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The Rules of Arrangement
Balli Kaur Jaswal’s EROTIC STORIES FOR PUNJABI WIDOWS meets Kevin Kwan’s CRAZY RICH ASIANS in this hilarious comedy of manners set in Mumbai where modernity jostles with tradition.
Zoya Sahni has a great education, a fulfilling job and a loving family (for the most part). But she is not the perfect Indian girl. She’s overweight, spunky and dark-skinned in a world that prizes the slim, obedient and fair. At 26 she is hurtling toward her expiration date in Mumbai’s arranged marriage super-mart, but when her aunties’ matchmaking radars hones in on the Holy Grail of suitors—just as Zoya gets a dream job offer in New York City—the girl who once accepted her path as almost option-less must now make a choice of a lifetime.
Big-hearted with piercing social commentary, The Rules of Arrangement tells a powerful, irresistibly charming and oh-so relatable tale of a progressive life that won’t be hemmed in by outdated rules. But not without a few cultural casualties, and of course, an accidental love story along the way.
Zoya Sahni has a great education, a fulfilling job and a loving family (for the most part). But she is not the perfect Indian girl. She’s overweight, spunky and dark-skinned in a world that prizes the slim, obedient and fair. At 26 she is hurtling toward her expiration date in Mumbai’s arranged marriage super-mart, but when her aunties’ matchmaking radars hones in on the Holy Grail of suitors—just as Zoya gets a dream job offer in New York City—the girl who once accepted her path as almost option-less must now make a choice of a lifetime.
Big-hearted with piercing social commentary, The Rules of Arrangement tells a powerful, irresistibly charming and oh-so relatable tale of a progressive life that won’t be hemmed in by outdated rules. But not without a few cultural casualties, and of course, an accidental love story along the way.
320 pages, Paperback
First published July 13, 2021
57 people are currently reading
2113 people want to read
About the author
Anisha Bhatia
3 books28 followersBorn and brought up in Mumbai, India, Anisha Bhatia now lives in San Diego, California with her husband and their two children. She loves tea, biryani, books and beaches, not necessarily in that order. The Rules of Arrangement is her first novel.
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March 14, 2021
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Rules of Arrangement was one of my highly anticipated reads for the first half of this year. A romantic comedy about a 26-year-old arranged marriage prospect? Color me intrigued!
Unfortunately, almost all my expectations were dashed and within the first 3 chapters. I kept hoping it would redeem itself, but nope. There's some heavy fatphobia throughout this novel which is never challenged.
Just the start had my blood boiling. The MC's aunt apparently "struggles to wrench her fleshy feet out of her pearly flip-flops", "shiny silver rings strangle her toes", she "lowers her giant hindquarters with great difficulty, almost killing gravity in the process."
Other splendid descriptions for said aunt include "her humongous body", she has a "cold, pudgy arm", and at one point in her excitement "[her] aunt's posterior lifts off, taking the small chair with it in excitement."
Why oh why was this allowed in a book? 🤢
Even her cousin's mother-in-law doesn't escape the MC's acerbic observations. She's "a dreadfully large woman", "a monstrous dumpling covered in glitter", and gets the cute little nickname of dumpling-in-law.
The MC also calls herself "a paunchy gone-to-seed Superman" at one point (I guess this was a joke we're supposed to laugh at?), the only description for her cook is "the barrel-shaped cook", and her tip for dealing with nosy aunties is fat shaming them in return.
I have way more phrases highlighted in this novel but you get the point, don't you? I should have DNF-ed after the initial few fatphobic comments but I still powered through, hoping for some redeeming quality.
While it did try to have a positive message about Indian society and its obsession with marriage and curtailing women's freedom once married, it seemed almost laughable considering the MC's own internalised misogyny. I'm sorry but do we really want advice about feminism from a woman who responds to her fatphobic cousin by shaming her flat chest and deems what behaviour is "slutty" and what's not? Even the final throwaway quote on how "being thin is no guarantee of happiness" felt jarring to read after all the quotes I've added above, which wasn't even ALL of the fatphobic quotes in the novel.
Why I thought it a good idea to spend an entire Sunday torturing myself with this book, I'll never understand. But at least it's over now. One can only hope that the finished copy of the book has fixed at least some of the vile fatphobic comments because this really is a story that could have worked. But in its present form, it's gonna be a no from me.
The Rules of Arrangement was one of my highly anticipated reads for the first half of this year. A romantic comedy about a 26-year-old arranged marriage prospect? Color me intrigued!
Unfortunately, almost all my expectations were dashed and within the first 3 chapters. I kept hoping it would redeem itself, but nope. There's some heavy fatphobia throughout this novel which is never challenged.
Just the start had my blood boiling. The MC's aunt apparently "struggles to wrench her fleshy feet out of her pearly flip-flops", "shiny silver rings strangle her toes", she "lowers her giant hindquarters with great difficulty, almost killing gravity in the process."
Other splendid descriptions for said aunt include "her humongous body", she has a "cold, pudgy arm", and at one point in her excitement "[her] aunt's posterior lifts off, taking the small chair with it in excitement."
Why oh why was this allowed in a book? 🤢
Even her cousin's mother-in-law doesn't escape the MC's acerbic observations. She's "a dreadfully large woman", "a monstrous dumpling covered in glitter", and gets the cute little nickname of dumpling-in-law.
The MC also calls herself "a paunchy gone-to-seed Superman" at one point (I guess this was a joke we're supposed to laugh at?), the only description for her cook is "the barrel-shaped cook", and her tip for dealing with nosy aunties is fat shaming them in return.
"Have you lost weight, Auntie? I bet you can fit into a 4XL now."
I have way more phrases highlighted in this novel but you get the point, don't you? I should have DNF-ed after the initial few fatphobic comments but I still powered through, hoping for some redeeming quality.
While it did try to have a positive message about Indian society and its obsession with marriage and curtailing women's freedom once married, it seemed almost laughable considering the MC's own internalised misogyny. I'm sorry but do we really want advice about feminism from a woman who responds to her fatphobic cousin by shaming her flat chest and deems what behaviour is "slutty" and what's not? Even the final throwaway quote on how "being thin is no guarantee of happiness" felt jarring to read after all the quotes I've added above, which wasn't even ALL of the fatphobic quotes in the novel.
Why I thought it a good idea to spend an entire Sunday torturing myself with this book, I'll never understand. But at least it's over now. One can only hope that the finished copy of the book has fixed at least some of the vile fatphobic comments because this really is a story that could have worked. But in its present form, it's gonna be a no from me.
July 12, 2021
Blog Review: https://trishadoeseverythingbutstudy2...
I received a free e-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
This is more 3.5 stars than 3.
This book gets 5 whole stars for the Indian atmosphere, and 3 stars for nearly everything else. The plot is nonexistent, the romance alright, and the characters leave something to be desired, but being an Indian and reading this? This gives you India the way it is.
The first thing that caught my eye for this one was the cover, and then the synopsis...Indian girl being forced into an arranged marriage, has a great job offer, and a hot love interest, all set in India? SIGN ME UP.
But, the only part of this that was better than what I was expecting, or even as good as I was expecting, was the the setting, and the relatives, and the antics of big families, and living in Bombay.
The romance is just not good. There is a somewhat love triangle, which is only a love triangle in the protagonists head, because you, quite obviously too, already know who she's going to end up with. So, not really a love triangle.
Honestly, this shouldn't even be labelled as romance being the primary genre, because this fits General Fiction and family a lot more than it could ever be a romance. At first you think this is most definitely a romance, given the somewhat vague synopsis, and in general the comparisons to other books.
Once you get into this, though, you realise it's more the story of a girl, her life, her options, her choices, the crossroads before her, and the family she loves.
It's the story of a girl dealing with weight, with family members who are less than subtle about said weight, who mean well, but don't realise how the smallest things hurt the most, the passing remarks that aren't meant to hurt you, to make you overthink your life decisions, but still do.
It's the story of a girl who loves her aunt, who sees what her aunt lost, and vows to never let that happen to herself.
It's the story of any girl really, and that's why I related to this the most.
Some things I didn't love about this:
-the whole scare. That was just not okay. Yeah, it was pretty funny from a plot device point of view, but then that scare mounted to nothing, and it was like it was completely forgotten after the event.
-The Magic Bua side plot. While I do see how it was integral to Zoya's epiphany, I really thought it was way too obvious, and I found the fact that Zoya only asked her mother about it very unbelievable. If you want to know something about someone, and you are looking for gossip as the source of this knowledge, you don't just ask one person. You go and ask everyone, especially someone who hates the person you want to know about, and gossips as well.
-The romance. I am aware that I've said this already, but the romance really didn't sit right with me. nothing particularly wrong with it, but we never get to know the love interest at first, and then when we do meet him, it's all I've-known-him-for-so-long, and please-don't-call-me-sir (which was weird because you don't just stop calling someone sir, who's senior to you, and has been introduced as this vague character who isn't even that close, and then later you're told that no they're actually pretty close and they always have been, and you go WHEN? WHEN WERE THEY CLOSE??
- The way Zoya is. I found Zoya pretty careless and too trusting in places, especially when she roams around Bombay alone, in shock. Now, I don't know if you've ever been to bombay, but you don't roam around Bombay, on foot, in shock, having forgotten your purse, and most likely your phone too, in some shop, without knowing the area where you are, and also after nightfall. You don't do that. It should have been drilled into your head that you are not supposed to do stuff like that. If you're in shock, hold it off till you get home, Or maybe till you're with someone else, preferably someone you know and trust, and not the boss we don't even know well enough to trust. I'll stop here, but this is something that had my alarm bells ringing the whole time.
-The way Zoya approaches her weight: My BR buddy raised a very important thing about Zoya's approach to being not-thin, and I think it's a really good point. Zoya is not a role model. Zoya is not the protagonist you look up to for being not-thin, the one you base your reactions to being not thin. Zoya is more of the relatable protagonist, the one in which you see yourself, the one which makes you understand that you obsess too much with weight, and then end up eating a lot and then whining; in general being a hypocrite. And she gave a really great example of who an appropriate role-model would be, and that's Nina Zenik from Six of Crows, who doesn't give a single f*ck about what you think about her appearance.
I think I'll stop here because this is getting too long, and I honestly can't think of anything else worth note since it has been nearly a month since I read this, but I will sign off with this: this is an amazing book, if you're looking for insight into Indian culture, and how it is presently, families in India, and the general life of an Indian. This is not the book for you if you're looking for a good romance.
I received a free e-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
This is more 3.5 stars than 3.
This book gets 5 whole stars for the Indian atmosphere, and 3 stars for nearly everything else. The plot is nonexistent, the romance alright, and the characters leave something to be desired, but being an Indian and reading this? This gives you India the way it is.
The first thing that caught my eye for this one was the cover, and then the synopsis...Indian girl being forced into an arranged marriage, has a great job offer, and a hot love interest, all set in India? SIGN ME UP.
But, the only part of this that was better than what I was expecting, or even as good as I was expecting, was the the setting, and the relatives, and the antics of big families, and living in Bombay.
The romance is just not good. There is a somewhat love triangle, which is only a love triangle in the protagonists head, because you, quite obviously too, already know who she's going to end up with. So, not really a love triangle.
Honestly, this shouldn't even be labelled as romance being the primary genre, because this fits General Fiction and family a lot more than it could ever be a romance. At first you think this is most definitely a romance, given the somewhat vague synopsis, and in general the comparisons to other books.
Once you get into this, though, you realise it's more the story of a girl, her life, her options, her choices, the crossroads before her, and the family she loves.
It's the story of a girl dealing with weight, with family members who are less than subtle about said weight, who mean well, but don't realise how the smallest things hurt the most, the passing remarks that aren't meant to hurt you, to make you overthink your life decisions, but still do.
It's the story of a girl who loves her aunt, who sees what her aunt lost, and vows to never let that happen to herself.
It's the story of any girl really, and that's why I related to this the most.
Some things I didn't love about this:
-the whole scare. That was just not okay. Yeah, it was pretty funny from a plot device point of view, but then that scare mounted to nothing, and it was like it was completely forgotten after the event.
-The Magic Bua side plot. While I do see how it was integral to Zoya's epiphany, I really thought it was way too obvious, and I found the fact that Zoya only asked her mother about it very unbelievable. If you want to know something about someone, and you are looking for gossip as the source of this knowledge, you don't just ask one person. You go and ask everyone, especially someone who hates the person you want to know about, and gossips as well.
-The romance. I am aware that I've said this already, but the romance really didn't sit right with me. nothing particularly wrong with it, but we never get to know the love interest at first, and then when we do meet him, it's all I've-known-him-for-so-long, and please-don't-call-me-sir (which was weird because you don't just stop calling someone sir, who's senior to you, and has been introduced as this vague character who isn't even that close, and then later you're told that no they're actually pretty close and they always have been, and you go WHEN? WHEN WERE THEY CLOSE??
- The way Zoya is. I found Zoya pretty careless and too trusting in places, especially when she roams around Bombay alone, in shock. Now, I don't know if you've ever been to bombay, but you don't roam around Bombay, on foot, in shock, having forgotten your purse, and most likely your phone too, in some shop, without knowing the area where you are, and also after nightfall. You don't do that. It should have been drilled into your head that you are not supposed to do stuff like that. If you're in shock, hold it off till you get home, Or maybe till you're with someone else, preferably someone you know and trust, and not the boss we don't even know well enough to trust. I'll stop here, but this is something that had my alarm bells ringing the whole time.
-The way Zoya approaches her weight: My BR buddy raised a very important thing about Zoya's approach to being not-thin, and I think it's a really good point. Zoya is not a role model. Zoya is not the protagonist you look up to for being not-thin, the one you base your reactions to being not thin. Zoya is more of the relatable protagonist, the one in which you see yourself, the one which makes you understand that you obsess too much with weight, and then end up eating a lot and then whining; in general being a hypocrite. And she gave a really great example of who an appropriate role-model would be, and that's Nina Zenik from Six of Crows, who doesn't give a single f*ck about what you think about her appearance.
I think I'll stop here because this is getting too long, and I honestly can't think of anything else worth note since it has been nearly a month since I read this, but I will sign off with this: this is an amazing book, if you're looking for insight into Indian culture, and how it is presently, families in India, and the general life of an Indian. This is not the book for you if you're looking for a good romance.
July 16, 2021
My thanks to Headline and NetGalley for a review copy of this book.
Before I start, just wanted to mention that this book appears as What Are We Doing About Zoya on NetGalley and The Rules of Arrangement elsewhere; not sure if this is because of different titles in different places of publication of whether they decided to do a title change at a later stage.
In the book, we meet Zoya Sahani, a twenty-six-year old from a relatively affluent Punjabi family in Bombay/Mumbai, who works in an advertising agency and is doing well at work. In fact, so well that she earns a promotion and her boss, Arnav Bajaj, whom she refers to as the ‘dragon’ may recommend her for a job in their parent organisation in New York if she does well on her next assignment. Meanwhile, her otherwise loving, and educated college-professor mother Geeta wants Zoya to get married (under pressure from relatives and also the social scenario where at her age, Zoya is nearing the shelf). But Zoya is dark-skinned and also overweight which makes finding a suitable groom difficult. But her Bua (father’s sister), Sheila runs a match-making service and gets on the job. Zoya’s first few experiences are predictable (and unsurprisingly hit her confidence) but somewhat to her own surprise, they manage to find a near perfect boy (though from a family of health freaks, rather to her discomfort). Meanwhile, things at her job work out too, and she is offered a chance to go to New York on a three-year assignment; now Zoya must decide whether she wants to walk down the traditional path or take the chance of a lifetime, and follow her dreams. Alongside, she begins to find that her dragon-like boss isn’t such a dragon after all!
While romances/rom-coms aren’t my usual fare, I ended up requesting this on because of the setting in Mumbai with Indian characters—and though this was essentially a romance and one with plenty of humour, it was also much more in that it showcased how women have to give up their dreams, their wishes, sometimes even their identities to conform to social norms that expect one to be married by a certain age.
The book I thought captured (wealthy) Punjabi culture really well—the loudness, the brightly coloured clothes, the bling, and the ostentatious displays of wealth. Also the whole stereotypical arranged married scenario with demands for name changes, to the girl being asked to quit her job (not always the case, but it does happen); boys’ families coming to ‘see’ the girl; and also the interactions and behaviour expected after the engagement—it was actually quite perfectly done. (Of course, I did wonder if to those unfamiliar with the culture or rather cultures in the country, this would end up been taken as representing the whole country or every ‘arranged’ marriage scenario—which is by no means the case.)
But I think more important was the fact that the author showed how amidst these social mores, even educated, usually reasonable people might start acting unreasonably like Zoya’s mother, who seems bent on her being married now rather than waiting as Zoya wishes; her father supports Zoya, but seems to go along with the family’s wishes.
The issue of weight, and to a lesser extent skin colour also come in. Zoya herself, because of social expectations, at times wonders why she isn’t more like her much slimmer (but nasty) cousin (even comments on others’ weight), but I was glad to see she remains fond of food throughout not forcing herself into unreasonable diets (or, any diet for that matter), and also that her family too (other than said nasty cousin) doesn’t pick on her for this or ask her to eat less; in fact, food, in true Punjabi style, is plentiful and always around. (I also enjoyed the references to books which were also plentiful!)
The characters overall were fairly likeable and well done, as was the romance that apparently everyone (us readers, I mean), but Zoya herself could see. Zoya because of her name, curly hair, and job in advertising reminded me of her namesake from The Zoya Factor by Anuja Chauhan, but this Zoya was very much her own character. While I liked her fairly well, she didn’t seem to see the obvious—in fact mostly jumping to all the wrong conclusions. The other characters—the fitness crazy in-laws and fiancé, Lalit, and Sheila Bua—with all of her complexities that Zoya slowly discovers--were also well done.
This was a fast-paced read, and one that kept me reading. The story was overall light and humorous and I enjoyed it for the most part; a bit at the end though I felt may be was a little too over the top for my liking. On the other hand, another scene right at the end was good fun. Four stars from me.
May 5, 2021
GENRE: women fiction( with some side romance plot)
TROPES & THEMES: arranged marriage, workplace romance, family dynamics, society expectations
TRIGGER WARNINGS: fatphobia, misogyny, cancer, microaggressions
RATING: 1,5 ⭐
RELEASE DATE: July 13th, 2021
This book is set in Mumbai, India, where our main protagonist, 26-year-old Zoya, deals with her family bent on arranging a marriage for her. She, on the other hand, is focused on her marketing career and working hard to secure a promotion that will allow her to work in New York. While marriage is on the horizon with one man, Zoya gets close to another. There are a plethora of side characters from family members, friends to work colleagues.
In the end, this was more about Zoya's personal journey than the romance. Sure, we have a romantic interest and somewhat a happy for now situation. However, I would categorize this as more of a women's fiction book than contemporary romance.
What really bothers me was the fatphobia and judgemental way the majority of characters displayed in the dialogue and the heroine in her inner monologue. She is shamed for being overweight by her family members, other side characters, and cousin. But she also shames them. Is that her coping mechanism when dealing with harsh comments? Absolutely. But she also is shaming her cousin for being skinny. There is a paragraph dedicated to her cousin "finally eating food". Okay, we can all agree that this is something that happens in real life. But did the author went anywhere with this narrative? In my opinion, no. It wasn't resolved in any positive way. Dialogue is filled with microaggressions.
The premise of the book was the reason I requested this book. Breaking the social and cultural norms is an interesting storyline. How one deals in situations when they are faced with wanting different things from the life their parents and family want is universal and understandable. However, the execution of the story is very poorly done. Zoya with all her imperfections was supposed to be a character I should relate to. But I found her to be a very hard person to root for.
I liked how the story ended and I liked the character of her aunt. In my eyes, she had the best growth and complexity out of all other characters. Also what a beautiful cover.
Would I recommend this book and to whom?
Probably. But it is not a book for everyone, for sure. It is very rare for me to say to other readers not to read a book. Maybe in this case I would just advise that you rather expect a social commentary fiction novel more than anything else. But keep in mind there are a lot of problematic comments and stereotypes that will upset some readers.
*ARC received through NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy of the book.
TROPES & THEMES: arranged marriage, workplace romance, family dynamics, society expectations
TRIGGER WARNINGS: fatphobia, misogyny, cancer, microaggressions
RATING: 1,5 ⭐
RELEASE DATE: July 13th, 2021
This book is set in Mumbai, India, where our main protagonist, 26-year-old Zoya, deals with her family bent on arranging a marriage for her. She, on the other hand, is focused on her marketing career and working hard to secure a promotion that will allow her to work in New York. While marriage is on the horizon with one man, Zoya gets close to another. There are a plethora of side characters from family members, friends to work colleagues.
In the end, this was more about Zoya's personal journey than the romance. Sure, we have a romantic interest and somewhat a happy for now situation. However, I would categorize this as more of a women's fiction book than contemporary romance.
What really bothers me was the fatphobia and judgemental way the majority of characters displayed in the dialogue and the heroine in her inner monologue. She is shamed for being overweight by her family members, other side characters, and cousin. But she also shames them. Is that her coping mechanism when dealing with harsh comments? Absolutely. But she also is shaming her cousin for being skinny. There is a paragraph dedicated to her cousin "finally eating food". Okay, we can all agree that this is something that happens in real life. But did the author went anywhere with this narrative? In my opinion, no. It wasn't resolved in any positive way. Dialogue is filled with microaggressions.
The premise of the book was the reason I requested this book. Breaking the social and cultural norms is an interesting storyline. How one deals in situations when they are faced with wanting different things from the life their parents and family want is universal and understandable. However, the execution of the story is very poorly done. Zoya with all her imperfections was supposed to be a character I should relate to. But I found her to be a very hard person to root for.
I liked how the story ended and I liked the character of her aunt. In my eyes, she had the best growth and complexity out of all other characters. Also what a beautiful cover.
Would I recommend this book and to whom?
Probably. But it is not a book for everyone, for sure. It is very rare for me to say to other readers not to read a book. Maybe in this case I would just advise that you rather expect a social commentary fiction novel more than anything else. But keep in mind there are a lot of problematic comments and stereotypes that will upset some readers.
*ARC received through NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy of the book.
July 12, 2021
DNF at 30%.
I went into this thinking that it was going to be a fun contemporary romance filled with complicated familial relationships and highlighting Desi culture.
Instead, I got a book that is chock full of fatphobia (there's literally fatphobic comments made each chapter without unpacking how dangerous it is), colorism (the MC's dark skin is a constant point of scrutiny and yes, skin bleaching is recommended), misogyny, and transphobia (several HP references as well as blatant transphobic passages on page).
I honestly don't know how anyone can make it through this without just feeling awful. This was a huge miss, and in good conscience, I literally can't recommend this book to anyone.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media for providing a review copy through NetGalley. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
I went into this thinking that it was going to be a fun contemporary romance filled with complicated familial relationships and highlighting Desi culture.
Instead, I got a book that is chock full of fatphobia (there's literally fatphobic comments made each chapter without unpacking how dangerous it is), colorism (the MC's dark skin is a constant point of scrutiny and yes, skin bleaching is recommended), misogyny, and transphobia (several HP references as well as blatant transphobic passages on page).
I honestly don't know how anyone can make it through this without just feeling awful. This was a huge miss, and in good conscience, I literally can't recommend this book to anyone.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media for providing a review copy through NetGalley. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
July 13, 2021
A good, easy romance novel, with a difference.
At the ripe old age of 26, modern Mumbai marketing professional, Zoya Sahni, is in danger of being left on the shelf. While she (mostly) loves her life and has been happily focused on building her career, as her cousin Aisha's nuptials approach, Zoya succumbs to family pressure and allows her matchmaker auntie Sheila to begin introducing some 'boys'. Meanwhile, increased attention from her boss, Arnav, is leaving Zoya feeling flustered.
You can guess where this is heading, and I'm sure you'd be at least 98% correct. But I think the trick with romance novels, apart from being in the right mood for it, is to let yourself enjoy the journey even when you know the destination. And Bhatia takes us on a fun but unusual journey with the lovable character of Zoya.
What's so different? First of all, this is middle-class Mumbai, a stratum of society that (at least in my experience) doesn't get a great deal of attention in literature. Not so wealthy as to be alienating, and not so poor that compromises are inevitable. As an armchair traveller, Zoya's world was new to me. The other big thing - no pun or offence intended - is that Zoya is a plus-sized character, or 'filled-out in body' as they say in the online marriage profiles. It was really interesting to see where Bhatia would take this aspect of the story. For probably the first half of the book I couldn't really feel any sense of empowerment coming through, but by the end I was satisfied with how it was handled.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and a fun book to spend a couple of days with.
With thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an eARC to read and review.
At the ripe old age of 26, modern Mumbai marketing professional, Zoya Sahni, is in danger of being left on the shelf. While she (mostly) loves her life and has been happily focused on building her career, as her cousin Aisha's nuptials approach, Zoya succumbs to family pressure and allows her matchmaker auntie Sheila to begin introducing some 'boys'. Meanwhile, increased attention from her boss, Arnav, is leaving Zoya feeling flustered.
You can guess where this is heading, and I'm sure you'd be at least 98% correct. But I think the trick with romance novels, apart from being in the right mood for it, is to let yourself enjoy the journey even when you know the destination. And Bhatia takes us on a fun but unusual journey with the lovable character of Zoya.
What's so different? First of all, this is middle-class Mumbai, a stratum of society that (at least in my experience) doesn't get a great deal of attention in literature. Not so wealthy as to be alienating, and not so poor that compromises are inevitable. As an armchair traveller, Zoya's world was new to me. The other big thing - no pun or offence intended - is that Zoya is a plus-sized character, or 'filled-out in body' as they say in the online marriage profiles. It was really interesting to see where Bhatia would take this aspect of the story. For probably the first half of the book I couldn't really feel any sense of empowerment coming through, but by the end I was satisfied with how it was handled.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and a fun book to spend a couple of days with.
With thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an eARC to read and review.
April 11, 2021
Thanks to Alcove Press and Penguin Random House for sending me an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a contemporary romance about an Indian plus size main character, Zoya, as she agrees to an arranged marriage but then has to deal with the offer of a potential new job in New York.
I was really looking forward to this, but I can't in good faith recommend it to other readers when there are so many issues. There are fatphobic comments in every chapter and none of them are fully challenged. Some comments are directed at the main character by others and some are directed at others by the main character.
Zoya describes her aunt Sheila Bua as a 'tent', 'fleshy' and mentions 'her humongous body' many times throughout the story. We never really get an instance where Zoya objectively describes her aunt's appearance; these comments are repeatedly framed in a negative manner with judgment and stigma attached each time.
As well as fat-shaming her aunt and other characters, Zoya thin-shames her cousin multiple times and makes jokes about EDs, which felt very insensitive and incredibly uncomfortable to read. Zoya and Tanya also bullied each other relentlessly throughout the story, and I really didn't enjoy the girl-on-girl hate for the sake of it.
There are also microaggressions towards Muslims, transphobic and misogynistic comments, and moments of slut-shaming, which go unchallenged throughout the novel. There were times when I felt so uncomfortable reading this that I had to skim sections or put the book down for a while. I persevered with it because I hoped that the story would improve and the characters would grow and develop, and have candid conversations about the harmful stereotypes and ideas they were perpetuating. Unfortunately, this never happened.
I also thought the narrative was going to discuss marriage, gender, and job roles in Indian society, since these topics were brought up at the beginning when Zoya felt she had to choose between a marriage that would make her family happy and a job that would make her happy. I was interested in this discussion, but any commentary got lost in the mire of harmful stigma.
Sadly, I can't recommend this because there are so many toxic attitudes and prejudiced comments throughout the novel that have the potential to hurt a lot of readers. I really hope the publisher will consider taking a second look at this book before it's published.
Trigger warnings for fatphobia, transphobia, thin-shaming, slut-shaming, Islamophobic comments, terminal illness, misogynistic comments, and bullying.
This is a contemporary romance about an Indian plus size main character, Zoya, as she agrees to an arranged marriage but then has to deal with the offer of a potential new job in New York.
I was really looking forward to this, but I can't in good faith recommend it to other readers when there are so many issues. There are fatphobic comments in every chapter and none of them are fully challenged. Some comments are directed at the main character by others and some are directed at others by the main character.
Zoya describes her aunt Sheila Bua as a 'tent', 'fleshy' and mentions 'her humongous body' many times throughout the story. We never really get an instance where Zoya objectively describes her aunt's appearance; these comments are repeatedly framed in a negative manner with judgment and stigma attached each time.
As well as fat-shaming her aunt and other characters, Zoya thin-shames her cousin multiple times and makes jokes about EDs, which felt very insensitive and incredibly uncomfortable to read. Zoya and Tanya also bullied each other relentlessly throughout the story, and I really didn't enjoy the girl-on-girl hate for the sake of it.
There are also microaggressions towards Muslims, transphobic and misogynistic comments, and moments of slut-shaming, which go unchallenged throughout the novel. There were times when I felt so uncomfortable reading this that I had to skim sections or put the book down for a while. I persevered with it because I hoped that the story would improve and the characters would grow and develop, and have candid conversations about the harmful stereotypes and ideas they were perpetuating. Unfortunately, this never happened.
I also thought the narrative was going to discuss marriage, gender, and job roles in Indian society, since these topics were brought up at the beginning when Zoya felt she had to choose between a marriage that would make her family happy and a job that would make her happy. I was interested in this discussion, but any commentary got lost in the mire of harmful stigma.
Sadly, I can't recommend this because there are so many toxic attitudes and prejudiced comments throughout the novel that have the potential to hurt a lot of readers. I really hope the publisher will consider taking a second look at this book before it's published.
Trigger warnings for fatphobia, transphobia, thin-shaming, slut-shaming, Islamophobic comments, terminal illness, misogynistic comments, and bullying.
November 10, 2021
4.5 stars!
I feel like I need to give my credentials as an Own Voices reader and reviewer before I give my opinions. I have many labels. I'm Punjabi like Zoya and her family. I also struggle with my weight and am often called fat by family, both immediate and extended and am used to having my weight commented on by people from our community. The Aunties can be vicious!
All that being said, The Rules of Arrangement by Anisha Bhatia was a wonderful read. Is it fatphobic? Yes. But that's a part of the culture. Is colorism an issue? Yes, but that's a real issue the community and Indian diaspora as a whole deal with on the daily. Are Zoya's parents and relatives way too invested in marriage and what that means/entails? Yes, but that's a facet of the culture.
I really love how the author did not tone down or even try to excuse these issues. I felt that by giving attention to them, she was calling them out. Kudos to Zoya for holding her own, because as someone who has heard many of the things she does, I know how often things can wear you down and you find yourself believing what others are telling you.
I absolutely adored Zoya. Her journey in this book made me feel seen and validated. I loved the interactions she had with her parents, and her Aunt Sheila the most. I loved seeing Zoya figure out what she wanted and who, regardless of what everyone around her thought she needed.
For me essentially this book was 5 stars. I really wish there was a second epilogue or more that took up where the epilogue ended. I would love to see a short story or novella where Zoya gets a true HEA, and not just a Happy-For-Now (HFN).
Lastly, I look forward to reading more from Anisha Bhatia. I really loved her writing style and this story!
I feel like I need to give my credentials as an Own Voices reader and reviewer before I give my opinions. I have many labels. I'm Punjabi like Zoya and her family. I also struggle with my weight and am often called fat by family, both immediate and extended and am used to having my weight commented on by people from our community. The Aunties can be vicious!
All that being said, The Rules of Arrangement by Anisha Bhatia was a wonderful read. Is it fatphobic? Yes. But that's a part of the culture. Is colorism an issue? Yes, but that's a real issue the community and Indian diaspora as a whole deal with on the daily. Are Zoya's parents and relatives way too invested in marriage and what that means/entails? Yes, but that's a facet of the culture.
I really love how the author did not tone down or even try to excuse these issues. I felt that by giving attention to them, she was calling them out. Kudos to Zoya for holding her own, because as someone who has heard many of the things she does, I know how often things can wear you down and you find yourself believing what others are telling you.
I absolutely adored Zoya. Her journey in this book made me feel seen and validated. I loved the interactions she had with her parents, and her Aunt Sheila the most. I loved seeing Zoya figure out what she wanted and who, regardless of what everyone around her thought she needed.
For me essentially this book was 5 stars. I really wish there was a second epilogue or more that took up where the epilogue ended. I would love to see a short story or novella where Zoya gets a true HEA, and not just a Happy-For-Now (HFN).
Lastly, I look forward to reading more from Anisha Bhatia. I really loved her writing style and this story!
July 23, 2021
I kept waiting for this book to redeem itself and its such a shame because I really wanted to love it. The fat phobia and "skin too dark" narrative was too much for me without the opposite to contrast it. I was hoping for some body positivity, progressive, sassy, boss bitch vibes and this was not it. The atmosphere was the main thing I did enjoy about this book. Unfortunately in the end it just was not the book for me. The narration was done very nicely and was enjoyable to listen to.
Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC to review. Opinions are honest and my own.
Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC to review. Opinions are honest and my own.
January 16, 2022
Zoya is doing great in life but is not the perfect Indian girl. She’s overweight, spunky and dark-skinned and at 26 isn't married. To appease her family she agrees to an arranged marriage, but what will she do about her own dreams and desires.
I really wanted to like this book, it wasn't bad but sadly I was left disappointed. This book highlights many of the awful parts of the Indian culture such as misogyny, fatphobia and so many toxic attitudes and microaggressions. It was hard to read since there was no real voice of reason throughout the book.
The romance was sweet but I wasn't really into it and wasn't surprised at all. Zoya is what got me through the book and kept me interested. I was dedicated to seeing her drop tradition and do what makes her happy. It was a super-fast read, but I did not enjoy the journey.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to like this book, it wasn't bad but sadly I was left disappointed. This book highlights many of the awful parts of the Indian culture such as misogyny, fatphobia and so many toxic attitudes and microaggressions. It was hard to read since there was no real voice of reason throughout the book.
The romance was sweet but I wasn't really into it and wasn't surprised at all. Zoya is what got me through the book and kept me interested. I was dedicated to seeing her drop tradition and do what makes her happy. It was a super-fast read, but I did not enjoy the journey.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 26, 2021
So I just finished reading an ARC of The Rules of Arrangement and my heart is completely full. It is the fuzzy and warm kind of novel I just needed before my semester exams. The plot revolves around a 26 year old Zoya Sahani of Mumbai who is almost past the expiry date in the Punjabi arranged marriage market because she chose to prioritise ‘horror of horrors’, education and career above everything else.
Zoya is all of us struggling to make sense of the world in our 20s and trying to evade the family pressure of ‘settling in’ by 25 since that’s the cutoff that that the Indian society provides to it’s women. This bit is so well written that I got anxiety imagining having to go through this nightmare in the next few years. Things take a turn when Zoya is finally engaged to a family friend and at the same time, friendship starts blooming between Zoya and her boss Arnav. I absolutely loved Arnav’s character. You really need to read to find out about this man. He’s the cutest, gentlest, most appropriate and understanding of men I have read of in fiction in a long time. Arnav is the man of dreams of every 21st century woman. Simultaneously, there are red lines in the relationship of Zoya and Lalit, her fiancé, which Zoya tries her best to ignore considering her family’s happiness. From here, the story could have been any mushy romance (which I half expected it to be) with Zoya breaking up with Loathsome Lalit and marrying Arnav. Except, it wasn’t.
What I absolutely loved about this novel is how fun, contemporary and practical it is along with social commentary on society, subtle patriarchy in Indian families and how women are privy to it, etc. Like every big noisy Indian family, Zoya too has Sheila Bua the matchmaker- that one aunt every young adult in the family wants to run away from. However, Zoya reminisces those times when she was her Magic Bua and always knew what would make her happy. Revelations about this stereotypical aunt whose dreams were once crushed due to the expectations of marriage changes Zoya’s perspective towards life. She, who was meekly accepting an arranged marriage for the sake of her family’s happiness and even considered rejecting her dream job in New York, realized that she had to speak out. And yes, the engagement was finally broken and the proposal from Arnav did come but romance doesn’t take the centerstage here. What does is Zoya making her own choices and leaving for New York. While she does get into a relationship with Arnav, it is her life that she prioritizes. A woman only deserves a man who understands her dreams. Zoya does finally manage to escape the strangleholds of society,
Where this novel really stands out is in the analysis of every character, even the apparently villainous ones, and explains what makes them what they are. It is easy to write ‘woke’ feminist posts on Facebook but equally difficult when the fight is against your own family and loved ones who simply refuses to understand your point of view. The truth is that we all go through this, we all deal with it. Change will always cause some ‘disturbance’ of the age-old calm.
However, it is also important to realize that the older generations in our family have been molded in a certain way for decades and will naturally find it difficult to wrap their heads around new ideas. Shunning them out of your life is probably only possible in fiction but is never really feasible in real life. Hence, the triumph is in every small step you take, the subtle ways in which you get your way through and make the path a little smoother for the younger women of the family.
Zoya is all of us struggling to make sense of the world in our 20s and trying to evade the family pressure of ‘settling in’ by 25 since that’s the cutoff that that the Indian society provides to it’s women. This bit is so well written that I got anxiety imagining having to go through this nightmare in the next few years. Things take a turn when Zoya is finally engaged to a family friend and at the same time, friendship starts blooming between Zoya and her boss Arnav. I absolutely loved Arnav’s character. You really need to read to find out about this man. He’s the cutest, gentlest, most appropriate and understanding of men I have read of in fiction in a long time. Arnav is the man of dreams of every 21st century woman. Simultaneously, there are red lines in the relationship of Zoya and Lalit, her fiancé, which Zoya tries her best to ignore considering her family’s happiness. From here, the story could have been any mushy romance (which I half expected it to be) with Zoya breaking up with Loathsome Lalit and marrying Arnav. Except, it wasn’t.
What I absolutely loved about this novel is how fun, contemporary and practical it is along with social commentary on society, subtle patriarchy in Indian families and how women are privy to it, etc. Like every big noisy Indian family, Zoya too has Sheila Bua the matchmaker- that one aunt every young adult in the family wants to run away from. However, Zoya reminisces those times when she was her Magic Bua and always knew what would make her happy. Revelations about this stereotypical aunt whose dreams were once crushed due to the expectations of marriage changes Zoya’s perspective towards life. She, who was meekly accepting an arranged marriage for the sake of her family’s happiness and even considered rejecting her dream job in New York, realized that she had to speak out. And yes, the engagement was finally broken and the proposal from Arnav did come but romance doesn’t take the centerstage here. What does is Zoya making her own choices and leaving for New York. While she does get into a relationship with Arnav, it is her life that she prioritizes. A woman only deserves a man who understands her dreams. Zoya does finally manage to escape the strangleholds of society,
Where this novel really stands out is in the analysis of every character, even the apparently villainous ones, and explains what makes them what they are. It is easy to write ‘woke’ feminist posts on Facebook but equally difficult when the fight is against your own family and loved ones who simply refuses to understand your point of view. The truth is that we all go through this, we all deal with it. Change will always cause some ‘disturbance’ of the age-old calm.
However, it is also important to realize that the older generations in our family have been molded in a certain way for decades and will naturally find it difficult to wrap their heads around new ideas. Shunning them out of your life is probably only possible in fiction but is never really feasible in real life. Hence, the triumph is in every small step you take, the subtle ways in which you get your way through and make the path a little smoother for the younger women of the family.
August 13, 2021
Zoya Sahni is on her way to having an outstanding marketing career. Her boss has just put up her name for a promotion that will take her straight from Bombay to New York. But when an old acquaintance pops back into her life, and her family rushes ahead to plan their arranged marriage, Zoya finds herself unable to shatter her family’s aspirations.
It’s great to see more and more Indian representation in such typical rom-com novels. And that is what drew me to the book. From the synopsis, Zoya seemed like a headstrong millennial, who would prioritize her ambitions over superficial societal norms.
But unfortunately, for the majority of the book, her fierce attitude extends only to her thoughts. On the outside, she presents an almost nonchalant acceptance of her family’s fatphobia and colourism. I completely understand that for a lot of people it’s not easy to stand up for themselves or to break away from the influence of their families. It’s just that the way Zoya’s character has been constructed, you’d think she would be less tolerant of people telling her how to live her life.
One of the main reasons I didn’t love this book as much is because of Zoya’s character. At times, you get these glimpses of her being judgmental and whiny. She clearly wants to get the job in NY, and despite how arrogant her fiancé is, she just goes along with it.
Lalit’s character infuriated me to no end. He has been depicted as this entitled male chauvinist. And for some reason, Zoya finds it in her to place him on an even bigger pedestal, all the while... Read the rest of the review on my blog
It’s great to see more and more Indian representation in such typical rom-com novels. And that is what drew me to the book. From the synopsis, Zoya seemed like a headstrong millennial, who would prioritize her ambitions over superficial societal norms.
But unfortunately, for the majority of the book, her fierce attitude extends only to her thoughts. On the outside, she presents an almost nonchalant acceptance of her family’s fatphobia and colourism. I completely understand that for a lot of people it’s not easy to stand up for themselves or to break away from the influence of their families. It’s just that the way Zoya’s character has been constructed, you’d think she would be less tolerant of people telling her how to live her life.
One of the main reasons I didn’t love this book as much is because of Zoya’s character. At times, you get these glimpses of her being judgmental and whiny. She clearly wants to get the job in NY, and despite how arrogant her fiancé is, she just goes along with it.
Lalit’s character infuriated me to no end. He has been depicted as this entitled male chauvinist. And for some reason, Zoya finds it in her to place him on an even bigger pedestal, all the while... Read the rest of the review on my blog
May 29, 2024
I must say that I absolutely loved reading The Rules of Arrangement. It was fun, snarky and sweet all at once and was such a wonderful palate cleanser from the entirely to serious and scholarly nonfiction I had just read about India.
Zoya is an intelligent, funny, chubby 26 year old who lives with her parents in Mumbai. She was determined to complete her education and now she has a job which she loves. Twenty-six is considered quite old for an unmarried woman and so her mother enlists a favorite aunt to help arrange marriage for her and hence, the rules of arrangement.
We quickly get to know Zoya and all of her faults, one of which is her love for food and unfortunately it shows. Meeting her first boy on the marriage mart she is dressed quite tightly and says:
"Maybe I could sneak in one peda? Maybe not, in case I burst out of this dress in my underwear, much like a paunchy, gone-to-seed Superman. But I’m so hungry."
I adore Zoya and I loved her story and the insight I gained in reading this.
Zoya is an intelligent, funny, chubby 26 year old who lives with her parents in Mumbai. She was determined to complete her education and now she has a job which she loves. Twenty-six is considered quite old for an unmarried woman and so her mother enlists a favorite aunt to help arrange marriage for her and hence, the rules of arrangement.
We quickly get to know Zoya and all of her faults, one of which is her love for food and unfortunately it shows. Meeting her first boy on the marriage mart she is dressed quite tightly and says:
"Maybe I could sneak in one peda? Maybe not, in case I burst out of this dress in my underwear, much like a paunchy, gone-to-seed Superman. But I’m so hungry."
I adore Zoya and I loved her story and the insight I gained in reading this.
December 16, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed this book! It was a fun, quick beach read (listen).
This story is about an Indian woman named Zoya. Zoya is somewhat non traditional in a very traditional culture. I loved being inside Zoya's mind, so I'm glad the story was written in the first person.
Zoya is a successful young woman of 26 who has yet to be married. Her family sets her up in an arranged marriage and just as she gets engaged, she's offered an opportunity of a lifetime. A prestigious US company has offered her a job in NYC, thousands of miles away from her home of Mambai.
The characters in this story were believable and relatable, despite the cultural differences. I am not really familiar with Indian culture, but I enjoyed the way this story was written and it felt authentic to me.
The narrator is PERFECT. She was Zoya. I loved her accent and manner of speaking. All in all, a great 4.25 star story.
This story is about an Indian woman named Zoya. Zoya is somewhat non traditional in a very traditional culture. I loved being inside Zoya's mind, so I'm glad the story was written in the first person.
Zoya is a successful young woman of 26 who has yet to be married. Her family sets her up in an arranged marriage and just as she gets engaged, she's offered an opportunity of a lifetime. A prestigious US company has offered her a job in NYC, thousands of miles away from her home of Mambai.
The characters in this story were believable and relatable, despite the cultural differences. I am not really familiar with Indian culture, but I enjoyed the way this story was written and it felt authentic to me.
The narrator is PERFECT. She was Zoya. I loved her accent and manner of speaking. All in all, a great 4.25 star story.
July 21, 2021
4/5 ⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley for this copy in exchange for a honest review
This was really enjoyable! I loved the HP references from Z and her funny sense of humor. I am curious tho about arranges marriages in India and how many woman have to suffer them.
Thanks to Netgalley for this copy in exchange for a honest review
This was really enjoyable! I loved the HP references from Z and her funny sense of humor. I am curious tho about arranges marriages in India and how many woman have to suffer them.
August 16, 2021
"Bhatia... tackles things like fatphobia, colorism, and the role of education in how women in Indian are “valued” as they come of age."
Read the full review on my blog:https://introvertinterrupted.com/2021...
Read the full review on my blog:https://introvertinterrupted.com/2021...
December 27, 2021
Oh, I loved this book! It was funny and charming and heartwarming and I fell in love with the main character, Zoya, from the first page.
I binge-listened to the audio book in just a few days—and when I was listening this morning, I pressed pause to write down this line which is such a beautiful thought and capture the heart of the book. I hope I got the line right since I'd been listening to it, but it was: "Maybe the roots of our tradition are anchored deeper than our dreams."
This is a beautiful story about the clash of the old traditional ways with our modern way of living and dreaming with a hearty dose of the standards of beauty that society places on women, and the fact that the idea of happiness doesn't look the same for everyone. Zoya is a fierce and fabulous heroine, and I can't wait to see what Anisha Bhatia writes next.
Also—how have I never heard of the Indian holiday holi? It sounds like an incredible tradition and celebration!
I binge-listened to the audio book in just a few days—and when I was listening this morning, I pressed pause to write down this line which is such a beautiful thought and capture the heart of the book. I hope I got the line right since I'd been listening to it, but it was: "Maybe the roots of our tradition are anchored deeper than our dreams."
This is a beautiful story about the clash of the old traditional ways with our modern way of living and dreaming with a hearty dose of the standards of beauty that society places on women, and the fact that the idea of happiness doesn't look the same for everyone. Zoya is a fierce and fabulous heroine, and I can't wait to see what Anisha Bhatia writes next.
Also—how have I never heard of the Indian holiday holi? It sounds like an incredible tradition and celebration!
September 15, 2021
4 stars because I really liked Zoya and listening to her inner monologue was always fun. That being said, I had some issues with a few plot points. I couldn’t help but feel a little weird about the “secret admirer” gifts, especially when they kept going after she was engaged (like I get it, but also, maybe respect her life choices? It’s never ok to pursue someone you know is taken). I also thought some of the surprises/twists were easy to see coming, and I had a hard time understanding why Zoya didn’t… but she had a lot going on so I forgive her. Really she was delightful.
March 14, 2021
One of THE WORST books I've read.
Review to come
Review to come
July 28, 2021
Hands down the best audiobook I have read this year. I loved it so much that I bought the print book because I want to see the author's magic on the page. The narration is powerful. Character voices are distinct, and the actor captures every emotion and every nuance. A true joy to listen to! The story itself is one we are familiar with: a modern woman struggles in her fight for independence and her loyalty to tradition: career vs family, job vs. marriage, unknown path vs. charted waters. What Bhatia brings to this is a character who is instantly my best friend (or, at least, I would like her to be!) and whose candor and wit pull the story forward with reckless abandon. Layered and filled with characters I won't soon forget, The Rules of Arrangement is a feast of a book.
October 22, 2023
1.5✨
Initially, I anticipated The Rules of Arrangement to be reminiscent of Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows. At first, it had a similar vibe, but as I progressed, my interest waned. While the writing was enjoyable, it eventually became overly silly, with constant attempts to prompt laughter over trivial matters 😖
In conclusion, I found this book to be silly and I already forgot what it was about. 🙃
Initially, I anticipated The Rules of Arrangement to be reminiscent of Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows. At first, it had a similar vibe, but as I progressed, my interest waned. While the writing was enjoyable, it eventually became overly silly, with constant attempts to prompt laughter over trivial matters 😖
In conclusion, I found this book to be silly and I already forgot what it was about. 🙃
March 28, 2024
Love an easy travel read. Such a sweet story.
July 23, 2021
This had really great potential to be a good story, but I just can't get past the fat phobia. This book is about an Indian woman who is too fat and too dark and she's getting too old to be married. Zoya's family is determined to find her a husband, but they all make so many comments about how large and humongous and gigantic and fat she is. It was absolutely awful. And the worst part about this is that if this fat phobia had been challenged at any point, this would have been a decent book. But alas, not a single time does anyone stand up for Zoya and she barely stands up for herself. Zoya is fine with her body. She loves food and is unapologetic about it. She doesn't really have any qualms about being fat except for the fact that every single family member she has and all of the secondary characters, besides two, constantly make comments about her body or about the food that she eats. It's exhausting.
Now this whole book is set up to provide a conflict between arranged marriage and a woman's career and her freedom and love. And if it's even possible for a woman to have freedom, career, and love. There's a lot of cultural discussions and tons of wonderful moments about Indian food. But I can't get over that no one challenged the fatphobia. There's even a moment towards the end where zoya's very thin cousin makes some comment along the lines of "If my fat cousin can do all this, then I should be able to eat whatever I want " and no one stands up to it. They all just brush it off as oh she's jealous or some bullshit. That is not okay. This is not okay behavior from a fat author. This is not okay behavior for fat representation.
I am so frustrated because Zoya is a great MC. She has a thriving career and she is wonderful at what she does. She has a burgeoning romance that could be adorable if it was ever given a chance to be on page, and she is finding family members who will support her no matter what. But they all still maintain this attitude that she is less than because she's fat. And that's not even going into the comments about skin tone and how she has darker skin and then that's not okay and it's less desirable. What kind of freaking crap is that? Ugh I am just annoyed at this one.
Now this whole book is set up to provide a conflict between arranged marriage and a woman's career and her freedom and love. And if it's even possible for a woman to have freedom, career, and love. There's a lot of cultural discussions and tons of wonderful moments about Indian food. But I can't get over that no one challenged the fatphobia. There's even a moment towards the end where zoya's very thin cousin makes some comment along the lines of "If my fat cousin can do all this, then I should be able to eat whatever I want " and no one stands up to it. They all just brush it off as oh she's jealous or some bullshit. That is not okay. This is not okay behavior from a fat author. This is not okay behavior for fat representation.
I am so frustrated because Zoya is a great MC. She has a thriving career and she is wonderful at what she does. She has a burgeoning romance that could be adorable if it was ever given a chance to be on page, and she is finding family members who will support her no matter what. But they all still maintain this attitude that she is less than because she's fat. And that's not even going into the comments about skin tone and how she has darker skin and then that's not okay and it's less desirable. What kind of freaking crap is that? Ugh I am just annoyed at this one.
February 17, 2021
This wasn't a bad book by any means, it just wasn't the right book for me. My main problem with this isn't anything that the author could've changed, because it stems from my ignorance.
Have you ever read a book that threw you into a culture you knew absolutely nothing about? That is exactly what this book does. As someone from the United States, I really struggled to understand a culture that was so different than mine. So many times, situations just felt weird to me, and completely threw me off. On top of that, there was a ton of phrases thrown in that I had no grasp of. While this hurt my reading experience, the friend I was reading loved this, as it helped immerse her into the book. I think this truly comes down to your knowledge of Indian culture, and whether you will be able to understand and relate to a culture so different.
Because of the culture difference, i couldn't stand some of Zoya's actions. I'll admit, I don't know much about the beauty standard in India. What I can say though, is that Zoya is not the type of plus sized character I want. I love seeing myself represented in books, but I want characters who are confident in themselves. Zoya made some of the most vile comments i have ever read, and i simply couldn't excuse that. At one point, she admits to wrapping an invisible tape measure around other fat women to check whether they were fatter, and being satisfied when they were. She would make terrible comments like that, and then daydream about food in the same line. This all combined into a character I couldn't stand.
A few key things kept me from enjoying this, but they won't pose problems to everyone! My not liking this is definitely a result of my ignorance, so if you're in the mood for an immersive book, this is for you!
Thanks to Netgalley and Anisha Bhatia for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
Have you ever read a book that threw you into a culture you knew absolutely nothing about? That is exactly what this book does. As someone from the United States, I really struggled to understand a culture that was so different than mine. So many times, situations just felt weird to me, and completely threw me off. On top of that, there was a ton of phrases thrown in that I had no grasp of. While this hurt my reading experience, the friend I was reading loved this, as it helped immerse her into the book. I think this truly comes down to your knowledge of Indian culture, and whether you will be able to understand and relate to a culture so different.
Because of the culture difference, i couldn't stand some of Zoya's actions. I'll admit, I don't know much about the beauty standard in India. What I can say though, is that Zoya is not the type of plus sized character I want. I love seeing myself represented in books, but I want characters who are confident in themselves. Zoya made some of the most vile comments i have ever read, and i simply couldn't excuse that. At one point, she admits to wrapping an invisible tape measure around other fat women to check whether they were fatter, and being satisfied when they were. She would make terrible comments like that, and then daydream about food in the same line. This all combined into a character I couldn't stand.
A few key things kept me from enjoying this, but they won't pose problems to everyone! My not liking this is definitely a result of my ignorance, so if you're in the mood for an immersive book, this is for you!
Thanks to Netgalley and Anisha Bhatia for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
January 26, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. This book is not like your typical romance. I was anticipating just from the title a romance between a guy and girl thrown into an arranged marriage and that alone BUT this book is so much more. This book is definitely one that should not be passed up if you want to read a romance and learn something. Not just about the character but about yourself too. Zoya is a plus sized girl and throughout the book she does acknowledge it. She loves herself and is not apologetic about it. I commend her for that since its not easy to do so if that is all you think about-or family members point it out constantly. She opens herself up to the possibilities of life. I did not quite understand why the author spent so much time on the family but as I read the book and turned the final pages, I understood. Zoya has a deep love for her family and for her ambitions in life and must choose who to honor, them or herself? I loved Zoya's character and how fun it was to read about her love for food, family and New York City. I too love all those things so I felt like I could relate. This book will make you make you laugh and make you want to hug every family member after you finish. I personally have never heard of the author Anisha Bhatia, but I would definitely read more books from her in the future.
February 11, 2021
4 stars.
I LOVE seeing books with South East rep, especially when the main character isn't this perfect light skinned, skinny girl ideal that a lot of harmful stereotypes are based around. Zoya has been faced with those her whole life. Always too dark, too fat and seen as a burden on her family since she's the only child. Luckily she has a good support system in the terms of her cousins and friends - which are SO important.
Were there things about the book I disliked? absolutely. I think the whole health craze talk was a little absurd. Sure no one wants to let low cal, butter and bread less food forever, but Zoya acting like it was the end of the world for a meal or two was a little over the top. Also the entire pacing of the story seemed a little odd to me, the ex boyfriend seemed more like a unnecessary plot point than anything else.
But the things I LOVED far outweighed the things I didn't. Seeing the women in her family struggle with the patriarchy and the crushing of their own dreams for one was both heartbreaking and surreal. I think about my own mother and wonder what dreams she must've had before her marriage. And I hope that I am bold and brave enough to chase my own. At the root of it, this story is really about sisterly love, and the unspoken bonds and rules women have. I think the ending was perfectly suited for this story.
Find me on: instagram
The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I LOVE seeing books with South East rep, especially when the main character isn't this perfect light skinned, skinny girl ideal that a lot of harmful stereotypes are based around. Zoya has been faced with those her whole life. Always too dark, too fat and seen as a burden on her family since she's the only child. Luckily she has a good support system in the terms of her cousins and friends - which are SO important.
Were there things about the book I disliked? absolutely. I think the whole health craze talk was a little absurd. Sure no one wants to let low cal, butter and bread less food forever, but Zoya acting like it was the end of the world for a meal or two was a little over the top. Also the entire pacing of the story seemed a little odd to me, the ex boyfriend seemed more like a unnecessary plot point than anything else.
But the things I LOVED far outweighed the things I didn't. Seeing the women in her family struggle with the patriarchy and the crushing of their own dreams for one was both heartbreaking and surreal. I think about my own mother and wonder what dreams she must've had before her marriage. And I hope that I am bold and brave enough to chase my own. At the root of it, this story is really about sisterly love, and the unspoken bonds and rules women have. I think the ending was perfectly suited for this story.
Find me on: instagram
The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2021
Zoya might be a successful young professional who just got a major promotion, but she's also 26 and unmarried, which, to her traditional Indian family in Mumbai, is veering into spinster territory. As her Aunties launch into matchmaker mode, Zoya is torn between obeying the traditions and wishes of her family or following her heart.
I absolutely adored this book! The writing was spectacular and I had a hard time putting it down - even when I desperately needed to be doing other things. The well-developed characters were one of the highlights. Zoya was a delightful narrator. She was funny, relatable, and I found myself cheering for her throughout the book (sometimes out-loud). Bhatia did a wonderful job of writing Zoya's struggle to choose between the traditions of her family and her own dreams in a way that was realistic and respectful of the conflict she was undergoing.Even the secondary characters felt three-dimensional and I loved the special relationship that Zoya had with her Sheila Bua.
While the story did have some predictable moments, but enough twists and surprises to keep me guessing and interested, not quite sure how it would end up until I got to the last chapter. If you're looking for a fast, easy read about finding your place within your family and cultural traditions, while still being true to yourself, I highly recommend The Rules of Arrangement!
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for a eARC in exchange for my honest review.
I absolutely adored this book! The writing was spectacular and I had a hard time putting it down - even when I desperately needed to be doing other things. The well-developed characters were one of the highlights. Zoya was a delightful narrator. She was funny, relatable, and I found myself cheering for her throughout the book (sometimes out-loud). Bhatia did a wonderful job of writing Zoya's struggle to choose between the traditions of her family and her own dreams in a way that was realistic and respectful of the conflict she was undergoing.Even the secondary characters felt three-dimensional and I loved the special relationship that Zoya had with her Sheila Bua.
While the story did have some predictable moments, but enough twists and surprises to keep me guessing and interested, not quite sure how it would end up until I got to the last chapter. If you're looking for a fast, easy read about finding your place within your family and cultural traditions, while still being true to yourself, I highly recommend The Rules of Arrangement!
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for a eARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 5, 2021
Even when I wasn't reading i found I was wondering what Zoya and her family were up to now, as I was completely hooked on their story.
I always find it refreshing when reading about a different culture so loved this Bombay set book, with not your typical stereotypical heroine.
For Zoya isn't interested in an arrangement marriage and although she will bow to the aunties and family's will and see men, its not a good process for her.
She's the wrong shade of brown, overweight and already too close to 30. And she is doing very well in her career. This is all about her pull between wanting to be a modern Indian woman and the cultural traditions expected of her.
And as we go further into the story we start seeing all sorts of hidden depths and secrets emerge, which I loved discovering. But will Zoya marry the man that asks her, or will the lure of a job a lifetime be too much? We'll I'm not telling you.
I also loved the way some of the dialogue is written, mimicking the sort of speech patterns you may expect from people in India. I found if I read some out loud that it felt as though I was speaking with the correct accent which is rather clever!
This is the first book I've read by the author and thought it was fantastic. I loved every second of the big noisy family, and would be very happy if there was a sequel.
Thank you to Headline Accent and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
I always find it refreshing when reading about a different culture so loved this Bombay set book, with not your typical stereotypical heroine.
For Zoya isn't interested in an arrangement marriage and although she will bow to the aunties and family's will and see men, its not a good process for her.
She's the wrong shade of brown, overweight and already too close to 30. And she is doing very well in her career. This is all about her pull between wanting to be a modern Indian woman and the cultural traditions expected of her.
And as we go further into the story we start seeing all sorts of hidden depths and secrets emerge, which I loved discovering. But will Zoya marry the man that asks her, or will the lure of a job a lifetime be too much? We'll I'm not telling you.
I also loved the way some of the dialogue is written, mimicking the sort of speech patterns you may expect from people in India. I found if I read some out loud that it felt as though I was speaking with the correct accent which is rather clever!
This is the first book I've read by the author and thought it was fantastic. I loved every second of the big noisy family, and would be very happy if there was a sequel.
Thank you to Headline Accent and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
July 13, 2021
I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. The Rules of Arrangement by Anisha Bhatia is a Women’s Fiction novel with romantic elements.
Zoya Sahni wants to be a good daughter, but fulfilling the dreams her parents have for her may mean letting go of her dreams. At age 27, Zoya is close to being on the shelf, and her parents are getting desperate for her to get married. On the marriage mart, Zoya is considered to be too fat, too dark, and too old, but amazingly enough, Lalit Khurana asks her to marry him, and everyone appears to be happy except Zoya because she has dreams of working for a large advertising agency in New York, dreams that are not out of reach because her boss Arnav Bajaj has recommended her for a position and it’s just up to her to ace that interview. I enjoyed reading this book tremendously. It had the perfect balance of humour and angst, a heroine who had you cheering for her and wonderful secondary characters who added much to the story. I highly recommend this book. Steam Level: Kissing Only Publishing Date: July 13, 2021. #TheRulesOfArrangement #AnishaBhatia #NetGalley #AlcovePress #WomensFictionNovel #ContemporaryWomensFiction #bookstagram #bookstagrammer
Zoya Sahni wants to be a good daughter, but fulfilling the dreams her parents have for her may mean letting go of her dreams. At age 27, Zoya is close to being on the shelf, and her parents are getting desperate for her to get married. On the marriage mart, Zoya is considered to be too fat, too dark, and too old, but amazingly enough, Lalit Khurana asks her to marry him, and everyone appears to be happy except Zoya because she has dreams of working for a large advertising agency in New York, dreams that are not out of reach because her boss Arnav Bajaj has recommended her for a position and it’s just up to her to ace that interview. I enjoyed reading this book tremendously. It had the perfect balance of humour and angst, a heroine who had you cheering for her and wonderful secondary characters who added much to the story. I highly recommend this book. Steam Level: Kissing Only Publishing Date: July 13, 2021. #TheRulesOfArrangement #AnishaBhatia #NetGalley #AlcovePress #WomensFictionNovel #ContemporaryWomensFiction #bookstagram #bookstagrammer
April 20, 2025
Unfortunately, this book felt like 350 pages of fluff with very little substance. I was genuinely excited to read it and had hoped for a strong, supportive female lead—a real girl’s girl. Instead, the main character came across as extremely judgmental, frequently body-shaming others by describing them as either too skinny or too fat or somehow describing their size or skin color. She didn’t seem to be too invested in her friend’s struggles or truly care for them. Her and some of her bosses conversations also shamed people’s English speaking abilities. They bond over calling the bosses ex a “beanstalk”.
She also appeared to have a deeply unhealthy relationship with food, which I assumed would be explored or challenged, but it never was. The book presented a bizarre dichotomy: all the “good” characters indulged in unhealthy eating, while anyone who was health-conscious was portrayed as dull and joyless. There was no balanced or realistic middle ground. It even went so far as to shame exercising and going to the gym, as if taking care of oneself physically was inherently negative.
Plot-wise, not much actually happened, and by the end, I found myself wondering what I’d spent 350 pages reading. Disappointing.
She also appeared to have a deeply unhealthy relationship with food, which I assumed would be explored or challenged, but it never was. The book presented a bizarre dichotomy: all the “good” characters indulged in unhealthy eating, while anyone who was health-conscious was portrayed as dull and joyless. There was no balanced or realistic middle ground. It even went so far as to shame exercising and going to the gym, as if taking care of oneself physically was inherently negative.
Plot-wise, not much actually happened, and by the end, I found myself wondering what I’d spent 350 pages reading. Disappointing.
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