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The Rearranged Life
Nithya, a vivacious, intelligent and driven college senior has always known what she has wanted: a successful career in medicine and the love of her family. She's even come to terms with the idea of an arranged marriage, a tradition her conservative Indian family has held up for thousands of years.
When a night of partying puts her on a collision course with danger, Nithya's entire life changes.
Enter James St. Clair, the smart, challenging and heartbreakingly handsome American.
As Nithya and James fall in love, she questions the future she and her parents have always planned. Now, Nithya has a choice to make: become a doctor and a good Indian bride, or step away from her family and centuries of culture to forge her own path.
The decision she comes to takes her on a journey that transforms how she sees her future, her relationships with loved ones, and how she learns to put herself back together when even her best-laid plans fall apart.
When a night of partying puts her on a collision course with danger, Nithya's entire life changes.
Enter James St. Clair, the smart, challenging and heartbreakingly handsome American.
As Nithya and James fall in love, she questions the future she and her parents have always planned. Now, Nithya has a choice to make: become a doctor and a good Indian bride, or step away from her family and centuries of culture to forge her own path.
The decision she comes to takes her on a journey that transforms how she sees her future, her relationships with loved ones, and how she learns to put herself back together when even her best-laid plans fall apart.
268 pages, Paperback
First published May 15, 2015
7 people are currently reading
741 people want to read
About the author
Annika Sharma
3 books297 followersBorn in Delhi and raised in central Pennsylvania, Annika Sharma followed her Penn State-loving heart to college in Happy Valley. There, she graduated with two Bachelor's degrees in Biobehavioral Health and Neuro-Psychology. She also holds two Master’s degrees from Penn State and George Washington University, respectively, in Early Childhood Special Education and Public Health.
She is a co-founder and co-host of That Desi Spark podcast, one of the largest independently run South Asian podcasts in the world. She currently lives in New York City while juggling her writing and podcasting careers. She is a lover of endless conversations, college football, social justice, traveling, books, all things related to England, dancing, superhero movies, and coffee.
She is a co-founder and co-host of That Desi Spark podcast, one of the largest independently run South Asian podcasts in the world. She currently lives in New York City while juggling her writing and podcasting careers. She is a lover of endless conversations, college football, social justice, traveling, books, all things related to England, dancing, superhero movies, and coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
May 21, 2015
**4 Cultural Stars**
When I first read the synopsis of this book, I instantly thought 'Bend it like Beckham.' And because I had enjoyed this movie and every kind of similar story, I thought that I would finally read a different kind of forbidden love, so it didn't take me long to decide that I was excited to be reading this story.
Nithya is a girl from India who was born and raised in America. She's trying to blend in, her whole life, trying not to forget where she came from, but also trying to assimilate in the place she's living, along with a much different culture than the one she's following. So far she's been in a great place, even though she had to make sacrifices through the years.
Our heroine is supposed to marry an Indian, a guy with the same culture, a guy that her family will approve and arrange the whole thing for them. Nishanth seems to be the perfect soon-to- be husband. He's a nice guy, fun and their parents are old friends, so he seems to be the perfect match. But what happens when Nithya's heart seem to be already stolen by James? A typical american boy, who came in her rescue and ever since occupied her mind?
Nithya is fighting against what she wants vs what she's supposed to want. What she desires against what everyone expects from her. Compromising for her family's sake or crushing them down. She owes everything to them, so could she really be that selfish and ungrateful? Can she stand up for her own choices or go along with her family's as she always did?
This is really a very challenging novel. I could really understand Nithya's feelings and hesitations. I think that everyone would want their family's approval when it comes to your other half. When you have a close relationship to them, it is significant to not disappoint them with your choice. Of course if they love you and understand you, they should also support you no matter what (in my humble opinion), but I still understood that it's not easy when it has to do with a much different culture.
"Who would want to be with someone who has no choice about what to do? Who wants to risk falling in love with someone if they might end up belonging to someone else?"
I really enjoyed this journey and liked the turn of the events, but I was also slightly disappointed with a few matters.. I'm going to add them in a spoiler section, so if you want to read this book, don't read them.
I would definitely recommend this book, if you like forbidden romances. It's not a light read, since it's going to put you into thoughts, but it's not as heavy as I thought. I expected more drama to be honest. It's a nice journey with many elements from India, showing you things about their food, their wedding or christmas ethics etc. I think you're going to enjoy it. :)
PS: I would love to read more about their journey after the point we left them. You know, when a door closes another one opens, so why not? ;)
Arc kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
When I first read the synopsis of this book, I instantly thought 'Bend it like Beckham.' And because I had enjoyed this movie and every kind of similar story, I thought that I would finally read a different kind of forbidden love, so it didn't take me long to decide that I was excited to be reading this story.
In the western world, arranged marriages are seen as ghastly or inhumane. In India, it's the norm.
Nithya is a girl from India who was born and raised in America. She's trying to blend in, her whole life, trying not to forget where she came from, but also trying to assimilate in the place she's living, along with a much different culture than the one she's following. So far she's been in a great place, even though she had to make sacrifices through the years.
Our heroine is supposed to marry an Indian, a guy with the same culture, a guy that her family will approve and arrange the whole thing for them. Nishanth seems to be the perfect soon-to- be husband. He's a nice guy, fun and their parents are old friends, so he seems to be the perfect match. But what happens when Nithya's heart seem to be already stolen by James? A typical american boy, who came in her rescue and ever since occupied her mind?
Nithya is fighting against what she wants vs what she's supposed to want. What she desires against what everyone expects from her. Compromising for her family's sake or crushing them down. She owes everything to them, so could she really be that selfish and ungrateful? Can she stand up for her own choices or go along with her family's as she always did?
This is really a very challenging novel. I could really understand Nithya's feelings and hesitations. I think that everyone would want their family's approval when it comes to your other half. When you have a close relationship to them, it is significant to not disappoint them with your choice. Of course if they love you and understand you, they should also support you no matter what (in my humble opinion), but I still understood that it's not easy when it has to do with a much different culture.
"Who would want to be with someone who has no choice about what to do? Who wants to risk falling in love with someone if they might end up belonging to someone else?"
I really enjoyed this journey and liked the turn of the events, but I was also slightly disappointed with a few matters.. I'm going to add them in a spoiler section, so if you want to read this book, don't read them.
I would definitely recommend this book, if you like forbidden romances. It's not a light read, since it's going to put you into thoughts, but it's not as heavy as I thought. I expected more drama to be honest. It's a nice journey with many elements from India, showing you things about their food, their wedding or christmas ethics etc. I think you're going to enjoy it. :)
PS: I would love to read more about their journey after the point we left them. You know, when a door closes another one opens, so why not? ;)
Arc kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
May 28, 2015
You can also read my review in HERE.
I've always been curious on other nations cultures. Like, by how they dress, their language, their traditions. And I do believe that India has one of the most colorful and fascinating culture ever. Everybody is curious. Everybody wants a glimpse of this country. And most of all, the people are nice! Nobody can argue with that.
Although The Rearranged Life was not fully set on India, I feel like I was transported. Like the main character, Nithya, took me on a trip. I learned so much! This book is such an adventure. Yes, the romance was the main plot but the whole story was so much more than that! Nithya taught me a lot of things but along the way, she learned a lot too. Her character growth is something to be praised about. Hindrances, obstacles, whirlwind of problems... whether its about her lovelife or her career, she passed through it all. By the end, she was stronger and more resilient.
The romance was really such a roller coaster ride. You'll swoon, you'll get angry, you'll feel sad, you will get affected and invested. Nithya's situation is one place I don't want to be in. Ever. Did you know that its the first time I kinda wished that the two main leads don't end up together? I know, I really feel awful. This book made me think. Made me question some things that I believe in when it comes to love. Does it really conquer all? How can you have that happy ending when your family is against it? When worse comes to worst, who would you choose???
I was hurt, frustrated and sad. Annika Sharma doesn't hold back. She doesnt cop out by how things are supposed to be. Not everything is sunshine and rainbows. There's realities that we have to face when it comes to this things and Sharma just presented that to us. No sugarcoating. I was 90% in in the book and my mind was still muddled. I don't know if they'll end up together. I don't know if I WANT them to end up together. I was feeling too much.
I had some problems with the pacing, some scenarios, I felt like it was rushed. But obviously, I was too invested and attached to Nithya's life to be affected by the pacing and stop reading. I also wished that James has his own POV to get his side of things.
Other than those, I had no more problems. The Rearranged Life was such an eye opener. You'll be entranced to follow Nithya's life and how their culture work. Your thoughts will be provoked. Your mind and heart will be tested. Annika Sharma's debut novel will linger in you. I cannot wait for more from this fantastic author. I really suggest that you give this a book a go.
I've always been curious on other nations cultures. Like, by how they dress, their language, their traditions. And I do believe that India has one of the most colorful and fascinating culture ever. Everybody is curious. Everybody wants a glimpse of this country. And most of all, the people are nice! Nobody can argue with that.
Although The Rearranged Life was not fully set on India, I feel like I was transported. Like the main character, Nithya, took me on a trip. I learned so much! This book is such an adventure. Yes, the romance was the main plot but the whole story was so much more than that! Nithya taught me a lot of things but along the way, she learned a lot too. Her character growth is something to be praised about. Hindrances, obstacles, whirlwind of problems... whether its about her lovelife or her career, she passed through it all. By the end, she was stronger and more resilient.
The romance was really such a roller coaster ride. You'll swoon, you'll get angry, you'll feel sad, you will get affected and invested. Nithya's situation is one place I don't want to be in. Ever. Did you know that its the first time I kinda wished that the two main leads don't end up together? I know, I really feel awful. This book made me think. Made me question some things that I believe in when it comes to love. Does it really conquer all? How can you have that happy ending when your family is against it? When worse comes to worst, who would you choose???
I was hurt, frustrated and sad. Annika Sharma doesn't hold back. She doesnt cop out by how things are supposed to be. Not everything is sunshine and rainbows. There's realities that we have to face when it comes to this things and Sharma just presented that to us. No sugarcoating. I was 90% in in the book and my mind was still muddled. I don't know if they'll end up together. I don't know if I WANT them to end up together. I was feeling too much.
I had some problems with the pacing, some scenarios, I felt like it was rushed. But obviously, I was too invested and attached to Nithya's life to be affected by the pacing and stop reading. I also wished that James has his own POV to get his side of things.
Other than those, I had no more problems. The Rearranged Life was such an eye opener. You'll be entranced to follow Nithya's life and how their culture work. Your thoughts will be provoked. Your mind and heart will be tested. Annika Sharma's debut novel will linger in you. I cannot wait for more from this fantastic author. I really suggest that you give this a book a go.
May 28, 2015
This story brings back so many childhood memories. Growing up next door to an Indian family. Watching Indian movies, lots of colourful saris, delicious sweets, different music and dances. The atmosphere always so warm and welcoming, vibrant. Parents migrated and children born and bread in a different country and society, yet remaining loyal to their customs and traditions. Just like having dual citizenship. Always heading home to Indian during break and complaining when school starts back. Reminiscing.
"We have to be as Indian as the people in India and as American as the Americans.
We can't win."
Annika Sharman gives us a story that delves into and crosses cultural barriers and family. As Indians, whether living in or migrated from Indian, they must stay true to their culture and family. It's all about heritage and tradition. When Nithya finds herself not only attracted to an American but also dating one, it becomes difficult to balance both her family and cultural obligations, that have been set from birth, and her true feelings. Tradition versus Love.
"Aunties don't see love marriages as a path to happiness. It will always be selfish betrayal."
"She might be a good catch, but she should have stuck to an Indian. What is the point of having your own culture if you just blend right in and marry the one you moved into? You marry your kind. You are no Indian if you don't act like one!"
Nithya is struggling. She is in college studying to become a doctor, not only has she been rejected by all the colleges she has applied to, but she also has to sit by and watch her friends and boyfriend, get into the colleges of their choices. Whilst, battling choices. Choices that will either help her stay true to her Indian heritage and her family, or one that involves James, and thus shaming her family, by going against tradition and culture.
As an Indian, and and Indian woman, it is Nithya's responsibility to lift her family, in the site of God, society and culture. Daughters bring light to a household, whether their own, or their in-laws. In the Indian culture, Nithya's life has already been set out for her. She will become a doctor, because it is all she knows, and then she will have an arranged marriage, of her parents choosing. Their is no room for love. It's about cultural obligations and respect.
"Perhaps the idea of falling in love, dating, and making your own decisions is overplayed. Maybe love grows. Maybe it isn't something that exists from the first look or first kiss. Maybe, just maybe, the end justifies the means."
Going against tradition and her family, will be seen as disrespectful, towards her family and her culture. All the blame and shame will fall upon her parents, and they will be disrespected among their peers.
Indians run a secret spy network, fueled by gossip and funded by rumors.
Not only is Nithya battling her culture based on having an American boyfriend; her inner turmoil, is trying to stay true to herself whilst, still remaining loyal and respectful of her parents, their wishes and their sacrifices. Her inner tug of war takes a back seat, when her parents reunite with another Indian family, whose son, likes Nithya and without a doubt would like to eventually marry her.
Nishanth is just like Nithya, born and breed in America, but Indian to the core. Westernization has not affected him and his culture. So she would have the best of both worlds is she chooses to adhere to her traditions, rather than following her heart. Knowing very well, that the culture shock for James will be too much, along with her family.
“It would be easy with me. We could be a part of both clubs together. You don’t have to choose one over the other with me.”- Nishanth.
This is just as difficult for James. It's a complete culture shock. Not being able to be oneself, having your family arrange a marriage and being shunned. All he knows is that he loves Nithya and she needs to make a choice. He can't be strung along while she chooses her family over him.
"Who would want to be with someone who has no choice about what to do? Who wants to risk falling in love with someone if they might end up belonging to someone else?"
As Nithya battles her family, and tradition, she also battles with herself esteem. She has always been a strong young woman, but was that because of her family and culture. Did she follow through, because she felt obligated or were her choices made based on the path she saw her life taking. Nithya starts to question everything she ever knew. Why did she want to become a doctor, would it be so bad to have an American boyfriend, to not get into medical school, to go against tradition. There are so many 'what-if's' for Nithya, her deciding factor, will be the her in the end.
A lovely, thought provoking and endearing read.
*ARC provided by InkSlinger PR on behalf of the author for an honest review* Thanks!!!
"We have to be as Indian as the people in India and as American as the Americans.
We can't win."
Annika Sharman gives us a story that delves into and crosses cultural barriers and family. As Indians, whether living in or migrated from Indian, they must stay true to their culture and family. It's all about heritage and tradition. When Nithya finds herself not only attracted to an American but also dating one, it becomes difficult to balance both her family and cultural obligations, that have been set from birth, and her true feelings. Tradition versus Love.
"Aunties don't see love marriages as a path to happiness. It will always be selfish betrayal."
"She might be a good catch, but she should have stuck to an Indian. What is the point of having your own culture if you just blend right in and marry the one you moved into? You marry your kind. You are no Indian if you don't act like one!"
Nithya is struggling. She is in college studying to become a doctor, not only has she been rejected by all the colleges she has applied to, but she also has to sit by and watch her friends and boyfriend, get into the colleges of their choices. Whilst, battling choices. Choices that will either help her stay true to her Indian heritage and her family, or one that involves James, and thus shaming her family, by going against tradition and culture.
As an Indian, and and Indian woman, it is Nithya's responsibility to lift her family, in the site of God, society and culture. Daughters bring light to a household, whether their own, or their in-laws. In the Indian culture, Nithya's life has already been set out for her. She will become a doctor, because it is all she knows, and then she will have an arranged marriage, of her parents choosing. Their is no room for love. It's about cultural obligations and respect.
"Perhaps the idea of falling in love, dating, and making your own decisions is overplayed. Maybe love grows. Maybe it isn't something that exists from the first look or first kiss. Maybe, just maybe, the end justifies the means."
Going against tradition and her family, will be seen as disrespectful, towards her family and her culture. All the blame and shame will fall upon her parents, and they will be disrespected among their peers.
Indians run a secret spy network, fueled by gossip and funded by rumors.
Not only is Nithya battling her culture based on having an American boyfriend; her inner turmoil, is trying to stay true to herself whilst, still remaining loyal and respectful of her parents, their wishes and their sacrifices. Her inner tug of war takes a back seat, when her parents reunite with another Indian family, whose son, likes Nithya and without a doubt would like to eventually marry her.
Nishanth is just like Nithya, born and breed in America, but Indian to the core. Westernization has not affected him and his culture. So she would have the best of both worlds is she chooses to adhere to her traditions, rather than following her heart. Knowing very well, that the culture shock for James will be too much, along with her family.
“It would be easy with me. We could be a part of both clubs together. You don’t have to choose one over the other with me.”- Nishanth.
This is just as difficult for James. It's a complete culture shock. Not being able to be oneself, having your family arrange a marriage and being shunned. All he knows is that he loves Nithya and she needs to make a choice. He can't be strung along while she chooses her family over him.
"Who would want to be with someone who has no choice about what to do? Who wants to risk falling in love with someone if they might end up belonging to someone else?"
As Nithya battles her family, and tradition, she also battles with herself esteem. She has always been a strong young woman, but was that because of her family and culture. Did she follow through, because she felt obligated or were her choices made based on the path she saw her life taking. Nithya starts to question everything she ever knew. Why did she want to become a doctor, would it be so bad to have an American boyfriend, to not get into medical school, to go against tradition. There are so many 'what-if's' for Nithya, her deciding factor, will be the her in the end.
A lovely, thought provoking and endearing read.
*ARC provided by InkSlinger PR on behalf of the author for an honest review* Thanks!!!
Want to read
September 22, 2020THE MC HAS THE SAME NAME* AS ME OF COURSE I AM READING THIS
* different/not the correct spelling but whatever
* different/not the correct spelling but whatever
May 22, 2016
The Rearranged Life was one I eagerly wanted to read because of my own personal interest in culture. I love everything to do with it – so knowing there was a novel out there where the main character is Hindu and abides by the Indian culture and falls for an American boy who she is worried her parents won’t accept… it had me eager to want to try it! The cover is gorgeous and I had heard a lot of good things about it as well. What did I have to lose?
I’m glad to say that I managed to enjoy this book well enough. It didn’t dive as deep as I was looking for, but it was a nice light hearted novel that was enjoyable while a good insight to some cultural issues people do have to deal with these days as well.
I really liked Nithya, who is the main character. Her name is beautiful, and the truth is that I saw a lot of myself reflected in her. Her tendency to be very ambitious and to strive for a single goal and give it her all… that’s so me. But then she starts to question if she can really reach those ambitions and throughout this novel she faces a lot of personal obstacles regarding her outlook and management of life. And then on top of all that she falls in love with a boy outside of the whole arranged marriage side of things – as if she didn’t already have enough on her plate already.
James was a nice love interest, but I felt like we never really dived into his character with enough depth for me to be completely sucked in. I felt like that with the majority of the characters really – even when it came to the lovely, bouncy, roommate Sophia and also her boyfriend. We get to know about them and their situation but I never felt too deeply for them. I didn’t mind really – it was fun to read about them, but I don’t think they made a very lasting impression.
Another character I wanted more of was Nishanth! He was the Indian possible love interest. There wasn’t really a love triangle, but he did want Nithya’s heart if she wanted to try and date someone within her culture. He seemed to really come and go. When she was with her family he would pop up, but as soon as she went he was back to being non existant. I felt like she traded one for the other and we never saw them together. I would’ve liked the complication of having him and James in the same room just once!
The Indian culture was depicted perfectly, as far as I know about it. I’ve read a lot about it now, and I have a few friends who are Indian so that is where I am gathering my understanding from. I loved the descriptions of food, of weddings and all that involved it as well.
Sometimes the writing style lent a little on telling instead of showing, but that was simply another thing that I didn’t mind. Because in the end, I rather enjoyed reading this one. It was fun, I flew through it in only a day and the ending left me content and satisfied. I’m not sure if I will reread it in the future, but I know it’s one I won’t regret having made the time for.
This review and others can be found at Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
I’m glad to say that I managed to enjoy this book well enough. It didn’t dive as deep as I was looking for, but it was a nice light hearted novel that was enjoyable while a good insight to some cultural issues people do have to deal with these days as well.
I really liked Nithya, who is the main character. Her name is beautiful, and the truth is that I saw a lot of myself reflected in her. Her tendency to be very ambitious and to strive for a single goal and give it her all… that’s so me. But then she starts to question if she can really reach those ambitions and throughout this novel she faces a lot of personal obstacles regarding her outlook and management of life. And then on top of all that she falls in love with a boy outside of the whole arranged marriage side of things – as if she didn’t already have enough on her plate already.
James was a nice love interest, but I felt like we never really dived into his character with enough depth for me to be completely sucked in. I felt like that with the majority of the characters really – even when it came to the lovely, bouncy, roommate Sophia and also her boyfriend. We get to know about them and their situation but I never felt too deeply for them. I didn’t mind really – it was fun to read about them, but I don’t think they made a very lasting impression.
Another character I wanted more of was Nishanth! He was the Indian possible love interest. There wasn’t really a love triangle, but he did want Nithya’s heart if she wanted to try and date someone within her culture. He seemed to really come and go. When she was with her family he would pop up, but as soon as she went he was back to being non existant. I felt like she traded one for the other and we never saw them together. I would’ve liked the complication of having him and James in the same room just once!
The Indian culture was depicted perfectly, as far as I know about it. I’ve read a lot about it now, and I have a few friends who are Indian so that is where I am gathering my understanding from. I loved the descriptions of food, of weddings and all that involved it as well.
Sometimes the writing style lent a little on telling instead of showing, but that was simply another thing that I didn’t mind. Because in the end, I rather enjoyed reading this one. It was fun, I flew through it in only a day and the ending left me content and satisfied. I’m not sure if I will reread it in the future, but I know it’s one I won’t regret having made the time for.
This review and others can be found at Olivia's Catastrophe: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/20...
May 27, 2015
Read Full Review At fANGIRLconfessions
I received a review copy courtesy of the author/publisher. This does not affect my opinion or views regarding the book whatsoever.
Finding the perfect New Adult novel is like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Well readers, that needle has been found . . .
Where Have You Been All My Life?
I honestly don't think I can put into coherent words how much I loved this story. It was completely different from any other NA novel I've ever read, and I'm so proud of the author for finally doing my favorite genre some justice. Annika Sharma shows us that bad-mysterious-sex-driven-boys, naive-boy-crazy-girls, and cliche plots/twists, aren't aspects that DEFINE new adult. I take a low bow before I come up to air kiss her cheeks, all to show my gratitude for her ability to rip and stomp those typical routes to dust.
The Rearranged Life, to sum it up in a nut shell, is a marvelous story. It's both strong and utterly realistic, gracefully touching the topics of love, family, friendships, culture, and a pleasant surprise, education. Even with my favorite books from this genre, I've experienced a lost in connection due to naive characters and or absurd situations/scenes, but finally we have a book that scores straight 10's all across the board. A story that not only reaches out to me, but to all young & older adults in the universe . . .
I received a review copy courtesy of the author/publisher. This does not affect my opinion or views regarding the book whatsoever.
Finding the perfect New Adult novel is like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Well readers, that needle has been found . . .
Where Have You Been All My Life?
I honestly don't think I can put into coherent words how much I loved this story. It was completely different from any other NA novel I've ever read, and I'm so proud of the author for finally doing my favorite genre some justice. Annika Sharma shows us that bad-mysterious-sex-driven-boys, naive-boy-crazy-girls, and cliche plots/twists, aren't aspects that DEFINE new adult. I take a low bow before I come up to air kiss her cheeks, all to show my gratitude for her ability to rip and stomp those typical routes to dust.
The Rearranged Life, to sum it up in a nut shell, is a marvelous story. It's both strong and utterly realistic, gracefully touching the topics of love, family, friendships, culture, and a pleasant surprise, education. Even with my favorite books from this genre, I've experienced a lost in connection due to naive characters and or absurd situations/scenes, but finally we have a book that scores straight 10's all across the board. A story that not only reaches out to me, but to all young & older adults in the universe . . .
May 17, 2015
"We have to be as Indian as the people in India and as American as the Americans. We can't win."
The Rearranged Life follows the most trying time in the life of Nithya, an Indian by heritage living in the United States. Where this story is a romance, I’d like to bring more emphasis on how this book is about coming of age and growing into yourself.
Nithya, a medicine student, has never bothered about her parents' and her community’s wishes for all Indian girls to marry “appropriate” Indian boys. But when she starts to fall in love with James St. Clair, she’s wondering whether these customs make any sense at all. And if they do, then is it worth going against them?
As a character, I really liked Nithya. I wouldn’t say I connected with her—my situation at home and hers is not the same AT ALL—but I can understand where she comes from. Especially since I’ve seen our communities pushing arranged marriages like, A LOT. I understood the reasons behind some of the decisions she took.
Again, her parents too I didn’t completely agree with, but I understood them. They weren’t trying to be backward or old-fashioned, it’s just the way it is in India. It was great to see that Annika Sharma got that too. She understood the intentions of Nithya’s parents and not once did I see them in a negative light. We’re set in our ways and all it would take for a broader mindset is the effort it takes to keep an open mind. I think The Rearranged Life is basically more about Nithya’s relationship with her parents, the shifting dynamic there as they realise she’s not just a little girl anymore, and as she realises that sometimes, even parents make mistakes.
I loved Nithya’s friends and family members! James seemed like the perfect counterpart to Nithya—where she was always agitated, he was calm. Where she tended to have neurotic freak-outs, he helped keep her same. I did feel like there was a bit of instal-love with them, though. The book focused so much on Nithya and her fear of upsetting her parents, that there wasn’t too much emphasis on James and Nithya’s relationship. I’d have liked to see a bit more of that. Sophia and Luca were great support systems to Nithya—something I feel she definitely needed!
As far as the writing goes, I couldn’t tell that it was Annika Sharma’s debut book. She captures the essence of being a legal alien perfectly—the pressure and the stress—and with Nithya’s character being under the most stressful time of her life, the writing felt spectacular! Doesn’t matter what country you hail from—you should definitely read this one :)
*I was provided a free ecopy of this book in exchange of an honest review. This did not in any way, however, influence the content of this review.*
July 23, 2018
The Rearranged Life is a forbidden romance type of novel, but I found it to be more than that it was also about standing up for yourself and doing what makes you happy and realizing life isn't always going to go the way you planned.
Nithya is an Indian girl born and bred in America. Her parents are pretty traditional Indian parents, they believe in arranged marriages, not the sort where she has no say so but where they find and approve the guy and then if the two hit it off they get married. They are not for love marriages at all so poor Nithya can't follow her heart without breaking her parents. It's crazy how well I could relate to Nithya, I also married someone out of my culture and shocked everyone in my family so I definitely understood the inner conflict she was facing when it came to that. She has always been the perfect daughter doing everything her parents want and making a lot of sacrifices to keep her family happy but what happens when your family expects you to make the ultimate sacrifice...love.
When Nithya meets James you can tell there was an attraction there from the get go but she knows better then to act on it so she tries to keep it strictly platonic too bad her heart didn't get the memo. While James is growing on her Nithya's family has plans to pair her up with Nishanth a son of an old family friend. I'm not going to lie when I met James I loved James when I met Nishanth I loved Nishanth, but you can easily tell which guy was meant for her, one she had feelings for the other it was more of an obligation.
I loved seeing Nithya's character grow throughout the novel and I felt James was a big part of it, he challenged her and she was able to be herself with him without wondering if he was going to judge her or not, honestly it was like she felt more free with James. I mean how can you not root for the two and hope she makes the choice that will lead to her happiness.
Overall Sharma wrote a beautiful story with a sweet romance and endearing characters.
Memorable Quotes:
~"I want you. I want to be rebellious and safe, wanted and challenged, broken and whole, and I want it all with you.I am all in."
~"He has seen me at my most vulnerable, in a disorganized mess in class and in a heaping ball of tears on his floor, yet he sees greatness in those experiences."
Nithya is an Indian girl born and bred in America. Her parents are pretty traditional Indian parents, they believe in arranged marriages, not the sort where she has no say so but where they find and approve the guy and then if the two hit it off they get married. They are not for love marriages at all so poor Nithya can't follow her heart without breaking her parents. It's crazy how well I could relate to Nithya, I also married someone out of my culture and shocked everyone in my family so I definitely understood the inner conflict she was facing when it came to that. She has always been the perfect daughter doing everything her parents want and making a lot of sacrifices to keep her family happy but what happens when your family expects you to make the ultimate sacrifice...love.
When Nithya meets James you can tell there was an attraction there from the get go but she knows better then to act on it so she tries to keep it strictly platonic too bad her heart didn't get the memo. While James is growing on her Nithya's family has plans to pair her up with Nishanth a son of an old family friend. I'm not going to lie when I met James I loved James when I met Nishanth I loved Nishanth, but you can easily tell which guy was meant for her, one she had feelings for the other it was more of an obligation.
I loved seeing Nithya's character grow throughout the novel and I felt James was a big part of it, he challenged her and she was able to be herself with him without wondering if he was going to judge her or not, honestly it was like she felt more free with James. I mean how can you not root for the two and hope she makes the choice that will lead to her happiness.
Overall Sharma wrote a beautiful story with a sweet romance and endearing characters.
Memorable Quotes:
~"I want you. I want to be rebellious and safe, wanted and challenged, broken and whole, and I want it all with you.I am all in."
~"He has seen me at my most vulnerable, in a disorganized mess in class and in a heaping ball of tears on his floor, yet he sees greatness in those experiences."
April 26, 2015
My favorite books are always the quiet ones.
They might not have heart-pounding action sequences. They might not keep me wondering if a character will live or die.
But they always make me think. They reflect back the complications of life and the world--that nothing is as all or nothing as we might believe. And most importantly, they make ME feel as conflicted as the characters inside. When the author can take a conflict and show me all the facets in perfect detail, so much that I don't know whose side I'm on, that's when I know I've been hooked. Deeply.
Annika Sharma's THE REARRANGED LIFE is one of those books. She lets us in on Nithya and James' sweet, funny, butterflies-in-the-stomach relationship. She lets us in on Nithya's kind, compassionate, supportive-in-every-way family. And when Nithya is pulled between them, I felt that conflict in my own heart.
A fantastic read that's low on the angst and high on the quiet, heartfelt emotional conflict. A great addition to the New Adult category, and I can't wait to see what Sharma will write next. (*crosses fingers that it's a book about Max*)
*I received an ARC from the publisher. It's still fabulous.*
They might not have heart-pounding action sequences. They might not keep me wondering if a character will live or die.
But they always make me think. They reflect back the complications of life and the world--that nothing is as all or nothing as we might believe. And most importantly, they make ME feel as conflicted as the characters inside. When the author can take a conflict and show me all the facets in perfect detail, so much that I don't know whose side I'm on, that's when I know I've been hooked. Deeply.
Annika Sharma's THE REARRANGED LIFE is one of those books. She lets us in on Nithya and James' sweet, funny, butterflies-in-the-stomach relationship. She lets us in on Nithya's kind, compassionate, supportive-in-every-way family. And when Nithya is pulled between them, I felt that conflict in my own heart.
A fantastic read that's low on the angst and high on the quiet, heartfelt emotional conflict. A great addition to the New Adult category, and I can't wait to see what Sharma will write next. (*crosses fingers that it's a book about Max*)
*I received an ARC from the publisher. It's still fabulous.*
May 4, 2015
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
When I first came across The Rearranged Life in a tour e-mail I knew I had to read this book, so I signed-up for the tour and was excited to receive a review copy. The plot with an Indian girl who falls in love with an American boy sounded interesting and I was looking forward to learn more about Indian culture. When I started this book there were some clichés and the plot was predictable and I couldn't get used to the writing style. But I am happy I continued reading as it got better and better after the rough start.
Like I mentioned I had some issues with the writing style of this author as it didn't flow smoothly in some places, like there was a fast forward, but then a scene was throw in of something that happens during the forward and it just felt a bit weird as you didn't really got to experience the scene. There are a few incidents like that and they felt a bit jarring.
What I loved most about this book was the story, it's a beautiful story of an Indian girl who falls in love with an American boy and the struggles they go through to be together. The differences between their cultures and the power of love. It's about finding yourself, going through hard things and making decisions. Taking control of your life even when it takes turns you don't expect.
I liked learning more about Indian culture, there's a wedding the main character visits in the begin of the book and some scenes about Indian food and their house and family in India and why the arranged marriages exists and I was surprised how open these arranged marriages are. It's not like they didn't had a say in the matter and the families tried to make matches that worked. It was all interesting to hear. And I was happy every time I recognized an Indian dish, although there were even more that I had never heard of before.
I liked the characters and I could easily relate to Nithya, she's a good girl, who does what is expected of her. She is a genuinely nice person and I recognized a few traits I have myself as well. She grows and changes a lot during this book and I loved seeing those changes and seeing her finding her path in life. This book is more about that, finding your path in life and the difficulties of dealing with what you want and what is expected and what happens if things don't work out as planned. I also liked Sophia, Luca, James and James and Nithya their families. The focus is on Nithya, but we still get a feel for the other characters as well.
Then there's the romance, while I liked the romance and though they were good for each other, I never really felt their emotions and feelings. I always felt like there was a bit of a distance, more like telling a story than experiencing it. On paper I liked their romance, but I never really felt their connection. There is a bit of a love triangle, but it's not really fair to call it that as it isn't how it's usually is in books. I liked how it was handled and how it also showed the other option. James and Nithya keep some lies by omission at first and I didn't like that Nithya didn't tell him things earlier. And then there was this part where I had expected more of James and it was just a bit disappointing on both sides. After that their romance went in a direction I did like and I was also happy with the ending.
The book has a bit of an open ending, it doesn't wrap things up nicely but leaves things open., Normally I don't like that, but I think it was done well here and the open ending fit the book and the last chapter was written in a way that you did have some idea of what comes next, but the main character even describes it as an open road and that's how it ends as well.
To conclude: I really enjoyed this book, the begin was a bit slow and cliché, but after that I really liked this book. The characters are great and it's a beautiful story about finding your path in life. I also liked learning more about Indian culture and how the arranged marriages work. I had some issues with the writing style as it didn't flow well in some places, but that's a minor issue. And while I liked the romance and think they are good for each, I didn't really feel it, they also keep some secrets at first which I didn't like. The ending was a bit open, but it really fit the story and I liked how the book ended.
When I first came across The Rearranged Life in a tour e-mail I knew I had to read this book, so I signed-up for the tour and was excited to receive a review copy. The plot with an Indian girl who falls in love with an American boy sounded interesting and I was looking forward to learn more about Indian culture. When I started this book there were some clichés and the plot was predictable and I couldn't get used to the writing style. But I am happy I continued reading as it got better and better after the rough start.
Like I mentioned I had some issues with the writing style of this author as it didn't flow smoothly in some places, like there was a fast forward, but then a scene was throw in of something that happens during the forward and it just felt a bit weird as you didn't really got to experience the scene. There are a few incidents like that and they felt a bit jarring.
What I loved most about this book was the story, it's a beautiful story of an Indian girl who falls in love with an American boy and the struggles they go through to be together. The differences between their cultures and the power of love. It's about finding yourself, going through hard things and making decisions. Taking control of your life even when it takes turns you don't expect.
I liked learning more about Indian culture, there's a wedding the main character visits in the begin of the book and some scenes about Indian food and their house and family in India and why the arranged marriages exists and I was surprised how open these arranged marriages are. It's not like they didn't had a say in the matter and the families tried to make matches that worked. It was all interesting to hear. And I was happy every time I recognized an Indian dish, although there were even more that I had never heard of before.
I liked the characters and I could easily relate to Nithya, she's a good girl, who does what is expected of her. She is a genuinely nice person and I recognized a few traits I have myself as well. She grows and changes a lot during this book and I loved seeing those changes and seeing her finding her path in life. This book is more about that, finding your path in life and the difficulties of dealing with what you want and what is expected and what happens if things don't work out as planned. I also liked Sophia, Luca, James and James and Nithya their families. The focus is on Nithya, but we still get a feel for the other characters as well.
Then there's the romance, while I liked the romance and though they were good for each other, I never really felt their emotions and feelings. I always felt like there was a bit of a distance, more like telling a story than experiencing it. On paper I liked their romance, but I never really felt their connection. There is a bit of a love triangle, but it's not really fair to call it that as it isn't how it's usually is in books. I liked how it was handled and how it also showed the other option. James and Nithya keep some lies by omission at first and I didn't like that Nithya didn't tell him things earlier. And then there was this part where I had expected more of James and it was just a bit disappointing on both sides. After that their romance went in a direction I did like and I was also happy with the ending.
The book has a bit of an open ending, it doesn't wrap things up nicely but leaves things open., Normally I don't like that, but I think it was done well here and the open ending fit the book and the last chapter was written in a way that you did have some idea of what comes next, but the main character even describes it as an open road and that's how it ends as well.
To conclude: I really enjoyed this book, the begin was a bit slow and cliché, but after that I really liked this book. The characters are great and it's a beautiful story about finding your path in life. I also liked learning more about Indian culture and how the arranged marriages work. I had some issues with the writing style as it didn't flow well in some places, but that's a minor issue. And while I liked the romance and think they are good for each, I didn't really feel it, they also keep some secrets at first which I didn't like. The ending was a bit open, but it really fit the story and I liked how the book ended.
April 13, 2015
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review**
This was such a wonderful and thought-provoking book! I couldn't put it down. I'll admit, I didn't know much about Indian culture and modern day arranged marriage before reading THE REARRANGED LIFE. I'm so used to reading and seeing arranged marriage books where the woman is forced into marriage with a stranger against her will, and she meets him at the altar for the first time.
This is nothing like that.
Nithya has a loving, caring family who are a huge part of her life. For the most part, Nithya's parents are tremendously supportive. They don't want to choose her spouse for her (although they would be delighted if Nithya chose Nishanth, son of a close family friend, and aren't opposed to nudging her in that direction); however, they are very specific and set in their wishes that Nithya marries an Indian boy. Nithya is on board with this (after all, she wants to marry someone who will understand her culture, her family's traditions and inside jokes) until she meets her classmate James. James is handsome, smart...and American. Dating an American is seen as taboo in her culture. She struggles with her feelings for James, because it forces her to question her priorities, her loyalty to her family, and her commitment to her culture. She feels strong connections to both her family / Indian culture and roots, and to American culture.
Yes, this book has a romance, but to me it was ultimately a book about self-discovery and trying to find your place between two cultures. Nithya struggles with her choice to enter the medical field (a choice that was highly influenced by the expectations of her family and culture) and worries about stepping out of her comfort zone when those plans she's had her whole life don't work out. There is a really great scene where Nishanth's family comes to Nithya's house, and everyone is so obviously pushing the two of them together that Nithya just feels so uncomfortable. I really felt her discomfort with the whole situation! Anyone who has struggled with growing up and coming into your own identity will be able to relate to Nithya's struggles.
I learned a lot about Indian culture and traditions from this book, and to be honest I saw both Nithya and her parents' points of view on the issue. I loved the scene of Nithya's cousin's Indian wedding.
I loved that this book was not black and white. There was no "right" answer and "wrong" answer. Nithya has a positive relationship with both Nishanth and James, and struggles with the fact that either man would be a good match for her in different ways. I loved James, and I also loved Nishanth, and both boys had moments that made me swoon (and made Nithya's choice that much harder). Nithya's choice ends up becoming a choice between what is more comfortable and compatible on paper, and what her heart really wants.
James' parents also worry about his relationship with Nithya, as they don't want their son left broken hearted if Nithya were to choose her culture over him. It all felt very realistic and heart wrenching. It's a modern story about choices and sacrifices, and family and culture and loyalty. It's also beautifully written.
I loved this book, and would recommend it to anyone. Five stars!
This was such a wonderful and thought-provoking book! I couldn't put it down. I'll admit, I didn't know much about Indian culture and modern day arranged marriage before reading THE REARRANGED LIFE. I'm so used to reading and seeing arranged marriage books where the woman is forced into marriage with a stranger against her will, and she meets him at the altar for the first time.
This is nothing like that.
Nithya has a loving, caring family who are a huge part of her life. For the most part, Nithya's parents are tremendously supportive. They don't want to choose her spouse for her (although they would be delighted if Nithya chose Nishanth, son of a close family friend, and aren't opposed to nudging her in that direction); however, they are very specific and set in their wishes that Nithya marries an Indian boy. Nithya is on board with this (after all, she wants to marry someone who will understand her culture, her family's traditions and inside jokes) until she meets her classmate James. James is handsome, smart...and American. Dating an American is seen as taboo in her culture. She struggles with her feelings for James, because it forces her to question her priorities, her loyalty to her family, and her commitment to her culture. She feels strong connections to both her family / Indian culture and roots, and to American culture.
Yes, this book has a romance, but to me it was ultimately a book about self-discovery and trying to find your place between two cultures. Nithya struggles with her choice to enter the medical field (a choice that was highly influenced by the expectations of her family and culture) and worries about stepping out of her comfort zone when those plans she's had her whole life don't work out. There is a really great scene where Nishanth's family comes to Nithya's house, and everyone is so obviously pushing the two of them together that Nithya just feels so uncomfortable. I really felt her discomfort with the whole situation! Anyone who has struggled with growing up and coming into your own identity will be able to relate to Nithya's struggles.
I learned a lot about Indian culture and traditions from this book, and to be honest I saw both Nithya and her parents' points of view on the issue. I loved the scene of Nithya's cousin's Indian wedding.
I loved that this book was not black and white. There was no "right" answer and "wrong" answer. Nithya has a positive relationship with both Nishanth and James, and struggles with the fact that either man would be a good match for her in different ways. I loved James, and I also loved Nishanth, and both boys had moments that made me swoon (and made Nithya's choice that much harder). Nithya's choice ends up becoming a choice between what is more comfortable and compatible on paper, and what her heart really wants.
James' parents also worry about his relationship with Nithya, as they don't want their son left broken hearted if Nithya were to choose her culture over him. It all felt very realistic and heart wrenching. It's a modern story about choices and sacrifices, and family and culture and loyalty. It's also beautifully written.
I loved this book, and would recommend it to anyone. Five stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2015
Annika Sharma did an amazing job of pulling me into the Indian culture. Through her vivid descriptions of the life and customs Nithya had grown up with, I was able to understand the duty she felt toward her family, as well as the uncertainty she had about making her own choices. As an American, my duty has always been to myself, but reading Nithya’s story makes me see how things can be another way, how the world of arranged marriages can fit a need for some people that a love marriage wouldn’t, and confirms that the right choice for one person, isn’t always the right choice for another. I’ve always known arranged marriages were still a common custom in some cultures, but I’ve never had such an in depth look at the process before. In The Rearranged Life, I was able to see things from a totally different perspective, and understand the mindset in a way I’d never thought possible.
For Nithya, “having a choice was never part of the bargain.” Her future has been sealed since she was young. She will be a doctor. She will marry an Indian man who has been pre-approved by her family. She will have "little brown babies" who will speak Telugu as their first language. She will follow all the customs and traditions as her parents and grandparents. The Rearranged Life is about a romance between an Indian girl and an American boy, but it’s also about much more than that. It’s about a young women who is trying to find herself within two different cultures, who is trying to balance her own happiness with that of her family’s, and who is suddenly faced with the question of what she wants her for future.
She’s reached a fork in the road and must now decide which path is the best one for her, which is one of the things I really liked about this book. It was possible for me to understand how Nithya could be happy either way. I don’t believe in soulmates, and I don’t think there’s only one perfect fit for each person. Love takes hard work and dedication and compromise, and to me there was no right or wrong choice when it came to who Nithya chose to be with.
Nishanth is the kind of man Nithya’s parents have always pictured her with. Smart, driven, from a good family, and most importantly, Indian. Like Nithya, he is a blend of the traditional Indian culture and the Indian-American person she identifies with.
With him there would be no different. No translating customs or words or religious beliefs. But Nishanth is missing one important thing for Nithya: he isn’t James. Life with James would have more obstacles, and now Nithya is faced with whether or not her love for James will make the risk worth it in the end. While I could see happiness at the end of both roads, my American mindset was rooting for Nithya to choose her own path and go with love. Right or wrong, that’s the way I see the world. But the beauty of Annika Sharma’s story is that I suddenly was able to understand why Nithya might choose to take the path that would lead to Nishanth.
For Nithya, “having a choice was never part of the bargain.” Her future has been sealed since she was young. She will be a doctor. She will marry an Indian man who has been pre-approved by her family. She will have "little brown babies" who will speak Telugu as their first language. She will follow all the customs and traditions as her parents and grandparents. The Rearranged Life is about a romance between an Indian girl and an American boy, but it’s also about much more than that. It’s about a young women who is trying to find herself within two different cultures, who is trying to balance her own happiness with that of her family’s, and who is suddenly faced with the question of what she wants her for future.
“For the first time in my life, I have serious doubt about the way my family has approached this for thousands of generations.”
She’s reached a fork in the road and must now decide which path is the best one for her, which is one of the things I really liked about this book. It was possible for me to understand how Nithya could be happy either way. I don’t believe in soulmates, and I don’t think there’s only one perfect fit for each person. Love takes hard work and dedication and compromise, and to me there was no right or wrong choice when it came to who Nithya chose to be with.
Nishanth is the kind of man Nithya’s parents have always pictured her with. Smart, driven, from a good family, and most importantly, Indian. Like Nithya, he is a blend of the traditional Indian culture and the Indian-American person she identifies with.
“It would be easy with me. We could be a part of both clubs together. You don’t have to choose one over the other with me.”
With him there would be no different. No translating customs or words or religious beliefs. But Nishanth is missing one important thing for Nithya: he isn’t James. Life with James would have more obstacles, and now Nithya is faced with whether or not her love for James will make the risk worth it in the end. While I could see happiness at the end of both roads, my American mindset was rooting for Nithya to choose her own path and go with love. Right or wrong, that’s the way I see the world. But the beauty of Annika Sharma’s story is that I suddenly was able to understand why Nithya might choose to take the path that would lead to Nishanth.
May 21, 2015
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Man, is it nice to read some New Adult that isn't laden with sex on every other page. I was beginning to wonder if all NA authors thought that college aged people spend their days participating in wild orgies and keg parties. I salute you, Annika Sharma, for portraying college students that actually act like real, average college students. Yes, there are parties from time to time, and some of them do get out of hand. However, most of us truly do spend our time studying or just hanging out with friends. I think that this was one of my favorite aspects of this book: it was actually real. As a nineteen year old college student, I can 100% that The Rearranged Life managed to capture what it's like to be a college student spot on, especially when you're a college student with a massive amount of pressure coming from your family.
Speaking of family, I thought that the family dynamics in this book were fascinating, especially when you compare Cole's family to Nithya's family. Cole's family is basically the picture of the all American dream. They're loving, supportive, and financially well off. Nithya's family was a lot different, but still somehow the same. They loved her, and they only wanted what they thought would be the best for her. The scenes with Nithya's family were so enlightening for me, for lack of a better term. I admit to being fairly ignorant to Indian culture. I've never known anyone of Indian descent personally, so I've never really become acquainted with their customs and traditions. After finishing The Rearranged Life, I can say that I've fallen in love with the culture, and I'm certainly a little more familiar with it. Annika Sharma's writing style really helped me connect with the cultural elements. For example, the way that she described the Indian wedding scene was just vivid. I could clearly picture all of the colors and all of the life in that room.
Another aspect of this book that was enlightening for me is how Nithya's character (and the other Indian characters throughout) viewed Western culture. There were a few instances in the book where Nithya would get annoyed or slightly offended by something that one of her peers would say, and I wouldn't have had any idea that it was an offensive thing to ask. Obviously, one of the big themes throughout was arranged marriage, or really just marrying within your own culture. At the beginning of this book, I didn't really know how I was going to feel about the whole thing. I ended up being able to understand the whole concept, and appreciate the idea of trying to preserve your culture and traditions.
THIS IS WHY WE NEED DIVERSE BOOKS.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I felt like it was a great look into Indian culture, and also a very honest look at what it's like to be a college student. I ended up giving this a five out of five stars.
Man, is it nice to read some New Adult that isn't laden with sex on every other page. I was beginning to wonder if all NA authors thought that college aged people spend their days participating in wild orgies and keg parties. I salute you, Annika Sharma, for portraying college students that actually act like real, average college students. Yes, there are parties from time to time, and some of them do get out of hand. However, most of us truly do spend our time studying or just hanging out with friends. I think that this was one of my favorite aspects of this book: it was actually real. As a nineteen year old college student, I can 100% that The Rearranged Life managed to capture what it's like to be a college student spot on, especially when you're a college student with a massive amount of pressure coming from your family.
Speaking of family, I thought that the family dynamics in this book were fascinating, especially when you compare Cole's family to Nithya's family. Cole's family is basically the picture of the all American dream. They're loving, supportive, and financially well off. Nithya's family was a lot different, but still somehow the same. They loved her, and they only wanted what they thought would be the best for her. The scenes with Nithya's family were so enlightening for me, for lack of a better term. I admit to being fairly ignorant to Indian culture. I've never known anyone of Indian descent personally, so I've never really become acquainted with their customs and traditions. After finishing The Rearranged Life, I can say that I've fallen in love with the culture, and I'm certainly a little more familiar with it. Annika Sharma's writing style really helped me connect with the cultural elements. For example, the way that she described the Indian wedding scene was just vivid. I could clearly picture all of the colors and all of the life in that room.
Another aspect of this book that was enlightening for me is how Nithya's character (and the other Indian characters throughout) viewed Western culture. There were a few instances in the book where Nithya would get annoyed or slightly offended by something that one of her peers would say, and I wouldn't have had any idea that it was an offensive thing to ask. Obviously, one of the big themes throughout was arranged marriage, or really just marrying within your own culture. At the beginning of this book, I didn't really know how I was going to feel about the whole thing. I ended up being able to understand the whole concept, and appreciate the idea of trying to preserve your culture and traditions.
THIS IS WHY WE NEED DIVERSE BOOKS.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I felt like it was a great look into Indian culture, and also a very honest look at what it's like to be a college student. I ended up giving this a five out of five stars.
May 7, 2015
The Rearranged Life is about a Nithya, a driven college senior of Indian born parents. Nithya has her life all planned out: graduate college, get accepted to medical school, take the arranged marriage partner her parents pick out, and become a doctor. She’s focused exclusively on her schoolwork and has never had a boyfriend. While not wholly embracing her culture of arranged marriages, she accepts it.
Enter James St. Claire. James saves her from a dangerous situation at a party. He shares his homework with her when she forgets her own. In fact, he forges an instant connection with Nithya. Suddenly, her whole life plan trembles like a house of cards.
Go with the plans of the past and her parents’ wishes or venture into unknown territory?
If you’re looking for a book heavy on the romance with lots of passionate make out scenes, this is the wrong book. And I couldn’t have been happier about that. This is a thoughtful book with a reasoning main character who weighs her choices. It’s sweet, and beautiful, and oh so real. Nithya is a real life person, not a heroine who jumps into things and thinks only of boys. Nithya truly cares about her family and her culture is a crucial part of her decision making.
This book is about how family remains so important to new adults. I really liked how family was a big part of Nithya’s life. She wasn’t looking to move to the ‘big city’ and leave her past behind. When a giant setback occurs to her collegiate career, it hurts her to disappoint her parents and the Indian-American community almost as much as the loss hurts herself.
I love that it’s her father who she leans on during this tough period of refiguring her life. Nithya is such a well-rounded and full character that I can’t help thinking I’ll meet her someday. Reading about her was like reading about a friend.
And in no way was this story cliché. The choice was truly a tough one for Nithya. Especially when a perfectly matched Indian boy appears. Nishanth is smart, capable, driven, and handsome, everything she thought she wanted in a husband and his parents are close friends with her parents. Now her choice is twice as hard.
The twist of the setback to her career path gets a full measure of attention and made the story that much deeper and richer. I hope there is a sequel to The Prearrange Life so I can spend more time with these characters!
Enter James St. Claire. James saves her from a dangerous situation at a party. He shares his homework with her when she forgets her own. In fact, he forges an instant connection with Nithya. Suddenly, her whole life plan trembles like a house of cards.
Go with the plans of the past and her parents’ wishes or venture into unknown territory?
If you’re looking for a book heavy on the romance with lots of passionate make out scenes, this is the wrong book. And I couldn’t have been happier about that. This is a thoughtful book with a reasoning main character who weighs her choices. It’s sweet, and beautiful, and oh so real. Nithya is a real life person, not a heroine who jumps into things and thinks only of boys. Nithya truly cares about her family and her culture is a crucial part of her decision making.
This book is about how family remains so important to new adults. I really liked how family was a big part of Nithya’s life. She wasn’t looking to move to the ‘big city’ and leave her past behind. When a giant setback occurs to her collegiate career, it hurts her to disappoint her parents and the Indian-American community almost as much as the loss hurts herself.
I love that it’s her father who she leans on during this tough period of refiguring her life. Nithya is such a well-rounded and full character that I can’t help thinking I’ll meet her someday. Reading about her was like reading about a friend.
And in no way was this story cliché. The choice was truly a tough one for Nithya. Especially when a perfectly matched Indian boy appears. Nishanth is smart, capable, driven, and handsome, everything she thought she wanted in a husband and his parents are close friends with her parents. Now her choice is twice as hard.
The twist of the setback to her career path gets a full measure of attention and made the story that much deeper and richer. I hope there is a sequel to The Prearrange Life so I can spend more time with these characters!
April 13, 2015
Every so often, and by that I mean maybe once or twice a year, a book comes along that changes the way I see the world. For me, THE REARRANGED LIFE is one of those books.
Nithya is a hyper intelligent, super lovable and crazy Type A personality. Her big dream in life is to make it to med school after she graduates from Penn State, and she's spent the last two decades working towards that goal.
She's also expected to have an arranged marriage, as is traditional in her Indian family—a fact she's always been okay with.
Until she meets James.
Don't even get me started on how cute and lovable James is, by the way. I have it BAD for him. He's smart, charming and he'll do anything to protect Nithya. The problem? He's American. And that's something her family will never be able to overlook.
So as you can probably tell, TRA is not your average NA contemporary romance. The obstacles standing in front of Nithya and James at times seem insurmountable, and even he often struggles to wrap his head around the cultural differences that ultimately prevent their love from blossoming into something deeper.
The best way I can describe how this book makes you feel is: Khaled Hosseini meets Cora Carmack. Sharma's writing is so gorgeous and the world she creates is so rich that you feel like you're temporarily part of another culture, but then it contrasts with the sexy college romance settings and plots that Carmack made so famous. So the result is this vibrant, electrifying and incredibly emotionally charged story that makes you sob your heart out every ten pages.
Sharma takes a very complex issue and weaves it into such a compelling story with such raw emotions that you can't help but feel like you're part of it. One of the best books I've read this year, without a doubt.
Nithya is a hyper intelligent, super lovable and crazy Type A personality. Her big dream in life is to make it to med school after she graduates from Penn State, and she's spent the last two decades working towards that goal.
She's also expected to have an arranged marriage, as is traditional in her Indian family—a fact she's always been okay with.
Until she meets James.
Don't even get me started on how cute and lovable James is, by the way. I have it BAD for him. He's smart, charming and he'll do anything to protect Nithya. The problem? He's American. And that's something her family will never be able to overlook.
So as you can probably tell, TRA is not your average NA contemporary romance. The obstacles standing in front of Nithya and James at times seem insurmountable, and even he often struggles to wrap his head around the cultural differences that ultimately prevent their love from blossoming into something deeper.
The best way I can describe how this book makes you feel is: Khaled Hosseini meets Cora Carmack. Sharma's writing is so gorgeous and the world she creates is so rich that you feel like you're temporarily part of another culture, but then it contrasts with the sexy college romance settings and plots that Carmack made so famous. So the result is this vibrant, electrifying and incredibly emotionally charged story that makes you sob your heart out every ten pages.
Sharma takes a very complex issue and weaves it into such a compelling story with such raw emotions that you can't help but feel like you're part of it. One of the best books I've read this year, without a doubt.
May 9, 2015
Great opening! I'm very interested in the Indian culture and love reading books that help me discover what it is like to have connections there. I've read many books about the prearranged marriages for Indian girls, and the way they are forced to marry strangers (or their father's friends or cousins), almost as if it is only a business deal to the family. Reading those kind of books, always make me happy to be a Canadian, where I can make my own choices, without being forced into family obligations or following traditional religious beliefs.
Thank goodness, The Rearranged Life is more about Nithya's discovery about herself, her values, her family loyalty, her career choices, her priorities in life and how she struggles with trying to find a soft balance between her Indian culture and her American culture. Her family seems supportive, even though they are pushing for her to marry an Indian boy, instead of anyone else on the planet. It's easy to to see the views of everyone involved in this story, and understand why there are so many difficult decisions. It's hard to please everyone, and sometimes, it is hard to see the clear path in pleasing yourself.
Annika Sharma did an amazing job with showing us both sides of the coin. There are so many decisions in life, especially for a young girl with a full life ahead of her. Are there actual right answers to these questions? Do you follow your head... or do you follow your heart?
You MUST read this book, in order to find out what one girl decided, that ended up changing her life FOREVER.
My Rating: 5 out 5 Stars
(because I love reading about people dealing with hard life decisions and watching them discover solutions).
Thank goodness, The Rearranged Life is more about Nithya's discovery about herself, her values, her family loyalty, her career choices, her priorities in life and how she struggles with trying to find a soft balance between her Indian culture and her American culture. Her family seems supportive, even though they are pushing for her to marry an Indian boy, instead of anyone else on the planet. It's easy to to see the views of everyone involved in this story, and understand why there are so many difficult decisions. It's hard to please everyone, and sometimes, it is hard to see the clear path in pleasing yourself.
Annika Sharma did an amazing job with showing us both sides of the coin. There are so many decisions in life, especially for a young girl with a full life ahead of her. Are there actual right answers to these questions? Do you follow your head... or do you follow your heart?
You MUST read this book, in order to find out what one girl decided, that ended up changing her life FOREVER.
My Rating: 5 out 5 Stars
(because I love reading about people dealing with hard life decisions and watching them discover solutions).
May 30, 2015
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review**
I love books that keep me engaged in the story, and also teach me something new. The Rearranged Life gave me that easy, fun mix of both. I have Indian-American friends, but I never knew the depth and beauty of their culture until I read this book.
Sharma does an amazing job of writing a seemingly everyday story of first love, yet shares all the intricate details of a culture so different than what I know. I was touched by the family scenes in this book. Nithya's family was honest, fun, and caring. And they were on her side, despite some difficult decisions and bumps in the road. I've always valued my family's opinions and approval, but Sharma made me realize just how much the decisions of one person in a family can effect that entire family - and the reputation of the family. I can't imagine the guilt of making the "wrong" decision or trying to go my own way in life, if it differed from what my parents wanted. Sharma's writing pulls you in. I felt torn by Nithya's struggle to find her path like it was my own. There were no bad guys or good guys. There were no winners or losers. This book was the reality of life when a person has to choose between their heart and their family. And how that decision can tear one up inside.
Grab the Rearranged Life now. It's a fast and fun read, with lots of emotion and heart.
Additional note: The descriptions of a Hindu wedding ceremony - and all the events and parties in the days leading up to - are magical. Sharma's writing put me right in the mix, yet I put the book down upset that I didn't get to join in the fun. Gorgeous look into the culture and traditions.
I love books that keep me engaged in the story, and also teach me something new. The Rearranged Life gave me that easy, fun mix of both. I have Indian-American friends, but I never knew the depth and beauty of their culture until I read this book.
Sharma does an amazing job of writing a seemingly everyday story of first love, yet shares all the intricate details of a culture so different than what I know. I was touched by the family scenes in this book. Nithya's family was honest, fun, and caring. And they were on her side, despite some difficult decisions and bumps in the road. I've always valued my family's opinions and approval, but Sharma made me realize just how much the decisions of one person in a family can effect that entire family - and the reputation of the family. I can't imagine the guilt of making the "wrong" decision or trying to go my own way in life, if it differed from what my parents wanted. Sharma's writing pulls you in. I felt torn by Nithya's struggle to find her path like it was my own. There were no bad guys or good guys. There were no winners or losers. This book was the reality of life when a person has to choose between their heart and their family. And how that decision can tear one up inside.
Grab the Rearranged Life now. It's a fast and fun read, with lots of emotion and heart.
Additional note: The descriptions of a Hindu wedding ceremony - and all the events and parties in the days leading up to - are magical. Sharma's writing put me right in the mix, yet I put the book down upset that I didn't get to join in the fun. Gorgeous look into the culture and traditions.
June 1, 2015
Can we have more New Adult like this, please? It shows that you don't have to stick to trends or common perceptions (in the case of NA, over-sexed and overly-angsty) to write a fabulous book that still fits within the category.
With my background, I couldn't truly identify with Nithya's situation, but I could definitely empathize. At times I was frustrated and wanted to shake her and tell her to make her own choices, but at other times I totally understood why she might want to stick with her parent's choice of an arranged marriage. I think it would take an immense amount of bravery to make a choice your parents would disapprove of, especially when that route would be a difficult one.
I loved the multicultural aspect of this book, but I also loved the "what's next?" aspect, which is so important in New Adult books. Nithya has always planned on being a doctor, so it was very interesting and relatable to see her struggle with med school applications and other options for after graduation.
If you're looking for an interesting, complex read that is very well written, I highly recommend The Rearranged Life.
With my background, I couldn't truly identify with Nithya's situation, but I could definitely empathize. At times I was frustrated and wanted to shake her and tell her to make her own choices, but at other times I totally understood why she might want to stick with her parent's choice of an arranged marriage. I think it would take an immense amount of bravery to make a choice your parents would disapprove of, especially when that route would be a difficult one.
I loved the multicultural aspect of this book, but I also loved the "what's next?" aspect, which is so important in New Adult books. Nithya has always planned on being a doctor, so it was very interesting and relatable to see her struggle with med school applications and other options for after graduation.
If you're looking for an interesting, complex read that is very well written, I highly recommend The Rearranged Life.
April 21, 2015
This is that book that'll be a pioneer for the western-living young desi. The book in which everyone is trying to be the good girl, they all keep the facade but life happens and they feel alone when it does.
I fell in love with the book before I bought it or read it, just by knowing the simple synopsis because I knew I could relate immediately and that's something that can rarely be done now, one south Asian relating to an author. For anyone science major, anyone interested in the Indian customs, anyone interested in just a good tale, this is for them. I laughed, cried, fangirled, had to look up and shut the pages of the book together to ponder and think and take meaning to apply it to my own life because it truly was just that fantastic of not just a book but on our heritage. I came to this book somewhat seeking guidance in a way that when Nithya started to make her decision, I grew wary for her. There are so many different things, all covered in this book and I'd just take a sigh and say 'it's not just me?'. I really can't wait to see what Annika Sharma has up her sleeves next!
I fell in love with the book before I bought it or read it, just by knowing the simple synopsis because I knew I could relate immediately and that's something that can rarely be done now, one south Asian relating to an author. For anyone science major, anyone interested in the Indian customs, anyone interested in just a good tale, this is for them. I laughed, cried, fangirled, had to look up and shut the pages of the book together to ponder and think and take meaning to apply it to my own life because it truly was just that fantastic of not just a book but on our heritage. I came to this book somewhat seeking guidance in a way that when Nithya started to make her decision, I grew wary for her. There are so many different things, all covered in this book and I'd just take a sigh and say 'it's not just me?'. I really can't wait to see what Annika Sharma has up her sleeves next!
May 26, 2015
When I read the blurb of this book, as well as the review from the bloggers over at The Dirty Laundry Review, I knew I had to read this book. I didn't even hesitate to drop the current book I was reading to read "The Rearranged Life" and it was worth it. So worth it.
This book deals with the subject of parental expectations, cultural expectations, growing up, and forging one's own path. It also touches upon the wonder of falling in love and how terrifyingly amazing it can be. As a Nigerian living in America, I could definitely sympathize with Nithya and her dilemma - love vs family, parental plans vs personal plans, etc.
I LOVED how Ms Sharma dealt with the issue. She didn't gloss over it and have a cheesy resolution for the couple. No. Instead what we have is an honest look into such a situation, how real and prevalent it is, and, if I may be so bold to say, a "manual/guideline", so to speak, as to how to deal with it. I LOVED that she also didn't fall into the "my culture is better than yours" trap which is very easy to do with this kind of conflict. I LOVED that she explored the similarities, as well as differences, between both American and Indian cultures. I LOVED that she underscored the importance of love, family and respect for one's own traditions - irrespective of whatever culture it is.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, when a book contains life lessons, I'm always giddy with excitement, and this book was chock full of them:
* Culture is no excuse for prejudice, ignorance, or lack of progress
* No culture is better than the other
* True love is pure and wonderful, but sometimes you've got to FIGHT for it
* Having plans are great, however, if they fall apart, it's not the end of the world
* Sometimes it takes a major setback to place you on the path you're meant to be on
* Family is a wonderful thing
* Have faith in the power of love because it hopes and endures all things
* Respect your family and traditions
* Surround yourself with friends who will uplift you and not bring you down
* The easiest road is not always the best choice, etc
I could go on and on, but I'll leave you to find out more from the book.
As for the characters themselves, they were wonderfully human with no abnormal superpowers or unreal characteristics. They were witty, funny, and real. They made mistakes, but made up for them. They worked hard and reaped the fruits of their labors.
I LOVED that James was such an honorable man who believed in the power of love. I LOVED that he was steadfast in his beliefs and refused to compromise his values - despite the obstacles and oppositions he constantly faced. I LOVED that he was such an "encourager" and wholeheartedly believed in Nithya. I LOVED that he fought for their relationship. I LOVED that he was man enough to give Nithya space to think about what it was that she wanted - even though her answer might crush him. I LOVED that he never made her, or her culture, seem inferior. I LOVED that he was a man who knew what he wanted and pursued it. I also LOVED how level headed and patient (well sometimes) he was. He was a perfect match for Nithya and I LOVED that he let her know he cared and didn't shy away from expressing himself.
As for Nithya, she was a wonderful heroine. She was smart and focused. She is the kind of strong woman we all should strive to be. Sure she wasn't perfect, but she made up for her mistakes and learned from them. She figured out how to stand up for herself, while at the same time not turning into a complete bitch as we've been led to believe is the only way for women to be considered strong. I LOVED that, even though she was tempted to turn her back on her heritage and just say "to hell with it", she constantly tried to find a happy medium between what she wanted and what was expected. I LOVED that her problems were not easily washed away. I LOVED that she finally figured out that it was okay to forge a different path for oneself. I LOVED that, even though she had lots of difficulties, she always managed to keep a strong head on her shoulders. I LOVED that she was not afraid to speak her mind. I LOVED that she was also not afraid to be vulnerable and clueless and confused. I LOVED that she was also not afraid to lean on her friends. I LOVED that she had respect for her family and their traditions.
As for the secondary characters, they added so much more depth and truth and honesty and perspective to the struggles James and Nithya faced.
This book was written wonderfully and was engaging. I didn't so much as stop to eat dinner while reading. I read it all in one sitting - it was that good. If you're wavering about reading it because you're not familiar with the Indian culture, don't let that stop you. While there are lots of cultural references here, they are presented in such a way that those unfamiliar with it can still follow along and enjoy it while reading.
I definitely enjoyed myself while reading it, and as a reward to myself, I'm going to rewatch Bride & Prejudice- a movie that I FLOVED and have watched so many times I've lost count. Did I also mention that I have the soundtrack? I digress. Moving on :). I might even reread "A Bollywood Affair" by Sonali Dev, and "Priya in Heels" by Ayesha Patel. These books also touch upon the issue of culture and tradition and the fact that love sometimes comes when you least expect it.
I absolutely LOVED this book and I'm so glad I found it. Ms Sharma is definitely an author I will be automatically 1-clicking from now on.
Kudos Ms Sharma and I look forward to more from you :)
This book deals with the subject of parental expectations, cultural expectations, growing up, and forging one's own path. It also touches upon the wonder of falling in love and how terrifyingly amazing it can be. As a Nigerian living in America, I could definitely sympathize with Nithya and her dilemma - love vs family, parental plans vs personal plans, etc.
I LOVED how Ms Sharma dealt with the issue. She didn't gloss over it and have a cheesy resolution for the couple. No. Instead what we have is an honest look into such a situation, how real and prevalent it is, and, if I may be so bold to say, a "manual/guideline", so to speak, as to how to deal with it. I LOVED that she also didn't fall into the "my culture is better than yours" trap which is very easy to do with this kind of conflict. I LOVED that she explored the similarities, as well as differences, between both American and Indian cultures. I LOVED that she underscored the importance of love, family and respect for one's own traditions - irrespective of whatever culture it is.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, when a book contains life lessons, I'm always giddy with excitement, and this book was chock full of them:
* Culture is no excuse for prejudice, ignorance, or lack of progress
* No culture is better than the other
* True love is pure and wonderful, but sometimes you've got to FIGHT for it
* Having plans are great, however, if they fall apart, it's not the end of the world
* Sometimes it takes a major setback to place you on the path you're meant to be on
* Family is a wonderful thing
* Have faith in the power of love because it hopes and endures all things
* Respect your family and traditions
* Surround yourself with friends who will uplift you and not bring you down
* The easiest road is not always the best choice, etc
I could go on and on, but I'll leave you to find out more from the book.
As for the characters themselves, they were wonderfully human with no abnormal superpowers or unreal characteristics. They were witty, funny, and real. They made mistakes, but made up for them. They worked hard and reaped the fruits of their labors.
I LOVED that James was such an honorable man who believed in the power of love. I LOVED that he was steadfast in his beliefs and refused to compromise his values - despite the obstacles and oppositions he constantly faced. I LOVED that he was such an "encourager" and wholeheartedly believed in Nithya. I LOVED that he fought for their relationship. I LOVED that he was man enough to give Nithya space to think about what it was that she wanted - even though her answer might crush him. I LOVED that he never made her, or her culture, seem inferior. I LOVED that he was a man who knew what he wanted and pursued it. I also LOVED how level headed and patient (well sometimes) he was. He was a perfect match for Nithya and I LOVED that he let her know he cared and didn't shy away from expressing himself.
As for Nithya, she was a wonderful heroine. She was smart and focused. She is the kind of strong woman we all should strive to be. Sure she wasn't perfect, but she made up for her mistakes and learned from them. She figured out how to stand up for herself, while at the same time not turning into a complete bitch as we've been led to believe is the only way for women to be considered strong. I LOVED that, even though she was tempted to turn her back on her heritage and just say "to hell with it", she constantly tried to find a happy medium between what she wanted and what was expected. I LOVED that her problems were not easily washed away. I LOVED that she finally figured out that it was okay to forge a different path for oneself. I LOVED that, even though she had lots of difficulties, she always managed to keep a strong head on her shoulders. I LOVED that she was not afraid to speak her mind. I LOVED that she was also not afraid to be vulnerable and clueless and confused. I LOVED that she was also not afraid to lean on her friends. I LOVED that she had respect for her family and their traditions.
As for the secondary characters, they added so much more depth and truth and honesty and perspective to the struggles James and Nithya faced.
This book was written wonderfully and was engaging. I didn't so much as stop to eat dinner while reading. I read it all in one sitting - it was that good. If you're wavering about reading it because you're not familiar with the Indian culture, don't let that stop you. While there are lots of cultural references here, they are presented in such a way that those unfamiliar with it can still follow along and enjoy it while reading.
I definitely enjoyed myself while reading it, and as a reward to myself, I'm going to rewatch Bride & Prejudice- a movie that I FLOVED and have watched so many times I've lost count. Did I also mention that I have the soundtrack? I digress. Moving on :). I might even reread "A Bollywood Affair" by Sonali Dev, and "Priya in Heels" by Ayesha Patel. These books also touch upon the issue of culture and tradition and the fact that love sometimes comes when you least expect it.
I absolutely LOVED this book and I'm so glad I found it. Ms Sharma is definitely an author I will be automatically 1-clicking from now on.
Kudos Ms Sharma and I look forward to more from you :)
May 13, 2015
The Review was first posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds
I was provided an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.Thank You Curiosity Quills.
I am a 23 year old Indian Girl of marriageable age.
Why does that matter? Because let's just say that every opinion and thoughts that I have had about this book - from actually requesting to be a part of this blog tour to the thoughts reading this book - have been influenced by that single fact.
"We have to be as Indian as the people in India and as American as the Americans. We can't win."
I have lived in a time and a place where in my thoughts and opinions have been influenced by western thoughts. I have to be honest in saying, that yes, of all the things that is Indian, arranged marriages is the stick in the mud for me. I have never understood the concept of marrying a total stranger just for the sake of society's expectations, especially considering it's my own life. And that's the thought that propelled me to read this book.
"She might be a good catch, but she should have stuck to an Indian. What is the point of having your own culture if you just blend right in and marry the one you moved into? You marry your kind. You are no Indian if you don't act like one!"
Nithya is a typical American Indian girl. She is only now completing her college, and preparing for medical school. Her life is on a perfect little curve - getting a good GPA and enter medical school, because that is what good Indians do. That curve goes a little haywire when she collides with James St. Clair - everything that she (and her parents) could want in a husband for her, except one major exception - He is White.
James throws everything that she has known or at least believed out the window, because for the first time she is thinking - thinking about her life, her career and the fact that being an Indian girl in this world just becomes a lot harder by each day.
"Aunties don't see love marriages as a path to happiness. It will always be selfish betrayal."
It didn't take more than a few pages to identify myself with Nithya - a girl who is stuck between living in a world that sees love more freely and wanting to be a part of the world that sees love more of an occupational hazard than a need.
All my life, I have been oscillating between the need to please myself and the need to please my parents and while it maybe a little weird for most of you, while I may have fought with my parents of 'n' number of things, stared down murderers and rapists and debated with cops on investigating a particular crime - wanting to put my own choice of husband in front of my parents still has me quaking in my metaphorical boots.
And this, is a fear that each Indian (boy or a girl) faces, especially if they had the audacity to fall in love before marrying. India is still a country, where in, relationships are still conducted in secret, holding hands begets you stares and mutterings of how youngsters today are hell bent upon "westernizing" themselves.
Now don't get me wrong - it isn't all bad - I do have to admit, most of this fear is in our heads yet there is this fact that you can see the disappointment in their eyes and that breaks almost breaks you. It is so hard, and difficult not many outside of the Indian Community (or maybe the Asian) would actually be able to understand and that is where Ms. Sharma succeeds brilliantly.
Her thoughts (or rather Nithya's thoughts) are to the point. The nervousness, the fear, the anxiety, the belief that you are doing something wrong (even if you aren't!) are perfectly described in this book.
"Perhaps the idea of falling in love, dating, and making your own decisions is overplayed. Maybe love grows. Maybe it isn't something that exists from the first look or first kiss. Maybe, just maybe, the end justifies the means."
Again, this is a single POV book (which y'all know I am not very fond of!), yet I was better with this one, because Nithya's thoughts and actions are so a mirror image of mine, and frankly, because of Ms. Sharma's focus on the protagonist's tug of war - internal and external - the romance does take back seat, even to the extent of James coming off as a secondary character - making it the only issue I had with this book.
Beyond that, this is a book that will show you a different perspective, being as it is not about Americans/British/European or any other western country. It is about a girl stuck in two different worlds and yet manages to construct a bridge between them.
I was provided an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.Thank You Curiosity Quills.
I am a 23 year old Indian Girl of marriageable age.
Why does that matter? Because let's just say that every opinion and thoughts that I have had about this book - from actually requesting to be a part of this blog tour to the thoughts reading this book - have been influenced by that single fact.
"We have to be as Indian as the people in India and as American as the Americans. We can't win."
I have lived in a time and a place where in my thoughts and opinions have been influenced by western thoughts. I have to be honest in saying, that yes, of all the things that is Indian, arranged marriages is the stick in the mud for me. I have never understood the concept of marrying a total stranger just for the sake of society's expectations, especially considering it's my own life. And that's the thought that propelled me to read this book.
"She might be a good catch, but she should have stuck to an Indian. What is the point of having your own culture if you just blend right in and marry the one you moved into? You marry your kind. You are no Indian if you don't act like one!"
Nithya is a typical American Indian girl. She is only now completing her college, and preparing for medical school. Her life is on a perfect little curve - getting a good GPA and enter medical school, because that is what good Indians do. That curve goes a little haywire when she collides with James St. Clair - everything that she (and her parents) could want in a husband for her, except one major exception - He is White.
James throws everything that she has known or at least believed out the window, because for the first time she is thinking - thinking about her life, her career and the fact that being an Indian girl in this world just becomes a lot harder by each day.
"Aunties don't see love marriages as a path to happiness. It will always be selfish betrayal."
It didn't take more than a few pages to identify myself with Nithya - a girl who is stuck between living in a world that sees love more freely and wanting to be a part of the world that sees love more of an occupational hazard than a need.
All my life, I have been oscillating between the need to please myself and the need to please my parents and while it maybe a little weird for most of you, while I may have fought with my parents of 'n' number of things, stared down murderers and rapists and debated with cops on investigating a particular crime - wanting to put my own choice of husband in front of my parents still has me quaking in my metaphorical boots.
And this, is a fear that each Indian (boy or a girl) faces, especially if they had the audacity to fall in love before marrying. India is still a country, where in, relationships are still conducted in secret, holding hands begets you stares and mutterings of how youngsters today are hell bent upon "westernizing" themselves.
Now don't get me wrong - it isn't all bad - I do have to admit, most of this fear is in our heads yet there is this fact that you can see the disappointment in their eyes and that breaks almost breaks you. It is so hard, and difficult not many outside of the Indian Community (or maybe the Asian) would actually be able to understand and that is where Ms. Sharma succeeds brilliantly.
Her thoughts (or rather Nithya's thoughts) are to the point. The nervousness, the fear, the anxiety, the belief that you are doing something wrong (even if you aren't!) are perfectly described in this book.
"Perhaps the idea of falling in love, dating, and making your own decisions is overplayed. Maybe love grows. Maybe it isn't something that exists from the first look or first kiss. Maybe, just maybe, the end justifies the means."
Again, this is a single POV book (which y'all know I am not very fond of!), yet I was better with this one, because Nithya's thoughts and actions are so a mirror image of mine, and frankly, because of Ms. Sharma's focus on the protagonist's tug of war - internal and external - the romance does take back seat, even to the extent of James coming off as a secondary character - making it the only issue I had with this book.
Beyond that, this is a book that will show you a different perspective, being as it is not about Americans/British/European or any other western country. It is about a girl stuck in two different worlds and yet manages to construct a bridge between them.
December 27, 2017
For Nithya family is incredibly important. She always does what's being expected of her, as that's how she's been raised. Nithya is a model student and wants to have a career in medicine. She's also accepted she'll have an arranged marriage, but she's not ready to start meeting potential candidates yet. Nithya also wants to have some college experience and when she's at a party something goes horribly wrong. Fortunately the kind and handsome James is there to help her out. It's the beginning of a strong friendship.
Nithya likes spending time with James and he's easy to get along with. They have a lot in common and they fall in love with each other head over heels. This puts Nithya in a difficult position, will she choose to follow the dreams her family has for her and give up her own or will she listen to her heart and be with James? Will she ever have the chance to be happy or will her heart be broken no matter which path she chooses? What will Nithya decide and will she be able to handle the consequences of this decision?
The Rearranged Life is a beautiful story about true love. Nithya is a fantastic person. She's super smart, she's a loving daughter, she's responsible and she's kind. I loved how she always thinks things through and never makes rash decisions. She doesn't only think about herself, she also thinks about how her behavior affects others and I loved that. She and James have a great bond. It was fun to see how well they get along and I enjoyed reading about their families and their values. They have plenty of sparks, there's a deep intellectual connection and I was endeared by how sweet they are together, which are all very important aspects of a good relationship. I really liked how well thought through Annika Sharma writes about this special couple.
I love reading about different cultures and The Rearranged Life immediately captivated me. I admired how informative Annika Sharma's writing is, while her story remains entertaining and easy to read I've learned a lot from The Rearranged Life as well. She writes about Nithya's family and their expectations in a fantastic open way that made it possible to understand all of Nithya's feelings about the dilemma she's facing. Annika Sharma skillfully does this through surprising and intriguing twists and turns and many fascinating scenes that kept piquing my interest.
Annika Sharma has a fabulous rhythmic writing style that made me fly through the pages of The Rearranged Life. I was enchanted by the story. I'm a big fan of books about true love and this story put a huge smile on my face. Annika Sharma makes her main characters come to life very well. I love how she writes about their thoughts and emotions. She's written a complete and balanced story. I like smart main characters and that made this book extra wonderful for me. I highly recommend The Rearranged Life, it's a terrific romantic book.
Nithya likes spending time with James and he's easy to get along with. They have a lot in common and they fall in love with each other head over heels. This puts Nithya in a difficult position, will she choose to follow the dreams her family has for her and give up her own or will she listen to her heart and be with James? Will she ever have the chance to be happy or will her heart be broken no matter which path she chooses? What will Nithya decide and will she be able to handle the consequences of this decision?
The Rearranged Life is a beautiful story about true love. Nithya is a fantastic person. She's super smart, she's a loving daughter, she's responsible and she's kind. I loved how she always thinks things through and never makes rash decisions. She doesn't only think about herself, she also thinks about how her behavior affects others and I loved that. She and James have a great bond. It was fun to see how well they get along and I enjoyed reading about their families and their values. They have plenty of sparks, there's a deep intellectual connection and I was endeared by how sweet they are together, which are all very important aspects of a good relationship. I really liked how well thought through Annika Sharma writes about this special couple.
I love reading about different cultures and The Rearranged Life immediately captivated me. I admired how informative Annika Sharma's writing is, while her story remains entertaining and easy to read I've learned a lot from The Rearranged Life as well. She writes about Nithya's family and their expectations in a fantastic open way that made it possible to understand all of Nithya's feelings about the dilemma she's facing. Annika Sharma skillfully does this through surprising and intriguing twists and turns and many fascinating scenes that kept piquing my interest.
Annika Sharma has a fabulous rhythmic writing style that made me fly through the pages of The Rearranged Life. I was enchanted by the story. I'm a big fan of books about true love and this story put a huge smile on my face. Annika Sharma makes her main characters come to life very well. I love how she writes about their thoughts and emotions. She's written a complete and balanced story. I like smart main characters and that made this book extra wonderful for me. I highly recommend The Rearranged Life, it's a terrific romantic book.
January 17, 2017
This review can also be seen on my blog I Heart Fictional People
In The Rearranged Life by Annika Sharma, college senior and future doctor Nithya comes from a traditional Indian family. Her parents have always planned on an arranged marriage for her. She has always obeyed her parents and tried so hard to please them, so an arranged marriage isn’t out of the question for her. But then she meets James, an American, and he and her feelings for him make her question everything she’s ever known. Does she really want to marry someone she doesn’t love? Does she even want to be a doctor? What if her decisions until now were made because she doesn’t know anything else? And if she changes her mind about things and goes against her culture’s and her family’s traditions, will she lose the people she loves?
They say not to judge a book by its cover. Sadly, I am guilty of doing this all the time. However, I’m glad I did in this case. I absolutely loved the cover of this book, and it immediately made me have to read it. And I’m so glad I did. What an incredible story. I am the product of an interracial couple, so I’m always interested in books where two people from completely different cultures have this undeniable chemistry. And that is exactly what Nithya and James have. They couldn’t be more different in regards to the worlds they come from, but none of that matters; they connect on a whole other level, and they understand each other like no one else does. But this isn’t your typical forbidden love story. Nithya loves her family, and she wants their approval. Disappointing them is extremely hard for her, which a lot of us can relate to, no matter what our background is. So, it’s difficult for her to make a decision when it comes to whether she should be with James or not. That is one reason I enjoyed this book so much; it is completely relatable and realistic. With such a real love story, characters you can’t help but connect with and root for, and authentic cultural references, The Rearranged Life is a must-read book. I couldn’t be happier about finding this amazing author. Annika Sharma, I hope to see many more books from you!
Reviewed by ME for Readers' Favorite
In The Rearranged Life by Annika Sharma, college senior and future doctor Nithya comes from a traditional Indian family. Her parents have always planned on an arranged marriage for her. She has always obeyed her parents and tried so hard to please them, so an arranged marriage isn’t out of the question for her. But then she meets James, an American, and he and her feelings for him make her question everything she’s ever known. Does she really want to marry someone she doesn’t love? Does she even want to be a doctor? What if her decisions until now were made because she doesn’t know anything else? And if she changes her mind about things and goes against her culture’s and her family’s traditions, will she lose the people she loves?
They say not to judge a book by its cover. Sadly, I am guilty of doing this all the time. However, I’m glad I did in this case. I absolutely loved the cover of this book, and it immediately made me have to read it. And I’m so glad I did. What an incredible story. I am the product of an interracial couple, so I’m always interested in books where two people from completely different cultures have this undeniable chemistry. And that is exactly what Nithya and James have. They couldn’t be more different in regards to the worlds they come from, but none of that matters; they connect on a whole other level, and they understand each other like no one else does. But this isn’t your typical forbidden love story. Nithya loves her family, and she wants their approval. Disappointing them is extremely hard for her, which a lot of us can relate to, no matter what our background is. So, it’s difficult for her to make a decision when it comes to whether she should be with James or not. That is one reason I enjoyed this book so much; it is completely relatable and realistic. With such a real love story, characters you can’t help but connect with and root for, and authentic cultural references, The Rearranged Life is a must-read book. I couldn’t be happier about finding this amazing author. Annika Sharma, I hope to see many more books from you!
Reviewed by ME for Readers' Favorite
January 28, 2016
The Rearranged Life is focused on Indian-American, college senior, Nithya. She's been brought up with two totally different cultures, but she embraces them both, even when they're in conflict. Nithya loves her Indian culture with all her heart, but when she meets James, she knows something has to give. Her parents expect her to go to medical school and marry an Indian boy, but as Nithya gets to know James, she has to question how what she wants fits into what her family wants.
I loved learning more about Indian culture in The Rearranged Life. I knew some from having Indian friends, but this is a whole new perspective. There's a big wedding scene, and it sounds incredible! There's a lot of details, but I'm sure it's not at all the same as witnessing it for real. I also liked how the reader gets additional information because Nithya is explaining the ceremony to her younger sister who is now old enough to be interested in this kind of thing. It was also interesting to see Nithya balance keeping to her Indian heritage, but also wanting to explore her own dreams, and the compromises she has to make.
The romance in The Rearranged Life was super sweet. Nithya and James meet in class, and then he saves her at a party that gets out of hand. They hang out, laugh together, do homework, and are just generally super cute and normal. There's no huge, melodrama between them. They do have problems though, because she does let James know that she's expected to have an arranged marriage, something he can't get his head around. I really enjoyed watching them work through it.
The Rearranged Life was just a great read. While it is about the challenges that an Indian-American girl faces, the themes are absolutely universal. Nithya is trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life, and when her plans are derailed she has to make adjustments. There's also a strong focus on family, because Nithya and James are both extremely close with their parents. It's just all around great book.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
I loved learning more about Indian culture in The Rearranged Life. I knew some from having Indian friends, but this is a whole new perspective. There's a big wedding scene, and it sounds incredible! There's a lot of details, but I'm sure it's not at all the same as witnessing it for real. I also liked how the reader gets additional information because Nithya is explaining the ceremony to her younger sister who is now old enough to be interested in this kind of thing. It was also interesting to see Nithya balance keeping to her Indian heritage, but also wanting to explore her own dreams, and the compromises she has to make.
The romance in The Rearranged Life was super sweet. Nithya and James meet in class, and then he saves her at a party that gets out of hand. They hang out, laugh together, do homework, and are just generally super cute and normal. There's no huge, melodrama between them. They do have problems though, because she does let James know that she's expected to have an arranged marriage, something he can't get his head around. I really enjoyed watching them work through it.
The Rearranged Life was just a great read. While it is about the challenges that an Indian-American girl faces, the themes are absolutely universal. Nithya is trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life, and when her plans are derailed she has to make adjustments. There's also a strong focus on family, because Nithya and James are both extremely close with their parents. It's just all around great book.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
April 14, 2016
First off I need to say a massive thank you to Curiosity Quills Press, for sending me an e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review, and for allowing me to be a part of the 'The ReArranged Life' Blog Tour!
Nithya, a vivacious, intelligent and driven college senior has always known what she has wanted: a successful career in medicine and the love of her family. She’s even come to terms with the idea of an arranged marriage, a tradition her conservative Indian family has held up for thousands of years.
When a night of partying puts her on a collision course with danger, Nithya’s entire life changes.
Enter James St. Clair, the smart, challenging and heartbreakingly handsome American. As Nithya and James fall in love, she questions the future she and her parents have always planned.
Now, Nithya has a choice to make: become a doctor and a good Indian bride, or step away from her family and centuries of culture to forge her own path. The decision she comes to takes her on a journey that transforms how she sees her future, her relationships with loved ones, and how she learns to put herself back together when even her best-laid plans fall apart.
The synopsis for 'The ReArranged Life' grabbed me instantly, because it was so unlike any book that I'd ever read before. I'm a huge supporter of the We Need Diverse YA campaign, and I've always thought that it should definitely branch out into the New Adult genre, so it was brilliant to see a contemporary novel like this with an Indian protagonist whose entire world was so deeply rooted in traditional beliefs.
One of the most striking aspects of this novel was how surprisingly easy it was to relate to the main character. Despite the fact that Nithya was constantly referring to Indian terms that I hadn't heard of before (Google became a great friend during my reading of this book!) I didn't feel any less connected to her, because she had such an endearing personality.
Read the rest of my review here!
Nithya, a vivacious, intelligent and driven college senior has always known what she has wanted: a successful career in medicine and the love of her family. She’s even come to terms with the idea of an arranged marriage, a tradition her conservative Indian family has held up for thousands of years.
When a night of partying puts her on a collision course with danger, Nithya’s entire life changes.
Enter James St. Clair, the smart, challenging and heartbreakingly handsome American. As Nithya and James fall in love, she questions the future she and her parents have always planned.
Now, Nithya has a choice to make: become a doctor and a good Indian bride, or step away from her family and centuries of culture to forge her own path. The decision she comes to takes her on a journey that transforms how she sees her future, her relationships with loved ones, and how she learns to put herself back together when even her best-laid plans fall apart.
The synopsis for 'The ReArranged Life' grabbed me instantly, because it was so unlike any book that I'd ever read before. I'm a huge supporter of the We Need Diverse YA campaign, and I've always thought that it should definitely branch out into the New Adult genre, so it was brilliant to see a contemporary novel like this with an Indian protagonist whose entire world was so deeply rooted in traditional beliefs.
One of the most striking aspects of this novel was how surprisingly easy it was to relate to the main character. Despite the fact that Nithya was constantly referring to Indian terms that I hadn't heard of before (Google became a great friend during my reading of this book!) I didn't feel any less connected to her, because she had such an endearing personality.
Read the rest of my review here!
May 18, 2015
THE REARRANGED LIFE is a poignant tale of a young Indian-American woman, proud of her Indian heritage and traditions, yet ready to embrace the American side of herself too. When the two cultures clash, Nithya is forced to make a decision that could potentially ruin the close relationship she has with her parents.
Nithya, an intelligent, decisive college senior is ready to take the next step in her college career: med school. But, she encounters some road bumps along the way. Specifically, when she meets the handsome James, an American.
Nithya isn't supposed to fall for James. Her whole life, she's never done anything against her parents wishes, and they wish for her to be with the nice Indian boy, Nishanth...and he is nice. Ms. Sharma does a fabulous job of showing both of Nithya's choices, which are equally wonderful. Nithya is drawn to both guys and each of them have endearing qualities.
As I read, my heart hurt for Nithya and her suitors, because I knew she could be happy with either of them. I liked both boys and didn't want to see either one get hurt. But, like real life, choices aren't easy and someone will be the inevitable looser. Ms. Sharma portray's Nithya's struggle beautifully. If she chooses James, Nishanth will be hurt, and she runs the risk of disgracing her conservative Indian family. If she chooses Nishanth, James gets hurt. And ultimately, Nithya, our lovely protagonist, will experience a degree of loss and hurt in making her decision as well.
THE REARRANGED LIFE is a quiet story that gets under your skin. It has characters you'll connect with on a deeper level. You'll experience their joy and feel their pain as if it were your own. This is a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading. I'm looking forward to seeing what Ms. Sharma has in store next!
Nithya, an intelligent, decisive college senior is ready to take the next step in her college career: med school. But, she encounters some road bumps along the way. Specifically, when she meets the handsome James, an American.
Nithya isn't supposed to fall for James. Her whole life, she's never done anything against her parents wishes, and they wish for her to be with the nice Indian boy, Nishanth...and he is nice. Ms. Sharma does a fabulous job of showing both of Nithya's choices, which are equally wonderful. Nithya is drawn to both guys and each of them have endearing qualities.
As I read, my heart hurt for Nithya and her suitors, because I knew she could be happy with either of them. I liked both boys and didn't want to see either one get hurt. But, like real life, choices aren't easy and someone will be the inevitable looser. Ms. Sharma portray's Nithya's struggle beautifully. If she chooses James, Nishanth will be hurt, and she runs the risk of disgracing her conservative Indian family. If she chooses Nishanth, James gets hurt. And ultimately, Nithya, our lovely protagonist, will experience a degree of loss and hurt in making her decision as well.
THE REARRANGED LIFE is a quiet story that gets under your skin. It has characters you'll connect with on a deeper level. You'll experience their joy and feel their pain as if it were your own. This is a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading. I'm looking forward to seeing what Ms. Sharma has in store next!
June 29, 2015
A taste of Indian culture, a sweet romance, and a young woman learning to balance her own needs with the expectations of her family...These are just some of the reasons readers will love THE REARRANGED LIFE. As if that weren't enough, the main character, Nithya, has a voice that's fun, engaging, and authentic to a college-aged woman who's driven and career-minded. I was happy to have Nithya take me along with her on this delicious ride. This book definitely kept me up past my usual bedtime because I just didn't want to stop reading.
Some of Nithya's struggles really resonated with me, even though I'm no longer a college student and I'm not Indian-American. I found myself nodding and smiling as I read, remembering my internal battles when it came time to pursue my own path instead of continuing to do what would please my parents. Many readers will enjoy this aspect of the story. I also found myself cheering for both of the guys who are vying for Nithya's heart--one's Indian and one's not. Each one has a winning personality and other attributes that make it hard for Nithya to choose. I won't give away the ending, but I was very pleased with which guy she chooses and how she handles it. I also wanted to give Nithya a big high five for how she moves forward after her plans for med school hit a snag.
The story advanced at a very nice clip and when I reached the end, I wasn't ready to say goodbye to this story! I'd love to read a sequel that tells us how the "rest of the story" unfolds for Nithya and the man she chooses.
Anyone who enjoys a sweet romance will find this book to be a real treat. It's a bonus that the love story includes an exploration of cross-cultural relationships and the complications and triumphs they create.
Some of Nithya's struggles really resonated with me, even though I'm no longer a college student and I'm not Indian-American. I found myself nodding and smiling as I read, remembering my internal battles when it came time to pursue my own path instead of continuing to do what would please my parents. Many readers will enjoy this aspect of the story. I also found myself cheering for both of the guys who are vying for Nithya's heart--one's Indian and one's not. Each one has a winning personality and other attributes that make it hard for Nithya to choose. I won't give away the ending, but I was very pleased with which guy she chooses and how she handles it. I also wanted to give Nithya a big high five for how she moves forward after her plans for med school hit a snag.
The story advanced at a very nice clip and when I reached the end, I wasn't ready to say goodbye to this story! I'd love to read a sequel that tells us how the "rest of the story" unfolds for Nithya and the man she chooses.
Anyone who enjoys a sweet romance will find this book to be a real treat. It's a bonus that the love story includes an exploration of cross-cultural relationships and the complications and triumphs they create.
July 1, 2015
With a fascination for different cultures and arranged marriages and coming off of a recent binging on 'Arranged' and 'Married at First Sight' episodes on cable, I was pulled in by the description of this book--free on Kindle Unlimited. Nithya is in her senior year at Penn State, studying to be a doctor and getting ready to apply for medical school. From a fairly traditional Indian family, she has followed cultural traditions all of her life and can't imagine not having an Indian husband and likely at least a semi-arranged marriage. When she meets James, she is intrigued and attracted but knows that it can't go anywhere--although someone should let her heart know that. Meanwhile, her family has become reacquainted with old friends with a very attractive and eligible son, Nishanth, and nothing would make her parents happier than seeing them married and bringing the families even closer. Nithya has to make a choice to go with tradition or forge her own way at the potential expense of her relationship with her parents.
An easy-to-get-caught-up-in story that does a great job in exploring traditional Indian culture in today's world. Likeable characters and a plot that is easy to relate to--no one wants to disappoint their parents--I enjoyed this one.
An easy-to-get-caught-up-in story that does a great job in exploring traditional Indian culture in today's world. Likeable characters and a plot that is easy to relate to--no one wants to disappoint their parents--I enjoyed this one.
June 18, 2015
I greatly enjoy reading stories of all sorts that teach me about different cultures. I find you can learn a lot more about cultures with a well written fiction piece because it puts the information in a memorable context. Although I typically don't read what is dubbed "chick lit", a good story is a good story, and this is a good story.
Nithya is a second generation Indian-American who has been happy living up to her family expectations until her senior year in college. That is when James, the green-eyed gentleman comes along to mess up her contentedness. With the stress of school, medical school applications, and not upsetting the family traditions, will Nithya be able to hold it together and respect her family?
Nithya is a second generation Indian-American who has been happy living up to her family expectations until her senior year in college. That is when James, the green-eyed gentleman comes along to mess up her contentedness. With the stress of school, medical school applications, and not upsetting the family traditions, will Nithya be able to hold it together and respect her family?
June 2, 2015
Goodreads win. Will read and review once received.
I would love to see more books like this in America and all over. I know very little about India and the culture of the people there. This book has made me really want to learn more. This book was very beautiful. The author did a great job of pulling me in and not letting go until the very end of the book. It was a great read that I would love to read again in the future.
I would love to see more books like this in America and all over. I know very little about India and the culture of the people there. This book has made me really want to learn more. This book was very beautiful. The author did a great job of pulling me in and not letting go until the very end of the book. It was a great read that I would love to read again in the future.
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