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dogbuttsandbooks's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Our MCs, Meghna and Karthik are Indian Americans both struggling to find themselves pressure about their personal and professional lives from their families. They are introduced by their parents as potential matches for an arranged marriage. After meeting, they decide to be fake engaged so Karthik can impress the people who will decide if he gets a big promotion at work and so Meghna can have a date to her college ex turned best friend and writing partner’s wedding at which she’ll be the best man (you read that right). And so both of them can get a little breathing room from their meddling and oftentimes disapproving parents.
Meghna and Karthik are both really layered, sympathetic characters who kept me engaged while reading, but ultimately I felt like this book was less about the MCs’ romance and more about personal growth — which just wasn’t what I was in the mood for having just finished another fake dating to attend the wedding of an ex turned best friend who the FMC has never gotten over (spoiler alert, I liked the other one much better). Also I just needed these two to bang and get it out of their systems SO MUCH EARLIER. And also go to therapy. That being said, while I felt like both MCs were intentionally making their lives harder and putting up with a lot of toxic behaviors, and also sometimes being toxic themselves, I did appreciate the full circle character arcs.
I also enjoyed the struggle with trying to push against and also fit in familial expectations, but felt a bit like the author was trying to shoehorn heavy issues in with a chaotic fake engagement storyline.
I thought this was a well written debut that kept my interest and I enjoyed reading, but all in all, as is often my critique of fake engagement — the stakes did not feel high enough to warrant this faux relationship. And a note, if you don’t like MCs who aren’t good at communicating, this will not be your cup of tea.
If you’re looking for a Desi romance that doesn’t have a ton of spice, but has solid character development and one that will have you shouting “will you two just kiss already?!” Say You’ll Be Mine is the book for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Infidelity and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual harassment
leahjanespeare's review against another edition
4.0
If you know me, you know I'm always a sucker for a South Asian centered romance! It was overall pretty darn cute! I will keep an eye out for the author's next book. (But why the fuck does CoHo have to put her stupid name on the front? C'mon, why ruin a good thing here.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
vj_thompson's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A beautiful debut novel of engagement of convenience. The beginning was slow as if the mimic the characters new relationship and situation. I loved the ending and the sweet moments between Meghna and Karthik. Such a beautiful beautiful book, just like its cover.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Infertility, Vomit, and Sexual harassment
thisbookisbananas's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 Stars-
In this debut contemporary romance, we follow Meghna, a middle school theater teacher, and Karthik a mechanical engineer. They both agree to enter into a fake engagement for both familial and other outside reasons. This was a classic rom-com movie-esque set up, and it was quite enjoyable to watch the two character's catch feelings for each other.
I enjoyed Meghna, but Karthik is the character that I love the most. He was a really well-rounded character. I appreciate how Karthik has reservations about being in a committed relationship due to his personal family experiences. He has real and valid fears which cause him to avoid love at all costs, yet is one of the warmest cinnamon-roll heroes I've read in a while. I loved watching him grow and change as a character.
This story does have a pretty prominent miscommunication trope. This is not something that I typically enjoy in romance conflicts. Both Karthik and Meghna get in the way of each other over and over. However, I will forgive Karthik for his mistakes because he's such a gosh darn sweetie and Meghna because she is a character worth rooting for!
Another drawback was the fact that there were 4 conflict points outside the main character's relationship. At first, I thought it was too much drama, and then about 3/4 of the way through, I was pretty invested. That being said, I could see readers getting overwhelmed with all of the sources of drama and possibly wanting fewer conflict sources in the storyline.
Overall, I had a good time reading this book, and I look forward to reading more from Naina Kumar.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
In this debut contemporary romance, we follow Meghna, a middle school theater teacher, and Karthik a mechanical engineer. They both agree to enter into a fake engagement for both familial and other outside reasons. This was a classic rom-com movie-esque set up, and it was quite enjoyable to watch the two character's catch feelings for each other.
I enjoyed Meghna, but Karthik is the character that I love the most. He was a really well-rounded character. I appreciate how Karthik has reservations about being in a committed relationship due to his personal family experiences. He has real and valid fears which cause him to avoid love at all costs, yet is one of the warmest cinnamon-roll heroes I've read in a while. I loved watching him grow and change as a character.
This story does have a pretty prominent miscommunication trope. This is not something that I typically enjoy in romance conflicts. Both Karthik and Meghna get in the way of each other over and over. However, I will forgive Karthik for his mistakes because he's such a gosh darn sweetie and Meghna because she is a character worth rooting for!
Another drawback was the fact that there were 4 conflict points outside the main character's relationship. At first, I thought it was too much drama, and then about 3/4 of the way through, I was pretty invested. That being said, I could see readers getting overwhelmed with all of the sources of drama and possibly wanting fewer conflict sources in the storyline.
Overall, I had a good time reading this book, and I look forward to reading more from Naina Kumar.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
what_karla_reads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
5/5 stars
1.5/5 spice
This one literally had me giggling and feeling all mushy like a good romcom should. Definitely a nod to those 90s romcom movies but with so much more diversity.
Tropes:
Matchmaking
Fake engagement
Engineer MMC
Teacher & aspiring playwright FMC
Forced proximity
One Bed
Opposites attract
Grumpy/sunshine
Slow burn and tension
Indian culture
Dual POV
I loved the chemistry between Karthik and Meghna right from the beginning. You could see how different they were but also how completely enthralled they were with each other. She was definitely the sunshine character who was naturally social and charming, while he was grumpy and stand-offish. The diversity in romcom like this makes the book so much better and refreshing. It's easy to get lost in the same old stories, but to have a diverse cast of characters integrating a rich culture just brings these romances to life.
Overall, the story was sweet and cozy with very little drama despite the 3rd act break up. The spice was also on the sweet end with an emphasis on the emotional aspect and progressed naturally. Highly recommend for fans of cozy love stories and diverse characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin House Publishing Group for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.
Trigger/Content warnings:
Emotional abuse from parent, family pressures, sexual content
1.5/5 spice
This one literally had me giggling and feeling all mushy like a good romcom should. Definitely a nod to those 90s romcom movies but with so much more diversity.
Tropes:
Matchmaking
Fake engagement
Engineer MMC
Teacher & aspiring playwright FMC
Forced proximity
One Bed
Opposites attract
Grumpy/sunshine
Slow burn and tension
Indian culture
Dual POV
I loved the chemistry between Karthik and Meghna right from the beginning. You could see how different they were but also how completely enthralled they were with each other. She was definitely the sunshine character who was naturally social and charming, while he was grumpy and stand-offish. The diversity in romcom like this makes the book so much better and refreshing. It's easy to get lost in the same old stories, but to have a diverse cast of characters integrating a rich culture just brings these romances to life.
Overall, the story was sweet and cozy with very little drama despite the 3rd act break up. The spice was also on the sweet end with an emphasis on the emotional aspect and progressed naturally. Highly recommend for fans of cozy love stories and diverse characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin House Publishing Group for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.
Trigger/Content warnings:
Emotional abuse from parent, family pressures, sexual content
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Emotional abuse
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