October 9, 2023
Kumar debuts with a swoonworthy contemporary that marries a grumpy-sunshine romance with a deep exploration of familial relationships. Bubbly middle school English teacher Meghna Raman has been harboring feelings for one of her best friends, Seth, since college—but when he asks her to be his best man at his upcoming wedding, she’s forced to accept that he’ll never feel the same about her. Determined not to attend the event alone, she finally gives in to pressure from her parents to consider an arranged marriage. Stoic engineer Karthik Murthy, who craves approval from his distant father but also fears becoming just like him, thinks he can avoid a repeat of his parents’ dysfunctional relationship by never getting married. Unfortunately, this philosophy does not stop his mother from searching for a suitable match for him. When Karthik and Meghna are set up by their parents, they see an engagement of convenience as the answer to both of their problems: Meghna gets a wedding date and Karthik gets relief from parental pressure. Now they just have to make sure they don’t accidentally fall in love. It’s a diverting convergence of romance tropes given weight by some deep emotions. This should earn Kumar plenty of fans. Agent: Johanna Castillo, Writers House.
May 31, 2024
Schoolteacher and aspiring playwright Meghna Raman receives a wedding invitation from her college ex-boyfriend Seth, a successful songwriter who she believes is the one who got away. Before she knows it, she's agreed to be Seth's "best man" and to allow her mother to matchmake for her. Meanwhile, HVAC engineer Karthik Murthy, who adamantly doesn't want to get married, agrees to go on matchmaking dates initiated by his mother, just to please her. Although Meghna and Karthik's first meeting goes awry, they agree to a fake engagement so that Meghna has someone to bring to Seth's wedding and Karthik can stop going on his mother's dates. However, as the two get to know each other through family events and work functions, their feelings move from perfunctory to love. Narrator Soneela Nankani's emotive vocalizations save Kumar's formulaic debut. She delightfully portrays the pragmatic Karthik with hints of humor. While written as irritatingly oblivious to most situations, her Meghna displays intelligence as she ponders outcomes. VERDICT Unfortunately, the abundant misunderstandings and miscommunications that befall the couple for most of the novel evaporate Nankani's positive vibes. Best for fervent fans of the fake-dating trope.--Anjelica Rufus-Barnes
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