MY SISTER'S BIG FAT INDIAN WEDDING

In the boisterous days leading up to her sister’s wedding, an aspiring violinist shoots her shot.

After being rejected by Juilliard, her dream school, Zurika Damani worries she’ll never be able to convince her traditional Indian parents that she should be pursuing music instead of pre-law. But she has another chance—there’s a music competition in Atlanta that is being judged by college scouts from top music schools around the country. The problem? It’s happening during her sister’s wedding week, a time that should be spent with family, celebrating and preparing. But as they say in her family, “Damani girls don’t stay down.” With the help of her cousins, Zuri sneaks away to the audition and nearly (literally) runs into Naveen Patel, her soon-to-be-brother-in-law’s annoyingly charming cousin from South Africa. Naveen also happens to be a fellow competitor, a talented singer, and her mom and aunties’ potential match for her. If she’s not careful, she may not only fall for him, but mess up her sister’s big day and disappoint her parents. From prayerful puja to high-energy garba dances, Patel lovingly portrays the rich and vibrant festivities of a Gujarati Hindu wedding celebration. Though Zuri’s modern beliefs often clash with those of her elders (especially her great aunt, whose obvious preference for lighter skin hurts darker-skinned Zuri), she learns to exert her independence while still remaining loyal to her family, whose challenging expectations often come from a place of love.

A sweet and entertaining romp.