This was a perfect adaptation of the fake dating trope and the world building is perfect. I will definitely be reading more of Charika in the future!

"You can't let her go without a fight. Sometimes, things are worth fighting before."

I feel like it's been so long since I've read a cute rom com that puts me in a really good mood. This is one of those books that will lift your spirits when you're having a bad day. Niro is a photographer who, unfortunately, after a bad breakup, has lost interest in taking photos. To fall back in love with what was once her undying passion, she agrees to be Vimal's fake girlfriend for his work holiday. Who is Vimal? A man who is still obsessed with his ex-girlfriend. He wants to win her back during this work trip, so at an event, when both Niro and Vimal's friends give them an idea which allows both their wishes come true, they both decide to go for it. This plan allows Niro to take nice photos at Swiss Alps and fall in love with what she was made to do, while Vimal has a fake girlfriend at his arm. What is this plan? TO PRETEND DATE OBVIOUSLY. We all know what happens when two people in a rom com decide to fake a relationship😏 Pretty soon Vimal's eyes aren't paying attention to the ex-girlfriend, and instead are on the girl next to him who constantly keeps holding her camera like it's her lifeline. As for Niro? She only planned to fall in love with her camera again, but it looks like her heart has captured something else too...hmmm. I love how the book touches on South Asian culture, it's been a while since I've picked up a book where the characters have a similar identity to mine. A wonderful feel-good book to read😍

This was a really sweet and fun romance with a lovely premise and very cute romance. I really enjoyed this one.

"Picture Perfect" unfolds through Niro and Vimal's narratives as they navigate heartbreak. Niro, grappling with a shattered confidence after Mick's betrayal, and Vimal, seeking to win back his ex-girlfriend Kerry, pretend to be a couple on a work holiday to the Swiss Alps. The story beautifully explores their healing journey, with the stunning setting and diverse characters adding festive charm. Amid societal pressures and judgments, the novel delivers a relatable and warm-hearted tale of broken hearts and newfound friendships, making it a delightful romantic comedy for a festive read.

I realise that I absolutely love this author. I love the incredible covers. It's nice and bright and now that I have read the book. I understand. The cover match is really well.

I knew straight away that I was gonna love this literally from the first chapter. The main character is so lovable. It took me a little while to love the male main character. But he was so interesting and written in a way that you don't normally find South Asian to be portrayed.

The book covers so many important topics that you don't really think you will find. For example, colourism, we're darker skin does not equal beauty. This is a huge problem in Asian communities. I also loved how body shaming and being confident in your body was written. Naturally, racism plays a big Part. You ve got fake dating one bed trope and so much humour.

It's brilliant. It's like Nisha Sharma books but with less spice. And I absolutely love that.

Mixed feelings; it was fun and well paced but there were parts I just felt like I had to skim through as I wasn't entirely invested

This is a fun and festive (New Year not Christmas!) fake relationship romance that sees the two characters become better versions of themselves as they pretend to be in a relationship. I found Vimal's perspective to be quite stressful to read because of his issues with reading social cues (I was going to say social anxiety but I'm not quite sure that is quite what it is) but I really liked Niro as a character and I loved her passion for photography and the way that pretending to be Vimal's girlfriend gave her the confidence to stand up for him and to come out of her shell. Really nice.

while i enjoyed this book, i wasn’t a huge fan of the other characters but i loved the exploration of fat phobia and colourism as they’re such paramount topics in south asian culture. i probs will have to give the book a reread tbh

I’ve read various “fake dating” books and this one was pleasantly good! The Sri Lankan characters were super fun and I enjoyed getting to know their culture better. It was a light hearted read. Perfect for summer time!

Picture Perfect had a slow start but it’s really cute. I loved the romance in this and it’s the perfect summer romance.

From the first few pages I knew I was going to enjoy this story, and I was right.

Especially after realising there was a fake dating trope involved, and also a trip to a gorgeous ski lodge in the mountains.

I loved getting to know Vimal and Niro, who are so different as Niro attempts to help Vimal get his ex girlfriend back

But nothing every goes according to a plan, and seeing the dynamic change between them was wonderful to see.

I really disliked many of the people on this holiday with them, especially Lucien.

The descriptions of the scenery and the way Niro was framing her shots was so clear, I felt as though I could see her photos.

This was a highly enjoyable story that I devoured. Another fabulous book from this author who is going from strength to strength.

Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Niro is a newly single photographer who has lost the joy of photography. Vimal is also single and looking to win back his ex-girlfriend. Throw in a few mutual friends and a potential trip to the Swiss alps and you’ve got yourself the ultimate fake-dating scheme.

This book was easy to read and the characters were easy to fall in love with. Being able to seamlessly be "in the know" about how each character was feeling added to the urge to want to scream at them about how much they were falling in love! Jeevani does a fantastic job of writing a slow burn in the midst of a book that moves quickly and isn't slow itself. The supporting characters were interesting and captivating, and it almost reminded me of the set up for a classic murder mystery where a cast of characters is invited to a mansion where the party turns murderous. Luckily for us, this was not a murder mystery but a swoony romance.

Picture perfect was adorable and lighthearted and it was written for you if:
1)You love a fake-dating trope (obviously)
2) You are lured by this beautiful cover into a book that challenges that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover
Or 3) You want to read a contemporary romcom with a cute concept and endearing characters

I tried to give this book a chance many, many times, however I eventually had to give up.

Unfortunately I did not finish this, because there was nothing to hold my interest. The set up for the fake dating just didn't seem great to me, and I wasn't a fan of the writing in general - it felt flat and lacked good dialogue between the characters.

I also didn't feel any chemistry between the characters, which I suppose may have eventually appeared later - but that's too late.

I have read one other book by the author but liked this even better. I am not sure if it's because of the fake-dating trope, but I enjoyed the overall feel of it.
You do not have to have read the previous book to like or enjoy this one, but it makes more sense to have met Niro before in the background before hearing her side of things. Our leading lady is living with her cousin. She has lost that spark that had her taking good photos. She basically feels very blah, and this is when her mother wants to set her up. It is with a 'good' guy who has a good job, is from their community (not something they insist on, but it was something the 'aunties' thought worked this time around) and is also sadly single. Niro has slightly low self-esteem because of things she hears about her complexion or about her weight. Her previous relationship also left that deep gash that she is unable to fix. Vimal is such a relatable character, to begin with. He is a techie who works with some terrible people. Vimal is pining for his ex, who he thinks will find her way back to him, and feels colourless without her.
This is when the fake dating trope emerges. It is also addressed within the book, making a tongue-in-cheek thing to do as several times people guess at it. The relationship builds up slowly, with feelings and ambitions being addressed. A getaway lets both parties explore their surroundings from the other's point of view. The conversations within the book are well done and interesting. There is always this constant pace which makes the reader feel like the story is moving somewhere.
I am enjoying the author's wit and sense of humour. It is not constant, but there are times when the humour makes its presence felt. It even tends to be emotional as Niro and Vimal battle their inner demons. There were some unexpected twists in the tale, unrelated to the central love story, but they felt significant.
I highly recommend this book and this series to people who like reading about snappy, slightly quirky leading ladies and set within a diverse community of people from different walks of life. I learnt yet another thing about forms of addressing within the Sri Lankan community that was interesting to me.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

a fake romance is always good and these two were good leads, I liked a lot around the photography and the result

I loved this one Niro was very likeable and they made a cute couple. It was a great read and the prefects rom com

‘Picture Perfect’ is the latest book by Jeevani Charika.

Niro is a photographer who’s lost the joy of taking photos. Burned by a bad break-up, she’s in desperate need of inspiration. Vimal is determined to win back his ex-girlfriend. When he hears she’s bringing her new boyfriend on a group holiday, he impulsively declares that he’s bringing a plus one too. Their mutual friends have the perfect solution: Niro can pretend to be Vimal’s new girlfriend and join the holiday. Imagine the incredible photographs she could take in the Swiss alps. She’s not thinking about love. He’s thinking about someone else. Can they fake a picture-perfect relationship – or will real feelings get in the way?

Curl up with ‘Picture perfect’ a romantic comedy about fake love and relationships that slowly burns into a real connection.

The story is seen through the narrative of Niro and Vimal who have both had their hearts broken. Niro is unable to get over Mick, who broke her heart and ruined her confidence, her family is wanting her to find someone to love and when Vimal is introduced through an arrangement, they pretend to be a couple so that Vimal can win Kerry, his ex-girlfriend back.

The premise is that the pair of them will go on a work holiday to the Swiss Alps with Vimal’s work colleagues and hopefully make Kerry jealous and realise what she’s missing.

This story is a lovely one. Both characters are nursing broken hearts and are struggling to move on, but their shared hurt is helping them grow in confidence, make them happier and in Niro’s case, Vimal is helping her reignite her passion for photography.

The setting is beautiful and really puts the reader into the festive mood and the array of characters make for interesting dynamics, Lucian is a snob who belittles people whilst his younger girlfriend Felicity, is charming and playful adding an element of fun to the story. Vimal is kind natured and quiet whilst Niro brings out the fun side in him.

The story also focuses on the pressure of society, having to look and behave a certain way and it’s really relatable in how easily a person is judged by their appearances alone.

A warm hearted story about broken hearts and new friendships, ‘Picture Perfect’ is a delicious romantic comedy that ticks all the boxes for a lovely festive read.

You can buy ‘Picture Perfect’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.

Picture Perfect by Jeevani Charika is a charming and engaging romantic novel that explores the themes of love, identity, and family. The book follows the story of Shanthi, a young woman who works as a wedding photographer in London, and Siva, a successful businessman who hires her to photograph his sister's wedding.

Charika's writing is witty and engaging, and she creates a delightful and entertaining story filled with humor and heart. The banter between Shanthi and Siva is delightful, and the chemistry between them is electric.

What sets Picture Perfect apart from other romantic novels is its exploration of the themes of identity and family, and the ways in which they intersect. The book offers a nuanced and insightful look at the challenges faced by those who straddle two different worlds and the importance of staying true to oneself.

Overall, Picture Perfect is a delightful and uplifting read that is perfect for fans of romantic novels. It is a celebration of the power of love and the importance of staying true to oneself, and a reminder of the importance of family and community.

That was rather a smooth read. As many romance books go many dwell into the emotional state too much that they sometimes just try to keep the characters in the toil for a lot long for the effect. But this book doesn't get stuck like that too much.

I love the Sri Lankan rep in this book! It's a Desi sub-demographic that deserves a lot more representation than there is. The fake relationship in this book is just priceless. I love the character dynamics, the vacation setting, and the pining. LOVED!!!