Read this if you:
*like chai
*are close with your family
*love a good slow burn
*enjoy learning about different cultures

Well this just wanted to make me drink even more chai!!! This was just so cute. I flew through it. Love to see how two different cultures navigate their relationship and talk about privilege.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I love seeing multicultural books and to see characters from different cultures finding love too!

This book was such an eye opener towards the Indian culture, what's expected of children, the traditions, and also the other side of the culture with the foods and dances and traditions. It gave the reader a full circle of the Indian culture and what it's about while showing the good sides and the difficult sides, as every culture has. This book didn't shy away from the difficult sides though, rather showing the truth that occurs in so many different countries towards women, the attitude and mind-set towards them and how they should live their lives and what's expected of them. In my culture, we have something similar too so I understood what the characters were going through and how hard some of these decisions can be.

Overall, this book definitely taught me a lot and I'm glad I got to read it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the earc in return for an honest review.

Kiran is almost thirty. Her family is pressuring her to get married and settle down with a nice Indian man, but Kiran isn’t ready for that. Nash moves to NYC to start anew. Both live in the same apartment complex, and when Nash misplaces his keys, Kiran welcomes him into her home and a friendship sparks. Both feeling like they are missing out on life, create a bucket list of all the things they want to do in NYC. But the longer they stay together checking off tasks, the more their feelings for each other grow. Can they let go of the expectations placed upon them? Or will they let this magnetic feeling of love pass?

This is a beautiful story about dating cross culturally. Kiran and Nash are so opposite, one has a loyal family while the other lost theirs. Kiran is stuck trying to fulfill her families wishes while Nash is trying to break from his families mistakes. As a people pleaser I related to Kiran so much. I too for a while thought I had to please my parents to succeed in life, but in reality all they wanted was my happiness. There were some things I didn't like about it. Some of the ways Nash spoke seemed unrealistic for a man. Also, the black and white thinking of her parent's really bothered me. I didn't believe someone would shut out their own daughter so fast without any discussion about it. Overall I give it a 3.5 stars.

Have you ever read a book that made you feel all the things? This one will do it!!!

This is the story of Kiran and Nash. Kiran has been in NY for 10 years but is originally from from India. She works as an engineer and has the best group of friends! Nash is a psychologist from TN, who just moved to NY. Turns out they are neighbors who meet and over a cup of chai and become friends. Kiran and her friends have bucket lists of things to accomplish in life and Kiran invites Nash to make one too. They share their adventures and by doing so become closer. But as feelings grow Kiran is pulled by her family and culture that forbids her from marrying a white, American man. Is any potential for a relationship doomed? Can they work through these budding feelings?

This is an absolutely beautiful story full of culture and food! (Oh man the food!!!). I loved Nash so much. Like I wanted to swaddle him in a blanket and protect him from all harm. Which made parts of this book hard to read because like any good romance you know there will be strife and I could see hard times for Nash coming. This book made me want to throw it at times because I was so angry at the situations these characters were in. The family situations made me cry many times. There are so many real emotions in this book which the author beautifully handles. I was still trying to process all the feelings over this one hours after finishing last night which is the mark of a great read in my opinion.

This is a beautiful friends to lovers, closed door romance with so much heart and depth. All of the characters in this book are so well written. Not only are Kiran and Nash just perfection but Payal and Kiran's other friends are just so wonderful in this book. I really hope we get to see more of them in future books. I would definitely recommend checking this one out.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an EARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

✨I know I was supposed to be paying attention to the main couple, but is it a bad thing that I was thirsting for the sexy, brown boy secondary character the whole time 😩?✨

Unfortunately, I find myself in a very conflicted position. I really wanted to enjoy this book, and I did. But I still had a good amount of issues with it.

Don’t get me wrong though, I know I will enjoy the other books in this series. It is just the story and relationship of this one that I had small issues with.

Tropes:
- friends to lovers
- completing the heroine’s bucket list together
- fighting cultural norms
- will they / won’t they
- cute grand gesture
- closed door romance
- strong friendships

First of all, let me say the Indian representation in this book was great. In the few books with South Asian representation we get, we mostly get South Asian-American representation, not characters who are actually from India originally. This story provides a wonderfully unique addition to the list of books with South Asian representation.

Second, I really enjoyed Kiran’s friends. I cannot wait to read their stories.

Third, I am a sucker for the bucket list trope. I think it was executed very well. It definetly made me want to write my own list and find a handsome hunk along the way.

Now I unfortunately have to mention the few issues I had with the book.

I am extremely tired of the only representation I see of my community that of a strict, toxic community that is desperately waiting to shove every woman into an arranged marriage or trying to oppress her. And while is the reality for many people, enough of a reality to need books that discuss that, it is not such a reality in the modern day that the only representation I see of the South Asian community in books is that toxic and archaic community. Especially when it takes place in America. I, personally, along with most of my brown friends and family (which is A LOT), have never experienced a community like this. Most experiences of South Asian people of 2021 is not like the stereotypes we are so used to seeing. The world is changing and so is South Asian culture and norm. Of course there are tiny lingering glimmers of the regressive culture that used to be a norm still present in our culture today, but I think that is the case for every culture. I don’t like seeing South Asian culture consistently get painted in this harmful light. I don’t like seeing my culture getting viewed as oppressive, strict, archaic, toxic, and regressive in everything I read. I am extremely saddened when I read books that still fall into these stereotypes. And publishing these stereotypes over and over again is so harmful. I am tried of seeing South Asian families and communities as regressive or oppressive. I wish Annika Sharma hadn’t given into that stereotype.

Furthermore, I was really not happy when India was painted in poverty and grime tinted glasses in the book. This could have been a powerful opportunity to fight that stereotype. To discuss the wealth disparity, the difference in wealthy + middle class areas and lower class areas, how India is developing, etc. Unfortunately, that is not what happened.

The white man’s burden vibes of Nash’s relationship with Kiran was a big red-flag for me. Do not get me wrong, I am not opposed to interracial romances at all! But when I see a smart, woman of color end up with a mediocre white man who doesn’t even know the ‘c’ in culture? Nuh uh. Nash had this preachy vibe to him whenever he talked about her relationship with her country or her parents was not for me. He was supposed to be trying to help her, I know. But it felt very preachy to me. Very white man’s burden vibes. And all that for barely even knowing about Indian culture? No thank you. He was practically clueless about Indian culture. He lives in NYC, how does he not know anything? And in 2021? Umm, no thank you. The way Sharma could have made this work is by having Kiran call him out or ask him to figure things out on his own. Unfortunately, that did not happen. I think I would have thought their relationship was cute or realistic if I didn’t get the weird, mediocre-white-man-trying-to-tell-me-how-to-live-my-life-without-really-knowing-about-my-culture vibes.

My last issue was the dialogue. It was a little off for me. I don’t know how to put my finger on it. The best way to describe it is “buzzfeed, girl-boss millennials trying to write regular dialogue.” It felt very unnatural and teen-movie like. I know that does not make any sense, but if you read this, then you’ll know what I mean.

One thing I did want to note was how I would not really categorize this book as a romance. I would say it’s more of a women’s fiction. The romance wasn’t as developed or focused on as Kiran’s personal journey and conflicts.

Also, just a little warning: there are a lot of Harry Potter references in this book. I don’t know what I think about that tbh.

Also, Kiran’s chai recipe was so wack. I think some other people noted this too. But Kiran, girl, you good? who hurt you? come drink my mom’s chai, it will all be ok.

I am really sorry, I didn’t mean for this review to be harsh. I know I would have enjoyed this book a lot more if it had come out a few years ago. It is just, that this book reads a listed aged in today’s day and age.

Regardless of my criticism, I am very excited to read the other books in the series. I think Sharma has great opportunity with this series to fight some stereotypes and craft a new story for the South Asian community. I look forward to see what she does.

I know I will for sure read the rest of the books in the series.

And Akash. . . . . call me 😏
(I cannot wait to read his books. Someone get this man an HEA. Preferably with me. I need his book, now!)

2.5/5 stars (rounded up)
steam: closed door

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca, Annika Sharma, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion ❤️

Kiran Mathur is a Type A biomedical engineer from India now living in New York City. Nash Hawthorne is a pediatric hospital psychologist from Nashville. Sharma deepens this tender, thoughtful, cross-cultural romance with Kiran’s struggles with othering as she faces daily microaggressions.

Full starred review: https://www.booklistonline.com/Love-Chai-and-Other-Four-Letter-Words/pid=9752040

Thank you Sourcebooks Casa and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Love, Chai, and Other Four Letter Words follows Kiran and her group of friends that are trying to live out their after college bucket lists before they turn thirty and settle down. When a chance meeting with her new neighbor forces Kiran to rethink her strict criteria for love, the pair set off in the streets of NYC to complete their lists and maybe find true love in the process.

I absolutely adored this friends to lovers closed-door romance. Not only did it give me an opposites attract love, it also celebrated found family and the importance of strong friendships. The entire book is a love letter to NYC, showcasing the sights and sounds, making you feel as if you're there.

Nash and Kiran are an amazing couple. I loved their meet cute, their witty banter, and their fun chemistry. Their attraction was easy. It was incredibly endearing how the two pushed each other outside of their preconceived notions and were extremely supportive of the other in their insecurities. Both characters were layered and had tons of emotional depth.

Throughout the book, Kiran is feeling an immense tug between modern times and cultural tradition. Her parents insist on an arranged marriage to proper Indian match, so she's forced to fight and ignore her growing attraction to Nash. As an immigrant, Kiran lives with a foot in two worlds, never feeling like she truly belongs in either place. It was inspiring to see Kiran truly embrace her culture and want to share it whole-heartedly with Nash, even though it could be the thing that topples their budding relationship.

Sharma is not afraid to approach difficult topics and I felt they were handled beautifully. I loved how the book approached immigration to the United States, cultural differences, and the subject of privilege. When I can learn and experience a different culture, I immediately become invested in the characters and story. Coupled with some twists I just didn't see coming, this book is one you need to read!

Kiran grew up in India, following all of her parent's rules. Now, she's a successful engineer living in New York City, when she meets Nash and falls in love. The problem: he's a white American and Kiran knows her family will disown her if she does not marry someone they approve of.

What a sweet book!! It felt very cinematic and I could see it being a great movie. Overall it was a quick read but was incredibly charming with a lot of heart. I really believed in Kiran and Nash and thought their relationship was delightful but what I liked most about the book was Kiran's family dynamics.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the review copy!

This book really made me want chai. Like the entire time I read it. Which I did appreciate, but that's about it for what I liked about this book.

I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn't. The topics were really heavy (emotional baggage of immigration, differences in cultural values, drug addiction and overdose, abandonment) and the writing wasn't cut out for those topics. The writing was simplistic, which fits for romance novels but doesn't cut it when trying to explain the difficulties in having a parent addicted to drugs. I often found myself skipping large portions of text because I was getting second-hand embarrassment from the writing.

As an aside: please tell me I'm not the only one confused because Nash is described as having blonde hair but on the cover he has black hair.

I considered not finishing this book many times (and with the ending I kind of wish I did).

𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘, 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗜 & 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗦, the first in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘪 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘢 𝘊𝘭𝘶𝘣 series, is the friends-to-lovers story of Kiran and Nash. I can't even begin to tell you how much I loved these two together! Their friendship develops so authentically and I appreciated how they both weighed what taking their relationship further would mean. Annika Sharma's debut also covers complicated family dynamics on both sides and Kiran's experience as an immigrant in a nuanced way. I want to be friends with the CMC and can't wait for the next book to which of them falls in love next.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for a copy to review.

Love, Chai, and other Four Letter Words is a culturally rich story that follows Kiran and Nash. Nash and Kiran have a fun, flirty friendship that eventually grows into something more despite Kiran’s attempt to keep them strictly friends. Family and cultural differences finally create challenges so intense Kiran has to choose between making her very traditional Indian parents happy or herself.

This story is a slow burn with very PG/PG-13 romance scenes. I appreciated learning more about the rich tapestry that is the Indian culture—everything from food to dancing and even how life was life in a small village back home.

Thank you Netgalley, for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book has been on my radar for 2021 releases for a few months now, so when I got an ARC for it, I was so excited. In my opinion, there are not nearly enough romance books with brown heroines, so I was beyond stoked to read this.

Love, Chai, and Other Four-Letter Words follows our heroine Kiran Mathur, who moved from India to the US almost ten years ago, to start college, and Nash, who was born and bred in Nashville, Tennessee. When Nash moves all the way to New York, he runs into Kiran, who lives in the same apartment complex. They quickly strike up a friendship, but they are both aware that it is not going to be anything more than that. For one, Nash is still nursing the old wounds from his past, and after the disowning of Kiran’s sister, Kirthi, Kiran is facing extra pressure to be her parent’s perfect child––this means that she cannot date someone who is white. However, despite all these clear obstacles in their way, both Kiran and Nash are struggling to fight their growing feelings for each other.

I thought this book was just okay. In my opinion, it was pretty forgettable. Both Kiran and Nash as characters were pretty one-dimensional, and I’m not even sure if I would call this romance, seeing as the romance definitely took a backseat in the second half.

Neither Kiran nor Nash were as fleshed out and developed as I would have liked; Nash’s whole personality was having unresolved mommy and daddy issues, and Kiran’s whole personality was just her struggles to be the perfect child for her parents. I was hoping that there would be a little more depth to these two characters.

The first half of the book was pretty cute––it was just Nash and Kiran getting to know each other and slowly falling in love. In the second half of the book, however, the romance between Nash and Kiran took a backseat––the last 50% of the book was pretty much just Kiran’s family drama, and there is a solid 30% of the book where Nash and Kiran are apart, and don’t interact. I felt as though the plot-line of Kiran’s family drama dragged, and when it is resolved, it was just very unrealistic. The whole reason Kiran couldn’t be with Nash, was due to her parents––the scene when Nash finally meets her family was so anti-climatic, I was just sitting there like “thats it?”

I don’t think that this book was bad, by any means, I just also don’t know that I would consider it a romance. It is also important to note that this book is pretty clean (there is no smut), so if that is something that you are not into, then maybe this book is not for you.

Still, if you have some time on your hands, and are looking for something sweet and tame, I’d recommend you pick this one up.

This was a cute romance that tackled bigger issues. Nash must overcome his past issues of abandonment, while Kiran must repair a family division that keeps her from exploring a real love.

3.5
This was a fun read. I really enjoyed the immigrant Indian lead character and the situations that arise from her cultural background and romantic relationship with an all American male from the South. Although I think some readers have found Nash annoyingly ignorant, I have met young men like him who are surprisingly unaware of other cultures. These people aren't bad human beings but simply haven't had exposure or education due to their upbringing and life. For me, Nash's character was a solid one and I liked the fact that he also has an interesting background and family issues to work on. What I especially enjoyed about the novel were the strong lead characters as well as the love that comes through in friendships (the CMC is adorable) both of Kiran and Nash, the family drama and the chemistry and friendship between the romantic leads. This is a closed door bedroom book, so I would give it a PG rating, which I don't mind but some readers may wish for more :). The family drama is a big component in the conflicts of the novel and the communication between Kiran and her parents seems oversimplified, but perhaps the language they used is common in that culture and setting? It was a little hard to believe that Kiran's parents would so readily accept Nash when he shows up, but I was happy they did.
Overall, the novel has a lot of hope and positivity and love shines through in many ways which I found heartwarming. I love that it is a romantic story featuring a different culture and race in the relationship and enjoyed reading it.

I absolutely loved this book! The story line was so sweet and I loved this idea of forbidden love. I loved how long the epilogue was and that it ended the book perfectly. I love how it battled true love and culture, it was the perfect mix. Overall, great book!

Thank you @Sourceblanca and @netgalley for the complimentary copy in exchange of my honest opinion.

Being an Indian immigrant who came to study in US, Kiran’s experience is very real and super close to my heart! The culture, family values and her new found family coined as Chai Masala Club had a very soothing effect on me.

Being raised in India with rich traditional values, Kiran was resisting her yearn and love for non Indian Nash! I really enjoyed reading Nash’s character and all of Kiran’s close friends living in NYC. This is a story about forbidden love with emphasize and focus on Kiran’s growth and her journey!

I am totally sold by this book and looking forward to see how the The Chai Masala Club continues in the next series!

Love, Chai, and Four Letter Words will hit your nearest bookstores on Oct 5, 2021. I highly recommend this diverse read to all the fan of romcoms out there!

Set in NYC, this story features neighbors Indian-born and raised, Kiran, and Nash from Nashville. Brought together by an adorable meet cute, they strike up a friendship that eventually grows into more. Kiran fights her attraction, fearful of how her family in India will react to her relationship with a White non-Indian. Nash has his own past struggles that keep his walls up to their budding romance. Family circumstances on both sides bring them each to a boiling point in their lives and relationship.

The descriptions of Indian food, culture and history and the traditions of chai-making were interesting, detailed and respectful. I loved the Chai Masala Club (CMC) Kiran’s found family in the US. I found myself really in awe of Kiran, both in her bravery in her pursuing her dreams in the US and career in STEM, and in her loyalty to her country, family and traditions and felt her struggle in following her heart. Nash, what a guy! Loved his openness and his how he pulled himself up from the ashes.

This book definitely left me thirsty for more stories from the CMC and very excited for the next in the series. It’s the sweetest story with the perfect amount of closed-door spice.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Casa and Annika Sharma for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

A life of an Indian immigrant having to explain things about their culture, pronounciation of her name which is so very relevant and we'll described!!
In an inter cultural relationship it's important that both partners understand, appreciate the others customs and traditions and we Indians hv tons of it...and I loved all the small references mentioned in the story( removing shoes at the door, Indian cricket , lord ganesh and our food).
The way both Nash & Kiran overcome their emotional baggage, their meetings and friendship is so good!!
This is more Kiran's journey so it's more women's fiction to me!!
I so want to read the other stories esp Komals in this series!
I give this one 4.5⭐

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for granting my wish for this one!! Loved it!

As warm as a cup of chai (tea), this book is a sweet tale that will fill your heart with deeper insight about love, relationship, family values and cultural differences.

Do you believe in destiny? An American bachelor meets a young unmarried Indian girl in the city that never sleeps, New York City. Despite their cultural differences, will love surpass them no matter what difficulties come along?

I have mixed emotions about this book especially it involves family roles and obligations. I easily get emotional. I can relate growing from a conservative family, not having a great childhood past experience, and encountering role of adult children taking care of aging parents. These heavy issues enlighten the readers to understand the struggles that they aren’t familiar with.

TW: substance abuse and parental abandonment

What I like about this book is the type of intercultural couple romance. The love story is unique. The connection with the two main characters feels wondrous as I follow their love story and family dynamics encountered along the way. Kiran Mathur is keen to display her distinctive national character while Nash Hawthorne is independent and self-reliant. He believes in the freedom of choice. I admire the boldness of the narration in the story because the author, @annikasharma writes a story about the struggles of an Indian immigrant in the US. Indian and American values and culture are also discussed.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this opportunity to read an ARC in exchange of unbiased review.

Kiran is a first generation Indian immigrant. She grew up in a small village in India, went to college in the US and is now living in NYC. Her life revolves around her job, her closest friends aka the Chai Masala Club, and doing her best to make her parents proud. The latter is most important to her as her older sister was apparently disowned after marrying someone their parents didn't approve of. Kiran hasn't heard from or spoken to her sister in 20 years.
Nash has not had an easy life, his father left when he was a child and his mother was an addict. He was raised in Nashville by his aunt Kate. Aside from her, he is only close with his childhood friend, Brandon.
Nash moves into the same building as Kiran and they become good friends and eventually more than friends. Kiran has a hard time accepting her feelings for Nash because she doesn't want to hurt her parents.
The premise for this story was really good. It's not often you find a main character in a romantic story who has actually grown up in India and moved to the US. Living in the south, I can totally see how Nash could grow up oblivious to Indian culture. His reaction to Kiran's responsibility towards her parents seemed pretty realistic to me. It's really difficult for most Americans to understand the whole cultural aspect of family obligations and how much of a role families play in their children's lives. For someone who didn't even have parents involved in his life, it'd be even harder to understand.
That said, I felt absolutely no chemistry between any of the characters. I wasn't a fan of the writing either. There were a lot of moments spent on deep thoughts of the characters and I ended up skimming a lot of it. So much of it was slow paced and yet Kiran and Nash relationship seemed rushed.
Having just read another romantic book series involving Indian culture, that had dealt with similar issues, it was hard not to compare, however I felt the writing and camaraderie between the characters was so much better in the other series. It all just fell flat for me in this book.
It's pretty obvious that the next books in the series revolve around in the other members of the CMC, I'm interested to see how their stories are told and look forward to reading about them, especially Payal.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.