HALLELUJAH !HALLELUJAH! THERE IS AN INDIAN LESBIAN ROMANCE NOVEL!!!
First of all, this review will contain rapturous joy on just the existence of such a book. It may even be half of this review and to everyone who points this out to me, deal with it idc.
In the last year or so, India has made such amazing strides when it comes to LGBTQ issues. First of all the Supreme Court stated homosexuality is a fundamental right and then within months legalized it by striking down the old colonial rule that originally deemed it illegal, Section 377. So for me, reading this novel written by a native Indian author with such genuinely compelling writing and relatable characters was the best chocolate chip cookie on the side of a piping hot brownie with vanilla ice cream cheesecake that was the last year.
Okay rapture over, to the review.
After a super unconventional meet-cute involving an actual car hijack in the streets of Delhi, Sameen Siddiqui and Tara Dixit become carpool and foodie buddies. Tara, who is my kind of introverted and cynical lesbian is initially is a little standoffish, mostly because Sameen is too cute and sweet to not have a crush on and unfortunately also too seemingly straight for it not to go wrong.
Sheryn Munir does such a vivid job of describing and showing Delhi around- both from a native Tara's eyes and also from the Bangalorean Sameen's using both locations and food. Honestly, Falling into Place uses food in such an intersecting way-like a connecting string and aesthetic between the two characters; it's almost like a third protagonist of the story. Also, like most desis, I have a special place in our heart for North-South Indian romances and this book is definitely no exception.
As an Indian, in most LGBTQ romance novels I've ever read that are centered on Indian or Middle Eastern communities, the elephant in the room is the shadow of physical danger due to a backwards law. The level of fear and cynicism that comes with living under such a law is both realistic and a trope present in this book as well. Tara's cynicism has marred her romantic past and also creates obstacles in her initial friendship. But the story does a great job of also deconstructing Tara's fear when she realizes she has fallen in love with Sameen. She is afraid-of heartbreak, of life-changing love-as are we all.
I swear this book is like every single one of my fave Hayley Kiyoko songs.
Relatable and empathetic characters in a familiar setting with cute and light humour, Sheryn Munir tells a story using all my catnip-grounded, flawed character with a 'disaster run away' setting at pretty girls near them lol, a joyfully familiar setting and a story that is grounded in its characters and their personal journey rather than of the struggles and oppressions of the outside world bring with it. Sometimes it's nice to be reminded of that!
Four stars all around!
Please note: This does involve "toaster-oven- converting the straight girl" plot-line.