I love happy endings
And i love books that make me dream of travels
Love Chai and other four letter word is a beautiful book on love, friendship and family and i couldn't be more than happier to read it especially with that gorgeous cover
So if you're looking for a dose of love. Then this is your book with hilarious characters and swoon worthy love scenes sure to leave your heart melting.

This book is a bit difficult to review because the second half of this book is so different from the first one. I quite liked the first half. I thought it was a cute set up and felt very romcom-y. I honestly could so easily picture the first half as a movie. I also quite liked our main characters and was looking forward to learning more about them and seeing how their experiences would influence their relationship. However, then the big conflict happens and I got annoyed. I just think the whole conflict was based around something that was present from before they started seeing each other and nothing aout it had changed. So, I just hated that it was brought up again. Like, you really couldn't foresee this coming at all? It's so hard to explain this without spoiling anything ... After that something else big happened and I just felt like the focus of this book completely shifted to Kiran's family issues. The romance just felt a bit ignored, as well as Nash's own family issues. I just wish the book would have balanced these elements a bit better. On top of that both characters just made a lot of decisions that really annoyed me in the second half and I honestly kind of stopped rooting for them to get together. The ending felt a bit abrupt for me. So the first half was a four star and the second half a two star, so a total of a three star rating felt fair to me. I am interested in the rest of this series though because Kiran's friend group was honestly consistantly the best part of this entire book and I can't wait to get the individual romances of all the friendship group members.

I have to admit I didn't particularly enjoy this book. Although the Indian rep is good, it is overshadowed by the classic "white man saviour" trope. Full review to come on Goodreads.

In this grounded romance, we follow the brave and warm-hearted Kiran as she weighs her heart against familial expectations. Haunted by her sister's disownment over twenty years ago for an unapproved romantic choice, Kiran feels she owes her parents a dutiful match for all their love and support over the years. Unfortunately, her heart cannot be reasoned with as she starts to fall for her new neighbor, Nash, a white American who definitely doesn't meet her family's requirements.

There was a lot to love about this story. The romance follows a reasonable timeline, from strangers to comfortable friendship to flirty yearning. They go on cute dates around New York, crossing items off their bucket lists. Kiran's torn thoughts and looming high-stakes decisions give meaningful tension as the relationship progresses. Nash, to me, was less remarkable. He struggles with the void left by a father who abandoned him as a child and a mother who died from an overdose. He certainly brings his own baggage, and I think sometimes he weighed Kiran down with his lack of understanding for her position. The author took on a big challenge bringing a fraught cross-cultural relationship to the page and examining the ugly parts of that with the beautiful ones. I think that's especially true when a white person is included since we're generally clueless and self-involved. I recommend looking up some ownvoices reviews to get a stronger perspective on this part of the story, as well.

As an additional trigger warning to the content mentioned in my review, know that there are several Harry Potter references.

A lovely story.

What I liked:
I loved the characters all felt thought out, with real lives of their own. The cultural conflict was very interesting to read and heartfelt. I loved the character developments. Romance was adorable.

What I didn't like / Would have wished for:
There isn't really something that comes to mind.

I enjoyed it very much.

My rating system:
5 Stars: If I couldn't put a book down and highly enjoyed it. In addition, if it made me think and reflect it's a huge plus.
4 Stars: I very much liked it it gave me feels, and I would definitely reread it. However, enjoyed it a
little less than a 5 Star book.
3 Stars: It was a nice read I liked it but it doesn't make me feel as invested/ involved as a 4-star book.
2 Stars: It was alright but maybe not my cup of tea.
1 Star: I must have hated it.

It was the title that pulled me towards this book and then the synopsis. Being an Indian immigrant myself I was intrigued to read how the author treats the elephant in the room; namely an Indian immigrant with conservative parents living in India falling in love with and wanting to marry a white Caucasian man.
Granted that Indian families in India have moved beyond some of the taboos expressed in this book I felt Ms. Sharma did a good job with highlighting Kiran's challenges in pursuing a relationship with Nash. Also I felt that her tribe and their love for all things "Desi" (movies, food and above all things Chai as the panacea) was really well done and true to type.
Kiran was mindful of the privilege that brought her to the USA first to study and then to continue to pursue her dreams. Determined to fall in line with her parents wishes the last thing she expected was a storm called Nash who would blow all her plans apart and yearn to chose what she wants for herself. As we discover this is no simple matter particularly given the dark history of her sister who was forced out of the family for following her heart.
New York City at its best, a tale of star crossed lovers and anguish. Will it come right for these two? Read the bok and find out for yourself. it's definitely worth reading.

A heartwarming interracial, dual perspective, closed door romance between Nash, a white American man and Kiran, a South Asian woman born in India but living in New York City.

Kiran and her three college friends in the Chai Masala Club, are reminiscing about the list of things they wanted to do before they turn 30. At the top of Kiran's list is falling in love but what she never wanted to do was fall for someone her very traditional parents wouldn't approve of.

What ensues is a lovely romance between Kiran and Nash that gets derailed when Kiran's parents refuse to accept Nash as a viable partner for Kiran. I loved the authentic look South Asian culture and the cultural and familial pressure put on children to follow traditions. Kiran's sister was ostracized for choosing a man her parent's didn't approve of, which made Kiran's choice that much more difficult.

Highly recommended for fans of Sajni Patel's First love, take two and great on audio. Much thanks to NetGalley for my advance review copies!

I think it was a cute concept but overall not for me. First, let me say that the representation in this novel is great. Kiran is an immigrant from India sent by her family to go to a United States college. 10 years later Kiran is now a successful engineer in NYC and has meetings with her three best friends with similar heritage. You can guess who the other books will be about. And with little to basically no experience with Indian culture I was really intrigued. From there on the story takes place just like you would expect it to, just with a lot of family drama. And that's where it lost me. Both Kiran and her love interest Nash have family drama to the max- disownments, addictions, abandonment, etc. I was hoping for more "Get a life, Chloe Brown" with Kiran list she has that she wants to accomplish and feel she has a full life. That was still there, but the family on both sides downed that for me a bit. I understand that some of it just was a culture I have no experience in (Kiran's family) and the other major part is that I don't like family drama... I may sound like I'm hyper-focusing so let me just end with I think it was a solid start to a new series and if you like more weight to your romances I say give it a try.

This was a fantastic book. I went into it thinking it was a romance book but it really isn’t. It’s more of a book about family issues with a little romance sprinkled in. This was tough to read in parts and found it a little triggering for purity culture stuff. But I really loved Kiran. I wish her friends had been a larger part of the book but I think the next books in the series will be about them!

If your a fan of Sara Desai’s work, food, and Desi cultural then definitely add this to your TBR! I couldn’t get enough of the food talks, New York bucket list, and so much more. Kiran may be an adult but she’s still finding herself and her place. She’s such a strong and brave young women! Nash overcomes so much in his life and will wants love and someone to be fully his. I absolutely loved how their story ended, just need more romance!

Rating: 3/5
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Women’s Fiction
Warnings: addiction (drugs)
Read if you liked: First Love, Take Two or Accidentally Engaged
Steam: Closed Door
Tropes: friends to lover, forced proximity

Thank you to Sourcebook Casablanca and NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. Love, Chai and Other Four-Letter Words is out now!

Things I loved: Found family vibes and I love a bucket list. This book had a great list and I kind of want to create my own before my 30th birthday. NYC! Loved the friend group, I think I liked the friends more than the couple. This was more of a women’s fiction vibe with a romance. Kiran had some great character development and it was great to watch her grow into her own.

Things I didn’t care for: I’m never a fan of a lot of pop culture references and dear god stop talking about Macaroni and Cheese. Nash was completely forgettable for me. And on to my issues, which are based on personal preferences and this is something I have brought up before with Desi romances…I don’t intend on reading any for a bit after this because this one hit a similar way.

I have a lot of trouble reading/enjoying these toxic family and cultural dynamics. I do not want to judge how this book serves as representation to some groups, which is not and will never be my place. I am simply saying, these types of dynamics do not serve me well. I do really appreciate that the author is trying to show culturally norms that the next generation is fixing, so maybe this is a book I will enjoy in the future.

First of all, I would like to say that I won't be criticizing any cultural aspects of this book, since it's not my place to do so. If you would like to see reviews from people this book is set to represent, there are plenty to read on Goodreads.

Love, Chai, and Other Four-Letter Words is about Kiran, who was born in India and moved to the US to pursue a higher education after her parents sacrificed a lot to get her where she is. This book is targeted as "strong friendships and families" but I honestly didn't see a lot of that. Moving to a total different country can be pretty scary, specially if you're doing it alone, so I was glad Kiran had the CMC to help her navigate life outside her comfort zone and everything she ever knew. It was nice to see they came from the same culture but had totally different backgrounds and somehow complemented each other. On the other hand, I was appalled and outraged by the way Kiran's parents treated her after they found out she fell in love with an American white boy. I wish we had seen a more understanding, with good communication on both parts, approach to this whole situation. Again, I know nothing about this culture-wise, but I can bet that on today's society not every parent will react that way, no matter where they come from.

As much as I actually enjoyed Nash as a character from his background perspective, I found him to be hugely ignorant about most things. What bugged me the most was the fact that he was pretty much clueless about other cultures and didn't even make an effort throughout the book to get to know at least Kiran's a little better. You can't be expected to know everything right away, but he just expected her to teach him everything and got defensive when she was trying to educate him on the matter. I also didn't feel like they fit as a couple. They had trouble communicating and seemed to argue most of the time, with things getting quickly out of hand, and then everything seemed to be forgotten because they told each other how in love they were. Not to mention how he was a little possessive over her in the last few chapters.

I really liked Kiran. She was smart and funny. Sometimes it's not easy to deal with the expectations your family has for you, so I was pleased we got to see her navigate what that meant for her and the people around her. I just wish some things would have been handled differently in the grand scheme of things.

Since this seems to be a series, I'm curious to see how it goes from here and read the books about the other CMC.

Quick synopsis: When Kiran, an engineer with a traditional family still living in her home country of India, meets Nash, a child psychologist new to her apartment building and the city, an instant friendship forms. As feelings progress, both try to determine if a relationship and happiness is worth pursuing and both face different challenges in coming together.

Gosh did this book make me want a homemade cup of chai (do not call it chai tea!) This book was such an unexpected gem, and I adored it.

I'm a big cover buyer. Usually, this means I'm more drawn to the graphics and colors of the cover, rather than the title. This time, though, that title sounded super cute and made me want to read this book - it did not disappoint!

Here are some elements I loved:
📱Text messages between Kiran and Nash, as well as Kiran and the CMC
🗽Adventures in NYC were well-written and a richly detailed setting
🥵Tension & chemistry
👩🏽‍🤝‍👨🏾Microagressions addressed head on
🙍🏽‍♀️Family & cultural expectations
🐎Vegan marshmallows
🍦Indian inspired ice cream

Told in alternating viewpoints between Kiran and Nash, the two become instant friends and feel a connection to each other. The author captured their connection and friendship really well, as well as the awkwardness that comes with being unsure of how (or if) to pursue their growing attraction. It looks like we'll be getting spin off books for the rest of the friend group, the CMC, especially Akash, and I cannot wait to read what's next.

Full review on bookstagram to come.

#netgalley #lovechaiandotherfourletterwords

I was so excited to read Love, Chai, and Other Four-Letter Words by Annika Sharma because the heroine is an Indian immigrant. And I was really intrigued to see how it is represented.


And that was my downfall. Being a hardcore Indian( born, raised, still living and never leaving), I am very aware of the culture and the restrictions of society. However I was disappointed to see the author representing Indian parents still stuck in that part..rather than showing the parents being supportive and encouraging. I do love Kiran's struggle and how she came to USA and follow her dreams. But it was disheartening to see her getting emotionally blocked at every stage. Because I know my parents and most people I know will not try to suffocate their daughters like this. And more importantly, Kiran's growth should include her standing up for her feelings better.

Nash is American and he is not very much aware about Indian culture and a lot of time was spent in Kiran explaining how Indian society works. It was supposed to be adorable and quirky but for me, it was getting a tiny bit annoying. May be my senses were on high alert because of my general experience about white people's ignorance( read : insensitivity) regarding other culture.

I wanted to enjoy this book so much. For me, the best part was the Chai Masala Club. Kiran's group of friends who were entertaining and supportive and made it enjoyable.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily through Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca

This reminds me of a desi version of friends but in book form! Annika's book is perfect for fans of Sandhya Menon who want themes that people in their 20s can relate to.

'Love, Chai and Other Four-Letter Words': 3.5⭐

(Unpaid Review: thank you to @netgalley, @sourcebookscasa and @annikasharma for allowing me to read this eArc copy in exchange for a review.)

Okay, this book left me craving chocolate and chai all the friggin time, I spent so much money on chai while reading it, its not even funny 😜
I absolutely loved the character growth in the book, with amazing desi representation and a beautiful story of womanhood! I'm compelled to rate this book even higher but I'd really love to see more romance developed into it.
I couldn't stop craving the main character's to get together, like I love romance and this cover didn't help!

The charming romance of Kiran and Nash unfolds with chemistry drawing them together while their baggage and commitment to their families may drive them apart. Kiran's sister chose love rather than an arranged marriage and the family has never recovered so Kiran is committed to never disappointing her family--no matter what it costs her. Nash has his own baggage and much to learn about being with Kiran. I appreciated the author's insights into the challenges faced by people of color in America. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book very much. Four friends of Indian descent form a club of college friends, The Chai Masala Club. They have bucket lists of things they want for do before they turn 30, and the main character, Kiran, is behind on hers. The club members all have different backgrounds - one is from a wealthy English-Indian family, two are American-Indian, and Kiran grew up in India, in a small village, and the family lives there. Her parents are observant to the rules of their culture and community, one of which says that Kiran must marry an Indian guy.
Kiran falls in love with a white guy named Nash. He’s wonderful, and perfect for her, but he’s not Indian. Her sister married outside her caste, and the village elders had her banned from her village and her parents disowned her. It was devastating for Kiran and her parents, and she doesn’t want to put her parents through that again.
The “will they or won’t they” trope is well done and it was interesting to read about Kiran’s parents and their beliefs. I highly recommend this book, 4 stars.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Plus points for these:
- Indian culture and representation is good and vouched by ownvoices reviewers I’ve seen on Goodreads.

- I love that the female MC is born and raised in India and then migrated to the US. I love seeing characters that are first generation immigrants.

- Kiran’s and Nash’s relationship with their families is a big part of them (both the positive and negative impact) so I’m glad to see that they made strides to end on good terms with them.

Overall thoughts:
The romance — they have chemistry and it was cute how they went around New York to tick things off their bucket list. I just wasn’t completely sold? To be honest I came for the romance but it wasn’t the reason I continued reading.

My fave part is probably the friend group. I would LOVE to know more about them more so I’ll probably be on the lookout for the next books.

LOVE CHAI AND OTHER FOUR-LETTER WORDS🗽🕌❤️

"I think soulmates understand you in a transcendent way. They experience the worst with you instead of just witnessing it. They fly with you when you rise instead of looking at your wings." ❤️🌌

Author: Annika Sharma
Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommended Age: +15
English level: B1-B2

First, thank you very much to @sourcebookscasa and @netgalley for letting me read this beautiful book first ❤️
The book is about Kiran, a girl who comes from India but currently lives in NY with her 3 best friends and on the other hand we have Nash, a boy from Nashville who wants a change of scene and moves to NY.

I do not want to tell you much because I would like you to enter the blank book, this book deals with many topics such as beliefs, family, love, acceptance and improvement.
I had never read a book with multicultural romance and the truth is that I was quite surprised.
I learned some things about how people in India live and their beliefs and I think it was one of the points that made me love it because we are all different and even if we go to another place our roots will always be present.
Kiran is a strong female lead who inspired me too much to keep going. I identified with her in some things and I think that's why I enjoyed it more.
Apart from this part of knowing more about the culture of India, I loved the romance between our two main characters but it should be noted that it has very good secondary characters and they had a super important role in the lives of both main characters.