Not Your Basic Love Story

by Lindsay Maple

Stubbornly independent Becky isn't looking for love, but when sparks fly on a flight to Mexico she learns her carefully planned life might be the opposite of what she needs. What begins as a fun vacation fling with a tall, sexy stranger turns into so much more. The problem? Dev and Becky couldn't be more different. Back home in Vancouver, Canada, their relationship grows, and their two worlds collide.

Can a roommate-hating city girl with a diet of chicken nuggets and cheap wine make it work with a vegetarian, non-drinking, Sikh man who lives with his rambunctious multigenerational family in the suburbs?

As Becky navigates her way through a culture she knows nothing about, she is faced with one of the most important decisions of her life: change her plans for how she'd imagined her happily-ever-after, or walk away from love.

(Not) Your Basic Love Story is a RomCom about acceptance, compromise, and love being the only thing that truly matters.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Rom Com, Chick Lit, Adult, Contemporary Romance

280 pages, Paperback

First published August 23, 2022

Reviews

[Travelogged Blogs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had no idea that in losing my luggage, I’d find something so unexpectedly wonderful.

When I saw that the main guy Dev is an Indian-Canadian, I was so excited to pick this book up. The author was spot on when it came to describing all the little things from the Desi dishes to the clothes, traditions and slangs. While our girl Rebecca here is white so obviously the issues with cultural differences were bound to happen between them and that's what exactly happened here. Initially Dev was kind of the perfect guy and Rebecca's whole life was a mess but then he did start showing his faults. The communication between Dev & Rebecca could've been better but in the end, they did talk their problems out. Basically the whole set-up of the book is how these two manage to compromise for each other and learn each other's cultures (Rebecca had to do the learning part mostly though). The build up of their relationship was quite fast which is why I couldn't connect much with the romance as much as I thought I would. The writing and the way some characters were portrayed in a realistic way was engaging. This book focuses more on the interracial culture conflicts, it's very believable not overly dramatic but I was not very invested in the romance aspect and Rebecca's conflicting emotions weren't helping either to be honest.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well the title definitely lived up to the story. This was not your basic love story at all. I think I knew that was going to be the case after the horrible/gross meet cute between the two main characters.
The beginning of the story is lovely, all the good feelings, everything is going great and the boom. The MMC is Indian and comes from a very traditional family. The FMC is white and doesn’t know much about the Indian culture. There are a few times when the two main characters seem about to break up because they are so different in so many ways and I’m going to be honest up until the end I thought that was for the best. I was willing to sacrifice my HEA for these two to find happiness on their own.
Needless, to say I think the ending was well done and I’m glad the author showed the real compromises and struggles this couple went through. While this wasn’t a basic love story it felt like a very real one.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yay! Another Canadian author for me to love! I'm already excited to see what Lindsay comes up with next.

Not Your Basic Love Story is pure gold! I absolutely loved this storyline and the Vancouver setting. It made me so happy when Becky and Dev visited Victoria. It isn't very often that I get to read books that mention where I live, or specific places I have been many times. It's really special and I love that!

What I loved most about this book is that it's relatable. The situations and emotions are very real. There are even some heavier topics thrown in that I felt were written extremely well. Plus! I just really loved the characters.

AND! We've got some spice mixed in, and I'm not just talking about the masala chai 😉

A must read for rom-com fans!

A great big thank you to Rising Action Publication for my gifted copy!

[Perpetual Reads (Angel) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley & Lindsay Maple for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts are my own.

(Not) Your Basic Love Story sees Becky on her way to Mexico from Canada for her best friend's wedding, where she meets Jagdev Singh (or Dev as he prefers to be called) on the plane and they seem to hit it off. What starts as a fling grows into something more between the two, and when they arrive back home, they navigate what it means to fall in love with someone who's family, culture and background is vastly different from their own.

As an Indian living in a different country, I really appreciated the respect and effort that the author took to portray one of the many diverse, vibrant and wonderul cultures from my country. India is not a homogenous land, but rather an amaglam of various languages, religions, customs and traditions, and I love that this was honoured in the way the author ensured that it was Punjabi culture that she was choosing to depict, and that she was committed to doing it with care and sensitivity. I myself am not Punjabi, but even I could relate to the celebrations and struggles that Dev faced in balancing commitment to family versus pursuing your heart's dream.

I was in a love-hate relationship with Becky, our FMC. Reading Becky's growth as a person while navigating between her career goals, her romanctic dreams, her relationship with Dev, her relationship with their families and friends separately and their vastly different upbringings, cultural backgrounds and financial situations was a roller coaster ride to be sure. I struggled with alot of Becky's insecurities and inner conflicts, but what I loved was that all of it was 100% real, raw and unapologetic. The author did not shy away from exploring Becky's anxiety and her road to self-acceptance, love and confidence, which I very much appreciated.

If you're a fan of rom-com style insta-love, a vacation fling turned more with family and friends shenanigans, then this is the book for you!

Rating: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

[Amanda Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had the pleasure of reading Lindsay's book in advance and LOVED it! So much great romance and tension! OOh baby! It gave me all the feels, tackling tough issues, but balancing it perfectly with love and laughter. And I wish these characters were real so I could be friends with them in real life! Can't wait to have the hard copy of this book on my shelf!!





I was given a review copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Liz Kessick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, sweet, and sexy, with a genuine cross-cultural challenge at its heart, this joyous Canadian romcom's a real page-turner. I wouldn't be surprised if Lindsay Maple shaped up to be Canada's answer to Emily Henry.
(I was lucky enough to read an advance copy: can't wait for it to be in my hands)

[Hazel Khatter · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I had no idea that in losing my luggage, I'd find something so unexpectedly wonderful."

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Forbidden Romance (Kind of), Interracial Romance, Multicultural Representation, Forced Proximity, Grumpy and Sunshine (Reversed), Not Good Enough For Him, Rejected by Former Lover

Main Characters: Dev Singh, Rebecca (Becky)

Review: This book was relatable AF! And not just because I belong to the same culture as the hero. Rebecca and Dev are just beautiful. You know when sometimes, a book just envelopes you? I felt that with "Not Your Basic Love Story". As mentioned in the Author's Note, the author has done a lot of research. I'm a Punjabi too, but I still learned much about my culture from this book.

With the book's pace, I was not rooting for Dev. I mean, I was for quite a while until, well, until his parents. I know how meddlesome Punjabi parents are, and my parents expect me to continue their legacy too, but with Dev, I felt Rebecca would cry more than she laughed and suffer more than she'd enjoy.

I won't carry on with too many points or nitpicks, but I think this is one book that beautifully represents more than one culture. And the ending is worth it, especially the one alteration (no spoilers, but kind of a spoiler?)

If you're reading this review, read the book. Don't ask questions. You're not going to regret it.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a strong debut from Canadian indie author Lindsay Maple!! I thought this book did a great job exploring the complexities and challenges of interracial relationships as white Canadian Becky meets Sikh Canadian Dev while on a Mexican vacation.

These two have immediate chemistry but have to figure out if their strong connection is enough to overcome their cultural differences. I would have liked if this was a dual POV romance but the author still did a good job presenting both perspectives as Becky and Dev figure out how to compromise and reconcile their differences in order to make a life and marriage work.

Great on audio narrated by Ellie Gossage. I'm really excited to read what comes next from a new auto-buy indie romance writer! Much thanks to NetGalley and the author for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Britt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley & Rising Action for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.

2.5 stars

Despite the title, Not Your Basic Love Story is a pretty basic love story.

Rebecca's attitude is pretty annoying for most of this; very 'not like other girls' with an inconsistent feminist attitude. She likes to claim loudly she's a feminist to others but seems very concerned about not being married at the age of 29. Her motives are tied up in her friends getting married and having children, and you never see her actual goals or desires.

I didn't appreciate the assumption that Fight Club is an obscure reference that girls wouldn't get - are there really people in the world that haven't heard of Fight Club? We're back into 'not like other girls' territory - especially when Rebecca mentions not bringing up her chick flicks for fear of what Dev thinks. She does this a lot, claims one thing to Dev and then thinks about how she'll tell him the whole truth later. Not to mention, I made it to 7% and was already annoyed at how often Rebecca gets caught up in her thoughts, ignoring the people around her she's actively interacting with.

Even without all the instalove and misunderstanding tropes, I doubt I would've loved Not Your Basic Love Story ... Nothing is ever fully addressed, and a lot of big issues are swept under the rug. Not to mention, the whole 'solution' is something that could have easily been dealt with earlier if any of the characters were actually open or honest, making the whole central conflict feel shallow.

I liked parts of this book, but there weren't enough of them, and they weren't good enough, to overcome a lot of huge issues.

Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.

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[its.mandolin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Becky and Dev first meet on a plane where the banter is going well until Dev throws up on her and they think their story is over until their luggage gets mixed up and end up at a wedding together and having a great time.

However, there’s some jealously in the beginning that doesn’t make much sense to me and from there I felt Dev and Becky just were not a good match. While I understand respecting cultural differences and traditions, Dev doesn’t explain many (if any)to Becky and just expects her to automatically be on board with all of the, some of them being significantly impactful lifestyle differences (like living with your in laws and their entire family). I also felt where Dev gave Becky no grace with her ex, he expected hers over and over again when it came to his ex girlfriend.

Both families were anxiety inducing in a really realistic way, it showed the difficulty one can experience when in an interracial/cultural relationship and how difficult it can be on the individuals and couple. I’ve personally been exposed to Sikh people/culture in my real life but this is one of the few times I’ve seen the, represented in a mainstream romance and I liked that and am happy for the increased visibility this book will provide.

I enjoyed the very first part of this novel until the end of Miranda’s wedding but after there were too many less than favorable factors playing in to Dev and Becky’s relationship for me to get excited about them ending up together. Dev and Becky were awful communicators and were not the most fun to read. I was also irked that it was just expected of Becky to compromise on things over and over again and Dev never has to consider comprise until he gets to decide to consider compromise, it’s a choice for him to compromise but an expectation for her.

Also, as a bisexual having the only openly bisexual character be a cheater who wanted to explore their sexuality and having sex with someone else was really off putting and plays into the negative stereotype of bisexual people being promiscuous & was really, really disappointing.

Im giving this one two stars.

⭐️⭐️

Thank You NetGalley and Rising Action Publication for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Crystal Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thrilled for the chance to read an advanced copy of Not Your Basic Love Story. The premise of a basic white girl falling in love with a Sikh man, a culture she knows nothing about, creates the perfect cocktail for hurdles, and Lindsay Maple delivers beautifully. The sexual magnetism between Becky and Dev had me tearing through pages from the start, but then I really got sucked into the story as Dev's family came into play. I learned so much about this culture, and I'm grateful for the opportunity created by this author. These two run into so many obstacles, some hilarious, some heartbreaking, and the pacing will keep you hooked! A hilarious and lovely story written by a lovely woman. I can't wait for her next rom-com to be published!

[Wren (fablesandwren) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and net galley for an early review copy of this book.

This was such a fun romantic comedy. It gripped me by the neck from the first page, because I was eager for a cute-plane cute. And then it turned a drastic turn (no spoilers). I really did enjoy this one. I would say that Becky was super relatable and had a hilarious inner monologue.

I won't go in depth on this one, because it is a pretty short book and it is a rom com, just know you are in for a wild ride and that you'll be laughing for a lot of it!

[Emma Szalai · Rating 2 out of 5]

Damn was this a disappointment. The characters weren't all that fleshed out at all (and the bit that they were, I didn't like them much), the relationship/connection between the leads felt forced, the pacing was awful and the plot was kind of just all over the place. That, on top of fairly stinted writing (ala. then this happened, then this happened, then this happened) made this a not so great read that I was surprised I finished.

I received an ARC of this story from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Bonnie Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsay's characters stick with you and the way she writes the romance in the storyline is to die for. I couldn't put it down and I guarantee you won't be able to either. This is a must read!

[lulureadss · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC provided by NetGalley*

Let me start by saying this: I finished this book in a day and it got me out of a reading slump

I was very interested in how both their worlds are going to come together and what they are willing to do to meet each other half way. It’s a big struggle especially due to religion and culture but they made it through and it was beautiful journey.

I would consider this book an “adult romance”. It’s a love story between two strangers and it’s real. There isn’t too much fluff or super duper cheesy moments it was raw and it felt like an experience. I didn’t think that I would be invested in this type of love story but I ended up loving it. In my opinion this would make a good romance movie!!

The cross culture was very well executed! I loved the Indian (Punjabi) culture representation. It really shows that the author did a lot of research. Well done


It’s one of these books that it’s better to go in blind without reading the synopsis. Trust me one this. Well written romance novel that I highly recommend!

[Bella Toric · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was just so preciously cute and sweet! Dev and Rebecca had this like cute but funny dynamic in the beginning of the book that you can't help but want more of. The story starts and their interaction is just so awkward but sort of adorable at the same time. While they go through a lot of ups and downs, it is a genuinely cute story that made my heart pitter patter.

Lindsay does a great job at touching on some pretty intense topics that were really important to the story and there was a lot of things that I felt were done really well to remedy some of the issues that both characters face throughout the novel.

While this was a book that made me laugh and smile, I definitely had the most fun reading it as a whole because this Canadian gal loves reading Canadian characters! Definitely one of my favourite 2022 reads!

[Sky Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very lucky to receive an advanced copy of this book and it did NOT disappoint!
First of all, I read this in one day while on a beach vacation, which is the PERFECT setting for a fun, sexy book like this. But it can be enjoyed any time, anywhere. It flows so well and felt very realistic. I really liked that Becky works in STEM and this aspect of her life was explored in the perfect amount of detail. Both Becky and Dev's families were filled with rich and diverse characters, and of course, their chemistry was off the hook.
It was so cool to read about a Punjabi wedding ceremony. I attended a wedding in India a few years ago and it really brought me back!
I thought the author handled Dev's culture with sensitivity and grace - it's clear she went the extra mile to ensure accuracy and avoid appropriation.
Highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a page-turning love story with humor and heat 🔥

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Becky and Dev are opposites: Becky is 29 and Dev is 24. Becky works in engineering and Dev is graduating college planning to take over his family business. Dev lives in a mansion with his parents, grandparents, and cousins while Becky has a one bedroom hours away from her parents. Dev is Indian and Sikh while Becky is white and agnostic.

On paper, they would never work. But, Becky and Dev love each other. They've never felt passion like the one they have together, never felt the love and acceptance they share with each other.

Having seen relationships like this not work out, Becky and Dev getting their happy ending through compromise, commitment, and love was so wonderful. Not only did Becky and Dev grow, but their families did too, which was realistic for a true relationship.

Thank you to Netgalley and Rising Action for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

4 stars
1 spice

[Sarah Guzik · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book.

I was so excited to start this book. The synopsis sounded so intriguing. Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. I’m sure there are many readers that will enjoy this book a lot, but I was not one of them.

I wasn’t able to connect with the characters and honestly, I didn’t like most of them for the majority of this book (especially the MC Rebecca). Many of the characters were redeemed in the last 20 pages, but it wasn’t enough to change my rating. I found myself not wanting Rebecca & Dev to be together for numerous reasons. I don’t think their relationship is mature or healthy.

What I did really like was the opportunity to learn more about Punjabi and Sikh culture. That was a highlight for me in this book.

[Cat Norris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun and cozy read, like the snuggle-fest of books. I was digging the the description of Dev. Giving me sexy Sidharth Malhotra vibes. It felt relatable af (and I personally identified with) Becky going out and slaying on her Mexico post-breakup trampage. I also really enjoyed Becky’s character arc and how her self-discovery influenced and changed the dynamics of her interpersonal relationships. I found it to be very clever that the pacing always matched Becky’s emotional state.
I laughed, I cried, it inspired IRL sexual activity.

PS - Thank you for being real about lady IBS. I wish there was more gassy lady representation in books, because we are so often forced to pretend like our butts are only for love making, but so many of us struggle intestinally in silence. Thank you for normalizing female farts.

[Dutch Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was honored to have read the final draft before publishing. Lindsay has shown a tremendous touch in bringing about non-traditional love stories and treating the subject matter with reverence and not as an in-your-face, round peg square hole approach. It's funny, sexy, believable, and relatable on many levels. Absolutely recommend this to enjoy the moment you are boarding a plane and hopefully, serendipity intervenes with you as well!

[Jackie Khalilieh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not often we get to read love stories based in Canada and as a fellow Canadian author, I loved being able to experience Becky and Dev’s romance in (not) Your Basic Love Story with beautiful Vancouver as a setting so lush, it was almost its own character. This novel is the perfect beach/bathtub read. It’s got laughs, romance, steamy love scenes, a large cast of diverse characters and two people you root for from the beginning. As someone in an interracial marriage, I could appreciate the nuances Lindsay wrote about concerning the challenges of bringing two very different families together. Especially when a wedding is involved! You wont be able to put this book down. Lindsay Maple’s debut is full of heart and a joy to read!

[Jenna (readinginjennaland) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up
Becky is on the plane about to go to a destination wedding. There's an empty seat where her ex-boyfriend was supposed to be. But now it's empty and she's wondering who will be her seatmate. When a tall dark and handsome man sits down. She's elated. They start off great and it ends on a sour note. They end up meeting up again and things escalate in a good way.

This is definitely not your normal love story but still wonderful. I enjoyed the characters and learning about Devs culture. This was a great read. I couldn't put it down. I laughed and cried.

[Jennie Rosenblum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an adorably fun read. Nothing too heavy but enjoyable. The perfect book to bring along on vacation or to the beach. I love stories that create blended families and the characters in this book were delightful in their learning of cultures and their experiences rang true. This is a fast paced easy read.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this story, I felt it was very true to life. I liked that it took place in Canada. And I enjoyed reading about Dev's Indian culture and his multigenerational family through Rebecca's eyes.

[Spiri Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
Not your basic love story is like Beautiful by Christina Lauren meets the Spanish love deception. Becky is flying to Mexico for her best friend’s wedding. On the plane she hits it off with a guy named Dev. . . until he throws up on her. I was really grossed out by that and I personally wouldn’t talk to a guy after he pukes on me, but Becky does. They’re perfect for each other but cultural differences create challenges for them. I love how this book mentions what it’s like in a minority religion living in a place that revolves around Christian holidays. As a Jewish reader, I could talk about that for hours. I learned a lot about Sikh weddings! I really liked getting to know Dev's family and seeing Becky's character development.

[Timepassreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhhh!!!! I LOVED THIS!!
A cute and steamy romance after a long time. The cross-culture relationship (Indian - Canadian) is executed perfectly. This is so fast paced and a complete page turner. I loved it. I loved Becky. Miranda and priya seemed sweet. And Angelina is fun as hell.

I want to appreciate the author for learning and representing Indian(punjabi) culture so good. It takes a lot of hardwork to understand a new religion and culture. She did a great job in that part. And no need to even talk about the romance. It's extra hot in here.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing with ARC.

[Serpil Çelebi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A man and a woman from different cultures fall in love. Everything is perfect when they are on their own. And then it comes to the families, here we go!

It was an easy and sweet read. The main characters were fine, story was fine. But I couldn't get excited as much as I want to. I'd like to read something deeper, but it wasn't.

On the other hand I liked the way the author gives the information about Sikhs, Punjabi and Indians. And the last 40 pages made me happy! I had waited for a big bang, obviously it wasn't that much big but enough for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this digital copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an enjoyable story and I loved the setting. The characters kept the story moving along and entertained me. It was funny and sweet in places and I enjoyed seeing the characters navigate their cultural differences.

I look forward to reading more by this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and Rising Action Publishing for the advance review copy. 3.5🌟

[liana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS BOOK. wow. going to post a review on my instagram thank you so much netgalley for letting me read this ARC!