Get ready to be swept away in the vibrant city of Mumbai with Swati Hegde's delightful debut, "Love in a Mumbai Minute." Jia Deshpande, a confident fashionista with a penchant for matchmaking, navigates the chaotic world of love while juggling her day job at Mimosa, Mumbai's top women's magazine, and secretly running an anonymous blog.

In this heartwarming tale, the story unfolds against the backdrop of Mumbai, where Jia attempts to set up her coworker with the perfect match to secure her dream matchmaking column. Little does she know that her childhood friend, the charming pub owner Jaiman Patil, has been harboring deep feelings for her. As Jia's matchmaking endeavors go awry, risking friendships and her relationship with Jaiman, she discovers that love is far more complex than she ever imagined.

The plot is a slow burn, teasing with the "will they? won't they?" dynamic that keeps you engaged throughout the entire book. While some may find it a bit too gradual, the love story remains undeniably cute, making it a worthwhile read. Hegde's writing is addictive, creating a narrative that has you squealing with joy at every turn.

What sets this debut apart is its distinct Desi vibe, a refreshing addition to American book publishing. Hegde beautifully captures the essence of Mumbai, offering a love letter to Jane Austen with a modern, multicultural twist. The characters are not only lovable but also relatable, and you'll find yourself cheering for them even in their most adorably clueless moments.

Overall, "Love in a Mumbai Minute" is a must-read for fans of desi romcoms, friends-to-lovers tales, and anyone who appreciates a good dose of unsolicited relationship advice. Swati Hegde has crafted a captivating story that immerses you in the charm and complexity of love in the bustling streets of Mumbai. Get ready to be hooked from the first page to the last, and keep an eye out for more of Hegde's work—it's sure to be a delightful journey.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/ Dell for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book. Overall, I enjoyed it and thought it was a sweet love story. Even though it wasn't my favorite, there were parts of it I liked a lot.

The story takes place in Mumbai.
Jia is a twenty something, who works at magazine as a romance columnist while writing a blog about matchmaking on the side. She dreams of taking her matchmaking full time. Her childhood best friend, Jaiman owns a pub that is struggling to stay afloat and has secretly been in love with Jia for decades. The "will they? Won't they?" pretty much takes the entire book and for me it was too slow of a burn. The love story was still cute and I would consider other books by this author.

A beautiful debut by Swati Hegde that had me squealing through the whole thing. The characters were love able and it was so easy to root for them, even when they were completely adorably clueless when it came to love. Think Emma but with a distinctly Desi vibe- something we definitely need to see more representation of in American book publishing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I can’t wait to see more of Hegde’s work.

This book was so good! The writing was so addictive. I loved the setting so much. The romance was so cute and I absolutely loved it.