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The Arrangement
Perfect for fans of Sandhya Menon’s When Dimple Met Rishi and Graeme Simsion’s The Rosie Project, and lovers of rom-coms across all mediums.
On the eve of his 30th birthday, Arjun Chowdhury is handsome, successful…and single. When Arjun’s mother offers to set him up with an arranged marriage, he reluctantly accepts. However, he realizes that even a “straightforward” road to the altar has its bumps.
The biggest bump of all is Nisha Nandan, a failed romance novelist whose chance meeting with Arjun leads to an undeniable connection. With the date of his wedding quickly approaching, Arjun must should he listen to his heart, or to his brain?
On the eve of his 30th birthday, Arjun Chowdhury is handsome, successful…and single. When Arjun’s mother offers to set him up with an arranged marriage, he reluctantly accepts. However, he realizes that even a “straightforward” road to the altar has its bumps.
The biggest bump of all is Nisha Nandan, a failed romance novelist whose chance meeting with Arjun leads to an undeniable connection. With the date of his wedding quickly approaching, Arjun must should he listen to his heart, or to his brain?
- GenresRomance
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2024
2 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
August 10, 2024
A unique romance written from the POV of a thirty-something Indian male looking to settle down. Loved it!
August 21, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Thank you to NetGalley, Harbor Lane Books, and Sonali Mishra for this ARC!
I really enjoyed this one! Arjun is a fun character and watching him navigate the ins and outs of finding love as a 30 year old Indian male in San Francisco was joyful. After trying to find love the “American way”, Arjun finally agrees to an arranged marriage. But, as he’s meeting with potential women/families in the process, he begins building a friendship with Nisha.
This story was sweet - and fully of beautiful lessons about love, life, and our expectations of both. I loved watching and learning more about the process of arranged marriage. It was so interesting to read a book that was only from the MMC’s perspective focused on love, marriage, and the want for parenthood. I really enjoyed it! I hope others will too!!
“But, I wondered, is that anything upon which to base the Great Love Story of my life? Then, I had a realization. All great love stories begin that way: briefly, unremarkably. All great loves are, at first, strangers.”
Thank you to NetGalley, Harbor Lane Books, and Sonali Mishra for this ARC!
I really enjoyed this one! Arjun is a fun character and watching him navigate the ins and outs of finding love as a 30 year old Indian male in San Francisco was joyful. After trying to find love the “American way”, Arjun finally agrees to an arranged marriage. But, as he’s meeting with potential women/families in the process, he begins building a friendship with Nisha.
This story was sweet - and fully of beautiful lessons about love, life, and our expectations of both. I loved watching and learning more about the process of arranged marriage. It was so interesting to read a book that was only from the MMC’s perspective focused on love, marriage, and the want for parenthood. I really enjoyed it! I hope others will too!!
“But, I wondered, is that anything upon which to base the Great Love Story of my life? Then, I had a realization. All great love stories begin that way: briefly, unremarkably. All great loves are, at first, strangers.”
August 21, 2024
2.5🌟
(I received an e-arc from netgalley and am voluntarily leaving this review)
This book. I don't know what happened. It was interesting and then after a second, it got boring.
The premise sounded really fun and as an indian i loved seeing this, considering how the idea of arranged marriage is so common here and i was enjoying it till like 19 or 20% and then i stopped caring.
The fact that we got till 25% of the book and nothing happened at all was probably what led me down. I get that we need to set up the book, know about the character, but still.
Although i did like that it was told from Male perspective and a male that actually really wanted relationships and kids and a good family.
(I received an e-arc from netgalley and am voluntarily leaving this review)
This book. I don't know what happened. It was interesting and then after a second, it got boring.
The premise sounded really fun and as an indian i loved seeing this, considering how the idea of arranged marriage is so common here and i was enjoying it till like 19 or 20% and then i stopped caring.
The fact that we got till 25% of the book and nothing happened at all was probably what led me down. I get that we need to set up the book, know about the character, but still.
Although i did like that it was told from Male perspective and a male that actually really wanted relationships and kids and a good family.
August 4, 2024
You know what’s refreshing? An author deciding to write a male lead character that yearns for a relationship, marriage, and commitment. Often in the romance genre the roles are reversed and we’re slowly introduced to a male love interest and spend our time with a female lead. In “The Arranged Marriage” we’re only with Arjun’s pov and it’s refreshing. We get into thought process and understand the pressures placed upon a man for a change. In ‘The Arrangement’, Sonali flips the narrative and we get to follow Arjun as he figures out ‘Indian matchmaking’, insistent familial pressure, and juggling what he wants for his future. For that alone, this book is a BIG WIN for me.
Thank you NetGalley and Harbor Lane Books, LLC for providing an ARC!
Thank you NetGalley and Harbor Lane Books, LLC for providing an ARC!
September 6, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
My thanks to LibraryThing and Harbor Lane Books for my e-ARC.
In South Asian culture, even men have a biological clock. And, at the ripe age of 30, Arjun is pushing it. At least, according to his mom. His ivy league education, well-paying job, and good looks make him an eligible bachelor. A very desirable one, according to parents of girls.
That Arjun is an accomplished cook with dreams of opening his own restaurant would be a boon for some. For others, not so much.
But, even though arranged marriages are common(and not as archaic as they sound), Arjun couldn’t imagine going that route to find the one. In his mind, arranged marriages were for losers who had no other option.
But when his own efforts didn’t work out, he had a change of heart. His mother was relieved and wasted no time in setting him up with a matchmaker. Of course, there were awkward and intimidating encounters with the potential matches and their families. There were mismatched expectations. But Arjun had to admit that the process was efficient. Both parties could discern quickly (often after the initial meeting) whether or not to move forward.
This was an enjoyable read, with its appealing characters and absorbing, if predictable plot. Being a foodie, I relished the depiction of the dishes. And, being South-Asian myself, I could relate.
My thanks to LibraryThing and Harbor Lane Books for my e-ARC.
In South Asian culture, even men have a biological clock. And, at the ripe age of 30, Arjun is pushing it. At least, according to his mom. His ivy league education, well-paying job, and good looks make him an eligible bachelor. A very desirable one, according to parents of girls.
That Arjun is an accomplished cook with dreams of opening his own restaurant would be a boon for some. For others, not so much.
But, even though arranged marriages are common(and not as archaic as they sound), Arjun couldn’t imagine going that route to find the one. In his mind, arranged marriages were for losers who had no other option.
But when his own efforts didn’t work out, he had a change of heart. His mother was relieved and wasted no time in setting him up with a matchmaker. Of course, there were awkward and intimidating encounters with the potential matches and their families. There were mismatched expectations. But Arjun had to admit that the process was efficient. Both parties could discern quickly (often after the initial meeting) whether or not to move forward.
This was an enjoyable read, with its appealing characters and absorbing, if predictable plot. Being a foodie, I relished the depiction of the dishes. And, being South-Asian myself, I could relate.
August 16, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Harbor Lane Books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
As an American-born Indian myself, I was really excited to read this. Right away, I was surprised the book was from Arjun’s perspective. I’ve rarely read anything with male narrators. And I was once again surprised to see Arjun’s view on love and life: he wants a natural “true love,” with whom he’d want to get married, have kids, and live a happy life. I feel like this is such a hopeless romantic perspective we primarily see with women. Despite Arjun’s efforts, he is 30 and single. His mother is pushing him towards an arranged marriage, which he hates because he thinks he should love the person he marries. But eventually, he gives up and agrees to an arranged marriage. And that’s exactly when he meets Nisha Nandan, a divorcee and failed novelist.
Throughout the book, Arjun is in a constant battle of whether to follow his heart or not. He can’t see himself building a real connection with any of his arranged marriage prospects, but he doesn’t know if his feelings for Nisha are enough to give up the stability and certainty provided by an arranged marriage. Most of the book involves this battle: what should Arjun choose? At the very end of the book, he makes his choice. Although I liked following Arjun’s journey, I wish the ending had been longer. There’s so many questions left after the epilogue that takes place 2 years later. Like, how did Arjun resolve his relationship with the side he didn’t choose? How did his family react to his decision?
I loved the characters in this book. Arjun is smart and capable, yet he always overthinks and second guesses himself. His best friends Dan and Erica are supportive, and Erica, especially, gives the best advice. Arjun’s colleagues are great, too. My favorite character is Nisha; I love her strong personality. She’s been through a lot: she thought she’d earned her happily ever after, but ended up getting divorced. She used to have so much passion for writing novels, but all the inspiration has fizzled out after the divorce. She’s in a low place herself, but as a friend to Arjun, she’s constantly supportive and pushes him towards his dreams.
I find Arjun’s personality very relatable, personally. I, too, am the type of person to overthink everything and perceive myself as being much less capable than I actually am. Arjun is a bright person; he graduated from Yale, got his MBA from Stanford, and works as an executive. At thirty years old. He is so, so impressive. Yet, he finds himself lacking. Throughout the book, I loved seeing Arjun’s ups and downs in his life as he worked toward his dreams.
I also appreciated how through Arjun, Sonali Mishra explored the difference between falling in love before and after marriage. Arranged marriages are so common in India, and although not all couples live happily, many are able to fall in love as wife and husband. In the past, parents/families were the sole decision makers, but nowadays, the future couple can meet and spend time together before deciding if they want to get married. I see it as the opposite of normal dating, where the couple would tell their families after choosing one another. Here, the families approve of each other first, and then the couple decides if they want to be together. The order is reversed, but the end result is the same.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but there were a few things I wanted to nitpick. One, the representation of Indians in the US. Arjun himself is really impressive, but all of his marriage prospects (all Indian) were the same. First, we have a rich family from Hyderabad, in Jubilee Hills of all places. Then, we have an anesthesiologist and a professor at Stanford. And all of these people graduated from the best schools. I love that for these characters, but not every Indian in the US is so accomplished. I am in university at my state school. Most of my Indian classmates went to mid/high tier schools (and we went to a good high school), but none were at Ivy Leagues, Stanford, etc. I honestly felt intimidated by the crazy backgrounds of all these people. And the second thing I wanted to mention is how cliche the plot is. Other than the fact that this book is set in the US, it doesn’t deviate much from the popular Indian romcom movies. Replace Arjun with a woman, and his love interest with a man (a much more persistent man), and you have an Indian romcom. The plot is almost identical: a main character falls in love with one person, but their family wants them to marry someone else. After lots of contemplation, they choose one over the other.
Taking these ideas into consideration, would I still recommend this book? Yes, because despite being cliche, it’s well done, and I enjoyed it.
As an American-born Indian myself, I was really excited to read this. Right away, I was surprised the book was from Arjun’s perspective. I’ve rarely read anything with male narrators. And I was once again surprised to see Arjun’s view on love and life: he wants a natural “true love,” with whom he’d want to get married, have kids, and live a happy life. I feel like this is such a hopeless romantic perspective we primarily see with women. Despite Arjun’s efforts, he is 30 and single. His mother is pushing him towards an arranged marriage, which he hates because he thinks he should love the person he marries. But eventually, he gives up and agrees to an arranged marriage. And that’s exactly when he meets Nisha Nandan, a divorcee and failed novelist.
Throughout the book, Arjun is in a constant battle of whether to follow his heart or not. He can’t see himself building a real connection with any of his arranged marriage prospects, but he doesn’t know if his feelings for Nisha are enough to give up the stability and certainty provided by an arranged marriage. Most of the book involves this battle: what should Arjun choose? At the very end of the book, he makes his choice. Although I liked following Arjun’s journey, I wish the ending had been longer. There’s so many questions left after the epilogue that takes place 2 years later. Like, how did Arjun resolve his relationship with the side he didn’t choose? How did his family react to his decision?
I loved the characters in this book. Arjun is smart and capable, yet he always overthinks and second guesses himself. His best friends Dan and Erica are supportive, and Erica, especially, gives the best advice. Arjun’s colleagues are great, too. My favorite character is Nisha; I love her strong personality. She’s been through a lot: she thought she’d earned her happily ever after, but ended up getting divorced. She used to have so much passion for writing novels, but all the inspiration has fizzled out after the divorce. She’s in a low place herself, but as a friend to Arjun, she’s constantly supportive and pushes him towards his dreams.
I find Arjun’s personality very relatable, personally. I, too, am the type of person to overthink everything and perceive myself as being much less capable than I actually am. Arjun is a bright person; he graduated from Yale, got his MBA from Stanford, and works as an executive. At thirty years old. He is so, so impressive. Yet, he finds himself lacking. Throughout the book, I loved seeing Arjun’s ups and downs in his life as he worked toward his dreams.
I also appreciated how through Arjun, Sonali Mishra explored the difference between falling in love before and after marriage. Arranged marriages are so common in India, and although not all couples live happily, many are able to fall in love as wife and husband. In the past, parents/families were the sole decision makers, but nowadays, the future couple can meet and spend time together before deciding if they want to get married. I see it as the opposite of normal dating, where the couple would tell their families after choosing one another. Here, the families approve of each other first, and then the couple decides if they want to be together. The order is reversed, but the end result is the same.
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but there were a few things I wanted to nitpick. One, the representation of Indians in the US. Arjun himself is really impressive, but all of his marriage prospects (all Indian) were the same. First, we have a rich family from Hyderabad, in Jubilee Hills of all places. Then, we have an anesthesiologist and a professor at Stanford. And all of these people graduated from the best schools. I love that for these characters, but not every Indian in the US is so accomplished. I am in university at my state school. Most of my Indian classmates went to mid/high tier schools (and we went to a good high school), but none were at Ivy Leagues, Stanford, etc. I honestly felt intimidated by the crazy backgrounds of all these people. And the second thing I wanted to mention is how cliche the plot is. Other than the fact that this book is set in the US, it doesn’t deviate much from the popular Indian romcom movies. Replace Arjun with a woman, and his love interest with a man (a much more persistent man), and you have an Indian romcom. The plot is almost identical: a main character falls in love with one person, but their family wants them to marry someone else. After lots of contemplation, they choose one over the other.
Taking these ideas into consideration, would I still recommend this book? Yes, because despite being cliche, it’s well done, and I enjoyed it.
August 23, 2024
Originally posted on The Cosy Dragon
Arjun is 30, single and feeling the pressure to get married, buy a house and have 2.5 kids. He's resisted an arranged marriage so far, but with his best friends getting hitched soon he's feeling pretty lonely. Even a spark with a green-eyed local Indian girl isn't enough to get him engaged. Arjun finally agrees for his mother to arrange a marriage - but will any of them be the one?
This book could have done with some ruthless editing. It takes FOREVER for anything to happen, and there's a fair few things that don't add anything to the plot line. I don't find Arjun's business trip to be relevant, nor is his boss' somewhat insensitive behaviour. Did I honestly care about how many choc chip scones he bought? No.
Is being beautiful a criteria when finding a new partner? Sure, if it's an arranged marriage you hope they're attractive, but it's not a given! Arjun is also described in multiple places as being handsome. What about the rest of us? Considering that the theme of the book is that an arranged marriage can still work and possibly build a more solid love story than a spontaneous spark, the ending is quite disappointing.
Was going to a divorce party at a gay bar necessary? A secondary character can be useful, but honestly the poor guy seemed like just a way for Arjun to show some character growth. Don't judge people based on what they look like...
Dude! What's with wanting to be married? Isn't a committed relationship sufficient? This isn't 20 years ago where you couldn't cohabitate and you couldn't have kids. Yes, I get that culturally it might be a bit of a problem, but it doesn't seem like Arjun has a problem with it personally (given we understand he's had sex before, and otherwise he's a hypocrite). Marriage isn't forever anymore.
So, after all those complaints, I did finish the book. I vaguely hoped that Arjun would realise that it was super rude of him either way he chose and maybe spend some more time thinking about what he wanted. He needed to use his words a bit more! ASK her, don't assume things. 3 stars from me.
Arjun is 30, single and feeling the pressure to get married, buy a house and have 2.5 kids. He's resisted an arranged marriage so far, but with his best friends getting hitched soon he's feeling pretty lonely. Even a spark with a green-eyed local Indian girl isn't enough to get him engaged. Arjun finally agrees for his mother to arrange a marriage - but will any of them be the one?
This book could have done with some ruthless editing. It takes FOREVER for anything to happen, and there's a fair few things that don't add anything to the plot line. I don't find Arjun's business trip to be relevant, nor is his boss' somewhat insensitive behaviour. Did I honestly care about how many choc chip scones he bought? No.
Is being beautiful a criteria when finding a new partner? Sure, if it's an arranged marriage you hope they're attractive, but it's not a given! Arjun is also described in multiple places as being handsome. What about the rest of us? Considering that the theme of the book is that an arranged marriage can still work and possibly build a more solid love story than a spontaneous spark, the ending is quite disappointing.
Was going to a divorce party at a gay bar necessary? A secondary character can be useful, but honestly the poor guy seemed like just a way for Arjun to show some character growth. Don't judge people based on what they look like...
Dude! What's with wanting to be married? Isn't a committed relationship sufficient? This isn't 20 years ago where you couldn't cohabitate and you couldn't have kids. Yes, I get that culturally it might be a bit of a problem, but it doesn't seem like Arjun has a problem with it personally (given we understand he's had sex before, and otherwise he's a hypocrite). Marriage isn't forever anymore.
So, after all those complaints, I did finish the book. I vaguely hoped that Arjun would realise that it was super rude of him either way he chose and maybe spend some more time thinking about what he wanted. He needed to use his words a bit more! ASK her, don't assume things. 3 stars from me.
August 13, 2024
✨ARC Review ✨
⭐⭐⭐/5
The Arrangement by Sonali Mishra is a unique rom com that is written from the POV of thirty something Indian man.
So the good parts... Loved the idea of writing a rom com from a male POV, it definitely is unique considering its a rom com. The story was okay, typical dilemma for NRIs. And the best friends were the bestest part... I loved Dan and Erica... Maybe Kevin too. The Happily ever after the story delivered was really cute. Even Nosha's character seemed really interesting.
Now for the not so good, and this might be longer than the good parts! I haven't wrote this many notes on a book ever, mainly because it was frustrating as hell. I don't think I have never felt more disconnected to a main character ever than I felt with Arjun. And I have felt like DNFing this book so many times, even thought about rating it one star and move on. Some points which irked me are
♦️the FMC haven't had much occurence than those two times up until 25% of the book.
♦️story written from third person POV, which irks me, even when I try to brush it off. But not as bad as the other faults.
♦️up to this, the book has been very doozy... no, it's not the storyline. I think it's the writing!
♦️have thought about DNFing multiple times. but I hate that, so struggling to continue.
♦️the author tried to make the protagonist too likable that, he somewhat ended up being an ideal man... not even a fictional man... and that somewhat reduced the authenticity of the story ...
And there are many more... So it was really a struggle read for me.
2.5/5 stars were my initial thoughts after much deliberation, because I hate rating books low. But the author somehow managed to make it interesting towards the end and because of that, it's a 3/5 stars for me.
And if these tropes excite you,
✍🏻 Unexpected Love
✍🏻 Enemies to Lovers
✍🏻 Second Chance at Love
✍🏻 Indian Main characters
✍🏻 Arranged marriage
✍🏻 Workplace Romance
✍🏻 Indian matchmaking
Maybe try this one
Thank you Author Sonali Mishra, NetGalley, and Harbor Lane, LLC for sending me this ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
⭐⭐⭐/5
The Arrangement by Sonali Mishra is a unique rom com that is written from the POV of thirty something Indian man.
So the good parts... Loved the idea of writing a rom com from a male POV, it definitely is unique considering its a rom com. The story was okay, typical dilemma for NRIs. And the best friends were the bestest part... I loved Dan and Erica... Maybe Kevin too. The Happily ever after the story delivered was really cute. Even Nosha's character seemed really interesting.
Now for the not so good, and this might be longer than the good parts! I haven't wrote this many notes on a book ever, mainly because it was frustrating as hell. I don't think I have never felt more disconnected to a main character ever than I felt with Arjun. And I have felt like DNFing this book so many times, even thought about rating it one star and move on. Some points which irked me are
♦️the FMC haven't had much occurence than those two times up until 25% of the book.
♦️story written from third person POV, which irks me, even when I try to brush it off. But not as bad as the other faults.
♦️up to this, the book has been very doozy... no, it's not the storyline. I think it's the writing!
♦️have thought about DNFing multiple times. but I hate that, so struggling to continue.
♦️the author tried to make the protagonist too likable that, he somewhat ended up being an ideal man... not even a fictional man... and that somewhat reduced the authenticity of the story ...
And there are many more... So it was really a struggle read for me.
2.5/5 stars were my initial thoughts after much deliberation, because I hate rating books low. But the author somehow managed to make it interesting towards the end and because of that, it's a 3/5 stars for me.
And if these tropes excite you,
✍🏻 Unexpected Love
✍🏻 Enemies to Lovers
✍🏻 Second Chance at Love
✍🏻 Indian Main characters
✍🏻 Arranged marriage
✍🏻 Workplace Romance
✍🏻 Indian matchmaking
Maybe try this one
Thank you Author Sonali Mishra, NetGalley, and Harbor Lane, LLC for sending me this ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 7, 2024
"a biodata is like a resume"
.
Are your tired of reading the female perspective of trying to find love and settle down. Well this author brings you an Indian MMC in his 30s for whom American dating has failed and the only perfect option is to settle for an arrange marriage. Because why not, so many arranged marriages have proven to be successful.
.
Review:
The book started with Arjun being stood up by his blind date and the night ending with a surprise birthday party at his house. The same night his mother arrived and started to pressurize him to get married, using the typical Indian dialogue:
"oh, when you have children, I promise I'll move into your apartment and raise them for you".
Arjun somehow knew that she was right about him finally settling down. So he finally gave in to see girls for an arrangement marriage through Dhanya aunty's list of biodata's. Due to some changes at his work, he was temporarily shifted to another spot with a girl named Nisha, a failed novelist (she worked for another company). They had an enemy to friends situation which was super cute. Arjun started to like her but Nisha had made it clear that she is divorced and not looking forward to marry again in life. Arjun continue to find his match through the biodata's and finally found Sophia who is quite his type. Will Sophia be the one to end Arjun's search party?
I will recommend this book for the rest of my life. It was super cute and refreshing. I can't remember the last time that I read a book like from begin to end from a male POV.
Thank you so much netgalley and Harbor Lane Booms, LCC for this amazing e-Arc.
.
Are your tired of reading the female perspective of trying to find love and settle down. Well this author brings you an Indian MMC in his 30s for whom American dating has failed and the only perfect option is to settle for an arrange marriage. Because why not, so many arranged marriages have proven to be successful.
.
Review:
The book started with Arjun being stood up by his blind date and the night ending with a surprise birthday party at his house. The same night his mother arrived and started to pressurize him to get married, using the typical Indian dialogue:
"oh, when you have children, I promise I'll move into your apartment and raise them for you".
Arjun somehow knew that she was right about him finally settling down. So he finally gave in to see girls for an arrangement marriage through Dhanya aunty's list of biodata's. Due to some changes at his work, he was temporarily shifted to another spot with a girl named Nisha, a failed novelist (she worked for another company). They had an enemy to friends situation which was super cute. Arjun started to like her but Nisha had made it clear that she is divorced and not looking forward to marry again in life. Arjun continue to find his match through the biodata's and finally found Sophia who is quite his type. Will Sophia be the one to end Arjun's search party?
I will recommend this book for the rest of my life. It was super cute and refreshing. I can't remember the last time that I read a book like from begin to end from a male POV.
Thank you so much netgalley and Harbor Lane Booms, LCC for this amazing e-Arc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2025
This was my first time reading by this author. It's a witty, heartfelt ride through the chaos of love, tradition, and modern dating.
Arjun Chowdhury seems to have it all — looks, career, and the enviable calm of a man who’s figured life out. But as his 30th birthday looms, so does a sense of emptiness. According to his mother there really is only one logical solution: an arranged marriage. What could possibly go wrong?
This novel is a delightful exploration of what happens when the road well-planned collides with the chaos of real feelings. Arjun’s reluctant agreement to an arranged marriage sets up a fascinating tension — one that gets amplified when he meets Nisha Nandan, a witty and vulnerable failed romance writer who challenges everything he thought he wanted.
The chemistry between Arjun and Nisha is both charming and emotionally resonant. Nisha, in particular, is a standout — complex, sarcastic, and achingly relatable. Their banter sparkles, but it’s the emotional undercurrents that truly anchor the story.
The strength of this book lies in its heartfelt writing and its honest portrayal of navigating love in the tug-of-war between tradition and self-discovery. This book is a warm, funny, and sometimes bittersweet reminder that the heart doesn’t always follow the path laid out for it — and that’s okay.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Arjun Chowdhury seems to have it all — looks, career, and the enviable calm of a man who’s figured life out. But as his 30th birthday looms, so does a sense of emptiness. According to his mother there really is only one logical solution: an arranged marriage. What could possibly go wrong?
This novel is a delightful exploration of what happens when the road well-planned collides with the chaos of real feelings. Arjun’s reluctant agreement to an arranged marriage sets up a fascinating tension — one that gets amplified when he meets Nisha Nandan, a witty and vulnerable failed romance writer who challenges everything he thought he wanted.
The chemistry between Arjun and Nisha is both charming and emotionally resonant. Nisha, in particular, is a standout — complex, sarcastic, and achingly relatable. Their banter sparkles, but it’s the emotional undercurrents that truly anchor the story.
The strength of this book lies in its heartfelt writing and its honest portrayal of navigating love in the tug-of-war between tradition and self-discovery. This book is a warm, funny, and sometimes bittersweet reminder that the heart doesn’t always follow the path laid out for it — and that’s okay.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
August 12, 2024
"Which idea is more beautiful: that one is destined to find enduring love with only one person? Or that he can build a lasting love with anyone?"
Firstly, thank you to Netgalley and the author, Sonali Mishra for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I actually really liked this book! It was a third person POV from the male perspective only! I loved Arjun, and I loved getting to know him during the course of this book, learning about his character and his journey through finding love.
This book was a fast-paced, desi focused read, navigating the challenges of an ABCD (American Born Confused Desi) and love. I found it relatable - as an overseas born confused desi myself, who wants to experience one thing but my family history and culture believe in another! This author really knows how to write, as although it may be clear who Arjun ends up with from the start, it is a long emotional process for him to do so, and I loved each and every page of it.
Personally, for me I found the book predictable and somewhat unoriginal (the plot was kinda giving a low budget Bollywood movie at times I can't lie), which lowered my rating! Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this read and I think the way it was written was just so beautiful.
Tropes:
- Unexpected Love
- Second chance
- Indian Representation
- Workplace Romance
- Arranged Marriage
- Dislike to love
Firstly, thank you to Netgalley and the author, Sonali Mishra for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I actually really liked this book! It was a third person POV from the male perspective only! I loved Arjun, and I loved getting to know him during the course of this book, learning about his character and his journey through finding love.
This book was a fast-paced, desi focused read, navigating the challenges of an ABCD (American Born Confused Desi) and love. I found it relatable - as an overseas born confused desi myself, who wants to experience one thing but my family history and culture believe in another! This author really knows how to write, as although it may be clear who Arjun ends up with from the start, it is a long emotional process for him to do so, and I loved each and every page of it.
Personally, for me I found the book predictable and somewhat unoriginal (the plot was kinda giving a low budget Bollywood movie at times I can't lie), which lowered my rating! Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this read and I think the way it was written was just so beautiful.
Tropes:
- Unexpected Love
- Second chance
- Indian Representation
- Workplace Romance
- Arranged Marriage
- Dislike to love
September 15, 2024
✨I received this as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review ✨
I really wanted to like this book. I really did. I tried so hard to get through this, and it clearly took me forever, but I was just so bored the entire time. I feel really bad, but I did end up DNFing this book at about 50%. I just couldn’t seem to gain an interest in the characters. I would have liked it a lot more if it had been dual POV instead of everything through Arjun’s eyes.
I think one of the main things that was hardest for me specifically was how for the first 100 pages or so there wasn’t a clear love interest. I am more used to being introduced right away and the conflict developing from there. I didn’t really expect to be kept kind of in the dark for an incredibly long stretch of time.
The book itself did do a really good job of explaining and handling the intricacies of modern arranged marriages. I didn’t realize how much really went into it, and honestly it could all be made up, but the author did a really thorough job of explaining everything in a perfectly palatable way.
This book could really work in a lot of ways, it just simply wasn’t for me. And that’s fine! I fully understand not everything is for me. It just wasn’t my personal cup of tea, but I know that others may absolutely enjoy it.
I really wanted to like this book. I really did. I tried so hard to get through this, and it clearly took me forever, but I was just so bored the entire time. I feel really bad, but I did end up DNFing this book at about 50%. I just couldn’t seem to gain an interest in the characters. I would have liked it a lot more if it had been dual POV instead of everything through Arjun’s eyes.
I think one of the main things that was hardest for me specifically was how for the first 100 pages or so there wasn’t a clear love interest. I am more used to being introduced right away and the conflict developing from there. I didn’t really expect to be kept kind of in the dark for an incredibly long stretch of time.
The book itself did do a really good job of explaining and handling the intricacies of modern arranged marriages. I didn’t realize how much really went into it, and honestly it could all be made up, but the author did a really thorough job of explaining everything in a perfectly palatable way.
This book could really work in a lot of ways, it just simply wasn’t for me. And that’s fine! I fully understand not everything is for me. It just wasn’t my personal cup of tea, but I know that others may absolutely enjoy it.
August 12, 2024
At the beginning, I liked this book. It was a cute contemporary romance that was an easy read. Arjun was adorable even when he was being incredibly frustrating.
Towards the end though, it got very rom-com cliche. The girl that Arjun hits it off with in his arranged marriage set up starts out nice and cool but then becomes the controlling overbearing girlfriend immediately. Making him promise to not hang out with Nisha anymore, even going to the point of making him promise he wouldn't pursue his dream of opening a restaurant because it wouldn't be successful. The exact opposite of Nisha.
Overall, the biggest gripe for me was the pacing and timing. The beginning was so slow and then when Nisha and Arjun started hitting it off, they became best friends immediately with seemingly no time in-between. The timing was weird , with everything big that happened seeming to take place in a 2–3-month period. And how did Arjun get a cookbook together and published in a month or less when normally it takes years to get one together? Everything felt incredibly rushed.
If you are a fan of rom-coms, this is 100% for you. While I enjoy rom-coms, this was a bit too cliche and cookie-cutter for me.
Towards the end though, it got very rom-com cliche. The girl that Arjun hits it off with in his arranged marriage set up starts out nice and cool but then becomes the controlling overbearing girlfriend immediately. Making him promise to not hang out with Nisha anymore, even going to the point of making him promise he wouldn't pursue his dream of opening a restaurant because it wouldn't be successful. The exact opposite of Nisha.
Overall, the biggest gripe for me was the pacing and timing. The beginning was so slow and then when Nisha and Arjun started hitting it off, they became best friends immediately with seemingly no time in-between. The timing was weird , with everything big that happened seeming to take place in a 2–3-month period. And how did Arjun get a cookbook together and published in a month or less when normally it takes years to get one together? Everything felt incredibly rushed.
If you are a fan of rom-coms, this is 100% for you. While I enjoy rom-coms, this was a bit too cliche and cookie-cutter for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2024
I thought The Arrangement was a cute story. I thought it was interesting that we get a point of view from the man’s perspective in arranging a marriage.
Arjun is pretty relatable. For the most part he has his life together but feels like something is missing. He’s thirty and most of his friends are settling down, getting married and having kids. Arjun has a great job and a nice place to live but still feels adrift so he decides to get an arranged marriage to help him feel anchored.
I know in some cultures arranged marriages are the norm so I really enjoyed the exposure to something I know little about. And I’m sure not every matchmaker/family works the same way but I liked that Arjun and prospective wives still had a say whether to continue, it wasn’t only up to the parents to set up the match. I also liked Arjun having mixed feelings about his choice to pursue this avenue for marriage, it really made him feel more human and even a few of the prospects he spent more time with also shared similar feelings.
Overall I enjoyed The Arrangement and would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for an egalley to read and review.
Arjun is pretty relatable. For the most part he has his life together but feels like something is missing. He’s thirty and most of his friends are settling down, getting married and having kids. Arjun has a great job and a nice place to live but still feels adrift so he decides to get an arranged marriage to help him feel anchored.
I know in some cultures arranged marriages are the norm so I really enjoyed the exposure to something I know little about. And I’m sure not every matchmaker/family works the same way but I liked that Arjun and prospective wives still had a say whether to continue, it wasn’t only up to the parents to set up the match. I also liked Arjun having mixed feelings about his choice to pursue this avenue for marriage, it really made him feel more human and even a few of the prospects he spent more time with also shared similar feelings.
Overall I enjoyed The Arrangement and would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for an egalley to read and review.
August 24, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
• Thank you to NetGalley, author Sonali Mishra, and BookBuzz for a chance to read an e-arc of this book •
Firstly, I need to point out that the synopsis of the book is completely misleading.
It implies this is the love story of Arjun and Nisha. However, this was really like 20% of the entire plot. The actual storyline is following Arjun on his path to find a wife because he really wants to be married and start a family.
So when I put the written synopsis out of my mind and just followed Arjun's journey as he navigated his adult life, I was able to follow and enjoy the story more.
If the synopsis were to remain unchanged, I think the story needs a lot of editing down, and maybe adding more relationship building between the main characters.
With that being said, I feel really neutral about this book; I did not love it, but I did not hate it either. It was just a book that I read.
Give it a try if you're interested in an Indian MMC who wants a relationship, marriage and kids, but do keep in mind that the book focuses solely on Arjun's story and his journey to find a wife.
• Thank you to NetGalley, author Sonali Mishra, and BookBuzz for a chance to read an e-arc of this book •
Firstly, I need to point out that the synopsis of the book is completely misleading.
It implies this is the love story of Arjun and Nisha. However, this was really like 20% of the entire plot. The actual storyline is following Arjun on his path to find a wife because he really wants to be married and start a family.
So when I put the written synopsis out of my mind and just followed Arjun's journey as he navigated his adult life, I was able to follow and enjoy the story more.
If the synopsis were to remain unchanged, I think the story needs a lot of editing down, and maybe adding more relationship building between the main characters.
With that being said, I feel really neutral about this book; I did not love it, but I did not hate it either. It was just a book that I read.
Give it a try if you're interested in an Indian MMC who wants a relationship, marriage and kids, but do keep in mind that the book focuses solely on Arjun's story and his journey to find a wife.
August 16, 2024
Having grown up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I always get excited to read books based here. The mentions of SF landmarks made me smile, and the author’s knowledge of the diverse culture and surroundings was refreshing to read.
The story felt a bit choppy and discombobulated in the beginning, with the start of a chapter jumping to a whole new topic, leaving you wondering what happened where the previous chapter left off. I’m not sure if this was done intentionally, or things got removed during editing.
That being said, the storyline was an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, forced proximity, with a side of prospective arranged marriage meetings sprinkled in. What started as a heated confrontation between strangers over scones became a slow burn friendship to romance. The MMC is ready to settle down, and he believes an arranged marriage is the best course of action. What he doesn’t realize is, his perfect match has been within arm’s reach the entire time.
Many thanks to NetGalley and BookBuzz.net for giving me an ARC of this book.
The story felt a bit choppy and discombobulated in the beginning, with the start of a chapter jumping to a whole new topic, leaving you wondering what happened where the previous chapter left off. I’m not sure if this was done intentionally, or things got removed during editing.
That being said, the storyline was an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, forced proximity, with a side of prospective arranged marriage meetings sprinkled in. What started as a heated confrontation between strangers over scones became a slow burn friendship to romance. The MMC is ready to settle down, and he believes an arranged marriage is the best course of action. What he doesn’t realize is, his perfect match has been within arm’s reach the entire time.
Many thanks to NetGalley and BookBuzz.net for giving me an ARC of this book.
August 5, 2024
disclaimer: I received this ebook as an early reader copy from Librarything in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.
I give this book 3.8/4 stars out of five.
This book was a cute fluffy read.
Things I liked:
- male perspective
-different culture
-30s age range
-cool location
Things I didn't care for
-The miscommunication and withholding of feelings
- His hesitancy to be honest with his friends or mother
- the trope that had him meet nisha
-Sophia: I felt she was really controlling and it didn't sit right that he just went along with things.
Overall I liked this book. At one point I saw the poaching that was going to happen before it happened and I was surprised this character didn't see it for what it was. It was fairly obvious to me but that could be because I work in the food industry and have seen it before.
I would love a companion to this book of Ravi's Kitchen, the dishes sound amazing
I give this book 3.8/4 stars out of five.
This book was a cute fluffy read.
Things I liked:
- male perspective
-different culture
-30s age range
-cool location
Things I didn't care for
-The miscommunication and withholding of feelings
- His hesitancy to be honest with his friends or mother
- the trope that had him meet nisha
-Sophia: I felt she was really controlling and it didn't sit right that he just went along with things.
Overall I liked this book. At one point I saw the poaching that was going to happen before it happened and I was surprised this character didn't see it for what it was. It was fairly obvious to me but that could be because I work in the food industry and have seen it before.
I would love a companion to this book of Ravi's Kitchen, the dishes sound amazing
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2024
Thirty year old Arjun Chowdhury has a great job in San Francisco, a nice house, wonderful friends, just one thing is missing, a life partner. He always thought he and his future wife would have a great love story, but after having his heart broken, he's realized that it's not realistic. He decides to give in to his pestering mother and try the old-fashioned arranged marriage route. After several meetings with different women, he finally feels he's met his perfect future wife. The only bump in the road is his new office mate and nemesis turned friend, Nisha Nandan.
This was a cute story, although Arjun's character did annoy me at times. It was refreshing to see a love story from the male protagonist's perspective. I loved the additional characters in the book as well, and the ending was really sweet.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harbor Lane Books LLC for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was a cute story, although Arjun's character did annoy me at times. It was refreshing to see a love story from the male protagonist's perspective. I loved the additional characters in the book as well, and the ending was really sweet.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harbor Lane Books LLC for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 30, 2025
While it was mostly a quick and easy romance read, I just really couldn't get into it. I didn't really feel anything for the characters and I thought that it was a bit rushed but also too slow at the same time. I would have appreciated more conflict between the two main characters, not just immediately giving in and suddenly being friendly. I didn't really feel the chemistry between the two and I felt that he really had the same level of chemistry with every woman in the book, his friend Erica included. It really didn't feel like he was in love with anyone and I just didn't get a good heartfelt vibe from it like I wanted to. Nothing really happened throughout the book and for that, I just wouldn't really recommend it. It was written well and had a nice flow so that's my main reason for giving it three stars instead of two, but I just didn't enjoy myself like I would have liked to.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harbor Lane Books for this eARC.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harbor Lane Books for this eARC.
August 13, 2024
Arjun isn’t having any luck finding love. Reluctantly he decides to allow his mother to set up an arranged marriage for him. Then he meets Nisha. He is attracted to her but she told him that she never wants to get married again. Their friendship grows and he falls for her. But because of a bad past relationship, he doesn’t think that this is what he needs. He is convinced that what he needs is the arranged marriage. Even after Nisha confesses that she loves him, he still feels like things aren’t right.
This book was good. I enjoyed it a lot. It was told from Arjun’s perspective which I wasn’t sure I would like but ended up enjoying a lot.
The only thing I didn’t like was the ending. It was kinda abrupt in my opinion. The epilogue helped.
This book was good. I enjoyed it a lot. It was told from Arjun’s perspective which I wasn’t sure I would like but ended up enjoying a lot.
The only thing I didn’t like was the ending. It was kinda abrupt in my opinion. The epilogue helped.
October 22, 2024
The Arrangement by Sonali Mishra is hinged on the unique and refreshing perspective of a 30-year-old South Asian male character (Arjun) in San Francisco who really desires a relationship, marriage, and commitment. We follow Arjun as he goes through the matchmaking process, navigates family pressures, and grapples with feeling like he's getting left behind as his friends get married and have kids. As he goes through this process, he happens to meet our FMC Nisha and they strike up a friendship. This was a beautiful, heartwarming romantic story filled with lessons about life and love. I highly recommend this book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Harbor Lane Books, and Sonali Mishra for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harbor Lane Books, and Sonali Mishra for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 15, 2024
I was hooked from the onset!
I didn't think I was going to like this as it's not my usual genre but surprisingly I felt myself enjoying this immensely. It's an easy going, pleasant, light read.
It is your average arranged Indian marriage situation...boy gets pestered by family to marry and boy doesn't want arranged marriage,
However! This story is unique in the sense the boy eventually does want an arranged marriage and all the commotion around it. I found it to be a sweet story about life and love and it was fresh to have a male lead in a love and marriage story.
Doesn't hurt that it is very well written too.
I didn't think I was going to like this as it's not my usual genre but surprisingly I felt myself enjoying this immensely. It's an easy going, pleasant, light read.
It is your average arranged Indian marriage situation...boy gets pestered by family to marry and boy doesn't want arranged marriage,
However! This story is unique in the sense the boy eventually does want an arranged marriage and all the commotion around it. I found it to be a sweet story about life and love and it was fresh to have a male lead in a love and marriage story.
Doesn't hurt that it is very well written too.
August 12, 2024
I didn’t enjoy the book like I thought I would, because I do actually love desi novels, but this felt more like a netflix bollywood film (mostly because of how they try to cut costs and try to add everything to the mix).
It was in the POV of Arjun, our MMC, who is trying to navigate adulthood and all the responsibilities that come along with it, alongside dealing with the pressures of settling down with a partner.
This read like a wattpad book trying to take itself too seriously. I didn’t particularly enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
It was in the POV of Arjun, our MMC, who is trying to navigate adulthood and all the responsibilities that come along with it, alongside dealing with the pressures of settling down with a partner.
This read like a wattpad book trying to take itself too seriously. I didn’t particularly enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
August 13, 2024
The choice of an author to create a male protagonist who longs for a relationship, marriage, and commitment. In romance novels, the roles are frequently reversed, with the female lead taking up our time while a male love interest is slowly revealed. However, I had hoped it would have lasted longer to give their relationship more complexity and angst. It was incredibly enjoyable and beautifully written. I actually really liked this book!
Thank you so much to Sonali Mishra & Harbor Lane Books, LLC for the eARC.
Thank you so much to Sonali Mishra & Harbor Lane Books, LLC for the eARC.
August 14, 2024
I don't know what it is, but this book and I just didn't like. I gave it a few days and I still don't know what it is about that just didn't click for me and I didn't love it. Like I thought the story was cute and I understood the reasoning why it took them so long to be together or why both characters were scared of crossing the friendship and being together. I was just not obsessed with them or this book. I thought the pacing was slow.
I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 9, 2024
I received a complimentary copy of The Arrangement through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program; my review is voluntary.
I really enjoyed this book! There are just enough tropes for comfort, and the rest of the story is unique. The cultural aspect is very interesting and the exploration of arranged marriage as a practice is fresh for the romcom genre. It’s also a nice touch seeing it all from the male MC perspective.
My only criticism is that the dialogue can get unnatural in moments. Overall, though, this was a lovely read.
I really enjoyed this book! There are just enough tropes for comfort, and the rest of the story is unique. The cultural aspect is very interesting and the exploration of arranged marriage as a practice is fresh for the romcom genre. It’s also a nice touch seeing it all from the male MC perspective.
My only criticism is that the dialogue can get unnatural in moments. Overall, though, this was a lovely read.
October 2, 2024
*2.5
This was just a very slow moving book. It took forever for them to be friends and then he didn't even get a match for the arranged marriage until like 70% in. This would be better if it was dual pov and we got to know more about Nisha. It was also weird that we didn't get a scene of him breaking off the engagement, we just jumped straight to a love confession. Not that important but it was unrealistic that he just out of nowhere made a cookbook in about a week and then somehow made four more over two years.
I received an arc through netgalley.
This was just a very slow moving book. It took forever for them to be friends and then he didn't even get a match for the arranged marriage until like 70% in. This would be better if it was dual pov and we got to know more about Nisha. It was also weird that we didn't get a scene of him breaking off the engagement, we just jumped straight to a love confession. Not that important but it was unrealistic that he just out of nowhere made a cookbook in about a week and then somehow made four more over two years.
I received an arc through netgalley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2025
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.
Arjun Chowdhury is on the cusp of turning 30 and he cannot figure out why he is still alone. One yet, another failed date, he is finally going to do it. He agrees to enter into an arranged marriage. His mother has been pushing for this for years. Arjun cannot take the single life much longer.
Arjun meets Nisha Nandan, a romance author that is is forced to share office space with for a short time. As they spend more time together, Arjun starts to wonder if the arranged marriage is the best thing for him.
Arjun Chowdhury is on the cusp of turning 30 and he cannot figure out why he is still alone. One yet, another failed date, he is finally going to do it. He agrees to enter into an arranged marriage. His mother has been pushing for this for years. Arjun cannot take the single life much longer.
Arjun meets Nisha Nandan, a romance author that is is forced to share office space with for a short time. As they spend more time together, Arjun starts to wonder if the arranged marriage is the best thing for him.
August 7, 2025
Sadly, incredibly slow and immensely anti-climactic at every point... Nothing happens for much of the book, and while that might not have been a problem plot-wise, the POV just felt lacking. Arjun, for lack of a better word, was boring. 'Perfect' on paper, but coming across incredibly young and immature and not knowing his own mind... If this had been a YA or NA book, it could've worked, but he's supposed to be a grown man of thirty.
Went into this looking forward to the desi angle and the forbidden love that will win at the end of the day - and this book just wasn't this, unfortunately.
Went into this looking forward to the desi angle and the forbidden love that will win at the end of the day - and this book just wasn't this, unfortunately.
October 1, 2025
The Arrangement by Sonali Mishra is a sweet, fun romance. I loved the quirky characters, the food, and the culture. I love the city of San Francisco and I just loved how much it was mentioned throughout the book. The romance and ending were great-- reading of this genre should really enjoy this book. I think the book is fun, maybe a little predictable. I really enjoyed the characters and the circumstances they found themselves in. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
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