Sanskari Sweetheart - Ananya Devarajan

 

This book has the trope of 'stuck in a time loop' with repeating do-overs which is a theme that I've read before, but this was for sure a first where there is an existing romantic relationship from the beginning. On page, Aditya and Raina are the perfect couple and are also co-captains of their National Bollywood Dance Circuit group. They seem to be made for each other but the cracks in their relationship start showing in their last competition for the scholarship.

I read Kismat Connection over a year back and have read so many books since, I don't remember the book very well. There are obviously characters shared with both the novels with the FMCs in both being sisters. I think this book is readable as a standalone, but I recommend reading both for context and I wish I remembered the first one better.

Pacing wise, the book wasn't too bad but as with books using this trope, the repetition bored me after a while. I found the character development with Raina and just the way her character was crafted to be fascinating. Her relationships with people were so nuanced and are food for thought. The writing style though didn't sit great with me. It's either that or I was in a reading slumpish state when I picked it up. These are my thoughts on the book for now but may change with possible rereads.

PS- I would comment on the cultural aspects of this but I don't find anything that really separates this book from any book with white characters and maybe a few POC side characters. The only examples I can think of would be the entire cast being Indian with Indian names (to my memory) and a little bit of the 'aunties' stereotype. Saying this as an Indian who tries to pick up and support books from Indian/Indian origin authors.