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A review by thebritishbibliophile_
Sugar, Spice, and Can't Play Nice by Annika Sharma
5.0
'Sugar, Spice and Can't Play Nice is a prime example of a read that is both fulfilling, romantic and educational. Annika Sharma promotes culture in an inclusive and admirable manor through a heart-warming and true to life story all can enjoy' - The British Bibliophile
Sugar, Spice and Can't Play Nice is the second book in Annika Sharma's 'Chai Masala Club' series. A series dedicated to the lives of the Chai Masala club and the trials and tribulations of navigating their own lives while still tied to their cultural roots, detailing the delicate balance of modern day life while respecting their backgrounds.
The series began with Love, Chai and other Four-Letter Words, which first introduced to me as a reader, one branch of the South Indian cultural background. Annika told the story of Kiran and Nash, two polar opposites brought together on the common ground that is New York City. Here is where we were fist introduced to one of the main characters that would feature in this novel, Payal Mehra. The common ground previously seen in Love, Chai and other Four Letter Words is swapped out for neutral ground. Specifically, London.
Payal's character is one of great determination and independence. Knowing what she wants to do with her life and what she has to do to get there, her hard work seems to be for nothing as on the verge of her career breakthrough she is put into a corner with little to no ways of escaping out of. A different kind of contract. One specifically of marriage. But is all as it seems?
Ayaan Malhotra, a fellow Londoner and son of a family friend to the Mehras, is also backed into a similar corner to Payal when mention of marriage arises. Second-fiddle to his 'golden child' brother and desperate to prove himself to his parents, he agrees to the marriage under a condition which will end up being beneficial to him. He demands 50% of his parents' company, and soon the prospect of marriage doesn't seem so bad as he now has something to fall back on as well as the opportunity to make his parents proud of him at last.
Payal and Ayaan, despite coming from the same culture, could not be more different but also similar to one another at the same time. They are both aware of what they have to do for the ones they love, for their pride and culture, and what personal sacrifices must be made to appease those who are putting them into their respective corners. There's only one way they can do this, and that's as a unified united front. Only, that's not as easy as it is on paper.
Many roadblocks come up for the pair along the road to a satisfying conclusion, namely; a meddlesome grandmother, a spurned ex-girlfriend, two families with stakes of their own, a fashion brand on the line, and, unexpectedly, actually liking each other. Its a test of their grit, determination, steel and everything else in their arsenal to see if they can come out the other side with the rewards they both have their eyes set on, or if they'll end up in a place ten paces behind from where they started in the first place.
As a reader who is still not as widely exposed to stories centred around south asian culture and background, I am continuously learning and in awe of every aspect that I have been blissfully exposed to in this novel. With the experiences of the culture differentiating from author to author, person to person, each branch of the cultural tree is further grown and expanded which is the case here with Ayaan and Payal's story. I grew to know so much about the south asian culture from Love, Chai and Other Four-Letter Words, and that growth showed no signs of stopping with elements woven into this story. There's always something we will never know, something to learn and add to our knowledge, and I look forward to more from Annika continuing this enlightening pattern.
Annika does her culture and people proud with what she has written for us all here to read. Where this might not be everyone's cup of tea, I think this bland of chai has hit the spot and has quenched my thirst for romance, culture, and everything that comes with mixing modern with traditional to create this signature blend of bookish delight.
I'm hoping to hear more from the Chai Masala Club, I hope that is the case among my fellow readers as well.
Sugar, Spice and Can't Play Nice is the second book in Annika Sharma's 'Chai Masala Club' series. A series dedicated to the lives of the Chai Masala club and the trials and tribulations of navigating their own lives while still tied to their cultural roots, detailing the delicate balance of modern day life while respecting their backgrounds.
The series began with Love, Chai and other Four-Letter Words, which first introduced to me as a reader, one branch of the South Indian cultural background. Annika told the story of Kiran and Nash, two polar opposites brought together on the common ground that is New York City. Here is where we were fist introduced to one of the main characters that would feature in this novel, Payal Mehra. The common ground previously seen in Love, Chai and other Four Letter Words is swapped out for neutral ground. Specifically, London.
Payal's character is one of great determination and independence. Knowing what she wants to do with her life and what she has to do to get there, her hard work seems to be for nothing as on the verge of her career breakthrough she is put into a corner with little to no ways of escaping out of. A different kind of contract. One specifically of marriage. But is all as it seems?
Ayaan Malhotra, a fellow Londoner and son of a family friend to the Mehras, is also backed into a similar corner to Payal when mention of marriage arises. Second-fiddle to his 'golden child' brother and desperate to prove himself to his parents, he agrees to the marriage under a condition which will end up being beneficial to him. He demands 50% of his parents' company, and soon the prospect of marriage doesn't seem so bad as he now has something to fall back on as well as the opportunity to make his parents proud of him at last.
Payal and Ayaan, despite coming from the same culture, could not be more different but also similar to one another at the same time. They are both aware of what they have to do for the ones they love, for their pride and culture, and what personal sacrifices must be made to appease those who are putting them into their respective corners. There's only one way they can do this, and that's as a unified united front. Only, that's not as easy as it is on paper.
Many roadblocks come up for the pair along the road to a satisfying conclusion, namely; a meddlesome grandmother, a spurned ex-girlfriend, two families with stakes of their own, a fashion brand on the line, and, unexpectedly, actually liking each other. Its a test of their grit, determination, steel and everything else in their arsenal to see if they can come out the other side with the rewards they both have their eyes set on, or if they'll end up in a place ten paces behind from where they started in the first place.
As a reader who is still not as widely exposed to stories centred around south asian culture and background, I am continuously learning and in awe of every aspect that I have been blissfully exposed to in this novel. With the experiences of the culture differentiating from author to author, person to person, each branch of the cultural tree is further grown and expanded which is the case here with Ayaan and Payal's story. I grew to know so much about the south asian culture from Love, Chai and Other Four-Letter Words, and that growth showed no signs of stopping with elements woven into this story. There's always something we will never know, something to learn and add to our knowledge, and I look forward to more from Annika continuing this enlightening pattern.
Annika does her culture and people proud with what she has written for us all here to read. Where this might not be everyone's cup of tea, I think this bland of chai has hit the spot and has quenched my thirst for romance, culture, and everything that comes with mixing modern with traditional to create this signature blend of bookish delight.
I'm hoping to hear more from the Chai Masala Club, I hope that is the case among my fellow readers as well.