The Situation: It is Arya Khanna's senior year of high school, and the fall semester will prove to be both busy and exhausting. It is one thing to worry about college applications and early admission decisions, and quite another to do so while serving as vice president of the student council. Add to it that Arya's sister, Alina, has returned home to get married, and maid-of-honor duties can now also be added to the ambitious senior's list of responsibilities. While the wedding planning is generally fun and something to look forward to, what Arya would love to avoid are the tense feelings between Alina and their mother, a side-effect from when Alina left three years ago. Sure, Arya has her own feelings of resentment towards her older sister, but she would love to push those aside as well.
The Problem: Attempting to mediate between her sister and her mother quickly grows tiring, and her own feelings of being neglected due to her sister's actions become harder to ignore. It also does not help that Arya's relationship with her best friend seems to be fracturing, leaving her with one less person to talk to about the wedding, college essays, and the boy she lost the student council presidency to, Dean Merriweather. Losing by only six votes certainly stings, but losing to someone who is known to tease her, and now likes to refer to her as his 'assistant' as opposed to the more appropriate 'second-in-command' only makes Arya's mood worse. It may take a few hard realizations and tough conversations before Arya is able to mend relationships, and get the happy Bollywood ending she has always seen on the screen.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel set in and around Boston, and, according to the book jacket, is structured much like a Bollywood film, complete with an entertaining intermission. High school senior Arya has a lot going on. There is school, extra-curriculars, college applications, as well as drama at home as her sister returns for her wedding. Arya must navigate the interactions between her mother and sister, while also dealing with her own resentment over the situation. Readers should be prepared to learn all about shaadi (wedding) preparations, as well as various Indian foods. I admit to getting both hungry and thirsty while reading this book, as Arya makes many visits to local coffee shops and bakeries, while also eating the cooking at home and the catering at various events.
My Verdict: Hopefully, without being too dramatic about it, I would describe this book as absolute joy on the page. This is not to say that there are no hard truths to be confronted here. There is resentment, anger, guilt, even fear that a parent may be dealing with mental health issues, and not knowing what to do about that. Arya also has the painful prospect of facing what effects her own actions and decisions had on her relationships. And then there is the general stress that is senior year of high school. But Avachat manages to inject moments of pure fun and light, and not all of them center around the planning for the shaadi. Small moments at a coffee shop, or bakery, or while looking at jewelry, or even at Arya's part-time job at a bookstore, all round out this delightful and gratifying book.
Favorite Moment: I love coffee shops, and I love book stores. This book has the protagonist spending an inordinate amount of time in both of these places and it made me so happy.
Favorite Character: There are a few good options here, but Arya's fellow student council member, Emilia, is a wonderful addition to Arya's small circle of friends, right when she needs one most.
Recommended Reading: I recommend both Radha & Jai's Recipe for Romance by Nisha Sharma, and Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon.
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