When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon Review

Sandhya Menon was playing safe for this book, everything was going in a smooth way. 

Start from the beginning, Rishi was already interested with Dimple. We only need Dimple to falls in love with Rishi and that's why Rishi became a lovable character in my eyes. 

Another letdown point that I would like to state here was their personalities. 

I often think Dimple's behavior to Rishi was unfair so many times yet Rishi's crush to Dimple still going strong. As a guy, I really wanted to see Rishi could stand up for himself, to showing Dimple her mistakes not just let her be as she likes to be and covers her mistakes. Rishi was just too 'agreeable' with Dimple and I don't like it.

The 90% setting of this book took place in the coding summer program but we don't really get to see what's Dimple and Rishi's project throughout the book. 

Instead of whole pages of they are trying to create their app, all we got is a whole drama of how to win the talent show. 

I felt like the majority plot of this book was lost from the original direction.

Yes, this is a diverse book and I appreciate it. 

But I don't think we got to know much of Indian culture from this book, it was only from the parents' conversation. I got to know Indian culture better from that Indian drama series that my aunt used to watch every night.

What I expected to happen when Dimple met Rishi was...

... a huge explosion with some absurd scene where I could shock and laugh. 

What I actually got when Dimple met Rishi was...

Maybe my disappointment comes from a highly praise this book got from ARC reviews and I had a high expectation for this book.

Will I read her next book? Maybe. Honestly, I don't know.

My rating for this book is 2.5 stars.

Always and Forever by Lara Jean (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #3) Review

Always and Forever, Lara Jean. Always and Forever.

The third and final (hopefully it really is, this time, Jenny Han?) book in this trilogy. 

This year is Lara Jean's final year and the main focus of this book is how Lara Jean decided about her future University life and figuring out her relationship with Peter as University couple.

Peter has got in the early acceptance at UVA because he plays lacrosse for their school team and Lara Jean still waiting the good news from UVA. She didn't apply early like Peter did because her guidance counselor advises her against applying early action.

Mind you, I don't understand about University acceptance process in the State but hey, why didn't you take every single chance you can if this University is your first choice? You can get the news early, whether it was good or bad. If they didn't accept you, yeah it's a bummer but you can move on early too, right? 

I feel slightly disappointed with Lara Jean on this one. 

Even after a whole year of being together, it can still feel so new. To love a boy, to have him love you back. It feels miraculous. 

Peter Kavinsky, still being likable, a perfect material boyfriend, as always. Their relationship is steadier than ever but still far from perfect. In this book, we got to know Peter's fear of losing Lara Jean. It's interesting because Lara Jean was usually the one who got that feeling. All of Peter and Lara Jean's fear was very natural and I like how Jenny Han presented them. 

Peter learns how to open up his feeling to Lara Jean not close them to himself. 

Peter being insecure was a humanly understandable and all of his struggle just made me love him more than before. 

Kitty is always my most favorite character from the beginning and she continues to awe me on this book. I'm going to miss her smart and sassy's side. Being a youngest Song girls, she's the most mature one compared from her two older sisters. 

We got to meet Margot here and there and I'm so sad she felt being left out of the family. But fortunately, Margot can be reasonable in front of her family, especially her father and Kitty. Like Peter said, it took time for Margot warms up to the new people and I hope she can fully accept that she's no longer need to be the 'mother figure' for Lara Jean and Kitty. 

Always and Forever, Lara Jean is my least favorite of the three (let's say I'm crying a lot when I read this book, not so when I read the previous two) but it's the most important one. Throughout Lara Jean, I can relish my own senior year experience. Like Lara Jean's, the glow feeling school's over, that stupid year book photos, excitement for University life, the nervous feeling waiting for the good news from our first choice of Uni, fear of 'it's really that time' leaving our childhood home, fear of what our future will hold, fear of ended losing our forever best friend and our high school crush. 

Jenny Han did a wonderful job to portray all of that senior's feeling and it's time to say good bye forever from this series but at the same time, I can't wait for what's next from Jenny Han. 

I still get that nervous dip in my stomach when I see Genevieve, but not as bad as it used to be. I know we'll never be friends again, and I've made my peace with it. 

Heed my advice, Lara Jean. Never say no when you really want to say yes. 

I don't want to forget any of this. The way he's looking at me at this very moment. How, when he kisses me, I still get shivers down my back, every time. I want to hold on to everything so tight.

4 adorable stars rating