I loved this book! The representation was so true to my experiences, the parents were so much like my parents, and the love interest was so sweet and funny. This HAS to be a bestseller this summer; it was such an amazing story of love and family and resilience. Radha's story is so unique to her sport and her family, but the story itself is a universal story that I believe that everyone can relate to. The intersection of dance and food as expressions of passion and love was so creative and unique. I also LOVED seeing a surprise appearance from the characters of Nisha Sharma's first book, My So Called Bollywood Life. I think this book is BETTER than Sharma's first book because it is so clear to see how much love and passion has been poured into every page. I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of YA romance or YA contemporary. It is absolutely incredible.

Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this book. I was really looking forward to it being Indian myself but it just wasn't for me. I felt like the writing was too cheesy ( i understand it was supposed to be fluffy and like a bollywood movie but it was too much) and lacked depth in a way that I couldn't really connect to the characters. I also felt like the pacing was off. There were so many time skips and scene changes that we barely got to see the issues that played out and the characters reactions to most of them, resulting in it feeling shallow. The relationship also felt underdeveloped to me because though they did technically get to know each other over time, the continuous time skips didnt make it feel that way and we didn't get to see any of it, making me feel like i barely knew them let alone liked them. I feel like the author should have reduced the skipping of scenes and written a little more of the characters feelings and reactions to the events around them and also allowed us to see more of Radha and Jai together as they're vital to the story.
I did enjoy the aspects of food and dance brought into the story as they are such a huge part of our culture. It felt disconnected to me with the pacing, time skips, and the underdeveloped relationship.

Radha is in London and a dancer. I liked the dialogue,descriptions,characters. I liked the Indian culture. Good quick read

“Radha & Jai” was such a fun read! It very much did feel like watching a romantic comedy without ever losing sight of the deeper issues undergirding the story. Though I sometimes felt that the writing was a little heavy-handed with its exposition, I greatly enjoyed reading this.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for sharing this ARC with me.

3.5! This was a wholesome read. I love YA books with teens actually behaving like teens. This was fun to read and I liked the Bollywood feels it gave off! The writing was vivid and I was able to easily imagine all the colors and imagery described. It was also a nice insight into different types of Indian dance, cuisine, and culture. It also dealt with many real issues with teens including family relationships, finding your dream and pursuing it, and life in general. I definitely think readers will enjoy it.

I really enjoyed this book, I thought the story was phenomenal. I loved the familial relationships, the dance plot, the Indian recipes, and the romance. I recommend this just as much as My So-Called Bollywood Life, which I gave 4 stars. With the mental and physical (stroke awareness) health representation, I think this book deserves a higher review!

Food, dance and romance combine in this delightful story of two teens who must work through personal struggles to find their happy ending. Nisha Sharma's stories are always pure, effervescent (reading) joy!

Radha Chopra is one of the most talented kathak dancers in the world, but when she finds out a horrible truth about her family and feels betrayed by her mother, she gives up dancing during an intense international competition. Radha moves to New Jersey from Chicago, and there at her new school, she meets Jai, a handsome Bollywood dancer. Both Radha and Jai are attracted to one another, and they quickly become more than friends. With a dance competition coming up, Jai convinces Radha to join his dance team and choreograph their competition routine. Soon both of them will have to work out their past issues and their future plans in order to stay together.

I enjoyed this book and liked learning about various forms of Indian dance, cuisine, and culture. The writing was vivid, emotional, and descriptively realistic. The plot kept me guessing, and since I struggle with my own anxiety issues, it was easy for me to connect to Radha personally as I read. The characters were memorable, and the lessons about family, relationships, and life in general were encouraging and helpful. Though I don't personally agree with some of the views and lifestyles presented and I didn't care for the profanity used, I highly recommend this book for its heart and great storytelling. I will definitely read another book by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

In Nisha Sharma's latest book, readers are in for a scrumptious treat filled with food, dance, and romance in this coming of age YA rom-com.

Radha has a passion for Kathak dancing, but when a betrayal by her mother costs her the biggest competition of her life, Radha's dancing career is brought to an abrupt and devastating end. She leaves behind her Chicago home and enrolls in the Princeton Academy of the Arts in New Jersey. At her new school Radha is determined to leave the performing world in her past, and reinvent herself. But what she doesn't count on is Jai!

Jai is captain of the Bollywood Beats dance team and ranked first in his class. While he dreams of college and attending medical school, his family situation makes that dream impossible., so he pours his heart and soul into his dance team to make this a show-stopping year. And, that is when Radha enters his life,

Radha and Jai face their fears, challenges, and heartbreak in this inspirational story about fighting for your dreams and choosing your own future.