Payal Mehta’s Romance Revenge Plot is exactly the kind of chaotic, romcom I chuckle at. Preeti Chhibber takes all the best parts of 90s romcoms, mixes them with teenage drama, and adds a fresh perspective that had me laughing, cringing, and nodding along the whole way.

Payal is such a relatable main character—funny, bold, and just messy enough to feel real. Her revenge plan to win over Jon, her longtime crush, might be questionable (okay, very questionable), but it’s impossible not to root for her. And when Philip Kim, her academic rival with great banter and an effortlessly cool vibe, enters the scene, things get even better. Their dynamic is everything I wanted from a rivals-to-lovers story. That Google Doc? Okayyyyy.

I also loved how Payal’s Desi culture is into the story—it’s not just a backdrop, it’s central to who she is. Plus, the footnotes? LOVE IT! They gave me extra insight into her overthinking in a way that felt so personal.

This book isn’t just a romance. It’s about identity, self-worth, and learning when to let go. If you’re into humor, heart, and a little bit of chaos, you need to read this one!

This is a cute story! Funny, drama, diverse, and a lot of surprises! One downside I have is the pacing, but that doesn't stop me from finishing the rom-com book. Overall, I like Payal Mehta's Romance Revenge Plot and I enjoy it! Good for romantic comedy lovers, Bollywood fans, and enemies to lovers fans (like me).

Thank you Colored Pages Book Tours, Penguin Teen, and Preeti Chhibber for a copy! All opinions are my own.

3.5-4 stars.
This was a really engaging and funny novel. Payal wants to be liked by the most popular boy in school. She has liked him forever. As she goes through getting to know him she realizes some problematic areas while she is teamed up with her arch nemesis on a project and realizes he’s different then she expected.

this was just the cutest story!! the progression of payal and philip’s relationship from nemesi/nemeses was just plain fun. preeti’s banter and dialogue was youthful and humorous. she did a great job of tackling heavy topics, such as racism and micro aggressions, in the midst of a light, fun teen romance. there is something so powerful about seeing discrimination described so plainly and simply. this book is a gift to the YA community, and i’m excited people will be able to learn from and enjoy it.

4.5, rounded up. This is a genuinely joyful read. Even though I wanted to shake her sometimes, I love how sarcastic and playful Payal is; it makes her enemies-to-lovers romance with her chosen love interest feel even more fun and realistic. Selfishly, I also loved the Bollywood references; YA readers who enjoy those films will appreciate them.

Brimming with hilarity and a protagonist with a distinct voice, confidence, and sense of humor, Payal Mehta’s Romance Revenge Plot is a feel-good YA contemporary that deals with 2nd-generation immigrant identity, micro-aggressions, and the importance of cherishing the relationships with those that understand you rather than trying to fix toxic bonds or ones that don’t serve you in order to prove a point. Payal is a complex, stubborn, and intelligent main character, and all the side characters are fleshed out and realized in a way that makes this story feel almost like a teen romcom movie. I do wish we’d gotten a bit more interaction between Payal and her two besties, as their scenes together were fun, heartwarming, and hilarious.

Forget meet-cutes, Payal's in with her longtime crush Jon is when he pukes on her. Twice. He asks her to lunch to offer an apology and Payal's already planning their future together. Or she was until Jon starts trying to pawn her off to his Indian friend because of his preconcieved notion that Indian American kids aren't allowed to date white people. Payal's next step isn't to move on. No, it's to embrace her inner Olivia Rodrigo and think "maybe I could fix him." Knowing her friends would think less of her for trying to solve racism one romance at a time, Payal enlists the help of her school rival to help her in exchange for allowing him full control of their psych project.

Chhibber creates a fun homage to 90s rom-coms in her YA debut, deconstructing the trope where the protagonist can solve their problems with a well-planned convoluted plan. The novel's voice is fresh and enjoyable with a diverse cast of characters that are easy to root for. It's really easy to see why Payal was charmed for so long by Jon, though like Payal, that golden shine fades the longer readers spend with his character.

One thing I did not understand was the integration of footnotes throughout the book. I do enjoy footnotes in general, but in a contemporary novel, it was hard to see how they added to the experience of the novel. They feel largely skippable in the grand scheme of the novel's enjoyability.

A diverse YA rom-com with nods to 90s and 2000s rom-coms. It was cute and I found the characters really enjoyable. This book takes a spin on the girl liking a popular guy that doesn't appreciate her, but adds in a layer of internalized racism and the boy she likes having prejudices against her.

I liked that the book tackles perceptions of identity and doesn't treat teens as if they can't understand the implications of what they are saying and doing. I enjoyed the redemption arc and the emphasis on atonement and making amends.

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a cute, diverse YA read. I liked the way it paid tribute to rom-coms, especially the ones from the 90s. The characters were mostly likable and the main relationship was definitely cute.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Maybe this just wasn’t for me, because I liked the premise and the cover is adorable, but I struggled to finish this one. It was a little slow, although a cute fluffy story.

This book was super cute. Not the most original plot, but I like how it was approached, and I really enjoyed Payal's character. She's hilarious and awesome. I also really liked how the book handled micro-aggressions and "baby racisms." I liked most of the supporting character's, although I was annoyed about Neil not speaking with Payal when she clearly had no idea what happened or what went wrong.

Overall, cute and quick read that was thoroughly enjoyable if not super original. Would probably read again if I was looking for an easy, fun read!

PAYAL MEHTA'S ROMANCE REVENGE PLOT is a narrative that delves into the difficulties of identity, cultural expectations, and interpersonal relationships. The protagonist, Payal Mehta, is an immigrant who grapples with societal perceptions and her own self-worth as she navigates a world that often demands proof of her identity.

The book's portrayal of Payal's struggle against the prejudices held by her own love interest, Jon, is a poignant reflection of the real challenges faced by many in similar situations. Payal's journey towards self-acceptance and the realization that she need not prove her worth to anyone is an empowering message that resonates deeply, particularly with readers who share her background.

While the romance between Payal and Jon is a central theme, the story also cues a deeper connection with Philip, an academic rival who shares common interests with Payal. The desire for more development in Payal and Philip's relationship is an indication to Chhibber's ability to create characters that readers care about and yearn to understand better.

The book also touches on themes of friendship and redemption, showcasing Payal's genuine efforts to mend her relationships and grow from her experiences. Her comedic timing adds a layer of levity to the narrative, making her character relatable and appealing.

PAYAL MEHTA'S ROMANCE REVENGE PLOT is a tale that will likely strike a chord with younger audiences, especially those who can see their own lives reflected in Payal's story. It's a reminder of the importance of being true to oneself and the power of humor in overcoming life's obstacles.

The story is about a high school girl named Payal Mehta who has a crush on Jonathan Slate. However, Jonathan tries to set her up with his friends instead of liking her back. The book discusses important issues like microaggressions and the complexities of teenage love, making it a fascinating read for young adults. It also highlights the experiences of a South Asian protagonist, adding depth to the story and making it relatable for readers facing similar challenges.

This is a debut YA romance book by Chhibber, and I hope this is the first of a long career writing YA romance. for her. Chhibber's voice and style of writing are assured and perfectly pitched for the multicultural characters whose stories she's writing about. "Who is American?" "What makes you an American?" Children of immigrants always grapple with these questions, especially as teens: Where do they fit in this multicultural country that at once wants them and doesn't want to make space for them. This book isn't all immigrant angst--there is also the usual teen angst about who they want to be, how they want to present themselves in this world, and the eternal question: Who would find them interesting and attractive? Chhibber deftly uses Alicia Silverstone-of-Clueless-fame's voice and humor for her protagonist to allow her teen readers to able to deal with the serious issues the book brings up, without coming away feeling like it was a slog. Good choice of book for Kokila's first steps into the Romance genre.

This started out slow for me and I almost gave up and, while I didn’t, it never really grew on me because it was predictable, which it was supposed to be. The author even references movies that are very much like this story, which I thought was fun. Where this excelled was in the characterization of how others perceive those different from them and how Payal sees herself. I liked the conversation with her mom asking about calling things American and why that was bad; it put an interesting spin on how we see those different from ourselves.

Payal Mehta’s Romance Revenge Plot is an absolute gem of a YA book! I loved how it tackled important themes like racism and self-worth while being super cute and fun. Payal’s character growth is one of my favorite parts—watching her learn to stand up for herself, especially with her crush Jon, was so empowering. She thinks she can change his biases, and the journey is filled with hard-hitting realizations. I also loved the strong friendships, especially her evolving dynamic with Philip, her rival. The Asian representation was fantastic, and it made the story feel so authentic.

The different formats—like text messages—really added a fresh, modern vibe to the storytelling, and the audiobook was equally excellent. It’s a perfect read for anyone looking for a heartfelt, thoughtful YA romance!

I absolutely loved everything about this book. I thought the overall message was incredibly important and that specifically readers who are not people of color can, and should, walk away from this story with last takeaways about micro-aggressions, prejudice, and racism.

after a painful rejection, girl teams up with her rival to make the guy fall in love with her. but she ends up falling for the other person?

thank you so much to colored pages book tours, kokila books, penguin teen and preeti chhibber for this opportunity to be part of the book tour and the eARC! this does not affect my reviews in any way.

AHHH, THIS BOOK IS SUCH A SWEET AND CUTE AND ADORABLE STORY!!! this debut young adult book is one of the most adorable love stories ever 🥹🎀✨now i'll be honest, payal's revenge plan felt like a stupid idea to me, and I'd never have the guts to pull it off. but we all process our experiences differently, and if this was the closure she needed, go for it, girl!

and for the first time probably, i understood all the references!! (that's a marvel reference 🤭) all the bollywood songs and movies, i understood 🥹 and the SIDE NOTES?!? they were my fav bit of extra lore about payal and philip, and i adore it 🫶

“Against you? I’m not your enemy, Mehta.”

then there's our awkward lil philip, who's so hopelessly in love with payal, he can't say no to her 🥹😌 he tried to help her out the way he could and ahhh he's the sweetest 💗

this book is a romance, but the best part about it is the wholesome friendship between payal, neil and divya. their bond and comfort in each other really warmed my heart 🥹 the fact that it showed how all relationships change and evolve at times and how that changes you as a person was very special (very important to me as someone in long distance friendships rn) id like to say the romance was like a summer breeze, while the friendships were the summer heat 💌

the discussion about the microaggression and racism people of color always face, and i felt it was very well written and integrated to the story. love might not fix it, but it can teach you to not settle for less!

you should definitely read this book if you love:
💗 rivals to lovers
🫖 asian mcs
🪻wholesome friendships
💌 immigrant child experience

anyways PMRRP is out in stores now and go grab your copies asap!! i love you miss preeti!! you have a new fan, who can't wait to read everything else you've written 🫶🫶

A fun enough teen rom-com, though a little reliant on the genre to fill in some plot at times. Payal is a reasonably good protagonist, though she feels same-y when put next to a number of other 'academic rivals-to-lovers' teen romcom heroes which have been coming out recently. Overall not bad, and is probably more my genre fatigue more than anything wrong with the book.

MC teams up with her arch-nemesis to cure her long time crush's proclivity towards micro-aggressions.. and in said process, falls for the arch-nemesis :)))

💫 The narration!!! 10/10 for the absolutely humorous and relatable narration, and for the way all the emotions were conveyed so well

💫 I loved the budding friendship/more between the MC and her arch-nemesis so much, they were so cute 🥲 all the snarky banter and passionate, non-arguments about their shared interests and their differing opinions were so well-written! The Google doc conversations were >>>>>>

💫 Also, did you see the COVER? It's so good, it's a perfect rep of the book 😭

-- ty to the author, the publisher and @coloredpagesbt
for an advanced copy!