So I know that this says book review and it is, however I have to say it is also an audiobook review. I have seen this book all over my Instagram and I requested it as an eBook from Netgalley and was declined. However, the Netgalley gods took pity on me and allowed me to have a copy of the audiobook. (I jumped for joy). I am a Romance reader through and through. I read other genera, but I always go back to romance.

So I know that this says book review and it is, however I have to say it is also an audiobook review. I have seen this book all over my Instagram and I requested it as an eBook from Netgalley and was declined. However, the Netgalley gods took pity on me and allowed me to have a copy of the audiobook. (I jumped for joy). I am a Romance reader through and through. I read other genera, but I always go back to romance.

Kiran is an Indian girl who has lived in New York for the past 10 years after moving away from her strict Indian parents to attend College. Now that her and her college Indian friends are approaching 30 they are feeling the pressure to experience what's left of their 20's (I'm 28 and my husband just turned 30, I can completely relate.). They each create a list of the things they would like to do and falling in love just happens to be on Kiran's list. However, she's supposed to find an Indian boy in her same class system so she don't repeat the path that got her sister disowned. In enters Nash, a man from Nashville that has just moved to the city to work as a psychologist and has no family. Can they make this work? Can they follow their hearts or are they destined to be apart?

I loved this story. I have to rate it as a four out of five stars. The audiobook brought the characters to life. It was narrated very well. I did find the accent of Nash very entertaining having grown up 45 minutes from Nashville the accent was vey comical. I cant wait to read more from Annika Sharma. Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with an ARC audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the chance to listen to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Please forgive me for being a week late for the audiobook release. I’m new here & sorta binge requested before actually reading the advice for newcomers. Definitely read that first.

Book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Audiobook ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Narrated by Zehra Jane Naqvi)

Steam 🔥 (closed door romance)

Possible triggers: child abandonment, loss of family member, parent with addictions, parent in hospital

🤩 Alternating points of view.
🤩 Meet cute involving apartment life in NYC.
🤩 Adorable friend group. The CMC made me giggle a lot. I can’t wait to read the rest of their stories!
🤩 Friends that are like family.
🤩 Bucket lists of what to do in NYC.
🤩 Multicultural foods (yummy descriptions) and customs.
🤩 Forbidden relationship.
🤩 Sweet detailed memories Kiran and Nash share with each other (& the desire to know more) made for well developed characters.
🤩 Cute kissing scenes. Did I mention in NYC?

🎧🤩 I am usually a super fan of two voices for the alternating points of view; however, Zehra Jane Naqvi did an amazing job distinguishing the voice accents of the two main characters. It was such a pleasure to listen. She’s adorable.

💫 I wish I wouldn’t have missed the book promotion limited-edition gift box by @masalamylife because chai and this book are everything, obviously.
💫 I wish I would’ve read a little more about this story before I started because my anxiety was going crazy thinking almost the whole time: I hope this actually has an HEA.
💫 I wish Kiran wouldn’t have been quite so wishy-washy/emotional rollercoaster considering Nash’s background.

I was provided an ARC (audiobook) for an honest review! So this story is really cute, I just could not get connected to the characters. I saw others speaking about this as well, but there is something off with the voice of the narrator (I think it is a technical issue). It almost sounds like an echo throughout the book. I love the references to the pandemic, it makes this book current!

A very sweet friends to lovers romance - yet takes the time to address so many societal topics.
Kiran has a close group of friends - who have a wish list. They have known each other for years - and provide a loving support group as well as humor for this book.
Upon her return from an outing, Kiran discovers Nash standing on the building stoop - a new tenant without keys. She lets Nash hangout while waiting for the landlord to provide assistance.
Right away Kiran's pride in herself and culture is very clear and present in the story. Which I loved. She does not back down throughout the story. The interaction between Nash, his friend's inability to say Kiran's name and Kiran was realistic, a glorious moment for Kiran to show her pride in self and culture was definitely an eye opening scene for the reader We take the ease of our name pronunciation for granted - not everyone lives this experience. Though I understood how hurtful it could be, this was an incredible experience for me - which no only will stay with me forever but also will encourage myself to be more respectful.
The dynamic between Nash and Kiran is a slow build - at times it could use more movement.
I enjoyed the realistic complication - the culture difference, Kiran's need to be a dutiful daughter.
I loved the multicultural element, the romance and realism.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the audiobook. I thought the book was cute though I thought there was something off about the narrator’s voice. Could be something technical. It was hard to get past. Enjoyed the relationship build up.

The Chai Masala Club series by Annika Sharma, which begins with Love, Chai, and Other Four-Letter Words, has a lovely premise. Four South Asian friends with various backgrounds are living in New York City. They're all in their thirties, and decide to edit and start to fulfil the bucket lists that they originally wrote down when they were in college.

In further installments, we'll follow the other folks in the group, but in this book we follow Kiran. Kiran is an engineer who was born in a smallish village in India but went to college (and still lives) in the States. She generally avoids dating because she's expected to marry an Indian man.

Nash just moved to New York City from Nashville, TN to live near his college best friend. He is a psychologist who wants to help kids who are in similar situations to his own childhood. His dad left when he was young and his mother dealt with an addition to drugs. He avoids connecting with others because he worries about being left alone. But oops, he moved into Kiran's building and they strike up a friendship that evolves into something more.

I received an advanced audiobook copy of this book for review via NetGalley, but all opinions contained herein are my own. The narrator was very pleasant to listen to. I appreciated the diversity in this book, and the fact that it is #OwnVoices. The romance is a very cute slow-burn neighbors/friends-to-lovers with a tinge of forbidden love. Both of our leads, neither of whom are NYC-natives, enjoy a romance with the city itself as well.

**I received an advanced audio copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Sharma's story of love across cultural differences showcases the disparities and the prejudices faced when two people from different parts of the world start up a relationship. It takes strength to work toward a common goal, and the main characters have conviction to face the odds, which of course there are many. Told in alternate voices, the narrative follows Nash and Kiran, as they meet in New York City and get to know each other. The middle of the narrative is very slow building, almost a bit too much slow building. Fun characters play supporting roles in the narrative, which adds to the story.

The narration was great, and the story fit perfectly as an audio telling! Zehra Jane Naqvi uses multiple voices to bring the characters to life.

Kiran meets Nash when he moves into her apartment building and instantly likes him, as his personality is like no one she’s ever known, even though they are complete opposites. A reserved, quiet, city girl, she normally keeps to her small group of friends, the Chai Masala Club, she met when she moved to America from India ten years ago to attend college. Nash is an outgoing, friendly, country boy hailing from Tennessee. Nash and Kiran begin to spend more time together and she falls in love with him. However, this breaks all the rules she has promised her parents she will follow. Can Nash prove he is worth breaking her parents hearts or will Kiran say goodbye to Nash forever?

I was given an audiobook for review and I had to slow my listening speed due to the narrator’s accent, but it was worth it because it added to my enjoyment of the novel. While listening to it, I found myself smiling and realized it just made me happy. I found myself looking for excuses to listen to it more, lingering walks with the dogs, etc. I love the joy that always emanates from both Nash & Kieran and that I learned more about a culture unlike my own. If you are a rom-com fan like me, put Love, Chai and Other Four Letter Words at the top of your list.

For the most part I enjoyed this one even though I thought it went on too long. Kiran is an Indian woman from a conservative family who expect her to marry an Indian man of a certain class, especially after her older sister didn't. Nash has just moved to New York when he meets Kiran and they establish a friendship. This soon turns to more but when Kiran finally tells her family they disown her and she breaks it off with Nash. Then her father has a heart attack and she flies back to India to be with her family to coordinate his care. The best part is Nash steps up and catches up at the hospital, doesn't interfere but offers his support. Oh, and Kiran mended the family with her older sister. Did I give away too much, nope, there is so much going on in this book to read to get here and back.

**Received this ARC for review in audio from the publisher via NetGalley**

There are some great things to share about this book. First of all I loved how the author gave the two main characters the time to get to know each other. So many books I read today jump right into building chemistry and attraction but they got to know each other and go on adventures and slowly fall for each other without it slowing the plot down at all. I loved it! The relationship between Kiran and Nash was definitely a high point for me in the book.

I also loved Kiran’s friend group in this story. I can’t wait for future books about their friend group there is so much potential in this series! You can tell the author worked hard to not only make the main characters well rounded but also each character we are introduced to was multi-faceted and I so enjoyed that!

There was some of the family drama in this one that I didn’t love. While it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book it just wasn’t what I was hoping for in this book. I also wish when they characters were in India that we could’ve had a bit more of that setting and feel but that’s just me. Overall I really enjoyed this one.

Thank you to Net Galley and Dreamscape media for the ARC for an honest review. Kiran is a gun shy Indian transplant who is unsure of putting her heart on the line. Nash moves into kiran building and they strike up a romance. I absolutely love that the MC is an Indian transplant, and we get to see a different side of Indian culture but I dislike how insensitive Nash is and how much kiran has to change to please Nash.

Love, Chai, and Other Four-Letter Words takes place in NYC and has a friends-to-lovers trope. This novel dives into themes of strong friendships, cultural expectations, taking risks, and self discovery. This book is definitely a close door romance and slow burn. I had mixed feelings about this book. I loved the plot of this book. One main aspect I really adored was Kiran’s friends. I liked how all her friends come from different backgrounds and can’t wait to read their stories. A couple of elements that didn’t work for me were the main characters, Kiran and Nash, and the writing style. The chemistry between Kiran and Nash seemed to be more of an unbelievable insta love. Also both characters seemed to be pretty shallow. The one main aspect that bothered me was the writing style and some of the language seemed to be odd. Overall, it was a decent story, however, keep in mind this is more of women’s fiction than romance.

I received this audiobook through the generosity of the publisher through NetGalley...

I really enjoyed this book. I read a lot of reviews before I requested it and it was a really mixed bag. And in retrospect, I REALLY don't understand why. Yes, it's a little predictable, but IT INVOLVES ROMANCE!

Kiran is trying to keep her parents happy by being a dutiful daughter after her older sister ran away to marry someone she loved. She has a great group of friends who have her back in all things, as she has theirs.

Then Nash happens. Nash is EVERYTHING her parents won't approve of. But they become quick friends and spend a lot of time being friends and getting to know each other. And then she realizes she's in love and..... all the things that happen when you fall in love with someone you're not supposed to when you're a dutiful daughter start to happen....

While it has its predictable moments, it's not so predictable that you know what's going to happen at every turn. Looks like this might be part of a series. I can't wait!!

My favorite love story of 2021! Kiran and Nash's spark was evident from the moment they met. This book captures the complexity of love, family, responsibilities, expectations and regret.

I enjoyed this book by Annika Sharma. It was a fun story about Nash and Kiran and their relationship struggles amid their cultural differences. The friendship that bloomed was cute but I never really felt the chemistry in this book. Their exchanges felt a little juvenile for people in the late twenties and in professional industries. The NYC setting and references were interesting. I felt like the author did a great job letting us in on Kiran’s culture as well as her experiences as an Indian coming to America for college and what she experienced. I really liked her friend group and the chapters on their history. The part I struggled with was Nash’s character as well as the narration for him. “Nash” from Nashville was a bit silly as a name for him. Additionally, while the narrator was amazing for the other portions of the boo, her Tennessee southern American accent was off for me. I had a hard time believing this character or connecting to him. I think this book would have been more effective with a male narrator for Nash. Overall, it was a fun read and I’d pick up the next one in the series at the Library to see what happens with this group of friends.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to read and review this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Please read reviews by Desi reviewers, there are plenty of good ones critiquing their culture as it was represented in this book, and it’s not my lane, so I’m not going to touch it.

However, I had a few issues that made me slow down, and after reading other reviews, stop the book.

1. This takes place post pandemic, with clear references to the pandemic. Since it’s getting worse, not better, it’s jarring to read a world where it’s over.

2. The main character loves Harry Potter, and I get it. We millennials grew up on it, but to glorify it in public when JK Rowling has betrayed so many fans with her stance on trans people, as well as other topics, it’s super inappropriate to give it any more air time in 2021. Same with the Gandhi reference, he wasn’t a good person, this is known.

3. I knew this was going to be closed door going in, which I was okay with, but I just didn’t care about our main characters relationship. It was sweet but without a ton a depth. According to several reviews, this is more women’s fiction than romance anyway.

Overall, there are too many books to read, and I love to read books about non-white characters by non-white authors, but not this exact one.

Love, Chai, and Other Four-Letter Words tells the story of Kiran, an Indian woman who moves to American to go to school and gets a job in New York City. She has a group of 3 friends that dub themselves the “Chai Masala Club” or CMC. The story begins with her meeting her neighbor, Nash, a doctor from Nashville who has just moved to the city. As Kiran and Nash become friends and more, they both must deal with past family trauma that interfere with how they approach their relationship.

My favorite parts of the book were when Kiran was hanging out with her CMC friends. Each friend was described in such a way that made them memorable and easy to differentiate. Sometimes when there are many supporting characters in a book, I find it difficult to remember who is who, but that was not the case for this book. Although Kiran and her friends were delightful to read about, I didn’t get all swoony about Nash. There was nothing particularly wrong with him, but he just seemed a little flat. I should note that I listened to the audiobook of this novel so my dislike of Nash could in part be that I absolutely hated the narrator’s voice for him (and most male characters in the book). The female voices were all great and the narration overall was good.

The other thing that I enjoyed about this book, was how it referenced the pandemic and put the story in context as being post lockdown times. The only thing that was a little bothersome, is that the references stopped after the first few chapters and otherwise the lives of the characters seemed to go back to before times…which as we know are not exactly the same

Overall, I thought this was enjoyable and made me want to grab a warm cup of Chai (not chai tea…that’s just tea tea 😉). I would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a light rom-com.

Special thanks to @netgalley and publisher for advanced copy.

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐
Narration: 🎧
Steam: 🔥🔥

While I enjoyed the book, I couldn't deal with the narration. The way the narrator does Nash's southern accent was cringey. Maybe because I lived in in south for a few years it was even worse for me but I was surprised by just how bad it was. It definitely threw me off the first time she did it and never really got better.

I would recommend the book as a cute depiction of two people falling in love against the odds. However, do yourself a favor and skip the audiobook version.

DNF at 33%. I was so ready to love this, but I’m not believing the chemistry and it’s too instalove to keep me interested.

Will they or won’t? This is truly delightful story. The narration of the audiobook is absolute perfection. We meet 2 lovely people who are trying to live their best lives. Kiran moved to NYC from a small village in India to pursue her dreams. Her goal is to have a good life, good friends and to make her parents happy by never doing anything to disappoint them or bring shame to her family. That means marrying a nice Indian boy that is arranged for her based on (in her mind) antiquated traditions. Her sister defied tradition, brought shame to the family and is estranged from them all so it is of the highest import to never disappoint them. She has an incredible group of friends. The have your back, ride or die kind of friends. She has chosen to not entertain any romantic notions for herself. Nash is a lovely kind, but somewhat lonely man who is haunted by his childhood and upbringing. He does not believe a relationship of the heart is for him so consciously avoids them. They meet and become friends and begin the long will they won’t they road. I really enjoyed this listen and very much look forward to the next in the series.