To say that I loved this book would not do my feelings justice. I more than loved this book. I loved every single moment of this book. This book tugged at my heart strings, it made me laugh, it made me feel cozy and comfy- just everything that you want in a cute little romance novel. It's not explicit which I found very refreshing, and overall I just loved both Meghna and Karthik! I absolutely love Desi culture and representation, especially coming from Desi author's themselves! This put Naina Kumar on the map for me, and I absolutely look forward to reading more of what she writes!

I LOVED this book! Fake dating? Check. Grumpy-ish MMC? Check. Authentic Chemistry? Also check. Meghna and Karthik were freaking adorable. I adored his relationship with his mother and how he just wanted to protect her and not become like his father. I loathed Seth from the jump but I totally get how Meghna had thought she was in love with him(we all had that one guy we were a sucker for). Meghna and Karthik’s chemistry was awesome and I loved how he lost control in her presence and how he didn’t really realize how much he was falling with these little tidbits of things he enjoyed about her presence. And omg, when he showed up for her(you know the scene) I wanted to cry! Ugh, I just loved this book so much!

Say You'll Be Mine the debut novel by Naina Kumar. I loved it, and I thought it was super cute! I was kind of surprised it was her debut, to be honest. That's how great the author did with her writing. The characters were relatable, charming, and easy to fall in love with. I've always been fascinated with the Indian culture, so to see it be well represented was nice. This book had everything from a fake engagement, dual pov, a slow burn romance, friends to lovers, a witty banter, and a little bit of spice with a whole lot of sweetness.

Meghna and Karthik both grew up inside of an Indian family where arranged marriages are common. Feeling the pressure from their parents to take that next step in life, they agreed to a fake engagement. Not only would this satisfy their families, but they would also take advantage of the situation for their own selfish reasons. Karthik was looking for his next promotion at work, and he hoped his recent engagement would show he was ready for any type of commitment. Meghna didn't want to show up to an ex boyfriends wedding with a plus one. When Meghna and Karthik began to spend time together and grow closer, unexpected feelings developed. An undeniable connection and chemistry begins to form between the two. Will they let their own insecurities stand in the way, or will a fake engagement turn into their own happily ever after?

I would recommend this book to anyone. Again, I'm amazed this was a debut novel, and I will be watching this author for more!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I've been trying to make a greater attempt to diversify my reading this year. Given my rom-com kick of late, I knew I had to read this one. 𝗦𝗮𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂'𝗹𝗹 𝗕𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗲 featured Indian culture, food, and plenty of discussions around arranged marriages, the role of love in said marriages, and choosing your own path in life. All of this in the US. The fake engagement storyline came into play when Meghna wanted a plus one to an ex's wedding and Karthik a break from his mother's arranged marriage plans. Win - win, right?

The main storyline does take a backseat near the middle of the book as many side storylines develop with minor characters with bigger issues of their own. My favorite might just be the Intern Paul though. He cracked me up. Surprisingly, it all comes together in the end with the best epilogue it could have.

𝗦𝗮𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂'𝗹𝗹 𝗕𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗲 also made a great audiobook pick! Especially thanks to the great narration by Soneela Nankani and fun nature of the book.

Thanks to @netgalley @randomhouse for this advanced copy!

This was absolutely precious; remnant of the swoon-worthy 90s films I love watching for a bit of nostalgia. Thank you Netgalley, the author, and publisher for providing me with an ARC. My opinions are my own.

I liked this sweet romance!

🩷 Arranged marriage/fake engagement
🩷 grumpy/sunshine
🩷 Indian culture - I love learning about other cultures.
🩷 one bed - always a fun trope!

I loved this debut! It’s about Meghna & Karthink, who get wrapped up in a fake engagement plot when their parents arrange a meeting between the two of them. Karthik wants his mother to stop setting him up with potential spouses, & Meghna needs a date for her best friend’s wedding. Meghna is lovely—artistic, spunky, caring. A FMC that you love to root for :) Karthik is that locked up hero that you watch melt over the course of the story. It was utterly charming & I highly recommend.

"Say You'll Be Mine" by Naina Kumar is a captivating journey through the intricacies of love and self-discovery. The characters are expertly crafted, each with a distinct personality that adds depth to the narrative. The protagonist's exploration of her own identity and desires resonates with readers, making her journey a relatable and compelling one. Kumar's writing style is both lyrical and evocative, creating a vivid tapestry of emotions that draws readers in from the very beginning. The well-paced plot, with its balance of romance, drama, and unexpected turns, ensures that the story remains engaging and unpredictable.

What sets this novel apart is Kumar's ability to infuse a fresh perspective into the romance genre. While the story follows some familiar tropes, the author brings nuance and authenticity to the narrative. The rich descriptions and attention to detail create a palpable setting that enhances the overall reading experience. "Say You'll Be Mine" is a four-star book that seamlessly combines the magic of romance with a thoughtful exploration of personal growth, making it a highly enjoyable and memorable read for those who appreciate love stories with depth and authenticity.

What a delightful debut. I love a good fake dating/engagement of convenience story, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one.

Meghna is surprised when she receives a wedding invitation for her ex who she still has feelings for, and because they’re still close she makes things worse for herself agreeing to be his ‘best man’ in the wedding. Karthik has an agreement with his mother to meet any women she sees as a potential arrangement for marriage, though he has no intention of ever actually getting married. When Meghna is one of the meetings, they decide to fake an engagement in a mutually beneficial arrangement to put an end to Karthik’s meetings and give Meghna a plus one to the wedding. Their terms include no accidentally falling in love with each other, which proves to be more difficult than either of them could have anticipated.

Meghna and Karthik could not be more opposite. Their clashing personalities lead to some great banter and some very tender moments as they learn about each other. Both had individual growth that they needed to achieve. The way they ultimately contributed to the other’s growth gave such authenticity to their evolving feelings and relationship. Meghna had to find her own voice in standing up for herself, but Karthik helped her see the big picture and also had her back in times she wasn’t quite ready. Karthik needed to face his feelings and fears, and Meghna showed him that someone could see the heart of who he was and make it worth challenging his comfort zone.

The only struggle I had with this book is a common one for me in this trope that I love. The persistent miscommunication, not talking about feelings, assuming the other doesn’t feel the same can go on far longer than I want it to. My logical brain knows this is actually incredibly realistic, but my escapist brain wants conversations sooner. The dual POV in this book really saved it for me, particularly in Karthik’s case, because I otherwise would have wanted to shake him for a vast majority. Instead, I empathized with his struggles to express himself. I did still want them to talk to each other sooner though.

Overall, this was an incredibly impressive debut. I look forward to reading what Naina Kumar comes up with next. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Dell for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Karthik had my heart from the beginning, and I totally love his character building. It's so satisfying to see his layers unwrap with him going from a grump to a caring cutie <3 For some reason, his choices and feelings made so much sense to me, from his family dynamic to his introvertedness. His concern and support for Meghna was adorable, making me feel abundantly happy.

Meghna is amazing too, with so many feelings she takes time to understand. I loved seeing her understanding of Karthik evolve with time, as did her relationship with her ex-Seth. This might be one of the first times I felt more closely with the MMC than the FMC, and I was genuinely shocked to find that this book is a debut!

The confrontation towards the end was BRILLIANT. This entire novel made me so happy and is one of those that makes you forget you are reading. I'll be sure to grab anything this author writes and till then, I think everyone should feast on this book!

Thank you #Netgalley!

A cute romance novel, though you can predict what will happen in this classic rom com style read, I enjoyed following the two lead characters, Karthik and Meghna. Learning about their parents arranged marriages and how that translates to the modern world for them. Learning about the culture and expectations and how to navigate them. I liked seeing how each character eventually lives up to their potential/dreams will realizing they need each other.

kathrik and meghna each have their own reasons for getting into a fake arranged marriage. kathrik, to avoid his mom’s constant arranged marriage meet ups, and meghna, to have a date to her ex’s surprise wedding. through the fake engagement, they find the other one showing up for them in ways no one else ever has. what a perfect slow burn romance! the opposites attract sometimes misses the mark, but this one had all the right elements to make it work!

I adored this book. Say You’ll Be Mine is a story about a girl whose parents had a love marriage and a boy whose parents had an arranged marriage. This juxtaposition gives a look into how two people formed their ideas on relationships and the way they navigate from these spaces in their adult life. This worked surprisingly well for me and I wanted to learn everything I could about Meghna and Karthik and watch how these two play off one another and learn to let their guard down.

This story was so utterly adorable and cute. It’s heavy on the pining and self-discovery and the tension kept me turning the page. A great debut and I’m hoping we get some more rom-com goodness from Kumar in the future.

Mostly I liked this fake dating romance. I loved the culture and I really liked Meghna. But the male main character was unnecessary mean to her and it made me dislike him. It was hard to start liking him eventually.

Read if you like;
🌤️ Grumpy x sunshine
💍 Fake engagement
🛏️ One bed
💞 he Falls first
🔥 slow burn romance

The romance is a gradual build which I loved! They took time to get to know each other and it felt authentic not rushed or insta love. They supported each other with their careers and gave each other advice. I loved how we could see Karthik opening himself up and falling in love throughout the fake engagement 🥹 There were moments when he was getting jealous and I was so here for it 🤭

My only dislike was there was a LOT of miscommunication where both of them weren’t discussing how they truly felt and both were hiding their feelings.

Thanks to publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Omg I never wanted this book to end 🥰❤️
The chemistry between the characters is absolutely fire 🔥. The plot was delightful I really resonated with this one. It's the kind of book that makes you laugh, swoon, and maybe even shed a tear or two – in the best way possible. If you're in the mood for a heartwarming and entertaining romance, this one's a winner!

What a strong debut novel for this author! This story focuses on family, love, tradition, changes, and the conflict caused by changes to tradition.

Meghna Raman and Karthik Murthy both have parents who immigrated to the United States from India. Their parents still embrace the culture from their homeland. Karthik convinces Meghna to engage in a fake engagement relationship. Karthik is hoping this fake engagement will please his mother. Meghna agrees to this to have a date to bring to her best friend/ex boyfriend’s wedding. Along the way their feelings change and the engagement doesn’t seem so fake.

This is a sweet story. Karthik is a good son to his mother and truly cares about her well being. Both realize how important it is to go after what you want in your career and in love.

“I don’t care where I am. As long as you’re with me.”

Thank you NetGalley and Dell for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Holy moly what is it with the debuts that are coming out this month! This is the second one that I’ve read this month that has just blown me out of the water! This was such a unique storyline and I absolutely adored the characters. I was immediately hooked and was honestly reading every chance that I got. The only reason I wasn’t able to finish this book in one sitting was because I started it when we had a winter weather advisory with lots of snow and sub zero temperatures and we were stuck inside the house with a toddler who needed lots of my attention! LOL

But in all seriousness, I loved the character development that they went through in this novel and they were so relatable and had a lot of endearing qualities. Overall this was such a delightful read that combines romance, humor, and introspection that I would HIGHLY recommend!!

In this book, Naina Kumar evokes classic romantic stories filled with fake engagements, complex and nuanced characters who explore their flaws, a South Asian female with a nonconventional job and passions she explores, and romance you can’t help but be pulled into. Bonus points for South Indian characters, however more references to South Indian culture would have made this book even better since we so rarely see these characters represented. Overall a very fun read! Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Say You'll Be Mine is a debut novel by Naina Kumar. I definitely enjoyed Meghna and Karthik's story. Their families are trying to help them arrange a marriage and they agree to pretend to be engaged for a period of time. Of course, you know where the story is going but their story and challenges were entertaining and I appreciated how they each grew as people beyond their love story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Say You'll Be Mine in exchange for an honest opinion. It is available now.