SO GOOD!
Fun engagement of convenience/fake dating!
love the development of the main characters. And the end was so perfect 😭
Review also posted on goodreads

3.5 stars! This was a very fun and quick read! I’m a big proponent of 400 pages or less (!!!) books. I love a fake dating/fake engagement trope and this did not disappoint. I really liked Karthik and the depth he had (I think even more so than Meghna). A book about a main character who doesn’t believe in marriage/love but then ends up obsessed/head overs heels for the last person they expected will do it for me every! single! time!

This all being said, it was just missing something that kept it from being a 4 or 5 star read for me. I really really wish it had been in first person/dual POVs. I feel I would have understood the characters a bit better and really been able to connect with them and in turn really connect with them as love interests. I also felt there was just a tinge too much of miscommunication trope vibes going on, it felt like the only times there was “fights” or drama it was always related to simply miscommunication. The wedding scene also seemed a bit rushed to me. It felt like there had been sufficient build up to where we’d see Meghna recognize her friendship was Seth wasn’t equal and that she’d stand up for herself/confront him/have some sort of resolution, yet what we got felt very rushed and sort of unimportant to the overall story.

Overall I had fun and enjoyed it (the chemistry was definitely there!) and will definitely read this authors future work, this is a very solid debut.

Thanks NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this ARC.

I give it a 4.5 stars!

This was a great debut novel for Naina Kumar. The story follows Meghna, a hopeless romantic who has had bad luck finding love, and Karthik, who hates love and never wants to get married. Following their first meeting, Karthik makes it clear he never intends to marry. Meghna takes it how it is and doesn't push to understand more than the fact Karthik only says yes to these "rishtas" because he told his mom he would do it for 1 year and then she can never bother him with the idea of marriage ever again. However, after meeting each other, he can't stop thinking about her but tries really hard to push his feelings away and she tries really hard to not get feelings because they don't want the same things, Due to different circumstances, they get into an "equally" beneficial fake engagement. Of course, as much as they hoped not to, they end up catching feelings but because of their own demons it forces them to push away. There is OM drama but I think it is important to the overall story and Meghna's growth. There was also another storyline with Meghna's bff that I just was not interested in and it does not seem that it will lead to another book because the "problem" was resolved by the end of the novel.

I felt seen as an American Indian who is a hopeless romantic but lives in a world where love has not come easily so we continue to downplay our feelings just to make others more comfortable. I think this is a great first novel and I am excited to read her future novels.

The tropes:
One-bed trope
Fake engagement
Forced Proximity
Grumpy/Sunshine

3.5 stars. I think this book was exactly what I was in the mood for, and overall, I really enjoyed it even if it ran out of steam a bit at the end.

This romance features my favorite trope, fake dating or, in this case, engagement, and is definitely an opposites-attract pairing. Meghna and Karthik are brought together by their parents' matchmaking efforts and for various romance book "reasons", decide to fake their engagement for the next three months. I liked both main characters, and there are a bunch of side plots and characters that I found rather compelling in addition to enough plot that made this a quick and satisfying read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4/5 Stars
2/5 Spice

If you loved Wedding Season on Netflix, you will love Say You'll Be Mine! And I loved it!!

Meghna is an English teacher and aspiring playwright, and feels she is a disappointment to her parents who wanted her to be an engineer. Then when she discovers her ex/best friend/secret crush, is getting married and he’s asking her to be his best man, she reluctantly agrees. In an effort to move on, Meghna agrees to let her mom introduce a potential match.

Karthik, a grumpy engineer agreed to his mother’s matchmaking attempts to make her happy, though he never intends to get married having seen enough of his parent's loveless marriage. Much to his surprise he feels drawn towards Meghna, and proposes a fake engagement that could be mutually beneficial.

Slowly they fall for each other but cue their insecurities that threaten their growing attraction and love for one another.


I really loved Say You'll Be Mine, and it was just the palette cleanser I needed after a stint of several frustrating books I'd just read. This follows your typical rom com formulaic story without much frills and twists or differences. So it's a comforting ready without any extra swoon, which left me feeling satisfied but also craving something a bit more. I will certainly be keeping an eye out for any new books she comes out with.

Thank you to Naina Kumar and Net Galley for this eARC! #SayYoullBeMine #NetGalley

Say You'll Be Mine
By: Naina Kumar
Review Score: 4 Stars

Boogie’s Bulletpoints
-I always love the fake dating trope.

-This had some really interesting elements of Indian culture, and I enjoyed learning about it.

-No spoilers, but Meghan was way too good for Seth.

-There’s a really great plot twist to this story!

———

Say You'll Be Mine was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and Random House Publishing- Ballantine. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy this wonderful book!

Release Date: 1/16/24

In Say You’ll Be Mine, We meet Meghna and Karthik. Meghna is a teacher who needs a date to her friend Seth’s wedding. Karthik needs a fiancé to help him get a promotion at work. They are setup by their parents, but find that they have actual chemistry, not just fake chemistry.

There are a lot of layers to this story, but I so enjoyed seeing the evolution of their relationship. There were also a few plot twists that didn’t exactly have to do with their relationship, but really added to the story.

If you are looking for a fun and engaging read, and love a good “fake dating” trope, this is the book for you!

#bookstagram #books #readingnow #boogiereadsbooks #fivekeyfeels #audiobooks #audiobook #fiction #arcreview #netgalley #boogiesbulletpoints #sayyoullbemine #nainakumar #randomhouse #randomhouseballantine

This was so sweet! There were a lot of things in this book that I think some people will find frustrating - it's a fake dating romance with a lot of miscommunication and things not said. I think if I had read this in a different mood, I would have had a harder time with it, but instead, I found this very cute and I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed the romance in this and I definitely want to read whatever Naina Kumar writes next.

One thing I found kind of interesting is that the main romance/plot was pretty quiet, while the B plot was a bit more drama filled. I kind of want an entire book about Megnah's best friend and brother!

Thank you Netgalley and Dell for the eARC!

I have mixed feelings about this book. The writing was good and I liked the premise of the fake dating scheme. I was into her best friend's romance story and the meddling mothers. For the most part, this book was enjoyable, but it was a bit basic for me.

I didn't love that Meghna was allowing Seth to treat her so poorly and that it took her so long to see that it was a toxic relationship. I just couldn't believe that a woman as smart as her would let it go on like that for years.

There were also some parts that I felt like the dialogue rambled a bit. I felt myself wanting to skim through it.

I think this many will enjoy this one but it wasn't for me.

Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥 (one scene towards the end of the book)

This book was an absolute delight to read! I like the characters of Jess & Jaime; they fit easily together moving from a mistake and misunderstanding when they were younger and then to meeting as adults once again. Of course, McLeod has given them a challenge to overcome - and I like how her male characters are always proving themselves worthy and showing the female characters how important they are to them. She has created this dynamic again with Jess and Jaime.

The misunderstanding made when both were young has missing pieces until Jaime comes back into Jess’s life. That misunderstanding sets the reader up for the trust issues Jess has especially when it comes to Jaime. Even though Jess is determined not to fall for Jaime he makes it pretty easy and Jess has to work out how to deal with all of it.

The ending is satisfying and perfect. Cutest ever! Definitely pick this book up for a feel good and delightful read!

this book is everything to me. i expected to enjoy say you’ll be mine, but that’s an understatement. i LOOOOVED this book. naina kumar can have all my money to keep putting out books like this. seriously, it was simply impossible not to fall for meghna and karthik. i was rooting them from step one when you could barely detect an ounce of chemistry… probably because it ramped up immediately after. i was so excited to see my very favorite trope grumpy-sunshine in this book and it gave exactly what it needed to. i could feel karthik falling in love with meghna so early on and of course he had the classic denial stance leading him to do everything in his power to make himself unappealing to her (which obviously failed). this book was such an unexpected and awesome surprise, easily making my top 5 books for 2023! may we all one day find our jaan!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House publishing group for the ARC of this sweet book,! Love! Love! Love! I devoured it in a day and enjoyed it so much! For me it was reminiscent of Abby Jimenez and Emily Henry in terms of writing style. I will definitely read others books by this author. I also enjoyed the cultural elements in the book. I don't know a ton about Indian culture in terms of marriage/arranged marriage beyond what I've seen on Indian Matchmaking on Netflix and this was an interesting window into that.
When Meghna and Karthik agree to fake an engagement after meeting through and arrangement by their parents, they think of what they will be able to help each other with on terms of attending events. Meghna thinks Karthik is robotic, grumpy and rude. Through their time together, they end up learning more about each other and discover things about themselves along the way. The love story that ensues is as sweet as can be and very relatable. I'd give this one six stars if I could! What a wonderful debut novel!!

Fake dating is one of those tropes that works or doesn’t. Is it believable? Is the story benefited from it? The answer to these questions for this books is YES.

Meghna and Karthik are set up and decide to continue to “date” for their own reasons. Their families, their situations, it’s all believable and you are along for the ride. I thought this book was cute and vulnerable in all the right ways. I enjoined reading it.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

i LOVE a good fake dating/engagement story ugh they always have so much fun. and opposites attract into friends to lovers? PROTECTIVE friends to lovers??? it makes the love feel so much realer. so much fun reading this one, so much that i already can't wait to re-read <3

Kumar creates another lovely addition in the Indian wedding romance genre. Utilizing well known tropes and meshing it with the lovely Indian culture really elevated this story. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Meghna and Karthik’s mothers are determined to get their children married off. Meghna is finally open to being set up, but Karthik has no plans to be married. Knowing that his mother isn’t going to let up, he proposes a plan to Meghna that they pretend to be engaged. He needs his mom to back off, and she needs a date to her former boyfriend/bff’s wedding. Neither of them plan on falling for each other, but you know how these books turn out. I enjoyed reading their romance slowly blossom over the span of the book.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

Meghna and Karthik have been set up by their parents to date. After their first meeting, Karthik realizes that if he continues to fake date Meghna, he will get a break from consistent family setups and maybe even a promotion at work. Meghna will also benefit from their arrangement as she needs to be in her best friend’s wedding and would prefer a date.

This is a sweet rom com that checks all the boxes. There’s a fake dating/engagement, Indian representation, My Best Friend’s Wedding vibes, and forced proximity. On paper, it should be everything I could want! My problem was the lack of connection with the characters. They weren’t super likable, or funny, or even really memorable. I can’t even put my finger on what was missing from the story, but it just lacked something special or romantic (to me). As always, reviews are so subjective and other readers may really connect and enjoy this story.

Thank you to Naina Kumar and Random House Ballantine for sending me a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

Was very interested in this book based on the cover, but struggled to connect with the story. Thank you for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Dell for the E-ARC of this novel!

"Say You'll Be Mine" by Naina Kumar follows teacher and aspiring playwright, Meghna Raman, and engineer, Karthik Murthy as they establish a fake engagement in order to avoid matchmaking pressure from their parents and soothe the sting of Meghna's friend Seth tying the knot... with someone that's not her.

A classic fake dating story! It's one of my comfort tropes, I'll admit, even if admittedly overdone. For what it promises, "Say You'll Be Mine" checks all the boxes: we have the begrudging negotiation, the awkward and strained navigation, the unintentional intimacy and building development... and the satisfying conclusion! For those searching for a cute romance, they need not look any further.

Meghna and Karthik are both perspectives and equal amounts of care and depth for their characters, including dreams and family history. It's easy to root for them as individuals as they navigate personal journeys and achieve the intended growth, and even easier to root for them as they slowly grow closer and fall for one another.

My only grievance is that the novel does exactly what it promises, but strays no further. It checks all the boxes, but what results is a, yes, very cute, but also very formulaic plot arc with no surprises or deviations. While many readers will appreciate this guaranteed sequence of events, others (like me) are left a little bit wanting.

Overall, I recommend this to those looking for a quick and cute romance that will deliver that romance fix without any pain or discomfort. If that's what you're looking for, keep an eye out on January 18th, 2024!

Honestly I loved this book so much. It was an interesting twist on arranged marriage/fake fiance trope that was done in a really delightful way.

Karthik reads as autistic at times, though it's never explicitly stated whether he is or not. I liked that he had stuff going on in the background instead of just existing for our FMC. I also felt like we saw a lot of character growth for him as he worked through his family trauma.

Meghna is a fun character who reminded me a bit of myself - choosing a career that maybe her family doesn't quite understand. I love seeing her blossom outside of her relationships and become a person.

It was a low-heat romance, perfect for someone who doesn't mind a tiny bit of pearl-clutching, but wouldn't recommend for our Amish romance readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: toxic friendship, cheating (non-MCs), the MMC's father is accused of mistreating female students, family tensions

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f contemporary romance
-fake engagement
-hard and soft one
-only one bed
-wedding date

Gosh I adore this book no matter how many times I read it. Naina Kumar's writing is just a breath of fresh air, softly lulling you through a story full of romance, of laughs, and just a tenderness. I adore how we truly get to see Meghna and Kathrik become friends, become each other's person as they rely on each other. Both don't even realize it as they just build such an intimacy of needing the other, wanting to tell the other about their highs and lows. This is how you build a relationship, a romance. Also I'm just trash for needing a date for a wedding and this book just excels and each and every trope.

Grumpy and emotionally constipated Kathrik doesn't want anythign to do with marraige after watching his parents terrible marriage, but this man is such a secret softie as he deoesn't realize he's falling for Meghna. And Meghna, an amazing friend, but struggling to also advocate and see her own strenghts, giving all of herself.

Now I will just wait patiently hoping for Samir and Ankita's love story.

Steam: 2.5