BOOK REVIEW: A Match Made in Mehendi

A Match Made in Mehendi by Nandini Bajpai
Publication Date: September 10th, 2019

So, when I first picked up this book, I thought it was going to be a really young read because the main character is 15, but Simi is actually quite mature and on top of things. Her bubbly optimism comes through on every page, and it keeps things light-hearted and upbeat. Her family comes from a long line of Indian vichole-matchmakers, with a history for helping parents find good matches for their grown children. Then Simi accidentally sets up her cousin with a soon-to-be lawyer, and her family is thrilled that she also has the “gift.” Despite what her family thinks, Simi doesn’t want to be a matchmaker; she wants to be an artist. Her best friend, Noah, has other plans. He wants them to build a matchmaking app for their high school, to build their popularity. Simi goes along with it, but only so she can test out the matchmaking waters without her family breathing down her neck. Maybe she does have the gift after all.

What I Liked:

• I really loved her friendship with Noah. They’re always so playful, but still supportive in an authentic way. It was nice to see a friendship with relatively low drama, and high trust.
• I loved Simi’s mom, maybe not at first, but eventually. The way she reacts to someone being rotten to Simi sets an example that all other literary parents should follow. Support you child; have their back.
• I know I picked this up for the rom-com matchmaking factor, but I never expected to actually become invested in Simi’s fledgling couples. They’re all just so weird and adorable and I just want them to ride off into the sunset together.

What I Didn’t Like:

• The antagonist is very childish and awful, but I guess she’s supposed to be? I don’t know. She was the only sour note of the book for me. I also think the resolution was wrapped up too easily. I mean, she folded like a wet piece of paper in the end.
• Also, I wish the plot of this book had dug a little deeper into the fledgling couples and whatnot. There didn’t seem to be too much emotional depth, and it would have been nice to see them develop more, you know?

Recap:

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and flew through it. It was a very quick read, but utterly addicting. I sat down to read the first page (to gauge my reading mood) and the next thing I knew I was two chapters in. A Match Made in Mehendi is a fun, light-hearted read, with perfect rom-com shenanigans. I can totally see it being made into a cute Netflix movie. (Can anyone say TATBILB? *wink wink*)

4.5/5 stars

xoxo, Bree

*Thank you Little Brown Publishing and The NOVL for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*