I really wanted to like this book. I kept thinking of being transported to India with the sound, bustle, smells and scenery of that region. What I got instead was an annoying character. Tina Das is at a crossroad in life. She is not finding satisfaction with her job, her relationships, or even having a good relationship with her mother. She is going to India for her cousins wedding with a bunch of characters: best friend, Mom, Moms boyfriend, and Dad. She has had a very and I mean very privileged life. (Sometimes overbearing to read) However, she has a hang up about being Indian and American and hasn’t really embraced either. One scenario is when she is debating dating an Indian man just because he is Indian while being attracted to the Australian. (Umm okay).
Also the writing style was too much. I don’t mind books that have multiple voices, however, I have no need to know that the bartender at the hotel lobby wants to leave early to go sleep with a married woman waiting for him with a piece of cake. I had perhaps 3 favorite characters: Tina’s dad: Mr Das, hi love interest: Mrs. Sethi and the grandmother of a member of the wedding party: Nono.

What a refreshing stream of conscious narrative! I loved the humor and originality. This was just the light, quick read I needed.

I really enjoyed this light-hearted read— the characters felt real and nuanced and the writing was delightful, the plot playful. Every character seems to be facing an identity crisis of some sort: Though born in Ohio, Tina doesn’t feel American, but she really doesn’t belong in India, either; Marianne, Tina’s best friend, is constantly shaping her personality based on the men she dates; Neel, Tina’s father, isn’t sure he’s the type to jump back into the dating pool after his divorce; and Radha, Tina’s mom, is grappling with becoming the woman she always wanted to be. I loved following along as the characters tried to find their places in the world, walking the line between traditional Indian values and modern life, trying to reconcile the India they thought they knew with the India it’s become today. A truly delightful read that I’d recommend to anyone in need a fast, fun read filled with family tension, a fun cast of characters, and lots of Indian culture weaved through.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for giving me the opportunity to review Destination Wedding! My review will also be posted on Goodreads shortly.
What I liked about the book most was the older characters’ narratives and love stories. They seemed more authentic, and I personally liked the characters much better than the younger protagonists. In particular, Mr. Das was especially charming, and Radha incredibly relatable. And Nono and her driver were easily the best characters of the novel. I also enjoyed the glimpses into Indian wealth contrasted with its poverty, and the overall tone reminded me of Crazy Rich Asians, minus the obnoxious name dropping from that novel.
What I enjoyed less were Tina and Marianne’s storylines. Tina felt obsessive and neurotic in a very off-putting way, while Marianne’s indecisiveness (while relatable) was exhausting. I wish I had gotten more of Mr. Das, Radha, and Nono than the younger ones, but overall I enjoyed the book and felt that the ending was satisfying. The book as a whole made me laugh, which I always appreciate!

I was intrigued by the description - a week long Big Fat Indian wedding, 30 yr old Indian-American woman rediscovering India while navigating her divorced parents new relationships - so much potential for drama as well as insight into a second gen immigrant's experience. The book did not disappoint - the writing is fast paced while being really descriptive and creating very interesting. characters, not to say that they are all really likeable. That in itself makes for an engaging reading experience, that you are caught up in the lives of the characters while seeing their foibles, the grey shades and human frailty and frankly their OTT reactions. I also really enjoyed the little glimpses you got into all the secondary and tertiary characters as they come on to scenes, like the thoughts of the bartender at the club, or the cook at one of the character's homes, which adds color and interest without taking over the story - and it was done in a way that it does not feel like a loose end.

I was a little annoyed by Tina, the main protagonist, who seems conflicted all the time and wanting to put on a show of knowing India and being Indian, even when she really doesn't feel that way and I really did not understand how she could be a successful media executive if none of her shows get made - but that may be a case of not being able to relate to their character's specific situation and it did not stop me from wanting to read more about her actions and interactions of all the various characters. I also enjoyed that there was no moralizing and every character's merits were well presented and you got caught up in what they were doing and why.

A good read if you don't mind keeping an open mind about India today, especially the uber-rich parts of society and their disconnect to the everyday and are willing to be entertained by OTT drama while getting some interesting insights into interracial relationships, immigrant expat experiences, big fat Indian weddings, blended families in a light hearted way.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions my own.

Another winner from Diksha Basu! I previously loved The Windfall, and I was delighted to be able to read an advance copy of Destination Wedding. It did not disappoint. Although the cover art and title might make the book seem like "chick lit", it was much more substantial. I liked that the new book has multi-generational plot lines- something for everyone. Once again, I loved the characters and found them believable and relatable. There was humor in the story, but also interesting insights about relationships, poverty, marriage, divorce, immigration and more. I flew through this very entertaining read, yet there would be plenty for a book group to discuss. I hope we won't have to wait so long before the author's next book, but this one was worth the wait. I highly recommend this book.

This was fast, engaging, intriguing, entertaining reading. I have to admit I have finished it at three sits (quick breaks for ordering takeout, opening the door for grabbing my takeout and listening my husband’s bickering who says “are we eating takeout again!”) and mostly I enjoyed the smart mind of the author building a story in one place and keeps our attention intact without repeating or meandering.

The story takes place at the wedding ceremony centered around a few characters from their ages, back stories. We’re introduced Neel and Radha, happily divorced, still friendly (so civilized and modern), their daughter Tina I’ve dreamt of punching several times because she was the least likeable character of the book. And Tina’s bestie Marianne.

The story’s progression was interesting, filling us with family gossips, lies, secret scandals and entertaining us with people’s different functioning minds and humorous comments. You never get bored or you never scream “WTH I’m reading now”! I like the fast-pacing story-telling style and author’s approach to the family drama.
I liked some of the characters including David and Radha’s growing relationship and I adored grandma Nona reminded me of Indian version of Betty White.

But as you may imagine I truly hated Tina and Marianne. They acted like knowing-all, having big dreams but they mostly acted like immature spoiled brats have no idea about the real struggles of the life. I wanted to pull their hairs and scream their faces to shut their mouths at some parts of the book.

Overall: Even though there were annoying characters, it was fast, dynamic, smart, enjoyable reading. But 3.5 but this time I’m not rounding them up to 4 because it was a little light, soft, chic lit journey for my taste. It is still great read but maybe I was expecting something more emotional, deeper and more different. But I’m impressed with the writing style and I’m so sure I’m gonna happily give a try to the other books of the author.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House /Ballantine Books for sharing this ARC in exchange my honest review.

Things I loved : The colorful and vibrant description of the entire wedding, the various places in India and even the way all the characters are described. I love the details of the big fat Indian wedding. Cute relationship between Tina and Rocco. The way relations transcend cultures/religions and the way they did not discriminate. Friendship between Marianne and Tina. The identity crisis Americans of Indian origin might face when visiting India - each one experiences differently but I could understand the way Tina felt in this book.

Things that could have been more interesting : Though I liked the new relationships of her parents with their respective partners, I felt it dragged the story a bit and it could have been written brief and cute. The way Tina complained and moaned at everything was annoying and I personally did not find her character likable.

Destination Wedding by Diksha Basu is a wonderful blend of contemporary and traditional cultures wrapped together into a week-long wedding celebration attended by a vast arrange of family and friends in present day India.

The main character Tina ,a 30s-ish woman, who lives in NY and is at a stalemate in her career working in media. Who is she in regards to where she is now and where her family is from? What does she want to do with her life professionally and personally? Where does she go from here?

Taking a break from the halted gears here at home, she travels with her bff Marianne, her mom (divorced from her dad), and her mom’s American boyfriend to a family wedding extravaganza in India. She figures this is a great opportunity to seek out some of the answers to these questions all while having a great time.

What I loved most about the book:

1. Reading about the landscapes, culture, habits, daily lives, and class structures of India. So much detail that was engaged all of my senses. I could almost see and feel all of the vibrant colors and happenings. I love to learn more about different cultures and locations. This, I feel, was the best part of the book.

2. While I was not so much a fan of the younger generation of characters, I did enjoy the vast array of characters in general. I did particularly enjoy the subplot involving Mrs. Sethi and Mr. Das. I found myself continuously interested in their story.

I think that as the week goes on, that Tina at least begins to sort out her thoughts, hopes, and dreams, and is beginning to figure herself out. Maturing and transformation is a life-long task, and is an ongoing struggle for us all. I hope this is a point that Tina Das can use to help her find her place in life. It would be interesting if a subsequent book could be written taking us into the future to see how everything pans out for Tina, her family, and her friends.

A memorable and light read that I truly enjoyed.

4/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Destination Wedding is a fun book that covers one week in the life of the main characters as they attend a large lavish wedding in India. The main character Tina is a mid 30s professional woman who lives in New York and works in the TV industry. Along with her best friend, her divorced parents (and her moms boyfriend), they soak up the luxury of an elite club in Delhi while all going on their own personal journeys. Much of the book centers around Tina trying to find herself, and to find her home. Although she was born in the US, her parents are both from India and she is not sure which place is truly "home".

I have always wanted to travel to India so I loved getting to read about life there, both the lavish and the poor. The book did a good job of showing the diversity of India and the struggle that many immigrants (myself included) have in figuring out where home truly is. The luxury, wealth and privilege of the main characters definitely brought a "real housewives" type of vibe to the book.

The book was written in the third person, and often gave the internal thoughts and memories of multiple characters - sometimes all within a few pages. Although the diversity of peoples memories/thoughts added to the richness of the book, it also felt quite jarring as you are reading.

I found the "younger" characters (all in their 30s), to be kind of annoying and spoiled brats. The stories from her parents and the other older people in the book were more interesting and I liked those characters much more.

Content warning: there are very casual mentions of drug use. While none of the characters are regular users, they will casually take bumps of cocaine on nights out as if it's no big deal. As someone who works in healthcare, I do not like it when media normalizes hard drug use and makes it seem like it's ok if its just occasional. I have seen the damage that casual use can do, and do not like seeing it portrayed as just a benign bit of fun.

Overall, it's a fun read and a peak into the world of wealth and luxury in India with some self discovery thrown in.

Tina Das is in a slump with her job with a streaming network, she wants to come up with an innovative idea for her next show. She is traveling to India for her cousin Shefali's lavish wedding. Joining her are her best friend, Marianne, her divorced parents, and her mother's American boyfriend.
This was thankfully a quick read, I don't think I would have finished it if it had been any longer. I disliked the main character Tina, she came off as annoying and privileged. None of the other characters really appealed to me either. Mr. Das and Mrs. Sethi's story was the only part I somewhat liked. I also liked the character of Nono.
I wasn't a fan of the writing style either, it kept jumping from perspectives of different characters, even characters that had nothing to do with the story. Not that there was much of a story. If you like reading about rich people and their privilege and want to imagine yourself at an over the top Indian wedding, then this book is for you. I guess the main theme of the book was finding what you really want out of life. Ok time-pass, but no real depth.
Thank you to @Netgalley and @randomhousepublishing for the ARC copy of this book.

I read The Windfall and was looking forward to Destination Wedding, unfortunately this book didn't draw me in. The main characters were all searching for a connection with each other and their stories kept dragging, until they were conveniently wrapped up in the last chapter.

Minor wedding details were described, but the book focused on resolving relationships, so it's definitely not about a destination wedding in India.

What a entertaining read to escape to an exotic India, with marvelous heartfelt characters. A bonbonof a book perfect for the beach, and one I am happy to chat up!!

Literary fiction is not my genre at all and I usually run away from such books, but it’s hard to resist when it’s by an Indian author, set in India but also being published internationally. And I thought the author’s previous book The Windfall was a fascinating enough read, so I wanted to read this as well. And this was fascinating too but I’m still processing my thoughts on it.

One thing I can say about the writing style is that it’s very very engaging and hooks us right from the beginning, and I never wanted to put it down. I literally read it cover to cover in just a couple of hours at a time when I thought I was going into a reading slump, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. But the main theme of the book is about each of the main characters trying to find themselves and their own happiness, so the plot actually meanders without any general direction, except that it takes place at a desi destination wedding at a posh country club. That doesn’t mean it gets boring, because the author keeps us entertained with all the gossip and drama during a desi wedding and it’s all very relatable because our weddings are mayhem. I also don’t to read a lot of books set in India, so that was a nice change, and I could actually empathize with some of the characters’ reactions to how India has changed.

However, it’s the characters about whom I’m not sure how to feel. The story mainly centers around the Das family, Neel, Radha and their Tina alongwith Tina’s best friend Marianne. I really liked following the stories of both Neel and Radha, divorced but still friends and even partners in some ways. There’s a great understanding between them and I liked that they were able to make peace with each other, and also encourage each other to find future happiness. Radha’s relationship with David is sweet and I admired how self aware she was about what she wanted in life; Neel on the other hand is pretty skeptical about how to start dating again but it was a delight watching him try to navigate the idea of new love with Jyoti. Jyoti was another character who I thought was wonderful, sure of what she wants and what works for her and never letting anyone else dictate her choices. There is quite an ensemble cast too that left an impression on me, especially the wedding planner Bubbles and the groom’s grandma Nona who were both just hoots.

But it was the two young women Tina and Marianne who infuriated me. Tina is about my age, single and totally unmotivated in her work. I could really understand her desire to find both happiness in her personal life as well the drive to do more meaningful work; but when she started her rants about racism, privilege, poverty etc etc, it all felt very performative bullshit because she herself is extremely privileged coming from a rich family, an Ivy League education and having a job that affords her the luxury to live alone in a two bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. I also felt like she was fetishizing India’s poverty in the way she interacted with some of the characters and patted herself on the back when she thought she had helped someone. And while she does realize what she wants to do with her life, she is still the same person and I didn’t see much deeper changes in her.

Marianne on the other hand thinks her wonderful, sweet boyfriend at home in America is boring and wants excitement in life. As she recollects all her past relationships, it’s painfully obvious that she has a thing for exotic men and just wants a rich POC arm candy who will take her on wild trips all across the globe. I didn’t really understand if she realized how immature she was being or just gave up because she couldn’t find a hot rich desi guy interested in her during the wedding, so I can’t even say if there was any character development for her. With both Tina and Marianne, I don’t want to be too judgmental but they really are messy characters and I probably would have liked their depiction more if the author had treated it like a satire but it didn’t feel so. And if it isn’t a satirical take on privilege and the colonial gaze, then the utter lack of character development is pretty dissatisfying.

To conclude, I really enjoyed reading this book even if half the main cast pissed me off, because the other half did make up for it. And one can always rely on some desi drama for making any book entertaining. If you like books about an ensemble of characters and their varied messy relationships, then this book is perfect for you - it’s equal parts funny, dramatic and eye opening. But if you are someone who wants a coherent plot, then this is not for you. The author has a very unique take on the rich community in India and I’m looking forward to more of her works.