The Love Match is Priyanka's debut novel that is pitched as To All the Boys I've Loved Before meets Pride and Prejudice.

In this book, we have South Asian representation headlined by a Bangladeshi-American main character with two POC love interests. (see second photo to read the synopsis from Goodreads)

This is honestly an unputdownable read that you'll devour in one sitting - i love how the author was able to capture the essence of contemporary novels centering lives of POC teens in a form of coming-of-age stories.

Heartwarming, swoonful, and full of lovable characters with equally lovable background - The Love Match is a recommended read that you should definitely watch out next month.

Thank you to Simon Teen for sending me a digital review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Zahra Khan is torn between two boys, one approved by mother, the other appears poor but find later he is not but is rejected by her mother. Harun and Zahra scheme to act as they hate each other since they are being matched by parents. They instead fall in love with each other. The story is based on how Bengaledish families should act. Boys encourage her to be herself, become a writer, go to college not just become a wife. She discovers she does not need to fix her mother's problem which have resulted from the death of Zahra's father. Fun Rom-com that I enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for a free E-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Zhara is torn between taking care of/pleasing her family and her dream of being a college educated romance writer. Just when her mother conspires to set her up with a rich husband, a cute boy starts to work at the tea shop that Zhara works at with her best friends. Will she choose true love or a good match?

What ensues is a charming, often cringey tale of romance, but not just that. It is an exploration of the relationship between parents and children, between friends and lovers, and what one is willing to do to achieve their dreams.

The book is through Zhara's perspective, but most of the other characters are well rounded as well. There are also breaks in the narrative to check in with the Auntie networks texts, but this only adds to the suspense.

I highly recommend this book for any YA romance readers.

This book is well written. The chosen words to depict the story are powerful. It contains so many new facts about Bangladesh that have been the only thing that caught my attention.
I am not going to lie that I enjoyed this book a lot. The love triangle🙈 I was sort of grumpy about this trope but it was totally cute😜, and the relationship between Zahra and her family, especially her mother. I adore Arif, Zahra's little brother which only 4 years gap between them, he is such a cute brother and wise boy, and I liked the way how he treated his sisters, it just reminded me of my little brother! 😭🤍
I sometimes feel upset for Zahra's mother, I couldn't hate her or adore her, but that's her way to show her affection to her children which is completely reasonable.

I won't be judging about this only point but let me make it clear. The main character is a Muslim Bangladeshi, the author has informed before that the book focuses more on what it means to be Bangladeshi American than diving into religion itself. I don't mind this topic at all but even though it's not a religious book, I couldn't tolerate a Muslim standing by LGBT. Sorry!

Rating: 4.5 stars

So I thought I was in a reading slump, but I guess I just wasn't reading the right books because I picked up The Love Match and finished it in few hours. Opps.

I'd had Priyanka Taslim's debut on my list of anticipated debuts at the beginning of the year which, so far has been a mixed bag, so I tried to keep my expectations in check--especially since I was reading it with a side of brain fog. I started The Love Match partially out of obligation (I had to get a review up after the holiday season) and partially because I was looking for something kind of light and fun to combat my readers' ennui, but I honestly didn't have very high expectations.

And then I read it.

And my expectations were blown out of the water.

The Love Match is light and fun and everything you'd expect from a YA contemporary romance, but it's also honest and heartfelt and refreshingly original.

Priyanka Taslim's debut is what happens when you take a typical YA romance but make it Southeast Asian. After her mother's matchmaking attempts lead to a disastrous first date, Zahra Khan finds herself teaming up with Harun, the bachelor in question. The two pretend to date, creating situations that highlight their incompatibility in hopes of sabotaging their parents' plans. Meanwhile, Zahra finds herself falling for the handsome new musician at work. The story is full of familiar tropes like fake dating, secret romances, and love triangles and set against the backdrop of "the colorful Bangladeshi, Muslim diaspora community of Paterson, New Jersey," where meddling mama's, a nosy Auntie Network, and well-meaning uncles are watching your every move. The book itself is a delight that more than earns its comp to a YA classic like To All The Boys I've Met Before, but more than that, it's a love letter to Taslim's culture and heritage.

"It truly is a love letter from me to the city and culture I grew up in and my deepest wish is that this love comes across."

In her author's letter, she says "I hope that this book feels like the celebration of being Bangladeshi (particularly, a diaspora Bangladeshi,)" and on that front, it's a huge success. I know next to nothing about Bangladeshi culture, but I was able to get a little glimpse into the world as I was reading The Love Match. The cultural aspects give the story a fresh perspective and the Bangladeshi rep feels genuine. The story is steeped in Bangladeshi-American culture without becoming a "Bangladeshi-American" book. It never feels like Zahra is defined by or purposefully accentuating her identity as a Bangladeshi-American. She's just a teenager living in America who happens to be Bangladeshi. She doesn't drink saa (chai) because she's so Bangladeshi; it's just a natural extension of who she is. In the same way, the cultural elements (including the bits of Sylheti Bengali and Banglish) aren't forced into the book for the sake of Representation™ but are simply, unapologetically, a part of the story. (If that doesn't make sense, this tweet is pretty much what I'm trying to say.)

The romance is, in large part, what made The Love Match so entertaining. Despite writing a story that predominantly features a love triangle, I'm actually not the biggest fan of the romantic polygon, but I thought Taslim pulled hers off pretty well. Both love interests are endearingly loveable despite being so different. Despite figuring out pretty early on who would be the "actual" love interest, I found myself rooting for both boys. I did take off a half a star from my rating because Taslim "solved" the love triangle using my least favorite METHOD (spoiler: make one the villain), but otherwise, the love triangle is executed well. It's not overly dramatic or emotionally manipulative, and Zahra's relationship with each boy feels real and believable. Well, expect towards the climax when things get weirdly and abruptly theatrical. It's a little too much for me, but Taslim does warn her readers to expect "a natok set in America," so I guess it's okay.

Past all the fun and games, The Love Match is, at its heart, a story about family and identity. I really appreciate the way Taslim handled the tension between Zahra's dreams and duty to her family. Taslim paints the struggles of being the oldest child of both immigrants and a single mother with heartfelt realism and manages to portray the inevitable East-West culture clash without vilifying either side. The moments between Zahra's family members are heartwarming and honest. They aren't a picture-perfect family--and there are certainly times when Zahra's loyalty to her family seems to come at the cost of her personal happiness--but complexity just makes it that much more believable.

The Love Match is the type of book I'd want to write as an author. It's an ode to YA contemporary romance, (Jane Austen, and Bangladeshi natoks,) highlighting the best of the genre(s) and a love letter to Taslim's culture and childhood in a diasporic community. It's fun and lighthearted, nuanced and complex. It's a humorous love story grounded in reality and that, in my opinion, makes the Happily Ever After that much sweeter.

Before reading this, I had no idea about the gaps in my knowledge of Bangladesh and its culture, but the cultural framing Priyanka Taslim puts into her book is effective; I felt like I learned a lot, and Zahra is such a compelling protagonist that I couldn't put the book down. Her struggles with familial devotion, compromising her life plans, and trying to make time for her best friends are relatable to me as an adult and will definitely resonate with younger readers too. The romance is also dramatic and angsty in a way that works well with the narrative--while Zahra makes some cringe-worthy decisions, the climax of her romance with her chosen suitor is satisfying. (I wish we had gotten to see more of their relationship at the end, though!)

If you're a fan of South Asian Cinema (Bolly-, Tolly-, Dhallywood, etc.), you'll love this.

This book was so cute! An adorable YA rom-com.

Seriously, like 60% in I wasn’t entirely sure how this would go and then it took a turn and I wasn’t sure how I felt about what happened and then it took ANOTHER turn and then MORE TURNS and then a SHOCKING TWIST I did not expect and then everything comes together quite nicely in the end.

I loved the characters, I thought Zahra’s character was well written and her relationship with her family was so well done. I thought the friends could have had some more depth? I kept getting the twins mixed up, and sometimes it felt they were just sort of there, and while we knew Zahra was close to them, it didn’t feel as fleshed out as it could have been.

The pacing of the novel was good, though that last 40% was a little all over the place and man that surprise there in the last 8% 😂 I was like WHAT?! 😂

But overall, this was a fun read, it’s described as being “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” meets “Pride and Prejudice” and I’d definitely agree with the “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” vibes. If you loved those books, you’ll love this too.

This one comes out January 3, 2023. 📚

This was such a fun read that I absolutely loved. I'm here for loving parents trying their best, and more diaspora books that aren't focused on 'breaking away from overbearing parents' as the core conflict. I related to Zahra so hard, as she didn't want to disappoint her family and those she loves, yet wants to pursue her own dreams - and is doing her best to balance it all.

The ending was absolutely perfect and I was yelling in triumph. We know who she should've ended up with, and she did. :P

THE LOVE MATCH is one of my favorite YA rom coms of all time. With humor, heart, swoony romance, and layered family relationships, there is so much to fall in love with. Zahra is smart, fun, and impossible to not root for. A very special aspect, to me, was an emphasis on discovering self-worth and following your heart while still having a realistic look at difficulties that will stand in the way. I absolutely adored everything about this book and can't recommend it more!

- thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster publishing for the eArc!

- this was a nice story to read! the Bangladeshi rep was placed into the story perfectly, and the characters themselves felt authentic and real.

- however, i did not like the fake dating love interest, Harun, at all. he was completely standoffish the entire book, and he didn’t feel like a dynamic character much at all. Zahra was a fine character, and so was Nayim, who definitely had more of an interesting personality than Harun. the characterization of the two guys was such a stark difference and you could tell who Zahra wanted to end up with in the end.

- overall, a good read! would recommend to romance lovers and people who like fake dating stories.

I love the premise of fake dating in this book as it evolved into something more and it showed the pressure that women must endure to marry well to make sure their family keeps good standing. After her father’s death I think Zahra takes too much responsibility on her shoulders even thought it might be common in bangeldeshi households. The author gives a beautifu insight on how she navigates being true to herself while still showing love to her culture.

Big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. This was such a cute YA rom com.

Zahra's family is in desperate need of money after her dad passed so she works at the Chai Ho to help them out and save up for her future. There she meets the Nayim the new dishwasher with whom she has an instant connection. This would have been amazing but she hadn't just been matched with Harun, whose family is really rich. Too bad she doesn't feel anything for him. But both Harun and Zahra don't want to disappoint their family so they keep up the dating charade while she gets closer to Nayim. But plans never go quite as one would hope, and Zahra starts to get confused about her feelings for both boys.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a pleasure to read and I really enjoyed Zahra's character. I could really feel her confusion and pain. Fake dating tropes are one of my favorite and this did not disappoint at all! I also enjoyed learning about Bengali culture. I highly recommend this book.

I didn't realize that this was Priyanka's debut novel...and wow, what a great start. I devoured the book in 2 days - it was everything it said in the description - funny, dramatic, heartfelt, and really peering deep into the soul of Desi (i use this way of spelling it) girls. While I am not Muslim, I do heavily relate to many concepts in here, and I love how authentic and raw it felt. There were so many times where I was like wow...this is exactly what happens or I've seen happen. From the meddling aunties, relationship with family, and the desire to blaze your own path (one that is often at odds at what your parents/family/community approves of). There is also a lot of great representation in the book as well!

The love triangle was done pretty well - well I admit I figured out who she would end up with, the one other plot twist I figured out only pages before it was revealed. It was a delightful realization to make, with the seeds planted subtly. I actually liked both love interests too, so I don't think I would've been upset either way to be honest.

Overall, this was a novel I literally couldn't put down (started off strong with that first paragraph tbh) and I absolutely adored the representation, along with the culture, dynamic, and commentary on the experience of being a POC in America. I can't wait to see what else is published by this author!

Thank you NetGalley + Simon and Schuster/Salaam Reads for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

I loved how easy a read the book is, the cultural framing was warm and rich and never overly explained or apologized for. It is what it is, it is who the characters are, and while at times they push back on the negatives, it doesn't disregard the love that exists at the core. Love triangles don't always work for me but this was a good one! It really worked for the plot. I'll definitely be checking out more from this author in the future!

A young woman balances her mother’s expectations with her own feelings on love and commitment. As her mother tries to set her up for marriage, the woman must decide whether she’ll let her heart or her duty to her family rule. Author Priyanka Taslim throws in Bollywood-level antics and romance in her decent debut The Love Match.

Zahra Khan is doing everything she can to keep it together in her hometown of Paterson, New Jersey, but her mother, Zaynab, isn’t making it easy. Ever since Zahra’s father died, she’s been working longer hours at the café Chai Ho to help pay the bills. Zaynab is no longer working at the factory; instead, she’s building up her business as a seamstress and finally has steady work. Zahra is incredibly proud of her amma and dotes on her grandmother and younger brother and sister. The family of five lives in a tiny apartment and share all of their spaces, but they’re okay.

Until Amma gets it in her head that the only way to make sure Zahra is taken care of is to get her engaged. After all, she’s 18 and old enough to support her own family. Why can’t she start considering marriage?

Zahra wants nothing to do with it, even if her amma has her eye on the ultra-rich Emon family and their only son, Harun. At a wedding, Zaynab snags the attention of Pushpita, Harun’s mother, and the two women concoct a scheme to get their children together. Zahra goes along with meeting Harun but knows right away that he is not the guy for her. He’s practically a robot, and his favorite being outside of his parents is his bearded dragon. Who needs a lizard lover as a boyfriend/future husband?

Still, Zahra is a good daughter and agrees to a handful of dates with Harun. She’s shocked when the “robot” opens up and confesses that he doesn’t want to marry her either. The whole idea of an arranged marriage, especially when they haven’t even hit 20 yet, seems so nineteenth century. Why can’t their parents just leave them alone?

The two come up with a plan to sabotage their parents’ idea: start fake dating and convince their parents they’re completely wrong for one another. When new employee Nayim Aktar joins Chai Ho and catches Zahra’s attention, she’s even more eager for her fake dating plan with Harun to work out. Nayim is sweet and sensitive and genuinely interested in Zahra’s dreams of becoming a writer. He’s nothing like Harun and everything Zahra wants in a future partner. Then Zahra starts getting to know Harun. All of the sharp lines dividing them and their interests get blurry, and she can’t help but wonder just who is the right guy after all.
Author Priyanka Taslim leans heavily into her Bangladeshi background for this novel that has an almost-exclusively South Asian cast of characters. True to her note at the start of the book, Taslim has thrown enough filmi flair into the plot to make the biggest Bollywood fan happy. Some of the situations land; others feel a little more contrived.

The entire premise of Zaynab insisting that Zahra marry for financial security sounds true to South Asian culture but also feels dated. Had her mother insisted that she study something more practical than writing in college—given her own experience of suddenly becoming a widow with little money to support her family—the main plot line would have seemed more realistic. As it stands Zahra’s story fits perfectly in the 1990s; in contemporary times, it comes off as a little too saturated and loud like many of the Hindi films of that decade.

The triangle with the boys will give target readers all the feels of a typical YA romance. Taslim excels at making the universality of Zahra’s dreams and emotions front and center. Her cultural heritage enriches the story but doesn’t distract from it. In fact, some aspects are a little too muted. The Auntie Network could have benefited from more time on the page as an amusing side plot.

The climax with Nayim is predictable; most readers will probably spot what’s happening long before Zahra does, which ruins the fun. The end, too, isn’t left in much doubt. Taslim’s novel follows tried-and-tested tropes and mostly does them justice, but it would have been nice to see a few surprises.

Those wanting a typical YA romance that centers on South Asian characters and culture will like this one.

This book was described as To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before meets Pride and Prejudice, and I'd say that's pretty accurate. Zahra is a bright, engaging protagonist that has the charisma of Lara Jean in To All the Boys, and she's fun to follow. She also has a lot of pressure being the oldest child. She wants to help care for her financially struggling family, and of course her mom believes the best way for her to do that is to marry a successful, rich Bengali boy. This book has a mix of family drama that balances the dramatic and the realistic well, and a sort of weird, love triangle romance that is definitely nothing like Zahra expected it to be. I can't say that love triangles are my favorite romance trope these days, but I think this book manages to pull it off with two guys that are each likable in very different ways. This book has got the romance, the family, the friendship, and the self-discovery that I think make a hit read!

I love a story that manages to have family at the center regardless of the genre, and Zahra's family is one of my favorite parts of the story. I love the dynamic she has with her siblings, and her younger sister is probably one of my favorite characters in the whole story. She's around five years old and has the sass, excitement, and bluntness only a five-year-old can have. She also instigates many an embarrassing moment for Zahra, but the sibling love is adorable. Similarly, I love the female friendships centered in the story. I think it's so important to see YA stories that show what great, supportive friendships look like, and Zahra has the kind of friends we all want to make for life.

There's so many things I liked about this one. I think the romance elements were great and believable, even though Zahra finds herself in a situation that we all don't find ourselves in too often. I also loved all the elements of Bengali culture and getting to see all the wonderful and even some of the stressful parts of it through the eyes of our protagonist. All and all, there's definitely a lot to enjoy.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a very interesting read from my perspective and I learned a lot about Bengali culture! As a white woman with Bengali friends, it was great to read more about the culture without putting my friends through the emotional labor.

The Love Match follows Zahra, an 18 year old Bengali woman who is trying to keep her family from falling apart after her father died. She has to work long hours to help keep a roof over their heads, watch her younger siblings, all while fending off her mother’s desperate attempts at an arranged marriage. The book centers around a courtship that Zahra’s mother arranged with a very wealthy boy, Harun. While she means well, wanting Zahra and the family to be taken care of, Zahra has her own dreams which don’t include being married off to someone she doesn’t know. The two of them come up with a scheme to get both sets of parents to realize this is not going to happen. Throughout the story Zahra learns who she really is, without taking into account all of the overbearing familial obligations.

I would encourage anyone who is about to graduate high school to read The Love Match, the author does a great job at addressing them feelings you go through that final summer before you all part ways for different colleges and life paths. This book is a much a commentary on that period of life as it is a love story. Let me tell you, the twist ending of the love story was A+ In my book. I rarely get surprised by romances, I usually see what’s coming and I was genuinely surprised at this ending.

Overall, this was a very cute novel, suited to 16-18 year old readers. It was very age appropriate with no spice to it and good commentary on the biased female purity standards in the Muslim community.

I loved this book! It was filled with delightful characters. I really loved Zahra and her struggles between what she wanted and what her family wanted. This was a really heart tugging story but also funny!

This was a beautiful story. It rode the fine line of telling a story in the here and now and incorporating the classical elements of South Asian drama and romance. While I am not Bangladeshi, I enjoyed learning about this vibrant and complex culture. As a fellow brown girl, reading some of these experiences was like a journal entry. Zahra had my heart wrenching as she tried navigate her way and balance her wants/needs with her families' standards. This is probably one of very few love triangles that I have actually enjoyed. Zahra was really in a pickle! But I was from the beginning all the way to the end #teamharun. I wish I had been able to read this story when I was Zahra's age. Stories like this are so important and I am thankful to read about it in such a fun format of a romantic comedy. It delved into serious issues and addressed them well.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC; all opinions are my own.

Cute, sweet young adult romance with three dimensional Desi characters. This was a love triangle that was well executed and had me switching up who I was rooting for with each chapter. I think kids will enjoy the diversity in this one and all of the cute chai references.