First of all thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press,

If you've seen Never Have I Ever, you'll adore this book. Arya reminded me so much of Devi, and Dean and her's rivals to friends to lovers narrative gave me big Ben and Devi vibes, which I adored, so I knew Dean and Arya would be a lot of fun. This book was a breath of fresh air for me, and while I've seen my fair share of Bollywood films, I'd never read a novel that gave me the same vibes as this one did, and I believe Arushi truly nailed the target.

I loved getting to know the ins and outs of the Khanna family and getting to see the different dynamics within the family. This was such a good debut novel.

(4.25 stars)

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC.

Arya Khanna is starting her senior year on the outs with her best friend and having lost the class rep presidency to her rival. Her estranged sister is home and preparing for a large wedding before the holidays. Things are looking rough. But between her family drama, a growing attraction to her very Darcy-esque presidential rival, and the wedding plans, she finds time to apply for colleges and work at the local bookshop. It’s her escape and that is so relatable. Arya’s relationship with her family is super complex and I did feel that her mother’s obvious depression wasn’t touched on nearly enough. It wasn’t resolved or given enough hope for healing. The sibling relationship was definitely the focus and I think that that focus did the parental relationship a slight disservice. Arya and Dean’s romance was completely sweet and slow and I wanted more of it. I could see the way her thoughts and reasoning played out and understood her. I wanted a firework ending but it felt like a sparkler ending: soft and over far too soon.

This was such a fun read! I didn’t really have many expectations going into this book but I can say that I definitely wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I did (although the scenes about college admissions made me feel both old and some FOMO). I wanted to root for Arya, even when that meant acknowledging she had to do better, and all the relationships explored were interesting and in the case of the romance, very cute. Arushi Avachat does a fantastic job of writing a book that feels like it fits the gorgeous pink cover while also including some harder topics and tougher subjects (mental illness, issues with family, etc). It ended up being a very quick read because I was enjoying my time so much, and I will definitely be looking for more of Avachat’s writing in the future!

A lot of this book feels so classically YA romcom while also having the advertised Bollywood twist. Additionally, I think Avachat really manages to capture a current feeling of high school and of senior year while not tying the book down with pop culture references that would be out of date by the time the book has come out. I wish I could relate to all the different fun things that Arya experiences in high school but I can still appreciate the authenticity of friend worries and worries about the future after high school (while still being glad it’s in the rearview mirror).

The absolute best part about this book for me is the relationships. It’s definitely a romcom and there’s a romance inside that’ll make you want to kick your feet occasionally (the hints of it are everything!) but there’s also the ups and downs of friendships, sisterly and other familial relationships, all on top of Arya’s own growth as a character and as a person. For me, it had the perfect balance of seriousness with fun and a world that was enjoyable to jump into. I would definitely recommend picking it up!

I very much enjoyed this Bollywood-inspired YA romance. A fun, laid-back, and episodic read, "Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment" kept my attention from start to finish.

With drama occurring within her family, her friendships, and at school, Arya's senior year is not going the way she'd hoped it would.

Arya's sister Alina is home for the first time in three years for her wedding, but Alina and their mom keep clashing. While Arya is happy to have her sister back, she can't help feeling bitter towards Alina for being gone.

Arya also finds herself caught in the middle after her two best friends break up and is unsure how to proceed, especially when one of them starts to purposely distance herself.

At school, Arya still resents Dean for winning student body council president but tries (and sometimes fails) to work amicably with him instead of bickering like they have since they’ve known each other.

"Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment" is a welcome addition to the YA sphere. The story exhibited a realistic teenager with realistic and relatable problems. I liked all the characters, the drama, the setting, and the cultural experience. The romance was nice and didn’t overtake or become the focus of the story. Overall, this was great!

I thought it was a cute story I really love books I introduce things about other cultures without feeling like it’s a documentary or a nonfiction book and this was a cute read for Ya audience

Fairly predictable rom com but it was still a good read that I enjoyed. And I did enjoy learning about another culture.

3.5 stars! This was such a fun read. I really enjoyed it. The one thing I didn’t love was the ending. It felt like there should have been a little bit more. I wanted to see a little more after some things were resolved near the end. I enjoyed Arya’s journey through the first part of her senior year, and seeing how she grew to be a better communicator with her family and friends. I did enjoy the young romance as well.

This is a great example of the enemies-to-lovers trope. The story is cute, and the characters are sweet and likable. Even Dean turns out to be a much more admirable character than he appears at first. Aside from Arya and Dean, there are a lot of other interesting, well-drawn, and mostly likable characters in the book as well including Arya's sister, Alina, and various other friends and family members.

The book is full of great family vibes. There is plenty of real family as well as the found family of deep friendships. The author does a good, realistic, and relatable job of showcasing the highs and lows of both familial and friend relationships and how they can go wrong and still manage to be salvaged in the end.

The author also shares a lot of information about Indian traditions, customs, etc., particularly those regarding weddings throughout the book. While this information is interesting, it is not very well explained, and it leaves the reader wanting to know more which takes away slightly from enjoyment of the book. It would be better if there was a glossary of terms for readers who might not be at all familiar with these traditions, customs, etc. Other than that the book is a delightfully engrossing read.

I was excited to read this book, I loved the summary of it, I think it just did not stick out for me as a diverse YA read besides the main female as an Indian lead and the main male as a Jewish character, but neither of these identities really were that present in the plot. It didn’t feel like there was a ton of plot in the novel, and the characters also unfortunately fell a little flat for me. But I could definitely see YA readers enjoying it, it just did not do anything different for the genre in my opinion.

This was a fun romcom read that read YA. I enjoyed the relationship development from enemies to friends and then lovers. Fashion, Bollywood and food had me living every second of this hilarious heart warming book.

Arya’s trying to navigate her senior year of high school while dealing with her sister’s wedding, her sister’s return home, her mother’s depression, a part-time job, college applications, her best friends breaking-up and the snotty but cute boy who beat her in the student election. It’s a lot. Everything is changing around her and while Arya seems to want everything to stay the same, she’s forced to face these changes head on.

She’s a bit stubborn and maybe not the most instantly likable character I’ve ever encountered but you certainly wanted to root for her just because of the sheer number of things the girl has going on. She needed the win.

The synopsis suggests this is structured like a Bollywood film but I didn’t really get that. My interaction with Bollywood films are limited, particularly in the last few years so perhaps I’m ignorant and if I’m wrong please do correct me. It seemed to be structured like every other teen novel I’ve encountered. There were certainly no musical numbers or fights and well there was a dance scene that really had no bearing on the plot. It also lacked the melodrama that I often associate with Bollywood films. To me, the characters seemed very realistic in terms of their personalities and the problems they were facing. I guess the comparison had me expecting something a little different and as a result I was a little disappointed.

It still was a cute contemporary young adult novel that I would feel confident handing over to any teen to enjoy.

Thank you Wednesday Books for providing an advanced reading copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Arushi Avachat's "Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment" is like a Bollywood dance sequence in book form – full of energy, drama, and a whole lot of fun! Arya takes us on a wild ride through the glitzy world of Bollywood, and Avachat keeps it real with a perfect mix of glamour and relatability.

The book is a spicy masala mix of dreams, drama, and a dash of chaos. Arya is not just a character; she's your Bollywood BFF, and you can't help but root for her as she navigates the ups and downs of the film industry. Avachat's writing is like a burst of confetti – lively, colorful, and impossible to resist.

What I love most is how Avachat captures the essence of Bollywood while adding her own flair. The characters are like your favorite movie stars, and the plot is as unpredictable as a classic Bollywood plot twist. It's not just a book; it's a joyride through the Bollywood rollercoaster.

So, if you're in the mood for a dose of glitter, drama, and a whole lot of laughs, "Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment" is your front-row ticket to the most entertaining show in town!

A young adult Bollywood drama with enemies to lovers, complicated family dynamics and a bookstore setting. I was transported by the clothes, food, films and traditions described so beautifully in this book. A very cute rom com centered on Anya who, as many teenagers do, finds herself making mistakes in the name of fixing things. I loved seeing Anya’s relationship with her boss, friends, sister, mother and her cute rival develop and progress. Set against the backdrop of holiday celebrations and wedding festivities, this was a cute and quick rom com and I am so glad I read it! Thank you to NetGalley for my earc!

This was a cute, sweet young adult book. I wasnt sure what to expect at first but I throughly enjoyed it.

There was definitely the warm fuzzies of romance in it and I liked all of the Pride and Prejudice mentions.

This was a perfect coming of age story. The enemies to lovers plot was good too. I liked how the romance happened.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for allowing the chance to read. This was a four star rating.

Due to the ongoing marketing boycott of St. Martin’s Press because of their continued failure to address an employee’s harmful and offensive remarks on social media, I will be withholding from reviewing this title. I sincerely hope the company takes action soon so I may resume promoting the diverse stories that SMP ought to stand by,

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Arya as a main character and her relationship with her sister. Their whole family dynamic is quite complicated and I enjoyed how the author portrayed it realistically. That sets the tone for pretty much everything else in the book including the romance aspect. I do think that certain aspect of Arya and Dean’s relationship was a bit rushed at the end but the did an amazing job creating an organic but cute romance. Also I loved all the Bollywood movie references!
Overall it was a cute read and I would definitely recommend it!

This was such a great debut novel! Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment was a super fun YA Romance. Arya felt like an authentic high school senior, which is what I want in a YA book!
This book has a LOT of drama. We have side plots with her sister, mom, leadership club, senior formal, two best friends… it’s a lot for poor Arya to juggle! I thought the story flowed very well and balanced all the side plots.
I enjoyed the romance in this book a lot. It wasn’t the main plot, but I appreciate how genuine it felt. There was a nod to Pride and Prejudice when Arya was asked how Lizzy went from hating Darcy to loving him to which she responded “very naturally”, and I saw this mirrored so much between Arya and Dean.
Overall this book was so fun and sweet. I wanted a bit more from some of the side plots, but I was satisfied with how everything tied up, especially considering that this is a YA book and not an adult romance or literary fiction.
I love seeing young faces in publishing and I cannot get over the fact that this author is still in college. I can’t wait to read more of her books in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I love a good Bollywood movie but Bollywood shenanigans in a book? Even better! This was adorable and fun to read and honestly I will read any YA romance with a wedding setting. The romance was also so so cute and I loved reading Arya’s journey throughout this book. Very wholesome. Definitely recommend!

Arya Khanna's Bollywood by Arushi Avachat is a cute young adult romance that transported me into a bollywood movie. Interspersed with the wedding festivities, this novel is a very light-hearted story revolving around the teenage life of Arya. Picturing this book as a movie is not hard at all.

Arya Khanna, a senior, is getting ready for her sister's wedding. But she is dealing with family tensions as well as conflicts between herself and her best friend. When I picture this story, I can see Alia Bhatt of The Student of the Year (a bollywood movie). Being a desi, I was transported to those wonderful songs and movies that the author referred to in the book. It's a wonderful feeling and left me with a smile. I really hope this book gets picked up for a hindi movie and gets its own Desi girl song :)

Thank you to the publisher for this book.

A wonderful, modern, coming-of-age story with realistic teenage problems, featuring many diverse characters. This book is a great representation of a young adult title for today's teenagers!