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Sanskari Sweetheart
Raina needs to win the National Bollywood Dance Circuit Scholarship. That will show her mother that dance can be a financially stable career and prove to her boyfriend and co-captain, Aditya, that they’re still the perfect couple, even if all they seem to do these days is fight. There’s only one problem—Aditya breaks up with her, their Nationals choreography crumbles on stage, and Raina, as well as her hopes of winning the scholarship, is taken right down with it.
All Raina wants is a do-over, so when she wakes up the next morning to a miracle—another chance at Nationals with Aditya by her side—she couldn’t be happier. But as the events of the day start repeating, Raina realizes she’s stuck in a time loop, cursed to humiliate herself at Nationals and then get dumped—over and over again.
Raina is certain that if she follows all the right steps, she can break out of the time loop, win Nationals, and earn back the heart of her one true love in the process. But what if perfection isn’t enough?
All Raina wants is a do-over, so when she wakes up the next morning to a miracle—another chance at Nationals with Aditya by her side—she couldn’t be happier. But as the events of the day start repeating, Raina realizes she’s stuck in a time loop, cursed to humiliate herself at Nationals and then get dumped—over and over again.
Raina is certain that if she follows all the right steps, she can break out of the time loop, win Nationals, and earn back the heart of her one true love in the process. But what if perfection isn’t enough?
272 pages, Hardcover
Published May 20, 2025
11 people are currently reading
3756 people want to read
About the author
Ananya Devarajan
4 books259 followersAnanya Devarajan is the author of KISMAT CONNECTION and SANSKARI SWEETHEART. She is a recent graduate of the University of California, Irvine, where she majored in Neurobiology and Behavioral Sciences, and currently resides as a third-year medical student at the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine. Like many of her characters, Ananya is a second-generation Indian American young adult.
Now, Ananya writes young adult romance novels featuring chaotic Desi teenagers, swoon-worthy banter, and lighthearted drama with a speculative twist. In her free time, she can be found watching her favorite Bollywood movies or studying for yet another board exam.
You can reach her on Twitter and Instagram at @ananyad12, and on TikTok at @ananyadevarajan. She is represented by Ann Leslie Tuttle at Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret LLC.
Now, Ananya writes young adult romance novels featuring chaotic Desi teenagers, swoon-worthy banter, and lighthearted drama with a speculative twist. In her free time, she can be found watching her favorite Bollywood movies or studying for yet another board exam.
You can reach her on Twitter and Instagram at @ananyad12, and on TikTok at @ananyadevarajan. She is represented by Ann Leslie Tuttle at Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret LLC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
May 23, 2025
3.5 Stars
One Liner: Depends on your expectations
Raina wants to win the National Bollywood Dance Circuit Scholarship to prove that dance is a stable career choice. She also wants to show that she and her boyfriend, Aditya, are still the perfect couple despite the current differences between them. However, Aditya breaks up with her, and the choreography for the event is a mess.
Raina’s hopes for a do-over put her in a time loop where she repeats the same day again and again. Raina has to figure out what went wrong and fix it to fix the issues in her real life. But perfection may not be the only thing required!
The story comes in Raina’s third-person POV.
My Thoughts:
Before I start the review, I have to confess to laughing at the title. I like alliterations, but this one is so cheesy! Anyhoo!
Though the book is presented as a standalone, it is the story of Raina, Madhuri’s younger sister, from Kismat Connection, the author’s debut novel. Reading book one might help familiarize oneself with her character arc and the family dynamics.
In Kismat Connection, Raina and Aditya are the perfect couple (though they are teenagers). Raina was one of my favorite characters (I liked her more than Madhuri). Here, we see the actual Raina, whose zeal for perfection comes with a ton of insecurities and relationship disasters.
We get straight to the conflict. The time loop starts early, which means there are eight of them before real life resumes. Luckily, the pacing is quite good. However, this is an advantage and a disadvantage.
You will like the book more if your focus is on the time loop or Groundhog Day trope, where Raina tries to figure out how to fix the situation. However, you are likely to be disappointed if you want more elements about Indian American communities, families, or even the trending Bollywood dancing trope. That’s because the book is laser-focused on Raina’s character growth, and the other elements take a back seat. They are used only when necessary and discarded afterward.
Raina’s arc is actually good. She learns a lot thanks to the time loop and understands how and where she went wrong. Aditya shows promise, but since he has been made the perfect boyfriend, there isn’t a chance for much growth. He is easy to like, so no complaints.
I can also see an improvement in the writing style. This book is less clunky and has a smoother flow. Raina is flawed but not a red flag; something that didn’t work as it was supposed to in Kismat Connection.
Now, my issue is with the rest of the details. Though it’s a dance competition, we don’t see a lot of it except for some formations and a couple of moves. Given how dance is integral to Raina’s life, using it as more than a foundation would have helped. Then, there’s that competitor who never got exposed for what she did. It doesn’t seem right that she gets away. Then, the roles of Raina’s mother and sister are severely limited when their presence could have enhanced the plot and added another layer to it. We still don’t know what’s troubling Madhuri.
Though we get some typical competition between aunties and the ‘sanskari’ standards Raina has to deal with, they don’t add much to the plot. It feels superficial and stereotypical.
While there are a few desi emotions and moments, the book doesn’t, as such, stand out among many others that ride the same wave. It’s just another Western book with Indian characters using a few known tropes. It could have been with any characters from a slightly conservative background, and would have read the same.
To summarize, Sanskari Sweetheart is a decent sophomore novel dealing with YA romance. It has improved upon certain elements from the previous book, but it has a few issues of its own. Of course, I’d read more by the author. She shows promise and is a work in progress, just as she should be at this stage of her writing career.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #SanskariSweetheart
***
PS: While the cover is cute, I don’t think it is accurate. Raina has long black curly hair (to her waist), and Aditya has thick black waves framing his face.
One Liner: Depends on your expectations
Raina wants to win the National Bollywood Dance Circuit Scholarship to prove that dance is a stable career choice. She also wants to show that she and her boyfriend, Aditya, are still the perfect couple despite the current differences between them. However, Aditya breaks up with her, and the choreography for the event is a mess.
Raina’s hopes for a do-over put her in a time loop where she repeats the same day again and again. Raina has to figure out what went wrong and fix it to fix the issues in her real life. But perfection may not be the only thing required!
The story comes in Raina’s third-person POV.
My Thoughts:
Before I start the review, I have to confess to laughing at the title. I like alliterations, but this one is so cheesy! Anyhoo!
Though the book is presented as a standalone, it is the story of Raina, Madhuri’s younger sister, from Kismat Connection, the author’s debut novel. Reading book one might help familiarize oneself with her character arc and the family dynamics.
In Kismat Connection, Raina and Aditya are the perfect couple (though they are teenagers). Raina was one of my favorite characters (I liked her more than Madhuri). Here, we see the actual Raina, whose zeal for perfection comes with a ton of insecurities and relationship disasters.
We get straight to the conflict. The time loop starts early, which means there are eight of them before real life resumes. Luckily, the pacing is quite good. However, this is an advantage and a disadvantage.
You will like the book more if your focus is on the time loop or Groundhog Day trope, where Raina tries to figure out how to fix the situation. However, you are likely to be disappointed if you want more elements about Indian American communities, families, or even the trending Bollywood dancing trope. That’s because the book is laser-focused on Raina’s character growth, and the other elements take a back seat. They are used only when necessary and discarded afterward.
Raina’s arc is actually good. She learns a lot thanks to the time loop and understands how and where she went wrong. Aditya shows promise, but since he has been made the perfect boyfriend, there isn’t a chance for much growth. He is easy to like, so no complaints.
I can also see an improvement in the writing style. This book is less clunky and has a smoother flow. Raina is flawed but not a red flag; something that didn’t work as it was supposed to in Kismat Connection.
Now, my issue is with the rest of the details. Though it’s a dance competition, we don’t see a lot of it except for some formations and a couple of moves. Given how dance is integral to Raina’s life, using it as more than a foundation would have helped. Then, there’s that competitor who never got exposed for what she did. It doesn’t seem right that she gets away. Then, the roles of Raina’s mother and sister are severely limited when their presence could have enhanced the plot and added another layer to it. We still don’t know what’s troubling Madhuri.
Though we get some typical competition between aunties and the ‘sanskari’ standards Raina has to deal with, they don’t add much to the plot. It feels superficial and stereotypical.
While there are a few desi emotions and moments, the book doesn’t, as such, stand out among many others that ride the same wave. It’s just another Western book with Indian characters using a few known tropes. It could have been with any characters from a slightly conservative background, and would have read the same.
To summarize, Sanskari Sweetheart is a decent sophomore novel dealing with YA romance. It has improved upon certain elements from the previous book, but it has a few issues of its own. Of course, I’d read more by the author. She shows promise and is a work in progress, just as she should be at this stage of her writing career.
Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #SanskariSweetheart
***
PS: While the cover is cute, I don’t think it is accurate. Raina has long black curly hair (to her waist), and Aditya has thick black waves framing his face.
April 1, 2025
SANSKARI SWEETHEART is a novel I am so incredibly proud of. I couldn't be more excited to share this Indian American genre-bending time loop romance with you all in May :)
Want to read
January 16, 2025i’ll read anything by her istg
March 16, 2025
⋆˙⟡ — incoherent review:
miss ananya thank you for this beauty of a book!! i flew through this yesterday in less than four hours. we met raina as the younger sister in kismat connection, and i always wondered if we would get her story, and lo and behold, two years later-here it is ^^ i adored the way the time loops were set, and how the universe was giving raina a reality check and a wake up call. also, this is one of the few books i have read where the couple are a couple?! especially in YA?? it was so nice to look at how a relationship is after the whole falling in love ordeal, and how much effort and vulnerability it takes to keep that relationship alive. this book was equally parts romantic-comedy and a story of growing up and learning to accept change.
⋆˙⟡ — pre-read thoughts:
MS. ANANYA WROTE ANOTHER BOOK?! AND THE COVER IS YELLOW?!!! I HAVE BEEN SOLD 🫡😌💛✨
miss ananya thank you for this beauty of a book!! i flew through this yesterday in less than four hours. we met raina as the younger sister in kismat connection, and i always wondered if we would get her story, and lo and behold, two years later-here it is ^^ i adored the way the time loops were set, and how the universe was giving raina a reality check and a wake up call. also, this is one of the few books i have read where the couple are a couple?! especially in YA?? it was so nice to look at how a relationship is after the whole falling in love ordeal, and how much effort and vulnerability it takes to keep that relationship alive. this book was equally parts romantic-comedy and a story of growing up and learning to accept change.
⋆˙⟡ — pre-read thoughts:
MS. ANANYA WROTE ANOTHER BOOK?! AND THE COVER IS YELLOW?!!! I HAVE BEEN SOLD 🫡😌💛✨
May 5, 2025
Unfortunately, this story didn't work for me. The beginning was strong and drew me in (partly because it dropped me right in the middle of the story), but after the third time loop, I started to get bored. My main problem with this story was that I couldn't tell how Raina felt about her boyfriend for the majority of the book. She kept going back and forth on if she was okay with them breaking up or not, and that made me dislike her. I'm all for growth, but for the majority of the book, she blamed her boyfriend for all of their issues and was rude. I couldn't get over that or how longggg the time loop sequence went on.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
January 8, 2025
Not 100% sure about a proper rating, but it definitely rounds up to 4 stars on goodreads! I'm honestly not too picky when it comes to romcoms (may be related to age & relatableness, but I only love YA romcoms), something I've realised as I've received many eARCs since I started reviewing. This is a good thing, as I've learned that romcoms are so fun!
With the main character Raina, I can see some disliking her: she closes herself off to others who aren't family, can be dismissive of her boyfriend's feelings, and focuses too much on perfection and doing what is expected. But I honestly understood her, and could relate to the unwillingness to be vulnerable to non-family. Plus, she goes through a lot of character growth!
The romance was sweet (pretty sure this is the most romantic teenage boy I've ever read about) but also filled with a lack of communication, something that the time loop and its (almost) endless breakups really highlights to Raina. So, Raina's development through the book made the ending a satisfying one!
Personally, I enjoy consuming fiction with time travel and other similar elements, because they always make me wonder about how I would react in a similar scenario, especially with time loops. I definitely understood why Raina reacted the way she did and I liked how she did try to do things a little differently each time.
Overall, I had a fun time reading this book, though something felt missing to me (I can't place it at the moment, but it's not a big deal). Still, it was a great romcom, and I enjoyed it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
With the main character Raina, I can see some disliking her: she closes herself off to others who aren't family, can be dismissive of her boyfriend's feelings, and focuses too much on perfection and doing what is expected. But I honestly understood her, and could relate to the unwillingness to be vulnerable to non-family. Plus, she goes through a lot of character growth!
The romance was sweet (pretty sure this is the most romantic teenage boy I've ever read about) but also filled with a lack of communication, something that the time loop and its (almost) endless breakups really highlights to Raina. So, Raina's development through the book made the ending a satisfying one!
Personally, I enjoy consuming fiction with time travel and other similar elements, because they always make me wonder about how I would react in a similar scenario, especially with time loops. I definitely understood why Raina reacted the way she did and I liked how she did try to do things a little differently each time.
Overall, I had a fun time reading this book, though something felt missing to me (I can't place it at the moment, but it's not a big deal). Still, it was a great romcom, and I enjoyed it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 10, 2025
4.75 stars rounded up to 5
Being trapped in a time loop sounds like my own personal hell, but man I love reading about time loops in books, specifically in romance books. When Sanskari Sweetheart was first announced, I instantly knew that I would enjoy reading this book. A book with desi characters, gossiping aunties, dance and a tinge of magical realism in the form of a timeline? That's a recipe for success, I tell you.
When we first meet Raina, she's the stubborn captain of a Bollywood dance team, whose mind is on winning a scholarship to convince her mom that dance is what she wants to make her career in. Around the same time, we meet Aditya, the co-captain of the same dance team, her long-term boyfriend. Their relationship is on the rocks, and all due to the lack of communication between them. There are chapters in the book that surround their arguments - Raina's stubbornness in not opening up, Aditya not listening to her - and all of this comes while Raina is trapped in a time loop. It makes for a very dramatic and interesting situation, which is almost reminiscent of Bollywood movies and Indian serials.
While I am not a big fan of the miscommunication trope, I do like how it was done in this book. It was masterful, and in the overall context of the story, makes complete sense for the way the characters are. Time loops also provide a way to pack in character development, and while to the characters, the changes seem sudden, to us readers, it is the perfect way to show people can change. I loved the climax of the book and the actual conclusion of the competition. Raina really grew, and her character development is one of the best parts of the book. Plus the way her and Aditya's relationship ends is a delight in its own way. It's the start of a new journey that the two are about to undertake together.
All in all, Sanskari Sweetheart was a delightful romcom and I cannot wait to read more of what Ananya Devarajan writes!
Thank you Harper Collins, Ananya Devarajan & Lonely Pages Book Tour for sending me an e-ARC!
Being trapped in a time loop sounds like my own personal hell, but man I love reading about time loops in books, specifically in romance books. When Sanskari Sweetheart was first announced, I instantly knew that I would enjoy reading this book. A book with desi characters, gossiping aunties, dance and a tinge of magical realism in the form of a timeline? That's a recipe for success, I tell you.
When we first meet Raina, she's the stubborn captain of a Bollywood dance team, whose mind is on winning a scholarship to convince her mom that dance is what she wants to make her career in. Around the same time, we meet Aditya, the co-captain of the same dance team, her long-term boyfriend. Their relationship is on the rocks, and all due to the lack of communication between them. There are chapters in the book that surround their arguments - Raina's stubbornness in not opening up, Aditya not listening to her - and all of this comes while Raina is trapped in a time loop. It makes for a very dramatic and interesting situation, which is almost reminiscent of Bollywood movies and Indian serials.
While I am not a big fan of the miscommunication trope, I do like how it was done in this book. It was masterful, and in the overall context of the story, makes complete sense for the way the characters are. Time loops also provide a way to pack in character development, and while to the characters, the changes seem sudden, to us readers, it is the perfect way to show people can change. I loved the climax of the book and the actual conclusion of the competition. Raina really grew, and her character development is one of the best parts of the book. Plus the way her and Aditya's relationship ends is a delight in its own way. It's the start of a new journey that the two are about to undertake together.
All in all, Sanskari Sweetheart was a delightful romcom and I cannot wait to read more of what Ananya Devarajan writes!
Thank you Harper Collins, Ananya Devarajan & Lonely Pages Book Tour for sending me an e-ARC!
September 5, 2025
This was very cute, and a quick, entertaining read, yet at the same time I don't feel like it will be very memorable. I've read other timeloop stories that I've enjoyed more. I did however love to see Raina's personal growth, especially in letting people in and talking about feelings. I don't think I've often seen a "relationship in trouble" book in YA before and I did really enjoy that, and thought Aditya was very sweet.
June 26, 2025
I don't typically read YA, but the setting of competitive Bollywood dance absolutely drew me in!
It was a sweet and charming story that felt like a Disney channel original movie and a Bollywood love story rolled into one. Reading about the time loop did initially cause some frustration, but I ultimately ended up enjoying it. I especially loved the focus on eliminating competition both in female friendships and in the dance world! Would have loved to have had more access to books like this as a teenager!
It was a sweet and charming story that felt like a Disney channel original movie and a Bollywood love story rolled into one. Reading about the time loop did initially cause some frustration, but I ultimately ended up enjoying it. I especially loved the focus on eliminating competition both in female friendships and in the dance world! Would have loved to have had more access to books like this as a teenager!
January 15, 2025
4.5
this was so cute !!!
pre-read
god bless whoever accepted my arc request <3
this was so cute !!!
pre-read
god bless whoever accepted my arc request <3
June 19, 2025
When I started reading Ananya Devarajan’s Sanskari Sweetheart, I had genuinely forgotten that I knew who this author was, had read her debut, Kismat Connection from 2023. And it wasn’t until this story began delving rather more deeply into the family’s “curse” that I realized.
Now, to fully express my feelings about this novel, I have to admit first that I honestly just hated Devarajan’s Kismat Connection. The return of Madhuri to this novel, even as a simple cameo, therefore didn’t hold a lot of weight for me at all. And ironically enough, my abject distaste for Madhuri as a character played a rather large role in why I was so pleased, surprised, and impressed with Devarajan’s companion novel. For anyone who has read Kismat Connection, it’s very possible that you’ll recall Madhuri as a deeply self-centered and uncaring person who really doesn’t learn from her mistakes and grow into a better person.
This idea of learning and growing, at it’s core, is the key factor in why I hated Devarajan’s first novel and actually really enjoyed her second.
Raina, Madhuri’s younger sister, is introduced to us as a very driven and focused sort of character, inherently determined to follow her dreams. Those dreams, however, require that she win the National Bollywood Dance Circuit Scholarship, something that has caused her to lose sight of the needs and wants belonging to everyone else around her. Raina, much like her sister, begins the novel as a rather self-focused person. The difference in the two girls, however, is that as Raina finds herself stuck in a time loop, repeating the same day over and over again, she actually learns and grows as a person.
Through each step of Raina’s journey to figure out why so many things went wrong and her varying attempts to fix each situation, she is forced to consider the thoughts and needs of those in her life, to delve deeper into how to prioritize care and kindness while also still achieving her goals and dreams. As her boyfriend, Aditya, breaks up with her near the end of each repeated day, Raina’s narrowed focus on her life broadens to include not only him, but her friends and her parents as well. And though she, rightfully, still makes efforts to live a life she is proud of and happy with, no longer is she a character singularly centered on herself.
And I loved so much about this girl’s journey; seeing genuine character growth in Sanskari Sweetheart is so exciting and I’m genuinely intrigued to see what Davarajan comes up with next!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Now, to fully express my feelings about this novel, I have to admit first that I honestly just hated Devarajan’s Kismat Connection. The return of Madhuri to this novel, even as a simple cameo, therefore didn’t hold a lot of weight for me at all. And ironically enough, my abject distaste for Madhuri as a character played a rather large role in why I was so pleased, surprised, and impressed with Devarajan’s companion novel. For anyone who has read Kismat Connection, it’s very possible that you’ll recall Madhuri as a deeply self-centered and uncaring person who really doesn’t learn from her mistakes and grow into a better person.
This idea of learning and growing, at it’s core, is the key factor in why I hated Devarajan’s first novel and actually really enjoyed her second.
Raina, Madhuri’s younger sister, is introduced to us as a very driven and focused sort of character, inherently determined to follow her dreams. Those dreams, however, require that she win the National Bollywood Dance Circuit Scholarship, something that has caused her to lose sight of the needs and wants belonging to everyone else around her. Raina, much like her sister, begins the novel as a rather self-focused person. The difference in the two girls, however, is that as Raina finds herself stuck in a time loop, repeating the same day over and over again, she actually learns and grows as a person.
Through each step of Raina’s journey to figure out why so many things went wrong and her varying attempts to fix each situation, she is forced to consider the thoughts and needs of those in her life, to delve deeper into how to prioritize care and kindness while also still achieving her goals and dreams. As her boyfriend, Aditya, breaks up with her near the end of each repeated day, Raina’s narrowed focus on her life broadens to include not only him, but her friends and her parents as well. And though she, rightfully, still makes efforts to live a life she is proud of and happy with, no longer is she a character singularly centered on herself.
And I loved so much about this girl’s journey; seeing genuine character growth in Sanskari Sweetheart is so exciting and I’m genuinely intrigued to see what Davarajan comes up with next!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 4, 2025
Can I be honest y'all? I read this book around May 25, 2025 and LOVED it. I did review this book on my beloved, Bookworm app. However, today I received the audiobook from NetGalley. Thank you Thank you NetGalley for giving me this audiobook for review.
When I first picked up this book, I did not realize it was a time loop story. If I am really honest with you then, I admit that I am not a fan of time loop stories and find them really tiresome. HOWEVER, this book implemented time loops in a really fun way.
Sanskari Sweetheart by Ananya Devarajan is a sweet coming of age story about Raina and Aditya (and how they love each other). They're both in a Bollywood Dance Group and Raina is in it to win the National Bollywood Dance Circuit Scholarship so that she can go to college. Raina makes mistakes, is uncommunicative, and a hard headed teen girl. Through the time loops, she learns how to stand up for herself, ask for what she needs, and prioritize herself.
The characters can be a little frustrating but the book overall is really fun and enjoyable. The audiobook really added a lot to the story experience, adding dimension and levity and humor the voice in my head lacked.
I love South Asian love stories. I love stories about South Asians being happy. I love stories about South Asians being in love. A great time all around. Highly recommend this YA read!
When I first picked up this book, I did not realize it was a time loop story. If I am really honest with you then, I admit that I am not a fan of time loop stories and find them really tiresome. HOWEVER, this book implemented time loops in a really fun way.
Sanskari Sweetheart by Ananya Devarajan is a sweet coming of age story about Raina and Aditya (and how they love each other). They're both in a Bollywood Dance Group and Raina is in it to win the National Bollywood Dance Circuit Scholarship so that she can go to college. Raina makes mistakes, is uncommunicative, and a hard headed teen girl. Through the time loops, she learns how to stand up for herself, ask for what she needs, and prioritize herself.
The characters can be a little frustrating but the book overall is really fun and enjoyable. The audiobook really added a lot to the story experience, adding dimension and levity and humor the voice in my head lacked.
I love South Asian love stories. I love stories about South Asians being happy. I love stories about South Asians being in love. A great time all around. Highly recommend this YA read!
Read
April 20, 2025Thank you so much to HarperCollins for the arc of this book! To start out, Sanskari Sweetheart was a wonderful love letter to the South Asian community and the bollywood lovers out there. I really appreciated the representation of the culture and the struggles of the people part of the South Asian diaspora. This book was an interesting concept with a mix of romance and magical realism. I will be posting the rest of my review and rating after the release of this book.
July 21, 2025
I was given this book as part of a promo tour, this is an AD/PR. However, the review is my own.
This is an endearing YA romance, but it went a bit further than for me and provided an insight into a culture I’m not familiar with. It may have resulted into a couple of hours of YouTube rabbit hole on Bollywood dances and traditional Indian Garments.
The way the story was told, was a bit outside of the traditional romance storylines, which made it feel fresh. I liked how the characters interacted, and I definitely feel like I’ve met some of these personalities. I also liked how much focus there was on Indian/Desi culture without it feeling forced.
Raina felt like she had a lot to work through, and she did. She set her own expectations but blamed others, and eventually saw the error of her ways - and also you cannot expect someone to stick around “just because”.
I liked how the ending offered a truly happy ending for everyone, not that I’d expect anything different from a romance, but even the “villians” had something good happen.
I have now added Kismet Connection to my wishlist and will look for more work from this author in the future.
This is an endearing YA romance, but it went a bit further than for me and provided an insight into a culture I’m not familiar with. It may have resulted into a couple of hours of YouTube rabbit hole on Bollywood dances and traditional Indian Garments.
The way the story was told, was a bit outside of the traditional romance storylines, which made it feel fresh. I liked how the characters interacted, and I definitely feel like I’ve met some of these personalities. I also liked how much focus there was on Indian/Desi culture without it feeling forced.
Raina felt like she had a lot to work through, and she did. She set her own expectations but blamed others, and eventually saw the error of her ways - and also you cannot expect someone to stick around “just because”.
I liked how the ending offered a truly happy ending for everyone, not that I’d expect anything different from a romance, but even the “villians” had something good happen.
I have now added Kismet Connection to my wishlist and will look for more work from this author in the future.
July 8, 2025
I've been on an adult romantasy kick for a while. So I needed a change of pace, and that usually means changing genres. I decided to pick up Sanskari Sweetheart. The description tells pretty much everything you need to know. But I will say some things were confusing or needed more fleshing out for me. I felt the author understood the missing pieces, but they were never fully spelled out to the reader. One of those things is Raina's mom being so kind of a prophetess. That was never explained. Mentioned in passing as though the reader should understand or accept it as fact and move on.
Raina starts the book showing up at Nationals with her mother, whom she just dropped the bomb on that she wants to pursue dance as a career. She doesn't really give her mother a chance to discuss things with her as she drops the bomb and rolls out of the car at the same time. As she's running away, she basically declares that if she wins the scholarship offered at Nationals, then she will choose dance.
Raina and Aditya have been dating for four years. They're madly in love. Yet they fight all the time. Raina is obsessed with being the perfect girlfriend for him, but she refuses to have any conversation with him about any important topics. The initial breakup felt jarring. I suppose it was supposed to feel that way. The couple went from "we're so in love" to "we should break up" in 0 to 60. Only after exploring many of the loop days do you begin to piece together what's missing in their relationship. I guess that was because Raina needed to figure it out, and as the narrator, it would only be frustrating for the reader to fully understand the issues while Raina continually repeats the same day and the same mistakes over and over again.
Raina does change things up. It isn't like she can't change the day she experiences. But it doesn't matter. Every time she gets to the end of the day she and Aditya break up. Then the day starts over.
I liked that these two have such an innocent relationship. There is passion between them, but things don't progress physically, and I respect that. It is counter-cultural (American culture at least). And I'm all about that. They have found their person so early in life, which also isn't normal. I can respect that as well.
I did appreciate the lessons that Raina and even Aditya learned along the way. I don't think I would want to read many books that follow this same format, but overall, I enjoyed Sanskari Sweetheart. A few things were confusing, like Raina's mother's prophecies, why Raina had an obsession with being the perfect girlfriend, and a few other things. But overall, I read this book quickly and wanted to keep reading when I needed to stop. Sanskari Sweetheart gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Sanskari Sweetheart? What did you think? Let me know!
Raina starts the book showing up at Nationals with her mother, whom she just dropped the bomb on that she wants to pursue dance as a career. She doesn't really give her mother a chance to discuss things with her as she drops the bomb and rolls out of the car at the same time. As she's running away, she basically declares that if she wins the scholarship offered at Nationals, then she will choose dance.
Raina and Aditya have been dating for four years. They're madly in love. Yet they fight all the time. Raina is obsessed with being the perfect girlfriend for him, but she refuses to have any conversation with him about any important topics. The initial breakup felt jarring. I suppose it was supposed to feel that way. The couple went from "we're so in love" to "we should break up" in 0 to 60. Only after exploring many of the loop days do you begin to piece together what's missing in their relationship. I guess that was because Raina needed to figure it out, and as the narrator, it would only be frustrating for the reader to fully understand the issues while Raina continually repeats the same day and the same mistakes over and over again.
Raina does change things up. It isn't like she can't change the day she experiences. But it doesn't matter. Every time she gets to the end of the day she and Aditya break up. Then the day starts over.
I liked that these two have such an innocent relationship. There is passion between them, but things don't progress physically, and I respect that. It is counter-cultural (American culture at least). And I'm all about that. They have found their person so early in life, which also isn't normal. I can respect that as well.
I did appreciate the lessons that Raina and even Aditya learned along the way. I don't think I would want to read many books that follow this same format, but overall, I enjoyed Sanskari Sweetheart. A few things were confusing, like Raina's mother's prophecies, why Raina had an obsession with being the perfect girlfriend, and a few other things. But overall, I read this book quickly and wanted to keep reading when I needed to stop. Sanskari Sweetheart gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Sanskari Sweetheart? What did you think? Let me know!
July 30, 2025
Ananya Devarajan’s Sanskari Sweetheart is a charming, emotionally resonant YA romance that gracefully weaves together cultural expectations, personal identity, and the sweet ache of first love. A companion to her debut Kismat Connection, this novel works well as a standalone while offering delightful continuity for returning readers.
The story follows Indian-American teen Leena, whose “sanskari” (i.e., traditional, rule-following) persona has always kept her in line—until a fake dating arrangement with her polar opposite, the charismatic and rebellious Amit, threatens to unravel everything she thought she knew about herself. What starts as a ruse to keep Leena’s family appeased quickly becomes a deeper exploration of what it means to be true to oneself while navigating cultural expectations and growing feelings.
The fake-dating trope is executed with heart and nuance here, with just enough tension, cultural specificity, and romantic buildup to keep readers hooked. The pacing is balanced, never rushing emotional beats or overextending conflict. While the plot follows some familiar rom-com rhythms, it does so with freshness thanks to Devarajan’s voice and her thoughtful integration of Indian-American cultural elements. The stakes feel real—not just romantic, but familial and personal—which gives the story more weight than your typical teen love story.
Leena and Amit’s chemistry is undeniable from their very first awkward interaction. Their dynamic is filled with banter, slow-burning attraction, and a genuine sense of mutual growth. Devarajan doesn’t rely solely on swoony moments (though there are plenty!)—she builds their relationship on shared vulnerability and emotional honesty. Their romance is tender, messy, and incredibly satisfying.
The strength of this book lies in its character work. Leena is a beautifully complex protagonist—torn between the desire to be the “perfect” daughter and the need to claim her own identity. Amit, despite being cast as the “bad boy,” is layered and sincere, offering more than just a foil to Leena’s goody-two-shoes image. Their families, friends, and the wider community feel authentic and textured, creating a backdrop that feels both warm and pressurized. Special mention goes to the depiction of parental relationships, which are nuanced and realistic—simultaneously loving and suffocating.
Sanskari Sweetheart is a heartfelt and joyful read that skillfully blends cultural introspection with romantic fun. Fans of Sandhya Menon or Talia Hibbert’s YA work will find much to love here. Ananya Devarajan continues to prove herself a rising voice in contemporary YA romance, and I’ll be eagerly watching for whatever she writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Indian-American teen Leena, whose “sanskari” (i.e., traditional, rule-following) persona has always kept her in line—until a fake dating arrangement with her polar opposite, the charismatic and rebellious Amit, threatens to unravel everything she thought she knew about herself. What starts as a ruse to keep Leena’s family appeased quickly becomes a deeper exploration of what it means to be true to oneself while navigating cultural expectations and growing feelings.
The fake-dating trope is executed with heart and nuance here, with just enough tension, cultural specificity, and romantic buildup to keep readers hooked. The pacing is balanced, never rushing emotional beats or overextending conflict. While the plot follows some familiar rom-com rhythms, it does so with freshness thanks to Devarajan’s voice and her thoughtful integration of Indian-American cultural elements. The stakes feel real—not just romantic, but familial and personal—which gives the story more weight than your typical teen love story.
Leena and Amit’s chemistry is undeniable from their very first awkward interaction. Their dynamic is filled with banter, slow-burning attraction, and a genuine sense of mutual growth. Devarajan doesn’t rely solely on swoony moments (though there are plenty!)—she builds their relationship on shared vulnerability and emotional honesty. Their romance is tender, messy, and incredibly satisfying.
The strength of this book lies in its character work. Leena is a beautifully complex protagonist—torn between the desire to be the “perfect” daughter and the need to claim her own identity. Amit, despite being cast as the “bad boy,” is layered and sincere, offering more than just a foil to Leena’s goody-two-shoes image. Their families, friends, and the wider community feel authentic and textured, creating a backdrop that feels both warm and pressurized. Special mention goes to the depiction of parental relationships, which are nuanced and realistic—simultaneously loving and suffocating.
Sanskari Sweetheart is a heartfelt and joyful read that skillfully blends cultural introspection with romantic fun. Fans of Sandhya Menon or Talia Hibbert’s YA work will find much to love here. Ananya Devarajan continues to prove herself a rising voice in contemporary YA romance, and I’ll be eagerly watching for whatever she writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 23, 2025
“It begins with an ending—over and over again.”
Raina’s got one shot to prove to her mom that dance isn't just a hobby, but her entire future—and winning the National Bollywood Dance Circuit Scholarship is the best way to do it. If she wins, she can convince her mom that she can build a real, successful career in dance. An added bonus of winning the competition is saving her relationship with her co-captain and long time boyfriend, Aditya, who is slipping away the more they argue. After a night where nothing goes right, Aditya breaks up with her, their routine goes completely wrong, and Raina watches her dream life slip away. But when she wakes up the next morning, it’s Nationals all over again. Everything is the same: the stage, the heartbreak, and the stakes. The more time she spends in the loop, the more she realizes maybe winning everything she keeps losing isn’t what’s meant to be.
As someone from a South Asian background, I have always loved reading books with characters that have backgrounds similar to mine. It was refreshing to read a romance story where the lead character ends up with someone from the same background as her, since a majority of the AAPI representation I see these days involves relationships between people of different cultures. I also loved the fact that Aditya and Raina were an established couple going into the story. The backdrop of a Bollywood dance team with two co-captains dating is very cute, and sets up a great story that is made even better by the added fact that the story isn’t about the main couple getting together, but rather growing together. Raina, though somewhat frustrating at times, is an enjoyable character whose growth was incredible to see. Aditya was probably my favorite character—he’s quite literally the definition of a man written by a woman, and definitely one of the most romantic teenage main male characters I’ve read in a while. As with other books that include a time loop, this one was also interesting to read about, and the Bollywood dance competition situation just made it all the more fun. It was nice to see how Raina’s mind and approach to life changed as she kept reliving the same day. Sanskari Sweetheart is a great option for readers looking for a rom-com this AAPI month!
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
Raina’s got one shot to prove to her mom that dance isn't just a hobby, but her entire future—and winning the National Bollywood Dance Circuit Scholarship is the best way to do it. If she wins, she can convince her mom that she can build a real, successful career in dance. An added bonus of winning the competition is saving her relationship with her co-captain and long time boyfriend, Aditya, who is slipping away the more they argue. After a night where nothing goes right, Aditya breaks up with her, their routine goes completely wrong, and Raina watches her dream life slip away. But when she wakes up the next morning, it’s Nationals all over again. Everything is the same: the stage, the heartbreak, and the stakes. The more time she spends in the loop, the more she realizes maybe winning everything she keeps losing isn’t what’s meant to be.
As someone from a South Asian background, I have always loved reading books with characters that have backgrounds similar to mine. It was refreshing to read a romance story where the lead character ends up with someone from the same background as her, since a majority of the AAPI representation I see these days involves relationships between people of different cultures. I also loved the fact that Aditya and Raina were an established couple going into the story. The backdrop of a Bollywood dance team with two co-captains dating is very cute, and sets up a great story that is made even better by the added fact that the story isn’t about the main couple getting together, but rather growing together. Raina, though somewhat frustrating at times, is an enjoyable character whose growth was incredible to see. Aditya was probably my favorite character—he’s quite literally the definition of a man written by a woman, and definitely one of the most romantic teenage main male characters I’ve read in a while. As with other books that include a time loop, this one was also interesting to read about, and the Bollywood dance competition situation just made it all the more fun. It was nice to see how Raina’s mind and approach to life changed as she kept reliving the same day. Sanskari Sweetheart is a great option for readers looking for a rom-com this AAPI month!
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
December 31, 2025
There is something here - great setting, interesting premise - but I think the book needed another round or two of edits.
Time loops are confusing to begin with but it was jarring, for example, when in the second time loop, the main character thinks “this is the furthest she’d ever gotten in the time loop.” I believe this was the first use of the phrase time loop in the book, so I thought, what time loop and wondered if I had missed a chapter. I suspect the author reordered the time loops in the course of editing and didn’t clean up all the resulting issues.
Also, the beginning of the book sets up a very obvious relationship issue - Aditya wants to connect and Raina won’t listen. Aditya is tired of being a doormat. But then as the book plays out, the issues between them seem much more complex, and also tied to issues about judgment in the community. It felt like I was reading different books and I suspect an editor wanted to tighten up and clarify the relationship conflict but only did the beginning.
The result for me was that the characters seemed inconsistent and I didn’t understand what their issues were. When Aditya apologizes at the end, I wasn’t sure what for. And when they talk about fighting all the time but also never fighting I was confused. Are they conflict avoidant or not? Why are they together?
I get that there is a strong physical connection between them and the author is most convincing about why Raina would be in love with Aditya. Maybe because we only get her perspective it is hard to understand why Aditya is in love with Raina.
That said I picked this book up because I liked the idea of the Bollywood dance setting. The time loop is interesting. I love the female friendship part of the story.
I think this author will develop further going forward and she has interesting things to say.
Time loops are confusing to begin with but it was jarring, for example, when in the second time loop, the main character thinks “this is the furthest she’d ever gotten in the time loop.” I believe this was the first use of the phrase time loop in the book, so I thought, what time loop and wondered if I had missed a chapter. I suspect the author reordered the time loops in the course of editing and didn’t clean up all the resulting issues.
Also, the beginning of the book sets up a very obvious relationship issue - Aditya wants to connect and Raina won’t listen. Aditya is tired of being a doormat. But then as the book plays out, the issues between them seem much more complex, and also tied to issues about judgment in the community. It felt like I was reading different books and I suspect an editor wanted to tighten up and clarify the relationship conflict but only did the beginning.
The result for me was that the characters seemed inconsistent and I didn’t understand what their issues were. When Aditya apologizes at the end, I wasn’t sure what for. And when they talk about fighting all the time but also never fighting I was confused. Are they conflict avoidant or not? Why are they together?
I get that there is a strong physical connection between them and the author is most convincing about why Raina would be in love with Aditya. Maybe because we only get her perspective it is hard to understand why Aditya is in love with Raina.
That said I picked this book up because I liked the idea of the Bollywood dance setting. The time loop is interesting. I love the female friendship part of the story.
I think this author will develop further going forward and she has interesting things to say.
February 19, 2025
This book has the trope of 'stuck in a time loop' with repeating do-overs which is a theme that I've read before, but this was for sure a first where there is an existing romantic relationship from the beginning. On page, Aditya and Raina are the perfect couple and are also co-captains of their National Bollywood Dance Circuit group. They seem to be made for each other but the cracks in their relationship start showing in their last competition for the scholarship.
I read Kismat Connection over a year back and have read so many books since, I don't remember the book very well. There are obviously characters shared with both the novels with the FMCs in both being sisters. I think this book is readable as a standalone, but I recommend reading both for context and I wish I remembered the first one better.
Pacing wise, the book wasn't too bad but as with books using this trope, the repetition bored me after a while. I found the character development with Raina and just the way her character was crafted to be fascinating. Her relationships with people were so nuanced and are food for thought. The writing style though didn't sit great with me. It's either that or I was in a reading slumpish state when I picked it up. These are my thoughts on the book for now but may change with possible rereads.
PS- I would comment on the cultural aspects of this but I don't find anything that really separates this book from any book with white characters and maybe a few POC side characters. The only examples I can think of would be the entire cast being Indian with Indian names (to my memory) and a little bit of the 'aunties' stereotype. Saying this as an Indian who tries to pick up and support books from Indian/Indian origin authors.
I read Kismat Connection over a year back and have read so many books since, I don't remember the book very well. There are obviously characters shared with both the novels with the FMCs in both being sisters. I think this book is readable as a standalone, but I recommend reading both for context and I wish I remembered the first one better.
Pacing wise, the book wasn't too bad but as with books using this trope, the repetition bored me after a while. I found the character development with Raina and just the way her character was crafted to be fascinating. Her relationships with people were so nuanced and are food for thought. The writing style though didn't sit great with me. It's either that or I was in a reading slumpish state when I picked it up. These are my thoughts on the book for now but may change with possible rereads.
PS- I would comment on the cultural aspects of this but I don't find anything that really separates this book from any book with white characters and maybe a few POC side characters. The only examples I can think of would be the entire cast being Indian with Indian names (to my memory) and a little bit of the 'aunties' stereotype. Saying this as an Indian who tries to pick up and support books from Indian/Indian origin authors.
July 6, 2025
3.75
First let me say, I didn’t read the first book. I didn’t realize it was a series as it isn’t listed that way. I know this is a stand alone and you don’t need to read the first one but I feel like I could have understood the family elements more.
I did enjoy the majority of the book and I liked the arc of Raina’s character. I loved the narrator. I would listen to other books by her.
I did have some issues with the book. First off in the beginning of the book Raina wants to prove that dance is what she wants to do with her life but it doesn’t seem to be that important to her during all the time loops. It takes a back seat to her relation with Aditya and with her friend (I did the audio and can’t recall her name).
Also I don’t understand how she and Aditya both blame him for the relationship issues when she is the one withholding affection and refusing to communicate. At least she learns to do both during the time loops but I don’t get why he is shouldering the majority of the blame. Additionally,I don’t find it plausible that she and Aditya can share a room when they can’t even hold hands or kiss in public because of what might be said. They are in high school. How would their parents not know or be ok with it. Also how did mom stay away after she gets hit on the head. She doesn’t see her again until the next day. Doesn’t seem believable to me.
Even with my issues I’m happy I read this book. I really did love that Raina was able to see what was wrong in her relationship and made the adjustments she needed to. She really grew as a person. i would read more from this author.
Thank you yo NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
First let me say, I didn’t read the first book. I didn’t realize it was a series as it isn’t listed that way. I know this is a stand alone and you don’t need to read the first one but I feel like I could have understood the family elements more.
I did enjoy the majority of the book and I liked the arc of Raina’s character. I loved the narrator. I would listen to other books by her.
I did have some issues with the book. First off in the beginning of the book Raina wants to prove that dance is what she wants to do with her life but it doesn’t seem to be that important to her during all the time loops. It takes a back seat to her relation with Aditya and with her friend (I did the audio and can’t recall her name).
Also I don’t understand how she and Aditya both blame him for the relationship issues when she is the one withholding affection and refusing to communicate. At least she learns to do both during the time loops but I don’t get why he is shouldering the majority of the blame. Additionally,I don’t find it plausible that she and Aditya can share a room when they can’t even hold hands or kiss in public because of what might be said. They are in high school. How would their parents not know or be ok with it. Also how did mom stay away after she gets hit on the head. She doesn’t see her again until the next day. Doesn’t seem believable to me.
Even with my issues I’m happy I read this book. I really did love that Raina was able to see what was wrong in her relationship and made the adjustments she needed to. She really grew as a person. i would read more from this author.
Thank you yo NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 10, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the advance audio copy in exchange for my honest review.
The book follows Raina, the younger sister from the author’s debut Kismat Connection. While it can be read as a standalone, I think if I had read the first book, I would have had a better understanding of the family dynamics and Raina’s backstory.
The story jumps right into the main conflict: a time loop where Raina relives the same day repeatedly, giving her the chance to reflect, grow, and attempt to fix her crumbling relationship. The pacing is solid, and the Groundhog Day-style plot is the heart of the book. If you enjoy time-loop stories, this will likely appeal to you. However, if you were hoping for a deeper dive into Indian American culture, family bonds, or the fun of Bollywood dance-offs, you might find this one a little lacking, as those elements take a backseat.
I didn't enjoy that the dance competition, which was supposedly central to Raina’s life, barely got any focus beyond brief mentions and then a rival character who causes PROBLEMS is never properly exposed. Also, the roles of Raina’s mother and sister—who could have added emotional depth—were underdeveloped.
While I enjoyed the narration—especially the way the voices and accents added flavor—I struggled with the middle of the book. The time loop sequence dragged on too long, and I found Raina’s indecisiveness and constant blame-shifting toward her boyfriend frustrating. I wasn’t convinced by the romance because I couldn’t tell how Raina truly felt for much of the story.
Conclusively, the book is decent YA romance that has its charms but didn’t fully work for me. I would still read more from this author.
The book follows Raina, the younger sister from the author’s debut Kismat Connection. While it can be read as a standalone, I think if I had read the first book, I would have had a better understanding of the family dynamics and Raina’s backstory.
The story jumps right into the main conflict: a time loop where Raina relives the same day repeatedly, giving her the chance to reflect, grow, and attempt to fix her crumbling relationship. The pacing is solid, and the Groundhog Day-style plot is the heart of the book. If you enjoy time-loop stories, this will likely appeal to you. However, if you were hoping for a deeper dive into Indian American culture, family bonds, or the fun of Bollywood dance-offs, you might find this one a little lacking, as those elements take a backseat.
I didn't enjoy that the dance competition, which was supposedly central to Raina’s life, barely got any focus beyond brief mentions and then a rival character who causes PROBLEMS is never properly exposed. Also, the roles of Raina’s mother and sister—who could have added emotional depth—were underdeveloped.
While I enjoyed the narration—especially the way the voices and accents added flavor—I struggled with the middle of the book. The time loop sequence dragged on too long, and I found Raina’s indecisiveness and constant blame-shifting toward her boyfriend frustrating. I wasn’t convinced by the romance because I couldn’t tell how Raina truly felt for much of the story.
Conclusively, the book is decent YA romance that has its charms but didn’t fully work for me. I would still read more from this author.
May 19, 2025
The only thing worse than living through the worst day of your life is living through it...again...and again...
Raina has the perfect boyfriend. And by perfect, I do mean perfect. While I get that romance is wish fulfillment, this boy is appropriately Bollywood level perfection, right down to the kohl smeared on his water line that Raina mentions every time she gazes into his deep brown eyes. Which is why it comes as a shock when he breaks up with her. Repeatedly. As she keeps reliving the worst day of her life. How can she make him stay so she can get free of the time loops?
I love me a good time loop, and the more time loops the better. The only downside is sometimes it did get a bit repetitive. And the ending did drag on for a bit.
But! It was a really cute YA romance. The breakups did keep coming out of nowhere, but it might have been because we were seeing it from Raina's POV. There was also a blossoming friendship between Raina and a rival dancer, which I'm always here for because I love me a good friendship.
Content wise, there were a few f-bombs, kisses, bare male chests, sleeping (and just that) in the same bed, and swimming under the stars in one's underwear.
Recommended for readers who love Bollywood dance, time loops, and the messiness of young love. I also recommend the audiobook because the narrator did a great job, right down the the aunties' accents.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.
Raina has the perfect boyfriend. And by perfect, I do mean perfect. While I get that romance is wish fulfillment, this boy is appropriately Bollywood level perfection, right down to the kohl smeared on his water line that Raina mentions every time she gazes into his deep brown eyes. Which is why it comes as a shock when he breaks up with her. Repeatedly. As she keeps reliving the worst day of her life. How can she make him stay so she can get free of the time loops?
I love me a good time loop, and the more time loops the better. The only downside is sometimes it did get a bit repetitive. And the ending did drag on for a bit.
But! It was a really cute YA romance. The breakups did keep coming out of nowhere, but it might have been because we were seeing it from Raina's POV. There was also a blossoming friendship between Raina and a rival dancer, which I'm always here for because I love me a good friendship.
Content wise, there were a few f-bombs, kisses, bare male chests, sleeping (and just that) in the same bed, and swimming under the stars in one's underwear.
Recommended for readers who love Bollywood dance, time loops, and the messiness of young love. I also recommend the audiobook because the narrator did a great job, right down the the aunties' accents.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.
May 20, 2025
Sanskari Sweetheart follows Raina as she enters her last National Bollywood Dancing Competition. Not only is this her last chance to prove herself as the reigning multi-year champion, but it is also her chance to prove to her mother that going to University to study dance the following year is a good/viable option for her. Raina faces the challenges that many Desi women face - torn between following her dreams and being a good Sanskari woman. To complicate her endeavor, there's a family romance curse (which she's avoided telling her boyfriend of four years about) and some Groundhog Day-style time looping to contend with. What will she have to sacrifice to make it back to her own time loop? Or will Raina find a way to have it all - the perfect relationship, a dance career, and her community's respect?
The book was a sweet coming of age story - showing how Raina progresses from being a mainly self-centered indidivudal to eventually really considering the feelings, needs and realities of those around her. It's a journey of self discovery that transcends culture and will speak to many Young Adults.
What to Expect: Time-loop, family "curse", Bollywood Dance Competition, female friendships,
TW/CW: relives her breakup in every time-loop.
Despite having spent a good amount of time with the Southeast Asian- American community, I am not Desi (by any stretch of the imagination) - with that disclaimer, I loved the little glimpses into the Auntie/Uncle-ness of it all and I wish there had been more of them. Raina goes through something like 8 time-loops, some more interesting than others, and while we are told of her frustrations with the meddling, I think there would have been an opportunity in some of the time-loops for the reader to experience more of the facets of that reality with her.
The book was a sweet coming of age story - showing how Raina progresses from being a mainly self-centered indidivudal to eventually really considering the feelings, needs and realities of those around her. It's a journey of self discovery that transcends culture and will speak to many Young Adults.
What to Expect: Time-loop, family "curse", Bollywood Dance Competition, female friendships,
TW/CW: relives her breakup in every time-loop.
Despite having spent a good amount of time with the Southeast Asian- American community, I am not Desi (by any stretch of the imagination) - with that disclaimer, I loved the little glimpses into the Auntie/Uncle-ness of it all and I wish there had been more of them. Raina goes through something like 8 time-loops, some more interesting than others, and while we are told of her frustrations with the meddling, I think there would have been an opportunity in some of the time-loops for the reader to experience more of the facets of that reality with her.
August 26, 2025
In this charming YA Groundhog Day-esque novel, readers meet competitive Bollywood dancer Raina as she is desperate to prove that dance can be a financially stable career to her mother and that she and her boyfriend and co-captain Aditya are still the perfect couple even though they keep fighting. As the choreography collapses and Aditya breaks up with her, Raina’s chances at winning the scholarship completely disappear until she starts repeating this horrible day. Stuck in a time loop where she humiliates herself at Nationals and keeps getting dumped, Raina is desperate to find a way to break out of the time loop and get everything she wants -- even if perfection isn’t enough to give her a happy ending. Emotional, fun, and relatable, readers will love the emotional storylines and time loop aspect with its focus on Raina’s relationships. The characters are well-written, and the different backdrops and repeated interactions really bring her story to life in some interesting ways. Similarly, the depth of detail and emotion really bring the larger questions about happiness and perfection to light, and readers will definitely understand Raina’s feelings and thought process in this charming, emotional, and entertaining new YA romance and time loop novel.
Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and HarperCollins for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and HarperCollins for the advance copy.
February 12, 2025
4.5⭐
Thank you Ananya Devarajan, HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒌𝒂𝒓𝒊 𝑺𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 by Ananya Devarajan is about Raina Iyer, a dancer who needs to win the National Bollywood Dance Circuit Scholarship to prove to her mother that she can make a career out of her passion for dance. But unfortunately for her, her boyfriend and duet partner, Aditya, breaks up with her before their choreography crumbled on stage. Stuck in a time loop of the day repeating again and again, Raina must figure what was important and if perfection was what she needed to escape.
Aditya and Rania had beautiful and sizzling chemistry. They complemented each other even with flaws. I loved how romantic Aditya was. The way they both learned to converse and mend their relationship and see beyond their flaws was really well written. I enjoyed reading about them.
The Bollywood Dance competition was an interesting setting. It complemented all the characters well. The magic-realism aspect was well done and I enjoyed reading about it.
The character development and emotional maturity in the book was very well shown. I think that was important aspect of the book how they overcame the challenges and took the right opportunities.
Overall, this was an emotionally wrecking and amazing book! I enjoyed reading it and could not put it down as soon as I was hooked!
Thank you Ananya Devarajan, HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒌𝒂𝒓𝒊 𝑺𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 by Ananya Devarajan is about Raina Iyer, a dancer who needs to win the National Bollywood Dance Circuit Scholarship to prove to her mother that she can make a career out of her passion for dance. But unfortunately for her, her boyfriend and duet partner, Aditya, breaks up with her before their choreography crumbled on stage. Stuck in a time loop of the day repeating again and again, Raina must figure what was important and if perfection was what she needed to escape.
Aditya and Rania had beautiful and sizzling chemistry. They complemented each other even with flaws. I loved how romantic Aditya was. The way they both learned to converse and mend their relationship and see beyond their flaws was really well written. I enjoyed reading about them.
The Bollywood Dance competition was an interesting setting. It complemented all the characters well. The magic-realism aspect was well done and I enjoyed reading about it.
The character development and emotional maturity in the book was very well shown. I think that was important aspect of the book how they overcame the challenges and took the right opportunities.
Overall, this was an emotionally wrecking and amazing book! I enjoyed reading it and could not put it down as soon as I was hooked!
July 21, 2025
- Bollywood dance
- Time loop
- Character development oriented
- Keeping a relationship alive
- Desi characters
- Magical realism
- YA romance
3.5 stars rounded up! <3
I love that this book exists, to make all the desi souls feel seen, and to emphasise that a relationship can't be sustained without communication and emotional maturity. I hope more teens pick this up because the message it conveys is so needed. We definitely need more stories exploring couples post-HEAs, as a HEA doesn't guarantee obstacle-free roads. We go from what seems like a "perfect relationship" to learning that it is not all always sunshine and rainbows, and there's always room for growth <3
As someone who enjoys Bollywood dance so much I was squealing every time a song was referenced (I truly wish there were more of them) -- this book made my Desi soul so so happy! Aditya is a soft gem, and I love that he really tried to make this work T-T green flag 10/10.
The time loop ended up not being MY thing -- as they go back in time again and again like 9 times before Raina entirely realises what needs to be done -- and I was impatiently screeching at her the whole time LIKE GWORL PLEASE THINKKKKKKKKKK. I know her character makes complete sense in the context of the story, but that doesn't keep her from making me wanting to elder-sister her brain into sense.
(if you love time loops and "Groundhog Day" and "About Time" vibes this one is for you)
I haven't read Kismet Connection at all; and they're interconnected stand-alones, so I am excited to hop onto the prequel next and learn more about Madhuri! (I am very intrigued by her troubles that keep being mentioned)
Thank you so much HarperCollins, Harlequin Audio and Netgalley for the audio arc! The narrator was fantastic <3
- Time loop
- Character development oriented
- Keeping a relationship alive
- Desi characters
- Magical realism
- YA romance
3.5 stars rounded up! <3
I love that this book exists, to make all the desi souls feel seen, and to emphasise that a relationship can't be sustained without communication and emotional maturity. I hope more teens pick this up because the message it conveys is so needed. We definitely need more stories exploring couples post-HEAs, as a HEA doesn't guarantee obstacle-free roads. We go from what seems like a "perfect relationship" to learning that it is not all always sunshine and rainbows, and there's always room for growth <3
As someone who enjoys Bollywood dance so much I was squealing every time a song was referenced (I truly wish there were more of them) -- this book made my Desi soul so so happy! Aditya is a soft gem, and I love that he really tried to make this work T-T green flag 10/10.
The time loop ended up not being MY thing -- as they go back in time again and again like 9 times before Raina entirely realises what needs to be done -- and I was impatiently screeching at her the whole time LIKE GWORL PLEASE THINKKKKKKKKKK. I know her character makes complete sense in the context of the story, but that doesn't keep her from making me wanting to elder-sister her brain into sense.
(if you love time loops and "Groundhog Day" and "About Time" vibes this one is for you)
I haven't read Kismet Connection at all; and they're interconnected stand-alones, so I am excited to hop onto the prequel next and learn more about Madhuri! (I am very intrigued by her troubles that keep being mentioned)
Thank you so much HarperCollins, Harlequin Audio and Netgalley for the audio arc! The narrator was fantastic <3
May 28, 2025
Raina is in a dance competition and trying to win a scholarship. Her dance team co-captain is her boyfriend Aditya. During the competition he breaks up with her after they have a bad performance. Then she gets hit in the head with a prop and blacks out.
She wakes up and is repeating that day all over again. Raina is caught in a time loop. She tries several different things to make things right and get out of the loop. She tries everything to get Aditya to not break up with her. She tries to stop another dancer from sabotaging her teams performance. She tries to make friends with one of her dance teammates that she has had an adversarial relationship with.
This book was a cute YA romance. I enjoyed it a lot. I wasn’t exactly sure what she figured out to get out of the time loop but I was very pleased with the way the story ended. I did wish that the relationship with her sister was explored more. And I felt like the family “curse” wasn’t explained enough in the beginning. But, all in all, it was a really good book.
She wakes up and is repeating that day all over again. Raina is caught in a time loop. She tries several different things to make things right and get out of the loop. She tries everything to get Aditya to not break up with her. She tries to stop another dancer from sabotaging her teams performance. She tries to make friends with one of her dance teammates that she has had an adversarial relationship with.
This book was a cute YA romance. I enjoyed it a lot. I wasn’t exactly sure what she figured out to get out of the time loop but I was very pleased with the way the story ended. I did wish that the relationship with her sister was explored more. And I felt like the family “curse” wasn’t explained enough in the beginning. But, all in all, it was a really good book.
February 26, 2025
3.5 stars!!
A huge thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a cppy of this book! I had a fun time with it!
Firstly, I would say that it has been a while since I read a YA novel, and I was really fascinated by the concept of a time loop with a dancer. I had to pick this up!! While I enjoyed the first half of this book - it gave me the perfect escape I needed from my busy and hectic life. But as it progressed, I found it to be slightly dragged and slow. Raina and Aditya are both great characters, but I just couldn't connect with them for some reason - I feel like I needed more establishment before we plundged into the time loop... Maybe these are different expectations, but I kind of wanted the book to explore her relationships beyond Aditya - like when her sister came in the time loop, or her mother too - I wish there was more depth in those interactions and not felt like an afterthought.
Overall, it is a fun book, and I wish all the luck to the author!
A huge thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a cppy of this book! I had a fun time with it!
Firstly, I would say that it has been a while since I read a YA novel, and I was really fascinated by the concept of a time loop with a dancer. I had to pick this up!! While I enjoyed the first half of this book - it gave me the perfect escape I needed from my busy and hectic life. But as it progressed, I found it to be slightly dragged and slow. Raina and Aditya are both great characters, but I just couldn't connect with them for some reason - I feel like I needed more establishment before we plundged into the time loop... Maybe these are different expectations, but I kind of wanted the book to explore her relationships beyond Aditya - like when her sister came in the time loop, or her mother too - I wish there was more depth in those interactions and not felt like an afterthought.
Overall, it is a fun book, and I wish all the luck to the author!
May 22, 2025
Overall, this book kept me interested from start to finish but I had a hard time connecting with Raina. Once she is thrown into the time loop we have to watch her repeatedly self sabotage her relationship. It was clear to me from the very beginning that one of the lessons she needed to learn from the time loop was how to communicate better but she took SO long to get that. I also wish I had a better understanding of how she ended up in the time loop.
I liked seeing Raina go from taking advantage of her relationship with Aditya because of being too comfortable due to her “family curse” to really starting to appreciate him for the golden retriever boyfriend he is to her. Raina had really good character development from start to finish but I didn’t really see that until she was out of the time loop.
I liked seeing Raina go from taking advantage of her relationship with Aditya because of being too comfortable due to her “family curse” to really starting to appreciate him for the golden retriever boyfriend he is to her. Raina had really good character development from start to finish but I didn’t really see that until she was out of the time loop.
July 30, 2025
💖 Blurb-
Raina needs to win the National Bollywood Dance Circuit Scholarship. That will show her mother that dance can be a financially stable career and prove to her boyfriend and co-captain, Aditya, that they’re still the perfect couple, even if all they seem to do these days is fight. There’s only one problem—Aditya breaks up with her, their Nationals choreography crumbles on stage, and Raina, as well as her hopes of winning the scholarship, is taken right down with it.
All Raina wants is a do-over, so when she wakes up the next morning to a miracle—another chance at Nationals with Aditya by her side—she couldn’t be happier. But as the events of the day start repeating, Raina realizes she’s stuck in a time loop, cursed to humiliate herself at Nationals and then get dumped—over and over again.
Raina is certain that if she follows all the right steps, she can break out of the time loop, win Nationals, and earn back the heart of her one true love in the process. But what if perfection isn’t enough?
💜 Review -
This is the first book that I have read by the author and I will definitely be reading more by them. I loved the Bollywood storyline and I wanted Raina to do well. I also enjoyed the Groundhog day style time loop and I wanted her to find her way out. I loved the author's writing style and how she shows Raina's vulnerability. Overall, a brilliant and enjoyable read that I highly recommend to other readers. I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Insta book tours, the author and publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Raina needs to win the National Bollywood Dance Circuit Scholarship. That will show her mother that dance can be a financially stable career and prove to her boyfriend and co-captain, Aditya, that they’re still the perfect couple, even if all they seem to do these days is fight. There’s only one problem—Aditya breaks up with her, their Nationals choreography crumbles on stage, and Raina, as well as her hopes of winning the scholarship, is taken right down with it.
All Raina wants is a do-over, so when she wakes up the next morning to a miracle—another chance at Nationals with Aditya by her side—she couldn’t be happier. But as the events of the day start repeating, Raina realizes she’s stuck in a time loop, cursed to humiliate herself at Nationals and then get dumped—over and over again.
Raina is certain that if she follows all the right steps, she can break out of the time loop, win Nationals, and earn back the heart of her one true love in the process. But what if perfection isn’t enough?
💜 Review -
This is the first book that I have read by the author and I will definitely be reading more by them. I loved the Bollywood storyline and I wanted Raina to do well. I also enjoyed the Groundhog day style time loop and I wanted her to find her way out. I loved the author's writing style and how she shows Raina's vulnerability. Overall, a brilliant and enjoyable read that I highly recommend to other readers. I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Insta book tours, the author and publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
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