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Love in Translation #2
Love Craves Cardamom
This second, swoony romance in the Love in Translation series follows art enthusiast and recently single Archi Dhawan to India, where she discovers that the first boy to give her butterflies again is secretly a prince.
Archana Dhawan’s fall semester of senior year is a boy-free zone. Hot off a break-up, she’s determined to find herself in her parents’ homeland of Rajasthan, India. More importantly, she must complete her capstone project by interning at one of the most prestigious art galleries in the country. There’s no room for distractions if she wants to make her mark on the art world as a museum curator.
Alas, the universe is clearly trying to tempt her. On day one, she meets the most attractive boy she’s seen ever on the train to her new school. Then she runs into him again at work. As it turns out, not only is the museum connected to a palace, but the cute boy, Shiv, is a royal gardener!
He offers to show her the real city of Jaipur, from fresh food that he cooks to local spots tourists never visit. Their chemistry is undeniable, and just as she begins to open up to the idea of romance, she gets shocking news: Shiv is actually a prince. Thrust into the spotlight, is Archi prepared to be the one on display?
Archana Dhawan’s fall semester of senior year is a boy-free zone. Hot off a break-up, she’s determined to find herself in her parents’ homeland of Rajasthan, India. More importantly, she must complete her capstone project by interning at one of the most prestigious art galleries in the country. There’s no room for distractions if she wants to make her mark on the art world as a museum curator.
Alas, the universe is clearly trying to tempt her. On day one, she meets the most attractive boy she’s seen ever on the train to her new school. Then she runs into him again at work. As it turns out, not only is the museum connected to a palace, but the cute boy, Shiv, is a royal gardener!
He offers to show her the real city of Jaipur, from fresh food that he cooks to local spots tourists never visit. Their chemistry is undeniable, and just as she begins to open up to the idea of romance, she gets shocking news: Shiv is actually a prince. Thrust into the spotlight, is Archi prepared to be the one on display?
320 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 2025
27 people are currently reading
3904 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
May 19, 2025
Nostalgic, not because i too fell for a prince but i love jaipur
this book is for everyone who likes;
ʚɞ secret identity
ʚɞ indian vibes
ʚɞ art and museums
ʚɞ royalty core
plot : archi/archana is going to spend her final semester of highschool in jaipur, after getting heartbroken by her ex boyfriend and scratching the plan of london with them, she decides to do it in india, and reconnect with her parent’s roots in a boyfree summer, but when she stumbles upon a boy of her age again and again who seems to be the royal gardener, she can’t help for a friendship..or maybe more with him.
review : OMG MY HEART AND SOUL !! i was so emotional throughout i've gone to jaipur multiple times as a kid, the city feels so own, and read it through this perspective i loved every second of it, the rich culture, art and architecture of india, rajasthan and jaipur was written so richly that made my heart so happy.
archi she is a such fun spirited, wholesome main character who is so lovable, she wants to experience the culture of her parents, and i genuinely loved how she was written as a nri, because a lot of time they are either too clueless or rude but for archi/archana is so loveable.
shiv oh boy the prince, he was a prince and he was so princely....like exactly how you'd expect one to be even when he was pretending to be a commoner...like he was so dreamy, doing everything he could for archi and very gentleman-y.
romance : I am getting a little over young adult romance but this was so so lovely, their friendship/crush transformed so well throughout the months, their outtings through out jaipur has to be one of my favourite things.
i enjoyed this book a lot and if you want a book filled with culture, love, friendship and princely romance then pick this up !!!
blog review
initially review
this made me so nostalgic, i have so much to say so wait for my review i guess
this book is for everyone who likes;
ʚɞ secret identity
ʚɞ indian vibes
ʚɞ art and museums
ʚɞ royalty core
plot : archi/archana is going to spend her final semester of highschool in jaipur, after getting heartbroken by her ex boyfriend and scratching the plan of london with them, she decides to do it in india, and reconnect with her parent’s roots in a boyfree summer, but when she stumbles upon a boy of her age again and again who seems to be the royal gardener, she can’t help for a friendship..or maybe more with him.
review : OMG MY HEART AND SOUL !! i was so emotional throughout i've gone to jaipur multiple times as a kid, the city feels so own, and read it through this perspective i loved every second of it, the rich culture, art and architecture of india, rajasthan and jaipur was written so richly that made my heart so happy.
archi she is a such fun spirited, wholesome main character who is so lovable, she wants to experience the culture of her parents, and i genuinely loved how she was written as a nri, because a lot of time they are either too clueless or rude but for archi/archana is so loveable.
shiv oh boy the prince, he was a prince and he was so princely....like exactly how you'd expect one to be even when he was pretending to be a commoner...like he was so dreamy, doing everything he could for archi and very gentleman-y.
romance : I am getting a little over young adult romance but this was so so lovely, their friendship/crush transformed so well throughout the months, their outtings through out jaipur has to be one of my favourite things.
i enjoyed this book a lot and if you want a book filled with culture, love, friendship and princely romance then pick this up !!!
blog review
initially review
this made me so nostalgic, i have so much to say so wait for my review i guess
December 16, 2024
heroine named Archana & a Jaipur setting & a PRINCE?! literally cannot wait dying to get my hands on this one..
May 10, 2025
4.25 stars!!!! hello this was the perfect book for my The Prince and Me and Bollywood-loving heart! YA romance you will always be famous!!
June 13, 2025
ugh so many good tropes i cant wait to read this
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September 2, 2025Guys this book is SO cute and it’s just proof that we need more books like this set in India! It is such an unapologetically desi homage to India and Jaipur’s wonders. Archi’s voice, the setting, and the amount of research done for this one? Aashna truly blew my mind with the care and authenticity with which she’s executed the writing in this book.
It’s obvious that her knowledge about museum curation is anything but surface level, because it’s so well done and unique to Archi’s character. It truly felt like I’d taken a plane back to Jaipur (I’ve been there five times and I love the Pink City with my whole heart) and was walking its streets and visiting the museums, because the prose was so immersive. It’s like a ticket back to one of your favourite places wrapped in the prettiest cover.
Reading this book made my heart so warm and gooey. I Ioved the biking scene, how Shiv would always get Archi flowers, when they made chole bhature together, the mentions of KAVI (and the grand reveal of who they were!!), the night at the museum date, the references from Ravynn and Stefany’s books in the Love in Translation series. All of it was so dreamy!! Where’s my rajkumar?!
Also, I know I would’ve loved the book even if it were just a cutesy adorable romcom, but it is so much more than just that! There are extremely important conversations woven in within these pages about the repatriation of stolen art, violent colonisation, and the continuing prejudice against trans people in India. Some of these made my blood boil, and reminded me of why I’ve never been to the British Museum by choice because seeing all the stolen artefacts and art would piss me off.
The acknowledgments made my respect further grow for Aashna as not just an author, but also a human being, because writing is always, always political, and she proved that with utmost grace.
“I wrote this manuscript and write these words now as Israel and the United States wage genocide against Palestinians. These words themselves are not activism, but they are an acknowledgment I cannot leave out. In a book critiquing colonialism, demanding that history and culture and people be honored, and that students and artists use their voices to be disruptive, neither these characters nor I could go on without joining the call for liberation everywhere, from Palestine to Kashmir to Congo, from Sudan to Hawaii and beyond. All these struggles for liberation are interconnected; in the words of Black activist Fannie Lou Hamer, ‘Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.’”
It’s obvious that her knowledge about museum curation is anything but surface level, because it’s so well done and unique to Archi’s character. It truly felt like I’d taken a plane back to Jaipur (I’ve been there five times and I love the Pink City with my whole heart) and was walking its streets and visiting the museums, because the prose was so immersive. It’s like a ticket back to one of your favourite places wrapped in the prettiest cover.
Reading this book made my heart so warm and gooey. I Ioved the biking scene, how Shiv would always get Archi flowers, when they made chole bhature together, the mentions of KAVI (and the grand reveal of who they were!!), the night at the museum date, the references from Ravynn and Stefany’s books in the Love in Translation series. All of it was so dreamy!! Where’s my rajkumar?!
Also, I know I would’ve loved the book even if it were just a cutesy adorable romcom, but it is so much more than just that! There are extremely important conversations woven in within these pages about the repatriation of stolen art, violent colonisation, and the continuing prejudice against trans people in India. Some of these made my blood boil, and reminded me of why I’ve never been to the British Museum by choice because seeing all the stolen artefacts and art would piss me off.
The acknowledgments made my respect further grow for Aashna as not just an author, but also a human being, because writing is always, always political, and she proved that with utmost grace.
“I wrote this manuscript and write these words now as Israel and the United States wage genocide against Palestinians. These words themselves are not activism, but they are an acknowledgment I cannot leave out. In a book critiquing colonialism, demanding that history and culture and people be honored, and that students and artists use their voices to be disruptive, neither these characters nor I could go on without joining the call for liberation everywhere, from Palestine to Kashmir to Congo, from Sudan to Hawaii and beyond. All these struggles for liberation are interconnected; in the words of Black activist Fannie Lou Hamer, ‘Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.’”
December 29, 2025
Cute ya romcom when I was younger I would’ve eaten this up
September 5, 2025
first readalong of kitaab klub ✅
this was such a perfect blend of romance and comedy but it was also so much more than that! so so so good!
this was such a perfect blend of romance and comedy but it was also so much more than that! so so so good!
March 11, 2025
such a fun book! had me giggling and kicking my feet and rooting for Archi the whole way. run to get it when it’s out!
*Thank you to Joy Revolution and NetGalley for the the ARC!
*Thank you to Joy Revolution and NetGalley for the the ARC!
May 12, 2025
Read this book if you love being transported to other places through reading and also if you love Bollywood. 🤭.
I absolutely loved that Love Craves Cardamom was set in Jaipur. While reading it, I truly felt like I was alongside Archana in Jaipur drinking chai. I was expecting a cute romcom, but this was so much more than just that. I love how the author included important topics like colonisation and the non-binary, trans and intersex communities in India.
Characters
Archana Dhawan
Archana is a very well-written character; I could see how meticulously the author has crafted her. I adored her relationship with her friends and family; Mohini (Archana’s roommate) and her bond was to live for.
Shiv
Shiv was the perfect love interest one could ask for. I love how he was always bringing Archana flowers. When I read, I love seeing good sibling relationships in books, and I was glad to have witnessed one here too. Vidya and Shiv were sibling goals.
Archana’s growth throughout the novel was exceptional; I loved seeing her discover her parents’ city and achieve her dreams of becoming a museum curator. Reading about her curating a whole exhibit from scratch was super cool. She is one of the coolest characters ever, and I would love to befriend her.
The romance was AMAZING, as it should be because Shiv is a literal prince😌. I loved the dates across Jaipur; Shiv was always cooking for Archana, and I loved reading about them making food together. These last few days I’ve been feeling very anxious with everything that is happening around me, and Love Craves Cardamom really comforted me :)
I absolutely loved that Love Craves Cardamom was set in Jaipur. While reading it, I truly felt like I was alongside Archana in Jaipur drinking chai. I was expecting a cute romcom, but this was so much more than just that. I love how the author included important topics like colonisation and the non-binary, trans and intersex communities in India.
Characters
Archana Dhawan
Archana is a very well-written character; I could see how meticulously the author has crafted her. I adored her relationship with her friends and family; Mohini (Archana’s roommate) and her bond was to live for.
Shiv
Shiv was the perfect love interest one could ask for. I love how he was always bringing Archana flowers. When I read, I love seeing good sibling relationships in books, and I was glad to have witnessed one here too. Vidya and Shiv were sibling goals.
Archana’s growth throughout the novel was exceptional; I loved seeing her discover her parents’ city and achieve her dreams of becoming a museum curator. Reading about her curating a whole exhibit from scratch was super cool. She is one of the coolest characters ever, and I would love to befriend her.
The romance was AMAZING, as it should be because Shiv is a literal prince😌. I loved the dates across Jaipur; Shiv was always cooking for Archana, and I loved reading about them making food together. These last few days I’ve been feeling very anxious with everything that is happening around me, and Love Craves Cardamom really comforted me :)
January 17, 2026
A book that takes you on a visual treat to jaipur. This book was educational to me on many levels. From history of India during its colonisation under British Raaj and some artifacts missing from.the museum to the amazing Raigarh fort, jal Mahal and yeah the friends Mohini and archi hopping and shopping in Johari Bazaar were some amazing itinerary one could plan on. It also made me realise that there's so much to explore in my own country. This is the best part about this book as it's very nostalgic and I completely admire the FMC to learn about her roots and culture even though it's a part of her education and internship. I have never been to jaipur but I did googled the places mentioned to stay connected to the vivid imagery that was conspicuously described by the author.
The language is simple and easy to understand. The MMC is level headed and is an all rounder and made his feelings very evident towards the FMC , however her incredulous reaction was a bit overdramatic 😳. I mean come on, a guy Greeting you with flowers 💐 every day, making you explore the beautiful city and the best part cooking your favourite meal is not something friends do. She should have taken a hint 🙄. Anyways they end up together.
Also the KAVI artist part was stretched a little longer, clearly could have been shortened. The whole drama around Shiv being the prince of jaipur was very unrealistic to me as this doesn't happen in real life. I mean, how often a common girl cross paths with a prince 🤴 🤔. No 👎 , didn't sit well with me.
The ending is something that's worth reading as everything was summed up well although it was rushed. The idea of the Royal family accepting a common girl on a whim was unbelievable. Nevertheless I liked the plot as it was not cringe 😬 😅.
You will be surprised 😮 about the KAVI Artist. I also love how awareness about the Transgender & thier rights is kept intact throughout.
All in all a 4.25/5 read for me.
The language is simple and easy to understand. The MMC is level headed and is an all rounder and made his feelings very evident towards the FMC , however her incredulous reaction was a bit overdramatic 😳. I mean come on, a guy Greeting you with flowers 💐 every day, making you explore the beautiful city and the best part cooking your favourite meal is not something friends do. She should have taken a hint 🙄. Anyways they end up together.
Also the KAVI artist part was stretched a little longer, clearly could have been shortened. The whole drama around Shiv being the prince of jaipur was very unrealistic to me as this doesn't happen in real life. I mean, how often a common girl cross paths with a prince 🤴 🤔. No 👎 , didn't sit well with me.
The ending is something that's worth reading as everything was summed up well although it was rushed. The idea of the Royal family accepting a common girl on a whim was unbelievable. Nevertheless I liked the plot as it was not cringe 😬 😅.
You will be surprised 😮 about the KAVI Artist. I also love how awareness about the Transgender & thier rights is kept intact throughout.
All in all a 4.25/5 read for me.
August 7, 2025
This is such a cute YA rom series! Each book (different authors) follows one of three friends on her study abroad. Book 1 was Paris, and this book was Jaipur, which I recently visited. So many great details about the city and Desi culture.
November 10, 2025
[4.5 ⭐]
went into this expecting a cute, bollywood-style love story but turns out it was so much more than that??
you know, many times i get the ick when authors who write straight romances try to include queer subplots or make the best friend queer bc they usually do it so wrong!!! it feels forced or unnatural. BUT MS. AASHNA!!!!! she wrote queer characters so naturally and realistically; the narrative was really a love letter to queer youth and queer artistic spaces 💖 i was shocked in the best way possible like THIS is how being inclusive should be!!!!
the romance between shiv and archi was a bit toooo cheesy at points for my liking but the book gets so many extra points for discussing british colonialism, the repatriation of stolen artifacts as well as mentioning my beloved museum of acropolis 🥹
this was so much more than your typical YA romance book and i enjoyed every second of it!
went into this expecting a cute, bollywood-style love story but turns out it was so much more than that??
you know, many times i get the ick when authors who write straight romances try to include queer subplots or make the best friend queer bc they usually do it so wrong!!! it feels forced or unnatural. BUT MS. AASHNA!!!!! she wrote queer characters so naturally and realistically; the narrative was really a love letter to queer youth and queer artistic spaces 💖 i was shocked in the best way possible like THIS is how being inclusive should be!!!!
the romance between shiv and archi was a bit toooo cheesy at points for my liking but the book gets so many extra points for discussing british colonialism, the repatriation of stolen artifacts as well as mentioning my beloved museum of acropolis 🥹
this was so much more than your typical YA romance book and i enjoyed every second of it!
July 29, 2025
Adorable. A super cute, sweet, squeal with delight rom com that also touches on important social issues and did an amazing job showing me around the city of Jaipur. The pacing at the beginning felt a little rushed and there was a little too much of the “No! I’m not going to date anyone!!” but those weren’t enough to detract from my enjoyment of the story.
did-not-finish
June 9, 2025Dnf at 48%
I loved the beginning but by the time I got about a third in, the story petered out for me. I love a good mistaken/hidden identity but I think this one was so obvious and our heroine a little too clueless.
Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
I loved the beginning but by the time I got about a third in, the story petered out for me. I love a good mistaken/hidden identity but I think this one was so obvious and our heroine a little too clueless.
Thank you Get Underlined for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
September 26, 2025
First, I loved the book cover. It’s so beautiful.
Having a main character who is/wants to be a museum curator is stellar. It’s not a career I see represented often. I enjoyed the spotlight on how colonization affected art museums (i.e the looting by the British Empire, stolen artifacts and paintings, etc). We see how Archana’s grows her museum exhibit.
Ultimately, Archana wants a boy-free internship experience after a bad break-up, but it all changes when she meets Shiv. She also wants to reconnect with her roots in Jaipur, India.
The story was sweet (and very predictable). It’s a lighthearted tale, but I found it too longwinded. Shiv was kindhearted and good with his hands (gardener, cook), but he didn’t have much personality beyond the plot devices.
2.5
Having a main character who is/wants to be a museum curator is stellar. It’s not a career I see represented often. I enjoyed the spotlight on how colonization affected art museums (i.e the looting by the British Empire, stolen artifacts and paintings, etc). We see how Archana’s grows her museum exhibit.
Ultimately, Archana wants a boy-free internship experience after a bad break-up, but it all changes when she meets Shiv. She also wants to reconnect with her roots in Jaipur, India.
The story was sweet (and very predictable). It’s a lighthearted tale, but I found it too longwinded. Shiv was kindhearted and good with his hands (gardener, cook), but he didn’t have much personality beyond the plot devices.
2.5
July 4, 2025
So cute and so fun. Archi, a senior in high school, goes to Jaipur, for a study abroad. Her focus is on art curation and she is also on a boy free quest. What starts as a meet cute with cinnamon roll, Shiv, turns into a series of swoon worthy dates. And, I loved how passionate Archi was about stolen art and her quest to highlight that issue as well as street artists in her final project. This is part of a trilogy but can definitely be read as a standalone (which is what I did).
April 17, 2025
This would have been 5 stars if there hadn’t been a breakup in the 3rd act. Although for the most part it fit so it’s not a lower star rating. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the E-ARC. I loved reading about Desi culture, art theft and returning art, about having a “boy free semester” and love finding you anyways. Super cute.
August 9, 2025
This book really surprised me as the balance of romance, friendship, culture and everyday life in the semester abroad is relatively balanced. The main protagonist explores Jaipur along with her love interest and her roommate and I loved how it felt like you were doing this along with the characters. It was relatively fast paced, so no scene felt unnecessary or stretched out. This makes it the perfect book to get out of a reading slump or to read through in one day.
August 18, 2025
This was honestly such a fun read. I absolutely loved reading a book that included so many Desi terms and phrases WITHOUT translating to English. I love that it wasn’t catering to English speakers and was able to authentically tell a story placed in Jaipur. Loved!
December 16, 2024
Excited for book two from this author!
February 3, 2025
Eeeee I’m excited to read this
July 28, 2025
Enjoyed as an audiobook. Thank you DoD Libraries and the Libby App for blessing my imagination.
Look forward to more from this author.
Look forward to more from this author.
October 8, 2025
OMG GENUINELY THE CUTEST THING IVE EVER READ
November 22, 2025
This book was far better than I was expecting it to be. It was like the Indian version of the Prince and Me. It was not cringey YA and definitely more realistic than other YAs ive read as an adult.
January 27, 2026
Super cute fun rom com with DDLJ elements. Who am I to say no!
January 7, 2026
WOW
I really enjoyed how this book brought the situation of Indian art pieces being lost/stolen after British colonialism to light. I fully expected a light hearted ya romance novel (which I got, bcuz SHIV
I really enjoyed how this book brought the situation of Indian art pieces being lost/stolen after British colonialism to light. I fully expected a light hearted ya romance novel (which I got, bcuz SHIV
May 30, 2025
Kicking my feet and giggling the entire time.
January 24, 2026
the jaipur romance trope of my dreams
had me kicking my feet, very cutsie whimsical romcom
had me kicking my feet, very cutsie whimsical romcom
May 4, 2025
WOW just WOW.... at first I was going to give this book a four star ratingas(as 4.5 won't be possible on Goodreads and didn't feel like a 5 star read to me) until i read the acknowledgements.... 100% would recommend this book to anyone and everyone looking for a desi rep book!!!
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May 22, 2025Lovely and sweet RomCom that also has an eye toward social justice and small steps characters take to help raise awareness and make progress on issues. very fun read, just wish it came with regular door dash deliveries (she's on page x, quick deliver the mango Lassi!) and a plane ticket!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews