Thank you so much to Disney Publishing Worldwide and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
I loved this oh so much! Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things was absolutely the read I needed while having a difficult week. It’s so warm and delightful and touching. The book’s description said it was a rom-com for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, and that is so spot on. This novel is a beautiful story showing all aspects of love— familial, romantic, self-love, and more—through all sorts of diverse characters. I adored the queer representation and the wide variety of cultures portrayed through the characters. This is a wonderful example of how to incorporate diversity naturally, particularly in the YA genre.
The story follows four Desi sisters living at their father’s inn on an island in the Pacific Northwest as they grow up and experience romance for the first time. Each fourth of the novel follows a different sister in a different season (throughout one year), though they all are present and interact frequently. The plot goes beyond romance, as each girl is struggling with something and striving for a unique goal. Nidhi, the oldest, is in her senior year of high school and torn between what she always wanted to do and venturing in a new direction. Avani feels she’s the only one in the family still grieving the loss of her Pop as she also tries to break free of her flighty reputation. Sirisha, the youngest, must find her voice for the first time if she’s going to make a connection with her crush. Rani, the self-proclaimed Official Love Guru, surrounds herself with romance stories, yet has never actually experienced love… until she finds herself with three suitors at once.
I had a really great time with this book. It’s just so wholesome and lovely. It’s the novel equivalent of a warm hug and a hot cup of cocoa, without feeling over the top.
The characterization is probably my favorite part of the book. Everyone feels real. It was cool getting to know each sister from their point of view AND more objectively through the others’ perspectives. The main four are fully developed and have their own personalities. My favorites were Nidhi (I could relate to her struggles the most) and Sirisha (her romance with Brie was ridiculously sweet), but there weren’t any characters I disliked or points of view that dragged in comparison to the rest. I also liked the side characters, who were charming and sometimes even funny. Most of all, I loved the father and how he made time for individual moments with each daughter. Plus, how the family (and the island) readily accepted him as a bi/pan man was fantastic.
I thought the writing was lovely, as well. This is one of those super duper toothachingly cinnamon roll sweet books filled with gorgeous imagery and tons of food descriptions. I don’t always love that in novels, but here, I thought it worked well. It was terrific to read about Indian cuisine; I could almost smell some of the food wafting off the pages. The tone of this book is so bright and cheerful that the writing plays into that smoothly, creating a charming atmosphere. I also thought the prose stood out at times, with some lines that truly resonated with me. Prasad has a great grasp on writing about grief, growing up, and conquering insecurities. The stories each have lessons, but they’re written in a natural, delicate way. It’s a perfect example of what YA fluffy stories should be.
There are some important themes, as well. The power of family and the bond of sisterhood stand out. This novel made me want to call my grandma and text my aunts and uncles. But it also portrays familial relationships in a really healthy light. The characters stand up for themselves and don’t let toxicities slide, but they also value their families and work hard to show each other love.
The book isn’t mushy and lovey all the time, though! It has funny moments and whimsical scenes. The inn and the island it sits on create a fun setting with many opportunities for laughs. If you like romance tropes, there are a number of them that pop up.
So, yes. I loved this! I don’t think everyone will, but I sure hope that romance readers give it a chance. My only issues with the novel can be explained by its genre. Sometimes the characters got pretty caught up on an issue that had an obvious fix or explanation, but that’s fairly typical for teenagers. The plot was predictable, but I didn’t mind that. Sometimes there was a good bit of repetition, but again, in high school, I’m pretty sure I constantly thought about the same thing over and over. So, none of those things took away from the book for me. Although, I will say, if YA annoys you, you should probably skip this one.
If, on the other hand, you love YA romance, rom-coms, and stories about family, please go pre-order this and give it a try! We need more diversity in the genre, and this is A+ in representation without feeling forced. I very much hope it does well and stands out, because I would have valued it so much when I was a teenager. GoodReads has an untitled book listed as “Songbird Inn #2,” so I truly hope this is a series! I would gladly pre-order the second installment (and would probably buy a copy of this on my own, while I was at it).
5 out of 5 stars!