Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment - by Arushi Avachat

About the Book

Book Synopsis

"A SWEET, COLORFUL COMING-OF-AGE TALE WITH THE RIGHT SERVING OF ROMANCE." - ELLE MAGAZINE

"CINEMATIC." - TEEN VOGUE

Save the Date meets Never Have I Ever in this sparkling debut rom-com about a high school senior whose life suddenly gets a Bollywood spin when her sister gets engaged.

Shaadi preparations are in full swing, which means lehenga shopping, taste testing, dance rehearsals, and best of all, Arya's sister Alina is home. The Khannas are together again, finally, and Arya wants to enjoy it. So she stifles her lingering resentment towards Alina, plays mediator during her sister's fights with their mother, and welcomes her future brother-in-law with open arms. (Okay, maybe enjoy isn't exactly right.)

Meanwhile at school, Arya's senior year dreams are unraveling. In between class and her part-time gig as a bookshop assistant, Arya struggles to navigate the aftermath of a bad breakup between her two best friends and a tense student council partnership with her rival, the frustratingly attractive Dean Merriweather.

Arya is determined to keep the peace at home and at school, but this shaadi season teaches Arya new realities: Alina won't always be in the bedroom down the hall, Mamma's sadness isn't mendable, friendships must evolve, and life doesn't always work out like her beloved Bollywood movies. But sometimes, the person you least expect will give you a glimpse of your dream sequence just when you need it most.

Structured like a Bollywood film (entertaining intermission included!) Arya Khanna's Bollywood Moment will make you swoon, laugh, cry, think, nod your head in agreement, and quite possibly make you get up and dance.

Review Quotes

"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