This was such a fun South Asian YA romance! I have missed young adult books that are lighthearted and fun, and this was just that. Nothing too serious, just a girl learning to drive and her hot driving instructor. This book was filled with romance and also stressed the importance of family, making new friends, and finding your footage in a new college. I loved this book, and can't wait to recommend it all of 2026!

This story was beyond adorable. I was fully invested in romance from the very beginning.Definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a sweet swoony rom com.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

THIS WAS SO GOOD. It was actually funny and relatable (I personally, could not drive until recently either) and it was just a good romance book. It checked all the boxes- it was thoroughly entertaining, it wasn't basic, her friends were the best, good side plots. I am so glad I read this.

Rani Deshpandi is 19 and has just finished her freshman year of college. She does not yet have her drivers license and is determined that this will be the summer she passes the test. Unfortunately by the time she tries to sign up the drivers ed class is full so her mom helpfully volunteers their family friend, Kush, to teach her. Kush is a year older and just so happens to be her childhood crush. They proceed to spend the summer together teaching Rani how to drive while she also tries to juggle a summer job, familial responsibilities, and independent study work.

I liked the unique storyline of the crush being guilted into teaching her to drive by their families. Rani is Marathi so there is a lot of Marathi culture pulled into the story which I enjoyed reading. As someone who has no prior knowledge on Marathi culture I never felt lost or confused about any of it.

Throughout the story there are a lot of things that a young adult audience will relate to, and the only “spice” was one kissing scene, making it perfect for a younger crowd. Rani has a hard time saying no and her family relies on her a lot, while not quite treating her like an adult. I remember being in her shoes at 19 and I related to her so much that I cried when it all exploded near the end of the story. This was the first young adult novel that I have enjoyed this much in a long time.

I had an excellent time discovering this soft Young Adult romance. The two protagonists were well-constructed and absolutely adorable: it is sort of a friends-to-strangers-to-lovers novel, which was original and enjoyable.

Rani’s character inspired me in many ways, from her devotion to her family to her determination, especially when it comes to taking a driver’s test many think she won’t pass. I really appreciated the focus on her personal growth outside of the romantic aspect. It really added meaningful depth to the story. Her relationship with her grandfather was particularly endearing.

If you are looking for a closed-door, Young Adult slow burn, this book is definitely for you :)

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy!

What a cute childhood frenemies to lovers romance book! I loved Arushi's debut romance, and was super excited to read this one after hearing the premise. I always love books where the two characters have grown up with each other, but have a slightly hostile relationship. It's even better when they had some sort of a misunderstanding that led to a falling out, because that essentially delivers a second chance romance as well. Arushi did a great job at portraying the feelings and experiences of second generation Indian Americans and eldest daughters in Indian American families. I related to a lot of Rani's inner thoughts. Her slowburn romance with Kush was also very fun to follow along, and I loved the little nods to Bollywood romance tropes that were included in the book. I'd rate this book 4.5 stars rounded up!

I think my favorite thing about Ms. Avachat's writing is how real her characters feel. The entire time reading Ronnie's story. I can imagine it actually taking place in Seattle right this minute. Rani and Kush plus ensemble felt natural and made choices that made sense to human nature.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowed me to read this early! I found this to be an absolutely delightful read. This author is quickly becoming a must-read for me and I cannot wait for everyone else to fall in love with this book and these characters!

I was a huge fan of Avachat's previous novel, so I was really excited to read this one, and this one also was a delight to read. Rani was a lovely main character and was so incredibly lovable and easy to root for while also recognizing flaws and wanting her to improve as a character. Her family was so dynamic to read about, and her dynamic with her friend was just so realistic - their conversations felt like conversations I would have with my friends when I was her age.

The conflicts were also compelling - not overly dramatic but still totally realistic and interesting to read about. And the romance had me giggling and kicking my feet. The only thing is that it felt like everything was wrapped up tooooo nicely at the end, but overall, a delightful read. Arushi Avachat is quickly becoming an auto-read for me - anything she writes I'll read!

Rani and Kush grew up together because their moms are best friends. As such, they faced all the classic troupes associated with long-time family friends: middle school crushes, one-sided arch-rivals, and the object for comparison by the other’s parents. The use of “driving lessons” as a matchmaking technique is a fun dynamic that puts a new spin on the forced proximity troupe.

Something I really enjoyed was getting to see Rani overcome challenges of speaking up for herself, dealing with burnout, and similar first generation immigrant child problems. Alternatively, Kush is similarly going through similar battles, but you only get to learn of them in Rani’s perspective when she is told about them. It creates a nice complexity to the different individual battles each character is facing in their young adulthood.

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone interested in a young adult romance with a South Asian twist. Side characters like the chaotic Shilpa Auntie, Rani’s voice of reason grandfather, more family and friends help create a fun environment rooting for Rani and Kush to realize their feelings for each other. Ultimately, a short, sweet, and fun summer romance.