Winnie Mehta was never really convinced that Raj was her soulmate, but their love was written in the stars. Literally, a pandit predicted Winnie would find the love of her life before her 18th birthday, and Raj meets all of the qualifications. Which is why Winnie is shocked to return from her summer at film camp to find her boyfriend of three years hooking up with Jenny Dickens. Worse, Raj is crowned chair of the student film festival, a spot Winnie was counting on for her film school applications. As a self-proclaimed Bollywood expert, Winnie knows this is not how her perfect ending is scripted.

Then there’s Dev, a fellow film geek, and one of the few people Winnie can count on to help her reclaim control of her story. Dev is smart charming, and challenges Winnie to look beyond her horoscope to find someone she’d pick for herself. But does falling for Dev mean giving up on her prophecy, and her chance to live happily ever after? To get her Bollywood-like life on track, Winnie will need a little bit of help from fate, family, and of course, a Bollywood movie star. - Goodreads

I struggled with this book in the beginning. I have never seen a Bollywood movie. Have I seen clips and gifs? Yes, I sure have but I have never sat to watch an entire movie. Did I understand how deep it was for some people? Yes, I did  but did I understand it was this deep? No, I did not.

My struggle with this book in the beginning was there was so many Bollywood references that I could not only keep up but because I have no idea what she is talking about I got lost. Around chapter 6 that changed and the pace of the novel picked up. And although there was still a lot of Bollywood references it wasn't as bad.

I liked Winnie. She is a very independent thinker, she doesn't allow anyone or even her emotions to change who she is. She is very secure with herself and that is pretty much rare in the YA world. Her passion for film as well as dramatics (because she is pretty dramatic) really make the book. You're excited for or at least I was excited for her and did a lot of smiling throughout the book. 

What surprised me was the love triangle or kind of the lack there of. See what begins as a love triangle, quickly turns into one of the best romances I have enjoyed recently. What I think is going to happen in regards to romance doesn't and the author did a really good job of hiding that intent. 

The book is slightly predictable. You know where it is going and I am not exactly sure if it's a bad thing in this case. Seeing the route of the book, about half through, does not take away from the ending. Which is why I don't consider this predictability a bad thing; its just there. 

This isn't a coming of age novel because Winnie isn't really growing up per say, she is dealing with her mistakes and what she wants in life the best way she knows how. There isn't really any growth to her. But I love her the way she is and hope if there is a second book, she still has the same fire.

Overall, I surprisingly enjoyed this book after a rough beginning. But what sold it was at the end of the book, there is a list of all the Bollywood references made in the book :D

4 Pickles

Winnie Mehta is obsessed with Bollywood films, getting accepted in NYU and destiny. Destiny that says she'll fall in love with a boy whose name starts with R before she's 18, and he'll give her a silver bracelet signifying his love. Yet Winnie's happily ever after begins to fall apart when her boyfriend cheats on her while they're "on a break" with a crazy girl, the new faculty advisor for the film club cuts her co-presidential responsibilities for the upcoming film festival, and she begins to fall for Dev, a boy whose name definitely doesn't start with R. But with a little luck and help from Shah Rukh Khan and her astrologer, Winnie just might find her happily ever after, after all.

I know literally nothing about Indian culture or Bollywood, so many of the references went right over my head or had me scrambling to Google unknown terms. However, most things are easily to infer with context clues, and it was wonderful seeing a Bollywood-positive movie with an Indian-American girl.

At first, Winnie is grating and over-the-top melodramatic, to the point where she flings angst and drama out of context (in her own defense, she claims it's because of Bollywood). It felt like she was making mountains out of mole hills. And the romance with Dev feels waaaaaaaaaaaay too rushed.

However, Winnie settles down, matures and sets about to set her messes straight on her own terms. The secondary cast are well done too, and I loved Nani and Pandit Ohmi.

It's vibrant, it's funny, and there's a Bollywood-style dance number. Well, two of them.

This was a super cute, super quick read. I had a really fun time reading it! Winnie and Dev were cute together and I liked how their relationship developed. I really liked how Winnie stood up for herself and how passionate she was, both about her culture and her dreams (both literal and figurative, ha). It's a perfect summer read and I definitely recommend it.

DISCLAIMER: The closest I have come to watching a Bollywood film was Bride & Prejudice, which is a Bollywood style adaptation of Pride & Prejudice (and quite wonderful, if I do say so myself). However, I do not believe one must be well versed in Bollywood films to enjoy this book, but it may inspire you to check a few out.

•Pro: Winnie was wonderful! How I could I not love a girl, who was so fierce and feisty, that she stole back her DVDs and held a burial in the woods for them? This girl had dreams, this girl had goals, and no boy was going to keep her from attaining them.

•Pro: Dev, just writing his name brought a smile to my face. He was a good son, a good friend, and absolutely swoon worthy. There were so many things he said and did, that made me all warm and fuzzy and heart-eyed. Add him to the list of superior book boyfriends!

•Pro: I may be the only person that loved this, but the setting. You have to understand, there were scenes, which took place walking distance from where I live. It's sort of cool to know every place they went in a book. In fact, I think Sharma fictionalized one of my favorite ice cream places in the book, and now I can't stop thinking about their blend-ins.

•Pro: Three cheers for a fantastic bestie. I adored Bridget, and thought she was a pretty spectacular friend.

•Pro: The book was so much fun! I know people were staring at me and the stupid grin I was wearing as I read this book.

•Pro: I want the Mehta family to adopt me. Seriously, Winnie's parents and her grandmother were so nurturing and loving, and who wouldn't want to be part of an awesome family like that?

•Pro: Lots of great bits of Indian culture woven into this tale. We got to sample the food and dress, and even attend an event via this book, and I always love learning more about different cultures.

•Pro: The romance was so sweet and adorable, and I had no problem shipping Dev and Winnie.

Overall: A fantastic rom-com with a Bollywood touch, which didn't cease to delight me and left me floating on cloud of happiness.

I read this book about a month ago and I hadn't reviewed it yet because I simply didn't really know what to say. I enjoyed the book overall, and I quite liked the writing style, but overall? It was just a bit... mediocre. At times I couldn't stop reading, but at other times I really struggled to pick the book up. I don't know.
The book's biggest strenght were the movie related things. Even though I've never seen a Bollywood movie before, seeing how passionate the main character was about them made me like reading about it. I love passionate main characters.
The book's biggest flaw was definitely how the main character's entire storyline was focused on boys. Every single thing she did was because of a boy. I don't mind a romance, but I really don't like it when the love interest basically becomes the sole focus of the main character.
Overall, I did enjoy the book and I would recommend it to friends, but it definitely had quite a few flaws. I do plan on picking up more books by this author in the future.

delivered exactly what it promised: a wild, humorous, lovable contemporary romance that doubles as a tribute to film geek culture and Bollywood

parts I didn't like/reason for 4 instead of 5 stars: the female antagonist was your typical bitchy girl who is awful to the protagonist due to perceived competition over a dude; plus ableist language in describing said antagonist (on top of general/typical ableist language)

I have never seen a Bollywood movie and this book made me seriously regret that. Winnie is so obsessed with Bollywood films and was constantly referencing them in this book and it just made me want to watch some of the movies so bad. I’m not surprised seeing as it was a book that got me into K-dramas as well.

Winnie is so confused in this book and doesn’t know what to do, should she follow her heart or should she follow her destiny. She just broke up with her boyfriend and is trying to finish her senior year and get into the school of her dreams. I feel like eventually she comes to terms with how she feels about her destiny and if her life is really her choice or if it was predetermined. Raj was just so detestable in this book…he proclaims to love Winnie but proceeds to act contrary to that statement. Overall I enjoyed this book.

I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

Young-adult books are my guilty pleasure, especially like this one – “My So-Called Bollywood Life” by Nisha Sharma. It’s sweet, light and interesting story about a girl Winnie Mehta and her love problems. I liked how the author entwined different Bollywood movies into the plot, how the main heroine was associating herself and her lifestory with movie plots.

“My So-Called Bollywood Life” is an easy reading book, you take it in hands and refuse to put it away until the last page. It’s just so nice and sweet and filmi.. yeah, I definitely want to see a screen adaptation now, hopefully, someone would make it. And after this book I want to watch some Bollywood movies too! When I was a child Indian TV-series and movies were very popular in my country (Ukraine), but I don’t remember any of them. So after the Winnie’s view on Bollywood I’m so interested in watching some of their movies.

Also I liked that the heroine of the book is a strong girl. Finally, it’s not a story about nerdy characters, or depression, or loosing somebody, etc. (which I love by the way! But sometimes I want something different). It was interesting to read about the Indian community in USA, it was also funny most of the times.

If you want an easy, funny reading with a strong female character and lots of romance and Bollywood (really A LOT) then “My So-Called Bollywood Life” is a perfect reading for you.

Winnie Mehta was never really convinced that Raj was her soulmate, but
their love was written in the stars in My So-Called Bollywood Life. Literally, a pandit predicted Winnie would find the love of her life before her 18th birthday, and Raj meets all of the qualifications. Which is why Winnie is shocked to return from her summer at film camp to find her boyfriend of three years hooking up with Jenny Dickens. Worse, Raj is crowned chair of the student film festival, a spot Winnie was counting on for her film school applications. As a self-proclaimed Bollywood expert, Winnie knows this is not how her perfect ending is scripted.
Then there’s Dev, a fellow film geek, and one of the few people Winnie can count on to help her reclaim control of her story. Dev is smart charming, and challenges Winnie to look beyond her horoscope to find someone she’d pick for herself. But does falling for Dev mean giving up on her prophecy, and her chance to live happily ever after? To get her Bollywood-like life on track, Winnie will need a little bit of help from fate, family, and of course, a Bollywood movie star. 
Like an expertly choreographed Bollywood dance scene, Nisha Sharma’s off-beat love story dazzles in the lime light. (via Goodreads)
I RECEIVED AN EARC OF MY SO-CALLED BOLLYWOOD LIFE FROM NETGALLEY, COURTESY OF CROWN BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
My So-Called Bollywood Life is a delightful romantic comedy that would rival any Bollywood movie I've seen. Granted, I am whiter than some white bread, so it's not necessarily a large number. It's got pining, heartbreak, dramatic breakups, a star reading and of course, an awesome dance number.

I really enjoyed this debut novel by Nisha Sharma. I recently read and reviewed Sandhya Menon's From Twinkle, With Love, which has another stubborn Indian-American female filmmaker at its center. Twinkle and Winnie would either get along greatly or hate each other. For us readers, if you enjoyed For Twinkle With Love, you'll enjoy My So-Called Bollywood Life, and vice versa.

This book didn't really surprise me, but it did delight me. That's what counts for me. I adored Bridget and her love of Indian culture without being appropriative. The dreams with Shah Rukh Khan were so much fun, and a great view into Winnie's subconscious. Her family was a huge part of this story, which is always great to see.

My So-Called Bollywood Life did feature a love triangle, but it was incredibly realistic. Winnie never wanted to be with both guys at the same time. She knew exactly what she wanted once she figured it out. The resolution between Raj and Winnie was exactly what this story needed. It was honest, hard-won and just lovely. 

I didn't love the story's stereotypical treatment of Jenny as The Other Woman. It's something I'm willing to look past, though. There should be a content warning for use of ableist language towards her, and some slut-shaming by her. 

Overall, I really enjoyed My So-Called Bollywood Life. Whatever Sharma writes next, I'm definitely going to pick up. I laughed, I felt for the characters, but most of all, I didn't want to put the book down. Pick up a copy for yourself on Amazon or Indiebound! I doubt you'll regret it.



DISCLAIMER: ALL LINKS TO INDIEBOUND AND AMAZON ARE AFFILIATE LINKS. IF YOU BUY THROUGH THOSE LINKS, I WILL MAKE A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY OFF OF THE SALE.

I am in love with this cover! I completely read a book based on a cover and this one called to me so loudly. Those colors pop beautifully and I can imagine in a bookstore they would do so even more. I’m a huge Sonali Dev fan from her first book, which I’ve talked about a ton here, so I was excited to see a Bollywood YA book like this. I’m so happy to say this book completely lived up to what I wanted.

Winnie is a High School senior obsessed with all films, but particularly knowledgeable in Bollywood films because she’s grown up in that culture. She is that rare person who knows exactly what she wants to do with her life – something in film for sure. She never wavers from that even though everyone around her certainly wants her to. The book opens with her boyfriend of forever, Raj, and Winnie breaking up and throwing her life into some chaos. Fate and destiny had said they were meant to be and if that isn’t going to happen…then what is?

I’m not a Bollywood movie watcher but after reading this book I have a list of movies that I NEED to watch! Even though I didn’t have those references down I did not feel like I was missing out on anything. I loved how passionate Winnie was about movies, the scenes where she and her father joked about movies and her mother was exasperated with them for going on and on were some of my favorites because it felt so specifically right to me. Like a snapshot of a family that had those exact conversations.

I really liked Dev and the encouragement he provided to Winnie. The side characters in general were all very strong which are always important to me. Her best friend was great because there were arguments but not over the top, and that felt very real to me. I loved her grandmother and parents as well. There were 2 side characters I was not a fan of and I know we weren’t supposed to be. The advisor of the film club was super frustrating for me. He was there to provide some tension but I was literally yelling at my book – WHY ARE YOU STILL VENTING TO HIM!? I also wasn’t a huge fan of Raj’s new girlfriend Jenny as she felt a little too… 1-note to me.

“As much as I love Bollywood damsels in distress, I don’t need saving. I’m my own hero.”

Overall I loved this book. I loved reading a YA book with diverse characters and have been seeing so much more of this in the YA genre particularly. I hope this continues and grows in the adult genres as well.



Rating: 4.5 Stars

Reviewer: Melinda

Title: My So-Called Bollywood Life

Author: Nisha Sharma

Release Date: May 15th, 2018

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I gotta admit, this book is adorable.

Now, I don't know much about Bollywood films-- just the drama and dance numbers, and the main character is a huge Bollywood fangirl, so there are times I totally didn't understand references. Yet, her enthusiasm and love for the films, made me feel like I loved them too, even if just through her. Winnie is such a fun, bubbly character, I just loved learning about her life.

Winnie totally pulled me through this book. She is adorable, dramatic, and super hard-working. The other characters were also fun and helped the book be great. Dev is sweet, I only wish we got more of him in the book. Raj though, grrrrr, I don't think I would have forgiven him as quickly.

The romance seemed so quick, I wish we had more build up and understanding, but honestly since they weren't commenting on each other's looks every time, I found them to be quite believable. I liked that they liked different parts about each other.

The star chart is interesting. I will say I don't believe in fate and horoscopes, but they are fun. I saw were the plot was going, at least with the romance, but I was still into the book. I'm glad with where the plot went with that.

Hope to recommend this one to some people soon!

Winnie might still believe in prophesies, but she is dead set that the one about finding the love of her life before her eighteenth birthday is wrong. Especially since Raj cheated on her while she was away at film camp. So Winnie’s moving on. She’s focusing on leading the film club (even if she has to do it alongside Raj) and making the student film festival perfect so that she’ll be a shoe-in at NYU. Except then she reconnects with Dev, an old friend who is sweet and thoughtful and everything that Raj isn’t. And especially, especially not a part of the prophesy. Only destiny isn’t always that simple. And as much as Winnie doesn’t like the idea of her life being preordained, sometimes destiny and free will are one and the same.
This is such a cute book. Sort of a Bollywood-esque romcom, which is appropriate since Winnie lives her life according to the tenets of Bollywood movies. I loved how lighthearted and fun the books is, with only a little bit of teen drama, but mostly about falling in love and figuring out what's important. Sometimes you just want to read a lighthearted romcom about a girl in love with Bollywood films! And now you can.
The only part of the book that fell short for me involved a situation toward the end where Winnie made a decision that her friends and family (and everyone really) said was her selfishly choosing her future over her new boyfriend. That bothered me on two levels. First, the implication that her only motivation for the decision had to be selfish (and that her loved ones couldn’t even consider any other reasons) and, second, that prioritizing her career as a film critic (something made clear is of paramount importance to her from almost page one) over her relatively new relationship would be wrong and selfish. Those implications and the other characters reactions to the decision (as well as the fact that literally no one disagreed with that assessment) was actually jarring enough to me that it took me out of the book for a few chapters. It's sort of resolved by the end, but it still bothered me.
Still, overall, a really cute and really fun book that I would definitely recommend to others! Particularly anyone who loves Bollywood, YA romcoms, or books like When Dimple Met Rishi or The Summer of Jordi Perez (and the Best Burgers in Los Angeles).

First off, serious heart-eyes for this cover. I’m a humongous fan of illustrated covers, and I’ve seen some amazing ones lately in YA, but this is my new favorite. Like the story itself, it’s delightfully over-the-top. There’s a prophecy, lots of Bollywood movies (with an extra helping of Shah Rukh Khan), a musical number (at a school dance, of course), a loving and supportive family, and so many laughs.

“He shook his finger at the screen, and the gold ring on it glinted. “I think I understand. Your and your parents’ star charts are the most beautiful I’ve ever read. You’re afraid that if it comes true, you’ll be disappointed because it’s a choice you didn’t make. But wouldn’t you be equally disappointed if it doesn’t come true? Finding a jeevansathi is a gift that many people aren’t fortunate enough to receive.”
Jeevansathi. Life partner. Soul mate. She looked over at her dresser and saw the promise of Raj’s silver bracelet. Keep cool, she thought. Keep it cool. He may be super accurate, but he was wrong about this. He was wrong about her.”


Winnie’s family believes in prophecies because one correctly predicted that Winnie’s parents would find each other. Winnie’s is that she would meet her true love before she turned 18, that his name would start with an “R,” and that he’d give her a silver bracelet. She’s always assumed it would be Raj, a boy who goes to the same New Jersey high school as her. Winnie’s not quite happy with having a prophecy dictate her life, however, and is almost relieved when they break up after he cheats on her over the summer before senior year. Problem is, they still have to see each other at film club, where they’re co-chairs. Raj, naturally, realizes too late what he’s missing, and tries to win her back. The problem is, everything he does makes things worse for Winnie. When she reconnects with Dev, a fellow film buff, she’s ready to wash her hands of the prophecy once and for all. But are things really that simple?

“As much as I love Bollywood damsels in distress, I don’t need saving. I’m my own hero.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder. It was a flirt move and such a cliché line, but he’d given her an opening, and any self-respecting film buff would’ve taken it.”


Winnie is absolutely adorable. She knows what she wants out of life – well, she’s pretty sure at least – and worries about the prophecy holding her back. I thought Raj was a bit of jerk, loved her best friend Bridget, and thought Dev was absolutely 80s teen movie boyfriend perfect. I loved the humor in the book, especially how Winnie kept trying to find a Bollywood movie to help problem-solve every situation she got herself in to. While I’ve seen a few Bollywood films, I’m not as much of a film buff as Winnie is, and I think each film is explained well enough that someone with only a cursory knowledge of them would be just fine. I will say, the dream sequences that involved scenes from movies I’ve seen were extra hilarious.

A lot of the “ethnic” YA I read as a kid involved how second-gen kids had to separate their family’s culture from the person they were outside their home. I was so happy this wasn’t a problem for Winnie! Winnie is proud of her heritage, and not afraid to show it. As a bonus, Winnie’s family is amazingly supportive of her – I think it helps that her dad is also a big Bollywood film fan, even going so far as to have a family film night at almost midnight when Winnie is having a rough time and needs a distraction. Winnie’s nani (her grandma) was also a hoot, and I loved the scenes where they went dress shopping or brought samosas to support her.

“People love the movies because of the romance, the emotion, and the passion the characters feel. You get sweaty palms, a clenched stomach, a pounding chest. It’s easy to get swept up in the magic as long as you have a flexible suspension of disbelief.”


Overall – is this completely over the top and predictable, with a cartoonishly evil villain and a sappy and sweet resolution? Yes, but so are some of the best Bollywood movies. I had an immensely fun time reading this book, and I cannot wait to see what Ms. Sharma writes next!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This book was so much fun! I’ve never known much about Bollywood but reading this inspired me to try and watch some. This was so cute. I loved the romance that blossomed and the many fun movie references sprinkled through out. I’m also super happy this book is filled with diversity.

I loved the characters in this book! With the minor exception of the first like two or chapters where I had a problem with Winnie, but more on that later.

After that though, Winnie did grow on me. She was funny and headstrong and likable. She was passionate and sweet and I loved her relationship with her friends and family.

My favorite part about this new wave of own voices books that have been coming out is seeing authentic family relationships and how they are all different, and yet, all the same from my own. 

Then there was, of course, the romance. I loved Dev! I want a man who would dance for me! The bar has been raised! If you don't do an entire dance number in my honor then you need to seriously step up your game!

My one problem, because of course, I have to complain about something, is that I had some minor problems with Winnie in the first few chapters. She begins the novel by having broken into her boyfriend's house and stealing all of his movies so she can bury them. That's a crime. Like an actual crime.

Also, she and her best friend only ever talked about boys. They probably wouldn't pass the Bechdel test if they tried.

All that said, I didn't mind too much. I came for a fluffy romance and the book delivered just that.

I didn’t know about this book until I went to the New York City Teen Author Festival and Nisha Sharma was on a debut authors panel and read an excerpt of this novel. I thought it sounded hilarious, so when I saw it was available to request on NetGalley I immediately jumped on it and I’m so glad I did.

Told in a close third person narration, My So-Called Bollywood Life follows Winnie, a senior in high school who’s returned home from film camp to discover her boyfriend, now ex-boyfriend, Raj, is dating someone else. Although, in Raj’s defense, they were on a break. However, if he’d watched Friends he would know that’s not a reasonable excuse, but I digress.

The point is, Raj and Winnie are over, which is especially confusing for Winnie because all her life she’s believed in a prophecy she got from a pandit who said she’d meet the love her life before her 18th birthday and the guy’s name would begin with a ‘R’ and would give her a silver bracelet.

Now Winnie is fighting against believing that prophecy and wants to make her destiny, beginning with getting into NYU. To do that she needs to run the film festival at her school and be co-president of the film club…with Raj. Of course this doesn’t go well and it doesn’t help that another boy at school, Dev, is now showing renewed interest in Winnie and Raj just can’t seem to let go and still believes he and Winnie are meant to be.

With a love triangle, drama, a lot of Bollywood references, and the best parents you’ll ever meet, My So-Called Bollywood Life was a fun read that I just couldn’t put down. It also made me want to watch a Bollywood movie (I’ve never seen one!). My only issue was with the conflict at the end. It’s hard to explain without spoiling so I’ll just say I thought the conflict made it seem like Winnie should give up on something she worked quite hard for just for a guy, and the fact that her best friend, Bridget, seemed to also agree with this sentiment really irked me. If you want a more detailed explanation I’ll put it down below with spoilers.

However, this issue aside, I think the book kind of made up for it in the end, and overall I really did enjoy this book despite that one little thing, so I still highly recommend it. Definitely grab a copy of the book, which is on sale today!

My So-Called Bollywood Life was an adorable contemporary romance that filled my heart with so much joy. This charming romance story was full of humor, swoons, drama, and strong relationships.

Winnie, the main character, was a precious and lovable girl. I adored and related to her love of romance. She was a girl who just wanted a romance that swept her off her feet like the ones she sees in Bollywood movies! Her desire to find her soul mate constantly put a smile on my face due to just how adorable she was. Winnie was also an independent, smart, and ambitious girl. Even though she was really focused on her romantic life, she still had other passions and dreams for herself. I admired how passionate she was about films and her film club. It was great to see a girl who loved romance but was still her own independent person. THANK YOU, NISHA!

Winnie's family had a heavy presence in the book, which is always a plus in a YA contemporary novel. Winnie and her family had such a strong bond. I loved how her family was invested in her romantic life, however, they were never meddling. Her family genuinely wanted to see her happy and in love. Winnie and her family did seem to focus a lot on destiny, but it was nice that they all grew throughout the book and learned that "destiny" shouldn't define their lives. Destiny had a magical way of surprising Winnie and her family in this book, which was so endearing and cute.

Another relationship I loved was the relationship between Winnie and her best friend, Bridget. Their strong female friendship warmed my heart! Winnie and Bridget were always so supportive of each other and were always there for each other. I LOVE STRONG FEMALE FRIENDSHIPS!

The romance in this book was PRECIOUS! I don't want to good super in-depth into the romance due to spoilers, but I found the romance to be so charming. I really enjoyed the fact that the romance developed at a believable pace. The romance had so many moments that made me swoon and made my heart flutter. I SHIPPED THE COUPLE SO HARD! THEY ARE ADORABLE TOGETHER!

Overall, this book was a fun and sweet book! I read this book in one sitting and enjoyed every moment of it! If you are looking for a new YA contemporary romance, then I definitely recommend checking this book out!

4.5 / 5 Fangs

*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *

This story centers around a high school senior named Winnie Mehta. Winnie loves film, especially Bollywood films. Winnie has dreams of going to NYU's Tisch School of The Arts. Winnie plays a big part in her school's film club. Although Winnie loves a good Bollywood romance, she isn't sure if she has that with her boyfriend, Raj. The thing is, Winnie and Raj were predicted to be soulmates by a pandit or, a Hindu scholar or priest, when they were children. Winnie isn't sure if she believes in fate, or the pandit's prediction, despite receiving a silver bracelet from Raj that was, in fact predicted by the pandit. However, when Raj cheats on Winnie while she's away at a summer film camp, Winnie decides to take her fate into her own hands. Winnie uses her heartbreak and anger to make this year's student film festival the best it's ever been. Winnie receives help from an unlikely source, Dev, a fellow film buff who believes Bollywood romance and horoscopes are silly. What follows is a comical, heartwarming story of first love, fate, (or not), and friendship.
I really enjoyed this book! As a film buff, the synopsis of this story really piqued my interest. I especially liked learning more about Bollywood movies. It was refreshing to read a story about a character with a specific interest where the writer doesn't just abandon the fact for the sake of the synopsis but actually uses that interest to shape the character and mold the story. Each chapter has a little review of a Bollywood movie written by our main character, Winnie. The coolest thing about that was how the review was for a movie with a similar plot to help set up the upcoming chapter. This book was not only a quick read, but it was page turning as well. I wanted to find out Winnie's fate as badly as she did. Another cool thing I learn upon finishing this story, was that the writer went to school in the area I live. She even mentioned various local places in her acknowledgements which was really cool and surprising. I definitely recommend this as a light, quick read that will make you smile and laugh.

3.5 stars.

I wanted to like this book so much more, but it fell flat in a lot of places for me. I enjoyed Winne and Dev, but I found that Winnie lacked a level of maturity, which makes sense considering her upbringing, but made it difficult to relate to her sometimes. Despite the "chaos" of her pandit prediction, everything seemed to come pretty easily to her and problems were resolved pretty easily as well. She was the one constantly getting in the way with an over the top neuroticism about a college application and the idea of fate.

The storyline was also very predictable, which again wasn't a huge problem, but didn't make it as exciting of a read as it could've been. I loved the integration of Indian culture, Bollywood films (which I know nothing about), and film in general, but at the end of the day, those were just details in a somewhat typical love story. I did like that Winnie was still independent and focused, but also boy crazy. Because you can be both. Be a lady taking names and setting up your own film festival, but also the one who wants that fairytale and a partner in life. Ain't nothing wrong with that.

It’s a cute read. and the Indian culture definitely adds originality and flair to the storyline, but I wouldn’t expect it to be the love story that sticks with you forever. Still worth a read!

My So-Called Bollywood life was a joy from start to finish. As a white American male, I font know a lot about Indian Cinema. In fact, I know literally nothing so reading a book like this was something of a mystery to me. And while I can't verify all the facts Winnie threw at me in this novel, if even half of them are true I'm missing some real gems here. Sharma did a wonderful job at crafting a story here, infusing Winnie with a passion and drive that was nearly palpable on every page. This book oozed Winnie's personality and it was so nice and so well developed that I could have read about her for hours and hours on end without getting tired.

In fact, most of the book was like that. Sharma's writing style is, not simple, but readable. There's no heavy or purple prose that bogs down the story, just lovely descriptions drenched in Winnie's winning (ha) personality. Winnie made this book for me, her character was just so fun and her inner monologue was both heartfelt and gut wrenching. I went through a wide spectrum of emotions reading this and I can't wait to see what Sharma has next up her sleeve.