Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC.

This is my first book by this author and I was initially attracted to this adorable cover. I mean how cute is it?!

Starting with the things that I liked, I really liked the Indian setting and desi characters, food, culture and relationships. I might not be Indian but I think it was depicted well and I really appreciated the glossary of Hindi, Tamil and Telugu terms used. There is also a playlist so that's a plus.
There were many laugh out loud moments mostly with Aditi and her friends and family. Aditi is really honest, open and expressed what she was feeling and thinking at all times. I also really loved Nanamma, she was really funny and a badass grandma and I wish we got to see even more of her.

And now onto the parts I didn't like. I really wanted to DNF this book.
The beginning was awkward in terms of writing and language used, it felt like being thrust into the story in the middle of it. Adi and Rians animosity in the beginning of the book felt really childish and forced and made no sense nor did it add to the story. The pacing of the story was also really weird because Rian doesn't really like her and is ignoring her but then from one chapter to the next they became the best friends ever. It happens off screen and it does not feel organic at all. They just did a one-eighty and it's really not believable. Aside from that weird switch the switch from that to "hey wanna have a casual fling?" was even less organic. There was no chemistry between them. A big part of that is probably the fact that there is not enough depth to the characters. Dyslexia and fat-shamming/plus size representation felt like an afterthought that was put in just to be put in.

Main problem was just the writing, a few things were really taking me out of the story and that made me just not enjoy the story. First was the switch of different povs within the same scene and chapter without a clear distinction it just switches randomly and it gets really confusing. The second thing that took me out pf the story and hindered the flow was the over excessive mention of routine, natural actions such as gulping, releasing breaths and breathing, I know these actions are a part of real life obviously but you don't need to write it every time it happens. And the third thing was way to much telling and not enough showing which makes it a lot less enjoyable for me to read.

Overall, while the Indian setting, desi characters, and cultural elements were delightful and offered many laugh-out-loud moments, the book fell short in several critical areas. Regrettably, these issues made it difficult to stay engaged, and I found myself skimming through the latter half. Though this book had its moments, it ultimately did not resonate with me, and I am unlikely to read more from this author in the future.

I had a little struggle at the beginning, I think that was because I don't quite understand this culture. Once I read a little more I did have a better understand. I think Rian and Aditi are a cute people. They have their meet cute and a friendship blossoms from there and then into something more. Of course family can always be in the way. Read to find our these two over come life plans they already had in store and find their happy ever after.

This is my first book by this author. There were things that I really liked, and others that I liked less.
I loved the setting, the desi representation (food, culture, festivals, relationships), the Bollywood references. For someone who usually hates pop culture references bc I don't always get them, in this case the references made me smile, as for once I knew what the characters were talking about.
I really enjoyed the group of friends. And the family meeting - Aditi's family was a riot!
There was a lot of telling instead of showing, which immediately makes a story less enjoyable for me. Another thing that bugged me was the switch of different povs within the same scene. It took me out of the narration.
Overall, quick and enjoyable.

Thank you to the author for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This romance captivates with its heartfelt emotions and vibrant storytelling. The writing beautifully intertwines cultural nuances with deep-seated emotions, offering a poignant exploration of love, family, and identity. A five-star read that leaves a lasting impression.

Very cute!! This was such a nice change of pace, when it seems most popular romance books are white women with perfect bodies! I loved the representation of larger bodies, POCs, and someone with dyslexia. There’s also a Glossary of some Hindi, Tamil, and Teluga terms and a playlist to go with the book. I was a little intimidated at first, worried I’d have trouble with the references or culture I’m not super familiar with, but I was worried for nothing! You can enjoy this regardless of being familiar and don’t need to reference the glossary much. I had trouble getting to the “meat” of this story since it felt like a slower start, but once it was going, phew 😮‍💨 it’s steamy. There was such good tension and chemistry between the two.

Sometimes the POV switches confused me and I wished the grandma character was slightly more fleshed out, but otherwise I have no notes. It was enjoyable!!

Tropes:
- forced proximity
- Dual POV
- Grumpy sunshine
- Roommates to lovers
- Curvy FMC
- Jealous/possessive MMC

About:
* Rian Shetty is all business (& a little baggage), focused on getting another Michelin star + taking care of his Nanamma (grandma) while she’s staying with him. As a favor, he agrees to host one of Nanamma’s friends’ grandchildren, a doctor he assumed was a guy. In a surprise, it’s actually the beautiful, single, Aditi who is on the hunt for a suitable husband to complete the picture. As much as Rian tries to maintain focus, he can’t help but notice Aditi brightening up every aspect of his life.

Spice: 3/5 - there’s a lot of spicy scenes sheesh

Rating: 3.5/5 rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley x Riya Iyer x Victory Editing for the ARC in exchange of my review. Opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Riya Iyer Book for the e-arc in exchange of an honest review.

First of all, I need to say how utterly beautiful I found this cover. Him putting flowers in her hair…so simple yet so intimate.
Also, I loved the touch of the glossary at the beginning of the book!
The romance was really entertaining and the chemistry between Aditi and Rain was off the charts. I loved that Aditi always ended up expressing what she was feeling and thinking, and this avoided all the miscommunication issues the couple could have had.

Still, the writing style was confusing at times, and something felt off about the way the story was told. I don’t know how to explain it, but the organization of the events in the story felt weird, and this made the book less enjoyable for me.

There are several parts of this book that I greatly enjoyed. The beginning of the book there is a very helpful glossary with Hindi, Tamil and Telugu terms. This is very helpful to be able to understand different parts of the story. I also loved the dyslexia representations and how well the author dealt with issues such as child abuse and body dysmorphia. I love that the female MMC is so outspoken and that helps avoid miscommunication. The characters together are very sweet.
The biggest issue throughout is that the point of views are not consistent. The chapter will say Aditi at the top but then throughout the chapter we will get sentences that are from Rian's point of view or even sometimes other side characters. It made it difficult to understand what was going on at times.

Let me start by saying that the cover art for ‘& Then They Wed’ is gorgeous. It captures a reader immediately and it was the first thing that caught my eye when I was browsing for books online. I wanted to know more about the characters.

I’m always ready to support, uplift, and cheer on brown authors especially indie authors that are breaking into the publishing world. With that comes a responsibility, and I feel the need to share some constructive feedback. Sadly, I’m so sorry to share that I didn’t enjoy this book. There were things in the book that just weren’t gelling for me. Believe me I love a Shahrukh Khan reference, callbacks to Bollywood films, visiting temples, celebrating Diwali. Cultural moments and traditions are always special. But for some reason for me, ‘& Then They Wed’ wasn’t working.

There were times I felt I had whiplash with character dialogue and it really left me confused. There were pacing issues, inexplicable character motives, and some chapters could easily have been removed as they didn’t really offer story progression or character growth. I’m so conflicted and really I think it comes down to the book trying to cover so many things, instead of committing to an outline with a structured storyline. There were certain areas that I wanted more from and areas that I wanted less from. Yes there are layers, but how they unfolded weren't satisfactory and I was frustrated. I really really wanted this book to soar. So readers, give it a try and make your own conclusions.

I want to thank NetGalley and Riya Iyers for providing an ARC.