Review: When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Challenges: 
Diversity Bingo 2017: Contemporary World Arranged Marriage



This book follows Dimple, an Indian-American, who struggles to break free from her family’s traditional expectations and follow her dreams of coding. Surprisingly however, her parents allow her to go to a summer camp sort of thing that’s all about coding and building your own app. When she gets there she finds out the real reason her parents were so happy to let her go. Her intended husband is also attending this camp…

We follow both Dimple and Rishi’s perspectives and I really liked seeing the story from both sides. Dimple is the “rebellious” one who wants to break free from the Indian traditions concerning marriage and family life, while Rishi is quite traditional, and wants nothing more than to get married, have kids and provide for his family in a stable job. 

I really like the friendships in this book and also the family relations. There are definitely conflicts, but the way they are resolved is realistic and satisfying. And while Dimple’s family might sound a bit stiff and conventional from the brief synopsis, there is a lot of love and support there too. I also really liked Dimple and Rishi’s character development. It wasn’t a case of one conforming to the other. Rather it was both getting to know themselves better and realising that maybe it doesn’t have to be black or white, traditional or completely breaking free, but that you can do both at the same time. 


I gave this book 4 stars and would definitely recommend it, if you are looking for a cute contemporary. 

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