Rani Deshpande Takes the Wheel

by Arushi Avachat

Rani's summer checklist didn't include falling in love in this sparkling romance for fans of The Summer of Broken Rules and Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute.

Nineteen-year-old Rani Deshpande is on a mission to reinvent herself the summer before transferring to her new university. After a challenging freshman year, Rani can’t help but feel like she’s playing catch up. To that end, she’s crafted a packed summer to get back on track: a dream internship, adventures with her hometown best friend, and regular driving lessons so that she can finally lose her passenger princess reputation - even if it means learning from her aggravating family friend (and childhood crush), Kush Khanna.

Kush and Rani grew up together, but they couldn’t be less alike. Within their close-knit Desi community - a Jane Austen style cast of ridiculous, meddlesome families - Kush is the beloved model son; Rani is more the black sheep. Kush is pre-med; Rani plans to teach elementary school. Kush is cool and collected, bordering on reticent; Rani couldn’t keep her mouth shut if her life depended on it. So when their mothers first force the pair to drive together, the arrangement feels like a recipe for disaster. As the lessons progress, however, Rani discovers there’s more to the boy she’s known her whole life than meets the eye.

In Arushi Avachat's Rani Deshpande Takes the Wheel, Rani must learn to course-correct, no matter how bumpy or windy the road – and even if it includes a detour right into love.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary

320 pages, Paperback

Expected publication May 19, 2026

About the author

Arushi Avachat is a writer from the Bay Area, California. She studied English, Political Science, and South Asian Studies at UCLA, where she was often found sipping caramel lattes and pretending to be productive at Kerckhoff Coffee House. A 2024 Marshall Scholar, Arushi received her MSt in English and American Studies at Oxford. Arushi loves dark chocolate, Jane Austen books, and California winters. Arya Khanna’s Bollywood Moment (Wednesday Books) is her first novel. Her second novel, Rani Deshpande Takes the Wheel (Wednesday Books), releases on May 19. She is represented by the lovely Rebecca Rodd and Kerry Sparks at LGR Literary.

Reviews

[Yusra ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

another arccc

rtc, this was adorable

[Bonnie Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rani's freshman year at a college away from her hometown is quite the disappointment for her. She transfers to a college near her home and plans a summer to start afresh. She and her best friend, Simram, have made their check lists for the summer. One of the items on Rani's list is to get her driver's license, something she has been putting off. It turns out she has to take driving lessons from her family friend, and childhood crush.
This delightful story of Rani's busy summer will keep you entertained and have you rooting for Rani.

[Ayushi (bookwormbullet) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up!

[neha · Rating 4 out of 5]

i am constantly seeking out south asian romance novels but i rarely leave satisfied. sometimes the references are overdone, or the relationship development is too fast or i just can’t connect with the characters despite having the benefit of shared culture. safe to say, this book doesn’t suffer from any of that. these characters are well written (the fmc more than the mmc, but he still appears to be fairly developed) and because of that, the development of their relationship feels natural. they have known each other for much of their lives but they spend a summer rediscovering each other after several misunderstandings and you truly do see the ice start to thaw to the point where they seek out each others company. they have their issues but they apologize and (eventually) talk it out. the fmc apart from that has a lot of other aspects that she needs to navigate, mostly suffering from eldest daughter of an immigrant household syndrome, but seeing her come into her own at the end is lovely. this all goes to say, i think this was a well balanced book with rom AND com, character development, fairly fleshed out plot lines… the works. i’d say it does good job of revealing the quirks of south asian diaspora culture and i found much of it comforting. very cute overall

(received an arc copy through netgalley)

[Aura C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the quiet confidence of this story. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t rush to impress but settles into its rhythm and lets the characters do the work. The pacing felt steady and intentional, and I appreciated how much space was given to growth that felt personal rather than performative.

Rani’s journey stood out to me the most. Her internal struggles around responsibility, expectations, and figuring out what she actually wants felt relatable, especially within the context of family and cultural pressure. Those moments landed with a lot of heart, and they were written with care. The family dynamics in particular felt lived-in and familiar in a way that added depth without overwhelming the story.

The romance was sweet and understated. I liked that it developed through shared history and small moments rather than big dramatic gestures. It wasn’t overly angsty, but it also wasn’t shallow, which made it feel genuine. The chemistry built naturally, and I found myself rooting for them without needing constant tension to stay engaged.

Overall, this was a comforting, thoughtful read with humor, warmth, and emotional honesty. It didn’t completely knock me off my feet, but it absolutely held my attention and left me smiling by the end. A solid four stars for a story that balances romance, family, and self-discovery really well.

[Monica Chhugani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always on the lookout for books that I can relate to on a cultural level and this book did not disappoint on that front.

From the casual use of Marathi and Hindi words in conversation, to the day to day dynamics of a brown immigrant household in a Western setting, Rani's family like (and Kush's for that matter) was entirely too relatable for me as a Third Culture Kid born in India.

I related to Rani's feelings of being taken for granted as the eldest daughter in an Indian family. I related to Kush's family always expecting the best of him without regard for his personal feelings, and I deeply appreciated the commentary on how domineering and critical Indian men from the older generation can be with Kush's dad's character. I loved Ajoba's character and his and Rani's relationship throughout the book.

Rani and Kush's dynamic developing from childhood was like a rollercoaster, but I loved Kush's quiet patience with her and Rani's openness to trying to communicate with him rather than icing him out. Overall, I wasn't sure I'd enjoy the book because closed door romances rarely do it for me, but between the cultural aspects depicted beautifully and viscerally, and the palpable chemistry between Rani and Kush, I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.

[Bex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC read.

This was a 3.5 star rating for me. Where I did like the story, It did feel like the pacing could use an adjustment. The timeline was fine, but when a chapter was over the jump to the next scene kept feeling a bit abrupt.

Rani felt like a very relatable character, especially as a caretaker to her siblings, when she herself was still a kid and then only just turning into an adult. I really don't care if there are busy parents, or a parent who worries a lot, you decided to have children, so thus you need to be the adult and take care of ALL of your children.

The conflict in the story also felt very relatable, and though most of the reactions of the people surrounding Rani, and even from Rani herself were very realistic; there were times where I felt that they were acting much to mature, and then on the opposite side much to childish. But to be fair most of them were still in the teen years; lol.

Overall I really enjoyed the story, and I loved the library reference as I work in a library myself!

[Saloni Porwal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grabbed this book only coz of the Indian roots, and on those grounds, it did not disappoint. Don't go in expecting tons of romance, because this story is more focused on the protagonist Rani and her story. The romance accounts for a very small portion of the book, and even then, it is very slow burn. Not that I mind that in the least.

I personally enjoyed this book because Rani shares my own roots and culture, and it was delightful to see phrases from my own mother tongue reflected throughout the writing, and of course, the cuisine.

If you're looking for diverse reads to explore cultures, and South Asian ones at that, this book is pretty great! You'll find a lot of family centric scenes, and the side characters play a significant and memorable role in the story. Overall, I'd say it's a lighthearted, easy to read story; but also, one that isn't all fluff because it's real and relatable.

[Aish · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I definitely thought this was a romance, and while sure, there was a romance, this book felt more like a realistic fiction book than romance. There were fleeting moments here and there with Rani and Kush (which I loved) but it was mostly about Rani's journey and character growth over the summer which I'm not mad about because the author did such a good job - I was rooting for Rani the entire time. As someone who is also ethnically South Asian, I loved reading a book that represents South Asian culture and I could definitely relate to a lot of Rani's moments and interactions throughout. Truly, I'd give this book 5 stars if it was slightly longer and captured more of Rani and Kush!

4.5 stars - Thank you to Arushi Avachat, St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!

[Ananya Devarajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Arushi Avachat has truly done it again. I am so honored and lucky to not only have read an early copy, but to have blurbed a book that spoke to me in a way that only adorable YA romances featuring charming Desi leads like RANI DESHPANDE TAKES THE WHEEL do.

"Rani Deshpande Takes the Wheel is a witty, irresistible rom-com about a summer of changes. As the eldest daughter, Rani has spent years putting others first, but now she’s determined to blaze her own path—even if it means enduring driving lessons with her childhood crush and the chaos of her meddling relatives. Funny, tender, and utterly charming, Arushi Avachat expertly redefines and uplifts South Asian representation through Rani’s journey of self-discovery and what it truly means to drive her own life."

Literally inject this book into my veins. I'm obsessed.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a charming book. I especially liked the South Asian cultural references. It was fascinating to me to read about the family interactions. On one hand, I envied all the large family get-togethers and the strong sense of community, but alternatively, I was appalled by Rani's parentification and the blatant way she was taken advantage of by her family and seemingly underappreciated. Can no one in this family communicate or apologize? That said, I truly enjoyed seeing Rani's character growth throughout the book. The romance is subtle and sweet, but the strength of the story, for me, came from Rani's personal growth as she finds her place in the world.
Many thanks to NetGalley for this advance copy.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was all in from the beginning. New to me author, and the title grabbed my attention. My girl Rani had so much going on, spending time with her grandfather, being secondary parent to her twin brothers, having the best summer ever and getting her driver’s license.

Over all this was a nice new adult, young adult rom com type book. I enjoyed seeing Rani work out her issues.

A nice no fuss, low angst book about a girl whose idea of a good time is shared googled doc.

I love love love the clueless reference.

[Srishti B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly quite surprising. I'm tired of books that think being Indian is just about having watched every Bollywood movie under the sun. The discussion of being an eldest daughter in a desi family was quite well done, and I appreciated that it wasn't completely resolved at the end. The main storyline was obviously very predictible but that was expected. Also glad to be seeing more novels focused on college-aged characters in general.

[Aamna Qureshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

so fun!! so many things got me but the bend it like beckham reference REALLY got me...

official blurb: As comforting and entertaining as a conversation with a best friend, Rani Desphande Takes the Wheel has a bit of everything: friendship, romance, humor, and family. I adored Avachat’s attention to detail, smooth narration, and cultural references. Wonderfully well-done!

[Umi · Rating 5 out of 5]

alr know this book will be a 10/10 !!

[Bijuri]

3.5/5 stars. But don't get it twisted—this was better than the author's debut. I was too generous with my ratings in the past. Anyway, full RTC.

[Lydia Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting to know about the mc culture and loved the tight family bond she has with her family.Cute love story .

[Emma S · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS SO GOOD. It was actually funny and relatable (I personally, could not drive until recently either) and it was just a good romance book. It checked all the boxes- it was thoroughly entertaining, it wasn't basic, her friends were the best, good side plots. I am so glad I read this.

-thanks netgalley