Rating: 2/5

This dual POV novel, interspersed with letters from a fire, had the potential for an engaging read, but ultimately fell flat for me. I’ve found Nisha Sharma’s books to be hit or miss, and unfortunately, this one was a miss. While I wanted to enjoy it, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it just didn’t work.

The characters, Jesse and Ravi, felt underdeveloped. Ravi, hailing from a wealthy family, benefits from nepotism, while Jesse comes from an immigrant background and struggles financially. This stark contrast could have provided depth, but instead, their issues with money and privilege overshadowed any romantic development. It felt like both characters were merely vessels for discussing social topics rather than fully realized individuals, making it hard to connect with them.

Race is another recurring theme, but rather than adding richness to the narrative, it often felt like a superficial attempt at inclusivity, serving to check a box rather than enhance the story. The plot itself was predictable and at times boring, with the romantic tension feeling half-hearted at best. The writing style had a juvenile quality that didn’t match the serious themes it tried to address, leaving me puzzled, especially when the story abruptly shifted to more adult content.

The mystery of the missing lovers could have provided a compelling backdrop, but it felt tacked on rather than integral to the plot. By the end, I found the resolutions rushed and unsatisfying, lacking the emotional weight they should have carried. Instead of rooting for Jesse and Ravi, I saw them as immature and unlikely to thrive as a couple.

Overall, this book felt like an attempt to tackle too many social issues without a cohesive story to support them. If you’re out of other romance options, this might suffice, but I’d recommend looking elsewhere for a more fulfilling read.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I had such a great time listening to this audiobook! The voice acting was great and engaging. I really enjoyed the mystery of the story. The concept and plot was unique and kept me wanting to listen to more. I was actually surprised at how fast it flew by, it left me wishing there was more! I can’t wait to try out more from this author.

I definitely was hoping for MORE from this book, and it kind of breaks my heart to type that because this book sounded so perfectly up my alley!

In the end I felt like the characters were very flat.. one was rich, one was from an immigrant family and poor.. and that was it, that was their whole personality. Add in the I sat-love and the immaturity of both characters and I really had to push myself to finish the book.

The romance aspects were definitely what kept me going and even after finishing and looking back they just didn’t shine like I wanted them to.

All in all I think a younger me might have liked this book.. but adult me with years of therapy under her belt was just frustrated with it all as a whole!

This book started out really promising and it had me hooked from the first page. But the more it drew on, honestly, the less I liked it. I do like the premise, it just kind of fell a little flat for me in the end.

The Letters We Keep promised to be a mix of star crossed lovers meets family expectations meets dark academia and it fell a bit flat. While it was a really quick and easy read, it was only those things because it lacked depth and character development. The narrators did a fantastic job given what they had and I felt they added emotions and nuance to the characters by way of their voices that weren't from the page. You have a poor girl from an immigrant India family and a Nepo baby from a third generation successful Indian family and that's all you get for character depth. The authors note stated that this was their first book in the New Adult category and I think that is a stretch. There is one open door sex scene but the writing style, structure, and plot are middle grade at best. All that to say, if you're looking for a light romance you can speed through with a guaranteed HEA then read this, otherwise it's going to leave a lot to be desired.

Thank you Brilliance Publishing for the gifted ALC.

So much potential! The synopsis promised a dark academia mystery following star-crossed lovers and a love match connection, yet it turned out that the synopsis was the most exciting part of the book. The author sets up many moments of connection that I expected to feel more important, but they are lost amidst unnecessary moments. The female main character spends so much time contemplating her financial limitations in dating the male main character and her reluctance to run her family's sandwich shop. While these themes could have been compelling, they are repeated to the point of annoyance.

The atmosphere was great, and I wish the author had leaned into it more because it helped add an air of mystery that the author failed to achieve on their own. I can envision myself enjoying this author's other books or future works, but this one felt like it was in a late draft phase that still needed to remove excess and repetitive information to become a stronger book.

The audio narration was good, I didn't have a special opinion on it but I appreciated the narrator chosen.

This was my first book by Nisha Sharma and it won't be the last. I really enjoyed this new adult romance. The dual narration was done very well and it was so fun to see their relationship progress. The mystery aspect of the story also helped to keep interest and draw parallels to their present day story. Thank you to Netgalley and Brilliance Audio for this ALC.

If you're in the mood for a captivating blend of mystery, romance, and a dash of the supernatural, then "The Letters We Keep" by Nisha Sharma is the book for you! From the moment I started reading, I was utterly entranced by the spellbinding tale of Jessie Ahuja and Ravi Kumar, two university students whose lives become intertwined most unexpectedly.

Sharma's writing is nothing short of magical, weaving together a heartwarming and spine-tingling story. The backdrop of Davidson Tower, with its haunted history and mysterious library, sets the stage for a journey that is as thrilling as it is romantic. I eagerly turned the pages, desperate to uncover the secrets hidden within its walls.

And let's talk about the characters—Jessie Ahuja is a protagonist after my own heart. Her ambition, intelligence, and determination to succeed as an engineer make her a force to be reckoned with. And Ravi Kumar? Well, let's say he's the kind of swoon-worthy love interest that dreams are made of. Their chemistry crackles off the page, and I couldn't help but root for them every step of the way.

But what indeed elevates "The Letters We Keep" is the stellar narration by Soneela Nankani and Vikas Adam. Nankani's voice brings Jessie to life with authenticity and emotion, while Adam's portrayal of Ravi is positively magnetic. Together, they create a captivating listening experience, drawing listeners into the story and keeping them hooked until the very end.

So, if you're searching for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat while tugging at your heartstrings, look no further than "The Letters We Keep." With its irresistible blend of romance, mystery, and the supernatural, it's a story that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page. Trust me, you won't want to put it down!

Nisha Sharma is an incredibly talented romance author. The story addresses a college legend and 2 souls finding their way. While the focus is a romance Nisha Sharma has done a great job addressing new adult challenges. Finding your place in this world, being true to yourself while honoring your family.

I absolutely adore Nisha Sharma! This one was much different from others but I absolutely loved the premise. I loved the intersection of romance and mystery and cultural

- NA romance
- Insta-love
- South Asian MCs
- Opposites attract
- Lost love letters
- Dual POV

The Letters We Keep follows college senior Ravi and college freshman Jessie. They end up in a nonfiction writing class and investigate a local legend about an interracial couple who died in a fire in the library, thanks to some lost love letters they find. As they investigate this lost love story, they engage in their own. I loved the juxtaposition of both love stories throughout the book and the parallels with their own romance.

The Letters We Keep is a quick, fast-paced insta-love romance with a dash of spice! The audiobook narration was great, too. I'd definitely recommend it if you're looking for a diverse college romance.

Many thanks to @brilliancepublishing and @nishawrites for the gifted audiobook, which was beautifully narrated by Soneela Nankani and Vikas Adam. Below is my honest review.

There are two things Jessie Ahuja learned very quickly as a freshman at Hartceller University. First, Davidson Tower has been the subject of urban legends on campus for decades - everyone knows the rumors of star-crossed lovers who disappeared during a fire. Second, the most famous person on campus is Ravi Kumar, son of a tech billionaire. Jessie and Ravi couldn’t be more different - the son of privilege and the daughter on scholarship, she aspires to be an engineer while he turns his back on the tech world his family helped to define - but they keep crossing paths. After a disagreement over reserving a study space escalates into a dare to go into Davidson Tower, they stumble upon a hidden cache of love letters that may have belonged to the young woman who disappeared and decide to work together to turn their research of the couple into a class paper. Their search brings them closer together, and as they try to discover what happened in the past, they are drawn closer together, but will their fate follow that of the mysterious couple from the past?

This is Sharma’s first “new adult” romance novel, and I thought she landed on the perfect tone and romantic storyline for the intended age. If you know some of her other work, Sharma can bring the heat, so you can tell she made a conscious decision to navigate this genre. I loved how tender and thoughtful Jessie and Ravi were and how this felt like a real college experience - cheap beer, frat houses, worries about grades, late nights, goofy challenges, rule-breaking, and lots of firsts. It was interesting to see some of the parallels drawn between the past and the present (I won’t go into more details so as not to spoil the mystery), and I felt like the story had a deeply satisfying ending without making it seem more settled than would be appropriate for a couple of college kids.

I am so glad I finally made the time to read this author because I had been meaning to for awhile, but life and ARCs got in the way so this ARC opportunity was just what I needed. Let me start out by saying I am really excited to read her Dr Dil book after how much I enjoyed this one! With her writing style here I can see why her other works are such hits! I will be reviewing both the book itself and the narration.

The book:

This was such a breath of fresh air! I have been in a bit of a book slump this year, had been in the mood for a contemporary romance and this was everything I had hoped for and more. I’m a huge fan of grumpy sunshine college romances, and this gave me all the vibes I was searching for!

Our main characters are both South Asian college students, and come from VERY different familial backgrounds. Our FMC Jessie was raised by modest means with loving, attentive family, and community. While our MMC Ravi was raised by a tech famous, and seemingly emotionally unavailable family who are deeply focused on their family business and maybe not so much the interpersonal relationships. He’s famous, and crushed under the weight of his family’s business expectations. She is a normal girl, putting herself under a lot of self imposed pressure because she wants to make her parents proud after they struggled and worked so hard to give her the life she’s had. (I really related to Jessie in this part especially) But! I promise you, Ravi is so much more than an ego driven, vaping nepo baby, and he had me at defending her from his friends. He was easy to fall for, and is increasingly endearing in his journey to choose the life he wants. Both are equally interesting characters, especially with how different they are. It’s absolutely opposites attract, and both of these complex MCs are worth rooting for against all odds.

I feel like I want to really drive home how much I loved how well we get to know them both. Nothing felt rushed about their character developments, or their friendship to relationship transition. There’s no insta love here, it’s built upon, and she shows you who they are on paper instead of telling you. I really enjoyed how rich these characters felt, and that time was taken to fully develop these things, while not feeling like it lagged because it really added a fullness to the emotional impact of the story itself. There’s just so much to unpack and enjoy, they touch heavily on the expectations we put on ourselves, and receive from others. It’s thought provoking. The experience of being in college and not quite knowing who we are, or should be, but wanting to oh so desperately. This was the perfect setting for these characters to truly find themselves, much like real life. For me the beating heart of this story (and the one they come upon) being first real love, and the real world that always comes into play. It’s heart warming, real, and relatable. I think it would also be fantastic book club or buddy read for the simple fact it can open a lot of dialogue on all the above.

Amidst all of that worthy plot we also gain a secondary plot filled with mystery, forbidden love and a college ghost story turned into an investigation that brings these two unlikely people together. The letters they discover and read gripped my heart, and I found myself equally invested in the mystery as our MCs were! I wholeheartedly would go down that rabbit hole with them in real life! I think this arc really made this story unique and prevented it from feeling like just another college love story.

There’s a lot of character growth, and heart, and would be a perfect read for anyone who loves an unlikely friends to unlikely lovers romance. This would be an especially great read for anyone who loves a good romantic mystery, and believes in the power of saying yes to love, no matter the obstacles.

Narration:

I thoroughly enjoyed the narration from both of our narrators. They brought a lot of life to the characters, did well narrating both MCs and had great distinct side character voices. I’m a big fan of the narrator duo we got Vikas Adam and Soneela Nankani, and was drawn to this arc especially knowing they were voicing it. I was in no way disappointed! I would absolutely recommend this book in audio for how rich the performances were, and how much they added to an already rich story. They both made it very easy to get swept away and to fully visualize each character distinctly.

Thank you to Nisha Sharma and Brilliance Audio for the opportunity to arc read this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I instantly fell in love with Nisha Sharma’s storytelling when I first devoured her book, Dating Dr. Dil. Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity to listen to this audiobook, especially because it featured two incredible narrators, Soneela Nankani and Vikas Adam. Their dual narration was absolutely perfect.

The plot of this story unfolds at a thrilling pace, keeping me completely engrossed. Jessie Ahuja, a freshman in college, and Ravi Kumar, an heir to a billionaire fortune, stumble upon a collection of old letters that bear a resemblance to their own budding romance. This discovery becomes their lifeline to prove that love can defy all obstacles, including societal hierarchies, if only they can uncover the truth behind the mysterious star-crossed lovers.

What truly stood out for me was the inclusion of the letters themselves. They were seamlessly interwoven into the novel, adding an intriguing layer to the plot that made it nearly impossible for me to tear myself away. The balance between romance and mystery was just irresistible.

Overall, if you're a fan of new adult romance infused with a dash of mystery, this audiobook is an absolute must-listen!

Jessie and Ravi have a beautifully rendered story infused with Nisha Sharma's signature combination of charm and wit. Jessie is a freshman in college majoring in engineering and Ravi is senior who is a tech nepo baby but wants to pursue creative writing. They meet at a party and don't instantly get along, but it's their rivalry over a particular study room that creates tension between them. A friendly bet to win the spot leads to being locked in a tower that has a reputation for being haunted ... and a discovery of letters hidden in a Jane Austen novel that sets them on a path to solve the mystery.

Ravi hasn't been keen on romance but he is smitten with Jessie and uses the chance to get closer to her, but it's difficult when she's focused on her studies and wary of their class difference. While Ravi's family is well known for being a success story and wealthy, Jessie's is not and she is determined to have the kind of career that can help her support her parents for how they've supported her. It's a recurring theme and one that was not quickly or easily resolved and I appreciated the commitment to exploring the differing viewpoints and conflict that this kind of difference can cause.

The mystery was interesting and fun. It is solved satisfactorily but left just enough not fully resolved to let the mystique of the campus legend flourish. And the narrators were fantastic - their delivery was smooth and immersed me completely in the story and their ability to switch between characters voices was seamless.

I was gifted an advanced audiobook copy of this from Netgalley. I voluntarily read it and am leaving an honest review.

I JUST finished this book and I feel so at peace right now. I haven't had this content of a feeling after a book in a long time. This was such a good book and it had me HOOKED. Nisha Sharma remains an auto buy author for me and I want to do nothing more than go through her entire backlist now.

Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing/Brilliance Audio & Nisha Sharma for an audio galley of The Letters We Keep in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely ADORED this story. This was a heartwarming love story between Jessie & Ravi, but also the mystery of what happened to two former students who disappeared one night after the Davidson Tower caught fire & are the subject of haunted stories to this day. Jessie & Ravi set out to find out what happened to the couple, who had a forbidden romance. Along the way, Jessie & Ravi fall for each other, but also discover that their mystery is also a love story all its own.

Jessie & Ravi’s story was so sweet. Even though Ravi came from an uber wealthy tech family & Jessie came from a poor family, that made no difference to Ravi. He was such a sweet guy & really cared for Jessie. Following their story was so touching!

The pacing was great and I think it is written pretty well for the YA audience. Although, I wouldn’t give it to your 12-13 year olds. It’s more of a mature YA.

This was a fun, easy read! The Letters We Keep is a new adult romance set in college and following two South Asian protagonists. Ravi is a senior from a wealthy and influential family in the tech space, but he wants to write. Jessie is a freshman from a working class family, studying to be an engineer. They end up in a nonfiction writing class together and investigate the local legend of a couple that died in a fire in the library. They discover hidden letters from the 1970's and read them, all the while engaging in their own starcrossed romance.

I kind of wish there wasn't such a gap in age between the characters, just because a college freshman is still so new to everything, but overall I enjoyed this. It's fairly short and breezy, getting unexpectedly spicy towards the end. Worth a read if you're looking for something set in college with this kind of representation! The audio narration is well done too. I received an audio copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC!

I really enjoyed this cozy romance! It did start off a bit slow for me but after a few chapters I was hooked. I couldn’t put it down. I loved reading about the love story and the secondary characters are great also!