Say You’ll Be Mine by Naina Kumar
Contemporary Romance
January 16, 2024 by Dell

Review by Melanie

I always find it increasingly difficult to review books that aren’t 5 stars or 1 star but just sort of fall into that middle category that I like to label as forgettably meh or as my friend Melinda would term, “aggressively fine.”

The real problem with this book actually lies with me because it’s time I finally admit that I just don’t care about the fake relationship trope in contemporary romances. The stakes always seem so very low to me. It’s a trope better suited to historical romances but as is the case with this book, the whole idea seems so absurd and unnecessary. I think fans of the fake dating trope will love this but it’s just not for me.

In this particular book, Meghna and Karthik have been set up by their respective mothers. This is very on par for the South Asian community so I was really excited for this book based on the representation. When their first meeting is not the stuff of true love, Karthik proposes – or rather fake proposes. He needs his mom off his back and also I guess to prove something to his dad and Meghna, who has been pining for her long time ex boyfriend turned friend, needs a date to his wedding. Two birds, one stone. As is the case with this trope, a fake engagement quickly turns to real feelings even though Karthik has made it abundantly clear that he has no intention to ever marry.

A lot of the issues with Meghna and Karthik hinge on their poor communications. Add in a toxic best friend, an even more toxic parental relationship, allegations of sexual harassment (by a minor character), and Meghna’s brother hooking up with her other best friend who also happens to be engaged to someone else, there’s a lot going on in this book. And because there’s so much extra stuff, the development of the actual relationship between Meghna and Karthik sort of gets lost in the shuffle.

The fake relationship part feels so unnecessary to me. I get that Karthik wants to get his mother off his back and that Meghna, reeling from her long time crush suddenly announcing his wedding plans, doesn’t want to show up to the wedding alone. Not to mention, her friend asks her to be his best woman. But honestly, this grown man can’t just ask his mother to give him some time? (As a South Asian person myself, I relate to this better than most but the idea of engaging in a fake relationship to avoid having my mother repeatedly try to set me up was not something I would have ever considered). One thing that this author did really well though is the micro aggressions – like Meghna’s toxic friend being unable to pronounce her whole name and insisting on shortening it to Meg. Little things like that are a good clue that Seth is every bit the asshole that Karthik has already pegged him to be. It takes Meghna a little longer to come to this realization which is a source of frustration both for Karthik and for me, as a reader. (Seriously, he is so terrible and for much of the book, I was really frustrated by Meghna’s inability to acknowledge all the ways in which he is a problematic jerk who continually uses Meghna’s good hearted ways to his own advantage). Of course, it takes Karthik just the barest of meetings to get the lay of the land and predictably, when he tries to talk to Meghna about how she’s being used, she gets furious with Karthik.

Because of all the silly miscommunication and misunderstandings that keep Meghna and Karthik together for much of the book, I was far more intrigued by the side plot where Meghna’s best friend, engaged to be married, is caught making out with Meghna’s brother. I actually wish the book had centered around them because they were the far more intriguing couple.

All in all, the book would probably work for fans of this trope, unfortunately, I’m just not a fan of this trope.

Grade: C

Content Notes: toxic friendship, toxic father relationship, allegations of sexual harassment, cheating between minor characters

ARC from publisher, review is all mine.