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From School Library Journal

April 1, 2024

Gr 7-10-Relative newbie Kishnani, who has Bollywood experience, is sublimely well-matched to narrate Avachat's frothy concoction of family drama, senior-year endings and beginnings, and of course, love, embellished with timely references to classic Bollywood films and music. Almost as young as her star Arya, college student Avachat makes her debut in a definitive write-what-you-know production. At home, Arya is finally reunited with beloved older sister Alina who dropped out of Columbia and disappeared for three years, but now she's back (surprise!) to plan her dream wedding. Mixed with Arya's joy, though, is built-up anger at being abandoned. At school, Arya's two best friends dated, then broke up (badly), unbalancing their longtime bonds. Four-year-rival Dean, to whom she must play vice president to his unearned presidency, overshadows her senior council work. But what happens when adversity turns amorous? VERDICT Overcomplications are many, but true love waits at book's end. Avachat and Kishnani delight.

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Booklist

November 1, 2023
Grades 8-12 Arya Khanna's senior year is chock-full of activity. For one, her older sister, Alina, is back home after being gone for years, and as co-maid of honor, Arya is busy helping Alina prepare for her weeklong wedding activities. Not only does Arya have to deal with stressful wedding preparations, but she also has to help unravel the complexity of relationships among her family and her friends. When the annoying Dean, a boy who stole the student council presidency from her, becomes something more than her academic rival, Arya finds herself growing in ways she never thought she would. Avachat's fun, atmospheric debut admirably joins the ranks of YA romance. Even though Arya is flawed, she is a lovable character whom the reader can easily root for. And even though the romance is well written and satisfying, it is ultimately Arya's relationship with her family that lies at the heart of the story. This rich Bollywood-esque tale is filled to the brim with Punjabi culture and unadulterated familial love.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From Kirkus

October 15, 2023
A story full of drama and song. Rising senior Arya Khanna's older sister, Alina, is finally home, and the whole family is up to their necks in wedding preparations. Amid the planning and anticipation of an elaborate Punjabi celebration, Arya finds herself torn: Her two best friends, Andy and Lisa, have broken up after they recently started dating each other. Arya no longer knows what hanging out together will be like. Meanwhile, she's stuck being vice president on the student council, as she lost the election to soccer player Dean, a white boy who might be frustrating but is also really good-looking. Things at home are not all song and dance, either, especially with Arya's latent resentment toward her sister for leaving home, which requires Arya to deal with their workaholic father and a mother who's showing signs of depression. Written like a Bollywood movie, complete with intermission, the book has all the vital ingredients--family drama, an enemies-to-lovers romance, and lots of scrumptious food--not to mention the lineup of films that are constantly being watched. Desi references are woven naturally throughout, the romance is adorable, and the story is well paced. Readers who pick up this debut, inspired by the sheer fun of it all, will wish for some masala chai and chaat and then put on a Bollywood number and dance, inspired by the sheer fun of it all. Lovable, frothy, and happy-making. (Romance. 13-18)

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