Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC of this book.

An adorable romance novel!! It is Emma x You’ve Got Mail inspired, but it also gave me many When Harry Met Sally vibes and Jia would sometimes remind me of Blair from GG.

The story takes place in Mumbai, which I loved as a setting. The mentions of different parts of India and the change in lifestyles was also super interesting and it added to the wonderful warm vibes of the novel.

The friends-to-lovers was so sweet, and I loved that the MMC fell first and harder, tho the happy ending tops it. The family-and-friendship relationships were everything too :,)) sisters that got along, workplace friends turned life long friends, it was all just wonderful

If you are looking for a fun romance novel to read this year, that will have you cheering on the charters, giggling at the cute scenes, and making you good angry, pre-order Match Me If You Can out June 4, 2024!!!! A fun review to come on my bookstagram @ensarasbookcorner but it’s 6 am as I’m writing this, been up all night, so that’s all for now. ◡̈

This is a charming, effervescent take on Emma set among the upper classes of Mumbai. Jia aspires to be a matchmaker and secretly gives romantic advice on her blog in direct contrast to the content she puts out through the woman's magazine she writes for. She's pragmatic about love while still being fairly naive, thus her mostly-unfounded confidence in her matchmaking abilities. Reading her deluded attempts at match-making office lothario Eeshan and village-transplant Charu was painfully entertaining in the best way. But like any well-written character inspired by Emma, Jia is so upbeat and (mostly) well-meaning, you can't help but root for her.

The interesting thing about this book's Mr. Knightley, Jaiman, is that he has plenty of problems of his own. He's not just Emma's paternal, perpetually-chastising friend (though to be clear, I'm not saying this is a bad thing at all); he's the owner of a struggling bar who has never quite lived up to family expectations. There's also this culinary/career rivalry he has going on with the Frank Churchill of the story (a South Indian guy named Harish who comes up with a quite frankly FABULOUS restaurant concept: Vodka & Vada). Jaiman is also Jia’s childhood friend and hopelessly in love with her. The result is a (very) slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance.

I actually really liked that Jaiman attempted an ill-fated kiss with Jia a year prior to the story beginning, and it ended with Jia crying about not wanting their relationship to change and she refuses to talk about it afterwards lolol. I thought it was a great place to start the story because Jia isn't entirely oblivious to Jaiman's feelings, and she privately admits she’s only ever felt attracted to him, so the tension is there. That being said, the author never really developed this tension or dragged it out as much as she could have. There are multiple instances where there's great set-up, like the time Jia puts on her dead mom's wedding lehenga and Jaiman walks in on her, and she asks him to unzip her. He does, but there's minimal touching or talking, and Jaiman just walks out within the next paragraph. I felt similarly about the time they dance together, as well as the entire mystery blog correspondent subplot.

The sex:

There are a couple kisses, mostly near the end, and there is one closed-door sex scene.

Overall:

Overall, this book was humorous and light and I enjoyed it, though I wished the romance had developed more. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a frothy, diverse romcom!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

I really enjoyed this book, so much that I read it on one day! All the characters were unique but came together to create a beautiful story. I enjoyed the inclusion of real cultural moments and struggles that Indian people go through, whether it was holiday celebrations or the stress of dating outside of their religion. This book is a slow burn, closed door romance with tropes of friends to lovers, found family and miscommunication.

I hope Ms. Hedge continues to write more books like this. Her voice fills an empty spot in the romance world with complex characters and storylines while providing so many "Aww" worthy moments. I applaud her for not only writing about the 2 main characters but also including side characters who felt just as important to the main story line, showing both main characters value of family and friendship.

I wish there was a little more happening between Jia realizing she was in love with Jaiman and them jumping right into bed. It felt a little rushed. This virgin who had only had 3 previous kisses, was suddenly ready to have sex 3 times in one night and not be self conscious at all about being naked in front of him the next morning. I would have loved to see it a little more realistic, her nervousness and her knowledge that he would be gentle and take care of her.


The cover is also one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen, illustrating all the vibrance and color described throughout the book. I can't wait to have this on my shelf once it is released.

I found this an enjoyable, quick read. I would have liked a bit more atmosphere with the setting. Reader's know the characters are in Mumbai but there is not much done with this setting and I think it is a missed opportunity.

thank you netgalley and random house publishing for this arc. sadly, this wasn't my favorite. it took me forever to get into and i never felt connected to the characters, though it was interesting to learn more about the culture. it felt very surface level, and the writing wasn't anything special. it was definitely a sweet story, just not captivating. i wish there was less slow burn and more of them actually together. i, like most love a good slow burn, but i would have preferred it to be 30-50 pages longer and we have actually gotten to see them together and deal with conflict as a couple, because as friends they didn't do it well.

I loved this book. From Jia's meddling to Jaiman's heart. I like everything about it. The childhood friends to lovers, found family, Mumbai setting, chaotic matchmaking. Swati did a great job with this book. My favorite part was when Jia met the matchmaker and finally came to a realization. I also loved Damini! Her character was so funny, and I loved her wittiness

Get ready to be swept away in the vibrant city of Mumbai with Swati Hegde's delightful debut, "Love in a Mumbai Minute." Jia Deshpande, a confident fashionista with a penchant for matchmaking, navigates the chaotic world of love while juggling her day job at Mimosa, Mumbai's top women's magazine, and secretly running an anonymous blog.

In this heartwarming tale, the story unfolds against the backdrop of Mumbai, where Jia attempts to set up her coworker with the perfect match to secure her dream matchmaking column. Little does she know that her childhood friend, the charming pub owner Jaiman Patil, has been harboring deep feelings for her. As Jia's matchmaking endeavors go awry, risking friendships and her relationship with Jaiman, she discovers that love is far more complex than she ever imagined.

The plot is a slow burn, teasing with the "will they? won't they?" dynamic that keeps you engaged throughout the entire book. While some may find it a bit too gradual, the love story remains undeniably cute, making it a worthwhile read. Hegde's writing is addictive, creating a narrative that has you squealing with joy at every turn.

What sets this debut apart is its distinct Desi vibe, a refreshing addition to American book publishing. Hegde beautifully captures the essence of Mumbai, offering a love letter to Jane Austen with a modern, multicultural twist. The characters are not only lovable but also relatable, and you'll find yourself cheering for them even in their most adorably clueless moments.

Overall, "Love in a Mumbai Minute" is a must-read for fans of desi romcoms, friends-to-lovers tales, and anyone who appreciates a good dose of unsolicited relationship advice. Swati Hegde has crafted a captivating story that immerses you in the charm and complexity of love in the bustling streets of Mumbai. Get ready to be hooked from the first page to the last, and keep an eye out for more of Hegde's work—it's sure to be a delightful journey.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/ Dell for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book. Overall, I enjoyed it and thought it was a sweet love story. Even though it wasn't my favorite, there were parts of it I liked a lot.

The story takes place in Mumbai.
Jia is a twenty something, who works at magazine as a romance columnist while writing a blog about matchmaking on the side. She dreams of taking her matchmaking full time. Her childhood best friend, Jaiman owns a pub that is struggling to stay afloat and has secretly been in love with Jia for decades. The "will they? Won't they?" pretty much takes the entire book and for me it was too slow of a burn. The love story was still cute and I would consider other books by this author.

A beautiful debut by Swati Hegde that had me squealing through the whole thing. The characters were love able and it was so easy to root for them, even when they were completely adorably clueless when it came to love. Think Emma but with a distinctly Desi vibe- something we definitely need to see more representation of in American book publishing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and I can’t wait to see more of Hegde’s work.

This book was so good! The writing was so addictive. I loved the setting so much. The romance was so cute and I absolutely loved it.