Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment by Arushi Avachat was funny and poignant. At times it had me kicking my feet in giddy delight and at other times sobbing. In other words, I had the absolute best time with it! Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC.
Arya’s juggling a lot of plates—her mom’s depression, her sister’s upcoming wedding, a best friend fallout, and having to work with Dean after losing the student council presidency to him—but it turns out she’s really bad at juggling and plates are crashing all around her.
According to Arya, she and Dean are always at each other’s throats. And yes, they do get into a lot of fights. Like, so many fights. But it’s pretty apparent that only one person is instigating all of them and it’s not Dean. They’re forced to work together to save the fall formal, and the banter and tension and her absolute unwillingness to take anything he says at face value is absolutely delightful.
Amidst the lighthearted banter and falling in love with your rival, is a deeper message about how relationships change throughout your life—parent and child, sisters, and even friends. And that while it hurts, this is a natural part of life.
Warning, do not pick this book up before bed if you’re incapable of holding yourself to “just one more chapter” otherwise, like me, you will be staring down the wrong side of midnight and making tough choices about how much sleep you really need to survive the next day.

This was such a good debut!

Arya was such an interesting character and getting to step into this story was so much fun! I loved that the main narrative and conflict revolved around her sister and the friend split, it created a unique environment for the romance in this book to blossom.

My only issue is that the pacing felt just a little off in places and the resolution came a bit too quickly for me. Otherwise, this was so lovely and I look forward to reading what Avachat puts out next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. I couldn’t put it down and I’d recommend it to anyone. It was so witty and I loved the writing. I hope to read more from the author in the future. If you enjoyed this book and haven’t seen “Never Have I Ever” on Netflix, I definitely think you should check it out!!

Premise:

Arya Khanna's senior year of high school is shaping up to be busier than she expected: she's helping plan her sister's big wedding, playing mediator between her sister and mother, working a part-time job, and is student council vice president, meaning she has to learn to work with the president and her rival, Dean Merriweather.

My review:

I like to dip my toe into YA occasionally because I love to support writers of color and I was especially excited because Arushi Avachat is a fellow Indian-American who wrote a loving portrayal of an Indian-American heroine and her family in this book. Arya and her older sister Alina's relationship is the focal point of the story. Alina is getting married and Arya is her chief source of support because their mother is somewhat estranged from Alina after Alina dropped out of college and decided to take a non-traditional career path. I was reminded of Nisha Sharma's author's note in Tastes Like Shakkar where she wrote about the concept of "family managers", namely when children feel like their value to the family is conflated with the help they provide. This fits Arya to a tee: she is trying to keep the peace between her mother and sister and take care of her mother all while feeling like this is her duty, a carryover from when Alina was at college and living abroad. And that feeling hasn't entirely gone away, even with Alina living at home once again, and it only gets stronger until Arya confronts it head-on at the climax.

I liked how Arushi portrayed Indian-American culture in the book; it's not a monolith, as shown in the way she contrasts her family's Punjabi customs with Alina's fiancé Nikhil's Marathi customs. You also get a good sense of everyday desi culture, like the food we eat, being bilingual, the love for Bollywood films and songs, and religious observances like festivals and pujas. Plus, there's plenty of insight into the sheer magnitude of planning that goes into desi weddings.

Speaking of Bollywood, I thought the book's structure was cute— it was broken into acts much like Arya's beloved Bollywood films, complete with a soundtrack at the end.

I think my one note regarding the familial aspect is that I did not feel Arya's conflict with her mom was entirely resolved. Obviously her mom's depression isn't something I expected to be magically cured by the end of the book, and to be fair to Arya, she does learn to be more empathetic towards her mom during the course of the story, however, her mother does not communicate with Arya much better by the end of the book than she did in the beginning. I feel like this was a missed opportunity to hear from the point of view of a woman who got married and moved abroad at a fairly young age, barely has any physical contact with her loved ones who still live in India, and suffers from a mental illness that is still stigmatized within the community.

Regarding the romance between Arya and Dean, I do think it was very much a secondary plot. The book's blurb does a good job of putting into perspective what the main focus of the book is, namely, Arya's relationship with Alina, Alina's upcoming wedding, and Arya's family. What we do see of Dean and Arya is cute, if fairly low conflict— they're initially rivals who slowly learn to communicate better until they finally admit their feelings for one another near the end. I feel like even the subplot concerning Arya's evolving friendship with Lisa was given equal, if greater importance.

Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a cute young adult story about the complexities of family relationships and friendships that evolve as we grow older, and first brushes with romance.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

I am a huge fan of Never Have I Ever so I was super excited to read this book but there were 2 reasons this wasn't a 5 star read.

1. Arya is so immature about her sisters life. Not everyone wants to live at home and stay in the same place they grow up. No one is responisble for someone else's mental health nor should they sacrifice their life for someone else.

2. What was that ending? She could have at least done a "One Year Later" and shown Arya at college. I was not a fan of where the book ended timeline wise.

Arya Khanna is trying to make the most of her senior year, and nothing is going to plan. Her best friends broke up, her family is busy planning her sister's wedding, and she has to team up with her nemisis, Dean Merriweather, to save the autumn formal. But through it all, Arya learns to adapt and embrace the changes in her life.

I loved everything about this book! The writing is witty and engaging, the characters are complex and relatable, and the plot is full of heart and humor. I especially enjoyed the Bollywood elements, such as the intermission and the colorful cast of characters.

Arya is a wonderful protagonist. She's smart, funny, and fiercely independent. I rooted for her from the start. Dean is also a great character. He's initially portrayed as the antagonist, but as the story progresses, we learn more about his backstory and his motivations. I loved watching Arya and Dean's relationship develop from enemies to friends to lovers.

The supporting cast is also excellent. Arya's family and friends are all unique and well-developed characters. I especially loved the relationship between Arya and her sister, Alina.

Overall, Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment is a delightful read. It's the perfect book to pick up if you're looking for a heartwarming rom-com with a diverse cast and a swoon-worthy romance.

Here are some of the things I loved most about the book:

The writing is witty and engaging.
The characters are complex and relatable.
The plot is full of heart and humor.
I especially enjoyed the Bollywood elements.
Arya is a wonderful protagonist.
Dean is also a great character.
The supporting cast is also excellent.

I highly recommend Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment to anyone looking for a fun and heartwarming read.

A sweet story about a high school senior working through her day-to-day struggles at school and home while her sister's wedding approaches. The book read like a diary to me, as Arya encounters the various challenges that face her--estranged friends, a rivalry with the (cute) student council president, a sister keeping a secret from her, a mother with depression--blended with lots of small moments like picking out movies to watch, clothes to wear, colleges to apply to, and food to make. As one problem resolves, another arises, giving this a slice-of-life structure that will likely appeal most to readers who enjoy quieter, character-focused stories. The celebration of Bollywood comes through so clearly, readers might finish the book eager to check out some of the films referenced in the pages, or even get up and dance.

This book is marketed for those who loved the hit Netflix TV show, “Never Have I Ever.” As soon as I saw that line, I knew I had to request this ARC. I absolutely loved that show and likewise absolutely loved this book.

The characters are well developed and the plot moves along at a pace that kept me engaged the entire time. The book itself covered some tougher topics, but in a lighter way. I love when authors can do this and create a book that deals with tough topics, but in a lighter way that doesn’t instantly make you want to put the book down because it’s too tough to read. I love to read as a form of escapism.

If you enjoyed this book and haven’t seen “Never Have I Ever” on Netflix, I definitely think you should check it out!

This was such a sweet, fun read! I really enjoyed the Bollywood style romance and the references to Bollywood movies. Plus any book that mentions Bend It Like Beckham is already a book I want to read! :)

The romance was definitely not the primary relationship that the story focuses on which surprised me given how the book was marketed, so I was a little disappointed we didn’t get more of Dean and Arya’s love story. But the scenes with the two of them were so very Pride and Prejudice- like that I soaked it all up anyway.

I did really enjoy the story of Arya’s relationship with her family- particularly her sister and mother. There was a lot of emotional depth to this story, and it made this YA rom com stand out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday books for this ARC to review! :)

This was a BEAUTIFULLY told tale of family going through changes and challenges together. Told through an immigrant daughters' eyes, details the struggles of growing up and navigating the intricacies of love and high school politics. I'd love to see another novel featuring Arya's college journey and how she and her family continues. 100/10 stars!

This was such a fantastic debut! I truly never wanted it to end. Meet Arya Khanna, a high school senior who has a lot on her plate. She's in the midst of helping prepare for her sister Alina's wedding, and while she's thrilled to have her sister back home again, Arya can't shake the lingering resentment that affects their relationship, or the underlying tension surrounding the whole family. On top of that, she's juggling classwork, college applications, and a part-time job at the cozy local bookstore, feeling stuck in the middle of her two best friends after a breakup between them, and navigating confusing feelings for her academic rival, Dean Merriweather. Can Arya achieve her goals, fix the fractured relationships between her family and friends, and still experience her dream Bollywood moment—all in time for her sister's shaadi?

I loved this book so much! I really enjoyed the exploration of themes like culture (especially the descriptions of food and all the wedding preparations!), family, and dealing with change. All of the characters feel really well-developed, realistic, and compelling. It's so easy to get invested in all of their relationships, whether it's family, friendship, or romance. I also love how the story captures everyday life and what it feels like to be at this "turning point"—almost done with high school, looking forward to starting a new chapter, but at the same time, not quite wanting this current one to be over yet. I'd honestly love to read a sequel one day about Arya, Dean, and their friends at college! I just can't wait to see what Arushi Avachat does next. If you love shows like Never Have I Ever and Gilmore Girls, and coming-of-age stories with likable characters to root for, add this one to your TBR list ASAP! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

I love that I understood all the Hindi phrases and the Bollywood references. I think it made for a much more fun read.

Perhaps I expected something more complex and dramatic as this was after all a south asian romance LOL. but it didn’t live up to that expectation.

Don’t get me wrong, I think the story was cute and fun and the pace was rather good but I feel like so many of the scenes were left abruptly and not resolved properly.

Coming from an ethnic background myself I think, I understand the complexity of a desi family unit and thus the way things were handled between the sister and the mom was not realistic (I know its a book) but it could have been dealt with way better. Perhaps she was trying for a more realistic angle but not completely resolving everything but it just didn’t do it for me.

The friendships also felt forced, i didn’t feel any genuine feelings there. I didn’t loathe any of the characters so that’s always a plus lol. However all the side characters were flat.

As for the romance, I know we were going for the rivals to lovers (P&P Jane Austen style) and that one scenes where Dean was asking Arya he didn’t understand how Elizabeth can go from hating Darcy to loving him and I think the author try to do the same (getting to know things about him bit by bit until those feelings change) however I think that there should have been more banter that wasn’t hostile but rather lowkey flirting, yearning, annoyance but wanting and I think that didn’t hit the mark for me.

I did like them together just wished there was more build up.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
This is a super cute and fun debut, will look for more from this author.

The cultural elements are well done and descriptive and the story itself is fun and altogether adorable. Great mix of family dynamics, culture, and a bit of romance.

✰ 4.5 stars! ✰
This book was super enjoyable! I really liked the incorporation of culture (especially the food descriptions).
The characters felt realistic and I loved the complex dynamics Arya had with her family. The romance was cute and I appreciated how there was just the right amount to not take away from the other aspects of the book.
Overall, this was such an impressive debut!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really really enjoyed this book!

Arya is helping her older sister plan her wedding. She’s trying to have fun and make the most of it but there are a lot of stressors for Arya.
First is that she has barely seen her sister in years. When her sister dropped out of college she basically dropped contact with the family for three years. Yes, Arya is happy she’s home but she’s cautious and it’s not all easy going to try to get back to their original connection.
And in connection to that, Arya’s mom seems like maybe she has depression. So it hurt Arya to see her mom struggling more while her sister was gone.

In addition to these dramas, Arya’s two best friends used to date but have broken up. Her female best friend has kept her at a distance and it’s been easier staying connected to her male best friend. Arya wants to keep them both but she doesn’t know how.

She also suddenly finds herself seeing her former nemesis Dean in a new light.

It might sound like a lot of drama for poor Arya but I feel like she handled things pretty well and still managed to have some fun in the process.

This book was really well written. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next.

I received an early ebook edition from NetGalley then received a physical arc. Thank you!

This was my first YA book in a while, and this was a great book to get back into the genre! Arya was a great character who dealt with a lot of stuff in her life in very teenage way. I loved how you could tell how much she loved her family and friends. She worked so hard to be honest about her feelings with those she loved and owned up to her mistakes. Also loved all the senior year drama and the lovely fall feels. A wonderful read!

Told in the style of a Bollywood Film, Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment is a captivating, adorable, and simultaneously moving young adult romance. Arya is entering her senior year of high school, and there is a lot going on in her life. Her sister, who abruptly left after a blowout with their mother, has returned home engaged and preparing for her Shaadi. Her two best friends, who were dating, recently broke up, causing awkwardness and tension in her relationships with them. And at school, Arya is thrust into the role of Student Body Vice President after she lost the election to her rival since Freshmen Year, Dean Merriweather, who the blurb describes as “frustratingly attractive.” Arya must cope with her built up resentment toward her sister, a fallout with one of her best friends, and her budding friendship with Dean that could be turning into something more.

To say that I loved this novel is an understatement! Despite being the author’s debut, Avachat comes off as a seasoned writer, expertly crafting an excellent romance novel. This book contains so many elements that readers will enjoy, including a rivals to friends to lovers romance and complicated family dynamics. Arya is a loveable character, who absolutely gets bonus points for being a Swifite and working at a bookstore.

I can’t even explain how much I adored the romance in this book. There were so many cute moments between the couple as they fell in love, and watching their relationship develop was truly a joy. Dean is such an amazing love interest for Arya, and their relationship was everything I could have hoped for and more.

I also adored the family dynamics in this book. Arya’s relationship with her sister is complex and layered, and there are moments in the book where I was on the verge of tears. The
concept of her mother’s sadness and her father’s flaws were also interesting and thought provoking. This, combined with the romance and the complicated friendships, allowed me to be captivated the whole time I was reading.

There is so much to love about Ayra Khanna’s Bollywood Moment, and I could truly praise this book for the rest of time. I highly recommend checking this out when it comes out on January 9th, 2024!

This book really touches on a lot of difficult topics. From sibling rivalry, depression, and friend breakups, this book touches on it all while throwing in some enemies to lovers romance! I also really enjoyed learning more about a culture that wasn't my own. This book really kept my attention the whole time. It was sweet and held a lot of feeling. Arya the main character is likable and you feel for her as she goes along in life. I really enjoyed this and I highly recommend! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!

This book was so much fun! I had no idea there would be academic rivals to lovers, so it was a nice surprise to see some romance throughout the novel. I also loved the nuance when discussing family dynamics. This book was not at all what I expected, and the surprise of having a book about a complicated and frustrated mc turned out to be a good one! I really liked this South Asian coming of age novel and will be recommending it to all my YA contemporary loving friends!

This was a cute fluffy coming to age novel but I did felt that overall, it was extremely rushed. The major plot events throughout the novel happened so quickly and I felt like the payoff for said events wasn't as good as I thought it would be. Arya's family dynamics were very interesting to me but I didn't like how Arya's mom depression seems to be brushed aside for the majority of the book. I really wished the author delved deeper with that because it just seems weird how Arya's mom is struggling with depression but we as readers don't really understand the true cause for said depression. Arya's father is also written as clueless and not a good husband but why is he like that? That question is never answered throughout the novel.

Arya and Dean were cute but it was so obvious that Dean had a crush on her. I was definitely not really getting enemies to lovers with the two like that. Overall, I enjoyed the book for what it was but I did wish the author delved deeper into the characters because I felt like most of the characters development was rushed. I also wished that we got to see more of Arya's sister wedding. I was waiting for the whole book for it but we only got a little glimpse of it towards the ending.