When Dimple Met Rishi
Opposites begin to attract in sweet arranged-union tale.
Parents say
Based on 2 reviews
Kids say
Based on 10 reviews
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Sandhya Menon's When Dimple Met Rishi is the story of two college-bound first-generation Indian American teens whose very traditional parents believe they're meant for each other. Dimple and Rishi's families arrange for them to attend a summer website and app-development competition in San Francisco, certain that when they meet it will be love at first sight. But for the Dimple and Rishi, it's anything but love when they meet. Dimple is horrified when she finds out her parents have selected a potential husband for her and wants nothing to do with Rishi. As this is a romantic comedy, the two will eventually discover -- through a series of sometimes hilarious misadventures -- that they have more in common than either of them ever thought possible. Several sexual encounters are not described in any detail, a few characters are "under the influence," and profanity is limited to "BS," "crap," and "bitch."
Community Reviews
Cute fluffy romance
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Formulaic , but cute
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What's the Story?
WHEN DIMPLE MET RISHI, it didn't go at all well -- no big surprise, as Rishi blurted out,"Hello, future wife," and Dimple had absolutely no idea who he was or why he'd say such a crazy thing. While Rishi knew that Dimple would be attending the website and app-development competition, Dimple's family had not let her in on the parents' plan to fix up their teens. To complicate matters even more, Dimple (on her way to Stanford) has absolutely no interest in finding the I.I.H. (Ideal Indian Husband) while Rishi (on his way to MIT) thinks the idea of an arranged marriage might be quite a sensible one. Dimple's determined to never ever have anything to do with Rishi, but then they find themselves partnered up at the competition. A truce ensues as they begin to work together and even venture out on a "non-date." As the opposites begin to attract, they learn how small their differences really are, and Dimple gives Rishi the courage to tell his parents what he really wants to do with his life.
Is It Any Good?
This heartwarming, funny, romantic tale explores serious coming-of-age issues: honoring tradition in a modern world, becoming independent, and making good choices about love. When Dimple Met Rishi portrays Dimple and Rishi's blended world of conservative Indian culture and tech nerds in a way that will be instantly relatable not only to readers who come from Indian families but also to any teens who've ever been misunderstood by their parents or felt like an outsider.
Dimple and Rishi might be geeky, but they're feisty, funny geeks who will constantly surprise readers as their true personalities emerge. Who would have expected Rishi to be confident and take charge on a first date or that Dimple would find she could dance like a character out of a Bollywood movie? While the idea of arranged marriages is central to the plot of the novel, it's made clear that neither set of parents would ever pressure Dimple or Rishi to marry someone they didn't love.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the cultural differences between generations in When Dimple Met Rishi. What are some of the values or traditions your parents believe are important that you think are old-fashioned or have no place in your life?
Do you read comics or graphic novels? Do you have a favorite artist?
Would you ever let your parents fix you up on a date? What kind of person do you think they'd choose for you?
Book Details
- Author: Sandhya Menon
- Genre: Romance
- Topics: Friendship, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Simon Pulse
- Publication date: May 30, 2017
- Number of pages: 380
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: September 25, 2020
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