After reading 2018's My So-Called Bollywood Life, I recommended the book to my supervisor for a few reasons: it was relatively short, the story moved quickly, and I knew my supervisor would like the frantic pace and actions of the main character, Winnie. And when it was announced that Nisha Sharma would be publishing another YA book, this time Radha & Jai's Recipe for Romance, I knew we were in for another fun ride.
The Situation: Radha loves to dance. Performing? Not so much, not with her panic attacks anyway. And competing she could do without. Unfortunately, that is what she has spent most of her life doing. She may be one of the best kathak dancers in the world, but she became so at the expense of any outside life and interests. And before stepping onto the stage in London for one of the most important competitions of her life, she decides to walk away from competing for good. Jai is also a dancer. As the captain of the Bollywood Beats dance team at the Princeton Academy of the Arts in New Jersey, Jai also boasts straight A's, but has no plans to attend college due to family obligations. Everyone around him is urging him to follow his dreams, which he insists includes staying home after graduation and helping the family.
The Problem: Though she is done with performing and competing, Radha agrees to attend the Princeton Academy of the Arts as part of a deal with her mother. Also, it allows her the chance to leave Chicago and all of the talk about her exit from competing behind. But it also means no longer being around her dad, not that their relationship was ever particularly close. When she meets Jai, the attraction is pretty much instant. And when he and the rest of the Bollywood Beats see her dance, they know they could win the Winter Showcase easily if she were to join...just like Radha knows Jai should apply to Columbia like he has always dreamed. As the two seniors navigate their last year of high school, they must also consider their futures, and if it is worth it to face their fears in order to follow their dreams.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel set mostly in New Jersey, and follows both Radha and Jai in their last year of high school. For Radha, she loves to dance, but her performance anxiety makes it difficult for her to do so in front of a crowd. This does not stop her mother from pushing her to return to the stage, as well as competition. If anything, her mother's insistence has given her further cause to look for ways around the school's Winter Showcase requirement. For Jai, he wants to help out his family after the last few difficult years they have had following his father's injury, insisting that going to college will only set them back. Plus, he is having a hard time reconciling his love of dance with his love of science, as if they two loves cannot exist in the same person. Radha is having the same problem with her newfound love of cooking, though it has allowed her to be closer to her father. Both of them will have to face their fears and acknowledge what they really want out of life.
My Verdict: This book is just as fun and delightful as I anticipated it would be. There is the dancing, along with the detailed recipes for Indian cuisine, and then the conflict within the two different families, and a love story poured on top. As lovely and amusing as the story is, there are also some moments when things get incredibly serious. The tension between Radha and her mother often passes uncomfortable and borders on painful. And Jai's stubbornness regarding his future is beyond frustrating. And then there is the exploration of disability caused by disease, a subject that Sharma attempts to traverse with sensitivity. The love story is somewhat predictable, as is the overall climax and resolution, but on some level, most readers will not care.
Favorite Moment: When Radha begins video-chatting with her father as they explore recipes together.
Favorite Character: I think Radha is incredibly strong and resolute when she has her showdowns with her mother. Sharma conveys just how intimidating the woman can be, and yet her daughter often does not back down.
Recommended Reading: Naturally, I recommend My So-Called Bollywood Life. In fact, the protagonist from that book makes an appearance in this one. I also recommend With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo.
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