I was excited to hear about an #ownvoices contemporary YA romance focusing on the Indian diaspora in America and, by and large, When Dimple Met Rishi delivered. Let's start with the positives: Dimple Shah is immediately winning as a central character - feisty, fun, ambitious and sarcastic - while Rishi, who could so easily come across as a Nice Guy™, is adorable, too. The opening chapters, as the two main characters converge at a San Fransisco-based coding camp, are fast, witty and engaging. The cultural representation is a breath of fresh air; it's so great to see a book with a brown girl on the cover and I loved the way Menon incorporated bilingualism, with Hindi being spoken frequently, while other cultural touchstones - from food to Bollywood films - are peppered throughout the narrative.

However, my big problem with the book was what I perceived to be a disproportionate focus on Rishi's ambitions and work as a comic book artist. I am So There for books about female coders and tech nerds, but this - despite the initial promise - was not it. Although it's set at a coding camp, we see next to nothing of Dimple & Rishi actually working on their app. Instead they rehearse a dance routine for a talent show, wander around San Fran, and clash with rich kids (I loved the nickname Aberzombies). It would have been a much stronger book had there been an equal focus on Dimple's coding talents as on Rishi and his art.

Overall, When Dimple Met Rishi is a sweet romcom with a great premise, but one that loses pace and interest as the book goes on. A solid 3.5 stars.

I loved this book, on the surface a simple YA romance but so many layers. It made me cry in public

I received When Dimple Met Rishi from Netgalley in exchange for honest review,
In the beginning of this read I felt that this was merely your average contemporary, boy meets girl they fall in love the end but it had a lot more depth than I first thought and there was so many things that I did really enjoy whilst reading this book.

The Character of Rishi can be summed up by saying that he is both caring and sweet and his background has given him a true belief that arranged marriage can work and become a wonderful thing. The downsides of his character is mainly that he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders doing everything to please his parents even when it comes to a possible career move for his future putting a chance of the idea of a career in art that he is passionate about on the back burner simply because he doesn't think his parents will approve.

Dimple on the other hand is more of a free spirit or at least she wants to be, she wants to go out there into the big world, have her heart broken by several boys, travel and experience everything and has no desire to marry anyone. Her future career on the other hand is important to her, she is ambitious and not afraid to reach for those goals.

So you can imagine when these two characters meet for the first time at Insomnia con they don't just hit it off, Dimple is outraged that her family would assume she would marry a boy she doesn't know whilst Rishi simply wants to give it a chance and with them being place together as partners they are forced to work together and that leads to a beautiful friendship that processes.

The Indian representation of this novel, I really enjoyed, it was great to see the culture and have a novel with two main characters who were Indian.
I recommend this novel and I give it 3.5 star rating

This was an okay book about two Indian-American teenagers who have their marriage arranged only to develop feelings for each other when they eventually meet. I was really looking forward to reading this book and I thought it was quite a sweet read.

The thing I liked most about this book was the way it shone a light on Indian culture (which I find really interesting) and how tensions develop when kids grow up exposed to two different cultures. And this book did a pretty good job of portraying that. I felt sorry for Dimple and Rishi with the weight of their parental expectations and likedhow they tried to find their own happiness.

Dimple was an okay character, and it’s always good to see girls in STEM subjects doing well, but I didn’t really engage with her that much. She seemed super proud of the fact that she never wore make up or bothered about what she wore, which is fine, her decision, but she was also incredibly judgey about other people who were invested in their appearance which felt hypocritical.

When we were first introduced to Rishi I thought he was a bit chloroform-and-duct-tape, but as the book wore on I warmed to him a bit. He was really keen to please his parents, which was sweet, but I was also glad he got to follow his own dreams in the end.

This book borrows heavily from the Bollywood trope of two youngsters having their marriage arranged and them both protesting wildly about it until they meet each other and find that they do actually have feelings for each other. In Bollywood, however, (and FYI, I’m definitely not a Bollywood expert, but this is something that I’ve noticed and have seen referenced) the story usually has an added tension because the parents of the couple call off the arranged marriage and re-arrange their weddings to other people instead. And I think this added level of tension was what this book lacked for me.

After a rocky start, Dimple and Rishi quickly fall in love but there’s nothing really that prevents them from being together. We just watch them fall in love and go on dates. And it was fine, but not exactly thrilling.

One scene I did find a little odd was when Dimple and Rishi were trying to decide whether to sleep with each other for the first time. They’re talking about it and it’s all good, except then Rishi starts wondering to Dimple if their parents would be disappointed at them having sex. Huh?!? What eighteen-year-old guy thinks about HIS PARENTS OPINION when his girlfriend is asking him to have sex with her?

And yeah, I realise that all cultures are different, but seriously, if a guy pulled out a line like that with me, I’d be all, ‘Dude, you’re killing the mood a little here. Stop talking about my parents and sex in the same breath.’

So yeah. That was a bit strange. As was the overuse of the word tongue while Dimple and Rishi were kissing.

Other than that, though, this was quite a sweet book. A nice romantic Summer read, easy on the tension.

This is one of those books that you see absolutely everywhere - Twitter, Instagram - that everybody seems to be loving and you know that before you even read it, you know you're going to enjoy it very much also. I don't know about you, but whenever Summer hits I am always in the mood for a good contemporary novel to sit up all night and reading and waste them blissfully hot days reading a book that makes your heart feel as warm as your body. This is absolutely perfect for that kind of thing. Before reading this book I knew I was going to like it, just not as much as I expected. It was fun and refreshing from the typical YA contemporaries you are used to - although I must admit that some things were a bit cliché and cheesy at times (especially the ending), but isn't that what makes theses kind of books so lovable? The kind where you can just let go of everything and delve into the life and world of someone else for a few short hours? 

I think Sandhya perfectly captured the teenage part of this book that focuses on other things of an 18 year-olds life that doesn't revolve around love and having a romantic relationship. Instead, she points out through the protagonist of Dimple that there are much more important things to life than finding a suitable husband to care for her. Instead Dimple is much more focused on her career in web/app development after being accepted into Stanford, and finding a suitable husband is by far the last thing on her mind. I think this is an important message for the younger generation as it influences them to go their own path  and do what they want in life -- and if we're going to go all feminist, which I usually do, that women don't need a man in life to succeed of take care of her. I absolutely love it! However, Dimple's mother does not. Being the only child of her parents, Dimple's mother constantly puts pressure on Dimple to find a suitable husband and settle down with him and make children - something Dimple really does not want to do. Dimple is a headstrong individual who is extremely passionate about coding and web development, much to her parents disappointment. To further her skills and get some good connections in the industry, she goes to 'Insomnia Con' (which her parents very surprisingly agree too) in San Fransisco which is a 6 week programme/competition where people compete to create the best app idea in order to win a prize at the end. Of course everything was almost too good to be true. This is where we meet Rishi - the boy in which her parents secretly arranged Dimple to marry and meet at said competition - very, very sneaky. 

Rishi himself is a complete cherub and I would date him if I got the chance to because he has the whole package - good looks, charm, sense of humor, decency, morality and a passion for comic book art (honestly I could keep going). He is the prime example of 'adorkable'. Much to Dimple's dismay he is her partner for the app and they have to work together for 6 weeks developing her app which she has invested endless amounts of time working on, so you can imagine how that all turns out... or can you!??? In addition to being Dimple's love interest and 'Insomnia Con' partner, to me he is also someone who allows you as the reader to learn about the Hindu culture. Throughout references to Hindu and Hindu language are seamlessly integrated throughout ranging from anecdotes from Rishi at dinner time which are an absolute pleasure as they transport you to another culture and also through conversations with parents where snippets of Hindu language are shown and we get a glimpse of their traditions - something which I personally am not very familiar with, but found it very interesting to read about as I think it's such a beautiful culture. 

It was so fun and nice to read and had me up most nights reading late because I just couldn't put it down. I loved seeing Dimple and Rishi's relationship grown as well as intertwining with their own personal dreams such as Dimple's app and Rishi's outstanding talent and love for comic book art and how they have to battle through obstacles, parents and privileged white rich boys putting them down because they deem themselves somewhat superior because their dads can pay for anything and everything and have never struggled for anything in their lives! Very sorry but them characters really irritate me because that is what some people are like and it's frustrating!! But the fact that they are that frustrating just proves how good this book is as it makes you think and understand these things and how some people are prejudiced just because of the colour of the skin and I'm just glad someone has finally pointed it out, you go girl! 

I would certainly pick up this book if you like me you love a good heart-warming contemporary read that will make you chuckle and smile from start to finish. Also great if you want to feel empowered about achieving your goals and doing what you want in life despite not being what other people may want you to do. BE WHO YOU ARE AND DO WHAT YOU DESIRE!

'When Dimple Met Rishi' is a delightful and refreshing romantic read, with moments of laughter and sadness artfully sprinkled throughout the pages. It was a pleasure from start to finish, and the characters are amazing: both the children of Indian immigrants to America, Dimple and Rishi walk the line between their parents' traditional values brought from their home country, and living as American teenagers.

Dimple is a headstrong and independent 17-year-old, fighting against her parents' traditional expectations. Dimple doesn't want a boyfriend, isn't interested in beauty or make-up, and is fiercely ambitious for a career in coding. She doesn't need a distraction like boys.

Rishi is more traditional: he wants to please his parents, study hard and follow his father into the successful family business, while ignoring his artistic passion because it's not what his parents want.

Their parents intend for them to meet and marry, but that doesn't go to plan.

I loved how Dimple doesn't follow the 'teenage girl' stereotype, and how Rishi doesn't fall into the typical romantic-leading-man expectations: he respects Dimple, takes no for an answer when needed, and listens to what she says.

This book was a joy to read, and is highly recommended.

This book was super adorable; I did have my reservations at first going into it. I blame this largely on the books that have been working for me lately; adult and that I’ve just been really struggling to get back into the flow of YA books. But despite the initial struggle, Menon completely won me over with characters such as Dimple and Rishi and her take and setting of the story.

Coming from an Indian family myself, I could totally understand the pressures that Dimple felt about settling down in life with the perfect husband. Despite views and norms changing a lot these days, there are still a lot of families who live by these ideals, which can be frustrating in a big way, when all you want to do if live life to the fullest and enjoy what you do, just like Dimple wanted to. I loved how Rishi popped up in Dimple’s life when she was least expecting him to and how they both changed their ideals in order to adapt and make room for each other in their lives. Dimple and Rishi were just totally adorable! I loved how Rishi wasn’t your typical macho guy, but could easily get embarrassed by things, he didn’t realise how super talented he was and the lengths that he would go to for Dimple. I loved watching the development of their relationship; it was super cute and just left me with a goofy grin on my face the entire time. What I appreciated the most from this story was the character development in this book. Both Dimple and Rishi had their dreams they wanted to pursue and their fears of not achieving them. And I’m glad that both characters were able to give each other the extra encouragement that they needed in the right direction. Both characters were just perfect for each other.

When Dimple Met Rishi was exactly the sort of book that I needed in my life, it featured a romance which was beautifully done and touched upon pursuing you dreams and passions no matter what. Bravo Menon on a wonderfully written debut book, I for one can’t wait to read your future books!

Lovely read, really enjoyed it. Perfect for a holiday read

I had been waiting patiently to get my hands on a copy of When Dimple Met Rishi for moths, so when I finally got one I was over the moon. And it's safe to say that that I loved it just as much as I expected I would!
This book is jam packed with geekyness, comedy, passion, culture and so many more brilliant things. It was such a great feeling to be reading about two characters who do have to deal with their parents' expectations. As someone who understands what that's like it was refreshing to read a book where the main characters go through it as well. I absolutely identified with Dimple and Rishi and their family lives. I also found myself in the way that Dimple felt about coding and meeting Jenny Lindt and I am sure that all those who have a passion - whether that be coding or something completely different - will also empathise with the almost painful need to follow your dreams.
Another aspect that I truly enjoyed was the way in which this book dealt with the topic of arranged marriage. Generally speaking, books including this subject are not geared towards a more modern thinking young audience unless the focus is on changing their points of view into more traditional ones or to put them off the idea completely. When Dimple Met Rishi did neither of those things. It actually blended tradition with modern points of view and lifestyles and how everyone does what is right for themselves. Sandhya Menon sends a very important message through this book: that you can follow your heart and follow your dreams, and both are just as important as the other.
The only reason for which I gave this book 4 stars ( I wish there were halves so I could say 4.5) was simply because I wish we could have seen more of the coding aspect of the story and how the two main characters went about creating this app. I wanted to know more about their creative process, about how it worked in the end and see it come alive. I would have also liked to see more of Rishi's drawing and art coming to life. There were some amazing scenes including this and I found myself so drawn into his passion for characters and colour that I needed to read more about it. However, I am not sure that all readers are as geeky as I am so that's just personal preference.
All in all I thoroughly enjoyed reading When Dimple Met Rishi and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great contemporary read. It was fast paced but not rushed, it was cute but not annoyingly sweet and I loved every single aspect of it! I will definitely pick up anything that Sandhya Menon writes in the future.

I received a copy of When Dimple Met Rishi on Netgalley in return for an honest review. This is the book EVERYONE is talking about. This summer's cute contemporary. It's Menon's glorious debut novel and in my opinion, all the hype is worth it! So let's get into the review... 

In this standalone novel we follow two Indian-American teenagers who have been put into an arranged marriage. Rishi, a nerdy yet dishy guy knows. Dimple, a strong and fiery soon to be woman - does not. As you can imagine, hilarity ensues and I knew, right at the beginning of the book, when Dimple, in a panic, throws an iced coffee (I love iced coffee) over Rishi...that I was gonna fall in love with this book. The two main characters are SO adorable but also really well-rounded and developed. They both come from really dedicated families which you don't see a lot in YA. It's a really refreshing element and I am a massive fan of influential f

amilies in YA. I got through the book in less than 12 hours and I think a lot of that is to do with the amazing characters. I also love dual perspective, which is a particular favourite literary device of mine. I really enjoyed following Dimple's perspective and watching her chase her dream in programming etc which is generally seen as a "male" subject. This didn't hold her back though and she is such a strong willed and ambitious character.

I also really enjoyed the setting of a college summer programme, I felt the excitement buzzing around the characters and it made for really interesting reading as both our characters face competition from the peers both academically and just in life. And I will say...and this is tough competition!...the kissing scenes rivalled that in Wing Jones! (My probable fav kissing scene to date.)

I loved learning about their culture and what their life is like and that's one of the many reasons why #OwnVoices is so important! We get windows into lives we don'

hype without a doubt and will for sure be on my fav books of the year list!

t know anything about and I think that's really exciting, don't you?

I loved everything about this book including the face cover and I usually hater faces on covers. This

book really is a triumph and I cannot wait to see what Sandhya Menon writes next!

An adorable, well thought out, fluffy and comforting read! Worth the hype!

Rating: ★★★★★

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Thank you lovelies and happy reading! ox

I usually don't read YA but couldn't resist this title with familiar names and an Indian girl on the cover! And I'm so glad I did, it helped me come to terms with a lot of things I'm conflicted about in my own life as an Indian immigrant in the West and I enjoyed the humour in this book too.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as I realise I have many similarities between Dimple and even Rishi:
- Indian
- Wears glasses
- Hates makeup
- Uni student doing Software Engineering/Web Development
- Loves comics/manga
- And probably more, but can't remember what else I had thought was similar (LOL)

I think this book met my expectations and I truly enjoyed reading Dimple and Rishi's story. I understood every bit of Hindi that was spoken, of course, and love the mention of the many Bollywood actors and movies. I also loved Dimple's idea of the app and how helpful it would be to diabetic patients.

Overall, awesome!

Such a fun, refreshing read. I loved how it is an older YA but doesn't leave behind the lightness and essential sweetness you often miss in older YA. Dimple is so easy to like and I loved her character.
Will be recommending this to anyone and everyone. 5 very easy stars!

When Dimple Met Rishi was such an unbelievably adorable story. It screamed cute from start to finish and its bursts of humour throughout the book really sealed its status as one of my favourite contemporary reads of the year so far. It was such a fun read, light and fluffy but also dealing with some serious issues such as bullying. What I loved more than anything was how diverse this book was! Both protagonists are Indian and the cultural references were a delight to read about. I connected with the characters and related to their issues despite the fact that they came from different backgrounds to myself. It was fascinating getting this glimpse into a different culture and beliefs and it really made this book an unique and enjoyable read.


I LOVED Dimple simply because she wasn't afraid to be herself in a world that was screaming out for her to fit the norm and live up to expectations. Her mother is constantly onto her about wearing traditional Indian makeup and finding a husband but Dimple isn't having any of it. Cue girl power! She loves coding, is a complete computer geek and shoots her mothers suggestions down over and over again. I loved her fierce nature and how she softened as the story progressed. Rishi is just lovely. So lovely. He eats, sleeps and breathes tradition and wishes to find a wife to share his future with. He hopes Dimple fits the bill. And that's how the story begins. Both are pushed together (one unknowingly, one very aware and eager!) and the fun goes from there. Their relationship blossomed and it was great to see. The story was about so much more than just romance though. It really was a tale about growing up, finding yourself and being true to yourself and not allowing others to bring you down or tell you how to live your life.


I LOVED the setting. I've been to San Francisco myself and absolutely adored it. So getting such a vibrant and quirky setting for such a great host of characters was great. All in all, When Dimple Met Rishi is just pure fun. Fun from start to finish. It's bursting with humour and will have you feeling all the feels, all gooey and happy, chuckling to yourself at its cuteness. It'll definitely be a book I'll be recommending to everyone but especially those who loved Anna and the French Kiss. Great story, amazing characters, wonderfully diverse and adorably funny. When Dimple Met Rishi is definitely one of my favourite contemporary reads of the year.

What a wonderful story this is of a young girl who is - like me - also a feminist. She doesn't want to be appreciated for her looks, but for her brains:

'Seriously? That's what you think I should be relegating my brain space to? Looking nice? Like, if I don't make the effort to look beautiful, my entire existence is nullified? Nothing else matters - not my intellect, not my personality or my accomplishments' (2%)

It was a cute book, perfect for summer. It was quick and easy to read and had such loveable characters.

It's just so damn sweet. The entire book is made of sugar. Both Dimple Shah and Rishi Patel are genuinely beautiful characters and they both won me over within the first few pages. They're just so damn precious! The two have quite a bit of chemistry and and sparks fly almost immediately.

When Dimple Met Rishi does not have a groundbreaking plot and it's predictable, with the coming of age tropes all neatly placed in the right spots, but it's a joy to read nonetheless.

This novel isn't just diverse and full of delightful humour, but the protagonists are also quite geeky and smart. Dimple is into coding and programming and Rishi is a comic book artist. The story is told from both point of views and both have an unique and captivating voice. They're both fleshed out and have a lot of depth.

If you're looking for a light and sweet romantic beach read, look no further and give this one a try. You'll probably be reminded of the first time you fell in love and will read the entire thing with a goofy grin on your face.

Oh, my heart. This book is so adorable and precious, and it will fill you with joy. Sure, it’s a little unrealistic in places (namely, the ending) but do I care when it gives me such a happy feeling? No, not really. Dimple just wants to escape her over-bearing mother and ace her summer web coding programme. Rishi just wants to please his parents and impress his future wife. I want them to just fall in love and live happily ever after. After a very adorable meet cute, in which Dimple has *no clue* that her parents have arranged a marriage with Rishi’s parents behind her back, the two start a slightly rocky friendship. They think they have each other pegged, but as the summer progresses and they reveal their hidden depths to each other and love might just find them after all. And even if it doesn’t, you’ll definitely fall in love with these characters – with fierce, determined Dimple and sweet, soulful Rishi, as well as their friends and family. I never wanted this book to end; I wanted to stay wrapped in its warm embrace forever more – but the best I can do is to pass the recommendation on to you!