Monday, March 31, 2025

Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment

Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment 
By Arushi Avachat 
Wednesday Books, 2024. 314 pages. Young Adult 

Arya Khanna’s life takes a Bollywood turn when her sister Alina gets engaged, bringing the family together for shaadi preparations. Arya tries to put aside her resentment towards Alina, mediates family conflicts, and welcomes her future brother-in-law, despite the tension. At school, Arya’s senior year is unraveling as she deals with a breakup between her best friends and a frustrating partnership with her rival, Dean Merriweather. While balancing family and school, Arya learns tough lessons about growing up, including the changing dynamics of her family and friendships. In the end, she discovers that sometimes unexpected people can offer a glimpse of the happiness she dreams of. 

This is a charming contemporary romance full of likeable characters that plays out like a Bollywood film. I loved the rich Punjabi culture, food mentions, and a plethora of Bollywood film recommendations. Navigating relationships in high school is its own challenge, whether it’s friends or family, and the author captured that struggle expertly. If you’re in the mood for a light, contemporary romance, this is it. 

If you liked Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment, you might also like: 

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Hani Khan, a popular high school student, comes out as bisexual but faces rejection from her friends, leading her to lie about being in a relationship with Ishita "Ishu" Dey, a serious and academic overachiever. In exchange for Hani's help with her popularity, Ishu agrees to pretend to be in a relationship, but the two girls begin to develop genuine feelings for each other. As their relationship deepens, they must navigate external challenges and cultural obstacles to find their happily ever after. 

By Tashie Bhuiyan 
Inkyard Press, 2024. 376 pages. Young Adult 

Accidentally sabotaging an up-and-coming local band, music fanatic Liana Sarkar makes it her mission to secretly undo the damage she's caused, but when she falls for the lead singer, she finds it harder to hide the truth. 

ACS

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