Thank you so much to Netgalley and Crown BFYR for the review copy.
I don’t think I need to tell you all how much I love books with Indian rep, and obviously My So-Called Bollywood Life is no exception! I loved it! My favorite part was Winnie in general, which is great because she’s the main character. I love how driven she was. She saw what she wanted and took it, even when it seemed out of reach. She fought hard to prove herself capable of leading the film festival in order to eventually get into NYU, which I admire. A lot of the time, YA books with non-white main characters portray a struggle with “assimilation” versus accepting yourself and loving your culture, and I liked that this book didn’t have that. Winnie was unapologetic about her love for Bollywood and her family values, instead of rebelling against them. As an Indian person, I sometimes take on the role of educator when it comes to my culture, for friends who might not know as much as me. I definitely value people who want to know more and seek out ways to broaden their view of the world, but I will admit, sometimes I just want to talk about my life without having to explain myself. Sharma’s writing was after my own heart in this regard. There weren’t italicized definitions of every Hindi word, but enough context was given to help out non-Indian readers. The romance was adorable! I actually think Sharma handled the love interests, Raj and Dev, incredibly well, and I didn’t mind that there was the possibility of a love triangle, which usually I dislike. I don’t watch many Bollywood films, but I can see how this book could be turned into one. There were a lot of grand romantic gestures, but there were an equal amount of honest emotions between characters, which I appreciate. The only problem I had was with Jenny, who Winnie’s ex-boyfriend, Raj, cheated with. She was constantly being petty, with little motivation shown. I couldn’t come to understand why she acted the way she did, and to me, that made her a flat character. I wish she’d been given more positive interactions, and maybe a redemption arc. Overall, 5/5 stars for an excellent read! I recommend this book to all readers looking to begin exploring Indian culture, as well as film buffs seeking an adorable contemporary read.
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The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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