What Are We Doing About Zoya?: 'Entertaining and delightful'

by Anisha Bhatia

In this hilarious comedy of manners set in Mumbai, where modernity jostles with tradition, Balli Kaur Jaswal's EROTIC STORIES FOR PUNJABI WIDOWS meets Kevin Kwan's CRAZY RICH ASIANS.

'An entertaining and delightful story about breaking tradition, creating your own path, and standing your ground' Jane Igharo, author of Ties That Tether

Zoya is not a perfect Indian daughter. She's overweight, independent and unmarried in a society that values slim, obedient women.

And at twenty-six, she is hurtling towards her expiration date in Mumbai's arranged marriage super-mart. But when her family's matchmaking finally works, everything seems to be on the up - all until she is offered a dream job in New York City.

Zoya must now make the choice of a lifetime, but not without a few cultural casualties and, of course, an accidental love story along the way . . .

Readers are LOVING What Are We Doing About Zoya?

'I loved this book from the first page . . . wizzed through the book in one sitting!'
NETGALLEY REVIEWER, 5 stars

'I was completely hooked'
NETGALLEY REVIEWER, 5 stars

Genres: Romance

352 pages, Paperback

Published July 13, 2021

About the author

Born 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.

Reviews

[Kirsty ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like to try and read not just books out of my comfort zone but also those centred around people with a different ethnicity/religion to me. You can learn so much that way even in a romance novel. I’m normally a crime reading girl but now and again I like a romantic comedy and the blurb for this really appealed. The story didn’t disappoint.

I loved Zoya. I like she’s not perfect, I liked reading about the struggle between tradition and modernity and having the courage to make that choice. I really liked picking up some knowledge of Hindu traditions. The secondary characters are also written wonderfully. I was so invested in the aunt Sheila Bua and being an aging goth girl so pleased when one cousin felt comfortable to live in her gothic glory.

It’s a quick read as I think most romance novels are (for me anyway), not taxing to the brain which can be another plus point in this crazy news world we live in right now, escapism at it’s best. I believe this is a debut so I will definitely be putting the author on my one to watch list 😊

[Mariam Rizvi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book and there were aspects of the book that I did like but for the most part there were a lot of things that didn't sit right with me and a big part of that is the fatphobia and body shaming that happens for the majority of the book - it was really upsetting to read, like I get that it was meant to reflect Indian culture favouring thinner women, but it still made it uncomfortable to read personally and I can totally see this being a trigger for a lot of other people too.

I also felt like the book dragged on for a bit and could've been cut down by a few chapters. There were some points where I stopped and was like "wait what is the aim and genre of this book again?" because it's showcased as a romance but there wasn't enough romance in there for me to ship Zoya and her love interest. If anything, this book was heavily focused on the cultural norms surrounding failed arranged marriages and the struggle between trying to fit into societal norms and being your true self with no regrets.

All in all, I would rate this 2.5 ⭐️ (may change this in the future but this is my rating straight after finishing the book), I really liked the ending of the book - I actually was left feeling a bit emotional towards the end but in a good way because I was happy with Zoya's decision and where it takes her.

[cheyenne · Rating 2 out of 5]

i think this could be just because i dont really like the mc and the boss kind of relationships but it also took ages to read

[Tania · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this book.

I loved that the heroine was quite unconventional, I think, especially by Indian standards. The characters all felt real and believable. It was really refreshing to have representation, especially as an Indian woman myself.

I only wish the romance was written a little better, and that there was more conflict or tension as at certain points the book definitely dragged.

All in all, I am glad I read it.

[Khyati · Rating 4 out of 5]

And now I'm craving a big-fat Indian wedding, with lots of cousins, adrak ki chai and poori bhaji😭💖

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, lighthearted. A bit predictable.

[Varunika Sood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced read. Too be frank seems like was watching some typical drama. Predictable one

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fast read that's semi relatable but leaves any reader wanting more. Plotlines are predictable and seem rushed, lacking character development and way too much use of adjectives for it to be enjoyable.

[Kate Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does exactly what it says on the tin. Predictable in all the right ways. 7/10

[Kelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lovable characters, story development that felt haphazard, I loved the idea, and had a hard time with the execution. Loved learning about the deeply engrained family culture and food and spices.

[Sheridan Ayson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a light and entertaining read with an engaging protagonist. However I felt it was a little too drawn out and I found myself starting to lose interest towards the end of the story.

[Resident Optimist · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s not a new story and it’s one you’ll have heard a million times over, but it also feels like a familiar story you might have heard from friends. A decent comfort read but not a must-read.

[Shrusti · Rating 2 out of 5]

What are we doing about Zoya?
Zoya come from a typical Indian family who want to get her married but the catch is that she is overweight and dusty skinned which isn't very appreciated in a society like her's. The story revolves around her decision between marriage and a reputed position in a well-established organization. The author has wonderfully expressed the pressure and discrimination that a girl has to face in the arranged marriage scenario. Overall it's a light read.

[Shaodas Vanoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Часто ли мы задаёмся вопросом, как нам жить эту жизнь: как правильно или как хочется? Главное определить к чему относится "правильно" и "хочется". Спасибо Зое, её слегка циничный взгляд на жизнь и одновременно заботы, как у простой девушки чуть за двадцать были мне очень близки. И ты стала первой книгой с индийским колоритом, которую я не забросила в дальний ящик, потому что мне он сложно даётся. Спасибо переводчикам, спасибо писателю, что написал такую простую и теплую историю про индийскую девушку, которую нужно срочно устроить замуж, а она мечтает о Нью-Йорке. 9/10 потому что мне не хватало простого и прекрасного.