how much fun was this book? well, I can't tell you, you'll just have to read it yourself!!
Manny, an amazing Indian CEO of a break-up company, is trying to find her roots, after two years of stunted grief over the loss of her parents. Her fiance us away more than he is home, and she is feeling a little lost. A catalyst moment has Manny accepting a job that her company wouldn't ordinarily do, in exchange for joining Sammy at his brother's Big Fat Indian Wedding, where she can learn a bit of what it is like to be a young Indian woman in America. Hilarity, hijinks, and a lot of gorgeous dresses ensue.
the cast of characters are delightful, and the author could easily entertain me with stories for each of them, and for some of those hilarious break-up email chapter headings!
thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
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Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada and Netgalley for blessing me with this eARC debut. in exchange for a honest review.

Review: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2

Reading this book reminds me how much I miss reading Rom Coms. They can be unbelievably sweet, witty and at times sweet..

Pros: Sari, Not Sari is such an easy read and while I was entertained, it felt like a "safe' book where there wasn't any memorable scenes that would hit a 5 star mark. As someone who does occasionally enjoy watching Bollywood movies, I was hyped to read this book.. It's so wonderful to see a multi-cultural book represent!

Cons: I would categorize this book more to chick lit as opposed to rom com. The romance felt very off-side and rushed. It feels like a journey of self discovery of the FL while trying to connect with her cultural roots when she experience an identity crisis that made her question herself. As mentioned because the romance was rushed, it felt so unrealistic as everything happened in 1 week in an instant romance way. I also couldn't really connect with the ML as it felt like we glance by him.

All in all, it is a solid debut and such an easy read and I would be all for reading any future works by this author.

This was such a quick and cute read! I loved Sammy & Manny and learning about Indian culture! The side characters added so much to the book - everyone was so lovable and many were relatable to some extent. This was felt like so much more than a romance - it covered grief, finding yourself, as well as love/relationships!

The ending did feel quite rushed though and I would have liked it if had been dragged out some.

This was such a good debut novel by a fellow Canadian! 🇨🇦

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

No longer interested, following a handful of critical reviews from desi reviewers highlighting the rep in this book. I can understand being Americanized to an extent, but I’m not interested in a book *about* Indian Americans that resorts to stereotypes and prioritizes white readers.

I enjoyed this book. I think the romance was fun and fresh, and a lot of the elements within this felt unique. I, as a white reviewer, cannot comment on the complexities regarding race and the accuracies within. Though I do think it's important to note that there is no monolithic experience when it comes to immigration, and having read interviews with the author, it definitely seems that she pulled from her own life to write this book.

The romance was nice, though a little too fast. I liked Sammy and was glad for the shift in romantic interests within the book. But I did find the romance to be more of a secondary plot to Manny's working on learning more about Indian culture, and honestly, I was okay with that. The romance was sweet, and I liked the friendship they had built beforehand.

The plot of this book is a lot of fun. I like how Manny and Sammy come together, and that they don't like each other at first. When we head off for the wedding, the plot picks up and it's suddenly a whirlwind of wedding prep and a lot of fun events. It was fun to see everything from Manny's perspective as someone who is unfamiliar with Indian weddings, and I loved watching her find her footing. Manny's learning more about Indian culture was so lovely, and I'm so happy to have read about her experience.

The writing was good, the characters felt real and fleshed out, and the overall feel was great. There were a lot of pop culture references, but because the book is so rooted in our world, it felt fine. The ending felt a tad rushed, the romance felt like it happened quickly, and there were a couple of loose ends for me. Everything with Manny and Adam just didn't feel done, and I'd hoped for Adam's brother to get some kind of closure, almost because it felt weird to just have him there.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was fairly fast-paced and had great characters who experienced wonderful growth and self-discovery within.

Full disclosure—I didn’t finish Sari, Not Sari by Sonya Singh.

I couldn’t connect with the main Heroine, Manny. She’s the CEO of her company Break Up, which basically drafts break-up emails and texts and sends them to your significant other. It was a little confusing; why was I reading a romance novel about a woman who breaks other couples up for a living?

But there’s more about Manny I couldn’t get into. She’s an Indian-American who’s parents fully embraced the American dream, thus she seems to have no cultural identity. I, as a white woman, felt like I knew more about her culture than she did. And so the way some of the POC characters were written, it was as if they were caricatures of stereotypes.

I couldn’t really get beyond that so the romance hadn’t occurred before I quit. But I must mention that both main characters, Manny and Sammy, were both in other relationships before I quit, so the one week where they are together doesn’t seem sufficiently long enough to find everlasting love.

Sadly, I was not impressed and didn’t finish through the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the review copy.

Review to come later today-I just woke up and haven't even finished one cup of coffee!!! So I couldn't possibly write a coherent review yet!

Now that I have fortified myself with enough coffee to sink a battleship, I can safely say that this was a very cute romance/finding yourself novel. I, too, was brought up like Manny was, and that was to embrace being American with my Italian/Hungarian sides being secondary. I knew about the foods but very little about the traditions of either family. So I can easily see myself jumping at the chance that Manny did.

Sammy was a tad more difficult to get to know, but eventually, he grew on me, and so did his whole family. I actually wish this book had spent less time on discussing Manny's company (it was the entire first quarter of the book---and let me tell you, I was amazed to find out such companies exist! I am soooo in the dark ages!) and more time on Manny learning about her heritage.

All in all, a quick, fun, and flirty novel, perfect for the beach.

*ARC supplied by Simon and Schuster, NetGalley, and the author. My thanks

I was so excited to read this book, I love a good rom-com, especially in book format, plus the addition of a Bollywood style romance? I was totally in. I feel let down. I didn’t hate this book. I just didn’t enjoy it. It was choppy and unrefined and the story didn’t make a lot of sense. I hoped for an easy and happy read with a lovely happily ever after. I didn’t get that.

Manny is on top of the world at the beginning of the book. She’s a CEO of a successful company, she loves her co-workers and she’s engaged to a guy she describes as wonderful, Adam. He sounds like a dick from the first moment Manny mentions him. Honestly, there was nothing to like about him beyond him “helping” Manny, in her opinion, get over her parent’s death.

At first she loves her boyfriend and misses him so much, but kind of only because her parents died and she’s alone. Then, this whitewashed cover comes out and all of a sudden he’s a jerk because he can’t tell (How can he not tell??) that it’s super white-washed. She storms out and she’s questioning their whole relationship; like how he’s always travelling. It comes out of nowhere. The story continues in the same vein throughout. Things come out of nowhere a lot. Including the romance. There’s a little chemistry between Manny and her new client/lover. That’s not a spoiler. It’s so obvious.

The writing isn’t poor, but there’s a whole lot of tell instead of any show. It’s constant description of every, single, little thing. It’s annoying. I do not need a half page discussion of every side character, how they met and why they are important. The story is supposed to show me that on its own. There was so much background about every emotion and memory, it was distracting from the actual story. Plus. for all the explanations elsewhere, the author mentions Adam’s job and compares it to his brother and parents but never tells me what they do so I’m confused and left to assume they run a winery, but Adam is an architect? There’s a few things that were off that way; like they’re in this new town, but suddenly in the old town? It doesn’t matter to the story but it made a couple sections very confusing and it stood out because there are so many unnecessary explanations elsewhere.

Finally, after all the filler and back story, Manny meets Mr. Sammy Patel. He wants a package Manny’s company has a strict policy against offering. She says no. Twice. Why is this guy bugging her after she’s said no twice? Find someone else? But, no, he doesn’t let up and Manny finally agrees because she has a fight with Adam about being Indian. Okay, this is a very rom-com reason, so I’m cool with this development. The next thing we know, Sammy is whisking her away, treating her like a date, and they are both in love… and they’ve forgotten their significant others entirely?

It was just so hard to read and follow and believe. It wasn’t enjoyable because I was scoffing at the poor choices.

I also have to address the Indian part of this book. I am not an expert in Indian culture. Yet, the way the book presented the Indian characters and the culture felt cheap and cartoonish to me. I was looking forward to a deeper dive into a culture I am a little familiar with and instead I got this cartoonish version where everything is colourful, everyone is happy and judgemental and everyone (save Sammy, Manny and Manisha) talks like Apu from the Simpsons. Really? I assume the author is Indian from her bio and photo and she couldn’t do better than that? I was so disappointed.

That really sums up how I felt about this book: disappointed. I didn’t enjoy reading it. I didn’t hate it. I wish it had a smoother flow.

Sari, Not Sari is a multicultural coming to age novel with a side of slow-burn (clean) romance. Manny Dogra is living the American Dream as a first-generation Indian-American who is the CEO of Breakup, a company that helps people end their relationships. After putting her entire life into the company, she loses her identity when the cover of a national magazine featuring her is revealed. She has been made to look whiter. Conveniently she receives an odd request from Sammy Patel at Breakup; he needs their help. Sammy's younger brother is getting married, and his longtime girlfriend is not allowed to attend. Striking up a deal, Manny and Sammy agree to go to his brother's wedding while immersing Manny in the culture she craved and has long been missing. Although the slow burn romance was great, It felt more of a romance for Manny to fall in love with true identity. Quick, easy, and a fun read. 3/5

Full review with spoilers on my blog on April 5, 2022.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advance reader copy of Sari, not Sari, in exchange for my honest review.

After the sudden death of her parents, Manny Dogra pours all her energy into her successful company, Breakup. Her fiance, Adam Jamieson is right along her side, encouraging and supporting her but also quite a busy businessman himself. Everything seems to be working out the way it should, until Manny is approached by a new client with a unique request of her services.
Manny hasn't ever felt connected to her Indian culture or heritage and when an opportunity presents itself for her to explore her identity she decides it's time to learn who she is.

I enjoyed the story and characters. I thought it was entertaining and fun read. As someone not experienced with Indian culture I can't say how well the book portrays the customs and traditions. Some of the relationships felt forced and at times pacing of the book was rushed. Overall it was a quick read, lighthearted fun and kept my attention. Made me want to have a dance party.


Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy and provide an honest review.

Unfortunately, the best thing about this book is its title.

The premise here has potential — an Americanized Indian woman realizes she knows nothing about her culture and seeks help from an Indian man who can give her cultural lessons (at a traditional Indian wedding) in exchange for her helping get his family off his back about dating a non-Indian woman — but just about everything about this book falls flat. It dearly needed to be stripped down to its bare bones and reworked. I found the entire book overwritten and overwrought with adjectives and descriptions of every. little. thing. I could never get into a rhythm, because I was overloaded with two paragraphs about the interior of a bar and nine sentences about how exactly someone picked their dress for a gala-type event — neither of which had any relevance whatsoever to the plot. And that was par for the course throughout these 300ish pages. The repetition and the myriad pop culture references were a struggle for me, too, (if you took a shot every time you came across Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ name, you’d be drunk a few pages in), and the dialogue was wooden and unnatural. I feel like Sonya Singh could have made this a much better book if she’d written a whole heck of a lot less “tell” and a good deal more “show.”

I also think the characters could have been reworked to distill their essences, too. Both Manny and Sammy could be interesting characters, but they’ve got so much going on that you never truly get to know them — or to like them. Plus, their chemistry is nonexistent. And writing like this — “A passionate kiss that felt like no other and yet at the same time way more familiar as the wet warmth made its way past my longing lips, to the nape of my neck, my trembling legs, and my aching heart.” — isn’t doing much to convince me otherwise.

A number of other things didn’t work for me, too. The idea for Manny’s company —writing breakup emails — is a horrible one, especially when the company is supposedly ending multiple-year marriages and engagements and relationships over Gmail accounts. Some of the LGBTQ+ characters seem to exist just as stereotypes. The plot is all over the place. The relationship between Manny and Sammy happens over a week and ends rather insanely — and some of their (supposed) googly eyes happen while they’re still in relationships with other people (although both SOs are objectively horrible). I can’t speak to the Indian culture aspects of the book, so I’d definitely recommend reading reviews from individuals who can.

I can easily see what this book could have been, and I’m bummed it didn’t live up to my expectations. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover; I guess I shouldn’t judge a book by its title, either.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Sonya Singh for proving me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Sari, not Sari is as easy slow-burn romance read. It is littered with Indian cultural references, foods and traditions. I found Manny's business completely unbelievable - are we there as a society where we can't even have a conversation as adults? The romance was also incredibly unrealistic and a bit rushed in the ending. I definitely would NOT classify this as a RomCom.

Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada | Simon & Schuster for the advancer reader copy.

Sari, Not Sari by Sonya Singh was advertised as a rom com, instead it was more finding yourself with a side of rom com. It was okay if you need a quick read.

This was a sweet book that focused on finding yourself, specifically through your culture and heritage. I love learning about the culture and traditions of India, so I very much enjoyed Sari, Not Sari. Thank you, Simon and Schuster for the e-galley in exchange for an honest review!

Manny Dogra is the CEO of Breakup - a hot start-up that helps folks break up with their partners. Sammy Patel is a desperate client who needs her help breaking up with his non-Indian girlfriend for one week so he can go to a family wedding. When Manny agrees to help Sammy, she is thrust into the world of the Patels - a fun, very Indian family that fills her sorrow left by her dead parents. But when Manny has to make some critical choices, will she choose the Patels or her old life?

I really liked this book. The characters were sweet, the depiction of Indian culture was fantastic and the whole book felt like a warm hug. I have attended Indian weddings in the past, and this book brought back so many amazing memories. It's a sweet story about finding where you are meant to be, and the secrets you keep from family to protect them. You really root for Manny to find out who she is and her link to her parent's past. And the fun twist was so sweet and made me gasp in delight. Sammy is adorable, and Manny is the kind of strong MC that you wish for. Loved their pairing. Also, 10/10 for Rajiv, Aliyan, Rob and Anjali - loved the supporting cast as well.

For those that like their romance books with spice, this one is not it, but I loved it all the same. If you are looking for an upbeat, sweet book with little tension (which let's be honest, I am in these times), this book fits the bill and then some. I would read anything that the author does going forward! Stellar debut!

This was such an entertaining read!  The storyline was enlightening, full of joy, and brought the reader along to the Indian wedding festivities.  I really enjoyed it.

The author does a great job of developing Manny’s character.  She is a strong, successful female whose thrown herself into her work since the sudden passing of both of her parents.  Despite being engaged, she really has not been successful in her life outside of work.  I loved that the business relationship she establishes with Sammy  becomes the vessel for the life she hadn’t even realized she was missing.

The reader is brought along to this week-long event as seen through the eyes of Manny.  She is welcomed to the celebrations as if she were a family member and this immerses only child into the culture of her late mother.  Little did she know, there was a stronger connection to this family than what meets the eye. The cast of characters involved with the wedding were highly entertaining (the man that provides the attire for Manny being my favourite).

The author includes several of the cultural challenges that face young adults in this community. The emphasis on finding someone to marry is highlighted and one cannot help but to feel this pressure. I had known that  relationships are often hidden from parents in order to allow them to develop in a slower, Western way and I felt this was important to have been a part of this book.  The inclusion of several gay characters was an important statement in Sari, Not Sari.

“This delightful debut rom-com follows the adventures of a woman trying to connect with her South Asian roots and introduces readers to a memorable cast of characters in a veritable feast of food, family traditions, and fun.”

This book was such a fun, lush, and vibrant read! The concept pulled me in from the start. I loved the Desi rep and the wonderful descriptions of big weddings and traditions. Manny and Sammy were adorably sweet together ❤️ I was also really touched by Manny’s journey in connecting to her Indian roots and traditions. I think its something that will resonate with a lot of people and is certainly a discussion I’ve had with friends who are first and second generation immigrants.

This book is okay! It's solid for a debut novel - the author has a lot of potential. Sari, not Sari started off strong but after that I found it lost its spark. it is an enemies to lovers story but I think some of that is lacking, as is the dialogue (it felt very superficial at times). Manny is the CEO of a company that helps people with their breakups. She was raised by two immigrant parents that didn't instill a love of her cultural background with her so Manny searches to connect with her culture in this book. I thought this was a great aspect of the book and is what I would summarize the book as. It's about personal growth not really romance.

This book sucked me in from the first chapter! I loved the way it was written with so much detail. I felt like I could really sense who each character was, and found things to relate about with them. Sari, not Sari, was a very light-hearted read for the most part, and I really enjoyed it.

Manny is the CEO of her company which specializes in facilitating all types of relationship break-ups. Each chapter begins with a humorous letter from a potential client, and the fun part is that the author, Sonya Singh, has drawn from her personal experiences when writing this book.

When Manny who is driven, type-A and has difficulty getting her own fiancé to commit to a wedding date, agrees to go the extra mile to help a client, Sammy, by accompanying him to a family wedding, Manny realizes what is potentially missing in her own life. She believed her deceased parents had always wanted her to assimilate into America instead of exploring her Indian identity, but as opportunities present and she is drawn further into Sammy’s circle, Manny begins to realize that she holds the key to happiness and she has true agency over her precious life decisions.. Where this rom-com lost its steam for me was the rapid way the last part of the story bounced around and then came to its end which left me raising an incredulous eyebrow, saying, really?!

I did enjoy the diverse characters and Manny’s search for identity in her heritage. I also liked the insider view into the Indian wedding, with the dancing, glorious outfits, delicious food, and hilarious family dynamics.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.