Radha & Jai's Recipe for Romance is a fun romance set in modern times, that really highlights family relationships, and the struggles of being a teen- especially one saddled with high expectations.
This is a book meant for young readers, but it also appealed to me! I wanted to add it to my list to diversify my reading list, and also because I do enjoy reading romance. While I enjoyed the romance, I also really enjoyed learning about Kathak Dance, a traditional Indian dance form and Indian cuisine.
No Spoilers summary- because Spoilers are.... the worst!
Radha has been training all her life to ascend the stage as one of the world's best Kathak dancers. She been guided by her Mother, who is caring, but possibly a touch overbearing. Radha overhears some gossip at a competition that turns her world upside down. She loses her "Dance Joy" and has some serious family conflict. This leads her eventually to enrolling in a new school, where she meets Jai. Jai comes from a very involved family. He's interested in becoming a doctor, but thinks he might just skip college to focus on assisting his family with their small empire of convenience stores. He's also the team leader of a school dance team the "bollywood beats". Obviously a bit of "destiny" is involved as the two meet and just "click". Romance blossoms, but not without a few arguments, small breakups and personal crisis. Can Radha get her Dance Joy back? Will Jai become a Doctor? You'll have to read to find out!
This is a great novel for young adults. It addresses real problems and concerns, shows some realistic reactions and solutions and has an enjoyable dose of cultural representation. It will not be making my top ten reads of the year, but it is definitely one I'd recommend for gifting.
First Published : 12/2021
Pages: 336
Available as an Audio Book :YES
Trigger Warnings: medical situations, Cheating (not involving the main characters), parents divorce, parent affairs, mild bullying, depictions of panic attacks.
Not a full TW list, please read responsibly.
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