Picture perfect was the epitome of a cosy sunshine read! Niro & Vimal had me smiling throughout from start to end.

This is another great will they won't they officially get together book. I mean you know all along that they really will. But they take you on a wild ride as they try and work out that they really want to be dating each other and not fake dating. The characters in the book are good too. It's a fun book and enjoyable.

Nirosha known as "Niro" is a photographer, dealing with a bad-breakup. Vimal is a banker who is also dealing with a break-up with his girlfriend Kerry and was determined to get back together with Kerry. A retreat organized by Vimal's boss and having heard that Kerry has gotten a new boyfriend and moving on, Vimal didn't really want to go to the retreat alone. Then he meets Niro and together with Niro he goes to the retreat pretending to be dating with each other.

Fake dating has become a common trope in many of the romance novels I have read. However, this was different--as both Niro and Vimal are Sri Lankan-British with the Sri Lankan culture fused into the story. So me, being a Sri Lankan is very special to me. I do like how the author had managed to make the story as realistic as possible, the fact that in many Sri Lankan culture, colorism is very important i.e. if you are dark skinned, chances of finding a future husband is grim (if it is arranged marriage that is). There were some parts that were slightly boring but there were some funny parts as well. The story was also predictable particularly the ending, as most romance do have a predictable ending. However, I actually enjoyed reading this book a lot. I also like how the personalities between Niro and Vimal are so very different--one friendly, one serious and did like how the romance developed between the two. I did like the epilogue part.

If you like to read romance book with fake dating trope with Sri Lankan culture blended in it, then this one is for you--worth four stars!

Many thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

A beautiful story following a journey of self-discovery, friendship and knowing your worth.

I loved this story. Full of wit and fun, Niro and Vimal were destined for each other and it had me enraptured. I wanted to know what was going to happen and was not disappointed with the outcome. The maturity in these characters was a breath of fresh air, noting their differences in traits and personalities was intriguing and like ying and yang, they went together perfectly.

I thought the underlying current of the racism in this book was tasteful and it highlighted some significant issues that people suffer with everyday. I found myself hating some of the posh characters because of their bigotry and ignorance towards Niro and Vimal, and really liked when the other characters defended them/called them out on their racism.

Overall loved the character development in both the MC’s and the trust that was built before the love followed. Great read for me and would definitely recommend for a feel good Christmas story.

This isn't a bad book but I wouldn't call it a good one either. The premise is cute but I didn't feel the connection between the main characters. The guy is also in love with his ex the whole time but every time he described how they were, it didn't seem like love.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Content warning: There are instances of fat shaming, colorism, and racism on the page. Sometimes it is squashed, sometimes it isn't. Be gentle with yourself.

I really enjoyed Picture Perfect. Jeevani Charika tells wonderful stories.

I loved reading a story about an artist that has lost her vision and how she finds it again. Reading how Niro sees the world as a photographer was very special to me.

I also really enjoyed the found friends in unlikely places aspect to the story.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I have to say I really enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it especially around Christmas.
In a nutshell, it was cute , cosy funny and not that long so read it!

Firstly, I loved the fact that both the main characters were POC from the same background (they had their own inside jokes, and it was so so so cute) it just added something more to the story. I also liked the fact that the author merged Sri Lankan culture in subtle ways to the “fake dating “trope, it made it seem more natural and easier for them (we have to share a bed, kiss under a mistletoe? Mmh… sorry, can’t do that, cultural thing you know) it’s an excuse I’ve used so many times, so it was funny seeing it here.
It was entertaining and heart-warming story, Nora and Vimal had each other’s back throughout and helped each other even though they were really oblivious at times.
However, the netgalley and kindle format made the experience less enjoyable and quite uncomfortable. Furthermore, I feel like there was something missing though I can’t quite put my finger on it yet.
Unfortunately, I am on a schedule and if I want to validate my degree I have to go and study reason why I can’t stay to say more about this novel. Anyways, thanks for reading my review and thanks you Jeevani Charika for letting me into your world.

𝑃𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡 by Jeevani Charika is a witty and funny rom-com about two seemingly unavailable people who strike up a deal to fake date in order to make a past love jealous. Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollins for the e-arc of this cute rom-com!

There were many things I really enjoyed about this book. Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes when done well, and I thought the author did a good job with Niro and Vimal’s relationship. I also really enjoyed the Sri Lankan culture and vernacular weaved into the book. I’ve never read characters like these ones and I liked it!

𝗢𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿! 😍 𝗦𝗼 𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗲!

While I enjoyed this quick romantic read, there were some things I didn’t love as well. The dialogue between characters was sometimes hard to read. It didn’t always feel authentic and at times were a little cringy with how forced the writing was. The format of the kindle book was very unorganized and at times hard to read. I’ve read other e-arcs that are not like this.

All in all, this was a cute and funny romance that any fake-dating trope lover will enjoy.

Very entertaining contemporary romance with a Sri Lankan couple. Slow burn with fake dating. So sweet with some funny moments. Very heartwarming. You will fall in love with Niro and Vimal.

Totally Picture Pefect. Totally loved it. great read and enjoyed all that i had read. This was good from beginning to end. Yeah!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Picture Perfect by Jeevani Charika! 📸
•
hey hey ✌️ thank you to @netgalley for allowing me to read and review this eARC!
•
ꜱʏɴᴏᴘꜱɪꜱ:

What happens when you put two characters in forced proximity to each other, with only one bed? Apparently, you get a pillow wall.

Niro, the out-going girl who’s lost her desire for photography thanks to her ex-boyfriend who called her art plain and dull.

Vimal, the nerdy dude who’s focused on getting his ex-girlfriend back who ended the relationship due to him being boring.

Two extremely different people are about to experience the popular saying, “opposites attract’’
•&•
ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ:

I found Picture Perfect a hilarious and cute read! 😍

Niro and Vimal’s characters are so vastly different, yet they made the best duo ever. Their humorous banter was the cherry on top of the cake! 🍒

Niro had this outgoing, yet caring, personality. The total opposite of Vimal, who would rather spend his time with numbers on a screen. Even though Vimal was an awkward chap, he had sweet tendencies and a slight streak of mischievousness. Both characters were uniquely described and written, which in turn, kept the book interesting! ✨

As for the plot and the story, I found the concept appealing! We all love the forced proximity and one bed trope, so how could I not be intrigued?! 😂😋

While that was definitely something to be excited about, I did find the story slow at times due to the writing style not being a preference of mine. It was rather quick and abrupt, and that led to the ending of the story feeling quite empty. There wasn’t much time to develop some important aspects 🙈

BUT! Other than that! I did enjoy the story of Niro and Vimal, it was sweet, cute, and contained funny moments that had me smiling and laughing! 💛

What I loved as well was that the author raised awareness to real life sitions that people face, such as racism in their workplace, and the acts of body shaming. She sent some great messages to the reader, which I found amazing! xx

I would recommend Picture Perfect to those who like the one bed trope, the close proximity trope, and a cute and wholesome story! ❤️

Rating: 3/5 ✨

A good solid fun romance book. This was a fun and quick read and I really enjoyed it!

The slow burn can be really slow, but that is what makes it enjoyable

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I liked the book! It was nice and fluffy and easy (slow burn though! Important to note!) and it did the trick. There was just something missing that I can’t quite pinpoint. Pizzazz or sparkle. Just something. But it was still a nice book!

Niro was a lovely main character that felt realistically written. I can’t say she felt real, in a sense she fell a bit flat for me in that regard but she was kind, caring, funny and passionate about photography.

Vimal was nice as well. I didn’t care as much about him as I did about Niro but he was a good man. Oblivious as shit, both about himself and the outside world, which did baffle me. How do you mean you didn’t notice you didn’t loved your ex anymore???? Surely that’s obvious? There’s other stuff, but mainly that.

Overall, the book was good, it just missed a sparkle for me. Would still recommend, definitively! I’m curious to see what the future of this author entails. Also if I sound slightly detached, it’s because I just sobbed to Rina Sawayama’s album. I currently feel slightly numb and I have dry eyes. Apologies for that, I promise I liked the book.

3.5 stars
I really wished I could have enjoyed Picture Perfect because on the surface it sounded like the exact type of book that I would enjoy. It has fake dating and brown main characters, a character who is a photographer and a wintery setting; these are all things I love reading about. Unfortunately, I really don't think it was executed too well. I felt the writing was doing a lot more telling than showing which was a little off-putting. And I honestly couldn't see a lot of chemistry between Niro and Vimal; I wish we could have gotten more moments of them being friends before they moved into a relationship.

3.5 Stars

A solid and cute, an enjoyable story.

I enjoyed watching their relationship develop and how they supported each other even though they didnt really know each other at first. But as they continued the ruse, they slowly fell in love and the things that they thought were things they didnt like about each other, they really learned to appreciate.

Amazing!!!! This book was literally the best thing I’ve ever read and I feel so lucky to have read this book so early!!! I’ve literally recommended it to all my friends and can’t wait to fangirl with them about it

I really wanted to like this book, but I got about halfway through and had to stop. I usually love fake dating books but the flow of the book felt off to me. There were a few scenes that I felt could've been removed from the book because they didnt add anyting to the story.

I found both the main characters to be boring and kind of annoying. I wish there was more depth to the characters.

I liked this way more than I expected. The first couple chapters were okay, but then it got so good!
The social dynamics and the sneaky bullying were presented really well.
I loved Vimal! At first he got on my nerves because he was so easy focused on Kerry-a woman that left him. I get it, but I wanted him to move on! Oh and watching him realize Kelly and that crew
wasn't worth his energy was great.
Niro was equally fabulous, but I liked her right away and she did not get on my nerves :) I loved the bits where the reader gets to see the world the way she does, the little details that make her art so special.

thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc!

this story follows niro, a photographer who, after a messy breakup, has lost her passion for photography, and vimal, a quantitative analyst still hung up on his ex-girlfriend. after being invited to an exclusive holiday by a colleague, vimal, after hearing that his ex is coming with her new boyfriend, enlists niro to be his fake girlfriend to save face (and try to get his ex back). what could possibly go wrong?

this was such a cute book! i loved the way that niro and vimal's personalities complimented each other without having to change themselves for the other person and i always appreciate people of colour being main characters. on that note, i liked the fact that charika showcased both vimal and niro being immersed in their culture and the way that problems such as fatphobia and colourism were tackled. it was brilliant reading about a plus-sized, dark-skinned south asian woman being unapologetically herself as well as desired in a romantic way. the epilogue was also so sweet and i think it was a sweet ending to a sweet book!

Just meh. Slow paced fake dating romance. I didn't feel much reading this and put it down a few times before I could finish it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.