This would be a five star book for the right person, but it was three stars for me. The "two cultures" aspect was really well done. I liked learning India as Mehar experiences it. There was exactly the right amount of untranslated Urdu. I could get everything necessary from context without having the interruption of translation.

Both the character of Mehar and the pacing of the book aren't all the way there. She doesn't really make a decision until halfway through the book, and that is just on impulse. Is it part of who she is to go with the flow or is it to not think things through and act impulsively? That just isn't clear. Most of the action is in the last third or even quarter of the book, when things suddenly speed up. There is a romance, but it is sort of a sub-plot to Mehar worrying about her dad's upcoming wedding. And is she already out as bi or is that new? There is no mention of that in the first part, but she doesn't seem surprised by it. She talks about it with her mother over the phone, but we just get a report that there was a conversation. Was it nothing to come out to her mom? I'm confused.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really cute, enjoyable book perfect for people who want a quick read with sapphic desi representation. My only real issue was how quickly things- especially the conflict with the love interest- were resolved. I kind of expected a little more of a conflict instead of a pat resolution? But overall, this was fun, and I liked seeing the Muslim desi representation, and learning about the nawabs and other cultural touchstones, while also just reading a nice little (kind of slow burn) sapphic romance.

Since her parents split when she was 4, Mehar has grown up in the US. Now in high school, raised solely by her mother, she’s grown estranged from her father and grown apart from her family in India. All of that stands to change when her father announces his engagement and asks Mehar to come to India for the wedding. Suspicious of the intentions of her soon-to-be stepmother and stepsister, she agrees to make the visit. However, when the potential truth threatens to hurt her rekindling relationship with her father and her budding relationship with her grandmother’s assistant, will she make her fears known?

This was such an interesting read, and I really enjoyed it. While it had an incredibly cute and wholesome sapphic romance at the forefront, it was so much more than that. It was truly a story of familial connections. I thought the highs and lows of Mehar trying to reconnect with her dad felt very true to real life. Throughout the entire book it seemed that the big lesson she was learning was to slow down and put together the whole story. She had made assumptions about her father’s stance on being in her life, she made assumptions about why Naz wanted to marry her father, and she even made assumptions about Aleena’s life. Additionally, she didn’t look at the big picture of societal expectations in India when considering how her open behaviors could affect Sufiya if people found out they were in a relationship. However, the key to this book was Mehar learning and growing. I think this made for a really nice coming of age story that resonates well with how confident we can feel as teens and how we still had a lot to learn about the world.

CW: homophobia, domestic abuse

I'll start by saying I can fully admit that this book could just not be for me.

I love the premise, an Indian twist on "What a Girl Wants", which I've seen a concerning number of times. It sounds incredible.

The reality just fell a lil flat for me, unfortunately. The first several chapters are FILLED with exposition, and it's all very heavy handed, the definition of tell, not show. I could have looked past this if I found myself rooting for the characters, or immersed in the Indian culture. Unfortunately, the culture moments had the energy of dropping me in the middle of a new country for 5 minutes, then picking me back up? It was too hard to keep track of both the plot and the new culture and language I was trying to learn.

I additionally didn't really like the relationship here. I agree with another commenter who was confused by Sufiya at the start. She's introduced as Mehar's grandmother's assistant, so I kind of just assumed she was well into her 20s. It doesn't really get explained how a teen has that position.

Their relationship also did not have any *real* conflict, just a general lack of communication. This is the case for a LOT of Mehar's relationships, she is so afraid of what people might think, even while spouting that she doesn't care.

Ultimately, I would probably recommend this book with a footnote of what didn't work for me.

After learning that her father was getting remarried, Mehar decides to leave her home with her single mom in Kansas to go to India to spend time with her distant father and extended family. Disconnected from her kind of royal family in India, Mehar spends time reacquainting and also trying to stop the wedding.

The characters were really well developed and written. I enjoyed the premise and plot, the layering of family tensions with culture and belief systems. The dialog was also really enjoyable, which sometimes can be rough for me in YA books. The setting was lush and vibrant, adding another layer of engagement.

Overall, I had a good time.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review**

Rep: bisexual FMC, Indian FMC, Muslim FMC, sapphic romance

This story is basically about what happens when we only listen to one side of the story. A person's point of view is limited by what they know (or don't know), and sometimes they make unfair assumptions and judgments when they don't have all the information. It's also about realizing that we should be thankful for the things that we have, because there are others that only wish they could be as lucky.

Mehar Rabbani is an 18-year-old Indian girl whose parents split up when she was 4, when her mother moved them back to Newton, Kansas because she didn't like the many rules and restrictions that came with living in Agra, India, and didn't want Mehar to growing up that way either.

We can't make good decisions when we are only told half the story, and for so long all Mehar had was her mother's version. Now in Agra for her father's new marriage, she can finally try to reconcile with him, and form relationships with family she spent the last 14 years years avoiding.

Her father is marrying Naz, who has a teenage daughter of her own named Aleena. What we learn from Aleena's storyline is exactly why we cannot accept people as they appear without context or understanding. Mehar has the one thing Aleena has always wanted - a father who actually cares about her. Part of the reason for Aleena's behavior is probably that she just wants someone to notice and care, and that's why she is always posting on social media and posing for the paparazzi.

Mehar's grandmother's assistant Sufiya is assigned to help her during her stay. They start to have feelings for each other, but have to hide them because two girls together is not very accepted there.

One thing Mehar has to understand is that India is a collectivist society, which means you make decisions based on what's best for your family as a whole, not just you. This is why her father felt like it was his duty to go back home when his father died. This is also what Sufiya tries to tell her when she wants her to come visit - that she has to consider her familial obligations and she can't just leave whenever she wants.

Some of things I wish we could have experienced were the actual wedding itself, a more definite direction of Mehar and Sufiya's relationship, and a scene of Mehar returning home and talking to her mother about her dad's side of the story and her experience.

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of this book.

3.5/5 stars. This book was a cute, POC LGBT novel, the plot with her family is a Cinderella retelling with an insufferable step-sister to be and a step mother who charms everyone for show. The romance is cute, I will say that I was a bit confused because I was under the impression Sufiya was significantly older than Mehar. Other than that, this a good read that dives into the dynamics of coming from two different worlds and trying to figure out how to blend them.

This was my first introduction to Sabina Khan as well as one of my first books to introduce me more into Indian culture. I really enjoyed being immersed in the Indian culture and this book had me looking up many terms while reading to get a full picture of the items and food being described. That being said, I wish there was a little bit more to the novel. This book could have benefitted from being 30 to 50 pages longer. The whole story was leading up to a wedding that we never really got to see in its entirety. The book ended right at the moment of the wedding and I was hoping to be able to experience the extravagant day that much of the book was spent preparing for. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would be interested in reading another novel by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley, Sabina Khan, and Scholastic Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
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This YA novel checks a lot of boxes: It has a POC cast, LGBTQ+ representation, blended families, the uncertainness of entering adulthood, culture shock... There is something relatable for just about everyone here. There's even some sprinklings of "The Princess Diaries" here, as Mehar is wildly out of touch with her family in India and has no idea how to navigate the expectations of being a nawabzaadi, or daughter of a prince. She's harassed by paparazzi and has embarrassing photos published in the press within minutes of her plane landing.

Everyone who has been a teenager at some point in their lives has felt like a fish out of water, and everyone who's had their parents divorce and remarry has dealt with some feelings of being rejected or replaced. As Mehar tries to navigate these feelings, she's coming to grips with the feelings the very pretty, very sweet young woman who is employed by her grandmother stirs in her. Mehar realizes that these feelings are not strictly platonic, and my little bisexual heart swelled with joy. What I would have given to read a book like this when I was a teen!

The first half of the book is spent with Mehar convincing herself that Sufiya is simply being polite and professional, but a brush of fingers on the back of a hand, or a hung that lingers a little too long, and Mehar decides to try to clear the air. What's going on here, exactly? Sufiya then avoids Mehar for days, before confessing she was afraid of their class difference, of jeopardizing her job, of harming her family's reputation, and all the other worries that go along with a same-sex relationship, compounded by the strict social hierarchies the girls are subject to. Completely understandable.

Except this happens two more times. It became frustrating, the back and forth, will they won't they, coming together then running away. Avoiding phone calls, ignoring texts... I just wanted a fluffy cozy happy ending for these girls!

I was also frustrated by the multiple conflicts that were caused by eavesdropping and poor communication (or no communication). Once, maybe twice, okay, but multiple times and it feels lazy and unoriginal. I found myself reading, and thinking, "Oh, we're eavesdropping AGAIN? Sure, because that's worked out so well before..." It felt like a lazy way to create conflict. It's worth mentioning that none of the conflict had a lasting impact. Everyone forgave each other, no harm was done, and at the end of the book, we're playing happy family. Mehar is a young adult, and it would have been satisfying (and relatable) to know that at least one of her meddlings caused a conflict that had consequences.

Ultimately, while I enjoyed this book, I feel like the author was a little afraid of it. No chances were taken, no lasting impacts were created, and by the end I'm not even sure Mehar had had much character development. She fixed her relationship with her father, but at the cost of her relationship with her mother, so that's kind of a draw. Mehar and Sufiya leave things as a casual but sweet "We'll enjoy what we have, while we have it," with no resolution on their class difference, or how things will even be handled when Mehar goes back to Kansas. This, paired with the book ending when the wedding actually starts, gave me a bit of whiplash. Another two chapters could have rounding things out a little better: one to finish the wedding, and one to send Mehar back to the US with a "parting is such sweet sorry" moment between her and Sufiya.

Mehar has lived in Kansas with her mom since she was four. Her dad used to visit from time to time but he hasn't in a while and now, he's apparently getting married?? So now she goes, back to India, in Agra, in an actual palace, since her dad is technically Indian royalty. And that's an adjustment to say the least. Mehar feels like her entire family from her dad to her aunts to her grandmother has always disapproved of her and her mother… And now, she's there and she has to help prepare her dad's wedding to Naz meanwhile doing her best to avoid Naz's daughter, Aleena, her annoying soon-to-be step-sister…

I liked this, especially at first, I was enthralled by the family drama and the booming relationship. I really liked seeing Mehar get to know her family again, especially her Dadi. I also enjoyed seeing her grow throughout the book. She was a pretty interesting and flawed main character. After a while though, the book kind of started lagging? I didn't know where the story was taking me anymore and it went by quite slowly. And, by the end, the book felt unfinished, like the ending was rushed, just to get it over with...
Overall though, it was still a good book, very character driven with captivating relationship dynamics.

I loved this read! The descriptive writing never felt flowery but instead gave the reader the ability to feel and see the fabrics of the saris and taste the sweetness of the jalebi. My only qualm with the book is that I didn't want it to end, and it ended right as the characters were finding their way through the situations. One thing that I really enjoyed about the story is that because it's told from Mehar's perspective, you meet her family in India with her preconceived ideas about what the wedding and her trip will be, and then get to grow with her in her view of the family around her. There are always multiple sides to each story, and to see Mehar discover that truth throughout the novel was so encouraging.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for an honest review!

What a Desi Girl Wants was a heartwarming tale about self-discovery, family, and belonging.
What a Desi Girl Wants was a fun and easy read. It had cute characters and a good plot. The exploration of Mehar’s culture and the difficulties she faced was interesting to read about. The relationships between all the characters were so cute!
The ending did feel rushed and abrupt. I turned the page and was so surprised to see the book had ended, as there were still a few loose ends.
Overall, I really enjoyed What a Desi Girl Wants. If you are looking for a wholesome coming of age book, then look no further!

This story is a roller coaster of emotions in a small package! As someone who grew up with a strained family situation, What a Desi Girl Wants was so relatable. I loved the way Mehar handled the various building and rebuilding relationships throughout. When she messed up, she held herself accountable and tried to fix it, and we love to see it.

I wish it was just a little bit longer, like maybe with an epilogue to see how she readjusts to the U.S. and how she handles the family and relationship from a distance again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review!

The ending felt rushed. I’m a writer and a reader so I could tell the author got bored and wanted to finish the book. Unfortunately, it just made the ending sloppy. Many of the conflicts that were introduced were not solved by the end or given much of a thought. One thing I thought was was done well was the south Asian rep. I loved all the cultural references. Pretty sure this will be the last Sabina Khan book I’ll pick up.

This is a very messy rewrite of the movie "What a Girl Wants" with Amanda Bynes, except it has an Indian girl from America and it focuses a lot on external family members. Instead of creating of focusing on her bond with her very large family. Mehar gets sent to India to see her father and grandmother. She doesn't know who she is or how she can connect with her family. She's basically a teenager growing up in another country for a few weeks. Throughout her journey, she has to face a broken relationship, Indian royalty, finding love, and enemies. However, she doesn't realize that it is not her responsibility to fix everyone that she loves.

I started out loving this book because of how much I could relate to the first two characters introduced. But as I read on it felt less relatable and more like, I was expected to know the culture, names, and who these people were. It felt like every chapter was a different story. I was basically shoved into India. I was so confused and it felt so much like I was the teenage reader making the mess. It felt like it was sloppy and there was so much going on from family to relationships to fame to food.

I said to myself, "Huh?" at the end because it felt like I just left India without knowing the culture. There were so many conflicts and not enough plots or resolutions.