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A Match Made in Mehendi
Fifteen-year-old Simran "Simi" Sangha comes from a long line of Indian vichole-matchmakers-with a rich history for helping parents find good matches for their grown children. When Simi accidentally sets up her cousin and a soon-to-be lawyer, her family is thrilled that she has the "gift."
But Simi is an artist, and she doesn't want to have anything to do with relationships, helicopter parents, and family drama. That is, until she realizes this might be just the thing to improve her and her best friend Noah's social status. Armed with her family's ancient guide to finding love, Simi starts a matchmaking service-via an app, of course.
But when she helps connect a wallflower of a girl with the star of the boys' soccer team, she turns the high school hierarchy topsy-turvy, soon making herself public enemy number one.
But Simi is an artist, and she doesn't want to have anything to do with relationships, helicopter parents, and family drama. That is, until she realizes this might be just the thing to improve her and her best friend Noah's social status. Armed with her family's ancient guide to finding love, Simi starts a matchmaking service-via an app, of course.
But when she helps connect a wallflower of a girl with the star of the boys' soccer team, she turns the high school hierarchy topsy-turvy, soon making herself public enemy number one.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 2019
59 people are currently reading
5635 people want to read
About the author
Nandini Bajpai
4 books175 followersNandini Bajpai grew up in New Delhi, India, one of four sisters and many cousins, in a family that liked to read.
She lived and worked in India, Australia, and the US, before settling in the Boston area with her husband, kids, and a fluctuating number and variety of pets. Although she dabbled in corporate finance, business analysis, and fostering shelter animals, her first love is writing.
She lived and worked in India, Australia, and the US, before settling in the Boston area with her husband, kids, and a fluctuating number and variety of pets. Although she dabbled in corporate finance, business analysis, and fostering shelter animals, her first love is writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 405 reviews
October 23, 2019
CW: bullying, public outing of a character
Definitely a solid 4.5.
I have been waiting to read this book for so long now that I’ve lost count. And it didn’t help that I always seem to get rejected for ownvoices ARCs. But I was delighted to finally get my library copy so that I can join in with my friends who have all loved it so much.
The one thing I could tell right from the first page is that I was gonna smile through the whole book. The writing is light hearted, fun, with lots of awkward and silly and adorable moments and on the whole, just some thorough entertainment. I thought the author’s idea of combining the traditional Indian style of matchmaking with modern and technologically advanced dating apps was genius and it made for a very lovely story - while giving us the pros and cons of both methods. The setting of the high school was pretty realistic too and I liked that the author didn’t try too much to get the teenage voice right. The pacing is very fast and I flew through the book so quickly that I didn’t even realize it was almost the end. Each chapter also has a lovely mehendi design and a quote from the MC’s family’s matchmaking guide, which I thought was excellent symbolism for the book as a whole. I think the only problem I had was with the main bully in the high school (I’m so over the mean girl trope) and while I’m sure that every school might have someone like that irl, I’m not sure we need more girl on girl hate in YA novels.
And obviously I thought the desi representation was amazing - right from the slightly nosy moms and aunts, the slight obsession with engineers and doctors, the descriptions of yummy food, the importance of wearing a turban as a Sikh, the differences between how the elders feel about mehendi being something sacred whereas the youngsters finding it unique and fun, the rituals and ceremonies - there are just so many little things which I may not even have noticed, because they were organically part of the story and the characters and I loved being in the middle of it all. And come on, the multiple mentions of samosas and pakodas and Limca just made me hungry, but unfortunately I didn’t have any handy to munch on.
I adored Simi from page 1. She is a sweet but clumsy high school sophomore, who has this habit of falling over at inopportune times. She is an amazing artist and I loved that her parents didn’t seem to have too much of a problem with that. Her friendship with her BFF Noah is total goals and I loved how they encouraged and motivated each other all the time, but also gave space when one needed it. Noah is gay and it isn’t really mentioned how many in the larger context of the school know about him, but I liked that whoever did were very supportive. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the acceptance of Simi’s family because homophobia in Indian families is quite common. Simi’s family is also appropriately intrusive but very fun loving as well as dependable, and I loved all of them.
I’d read in a couple of reviews there are two boys in the books and Simi chooses one. I kept hoping it wasn’t a love triangle situation and I loved the way the author managed to navigate Simi’s feelings for the two. I could totally feel all the awkwardness and tingles that Simi was feeling and it was sweet watching her get to know them better and make a decision. There are also many other classmates of theirs who meet and start going out due to Simi and Noah’s app, and I thought all of it was done very nicely without any drama. It was refreshing to see a fun group of diverse couples.
I think the main theme of this book was about finding what we want to do in life. Simi doesn’t feel interested in her family’s matchmaking business or the boy her family may like, because she doesn’t want to do what’s expected. But her journey of realizing that it’s not bad to like doing something that also meets her family’s expectations, or not having to choose between her various interests - this was all written very well and in such a subtle manner that you don’t even realize it. And due to the whole concept of matchmaking, there is a lot of emphasis on compatibility, but also about the fact that two people may seem perfect on paper but they might not be good together because deeper values and motivations are much more important for a successful relationship. I think the overall message of the book that whether traditional Indian style matchmaking or modern dating apps, what makes two people click remains the same is something that comes out beautifully and I think we can all agree with that.
To conclude, I just wanna say that if you love fun YA contemporaries and want to smile for a bit, pick this book up. If you particularly love desi books like I do, then I promise you can’t go wrong with this amazing debut. And while I’m very very excited to see what the author comes up with next, I’m also a bit sad that this book is already done and I can’t experience it all over again.
Definitely a solid 4.5.
I have been waiting to read this book for so long now that I’ve lost count. And it didn’t help that I always seem to get rejected for ownvoices ARCs. But I was delighted to finally get my library copy so that I can join in with my friends who have all loved it so much.
The one thing I could tell right from the first page is that I was gonna smile through the whole book. The writing is light hearted, fun, with lots of awkward and silly and adorable moments and on the whole, just some thorough entertainment. I thought the author’s idea of combining the traditional Indian style of matchmaking with modern and technologically advanced dating apps was genius and it made for a very lovely story - while giving us the pros and cons of both methods. The setting of the high school was pretty realistic too and I liked that the author didn’t try too much to get the teenage voice right. The pacing is very fast and I flew through the book so quickly that I didn’t even realize it was almost the end. Each chapter also has a lovely mehendi design and a quote from the MC’s family’s matchmaking guide, which I thought was excellent symbolism for the book as a whole. I think the only problem I had was with the main bully in the high school (I’m so over the mean girl trope) and while I’m sure that every school might have someone like that irl, I’m not sure we need more girl on girl hate in YA novels.
And obviously I thought the desi representation was amazing - right from the slightly nosy moms and aunts, the slight obsession with engineers and doctors, the descriptions of yummy food, the importance of wearing a turban as a Sikh, the differences between how the elders feel about mehendi being something sacred whereas the youngsters finding it unique and fun, the rituals and ceremonies - there are just so many little things which I may not even have noticed, because they were organically part of the story and the characters and I loved being in the middle of it all. And come on, the multiple mentions of samosas and pakodas and Limca just made me hungry, but unfortunately I didn’t have any handy to munch on.
I adored Simi from page 1. She is a sweet but clumsy high school sophomore, who has this habit of falling over at inopportune times. She is an amazing artist and I loved that her parents didn’t seem to have too much of a problem with that. Her friendship with her BFF Noah is total goals and I loved how they encouraged and motivated each other all the time, but also gave space when one needed it. Noah is gay and it isn’t really mentioned how many in the larger context of the school know about him, but I liked that whoever did were very supportive. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the acceptance of Simi’s family because homophobia in Indian families is quite common. Simi’s family is also appropriately intrusive but very fun loving as well as dependable, and I loved all of them.
I’d read in a couple of reviews there are two boys in the books and Simi chooses one. I kept hoping it wasn’t a love triangle situation and I loved the way the author managed to navigate Simi’s feelings for the two. I could totally feel all the awkwardness and tingles that Simi was feeling and it was sweet watching her get to know them better and make a decision. There are also many other classmates of theirs who meet and start going out due to Simi and Noah’s app, and I thought all of it was done very nicely without any drama. It was refreshing to see a fun group of diverse couples.
I think the main theme of this book was about finding what we want to do in life. Simi doesn’t feel interested in her family’s matchmaking business or the boy her family may like, because she doesn’t want to do what’s expected. But her journey of realizing that it’s not bad to like doing something that also meets her family’s expectations, or not having to choose between her various interests - this was all written very well and in such a subtle manner that you don’t even realize it. And due to the whole concept of matchmaking, there is a lot of emphasis on compatibility, but also about the fact that two people may seem perfect on paper but they might not be good together because deeper values and motivations are much more important for a successful relationship. I think the overall message of the book that whether traditional Indian style matchmaking or modern dating apps, what makes two people click remains the same is something that comes out beautifully and I think we can all agree with that.
To conclude, I just wanna say that if you love fun YA contemporaries and want to smile for a bit, pick this book up. If you particularly love desi books like I do, then I promise you can’t go wrong with this amazing debut. And while I’m very very excited to see what the author comes up with next, I’m also a bit sad that this book is already done and I can’t experience it all over again.
October 21, 2020
August 22, 2019:
Loved reading A Match Made in Mehendi for the stereotypes it breaks: from converging the family's legacy and one's life aspiration to creating a relationship that demolishes the high school hierarchy, this young adult contemporary romance pleasantly surprises with accurate yet fresh desi representation while setting up a friends-to-lovers trope in the background.
🔅american-indian MC
🔅ya contemporary
🔅stereotypes broken
🔅desi references
🔅cute friends-to-lovers
🔅tech meets tradition
🔅artist female MC
🔅handsome, desi love interest
🔅diverse side characters
🔅anonymous match-making app for school
🔅vicholi family legacy
🔅unexpected teenage relationships stem
🔅quotes from the family's match-making guide
🔅typical mean girl bully
🔅gay best friend
🔅fast-paced, quick readRead an interview with the author here.
November 5, 2019
A wholesome and lovely read! A story about matchmaking, desi identity and Indian culture, friendship, and even addresses bullying.
- Follows Simi, who comes from a long line of Indian matchmakers who creates an app to help pair up her schoolmates to make her mark in her second year at high school.
- This is such a cosy and light-hearted read; the sort of book you just read, feel the warm and fuzzies, and enjoy for what it is.
- Simi was such a fantastic protagonist and I really enjoyed her narrative! Her voice was fantastic, she is an artist and such a kind soul, fights for what she thinks is right, and she is a little flawed too.
- This book actually had one of the best love triangles I've read. I was curious to see where it went, and the relationships were developed organically and wonderfully.
- This book does tackle bullying, and I thought it was done in a sensitive way. The bully is a little exaggerated, but the impact of her bullying was not - so this was fine by me, as the latter was more important in the story.
- However, I do have thoughts on something that happens, and am not quite sure how to make of this. Spoiler ahead:
- Honestly, I just enjoyed this book and think it's a great read.
Trigger/content warning:
- Follows Simi, who comes from a long line of Indian matchmakers who creates an app to help pair up her schoolmates to make her mark in her second year at high school.
- This is such a cosy and light-hearted read; the sort of book you just read, feel the warm and fuzzies, and enjoy for what it is.
- Simi was such a fantastic protagonist and I really enjoyed her narrative! Her voice was fantastic, she is an artist and such a kind soul, fights for what she thinks is right, and she is a little flawed too.
- This book actually had one of the best love triangles I've read. I was curious to see where it went, and the relationships were developed organically and wonderfully.
- This book does tackle bullying, and I thought it was done in a sensitive way. The bully is a little exaggerated, but the impact of her bullying was not - so this was fine by me, as the latter was more important in the story.
- However, I do have thoughts on something that happens, and am not quite sure how to make of this. Spoiler ahead:
- Honestly, I just enjoyed this book and think it's a great read.
Trigger/content warning:
January 3, 2024
This book is so unapologetically desi my heart hurts. Super sweet, funny, and refreshing read with charming characters (mostly) and lovely representation!
I was really captured by the writing style to the point I almost neglected schoolwork (oops).
If you like romcoms with a cute and likeable lead, Bajpai's US debut is definitely one not to miss!
***My only nitpick is that desi is an in group word, so it's really not for whites/non south asians to use. But your mileage may vary there.
Content warning: bullying, outing
I was really captured by the writing style to the point I almost neglected schoolwork (oops).
If you like romcoms with a cute and likeable lead, Bajpai's US debut is definitely one not to miss!
***My only nitpick is that desi is an in group word, so it's really not for whites/non south asians to use. But your mileage may vary there.
Content warning: bullying, outing
July 20, 2020
"The root of family is love. The root of all love is friendship - THE SHAGUN MATCHMAKING GUIDE"
A Match Made in Mehendi is Nandini Bajpai's U.S. debut, a YA contemporary about 15-year-old Simran "Simi" Sangha, a talented artist who comes from a long line of matchmakers. While Simi has no desire to follow in the family business, she starts off her story by accidentally setting her cousin up, and her best friend then talks her into carrying the matchmaking business into their high school where these two wallflowers might just find some popularity.
A Match Made in Mehendi is such a pleasant, light-hearted novel that really celebrates Indian culture and writes an adorable story about a group of teens.
I wouldn't call this novel extraordinary, but it does something I love: it gives a stereotypical happy story to marginalized characters, and also puts a twist on the story by including Simi's family business of matchmaking.
Simi's character was a great main character. I loved the blend of innocence and strength with her character - she definitely has some of the naivety of a younger high-schooler, but she's also strong enough to stand up to bullying and to try to make a name for herself.
I loved Simi's character arc as an artist, especially in how she wove mehendi into her art pieces, and I loved her character arc in finding her place in her family business. She was just such a delightful main character, and I really did want the best for her.
I also really enjoyed the love triangle in this novel. While Simi's own romance is a subplot of the story, the love triangle was so enjoyable and interesting to read, and I couldn't wait to find out who Simi ended up with. And that's coming from someone who rarely enjoys love triangles.
Simi's best friend, Noah, is a significant part of her story. Noah also happens to be gay, and that plotline was handled very tastefully, it did not fall into any typical 'gay best friend tropes.' I only wish we had seen more of Noah and his love interest, but otherwise I loved his character.
But the real driving point of this novel is the matchmaking business. I loved how Simi's heritage and culture was tied into Matched!, and I loved how this novel incorporated Indian culture into the story. I also just really loved the concept of Matched!, and for a novel that is very 'stereotypical' in many ways, the incorporation of this app added something really unique and interesting to the story.
I loved all of the supporting cast, from Simi's friends to her family (particularly her brother Navdeep, I am a sucker for good sibling relationships), and I really loved the number of dogs that made cameos in this novel.
The primary reason I docked a star, other than the fact that this novel isn't super profound or moving, is that this novel did fall into one trope I hate - girl-on-girl hate. Now, while I think bullies definitely exist in high school, the majority of the redeeming/fleshed-out supporting characters are male characters while the primary 'villain' of the novel is a teenage girl, and had there been more redeeming girl characters I could have overlooked that, but that was my one major complaint with the novel.
Also, on a personal level, I just found it really weird how Simi was so willing to give all the white students in her school mehendi 'tattoos' when those are really a part of Desi culture. That might just be me and that's not a reason to dislike the book so it didn't impact my rating, but to me, mehendi is too important to my culture to just share with white people.
All in all, A Match Made in Mehendi really is a feel good story that brings a smile to the reader's face, and it's such a pleasant read that provides a wonderful break when you've been reading heavy content for a long time.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacted my opinion.
content warnings: a character is partially outed in a scene
A Match Made in Mehendi is Nandini Bajpai's U.S. debut, a YA contemporary about 15-year-old Simran "Simi" Sangha, a talented artist who comes from a long line of matchmakers. While Simi has no desire to follow in the family business, she starts off her story by accidentally setting her cousin up, and her best friend then talks her into carrying the matchmaking business into their high school where these two wallflowers might just find some popularity.
A Match Made in Mehendi is such a pleasant, light-hearted novel that really celebrates Indian culture and writes an adorable story about a group of teens.
I wouldn't call this novel extraordinary, but it does something I love: it gives a stereotypical happy story to marginalized characters, and also puts a twist on the story by including Simi's family business of matchmaking.
Simi's character was a great main character. I loved the blend of innocence and strength with her character - she definitely has some of the naivety of a younger high-schooler, but she's also strong enough to stand up to bullying and to try to make a name for herself.
I loved Simi's character arc as an artist, especially in how she wove mehendi into her art pieces, and I loved her character arc in finding her place in her family business. She was just such a delightful main character, and I really did want the best for her.
I also really enjoyed the love triangle in this novel. While Simi's own romance is a subplot of the story, the love triangle was so enjoyable and interesting to read, and I couldn't wait to find out who Simi ended up with. And that's coming from someone who rarely enjoys love triangles.
Simi's best friend, Noah, is a significant part of her story. Noah also happens to be gay, and that plotline was handled very tastefully, it did not fall into any typical 'gay best friend tropes.' I only wish we had seen more of Noah and his love interest, but otherwise I loved his character.
But the real driving point of this novel is the matchmaking business. I loved how Simi's heritage and culture was tied into Matched!, and I loved how this novel incorporated Indian culture into the story. I also just really loved the concept of Matched!, and for a novel that is very 'stereotypical' in many ways, the incorporation of this app added something really unique and interesting to the story.
I loved all of the supporting cast, from Simi's friends to her family (particularly her brother Navdeep, I am a sucker for good sibling relationships), and I really loved the number of dogs that made cameos in this novel.
The primary reason I docked a star, other than the fact that this novel isn't super profound or moving, is that this novel did fall into one trope I hate - girl-on-girl hate. Now, while I think bullies definitely exist in high school, the majority of the redeeming/fleshed-out supporting characters are male characters while the primary 'villain' of the novel is a teenage girl, and had there been more redeeming girl characters I could have overlooked that, but that was my one major complaint with the novel.
Also, on a personal level, I just found it really weird how Simi was so willing to give all the white students in her school mehendi 'tattoos' when those are really a part of Desi culture. That might just be me and that's not a reason to dislike the book so it didn't impact my rating, but to me, mehendi is too important to my culture to just share with white people.
All in all, A Match Made in Mehendi really is a feel good story that brings a smile to the reader's face, and it's such a pleasant read that provides a wonderful break when you've been reading heavy content for a long time.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacted my opinion.
content warnings: a character is partially outed in a scene
August 15, 2021
The Misadventures of Simi and Noah’s guide to Matchmaking
Find a book. Read it’s synopsis. Picture it and deduct whether you’ll read it or not. Reading this book’s cover made me think “Oh this sounds cute but I doubt I’ll ever read it”. Miraculously, I ended up reading it and saying I was pleasantly surprised doesn’t do it justice…but telling you I read it in one sitting sparing only a few hours of my time would more than suffice.
“People are people...and love is love”.
Simi just wants to have a fresh new year in high school. Gain some status, make some new friends, and maintain her normal teenage life. One day she accidentally hooks her cousin up with an eligible bachelor her family thinks it’s time she join the family matchmaking business. She wants no parts of her mother’s old love matching ways, instead she, her brother, and her best friend Noah get together to start a quiz matching app to hook their high school peers up. Everything starts out good until they match up the most popular boy at school and a new girl.
I am so happy I got an early copy of this. I am so happy took the time to read this! To say I simple enjoyed this book would be a massive understatement. I could relate to the characters, some of their motive, and actions. There tragic moments, touching moments, and even laughable ones as well but what captures me in the end was the camaraderie. Friends coming together to make things right! There’s a little bit of everyone for someone— lgbt friendly, cute quirky main character, adorable meet cutes, and a mean girl take down. I would definitely recommend this to any and everyone and I am a complete stan any campaign for a movie!!!
Find a book. Read it’s synopsis. Picture it and deduct whether you’ll read it or not. Reading this book’s cover made me think “Oh this sounds cute but I doubt I’ll ever read it”. Miraculously, I ended up reading it and saying I was pleasantly surprised doesn’t do it justice…but telling you I read it in one sitting sparing only a few hours of my time would more than suffice.
“People are people...and love is love”.
Simi just wants to have a fresh new year in high school. Gain some status, make some new friends, and maintain her normal teenage life. One day she accidentally hooks her cousin up with an eligible bachelor her family thinks it’s time she join the family matchmaking business. She wants no parts of her mother’s old love matching ways, instead she, her brother, and her best friend Noah get together to start a quiz matching app to hook their high school peers up. Everything starts out good until they match up the most popular boy at school and a new girl.
I am so happy I got an early copy of this. I am so happy took the time to read this! To say I simple enjoyed this book would be a massive understatement. I could relate to the characters, some of their motive, and actions. There tragic moments, touching moments, and even laughable ones as well but what captures me in the end was the camaraderie. Friends coming together to make things right! There’s a little bit of everyone for someone— lgbt friendly, cute quirky main character, adorable meet cutes, and a mean girl take down. I would definitely recommend this to any and everyone and I am a complete stan any campaign for a movie!!!
August 18, 2020
3.5 Stars
CW: Public outing of gay teenager, bullying
A lovely book about family, friendships and finding your match. I am not familiar with the desi culture so it was interesting to read about family dynamics and the match making traditions. I loved the blend of traditional and modern culture and thought the crossover was well written and I assume done respectfully. For an adorable book I was quite surprised at the toxicity levels of the bullying but I am glad at how that was handled. An ending that had me smiling.
CW: Public outing of gay teenager, bullying
A lovely book about family, friendships and finding your match. I am not familiar with the desi culture so it was interesting to read about family dynamics and the match making traditions. I loved the blend of traditional and modern culture and thought the crossover was well written and I assume done respectfully. For an adorable book I was quite surprised at the toxicity levels of the bullying but I am glad at how that was handled. An ending that had me smiling.
August 28, 2019
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
A Match Made in Mehendi is a story about family, friendship, and standing up against bullies. At the same time, A Match in Mehendi is about balancing technology and tradition, fear and desire, dreams and expectations. Simi's family are professional matchmakers, as a way to facilitate matches and join communities. But Simi would rather be an artist, drawn to a world full of exploration and color, not the sparks between people. Is there a way to balance her seemingly natural talent for matchmaking, with her own dreams?
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
A Match Made in Mehendi is a story about family, friendship, and standing up against bullies. At the same time, A Match in Mehendi is about balancing technology and tradition, fear and desire, dreams and expectations. Simi's family are professional matchmakers, as a way to facilitate matches and join communities. But Simi would rather be an artist, drawn to a world full of exploration and color, not the sparks between people. Is there a way to balance her seemingly natural talent for matchmaking, with her own dreams?
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
December 26, 2019
Absolutely adorable and delightful YA romance ❤️
September 11, 2019
Full Review on The Candid Cover
A Match Made in Mehendi by Nandini Bajpai is a fun read that also tackles issues of bullying. The main character, Simi, is one that is both quirky and relatable. It is a perfect book for your back-to-school TBR.
❀ UNIQUE THEME
The concept of a matchmaking family is one that I have never come across. There are quite a few books that have a matchmaking theme, but this one kicks it up a notch. The women in the family seem to have a gift that Simi is determined to evade. Although, with the help of her best friend and brother, they develop a really cool app that combines technology, art, and matchmaking.
❀ ENJOYABLE MAIN CHARACTER
As the app gains popularity within Simi’s school, a well-known bully causes all sorts of issues for Simi and her friend. I really enjoyed reading about how Simi deals with the problem and relies on her family and friends for help. Her character shows quite a bit of growth and she is easy to root for.
If you are looking for a contemporary novel that will pull at your heartstrings, A Match Made in Mehendi is one book to pick up this fall. The characters are enjoyable and the concept is fresh. I am looking forward to reading more of Bajpai’s works.
A Match Made in Mehendi by Nandini Bajpai is a fun read that also tackles issues of bullying. The main character, Simi, is one that is both quirky and relatable. It is a perfect book for your back-to-school TBR.
❀ UNIQUE THEME
The concept of a matchmaking family is one that I have never come across. There are quite a few books that have a matchmaking theme, but this one kicks it up a notch. The women in the family seem to have a gift that Simi is determined to evade. Although, with the help of her best friend and brother, they develop a really cool app that combines technology, art, and matchmaking.
❀ ENJOYABLE MAIN CHARACTER
As the app gains popularity within Simi’s school, a well-known bully causes all sorts of issues for Simi and her friend. I really enjoyed reading about how Simi deals with the problem and relies on her family and friends for help. Her character shows quite a bit of growth and she is easy to root for.
If you are looking for a contemporary novel that will pull at your heartstrings, A Match Made in Mehendi is one book to pick up this fall. The characters are enjoyable and the concept is fresh. I am looking forward to reading more of Bajpai’s works.
September 23, 2019
A match made in Mehendi is that American-desi story. Simi, our MC, is a clumsy girl, her family is matchmakers for generations and they want her to, but she thinks their method is old and on the other hand, she loves art, every art especially Mehendi (hinnah). For proving to her mother that technology can helpful in her business, she and Noah(Her best friend) came up with a plan of making a matchmaker app for their school. Okie so now talks about the Cliches, annoying and predictable things.
Like every other YA Simi has only one friend, who is like most of the YA is gay, I just don't understand why it is a growing trend, he is always there for our MC, does her makeup, help in setting her up, give fashion advice and when he finds someone he is all secretive about him and they got into a huge fight. MC can have more than one friend, one of the best friend can be straight and can help her in certain ways.
That excessive use of Punjabi/Hindi words and also with wrong and weird spellings, why they can't ask someone to double-check those words?
Samosas, Mint Chutney, Aloo k Parathey, Chai and other traditional foods, It feels like we Asian don't do anything except cooking and eating. Why these American-Desi stories turn into elaborated commercials of food?
All those details of clothes and their fabrics and fashion, Don't mind that the dresses she is wearing are not in fashion nowadays, her Grandmother is always back and forth from India to the USA, she should know about the latest trends.
In short half of this book is elaborated walking commercial of food, dresses, Matchmaking and Mehendi. Everything was too much. I liked the family bonding and the brother-sister relationship.
Let's talk about the narrator her pronunciation of desi words was funny, sometimes I wasn't able to understand what she is saying. There was one character I was thinking that his name is Siraj but when I checked the book it was Suraj and many other weird pronunciations.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, it was cliche, predicted, made me roll my eyes too hard for so many times, but it was light read so no guilt.
Like every other YA Simi has only one friend, who is like most of the YA is gay, I just don't understand why it is a growing trend, he is always there for our MC, does her makeup, help in setting her up, give fashion advice and when he finds someone he is all secretive about him and they got into a huge fight. MC can have more than one friend, one of the best friend can be straight and can help her in certain ways.
That excessive use of Punjabi/Hindi words and also with wrong and weird spellings, why they can't ask someone to double-check those words?
Samosas, Mint Chutney, Aloo k Parathey, Chai and other traditional foods, It feels like we Asian don't do anything except cooking and eating. Why these American-Desi stories turn into elaborated commercials of food?
All those details of clothes and their fabrics and fashion, Don't mind that the dresses she is wearing are not in fashion nowadays, her Grandmother is always back and forth from India to the USA, she should know about the latest trends.
In short half of this book is elaborated walking commercial of food, dresses, Matchmaking and Mehendi. Everything was too much. I liked the family bonding and the brother-sister relationship.
Let's talk about the narrator her pronunciation of desi words was funny, sometimes I wasn't able to understand what she is saying. There was one character I was thinking that his name is Siraj but when I checked the book it was Suraj and many other weird pronunciations.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, it was cliche, predicted, made me roll my eyes too hard for so many times, but it was light read so no guilt.
January 18, 2020
5 stars
- am i tearing up as i write this review? nO YOu aRe
- First, how gorgeous is that girl on the cover? This is such a beautiful book and I love it with all my heart.
- It honestly warms my heart to see Indian representation in and on books! I loved recognising all the Desiness from the typical careers paths to all the gossiping aunties to clothes and food and traditions was just amazing!
- The book starts off with Simi wanting to be more confident and proud of her Desi side and honestly I want to be too! I never wear mehendi out, I never talk to my friends about my culture but it would be so cool to just be able to share it.
- “But I’m tired of waiting around for someone to deem me worthy. Nope. This year, I’m taking it into my own hands, and so is Noah.” - also, i really want to experiment with mehendi after reading this!
- Simi was a brilliant, real, relatable main character – she is so sweet and I genuinely love her. She grew so much as a person in this book.
- Simi has a wonderful family, and it was great to see such a positive relationship in this book!
- Noah and Simi’s friendship warmed my heart and I loved everything about it!
- Simi’s match was actually adorable and they are so cute together!
- There was a love triangle but Simi’s experience navigating it was so well-written! I could feel her confusion and awkwardness!
- I feel like there aren’t enough books with Indian representation (that aren’t heavy fantasy) so it was great to see Simi just living her life, dealing with school and finding herself as a person!
- There is so much diversity, from a Filipino girl who is a star soccer player to LGBT characters!
- This is a light-hearted fun book and I loved reading it! It made me smile and I feel so happy every time I think of it!
- am i tearing up as i write this review? nO YOu aRe
- First, how gorgeous is that girl on the cover? This is such a beautiful book and I love it with all my heart.
- It honestly warms my heart to see Indian representation in and on books! I loved recognising all the Desiness from the typical careers paths to all the gossiping aunties to clothes and food and traditions was just amazing!
- The book starts off with Simi wanting to be more confident and proud of her Desi side and honestly I want to be too! I never wear mehendi out, I never talk to my friends about my culture but it would be so cool to just be able to share it.
- “But I’m tired of waiting around for someone to deem me worthy. Nope. This year, I’m taking it into my own hands, and so is Noah.” - also, i really want to experiment with mehendi after reading this!
- Simi was a brilliant, real, relatable main character – she is so sweet and I genuinely love her. She grew so much as a person in this book.
- Simi has a wonderful family, and it was great to see such a positive relationship in this book!
- Noah and Simi’s friendship warmed my heart and I loved everything about it!
- Simi’s match was actually adorable and they are so cute together!
- There was a love triangle but Simi’s experience navigating it was so well-written! I could feel her confusion and awkwardness!
- I feel like there aren’t enough books with Indian representation (that aren’t heavy fantasy) so it was great to see Simi just living her life, dealing with school and finding herself as a person!
- There is so much diversity, from a Filipino girl who is a star soccer player to LGBT characters!
- This is a light-hearted fun book and I loved reading it! It made me smile and I feel so happy every time I think of it!
June 17, 2020
this was a very sweet, fluffy read! i enjoyed reading all of the cultural references (samosas are literally the best omg 😋), and the characters were pretty fun to read about. this book did deal with a few deeper topics like bullying—but i thought that the character of the bully was overdone and a bit cliche. overall, though, this is a feel-good fluffy YA contemporary romance that i didn't regret reading!
★★★✦ {3.5 STARS}
★★★✦ {3.5 STARS}
January 11, 2021
First of all, I want to make clear that I'm not an own voices reviewer.
I really enjoyed reading this book, it was cute and the concept was, in my opinion, very original. The plot itself was nice, a bit predictable, but overall exactly what I expect from a YA story. It was so nice to learn more about the Indian culture, and from what I understood from several own voices reviewers, the representation was on point.
The only thing that I personally missed was some kind of glossary or footnotes (like in Crazy Rich Asians). There were things that I had to guess or didn't understand at all, and I think if that was included, the book could also have become educational. In the end this is a YA book, and I get that, but I don't think there's anything wrong with adding something educational.
I really enjoyed reading this book, it was cute and the concept was, in my opinion, very original. The plot itself was nice, a bit predictable, but overall exactly what I expect from a YA story. It was so nice to learn more about the Indian culture, and from what I understood from several own voices reviewers, the representation was on point.
The only thing that I personally missed was some kind of glossary or footnotes (like in Crazy Rich Asians). There were things that I had to guess or didn't understand at all, and I think if that was included, the book could also have become educational. In the end this is a YA book, and I get that, but I don't think there's anything wrong with adding something educational.
October 5, 2019
why does this not have a movie deal yet!!!!!!! 😍😍😍😍💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️💗💗💗💗💗💗💗
October 9, 2025
It was okay….
Finally right in a love triangle 🥰
Finally right in a love triangle 🥰
September 29, 2019
A huge thanks to Hachette India for a physical review copy of this book.
(Actual Rating - 3.8 stars)
You know when you've been on a roll of dark, intense high fantasies and kind of need a break from all of it? A Match Made in Mehendi is that perfect break you're looking for. It's adorable, lighthearted, deals with tons of stuff without feeling heavy and leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling as you turn the last page. Honestly, even if you're not looking for a break but just want a lighthearted read, pick this one up.
~ All the diversity~
I'm here for the multitude of Desi characters in this book AHHH BE STILL MY BEATING HEART. Simi, her family, her extended family and just all their Indian family friends. And then there's Noah, the adorkable gay best friend who likes makeup and is just the sweetest ever. There are interracial couples and intersectional feminism clubs at school, and just so much casual diversity that my heart is full <3
~ Characters who are a bit cliche but interesting all the same~
Yes there are some pretty cliche characters what with the high school setting and all but i still found them really interesting. Simi is the average high school girl who has a lot of friends but not super popular. Noah is her gay best friend who has known Simi since they were young. They both decide that they're going to be cooler this year and basically that's how the whole trouble with the app starts. At first glance they do seem like stereotypical characters but as i started getting to know about their little quirks, AHHH I JUST LOVE THIS DUO.
There's also a mean bully in school who IS cliche but I really liked how the bullying was seen and dealt with by the parents and teachers. I loved Ethan, one of the secondary characters; the most popular boy in school who is also super sweet, loves dogs and is adorable and kind. I NEED MORE SUCH CHARACTERS.
~ Lighthearted but deals with a lot~
The plot is kind of predictable but touches on so many important things which I adored. It's not complex but all the characters have a smol story/subplot going on that I adored. There is even this small subplot about stealing creative content and how it is NEVER okay WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT. I really loved how nothing came off as forced and AHHH can you tell I LOVED how lighthearted and adorable this book was? lighthearted yes but it dealt with things the right way!
~ I'm here for all the art and Mehendi~
Simi being an artist is a huge part of the novel. She has to decide on an art project for school and is absolutely crazy about mehendi. She makes temporary henna tattoos for her friends during lunch, uses her art talents when creating icons for their matchmaking app, and bonds with people over art too. BRING ON ALL THE ART LOVE!
~ A Match Made in Mehendi at first glance may seem like a not -so-unique, predictable rom-com but while it is predictable, it stands out with it's huge dose of culture, adorkable characters and the way it deals with a multitude of social issues without it feeling heavy or forced. ~
(Actual Rating - 3.8 stars)
You know when you've been on a roll of dark, intense high fantasies and kind of need a break from all of it? A Match Made in Mehendi is that perfect break you're looking for. It's adorable, lighthearted, deals with tons of stuff without feeling heavy and leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling as you turn the last page. Honestly, even if you're not looking for a break but just want a lighthearted read, pick this one up.
~ All the diversity~
I'm here for the multitude of Desi characters in this book AHHH BE STILL MY BEATING HEART. Simi, her family, her extended family and just all their Indian family friends. And then there's Noah, the adorkable gay best friend who likes makeup and is just the sweetest ever. There are interracial couples and intersectional feminism clubs at school, and just so much casual diversity that my heart is full <3
~ Characters who are a bit cliche but interesting all the same~
Yes there are some pretty cliche characters what with the high school setting and all but i still found them really interesting. Simi is the average high school girl who has a lot of friends but not super popular. Noah is her gay best friend who has known Simi since they were young. They both decide that they're going to be cooler this year and basically that's how the whole trouble with the app starts. At first glance they do seem like stereotypical characters but as i started getting to know about their little quirks, AHHH I JUST LOVE THIS DUO.
There's also a mean bully in school who IS cliche but I really liked how the bullying was seen and dealt with by the parents and teachers. I loved Ethan, one of the secondary characters; the most popular boy in school who is also super sweet, loves dogs and is adorable and kind. I NEED MORE SUCH CHARACTERS.
~ Lighthearted but deals with a lot~
The plot is kind of predictable but touches on so many important things which I adored. It's not complex but all the characters have a smol story/subplot going on that I adored. There is even this small subplot about stealing creative content and how it is NEVER okay WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT. I really loved how nothing came off as forced and AHHH can you tell I LOVED how lighthearted and adorable this book was? lighthearted yes but it dealt with things the right way!
~ I'm here for all the art and Mehendi~
Simi being an artist is a huge part of the novel. She has to decide on an art project for school and is absolutely crazy about mehendi. She makes temporary henna tattoos for her friends during lunch, uses her art talents when creating icons for their matchmaking app, and bonds with people over art too. BRING ON ALL THE ART LOVE!
~ A Match Made in Mehendi at first glance may seem like a not -so-unique, predictable rom-com but while it is predictable, it stands out with it's huge dose of culture, adorkable characters and the way it deals with a multitude of social issues without it feeling heavy or forced. ~
September 20, 2020
Let me explain what I liked and didn't like / understand in this book~
what I liked ;
- The voice felt sort of immature to me, but I guess considering the fact that the mc is supposed to be fifteen, that is actually a good thing ? -- I mean, it's a YA mc who actually sounds her age ! *gives the side-eye to MCs from John Green books*.
- For once, our mc isn't trying to get with the popular, hot jock. I mean, it isn't like you can't / shouldn't , but this idea is seriously overdone. In this case, Simi matches the aforementioned dude [ who isn't a jerk, btw ] with another girl.
- No unnecessary girl-hating !
- references to Punjabi culture !
- no stereotyping when it comes to culture !
- it was fast-paced without any unnecessary lag.
what I remain unsure over / did not like ;
-
- Also -- and I still don't know how I feel about this -- I felt like Noah's character, intentionally or unintentionally, seems to reinforce the idea that a teen girl's gay best friend is there to mostly help her with her makeup and to choose dresses for her to wear and whatnot. Noah felt like a hollow character in that regard; his clearly-evident crush on classmate Connor could've been further advanced as a subplot.
- The plot was predictable [ ].
- Amanda's character felt caricatured. She's your stereotypical mean girl with a personality that revolves around a boy.
Would recommend if you're looking for one of those cute, contemporary reads with an admittedly predictable plot but with something fluffy and easy with diverse side characters.
[ also : I really liked the bit where sadi gali was played during the night of the engagement party ? Like, I really like the vibe of that scene, you know ? ]
Rep -
🎨 American - Indian mc and supporting characters
🎨 Punjabi + Sikh culture
🎨 Filipinx side character
🎨 Other diverse side characters !
what I liked ;
- The voice felt sort of immature to me, but I guess considering the fact that the mc is supposed to be fifteen, that is actually a good thing ? -- I mean, it's a YA mc who actually sounds her age ! *gives the side-eye to MCs from John Green books*.
- For once, our mc isn't trying to get with the popular, hot jock. I mean, it isn't like you can't / shouldn't , but this idea is seriously overdone. In this case, Simi matches the aforementioned dude [ who isn't a jerk, btw ] with another girl.
- No unnecessary girl-hating !
- references to Punjabi culture !
- no stereotyping when it comes to culture !
- it was fast-paced without any unnecessary lag.
what I remain unsure over / did not like ;
-
- Also -- and I still don't know how I feel about this -- I felt like Noah's character, intentionally or unintentionally, seems to reinforce the idea that a teen girl's gay best friend is there to mostly help her with her makeup and to choose dresses for her to wear and whatnot. Noah felt like a hollow character in that regard; his clearly-evident crush on classmate Connor could've been further advanced as a subplot.
- The plot was predictable [ ].
- Amanda's character felt caricatured. She's your stereotypical mean girl with a personality that revolves around a boy.
Would recommend if you're looking for one of those cute, contemporary reads with an admittedly predictable plot but with something fluffy and easy with diverse side characters.
[ also : I really liked the bit where sadi gali was played during the night of the engagement party ? Like, I really like the vibe of that scene, you know ? ]
Rep -
🎨 American - Indian mc and supporting characters
🎨 Punjabi + Sikh culture
🎨 Filipinx side character
🎨 Other diverse side characters !
August 7, 2019
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Disclaimer: the amazing humans at Hachette Book Group Canada were kind enough to send me an arc of A Match Made in Mehendi in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions below are my own.
“Sometimes an accident is no accident, but a way to bring hearts together.”
A Match Made in Mehendi is a fun, feel-good story about brown kids just being brown kids! Yes, there is some racism, but for the most part, these teenagers are just going through high school, and the fact that they are brown, is not the main point of the story. It is refreshing!
Simi is an artist. She loves mehendi and is very good at it too. Her mother, her aunt, and her grandma are all matchmakers though, and want her to join the family business.
At school, Simi and her best friend Noah (who is gay) are determined to make an impression on their fellow students this year – well, Noah more than Simi. But she wants him to be happy, so she agrees to work on… a matchmaking app with him!
Their app builds off an app that Simi’s brother created for their mom’s matchmaking business. The foundation is all in place – they just need people at school to sign up.
What ensues are the great and terrible love stories of Mayfield High!
“‘Everyone deserves a love story’ is what Nanima always told me.”
I really liked Simi. She wants to get through high school without causing any problems, but she also wants to make her best friend happy. She’s relatable and understandable.
One thing that felt “off” (I don’t even know if that is the right word) to me is how sketchy they seemed about developing the app. I would expect that teachers would be impressed if a student could create an app, assuming the app was not harming anyone.
I can understand some wariness about it being a matchmaking app, but students in high school date.. so it shouldn’t be a problem? Anyway, that was just a small issue I had with it. The app itself sounded really cool though!
“He’s quizzing me like an old auntie trying to make a match at the gurdwara.”
It was awesome to see some gay and lesbian rep in the matches that developed. They also unintentionally broke up the cliques, so students from different social groups were matched because of their shared interests and values. It was pretty cool to see, and a good reminder that you should never judge someone just from their appearance!
Outside of the high school, Simi accidentally/on purpose sets up her cousin, Preet, with someone, and that whole story is so relatable and adorable. Preet and Jolly are the cutest, and I definitely know couples with stories similar to theirs.
“Beta, will you tell us more about your family? Perhaps we know them?”
^ said every brown mom/auntie ever!
It was also really nice to see brown families just being brown families in this book. I mentioned it above, but the fact that Simi’s family is Indian is not the point of the story. They just are. It was so cool to see a family very similar to mine in a book where they aren’t fighting everyone because of their culture.
Also, I dabble in mehendi, so I definitely related to Simi! I’m nowhere near as good as she is, but I do love doing it!
“I start swirling my paints — a rusty red, rich like henna — in paisleys first, like I would with my mehendi. I grin at my handiwork, filling in the details. Soon the image morphs, and there are two figures, a queen and her king. A match made in mehendi.”
Simi’s relationship with her brother is also very relatable. My brother and I are very similar (though he is younger than me), so seeing the quick change from bickering siblings to “can you help me with this” was super entertaining. Not to mention the “I’ve always got your back against the parents” unwritten rule between siblings!
The only thing I did not “like” (it’s a weird way to say it, but I’ll explain) was the kiss at the end. Two brown teenagers are at a big Indian family event, and while sitting in the corner, they kiss. It’s just weird to me. It is absolutely personal preference as well. I’m not saying they shouldn’t kiss and I’m not saying it is wrong. I simply grew up with that not being something you would see or do. Teenagers talked in secret (which is also not necessarily good), and weren’t even seen together until their parents were okay with them dating. So to have them kiss at a family function felt weird and unbelievable.
That being said, perhaps a better way to say it is that I am simply not used to it, but maybe that is something that needs to change. I’m not a huge fan of excessive PDA in general (again, personal preference, to each their own), but I do think Indian families need to be able to talk more about relationships and dating.
I don’t know that I will ever approve of making out with someone where my parents could see me… but a small showing of affection should be okay. That scene did throw me off though and felt very out of place…
“There’s never a good reason to be mean to other people.”
Other than that, I really loved this book. It tackles bullying, being yourself, life goals, traditional versus modern views, and so much more. It is also very clearly written with Indian teens in mind and my heart loves that so much!
That being said, everyone will still be able to relate to the coming-of-age story and the first loves and heartbreaks, so if you like feel-good contemporaries, you should definitely check this book out!
A Match Made in Mehendi releases on September 10, 2019.
Note: All quotes above were taken from an advance reader’s edition of the book, and are subject to change in the final release.
April 18, 2020
I'm so happy I picked this up, because this is exactly the kind of cuteness I needed in my life right now. After the fiasco that was When Dimple Met Rishi, I was honestly super apprehensive about reading a desi book set in the United States; fortunately, A Match Made in Mehendi did not disappoint. I like how Nandini Bajpai has created a world that is true to both the cultures. The conversations are both fresh and old school, and Simi as a protagonist is just the right amount of endearing. You can tell that the author has really tried to make the book progressive, and her efforts are worth applauding. I'm looking forward to reading more of her work in the future!
September 15, 2019
Rating: 4.5 Stars: ★★★★ 1/2 (Maybe 5? Still deciding on a rating)
A Match Made In Mehendi is a YA debut I'd been looking forward to for over a year and it was so good!! Easily on my list of favorite YA Contemporary books!! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ💖💖*:･ﾟ✧
A Match Made In Mehendi is a fun, delightful YA Contemporary that follows Simi who comes from a long line of matchmakers, but she'd rather focus on her skills as an artist than the family business. So, when she & her friend come up with a plan to develop a match-making app to increase their popularity at school, things get a bit complicated. Bajpai's debut has a dynamic cast of characters, great writing, and wonderful messages woven throughout about following your dreams!
From page 1 I loved following Simi's journey through sophomore year of high school and how her family legacy of matchmaking influenced her!
The story beautifully explores family, friendship, love, and expectations in such a layered way, while also developing this underlying theme of pursuing your dreams regardless of the expectations set upon you--and I really loved that!
The app Matched! was so much fun to read about and not only was it a unique concept (from its creation involving algorithms, Simi's art, and following its creation) but it brilliantly drives and develops many themes and elements of the book!
When Simi, her older brother Navdeep, and Noah use this app as a fun experiment for their high school, it soon causes drama when one of the matches upsets one of the popular girls in Simi's class!
I loved how Simi used her family legacy of matchmaking and turned into something completely her own, with that said it also allows for such a big element of family to shine throughout the novel! With this legacy following the women of her family, we see how her mother (who runs a matchmaking service for Desi families w/ her sister (Simi's aunt), expects so much from her in regards to the business she finds it difficult to explain how art is such a big part of her identity! It was great to see that element explored so much into the story (though I wish there could have been a bit more page time to develop their mother/daughter dynamic).
It was also so much fun to read excerpts of The Shagun Matchmaking Guide with each chapter! Not only is it an important family heirloom, but I also appreciated how it wove its way into the story more near the end!
Next I want to talk about the characters, who are all fantastic (even the ones your not supposed to like): Navdeep, Noah, Suraj, Tea & Ethan, Aiden, Amanda, her cousins Preet & Geet, and her other friends at school. Through Simi's narrative they all really come to life and there was just a great cast of characters who are all given depth and developed from beginning to end regardless of how little page time they have! (though I will say that Simi's grandmother was a great character to introduce near the last few quarters of the book, but I wish her character was a bit more developed b/c she's a part of the matchmaker legacy & it would have been great to have a little more from her character).
Overall here's a list of all the great things to look forward to in A Match Made In Mehendi:
↠ Wonderful and fun narrative voice! + Simi herself!! She's a wonderful protagonist and I'm glad the story was told from her POV because she's a funny, awkward, and relatable character!
↠ Exploration of expectations, following your dreams, family, friendship, love, and much more!
↠ Fantastic writing and cast of characters!
↠ Pacing: the unique story alongside following Simi's fantastic POV has you turning the page!!
As for the diversity in this novel it features an Indian and Indian-American cast & gay rep (Noah)!
This book is just so much fun and there's no other way to explain! Through the writing Simi's voice just gets you to keep reading and following the great cast of characters, mystery to where the story is headed, and so much more, A Match Made In Mehendi is a fantastic YA Contemporary that I highly recommend!
A Match Made In Mehendi is a YA debut I'd been looking forward to for over a year and it was so good!! Easily on my list of favorite YA Contemporary books!! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ💖💖*:･ﾟ✧
A Match Made In Mehendi is a fun, delightful YA Contemporary that follows Simi who comes from a long line of matchmakers, but she'd rather focus on her skills as an artist than the family business. So, when she & her friend come up with a plan to develop a match-making app to increase their popularity at school, things get a bit complicated. Bajpai's debut has a dynamic cast of characters, great writing, and wonderful messages woven throughout about following your dreams!
From page 1 I loved following Simi's journey through sophomore year of high school and how her family legacy of matchmaking influenced her!
The story beautifully explores family, friendship, love, and expectations in such a layered way, while also developing this underlying theme of pursuing your dreams regardless of the expectations set upon you--and I really loved that!
The app Matched! was so much fun to read about and not only was it a unique concept (from its creation involving algorithms, Simi's art, and following its creation) but it brilliantly drives and develops many themes and elements of the book!
When Simi, her older brother Navdeep, and Noah use this app as a fun experiment for their high school, it soon causes drama when one of the matches upsets one of the popular girls in Simi's class!
I loved how Simi used her family legacy of matchmaking and turned into something completely her own, with that said it also allows for such a big element of family to shine throughout the novel! With this legacy following the women of her family, we see how her mother (who runs a matchmaking service for Desi families w/ her sister (Simi's aunt), expects so much from her in regards to the business she finds it difficult to explain how art is such a big part of her identity! It was great to see that element explored so much into the story (though I wish there could have been a bit more page time to develop their mother/daughter dynamic).
It was also so much fun to read excerpts of The Shagun Matchmaking Guide with each chapter! Not only is it an important family heirloom, but I also appreciated how it wove its way into the story more near the end!
Next I want to talk about the characters, who are all fantastic (even the ones your not supposed to like): Navdeep, Noah, Suraj, Tea & Ethan, Aiden, Amanda, her cousins Preet & Geet, and her other friends at school. Through Simi's narrative they all really come to life and there was just a great cast of characters who are all given depth and developed from beginning to end regardless of how little page time they have! (though I will say that Simi's grandmother was a great character to introduce near the last few quarters of the book, but I wish her character was a bit more developed b/c she's a part of the matchmaker legacy & it would have been great to have a little more from her character).
Overall here's a list of all the great things to look forward to in A Match Made In Mehendi:
↠ Wonderful and fun narrative voice! + Simi herself!! She's a wonderful protagonist and I'm glad the story was told from her POV because she's a funny, awkward, and relatable character!
↠ Exploration of expectations, following your dreams, family, friendship, love, and much more!
↠ Fantastic writing and cast of characters!
↠ Pacing: the unique story alongside following Simi's fantastic POV has you turning the page!!
As for the diversity in this novel it features an Indian and Indian-American cast & gay rep (Noah)!
This book is just so much fun and there's no other way to explain! Through the writing Simi's voice just gets you to keep reading and following the great cast of characters, mystery to where the story is headed, and so much more, A Match Made In Mehendi is a fantastic YA Contemporary that I highly recommend!
June 23, 2019
4.5/5 stars!
My incredible friend Maura lent me her ARC, and I'm so glad she did, because this one was such a lighthearted and fun read!! At times I felt like the plot moved too fast or I lost track of some characters, but overall it was such a delight to get into Simran's head and hear some of her fears between choosing art and straying from traditional values. I especially loved how her art was based in mehendi (I remember going to school with mehendi on my hands and being SO excited and then being told by white kids that it was "just henna," so seeing her taking full ownership of the art form was really something to read).
Some characters also really popped off the page, like Noah, Navdeep, Suraj, Teá, and Simi's mom in the principal's office. I always enjoyed the sections where Simi and Noah and Navdeep (or some combination) would be plotting out their next moves together. I thought that Noah's anxieties, even when talking with close friends, were written super well, and I could really identify with them . Amanda's character was given a little motivation/depth at the end, but it was mostly through someone else's explanation, and I wanted to really see it in action in the story. The Aiden arc really threw me for a loop, but I was really happy with who all ended up with who by the end.
Overall, such a fresh and fun read that I would highly recommend picking up once it hits shelves in September!!
My incredible friend Maura lent me her ARC, and I'm so glad she did, because this one was such a lighthearted and fun read!! At times I felt like the plot moved too fast or I lost track of some characters, but overall it was such a delight to get into Simran's head and hear some of her fears between choosing art and straying from traditional values. I especially loved how her art was based in mehendi (I remember going to school with mehendi on my hands and being SO excited and then being told by white kids that it was "just henna," so seeing her taking full ownership of the art form was really something to read).
Some characters also really popped off the page, like Noah, Navdeep, Suraj, Teá, and Simi's mom in the principal's office. I always enjoyed the sections where Simi and Noah and Navdeep (or some combination) would be plotting out their next moves together. I thought that Noah's anxieties, even when talking with close friends, were written super well, and I could really identify with them . Amanda's character was given a little motivation/depth at the end, but it was mostly through someone else's explanation, and I wanted to really see it in action in the story. The Aiden arc really threw me for a loop, but I was really happy with who all ended up with who by the end.
Overall, such a fresh and fun read that I would highly recommend picking up once it hits shelves in September!!
September 16, 2019
About: A story about a young girl whose family has a matchmaking business and expects her to join in but she wants to be an artist. It is a fun, beautiful story about high school and family and friends.
Characters: Each and every character had its own unique personality and that's what I loved about this story. There are so many diverse characters. I loved the fact that this book had an Indian MC (just like me).
My thoughts: I loved this book so much! This was a pretty light read but with a whole lot of diversity. It captures the innocence of sophomore year and how figuring out what you want to do with your life can be overwhelming. It shows relationships with family as well as friends which was really sweet. Also, all the Desi references made my indian heart very happy.
Recommendation: If you love Sandhya Menon's writing, you will definitely enjoy this read.
Favorite quote:
The best part of a love story is usually the beginning. People almost
always remember the first time they met.
Characters: Each and every character had its own unique personality and that's what I loved about this story. There are so many diverse characters. I loved the fact that this book had an Indian MC (just like me).
My thoughts: I loved this book so much! This was a pretty light read but with a whole lot of diversity. It captures the innocence of sophomore year and how figuring out what you want to do with your life can be overwhelming. It shows relationships with family as well as friends which was really sweet. Also, all the Desi references made my indian heart very happy.
Recommendation: If you love Sandhya Menon's writing, you will definitely enjoy this read.
Favorite quote:
The best part of a love story is usually the beginning. People almost
always remember the first time they met.
September 17, 2019
This was one of my anticipated 2019 releases, and I am glad I finally had the chance to read it, because it was so fun, adorable, and sweet.
Things I loved:
• Simi was so honest, real, sweet, and endearing. I was fan from the first broken vase.
• Simi's was blessed with a wonderful family, and it was easy to see how much they loved each other
• Noah and Simi had a fantastic friendship. It hit a few bumps during the book, but the experience was really valuable for Simi and helped her gain some perspective.
• The mehendi and other artistic parts piqued my interest, and I loved the way Bajai wove them into the story
• Simi's "match" was a rather wonderful boy, and I adored those two together.
• I have mentioned this before, but I am loving all these books being set in my neck of NJ, giving shoutouts to my alma mater.
• Bajpai treated me to some Punjabi culture, and I especially loved getting to "go" to the engagement party.
Overall: This book made me laugh and smile, and I had a fantastic time reading it.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
Things I loved:
• Simi was so honest, real, sweet, and endearing. I was fan from the first broken vase.
• Simi's was blessed with a wonderful family, and it was easy to see how much they loved each other
• Noah and Simi had a fantastic friendship. It hit a few bumps during the book, but the experience was really valuable for Simi and helped her gain some perspective.
• The mehendi and other artistic parts piqued my interest, and I loved the way Bajai wove them into the story
• Simi's "match" was a rather wonderful boy, and I adored those two together.
• I have mentioned this before, but I am loving all these books being set in my neck of NJ, giving shoutouts to my alma mater.
• Bajpai treated me to some Punjabi culture, and I especially loved getting to "go" to the engagement party.
Overall: This book made me laugh and smile, and I had a fantastic time reading it.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
August 16, 2021
There were a lot of things I enjoyed about this book: the prevalence of so much food, how supportive Simi and her best friend, Noah, were,the depiction of a healthy sibling relationship, and, finally the matchmaking. I loved the snippets from the match-making book that were included at the beginning of each chapter as well as reading the in-person interviews that Simi’s mom and aunt conducted. I wish that some of the quiz questions were discussed a bit more though and that the main couples we learn about, who become a part of Simi’s broader group of friends were more fleshed out. Sometimes they just felt like names with no real defining characteristics.
TW: A character is also outed by the school’s bully. This action felt a little over-the-top, but so is the bully.
I thought the family dynamics were great though as well as how Simi speaks out against the bully. I did find it easy to put the book down while I was traveling and wasn’t always compelled to pick it back up yet, when I did, I found myself enjoying the story. And I never forgot where I left off. Overall, this was a good, light read.
The narrator’s performance felt a little wooden/stiff initially, but she either warmed up or grew on me and so by the end, I found myself enjoying her reading. I’d give this book a 3.5.
TW: A character is also outed by the school’s bully. This action felt a little over-the-top, but so is the bully.
I thought the family dynamics were great though as well as how Simi speaks out against the bully. I did find it easy to put the book down while I was traveling and wasn’t always compelled to pick it back up yet, when I did, I found myself enjoying the story. And I never forgot where I left off. Overall, this was a good, light read.
The narrator’s performance felt a little wooden/stiff initially, but she either warmed up or grew on me and so by the end, I found myself enjoying her reading. I’d give this book a 3.5.
August 24, 2019
Thx to @kidlitexchange @thenovl and esp author @nandinirb for this free book to review! Out 9/10/19; must buy for all MS/HS libraries!
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Romance books have been a big hit for me this summer and this one is in my top 5 YA romances for 2019!
Quick reasons why:
❤️ klutzy, artistic Simi is super lovable and kind and also refuses to be used or bullied by anyone (loved seeing her stand up for herself!!)
❤️ Simi’s mom and aunt’s traditional matchmaking service is fascinating to see in action and I love that Simi, Noah and Navdeep’s Matched! app is complex and also rooted in matching values and interests
❤️ super diverse cast of characters! Desi, white, gay, straight, popular, shy...everyone is represented and everyone has a shot at love with the Matched! app
❤️ Simi’s romance is there, but it takes a backseat to the drama of all the other matches made via the app—I liked the balance .
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All in all, an awesome read. Recommended for grades 7+. Nothing sexual at all and no drinking scenes. Perfect readalike for @sandhyamenonbooks and @skalibooks .
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#yalit #yabooks #amatchmadeinmehendi #nandinibajpai #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #romance #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookreview #amreading
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〰️
〰️
Romance books have been a big hit for me this summer and this one is in my top 5 YA romances for 2019!
Quick reasons why:
❤️ klutzy, artistic Simi is super lovable and kind and also refuses to be used or bullied by anyone (loved seeing her stand up for herself!!)
❤️ Simi’s mom and aunt’s traditional matchmaking service is fascinating to see in action and I love that Simi, Noah and Navdeep’s Matched! app is complex and also rooted in matching values and interests
❤️ super diverse cast of characters! Desi, white, gay, straight, popular, shy...everyone is represented and everyone has a shot at love with the Matched! app
❤️ Simi’s romance is there, but it takes a backseat to the drama of all the other matches made via the app—I liked the balance .
〰️
〰️
All in all, an awesome read. Recommended for grades 7+. Nothing sexual at all and no drinking scenes. Perfect readalike for @sandhyamenonbooks and @skalibooks .
〰️
〰️
#yalit #yabooks #amatchmadeinmehendi #nandinibajpai #librariesofinstagram #librariansofinstagram #romance #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #bookreview #amreading
November 19, 2020
First Of All! I love Nandini Mam! She's my favorite since childhood. I'm so proud I'm doing this.
Now about the book, Nandini Mam never fails to amuse me with those funny lines and sarcastic statements. The book overall becomes so exciting, It's never a bore. The different mindset and the beautiful aim hidden in the story is so great! Promoting the Traditional indian culture such a nice and cool way. She has the ability to write what nobody can ever even think of. The character portrayal, choice of people is so nice and unique. I honestly enjoyed reading my favorite's book after long. Her first book is always on my mind when i feel like reading a mix of romance, comedy, a complete joy ride of emotions, no doubt this goes in line too. Whenever I read a Harry Potter reference, it takes my heart! It's so much full of suspense about how will it be in the end. Her stories usually ask full involvement. You literally live in her stories. The story towards is end is just so satisfying. The climax always keep you at the edge.
The saying, 'A reader lives a million lives before they die' I can be sure half of them will be about her book. I'm glad I'm reading something by her after so long. I missed reading her amazing stories. She's fabulous at it. Totally loved it!
Now about the book, Nandini Mam never fails to amuse me with those funny lines and sarcastic statements. The book overall becomes so exciting, It's never a bore. The different mindset and the beautiful aim hidden in the story is so great! Promoting the Traditional indian culture such a nice and cool way. She has the ability to write what nobody can ever even think of. The character portrayal, choice of people is so nice and unique. I honestly enjoyed reading my favorite's book after long. Her first book is always on my mind when i feel like reading a mix of romance, comedy, a complete joy ride of emotions, no doubt this goes in line too. Whenever I read a Harry Potter reference, it takes my heart! It's so much full of suspense about how will it be in the end. Her stories usually ask full involvement. You literally live in her stories. The story towards is end is just so satisfying. The climax always keep you at the edge.
The saying, 'A reader lives a million lives before they die' I can be sure half of them will be about her book. I'm glad I'm reading something by her after so long. I missed reading her amazing stories. She's fabulous at it. Totally loved it!
November 7, 2020
This was such a cute story! I loved Simi and her family! I loved how fun it was to read about them creating this app and how it helped her friends! I enjoyed how supportive her friends and family were to her too! Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a cute and fun story!
September 4, 2020
This was so cute!!
December 9, 2022
this is the cutest thing ever wtf 4.5 def
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