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.

I absolutely adored this book! Meghna and Karthik's love story was real, raw, and honest, with all the ups and downs that come with falling for someone. I also loved getting an insight into the individual pressures that both MCs felt from their parents and culture surrounding marriage and dating.
Naina Kumar's writing style was exactly what the book needed, and both POV characters had a distinct voice which made reading the same situations from both of them incredibly enjoyable. I sat and read the book in one sitting!
I will be posting this review on my Goodreads account on 9/7/2023, and my Instagram account on 9/8/2023.

What. A. Debut! 5 Star Romance Novel - Adorable. Lovable. Will make you "kick-your-feet-squealing" giddy! The match was so right, I am a sucker for grumpy/sunshine - especially being that I'm an engineer IRL. Karthik is a calculating engineer who sees life like checking boxes in an effort to please his parents. Meghna is quite the opposite, an English teacher, who despite wanting to make her parents proud, seems to do the opposite. Meghna is looking for forever, and Karthik is just looking to get by. By the end, they are better people because of each other. I loved this match up. I loved their complex families, I loved their complex relationships with friends and coworkers. It was all so right. I can't wait to read more from Naina! Thanks to Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! Reading it felt like watching a comforting, classic romcom (think When Harry Met Sally or My Best Friend's Wedding), yet the story also feels so refreshing and original, with characters you can't help but root for. Meghna is crushed when her college ex, Seth (who she's still friends with—and pining over) invites her to his wedding—and asks her to be his best man. Ready to move on, Meghna agrees to let her parents introduce her to a potential match. Enter Karthik, a grouchy engineer who never wants to get married, but agrees to his mother's attempts to find him a match, knowing it will make her happy. Together, Meghna and Karthik devise the perfect plan: they'll pretend to be engaged, so Meghna will have a date to Seth's wedding and Karthik will appease his mother. There's no way that their fake relationship could turn into something real...or could it?

Say You'll Be Mine has instantly become one of my new favorite romcoms! The romance between Meghna and Karthik is truly swoon-worthy. Their chemistry and banter (and the puns!) warmed my heart, and I loved Naina Kumar's approach to well-known tropes like Grumpy/Sunshine and There's Only One Bed. Their individual growth arcs were also a highlight of the story for me, especially the storyline with Meghna finally pursuing her writing dreams, trusting in her own abilities, and finding her voice. I really enjoyed the exploration of themes like culture and family, and how they influenced the main characters' development throughout the book. Of course, I would highly recommend Say You'll Be Mine—readers need this gorgeous cover and love story on their shelves in January! I also can't wait to see what Naina Kumar writes next—I would love to see a book about Ankita and her love interest (no spoilers here), too. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Meghna and Karthik are both from Indian families. Meghna’s parents have a love marriage and Karthik’s have an arranged marriage. Meghna is looking for a relationship and wants a love marriage. She reluctantly agrees to meet with Karthik, who is on his own journey with relationships. Initially, they meet and don’t get along well. Karthik does however call and propose a fake engagement. Meghna agrees - as she needs a date to her best friend Seth’s wedding where she’s the “best man.”

This book was SO CUTE! It was a slow burn romance with slight spice. How Meghna and Karthik discover their feelings for each other was so sweet. Their little hints here and there, the kissing. The one bed! Loved it. This was just such a fun romance book. They each had their own lives and problems, and it was great to see them figure things out together.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored Meghna & Karthik’s story! Grumpy/Sunshine is one of my fave tropes. It was definitely interesting to see the arranged marriage POV. This was an amazing debut novel and I’m thankful to the publisher, NetGalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

I’ve been dying to read SAY YOU’LL BE MINE since I first heard about it almost a year ago, so thank you @netgalley for the chance to read it early for my honest review!

After 5 years of pining for her college ex, Meghna’s hopes are finally dashed when she receives an invitation to his wedding, followed closely by him asking her to be his best man. Heartbroken, she agrees, then allows to let her mother start arranging meetings with potential husbands. The first, and only, person she meets is Karthik, who has zero interest in marriage and is only there to appease his mom. The two agree to a fake engagement (Karthik to get out of these dates and Meghna to have someone by her side at Seth’s wedding events). But as those events push them closer—figuratively and literally—they have to wonder if this fake arrangement is as fake as they claim.

I 👏🏻 am 👏🏻 obsessed 👏🏻

I normally don’t love grumpy/sunshine, but this was way more than that. More like robot/sunshine! Karthik is trying to live his life without those pesky emotions, and Meghna just pops up with her Hindi puns and love of theater, and he has no idea what hit him until it’s too late! Their growth arcs were amazing, especially Meghna learning to trust in herself and her talent. The way they build each other up, even before they decided to commit to anything between them, made me feel like they’d go the mile even after the book ended.

The book is as beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside, so you definitely want it on your shelf and in your minds!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

I am a Sucker for fake romance books , and I dont know why!
I liked the whole indian arrange marrige aspect and them creating a relationship to get out of the arranged marrige.

Beautifully written debut book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC.
This was a very charming take on the trope of fake relationship turned romance.
Meghna and Karthik come from traditional Indian families, Karthik's mom has been putting pressure on him to marry. Meghna is ready to settle down and get over her ex Seth who is engaged. They meet through a set up via their mothers and while at the first meeting Karthik admits he is never wanting to marry but is only going on meetings to make his mom happy. They agree to have a fake engagement to appease Kathik's mom and so Meghna doesn't have to go to Seth's wedding alone.
Wonderful rom com with great characters growth.

3.5/5 - This book was really sweet! I loved both Meghna and Karthik and enjoyed their progression from fake
fiancées to falling in love. I could’ve done, however, without the miscommunication at the end. I was internally screaming “just talk!!!” and wished the author had wrapped things up without that. Other than that, it was a cute and fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for giving me access to this book!

When this book becomes available please buy it and read it. I got my ARC today and I finished reading it today. It’s an absolute page-turner. It was funny, dramatic, warm, and an absolute breath of fresh-air.
Themes: “Fake engagement, arranged marriage, ex-boyfriend”
It felt like a Bollywood movie (there’s a quote in the book that explains my thoughts, I’ll share once the book is available to the public).
5/5 great job Naina Kumar. I hope there’s a story about Samir and Ankita
Thank you Random House publishing.

In order to escape the relentless matchmaking efforts of their families, Karthik Murthy and Meghna Raman devised a clever plan: they decided to stage a fake engagement. For three months, they would play the role of a couple, with Meghna benefiting from having a date for her ex's wedding, and Karthik can appease his mother.

However, their lives take unexpected turns, leading them to seek solace and comfort in one another. Each encounter deepens their connection, blurring the boundaries of their sham relationship and stirring a genuine attraction between them.

Now faced with a dilemma, they must confront their growing feelings. Will they give in to the undeniable chemistry they share?

✨Thoughts✨
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me with the ARC of Say You'll Be Mine by Naina Kumar.

This story was very well-crafted. The author perfectly showcased the profound impact of culture and family dynamics on personal relationships.

Enter Meghna, she was constantly worried about disappointing her parents. Throughout the story, she undergoes a remarkable transformation, finding her voice and learning to assert herself. Witnessing her growth was truly gratifying.

As for Karthik, I had mixed feelings about his reluctance to get attached. As I learned his backstory, it became apparent that he was a product of a shattered home, desperate to break free from the cycle. His upfront honesty about marriage added a layer of depth to his character.

Overall, this was a delightful read. I was fascinated by the gradual connection shared by both MCs. The author skillfully laid the groundwork for their love to grow organically.

I recommend this book to those who enjoyed romcom with a hint of women's fiction.

Very charming! Meghna and Karthik find themselves in a mutually beneficial fake engagement situation. Meghna is nursing her unrequited love to Seth who is getting married to another woman while Karthik doesn’t want to get married but needs to appease his mother’s matchmaking attempts. As Meghna and Karthik spend more time together, they are surprised to find out they might just care for one another after all.

There is a lot to enjoy about this story - there is great tension and chemistry between Meghna and Karthik and some fun banter and really sweet moments. There is arguably a bit too much miscommunication or misreading of each other’s feelings but since both characters struggle with being vulnerable, this was also believable. I was engrossed and invested in their relationship and recommend this to anyone looking for their next romance read.

Thank you very much to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

Wow, what a debut! This is a book I read in basically one sitting. It was so good and the pacing was perfect!

It includes some of my favorite tropes (fake dating/engagement, one bed, grumpy/sunshine) but in a fresh way that had me desperately turning pages. It does have some miscommunication, but honestly, I don't mind the miscommunication trope and I love when books hurt me like this book did.

Our main characters were perfectly written, and consistent in their behaviors. I loved both Meghna and Karthik. Both of them had so much growth, and it was so heartwarming to read.

The side characters were all great too, and I'm actually super invested in Ankita and would love to read her story with her love interest (don't want to spoil it by saying who). Both sets of parents were great (well, 1.5 of the parents I guess). I loved how we had the contrast of one set of parents who were still very much in love and had a healthy relationship, while the other set showed us an unhealthy relationship and the ramifications of that.

Thank you to RHPG/Dell and Netgalley for this ARC!

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

This was a fun and breezy multicultural romance! I really enjoyed the portrayal of the families of both MCs, their dynamics and relationships. The internal conflicts experienced by the MCs, particularly the MMC was captured very well. I enjoyed reading the tension between the Meghna and Karthik :) That was super fun! Their initial meeting and then getting to know each other was quite realistically described & engaging to read.

I'd give 4.5/5, Overall the pacing was excellent until about 40% of the book & somehow after that I feel the pacing was a bit off. There were several instances of miscommunication, which could have been resolved IMO if MCs talked to each other. The ending dragged a bit IMO and could have been completed somewhat sooner.

Overall, a wonderful debut and definitely recommend to all romcom lovers! Would love to read the author's next :)

3 stars- theres something about a rom com. this one was a sweet read, that I quickly finished! thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

A fresh take on everyone’s favorite classic romcom tropes! I loved our leads: Meghna and Karthik are fleshed out perfectly. Their romance and conflict makes the reader root for their happy ending until the last page. There are many adorable moments that made my heart squeeze! There was banter that had me laughing and squealing at how cute and funny it was. Couldn’t put this book down!

Looking forward to reading more from this author in the future!

I couldn’t believe this is a debut! Naina Kumar’s book is fun, sexy, and swoony, and something I’ll be raving about to all of my romance reading friends. Karthik and Meghna have genuine chemistry, and it makes their slow burn romance all the more rewarding. Highly recommend.