Starred review from December 19, 2022
Jasmine Randhawa, the heroine of this highly emotional rom-com from Lalli (A Holly Jolly Diwali), has stubbornly forged a path away from her family’s Punjabi traditions. Now she’s broke and newly single and hates that she’s living up to her family’s expectations of her as the “problem child.” When she overhears her parents ask her sister, Niki, to join them and others from their South Asian community on a 10-day Alaskan cruise, Jasmine is hurt not to be invited herself and surprises all by agreeing to go when Niki cannot. Also joining the cruise is Jake Dhillon, the Washington State Punjabi community’s golden child. Jasmine initially writes Jake off as a “douchebag,” but when they both volunteer to co-host the cruise’s amateur dance competition, she learns there’s more to him than she first realized. Jasmine’s looking for a partner, not just another lover, but to get her happy ending she must both reconnect with her roots and stop caring what others think of her. Lalli brings the cruise to vivid life, with exiting excursions along the way and plenty of meddling aunties on board. This ought to make some waves. Agent: Martha Webb, CookeMcDermid.
June 10, 2024
Lalli (A Holly Jolly Diwali) offers a refreshing take on an enemies-to-lovers rom-com, featuring Punjabi heroine Jasmine Randhawa, who finds love in a most unexpected place. Broke and newly single, Jasmine agrees to join her parents on a cruise and is horrified to realize that it's a cruise meant for seniors; the only eligible man in sight turns out to be Jake Dhillon, who is admittedly sexy and successful but also cocky, and more important, he's one of the kids Jasmine used to babysit. Mayuri Bhandari provides a delightful narration of this funny and quirky book, effectively portraying Jasmine's and Jake's evolving character arcs and growth as they battle their attraction to each other and lower their defenses enough to connect. With precise pacing, Bhandari describes the hijinks that Jake and Jasmine get up to both on and off the boat, capturing their banter with the perfect amount of snark and silliness. VERDICT Listeners looking for a diverting, relatable romance will find much to love. Share with fans of Sajni Patel's First Love, Take Two, or Lillie Vale's The Shaadi Set-Up.--Tatyana Nelsen
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