Swati Hegde

A young magazine writer in Mumbai must prove her matchmaking skills—and contend with growing feelings for her close family friend—in this debut romance Jia Deshpande, the ever-confident fashionista, is a writer for Mimosa, Mumbai’s top women’s magazine, where she begrudgingly writes cliché articles about finding “the One.” Out of the office, Jia writes the messy truth of real love on her anonymous blog while balancing competitive family game nights and growing feelings for her childhood friend. If that wasn’t enough, Jia has been tasked with successfully setting up a coworker to get her boss’s approval for her new matchmaking column. Thankfully, orchestrating meet-cutes has never been difficult for Jia. Jaiman Patil can’t help but be enamored with Jia and her meddling spirit. They’ve known each other since childhood, playing while their fathers bonded over business. Now he’s an honorary part of her family, ever since his own moved to America, leaving Jaiman behind to pursue his dream of running a local pub. Life with the Deshpandes is chaotic and loud, but it’s more love than he had growing up. It’s also a lot to lose, so confessing his deep feelings for Jia is completely out of the question. When Jia’s attempts at office matchmaking go haywire, risking new friendships and her relationship with Jaiman, she must reevaluate her own thoughts on love. For the first time, Jia Deshpande doesn’t know how to juggle the obstacles ahead of her. Love may be a bit more complicated than she thought, but luckily, happily-ever-afters are never in short supply in Mumbai.

A Novel

Match Me If You Can

A young woman with Bollywood roots hires a barista to act as her boyfriend for her cousin’s wedding—only to learn you can’t fake chemistry like theirs—in this desi romance from the author of Match Me If You Can

Harsha Godbole has never felt love from her family, but she’s always been surrounded by their Bollywood business mogul wealth. Now back in Bangalore after studying in America, Harsha is ready to start her adult life without their money. But that becomes impossible when everything she’s worked so hard for comes crumbling down. Fearful of showing up to her cousin’s upcoming wedding as a failure—and worse, a single failure—Harsha decides to put her trust fund to good use . . . 

Veer Kannan does everything for his family. He even gave up his dreams of becoming a Bollywood star to get a more consistent gig . . . although working as a barista wasn’t really the big break he was hoping for. It’s a humble life, but a happy one, nonetheless. Then financial aid falls through for his brother’s first year in business school, so now Veer needs to come up with a large sum of money, and fast.

Harsha’s outlandish plan to hire her favorite barista as her fake boyfriend for the weekend-long wedding bash is received surprisingly well by Veer, who hopes this will be his ticket to Bollywood. But Harsha and Veer get way more than they bargained for in this heartwarming journey to finding unexpected love and courage.

Can't Help Faking In Love

Jane Austen's Emma meets bustling Mumbai society in Swati Hegde's debut friends to lovers romcom. Confident fashionista Jia Deshpande spends her days writing cliché-ridden listicles for Mimosa, Mumbai's top women's magazine. When she can, Jia dishes about the messy truth of real love on her anonymous blog, attends her family's weekly game nights, and ignores her true feelings for her childhood friend. If that wasn't enough, Jia needs to successfully set up a coworker with her perfect match to get the green light for her new column. Thankfully, organising meet-cutes has never been difficult for her. Local pub owner Jaiman Patil can't help but be enamoured with Jia and her meddling spirit. He's always been an honorary part of her family, even more so since his own moved to America. Life with the Deshpandes is chaotic and loud, but it's also more loving than anything he experienced growing up, and he wouldn't risk losing that for the world. It feels manageable - until his pub begins to struggle and his feelings for Jia grow deeper. When Jia's attempts at office matchmaking go haywire, risking new friendships and her relationship with Jaiman, she must reevaluate her own thoughts on love. For the first time, Jia realises that love may be a lot more complicated than she thought. Luckily, happily-ever-afters are never in short supply in Mumbai.

Swati Hegde

About

Books

Join the club