What do you think?
Rate this book
The Naani Diaries
When overachieving New Yorker Radhika Anand is dumped by Siddhant, her boyfriend of two years, she is devastated. With the threat of loneliness looming large, she turns to the only woman she can expect empathy from-her grandmother: her beloved Naani, whose own legendary love story in the 1960s has been recorded in an old diary.
Radhika abruptly decides to relocate to Bombay-to the comfort of her Naani's home and the veritable circus of the Arranged Marriage market. But if Radhika is serious about finding a suitable match, she must pay no attention to Zain Rajan, the sexy 'bad boy' next door.
A big-hearted novel about love and family, this book has it all: from witty banter and clever observations to a Big Fat Indian Wedding.
Radhika abruptly decides to relocate to Bombay-to the comfort of her Naani's home and the veritable circus of the Arranged Marriage market. But if Radhika is serious about finding a suitable match, she must pay no attention to Zain Rajan, the sexy 'bad boy' next door.
A big-hearted novel about love and family, this book has it all: from witty banter and clever observations to a Big Fat Indian Wedding.
- GenresContemporary
496 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 10, 2023
4 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 23, 2023
review - https://booksteacupreviews.com/2023/0...
* 3.5 stars *
How far would you go to get married and what are you willing to give up for having life long partner in your life? Radhika in The Naani Diaries is willing to give up a lot to have a romance and an Indian wedding before she turns 30.
+ I liked the plot, concept, and writing here. Radhika is an independent, confident, and hard-working head consultant at a global consulting company, all she lacked is marriage and family she could come home to. Ever since Radhika found her naani’s (maternal grandmother) diaries she wanted romance and happy married life like theirs. But when she sees no proposal coming from her boyfriend, she takes matters in her hands only to be dumped, rejected, and heartbroken. She couldn’t bear to be single anymore so gathering her shattered spirit she decides to have old fashioned romance and so she arrives at her naani’s house in Mumbai in hope her Naani can help with arranged marriage before she turns 30. And so begins all the drama of marriage material husband hunt that takes us to the elite circle of Delhi and family revelations (only for Radhika, for us readers it is easy to see the truth).
– While I enjoyed the story, I feel the revelation came too late as it didn’t surprise me at that point. Pace was average, it picked up speed a little in the second half but that first second half just made me frustrated. I’ll discuss that later.
+ Writing is refreshing and gripping. It is written mainly from Radhika’s perspective but we see almost all characters’ POV in parts. I enjoy reading diary in the first half of the story and I also loved the format of the texts and emails along with diary.
+ I absolutely loved the main theme of the feminist view on arranged Indian marriage or marriage in general and it aligns with my views. I absolutely agree with many things represented here- Indian weddings, Indian culture, and Indian mindset, women in a patriarchal regressive society and in male dominating the corporate world, perceptions, and rituals. The author gave this book lots of Indian touches. Not just that but there are layers of alcohol abuse, marital abuse, emotional manipulation, abandonment issue, and unhealthy lifestyles. This book gives lots of things to discuss.
+ I enjoyed family dynamics. All Khurana ladies (I refuse to call any Anand family women ‘Anand’, as none of them were like Jairaj Anand, Radhika’s grandfather) are very similar in nature and it all came from Gayatri, Radhika’s naani. Not just Radhika but they all developed along with her, overcoming the past, closing the gap the past created, learned to move on from what happened in their lives, and embracing the present and love.
I wouldn’t call this romance. There is a little banter and developing feelings between Radhika and Zain but it isn’t the main part of the book. Yes, Gayatri and Birdy’s happy ending after waiting for most of their lives is a romace but as for Radhika, it’s not happily ever after thing. In a way that was very realistic approach that I liked. This is more women’s fiction and more about marriage culture and feminism.
My main issue was with Radhika. I didn’t like her and didn’t warm to her for almost whole book. There were parts where I admired her but she sure tested my patience a lot.
Overall, The Naani Diaries is enjoyable contemporary women’s fiction with feminist view on Indian wedding and marriage culture. If you can ignore main character in certain parts I’m sure you’ll enjoy this.
* 3.5 stars *
How far would you go to get married and what are you willing to give up for having life long partner in your life? Radhika in The Naani Diaries is willing to give up a lot to have a romance and an Indian wedding before she turns 30.
+ I liked the plot, concept, and writing here. Radhika is an independent, confident, and hard-working head consultant at a global consulting company, all she lacked is marriage and family she could come home to. Ever since Radhika found her naani’s (maternal grandmother) diaries she wanted romance and happy married life like theirs. But when she sees no proposal coming from her boyfriend, she takes matters in her hands only to be dumped, rejected, and heartbroken. She couldn’t bear to be single anymore so gathering her shattered spirit she decides to have old fashioned romance and so she arrives at her naani’s house in Mumbai in hope her Naani can help with arranged marriage before she turns 30. And so begins all the drama of marriage material husband hunt that takes us to the elite circle of Delhi and family revelations (only for Radhika, for us readers it is easy to see the truth).
– While I enjoyed the story, I feel the revelation came too late as it didn’t surprise me at that point. Pace was average, it picked up speed a little in the second half but that first second half just made me frustrated. I’ll discuss that later.
+ Writing is refreshing and gripping. It is written mainly from Radhika’s perspective but we see almost all characters’ POV in parts. I enjoy reading diary in the first half of the story and I also loved the format of the texts and emails along with diary.
+ I absolutely loved the main theme of the feminist view on arranged Indian marriage or marriage in general and it aligns with my views. I absolutely agree with many things represented here- Indian weddings, Indian culture, and Indian mindset, women in a patriarchal regressive society and in male dominating the corporate world, perceptions, and rituals. The author gave this book lots of Indian touches. Not just that but there are layers of alcohol abuse, marital abuse, emotional manipulation, abandonment issue, and unhealthy lifestyles. This book gives lots of things to discuss.
+ I enjoyed family dynamics. All Khurana ladies (I refuse to call any Anand family women ‘Anand’, as none of them were like Jairaj Anand, Radhika’s grandfather) are very similar in nature and it all came from Gayatri, Radhika’s naani. Not just Radhika but they all developed along with her, overcoming the past, closing the gap the past created, learned to move on from what happened in their lives, and embracing the present and love.
I wouldn’t call this romance. There is a little banter and developing feelings between Radhika and Zain but it isn’t the main part of the book. Yes, Gayatri and Birdy’s happy ending after waiting for most of their lives is a romace but as for Radhika, it’s not happily ever after thing. In a way that was very realistic approach that I liked. This is more women’s fiction and more about marriage culture and feminism.
My main issue was with Radhika. I didn’t like her and didn’t warm to her for almost whole book. There were parts where I admired her but she sure tested my patience a lot.
Overall, The Naani Diaries is enjoyable contemporary women’s fiction with feminist view on Indian wedding and marriage culture. If you can ignore main character in certain parts I’m sure you’ll enjoy this.
March 18, 2023
*3.75 out of 5 Stars
This is an adult contemporary romance novel that follows Radhika Anand as she shows up at her grandmother's house in Bombay after getting her heart broken and hanging on by a thread, and hoping for her grandmother's help in arranging her marriage. The reason? She wants a love story like her grandparents had.
This is my first book from the author and I will admit, I requested this book because of the premise - it felt very Bollywood-like to me and if done well, that can be a good thing. But I went into it with pretty low expectations because of some not-so-good first impressions I'd heard from other reviewers.
So right off, we see that Radhika is quite independent, amazing at her job in New York, knows how to close a deal, handles the marketing campaigns and strategies of big companies, but not so great at relationships or taking care of herself and her needs. Starved for love and affection, she finds strength and solace in her grandmother's diary entries of falling in love and getting married and wants the same for herself. Hence, she flees to Bombay for her Naani's love, care and help in securing a suitable match (and yes, work).
So, Radhika, as a person, was quite frustrating - be it her choices, her habits, her obliviousness to certain things, her naïveté - but I kept reading, wanting to see her grow and find her happy ending. She has some good qualities and a good heart but mostly, I could not relate to her choices and behaviour, even though there were times when I could almost understand her motivations.
I feel like this book could have been a bit shorter - there were a couple of subplots that weren't fully explored, certain events that could have been more explosive/intense but ultimately felt okay-ish. It could also use some more editing - there were several typos and grammatical errors and inconsistencies, not to mention the constant jumping in timelines and perspectives from 1st person to 3rd person without proper context.
And still, I was enjoying the story, despite wanting to shake some sense into Radhika and her mother, her grandmother and Zain (who we don't get to see or hear from enough) too at times, but I was enjoying the build-up and the twists, waiting for an exciting turning of the tables, the revealing of the secrets, the over-the-top climax, that 'Aha!' moment...but it never came. There was a way to end this story that would have made the ride worth it but what I got was just too simple and over too quickly.
Overall, I still kind of enjoyed it and read at least 250+ pages today - which is unusual for me these days as I don't have much time and energy or inclination to read physical copies all that much, lately.
I would like to try more of the author's work in some time.
Disclaimer: I am grateful to HarperCollins India for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is an adult contemporary romance novel that follows Radhika Anand as she shows up at her grandmother's house in Bombay after getting her heart broken and hanging on by a thread, and hoping for her grandmother's help in arranging her marriage. The reason? She wants a love story like her grandparents had.
This is my first book from the author and I will admit, I requested this book because of the premise - it felt very Bollywood-like to me and if done well, that can be a good thing. But I went into it with pretty low expectations because of some not-so-good first impressions I'd heard from other reviewers.
So right off, we see that Radhika is quite independent, amazing at her job in New York, knows how to close a deal, handles the marketing campaigns and strategies of big companies, but not so great at relationships or taking care of herself and her needs. Starved for love and affection, she finds strength and solace in her grandmother's diary entries of falling in love and getting married and wants the same for herself. Hence, she flees to Bombay for her Naani's love, care and help in securing a suitable match (and yes, work).
So, Radhika, as a person, was quite frustrating - be it her choices, her habits, her obliviousness to certain things, her naïveté - but I kept reading, wanting to see her grow and find her happy ending. She has some good qualities and a good heart but mostly, I could not relate to her choices and behaviour, even though there were times when I could almost understand her motivations.
I feel like this book could have been a bit shorter - there were a couple of subplots that weren't fully explored, certain events that could have been more explosive/intense but ultimately felt okay-ish. It could also use some more editing - there were several typos and grammatical errors and inconsistencies, not to mention the constant jumping in timelines and perspectives from 1st person to 3rd person without proper context.
And still, I was enjoying the story, despite wanting to shake some sense into Radhika and her mother, her grandmother and Zain (who we don't get to see or hear from enough) too at times, but I was enjoying the build-up and the twists, waiting for an exciting turning of the tables, the revealing of the secrets, the over-the-top climax, that 'Aha!' moment...but it never came. There was a way to end this story that would have made the ride worth it but what I got was just too simple and over too quickly.
Overall, I still kind of enjoyed it and read at least 250+ pages today - which is unusual for me these days as I don't have much time and energy or inclination to read physical copies all that much, lately.
I would like to try more of the author's work in some time.
Disclaimer: I am grateful to HarperCollins India for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 23, 2023
This book had me going through a really weird emotional turbulence. I'm still confused, do I like this book or do I hate it.
It all worked in the end, sure but Radhika, my friend, needs to stop seeking male validation (it's not something we do here). I mean, look Radhika was an educated, corporate woman. She can't even say 'omg I'm brainwashed into believing i need male validation' because one, her mother is a determined, psychologist and her grandmother, reeling from a trapped marriage.
This book follows the life of three generations of women, who have their own experiences when it comes to the Arranged Marriage Virus (it's a real threat to the Indian diaspora, trust me) Gayatri Khurana, Rad's grandma is such a great character, but it really sucked when she tried to play along Radhika's tune because WHO THE HELL DOES THAT? woman, you know better than anyone else how fked up arranged marriages can be. But no you wanna set aside your happiness to make sure Radhika ends up in an unhappy marriage.
My feminist hormones are suffering. Idk what I've done to deserve this.
IT WORKS OUT tho
On the flip side, this book has a really witty, really good, strong language. Something which is hard to come by in books. So I can't say I haven't enjoyed it because I have.
The author has portrayed how well to do, educated corporate women fall in trap of this marriage drama.
PS: I don't think I'm ever getting married
It all worked in the end, sure but Radhika, my friend, needs to stop seeking male validation (it's not something we do here). I mean, look Radhika was an educated, corporate woman. She can't even say 'omg I'm brainwashed into believing i need male validation' because one, her mother is a determined, psychologist and her grandmother, reeling from a trapped marriage.
This book follows the life of three generations of women, who have their own experiences when it comes to the Arranged Marriage Virus (it's a real threat to the Indian diaspora, trust me) Gayatri Khurana, Rad's grandma is such a great character, but it really sucked when she tried to play along Radhika's tune because WHO THE HELL DOES THAT? woman, you know better than anyone else how fked up arranged marriages can be. But no you wanna set aside your happiness to make sure Radhika ends up in an unhappy marriage.
My feminist hormones are suffering. Idk what I've done to deserve this.
IT WORKS OUT tho
On the flip side, this book has a really witty, really good, strong language. Something which is hard to come by in books. So I can't say I haven't enjoyed it because I have.
The author has portrayed how well to do, educated corporate women fall in trap of this marriage drama.
PS: I don't think I'm ever getting married
February 11, 2023
There is something nostalgic about this book, which surely might have dragged me unconsciously to complete it in one go. I am honestly not into the kind of genre where there are words similar to “romance” or “Indian wedding”, but the title has my heart. It is the sole reason to form the perfect mood to unravel the journey of old times and an experienced opinion.
“The Naani Diaries'' by Riva Razdan is a perfect blend of family bond and patriarchal thinking for women. It has raised an accurate concern for all the women out there, who somewhere slide by societal rituals and perceptions. The author has not only shown the side of a girl’s dreams but also revealed the realities of those fantasies.
This is a romantic story. No doubt. But hear me out, this is not a regular-boring-cheesy-with-evergreen-scripted-line type of romantic story. If I have fallen for this, any non-romantic person can read this at least for once. Giving you a very brief narration - there’s an independent Indian girl, born and brought up in NewYork. After having a heartbreak, she couldn’t bear the pain of being single in her thirties and decided to go all the way to old-fashioned ceremonies of arranged marriage, just like her grandparent’s tale. Little did she know that everything was just a mirage, and when she personally encountered all the dos and don'ts of this fat event, she discovered something new and powerful in herself. Her picture perfect Naani and slightly imperfect mother have presented solid life experiences in front of her, which led her to prioritize significant things in life. The boy next door - Zain, has also contributed an unexpected pattern to this imaginary story-line, who already has so much to struggle with his childhood traumas. What I loved about all this, that the author has not made a happy ending of a fairy tale by introducing a prince charming for the girl, instead she has shown the practical side and acceptance of realities with brave hearts. The author has gracefully embraced the actual meaning of love through Birdy and Gayatri. If you want to know more, you must dive in.
Talking about the writing style, for me it is the major factor. Because Riva has collaborated the literal essence with Indian touch. I like the way she personalized many instances like the corporate world, Delhi-Mumbai tug of war, romanticization of fairy worlds, Indian arranged marriages and the beauty secrets of Naani. She has literally lived the life of Radhika and shewed everyone her true feelings. I agree that somewhere she has exaggerated the conversation about independence and mail-chain-therapy, but I think that is the original recipe she is showcasing the world.
So, if you are looking for a light mood book with perfect collaboration of unblemished writing style, just go for it. “The Naani Diaries” will make you more desirous for your childhood memories with grandparents and also the adulting phase realities.
“The Naani Diaries'' by Riva Razdan is a perfect blend of family bond and patriarchal thinking for women. It has raised an accurate concern for all the women out there, who somewhere slide by societal rituals and perceptions. The author has not only shown the side of a girl’s dreams but also revealed the realities of those fantasies.
This is a romantic story. No doubt. But hear me out, this is not a regular-boring-cheesy-with-evergreen-scripted-line type of romantic story. If I have fallen for this, any non-romantic person can read this at least for once. Giving you a very brief narration - there’s an independent Indian girl, born and brought up in NewYork. After having a heartbreak, she couldn’t bear the pain of being single in her thirties and decided to go all the way to old-fashioned ceremonies of arranged marriage, just like her grandparent’s tale. Little did she know that everything was just a mirage, and when she personally encountered all the dos and don'ts of this fat event, she discovered something new and powerful in herself. Her picture perfect Naani and slightly imperfect mother have presented solid life experiences in front of her, which led her to prioritize significant things in life. The boy next door - Zain, has also contributed an unexpected pattern to this imaginary story-line, who already has so much to struggle with his childhood traumas. What I loved about all this, that the author has not made a happy ending of a fairy tale by introducing a prince charming for the girl, instead she has shown the practical side and acceptance of realities with brave hearts. The author has gracefully embraced the actual meaning of love through Birdy and Gayatri. If you want to know more, you must dive in.
Talking about the writing style, for me it is the major factor. Because Riva has collaborated the literal essence with Indian touch. I like the way she personalized many instances like the corporate world, Delhi-Mumbai tug of war, romanticization of fairy worlds, Indian arranged marriages and the beauty secrets of Naani. She has literally lived the life of Radhika and shewed everyone her true feelings. I agree that somewhere she has exaggerated the conversation about independence and mail-chain-therapy, but I think that is the original recipe she is showcasing the world.
So, if you are looking for a light mood book with perfect collaboration of unblemished writing style, just go for it. “The Naani Diaries” will make you more desirous for your childhood memories with grandparents and also the adulting phase realities.
April 11, 2023
The Naani Diaries by Riva Razdan is the story of Radhika Anand, who is dumped by her boyfriend of two years and is devastated. Fortunately, her work made her choose a destination for herself and she chooses Mumbai, where her beloved Naani is. Her Naani’s love story has been recorded in an old diary which Radhika bought with her and reads whenever she feels low. But did she know her Naani’s ‘full’ love story?
With an exciting plot, filled with lots of drama and romance, Riva explores the relationship between Grandmother and Daughter here. The bond they shared. Love has no age barrier, and one can go to any length for love, for the right person, here you can find that.
In Riva’s words, you will find celebrating love and friendship. With crisp descriptive narrative and engrossing writing style, one could relate to Radhika’s emotions, Naani’s love story and all the arranged marriage circus.
It's a bit slow-paced story with a smooth flow of words and a gripping narrative. The way the events take place makes readers curious. How will the tables turn? The story gets exciting after Zain’s entry and efforts.
The characters are well sketched by the author. Each character had a story which she narrated interestingly. From how their paths crossed to how destiny tied them, their struggles in a relationship and how life for each of them is different. Everything is beautifully described keeping it light and candid.
I liked Radhika’s determined personality but Zain’s character stood out for me. You don't always need to be expressive about your efforts, sometimes just do and let it go. Zain’s character is similar here. His Hardworking nature and how he felt for Radhika made me like him.
I enjoyed reading about the present situation and Radhika’s decisions rather than Naani’s story. The events made it exciting, especially the last few chapters where realizations happened! The tables take some real turns.
The climax of the story is surprising and satisfying. I loved the way Riva beautifully describes the bond between the three generations, which makes the reader feel warm and fuzzy inside. The author also highlights the importance of love, career and friendship here.
Overall, it's a light, comforting, and entertaining read filled with drama and love that you'll enjoy reading.
With an exciting plot, filled with lots of drama and romance, Riva explores the relationship between Grandmother and Daughter here. The bond they shared. Love has no age barrier, and one can go to any length for love, for the right person, here you can find that.
In Riva’s words, you will find celebrating love and friendship. With crisp descriptive narrative and engrossing writing style, one could relate to Radhika’s emotions, Naani’s love story and all the arranged marriage circus.
It's a bit slow-paced story with a smooth flow of words and a gripping narrative. The way the events take place makes readers curious. How will the tables turn? The story gets exciting after Zain’s entry and efforts.
The characters are well sketched by the author. Each character had a story which she narrated interestingly. From how their paths crossed to how destiny tied them, their struggles in a relationship and how life for each of them is different. Everything is beautifully described keeping it light and candid.
I liked Radhika’s determined personality but Zain’s character stood out for me. You don't always need to be expressive about your efforts, sometimes just do and let it go. Zain’s character is similar here. His Hardworking nature and how he felt for Radhika made me like him.
I enjoyed reading about the present situation and Radhika’s decisions rather than Naani’s story. The events made it exciting, especially the last few chapters where realizations happened! The tables take some real turns.
The climax of the story is surprising and satisfying. I loved the way Riva beautifully describes the bond between the three generations, which makes the reader feel warm and fuzzy inside. The author also highlights the importance of love, career and friendship here.
Overall, it's a light, comforting, and entertaining read filled with drama and love that you'll enjoy reading.
September 23, 2023
There are very few books that capture the essence of good old romance so perfectly, specially in a book that is 500+ pages. Riva captures the idea of love and romance across 3 generations beautifully and through the eyes of Gayatri, Mangala & Radhika. Influenced by the love story of her grandmother whose love story is recorded in the pages of a diary which becomes Radhika’s comfort read and begins to look for something just like that. Riva explores multiple themes in the book, right from infatuation to first love to unrequited love. The idea of spanning this story across generations is quite impressive as it also brings perspective into the story and keeps it interesting. What I loved about the story was the simple storytelling that keeps you hooked through the pages and yet there are moments where simple words leave a deep impact on you. Riva also puts a spotlight on how the arranged marriages are arranged and subtly questions various practices that have become a part of it. Another aspect I loved about the book is how Riva shows that while we might have a rosy outlook on life and want to look at the best parts of our past, there are shadows which might come back to haunt our present. Apart from love and marriage, friendship is a key aspect of the story and that aspect has been explored extremely well. There are multiple friendships that have been wonderfully penned and those add a wonderful aspect to the entire story. The climax brings the story to a close with as much grace as the storyline and I loved the way it ends.
The characters in the story are quite powerful, and the author has detailed out the background of the primary characters so that their intent and the motivations have context. Gayatri Anand’s character drives the story with her being headstrong and assertive through the ups and down of life. As a reader, there are quite some takeaways from her that can be implemented in one’s life to make it a bit better. Apart from her, Radhika’s journey is another one that inspired me, specially how she handles the downs in life.
The characters in the story are quite powerful, and the author has detailed out the background of the primary characters so that their intent and the motivations have context. Gayatri Anand’s character drives the story with her being headstrong and assertive through the ups and down of life. As a reader, there are quite some takeaways from her that can be implemented in one’s life to make it a bit better. Apart from her, Radhika’s journey is another one that inspired me, specially how she handles the downs in life.
April 10, 2023
Okay firstly the Pro's :
Great book!!!
Very different approach to normal Indian customs and tendencies, the language and story line was very attractive to read!!!
I love the approach of visiting the life of the three women, their beliefs and practices were in very different yet similar paths at the same time. Plus them opening up to each other was so sweet.
This book seemed like a nice ride! Loved Gayatri's, Birdy's, Parineeti's, Rajni's and Zain's characters most of all.
Birdy and Gayatri were total sweethearts, I seriously love them!!!!
It was really great to see a very subtle yet prominent development of feelings between Radhika and Zain. Sure would've loved to see more of them in the book but I am totally not dissatisfied.
The email convo's between Zain and Radhika were so cute and I could just read them alone again and again...
Now for the Con's :
Radhika being oblivious for more than half of the book, and giving into all that her "future in-laws" were ordering of her was nerve wracking and frustrating.
I grew to hate Jairaj Anand with each passing page, Goddd charming men can also be such control freaks I'm not trusting men at this point!
And surely something that put me of the edge was the data sheet, Godddddd Radhika why would you want to Excel sheet your sex performance and even tape yourself goddddddddddddd, put off by it the moment I read it, it sounded absurd!
Kabir was a No from the beginning I really hated him from the start, and when his mom and dad11 entered the show I hated all of them all the more, they are such self obsessed people ughhhhh!!!
Everything aside its a book if you want something different and slow. Also it may mess with your methods and values a few times so read only if you can zone back in and be oblivious of the situation in the book!!!
(PS : Might go for a re-read sometime in near future!!!)
Great book!!!
Very different approach to normal Indian customs and tendencies, the language and story line was very attractive to read!!!
I love the approach of visiting the life of the three women, their beliefs and practices were in very different yet similar paths at the same time. Plus them opening up to each other was so sweet.
This book seemed like a nice ride! Loved Gayatri's, Birdy's, Parineeti's, Rajni's and Zain's characters most of all.
Birdy and Gayatri were total sweethearts, I seriously love them!!!!
It was really great to see a very subtle yet prominent development of feelings between Radhika and Zain. Sure would've loved to see more of them in the book but I am totally not dissatisfied.
The email convo's between Zain and Radhika were so cute and I could just read them alone again and again...
Now for the Con's :
Radhika being oblivious for more than half of the book, and giving into all that her "future in-laws" were ordering of her was nerve wracking and frustrating.
I grew to hate Jairaj Anand with each passing page, Goddd charming men can also be such control freaks I'm not trusting men at this point!
And surely something that put me of the edge was the data sheet, Godddddd Radhika why would you want to Excel sheet your sex performance and even tape yourself goddddddddddddd, put off by it the moment I read it, it sounded absurd!
Kabir was a No from the beginning I really hated him from the start, and when his mom and dad11 entered the show I hated all of them all the more, they are such self obsessed people ughhhhh!!!
Everything aside its a book if you want something different and slow. Also it may mess with your methods and values a few times so read only if you can zone back in and be oblivious of the situation in the book!!!
(PS : Might go for a re-read sometime in near future!!!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2023
Imagine idolizing a love story life long and then discovering in your bachelors that it all had been fake, nothing but just a fairytale preview of the horror unfolded later. The Naani Diaries is the story of not just Radhika but her mother and grandmother too. Radhika has been idolizing her grandparents' love story that she read in her grandmother 's diary from the summer she discovered it and has been wishing for a similar love story for herself too. But what she doesn't know is that there are some pages from that diary that her grandmother, Gayatri has torned. She stopped writing in the diary after she realized her life was no longer a fairytale but her marriage was a mistake and she had married the wrong person. Unaware of it all Radhika visits Gayatri in Bombay to ask her help in getting her married before her 30th birthday after her relationship with Siddhant.
I really liked how the book is written, not only focused on Radhika but including her mother and grandmother too. The writing style is smooth and keeps you indulged in the story. My interest did dip in the middle when the story felt a bit stretched but to some extent that was necessary to cover scenes of all the characters. The characters are well thought and developed. I clearly saw Delhi Bombay people fued being covered perfectly. The moment Zain and Radhika were there at the club with Birdy and Gayatri it was my this is it moment and I was just rooting for them all along. I really liked how the author has tried to talk about each character's pain and struggled past. This book is a full package for me.
The end left me wanting for more and I was like damn don't end it at that point. Overall I really enjoyed reading the book.
I really liked how the book is written, not only focused on Radhika but including her mother and grandmother too. The writing style is smooth and keeps you indulged in the story. My interest did dip in the middle when the story felt a bit stretched but to some extent that was necessary to cover scenes of all the characters. The characters are well thought and developed. I clearly saw Delhi Bombay people fued being covered perfectly. The moment Zain and Radhika were there at the club with Birdy and Gayatri it was my this is it moment and I was just rooting for them all along. I really liked how the author has tried to talk about each character's pain and struggled past. This book is a full package for me.
The end left me wanting for more and I was like damn don't end it at that point. Overall I really enjoyed reading the book.
April 30, 2023
I've read quite a few Indian contemporary fiction revolving around marriage but The Naani Diaries takes the cake for giving us an honest but flawed protagonist who takes her own sweet time to understand what is love and what is marriage.
Radhika Anand by all means an independent and successful woman. But her love life is not so much. When she experiences a heartbreak, she decides to move to India to live with her beloved Naani whose love story is like an inspiration to her. She wants to experience a love just like her Naani and feels time is going away, hence she wants to get married by 30.
She jumps into the arrange marriage scene, Zain Rajan, and the "bad boy" neighbour stirs up trouble in her heart but she clearly makes her distance knowing that's the kind of guy she doesn't want to get married to. As Radhika rushes into marriage, she realizes marriage is not like the fairytale she had cooked up inside her head.
I know Radhika would come off as unlikeable to a lot a people. She rushes into marriage, she is adamant about what she thinks is right, and she fails to see through most people charades. But I feel this flaw is very natural. However, what I liked most about her, is that she is a headstrong character, and she does stand her ground whenever she feels wronged.
The book was thoroughly entertaining, and the marriage shenanigans will have you cracked up in places. The book perfectly describes how marriage— even though it sometimes looks perfect on paper, is actually not. I felt a bit disappointed that Zain doesn't a lot of screen-time(?) in the book. I mean appearances but you get it.
Also, the different family dynamics, and how the family conflicts were resolved, not just in Radhika's family but in Zain's as well, was really sweet.
Radhika Anand by all means an independent and successful woman. But her love life is not so much. When she experiences a heartbreak, she decides to move to India to live with her beloved Naani whose love story is like an inspiration to her. She wants to experience a love just like her Naani and feels time is going away, hence she wants to get married by 30.
She jumps into the arrange marriage scene, Zain Rajan, and the "bad boy" neighbour stirs up trouble in her heart but she clearly makes her distance knowing that's the kind of guy she doesn't want to get married to. As Radhika rushes into marriage, she realizes marriage is not like the fairytale she had cooked up inside her head.
I know Radhika would come off as unlikeable to a lot a people. She rushes into marriage, she is adamant about what she thinks is right, and she fails to see through most people charades. But I feel this flaw is very natural. However, what I liked most about her, is that she is a headstrong character, and she does stand her ground whenever she feels wronged.
The book was thoroughly entertaining, and the marriage shenanigans will have you cracked up in places. The book perfectly describes how marriage— even though it sometimes looks perfect on paper, is actually not. I felt a bit disappointed that Zain doesn't a lot of screen-time(?) in the book. I mean appearances but you get it.
Also, the different family dynamics, and how the family conflicts were resolved, not just in Radhika's family but in Zain's as well, was really sweet.
June 6, 2023
This is the story about a 29-year-old woman Radhika who is a successful working woman in New York. She is with Siddhant (who is a chalta firta red flag in my opinion) and is hoping he’d propose to her soon but instead he breaks up with her.
Heartbroken and afraid of being lonely, she comes back to India to her naani, Mrs Anand and Radhika idealizes her naanu and naani’s love story which has been documented in her naani’s diaries.
Radhika decides to get married before she turns 30 and soon finds a perfect match for her, Kabir, who is successful and rich. But is he really perfect for her though? And there’s also Zain, a ‘bad boy’ who has been warned to stay away from her if he cannot marry her.
I had a blast reading this book! It was full on entertaining and I felt like watching a typical Bollywood rom-com movie with all the drama and the wedding shenanigans. This book was also very fast paced and I finished this 550 paged book in 2 days.
I also liked the dynamic between Gayatri (the grandmother), Mangala (the daughter) and Radhika (the granddaughter). And I shipped Gayatri and Birdy so much! They were so adorable even at their 60s. Their friendship was adorable and my heart panged a bit to see them not together after all this time.
One thing I liked very much was how Radhika was trying to encourage her female colleagues in speaking out their opinions and giving presentations to their bosses and making them more confident. We love #girlboss moments like these!
Overall, I loved my time reading this book. It was really so entertaining. This book exceeded my expectations in some ways. I’d highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun, Bollywood styled rom-com!
Heartbroken and afraid of being lonely, she comes back to India to her naani, Mrs Anand and Radhika idealizes her naanu and naani’s love story which has been documented in her naani’s diaries.
Radhika decides to get married before she turns 30 and soon finds a perfect match for her, Kabir, who is successful and rich. But is he really perfect for her though? And there’s also Zain, a ‘bad boy’ who has been warned to stay away from her if he cannot marry her.
I had a blast reading this book! It was full on entertaining and I felt like watching a typical Bollywood rom-com movie with all the drama and the wedding shenanigans. This book was also very fast paced and I finished this 550 paged book in 2 days.
I also liked the dynamic between Gayatri (the grandmother), Mangala (the daughter) and Radhika (the granddaughter). And I shipped Gayatri and Birdy so much! They were so adorable even at their 60s. Their friendship was adorable and my heart panged a bit to see them not together after all this time.
One thing I liked very much was how Radhika was trying to encourage her female colleagues in speaking out their opinions and giving presentations to their bosses and making them more confident. We love #girlboss moments like these!
Overall, I loved my time reading this book. It was really so entertaining. This book exceeded my expectations in some ways. I’d highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun, Bollywood styled rom-com!
March 5, 2023
Riva Razdan's 'The Naani Dairies' delves into the life of Radhika Anand, a modern, ambitious, and achieving woman who craves an old-school love as dreamy as her Naani (grandmother). She returns to India from the USA after a terrible heartbreak
Radhika weaves her dream of having the perfect love story just like her grandparents did in the 1960s Bombay as she reads the old diary of Miss Gayatri Khurranna who married Chief Justice Jairaj Anand.
When it is Radhika’s time to be married, life gives her all the realities of arranged marriage, shocks within her own family, and her bond with Zain Ranjan.
Razdan has a flare for writing that grips her readers- as the story progresses they are attracted to the characters and the underlying wit and hilarious events. She describes Gayatri as any other grandmother-concerned, caring, loving, protective, and also strict at times. Razdan captures the true essence of a 1960s woman and I loved how the young Gayatri Khurranna is a balance of independence, maturity, and innocence. Radhika is an apt characterization of how today's women tend to be very different in inner and outer personalities, messed up as they can be yet coming back to family whenever in doubt.
'The Naani Dairies' is a power-packed combination of intricate emotions- woven around past and present with the glitters of extraordinary Indian weddings. You'll surely find yourself laughing and experiencing the characters. Overall a lucid light read that would leave you in a warm embrace.
Radhika weaves her dream of having the perfect love story just like her grandparents did in the 1960s Bombay as she reads the old diary of Miss Gayatri Khurranna who married Chief Justice Jairaj Anand.
When it is Radhika’s time to be married, life gives her all the realities of arranged marriage, shocks within her own family, and her bond with Zain Ranjan.
Razdan has a flare for writing that grips her readers- as the story progresses they are attracted to the characters and the underlying wit and hilarious events. She describes Gayatri as any other grandmother-concerned, caring, loving, protective, and also strict at times. Razdan captures the true essence of a 1960s woman and I loved how the young Gayatri Khurranna is a balance of independence, maturity, and innocence. Radhika is an apt characterization of how today's women tend to be very different in inner and outer personalities, messed up as they can be yet coming back to family whenever in doubt.
'The Naani Dairies' is a power-packed combination of intricate emotions- woven around past and present with the glitters of extraordinary Indian weddings. You'll surely find yourself laughing and experiencing the characters. Overall a lucid light read that would leave you in a warm embrace.
April 3, 2023
🅱🅾🅾🅺 🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆
𝑵𝒂𝒏𝒊 𝑫𝒊𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔
🆀🅾🆃🅳#: Your last read which was 5 star read?
#AOTD#: Hard things about hard things.
ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ: Riva Razdan
ꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛ: Paperback /Kindle
ᴘᴀɢᴇꜱ/ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀꜱ: 564
ᴘᴜʙʟɪꜱʜᴇʀ: Harper Collins India
ɢᴇɴʀᴇ: Contemporary Romance
We are living in such a world wherein the deception is being the new fashion, breaking heart is also a common thing, and no one things about the repurcussion of such acts!
How an individual deals with it and overcome from it.
𝑵𝒂𝒏𝒊 𝑫𝒊𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 is one of such books which talks about our protagonist aka Radhika Anand who lives in the New York and under the impression that his boyfriend Siddhant has dumped her. Completely broken, devastated and disappointed with her life she returned to India. Radhika wishes to settle down ( ofcourse marriage) before her 30s. But how she deals with her break up and how her Nani helped during her tough phase.
How she turned into the arrange marriage set up wherein she also met one bad boy and another so called good boy also.
The intricacies in the characters have been maintained by the author throughout. The description of the characters have been maintained with uniformity by the author.
Loved the language and narratives are really commendable which have been splashed with anecdotes and humour. Despite the thick book this book can be easily finish with few sittings.
Though, this was my first book by the author but thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
- #readwithbindu
- #reviewwithbindu
- - #bookwormbindz.
𝑵𝒂𝒏𝒊 𝑫𝒊𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔
🆀🅾🆃🅳#: Your last read which was 5 star read?
#AOTD#: Hard things about hard things.
ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ: Riva Razdan
ꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛ: Paperback /Kindle
ᴘᴀɢᴇꜱ/ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀꜱ: 564
ᴘᴜʙʟɪꜱʜᴇʀ: Harper Collins India
ɢᴇɴʀᴇ: Contemporary Romance
We are living in such a world wherein the deception is being the new fashion, breaking heart is also a common thing, and no one things about the repurcussion of such acts!
How an individual deals with it and overcome from it.
𝑵𝒂𝒏𝒊 𝑫𝒊𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 is one of such books which talks about our protagonist aka Radhika Anand who lives in the New York and under the impression that his boyfriend Siddhant has dumped her. Completely broken, devastated and disappointed with her life she returned to India. Radhika wishes to settle down ( ofcourse marriage) before her 30s. But how she deals with her break up and how her Nani helped during her tough phase.
How she turned into the arrange marriage set up wherein she also met one bad boy and another so called good boy also.
The intricacies in the characters have been maintained by the author throughout. The description of the characters have been maintained with uniformity by the author.
Loved the language and narratives are really commendable which have been splashed with anecdotes and humour. Despite the thick book this book can be easily finish with few sittings.
Though, this was my first book by the author but thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
- #readwithbindu
- #reviewwithbindu
- - #bookwormbindz.
September 27, 2025
When overachieving New Yorker Radhika Anand is dumped by Siddhant, her boyfriend of two years, she is devastated as she soon gonna be 30 years old. With the threat of loneliness looming large, she turns to the only woman she can expect empathy from-her grandmother: her beloved Naani, whose own legendary love story in the 1960s has been recorded in an old diary.
Radhika abruptly decides to relocate to Bombay-to the comfort of her Naani's home and the veritable circus of the Arranged Marriage market. But if Radhika is serious about finding a suitable match, she must pay no attention to Zain Rajan, the sexy 'bad boy' next door. But she falls for Kabir and his extravagant lifestyle and soon parents of Kabir especially his mother want to change everything in Radhika.
A big-hearted novel about love and family, this book has it all: from witty banter and clever observations to a Big Fat Indian Wedding. Where a rich family want things according to them, we have Gayatri at Radhika side to teach her not to compromise on self respect. Mangala to teach that live one life on there own term.
With lot of banters between Radhika and Kabir family all want there foot up against another and royal wedding became disaster and Radhika realise her grandmother love for Birdy uncle and she want love like them not like Gayatri and jairaj so they did what best for them. Radhika broke up with Kabir on wedding day because he was still in love with Aishwarya Sawhney. Zain loved her but not other way around so they became friends, and her dream wait for perfect one starts.
.
Radhika abruptly decides to relocate to Bombay-to the comfort of her Naani's home and the veritable circus of the Arranged Marriage market. But if Radhika is serious about finding a suitable match, she must pay no attention to Zain Rajan, the sexy 'bad boy' next door. But she falls for Kabir and his extravagant lifestyle and soon parents of Kabir especially his mother want to change everything in Radhika.
A big-hearted novel about love and family, this book has it all: from witty banter and clever observations to a Big Fat Indian Wedding. Where a rich family want things according to them, we have Gayatri at Radhika side to teach her not to compromise on self respect. Mangala to teach that live one life on there own term.
With lot of banters between Radhika and Kabir family all want there foot up against another and royal wedding became disaster and Radhika realise her grandmother love for Birdy uncle and she want love like them not like Gayatri and jairaj so they did what best for them. Radhika broke up with Kabir on wedding day because he was still in love with Aishwarya Sawhney. Zain loved her but not other way around so they became friends, and her dream wait for perfect one starts.
.
March 15, 2023
The Naani Diaries by Riva Razdan
.
Radhika is an independent working woman in New York. Doing well professionally, she however has a dip in her personal life - no emotional dependence! She s looking to settle in when actually her boyfriend of two years breaks up with her.
.
Radhika has always idolized her grandparents' marriage and with her grandmothers diary in hand, she often romanticizes and pines for an old school romance. Do deal with her heartbreak she travels to Bombay on a work opportunity and be with her grandmother!
.
Once in Bombay, she is fixated by the idea of an arranged marriage and we see the prognosis of it in the story! But wait no this is not your happy go lucky, and boy meets girl story! Radhika s granny and mother s stories emerge as powerful tales here too, showcasing the importance of women having their say, their ground and most importantly respect as an individual!
.
Coupled with the hasty decisions we often take these days based on old experiences, illusions and what not without seeing it in the long term this is a book of revelations. The truth and strength of love is however in another sub story in the actual story ( wink ) and a beautiful one too!
.
I think this was a good read for March, being significant with women's history. Although the high class money tussle showoffs is a bit of put off but well I think its how it is in reality too! If are looking for an easy read with subtle mesages though, this is your book.
.
.
Radhika is an independent working woman in New York. Doing well professionally, she however has a dip in her personal life - no emotional dependence! She s looking to settle in when actually her boyfriend of two years breaks up with her.
.
Radhika has always idolized her grandparents' marriage and with her grandmothers diary in hand, she often romanticizes and pines for an old school romance. Do deal with her heartbreak she travels to Bombay on a work opportunity and be with her grandmother!
.
Once in Bombay, she is fixated by the idea of an arranged marriage and we see the prognosis of it in the story! But wait no this is not your happy go lucky, and boy meets girl story! Radhika s granny and mother s stories emerge as powerful tales here too, showcasing the importance of women having their say, their ground and most importantly respect as an individual!
.
Coupled with the hasty decisions we often take these days based on old experiences, illusions and what not without seeing it in the long term this is a book of revelations. The truth and strength of love is however in another sub story in the actual story ( wink ) and a beautiful one too!
.
I think this was a good read for March, being significant with women's history. Although the high class money tussle showoffs is a bit of put off but well I think its how it is in reality too! If are looking for an easy read with subtle mesages though, this is your book.
.
April 1, 2023
Overachiever New-yorker Radhika Anand is dumped by Siddhant, her boyfriend of two years. Devastated by the breakup and vulnerable to loneliness, she resorts to her beloved Naani, her maternal grandmother whose legendary love story has been engraved in an old diary. Radhika relocates to Bombay, to the comfort of her Naani's home, as common as it sounds, the circus of the arrange marriage market. While she's on her quest to find a suitable match, things get even more interesting with the sexy, bad boy next door, Zain Rajan coming into the picture.
A book on the book cover, well, a diary on the book cover, making it aesthetic and exciting! The story begins on an interesting premise of professional life as well as the personal life of Radhika, and the diary of her Naani. I love anything that includes letters and diaries, so I enjoyed it well. This is a light-hearted novel, having sort of relatable moments, talking about love and family. I enjoyed the witty banter fun little moments in the book. A corporate employee getting into the arrange marriage drama and her weird antics while stalking her ex, wild! This is a massive novel with five hundred and fifty pages, so obviously it took me a lot of time to finish this one off, especially with the busy schedule these days. The characters are fun, authentic, interesting and imperfect. It's an enjoyable read that's perfect for a weekend escape to the old-fashioned romance.
A book on the book cover, well, a diary on the book cover, making it aesthetic and exciting! The story begins on an interesting premise of professional life as well as the personal life of Radhika, and the diary of her Naani. I love anything that includes letters and diaries, so I enjoyed it well. This is a light-hearted novel, having sort of relatable moments, talking about love and family. I enjoyed the witty banter fun little moments in the book. A corporate employee getting into the arrange marriage drama and her weird antics while stalking her ex, wild! This is a massive novel with five hundred and fifty pages, so obviously it took me a lot of time to finish this one off, especially with the busy schedule these days. The characters are fun, authentic, interesting and imperfect. It's an enjoyable read that's perfect for a weekend escape to the old-fashioned romance.
May 17, 2023
Rating - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh my god, I am unexpectedly so impressed with this book🩷🩵
It was a very good light-hearted book and an amazing book to break your book-reading ban or even to read to break your reading slump.
First of all, I would like to thank @harpercollinsin for sending this book to me♥️♥️
•
So a little about this book, this is a book about a girl Radhika Anand born and brought up in the USA by a single mom who looks highly at the legendary love story her naani and naanu shared and wishes the same for herself. And when she decides to relocate to Bombay from New York to see the magic Bombay had where her naani and naanu met and to feel the same for herself when she met a guy named Zain Rajan the sexy ‘bad boy’ next door, who wanted nothing to do with any commitments.
•
For me, this book was so amazing and I would 100% recommend this book to everyone who enjoys romance. The writing style was good and this book shows the things that happen in Indian society when it comes to marriage. I especially liked the part where Radhika stood for herself and didn’t go with the flow or with what she was told or expected to do. It is very important to stand up for yourself because if you are not going to help yourself no one will come to recuse you every time you are in trouble. And did you see the cover of the book, I mean I was so mesmerised by the cover that the cover itself was a good motivation for me to start this book 😂😂
Oh my god, I am unexpectedly so impressed with this book🩷🩵
It was a very good light-hearted book and an amazing book to break your book-reading ban or even to read to break your reading slump.
First of all, I would like to thank @harpercollinsin for sending this book to me♥️♥️
•
So a little about this book, this is a book about a girl Radhika Anand born and brought up in the USA by a single mom who looks highly at the legendary love story her naani and naanu shared and wishes the same for herself. And when she decides to relocate to Bombay from New York to see the magic Bombay had where her naani and naanu met and to feel the same for herself when she met a guy named Zain Rajan the sexy ‘bad boy’ next door, who wanted nothing to do with any commitments.
•
For me, this book was so amazing and I would 100% recommend this book to everyone who enjoys romance. The writing style was good and this book shows the things that happen in Indian society when it comes to marriage. I especially liked the part where Radhika stood for herself and didn’t go with the flow or with what she was told or expected to do. It is very important to stand up for yourself because if you are not going to help yourself no one will come to recuse you every time you are in trouble. And did you see the cover of the book, I mean I was so mesmerised by the cover that the cover itself was a good motivation for me to start this book 😂😂
July 12, 2024
First things first, let’s appreciate this absolutely stunning cover design! I shamelessly judge a book by it’s cover because a lot of times it’s the cover that has arrested my attention and not the blurb, so yes, this book has one of my favourite book covers.
The Naani Diaries; is an sensitive and witty tale of three generations of women of a family who’ve navigated their way forward implicitly and explicitly by the impact of a patriarchal reign at home. The elegant Mrs Gayatri Anand, her determined- headstrong daughter Mangala and Radhika her granddaughter who yearns for affection build this book through their journeys of emotional void and persistence to be celebrated as an equal in every relationship and position of merit.
After her breakup with a noncommittal boyfriend, Radhika decides to find her life partner through the arranged marriage route with the help of her beloved Naani, who is an icon in her own right. This crazy search gives Radhika lessons on the patriarchal ways where a woman “almost” willingly acquiesces to the whims of her to be husband or inlaws. Though fictional this premise is as real as it gets when it comes to describing the attitude and approach of people from Delhi, Bombay and America towards social norms and most importantly the identity and freedom of a woman with or without her man.
This book is funny and enjoyable. If you are looking for a refreshing read give this a try.
The Naani Diaries; is an sensitive and witty tale of three generations of women of a family who’ve navigated their way forward implicitly and explicitly by the impact of a patriarchal reign at home. The elegant Mrs Gayatri Anand, her determined- headstrong daughter Mangala and Radhika her granddaughter who yearns for affection build this book through their journeys of emotional void and persistence to be celebrated as an equal in every relationship and position of merit.
After her breakup with a noncommittal boyfriend, Radhika decides to find her life partner through the arranged marriage route with the help of her beloved Naani, who is an icon in her own right. This crazy search gives Radhika lessons on the patriarchal ways where a woman “almost” willingly acquiesces to the whims of her to be husband or inlaws. Though fictional this premise is as real as it gets when it comes to describing the attitude and approach of people from Delhi, Bombay and America towards social norms and most importantly the identity and freedom of a woman with or without her man.
This book is funny and enjoyable. If you are looking for a refreshing read give this a try.
January 16, 2023
This was a really good one. A very feminist take on an Indian wedding.
Radhika is desperate to get married before her 30th birthday, so she moves to her grandmother's in India and asks for an arranged marriage. That's the basic premise of this book. To me, as someone who doesn't care about marriage, this is really hard to wrap my head around. I personally don't get why someone would be so focused on marriage itself, to the point they barely care who their partner is. But Radhika is a strong woman, hardworking, succesful, and she even starts a new company to help women in India in leadership positions. She is a great person, and while her struggles are unrelatable to me that doesn't mean I didn't appreciate her tenacity.
Her future husband was a walking red flag. Radhika knew this too, but often chose to ignore them.
I loved the focus on family in this book, and especially loved Naani and Birdy's relationship of mutal respect and love.
The book discusses Indian culture, and especially the position of women very well. It shows different perspectives, but ultimately is all about empowerment for women.
Radhika is desperate to get married before her 30th birthday, so she moves to her grandmother's in India and asks for an arranged marriage. That's the basic premise of this book. To me, as someone who doesn't care about marriage, this is really hard to wrap my head around. I personally don't get why someone would be so focused on marriage itself, to the point they barely care who their partner is. But Radhika is a strong woman, hardworking, succesful, and she even starts a new company to help women in India in leadership positions. She is a great person, and while her struggles are unrelatable to me that doesn't mean I didn't appreciate her tenacity.
Her future husband was a walking red flag. Radhika knew this too, but often chose to ignore them.
I loved the focus on family in this book, and especially loved Naani and Birdy's relationship of mutal respect and love.
The book discusses Indian culture, and especially the position of women very well. It shows different perspectives, but ultimately is all about empowerment for women.
March 28, 2023
‘Sometimes millennials need an old-fashioned romance.’
This book takes us down memory lane with some old- fashioned romance. The protagonist of the book Radhika Anand is twenty nine, and is an over achiever, however her romance proved to be a far bigger challenge. She is devastated and slowly healing over her recent break up with her boyfriend Siddhant, who had dumped her. With loneliness overshadowing her, she decided to go to the only place she can expect empathy- her beloved Naani’s place in Bombay. On the contrary, if Radhika is set to find her suitable match, she need to divert her mind away from Zain Rajan, described as a sexy, sardonic bad boy next door.
The book has the right amount of romance and humour, perfect for a Sunday evening read. It is witty, heartfelt and fun, it surely captures the reader’s attention with the message about ambitious women who is looking for a successful career without having to give up on romance. It gives out a strong message of one’s following their own heart without compromising on anything.
Will Radhika find her happy ending? Will she have to give up on the things she love to settle for another? How will her Naani’s old school traditional perspective change her modern notion? Grab a copy today to find out.
This book takes us down memory lane with some old- fashioned romance. The protagonist of the book Radhika Anand is twenty nine, and is an over achiever, however her romance proved to be a far bigger challenge. She is devastated and slowly healing over her recent break up with her boyfriend Siddhant, who had dumped her. With loneliness overshadowing her, she decided to go to the only place she can expect empathy- her beloved Naani’s place in Bombay. On the contrary, if Radhika is set to find her suitable match, she need to divert her mind away from Zain Rajan, described as a sexy, sardonic bad boy next door.
The book has the right amount of romance and humour, perfect for a Sunday evening read. It is witty, heartfelt and fun, it surely captures the reader’s attention with the message about ambitious women who is looking for a successful career without having to give up on romance. It gives out a strong message of one’s following their own heart without compromising on anything.
Will Radhika find her happy ending? Will she have to give up on the things she love to settle for another? How will her Naani’s old school traditional perspective change her modern notion? Grab a copy today to find out.
March 20, 2023
THE NAANI DIARIES - @rivarazdankapoor
3.5⭐
PLOT -
Radhika Anand is a New York based consultant ridding high on her corporate success. She wants to know progress in her personal life by taking things further with her boyfriend Siddhant only to be dumped by him. She suddenly finds herself lonely and as she is approaching 30 it puts Radhika to take some desperate measures by taking things esp her love life in her own hands all inspired by her grandmother (naanis) love story from 1960s all recorded by her naani in her old diary.
Can Radhika find her true match as her Naani esp with the sexy neighbour Zain Rajan providing with a perfect distraction.
MY THOUGHTS -
This was fun entertaining read giving me perfect company on my beach holiday.
I enjoyed reading about Mrs Gayatri Anand..at her age she was a totall rockstar as against Radhika who at many instances I felt like shaking her...as she was kick-ass in her professional life so foolish when it came to her love life .
So, if you are looking for an entertaining light hearted one time read with three generational women at its centre ..check this one out.
3.5⭐
PLOT -
Radhika Anand is a New York based consultant ridding high on her corporate success. She wants to know progress in her personal life by taking things further with her boyfriend Siddhant only to be dumped by him. She suddenly finds herself lonely and as she is approaching 30 it puts Radhika to take some desperate measures by taking things esp her love life in her own hands all inspired by her grandmother (naanis) love story from 1960s all recorded by her naani in her old diary.
Can Radhika find her true match as her Naani esp with the sexy neighbour Zain Rajan providing with a perfect distraction.
MY THOUGHTS -
This was fun entertaining read giving me perfect company on my beach holiday.
I enjoyed reading about Mrs Gayatri Anand..at her age she was a totall rockstar as against Radhika who at many instances I felt like shaking her...as she was kick-ass in her professional life so foolish when it came to her love life .
So, if you are looking for an entertaining light hearted one time read with three generational women at its centre ..check this one out.
January 28, 2023
I was not expecting this book to be anything like it was. I thought I was signing up for a Bollywood style romance as a palette cleanser between horror and exam textbooks. By the way I finished this book at 1.30 am the night before my final semester exams.
Another interesting story is I picked it up because I saw Karan Johar reading but, I’m so glad I picked it up. This book had so many layers, emotions, failures and triumphs that had me laughing, crying and everything in between. The three women in the story are so relatable and I see them around me everyday and I’m so thankful that Riva Razdan wrote this and I wish that Karan Johar makes it into a movie because that is only way that it would reach the millions of people it should.
Or people just mistake it for a Bollywood romance and pick it up anyway and then are unable to put it down again.
And make no mistake; it is a romance. Romance between the three generations of Khurana women because I refuse to amalgamate their identity with Jairaj Anand. So they can finally smile and say, “Whose name is on the door.”
Another interesting story is I picked it up because I saw Karan Johar reading but, I’m so glad I picked it up. This book had so many layers, emotions, failures and triumphs that had me laughing, crying and everything in between. The three women in the story are so relatable and I see them around me everyday and I’m so thankful that Riva Razdan wrote this and I wish that Karan Johar makes it into a movie because that is only way that it would reach the millions of people it should.
Or people just mistake it for a Bollywood romance and pick it up anyway and then are unable to put it down again.
And make no mistake; it is a romance. Romance between the three generations of Khurana women because I refuse to amalgamate their identity with Jairaj Anand. So they can finally smile and say, “Whose name is on the door.”
February 7, 2023
Boring, self-analytical garbage. That is also smothered in ignorant privilege. The protagonist at one time is interested in three men, and the main love interest appears and disappears for pages at a time. And this is just the first 100 pages, cuz that's when I DNF'd . The protagonist also does not have a personality i could care for. And let's just not talk about her interest in an arranged marriage. And how that is dealt with. The author spends a tremendous amount of words on justifying everyone's actions. Psychoanalysing every single character and it's just too much to get through.let the reader come to their own decisions about the characters instead of holding their hand and guiding them to the conclusion you want about your characters. I wanted it to be like Anuja Chauhan's writing but there's just none of the wit and heart.i didn't want to be critical because this seems to be the work of a young, new author but the author's own privilege is so heavily visible in the work that i couldn't help myself being harsh.
January 8, 2026
I found "The Naani Diaries" like a comfort food for the heart.It was warm, familiar, and quietly satisfying.
The amalgamation of modern dating with the softness of old-school romance worked very well.
You meet Radhika at a low point in her life, as she moves from New York to Bombay to heal her broken heart only to find herself caught between family expectations, new emotions, and an unexpected spark.
The writing is light yet incisive.
Despite the story spanning a significant timeline, the tone remained consistent and engaging throughout.
The characters felt real, and I appreciated how their development unfolded, with their growth depicted seamlessly especially Zain and Radhika.
The diary entries of Radhika’s grandmother carried a gentle nostalgia and emotional depth that quietly steals the spotlight.
If you’re in the mood for a light, heartfelt romance layered with family, memory, and a touching backstory, this book fits right in
The amalgamation of modern dating with the softness of old-school romance worked very well.
You meet Radhika at a low point in her life, as she moves from New York to Bombay to heal her broken heart only to find herself caught between family expectations, new emotions, and an unexpected spark.
The writing is light yet incisive.
Despite the story spanning a significant timeline, the tone remained consistent and engaging throughout.
The characters felt real, and I appreciated how their development unfolded, with their growth depicted seamlessly especially Zain and Radhika.
The diary entries of Radhika’s grandmother carried a gentle nostalgia and emotional depth that quietly steals the spotlight.
If you’re in the mood for a light, heartfelt romance layered with family, memory, and a touching backstory, this book fits right in
November 25, 2025
“The Naani Diaries” is a warm, chatty read that blends modern dating chaos with the charm of old-school romance. Riva Razdan sets up a promising premise by sending heartbroken Radhika from New York to Bombay, where love, family, and chaos collide.
The writing style is lively and informal, filled with witty banter and clever observations. Radhika and Zain have an easy, flirty chemistry. The inclusion of chats and emails adds a playful texture, though it occasionally feels overdone.
In contrast, Naani’s diary entries are beautifully written; it is nostalgic and arguably the strongest part of the book. The arranged-marriage angle starts fresh but slowly slips into highlighting familiar negatives.
Recommended for readers who enjoy lighthearted contemporary romance with a dash of family drama and a memorable parallel love story.
The writing style is lively and informal, filled with witty banter and clever observations. Radhika and Zain have an easy, flirty chemistry. The inclusion of chats and emails adds a playful texture, though it occasionally feels overdone.
In contrast, Naani’s diary entries are beautifully written; it is nostalgic and arguably the strongest part of the book. The arranged-marriage angle starts fresh but slowly slips into highlighting familiar negatives.
Recommended for readers who enjoy lighthearted contemporary romance with a dash of family drama and a memorable parallel love story.
February 24, 2023
Well written, easy breezy romcom, the first of its kind that I've read by an Indian author that's actually a very enjoyable read. The best part about this book is the four strong, smart and confident women characters, with the titular Naani topping the list. But I couldn't relate to the protagonist at all, couldn't comprehend her decisions, and wanted to shake her and yell "Come on, get there already!" multiple times, which was a bit of a dampener. Also felt the novel was too long; it could've been a lot more effective at 3/4th the length.
July 19, 2023
This is the story of three generations well described charector, and easy and understandable language. It's not much more complicated story . It is the story of New Yorker Radhika Anand who is dumped by Siddharth, her boyfriend of two years and she was devastated and some day she found her grandmother diary,she fascinated by her grandmother love story so she back to Mumbai to live with her grandmother.This novel is about love and family.
April 17, 2024
I gave it the one star at least because the idiotic "feminist" heroine - none of whose decisions seem sensible or even internally coherent - doesn't end up married. Full of bizarre tropes and stereotypes, undeveloped characters with confusing motivations. 10/10 avoid.
January 13, 2023
A big-hearted novel about love and family, this book has it all: from witty banter and clever observations to a Big Fat Indian Wedding.
August 21, 2023
Confusing but good
Read
November 26, 20245%
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews