Such a cute book! Sandhya has so much talent when it comes to romance! Sweetie is a powerful character and I still love ashish just as much as I did in When Dimple Met Rishi. I really recommend it!

Every blogger I know enjoyed the book but I just didn't like it. I found it boring and didn't really care for the characters.

There's Something about Sweetie by Sandhya Menon is a fun book to read about being happy about yourself and falling in love, it was like watching a movie.

I like how the main character Sweetie stands up for herself without letting other people's perception of her body image take charge of how she felt about herself. Even when her mother was being over protective thinking being "fat" is a bad thing, Sweetie proved that she was healthy, happy, and was a good person. This book will be enjoyed by teens and adults.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for review purposes and all opinions expressed are my own.

This is a book that I needed as a teenager. Being fat, you are told that you are not good enough. As a teenager, I internalized that. I never felt like I was enough.

This book is about two teens, Sweetie and Ashish. Both are athletes, but no one expects Sweetie to be athletic. This is a love story, but one of romantic love and loving yourself.

I deeply enjoyed this book.

When Dimple met Rishi is one of my favourite YA romances. There are books I love so much I know I'll keep them on my shelf for years, and there are books like Dimple that are so good they simply demand to be shared with someone else. I knew immediately that I wanted to share Dimple with my book-loving teenage niece in the Philippines, and kept my copy for months until I found someone who was travelling to the Philippines and could deliver it to her. It's sweet and super kilig and I just fell heads over heels in love with the characters.

There's Something about Sweetie is even better. The romance between Sweetie and Ashish is super sweet and believable, and I was moved by the subplots regarding their relationships with their respective families. I squee'd and I cried, and while Ashish wasn't quite (to me) the book boyfriend that his brother Rishi was, I absolutely felt for him and for Sweetie and wanted so much for both to find their happy ending. 

More than that, however, Sweetie is the YA romance I wish I'd read as a child. I've always been a big girl, and growing up, big girls were rarely the heroine of love stories. I remember loving the Sweet Dreams book A Little More to Love, but like many stories starring plus-size heroines, so much of the story focused on her insecurities about her weight. On the flip side, I recently read On the Plus Side by Alison Bliss, where the plus-size heroine was so kickass and confident about her weight that I couldn't quite relate.

In contrast, Sandhya Menon managed to find a wonderful balance with Sweetie's character, and manages to make Sweetie's weight an ever-present reality without making it the focus of her reality. As a plus-size woman, I related hard to this, and I wish this book had existed when I was younger. 

There's a great scene where Sweetie refers to herself as "fat." Ashish immediately tells her not to call herself that, and she responds that "fat" is simply an adjective and it's only society that attaches a value judgement to it. Which is wonderful and woke, and I hope lots of teens reading this take it to heart.

I love that Sweetie's fatness is a characteristic and not her defining feature, and most of all, that it doesn't equate to unhealthiness. She's a kickass track star, and one of the things that attracts Ashish to her is how awesome she looks when running.

I also love that all the problems with Sweetie's fatness have to do with external social pressures, specifically with her mom's constant desire for her to lose weight and the judgement Sweetie gets from her mom's judgemental friend. I love that the mom's friend is judgemental not just about Sweetie's weight, but about other things as well, as this shows that it's really not so much Sweetie's appearance that's the problem as it is the woman's sense of entitlement to judge others. I especially love that the mom herself, while unreasonable and flat-out wrong at times, is not wholly cruel. Menon does a great job in showing how the mom genuinely wants what's best for Sweetie, and just has the wrong idea about what that is.

There's Something about Sweetie is on my list of favourite books this year, for so many reasons. Read it, read it, READ IT!

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Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for an egalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

One of my most anticipated reads this year and boy it did not disappoint! Following Ashish's story and meeting Sweetie was amazing. Sweetie's character is now an all time favourite. A badass fat athlete whose determination and self assurance is undeterred. This book had me doubled over laughing and wiping away tears. As someone who was been called fat all of her life this was a book I needed as a teen! As always, the family dynamic is one of my favourite things about Menon's books, there's something about the way she describes meals and mother-daughter moments, like wise with Ashish and his family. A must read and if you can, do read the first companion novel to fall in love with more of Sandhya Menon's characters.

Thank you so much to Simon and Shuster for my early e-copy of the book through NetGalley

There’s Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon is the charming rom-com I have been waiting for since we first met Ashish in When Dimple Met Rishi. I adored the mix of cute content and a powerful message, and both Ashish and Sweetie are realistic characters. This is the perfect light and sweet read for a sunny day.

I’ve been a fan of Sandhya Menon for a while now, so this book was one of my highly anticipated for the spring. It follows Ashish, who is dealing with a sudden breakup, and Sweetie, who is forbidden to date Ashish until she loses weight. Ashish’s family is in on their secret dating scheme, however they are thrilled to find their son an Indian-American girl and create a contract of set dates for the couple to follow. As always in Menon’s works, this book is adorable and entertaining while also spreading an important message. I must say, I was a little surprised to see a girl who isn’t Celia be paired with Ashish after what I read in When Dimple Met Rishi, but I definitely enjoyed Sweetie’s character and interactions with Ashish much more.

❀ ICONIC MAIN CHARACTER

Sweetie is such an iconic main character, and I loved her voice. She is a sassy track star who can kick anyone’s butt, and she has so much confidence. I liked how she is unafraid to stand up for herself instead of letting her mother bully her about her weight. Stereotypes are challenged as Sweetie proves that fat athletes are just as talented as anyone else and that she isn’t lazy. I also liked Ashish, even though he is a bit of a player at the beginning. He is adorable, and reading about him falling in love with Sweetie is so wholesome.

❀ LOVABLE NOVEL

There’s Something About Sweetie is a lovable novel about self-love and love in a difficult circumstance. I enjoyed the powerful message and both the main characters. This is such a feel-good book, and I would definitely recommend it this spring.

Sandhya Menon does it again! This book is such a sweet, fun, funny rollercoaster ride. Its the perfect summery read or fun read for anytime.

Oh. My. Gosh. I am totally swooning! This book is amazing (I know, I say that often, but it's true!!)!!!!!

This book is inspiring and delivers an important message in an impressive way: love yourself as you are, don't change, you are beautiful inside AND out! I've never been fat, I've always had a hard time using this word because it's pejorative, but I've been bullied in high school because I was tall and thin. I'm not saying it's the same thing, I'm saying you don't have to be fat to be bullied. But, seriously, this book? I love it with all my heart. And I love you too, Sandhya. You too have my heart ❤️

Many many many thanks to Simon and Shuster for my early e-copy of the book through NetGalley🙏💕

4.5 stars.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with an eARC of this book! This was one of my most anticipated reads this summer and I was so excited to have the opportunity to read it early! While it’s not really necessary to have read When Dimple Met Rishi to understand this, it’s a great book and I would definitely recommend it. This review is spoiler-free!

Ashish Patel, star basketball player, is not in a very good place post breakup with his girlfriend and he’s lost his confidence. Annoyed by his parents’ comments that they could find someone perfect for him, he challenges them to set him up with an Indian-American girl like they did for his older brother Rishi. Sweetie Nair is the fastest runner on the track team, but she’s fat, which, in her mom’s view, is pretty much the end of the world, and it hurts Sweetie more than she lets on, constantly being told that she will have a great life only if she loses weight. Despite being a star athlete, she always feels like she has to prove herself to everyone, all because she isn’t skinny.

Ashish’s parents thinks Sweetie would be a good match for him – but the hitch is that Sweetie’s mom thinks she’s too fat to be dating anyone, much less someone popular like Ashish. Sweetie has had enough however, and after meeting Ashish regardless of her mom’s decision, they decide to date behind their parents’ backs, each of them out to prove something – both to themselves and to everyone around them. When the Patel parents find out, they’re not too happy, but agree to let them go ahead if they sign a contract and go on four planned dates of their choosing.

I seem to have a tendency to uniformly describe all of Sandhya Menon’s books as completely adorable – because they are! They’re genuine and sweet and oh so relatable! And this might just be my favourite book of her’s yet! Both Ashish and Sweetie were such amazing characters, so well-portrayed and realistic, and it was so much fun getting to know them. Both of them are unconsciously trying to live up to other people’s expectations of them, whether it is the effect that years of fatphobia has had on Sweetie or Ashish trying so hard to emulate his older brother whom everyone always praises to the skies. The relationship between Sweetie and her mom is also really well-written.

But even better than the story is the message within, one that is not necessarily only for teens or young adults, but for readers of all ages, to love yourself the way you are. The author’s note is lovely, so don’t skip it! We need more characters like Sweetie in YA, who challenge society’s expectations and standards of beauty.

I generally have a really hard time with contemporary novels, but I’ve never had that issue with any of Sandhya Menon’s books. There’s Something About Sweetie was such a marvellous book, with laugh-out-loud moments and engaging dialogue – a thorough entertainer, yet one that makes you think. If you liked When Dimple Met Rishi, I highly recommend this – I’d say it’s even better. A perfect summer read!

***I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Simon Pulse and Sandhya Menon. ***

If I had to rate There's Something About Sweetie, by Sandhya Menon, solely on my love of Sweetie, it would be ten stars, but something kept me from falling in love with the story. This is book 2 in the Dimple and Rishi series, and it’s about Rishi’s brother Ashish, whose heart has been broken by his first love. In a moment of desperation to reclaim some semblance of his former confidence, he asks his parents to set him up the way they did with his older brother. Things don’t go according to plan because Sweetie’s mother refuses the match. Her reason? Her daughter is too fat and therefore not in Ashish’s league. Sweetie and Ashish, each with their own agendas, decide to go behind her parents’ backs and date anyway, but under the guiding hand of Ashish’s parents.

This book felt a little young to me, especially compared with the first book. It took me a while to warm to Ashish, and even longer to really like him. In contrast, I immediately loved Sweetie’s, her strength, her intelligence, her heart. Ashish just seemed so full of himself, especially in the past. His relationship with Celia was referred to way too often for my liking. Maybe if we’d seen more of it—the book starts 3 months after the breakup—I might have been able to appreciate how devastated he felt. To me, his relationship with Celia felt one-sided and nowhere near the depth of what developed between Ashish and Sweetie.

Weight is a central theme in the book. I liked Menon’s subtle message of acceptance. Though admittedly it was horrible to read the things her mom said about Sweetie’s weight. I was glad that she finally stood up to her mom and talked everything through. I also loved that she was attractive to Ashish on multiple levels and the positive effect they had on one another.

I struggled a little bit with Ashish’s and Sweetie’s intentions. They were dating not because they wanted to date the other person, but for their own reasons. Ashish wanted to get over Celia. Sweetie wanted to prove she was good enough. The reader gets to see the them falling for one another, but a little bit of the magic was missing for me. I suppose I didn’t trust their feelings for a lot of the book.

I enjoyed this book. I loved Sweetie and eventually really liked Ashish. I think my initial dislike of him, as well as Sweetie’s and Ashish’s intentions while dating kept me from outrightly loving the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sandhya Menon is one of my favourite YA authors for two reasons:
1) She writes diverse characters.
2) She makes me feel things.

After reading and loving When Dimple Met Rishi and From Twinkle With Love, I was so excited for her next book and There's Something About Sweetie did not disappoint.

Whenever I read Menon's books, I get pulled into the story so much that I feel as though the characters are really real. I love the opportunity to learn about being Indian-American through the references to the cultural etiquette, the foods and dress and the language sprinkled throughout the book. Best of all, I love the message that fat doesn't necessarily mean unhealthy. Sweetie is strong, powerful, beautiful and learns not to accept limitations, both from herself and from others.

Wrapped up in all of this is the sweet love story between Ashish and Sweetie, who set out solely to prove a point to themselves, but end up finding so much more.

Advanced copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

3.5-4 stars. This was a cute fun read and just what I needed to help me through this reading slump. This book was full of representation and it all felt very organic. I found myself relating a lot to Sweetie. The fat rep was nice to see in mainstream YA. Some parts of the story felt a little cliche and there were a few more unlikable characters than felt necessary, which is the main reason why I gave the book the rating I did. It was an enjoyable read, but sadly not an instant favourite. I felt like some of the scenes could have been cut out, but overall it was a good book. I look forward to reading more from this author

i love everything Sandhya Menon writes and releases.
I got this as an ARC from Netgalley in exchanged for an honest review
I am not lying when I say that I absolutely loved this. I still feel like her 2nd book is my favourite at the moment but this definitely deserves 5 stars still.
I feel like I should put a trigger warning for fat-shaming. It made me uncomfortable at times but for a good reason.

Menon writes the sweetest and most adorably charming stories. I’m always left feeling like a puddle of joy.

This book spoke to me on so many levels.
Yes YA contemporaries are often cute and fluffy (and this has the perfect amount of fluff). But they also have messages that are so important for not only teens, but adult YA readers, too.

As a fat girl, I wish I could see more empowering fat female characters. Seeing Sweetie being so comfortable in her own skin was inspiring to say the least.

Several of her scenes really hit close to home. Like Sweetie, I have dealt with a parent who is very against me being the size that I am. There were times where I felt that Menon could have actually shadowed me and was writing about my own first hand experiences and conversations. I’d never felt more *seen* in my life. I’m so grateful that this story was told the way it was.

Menon’s note to fat girls in the acknowledgments made me openly sob. So I want to take a moment to say thank you Sandhya. I will cherish those few sentences and carry them with me for the rest of my life.

And for my last point, something a little lighter. Ashish’s character development was stunning. I actually started off not particularly caring for him, but I can see now that was the cunning plan all along. He grew up a lot throughout the course of a month, and I loved it.
Him turning into a gooey chocolate chip cookie over Sweetie was way too cute.

We're back in the same universe as When Dimple Met Rishi and it's wonderful.

This book is about Ashish Patel and Sweety Nair. Ashish is going through a hard time after a painful breakup and he's lost his confidence. He agrees to let his parents pick a good Indian American girl for him to date. Enter Sweetie. She's not the stereotypical girl that Ashish was thinking his parents would find. She's feisty, a star track athlete, a wonderful singer.. and she's "fat". Sweetie's mother doesn't agree to the match, however, Sweetie and Ashish decide to date behind Sweetie's parents' back. Ashish's parents find out and have them sign a contract with planned dates of their choosing: visiting a temple, celebrating the festival of Holi, visiting Ashish's eccentric aunt. The story goes from there....

This book is truly a delight. I loved reading through both Sweetie and Ashish's perspectives. I related to Sweetie so much. She is a beautifully written character. She's everything I wanted her to be and more. Ashish and Sweetie are opposites in many ways but they're so perfect for each other.

There are some wonderful side characters and a cameo from two people we all know and love. I liked reading about the elements of Indian culture and Hinduism. I wish I could read about these characters forever.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher via Net Galley.