My Thoughts:
This romance fits all the necessary elements of a "meet-cute." Although this term is usually used in movies or television shows, this is really about an amusing or charming first encounter between characters that eventually leads to romance. I think the concept of meet-cute in books also mashes in the element of reluctant participants to allies/lovers element to add to the meet-cute trope. This novel hits all the right culturally relevant buttons without alienating anyone, including the parents.
The Love Match has all of this as well as, of course, a love triangle (as seen on the cover). What makes this different is that in the hands of Bangladeshi American author Priyanka Taslim, the main character, Zhara balances both her American teenage emotions with her Bengali heart and values. I think these new YA novels coming from culturally diverse American authors like Taslim are opening up great subversive conversations around what it means to grow up and find love in America as a non-white teen. What I really like is that the girl next door idea of the American teen now comes from the diverse communities that truly exist outside of middle America.
From the Publisher:
Zahra Khan is basically Bangladeshi royalty, but being a princess doesn’t pay the bills in Paterson, New Jersey. While Zahra’s plans for financial security this summer involve working long hours at Chai Ho and saving up for college writing courses, Amma is convinced that all Zahra needs is a “good match,” Jane Austen style.
Enter Harun Emon, who’s wealthy, devastatingly handsome, and…aloof. As soon as Zahra meets him, she knows it’s a bad match. It’s nothing like the connection she has with Nayim Aktar, the new dishwasher at the tea shop, who just gets Zahra in a way no one has before. So, when Zahra finds out that Harun is just as uninterested in this match as she is, they decide to slowly sabotage their parents’ plans. And for once in Zahra’s life, she can have her rossomalai and eat it too: “dating” Harun and keeping Amma happy while catching real feelings for Nayim.
But life—and boys—can be more complicated than Zahra realizes. With her feelings all mixed up, Zahra discovers that sometimes being a good Bengali kid can be a royal pain.
Enter Harun Emon, who’s wealthy, devastatingly handsome, and…aloof. As soon as Zahra meets him, she knows it’s a bad match. It’s nothing like the connection she has with Nayim Aktar, the new dishwasher at the tea shop, who just gets Zahra in a way no one has before. So, when Zahra finds out that Harun is just as uninterested in this match as she is, they decide to slowly sabotage their parents’ plans. And for once in Zahra’s life, she can have her rossomalai and eat it too: “dating” Harun and keeping Amma happy while catching real feelings for Nayim.
But life—and boys—can be more complicated than Zahra realizes. With her feelings all mixed up, Zahra discovers that sometimes being a good Bengali kid can be a royal pain.
Publication details:
Author: Priyanka Taslim
Publisher: Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (January 3, 2023)
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