3.75/5 stars, rounded up to 4.

I just wrote a really long review and it was deleted before it posted, so I’m angry and will post a new one tomorrow. 😮‍💨

Please see the Goodreads link for a full updated review!

This was a well-written, entertaining book. It was sweet, charming and I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed this book and will look for other books by this author.

Meghna has agreed to be her best friend (and secret crush)"s best man. She also finally agrees to let her mom set her up with a potential match. Karthik is against marriage, but he has agreed to his mother's matchmaking in order to make her happy. When these two meet, they realize a fake engagement is beneficial for both of them. As they start to spend time together, they learn whether it is possible to "accidentally" fall in love with someone.

I loved this book! Meghna and Karthik have such great chemistry and the growth that these two have both on their own and together make this such a worthwhile read. Yes, you get so frustrated at times because they misunderstand and miscommunicate with one another, but that is real life as well. Karthik has a lot of heavy family issues happening and it is easy to see where he comes from with his views on relationships but I do approve of how it is handled and how he seeks out therapy in the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

💍 Say You’ll Be Mine 💍

“These days, I’m more interested in the quiet kind of love. The kind that takes time. And effort. And patience. The kind that sneaks up on you. Slowly.”

Oh my heart, what a beautiful love story!

Meghna and Karthik enter a fake engagement as a result of an arranged marriage introduction. He’s trying to get his mom off his back, even though he never wants to marry. She’s looking for a plus one to her ex-boyfriend’s wedding that she’s possibly still in love with. As they spend more time together, they start to see each other differently. It’s the power of someone who knows you and loves you as you are. Someone who encourages you to go after what you’re passionate about and puts their wants second to support you.

I absolutely loved Meghna and Karthik’s story. It was such a realistic portrayal of falling in love as you are getting to know someone. Their antics were so endearing and I especially loved the stoic engineer in Karthik learning to feel as he spends time in the sunshine of Meghna’s personality. I’m still in awe that this is a debut.

Check this one you if you’re looking for:
💍 Fake engagement
💍 South Asian representation
💍 Grumpy sunshine
💍 One bed 🛏️
💍 Heartwarming love story

Say You’ll Be Mine is on shelves January 16, 2024! My opinions are my own

I love Megna and want to be her friend! Karthik grew on me as the book went on and I got to learn more about him... he really is a sweet and caring person. What starts off as a fake dating/arranged marriage situation just gets more complicated from there as the feeling turn real but communication is still not great due to the long distance between Megna and Karthik... but he shows up for her and ended up needing her more than she needed him.

And can we have a second book about Samir and Ankita??

Thank you to Ballantine for the widgets for Joyful Chaos and to PR Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Meghna's parents and Karthik's mom want them each to get married. So they arrange for a meeting between the two families. And despite an awful first meeting, the two ultimately agree to a fake engagement.

I enjoyed both Meghna and Karthik's character arcs and growth. Fake dating is always one of my favorite tropes, and this was interesting with the fake engagement and the long distance. I also found it neat how the story played with a grump-sunshine idea that didn't fit the usual.

This was a really sweet story with interesting subplots that kept me as engaged as the romance. I loved the incorporation of theater and Broadway musicals but equally enjoyed learning a bit more about engineering. And I especially appreciated the subtle ways in which the book made clear how diverse the Indian diaspora is. There were also fascinating secondary characters including her best friend and brother and his intern, Paul. I am hopeful for more romances featuring these others.

Soneela Nankani was a spectacular audiobook performer. I especially appreciated listening to her throughout.

4.5 stars rounded up

Title: Say You'll Be Mine
Author: Naina Kumar
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"Say You'll Be Mine" by Naina Kumar

My Thoughts:

Say, You'll Be Mine is an intriguing, unique, sweet romance book featuring Meghna, a teacher and aspiring playwright, and Karthik, an engineer. Their romance started as a farce due to wanting their parents to let up on them finding someone; they decided this was the best way to go for both of them. But will this stop their parent's matchmaking efforts? However, will this work out for them, with both seeming to need help in the love area, Karthik having no interest in getting married, and Meghna wanting to get married? We find Karthik has a lot of daddy issues, and Meghna seems to have feelings for a friend who is now engaged to someone else. Be ready for an interesting fake engagement, chemistry, friends, and family drama that will keep one's attention turning the pages to see what is coming next.

As time goes on in this story, what will happen between them? This is where you will have to pick up this good read to see how this author brings it all out ...as sparks begin to fly between them.



Thanks to NetGalley and the publishing teams for the ARC!

I loved this read so much! It was simultaneously heartfelt and laugh out loud funny, with character struggles that were relatable. The side characters had so much personality and I was rooting for the main characters and their journey the whole time.

4.25/5 stars

Say You’ll Be Mine by Naina Kumar features a fake engagement born from meeting for an arranged marriage between Meghna Raman and Karthik Murthy. Meghna, an aspiring playwright/current English and theatre teacher, longs to be married, but she is hopelessly in love with her best friend, former ex boyfriend, Seth; however, she suddenly finds out that not only is he getting married, he asks her to be his best man. Karthik, a mechanical engineer, adamantly believes that he is not cut out for marriage. Outwardly, he is grumpy, stoic, and oftentimes seemingly rude, but he does everything in his power to make his mother happy and to not become like his misogynistic, angry father. Both Meghna and Karthik field the pressure from their parents to get married by agreeing to meeting people set up by their parents (albeit Karthik has had met *many* women while he is Meghna’s first). Together, the puzzle pieces take some time to connect, but when they do, *chef’s kiss.*

Meghna and Karthik drove me crazy LOL. I’m not usually one to have issues with the trope of miscommunication, but the sheer amount of times that I wanted to shake some sense into these characters was so many lmao. (Like really— I was constantly internally absolutely shouting at them to just *tell each other how they feel* LOL) However, the ways that they read and reacted to each other felt so *real* and so *human* to me. In the beginning of their fake engagement, I expected Meghna to give Karthik the benefit of the doubt more often than she did, but her judgments of him and acting in accordance to her suspicions felt true in the way that women must take extra precautions for their physical and emotional safety. I wanted her to give Karthik a chance earlier, but I understood her and really admired her for holding true to her boundaries (and honestly would have probably also done the same if I was in her situation lmao).

I loved the pining! The banter! The Indian-American representation! While I cannot directly speak of the Indian-American experience, I can understand what it means to be a late 20s child to Asian immigrants who want the best for you but go about it in a way that certainly doesn’t follow in a way that I might have chosen but still wanting to appease them. The way that Meghna’s mother constantly cuts at her to steer her career away from the arts and humanities to engineering is something I see often with fellow Filipinx-American friends and relatives whose parents push them towards nursing.

I had a lot of fun reading how Meghna and Karthik came together and helped each other grow towards their own happiness in their career and life choices as well as each other. I’m excited to read more of Naina Kumar’s books! Thank you Random House and Netgalley for the ARC!

Say You’ll Be Mine is the romance read plucked right out of my dreams 😂❤️
I’m forever grateful to the kind people at @randomhouse for sending me this early copy!

It always makes my heart burst with pride when I read about desi characters written by authors of colour … and Say You’ll Be Mine is no exception!
Not only is it a brilliantly written read filled with everything that makes the perfect rom-com, but all the representation we get to see is just 🥹🥹🥹
There is nothing quite like an Indian family and their matchmaking attempts 😂

If you’re a romance reader or just need a little joy in your life ( 😂 ) you should absolutely pick this one up!

Say You’ll Be Mine releases tomorrow !!! (January 16th) and I hope you all love this one as much as I did!
I can’t explain how much I loved it without babbling away, but I sure hope this was convincing enough🥰 (it even became my emotional support book on my flight away from Texas, after ending my au pair year with the twins 🥹❤️‍🩹)

@nkumarwrites I can’t wait for all the epic stories you’re going to tell ❤️

This book was quick, witty, and fun while still having a strong, heartfelt theme. The author had a good balance of dialogue and inner thoughts and i appreciated the summarizing of some conversations instead of pages of one insignificant convo. I would be super excited to read more if this author’s work!

so much love for this book!

the story was charming, had the perfect amount of tension, and was so heartwarming! i love having the author’s cultural perspective playing big role in the plot and character development so seamlessly and beautifully.

i think some of the subplots dragged on a bit, but overall i loved this book! the perfect, heartwarming romcom. it’s an amazing debut novel and i can’t wait to read more from naina kumar!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC.

This is a super fun, quick feel good romance. I enjoyed it and it kept me engaged the whole time. I mean, I read it in a single day! The characters were good, I love reading a book with a diverse cast. Fake engagement, meddling families, a little spice - all things I like! I don’t love miscommunication and the third act breakup, yet that tends to be par for the course with romance novels. I definitley would recommend this, especially if you’re looking for something in line with Emily Henry, Ali Hazelwood, etc.

A romance with an engaging and entertaining cast of characters that you will tear through and the beach?! Yes please!

Meghna is a teacher in Dallas who feels like she’s fallen short of her parents’ expectations by not becoming an engineer. She has been working on writing her own play for years, and dreams of someday making that her career. She still has feelings for her ex who has become a close friend… until an invitation shows up for his wedding and he asks Meghna to be his best man. So when her parents suggest arranging a meeting with a potential guy, she agrees feeling like she has nothing to lose.

Karthik could not be less excited about this meeting. It’s just one in a long series that his mother has arranged - all of which he has accepted to appease her, but had no desire to actually date let alone marry any of these women.

While that first meeting was awkward and a bit strained, there was clearly a spark. And when it becomes clear that Karthik needs to prove he can commit, well he claims to be engaged to Meghna.

What a debut by @nkumarwrites ! I am a sucker for romances with a strong supporting cast, and this one certainly delivered. I also love books that really delve into the culture of its characters, and it was done so well here. Lots of my favorite tropes too - just a real delight of a book.

Big thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse for an advanced copy of this one! Say You’ll Be Mine by @nkumarwrites is out TOMORROW!!

Will post on goodreads, retail sites and my bookstagram @scottonreads

Was this book the best thing I've read this year? No. Was it a solid 4 star book that kept me engaged and wanting more? Yes.

I'm always hesitant reviewing books from NetGalley because I've read the gamut from really good to really bad. I'm pleased to say that this one fell much closer to the really good category, and was quite enjoyable. I wasn't a huge fan of the FMC, but the MMC had my heart pretty much from the beginning. The romance felt a bit stilted at times, and a bit rushed at other times, but either way, I was rooting for the MC's the entire time. There was minimal spice, but that's totally fine.

All in a all, a solid book with a HEA - and an epilogue; after all, who doesn't love an epilogue?

P.S. I would definitely be willing to read books this author publishes in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Naina Kumar for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“ A teacher with big dreams joins forces with a no-nonsense engineer to survive an ex's wedding and escape matchmaking pressure from their Indian families. Their plan? Faking an engagement, of course.”

Personal review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

You had me at teacher with dreams of broadway meets grumpy, no nonsense engineer in an arranged marriage fake dating scenario! This book was so sweet and fun, littered with beautiful cultural influences and Americana all in one. The character development of Meghna and Karthick was fun, I loved how this novel traveled from Dallas to New York, to Miami to Nashville- that was a fun aspect! This book has been described as a swoon worthy romantic comedy and I see it as just that- the perfect palate cleansing read! Thank you @netgalley and @dellpublishing for the advanced review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis:

Meghna Raman defied her parents’ wishes and followed her life’s passion, becoming a theater teacher and aspiring playwright. When she discovers that her beloved writing partner, best friend, and secret crush, Seth, is engaged—and not to her—she realizes he’s about to become the one-that-got-away. Even worse, he’s asked her to be his best man. And worse than that, she’s agreed. Determined to try and move on, Meghna agrees to let her parents introduce her to a potential match. Grumpy engineer Karthik Murthy has seen enough of his parents’ marriage to know it’s not for him. He agreed to his mother’s matchmaking attempts to make her happy, never dreaming he would meet someone as vibrant as Meghna. Though he can’t offer her something real, a fake engagement could help Meghna soothe the sting of planning Seth’s wedding festivities and Karthik avoid the absurd number of set-ups his mother has planned for him. As the two find common ground, grow protective of each other’s hearts, and start to fall for the traits they originally thought they hated, an undeniable chemistry emerges. But soon, their expectations and insecurities threaten something that’s become a lot more real than they’d planned.

I absolutely loved this one and it was everything you could want out of a rom-com. You had your grumpy/sunshine combo, where his grump really sourced from an insecurity that was more generational trauma— there was the fake dating trope, but upped one level as they were fake engaged. On her end of the deal, she just wanted to not look like a fool in front of her ex, Seth, who asked her to be his best man at his wedding (ouch); for him, he wanted his mom off his back since she kept trying to set up matches for him. She was the first one that he basically was like “hmm.. I don’t hate you actually”. They definitely had a lot of rough patches, but I think working through them all strengthened their relationship, even if they were under the pretense of them being fake. There was a bit of miscommunication, but I think that’s par for the course when it comes to fake dating, as there always has to be that “I love them but I don’t think they actually love me” moment. This read out like a rom-com I would watch, and I absolutely loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the approval!

💍Say You'll Be My Man by Naina Kumar💍



To say I've been waiting for this book since the deal was announced feels a little intense, but honestly, I've been waiting for this book since Naina posted a moodboard for it for RevPit!! My honest review here is provided in exchange for an ARC.



Meghna needs someone to help her sublimate as she acts as best man for her ex-boyfriend's wedding, and Karthik needs a fiancé to get his parents off his back. Even though Karthik is determined for sparks *not* to fly, soon he can't explain his feelings for Meghna away. And with her ex's wedding getting more complicated by the way, Meghna doesn't know how to reconcile the future she wants and the one Karthik says he can offer.



This book was nothing short of amazing. As a romance writer, sometimes I have a hard time turning off that part of my brain--plot beats and character arcs and GMC--but Say You'll Be My Man just ~flowed~ off the page so perfectly that I got to purely enjoy my time reading. It's The Wedding Date meets Wedding Season and I can't WAIT to buy a copy.



Liked:

😀Ankita's subplot - please write this Naina I need it

😀Seth the ex's character is *perfectly* written - honestly, one of the best exes I've read for reasons I can't share without spoiling it



Loved:

❤️He wants to take her for ice cream when she's feeling overwhelmed 🥹🥹🥹

❤️Talking on the phone 😍😍😍😍😍

❤️THE THING THAT HAPPENS THAT I WANT TO SPOIL BUT WON'T



Lol'd:

😂Karthik having feelings but insisting they're air conditioner malfunction-related

😂A proposal Mr. Darcy would be proud of



#amreadingromance #bookstagram #review #romancebooks #romancelandia #romancereader #romancereads #books #bookrecommendation #arc #netgalley #2024debut #dell

Oh. My. Goodness.

I absolutely devoured, Say You'll Be Mine by, Naina Kumar -- an amazing debut romance novel.

Kumar writes the story of two, South Asian-Americans journey to finding love when they were supposed to be faking it. Karthik and Meghna take us for a whirlwind of emotions as they discover who they are amidst familial and cultural expectations, blossoming and broken friendships, and most of all, what love actually looks like for them.

I selected to read, Say You'll Be Mine, because I love a fake-dating trope. I know there's a lot going on right now stating that authors are picking tropes and not leaving a lot of plot, character development, and depth in their work. But that is NOT what Kumar has done in this book. Kumar delves deep into Desi romance but also South Asian families and lifestyle decisions. Kumar develops her characters around pressure from families, feelings of disappointment for pursuing your own dreams over your parents, and what it's like for blonde-headed, douchy boys, to take credit for the work of their brown friend.

I highly recommend reading, Say You'll Be Mine, if you enjoy:
-Wholesome romance with a dip of heat
-Fake dating
-BIPOC authors/characters
-Family drama
-South Asian culture
-Coming into you're own
-Taking control of your life

Fantastic, contemporary romance. I can't wait to see what Naina Kumar comes up with next!

I absolutely adored this story! I haven’t read many books with Indian-American MCs so that was a fun experience to learn about the culture through these characters.

Meghna is facing the pressure of marriage from her parents, on top of feeling their disappointment in her teaching career. When her mom offers to set up a meeting with a potential suitor, she agrees to just see what happens. Karthik is a grumpy engineer who has been on constant marriage meetups and has no interest in falling in love or getting married at all.

Facing the same pressure of marriage from his parents, he offers a fake engagement to Meghna to get both sets of parents off their backs. Meghna happens to need a date to her ex’s wedding, and the pair set off on a mission to make everyone believe they’re actually in love.

This was such a slow burn and I adored it! Meghna and Karthik both go through some personal growth that their relationship wouldn’t work without. The pining and banter was top notch! I loved seeing the little snippets of sweetness mixed in with the angst.

My only dislike was how much miscommunication there was. It felt so repetitive and a good chunk of the story could have been removed by the character simply talking to each other. I don’t mind a bit of this trope, but there was just so much of it.

I would definitely read another book by Naina, and it’s hard to believe this was her debut. I’m hoping for more on Ankita and Samir, I liked their side story.