This was a cute and entertaining dive into Indian culture and wedding traditions, perfect for a light read. It's a promising debut in multicultural romance, though I found the ending a bit rushed and the main characters' instant romance a tad hard to buy. Still, Knight's writing style is enjoyable, and I'm curious about her future books. I'd give it a solid 3 stars, with hopes for more in the future!

I finally got to this book! It was a cute and enjoyable read but it was hard to believe that Manny would be engaged to a man like Adam. Also, the plot felt like it evolved too quickly which made it difficult to believe and connect to.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon &Schucter for the earc.

Really enjoyed this book and learning more Desi culture, i loved the fake dating aspect of the story and glad that they both learned to love thier culture by the end

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

"Sari, not Sari" by Sonya Singh didn't quite hit the mark. While I was excited to dive into a story that promised cultural richness and contemporary twists, I struggled to need help with the characters and the plot.

The characters, unfortunately, didn't resonate with me. Their personalities felt somewhat distant, and I couldn't fully invest in their journeys. Despite the potential for cultural exploration, I found the character development lacking the depth that would have made them more relatable and engaging.

The plot, too, left me wanting more. It felt weak and failed to grab my attention as much as I had hoped. The storyline lacked the hooks that made me eager to turn the pages. I searched for a stronger narrative drive to immerse me in the story.

On the positive side, the cultural aspects and insights into traditions were a refreshing aspect of the book. However, I wished these elements had been woven more seamlessly into the fabric of the narrative to enhance the overall reading experience.

Despite my reservations, I acknowledge that individual reading preferences vary, and what didn't quite resonate with me might be a perfect fit for others. While "Sari, not Sari" may not have been my cup of tea, readers who enjoy a lighter, character-driven plot with cultural nuances may like it.

This was my introduction to south Asian romances, and I am glad it was! The characters did not seem to be stereotypical or flat in any way and their story was unique to itself.

It was cute, quick, and an easy read. Although i did find some of the content to be slightly culturally insensitive. So I neither hate it or love it.

I really did enjoy this book. I think it has excellent South Asian rep, and the culture really played apart and how the characters dealt with each other. Otherwise, it was just a fun book to read with really well written characters who wrote for throughout the book.

"It feels like there's a piece of me missing. But I know it's out there, so this week I'm searching for it."

Manny Dogra is a beautiful, young, successful CEO, but something in her life is missing. Sammy Patel is successful and in love, but he knows his family won't approve. When the two hatch a plan to help Manny discover her roots while also appeasing Sammy's family, they think it will be an easy way to get everyone what they want. However both of them discover more than they ever could have possibly imagined.

This book started off really really rough for me. I really struggled through the first couple chapters. Between being WAY too hyper focused on "Breakup" and what felt like someone trying to be cool and connect with the audience (#tryhard? #overdonehashtags? #hashtag) I struggled to continue with the story. However, there were some redeeming qualities. The best parts of the book were Manny figuring out herself and connecting more to her culture. I liked those aspects of this book and it left me wishing that more had been fulfilled on that end. I was not a fan of any of the romance aspects of this books, nothing happened and then everything happened like like the last 8%! The ending was so rushed but the first 92% felt so so so SO long.

Additionally, I really disliked the "Breakup" emails at the beginning of every chapter. Some of them were also so mean!

Overall, I think this is just one of the books I personally wouldn't return to. It was not a favourite and overall I wouldn't necessarily recommend it.

Thank you to Sonya Singh, Simon and Schuster, and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I realized it doesn’t not take it into account if I don’t post feedback.

I did not like Manny- she just was not particularly likeable to me.

I also felt like it was a characterization of the culture which felt really excessive and overly dramatic to me.

3 stars so as not to plummet the rating.

This one was an easy two star for me. I was so bored and so confused by every turn this plot took. Betweeen the insta-love, the terrible dialogue, and the weird company Manny runs, there wasn't much to this book that I did enjoy.

Oh, and the cheating, too, even if the characters deserved it a little.

There's a lot of ownvoices reviewers criticizing the Indian rep/plot around Manny wanting to feel more Indian in this book so if you're looking for more criticism on that part, I'd direct your attention over there, but I do want to note that the author herself is Indian.

I did enjoy seeing bits of Indian culture and I didn't find all of this awful (hence two stars not one star) nor did I find anything overtly atrocious...it was just like reading a mediocre Netflix original romcom. So do with that what you will.

Alright, so I just finished "Sari, Not Sari." Here's the lowdown, reader to reader.

The main characters in this one? They didn't quite hit the mark for me. Their romance felt a bit forced and lacked that special oomph. The moments they shared were interesting, but honestly, the storyline was somewhat predictable.

But hold up! The side characters totally stole the show. They brought the real energy and kept things lively. I found myself more into their stories than the main deal.

Unfortunately, the love interest and the lead didn't quite resonate with me. Their vibe just didn't pull me into the story.

Overall, "Sari, Not Sari" had its ups, mainly thanks to the side characters. But the main story and its predictability held it back for me.

This book was a cute, light read. A nice romcom that kept me entertained. I love this kind of love story. A sincere thank you to NetGallery for this book.

"Sari, Not Sari" by Sonya Singh is a novel that attempts to delve into the complexities of cultural identity and the clash between tradition and modernity. While it has its merits, the book falls short in certain aspects, leaving it a somewhat average read.

One of the strengths of the book is its relatable premise. The story revolves around Layla, a young Indian-American woman who finds herself torn between her traditional Indian heritage and her desire to lead a more modern and independent life. This internal conflict is something many readers, especially those from multicultural backgrounds, can resonate with.

Sonya Singh's writing is straightforward and accessible, making it an easy read. The narrative flows smoothly, and Layla's voice comes through authentically, allowing readers to connect with her struggle and journey of self-discovery.

However, the book's execution leaves room for improvement. While it touches upon significant themes, it often feels like it skims the surface rather than delving deep into the complexities of cultural identity. The conflicts and resolutions can come across as predictable, and some readers may crave a more nuanced exploration of the issues at hand.

Additionally, the character development in the novel could be stronger. Layla, while relatable, at times seems one-dimensional, and her growth throughout the story could have been more pronounced. Supporting characters also lack depth, and their motivations and personalities remain somewhat underdeveloped.

Furthermore, the pacing of the book can be inconsistent, with certain parts feeling rushed and others dragging on. This uneven pacing can disrupt the flow of the story and impact the reader's engagement.

In conclusion, "Sari, Not Sari" by Sonya Singh is a decent attempt to explore the clash of cultures and the journey of self-discovery. While it offers relatable themes and accessible writing, it falls short in terms of depth and character development. It's a book that will resonate with readers seeking a light exploration of cultural identity but may leave those looking for a more profound examination of these themes wanting more.

In this book, the heroine is the CEO of her successful company, which helps people with their relationship breakups. Focusing on her business and her romantic relationship, the heroine had also been dealing with her grief over the loss of her late parents. Then a magazine image misrepresentation makes her aware of her own obliviousness of her heritage, with her childhood spent focusing on the good life and not associating with her ethnic community. The appearance of the hero with his own breakup request gave the heroine a chance to learn more about her heritage as well as give her the time to contemplate her own personal life. After everything she learns from this experience, the heroine has a lot to think about.

This is the first Sonya Singh book that I've read. This book is told from the viewpoint of the heroine, but it would have been appreciated if there were a few chapters from the hero's viewpoint added to it. This book straddled a gray area of relationship status quo that would make some readers not appreciate it, but in this story, I was ambivalent about. I liked the found family that the heroine surrounded herself with, and the hero's likable family were relatable. There were some relationship queries at the beginning of each chapter, which were interesting to read. Overall, it was a nice book that could be better if it was longer.


** Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own. **

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me advance access to this title. I really enjoyed reading this story and look forward to reading more from this author. As a reader, I am really motivated by character driven stories and I found myself quickly becoming immersed in these characters’ lives. Full review to come.

This book was a cute, light read. A nice romcom that kept me entertained. I love fake dating stories.
A sincere thank you to NetGallery for this book.

This was a sweet and heart felt romance that has all the emotions and humor. The side characters were my favorites - the cousins and aunties and friends that are family - they were the best. There were parts of the book that felt a bit halted, like they either needed to be fleshed out or smoothed out a bit. With that, it was a fun and tender book that is worth reading for romance lovers who don’t want a lot of heat or profanity.

I received an ARC courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. The opinions are mine alone.

I was grateful to get this ARC, however I DNF’d it because I was not a fan of the writing. I had high hopes, but it fell flat for me.