My So-Called Bollywood Life

I reviewed an early copy of this book provided by the publisher.I don't read a lot of contemporary YA -- it's just not my thing. However, My So-Called Bollywood Life caught my interest with its amazing premise.For me, the best part of this book was it a love letter to Bollywood films and Indian culture from a passionate author. Not only is the book full of references to these films -- and includes a guide to all the films mentioned and a secondary list of other great films in the back --the story is also framed like a Bollywood romance. There are dream sequences (featuring the marvelous Shah Rukh Khan dispensing life advice), a love triangle, prophesies, a dance sequence, and the strength and love of families. For the first time in ages, I was able to devour this book in a single weekend -- it was just so fun and full of heart.Winnie is such a funny and wonderful main character. She’s a teen trapped between prophecy, and the expectations that come with it, and wanting to just live her life. She’s whip-smart and sarcastic, but also endearing, passionate, and stubborn. She refuses to give up on her dreams of going to NYU to study film, despite one of the most important people in her life telling her it's a silly dream I loved her constant references to films and how she related plot lines to her life. Her relationship with her family was so wonderful, and I loved how close she is with her parents. She’s the kind of heroine that I love to read about, and her love interest is more than a match for her -- I fully believe in her happy ending.My So-Called Bollywood Life is a book that can be enjoyed by Bollywood lovers and newbies alike. Smart, funny, and totally charming, My So-Called Bollywood Life is the perfect YA romance to devour on a spring or summer day. Even better, you can plan a movie marathon afterward!

What a delightful, fun, escapist read this unusual YA was. It was completely unexpected in nature and plot line, fairly low in terms of teenage angst and it made me smile while reading many times.I know only a little about Bollywood films but through the protagonist Winnie, I learnt just a little more and came to love her love for it. Winnie finds herself in a break up situation in her final year of high school, with a new low-key love interest and uses her savant-ish knowledge of bollywood films to guide her direction.The sense of family in this story was full and fun. Nani, her mum and dad were in the background but powerful in wanting to steer Winnie alongside her astrological predictions.Raj her ex and Dev her want-to-be, were hilarious to read about; I knew where my wishes swayed towards from early on. The friendship circles were both interesting and complex with some strained loyalties. The story had a feminist underpinning which I appreciated and Winnie was empowered as a young women by her family and school."I don't understand why you love the singing and dancing and Bollywood drama...but Winnie Mehta, I would dance for you."There's so much to this story, much more than just a great romantic storyline. Whilst I'm not from the Indian community in the US, I felt this was relatable with a strong coming-of-age theme that will appeal widely.The cover for this book is one of my favourites this year and the words inside match beautifully. I will love seeing this book on my shelf and I would definitely re-read it. MY SO-CALLED BOLLYWOOD LIFE is a fun, own-voices and diverse read and I highly recommend it.

There are books you read to be challenged and moved and thrilled by, and there are books you read because they are a dazzling ray of joyous sunshine in an otherwise dreary start to the summer. My So-Called Bollywood Life is one such ray of sunshine. Full to the brim with warmth, humour, romance and Bollywood references, it's the sort of popcorn and pick'n'mix read that won't fail to bring a smile to your face.Winnie is a delight - full of sass and ambition. Her relationship with her parents is typically teenager fractious, but also respectful and loving in a really healthy way that needs to be demonstrated in YA fiction more often. No more borderline abusive YA parents, please. The challenge of navigating the world of the American teenager and the Indian expectations of her family was really interesting to me as someone who has no such clash of cultures and ideals in their background. Winnie isn't shy of her Indian heritage at all - she loves and embraces it - but the odds that some of it puts her at with her classmates makes for intriguing conflict.So yes, the all is lost moment is a little stupid, and yes, you do sometimes want to bang the characters heads together and say 'just sort yourselves out' (they are teenagers, after all, so this is not wildly out of character) but overall, this is a delightful quick read that will have you wanting to watch a few Bollywood movies by the end of it.I was sent a free copy in exchange for an honest review.