So much feeling in a short story.
Grief can blind everyone and make everything numb.
I have liked this story very much as it shows how losing somebody can make us believe what we are supposed to do without asking anything or anyone and, in this case, putting everyone else before us.

Not a word is wasted in this new short story from author Sonali Dev. Ayesha’s best friend is getting married, and she is shocked to find her first love present among the guests - seven years after they parted. I loved reading Ayesha and Emmitt’s second chance love story.
By exploring the impact of grief, familial expectations, and following your heart, Dev weaves an powerful and beautiful tale of love, friendship and family in under 70 pages. This was my first introduction to the author’s work, and I look forward to reading more in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley, Amazon Original Stories, and Sonali Dev for the early copy of this short story. This review contains my own thoughts and opinions and is being left voluntarily.

Super great short if you’re a Sonali Dev fan! You knew exactly where this story is going and how it’s going to get there, but it was funny and heart string tugging and all the emotions at the end!

I would like to start off saying that I got this book as an ARC from Netgallery for my honest review and I’m grateful for the opportunity.

1. What was your favorite part of the book?
My favorite part of this book was when Amma and Ayesha had a heart to heart and made up.

2. What was your least favorite?
I would say is the lack of description. I felt like I was an outsider of this book looking in, I didn’t feel as connected
as I wanted to be.

3. Did you race to the end, or was it more of a slow burn?
It was more of a quick race to the end. This book takes place in a 24 hour period for the characters, though it mentions the past quite a bit.

4. Which scene has stuck with you the most?
I would say the same for the first question. When Ayesha and Amma had their heart to heart and revealed the reality of what Amma felt, it wasn’t all it seemed and Ayesha just assumed what Amma wanted.

5. What did you think of the writing? Are there any standout sentences?
I don’t know how to feel about the writing, it seemed a little off but I can’t figure out how exactly. It didn’t make it completely unbearable though.

6. Did you reread any passages?
If so, which ones? I reread, “Starting a book with a scene like that was the laziest way to describe a character, Professor Bahri had said. And yet, every story had to have a scene where the character questioned their identity, a metaphorical mirror scene.” Pg. 27

7. Would you want to read another book by this author?
I don’t think I will.

8. Did reading the book impact your mood? If yes, how so? No, it didn’t.

9. What surprised you most about the book?
Amma support for Ayesha. I can’t say I seen that coming

10. How did your opinion of the book change as you read it?
I would say that I wasn’t sure if I could push through the book, despite its shortness, but the end was definitely worth it.

11. If you could ask the author anything, what would it be?
I don’t think I’d ask anything.

12. How does the book's title work in relation to the book's contents? If you could give the book a new title, what would it be?
The title, “The Wedding Setup” pretty much sums up the whole book. I wouldn’t change it

13. Is this book overrated or underrated?
I would say neither, though I read the ARC. I haven’t heard of it before seeing it.

14. Did this book remind you of any other books?
In general, like any typical romance book, but that doesn’t make it a bad read. It’s nice to have predicability here and there.

15. How did it impact you? Do you think you'll remember it in a few months or years?
It really don’t impact me

16. Would you ever consider re-reading it? Why or why not?
No, I’m not much of a rereader, but I didn’t find myself connecting with this book much so even if I did reread a book, this one wouldn’t be my go to.

17. Who do you most want to read this book?
I can’t think of anyone

18. Are there lingering questions from the book you're still thinking about?
No

19. Did the book strike you as original?
Yes and no? Romance wise, it’s pretty typical. I’m not usually one who dives into short stories, let alone ones outside of my own culture. I did like reading about the things mentioned though, I’m just not sure if it would be considered original compared to other books similar.

Sonali Dev has become one of my go-to authors in recent years for many reasons, but mainly because she captures her characters so well. Although The Wedding Setup is short, I fell for the second chance romance between Ayesha and Emmitt. I can't wait to read more from Sonali Dev!

This was such a charming short story! Second chance romance with a lot of heart. I enjoyed getting to know Ayesha & Emmit and the other characters in the story. I wish there was a little more info about their previous relationship, but understand only so much can be included in a short story. I definitely recommend for a quick, cozy read!

After the death of her beloved brother, Ayesha devotes herself to helping her mother at their family restaurant, giving up her life dreams, and the love of her life in the process. But everything comes to a head at her best friends wedding, where her mother tries to set her up with a doctor., and her ex-boyfriend suddenly reappears unearthing buried emotions. Will Ayesha continue to live the life she thinks her mother wants for her, or will she finally put her foot down and go after what she wants?

For a short story it was able to capture a lot. The history of Ayesha's relationship with her ex, Emmitt. How the death of her brother Ajay, 7 years ago, changed the course of her life, and impacted the relationship she had with her mother. How it changed the course of her life, and altered her personally. There was a lot of history to explore for a short story, but it never felt rushed or overwhelming. I thought the descriptions of the wedding, the garments, the food, the characters, were all strong, and really brought the story to life.

If you love the whole complicated romance , the "will they or wont they?", the "one that got away" plot-line then you will enjoy this story. The love story was as mushy and cheesy as would be expected in a romance novel, almost to the point of "major eye-roll" (hence my rating lol). But like I said, if you love that stuff, if you love weddings, and Bollywood style drama, then you will enjoy this short read.

Thank you Amazon Original Stories and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this short story.

This short story was Ok. Had a hint of a sad background which was relatable. It was a cute little love story otherwise. Kind of predictable.

In this short story, Ayesha grapples with the grief of her brother who died in a car crash seven years ago. Her mom tries to set her up with a match with an OB GYN at her best friend's wedding, but will she find love with him?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: romance, short story
Location: Naperville, Illinois
Pub Date: January 11, 2022 (kindle book on amazon)

This was a great short story - it new just how to add the right amount of context to engage you in the romance that happens. Ayesha's fears and anxieties felt relatable and the romance was both sweet and full of emotion. It was a lovely quick read that I enjoyed!

Read this if you like:
⭕️ short stories
⭕️ stories that center family
⭕️ stories that happen at weddings

Thanks to Amazon Original Stories and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book!

This is going to be an Amazon Original story. I have read several of the author's other books, and was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this.

This is a story of grief and second chances. It takes place over 24 hours at the main characters' best friend's wedding. A fn ex-boyfriend attends and it sparks a lot. It makes the main character question her last several years as well as her future. There is also a nice mother-daughter storyline.

It was a short story well worth reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun short story!! Sonali does an incredible job of introducing characters and making us cheer for them within pages. The dialogue she writes between characters is so natural, it makes you feel as though you are watching an in person conversation. I loved the premise of this story - the family dynamics and love for one another warmed my heart.

All in all, it was a heartwarming and character-driven second chance. Sonali Dev's style of writing is so easy to read and she just makes you care about characters. I can't wait to read her next book!

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, the font was too small to read the pdf on my e-reader. I could therefore not read it.
Unfortunately, the font was too small to read the pdf on my e-reader. I could therefore not read it.
Unfortunately, the font was too small to read the pdf on my e-reader. I could therefore not read it.

Sonali Dev’s The Wedding Setup is a beautifully written short story that centers around Ayesha and her mother and their lives after the sudden death of Ayesha’s brother. Ayesha is striving to be what she feels the ideal daughter should be despite this going against her fierce personality. Her mother realizing this tries to nudge her daughter back to her former self. What follows is a sweet, heartwarming story.

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review,

'Ayesha Shetty lost her brother seven years ago, the same time she lost everything else important to her: her dreams, her fierce independence, and the man she loved. Not wanting to see her mother hurt anymore, she put her wild self away and became the dutiful daughter her mother needed and took on her brother’s role in the family business.'

As short stories go, this was well-paced, and engagingly written. The relationship between Ayesha and her mother Nandini felt real, and well fleshed-out. The spark between Ayesha and Emmitt was there, but it didn't feel particularly developed.

Whilst I appreciated the cultural mix of being a desi family in the USA, the ending felt a little predictable. None of that is to say that the book was not enjoyable.

Far from it, I enjoyed every minute of reading it. Bela and Ayesha's friendship is a shining point in the book, and for a short story, feels remarkably well-developed.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys short stories, or who likes an element of romance in their novels. A fun, easy read.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4435240175?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

This story was very fast paced, as expected for the format, but it also packed a lot of character development and it was rich in its descriptions of family dynamics and integrated a full background that made the story fast, but not rushed. Excellent writing that makes me want to find put what Somali Dev can do with a full length book.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I could feel the spark of chemistry between Ayesha and Emmitt, but that was only it. A spark. No living flame. Maybe the book's structure became a detriment from me to fully enjoy their characters; I think this would've benefitted if it had been a bit more longer, or just a fully fledged novel.

What did your New Years Eve look like? Considering that I haven’t left my home willingly or otherwise on a NYE since the 90’s, mine included binge watching “Cobra Kai” with my husband and kids, doing a few German lessons, and reading The Wedding Setup, which is an absolutely perfect short story.

How such a shorter work could simultaneously break my heart and put it back together is a testament to the talent of Ms. Dev.

I utterly adored this.

TW - off page death in auto accident.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review.

The wedding setup is a short story about second chance romance, family dynamics, and grief. Ayesha has been in love with her brother's best friend for as long as she can remember. Many years ago, they finally got together, only to be devastated soon after by a horrible loss. In her grief, Ayesha pushed Emmitt away to protect herself and the family she has left.

Now seven years later, Ayesha's best friend is getting married and her mother has set her up with a proper Desi man. But sparks fly when Emmitt turns up out of the blue.

I absolutely adored this story. Even though it was only about 50 pages, I really connected with Ayesha. The characters were fleshed out and nuanced even though we had such a short amount of time to get to know them. Sonali's writing is exquisite and I can't believe I've never read anything by her before! I will immediately be picking up more of her work because I enjoyed this one so much.

"Maybe what you're seeing as an end is a new beginning."

Seven years ago, Ayesha lost her brother and then pushed away everything else, her dreams, her independence, and the love of her life. Not wanting to hurt her mother anymore, she transformed into the dutiful and diligent daughter that her mother wanted and needed and took on the family business.
Now, her best friend is getting married and her huge Indian wedding is her first chance in a long time to step away from her duties for a minute. And then her mother tries to set her up with the perfect future son-in-law.
Then Emmitt shows up. Her brother's best friend. The love of her life. The man who left seven years ago when she asked him to. Suddenly the lines between old Ayesha and new Ayesha get blurry. Can Ayesha find a way to make everyone, including herself, happy?

I looooooooved loved loved this. Sonali Dev's writing is so poignant and heartfelt. I felt so much for every character. Ayesha is such a beautiful, deep character. Ayesha's grief and duty was so authentic and moving. Emmitt was also such an incredible, excellent character. His love for Ayesha was immediately obvious. Their chemistry was genuinely palpable and I was rooting for them from the second that Emmitt showed up.

I really loved that even in such a short story, there was so much more than romance. The friendship between Ayesha and Bela was well-fleshed out and wonderful as was Ayesha's familial relationships and the duty she felt to them.

This was such a beautiful story, my only wish is that we got a full length novel out of this story and these wonderful characters.

"How can you do better than someone who sees you exactly the way you want to be seen?"

Thank you to Netgalley, Amazon Original Stories, and Sonali Dev for an e-ARC of The Wedding Setup. This ARC in no way influences my review or opinions.