Member Reviews
“ Arranged Marriage “ a norm , a tradition , a form of marriage which majority of the households want for their son/ daughter .
Well for a fact its not that arranged marriages are bad and love marriage is good , any marriage requires love , understanding and being respectful to each other and their choices , but sometimes the toll arranged marriage takes and sacrifices expected by a women us way too much.
This books talks about a Woman Zoya who is an achiever in her field of work , the most talented , yet insecure and under appreciated by her parents and relatives due to her looks , for being fat , most importantly not being married at the age of 27.
The book depicts the facts of most arranged marriages in India , the author contemplated all the happenings of this tradition , where a woman is being fat shamed during the ritual when she is presented like a showpiece which can be bought by the groom and his family , the sacrifices required , the mere requirement for the marriage is the wife has to stay home and take care of family , juggling to make a good impression in front of the fiance and in laws.
Apart from this , there are many characters around the female protagonist, which makes her question and understand things from a different point of view everytime. Yet sometimes, it did felt that the romance added to lighten the mood of the plot was a bit forced than flowing.
This book for most indian readers would not a surprise , but yet a little bit inspiring to take a stand for yourself , appreciate yourself first and nothing is more important than our own happiness.
I would say this book is a good read for everyone and the author did a wonderful job bringing out this story of most women , which everyone know , but still had to be said out loud😍
Thank you @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse for the e-Arc.
I went into this book with really high expectations. Unfortunately, it was a big letdown because of the unchallenged fatphobia and toxicity in the novel. The story might have even worked if it weren't for the MC's internalized and general fatphobia but unfortuantely, in its present form, the toxicity is too jarring to even let the story sink in.
3.75 stars
This was actually the first book I read set in India where a woman is in a successful well paying job, but our protagonist, Zoya, is still reminded daily of how being fat, dark skinned, and 26 is a "flaw" in her character. She is frequently berated by her family and societal pressures to hurry up and get married and lose weight. This is NOT a steamy romance book. There is far more emphasis placed on interpersonal relationships and the dichotomy between traditional values placed Indian women and marriage. It felt as if every step forward I was placed two steps back as Zoya struggled to find her own voice. I was told more about her opinion on wanting things to be more progressive than her actually acting on those desires.
Side note:
I noticed immediately that her job as a designer needed more research or a quick google search because at one point Zoya criticizes her co-workers incompetence at work and the "red space" on a project. In design there is no such thing as "red space". It is white space. This probably irked me more than it should have since I have a degree in design. But if you're trying to sell me on her being a successful designer moving up in the workplace, you need to use the right terminology.
From the beginning I could tell who she was going to end up with, but seeing how smitten the male love interest was made it worth reading. I wish there were more scenes between them to further develop their relationship. The actions the male interest takes towards the end was the equivalent to "that escalated quickly". The romance seemed more like a side plot to the over-arching narrative of body image and traditional values. I did enjoy seeing how close she was to her family and the emphasis on her independence as a working woman. Overall, I would say if you're looking for a quick read about to pick this up.
Had to DNF about thirty percent through. It was honestly getting a bit hard to read; the mc was probably one of the most unlikeable characters I have ever read about, I could not see myself ever possibly rooting for her or being interested in her story so I put the book down. It's 2021, I do not care to read books about girls whose only interests are being jealous of and hating other girls. The writing and storyline weren't well done or interesting enough to save the story, and the rep was cheesy and stereotypical. I had high hopes for this one; so sad to be let down.
A desi author’s book about a fat Indian girl who is pressured to get married - this felt perfect. But the execution was way off. To start with, this book is fatphobic. The main character has internalized all of it and makes such comments both about herself and every single woman she encounters. As a fat Indian woman myself who has to listen to such talk every day of my life, I could have understood if the main character experienced the same but was body positive herself and determined to ignore or standup for herself when she was fatshamed. But when she is the one doing the fatshaming, I couldn’t continue on with the book anymore. It hit too close emotionally and I hated the main character for being that way.
First Off, the Fat MC is EXTREMELY Fatphobic. There were a LOT of descriptions from her about every single woman in her family she's ever met. And finally, i think this book was trying to be a feminist book saying we all have problems and we should be the ones to not hold back and achieve our dreams. But it gets lost with the constant pour of internal fatphobic thoughts and external fatphobia.
I read about 15% of the book, which was enough for me to see that this is not suitable for schools. It is an adult novel. I thought the use of humor and strong self-image of the main character are excellent characteristics of this books. I would recommend it to Southasian women, chicklit circles, and those who enjoy Bollywood. I did not appreciate the profanity.
I don't tend to read a lot of romance. Something about this book however, the title and the cover, just drew me in and I decided to give it a try. And I'm glad I did! This was a very enjoyable book. I'm sure I missed out on some details and references because I would not consider myself knowledgeable about Indian culture, but even so I was able to glean some information just from the text. I definitely enjoyed this one and would recommend it.
I loved this book, It's definitely not a typical romance, i think that's why this book will have a place in my heart!
This is so much more than what the title depicts, I loved Zoya and her ambitions and love for her family, this book will make you laugh, i will definitely read more from this author!
It's such a warm heartfelt read.
Thank you Netgally for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.
Unique story, although the main character is a bit of a push over and I really don't like female characters to be weakling or pushovers.
But I still enjoyed the story.
So I just finished reading an ARC of The Rules of Arrangement and my heart is completely full. It is the fuzzy and warm kind of novel I just needed before my semester exams. The plot revolves around a 26 year old Zoya Sahani of Mumbai who is almost past the expiry date in the Punjabi arranged marriage market because she chose to prioritise ‘horror of horrors’, education and career above everything else.
Zoya is all of us struggling to make sense of the world in our 20s and trying to evade the family pressure of ‘settling in’ by 25 since that’s the cutoff that that the Indian society provides to it’s women. This bit is so well written that I got anxiety imagining having to go through this nightmare in the next few years. Things take a turn when Zoya is finally engaged to a family friend and at the same time, friendship starts blooming between Zoya and her boss Arnav. I absolutely loved Arnav’s character. You really need to read to find out about this man. He’s the cutest, gentlest, most appropriate and understanding of men I have read of in fiction in a long time. Arnav is the man of dreams of every 21st century woman. Simultaneously, there are red lines in the relationship of Zoya and Lalit, her fiancé, which Zoya tries her best to ignore considering her family’s happiness. From here, the story could have been any mushy romance (which I half expected it to be) with Zoya breaking up with Loathsome Lalit and marrying Arnav. Except, it wasn’t.
What I absolutely loved about this novel is how fun, contemporary and practical it is along with social commentary on society, subtle patriarchy in Indian families and how women are privy to it, etc. Like every big noisy Indian family, Zoya too has Sheila Bua the matchmaker- that one aunt every young adult in the family wants to run away from. However, Zoya reminisces those times when she was her Magic Bua and always knew what would make her happy. Revelations about this stereotypical aunt whose dreams were once crushed due to the expectations of marriage changes Zoya’s perspective towards life. She, who was meekly accepting an arranged marriage for the sake of her family’s happiness and even considered rejecting her dream job in New York, realized that she had to speak out. And yes, the engagement was finally broken and the proposal from Arnav did come but romance doesn’t take the centerstage here. What does is Zoya making her own choices and leaving for New York. While she does get into a relationship with Arnav, it is her life that she prioritizes. A woman only deserves a man who understands her dreams. Zoya does finally manage to escape the strangleholds of society,
Where this novel really stands out is in the analysis of every character, even the apparently villainous ones, and explains what makes them what they are. It is easy to write ‘woke’ feminist posts on Facebook but equally difficult when the fight is against your own family and loved ones who simply refuses to understand your point of view. The truth is that we all go through this, we all deal with it. Change will always cause some ‘disturbance’ of the age-old calm.
However, it is also important to realize that the older generations in our family have been molded in a certain way for decades and will naturally find it difficult to wrap their heads around new ideas. Shunning them out of your life is probably only possible in fiction but is never really feasible in real life. Hence, the triumph is in every small step you take, the subtle ways in which you get your way through and make the path a little smoother for the younger women of the family.
Really enjoyed this, I love the trend in literature at the moment of taking the traditional rom-com of two slightly boring white people falling in love and repurposing it for the 21st century. The Rules of Arrangement is an inclusive story about finding love and yourself and I am here for it.
This wasn't a bad book by any means, it just wasn't the right book for me. My main problem with this isn't anything that the author could've changed, because it stems from my ignorance.
Have you ever read a book that threw you into a culture you knew absolutely nothing about? That is exactly what this book does. As someone from the United States, I really struggled to understand a culture that was so different than mine. So many times, situations just felt weird to me, and completely threw me off. On top of that, there was a ton of phrases thrown in that I had no grasp of. While this hurt my reading experience, the friend I was reading loved this, as it helped immerse her into the book. I think this truly comes down to your knowledge of Indian culture, and whether you will be able to understand and relate to a culture so different.
Because of the culture difference, i couldn't stand some of Zoya's actions. I'll admit, I don't know much about the beauty standard in India. What I can say though, is that Zoya is not the type of plus sized character I want. I love seeing myself represented in books, but I want characters who are confident in themselves. Zoya made some of the most vile comments i have ever read, and i simply couldn't excuse that. At one point, she admits to wrapping an invisible tape measure around other fat women to check whether they were fatter, and being satisfied when they were. She would make terrible comments like that, and then daydream about food in the same line. This all combined into a character I couldn't stand.
A few key things kept me from enjoying this, but they won't pose problems to everyone! My not liking this is definitely a result of my ignorance, so if you're in the mood for an immersive book, this is for you!
Thanks to Netgalley and Anisha Bhatia for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
I would like to thank the publisher’s and NetGalley for giving me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Bhatia has done a wonderful job of transporting you to the city of dreams, Mumbai; with vivid descriptions of the hustle bustle of life in the fast paced city. In regards to exploring the breaking of the glass ceiling with many norms being challenged, Bhatia has done a wonderful job with the plot keeping me engaged. I also enjoyed that despite the foundation of the story revolving around marriage, the book itself did not focus entirely on a romance. Rather the reader is presented with a practical and at times emotional journey that the MC undergoes as she attempts to forge a path of her own. There were a few things I struggled with in the book, one of them being Zoya’s internalised dialogue, that at times I found confusing and contradictory. I also wished that Bhatia had explored a little deeper with her side characters rather than subjecting them to stereotypical categories. Overall, this is a great read if you are seeking a read that has elements of culture, society, family and self discovery within it.
I liked Zoya for the most part, but she was such a weak person in her life. She was great at work, but everywhere else, she just let people walk all over her. I was glad for her end decision but not the way she went about it. Not a romance story at all, but there is a hint of romance as a subplot.
I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4 stars.
I LOVE seeing books with South East rep, especially when the main character isn't this perfect light skinned, skinny girl ideal that a lot of harmful stereotypes are based around. Zoya has been faced with those her whole life. Always too dark, too fat and seen as a burden on her family since she's the only child. Luckily she has a good support system in the terms of her cousins and friends - which are SO important.
Were there things about the book I disliked? absolutely. I think the whole health craze talk was a little absurd. Sure no one wants to let low cal, butter and bread less food forever, but Zoya acting like it was the end of the world for a meal or two was a little over the top. Also the entire pacing of the story seemed a little odd to me, the ex boyfriend seemed more like a unnecessary plot point than anything else.
But the things I LOVED far outweighed the things I didn't. Seeing the women in her family struggle with the patriarchy and the crushing of their own dreams for one was both heartbreaking and surreal. I think about my own mother and wonder what dreams she must've had before her marriage. And I hope that I am bold and brave enough to chase my own. At the root of it, this story is really about sisterly love, and the unspoken bonds and rules women have. I think the ending was perfectly suited for this story.
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Release Date: Expected 13th July 2021
Zoya is twenty-six years old and very single. So by the standards of her exceptionally traditional family, she's practically a spinster. She loves her family, and would love them to be happy - but maybe not at the expense of her own happiness. But now, her aunties have found the most perfect potential match for her ... just as she finally gets an offer for her dream job on the other side of the world.
Before now, the only rebellion happened inside her head, but now she has to make a choice and decide exactly who she wants to be - a loyal daughter and a loving wife? Or a brave, risk-taking independent woman?
But is the world (and Zoya's family) finally ready to realise that women can and will 'have it all?'
I've never been to Bombay, but Bhatti had me transported to another part of the world through Zoya's colourful inner monolouge and vibrant thoughts - she had a beautiful, almost poetic way of describing the world around her as though it was a vivid dream. Zoya was the most perfectly imperfect character and she was so charming right from the moment we meet her, and completely impossible not to love.
As we go on the biggest journey of her life so far, we watch Zoya try to the find the balance - old and new, love and work, tradition or restarting.
This story had such a warmly familiar 'coming of age' feel to it, and just goes to show it doesn't matter how old you are - there's always time to get to know yourself. This was a love story - about family, friends, romance but most importantly about loving yourself.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Anisha Bhatia and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.
I was very excited for this book as it featured a fat, desi MC and was set in Mumbai, however I couldn't seem to enjoy it. I think that the writing just couldn't pull me in, or maybe it was the wrong timing for me to be reading this book. Either way, it just didn't seem to work for me.
I was bored and it felt like it was dragging on forever. This may be due to the fact I prefer more fast paced books and couldn't have patience for the plot to get thicker.
The Rules of Arrangement by Anisha Bhatia is a wonderful, heartwarming, and contemporary fiction novel that is a breath of fresh air. Yes, this is a contemporary romance, but it is honestly so much more.
I really, really enjoyed reading the story of Zoya Sahni. She is a down to earth, intelligent, realistic, and amazing young woman that has a heart of gold. She is a traditional young Indian woman in the aspect that she is respectful, loyal, and wants to make her family happy, yet she is modern in that she wants more then just to be a housewife wrangled into an arranged marriage. Here we see her internal struggle as she tries to find herself, her place in life, what her own destiny will be, all the while trying to satisfy her own inner thoughts that can at times be self-defeating and the naysayers that balk at the different path that she is seeking. Her journey through this book is what I enjoyed the most.
Zoya is real, raw, fiery, and not presented in the cookie cutter image that a lot of books create for their main female character. Her own personal and external issues are struggles any real woman can identify with. That is what makes her so likable and so endearing...and it is what kept me rooting for her the whole way through.
I loved this book, Zoya, and the messages of accepting oneself flaws and all, that we females are more then just a dress size, hair color, or what society expects of us. We are so much more and we owe it to ourselves to be more like Zoya.
Fabulous!
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Alcove Press for this stunning 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, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
Disclaimer: I got this ARC in exchange for an honest review from: @NetGalley.
I loved reading about Zoya's story. She's not the perfect Indian family and has a supportive family for the most part. It's rare to find desi stories where the protagonist doesn't hate her family. I would love to see more stories like this!!