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A review by maria_hossain
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
3.0
This book was long overdue and I finally jumped into reading it.
And what a fantastically cute story it it!
Sandhya Menon, despite being a debut author, has such distinct voice and storytelling method. You can easily get seeped into it. Having two different point of views to juggle isn't a child's play. But both Dimple and Rishi's voices and their uniqueness shone through. The only letdown (not technically a letdown let's be honest) was not getting to see how Rishi and Dimple developed the app. Sad but then again, it's a young adult romcom, not a science fiction.
Anyway, here is the breakdown of the stars I rewarded it:
01) The Plot:
It may not be super unique but then again, no story in this world is anymore! But the way Ms. Menon presented it to us? Superb! Making the story centering two Indian-American teenagers was the best idea. And the book being ownvoices was a plus point. I also loved how we got to see both Dimple and Rishi's sides of the story.
Also, a lot of reviewers "complained" that rich people were shown in a negative light in this book.
No it wasn't.
Rather Sandhya Menon expertly showed us both the sides. She showed us how vain rich people can be in Hari and Evan, while also showed how kind and generous they can be in Rishi and Celia.
Also, I loved how in the restaurant scene, Ms. Menon showed the true meaning of sticking to your roots. I hate Hari. The way he condescended and patronized and bullied Dimple was fist clenchingly mean!
Also through that scene, Ms. Menon showed how middle class kids feel awkward and embarrassed at high class restaurants. Being a middle class kid myself, I understood Dimple's pain so much. My heart literally thumped for her OMG!
The most enjoyable part, for me, were the bickering between Dimple and her mom, then her earlier interactions with Rishi, and Rishi's interactions with Ashish. I'd have loved loved loved if we got to see Dimple decoding and coding things. Rishi's talent was demonstrated properly but I missed seeing Dimple's one.
02) Characters:
Dimple:
I loved her! She had her flaws and there were times when her rude remarks to either Dimple or others around her made me frown. But overall I loved her. I loved how she slowly became softer and more polite. I loved how Ms. Menon made her impulsive without making her totally heartless. She acted rude but then immediately regretted them. Who among us never acted impulsive? None, I bet. And the way she selflessly sacrificed at the end for Rishi's sake?
Remarkably touching.
I thoroughly enjoyed her POV whenever she had to sit through with her annoying neighbors. Totally lol moments. Being a brown girl who also doesn't do makeups, is a nerd, and thrives to achieve her dream, I get her so much. Like hers, my mom too often scolds me for not applying more makeup, for not being more feminine, for not taking much care of my face and how I look. Like Dimple, I too hate Kaajal and own old but little makeups.
I relate to her so much.
Love love love her.
Rishi:
He's such a sweetheart!
I fell for his sweetness upon reading his first chapter. Such a polite, cute guy! Adorable! I loved how he put up with Dimple's impulsive reactions but at the same time never lost sight of his own emotions. I loved how he had his own flaw and how beautifully his character arc was built and then resolved around it. The way he adored Dimple is every girl's dream.
And I also loved how awkwardly he helped Ashish with girl problems. Totally cute and adorable and funny at the same time.
And his first meeting with Dimple?
H.I.L.A.R.I.O.U.S!
He's truly the Ideal Indian Husband material lol.
Celia:
She was such a sweet best friend, albeit at some point, she was annoying, especially whenever she stuck up to the Aberzombies. But I get her reason. Who among us don't want to be part of a special group? Even she got her own character arc.
Ashish:
He was such fun! I hated that his entry into the story was so late! He was also perfect, albeit his own athletic, emotion-hiding way.
Dimple's mamma:
She's so like my mom, always grimacing whenever I refuse to wear makeups and act like a boy. Her banter with Dimple were funny and heartrending.
03) The Relatability Factor:
This'll be the third book I read this year where I could easily relate with the culture and heritage of the protagonists. First it was The Star Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi, then it was The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi (to which I related the most since the author is a Bangladeshi like me). Then comes this adorable little love story. I cannot express how much that made me adore the book. The Hindi talk, the pressure brown parents give to their kids, the pressure and embarrassment brown kids feel due to their parents, all the drama and fun and heartaches and emotions. White people don't get often why we act the way we do and hence we often see very little in fiction aboushone This wasn't a Bollywood movie but close to it without the cliché songs and costumes.
Overall, this book was the Bollywood version of Hollywood's romcom. I adored Dimple and Rishi's match and related so much to them. It's admirable.
They say "Behind every successful man is a woman."?
In case of this book, "Beside every soft hearted boy is a hard edged tough girl protecting him."
Can't wait to read From Twinkle, With Love next.
And what a fantastically cute story it it!
Sandhya Menon, despite being a debut author, has such distinct voice and storytelling method. You can easily get seeped into it. Having two different point of views to juggle isn't a child's play. But both Dimple and Rishi's voices and their uniqueness shone through. The only letdown (not technically a letdown let's be honest) was not getting to see how Rishi and Dimple developed the app. Sad but then again, it's a young adult romcom, not a science fiction.
Anyway, here is the breakdown of the stars I rewarded it:
01) The Plot:
It may not be super unique but then again, no story in this world is anymore! But the way Ms. Menon presented it to us? Superb! Making the story centering two Indian-American teenagers was the best idea. And the book being ownvoices was a plus point. I also loved how we got to see both Dimple and Rishi's sides of the story.
Also, a lot of reviewers "complained" that rich people were shown in a negative light in this book.
No it wasn't.
Rather Sandhya Menon expertly showed us both the sides. She showed us how vain rich people can be in Hari and Evan, while also showed how kind and generous they can be in Rishi and Celia.
Also, I loved how in the restaurant scene, Ms. Menon showed the true meaning of sticking to your roots. I hate Hari. The way he condescended and patronized and bullied Dimple was fist clenchingly mean!
Also through that scene, Ms. Menon showed how middle class kids feel awkward and embarrassed at high class restaurants. Being a middle class kid myself, I understood Dimple's pain so much. My heart literally thumped for her OMG!
The most enjoyable part, for me, were the bickering between Dimple and her mom, then her earlier interactions with Rishi, and Rishi's interactions with Ashish. I'd have loved loved loved if we got to see Dimple decoding and coding things. Rishi's talent was demonstrated properly but I missed seeing Dimple's one.
02) Characters:
Dimple:
I loved her! She had her flaws and there were times when her rude remarks to either Dimple or others around her made me frown. But overall I loved her. I loved how she slowly became softer and more polite. I loved how Ms. Menon made her impulsive without making her totally heartless. She acted rude but then immediately regretted them. Who among us never acted impulsive? None, I bet. And the way she selflessly sacrificed at the end for Rishi's sake?
Remarkably touching.
I thoroughly enjoyed her POV whenever she had to sit through with her annoying neighbors. Totally lol moments. Being a brown girl who also doesn't do makeups, is a nerd, and thrives to achieve her dream, I get her so much. Like hers, my mom too often scolds me for not applying more makeup, for not being more feminine, for not taking much care of my face and how I look. Like Dimple, I too hate Kaajal and own old but little makeups.
I relate to her so much.
Love love love her.
Rishi:
He's such a sweetheart!
I fell for his sweetness upon reading his first chapter. Such a polite, cute guy! Adorable! I loved how he put up with Dimple's impulsive reactions but at the same time never lost sight of his own emotions. I loved how he had his own flaw and how beautifully his character arc was built and then resolved around it. The way he adored Dimple is every girl's dream.
And I also loved how awkwardly he helped Ashish with girl problems. Totally cute and adorable and funny at the same time.
And his first meeting with Dimple?
H.I.L.A.R.I.O.U.S!
He's truly the Ideal Indian Husband material lol.
Celia:
She was such a sweet best friend, albeit at some point, she was annoying, especially whenever she stuck up to the Aberzombies. But I get her reason. Who among us don't want to be part of a special group? Even she got her own character arc.
Ashish:
He was such fun! I hated that his entry into the story was so late! He was also perfect, albeit his own athletic, emotion-hiding way.
Dimple's mamma:
She's so like my mom, always grimacing whenever I refuse to wear makeups and act like a boy. Her banter with Dimple were funny and heartrending.
03) The Relatability Factor:
This'll be the third book I read this year where I could easily relate with the culture and heritage of the protagonists. First it was The Star Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi, then it was The Gauntlet by Karuna Riazi (to which I related the most since the author is a Bangladeshi like me). Then comes this adorable little love story. I cannot express how much that made me adore the book. The Hindi talk, the pressure brown parents give to their kids, the pressure and embarrassment brown kids feel due to their parents, all the drama and fun and heartaches and emotions. White people don't get often why we act the way we do and hence we often see very little in fiction aboushone This wasn't a Bollywood movie but close to it without the cliché songs and costumes.
Overall, this book was the Bollywood version of Hollywood's romcom. I adored Dimple and Rishi's match and related so much to them. It's admirable.
They say "Behind every successful man is a woman."?
In case of this book, "Beside every soft hearted boy is a hard edged tough girl protecting him."
Can't wait to read From Twinkle, With Love next.