So—here’s my honest review. The first 25% of this book was pretty painful. The author introduces the characters, the setting, and the conflict. Knowing from the premise that Manny, our main woman, will end up with someone else, it’s difficult to root for the OG boyfriend/fiancée. Even more difficult when everything the author writes about this guy is negative. This isn’t really a problem until the second half of the book where Manny is struggling to decide what she’s going to do moving forward. Because of the built up hatred for her fiancée, Adam, it’s incredibly difficult to feel how hard this decision is, and instead, I found myself starting to judge her for not ditching his ass even after she’s been gaslighted and manipulated by this dude. YIKES. Definitely had to change my mindset.

Here’s what I loved about the book. Manny sets off on a quest to learn more about herself, her family, and her customs. It’s honestly an amazing journey of growth and discovery that just leaves the reader feeling so happy and excited for her. I even felt like I finished the book knowing more about Indian culture than I did to begin with. The author does a great job of tackling difficult issues such as outdated customs, whitewashing, and family conflict. If not for the rough start, this would be a five star read for me. Regardless, would highly recommend!

Manny has it all, a multi million dollar company, a seemingly loving fiancé, and a beautiful home but after the loss of her parents she still feels as if she can’t connect to who she really is. Sammy needs Manny to help him orchestrate a temporary breakup from his girlfriend so he can attend his brothers big Indian wedding without causing a scene. Can Manny and Sammy help each other?

I enjoyed this book for the most part until the end. A beautiful story with wonderful descriptions of Indian celebrations that lost me completely by the rushed ending. Sammy and Manny deserved a more fleshed our conclusion. Also how many gay best friends does a girl need? Every character in this book that Manny connected with felt like a stereotype of a gay male. Great effort but I just feel like it fell flat in development

Sari, not Sari by Sonya Singh is a wonderful contemporary romance that made me smile, laugh, and kept me entertained from beginning to end.

This may look like it is just another romcom novel, but it is so much more. Manny Dogra may think she has it all figured out: a successful business, a current relationship, and an idea for a life forward…but deep down there are questions surrounding her heritage, her past, her parents, and her identity and culture.

It takes a major upset and a new client to help push Manny to ask questions that were always there and to seek answers to those questions that were always bubbling just below the surface. This book is about identity, family, a sense of belonging…continuity, finding one’s place in life, and finding a purpose. Manny finds that by finding out her past…she is able to find herself, her happiness, and her true future.

I enjoyed the way the author was able to balance romance, comedy, and lighter dialogue with some of the heavier concepts within the book. I liked Manny, flaws and all, and I liked her progression and being a part of her journey full of surprises and discoveries.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Simon & Schuster Canada for this wonderful 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 on 4/5/22.