A story of self-discovery and falling in love, with a dash of color and a sprinkle of breeziness.
A college romance with festivities at its heart.
Maya Sastry’s first week at Neadham University starts off in a hopeful way, with a meet-cute involving a boy with “heart-melting dimples” who helps her after she drops all her notebooks on the ground. However, despite this promising beginning, self-centered gamer Thomas turns out to most definitely not be the man of Maya’s dreams. Instead, Indian American Maya puts all her effort into her classes, baking, and putting together the best Holi bash Neadham has ever seen. As it turns out, getting involved with the Hindu Student Association’s event committee means working with gorgeous, charming upperclassman Nishant Rai. He and Maya have what seem to be very different plans for both the festival and life. Nishant, who’s a DJ, is imagining an “EDM festival meets old-fashioned Holi dance party with bhang,” a traditional drink containing ground cannabis. To Maya, Holi is a meaningful time, “the festival of renewal. A time to celebrate life and love…traditional and nostalgic.” But ideas meld, as do lives, and what follows is the distinct possibility of romance. The story, which is populated by a cast of well-sketched characters, explores the leads’ personal insecurities and toxic exes alongside the vagaries of college life and event planning. A small amount of family baggage gets checked in as well. Altogether these elements make for a bright and fun read.
A story of self-discovery and falling in love, with a dash of color and a sprinkle of breeziness. (Romance. 15-18)Pub Date: March 11, 2025
ISBN: 9781368096126
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Review Posted Online: Nov. 23, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2025
Entertaining.
A tale of love and loss that spans the globe.
Instead of having a carefree summer, biracial (Korean/White) Anna is sent away from the familiarity of New York, her friends, the past school year’s scandal—and the memories of her dead boyfriend, Alexia Vronsky. While struggling with grief, her shattered self-image, and an uncertain future, Anna attempts to reclaim her summer in Seoul, where she knows only her father and grandmother. Beatrice, Alexia’s cousin, juggles her clingy girlfriend and falling for a California surfer even as she represses her grief. Meanwhile, Anna’s brother, Steven, plans for an amazing summer party, although Lolly, his girlfriend, is away at theater camp. Steven’s best friend, Dustin, and Kimmie, Lolly’s younger sister, are equally nervous about their first sexual experience together. This sequel to Anna K (2020) contains fewer mentions of luxury brands, and the characters exhibit an increased awareness of the impacts of wealth and socio-economic status. The novel also touches on issues of addiction, sexism, cultural differences, fame, relationships, love, and mental health; in particular, the portrayals of living with grief and redefining the self after a loved one dies shine. Despite some awkward time skips, the humor, pop-culture references, and characters’ distinct voices strengthen the story. Fans of the first novel will enjoy this follow-up, which is also accessible to readers new to Anna and her world. Some major characters are White; Dustin is Black and Jewish, and there is diversity in the supporting cast.
Entertaining. (cast of characters) (Fiction. 15-18)Pub Date: April 27, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-23646-3
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Review Posted Online: March 24, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A thrilling romance that could use more even pacing.
For the second time in her life, Leo must choose between her family and true love.
Nineteen-year-old Princess Leonie Kolburg’s royal family is bankrupt. In order to salvage the fortune they accrued before humans fled the frozen Earth 170 years ago, Leonie’s father is forcing her to participate in the Valg Season, an elaborate set of matchmaking events held to facilitate the marriages of rich and royal teens. Leo grudgingly joins in even though she has other ideas: She’s invented a water filtration system that, if patented, could provide a steady income—that is if Leo’s calculating Aunt Freja, the Captain of the ship hosting the festivities, stops blocking her at every turn. Just as Leo is about to give up hope, her long-lost love, Elliot, suddenly appears onboard three years after Leo’s family forced her to break off their engagement. Donne (Brightly Burning, 2018) returns to space, this time examining the fascinatingly twisted world of the rich and famous. Leo and her peers are nuanced, deeply felt, and diverse in terms of sexuality but not race, which may be a function of the realities of wealth and power. The plot is fast paced although somewhat uneven: Most of the action resolves in the last quarter of the book, which makes the resolutions to drawn-out conflicts feel rushed.
A thrilling romance that could use more even pacing. (Science fiction. 16-adult)Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-328-94894-6
Page Count: 400
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 9, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2019
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