Name: Lauren Sullivan's review of My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma
Item: My So-Called Bollywood Life
Rating: 5
Author: Lauren Sullivan

Nisha Sharma

Bollywood film fanatic Winnie has grown up believing the future is written in the stars. Her family's pandit predicted she would find the love of her life before her eighteenth birthday. So when her relationship with Raj collapses, despite him meeting all the criteria, Winnie is lost. This is not how her perfect ending is scripted. Then fellow film geek Dev challenges Winnie to look beyond her horoscope: is taking the future into her own hands the way to find her happily ever after? To get the perfect ending, Winnie will need a little bit of help from fate, family and, of course, a Bollywood movie star. A fate-filled debut sure to dazzle fans of Stephanie Perkins, Maureen Johnson and Sandhya Menon.

My So-Called Bollywood Life

Flavia Louise

Lauren Sullivan

First off, serious heart-eyes for this cover. I’m a humongous fan of illustrated covers, and I’ve seen some amazing ones lately in YA, but this is my new favorite. Like the story itself, it’s delightfully over-the-top. There’s a prophecy, lots of Bollywood movies (with an extra helping of Shah Rukh Khan), a musical number (at a school dance, of course), a loving and supportive family, and so many laughs.

“He shook his finger at the screen, and the gold ring on it glinted. “I think I understand. Your and your parents’ star charts are the most beautiful I’ve ever read. You’re afraid that if it comes true, you’ll be disappointed because it’s a choice you didn’t make. But wouldn’t you be equally disappointed if it doesn’t come true? Finding a jeevansathi is a gift that many people aren’t fortunate enough to receive.”
Jeevansathi. Life partner. Soul mate. She looked over at her dresser and saw the promise of Raj’s silver bracelet. Keep cool, she thought. Keep it cool. He may be super accurate, but he was wrong about this. He was wrong about her.”

Winnie’s family believes in prophecies because one correctly predicted that Winnie’s parents would find each other. Winnie’s is that she would meet her true love before she turned 18, that his name would start with an “R,” and that he’d give her a silver bracelet. She’s always assumed it would be Raj, a boy who goes to the same New Jersey high school as her. Winnie’s not quite happy with having a prophecy dictate her life, however, and is almost relieved when they break up after he cheats on her over the summer before senior year. Problem is, they still have to see each other at film club, where they’re co-chairs. Raj, naturally, realizes too late what he’s missing, and tries to win her back. The problem is, everything he does makes things worse for Winnie. When she reconnects with Dev, a fellow film buff, she’s ready to wash her hands of the prophecy once and for all. But are things really that simple?

“As much as I love Bollywood damsels in distress, I don’t need saving. I’m my own hero.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder. It was a flirt move and such a cliché line, but he’d given her an opening, and any self-respecting film buff would’ve taken it.”

Winnie is absolutely adorable. She knows what she wants out of life – well, she’s pretty sure at least – and worries about the prophecy holding her back. I thought Raj was a bit of jerk, loved her best friend Bridget, and thought Dev was absolutely 80s teen movie boyfriend perfect. I loved the humor in the book, especially how Winnie kept trying to find a Bollywood movie to help problem-solve every situation she got herself in to. While I’ve seen a few Bollywood films, I’m not as much of a film buff as Winnie is, and I think each film is explained well enough that someone with only a cursory knowledge of them would be just fine. I will say, the dream sequences that involved scenes from movies I’ve seen were extra hilarious.

A lot of the “ethnic” YA I read as a kid involved how second-gen kids had to separate their family’s culture from the person they were outside their home. I was so happy this wasn’t a problem for Winnie! Winnie is proud of her heritage, and not afraid to show it. As a bonus, Winnie’s family is amazingly supportive of her – I think it helps that her dad is also a big Bollywood film fan, even going so far as to have a family film night at almost midnight when Winnie is having a rough time and needs a distraction. Winnie’s nani (her grandma) was also a hoot, and I loved the scenes where they went dress shopping or brought samosas to support her.

“People love the movies because of the romance, the emotion, and the passion the characters feel. You get sweaty palms, a clenched stomach, a pounding chest. It’s easy to get swept up in the magic as long as you have a flexible suspension of disbelief.”

Overall – is this completely over the top and predictable, with a cartoonishly evil villain and a sappy and sweet resolution? Yes, but so are some of the best Bollywood movies. I had an immensely fun time reading this book, and I cannot wait to see what Ms. Sharma writes next!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Becky

This was another YA read in a run of YA reading for me. In some ways it may have suffered for being read in that little binge but in other ways it helped.

Unfortunately, because I'd read some truly amazing YA just before this one it did mean I was inevitably comparing it to those books and it suffered for that. It was in no sense bad. In fact it was really really good... but not as good as couple of others I'd read. But it did work in its favour because so often I'm not in the mood for YA. I haven't read as much of late and can be a tad too critical of it if I'm not in the mood for it. I was definitely in a YA mood though and so this meant I probably enjoyed it more than at almost any other time.

I loved the whole book was filled with Bollywood references and films considering the book title. It was obvious many a Bollywod film was watched in the writing of this book and I was tempted to compile a list of some to watch given I'm a complete newbie to Bollywood films. I got Winnie's passion for Bollywood films and films in general. Not everyone can make reference to some of their favourite Bollywood films and follow it up with references to Prode & Prejudice or Never Been Kissed. It was little things like that which helped show the character of Winnie was well-written to show she wasn't some Bollywood fangirl (she was) but someone who was serious about film as a whole and willing to learn and watch everything to let her pursue her passion. It was that which made me so very frustrated by the character of Raj. He continually brushed off Winnies love of film.and dreams of being a film critic as impractical but anyone who listened to her talk about films would have been blind to not see her dedication to it. I think that's why I was so pleased she continually turned Raj (her ex) down when he kept trying to get back with her. As soon as someone is unwilling to support your dreams you have to cut them loose as they don't want the best for you.

And Dev! Now that boy was adorable. He was exactly right for Winnie. He challenged her but never held her back. He tried to get her to think of new things and wanted to help her move forward not hold her back or change her. I loved seeing them together as they manuevered through meeting each others family and got to know each other. I was sad when the inevitable separation happened as drama came to keep them apart but it made the ending all the more rewarding.

I loved how involved Winnies parents and family was in her life as well. Her parents were so cute both scolding her and telling her to follow rules and be goof but always pushing her to pursue her dream as well. I think because I've read a lot of books where parents are trying to force their kids to do something they don't want to do, especially in YA because the 'my parents don'ts understand me' trope is strong that seeing supportive parents was exciting to see.

I really enjoyed this book and it was such an easy read. I'm sad ikept comparing it to other books I read because honestly it was really good and definitely one I think others should read too as it's better than at least 50% of contemporary YA books I've read. And it was fun (even if it will make you want many a Bollywood film by the end).

Sahi K

May 8th, 2018 - Updated Review

I had to restrain myself from bursting into giggles every ten seconds. This book is hilarious throughout, with lots of cheese and OTT melodrama like a typical KJo movie and I loved every single word.

Winnie is a hard-core movie buff with a Hindi movie review blog, who wants to do Film Studies at NYU Tisch and pursue a career as a film critic. She (alongwith her parents) also believe in a prediction made by a Panditji in her childhood about meeting her soulmate whose name starts with ‘R’ before her eighteenth birthday. But, when a few months before the D-day, her long time boyfriend Raj breaks up and she starts feeling something for Dev, she has to choose between believing in kismet or wanting to make her own destiny.

Winnie is a normal teenager who is angry and devastated by her breakup and confused about wanting to be with Dev (especially when Raj starts pursuing her again) but through it all, she is strong in her convictions, knows what she wants from her future and never lets anyone change her mind. Her parents and nani are some of the best parental characters I’ve ever read. They might be slightly pushy, maybe even embarrass her a little in front of others, but they love her unconditionally and fully support her in her choices without pressuring her. I loved the idea of Indian parents not worried that their kid didn’t want to be an engineer or a doctor. They are also traditional, slightly superstitious but still progressive in their ideas and I admired them a lot.

Dev may look like a bad boy but he is the sweetest guy ever and so so precious *swoons*. Though Dev and Winnie’s relationship felt a little insta-lovey, I totally got swept up in it and was rooting for them from the get-go. Every single one of their dates is very very cute and I always wanted more. Raj is probably an okay guy but I didn’t like him from the moment he told Winnie that her career choices were silly and she should grow up and go to college with him. I could never warm up to him after that, and he probably only redeemed himself slightly towards the end when he helped resolve some misunderstandings. Bridget is Winnie’s BFFL (Best Freaking Friend for Life) and their mutual admiration society of 80’s movies and Jane Austen was very endearing.

However, for me, what makes this book so wonderful is that for the first time ever, I saw a part of myself on the page. Winnie’s obsession with Hindi movies, her love for their romanticism, songs and dances, SRK – all felt like a reflection of myself. The writing is also very light hearted with so many funny moments making the whole reading experience very enjoyable and entertaining. SRK showing up in Winnie’s dreams and giving her advice on her love life through his iconic movie dialogues was hysterical. The Hindi movie references are spot-on and the snippets from Winnie’s review blog about the most notable movies of the last two decades are a highlight.

This is a very typical and predictable high school romance if you go by the plot, but the humorous writing and the completely filmi aesthetic make this one of the most funniest books I have ever read. Definitely recommend for readers of YA rom-coms but this is a must read for all lovers of SRK and Bollywood.


  Special LOL spoilery moments from the book:

(view spoiler)[
1. Winnie’s favorite swear word – “Holy baby Shahrukh”
2. Referring to the iconic Bachchan starrer Deewar as “that Wall movie”
3. Every single translation of SRK’s most famous dialogues
4. “Pigeon, go, go, go, pigeon, go, go, go” – remember that song?
5. Dream Winnie running in a “sarson ka khet” and falling into the arms of SRK
6. Nani and her mom making food for the film festival because no movie experience is complete without samosas
7. Dev performing a Bollywood dance routine with a whole set of background dancers to impress Winnie (even though he hates dancing… isn’t he the best!!!!)
 (hide spoiler)]
May 4th, 2018

This book ..... oh god this book... I would give it so many stars I wouldn’t be able to count.

I haven’t been able to stop laughing since I started it a few hours ago and I just abandoned everything I had to do at home to finish it. And I’m thrilled.. and excited... and super duper happy...

My insanely Bollywood and SRK obsessed self is feeling really seen and validated after reading this book. 

Anyone who loves Indian movies, the corny, OTT and dramatic nature of our films, should definitely read this book. You will just love it and die laughing 😆😆😆

I know I’m rambling but I will need a lot of time to think and write a review for this one. Because, all I want to do is quote all the hysterical lines - which would essentially be most of the book.

Katie

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy free in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fluffy, cute contemporary, and definitely a quick read. I enjoyed the family dynamics and the focus on Indian culture. I liked seeing a protagonist from what is often considered a "strict" culture by Western standards enjoying time with her family and embracing a lot of their traditions instead of pushing back against them. Winnie's obsession with Bollywood movies bordered on extreme, but it added humor when she should have been dealing with something serious but made references to Bollywood movies instead.

I didn't feel like any of the characters had a lot of depth, and the "love triangle" wasn't excellent since it was pretty obvious who the better guy was, at least in my opinion! I also had an issue with the fact that Winnie broke up with the original guy because he asked her not to follow her dreams in favor of his own, but then the other guy asked her to do something similar, and all her friends were mad at her because she didn't put his wants above her own life goals! I feel like that sets a very contradictory tone for the book, and I wish Winnie had stood up for herself more in that situation and done what was best for her. Other than that, I did really like the love interest, but I didn't think he, or any other character, was anything new or special to the YA contemporary genre. This book was fun and funny, but I don't think it will stick with me. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a light contemporary, especially one with Indian culture.

Kath Lau

This book is heavy on romance which was cute but can be too cheesy at times but I still enjoyed it. I liked how the author handled the concept of destiny vs. free will in this book. FYI, I believe in destiny. Although the story is predictable, has the rom-com tropes, and wasn’t that original, it’s still a delightful read. Perfect summer read.

Read my full review HERE.

Alexia Cambaling

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Stripes Publishing and NetGalley!

My So-Called Bollywood Life is about film geek Winnie who is a Bollywood enthusiast and runs a review blog where she reviews movies. She is also the subject of a prediction by a pandit who says that she will meet the love of her life before her eighteenth birthday, that his name will start with an R, and he will give her a silver bracelet. Naturally, she thinks that the guy in the prophecy is her boyfriend, Raj, because it makes sense. Until it doesn’t and they break up.

I really enjoyed My So-Called Bollywood Life. It’s a funny, light-hearted, and poignant YA Contemporary about first love and destiny. Here, Winnie has to face her own beliefs about her destiny and the reality that’s unfolding in front of her. First, her boyfriend break up with her. Then, her position as the head organizer of their school’s student film festival is challenged and may be in danger. Then her ex wants her back but she’s already starting to fall in love with someone who’s name doesn’t start with the letter R and thus, cannot be the subject of her prophecy.

As a coming-of-age story, MSCBL is a pretty good one. Winnie’s ex tries to disparage her love of movies and her choice of career but she stands by it. She has a passion for movies and film critique and it’s something she wants to do and make a career out of. I liked how she doesn’t take shit from Raj for it.

Also, I really enjoyed the epigraphs with Winnie’s film reviews. She’s very witty and also obviously very knowledgeable on Bollywood films, especially older ones. Those parts make me want to search the films mentioned and maybe watch them for myself.

I really enjoyed how Indian culture takes center stage in this book. It’s such an interesting and rich culture and I love how the author shares it with us through the characters, a large portion of which are Indian. She doesn’t explain all of the terms but Google is just a click away and learning more about it by searching things up is pretty fun because learning things is fun. And besides, you can glean a lot from context clues anyway. I loved how Winnie takes pride in her culture and is very invested in it.

At its core, MSCBL is a YA Contemporary Romance and for me, it hits all the right buttons for one. It has all the fluff and just the right amount of drama that I enjoy in the contemporary romance books that I read. I enjoyed how Winnie and Dev’s relationship progressed and I thought that it was pretty realistic. Also, I liked that Dev really supports Winnie and even shares her passion for film. They are seriously one of my new favorite contemporary couples because of healthy and just lovely their relationship was.

Overall, I really enjoyed My So-Called Bollywood Life and I can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA Contemporary.

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