Review by Booklist Review
This latest novel from Patel (The Knockout, 2021) is a feel-good story of family, young love, and pursuing your dreams. Zurika's family wants her to pursue a practical career, but Zurika has her eyes set on Julliard. During her elder sister's wedding celebrations, Zurika sneaks out to attend a local music competition with the hopes of attracting industry scouts, but she doesn't expect her biggest competition to be her future brother-in-law's cousin Naveen. Many teens will be able to relate to Zurika's persistence in following her dreams and courage in speaking up for herself. Zurika also embraces her Indo-Trinidadian roots and bucks against white beauty standards. As family is a central theme, it's a bit of a surprise that individual family members don't play a larger role throughout the novel, especially since Zurika is in an environment where she is surrounded by them. Despite this, Patel leverages Zurika's budding romance with Naveen well, and their sweet but competitive relationship will leave readers hopeful. This warm hug of a novel will find a cherished spot on many bookshelves.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In Atlanta, hip-hop violinist Zurika "Zuri" Damani dreams of a career in music. After being rejected by Juilliard--to which she applied unbeknownst to her family, who think she's pursuing pre-law like her sisters--she hopes to compete in an area contest judged by a panel of college scouts. Unfortunately, the competition takes place during her sister's "biggest, fattest, most Indianist wedding," and Zuri's family has warned repeatedly that she is not to miss a minute. "It's time to put away the violin and focus on your responsibilities," her older sister Urvi tells her. Further complicating Zuri's ambitions are her family's matchmaking attempts with the groom's cousin from South Africa, whom Zuri soon discovers is a vocalist--and a fellow competitor. Set over the span of a week, Patel's (The Knockout) YA outing is uneven, with a plodding pace and sometimes indiscernible characters. But the author provides a sweeping portrait of the South Asian diaspora, and offers an affectionate and lushly detailed window into the family's wedding experience-- "nutty almond barfi, buttery peda, coconutty chum chum, and gooey orange jalebi (yes!)." Ages 13--up. Agent: Katelyn Detweiler, Jill Grinberg Literary. (Apr.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
In the boisterous days leading up to her sister's wedding, an aspiring violinist shoots her shot. After being rejected by Juilliard, her dream school, Zurika Damani worries she'll never be able to convince her traditional Indian parents that she should be pursuing music instead of pre-law. But she has another chance--there's a music competition in Atlanta that is being judged by college scouts from top music schools around the country. The problem? It's happening during her sister's wedding week, a time that should be spent with family, celebrating and preparing. But as they say in her family, "Damani girls don't stay down." With the help of her cousins, Zuri sneaks away to the audition and nearly (literally) runs into Naveen Patel, her soon-to-be-brother-in-law's annoyingly charming cousin from South Africa. Naveen also happens to be a fellow competitor, a talented singer, and her mom and aunties' potential match for her. If she's not careful, she may not only fall for him, but mess up her sister's big day and disappoint her parents. From prayerful puja to high-energy garba dances, Patel lovingly portrays the rich and vibrant festivities of a Gujarati Hindu wedding celebration. Though Zuri's modern beliefs often clash with those of her elders (especially her great aunt, whose obvious preference for lighter skin hurts darker-skinned Zuri), she learns to exert her independence while still remaining loyal to her family, whose challenging expectations often come from a place of love. A sweet and entertaining romp. (Fiction. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
