I really enjoyed Naina Kumar’s debut! I knew almost immediately as I started reading that I was going to love this book. Meghna and Karthik are both such compelling characters, and I always love a fake dating/fake engagement setup. Add in an only one bed moment, and I was sold.

Meghna and Karthik meet through their parents — his mother is trying to arrange a marriage for him, and he’s going along with it to make her happy. He’s agreed to meet two women per weekend for a year, despite his determination to never get married. His mother’s happiness means everything to him because she’s had a difficult life dealing with his father, a cold and sometimes cruel man. Karthik is fearful of becoming just like his father as he gets older and ending up in an unhappy marriage like his parents.

Meghna has just found out her ex (who she’s still friends with) is getting married, and he wants her to be the best man at his wedding. She doesn’t take this news well. To get over her heartbreak, she agrees to let her mother set her up on dates. The one and only man she meets is Karthik.

Meghna and Karthik don’t exactly hit it off at first, but he’s intrigued by her. And she thinks she’s hot. They both see an opportunity: pretend to be engaged, and he’ll get to stop being dragged to women’s houses by his mother, and she’ll get a date for her ex’s wedding and all the events associated with it.

What develops between them is a lovely friendship, then something more. They truly support each other and believe in each other, even while reminding themselves nothing about their relationship is real. Watching them fall for each other was a joy. This is a gorgeous, heartwarming romance that I’ll be recommending to everyone.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Say You'll Be Mine is a fantastic debut by Naina Kumar.

Meghna's mother wants her to basically become an "adult" by getting a good job (and by that I mean one mom approves of) and getting married. Meghna's still in love with her former college boyfriend though and is reluctant to just settle. Karthik doesn't want to get married, but to placate his mom, agrees to meet as many women as she wants for one year. He has absolutely no intention of becoming involved with any of them.

The mom's get together and set up Meghna and Karthik. They meet and get along well, but each has their own agenda. Karthik comes up with a plan that they fake an engagement and it will get their mom's off their back and hopefully make Meghna's former boyfriend realize what he is missing and come back to her.

Their fake relationship goes from friendship to something more and with the addition of fun and engaging secondary characters, we watch them fall in love. I hope that Meghna's BFF gets her own book, she was a hoot and an incredible friend to Meghna.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I can't wait to read more from this author.

I was blown away by SAY YOU'LL BE MINE and absolutely loved everything about this incredible book!!! I so enjoyed and couldn't get enough of the characters and their intense connection with each other. Karthik and Meghna's relationship and story unfolds at the perfect pace... not too quickly which would make it questionable. I was drawn to and invested in Meghna and Karthik's dynamic from the very beginning, and the tension between them was absolutely delicious.

What I desire most in a romance novel is the emotional depth and believability of the two love interests, and I'm so happy to say that Meghna and Karthik felt so real, layered, and raw. There was nothing cheesy or rushed about it that ever took me out of the story. Meghna knows she wants marriage in her life, yet Karthik is so afraid of becoming his father that he can only give her a fake engagement. I held my breath every time Meghna and Karthik were in the same room with each other as I didn't want to miss a single moment that happened between the two of them.

Perfect balance of heat, humor and heart. I'm so honored to have experienced Meghna and Karthik's world, and those two will always have a place in my heart. I'm already craving whatever the author decides to grant us with next and have no idea how I will be able to wait!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Dell for the digital advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a sweet romantic story! It covered some of my favorite tropes - fake dating/engagement, arranged marriage, only one bed, and more.

I really enjoyed how the plot explored parental relationships and expectations. Both Meghna and Karthik are afraid of letting down their families by pursuing their own interests. These fears prevent them from forming honest relationships and result in several miscommunications. I loved how they worked through their insecurities to form a real friendship/romance and resulted in pursuing their dreams. If you’re looking for a cozy romance, I highly recommend picking up Say You’ll Be Mine!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Dell for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a super cute story about two people learning to trust one another and themselves. Naina Kumar had a really good premise and characters that I liked enough to keep me hooked and interested all the way through.

I did find that the story felt a bit rushed at some points and I felt like we were being told what was happening rather than seeing it develop on the page.

I loved the cultural representation and the exploration of some really important topics with nuance and humour. All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and I'm really looking forward to seeing what else Naina Kumar has in store for us.

I would like to thank the publisher for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley. As always, my opinions are entirely my own.

the first thing I did as soon as I finished reading this book was go to download other naina kumar books only to realise this is her debut novel?

Say you'll be mine is too good to be the work of a debut author, and I can only guess how great the author's future books are going to be.

This is a story of friendship, courage, bravery, letting go of toxic relationships and love. I'm so blown away by the chemistry, the character development and just how likeable the characters were.

You need to add this book to your tbr now

I had to pace myself reading this because I was inhaling every word. The fake dating plot turned real was so fun to read. I love that we switched back and forth following both lead characters.

I can’t wait to suggest this to friends and patrons. ❤️

Also I need a book on Samir and Ankita!! Their tension was too steamy to not have their own book!

This was a fun read that turned into more than just a fun read by the end. By that I mean that I learned some more stuff about Desi culture AND I got to read a slow-burn, will-they-won't-they, just KISS already romance, too. It was sweet and surprisingly deep in it's heartstring-yanking!💜📚

An enjoyable debut. The grumpy-sunshine trope is in all its glory here and works well in this fake engagement / real feelings story.

The main characters, Meghna and Karthik both have their own reasons why a fake engagement would work for them and both decide to ignore the spark between them. Lack of communication combined with insecurities ensues, which, I'll be honest, I would have been happy to do without. I also found myself frustrated with some of the behavior of both MC's, but overall enjoyed this and look forward to the author's future work.



Thank you to Dell and NetGalley for the DRC!

Wow, I inhaled this book in one day! What an excellent debut from Naina Kumar.

Synopsis: Meghna feels pressure from her parents to get married and settle down (which she does want, but she's hung up over her college ex), and she also feels pressure from her mother to land a job she approves of. Then there's Karthik, who made a deal with his mom that he's open to meeting as many women as she wants for one year. Either way, he doesn't want to get married, but he thought this deal would get his mother off his back. Well, a meeting is set up for Meghna and Karthik, and Karthik comes up with the great idea to fake an engagement - it'll placate his mom for a while, and it'll make Meghna's ex jealous when she shows up with a fiancee to his wedding. But nothing ever goes as planned, and the heart wants what the heart wants, even if it takes a minute to figure it out.

I absolutely adore the love story between Meghna and Karthik, and I love their characters, too. I also love the sub-characters - Ankita is such a lovely friend to Meghna! I felt like Karthik was such a deep character, and I related to him with his son/father relationship. Meghna is just adorable. I loved the theme of self-discovery in this book, finding the balance of cultural identity and family dynamics, and the characters finding the strength to break away from what's expected of them.

You're getting all the best tropes in this novel - fake engagement, meddling families, stuck sharing one bed, the enemies to lovers, or grumpy/sunshine concept. Love, love, love!

Big thank you to NetGalley and RHPG/Dell for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! I learned about Indiana culture and about love. Meghna is a teacher who is stuck not living up to her family's expectations. When she learns that her ex, Seth, is getting married, she decides to fake an engagement to a man she barely knows, Karthik. This is the story of trying to win her ex back, please her parents, and be her authentic self.

Say You’ll Be Mine” by Naina Kumar is a delightful and heartwarming debut romance that deserves a solid 4.5/5 stars. This book takes readers on a captivating journey where two individuals, Meghna and Karthik, come together in a fake engagement to navigate the complexities of family expectations and an impending wedding.

What sets this novel apart is its endearing characters. Meghna, a theater teacher and aspiring playwright, and Karthik, a grumpy engineer, are both relatable and lovable in their own unique ways. Their chemistry is undeniable, and as they find common ground, readers can’t help but root for their love to blossom.

Naina Kumar skillfully weaves culture and family dynamics into the narrative, adding depth and authenticity to the story. It’s a charming nod to the romantic comedies of the ’90s, but with a modern twist that explores the impact of cultural traditions on personal relationships.

The pacing of the plot is engaging, with just the right balance of humor, romance, and introspection. You’ll find yourself laughing, swooning, and reflecting on the intricacies of love and family ties.

“Say You’ll Be Mine” is a heartwarming and culturally rich romance that captivates from start to finish. It’s a must-read for anyone looking for a feel-good love story with well-drawn characters and a touch of nostalgia. Naina Kumar’s debut is a promising start to her writing career, and I eagerly anticipate her future works.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

I loved this one! I read it in a day, in two sittings. I love reading own voices stories about different cultural dating & marriage traditions, and this one did not disappoint. Meghna and Karthik are two great characters - they both felt fully defined and three dimensional, which I love in any romcom. Their interactions at times made me LOL, and I loved how they were supportive of each other throughout their journey and slowly started to feel more for each other.

My only complaint would be that the third act breakup/miscommunication really stretched the boundaries of even a typical one in this trope. And Seth is such a cartoonish bad guy - I wish he was a little more balanced because not only was he a total joke, it made Meghna seem a little dim which she is definitely not.

Four stars - I highly recommend this one! Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC.

Highly recommend!

This was a really fun engagement of convenience/fake dating gone right book! I loved the development between the FMC and MMC! What was really special was getting to see them also develop as people on their own as a result of having met each other, they really helped each other grow.

Other than the romance being absolutely perfect the book really was just fun, I had a good time while reading it & couldn't put it down!

Say You'll Be Mine is a compelling story about two individuals trying to find their own paths in the face of family expectations and cultural traditions for marriage, love and career. Meghna and Karthik meet when their mothers set up a rishta or potential arranged marriage for them. They are very attracted to each other and very different.

Meghna is vibrant and creative. She is currently working as a middle school drama teacher and dreams of writing plays. She struggles with her parents' disappointment that she is not in a more demanding technical field like engineering. Karthik likes rules and structure. Having been raised by an emotionally abusive father, it's very important to him to control his emotions and behaviors. He is determined to avoid marriage so that he can avoid repeating the destructive patterns of his family.

When Karthik wants to escape his mother's determined matchmaking, he proposes a fake engagement to Meghna. With her ex's wedding coming up, she needs a plus one for the event and agrees.

As Meghna and Karthik attend various events together, they get to know, respect and develop feelings for each other. As they are each other's support in challenging situations like work functions and pre-wedding activities, they listen to and encourage each other.

I really liked both main characters. While Karthik can be very locked down, he has a protective and loving relationship with his mother. He stands up for Meghna and goes outside his comfort zone for her. Meghna is very intuitive and patient. She senses that there is more to Karthik than his abrupt exterior and listens for clues about what's happening. While this is a slow burn romance, the book did not feel slow at all. I kept turning the pages to see what would happen next.

Special thanks to the author, publisher and netgalley.com for an advance copy. This is an honest review.

title: Say You'll Be Mine

author: Naina Kumar

publisher: Dell

publication date: January 16, 2024

pages: 336

peppers: 2 (on this scale)

warnings: none

summary: Karthik's mother has brought him to meet eight potential brides, two every weekend for a month. She has plans to keep up this pace for a year, so when he's intrigued by Meghna, he proposes a fake engagement to appease his mother. Meghna's long-time crush is getting married, and she sees Karthik as a perfect plus-one for the wedding.

tropes:

fake engagement
one bed
friend's wedding
unrequited love
arranged marriage
scared to become my horrible father
parental expectations
best friend has perfect/not perfect engagement

what I liked: The main characters both have good reasons to feel what they feel and to misinterpret the other's feelings; good scenes with best friends and family

what I didn’t like: nothing

overall rating: 5 (of 5 stars)

I loved this! It was a solid romance and a great debut novel! The love interests had great chemistry and who doesn’t love an engagement of convenience? 4/5 stars!

I will always eat up anything that pertains to any type of fake relationship. The fake relationship trope is my crack.
I found this story so heartwarming with it came to Meghna and Karthick.
As soon as Karthick suggested their fake engagement I was screaming and kicking my feet in the hair. This had all of my favorite elements of fake dating. The pinning, the banter, the will they won't they.
The only thing that just threw me off was the 3rd person narration, but overall I loved reading this book and cannot wait for my friends to get their hands on it.

*This review has been posted on Goodreads and StoryGraph, and will be posted on Tumblr and Instagram on December 16th

Summary:

After Meghna Raman's friend and long-time crush Seth announces his engagement, Meghna agrees to her parents' request to look for potential arranged marriage candidates. She does not hit it off with Karthik Murthy, but finds herself agreeing to a fake engagement anyway so she can bring him as a date to her friend's wedding, and he looks more promotion-ready to his bosses.

My review:

This is the most honest portrayal of modern Indian arranged marriages I've ever read. What a lot of people don't understand about arranged marriages nowadays, particularly in diaspora communities, is that it doesn't mean you are being forced into marriage against your will; it's more like a series of arranged dates with pre-screened candidates that are partially supervised by your families. It's like any set-up, except you're dating with the intention of getting married. This is also the first time I've read South Indian characters in a romance novel so I was very very happy. Karthik is from a Tamil background, while Meghna's dad is Tamil and her mom is North Indian (they had their own cute Chetan Bhagat Two States-esque love story back in the day, which is why Meghna wants a love match too).

There's no insta-attraction between Karthik and Meghna. She wants love (but is open to finding that through an arranged marriage) while Karthik does not want to marry at all because he fears he's turning into his shitty dad and will inadvertently emulate his parents' marriage. Pretty classic as far as romantic conflict goes, with a side of grumpy/sunshine. Where Meghna and Karthik really shined was during their moments of emotional vulnerability and how they were there for each other. I'm suuuuch a sucker for a man who cries in a romance novel and Karthik delivered when he broke down on Meghna's arms in a middle school parking lot. And on his side, Karthik ends up being Meghna's biggest advocate and supports her career aspirations (which is especially gratifying because her typical desi parents don't entirely understand her career path) and helps her realize Seth is taking advantage of her.

Sidenote: Seth is the kind of white boy that makes your stomach crawl (especially because chances are, if you're a woman of color, you know a Seth); he's seemingly innocent, but the more you read about him, you realize the extent to which he's using Meghna on an emotional level, knowing she has feelings for him, all while never respecting her culture enough to even try and pronounce her name correctly.

The sex:

There are a couple make-out scenes (my favorite was when they're all in denial like "do friends kiss?" but go for it anyway).

The one full-on sex scene isn't closed door, per say, but as Karthik and Meghna venture past foreplay, the writing focuses more on the emotions than any explicit description of what's going on physically. Also, there is an over-the-clothes orgasm moment which I liked.

Overall:

This is probably the second time in my life I've felt this *seen* by a romance novel as an Indian-American woman, but I'd honestly recommend it to anyone looking for a low-heat romance that deals with the cultural nuances of the Indian-American community where marriage is concerned while delivering a solid romance.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Meghna and Karthik were great characters throughout, and I really liked this take on the combination between traditional Indian matchmaking practices and the fake dating trope. I did get a bit frustrated towards the end when it felt like their miscommunication was too obvious and a bit pat, but the text overall was so fun and cute that I still think it deserves 4 stars.