Member Reviews
Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC and amazing book!
The Songbird Inn is a heartfelt exploration of love, family, and personal growth, with beautiful artwork that truly enhances the emotional depth of a family story. A very successful sequel to Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things, this book turns the original’s concept on its head, blending the Singh sisters’ new romantic tales over a single, very eventful day. I agree and recommend this book for its different intertwined stories and relatable characters. Each sister’s adventure was translated through each of the seasons which is different and keeps you on your toes.
I just haven't been vibing with a lot of YA novels lately, and I think me not really caring for this one is a product of that. I just wasn't very invested in our heroines and maybe I will be if I decide to pick up for YAs again, but for now this is just eh.
I had a lot of fun with the first installment of the Singh Sisters adventures and this one was still amazing, but I think I preferred the first book because it was split into seasons. I will always recommend these books because of their relationship with each other and their dad, and the descriptions of the Pacific Northwest are unmatched! I really enjoyed this as an audiobook and I would happily listen to more stories narrated by this person!
Thank you to NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for the eGalley to review!
I was quite excited seeing a sequel to Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things, and I did enjoy reading more about the Singh sisters and their relationships. Unfortunately, while there were great conversations that teens need to have and plenty of fun scenes in this book, for the most part I felt like it was just dragging on and on and never going to arrive at any resolutions, let alone to an ultimate end. The first book was about as long as this one but never did I feel like wishing it was just over already like I did several times with this one.
The thing I really liked about the first book was that each sister got her own season for her story to be told. This meant nicely controlled pacing and they weren't fighting each other for air time, so to speak. This sequel is pretty much the exact opposite. It's still broken up into parts, but everything is happening at the same time. It goes back and forth and back and forth between all four sisters in each part, which means it just gets chaotic and muddled. It's hard to focus on any one story line. For this, I think it took away any significant impact for each story's resolution and that some of the sisters' stories felt like they had more weight than the others.
I would still recommend reading the sequel to anyone who enjoyed the first book, but I think that recommendation would come with a couple of asterisks.
A delightful story perfect for the autumn season. In this follow up story, a lot changes in a day for the unsuspecting main characters.
An interesting book but to be honest, if you don't read the first one fairly close to this one, you will get confused on the characters and what their motivations are. I also wish each sister had her own section to make it easier to read.
A super sweet book that works as a standalone, but also is fabulous if you have read the first installment about the sisters. It gave me some Austen vibes ina good way and will be loved by YA fans I am sure.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm not good at reviewing books in a timely manner, but I’m working on it.
This was a nice follow up to Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things. Whereas the previous book was divided into four sections following the four Singh sisters through the seasons, this book alternates chapters and takes place over a single day. Rani is directing a movie for a film festival and everyone in the family is trying to make it in time but is having difficulty due to a storm. Nidhi has just returned from India and is facing significant travel delays. Avani is questioning her relationship with Fernando and thinks she might have ADHD. And following a breakup, Sirisha is trying to break out of her shell by immersing herself into a friend’s murder mystery party.
I really enjoyed seeing how the relationships from the previous book evolved/devolved. While each sister had her own storyline, some were more compelling than others. Due to the alternating POV it was sometimes difficult to keep everything straight. While I enjoyed the atmosphere the author created in this book, I missed the cozy setting of the Songbird Inn. Overall, not as strong as its predecessor.
Oof. I finished, but I worried my eyeballs would stay in rolled position if I saw one more reference to wind/storms. Thank you Libro.FM for the ARC. My copy expired when I was halfway through, so I purchased a copy and got 'er done.
Rating:4.5/5 or 8.43/10
1- The character’s personalities and hobbies
Wild Wishes and Windswept Kisses follows four sisters, and each of the sisters has a role to play in the family dynamic. Nidhi is the oldest sibling and the one who wants to protect her sisters, be out on her own, and learn more about her culture. Nidhi had many plans, and she has the drive and ambition to achieve them. Avani is the second oldest, and trying to make things better with her boyfriend, while also trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life. Avani enjoys dance, and she has several clubs she was in during school. Rani is Avani’s twin and the artistic creative one of the sisters. She enters a short film contest and tries to win a chance to meet her favorite director. Sirisha was the youngest, and someone who was still getting over an ex.
2- The setting of Orcas Island
I loved the setting of Orcas Island. Wild Wishes and Windswept was set in a small town where you needed to go to the ferry to get to the mainland. The town seemed so quaint, and I wanted to vacation there just to see the different places. The Inn also seemed like a lovely place to hang out.
3- The relationship between the family
The family, specifically the relationship between the sisters, made me want to keep reading the book. The Sisters had a love for each other, and I loved how they all interacted with each other. No matter what the sisters were going through personally, if another sister needed them, they would be there for her. There were also moments in the story when the sisters would help each other, and I loved that.
4- The Representation
All four sisters were of Indian descent, and I loved seeing them shine in this story. There were supporting characters with multiple cultures that I loved seeing. Sirisha was a women-loving women, and I loved seeing someone like her in a book, especially someone who was still in high school.
5- The Friendships
Each of the girls had a crew of friends that was with them, and I enjoyed the interactions between the groups. Rani has her cast, and I loved seeing how they all interacted and helped each other. Sirisha has the people at the party, and they are fun to read about. Nidhi meets several people who become her friends and help her journey getting home.
🍂Wild Wishes and Windswept Kisses Tour🍂
If this cover doesn’t scream cozy fall vibes then here are 5 Reasons to Read Wild Wishes and Windswept Kisses!
🍁 One day: 4 sisters and 4 stories
🍁 Diverse characters that will literally warm your heart
🍁 Queer love
🍁 Life and love beyond “happily ever after”
🍁 Set on the stunning Orcas Island
Drizzle Dreams and Lovestruck Things was one of my top reads of the year and the sequel is no exception. In this next installment we follow the dynamic Singh sisters as they navigate their changing lives and relationships. While some couples seem stronger than ever, others are slowly unraveling and each sister must make a choice. This is more than a romance story, it is a story about self discovery, sisterhood, and tapping in to the passions that drive us most. Maya Prasad’s writing will have you wishing you had your very own Songbird Inn to call home. If you haven’t added this to your shelves what are you waiting for!
Thank you to @tbrandbeyontours and @mayaprasad for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
The Singh sisters are back!! I enjoyed getting to go on new journeys and move through life with them.
I really appreciated that not all of their endings from Drizzle and Dreams were there forever endings. Seeing how sometimes the choices made in high school or even after are not necessarily the choice for life. Dreams can change. People in your life can change. Choices can change. However, that can be a good thing. I love how close the sisters are but wish they didn't always worry so heavily on upsetting or disappointing them. While I think it's good you can't always base choices on what is going to make others happy and I would love to see them all be a tiny bit about themselves.
I loved the second part to the sister's lives and think if you read Drizzle and Dreams (and enjoyed it) you will be so happy with this book!
Thank you NetGalley and Disney for the chance to read and review.
I really enjoyed getting to know these four unique sisters. The setting of an inn on Orcas Island was beautiful. The author did a wonderful job with the descriptions of the area and making me feel like I was there with the sisters. This is the second book in the Singh Sisters series, but can be read as a stand-alone. Though I definitely recommend checking out the first book too.
The chapters rotate between each of the four sisters and their unique situations. I found myself really invested in each sister’s relationship past and present. The heartaches and the growth they were experiencing. I especially felt for Sirsha and dealing with her first heartbreak.
Overall, a beautiful, heartfelt YA that I recommend to readers who enjoy coming off age stories with family, romance, character growth, and beautiful settings.
Young Romance In Autumn
Are you looking for a fall-themed book that includes romance, beautiful whimsical language and multiple POV? Then you should definitely check out Wild Wishes and Windswept Kisses by Maya Prasad. It’s the second book in the Singh family saga, about South Asian sisters living in the Pacific Northwest in a beautiful inn. Nidhi, Avani, Sirisha and Rani are all in various states of romance as they get ready to support their sister Rani in her first film festival. But just like the state of some of their relationships, an unpredictable windstorm hits Orcas Island where they live in The Songbird Inn and causes of series of hurdles for the sisters to jump through as they pursue love and their dreams.
Book two stands alone and I can confirm that your enjoyment of Wild Wishes is not dependent on having read book one, Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things. But you will be inspired to check it out after reading Wild Wishes, which is what I’m planning on doing! And I’m so excited because Drizzle covers four seasons!
I’m a super fan of seasonal settings, but I mostly only find books with a winter or summer theme. So I’ll be the first to admit that I am in love with the cover!!! Wild Wishes is set in November, with each of the sisters stories incorporating flashbacks to earlier parts of autumn.
Diverse Romance
Wild Wishes and Windswept Kisses does an awesome job of telling the stories of a variety of relationships. Each sister is involved in a relationship that are at different turning points — awakenings, make-ups, breakups and mid-relationship crises. There is diversity in the sisters relationships too with race, sexuality and sexual experience. Teen angst, innocence and coming of age are sweetly interwoven into the plots.
ADHD Rep
I appreciated Avani’s struggle with considering whether she had ADHD or not. Her thinking of how it could be affecting her choices and her relationship with Fernando was a thought process that many might go through. Avani’s involvement in a million extra curricular activities and her time blindness are clues for her to start thinking about whether she should seek a diagnosis for herself. Its affect on her relationship with Fernando also gives her pause for consideration.
Audiobook Narration
I did a combination of reading the physical copy of the book and listening to the audiobook. By the way, one of my favorite narrators, Soneela Nankani, is narrating and she did another awesome job! Her characterization of each sister helped me keep their stories separate in my head. A beautiful voice for a beautiful book. The only thing with the audiobook was that I found it hard to keep track of the flashbacks.
Different Writing Styles
I found the different writing formats included in the book very interesting. All of the sisters used text messages, which I find is becoming a common style incorporated in young adult books now. But Prasad also incorporates some unique formats associated with each sister. She includes what I would call ‘play within a play’, scripts, lists and poetry. For anyone teaching creative writing to high school students, I think this would be an awesome mentor text to explore in teaching character building and combining style/format as part of the characterization.
Beautiful, Romantic Language
I would be remiss if I didn’t end this review by saying how much I loved the whimsical and emotional language of this book. Prasad does a beautiful job of using the language of romance to not just talk about romance, but to also describe nature and life. I absolutely read this book with my head tilted to the side and small smile on my face. It reminded me of cottage core and the romantic idea of living on a beautiful Pacific Northwest island in a quaint inn. Just loved it.
A heartfelt coming of age story about four South Asian American sisters set in the Pacific North West during autumn as they navigate love, life and what comes after high school. Told in alternating POVs, we get to know each sister even better in this follow up to last year's Drizzle, dreams and lovestruck things.
While it was difficult at times to keep each story straight, I loved how different each of the sisters was, each struggling with very unique challenges (one has ADHD, one is trying to make a film, one is exploring new love and one is having fun with a murder mystery game).
Great on audio narrated by one of my favs, Soneela Nankali and perfect for fans of authors like Farah Heron or Sajni Patel. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!
A very successful sequel to Drizzle, Dreams, And Lovestruck Things, which turns the conceit of the first—four stories told over four seasons about four sisters—on its head a bit, with the four Singh sisters each having a new romantic tale, but all over the course of a single very eventful day. While each of the stories last time around were separate, in this one they're blended, with perspective shifting from chapter to chapter, but once again (like the Singh sisters) they are each quite different and so each reader will have their own favorite.
The Singh sisters fall in and out of love, choose futures and celebrate today in this sweet rom-com. Nidhi travels to India to visit relatives and discover her homeland, Sirisha recovers from a break up and tries to open her mind to new beginnings, Avani's relationship is in danger and Rani is focused on the short film competition that she has been working on. Each sister is working through some tough decisions based around “what next?” But they come together to support each other, finding new opportunities and rekindling or discovering new romances.
A great follow-up to the first book in the series. I really enjoyed going on a new set of adventures with the Singh sisters. And much like the first book, I was impressed with how Prasad created four distinct narrators, while seamlessly weaving their plots together. Highly recommended!
It's good to be back with these characters! A fitting, fun, and heartwarming sequel. I love these books.
First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of Wild Wishes and Windswept Kisses. I loved Prasad's first novel in this series, so I was very much looking forward to this one. While I enjoyed the first half of Wild Wishes, the back half felt less balanced, and I found myself skimming some sisters' perspectives just to get back to the ones I really wanted to read. Overall, I still liked this one, just not as much as the first. I plan to purchase this one *if* the first does really well in my library. If not, it'll be an additional purchase.