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My Big, Fat Desi Wedding
Desi Wedding Must-Haves: Drama. Food. Fashion. More Drama. More food. And, of course, nosy aunties and uncles
A family curse that turns spoken prophecy into truth.
A world where your soulmate’s feelings appear as words on your skin.
A boy who has to decide whether or not to attend his brother’s wedding even though their parents have forbidden it.
A girl who encounters the boy she loved and lost and realizes where her heart truly lies.
These genre-bending stories focus on the magic (and tension) of the biggest family gathering. Both award-winning and debut authors share stories of broken hearts, rekindled flames, unlikely romances, and one particular auntie who loves to meddle.
From jewel-toned kurtas, music and dancing, to the aromas of cardamom and sugar, one thing is for certain: It’s going to be an incredible season.
A family curse that turns spoken prophecy into truth.
A world where your soulmate’s feelings appear as words on your skin.
A boy who has to decide whether or not to attend his brother’s wedding even though their parents have forbidden it.
A girl who encounters the boy she loved and lost and realizes where her heart truly lies.
These genre-bending stories focus on the magic (and tension) of the biggest family gathering. Both award-winning and debut authors share stories of broken hearts, rekindled flames, unlikely romances, and one particular auntie who loves to meddle.
From jewel-toned kurtas, music and dancing, to the aromas of cardamom and sugar, one thing is for certain: It’s going to be an incredible season.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 16, 2024
32 people are currently reading
5908 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
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December 8, 2023and i now have an arc. yayyy.
27.05.2022 i just know this anthology is going to be absolutely amazing
March 31, 2024
find my short story fate's favorites in this anthology of stories take that place at different desi weddings <3 featuring my favorite romantic trope, soulmates!
January 26, 2024
I really liked the Syed M. Masoud story, it was a 4 star for me, but the rest were just ok. Little, some cute, some a bit boring stories.
April 15, 2024
I have been made aware that some/many of the included authors in this anthology have chosen to stay silent or “both side” the ongoing genocide in Palestine. Please be aware and be intentional and informed with your support
This 288 page YA short story anthology features eight stories of Desi weddings threaded together by an auntie with a bob haircut and a mole on her lip that appears and disappears into stories with magical realism, Tamil Brahman vampires, competing food dynasties, high school debate rivals, gorgeous clothes, delicious food, and sparks of romance. Usually collections are hit or miss with writing quality and interest, but I found this collection enjoyable from start to finish. My only real critique is that of the YA label and as a result some stories read more juvenile and at least one a bit more mature. As a whole, the book, particularly for the genre, is fairly clean. It is YA, it is romance, there are a lot of Muslim characters, with five of the authors being Muslim, but I would not classify any of the relationships or stories as halal. That being said, I think mature teens 16 and up won't find anything too alarming in the pages. There is music and dancing, close male female friends, secret relationships, a few kisses, some dances and hand holds, and a few that mention sex, condoms, and LGBTQ+ possibilities in passing, but most focus on weddings, culture, parental relationships, strong women, caste ideology, and hinting at happy every afters. Many of the stories are simply set during a wedding or wedding prep, others are the bride or groom themselves, I don't have a favorite or even a least favorite, as each has its own flavor, writing style, and focus.
SYNOPSIS:
Framed from an Auntie embarking on the wedding season, the short stories begin and follow one after another until the Auntie returns to conclude the book.
The Disaster Wedding by Prerna Pickett: In a family where the words the females speak can come to fruition, the claiming that her sister's wedding will be a disaster brings on the challenges for the enemies to lovers side characters trying to not upset the marital couples multicultural Indian/American dream wedding.
A Cynic at a Shaadi by Aamna Qureshi follows a young Muslim girl nursing her broken heart from a recent breakup with her secret boyfriend. Set during her cousins wedding, an upbeat optimistic boy makes her smile and gives her heart hope.
Sehra by Syed Masood involves a Muslim marrying a non Muslim girl that has the family refusing to attend. The groom-to-be's brother is torn and wants to attend, but he never goes against his parents. His best friend who has grown up with the family and is facing her own community othering because of her "Mickey Mouse" hijab style, is planning to go, and together the two friends help wrap the groom's turban.
Fates Favorites by Tashie Bhuiyan features magical realism with the words of soul mates appearing on skin. The words appear and disappear sometimes unseen and possibly even as a result of one's subconscious, thus the couples don't always find one another, but when they do, the relationships can be magical.
The Wedding Biryani by Noreen Mughees is possibly the most religious of the short stories with high school debate rivals finding themselves cooking at the masjid for a couple that doesn't have a family to celebrate the marriage. Themes of losing a parent to death and simply leaving are present, as well some internal reflection of boundaries, Allah swt, and body image. The conclusion is the teens meeting up to dance.
A Confluence of Fates felt like the longest short story and while many Zoroastrians it notes did come to India, the story focuses on Iranian Zoroastrian culture. It is almost a story within a story as a couple gets a second chance at their relationship with the backdrop of a marriage play during the wedding unfolding in the background.
A Wedding Recipe for Disaster by Sarah Mughal Rana has competing family businesses: one Punjabi and the other of Pashtun culture coming to ahead when the offspring of the rival companies decide at the girl's wedding to someone else, that they should be together. With vibes of a Romeo and Juliet family feud the happy ending has readers craving achar and contemplating racism within the community.
And finally, A Very Bloody Kalyanam By Anahita Karthik goes gothic with a Tamil Brahmin vampire wedding occurring when offspring from two enemy cults imprint on each other. This story is more mature with talk of sex, but has an emotional forgiving between the bride and her parents that makes the vampires lovable.
This 288 page YA short story anthology features eight stories of Desi weddings threaded together by an auntie with a bob haircut and a mole on her lip that appears and disappears into stories with magical realism, Tamil Brahman vampires, competing food dynasties, high school debate rivals, gorgeous clothes, delicious food, and sparks of romance. Usually collections are hit or miss with writing quality and interest, but I found this collection enjoyable from start to finish. My only real critique is that of the YA label and as a result some stories read more juvenile and at least one a bit more mature. As a whole, the book, particularly for the genre, is fairly clean. It is YA, it is romance, there are a lot of Muslim characters, with five of the authors being Muslim, but I would not classify any of the relationships or stories as halal. That being said, I think mature teens 16 and up won't find anything too alarming in the pages. There is music and dancing, close male female friends, secret relationships, a few kisses, some dances and hand holds, and a few that mention sex, condoms, and LGBTQ+ possibilities in passing, but most focus on weddings, culture, parental relationships, strong women, caste ideology, and hinting at happy every afters. Many of the stories are simply set during a wedding or wedding prep, others are the bride or groom themselves, I don't have a favorite or even a least favorite, as each has its own flavor, writing style, and focus.
SYNOPSIS:
Framed from an Auntie embarking on the wedding season, the short stories begin and follow one after another until the Auntie returns to conclude the book.
The Disaster Wedding by Prerna Pickett: In a family where the words the females speak can come to fruition, the claiming that her sister's wedding will be a disaster brings on the challenges for the enemies to lovers side characters trying to not upset the marital couples multicultural Indian/American dream wedding.
A Cynic at a Shaadi by Aamna Qureshi follows a young Muslim girl nursing her broken heart from a recent breakup with her secret boyfriend. Set during her cousins wedding, an upbeat optimistic boy makes her smile and gives her heart hope.
Sehra by Syed Masood involves a Muslim marrying a non Muslim girl that has the family refusing to attend. The groom-to-be's brother is torn and wants to attend, but he never goes against his parents. His best friend who has grown up with the family and is facing her own community othering because of her "Mickey Mouse" hijab style, is planning to go, and together the two friends help wrap the groom's turban.
Fates Favorites by Tashie Bhuiyan features magical realism with the words of soul mates appearing on skin. The words appear and disappear sometimes unseen and possibly even as a result of one's subconscious, thus the couples don't always find one another, but when they do, the relationships can be magical.
The Wedding Biryani by Noreen Mughees is possibly the most religious of the short stories with high school debate rivals finding themselves cooking at the masjid for a couple that doesn't have a family to celebrate the marriage. Themes of losing a parent to death and simply leaving are present, as well some internal reflection of boundaries, Allah swt, and body image. The conclusion is the teens meeting up to dance.
A Confluence of Fates felt like the longest short story and while many Zoroastrians it notes did come to India, the story focuses on Iranian Zoroastrian culture. It is almost a story within a story as a couple gets a second chance at their relationship with the backdrop of a marriage play during the wedding unfolding in the background.
A Wedding Recipe for Disaster by Sarah Mughal Rana has competing family businesses: one Punjabi and the other of Pashtun culture coming to ahead when the offspring of the rival companies decide at the girl's wedding to someone else, that they should be together. With vibes of a Romeo and Juliet family feud the happy ending has readers craving achar and contemplating racism within the community.
And finally, A Very Bloody Kalyanam By Anahita Karthik goes gothic with a Tamil Brahmin vampire wedding occurring when offspring from two enemy cults imprint on each other. This story is more mature with talk of sex, but has an emotional forgiving between the bride and her parents that makes the vampires lovable.
February 2, 2023
can't wait for everyone to read my short story, A CYNIC AT A SHAADI, which is a reverse Jab We Met with a grump girl x sunshine boy, lots of desi wedding fun, and a pakistani-american hijabi MC !! it's basically meg's "i won't say i'm in love" song from hercules, and I had so much fun writing it!!!
May 2, 2024
Like with most short story collections, I loved some stories, but didn't click with others. My main takeaway from this is that I really appreciated the variety of different religious and cultural experiences in these stories. My favourite stories were those from Prerna Pickett and Tashie Bhuiyan.
February 4, 2024
I am a desi girl and I love weddings, so this book is basically meant for me. I have been wanting to read this from the moment it was announced and I am so glad I finally managed to read this. This book was everything that I had wanted and much more. With most anthologies, I tend to enjoy one or two specific stories more than the others. However, with My Big, Fat Desi Wedding , I fell in love with all the stories. I simply cannot choose just one favourite. I also was not expecting the stories to be interconnected in the way they were, so that was a nice surprise.
All in all, I am going to say...I would not mind if there are many more volumes of this anthology because there's so much that always happens with desi weddings.
Thank you Hodder Children's Books for providing me with an e-ARC through Netgalley!
All in all, I am going to say...I would not mind if there are many more volumes of this anthology because there's so much that always happens with desi weddings.
Thank you Hodder Children's Books for providing me with an e-ARC through Netgalley!
October 18, 2023
Can't wait for Valentine's week 2024 when y'all will finally get to read all these amazing stories by a wonderful set of desi authors. It's going to be a ride, I promise you.
And get ready for A VERY BLOODY KALYANAM, my paranormal and romantic wedding short story mashing Tamil culture with vampire lore! I had such a blast writing this one, and am so grateful it gets to be featured in this star-studded anthology! Think kanjivaram silk sarees, delicious South Indian food, Iyer wedding rituals alongside rivalling cults, bats, and fangs 👀
And get ready for A VERY BLOODY KALYANAM, my paranormal and romantic wedding short story mashing Tamil culture with vampire lore! I had such a blast writing this one, and am so grateful it gets to be featured in this star-studded anthology! Think kanjivaram silk sarees, delicious South Indian food, Iyer wedding rituals alongside rivalling cults, bats, and fangs 👀
May 6, 2024
DNF @ 68%...
The main reason why I'm DNFing is because the whole book is made up of short stories from different authors and that is REALLY annoying me, especially with the romances- it'll be so cute and all but the two fall in love within a day or two and the story ends with barely any build-up.
Reason #2: Muslim rep... see, they're talking about prayer, the imaam, and Allah, which is good, alhamduillah, but the romance isn't halal- touching, flirting.... pookie no☹🙏 the characters are soo wholesome and cute but they aren't doing it the halal way.
Also normalizing close friendships, bestie-like, with the opposite genderrrr
The main reason why I'm DNFing is because the whole book is made up of short stories from different authors and that is REALLY annoying me, especially with the romances- it'll be so cute and all but the two fall in love within a day or two and the story ends with barely any build-up.
Reason #2: Muslim rep... see, they're talking about prayer, the imaam, and Allah, which is good, alhamduillah, but the romance isn't halal- touching, flirting.... pookie no☹🙏 the characters are soo wholesome and cute but they aren't doing it the halal way.
Also normalizing close friendships, bestie-like, with the opposite genderrrr
June 29, 2024
Wow. This was.
Worse than terrible.
You know what I hate?
When I'm hyped up and excited to read some diverse rep (esp desi and/or Muslim!), and instead I get...
A FLAMING PILE OF ABSOLUTE TRASH.
WHERE ARE THE EDITORS?? WHO LET THIS NONSENSE GET PUBLISHED??? I'VE SEEN TEENAGE FANFIC WRITERS DO BETTER THAN HALF THE CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ANTHOLOGY!!!
The editor deserves to be flogged a thousand times with ragged quills for dereliction of duty.
I have never felt so insulted before as a reader - and that's just for the writing quality, let alone the way that most of the Muslim-y stories were hella problematic. (Pining away for secret haraam boyfriends? Meeting a new boy 5 seconds later and constantly hanging out with him alone? Music and dancing with nonMahrams? Problematic AND badly written.)
I especially loathed the story which existed solely to communicate how terrible Muslims are if we believe that there are Shar'i laws to follow regarding who we can and cannot marry, and if we don't believe in "love" over all things, then clearly we must be bigoted and backwards.
I'm over this frigging trope. And the story itself was hella lame.
The soulmates-kinda-fantasy story was the closest thing I got to cutesy fluff that I enjoyed.
The achar story **could** have been funny and cute and sweet if AN EDITOR HAD DONE THEIR JOB and told the author to fix her writing, tighten it up, and develop her characters and the story better.
The Tamil vampire story seemed really promising if it didn't abandon plot, characters, and worldbuilding for the sake of info dumping about Tamil weddings.
Who the hell was responsible for this travesty?? Who SHAMED US ALL with this pathetic selection of "desi rep"???? This sucked. So terribly. Ugh. What an absolute shame for all readers who pick this up expecting great stories about desi love and weddings.
Flipping hell, I'm so upset.
0.2/5 🌟
#Bookstagram #Muslimbookstagram
#MyMuslimShelfSpace #ownvoices #WeNeedDiverseBooks #diversereads #diversebooks #mybigfatdesiwedding #YAfiction #romance #anthology #bookreview #desi #desirepresentation
Worse than terrible.
You know what I hate?
When I'm hyped up and excited to read some diverse rep (esp desi and/or Muslim!), and instead I get...
A FLAMING PILE OF ABSOLUTE TRASH.
WHERE ARE THE EDITORS?? WHO LET THIS NONSENSE GET PUBLISHED??? I'VE SEEN TEENAGE FANFIC WRITERS DO BETTER THAN HALF THE CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ANTHOLOGY!!!
The editor deserves to be flogged a thousand times with ragged quills for dereliction of duty.
I have never felt so insulted before as a reader - and that's just for the writing quality, let alone the way that most of the Muslim-y stories were hella problematic. (Pining away for secret haraam boyfriends? Meeting a new boy 5 seconds later and constantly hanging out with him alone? Music and dancing with nonMahrams? Problematic AND badly written.)
I especially loathed the story which existed solely to communicate how terrible Muslims are if we believe that there are Shar'i laws to follow regarding who we can and cannot marry, and if we don't believe in "love" over all things, then clearly we must be bigoted and backwards.
I'm over this frigging trope. And the story itself was hella lame.
The soulmates-kinda-fantasy story was the closest thing I got to cutesy fluff that I enjoyed.
The achar story **could** have been funny and cute and sweet if AN EDITOR HAD DONE THEIR JOB and told the author to fix her writing, tighten it up, and develop her characters and the story better.
The Tamil vampire story seemed really promising if it didn't abandon plot, characters, and worldbuilding for the sake of info dumping about Tamil weddings.
Who the hell was responsible for this travesty?? Who SHAMED US ALL with this pathetic selection of "desi rep"???? This sucked. So terribly. Ugh. What an absolute shame for all readers who pick this up expecting great stories about desi love and weddings.
Flipping hell, I'm so upset.
0.2/5 🌟
#Bookstagram #Muslimbookstagram
#MyMuslimShelfSpace #ownvoices #WeNeedDiverseBooks #diversereads #diversebooks #mybigfatdesiwedding #YAfiction #romance #anthology #bookreview #desi #desirepresentation
July 5, 2024
Three stars because I had to read about vampires in the last story 🙃
December 21, 2023
This was everything I love about Desi Romance. It was a little bit of magic from all different points of view and had such great short stories. From meddling aunties, to true love, there was something for everyone here. I love novellas and short stories because they give me little bits with big feels.
Thank you to the authors, Netgalley and Page Street for an early copy.
Thank you to the authors, Netgalley and Page Street for an early copy.
May 30, 2022
What a brilliant idea! Can't wait for this!
February 3, 2024
THANKS TO THE PUBLISHER AND MLC BOOK TOUR FOR THIS ADVANCE REVIEW COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR A HONEST REVIEW.
My Big, Fat Desi Wedding is a YA romance anthology with 8 short stories. Going into this book, I thought this would be a cheesy romcom and I was so ready for that but I was surprised to know that fantasy elements were also in the play in a couple of stories.
The Disaster Wedding is about a family where words spoken by women have power, for good or for bad. Jaanu's elder sister is getting married and the family is so invested in that until Jaanu says something causing so much trouble. For a short story, a lot was going on, Fantasy and Romance, Enemy lover trope, and sibling bond. I liked this one okayish.
A Cynic at a Shaadi is about a teenage girl who is going through her first breakup and lost her trust in love. Despite whatever is going on she has to attend her cousin's marriage where there are couples, love and people flirting. She hates everyone and everything but that wedding played an important role in gaining her trust in love again. I liked the male lead in this one.
Sehra, this tale is about siblings' bond. It talks about how every family has different dynamics and relationships. Some limits are not to be crossed but when someone does that, they have to pay the price in one way or another. I wasn't a fan of this story.
Fate's Favorites is a fantasy romcom. A world where people start to get feelings of their soul mate on their skin. When one starts to get a tattoo they'll know that their soulmate is somewhere but not specific. It was an interesting concept and this story felt like a novella. I enjoyed the concept but writing was not my cup of tea.
The Wedding Biryani- Zayna and Zain both are struggling with events that happened in their lives. The coping mechanisms of both are different. Zain is famous and the crush of almost all of the girls. On the other hand, Zayna doesn't let people into her life. This sunshine-grumpy trope was interesting but for teenagers.
A Confluence of Fates- There is an inter-cultural wedding in this story and the focus is mainly on cultural representation, wedding traditions, and food. Mainleads met each other after several years and their history is mud with misunderstanding and cowardice. So many filler characters made it hard to keep track of important ones.
A Wedding Recipe for Disaster has to be my favorite story in this book. Salama and Osama's family is an old rival and they are not planning to let it go in the near future. This story is about sometimes standing for yourself and making the right decisions at the right time. I felt the chemistry between characters and I was really rooting for them.
A Very Bloody Kalyanam is a rich fantasy romance story. This story could have been a novella. The world-building was beautiful and I imagined it as a movie. Two vampire clans having South Indian origin is an interesting concept, haven't read about desi vampires before. It was a good one.
My Big, Fat Desi Wedding is a YA romance anthology with 8 short stories. Going into this book, I thought this would be a cheesy romcom and I was so ready for that but I was surprised to know that fantasy elements were also in the play in a couple of stories.
The Disaster Wedding is about a family where words spoken by women have power, for good or for bad. Jaanu's elder sister is getting married and the family is so invested in that until Jaanu says something causing so much trouble. For a short story, a lot was going on, Fantasy and Romance, Enemy lover trope, and sibling bond. I liked this one okayish.
A Cynic at a Shaadi is about a teenage girl who is going through her first breakup and lost her trust in love. Despite whatever is going on she has to attend her cousin's marriage where there are couples, love and people flirting. She hates everyone and everything but that wedding played an important role in gaining her trust in love again. I liked the male lead in this one.
Sehra, this tale is about siblings' bond. It talks about how every family has different dynamics and relationships. Some limits are not to be crossed but when someone does that, they have to pay the price in one way or another. I wasn't a fan of this story.
Fate's Favorites is a fantasy romcom. A world where people start to get feelings of their soul mate on their skin. When one starts to get a tattoo they'll know that their soulmate is somewhere but not specific. It was an interesting concept and this story felt like a novella. I enjoyed the concept but writing was not my cup of tea.
The Wedding Biryani- Zayna and Zain both are struggling with events that happened in their lives. The coping mechanisms of both are different. Zain is famous and the crush of almost all of the girls. On the other hand, Zayna doesn't let people into her life. This sunshine-grumpy trope was interesting but for teenagers.
A Confluence of Fates- There is an inter-cultural wedding in this story and the focus is mainly on cultural representation, wedding traditions, and food. Mainleads met each other after several years and their history is mud with misunderstanding and cowardice. So many filler characters made it hard to keep track of important ones.
A Wedding Recipe for Disaster has to be my favorite story in this book. Salama and Osama's family is an old rival and they are not planning to let it go in the near future. This story is about sometimes standing for yourself and making the right decisions at the right time. I felt the chemistry between characters and I was really rooting for them.
A Very Bloody Kalyanam is a rich fantasy romance story. This story could have been a novella. The world-building was beautiful and I imagined it as a movie. Two vampire clans having South Indian origin is an interesting concept, haven't read about desi vampires before. It was a good one.
January 11, 2024
I used to be a huge fan of reading YA short story anthologies a few years ago - fantasy or otherwise - but it’s been a while now. So, when I first got to know about this collection, I was very excited because this seemed like the perfect one to get back into reading short stories. And I was right. With a very intriguing narrative framing, this collection is full of very cute, adorable and charming stories of budding love or second romances, while also showing off the grand wedding traditions and sumptuous foods of numerous South Asian cultures. I loved the gorgeous descriptions of clothes, ceremonies and so much mouth watering khaana that I now want to attend a shaadi.
Anyways, I will definitely recommend this lovely collection, especially if you love desi stories. And look below for my little thoughts about each individual stories.
The Disaster Wedding by Prerna Pickett
This was a typical desi shaadi where you’re scared of which aunties or uncles will get offended for some made up reason and our protagonists trying to ensure everything goes smoothly - with a wee touch of the magical. It was pretty cute.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Cynic at a Shaadi by Aamna Qureshi
This was another sweet tale of a young woman finding the courage to open herself up to love again after suffering through a bad heartbreak. Her emotions felt so real and the end was sweet and hopeful.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sehra by Syed M. Masood
A tug of war between carrying forward religious traditions and following one’s heart, being true to oneself vs being obedient and avoiding conflict, this was actually a very interesting little story with depth and heart.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Fate’s Favorites by Tashie Bhuiyan
A sweet story of young love blossoming at a wedding, with a touch of soulmate magic thrown in.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Wedding Biryani by Noreen Mughees
I liked how this story tackles grief, and how that feeling can either bring two people together, or separate them, based on how one is able to process their grief.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
A Confluence of Fates by Payal Doshi
A shot at a second chance during a wedding; trying to see if it’s possible to get together with the one that got away - this one had a strong goal oriented young woman who wasn’t gonna compromise on her goals but still open herself up for a possible relationship and I really liked it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Wedding Recipe for Disaster by Sarah Mughal Rana
This one had all the religious beliefs and superstitions, family rivalry and wedding drama you can ask for - things moved a bit too quickly I guess but it was still fun.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Very Bloody Kalyanam by Anahita Karthik
Wow was this unique. A tam bram wedding, with vampires and imprinting, another second chance romance - this was angsty and bloody but definitely a great end to the collection.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Anyways, I will definitely recommend this lovely collection, especially if you love desi stories. And look below for my little thoughts about each individual stories.
The Disaster Wedding by Prerna Pickett
This was a typical desi shaadi where you’re scared of which aunties or uncles will get offended for some made up reason and our protagonists trying to ensure everything goes smoothly - with a wee touch of the magical. It was pretty cute.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Cynic at a Shaadi by Aamna Qureshi
This was another sweet tale of a young woman finding the courage to open herself up to love again after suffering through a bad heartbreak. Her emotions felt so real and the end was sweet and hopeful.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sehra by Syed M. Masood
A tug of war between carrying forward religious traditions and following one’s heart, being true to oneself vs being obedient and avoiding conflict, this was actually a very interesting little story with depth and heart.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Fate’s Favorites by Tashie Bhuiyan
A sweet story of young love blossoming at a wedding, with a touch of soulmate magic thrown in.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Wedding Biryani by Noreen Mughees
I liked how this story tackles grief, and how that feeling can either bring two people together, or separate them, based on how one is able to process their grief.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
A Confluence of Fates by Payal Doshi
A shot at a second chance during a wedding; trying to see if it’s possible to get together with the one that got away - this one had a strong goal oriented young woman who wasn’t gonna compromise on her goals but still open herself up for a possible relationship and I really liked it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Wedding Recipe for Disaster by Sarah Mughal Rana
This one had all the religious beliefs and superstitions, family rivalry and wedding drama you can ask for - things moved a bit too quickly I guess but it was still fun.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Very Bloody Kalyanam by Anahita Karthik
Wow was this unique. A tam bram wedding, with vampires and imprinting, another second chance romance - this was angsty and bloody but definitely a great end to the collection.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
March 19, 2023
I received an ARC for Anahita Karthik's "A Very Bloody Kalyanam" and as both a fan of her writing and a Tamil girl, I adored this one. The richness of the rituals and ceremony felt like a love letter to my culture, but Anahita also included nuanced and incredibly necessary commentary and criticism on the often-casteist undertones to Tamil Brahmin traditions. Although this was only a short story, I became invested in Shloka and Kritik very quickly. Shloka's an incredible main character, fiery and firm in her beliefs, but also vulnerable. I wish I could read a novel's worth about them!
Want to read
May 28, 2022this sounds amazing, and i know that anahita wrote a tamil vampire wedding so that’s amazing
May 29, 2022
no doubt in my mind
February 15, 2024
“The right ones always found her.The ones she needed to witness & perhaps the ones that needed her help.” What does this one line indicate to you about what you are getting in? Another damsel in distress story looking at the cover and the title?
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Well, I got news. This book of different stories set in Indian subcontinent origin homes stretches far from it. The concept is brilliant of the anthology of bringing so many different emotions,relationships and different cultures of different households rightfully reminding the Indian diaspora as well as the other cultures specifically settled in the west of how people might come from the same religion,the same mosque or same school but they all have had different experiences and while religion in 2024 has become an identity people hug too tightly that sometimes the faith itself gets suffocating.
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This YA anthology especially is a collection of voices of the young of this era. The book is set up in the United States, India, Pakistan and of the youngsters who have something new,something different to say. Every story is a tale that takes its own shape reminding us of the teachings taught to the young people and at the same time it has its repercussions and a protest, sometimes a voice that has been stifled.
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At the same time these stories also remind us of the usual daily occurrences that happen with a young boy or a girl. With the backdrop of the wedding,each story introduces you to scrumptious food which I am holding against the writers for describing them in such beautiful & gorgeous detail that I had to get up from reading to eat something because chef’s kiss It’s an anthology with wedding as a backdrop so they are forgiven I guess.
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While there is the fun part,there is also the inner turmoil that was a delight to read capturing the maturity level of the young we often pass off as “they are just kids.” I loved reading about *ahem* the aunties and well it's true! Some just don’t learn ,do they? It was enjoyable to read the tired voice inside of them of them being so aware about their surroundings is exactly what will bring a smile on your face.
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Then you see the crossover of cultures,the bonding of two different cultures,religions and my favourite was undoubtedly the “SEHRA”. It’s something that is practised in Uttar Pradesh as well because I remember my Dad wearing it. Did you know the turban is actually put on by the father of the groom? I have to ask my father today.
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But also the poem dedicated to the son by the father, something written originally by the father is what is called the SEHRA. The story is about a young boy but the story got me teary-eyed as well. Do give it a read and then tell me. My Big Fat Desi Wedding is a perfect read for the young Indian Diaspora , someone who wants to read about the young and to laugh about the never ending wedding traditions that we see every year and laugh out loud.
.
Well, I got news. This book of different stories set in Indian subcontinent origin homes stretches far from it. The concept is brilliant of the anthology of bringing so many different emotions,relationships and different cultures of different households rightfully reminding the Indian diaspora as well as the other cultures specifically settled in the west of how people might come from the same religion,the same mosque or same school but they all have had different experiences and while religion in 2024 has become an identity people hug too tightly that sometimes the faith itself gets suffocating.
.
This YA anthology especially is a collection of voices of the young of this era. The book is set up in the United States, India, Pakistan and of the youngsters who have something new,something different to say. Every story is a tale that takes its own shape reminding us of the teachings taught to the young people and at the same time it has its repercussions and a protest, sometimes a voice that has been stifled.
.
At the same time these stories also remind us of the usual daily occurrences that happen with a young boy or a girl. With the backdrop of the wedding,each story introduces you to scrumptious food which I am holding against the writers for describing them in such beautiful & gorgeous detail that I had to get up from reading to eat something because chef’s kiss It’s an anthology with wedding as a backdrop so they are forgiven I guess.
.
While there is the fun part,there is also the inner turmoil that was a delight to read capturing the maturity level of the young we often pass off as “they are just kids.” I loved reading about *ahem* the aunties and well it's true! Some just don’t learn ,do they? It was enjoyable to read the tired voice inside of them of them being so aware about their surroundings is exactly what will bring a smile on your face.
.
Then you see the crossover of cultures,the bonding of two different cultures,religions and my favourite was undoubtedly the “SEHRA”. It’s something that is practised in Uttar Pradesh as well because I remember my Dad wearing it. Did you know the turban is actually put on by the father of the groom? I have to ask my father today.
.
But also the poem dedicated to the son by the father, something written originally by the father is what is called the SEHRA. The story is about a young boy but the story got me teary-eyed as well. Do give it a read and then tell me. My Big Fat Desi Wedding is a perfect read for the young Indian Diaspora , someone who wants to read about the young and to laugh about the never ending wedding traditions that we see every year and laugh out loud.
Read
April 25, 2024DNF. Not rating this because I didn't even finish the first story in the anthology. I bet every story is completely different, but the quality of the opening story was so bad that I just don't have the desire to continue. Maybe I'll try again someday.
Read
February 5, 2024t is really hard to review an anthology of stories because there were so many. For YA romance books these were surprisingly angst free and ranged from ages 16 to maybe 19-20. I am not sure if the 19 year old about to get married counts as YA strictly but it was still a fun read.
All the stories had a wedding taking place or about to take place, some sparked the beginning of a new romance, some were about second chances. They were all sweet and it was fun to see so much desi representation in the stories.
All the stories had a wedding taking place or about to take place, some sparked the beginning of a new romance, some were about second chances. They were all sweet and it was fun to see so much desi representation in the stories.
February 3, 2024
3.5!
#stoplettingmuzzieswrite2024
pros: shout out to tashie her story was my fav! last story was fun!!
cons: The Prophet saws says: “He who keeps silent saves himself”.
#stoplettingmuzzieswrite2024
pros: shout out to tashie her story was my fav! last story was fun!!
cons: The Prophet saws says: “He who keeps silent saves himself”.
Want to read
June 3, 2022Cannot wait to read this amazing anthology! So many amazing authors are part of this project! <3
April 14, 2024
I was really looking forward to reading this anthology as I've enjoyed other books with desi romances and weddings. This kind of fell flat for me though. The book starts with an introduction of a mysterious auntie who shows up in all the stories, to save the day or nudge the main character in the right direction with a little "magic." The first story, "The Disaster Wedding" by Prerna Pickett (the editor of the anthology), was the best one to me. The bride's family has had a curse placed on them and all the women in the family, including the bride's sister who is the main character, can will things into happening by saying things out loud. She causes problems during the wedding week for her family and the groom's but still manages to get her own happy ending. Aside from one other story, "A Wedding Recipe for Disaster" by Sarah Mughal Rana, about a bride who's marrying someone her parents picked for her but would rather be with the boy she secretly had a relationship with a few years ago, most of the other stories were fine but not memorable. A couple were not to my liking ("Sehra" by Syed Masood and "The Wedding Biryani" by Noreen Mughees) and the last story in the anthology, "A Very Bloody Kayanam" by Anahita Karthik, I couldn't even make it through and DNFd at 5 pages in. Karthik's story, apparently a myth mixed with a desi tradition, just seemed completely out of place with the rest of the stories. Vampires, blood bonding, all sorts of fantasy stuff that didn't appeal to me at all. For people who want a bunch of different desi wedding traditions, religions and rituals, this might be right up your alley. I'll be checking out a couple novels by my top story writers instead.
July 6, 2024
"My Big Fat Desi Wedding" is the perfect wedding anthology any desi reader could ever dream of. This collection of stories brilliantly captures the essence of desi weddings bringing to life the flamboyant and vibrant celebrations that are an integral part of South Asian heritage.
"My Big Fat Desi Wedding" showcases the diversity within desi weddings : the contrast in rituals and customs from different regions and cultures within South Asia is beautifully highlighted, offering readers a glimpse into the unique ways love and union is celebrated across the subcontinent. The moments of anticipation as we climax to the wedding day, the butterflies in the stomach and the classic clichés that we all secretly adore are on point, adding a magnetic charm of the collection.
The anthology also underlines the fundamental notion about desi weddings that they are not just the union of two individuals, but the coming together and conjunction of two families. The stories explore the dynamics of family relationships, the sometimes-complex negotiations and the eventual blending of different traditions and values.
This book is a must-read for anyone who loves romance, culture, and the inherent magic of weddings. It is a celebration of love in all its forms and a testament to the beautiful chaos that is a desi wedding.
February 24, 2025
Book 10 of 2025 - ☑️! Thank you to NetGalley, Page Street Publishing | Page Street YA & Prerna Pickett; Syed Masood; Tashie Bhuiyan; Aamna Qureshi; Payal Doshi; Sarah Mughal; Noreen Mughees; Anahita Karthik for an ARC of My Big, Fat Desi Wedding by Prerna Pickett; Syed Masood; Tashie Bhuiyan; Aamna Qureshi; Payal Doshi; Sarah Mughal; Noreen Mughees; Anahita Karthik.
My Big, Fat Desi Wedding has been on my TBR for an embarrassingly long time, despite the fact I had looked forward to reading it. All of the stories were cute (it’s YA), though reflecting on it, I think I might have enjoyed it a bit more if the stories were NA. I appreciate the fact that I was introduced to many new authors, as that tends to happen with anthology series, as well as getting a glimpse into cultures that I’m not familiar with. I’d put A Wedding Recipe for Disaster by Sarah Mughal Rana at the top spot, as it’s a story that I would have loved to read an entire book about, with its Romeo & Juliet vibes.
3/5 ⭐️ overall, and a 🌶️ rating is not applicable here since it’s YA. #NetGalley #MyBigFatDesiWedding
My Big, Fat Desi Wedding has been on my TBR for an embarrassingly long time, despite the fact I had looked forward to reading it. All of the stories were cute (it’s YA), though reflecting on it, I think I might have enjoyed it a bit more if the stories were NA. I appreciate the fact that I was introduced to many new authors, as that tends to happen with anthology series, as well as getting a glimpse into cultures that I’m not familiar with. I’d put A Wedding Recipe for Disaster by Sarah Mughal Rana at the top spot, as it’s a story that I would have loved to read an entire book about, with its Romeo & Juliet vibes.
3/5 ⭐️ overall, and a 🌶️ rating is not applicable here since it’s YA. #NetGalley #MyBigFatDesiWedding
January 12, 2026
A slow but fun read of short stories about desi weddings. Not definitive, as desi culture is vast and also influences/influenced by Persian/Iranian and Arabic cultures.
The different takes on “My Big,Fat _____ Wedding”, which was originally from the movie “My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding” has been overdone and is just plain annoying to hear now, but other than the title, enjoyable read, full of lots of delicious food and gorgeous fashion descriptions.
The different takes on “My Big,Fat _____ Wedding”, which was originally from the movie “My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding” has been overdone and is just plain annoying to hear now, but other than the title, enjoyable read, full of lots of delicious food and gorgeous fashion descriptions.
April 23, 2025
It was a really good collection of stories all resonating around desi weddings. My favourite ones are from Aamna Qureshi & Sarah Mughal Rana. Sehra by Syed Masood was the worst of all, totally bad representation of religious values!
January 29, 2024
An anthology of stories focused on weddings in the Desi community.
I really enjoyed this book, and pretty much all of the stories were educational and I genuinely learnt a lot about the Desi culture, and other religions. I don't believe I've read any of these authors before, and from this I would definitely look into reading more from them.
These stories had romance, friendship, meddling aunties and humour, as well as a touch of magic sometimes, and I loved them.
Favourites for me would probably be Sehra and Fate's Favourites!
I really enjoyed this book, and pretty much all of the stories were educational and I genuinely learnt a lot about the Desi culture, and other religions. I don't believe I've read any of these authors before, and from this I would definitely look into reading more from them.
These stories had romance, friendship, meddling aunties and humour, as well as a touch of magic sometimes, and I loved them.
Favourites for me would probably be Sehra and Fate's Favourites!
February 7, 2024
My Big, Fat Desi Wedding" is an anthology of different short stories all related to the colorful and vibrant Desi weddings. The stories span over different countries and talk about their wedding cultures and rituals with a touch of magic!
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This was such a light, fun read and the flare of magical realism added the much needed razzle dazzle.. Different stories from different countries and cultures were not only fun to read but also informative in terms of giving you an insight into different cultures... I really loved the desi-ness of this book!
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Like I mentioned above, one of the best thing about the book was the element of magic which was included so immaculately that it felt so natural! From the. From soulmarks in 'Fate's Favorites' to Desi vampires (yep you heard it right!!!) in 'A Very Bloody Kalyanam' and the mysterious Aunti that popped up whenever needed, I loved all these moments in the book..
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My favorite story was 'Fate's Favorites' by Tashie Bhuiyan because 1) I am a romantic, 2) I am a romantic, and 3) did I mention that I am romantic?
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This was such a light, fun read and the flare of magical realism added the much needed razzle dazzle.. Different stories from different countries and cultures were not only fun to read but also informative in terms of giving you an insight into different cultures... I really loved the desi-ness of this book!
.
Like I mentioned above, one of the best thing about the book was the element of magic which was included so immaculately that it felt so natural! From the. From soulmarks in 'Fate's Favorites' to Desi vampires (yep you heard it right!!!) in 'A Very Bloody Kalyanam' and the mysterious Aunti that popped up whenever needed, I loved all these moments in the book..
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My favorite story was 'Fate's Favorites' by Tashie Bhuiyan because 1) I am a romantic, 2) I am a romantic, and 3) did I mention that I am romantic?
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