Book review: When Dimple Met Rishi
You know when you see a book pop up several times in your Instagram feed, then you hear about it on a podcast, and finally, you see it on a table at Barnes and Noble and you think, Okay, okay, Universe, I get it? That's pretty much what happened to me with When Dimple Met Rishi. I knew it was time and I'm so glad I picked it up.
Here's the synopsis:
Dimple Shah has it all figured out. With graduation behind her, she’s more than ready for a break from her family, from Mamma’s inexplicable obsession with her finding the “Ideal Indian Husband.” Ugh. Dimple knows they must respect her principles on some level, though. If they truly believed she needed a husband right now, they wouldn’t have paid for her to attend a summer program for aspiring web developers…right? Rishi Patel is a hopeless romantic. So when his parents tell him that his future wife will be attending the same summer program as him—wherein he’ll have to woo her—he’s totally on board. Because as silly as it sounds to most people in his life, Rishi wants to be arranged, believes in the power of tradition, stability, and being a part of something much bigger than himself. The Shahs and Patels didn’t mean to start turning the wheels on this “suggested arrangement” so early in their children’s lives, but when they noticed them both gravitate toward the same summer program, they figured, Why not? Dimple and Rishi may think they have each other figured out. But when opposites clash, love works hard to prove itself in the most unexpected ways.
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Ok so, confession time. I haven't dabbled in YA much because I assumed I won't be able to connect with the younger characters' dilemmas. But because this book had diverse characters, I was curious to try it.I really like how unconventional Dimple and Rishi are, by South Asian or Indian American standards. I want to read about diverse characters who break stereotypes - a rebellious girl who’s into coding and a down-to-earth Desi boy who secretly loves comics. Although both their parents were secondary characters, they weren't caricatures. They play an important role in the story and it was interesting to see how Dimple and Rishi's perceptions of their parents changed over the course of the book.The romance was well done. Yes, there were some filmy (a.k.a Bollywood-inspired) scenes but the love story was nuanced. Dimple and Rishi connect at the soul level. They help each other overcome their individual struggles and that makes their romance compelling.The book is set in the Bay Area, so I appreciated the references to Karl the fog, Bernal Heights and Two Sisters Bar and Books (you bet I googled it and sadly, it closed last year). Also, it warmed my heart to see Shah Rukh Khan's "Dance Pe Chance" and "Khatta Meetha" mentioned. I mean, isn't it time these mainstays of Desi life enter Indian American literature?When Dimple Met Rishi is well-crafted, witty, and an absolute joy of a novel.If you've read it, I'd love to know what you thought about it. Also, do share your recommendations for diverse YA books. This is one genre I'm looking forward to exploring.