Radha & Jai's Recipe for Romance

Parents need to know that Radha & Jai's Recipe for Romance, by Nisha Sharma (My So-Called Bollywood Life), is about a romance between two Indian American teens who are navigating family, following their passions, and mental health issues. Radha has a very complicated relationship with both of her parents: one parent who controls most of her life, and the other who's largely absent. In one argument, Radha's mother slaps her. Radha has panic attacks throughout the novel, and goes to therapy and uses dance to cope with her anxiety. She and her family take mental health seriously, and they discuss how mental health and therapy can often be stigmatized in the South Asian community. Radha and Jai are both very connected to their culture, and this book is a very good introduction to Indian culture and teens who have a great relationship with their roots. Both teens are very passionate and ambitious, and use dance as an outlet for creativity and culture. There's some strong language, including one use of "f--k," "asshole," "badass," "bulls--t," but it's not common. There is a mention of smoking weed, but none of the characters partake. There are many descriptions of kissing, but not much else. One of the characters has a stroke and almost passes away, which can be difficult for younger readers to read.