Book Review: When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Stand Alone

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 380

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Gift

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right?

Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself.

The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not?

Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.

Review

This was a fun and cute story. It was easy to read and diverse without having diversity as it's purpose for existing.

Dimple and Rishi were both great characters. I didn't know it would be dual POV and I'm glad it was. They were both fun to read, but I like Rishi just a little teeny tiny bit more. He's so sweet and kind. He shows you can be a nice guy without being written as weak. Dimple's passion for coding and tech jumped off the page. I liked that she struggled with the restrictions of Indian culture and her parents but didn't avoid or turn her back on it/them. They both had a love for their heritage.

I enjoyed the STEM (and art) representation in the story. I just wish there would've been more about the coding and structure of Insomnia Con. I would understand none of it, but I really like reading competence porn. There seemed to be more detail around Rishi's art and there could've been more time spent on Dimple's passion.

The romance was cute if a tad rushed. But it was very adorable. I loved the perfect teenage awkwardness of some of their interactions. They felt very genuine and realistic. 

I'm glad I read this and was exposed to the culture and these characters. And I definitely plan on checking out more of Sandhya Menon's books. Plus, are these not the best YA covers out there?

Thanks for reading!

Holly