What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free kindle copy of this book!
18 days and 21:20:17
50 copies available
U.S. only
Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar
Not yet published
Expected 27 Jan 26Win a free kindle copy of this book!
18 days and 21:20:17
50 copies available
U.S. only
Buckle up for a wild ride with this cheeky and charming rom-com where one girl’s quest across India to seal her first kiss turns into finding first love in the most unexpected places. Perfect for fans of Axie Oh, Ann Liang, and Jenny Han!
Eighteen-year-old Krishna Kumar may have gotten into her dream college, but that doesn’t mean she’s stopped being a bi disaster. Even after spending her whole summer in India flirting with her gorgeous neighbor Amrit, she has nothing to show for it. And now, her fate is sealed: she’s destined to be the only freshman who’s never been kissed.
Then her flight home is delayed right as a distinctly flirty text from Amrit lights up her phone. Krishna is determined to seize her last chance at a perfect first kiss with her summer crush, even if it means asking her cousin-turned-nemesis, Priti, for help. Because Amrit is miles away at a family wedding—and Priti’s best friend, Rudra Desai, is the only one with a car.
The unlikely trio set off on a road trip to crash a wedding and save Krishna’s summer. But as she starts to fall for the quiet but irresistibly hot and charming Rudra, who everyone knows is unrequitedly in love with Priti, Krishna’s heart better catch up to her head before she skips right past her first kiss and falls directly into her first heartbreak.
Eighteen-year-old Krishna Kumar may have gotten into her dream college, but that doesn’t mean she’s stopped being a bi disaster. Even after spending her whole summer in India flirting with her gorgeous neighbor Amrit, she has nothing to show for it. And now, her fate is sealed: she’s destined to be the only freshman who’s never been kissed.
Then her flight home is delayed right as a distinctly flirty text from Amrit lights up her phone. Krishna is determined to seize her last chance at a perfect first kiss with her summer crush, even if it means asking her cousin-turned-nemesis, Priti, for help. Because Amrit is miles away at a family wedding—and Priti’s best friend, Rudra Desai, is the only one with a car.
The unlikely trio set off on a road trip to crash a wedding and save Krishna’s summer. But as she starts to fall for the quiet but irresistibly hot and charming Rudra, who everyone knows is unrequitedly in love with Priti, Krishna’s heart better catch up to her head before she skips right past her first kiss and falls directly into her first heartbreak.
Unknown Binding
Expected publication January 27, 2026
7 people are currently reading
1898 people want to read
About the author
Anahita Karthik
6 books116 followersAnahita Karthik (she/her) is a desi, queer, and multilingual writer of stories heavily inspired by Indian mythology, history, and culture. She has an MSt in Creative Writing from University of Cambridge and a tech degree she’ll probably never use in her life. While she writes across genres, her stories usually include road trips, a slow burn romance, and nods to Indian cinema (both explicit and thematic). 'Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar' is her debut novel, but her first feature was in 'My Big, Fat Desi Wedding' anthology. She can be found posting excessively across platforms @ana_scribe or blogging about publishing on her website www.anahitakarthik.com. Anahita is represented by the wonderful Rebecca Podos at Neighborhood Literary.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
September 8, 2025
Anyway, if you enjoy
♡ whirlwind summer road trips
♡ bi + bi romances
♡ sunshine x brooding
♡ sisterhood
♡ all desi + queer casts
♡ the vibes of Jab We Met, Paper Towns, The Summer I Turned Pretty, and Never Have I Ever
♡ recent book releases like Rules for Rule Breaking, Loveboat Taipei, and This Time It’s Real
♡ food eating contests
♡ the writing of authors like Ann Liang, Axie Oh, and Jenny Han
♡ thrift bookstores
♡ beachside weddings
♡ long chapter titles
♡ and a book that feels like a love letter to India
You’ll love BETTER CATCH UP, KRISHNA KUMAR 🌷
♡ whirlwind summer road trips
♡ bi + bi romances
♡ sunshine x brooding
♡ sisterhood
♡ all desi + queer casts
♡ the vibes of Jab We Met, Paper Towns, The Summer I Turned Pretty, and Never Have I Ever
♡ recent book releases like Rules for Rule Breaking, Loveboat Taipei, and This Time It’s Real
♡ food eating contests
♡ the writing of authors like Ann Liang, Axie Oh, and Jenny Han
♡ thrift bookstores
♡ beachside weddings
♡ long chapter titles
♡ and a book that feels like a love letter to India
You’ll love BETTER CATCH UP, KRISHNA KUMAR 🌷
Want to read
June 28, 2025JAB WE MET & BI4BI DESI ROMANCE???? HELLO???? WHY DID NOONE TELL ME ABOUT THIS BOOK????????
September 22, 2025
Once I saw the author advertising this as a bi4bi romance with a road trip, I knew I was going to be reading it even though I wasn't familiar with any of the comp titles. I was not disappointed.
The prose and it's ability to suck you into the street and nightlife of Mumbai/India was one of the parts of this I loved the most.The depiction and descriptions of the sounds,tastes,smells of the city were so palpable that I almost felt like I was experiencing it myself. I'm always vocal about my disdain for authors of color being forced to over-explain parts of their culture in order to make it more palatable for Western audiences so I can't express how happy I am that it was only done sparingly here. I was looking up the foods and drinks and places mentioned in the book and I feel that elevated my reading experience even more. I also appreciated that while the author was committed to showing the beautiful culture, food and traditions, that she did not shy away from portraying the misogyny, abuse and control that goes on in the city and among families even if it was pretty subtle in its portrayal.
The premise of the story was so unrealistic, dramatic and whimsical, it reminded me of a lot of shows from my childhood and the nostalgia was VERY welcome. Much more than just a romance, the book also focuses on the relationship between Krishna and her cousin, Priti. The way the book showed them going from tense, often hurtful to each other, former friends to fixing their relationship enough to be tentative friends with room for growth was so compelling to me especially because a lot of their issues were so real.
The romance itself wasn't short of cute and swoon worthy. I liked both Krishna and Rudra as individual characters and as a couple. Their dynamic was snarky, and silly but also serious at needed times. I was nodding along every time Krishna pointed out that Rudra was scarily emotionally mature for his age lol. The feeling of finding someone who understands and even relates to major parts of your identity is unmatched and I loved reading them realize this ugh.
The ending though is why I can't rate this five stars.I absolutely despise the miscommunication trope and it wasn't just used once or twice in this book,nope!There was literally a set up for it three, THREE, times in the last 10-15%!!
Overall 'Better Catch Up Krishna Kumar' was a beautiful book that captures the beauty and silliness of teen romance, the fear of growing up and having to decide your future, the difficulty of mending broken relationships and the feeling of being a diaspora kid. I can't wait to read it again.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Teen for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
The prose and it's ability to suck you into the street and nightlife of Mumbai/India was one of the parts of this I loved the most.The depiction and descriptions of the sounds,tastes,smells of the city were so palpable that I almost felt like I was experiencing it myself. I'm always vocal about my disdain for authors of color being forced to over-explain parts of their culture in order to make it more palatable for Western audiences so I can't express how happy I am that it was only done sparingly here. I was looking up the foods and drinks and places mentioned in the book and I feel that elevated my reading experience even more. I also appreciated that while the author was committed to showing the beautiful culture, food and traditions, that she did not shy away from portraying the misogyny, abuse and control that goes on in the city and among families even if it was pretty subtle in its portrayal.
The premise of the story was so unrealistic, dramatic and whimsical, it reminded me of a lot of shows from my childhood and the nostalgia was VERY welcome. Much more than just a romance, the book also focuses on the relationship between Krishna and her cousin, Priti. The way the book showed them going from tense, often hurtful to each other, former friends to fixing their relationship enough to be tentative friends with room for growth was so compelling to me especially because a lot of their issues were so real.
The romance itself wasn't short of cute and swoon worthy. I liked both Krishna and Rudra as individual characters and as a couple. Their dynamic was snarky, and silly but also serious at needed times. I was nodding along every time Krishna pointed out that Rudra was scarily emotionally mature for his age lol. The feeling of finding someone who understands and even relates to major parts of your identity is unmatched and I loved reading them realize this ugh.
The ending though is why I can't rate this five stars.I absolutely despise the miscommunication trope and it wasn't just used once or twice in this book,nope!There was literally a set up for it three, THREE, times in the last 10-15%!!
Overall 'Better Catch Up Krishna Kumar' was a beautiful book that captures the beauty and silliness of teen romance, the fear of growing up and having to decide your future, the difficulty of mending broken relationships and the feeling of being a diaspora kid. I can't wait to read it again.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Teen for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
September 17, 2023
Updating my review as I've finished the book, and I'm so confident in saying this is one of the best coming of age stories I've read and my new favorite romcom! Every page is AMAZING. The characters push the plot forward at an incredible speed and I just couldn't put it down. What I think is truly unique about this roadtrip romcom is the dynamics and the kind of love Anahita portrays; not just romantic, but familial. Krishna and her sharp-with-a-sweet-interior cousin Priti had my heart from the beginning. Their growth from strained family members to sisters is the warmest, realest depiction of girlhood, and created the perfect backdrop for their individual arcs and romances.
Anahita knows how to expertly intertwine immersive world building, rich and realistically flawed characters, and a plot that pushes you forward with the romantic tension and drama growing stronger with every page. This book is so easy to fall in love with, and the romance (love triangle!) will have you on the edge of your seat wondering who the endearing protagonist, Krishna, will end up with. Anahita has already mastered the romcom genre <3
Anahita knows how to expertly intertwine immersive world building, rich and realistically flawed characters, and a plot that pushes you forward with the romantic tension and drama growing stronger with every page. This book is so easy to fall in love with, and the romance (love triangle!) will have you on the edge of your seat wondering who the endearing protagonist, Krishna, will end up with. Anahita has already mastered the romcom genre <3
September 8, 2025
i ate it upppppp
Want to read
May 4, 2023I don't need an actual cover cause this one's ✨GOLD✨
October 28, 2025
I've thought long and hard if i should be rating this because it's ofc made for a primarily younger audience and realised I can because I've enjoyed plenty of YA books in my life even recently!
BCUKK is on paper a perfect YA romcom that was flawless. a desi setting and desi characters, on a road trip, and wholesome friendships, relationships and conflicts! and it starts out that way too! excellent with very good establishment of romance and relationship dynamics of these characters.
so here's why I dnfed and why it didn't work for me. the major reason being how DESPERATELY this book tries to cram every single indian pop culture knowledge into it. I was SICK of it. it doesn't even feel authentic with the way it's overtstacked. I'm here for a story, not a checklist on how good the character is at knowing every indian thing as a desperate attempt for a stamp of approval. frankly, this really feels like a white author very knowledgeable in indian culture writing it than a desi author writing desi things.
i mean man, they literally cram everything from DDLJ to the eye roll inducing "gujjus are business people" stereotype and there's literally a mention of maratha mandir—a theatre which showcases the classic DDLJ. like we get it. but there's a way to incorporate them naturally as a part of the character life and this is not it unfortunately.
i believe the drawback stems from the authors inability to write it better and since it's just a debut I'm expecting better in the future from the author, because I believe she has very nice prose and just needs a better and tighter focus on characters, their actions and the general exposition aspect of the novel with better grip on romance if she intends to make it work better in future!
special mention to priti 🩷🩷 that's my baby!!!
BCUKK is on paper a perfect YA romcom that was flawless. a desi setting and desi characters, on a road trip, and wholesome friendships, relationships and conflicts! and it starts out that way too! excellent with very good establishment of romance and relationship dynamics of these characters.
so here's why I dnfed and why it didn't work for me. the major reason being how DESPERATELY this book tries to cram every single indian pop culture knowledge into it. I was SICK of it. it doesn't even feel authentic with the way it's overtstacked. I'm here for a story, not a checklist on how good the character is at knowing every indian thing as a desperate attempt for a stamp of approval. frankly, this really feels like a white author very knowledgeable in indian culture writing it than a desi author writing desi things.
i mean man, they literally cram everything from DDLJ to the eye roll inducing "gujjus are business people" stereotype and there's literally a mention of maratha mandir—a theatre which showcases the classic DDLJ. like we get it. but there's a way to incorporate them naturally as a part of the character life and this is not it unfortunately.
i believe the drawback stems from the authors inability to write it better and since it's just a debut I'm expecting better in the future from the author, because I believe she has very nice prose and just needs a better and tighter focus on characters, their actions and the general exposition aspect of the novel with better grip on romance if she intends to make it work better in future!
special mention to priti 🩷🩷 that's my baby!!!
October 2, 2025
Words simply cannot describe how much I adored this sweet, laugh-out-loud hilarious young adult romance novel from Anahita Karthik. And of course, this is me exaggerating for dramatic effect because Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar actually MOVED me to words, so much so that I am thrilled and honored to contribute a blurb for it!
“Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar is a sparkling, heartfelt rom-com that swept me off my feet from the very first page. Anahita Karthik spins a vivid, shimmering tale of self-discovery as Krishna navigates tangled family ties, intoxicating first crushes, and the exhilarating freedom of the open road. This book is Bollywood glam meets coming-of-age heart, and I have no doubt that readers will fall head-over-heels for Krishna's story just as I did.” - Ananya Devarajan, author of Kismat Connection and Sanskari Sweetheart
“Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar is a sparkling, heartfelt rom-com that swept me off my feet from the very first page. Anahita Karthik spins a vivid, shimmering tale of self-discovery as Krishna navigates tangled family ties, intoxicating first crushes, and the exhilarating freedom of the open road. This book is Bollywood glam meets coming-of-age heart, and I have no doubt that readers will fall head-over-heels for Krishna's story just as I did.” - Ananya Devarajan, author of Kismat Connection and Sanskari Sweetheart
Want to read
February 8, 2025i am so unbelievably excited to read this book as soon as it's released i'm going to sell my soul to have it become part of my very existence. i am hooked by the cover even if it won't be the actual one the art gives me so much nostalgia and the description hooked me the moment i read it EVERYTHING IS SO BEAUTIFUL "a love letter to India" i LOVE THIS ALREADY OH MY GODDD desi bi4bi my heart my soul my everything is for this book i'm so excited
September 7, 2025
I received the ARC from Edelweiss!
Now, I will get straight to the point, which is how hard I have to will myself to put down this book and focus on my day job, because this YA romcom is addictive!!
What is expected (and delivered):
Our titular MC, Krishna, is a whirlwind of a girl. She is the kind of character you warm up to very quickly, clownish in a charming way, also somehow remains endearing and empathized despite her flaws and mistakes.
The book centers around Krishna's relationship with her ex-bff-turned-nemesis + cousin Priti and Priti's new bff Rudra—who quickly becomes my third favorite character (I know there are three people in the main cast but *no one* comes before Krish and Priti alright?). Together, these three and their spontaneous road trip made me laugh aloud unceremoniously more times than I could count. The chemistry between Krish and Rudra are off the roof. Their flirty banters, top tier. Krish's tumultuous relationship with Priti is a roller coaster ride. I went into this book expecting romcom and was blown away by how well-done the "com" part is. It has been a day since I finished the book, but I still recall some quotes from time to time and chuckle out of the blue. It's safe to say that BCUKK is now the funniest book I read this year.
And of course, one of the best things about YA is the coming of age element. I don't want to give too much away but let's just say the book does not disappoint. I walked away with my heart warmed and satisfied.
The Unexpected:
Another thing that really struck a chord with me is how much heart and thought have been put into the places. I was taken to Mumbai, to Pune, to Goa, to homes and beaches, to food places and feasts, to highways and camping trails, to parties and song games. I saw India through the eyes of someone who loves her dearly, and no word can describe how beautiful that is.
Now, I will get straight to the point, which is how hard I have to will myself to put down this book and focus on my day job, because this YA romcom is addictive!!
What is expected (and delivered):
Our titular MC, Krishna, is a whirlwind of a girl. She is the kind of character you warm up to very quickly, clownish in a charming way, also somehow remains endearing and empathized despite her flaws and mistakes.
The book centers around Krishna's relationship with her ex-bff-turned-nemesis + cousin Priti and Priti's new bff Rudra—who quickly becomes my third favorite character (I know there are three people in the main cast but *no one* comes before Krish and Priti alright?). Together, these three and their spontaneous road trip made me laugh aloud unceremoniously more times than I could count. The chemistry between Krish and Rudra are off the roof. Their flirty banters, top tier. Krish's tumultuous relationship with Priti is a roller coaster ride. I went into this book expecting romcom and was blown away by how well-done the "com" part is. It has been a day since I finished the book, but I still recall some quotes from time to time and chuckle out of the blue. It's safe to say that BCUKK is now the funniest book I read this year.
And of course, one of the best things about YA is the coming of age element. I don't want to give too much away but let's just say the book does not disappoint. I walked away with my heart warmed and satisfied.
The Unexpected:
Another thing that really struck a chord with me is how much heart and thought have been put into the places. I was taken to Mumbai, to Pune, to Goa, to homes and beaches, to food places and feasts, to highways and camping trails, to parties and song games. I saw India through the eyes of someone who loves her dearly, and no word can describe how beautiful that is.
August 22, 2025
A chaotic, joyful bi4bi road trip romance that had my cheeks hurting from smiling. Such a fun celebration of desi love with gorgeous descriptions of places and food and so many laugh-out-loud moments.
Want to read
June 21, 2025Bi4bi romance with desi leads? What more could I ask for? I'M SOLD
Want to read
March 15, 2023EXCITING
June 24, 2023
As a desi reader this is everything and more I could ever want!! So excited for 2025 🔥
Want to read
July 3, 2023I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL 2025?!
Want to read
July 8, 2023I hear Jab We Met and I just can't say no
October 2, 2025
oh my god, love love this one!!! ENJOYED IT SO SO MUCH!!!
September 20, 2025
[4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars]
Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar is one of those types of books where as soon as you finish them you long to find 5 books that are just like this one because it was so good. At least, that's how I felt.
We follow three main characters; Krishna, Rudra and Priti. I immediately fell in love with Rudra as a character, I love how emotionally mature he was and overall enjoyed the way he was written and could relate to him a lot. Priti is awesome too with how secure and outspoken she is, my favorite thing about her is how she challenged traditional viewpoints and didn't shy away from being herself even when being criticized for it. I took the longest to warm up to Krishna; she's your typical sunshine character, very quirky and clumsy, but once I got into the story I liked her too and had to laugh every couple pages because of how funny she is! Even better than these three characters on their own was the dynamics they have with each other.
Priti and Krishna are cousins and while there's a cast of family side characters who were so sweet and complimented our main trio wonderfully, the themes of friendship and family explored through Priti and Krishna were so beautifully done! I especially liked the emphasis Krishna put on putting Priti before any boy, mending her relationship with her former best friend was more important than anything. Then I do have to say that Krishna had an insane chemistry with boys as well, flirting scenes and scenes with a lot of tension were excellent!!
One of my favorite parts of the books have got to be the representation of Indian culture! This novel was infused with its love for India. I'm not Indian myself but the love was tangible! Cultural aspects were described so lovingly, I couldn't help but grin! There's phrases in Hindi and Gujarati, endless mouth-watering descriptions of Indian cuisine, meticulous rendering of traditional clothing, we follow along as characters play Indian party games, innumerable love declarations to Bollywood and famous songs, actors and more. As a non-Indian I appreciated how naturally it was implemented into the story, I love when I have to look up things every couple of paragraphs because there's so many new things to find out instead of it being over-explained for non-natives.
While the plot comes pretty close to your hilariously unrealistic yet romantic Bollywood story line, what happens in between was phenomenal! Of course this couldn't be a linear story where everything happens as it was planned, but that's what makes the book great. We follow the characters in soooo many fun scenarios; I think this might be one of my top romance books regarding how many different fun scenes we got. Just to name a few we get a food eating contest, bookstore-shenanigans, multiple roadtrips across India, camping, the list goes on and every chapter just gradually gets more fun.
The reason I would give this book a 4.5 star rating is because of the writing. This is very personal to me though so don't shy away from this book because of it. Contemporary romance novels are not my top genre and over-the-top contemporary writing that's very informal, quirky, gen-z-ish is usually not my cup of tea so I had to get used to that. As long as you enjoy the usual contemporary romance writing I think you should face no problems. I also am not a fan of miscommunication and that stalling the plot (especially when it's apparent to you as the reader from the very start), which happened two or three times in this book. Apart from that though the writing was amazing. The dialogue was brilliant. The com part was right up my alley and had me laughing a dozen times, descriptions were delightful! The scenes with more serious conversations, like where they were talking about their bisexuality or identity, not being desi enough or being too Indian, not belonging, anxiety about the future were genuinely well done.
So overall the writing made up more than enough for the two things I personally don't vibe with, I had so much fun with this book that I rounded it up to 5 stars and with that end note I wholeheartedly can recommend this romcom to anyone who is looking for their next read. Thank you so much to Edelweiss for the ARC!!
Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar is one of those types of books where as soon as you finish them you long to find 5 books that are just like this one because it was so good. At least, that's how I felt.
We follow three main characters; Krishna, Rudra and Priti. I immediately fell in love with Rudra as a character, I love how emotionally mature he was and overall enjoyed the way he was written and could relate to him a lot. Priti is awesome too with how secure and outspoken she is, my favorite thing about her is how she challenged traditional viewpoints and didn't shy away from being herself even when being criticized for it. I took the longest to warm up to Krishna; she's your typical sunshine character, very quirky and clumsy, but once I got into the story I liked her too and had to laugh every couple pages because of how funny she is! Even better than these three characters on their own was the dynamics they have with each other.
Priti and Krishna are cousins and while there's a cast of family side characters who were so sweet and complimented our main trio wonderfully, the themes of friendship and family explored through Priti and Krishna were so beautifully done! I especially liked the emphasis Krishna put on putting Priti before any boy, mending her relationship with her former best friend was more important than anything. Then I do have to say that Krishna had an insane chemistry with boys as well, flirting scenes and scenes with a lot of tension were excellent!!
One of my favorite parts of the books have got to be the representation of Indian culture! This novel was infused with its love for India. I'm not Indian myself but the love was tangible! Cultural aspects were described so lovingly, I couldn't help but grin! There's phrases in Hindi and Gujarati, endless mouth-watering descriptions of Indian cuisine, meticulous rendering of traditional clothing, we follow along as characters play Indian party games, innumerable love declarations to Bollywood and famous songs, actors and more. As a non-Indian I appreciated how naturally it was implemented into the story, I love when I have to look up things every couple of paragraphs because there's so many new things to find out instead of it being over-explained for non-natives.
While the plot comes pretty close to your hilariously unrealistic yet romantic Bollywood story line, what happens in between was phenomenal! Of course this couldn't be a linear story where everything happens as it was planned, but that's what makes the book great. We follow the characters in soooo many fun scenarios; I think this might be one of my top romance books regarding how many different fun scenes we got. Just to name a few we get a food eating contest, bookstore-shenanigans, multiple roadtrips across India, camping, the list goes on and every chapter just gradually gets more fun.
The reason I would give this book a 4.5 star rating is because of the writing. This is very personal to me though so don't shy away from this book because of it. Contemporary romance novels are not my top genre and over-the-top contemporary writing that's very informal, quirky, gen-z-ish is usually not my cup of tea so I had to get used to that. As long as you enjoy the usual contemporary romance writing I think you should face no problems. I also am not a fan of miscommunication and that stalling the plot (especially when it's apparent to you as the reader from the very start), which happened two or three times in this book. Apart from that though the writing was amazing. The dialogue was brilliant. The com part was right up my alley and had me laughing a dozen times, descriptions were delightful! The scenes with more serious conversations, like where they were talking about their bisexuality or identity, not being desi enough or being too Indian, not belonging, anxiety about the future were genuinely well done.
So overall the writing made up more than enough for the two things I personally don't vibe with, I had so much fun with this book that I rounded it up to 5 stars and with that end note I wholeheartedly can recommend this romcom to anyone who is looking for their next read. Thank you so much to Edelweiss for the ARC!!
September 8, 2025
4.5⭐
Thank you to Anahita Karthik for having me on the Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar STREET Team and Harper Teen for the ARC.
𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐔𝐩 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐧𝐚 𝐊𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐫 is a wild ride, in this cheeky and charming rom-com where one girl’s quest across India to seal her first kiss turns into finding first love in the most unexpected places, perfect for fans of Axie Oh, Ann Liang, and Jenny Han.
I read this book in less than a few hours, where I was incredibly immersed and hooked to the plot where I could not see the pages flying away as soon as I was done. The book is a love letter to India, a beautiful story that is more than just a rom-com. As a desi girl, this book more that stole my heart with how beautifully this story unfolded.y
In the whirlwind of summer road trip where Krishna Kumar wants to travel to Goa to meet up with her crush, she's travelling together with her distant cousin Priti and her bestfriend Rudra, who seemed to have unrequited love for her. The absolute stunning of bi4bi romance, with sunshine and brooding main characters, a tale of sisterhood and reconciliation, a diversely desi and queer cast of characters, with the vibes of 𝘑𝘢𝘣 𝘞𝘦 𝘔𝘦𝘵, 𝘗𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘴, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘐 𝘛𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺, and 𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘐 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳, fun scenes like food eating contests, beachside weddings and swoony romantic gestures.
There was a lot about this book that I loved — from the quirky and hilarious rom-com to the emotional scenes behind it. This book isn't just a rom-com because it covers so many things — Krishna and Priti finally communicating after years of resentment and anger and watching them work it out despite the bumpy roads ahead was such a fulfilling experience. The diversity in this book of the desi cast, where we saw diverse people in the Indian community throughout the book. Another concept that was dealt with care and concern was the queer representation. In a country which is not vocally and mentally accepting of queer people, Anahita Karthik approached this concept with the care it needed, gave the message that it was okay to be queer and nothing is wrong in being queer and different.
𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐧𝐚 𝐊𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐫, the titular character of this book is the most quirky, charming and realistic character I've read about. She's a diaspora kid, who didn't feel the sense of belonging until she made space for herself because she was 'too brown' for the foreigners and 'too foreign' for the Indians. I love how accepting she is of herself, loving herself and her queer identity. She's the kind of character to warm up the entire room, charming and endearing to everyone and has flaws that make her so much more realistic and human.
𝐑𝐮𝐝𝐫𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐢 is the charming, flirty and swoony romantic lead I've read about. He was emotionally mature, cool, broody in the best way, a yearner and patient man who drove the love of his life who wanted to kiss her crush. He's such an amazing character, an absolutely loyal and ride or die best friend to Priti. He's an amazing musician who got into Julliard and loves music like the love of his life.
Their romance was absolutely swoony, with the chemistry sizzling with flames. Their interactions and banter were absolutely perfect, and they matched each other's energy and fit for each other, complementing each other's existence.
For fans of swoony romcoms, with a desi and queer cast in an Indian setting, with hilarious banter and interactions, a true love letter to India for Teens, this book is the perfect read.
Thank you to Anahita Karthik for having me on the Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar STREET Team and Harper Teen for the ARC.
𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐔𝐩 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐧𝐚 𝐊𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐫 is a wild ride, in this cheeky and charming rom-com where one girl’s quest across India to seal her first kiss turns into finding first love in the most unexpected places, perfect for fans of Axie Oh, Ann Liang, and Jenny Han.
I read this book in less than a few hours, where I was incredibly immersed and hooked to the plot where I could not see the pages flying away as soon as I was done. The book is a love letter to India, a beautiful story that is more than just a rom-com. As a desi girl, this book more that stole my heart with how beautifully this story unfolded.y
In the whirlwind of summer road trip where Krishna Kumar wants to travel to Goa to meet up with her crush, she's travelling together with her distant cousin Priti and her bestfriend Rudra, who seemed to have unrequited love for her. The absolute stunning of bi4bi romance, with sunshine and brooding main characters, a tale of sisterhood and reconciliation, a diversely desi and queer cast of characters, with the vibes of 𝘑𝘢𝘣 𝘞𝘦 𝘔𝘦𝘵, 𝘗𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘴, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘐 𝘛𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺, and 𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘐 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳, fun scenes like food eating contests, beachside weddings and swoony romantic gestures.
There was a lot about this book that I loved — from the quirky and hilarious rom-com to the emotional scenes behind it. This book isn't just a rom-com because it covers so many things — Krishna and Priti finally communicating after years of resentment and anger and watching them work it out despite the bumpy roads ahead was such a fulfilling experience. The diversity in this book of the desi cast, where we saw diverse people in the Indian community throughout the book. Another concept that was dealt with care and concern was the queer representation. In a country which is not vocally and mentally accepting of queer people, Anahita Karthik approached this concept with the care it needed, gave the message that it was okay to be queer and nothing is wrong in being queer and different.
𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐧𝐚 𝐊𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐫, the titular character of this book is the most quirky, charming and realistic character I've read about. She's a diaspora kid, who didn't feel the sense of belonging until she made space for herself because she was 'too brown' for the foreigners and 'too foreign' for the Indians. I love how accepting she is of herself, loving herself and her queer identity. She's the kind of character to warm up the entire room, charming and endearing to everyone and has flaws that make her so much more realistic and human.
𝐑𝐮𝐝𝐫𝐚 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐢 is the charming, flirty and swoony romantic lead I've read about. He was emotionally mature, cool, broody in the best way, a yearner and patient man who drove the love of his life who wanted to kiss her crush. He's such an amazing character, an absolutely loyal and ride or die best friend to Priti. He's an amazing musician who got into Julliard and loves music like the love of his life.
Their romance was absolutely swoony, with the chemistry sizzling with flames. Their interactions and banter were absolutely perfect, and they matched each other's energy and fit for each other, complementing each other's existence.
For fans of swoony romcoms, with a desi and queer cast in an Indian setting, with hilarious banter and interactions, a true love letter to India for Teens, this book is the perfect read.
September 3, 2025
** Thanks to being part of BCUKK's street team and edelweiss, I was able to read an ARC and in exchange for it, this is my honest review**
A story that starts with just wanting to end a whirlwind summer with a first kiss before going off to college, ends up being so much more than just that for Krishna Kumar.
This book, written as an ode to the beauty that Indian holds, is truly the perfect love letter to those girls who were too anxious and weren’t able to take ‘that’ chances when they were a teenager. Reading Krishna’s story gave me hope that there’s still magic left for my life too.
All of this starts when Krishna, along with her cousin turned frenemy Priti and Priti’s aloof best friend Rudra, set out on a road trip from Mumbai to Goa, with the sole mission of getting Krishna her first kiss with her summer crush, Amrit. As this book takes the trip through the physical journey, more and more builds up in their emotional journey whether it is the sisterhood between the two cousins or Krishna understanding why she gave these milestones so much importance.
As an Indian who always wanted to see herself in storybooks, to read about this journey feels so close to my heart, because it refers to favourite movies in Krishna’s monologues, games and activities most popular in India and general everyday phrases that almost instantly connected me with this book and its beautifully written people.
Every person is intricately written as part of this trio, from Krishna’s diasporic desire to ‘fit in’ to Priti’s quest of finding better for herself to Rudra’s identity. These lovable people are so memorable that all I could do was imagine who would play them all in a movie.
Even though this is truly the sweetest fun romcom, the end of every chapter seems like a cliff hanger where your hand immediately goes to the next chapter even after having told yourself “one chapter only”, with the end of it all crescendoing up to a typical Indian wedding where our love story blooms so sweetly, that I ended up with heart warming tears.
PS: do not read this on an empty stomach because the descriptions of yummy food while reading this till 3am really made me binge read AND binge eat!
A story that starts with just wanting to end a whirlwind summer with a first kiss before going off to college, ends up being so much more than just that for Krishna Kumar.
This book, written as an ode to the beauty that Indian holds, is truly the perfect love letter to those girls who were too anxious and weren’t able to take ‘that’ chances when they were a teenager. Reading Krishna’s story gave me hope that there’s still magic left for my life too.
All of this starts when Krishna, along with her cousin turned frenemy Priti and Priti’s aloof best friend Rudra, set out on a road trip from Mumbai to Goa, with the sole mission of getting Krishna her first kiss with her summer crush, Amrit. As this book takes the trip through the physical journey, more and more builds up in their emotional journey whether it is the sisterhood between the two cousins or Krishna understanding why she gave these milestones so much importance.
As an Indian who always wanted to see herself in storybooks, to read about this journey feels so close to my heart, because it refers to favourite movies in Krishna’s monologues, games and activities most popular in India and general everyday phrases that almost instantly connected me with this book and its beautifully written people.
Every person is intricately written as part of this trio, from Krishna’s diasporic desire to ‘fit in’ to Priti’s quest of finding better for herself to Rudra’s identity. These lovable people are so memorable that all I could do was imagine who would play them all in a movie.
Even though this is truly the sweetest fun romcom, the end of every chapter seems like a cliff hanger where your hand immediately goes to the next chapter even after having told yourself “one chapter only”, with the end of it all crescendoing up to a typical Indian wedding where our love story blooms so sweetly, that I ended up with heart warming tears.
PS: do not read this on an empty stomach because the descriptions of yummy food while reading this till 3am really made me binge read AND binge eat!
September 26, 2025
4.5⭐
Thank you to Anahita Karthik and Harper Teen for the ARC.
𝗕𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝗺-𝗰𝗼𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹’𝘀 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀. 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝘅𝗶𝗲 𝗢𝗵, 𝗔𝗻𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗻!
This is th author's YA debut and I was so in love with this book the entire time I was reading. As an Indian, I loved exploring the familiar walls of this story.
I was hooked from the very first page. The first line and the chapter that followed instantly made me love the book and had me intrigued because there were some things that happened in that chapter where the answers to what actually happened was around the end of the book, in the last few pages.
There was a constant push-and-pull dynamic between Krishna, Rudra and her cousin Priti. The banter between the found family was so hilarious at times the dynamic they had made me enjoy it even more.
I adored the romance between Krishna and Rudra. Krishna is the quirky, charming and queer diaspora kid who accepting of herself and a truly realistic character who warms up and incites a fun environment with her presence. Rudra is a music loving flirty and charming character, who's charm is enough to make everyone swoon. He's also queer (bisexual) and I was so happy to see the representation in an Indian setting with Indian characters. They both had the absolute swoony romantic chemistry, their personalities falling together perfectly without clashing at one another. Their banter and teasingly flirting with each other made me swoon for them at times.
Other than the romance, there themes of acceptance of diaspora and queer acceptance explored in a respectful manner that made me appreciate the book even more. I loved how Priti and Krishna finally communicated with each by the end.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading about this roadtrip, which was romantic comedy with so much more of romance, acceptance, and love. For readers who want an Indian setting rom-com with queer Indian characters, this is the prefect read!
Thank you to Anahita Karthik and Harper Teen for the ARC.
𝗕𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝗺-𝗰𝗼𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹’𝘀 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀. 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝘅𝗶𝗲 𝗢𝗵, 𝗔𝗻𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗻!
This is th author's YA debut and I was so in love with this book the entire time I was reading. As an Indian, I loved exploring the familiar walls of this story.
I was hooked from the very first page. The first line and the chapter that followed instantly made me love the book and had me intrigued because there were some things that happened in that chapter where the answers to what actually happened was around the end of the book, in the last few pages.
There was a constant push-and-pull dynamic between Krishna, Rudra and her cousin Priti. The banter between the found family was so hilarious at times the dynamic they had made me enjoy it even more.
I adored the romance between Krishna and Rudra. Krishna is the quirky, charming and queer diaspora kid who accepting of herself and a truly realistic character who warms up and incites a fun environment with her presence. Rudra is a music loving flirty and charming character, who's charm is enough to make everyone swoon. He's also queer (bisexual) and I was so happy to see the representation in an Indian setting with Indian characters. They both had the absolute swoony romantic chemistry, their personalities falling together perfectly without clashing at one another. Their banter and teasingly flirting with each other made me swoon for them at times.
Other than the romance, there themes of acceptance of diaspora and queer acceptance explored in a respectful manner that made me appreciate the book even more. I loved how Priti and Krishna finally communicated with each by the end.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading about this roadtrip, which was romantic comedy with so much more of romance, acceptance, and love. For readers who want an Indian setting rom-com with queer Indian characters, this is the prefect read!
September 28, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a delightfully chaotic YA rom-com that combines the classic road trip adventure with coming-of-age romance in a story that's both heartwarming and hilariously relatable. When Krishna's quest for her first kiss with crush Amrit turns into an unexpected road trip across India with her nemesis cousin Priti and the quietly charming Rudra, readers are in for a wild ride of self-discovery and romantic confusion.
The author excels at creating an authentic teenage voice that captures Krishna's endearing mix of determination and disaster. Her self-deprecating humor about being a "bi disaster" and her panic about being the only college freshman who's never been kissed feels genuinely relatable without being overly dramatic.
The Indian setting adds richness and cultural depth to the story, with Kumar incorporating family dynamics, cultural expectations, and the beautiful chaos of Indian weddings and travel. The road trip format allows for both comedic mishaps and meaningful character development, as the unlikely trio navigate everything from transportation disasters to family drama.
Rudra ends up as a wonderfully complex love interest. He's quiet but not brooding, kind but not perfect. His unrequited feelings for Priti create compelling emotional stakes, while his growing connection with Krishna develops naturally through shared experiences and genuine conversation. The cousin dynamics between Krishna and Priti add realistic family complexity without overshadowing the romantic plot.
The love triangle is handled with skill, avoiding the trap of demonizing any character to make the romantic choice easier. Each relationship feels authentic and serves Krishna's character growth. The writing is fresh and engaging, with humor that emerges naturally from character and situation. Cultural details feel authentic rather than explanatory, creating an immersive experience that will appeal to those seeking a diverse YA romance. This was truly a book that I didn't know I needed.
This is a delightfully chaotic YA rom-com that combines the classic road trip adventure with coming-of-age romance in a story that's both heartwarming and hilariously relatable. When Krishna's quest for her first kiss with crush Amrit turns into an unexpected road trip across India with her nemesis cousin Priti and the quietly charming Rudra, readers are in for a wild ride of self-discovery and romantic confusion.
The author excels at creating an authentic teenage voice that captures Krishna's endearing mix of determination and disaster. Her self-deprecating humor about being a "bi disaster" and her panic about being the only college freshman who's never been kissed feels genuinely relatable without being overly dramatic.
The Indian setting adds richness and cultural depth to the story, with Kumar incorporating family dynamics, cultural expectations, and the beautiful chaos of Indian weddings and travel. The road trip format allows for both comedic mishaps and meaningful character development, as the unlikely trio navigate everything from transportation disasters to family drama.
Rudra ends up as a wonderfully complex love interest. He's quiet but not brooding, kind but not perfect. His unrequited feelings for Priti create compelling emotional stakes, while his growing connection with Krishna develops naturally through shared experiences and genuine conversation. The cousin dynamics between Krishna and Priti add realistic family complexity without overshadowing the romantic plot.
The love triangle is handled with skill, avoiding the trap of demonizing any character to make the romantic choice easier. Each relationship feels authentic and serves Krishna's character growth. The writing is fresh and engaging, with humor that emerges naturally from character and situation. Cultural details feel authentic rather than explanatory, creating an immersive experience that will appeal to those seeking a diverse YA romance. This was truly a book that I didn't know I needed.
September 6, 2025
This book was marvelous. The writing, the vivid imagery the author depicts of the food, the setting, and the clothing were incredible. I was immersed, and it felt like I was watching a movie. Krishna is as chaotic as they come; she reminded me of Belly, Devi, and so many other chaotic YA mains in my favorite TV shows. I love her growth, her self-awareness, and her ability to never hold things back, especially with Priti. She was multidimensional in every way that mattered. She annoyed me, made me laugh, made me groan, and even made me swoon.
Rudra was my FAVE. He was so emotionally mature, so cool, broody in the best way, and most of all he was a yearner. Yearning for eight years is crazy, but driving the love of your life go kiss her crush is even crazier. He didn’t care that his feelings were unrequited; he just wanted Krishna to be happy. The club scene in Goa was so hot, I kept gasping and clutching my pearls. 10/10, I even bookmarked the entire scene for later. Rudra’s love confession swept me off my feet, and I don’t know how Krishna managed not to lose her mind right there and then. My sweethearts go so well together and balance each other out, it was lovely to read.
And finally, Priti. She was the most flawed and the realest character. Her feelings were valid, even if she never went the right way about it, but I understood her pain and her hurt. She was beautifully characterized, and Anahita did a wonderful job making these characters distinct in their flaws, strengths, and being.
A strong 5 ⭐️ read.
Rudra was my FAVE. He was so emotionally mature, so cool, broody in the best way, and most of all he was a yearner. Yearning for eight years is crazy, but driving the love of your life go kiss her crush is even crazier. He didn’t care that his feelings were unrequited; he just wanted Krishna to be happy. The club scene in Goa was so hot, I kept gasping and clutching my pearls. 10/10, I even bookmarked the entire scene for later. Rudra’s love confession swept me off my feet, and I don’t know how Krishna managed not to lose her mind right there and then. My sweethearts go so well together and balance each other out, it was lovely to read.
And finally, Priti. She was the most flawed and the realest character. Her feelings were valid, even if she never went the right way about it, but I understood her pain and her hurt. She was beautifully characterized, and Anahita did a wonderful job making these characters distinct in their flaws, strengths, and being.
A strong 5 ⭐️ read.
October 6, 2025
4.5 stars
It's the summer between high school and college, and Krishna is spending it in India with family and friends. She also has a short list of items she'd like to check off before she heads back to the U.S. to continue her academic plans. At the top of this list? Her first kiss. Fortunately for her, there's just the right guy in just the right circumstance...or so she thinks!
Krishna is a likable character who has a knack for embarrassing situations. While these situations mortify her, they are externally entertaining and they cause her to seem more relatable than a general YA heroine out on a quest for a perfect moment. I really enjoy the scenes that highlight her fallibility, especially because she has a generally good attitude to match.
While romance is definitely on the agenda, what soon comes to the forefront is Krishna's damaged relationship with her cousin, Priti. The way the situation between these two - and then their attempts to repair it - is portrayed will be extremely relatable and helpful to the target audience. This also adds more depth to Krishna. She's not just a teen with a one-track mind.
This plot is well paced, the setting is fresh, and the representation is solid, which is always important but even more so these days. I'm looking forward to recommending this one to students and to reading more from this author.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
It's the summer between high school and college, and Krishna is spending it in India with family and friends. She also has a short list of items she'd like to check off before she heads back to the U.S. to continue her academic plans. At the top of this list? Her first kiss. Fortunately for her, there's just the right guy in just the right circumstance...or so she thinks!
Krishna is a likable character who has a knack for embarrassing situations. While these situations mortify her, they are externally entertaining and they cause her to seem more relatable than a general YA heroine out on a quest for a perfect moment. I really enjoy the scenes that highlight her fallibility, especially because she has a generally good attitude to match.
While romance is definitely on the agenda, what soon comes to the forefront is Krishna's damaged relationship with her cousin, Priti. The way the situation between these two - and then their attempts to repair it - is portrayed will be extremely relatable and helpful to the target audience. This also adds more depth to Krishna. She's not just a teen with a one-track mind.
This plot is well paced, the setting is fresh, and the representation is solid, which is always important but even more so these days. I'm looking forward to recommending this one to students and to reading more from this author.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
September 26, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
This starts with the main character being extremely drunk, so I will have to pass on this for middle school.
Young Adult literature used to have a lot of books with characters in high school, college, or even starting careers, but didn't include situations that are not necessarily what 10-13 year olds need to read. While I understand that authors want to mirror the present day world, my students would love to read about older characters without certain situations and language. There was a lot I liked about this book, but even at a high school library, I personally would have trouble including books with some of the choices. I'd love to have more YA books WITH LGBTQIA+ characters, but for some reason, books with these characters often feature a lot of drinking. Again, while this mirrors real life, I don't know that it's something younger readers need to see depicted in a casual way.
Depending on your collection development policies and needs, this book might work. It just didn't for mine.
This starts with the main character being extremely drunk, so I will have to pass on this for middle school.
Young Adult literature used to have a lot of books with characters in high school, college, or even starting careers, but didn't include situations that are not necessarily what 10-13 year olds need to read. While I understand that authors want to mirror the present day world, my students would love to read about older characters without certain situations and language. There was a lot I liked about this book, but even at a high school library, I personally would have trouble including books with some of the choices. I'd love to have more YA books WITH LGBTQIA+ characters, but for some reason, books with these characters often feature a lot of drinking. Again, while this mirrors real life, I don't know that it's something younger readers need to see depicted in a casual way.
Depending on your collection development policies and needs, this book might work. It just didn't for mine.
Read
October 20, 20254.5 stars
What's not to love about this YA novel by Anahita Karthik? Nothing! I adored going on this journey with Krishna Kumar, a high school graduate visiting her extended family in India before starting med school.
Krishna decides that she doesn't want to leave India (or start university) without her first kiss. So, when opportunity knocks, she gathers her cousin, Priti, even though they've been on the outs for years, and Priti's best friend, Rudra (the guy with the car), to get her to her crush for the kiss. Amrit, the object of Krishna's affection, is attending a wedding hours away. Begin epic secret road trip!
Classic teenage angst, misunderstandings, crushes, secrets, self-doubt, assumptions, and sweetness abound as Krishna's kiss quest takes place. I do not want to provide any spoilers... so I will simply say: read this book!
The character growth, dialog, and beautiful moments of connect set this novel apart. Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperCollins, and Netgalley for the ARC!
What's not to love about this YA novel by Anahita Karthik? Nothing! I adored going on this journey with Krishna Kumar, a high school graduate visiting her extended family in India before starting med school.
Krishna decides that she doesn't want to leave India (or start university) without her first kiss. So, when opportunity knocks, she gathers her cousin, Priti, even though they've been on the outs for years, and Priti's best friend, Rudra (the guy with the car), to get her to her crush for the kiss. Amrit, the object of Krishna's affection, is attending a wedding hours away. Begin epic secret road trip!
Classic teenage angst, misunderstandings, crushes, secrets, self-doubt, assumptions, and sweetness abound as Krishna's kiss quest takes place. I do not want to provide any spoilers... so I will simply say: read this book!
The character growth, dialog, and beautiful moments of connect set this novel apart. Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperCollins, and Netgalley for the ARC!
September 8, 2025
3.5 stars
I really wanted to love this book, trust me I was so excited because it was hyped so much. I thought this would be a perfect book, though I'm not a fan of romances. This was all in all a great book and I'm glad that such stories exist and are being written. So unapologetically desi, with so many references I did love many things about this book. The only fallacy was that the romance ended up being cliche and also, a little during the middle the humour felt more like second hand embarrassment to me. I think that's just me, though. I'm sure people would love this book, especially brown girls. Also, a great point—this book is set in India & as a native, this was super fresh and close to home. I really hope it reaches its target audience cuz I'm sure it'll receive a lot of love!
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for the e-ARC.
I really wanted to love this book, trust me I was so excited because it was hyped so much. I thought this would be a perfect book, though I'm not a fan of romances. This was all in all a great book and I'm glad that such stories exist and are being written. So unapologetically desi, with so many references I did love many things about this book. The only fallacy was that the romance ended up being cliche and also, a little during the middle the humour felt more like second hand embarrassment to me. I think that's just me, though. I'm sure people would love this book, especially brown girls. Also, a great point—this book is set in India & as a native, this was super fresh and close to home. I really hope it reaches its target audience cuz I'm sure it'll receive a lot of love!
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for the e-ARC.
August 29, 2025
Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar was a read outside my usual genre (horror/thriller) and it was so refreshing to read a book full of joy where the characters aren’t running for their lives.
Even though the stakes are "lower" in that sense, they are not by any means unimportant!! BCUKK is full of significant life choices and themes regarding love, friendship, belonging, identity and more. Most importantly—the book is lighthearted, so sweet, and FUN. It had me smiling and cheering the characters on. It's rich with beautiful descriptions of food, music, and settings! I also adored the road trip narrative and all the different places and characters we got to meet. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time!
Even though the stakes are "lower" in that sense, they are not by any means unimportant!! BCUKK is full of significant life choices and themes regarding love, friendship, belonging, identity and more. Most importantly—the book is lighthearted, so sweet, and FUN. It had me smiling and cheering the characters on. It's rich with beautiful descriptions of food, music, and settings! I also adored the road trip narrative and all the different places and characters we got to meet. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews