The Rules of Arrangement • Anisha Bhatia
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Zoya just turned 26 and in her Indian culture that means she is beyond due to be married. But with her physical appearance she is not the most sought after.
When her matchmaking aunt says it is finally time for Zoya to be married, Zoya must decide if she wishes to please her family and continue on with their cultures traditions or follow her own dreams.
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This was my first audiobook, so with that there was some getting used too.
Overall I liked this audiobook. I found it to have a bit of a slow start and in turn found it a little harder to get into in the beginning (which could have been from never listening to a book before). Once I did get into I did come to enjoy it and rooting for Zoya to make the best decisions for herself!
I was happy to see that there was growth for multiple characters not just Zoya.
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As for narration I did appreciate that it was an Indian narrator but I did find some thing hard to understand and the difference between speech and narrative was a little hard to define.
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Reflecting back on this audiobook I don’t believe it to really be a romance as described.

⚠️ : Cancer, fatphobia, bodyshaming, cheating

Thank you to @NetGalley @Dreamscape_Media for the eARC in exchange for an honest review #TheRulesofArrangment #NetGalley

I am having a tough time reviewing this book, because I really thought the Indian atmosphere was great. And I know that the things in this book happen, but the fatphobia was really hard to read. It made me uncomfortable the whole time, and it didn't have enough subversion. It wasn't enough of "it doesn't matter what I weigh I'm incredible" it was too much "yea I am super fat" and internalizing. It just didn't work for me as much as I wanted it to. I couldn't really focus on much else besides these harsh and frequent comments, so I think I honestly was way too side tracked with my discomfort that I missed what this book could have been. I feel bad, but it just didn't work for me.

I kept waiting for this book to redeem itself and its such a shame because I really wanted to love it. The fat phobia and "skin too dark" narrative was too much for me without the opposite to contrast it. I was hoping for some body positivity, progressive, sassy, boss bitch vibes and this was not it. The atmosphere was the main thing I did enjoy about this book. Unfortunately in the end it just was not the book for me.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advance copy for review - all opinions are my own!

At 26, Zoya Sahni is reaching spinsterhood, according to Mumbai’s traditional and prejudiced aunties. So when her matchmaking aunt Sheila sets out to find Zoya a husband, Zoya decides to go along with it. But adding to the confusion of learning about her fiancé and future in-laws, there is the increasingly confusing presence of her boss at work, plus a new job opportunity in New York City has Zoya questioning everything she thought she wanted.

Will Zoya conform to tradition and family expectations, or will she risk alienating herself and her family in Mumbai society in order to pursue her dreams?

What I Liked
👍🏽 This book has major Bridget Jones vibes - first person and lots of hilarious, no-filter inner monologue.
👍🏽 Sheila Bua!!! Oh my goodness I loved this character so much. She starts out as the epitome of the matchmaking aunty trope, but ends up evolving into such a cool lady.

What I Disliked
👎🏽 Some of the narrator’s pronunciations were difficult to understand. For example, “mithai” was mispronounced as “mai tai” and “Pune” was mispronounced as “pyoon.” This was honestly the only negative I had about this book. It’s a five-star read otherwise!

Overall, I really enjoyed this read, and am looking forward to reading what Bhatia writes next!

The Rules of Arrangement was an interesting perspective on marriage and Indian culture. I enjoyed seeing something I am not familiar with and learning how things function in the lives of a woman who is seeking a husband.
I just wasn't super into the actions and the way that Zoya thought about everything. Part of it is that this is a culture I am viewing and some of it might be the norm, but I didn't enjoy that Zoya was changing her entire lifestyle for a man that doesn't even like her. I'd rather be a spinster than be with someone I can't talk to.

So so much fatphobia. I understand the concept of arranged marriage and how it works, and the author is absolutely right with how women are treated in this part of it. But my God! It was too much fatphobia!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this book.

Zoya is not a perfect Indian girl and I love the way she was portrayed. She’s overweight, spunky, and dark skinned in a world that prizes the slim, obedient, and fair. Her parents arrange her marriage, and while she follows all the rules of arrangement she learned from her mom and aunties, things don’t always go the way anyone plans.

I loved the characters in this book and the way the story progressed. I had a lot of different emotions while I listened to this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advance copy of this audiobook. This is my voluntary honest review.

4/5 ⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley for this copy in exchange for a honest review
This was really enjoyable! I loved the HP references from Z and her funny sense of humor. I am curious tho about arranges marriages in India and how many woman have to suffer them.

3.5 stars

This is a lighthearted story about living your dream and not letting your families choices become your choices. The main character Zoya is a plus size heroine and I've been loving the plus size love.

She is a 27 year old girl who according to her family is reaching spinster age. Enter arranged marriage. The story takes place over a span of a few months where she is trust into the dating/marriage word to do the right thing in her family eyes.

While also trying to climb the work latter and trying for maybe her dream job in New York.

I listen to the audio and the narrator was funny and brought out that funny side of Zoya along with the sassy. I love how this story is more than a love story but a coming of age story. It was also neat to read about different cultures and what the expectations are and just how rough it can be.

I love how she respects her family and traditions while also being true to herself and her dream


Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape for the audio ARC of this in exchange for my honest review

I listened to this and it was a bit of a slow start for me, but soon enough I was hooked. I loved learning about the customs of a different culture especially regarding arranged marriages. Zoya is a successful, smart 26-year old destined for the life of an old maid if she doesn't get married soon. Or so her family thinks!

This was the perfect mixture of romance, family drama, & cultural expectations all while Zoya is on a journey to discovering what matters most to her.

Life is short! Go for your dreams!

p.s. I would love a sequel!!!

This romance was way outside my normal scope and I felt like it taught me a lot about a culture I wasn’t super familiar with in such a witty wonderful way. The story focuses on Zoya who is 26 and has a family dreaming of her getting married while she wants this too she is also passionate about her job and wants to find love in her own way. Based in Bombay Zoya has to cope with scheming aunties, suitors, and job offers all at the same time!
I really loved how this book focused on Zoya making her own way in the world and being willing, hesitant, but willing to shaking things up a bit. The family dynamic is charming and powerful and shows a lot of culture guidelines. Additionally, the narration was wonderful Shazia Nicholls really brought Zoya to life and the witty one liners from the novel translated so well into the audiobook.

3 stars

The Rules of Arrangement is an intriguing journey through the world of Mumbai's arranged marriage-mart from the perspective of a woman who has never quite fit the mold. I personally know very little about marriage in Indian culture and I did appreciate the care that Bhatia took in bringing that world to life. The descriptions of the family dynamics, the city, and the food were just exquisite!

In terms of the actual story, I think that I went in with certain expectations based on the Goodreads and NetGalley descriptions that were just not met. What was described to me as a romantic comedy of manners in the vain of Crazy Rich Asians was more of a women's fiction novel about our main character Zoya as she discovers whether or not she wants to follow tradition or her heart. The romance was just one of many subplots that Bhatia was juggling and I felt like the blurb did not do the book justice by putting it in a place of prominence.

Beyond that, there were definitely some pacing issues that left me struggling to get through at times. I did end up enjoying the book overall, but it was definitely not what I initially expected.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

The Rules of Arrangement

When is a good time to bury your dreams? Before or after marriage? Zoya Sahni, a clever and educated young woman, struggles to balance all of the rules of an Indian arranged marriage. The cultural and familial expectations conflict with Zoya’s own identity and career goals and she must decide which path to take.

Set in Mumbai, the author writes with great imagery, allowing the reader to learn and appreciate the language, cuisine, and cultural garb. While Mumbai is depicted in a beautiful and exotic light, especially to a foreign reader, the author also reveals with bold honesty the cultural insensitivities of body shaming and colorism. As an American reader inexperienced with Indian culture, it was eye opening to see that we Americans share many of the same pressures and ignorance.

The pace of the novel was well timed and the story lines of the secondary characters completed the novel . I received this ARC via audiobook and enjoyed the narration and would be eager to read a part two!

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3/5 ⭐️s

This book tried so hard to be a statement on Indian culture, but it came at the cost of the plot, the romance, and the characters.

Thought I’m not Indian myself, it was so easy to feel a part of that culture during this book. I could taste the food, hear the chattering of the relatives, picture the bustling of the city, and feel the heat of Bombay (Side Note: I googled the city to get a feel for the setting and saw it’s been Mumbai since 1995. Is there a reason the characters call it Bombay in the story?)

While I felt cultural elements on an organic level, I did not connect with these characters. Zoya, while relatable for being a plus size woman who wants to be independent, was an inconsistent main character. She felt dense and flighty at times and competent and confident at others.

The romance was…well, I can’t make up my mind on it. I love office romances, and I feel like the pieces of this couple I loved are all because of my bias towards this trope. Arnav was kind and thoughtful and absolutely undeserving of the “dragon” label Zoya placed on him. It was a part of his characterization that shouldn’t have been included. Since Zoya so often referred to him as a dragon, however, the fact that we never see that side of him made his character feel incomplete. Also, the way they came together felt forced. Why did he admire her? Where had that come from?

I’m not going to call this a love triangle because I don’t think it classifies as one, despite Zoya’s engagement. Neither she nor her fiancé ever intended on pushing through with that marriage, so I never felt the angst of “will they/won’t they.”

Now to my reason for requesting this book: the plus size representation. It wasn’t good. Perhaps the author is plus size herself and just needed an outlet to deal with harassment she’d received in her life because this book was one “fat cow” comment after another, and Zoya never really stood up for herself. Her fiancé and his family try to steer her into healthy eating and workouts; her cousin Tonya is a monster for every mean comment she makes in this story; even her mom and aunt try to wish away her fatness by bringing in her clothes (to the point that they cut of her breathing) and using pictures of her before she was fat. All of the hate is here, but there’s no balm to soothe that. I don’t recommend this to any plus size readers.

The Rules of Arrangement is a book that I was really excited about after reading the description. Zoya Sahni is successful in life. Her top-notch education, combined with her satisfying job, and her (generally) well-meaning family make her feel exceptionally lucky. Unfortunately for Zoya, her physical appearance, attitude, and age create a trifecta of stress for her matchmaking-obsessed family. Zoya takes the world that she lives in, one promoting and highlighting those who are skinny and fair-skinned, and works to shape it to fit her best.

In general, I felt a little let down by this book. I really enjoyed the overall commentary on what it's like to be a freer spirit living in a culture where the rules are everything. However, I think that this discussion could have been pushed just a bit farther. Additionally, there were really intense moments of fatphobia almost constantly as well as scenes featuring colorism. These are pretty much passed over without a second thought and the plot just moves forward. I have to say, I was hoping for a story with the main character as a darker-skinned and plus-sized (and comfortable being so) individual at the center of a story. I wanted this character to end up in love without too many trials or tribulations. I would definitely categorize this book in Domestic Fiction or General Fiction over placing it in the Romance genre. While romance is a factor in the plot, I don't feel like it's the strongest point in the overall story. I think Zoya's day-to-day was the most exciting part to listen to. Her job is one that closely aligns with one of my majors from undergrad, so I was really able to relate to Zoya's process. So, in general, I think this book had a great conception and beginning, but in actual practice, it fell flat, and (in some ways) it felt a bit harmful. I still recommend at least trying this book if you like General Fiction, and prior to reading, I would make sure to do into colorism, fatphobia, and transphobia just to make sure you're aware of any potential occurrences in the book and see the real-life implications of these attitudes.

Overall rating: 3/5

The Rules of Arrangement will be available for purchase on July 22nd. Be sure to add it to your Goodreads shelf and see where it's sold. Also, be sure to check out Anisha Bhatia’s website! As a side note, if you are buying this book outside of the US, the title will appear as What are We Doing about Zoya?.

I was lucky enough to be able to listen to this Advanced Reader's Copy through my partnership with NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

"Was his heart ever invested in us? Was mine?" -From The Rules of Arrangement

2 stars

warnings: colorism, cancer, fatphobia, misogyny, ED jokes and thin-shaming

A beautiful descriptive Mumbai is the setting for this toxic book. I thought I would adore this book. I thought it was a romace- but it really is more close to woman's fiction. The love is such an odd side story. I was so unprepared for all the toxic things the author manages to pour into this book. First, the fatphobia. Wow. Every single chapter, and it isn't just the family and friends to the MC- she also can only describe people with a nod to how outragously large (and gross) their bodies are. This trait never changes. The MC seems to grow only by the toxic comments she launches at other woman, either with how big they are, or in a stunning turn around, how thin they are. No bodies are alright apparently. The amount of woman on woman hate was horrible, and offputting. The MC is a bully to anyone different (or even the same!) as her. There are so many sterotypes that are never addressed from the MC only able to think about food really, to the health nut family eating just spoonfuls of boiled cabbage, to cultural sterotypes. That is one thing to bring it up to make a social commentary- but no meaningful discussion takes place. So many tropes I hate are included, the "scare" and people in relationships unable to communicate at all, I was so angry that she didn't tell her fiance she was breaking it off first. You are the one who decided to get with him after 90 minutes. I don't care what you think about his family, diet, or work outs; he deserves to know first. All her texts to her boss didn't seem "cute" when she was wearing a ring of someone else. Then she even ghosts her boss for no reason. The plot is 100% predictable.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Zoya is doing great in life but is not the perfect Indian girl. She’s overweight, spunky and dark-skinned and at 26 isn't married. To appease her family she agrees to an arranged marriage, but what will she do about her own dreams and desires.

I really wanted to like this book, it wasn't bad but sadly I was left disappointed. This book highlights many of the awful parts of the Indian culture such as misogyny, fatphobia and so many toxic attitudes and microaggressions. It was hard to overcome since there was no real voice of reason throughout the book.

The romance was sweet but I wasn't really into it and wasn't surprised at all. Zoya is what got me through the book and kept me interested. I was dedicated to seeing her drop tradition and do what makes her happy. It was a super-fast read, and I loved the lesson of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape for the audio ARC of this in exchange for my honest review

I thought this was a fun coming-of-age, realizing that you do not need to be who your family wants story. The narrator was really lovely to listen to. The fatphobia and preference for lightness, for women to be dutiful and malleable, was so hard to read, but made me root for the main character to realize that that wasn’t what was important about her. I loved the budding romance, but also liked that that wasn’t the be all end all of the story, her life and future was the important thing.

This was ok. All the popculture references were annoying (especially the Harry Potter ones). The main character was also kind if annoying. I don't understand why she agreed to marry a guy after their first meeting and it was obvious who was leaving her the presents. There were also a lot of fatphobic comments and comments about the main character's skin being "too dark" throughout the entire book, so if that's something that bothers you, then I wouldn't recommend this.

Lets be clear, advertising this as Crazy Rich Asians meets Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows is definitely not accurate. As you see in the links I really loved these books, and i think the only thing they really have in common is that they deal with weddings in Asia. However as funny as those books are, this book is more offensive and annoying. You don't get the colorful descriptions and characters that you have in Crazy Rich Asians, nor the depth of emotional development in Erotic Stories. There is no humor just really obnoxious traditional family and Zoya who really needs to get a clue and takes 6 hours of an audiobook to get it together, things that were fairly obvious. Having read so many wonderful stories set in India, especially this year, this one just feels stereotypical and contrived. If it wasn't for the fact that the ending redeems itself this would have been so bad. Also what is with all the fatphobia in the book? Having just finished the absolutely delightful The Fastest Way to Fall which is total body empowerment, the way this books speaks about women's bodies is so wrong and kind of sad that its written by a woman.