is a gift that many people aren’t fortunate enough to receive.”
Jeevansathi. Life partner. Soul mate. She looked over at her dresser and saw the promise of Raj’s silver bracelet. Keep cool, she thought. Keep it cool. He may be super accurate, but he was wrong about this. He was wrong about her.”


Winnie’s family believes in prophecies because one correctly predicted that Winnie’s parents would find each other. Winnie’s is that she would meet her true love before she turned 18, that his name would start with an “R,” and that he’d give her a silver bracelet. She’s always assumed it would be Raj, a boy who goes to the same New Jersey high school as her. Winnie’s not quite happy with having a prophecy dictate her life, however, and is almost relieved when they break up after he cheats on her over the summer before senior year. Problem is, they still have to see each other at film club, where they’re co-chairs. Raj, naturally, realizes too late what he’s missing, and tries to win her back. The problem is, everything he does makes things worse for Winnie. When she reconnects with Dev, a fellow film buff, she’s ready to wash her hands of the prophecy once and for all. But are things really that simple?

“As much as I love Bollywood damsels in distress, I don’t need saving. I’m my own hero.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder. It was a flirt move and such a cliché line, but he’d given her an opening, and any self-respecting film buff would’ve taken it.”


Winnie is absolutely adorable. She knows what she wants out of life – well, she’s pretty sure at least – and worries about the prophecy holding her back. I thought Raj was a bit of jerk, loved her best friend Bridget, and thought Dev was absolutely 80s teen movie boyfriend perfect. I loved the humor in the book, especially how Winnie kept trying to find a Bollywood movie to help problem-solve every situation she got herself in to. While I’ve seen a few Bollywood films, I’m not as much of a film buff as Winnie is, and I think each film is explained well enough that someone with only a cursory knowledge of them would be just fine. I will say, the dream sequences that involved scenes from movies I’ve seen were extra hilarious.

A lot of the “ethnic” YA I read as a kid involved how second-gen kids had to separate their family’s culture from the person they were outside their home. I was so happy this wasn’t a problem for Winnie! Winnie is proud of her heritage, and not afraid to show it. As a bonus, Winnie’s family is amazingly supportive of her – I think it helps that her dad is also a big Bollywood film fan, even going so far as to have a family film night at almost midnight when Winnie is having a rough time and needs a distraction. Winnie’s nani (her grandma) was also a hoot, and I loved the scenes where they went dress shopping or brought samosas to support her.

“People love the movies because of the romance, the emotion, and the passion the characters feel. You get sweaty palms, a clenched stomach, a pounding chest. It’s easy to get swept up in the magic as long as you have a flexible suspension of disbelief.”


Overall – is this completely over the top and predictable, with a cartoonishly evil villain and a sappy and sweet resolution? Yes, but so are some of the best Bollywood movies. I had an immensely fun time reading this book, and I cannot wait to see what Ms. Sharma writes next!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Was this review helpful?

This book was so much fun! I’ve never known much about Bollywood but reading this inspired me to try and watch some. This was so cute. I loved the romance that blossomed and the many fun movie references sprinkled through out. I’m also super happy this book is filled with diversity.

Was this review helpful?

I loved the characters in this book! With the minor exception of the first like two or chapters where I had a problem with Winnie, but more on that later.

After that though, Winnie did grow on me. She was funny and headstrong and likable. She was passionate and sweet and I loved her relationship with her friends and family.

My favorite part about this new wave of own voices books that have been coming out is seeing authentic family relationships and how they are all different, and yet, all the same from my own. 

Then there was, of course, the romance. I loved Dev! I want a man who would dance for me! The bar has been raised! If you don't do an entire dance number in my honor then you need to seriously step up your game!

My one problem, because of course, I have to complain about something, is that I had some minor problems with Winnie in the first few chapters. She begins the novel by having broken into her boyfriend's house and stealing all of his movies so she can bury them. That's a crime. Like an actual crime.

Also, she and her best friend only ever talked about boys. They probably wouldn't pass the Bechdel test if they tried.

All that said, I didn't mind too much. I came for a fluffy romance and the book delivered just that.

Was this review helpful?

I didn’t know about this book until I went to the New York City Teen Author Festival and Nisha Sharma was on a debut authors panel and read an excerpt of this novel. I thought it sounded hilarious, so when I saw it was available to request on NetGalley I immediately jumped on it and I’m so glad I did.

Told in a close third person narration, My So-Called Bollywood Life follows Winnie, a senior in high school who’s returned home from film camp to discover her boyfriend, now ex-boyfriend, Raj, is dating someone else. Although, in Raj’s defense, they were on a break. However, if he’d watched Friends he would know that’s not a reasonable excuse, but I digress.

The point is, Raj and Winnie are over, which is especially confusing for Winnie because all her life she’s believed in a prophecy she got from a pandit who said she’d meet the love her life before her 18th birthday and the guy’s name would begin with a ‘R’ and would give her a silver bracelet.

Now Winnie is fighting against believing that prophecy and wants to make her destiny, beginning with getting into NYU. To do that she needs to run the film festival at her school and be co-president of the film club…with Raj. Of course this doesn’t go well and it doesn’t help that another boy at school, Dev, is now showing renewed interest in Winnie and Raj just can’t seem to let go and still believes he and Winnie are meant to be.

With a love triangle, drama, a lot of Bollywood references, and the best parents you’ll ever meet, My So-Called Bollywood Life was a fun read that I just couldn’t put down. It also made me want to watch a Bollywood movie (I’ve never seen one!). My only issue was with the conflict at the end. It’s hard to explain without spoiling so I’ll just say I thought the conflict made it seem like Winnie should give up on something she worked quite hard for just for a guy, and the fact that her best friend, Bridget, seemed to also agree with this sentiment really irked me. If you want a more detailed explanation I’ll put it down below with spoilers.

However, this issue aside, I think the book kind of made up for it in the end, and overall I really did enjoy this book despite that one little thing, so I still highly recommend it. Definitely grab a copy of the book, which is on sale today!

Was this review helpful?

This story centers around a high school senior named Winnie Mehta. Winnie loves film, especially Bollywood films. Winnie has dreams of going to NYU's Tisch School of The Arts. Winnie plays a big part in her school's film club. Although Winnie loves a good Bollywood romance, she isn't sure if she has that with her boyfriend, Raj. The thing is, Winnie and Raj were predicted to be soulmates by a pandit or, a Hindu scholar or priest, when they were children. Winnie isn't sure if she believes in fate, or the pandit's prediction, despite receiving a silver bracelet from Raj that was, in fact predicted by the pandit. However, when Raj cheats on Winnie while she's away at a summer film camp, Winnie decides to take her fate into her own hands. Winnie uses her heartbreak and anger to make this year's student film festival the best it's ever been. Winnie receives help from an unlikely source, Dev, a fellow film buff who believes Bollywood romance and horoscopes are silly. What follows is a comical, heartwarming story of first love, fate, (or not), and friendship.
I really enjoyed this book! As a film buff, the synopsis of this story really piqued my interest. I especially liked learning more about Bollywood movies. It was refreshing to read a story about a character with a specific interest where the writer doesn't just abandon the fact for the sake of the synopsis but actually uses that interest to shape the character and mold the story. Each chapter has a little review of a Bollywood movie written by our main character, Winnie. The coolest thing about that was how the review was for a movie with a similar plot to help set up the upcoming chapter. This book was not only a quick read, but it was page turning as well. I wanted to find out Winnie's fate as badly as she did. Another cool thing I learn upon finishing this story, was that the writer went to school in the area I live. She even mentioned various local places in her acknowledgements which was really cool and surprising. I definitely recommend this as a light, quick read that will make you smile and laugh.

Was this review helpful?

3.5 stars.

I wanted to like this book so much more, but it fell flat in a lot of places for me. I enjoyed Winne and Dev, but I found that Winnie lacked a level of maturity, which makes sense considering her upbringing, but made it difficult to relate to her sometimes. Despite the "chaos" of her pandit prediction, everything seemed to come pretty easily to her and problems were resolved pretty easily as well. She was the one constantly getting in the way with an over the top neuroticism about a college application and the idea of fate.

The storyline was also very predictable, which again wasn't a huge problem, but didn't make it as exciting of a read as it could've been. I loved the integration of Indian culture, Bollywood films (which I know nothing about), and film in general, but at the end of the day, those were just details in a somewhat typical love story. I did like that Winnie was still independent and focused, but also boy crazy. Because you can be both. Be a lady taking names and setting up your own film festival, but also the one who wants that fairytale and a partner in life. Ain't nothing wrong with that.

It’s a cute read. and the Indian culture definitely adds originality and flair to the storyline, but I wouldn’t expect it to be the love story that sticks with you forever. Still worth a read!

Was this review helpful?

My So-Called Bollywood life was a joy from start to finish. As a white American male, I font know a lot about Indian Cinema. In fact, I know literally nothing so reading a book like this was something of a mystery to me. And while I can't verify all the facts Winnie threw at me in this novel, if even half of them are true I'm missing some real gems here. Sharma did a wonderful job at crafting a story here, infusing Winnie with a passion and drive that was nearly palpable on every page. This book oozed Winnie's personality and it was so nice and so well developed that I could have read about her for hours and hours on end without getting tired.

In fact, most of the book was like that. Sharma's writing style is, not simple, but readable. There's no heavy or purple prose that bogs down the story, just lovely descriptions drenched in Winnie's winning (ha) personality. Winnie made this book for me, her character was just so fun and her inner monologue was both heartfelt and gut wrenching. I went through a wide spectrum of emotions reading this and I can't wait to see what Sharma has next up her sleeve.

Was this review helpful?

As a brown girl, I can't tell you just how much it pleases me to read books about brown girls falling in love and being all happy. When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon last year made me realize just how much I want stories about brown girls and their love stories. When I found out about My So-Called Bollywood Life, I didn't even bother reading the summary. What a charming and lovely story this was! If you like romantic comedies, this book is perfect for you.

My So-Called Bollywood Life tells the story of Winnie Mehta, who is a new favorite heroine of mine. She was so refreshing and relatable in her pure love for Bollywood movies. I love reading about teen girls who have aspirations and Winnie certainly had goals that she wanted to achieve. She also worked incredibly hard in order to reach her goals, which is always inspiring to see. I loved how unapologetic she was about her love for film and romance. Then, there were Winnie's dreams featuring Shah Rukh Khan, who is possibly the biggest Bollywood actor alive. He gives her cryptic advice using quotes from his movies and it all made me giddy with happiness. To Winnie, her family was also important. I loved seeing her interact with her parents and her grandmother. Her bond with her dad was especially beautiful written and made my heart very happy.

I'm sure you're eager to hear about the romance. At the beginning of My So-Called Bollywood Life, Winnie and her long-time boyfriend, Raj, have just ended their relationship as a result of Raj wanting different things from life. Winnie, who has been told by a priest that the love of her life's name starts with an "R", is undeniably shattered. She is a big believer in fate, so this throws her off balance. Fortunately for us reader though, Winnie doesn't dwell too long on Raj, despite him trying to win her back. She finds a newfound friendship and budding love with the most adorable boy to ever exist. Trust me when I say that Dev will absolutely steal your hearts. He is such a soft, kind-hearted hero, who pushes Winnie to chase after her dreams. He has also had a crush on her for a while, so it was precious when they finally got together.

As you can tell, not only is My So-Called Bollywood Life a book that has some of the cutest characters, but it is also brimming with charm and is most certainly a book that will make you smile all throughout. If you like your books happy and swoony, then this needs to be on your TBRs! Now, who do I have to bribe so that I get more books about brown girls falling in love?

Was this review helpful?

This book was so perfect and excellently written, it deserves its own Bollywood adaptation. Sharma wrote the perfect quirky romance filled with movie references and love written in the stars.

Was this review helpful?

This book is about what I expected it to be. Nothing really shocked me. I appreciated the diversity a ton though.

Was this review helpful?

Frothy, fun and full of fairy floss.

My So-Called Bollywood Life stars Winnie Mehta, a heroine obsessed with Bollywood and going through a bit of a rough patch in life. Winnie publishes film critiques on her blog and chairs the film club / film festival at her school for the gifted in arts in Central New Jersey. She is set on attending NYU's film school, and works hard to excel at school in both classes and activities. She is wrapped in happiness and security, with a loving and understanding family, supportive best friend, and the respect and admiration of her classmates.

The spot of trouble? She asked for a break from her boyfriend (apparently her soulmate ordained by prophecy since her birth) and he promptly started dating another girl. Winnie has feelings about this, but seems to realize pretty quickly that she would be better off without him and pre-determined fate. Forced proximity with her ex due to film club membership causes issues, and Winnie attempts to solve her problems using Bollywood movie scenes, plots and quotes.

This was a light-heartened read, with almost no angst and a tiny bit of drama. You never really worry about whether Winnie will be happy in the end. <spoiler> Even the entire soulmate-whose-name-begins-with-R prophecy 'twist' is not a surprise, and can be seen coming from the beginning. Basically, the drama that surrounds the reveal is ridiculous for high school level maturity, and clearly not going to prevent a HEA.</spoiler>

Overall the story reminded me of an 1980s sitcom - extremely adorable teen heroine, light plot, no real drama, a cartoonish villain, ridiculously over-the-top or cheesy exhibitions of devotion, and everything neatly resolved before the end.

A fun read with super interesting Bollywood movie scene dream sequences, but predictable and with a little too much unrealistic drama.

3.5 stars rounded up to four

Was this review helpful?