Sonya LalliRezensionen
Autor von The Matchmaker's List
Rezensionen
If a book is about "having a fling," then actually have the stupid fling. And by golly, I don't advocate for flings. But this protagonist, Niki, waffling between "is it love, is it lust, is it just a fling" got old REALLY fast. I didn't find her likable nor the guy that was seemingly into likable.
What kept this book from being a 1 star was the setting and backdrop of the story. I am developing an interest in Indian culture....so the food, the festivals, all of that appealed to me. But I wanted a new storyline. Because honestly, even in the end, there was no pronounced commitment. Either by the characters themselves or, in my opinion, what the author wanted the book to be.
Jasmine and Jake clash immediately. Jasmine always pushed back against the way Indian women are expected to behave, and her reputation has taken a hit for it. Being a son, Jake does not fully understand the pressures that have been put upon Jasmine and the ways in which he had been praised for the very same things for which Jasmine has been derided.
Regardless, being the youngest passengers on board they still end up, more often than not, spending time together. Jasmine begins to see that, like herself, there is more to Jake than surface level. A trip that started out as a mistake, might actually be exactly what Jasmine needs.
I've read and enjoyed Sonya Lalli's books before so there was no doubt that I would pick this book up too. In fact, it's one that kept me up reading late into the night until I was finished.
I liked the layers that Sonya Lalli incorporates into her characters. It's interesting because we start out thinking that Jasmine's going on this trip to get away, she's just gone through a breakup, etc. It turns into so much more, by each turn of the page another layer to Jasmine's character is added. We see the cracks in her relationship with her parents. We see her wanting desperately to repair them. We learn that Jasmine views herself in a completely different way than she is viewed by other people. Those insecurities and vulnerabilities slowly give rise and we, as readers, begin to see past the initial confident woman. I liked the progression of Jasmine's character as it opened up a lot more nuance. Yes, she has a great amount of pressure put on her by her family, but she's not completely innocent either and I think that the way Sonya Lalli writes the distinction between the two sides to the story is very spot on.
Jake's own story is a mirror in a lot of ways to Jasmine and it's interesting to see Jasmine realize that her perceptions are called into question as she gets to know him.
I loved the idea of these two people who are seemingly opposites finding that they have more in common than previously thought. Not only do they have things in common, but they have this amazing chemistry.
Really, I appreciated that even though this story certainly has strong romantic elements, the focus is still on Jasmine.
Sonya Lalli has proven to be an author that I can count on to give me a story with heart.
I Picked Up This Book Because: It seemed like a good idea at the time.
Media Type: Audiobook
Source: Library
Dates Read: 4/25/2022 - 4/27/2022
Stars: 4 Stars
Narrator(s): Richa Moorjani
The Characters:
Niki Randhawa:
Sameer “Sam” Mukherji:
The Story:
I don’t have the energy to write the review this book deserves just know that I loved it. I liked the relationship between Sam and Niki. I loved Sam’s mom. I even loved the conflicts in the relationships. It is a good story.
The Random Thoughts:
These are things that can be laid at Lalli's feet as an author, but there are also many aspects of A Holly Jolly Diwali that are squarely the responsibility of the publisher, Berkley. I used to think of them as an imprint that turned out readable, escapist fiction of a certain quality—perhaps not great literature, but the romance equivalent of a warm bath and a mug of tea. But their quality control standards seem to be slipping quite a bit. At least the e-book version of this book is riddled with typos and grammatical mistakes, not to mention bizarre sentences that any editor worth their salt should have flagged ("He clutched his palm to his lip."; "I popped a mouthful of creamy curry, delaying."). The cover design is lovely, but the editor was MIA.
I like reading Indian rom-coms, and this title was irresistible. It turned out to fulfill all my expectations and was a satisfying, fun read. In some (good) ways it reminded me of "Crazy Rich Asians" with the over-the-top wedding, fish-out-of-water heroine, cultural etiquette and customs, and notion of following your heart.
Niki has always been the good Indian daughter, while her sister Jasmine was the wild one. So when she gets laid off from her safe but boring job, she takes the opportunity to travel to India to celebrate her best friend Diya's wedding. While raised in America by her Indian-born parents, Niki often wrestles with her self-identity and the expectations that come with the labels "American" or "Indian."
When she arrives in India, Niki meets Diya's childhood best friend, Sam, and immediately develops a crush. She decides to have a fling with him, to throw off her "good girl" mantle and prove she's more like fun-loving Jasmine. Admitting to herself, "my whole life I'd made practical decision after practical decision, and yes, my parents were happy with me, but I wasn't. I had a career I wasn't passionate about and an older sister I was jealous of and an addiction to romantic comedies that I lived through vicariously, and that was it." And that's when this India-based rom-com kicked it up a notch and became a story of personal growth.
Towards the end of the novel Niki realizes "Being in love wasn't just about how you felt about the other person. It was how you felt about yourself when you were with that person. It was knowing, without a doubt, that you were living each day as the best version of yourself."
In addition to Niki's self-discovery and the romance between Niki and Sam, the book adds many references to Indian culture including the Diwali holiday. Turns out Diwali is celebrated before Christmas, and the story is told over a year, from one Diwali to the next. At the beginning of the novel Niki admits she doesn't really know what Diwali is. But in India she discovers there are so many ways to celebrate and experience Diwali - both religious and secular. Niki summarizes that "Diwali is the Festival of Lights. The celebration of the goodness in this world over darkness. A holiday that could be whatever anyone wanted it to be."
That's convenient. But moving on from that flexible holiday definition, this was an entertaining and enjoyable feel-good story about two likeable people. It was also a story about self discovery, family conflicts, cultural authentication, and reconnecting with your roots.
I really enjoyed the book despite not always agreeing with what Anu, the protagonist, does in the story. I also think the blurb is a little misleading; this is really a story of one woman's journey of self-recovery and the yoga studio itself plays very little into it until the latter part of the story.
So Anu is a woman who did not have much life experience under her belt when she married young. Her husband Neil is the only man she's ever dated, and they have a wonderful little girl she dotes on. Anu herself has a part-time job as a nurse (a career she felt pushed into by her parents), and her life mostly revolves around her husband and daughter. Her husband, I might add, is a bit of a man-child himself, relatively irresponsible (he leaves the front door open and unlocked while he's home with their daughter - what?) and pretty much helpless around the house.
Anu is the type of mom that many too many mothers can relate to - putting everyone else's lives first, not necessarily losing touch with old friends but just not making time for them (or yourself). Mix that with a life that feels utterly not of your own making, but one that was shaped by parental and cultural pressures, and you have one hot mess of a woman who isn't entirely emotionally mature herself.
She basically wakes up to the situation she is in - and wants more. In a series of somewhat impulsive decisions, she turns her life upside down, enters the dating scene, rediscovers a passion, buys a failing yoga studio, takes a much overdue (solo) trip abroad - it's all a bit of a mess.
I should be upset with Anu (and at times I am); she IS selfish, but I can also see where it's coming from. I wish that a few characters were more involved in the story (Imogen). and I wish that her parents actually felt more controlling so I really would FEEL like she was pushed into a life she didn't ask for. (Her parents are freaking adorable, although her mom feels a little intimidating.). The time jumps were confusing and distracting at times, too.
HOWEVER. Something about this story really captured me. It moved swiftly and I felt invested in her Anu, flaws and all. Her actions are not accepted by friends and family, and the train wreck that her life becomes (at times0. There's also a lot of character growth. We see it in Anu (slowly) and we see it, indirectly, in Neil. We even see it in Anu's parents, as her mother reaches out for a dream she has held, and her father steps into the role of caregiver. The writing caught me emotionally, and despite its flaws, I couldn't put the book down.
This is the story of a woman who finally finds her own way.
The Matchmaker’s List is described as a romantic comedy, but I think it is so much more than that – I’d put it firmly into women’s fiction, as this is not all light and fluffy, and nearly all of the characters are flawed. I sat down with a hot cup of coffee to read this book, and was basically glued to my comfy chair for the next 5 hours, coffee long gone cold. Even with a chunk of the book that niggled at me and made me quite uncomfortable, I still loved it.
Sonya Lalli touches on so many themes – the fear of disappointing our parents (or grandparents, in this case), and the complexities of cultural expectations. The conversations between Raina and her best friend regarding arranged marriages in particular were thought provoking.
If you’ve ever had a mother long for you to meet the right person and settle down, you will find plenty to relate to in this book. (I married at 34. I can completely related to the “when are you going to meet a nice boy and settle down” and “you’re so picky”. Bah.) If you’ve ever endured the blind date that left you wondering why your friend thought so little of you that they thought this person would be good for you, you’ll relate to Raina’s frustration.
We follow along with Raina as she swims along in a job she doesn’t love, living in an apartment that doesn’t really feel like home, longing for the guy that didn’t love her enough, while she humors her Nani by going on blind dates that are simply disastrous. Then the love of her life (the one who got away, or at least, the one she gave up on) returns to Toronto and complicates things further.
Until this point, I’m glued – and then comes the a plot device that has me torn.
When things come to a head (especially once she discovers where Nani is getting her new list of bachelors) and Raina finally shares her frustration with her grandmother, Nani reads more into her behavior and basically offers her a way out of the blind-date merry go round she’s been on. (I really don’t want to give any spoilers here.) While she never agrees with Nani’s assumption, she doesn’t deny it, either, and that lapse creates a situation that grows out of control. (“Train wreck” is an apt description.) It’s the perfect example of how one lie (or sin of omission) can grow to monstrous proportions and hurt so many people.
While I understand in the end why Raina tries to wait to set the record straight (once it’s gone too far), I’m frustrated that (a) she used this excuse at all, as it negates the struggles that others are actually going through and (b) her friends forgive her for it, because it’s so damn selfish. (Also, I’m a little frustrated that I connected with her character so much in the beginning, because now it’s very much like a car accident – you don’t want to look but you can’t not.)
Ultimately, however, it’s a plot device that reflects the discrimination in their culture and community, and how the families deal with it. Was it the best way to do it, and can I forgive her for it? (Probably not, but yes, uneasily.)
I’m not giving away the plot twist that turns into a train wreck, but I’m thinking The Matchmaker’s List will create some interesting and opinionated discussion at your next book club meeting.
Despite the twist, I really did enjoy the book and I was indeed glued until I hit the very last page. This was definitely a book that twisted me up emotionally, and I absolutely adored Nani – she was a delight, even as she too was flawed. The Matchmaker’s List gets a solid four stars from me.
Thanks to @goodreads @berkleypub for the gifted copy.
Serena Singh Flips the Script by Sonya Lalli is the perfect way to kick off this month and celebrate women. Serena is such a great female protagonist. She is smart, ambitious, independent, funny, unconventional and marches to the beat of her own drum. She doesn't let tradition dictate her life and she defies society's gender stereotypes.
This was marketed as a rom-com but it was more of a contemporary women's fiction story. It was a refreshing character story about Serena's growth as woman. She had to reconcile notions of womanhood & tradition, career goals, adult female friendships, romantic relationships, family. I loved to watch Serena become open about her feelings and let herself be vulnerable. She was willing to do the self work, move towards forgiveness and take a second chance at love.
I loved the story and cast of characters. I enjoyed learning more about the Indian culture and the references to Indian food were a bonus. The writing kept my attention and the author tackled important questions in a light hearted way. There were moments that made me laugh out loud and others that brought me to reflection, especially the moments between Serena and her mother.
Topics of exloration:
🤎 difficulties making meaningful friendships in adulthood
🤎 understanding mother's choices
🤎 cultural expectations unevenly placed on women
🤎 being open & vulnerable in relationships/friendships
🤎 traditional vs. career goals
🤎 honoring culture while remaining autonomous
🤎 establishing relationships with women you supervise
🤎 expectations of motherhood
🤎 notions of marraige
🤎 sustainability
🤎 assimilation and family sacrifice
🤎 opportunities for women in the workforce
🤎 forgiveness & unresolved family trauma
🤎 second chances in love
Bookdragon rating: 4.25 🔥
#SonyaLalli #goodreadsgiveaway #SerenaSinghFlipstheScript #Desi
#bookstagram #bookdragon #books #bookreviews #travelwithabook #bookdragon #weneeddiversebooks #ownvoices #diversifyyourfeed #womensfiction #Indianauthor #BIPOCbookstagram #newrelease #reading #bibliophile #bookworm #WomensHistoryMonth #bookphotos
She's got the successful career part down, but when it comes to friendships and her family, it's not going so well. Ever since her sister, Natasha's, wedding, Serena has felt their close bond slipping. When Natasha also announces her pregnancy, Serena sees their relationship going the way of all her married friends with children: promises to meet up that eventually fall through, not seeing each other for weeks, then months, at a time, eventually almost becoming a passing acquaintance.
So Serena decides to take matters into her own hands. Forming a friendship with Ainsley, a new co-worker makes Serena see that maybe she's focusing too much on work, and is herself part of the reason her other relationships have fallen to the wayside. So as she sets off to "flip the script" Serena will have to reckon with her past to learn that letting people in can bring about the most happiness.
I love how Sonya Lalli continues to tackle the universal theme of the expectations placed upon women in society. Yes, oftentimes there are differences, but really there are so many similarities such as the pressure placed upon women to want a marriage and children and anything different must be some kind of defect on the woman's part.
Seeing the choices that Serena's own mother, Sandeep, has made in her life, and how opposite they appear to be from ones Serena would make herself, causes friction within the family. Serena has her reasons, but they're reasons the reader isn't completely privy to until very close to the end of the story. Sonya Lalli gives a few chapters from Sandeep's point of view and by the time we get to the end, to the root of the main conflict between parents and child, I wish we would have gotten to delve deeper into Sandeep's own story. I felt like her voice was such a valid one to be heard, and we just didn't get enough of it.
In that regard I felt like there were a few points where the story just didn't really know what its main conflict should be. Is it the fact that Serena is bucking traditional female roles within Indian culture? Is it the deep-seated issues within her own family? The story kind of tries to make all of them relevant, but then blurs the line between them so much that the distinction, the impact isn't felt as clearly.
I loved the idea of this heroine who genuinely doesn't have any interest in being married or having children of her own. I was so hoping that Serena would stick to her guns and the story wouldn't delve too deep into finding a romance. While romance isn't the main focus, it's hard to separate the idea of this woman who is proud to not be married (essentially being single), but then bringing Serena's ex into the picture. An ex in which there's still a lot of baggage. I almost negates the idea that Serena is fine without having a significant other in her life. It also didn't help that I wasn't drawn into the relationship Serena had with her ex. It didn't break my heart that it had ended, and I equally didn't really root for them to make it work.
I was much more invested in the aspect that finds Serena looking for new friendships. I mean, how many of us have gotten to adulthood and found it extremely difficult to forge new, meaningful friendships? It's not easy. This storyline was completely on point for me. I loved seeing Serena and Ainsley form their bond. I loved that they provide each other with opposite perspectives. Ainsley is the hard working, married, mother of one. Serena the hard working, single woman. Their friendship grows and strengthens because they put the work into it, not because it's necessarily easy, but because they want to. Like any relationship, it takes work. Serena begins to see that it takes two people to make friendships work and that she's possibly been slightly unfair to her friends.
This was the main relationship draw for me. But I felt like there were times it was overshadowed by others aspects of the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed spending time with Serena Singh. I loved her unabashedly strong belief and convictions in her worth and abilities. I loved how she has strived to stay true to herself, and I loved seeing that we all still have the ability to grow.
[I did find myself cringing midway through when she just let her grandmother believe she was gay to stop the barrage of blind dates. But I was pleasantly surprised at how the author handled that plot point, and even used it as a vehicle for some pointed commentary about the conservatism found in these traditional Asian communities.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was fun at points but also had much hidden depth. I'd definitely read another by Lalli.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via the First to Read program.
I have seen many mixed reviews around this one, but I am really glad I gave it a chance. I really enjoyed it.
This was also a really quick read and I read it in one sitting which is always nice. I thought the pacing was great as it kept my attention throughout. There were some more humorous moments and also serious moments.
I do wish this would have explored mental health a little deeper, as I feel it almost skipped over everything that happened with Imogen. It does set up nicely for a second book around her character though which I would love to see.
Yes, our main character, Anu, could be very unlikable at times. However; I also found her relatable at the same time. She was very young when she got with her husband and had their first child. She really never found herself or who she wanted to be. She is on a journey to do just that within this story.
Overall, I really liked this though.
I found this book **incredibly** problematic in a way that I don't think is redeemable for me. For a quick spoiler-free version of these problems: if you identify as queer or have people in your life who identify as queer or even just prefer to read books that deal with queerness in a *remotely* sensitive manner, I cannot recommend highly enough that you do not read this book. I will move the spoilers down to the bottom of this review. I found this absolutely inexcusable.
But even if that somehow in itself didn't convince you not to pick up this book, let me describe my other thoughts on this book, because I didn't find it remotely enjoyable. It's been a very, very, very long time since I read a book so different from its synopsis. The synopsis makes you think that this book will be a cute story about blind dates and the Indian community. "Sounds great," thought I. But that's really not accurate at all. What actually happens is that the main character, Raina, goes on a few blind dates but really just spends half of the book pining after her truly toxic ex. (Yes, there could be a good story here [albeit not the one on the synopsis] about discovering one's self-worth and moving on from a toxic relationship. But that's not this story.) And all the while, she's an awful person. In addition to the irredeemable actions mentioned above (which I truly cannot overstate), she is childish, unthinking, and grating throughout the book. She also pushes away all of her family and friends (truly, I think she screams at almost all of the other characters at some point or other) while somehow remaining a golden child for whom everything magically works out and who never has to be held accountable for her numerous very bad decisions.
I feel a bit bad panning this book so totally, but I honestly cannot think of anything to redeem it. I appreciate the idea of exploring life as an Indian young woman in a fairly conservative community, but this book was *emphatically* not a good way to do that.
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SPOILERS BELOW
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SPOILERS:
Now, to elaborate on the inexcusably problematic parts of this book with spoilers: Our main character Raina spends half the book pining after her objectively really shitty ex but can't bring herself to tell her grandmother that she's still into him, so she *pretends to be lesbian* and lies about this to her grandmother and the broader community. She gets mad at her best friend when she doesn't support her lies. She continues her lies when a younger kid in the community, *who is actually gay*, asks her for help in coming out to his parents. For some reason the only other (actual) lesbian character in the book is totally fine with this and goes along with all of it. And somehow, at the end of the book, Raina is a paragon of virtue for helping people in her community to overcome their homophobia?
Traditional life expectations run into conflict for Anu Desai. A good girl who followed her family's strictures, and married the first serious boyfriend she had. The problem is that now she feels trapped. In effect she's painted herself into a corner and is kept there by her own and others expectations. Throughout this navel gazing Anu and her husband are growing away from each other. You could feel Anu's to some extent, self imposed cultural standards resulting from her traditional upbringing, causing her inner dissatisfaction.
So here she is with a husband, a young daughter and doting, traditional parents, reclaiming her friendships, and making a run for it.
Anu forges ahead, aided by her girlfriends, to claim her freedom and of course finding disappointment on the relationship level. There's a rather funny scene when she discovers her new interest wining and dining someone else. I applauded.
Her decision to follow her heart and buy a yoga studio comes with some interesting twists. Making it pay becomes even more complicated. Taking up the role of single parent comes with unforeseen complications and angst.
Coming full circle this is an interesting take on a coming of age novel when you're supposedly well beyond that time.
Not as satisfying a read as I'd hoped, but some interesting moments and cultural disconnects.
A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley
I really loved this novel. Raina is flawed and makes some truly dumb choices at certain points but everything about her felt real and understandable. Her relationships with her family and close friends are complicated but wonderful to spend time with and it's a delight to see all of the characters grow over the course of the novel. While there's definitely romantic element to the plot, romance definitely isn't the focus here. Instead, we spend a year with Raina as she figures out who she is and what she wants and it's a delight to witness the process. Recommended.
Two years ago, Raina Anand made her Nani (grandmother) a promise - "...if I wasn't married at thirty, I'd let her make the arrangements for me." Well, that 30th birthday is creeping up....
Nani makes a list of possibilities - 'nice Indian boys for my Raina'. And so Raina begins a series of (quite funny) first dates. Most of them end up being first and last dates. You see, Raina is still in love with Dev, despite it being two years since they broke up.
Nani was my favourite character - her love for the granddaughter she has raised is all encompassing and absolute, no matter what. Some 'what' does happen in Lalli's plotting. I must admit to feeling more than a bit uncomfortable with one significant plot device. (I'm being deliberately obtuse as I don't want to give anything away.) I found it insensitive and not what I would have expected in this day and age. While Raina is almost thirty, she has a lot of growing up to do.
Shay is the best friend and she was wonderfully drawn - exactly the kind of person you would want as a best friend. I enjoyed the other supporting players as well. Now, this is billed as a rom-com, so you know there's going to be that yes/no/maybe so love interest - from both past and present. The reader will have no problem picking the right one for Raina, but will she be able to see for herself?
I enjoyed the exploration of Indian culture and the study of traditional expectations vs. younger generations. Lalli also explores familial relationships within the Anand family - there's some heavier stuff there. The Matchmaker's List is set in Toronto. Many of the neighbourhoods and settings were places I've visited and was able to easily envision.
Sonya Lalli , Author of “The Matchmaker’s List” has written an entertaining, witty, emotional, intense, and heart-warming novel. The Genres for this novel are Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Romance, and Humor. The timeline for the story is in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events in the story. The author describes her colorful cast of characters as complex, complicated and quirky.
Raina Anand is a modern young professional that appears to have everything. She has a high-paying , prestigious job and wonderful friends and family that care about her. Raina doesn’t realize as she is approaching thirty, that she is about to be part of her Grandmother’s attempts at finding her a husband anyway she can. Raina’s grandmother is playing matchmaker, and her attempts at finding Raina a husband are very amusing. The Grandmother’s list of Indian suitors is quite a long list, and Raina is not happy with this at all. Especially when she realizes that her Grandmother places an advertisement online. Raina’s grandmother is a traditional Indian grandmother, who tries to be very modern and understanding.
With Raina’s 30th Birthday approaching, and her best friend getting married, there is a lot of pressure to find someone. Raina finds that her grandmother’s attempts at finding her love is causing many problems. I appreciate that the author discusses the importance of family, friends, love, emotional support and hope. I would highly recommend this delightful novel for those readers who enjoy an easy and charming read. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
I think the author’s style of writing is beautiful. I love the detailed descriptions of everything, from the way a certain food smells to the fabric of a dress.
I also felt like the author really dug deeply into Raina’s storyline.
My only real complaint is that the flashbacks seemed a bit frequent and didn’t always move the storyline along.
Raina fell in love with Dev four years ago. They dated for two years but she’s been single since. She still loves him. He’s not around but he’s in contact, somewhat stringing her along.
Raina is Indian and while she lives in Canada she is more modern, her grandmothers very traditional. She believes that Raina will be happier when she’s married. She wants to find someone for Raina.
On Raina’s 29th birthday she finally caves in and agrees to let her grandmother set her up with a potential husband. Her grandmother immediately hands over a list of available men,
What follows is a bunch of bad dates. Funny bad dates. Raina is very smart and very sarcastic. For the most part the guys don’t seem to understand her sense of humor.
Then Dev moves back to town and implies he might want Raina back.
Suddenly Raina is even less interested in her grandmother’s list of potential husbands.
But she doesn’t feel like she can tell anyone about Dev. They all hate him for breaking Raina’s heart years ago. She’s too embarrassed to tell them that she’s still in love with Dev.
What happens next is a big whopper of a twist.
I’ll just say there’s a misunderstanding. A very big misunderstanding. Something Raina should immediately have cleared up but that she realizes might actually make things easier for her.
Well, it makes certain matters easier and it makes everything else a lot more complicated. And it also shows her a different side to people she’s known for years.
I loved Raina’s grandmother. She’s pretty awesome.
Sometimes I got ticked at Raina for not correcting everyone’s misunderstanding.
I really enjoyed this story and hope to read more by this author.
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Kind of boring. Didn’t enjoy the writing. I may finish sometime but I’m no hurry.