My Thoughts:
Based on the cover, it is about two east Indian American teens who love to dance and cook. It's a romance. Nice! Not every book has to be academic or discussed using literary lenses. Sometimes, YA readers want something uncomplicated and transparent. This is a romance. How do I know? It says it in the title. Sometimes, I need things as uncomplicated as that. This is not an emotional roller coaster, but you want to root for Radha and Jai. These kids are loved by their families and their friends. They have instant chemistry even if they are very poor communicators. Most importantly, they are lovely characters who will capture young readers of romance.
I like this book because it is a two day read and then I can move on with my grading. 4 stars for sure. Also, because like Bollywood, there is no sex, this can also be read by middle grades despite the characters being seniors in high school.
As far as ladders to and from this book, or what I am calling centrifugal books that spin out and around each other, this book can be given to students who like other devour worthy YA romance books that are on the cute side versus the broken romance side:
- To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
- Don't Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno
- Perfectly Parvin by Olivia Abtahi
- When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
- A Pho Love Story by Loan Le
- Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean
From the Publisher:
Radha is on the verge of becoming one of the greatest kathak dancers in the world . . . until a family betrayal costs her the biggest competition of her life. Now she has left her Chicago home behind to follow her stage mom to New Jersey. At the Princeton Academy of the Arts, Radha is determined to leave performing in her past and reinvent herself from scratch.
Jai is captain of the Bollywood Beats dance team, ranked first in his class, and is an overachiever with no college plans. Tight family funds means medical school is a pipe dream, which is why he wants to make the most out of high school. When Radha enters his life, he realizes she's the exact ingredient he needs for a show-stopping senior year.
With careful choreography, both Radha and Jai will need to face their fears (and their families) if they want a taste of a happily ever after.
Jai is captain of the Bollywood Beats dance team, ranked first in his class, and is an overachiever with no college plans. Tight family funds means medical school is a pipe dream, which is why he wants to make the most out of high school. When Radha enters his life, he realizes she's the exact ingredient he needs for a show-stopping senior year.
With careful choreography, both Radha and Jai will need to face their fears (and their families) if they want a taste of a happily ever after.
Publication date: July 13, 2021
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Author: Nisha Sharma
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