Shaadi preparations are in full swing, which means lehenga shopping, taste testing, dance rehearsals, and best of all, Arya’s sister Alina is home. The Khannas are together again, finally, and Arya wants to enjoy it. So she stifles her lingering resentment towards Alina, plays mediator during her sister’s fights with their mother, and welcomes her future brother-in-law with open arms. (Okay, maybe enjoy isn't exactly right.)

Meanwhile at school, Arya’s senior year dreams are unraveling. In between class and her part-time gig as a bookshop assistant, Arya struggles to navigate the aftermath of a bad breakup between her two best friends and a tense student council partnership with her rival, the frustratingly attractive Dean Merriweather.

Arya is determined to keep the peace at home and at school, but this shaadi season teaches Arya new realities: Alina won’t always be in the bedroom down the hall, Mamma’s sadness isn’t mendable, friendships must evolve, and life doesn’t always work out like her beloved Bollywood movies. But sometimes, the person you least expect will give you a glimpse of your dream sequence just when you need it most.

Structured like a Bollywood film (entertaining intermission included!) Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment will make you swoon, laugh, cry, think, nod your head in agreement, and quite possibly make you get up and dance.

Huge thanks to Netgalley, Wednesday Books and the author for sending me a copy of "Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment" in exchange for an honest, unbiased review!

Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment was a fun and sweet read. I really loved how the book was set up (like a Bollywood movie), with an intermission and everything. The pacing was mostly good, but it did drag a bit in the middle. But I was never bored reading this book. The romance added some more layers to the story, since we have to realize that Arya is just a teenager dealing with all of these things.

I absolutely love how the author wrote the characters. Yes, they definitely annoyed me, but they're imperfect and messy and realistic. I love how our main character, Arya, had to deal with all of these people in their relationships. I was definitely annoyed by her sister, Alina, but that's probably because I relate to Arya way more. They both were so different and unique, but they love each other so much and it demonstrates a very realistic sister relationship.

Speaking of familial relationships, those were probably the best part of the book. I definitely think the author drew from her own experiences, because everything felt so authentic and genuine for an Indian-American family (although, I've never met Indian aunties quite as rude as these ones). I loved seeing how Arya's relationship with her mother was so incredibly different from Alina's. And I loved seeing how they all affected each other immensely. I've also never seen a book about an Indian mother with a mental illness, and I thought that was such an important addition to Nandani's character. I do wish the book went a bit deeper into it though.

In the end, Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment is way more than a (very cute) romance. It's about growing up, finding your people and your place in the world.

This was such a cute read! The characters made me laugh so hard and I learned so much about shaadi. This was an amazing debut and I can’t believe that the author hasn’t written more, this is such a great book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love this book. So. Much. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

I think the best thing about Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment was the characters. They were messy, they had complicated relationships with one another, they were never perfect. Not Arya, not Arya’s sister whom she had once idolized, not her best friends or her parents or anybody else. Arushi Avachat did a fantastic job bringing them all to life and showing the complexities of each character and relationship. I think my favorite relationship was that of Arya and Alina. I’ve never felt as if my relationship with my sisters was studied and then put on a page, but it felt just like that with this book. Alina wasn’t perfect, but Arya wasn’t either. And the two of them put together was definitely not perfect, it was a wonderful portrayal of a sister relationship.

The romance in the book was also a wonderful addition to the book. Enhancing the story without taking away too much from the main plot and subject of the book. It, combined with Arya’s struggles with her friends, really brought the reader back to the fact that many of these characters are teenagers and gave them the space to be teenagers with drama that feels so laughable, which is so refreshing to see as teenagers aren’t always lent that space in YA novels.

My two complaints are that the book dragged a bit in the middle and that I wish we could have gotten more interactions with Arya’s parents, who were the subject of many conversations but weren’t as present as I thought they would be considering their significance. Overall still a wonderful read and I can’t wait to see what else we get from Arushi Avachat in the future.

CW: depression, divorce (recounted)

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Arya Khanna is trying to have the best senior year ever, but things aren’t quite working out in her favor. Her two best friends recently broke up and are no longer speaking to each other. Her family is in the midst of planning her older sister’s shaadi despite lingering tensions. And she has to save autumn formal with her enemy and student body president, Dean Merriweather. Yet, in the midst of it all, Arya learns how to adapt with these changes.

I have to admit that I haven’t read a book quite like Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment, but this is a book I would absolutely re-read again. Capturing the essence of a Bollywood film (featuring an intermission, which I’ve never seen before in a book), this book is divided into five acts focusing on various aspects of Arya’s senior year and the shaadi preparations. I feel that the short chapters are easy to read through and provide a good pace to the plot since it never feels too slow or too fast.

Likewise, I feel that Avachat does a really good job with character development in Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment. Throughout the book, Avachat details the changes Arya goes through as she navigates senior year and her sister’s upcoming shaadi, which I think Avachat does really well for this book. In addition, I also thought Arya and Dean’s relationship was so cute and adorable. I loved reading their interactions on the page and was rooting for them till the end.

Other than my wish there could have been a bit more to the intermission part of the book, I have no complaints for this book. If you’re looking for a diverse YA rom-com with great writing and an adorable romance, you should keep an eye on Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment.

Arya's a passionate character, but that passion worked against her throughout the story. She meddles a lot between her feuding friends and family members and doesn't respect their boundaries. When her sister doesn't want their mother involved for certain parts of the wedding-planning process, Arya invites her anyways.

Similarly, Arya's constantly picking fights with her friends and family just for conflict in the plot. She spends the majority of the book apologizing to all the people she's hurting, and then a few pages later starting another fight that she needs to apologize for. It was an exhausting cycle.

I liked seeing the representation of a parent with mental illness, but I didn't like how Arya continuously blamed Alina for their mom's depression. There's no one to blame in those situations, and it was just cruel.

Arya and Dean's relationship was entirely insta-love as well. They spend most of the book feuding and only start dating toward the last third of the book. Still, before the book is over, they were telling each other that they loved them. I couldn't suspend my disbelief for that.

The ending was way too quick as well. The entire book is spent leading up to the wedding, but it's over in a flash and there's no resolution afterward. I thought I'd skipped a page when the book ended because it felt so abrupt, but alas.

The writing was strong and the descriptions were solid. I also really enjoyed reading about these, new to me, wedding traditions and educating myself on the vocabulary that came along with them. Unfortunately, there were too many plot issues for me to give this book a higher rating.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this realistic novel about girl who starts to fall for her rival in the middle of planning her sister's massive wedding. Her sister's wedding is bringing all kinds of changes to her life and family. She's not sure if she's ready to no longer being just down the hallway from her sister. At the same time, she is going through changes in her friend group as well. Really enjoyed this story and the highlights of growing pains that everyone goes through around that age.

I loved reading that this book was from Author Mentor Match and I'm so glad it's being published. Congratulations Avachat! I'm so glad you made it through and got to write this story.

I felt like 'Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment' didn't follow typical book plot structure--with big moments and big stakes--but that's a good thing. It's a quieter book, a more realistic book, as we read about family, friends, school, and dating. Arya and Dean reminded me of Devi and Ben from 'Never Have I Ever', how they just fell into their enemies to lovers without intending to and have to navigate through that. I loved the growth and progression of their relationship, all the books and Bollywood talk, the sweets, music, and so much more. I enjoyed reading about the culture and I loved that Avachat wrote this in a Bollywood sequence and that Arya gets her Bollywood Moment. (Perfect title by the way!)

The story follows a time in Arya's life where everything is changing and she has to face that reality and cope with it. It's a growing pain, something we've all been through and can relate to.

This book is a sweet contemporary romance and an enjoyable read.

This was a sparkling debut! I don’t know much about Bollywood or Indian culture, so I was excited to dive into Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment. The book is structured like a Bollywood movie, which makes me want to watch some!

First of all,I adored Arya. She was so sweet and tried to do her best while navigating complex family and friend relationships. She certainly makes mistakes along the way, but you can’t help but root for her. Also, Arya was really living my dream working at bookstore. Where was my cool bookstore-owning mentor when I was a teen?!

There is a very fun romance in this book (no spoilers!), but I’d say the primary focus is on Arya’s family dynamic. I appreciated how the author discussed the ties between sisters who are in very different stages of life. That’s something I really identify with. I also enjoyed the painful discussions of friends who grow apart and what to do about it.

I highly recommend this book to actually teenagers and older readers. It’s well-worth it!

Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment is the most delightful romcom I have read in quite awhile. Arya is a Desi-American high school senior whose sister, Alina, has just gotten engaged and is planning an elaborate, traditional Desi wedding. Due to a disagreement with their mother, her sister has not been home for three years and Arya is basking in her sister’s attention, but also feels and tries to mitigate the tension between her mother and sister. Of course, Arya’s life is not only wrapped up in her sister’s wedding; she is active in school government, takes challenging classes, has a busy social life, and works at a local bookstore. She has a challenging relationship with the senior class president, who she has frequently clashed with in the past, and one of her best friends has just broken up with the other. Of course, college applications and decisions loom large, adding to the stress.

Arushi Avachat has written a love letter to Desi culture along with a coming of age story of a first generation immigrant. With vivid descriptions of food, clothing, henna, and Desi traditions, I learned so much about the culture. I also appreciated that there were two gay couples, one of them Desi, as well as an interracial couple. All of the characters were very well developed, and felt authentic and compelling. Arya is far from perfect, but has a winning personality and is always willing to learn, even if it is sometimes begrudgingly. One thing I would have appreciated clarification about is whether the girls’ mother is in fact dealing with depression and/or anxiety. She is often referred to as being chronically sad, and Arya’s older sister refers to her as mentally ill. However, there was no further information and it made me wonder if perhaps mental illness is not dealt with openly in Desi culture. I really enjoyed reading about Arya’s relationships with the various people in her life, and was actively cheering her on as she tried to navigate friends, family, and romantic love. I adored her boss and mentor, Mindy. I wish every teenager was so lucky! The Bollywood references were intriguing, and I am now going to have to watch at least one of the movies referenced. I highly recommend this book to everyone, but especially to teens who enjoy the enemies to lovers trope, Bollywood fun, and fun literary references.

This was such a fun read. I was laughing out loud reading this one.
I liked the look at the culture traditions and how they shape family.
I liked seeing all the moments of senior year and how they played out.
I think teens will enjoy this one and find it super fun and learn a few things about different cultures along the way.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book about senior year, friendship, relationships, misunderstandings and family. Arushi Avachat has done a good job capturing the ups and downs of the final year of high school plus wrapped it in an educational Indian setting. My only complaint would be that I wanted a glossary of Indian terms to really know what the characters were saying not just try to guess based on context. Thank you to #netgalley and #wednesdaybooks for this arc of #aryakhannasbollywoodmoment to read and review ahead of publication.

Arya Kahanna's Bollywood Moment is a fun and fresh YA novel from Arushi Avachat. Interesting characters, entertaining strorylines, and gorgeous descriptions of South Asian wedding traditions made this a delight to read!

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was so good! This is a YA pretty in pink bollywood version. I laughed out loud at some scenes. This was a great book and I had a good time reading it.
I just reviewed Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment by Arushi Avachat. #NetGalley
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Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment was a fun read that felt like an episode of Never Have I Ever— which is a show I love. While predictable, this story was heartwarming and emotionally deep. The characters were genuine and I enjoyed the growth Arya went through in the book. The commentary around the cultural aspects of Alina and Nikhil’s Shaadi was just enough description for those unfamiliar without being lengthy. I wished for more Dean and Arya moments but loved them, especially Dean’s patience. Overall I feel this story was 3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange of my review.

thanks to netgalley for the arc!

i thoroughly enjoyed this debut from arushi avachat, and i believe that this would be a fun read for anyone. it looks like a romance based on the cover, but avachat truly is able to create such a dynamic story that it felt like it encompassed so many important things that a teenager goes through.

we follow arya, a senior trying to make the most of her senior year while balancing her sister's wedding, family dynamics, a work/school balance, and friend struggles. it may seem like a lot, but as someone who also had three out of those four issues during her own senior year, i felt seen. it wasn't overdone nor overplayed, and i really enjoyed how avachat was able to accurately portray the life of a senior in modern times. the pop culture references were bearable, which normally in ya contemporary novels, they aren't. so that instantly makes me enjoy the book even more.

i loved how arya was flawed, and she did have people call her out on it, BUT the one thing that i wish arya would have done is acted on it more if that makes sense. she would say "oh, yes i was being rude and i apologize" but then kinda make the same mistake again later on and go through the same steps. HOWEVER, i also think that's such an accurate portrayal of a 17/18 year old girl. even at almost 24, i do the same things!

i loved the family dynamics of arya khanna's bollywood moment. i love stories with complex family dynamics, so this really made my heart happy. i loved how arya still stood by her mom even though her sister wasn't supportive of it, and i think that proved a lot to her sister? though i do wish the sister and the mom would have had some sort of conversation towards the end about everything.

the romance was really cute, and i could tell from early on whenever dean spoke to her, he was enthralled with her. plus i think he did the darcy hand flex??? which is amazing. he kept it real with arya which i appreciated, and the way he was so nervous around her was also really cute to read.

overall, i really enjoyed reading arya khanna's bollywood moment because it's a fun ya contemporary that doesn't make me cringe, and it tackles such important aspects of a teen's experiences in a relevant and impressive way for a debut author. i would read anything else by arushi avachat, and i recommend this to anyone who's gotten this far in the review because it really has such a cute vibe.

~Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment Review~
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4/5
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As always, I love St. Martins Press and am excited to dive into this fun story!
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Pros:
+okay i’m a giant sucker for academic rivalry stories you got me there
+i love sisters
+lots of fun cultural references through the wedding! great food and music which i love to look up to try/listen to
+bookstore setting!!
+communication!!!
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Cons:
-high school friendship drama
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This was such a quick cute read! It had me genuinely giggling and kicking my feet but also was so much more than a romance! I loved getting to see the wedding and all the family moments as well!

**Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin Press/Wednesday Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review**
**Any quotes referenced are from the unpublished version of the book**

Rep: bisexual (Lisa Greenfield), gay (Neil Joshi and Rishabh), lesbian (Mindy and Cleo), Asian (Katie Nguyen and Kevin Chang?), Black (Andy Bishop), Indian (Punjabi - the Khanna family; Marathi - the Joshi family), Latinx (Emilia Lopez), Hindu (the Khanna family), Jewish (Dean Merriweather and Lisa Greenfield)

Arya Khanna is starting off her senior year with some major drama - family, friends, and foes.

Her sister, Alina, has been away for three years, ever since she left for college. When she ended up dropping out her sophomore year to pursue her passion for art, she didn't return home. Arya was very upset by this because she needed her sister and she wasn't there for her. Now, Alina is back and getting married, so Arya is feeling that anger more than ever, especially after she discovers a secret Alina has only been hiding from her. Her time away had also affected their mother. Arya describes her as, "proud, regal, sad." She never smiles anymore, and her eyes have lost sparkle. She seems to be the last to know about things happening in her daughters' lives, and it has affected her. Alina didn't tell her she dropped out - she heard it from somebody else. Also, Arya does the same thing, really. She goes to Mindy (her boss at the bookstore, Belle's) for advice instead of her mother.

Arya's friend group used to be a trio - Lisa Greenfield and Andy Bishop - until they tried dating and then broke up. Lisa was avoiding Andy, but also avoiding Arya in the process. Things become worse when Lisa finds out that Arya is going to the formal with Andy, even though everyone knows it's not like that. Lisa was upset that Arya seemed to be taking Andy's side after the breakup even though she needed her more. However, Lisa was ignoring calls and texts, and making excuses not to spend any time with Arya to try and reconcile things. Can they find a way to work things out and become best friends again?

Dean Merriweather has always been Arya's rival at school, and things really escalated when Dean won the student body presidential election. Arya had been criticized by her mother for not seeming to try hard enough, so she finally found something she thought she was good at, only to lose. Losing made her feel like her mother had been right all along. Dean was always playfully mean to her, and we know what that means in reality. Arya seemed to be blind to it, though. Can Arya ever possibly see him as boyfriend potential?

I think a heart to heart scene between Arya, Alina, and their mother would have been nice to see at the end. Kind of like an all around apology for their behavior toward each other, and how they'll do better, especially with Alina leaving again. They could have asked their mother about how she's been feeling and what they can do to help. Instead, the girls tell each other that it isn't their problem. I think it would be unfair to say that they are both completely blameless, however, they are not *only* to blame.

Thank you NetGalley and Arushi Avachat for an ARC of this book.

This was a really cute story of Arya’s and her Bollywood journey. I wish that there were better explanations for things because I had to keep asking a friend what something were. I really enjoyed reading this.

This whole book feels like a Bollywood movie and is the perfect read for people who loved Never Had I Ever on Netflix.

Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment was such a fun and charming read, and I loved all its layers. It was a fun and cute academic rival to lover's romance but had so much depth to it with all the familial relationships. Overall just felt like a very well-rounded book that was cute and fluffy but also covered topics that added a lot of depth to the story.

This book was truly such an enjoyable read and it was super fun and kept my attention the whole time. Once I read the first few pages I felt myself just getting sucked into the story and especially its humor, and after that, it was very difficult to put it down. I 100% would have read this book in one sitting if I had not been on vacation with my family.

Also, this book made me hungry for food, the way Arushi Avachat described the food was perfect. So that was just an added plus!