Fairly predictable rom com but it was still a good read that I enjoyed. I just don't know if it would be a reread or not.

This was absolutely adorable! Deepa's grandmother gives her a jasmine flower and tells her to make a wish, and Deepa wishes for her ideal boyfriend.. So guess who moves into the neighborhood the very next day?! HER DREAM BOYFRIEND! She literally created a list of what she wanted in a boyfriend and there he is, moving in next door! There is a bit of a love triangle because Deepa realizes what she really wants: the perfect boyfriend, or chemistry you simply cannot deny!

This was my introduction to Swati Teerdhala and I am so glad I requested this ARC. The first-person POV of Deepa was funny, relatable (I'm also a list-maker and planner lol), and so precious! I recognized why she was so invested in making the "right" decisions because she had seen the heartache that comes with a failing relationship. Is that a bit intense for a teenage to put on her shoulders? Sure, absolutely. However, it doesn't negate the fact that kids do internalize this messaging! Anyway, I will absolutely check out ST's other works, and I look forward to more YA romcoms from her!

The beautiful cover and description initially got me really excited to read this book. I went in expecting a fun, lighthearted YA romance and I’d say it definitely delivered! I thought all the characters were likable and I loved that the author showed their flaws in a way that made you feel closer to them, rather than thinking they were annoying or unlikeable.
A few times, I felt the author was doing more telling than showing but it ultimately didn’t bother me too much. I thought the prank war aspect was fun and the friendship and family dynamics were great! The Indian American representation was so cool as I haven’t read many books that had that.
The friendship and relationship dynamics in the book reminded me of Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter. If you liked that book, I think you'll like this one! The ending really did it for me. I thought it was so cute and really made me feel for the characters and love them even more.
If I had read this when I was in high school, I think it definitely would’ve been one of my favorites. If you’re looking for a clean, lighthearted YA romance, this one’s for you!

This was cute.

Deepa lives in a neighborhood where everyone is close. They have parties together and even have prank wars. Her best friend Lily lives there. Her friend/nemesis Vik also lives next door. Deepa's parents have a great relationship. When her aunt got divorced, it really affected her by how upset she was and how everyone treated her. Deepa makes plans. It's what she does. And she made a plan for the perfect boyfriend. When her grandma gives her a flower to wish on, Deepa wishes for that boyfriend from her list. The next day, a new family is moving in. The son, Rohit, fits everything from Deepa's list. It must be her wish coming true. So she sets off to seal the deal. She plans out dates and knows she has to kiss him for the wish to come true completely. But as she is forced to spend more time with Vik, she starts to see him in a different way. Rohit is exactly what she wants and is perfect on paper. But there is something different that Vik makes her feel.

I adored the family relationships in this book more than anything. The friendships were great too. The love story was surprisingly my least favorite part, but it was still really cute. This was just a fun read for me.

I gave this book 4 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my earc.

The Boyfriend Wish

HarperCollins Children's Books, Katherine Tegen Books and NetGalley provided an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

This gorgeous cover and the synopsis made me really excited to dive into this book, and for the most part, the book delivered. It seemed like the book was just a bit too overstuffed with details and descriptions that didn’t really add to the story. I could totally see this as a great teen romcom movie though. I think it would really benefit from going through the script and film editing process.

The Boyfriend Wish was such a cute, charming read! When Deepa's grandmother gives her a beautiful jasmine flower and tells her to make a wish, Deepa immediately knows what she's going to do. She wishes for her dream boyfriend, someone who checks off everything on the list she made when she was younger. The next morning, new boy in town Rohit moves into her neighborhood, and he's practically everything Deepa has been looking for. All she has to do is seal her wish with a kiss—but what will happen when, alongside her developing romance with Rohit, Deepa starts forming an unexpected connection with her childhood nemesis, Vik?

I've seen a couple of other reviewers compare this book to a Disney Channel Original Movie, and I can also see that parallel, in a good way, of course! Reading The Boyfriend Wish felt like curling up with a comforting classic DCOM, packed with likable characters, sweet romance, and fun hijinks. Deepa is such an easy protagonist to root for, and her journey was well-done and satisfying. I also really liked all of the side characters! They were all so entertaining to read about, and I especially loved learning about all of the different members of Deepa's family and seeing their dynamic. When it came to the love triangle, I was definitely rooting more for one person in particular (no spoilers here!), but I feel like both of the relationships were very well-developed, and you could appreciate them in different ways. With possibly-magical flowers, laugh-out-loud-funny prank wars, and swoon-worthy romance, The Boyfriend Wish is a truly enchanting story you won't want to miss! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This is a very sweet book! I saw another review on here that compared to a Disney Channel Original Movie, and I think that is the perfect description. And I love a good DCOM, so I don't mean that negatively, and don't think they did either! Overall, I did enjoy this read. It's cute and charming, and exactly the kind of fun, comforting story I want when I'm in the mood to watch a DCOM. That said, I don't think this was quite for me. Again, I enjoyed it, and I honestly can't pinpoint anything I don't like about it, but it didn't quite click with me the way I'd hoped it would. I can very easily imagine it clicking for other readers, however, and would definitely recommend it.

This cover is absolutely gorgeous, and the story is just as wonderful. I loved the characters. I love the representation they provide, but our protagonist isn’t just a flat stereotype either. She is well rounded, relatable, and engaging. The plot was really fun as well. A great read all around.

I loved this YA rom-com! Swati Teerdhala is one of my favorite fantasy writers, and it was so much fun being able to read her contemporary romance debut. The Boyfriend Wish felt very reminiscent of some of the classic "Disney Channel Original Movies," such as 16 Wishes. I loved all the fun, ridiculous tropes in this book and watching Deepa force Rohit and her to get together while experiencing so much chemistry with her childhood nemesis Vik. I loved the prank wars in this book as well--it brought so many funny moments! The South Indian representation was also so great to see, and I can't wait for Swati Teerdhala to write more South Asian FMC's in her future works!

The Boyfriend Wish by Swati Teerdhala was a very special and beautiful YA romance.
I found Deepa and Rohit’s relationship to be cute, charming and fun to watch play out.
I thought the pacing and writing was excellent. The author definitely kept me engaged and excited to see how this story would unfold.
A inviting romantic comedy about a South Indian American teen girl who makes a wish upon a flower for her perfect boyfriend… and then what a wonderful surprise a new boy moves in right next door. With love triangles, prank wars, and a sizzling sweet romance—this story was an magnetic time!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Katherine Tegen Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

A charming romantic comedy about a South Indian American teen girl who makes a wish upon a flower for her perfect boyfriend…and then a new boy moves in right next door.

"The Boyfriend Wish" by Swati Teerdhala is an utterly charming and adorable romance novel within the Teens & YA genre. The book's delightful narrative and relatable characters make for a heartwarming and engaging read. Swati Teerdhala's storytelling prowess shines as she weaves a tale of romance that captures the essence of young love and self-discovery. "The Boyfriend Wish" is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a light-hearted and endearing romance that brings a smile to your face and warms your heart.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book! The Boyfriend Wish was a very cute book! I love Deepa and her willingness to want the same love her parents and grandparents had. In my opinion, I loved Vik more than I did Rohit only because to me they had a better history regardless of the back and forth they had. Learning more about Deepa family background also made this book more likeable as well. Great mixture of a hopeful, romantic and funny debut story. Prefect for Valetine's Day so it the release date is amazing!