Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment

"""Cinematic."" - Teen Vogue, ""10 YA Books by South Asian Authors to Watch for in 2024"" Culturess, ""New Romance Books being released in January 2024"" Book Riot, ""The 10 Best New Young Adult Books of January 2024"" ""A story full of drama and song...Readers who pick up this debut, inspired by the sheer fun of it all, will wish for some masala chai and chaat and then put on a Bollywood number and dance, inspired by the sheer fun of it all. Lovable, frothy, and happy-making."" - Kirkus ""Avachat's fun, atmospheric debut admirably joins the ranks of YA romance...This rich Bollywood-esque tale is filled to the brim with Punjabi culture and unadulterated familial love."" - Booklist ""A debut high-school rom-com from author Arushi Avachat, Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment itself takes the structure of a Bollywood film, with all the heart and drama expected of the genre. It's refreshing to root for Avachat's protagonist, Arya, as she helps her family prepare for her sister's wedding, all while juggling school, work, ample interfamilial strife, and the enemies-to-lovers lure of her student council rival. A sweet, colorful coming-of-age tale with the right serving of romance."" - ELLE Magazine, ""The Best (and Most Anticipated) Romance Books of 2024, So Far"" ""Debut author Arushi Avachat, a UCLA senior who hails from the Bay Area, brings a big Indian wedding to bustling life in this YA romance. Structured like a Bollywood movie, the novel stars Arya, a high school senior juggling her older sister's impending wedding, friend drama, family tensions and one 'frustratingly attractive' schoolmate."" - San Francisco Chronicle, ""18 new books that celebrate the Asian American experience"" ""Readers seeking a sweet and lively story need look no further. Arya's older sister's impending wedding--a grand Punjabi affair--is just one of the things that's causing upheaval during her senior year. Another is Dean, the handsome but irritating boy who beat her by six votes to become student council president. But forced proximity at school eventually leads to a Bollywood-worthy romance."" - Kirkus, ""6 YA Romances That Will Make You Swoon"" ""A tender coming-of-age story that navigates fraught friendships, first loves and the thorny love of family. Avachat is a fresh and sparkling voice, and sure to be a star on the rise."" - Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Gilded Wolves ""Avachat's debut is an endearing slice of life story that explores how relationships evolve as we come of age: with our friends, our families, and maybe even our rivals. Bubbly and endlessly charming, Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment is a cozy contemporary to warm the soul."" - Jesmeen Kaur Deo, author of TJ Powar Has Something to Prove ""Lovable and snarky Arya is the perfectly imperfect character to follow through the highs and lows of sisterhood, friendship, and romance. Avachat's endearing slice of life contemporary nails the energy of a classic teen coming of age story while still feeling delightfully fresh."" -Racquel Marie, author of Ophelia After All ""Arushi Avachat's debut is a sparkling love story for anyone who's ever had to juggle real life responsibilities and relationships while enduring an epic family wedding. A joy to read."" - award-winning author Nisha Sharma ""An emotional and heartfelt debut, ARYA KHANNA sparkles with a complex family, the sweetest romance, and laugh-out-loud moments of fun. A wonderful new voice in the contemporary sphere!"" -- Aamna Qureshi, award-winning author of The Lady or the Lion ""Part family drama, part good old high school antics, Avachat's debut affectionately portrays the conflict and love in Arya Khanna's Punjabi-American family coming to a head during the hubbub of planning her older sister's wedding, all while she tries to figure out if her competitive relationship with the student body president could be something more. A sweet, culturally rich story about first love, forgiveness, and realizing people aren't always what they seem."" -- Lillie Vale, author of Beauty and the Besharam, The Decoy Girlfriend, and The Shaadi Set-Up"