This is a very interesting premise and I enjoyed following the characters but the writing style was really not for me. The book definitely dragged a lot, and felt much longer than it needed to be. However I appreciated learning about Indian culture and traditions.

Full review is on the blog, www.acourtofbooksandbrews.com

⭐⭐💫

Overall, while there were bits and parts of the book I enjoyed, it fell flat for me. I found the chapters to be too lengthy and the characters more under than over developed. I love that the Indian culture and rituals were incorporated in the book, because it felt more authentic. I honestly think this would probably have been better as a movie instead of a book.

Many thanks to netgalley and Ballantine Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

“David Smith. Very American. I imagine he loves grilled cheese sandwiches. I personally don’t understand how anybody over the age of eight can stand those.”
I was really excited to dive into a novel about an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) going to India for a wedding, something that most of us desis can relate to. The plot itself was relatively interesting, if extremely predictable. I also loved the little chapter headings, which were hilarious!
However, the language felt like it was for middle schoolers, which was a bummer since the main character is nearly forty (“It was hot in the lounge so her Guess fur vest was hanging off the chair behind her,”).
Also, can someone explain to me why this cover looks like it was designed in MS paint?
This book tried really hard to be a Crazy Rich Asians, but the main issue is that Tina is just so annoying. I suppose this could have felt fresh and exciting for someone who isn’t an Indian-American, but to me, it just felt awfully stale. Tina’s repeated insistence that she doesn’t fit in anywhere just sounds like adolescent whining. She’s constantly using her immigrant status to separate herself when the truth is that she just doesn’t want to fit in. Her insecurity and complaining got very old, very fast. This immigrant sob story is nothing new, and it’s so individual to every second generation immigrant that it’s impossible for this to feel authentic. For example, Tina’s insistence that she can move to India is … unrelatable. There are genuinely a lot of Indian people in America, Tina! They will be way more likely to understand you! There’s nothing wrong with moving to India, but her keeping it as a backup is wrong, because she knows nothing about the place and would definitely feel even more isolated there. Also, Tina, if you can’t even cross the street or stay away from street food, you are definitely not cut out for life in India.
This novel also ignored the sentiment of most NRIs: a love for the culture and people of India, but a deep distrust of the entrenched systems in India. This is unavoidable, and to skim over it is a blatant erasure of the immigrant life.
The story flows along as a sort of ensemble drama, where we hear about Tina, her parents, and her best friend’s struggles. But honestly, none of them were actually that interesting. None of the subplots were developed well enough and everything was either predictable or unbelievable. I wish we had gotten to hear more about Shefali (the bride); she’s snarky, rich, and lowkey panicking about her wedding. She seemed like the most interesting character and her few scenes made me laugh.
I was really hoping for a sweet light hearted story that explored the duality of being a second generation immigrant, but all I got was a hodge podge novel that stuck to the shallowest themes possible.

I absolutely adored The Windfall, so I was looking forward to Diksha's next book. Her comedic wit is so fun to read. Unfortunately Destination Wedding didn't really deliver. I loved the premise of the story and the wide swath of characters. There was so much to work with and weave together. I think of sit-coms when I'm reading Diksha's book, but this one just lacked warmth. I didn't really care for any of the characters and most of the plot was really boring. I wish I felt something more from this - whether it was humor or some type of joyful reading experience. Instead, I was just glad it was over.

What an amazing novel to fill ones heart with love meaning soul and mood. Basu does a great job creating, in this genre, a novel that warms the heart and bring joy to your surroundings!! A must read to fill your soul with love!!!

India is a place I've always wanted to visit and while it's still on my bucket list I'm trying to read as many books set there as possible. Destination Wedding by Diksha Basu definitely ticked a lot of boxes for me - it's a work of literary fiction set in India about a millennial woman attending a lavish wedding. Destination Wedding is a big vibrant book with lush settings, family drama, and an interesting story of a woman trying to figure out what she wants in life.

The prose in this book is insanely descriptive - whenever I read a scene, I could almost smell the flowers or see the over the top displays of wealth at the wedding. Not only that but the book also did a really good job of contrasting the wealth and opulence of the wedding with the true nature of Delhi just outside the gates. The book used shifting points of view - which was a powerful tool in achieving this contrast of settings of the version of Delhi the wedding was portraying, and the version of Delhi that most people actually live in. For example, when Tina was wandering the city with Sid, she would often not see past the poverty to the actual human beings in front of her. Then, the POV would switch, and as readers, we would get to see what the person Tina perceived as a beggar was thinking. This democratized the image the author painted of Delhi, and really helped to point out the flaws in Tina’s perception and character.

The one drawback of this book was the lack of a cohesive underlying storyline. This novel was basically a mishmash of exploring different characters’ backstories leading up to the wedding along with Tina working to find herself. A lot of the story just focused on how characters were processing events in their histories - there was no overarching plot outside of all of the characters attending the wedding. Having a bit more of a storyline is what would have elevated this book to a five-star read for me, but its ability to develop characters and beautiful settings definitely helped save this book.

There was a huge array of characters in Destination Wedding – everyone from Tina to her parents, to staff at the country club, to the wedding planner, to the grandmother of the groom was given a point of view at some point. Diksha Basu had a real knack for developing characters quickly – there were characters who only appeared for a page or two but had plenty of backstory and definition. I could instantly understand and relate to a character who only appeared for a paragraph or two – that takes some serious writing chops.

Tina was a complex, confused, and fascinating character. When Destination Wedding begins, Tina is at a crossroads: she has achieved a lot in her career, but she’s not satisfied with the work she does or her previous romantic entanglements. Additionally, she’s never gotten over her parents’ divorce (though they had a remarkably healthy relationship). All of this combined created a lot of potential for personal growth – and grow she did. She spent most of the book exploring Delhi and her own roots – finding herself and new passions along the way. Her story is ultimately one of self-reflection and her choosing what she wants in life.

Destination Wedding by Diksha Basu wasn’t a perfect book, but the authors talent for building a vibrant and well described setting, for crafting interesting characters, and for making you really think about how wrong your perceptions and assumptions of others can be really made it a good novel. The sole drawback of this book was the meandering plot – and the lack of a true storyline. If you’re looking for other great books, check out The Kiss Quotient, The Bride Test, or The Wedding Date. 4/5

This book, centered around a wedding celebration in India, gave me an interesting glimpse into another culture. The characters were well-written - I definitely felt like I knew them and enjoyed the view of their lives. Even with the commentary on cultural differences, it wasn't a heavy read. I would recommend as a great book to escape into this summer.

3.5 stars rounded to 4

Charming, witty and full of heart, Destination Wedding by Diksha Basu is a kaleidoscope of colorful characters, desi drama and spot on dialogues, amidst a lavish Indian wedding. 

The writing is simple yet unique but I am afraid it might not appeal to those who aren't familiar with what I think of as "Indian style english". Anyhow, I personally found it delightful. The narrative is third person and the author seamlessly transitions between characters, incorporating their backstories along with the background commentary. The portrayal of contemporary India is pretty accurate and I found myself nodding in agreement and laughing out loud several times throughout the book. There is no plot, but that's hardly unexpected in literary fiction as it's usually more about character study than storyline. 

With the wedding being the central theme, there's no shortage of drama, gossip and mayhem, all extremely entertaining, but, beneath all that humor we get an astute examination of class structure, culture, identity, race and belonging. Readers also gain an insight into second generation immigrant experience and interracial relationships. 

I loved getting a glimpse into the lives of characters from The Windfall, and if you've read the author's debut you'll easily see the connection, but don't worry if you haven't, because you won't miss anything. 

Overall, Destination Wedding is a light heated, enjoyable read that both entertains and educates. Recommended if you enjoy character driven, diverse literary fiction with a sprinkle of South Asian culture, custom and traditions.

Pros:
-Indian representation in a book
-talks about socioeconomic issues

And that's about it.
Otherwise, there were weird grammatical errors, trigger warnings for: fatphobia, micr0-aggressions, and classism
It keeps being compared to My Big Fat Greek Wedding & Crazy Rich Asians and honestly...I didn't see it. All I read was dialogue, description. Dialogue, description. Tina is extremely unlikable, and she's always complaining. In fact, everyone is always complaining. About someone else, their job, it's ridiculous. the story dragged so much, and I was expecting a little bit of humor or comedy, but it didn't land. Nothing truly exciting happens, except for one thing toward the end.

I wish the author luck in their endeavors, but this really was not my favorite.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review. I was invited to view this title from the publisher. Tina and her family go to New Delhi to attend her cousin Shefali's wedding. Tina is an American born of Asian Indian descent from her parents who came to America to study. She is a 32 year old single woman who works for a streaming channel to search for reality television ideas. The characters in the book are quirky and interesting. Tina goes with her best friend from college Marianne, while her divorced parents attend - her therapist mother Radha and her boyfriend David Smith; her father Mr. Neel Das who goes to meet a woman through a matchmaking service. The book was entertaining and informative. It reminded me a little of Crazy Rich Asians. The author gave servants and minor characters back stories without clogging up the narrative.

This read was great but i found i just couldn't connect with any of the characters. It was fun to transport to another place. The switching of perspectives i found was not necessary. I did enjoy learning about another culture. Overall pretty good book!

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this novel.
Destination Wedding follows Tina and Marianne as they travel to India in order to participate in a lavish wedding of Tina's cousin. Many new romances are formed during this wedding (including Tina's parents), and it is hard to know who will end up with each other at the end. Fun and delightful, this book provides a great escape.

I enjoyed Diksha Basu's debut The Windfall, so I was delighted to have the chance to get an early copy of Destination Wedding. I love to read about weddings in far-away locales, And, this book delivered. Tina Das is headed from NY to Delhi for a wedding with her divorced parents and BFF in tow. What transpires is a comedic clashing of cultures and generations with a love match or two.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

This book is a somewhat frothy look at how family, ethnicity, and class intersect at a week long wedding celebration. Charming characters, interesting setting, and problems that are both specific and universal. Loved it.

One line from the book that seems to encapsulate the text's message is: "Weddings, especially destination ones, were never about wise choices; they were about panicky introspection." We, as readers, are privy to the thoughts, memories, desires, and regrets of not only the main characters, but the characters in the margins as well. What at the surface level describes a young woman's experience of attending a family wedding in India is on a deeper level an analysis of cultural identity, class, familial relationships/dynamics, friendship, and career aspirations. I appreciated the mix of thought-provoking introspection and dialogue alongside humor, vivid imagery of India, and will-they-or-won't-they relationship pulls. I'm ready for a sequel!

Who here loved the Crazy Rich Asians series by Kevin Kwan? If you enjoyed that series, I have a book recommendation for you! Destination Wedding is out at the end of the month, and it had a little bit of everything I love in a good book. One of the main characters, Tina, is Indian, but she has grown up in America. She has never felt like she fully belonged in America, and she has been struggling with who she is. When her cousin invites her to a week long wedding in Delhi, she decides to go. The lavishness of her cousin's wedding reminded me of CRA- over 1000 guests in attendance, parties and shopping sprees, brand new iPads for each of the guests, and so much more. The descriptions of India and Indian culture were fascinating to learn about. There was also a rich and fun cast of characters, from Tina's best friend Marianne, to her divorced parents and her mom's boyfriend, to the widow her dad meets through an Indian matchmaking organization. There were moments that were lighthearted and funny and entertaining, and other moments that felt so relevant to what is going on in the world today, especially the struggle Tina and her parents face as Indians in America. Basu touches on privilege and prejudices, assumptions and racism that make this much more than a book about a lavish Indian wedding. Thank you @randomhouse @netgalley @diksha_basu for this e-book.

Tina is an American Indian struggling with her identity. Born and raised in America, as an Indian, she feels like an outsider, but when she travels to India for her friend's wedding, as an American, she feels like an outsider there too. On top of trying to find her place in the world, she's struggling with her work as a producer for a TV station. Every idea she has seems to crash and burn, leaving wounded prospective talent in its wake.

Marianne, Tina's friend and companion for the wedding, is grappling with her identity in a different way. White and from obvious privilege that extends beyond her skin, Marianne routinely shifts her self to fit in and connect with her current beau. She prefers exotic men who can open her world and change her perspective. Having been with Tom, a Black man from Newton, MA, for several years, Marianne is feeling restless and bored with Tom's stability and "normalness." Being at a lavish Indian wedding and meeting many handsome men from wealthy and diverse backgrounds, Marianne questions her fidelity and future with Tom.

Also attending the wedding are Tina's parents - divorced for over a decade and finding their own happiness in their new lives. Tina's mother, Rhada, has brought her very white, very American boyfriend, David Smith, and her father, Neel Das, meets a widowed woman through a matchmaker.

The storyline is very character-driven and we become intimately familiar with the Das family and Marianne as each individual confronts their anxieties and insecurities and makes new life choices. The narrative often switches from character to character, which overall I really enjoyed as it felt authentic and added a really great layer to the story, but it was occasionally a bit hard to follow. Hopefully the final version is a little more clearly delineated when a narrator switches. I also loved the culture but would've enjoyed a bit more about a traditional Indian wedding and the customs. I loved that the author took care in highlighting the disparities between the wealthy and the impoverished in India. It painted a really wonderful picture without defining the country by one or the other.

Overall this was an incredible read. I had a smile on my face for much of it as I really connected with the characters (love Mr. Das and Rajesh!!). I absolutely recommend this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Loved The Windfall found this novel just as entertaining.Full of family ,destination ,celebration.This was a fun read a look at Delhi society at their magical weddings .at the complications of family relationships,Fun wonderful read.#netgalley#randomhouse

I loved it! It was like watching one of my favorite Bollywood movies but it was more than that cuz it was layered with real people and real live situations
and comedic moments. All these people were living experiences ,and it revolves around them being in India for a wedding happening at the same time . I can't wait for the next book, I really enjoyed this.

Talk about a book that literally lives up to the title! Fun novel about family, weddings and how travel involving your family is a trip, not a vacation. It was lighthearted but I felt like the characters were real and not not stereotypes. I did feel like the switching of perspectives was not needed. I know that is the trend in novels now but I don't think this book benefited from it.