A fresh, witty rom-com romp set against the backdrop of a high-profile music competition and a riotous Indian wedding
Zurika Damani is a naturally gifted violinist with a particular love for hip hop beats. But when you’re part of a big Indian family, everyone has expectations, and those certainly don’t include hip hop violin. After being rejected by Juilliard, Zuri's last hope is a contest judged by a panel of top tier college scouts. The only problem? This coveted competition happens to take place during Zuri’s sister’s extravagant wedding week. And Zuri has already been warned, repeatedly, that she is not to miss a single moment.
In the midst of the chaos, Zuri’s mom is in matchmaking mode with the groom’s South African cousin Naveen—who just happens to be a cocky vocalist set on stealing Zuri’s spotlight at the scouting competition. Luckily Zuri has a crew of loud and loyal female cousins cheering her on. Now, all she has to do is to wow the judges for a top spot, evade getting caught by her parents, resist Naveen’s charms, and, oh yeah . . . not mess up her sister’s big fat Indian wedding. What could possibly go wrong?
My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding by Sajni Patel is a delightful, well-written story about the younger sister of an Indian woman about to get married.
Zurika Damani is in her last year of High School and is deciding on her next step by choosing colleges. Her parents want her to go to law school as her two older sisters did. But, Zurika has other ideas. She’s a talented violinist and wants to attend music school instead.
This week starts the preparations for her sister, Madri’s, big, over-the-top, Indian wedding. Her sister and her parents need her close by for all the celebrations, and preparations. She wants to attend a musical contest the same week as her sister’s wedding, and once she learns she did not get into Julliard, she knows the contest is the best way to get into a prestigious music school. But, can she disobey her parents and sneak out to the contest without getting caught?
I have never been to a large Indian wedding, and now I feel like I’ve been to one. I loved hearing all about the details of the wedding preparation and all the celebrations leading up to the main event.
Zurika is so conflicted during most of the book. She wants to please her family, but she thinks she can’t please her family and go on her own path. She knows that the only thing she wants to do, is to play the violin, but her family wants her to become a lawyer, a doctor, or an engineer. They believe there isn’t a future for Zurika in music and wants to be sure she has a good solid financial future.
I loved the journey that Zurika went on as she learned more about herself and her talent, and how to stand up for herself. There is some light romance in the book, that was fun and heartwarming.
I highly recommend My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding to anyone who enjoys YA books with a bit of romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
About Sajni Patel
Sajni Patel was born in vibrant India and raised in the heart of Texas, surrounded by a lot of delicious food and plenty of diversity. She draws on her personal experiences, cultural expectations, and southern flair to create worlds that center around strong Indian women. Once in MMA, she’s now all about puppies and rainbows and tortured love stories. She currently lives in Austin where she not-so-secretly watches Mathew McConaughey from afar during UT football games. Queso is her weakness and thanks to her family’s cooking, Indian/Tex-Mex cuisine is a real thing. She’s a die-hard Marvel Comics fan, a lover of chocolates from around the world, and is always wrapped up in a story.
Glad this turned out enjoyable and you got to experience an Indian (I assume north indian) wedding through it . The sisters names are quite unusual too. I must look put for this one . Great review, Wendy🙂
I added this to my TBR the moment I heard about it. It sounds absolutely adorable and definitely like something I’d enjoy. I’m a huge fan of cartoon cover romances like these and after reading your review, I’m even more excited to give it a go!
This is one I can’t wait to read! I love reading about or seeing movies or tv shows with Indian weddings too. They are so beautiful and fascinating to me. Great review!
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This sounds fun. I’m definitely going to check it out.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it.
The cover is so eye-catching! And the story sounds just as beautiful!
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
Yes, they match!
This looks like such a wholesome read! 🙂
It sure is, Lydia. Wholesome is a good word for this book.
Glad this turned out enjoyable and you got to experience an Indian (I assume north indian) wedding through it . The sisters names are quite unusual too. I must look put for this one . Great review, Wendy🙂
Thank you Mallika. It was fun, and I enjoyed all the traditions.
Great review, glad you enjoyed 😊
I love the sound of this book. Zurika’s journey sounds really inspiring and heartwarming! Great review Wendy!
It was a heartwarming book.
This sounds like a fun read!
Thank you, Jolene, it was a lot of fun!
This sounds delightful from the culture to the romance.
Yes, it sure was, Kimberly
This sounds like a lot of fun!
Thank you, Bonnie!
I love it when you’re so immersed in a story that you feel like you’re really experiencing everything right along with the characters. Great review!
I do too! Thank you, Angela!
I’ve wondered about this one. I saw something about it on Goodreads and thought it looks like fun. I’m glad you liked it so much.
Yes, it’s fun and cute.
Sounds like a fun read 🙂
Thank you, Cathy. It sure was fun.
Getting the Indian wedding as background to her figuring out her life does sound like a good story. I’ll have to add this one to the reading list.
Thank you, Sophia. It’s really cute, I think you would enjoy it.
I saw this one recently and thought it sounded like a good read. Glad that it was as good as I hoped!
Ash @ Essentially Ash
Thank you, Ash.
This sounds like a fun book, and a good way to immerse in some Indian culture.
Yes, I loved all the cultural information.
I enjoy the author and this one sounds like a fun read! Great review Wendy! Thanks for sharing.
I think you would enjoy this one, Jodie!
This book sounds like so much fun! Thanks for sharing your review.
Thank you, Amanda
I love the cover and I have heard about this one. Great review!
Thank you, Cindy!
I added this to my TBR the moment I heard about it. It sounds absolutely adorable and definitely like something I’d enjoy. I’m a huge fan of cartoon cover romances like these and after reading your review, I’m even more excited to give it a go!
I sure hope you enjoy it Stephanie!
I love that cover and the story does sound like so much fun! Excellent review, Wendy!
Thank you, Tessa!
I love this cover 😍 I am so glad you enjoyed this, great review!
Thank you, Rae!
Sounds like a good one, glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you, Cindy!