Thank you to NetGalley and to Atmosphere Press for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is an absolutely incredible and captivating story of a young Indian girl named Paru and how she faces life. I will say that I was utterly captured from the dedication and nothing changed as the pages turned. I absolutely LOVED Anu Koduri's writing - it was just breathtaking prose and there was this lyrical quality that really pulled me in!

I loved Paru's story - how she grew up with the 1970's, in a very well respected Brahmin family. She's a normal young girl - having crushes, enjoying Diwali, just living the good life. Then it all blows up when her 2 oldest brother's decided to defy their cultural traditions - the community ends up throwing the family out due to the shame, and repairing that relationship and regaining the respect really weighs Paru's shoulders down.

Fast forward to her being set up into an arranged marriage - with Samar, whom is working as a doctor in the US. Paru's father and brother make the arrangement and Paru reluctantly (and with a broken heart from not being able to be with the man she has a crush on and actually likes!) agrees and they get married. There is some intense drama and it really brings up a lot of how the intricate details of an arranged marriage are really not in the bride, or grooms control - it's the families acting out and talks of the dowry, and everything. This was the first book that I have read that really touches on just how performative a lot of it is, and how forced it is as well.

The couple gets back to the US and Paru is struggling - she's trying to please Samar, but he has an extreme temper and isn't the nicest to her. She learns and starts to fight the patriarchy and the girl gang here? ABSOLUTELY amazing, and truly shows that we aren't alone - women support other women and it is an absolutely beautiful thing. The entire story is truly realistic and it really gave you someone to cheer for - Paru and how you just want her to chase her own dreams and be happy herself.

It's 2025 and this book is as relevant as ever - the issues that this book talks about in depth are still the ones we fight today and will continue to fight.

This was such an amazing book and would be perfect for anyone wanting to learn of other cultures, and also follow a story of great character growth and personal development!

The cover of the book piqued my interest, and I experienced a rollercoaster of emotions while reading it. Though it is set in the 1900s, the nature of south asian men raised in traditional conservative families is still largely the same. I was heartbroken multiple times by what Mrs. Shastri had to endure, such as verbal abuse and disrespect from extended family, despite being educated. If I had the chance, I would slap Samar—he left a lasting impression on me that I can't shake off.

This book is a must-read for anyone from a South Asian background. It describes the struggles that children of immigrants face when trying to balance their traditions with the new culture they encounter. It's disheartening to see how nobody supported Mrs. Shastri and how her father succumbed to societal pressures.

Though there was a plot development, I still felt a lag in the story at times.

What a rollercoaster ride it was!
This book depicts the lives of most Indian women, and what they go through in the name of culture, religion ,beliefs, societal norms and standards.
It also depicts how things were in the 70's, and what women went through just for the name of the family, where the family's dignity and respect is held by the daughters and women in the family. But the men always had a free pass for everything and anything,they always think that they are above everyone. And believe that all the women in their lives should be under their control.This book is very well written, and even though many things have changed in the past decades, girls and women still go through these things even now.
This is the story of Paru, a medical student who's in love with Harsha, her classmate. She was expecting him to send a wedding proposal by Diwali, and was looking forward to her Bollywood Romance. But everything changed when her brothers married women of a different race, caste and religion.
When this news spread in there hometown, the elders brahmins summoned and told them to cut ties with them or else they would be casted out from the community, as they have sinned. But the only person who had to pay the price for this act was Paru, who had to forgo her love and settle for an arranged marriage to a man of the same caste and religion, just to protect her family's name, dignity and reputation.
Later, she meets up with Harsha to talk about what had happened, and in the same conversation, he told her that he loved her a lot. However, it was due to his family circumstances that he had to let her go. The worst part was that he didn't even fight for her or their love.
Paru's family fixes an arranged marriage with Samar, a doctor from Chicago with a hefty dowry.  But little did they know that his family was asking for extra dowry, even after marriage, because they were money minded people.
Samar is a male chauvinist pig ,who wasn't interested in her and only married her for kids. He is incredibly demanding, and moral polices over Paru, while also micromanaging everything and being egoistic. He pretends to be a good and honourable person only when he wants things and is jealous of Paru because she's a better doctor and person than him. The only good thing is that he loves his kids and is a good father. But the question is, he cheated on his wife of 22 years with an intern at the hospital he works in. Where did his morals go then?

How will Paru navigate her life in this mess?Will she get her Bollywood Romance?

A Bollywood Romance by Any Kodori is a literary/contemporary fiction set in the 1970's where we follow Paru, a medical student in Hyderabad, India, who becomes the wife of Samar through an arranged marriage, and later a gynecologist in Chicago, USA. Themes including womanhood, character building, and cultural differences are explored. We learn through the eyes and the emotions of the protagonist, her suppressed desires as she juggles between upholding her role as a dutiful daughter, wife and mother in society, versus living her dream alongside her childhood sweetheart, free from religion and tradition. 

First, I would recommend it. I read it in a day. It is deep, provokes many after thoughts and very informative of how different countries and cultures function as a society, even today. I feel this book may appeal not only to those that may resonate with Paru, but to a wide variety of audiences. For example, it depicts common marital matters and family relations that many of us are familiar with. Slight trigger warnings though. I like the comparing and contrasting themes highlighted throughout e.g., past vs future; duty vs dream; east vs west; nature vs nurture; group vs individualism.

Second, a quote that I like from Paru's grandfather (ch 14). I understand it as a spiritual cleanse, but also personifying the coconut as having a mentality, coloured by both the east and the west, just like Paru.  ''<i>..The hard shell is our ego, which we need to break. The water flows out, which is our negative thoughts. Left behind is the soul; the pure white coconut..''. </i> 

Third, I would have found it super helpful had I found the glossary at the back whilst reading. It is mentioned at the content page. I guess easier to find when reading a physical copy. That said, I must say a big thank you to NetGalley for sending me this deep piece of literature, and to the author and Atmosphere Press. It is my first e-book and review, which I have written with care and honesty. I am grateful and enjoying being part of this beautiful community. Many thanks all. Onto my next read!

Thank you NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for this eCopy to review

From the moment I stepped into Paru’s world, I was captivated by the emotional depth and cultural richness of A Bollywood Romance. Anu Koduri crafts a compelling story that explores the tension between tradition and personal happiness, making for a deeply moving read.

Paru, raised in a strict Brahmin family, dreams of a love story worthy of the Bollywood films she adores. She secretly hopes her classmate Harsha will ask for her hand, but when her brothers defy tradition with their own marriages, her family is cast out of their community. To restore their honour, Paru is pushed into an arranged marriage with Samar, a physician in the United States.

Fast-forward twenty years—Paru is now a successful gynaecologist in Chicago, but her marriage has been anything but fulfilling. When Samar leaves her for another woman, Paru is forced to confront the life she has built and the sacrifices she has made. Then, Harsha reappears, offering her a second chance at love. But embracing happiness means defying centuries of tradition and risking everything—including her children.

Koduri’s storytelling is immersive and emotionally charged, bringing Paru’s struggles to life with authenticity and care. The novel’s exploration of cultural expectations, resilience, and self-discovery is beautifully woven into the narrative, making Paru’s journey both heart breaking and inspiring.

The rich depiction of Hindu traditions, particularly the Diwali celebrations and the complexities of the caste system, adds depth to the story. Paru’s internal conflict—between duty and desire—is powerfully portrayed, making her a character I deeply empathised with.

If you enjoy romantic dramas with strong female leads, A Bollywood Romance is a must-read. Koduri delivers a heartfelt, culturally rich story that lingers long after the final page. It’s a novel that celebrates love, resilience, and the courage to rewrite one’s destiny.

Wow, this book showcases arranged marriage in such a realistic manner. I loved how nothing is sugarcoated. What did frustrate me a bit was Paru's ambivalence towards Samar's mistreatment of her, where she acknowledges how bad it, but then jumps into bed with him the next moment. I know, human relationships are complicated, and ingrained traditions are difficult to buck; however, as a character, Paru's decisions at times gave me whiplash as a reader.

Title: A Bollywood Romance
Author: Anu Koduri
Publisher: @atmospherepress
Release Date: May 13, 2025
Rating: 4 Star


PLOT:
Paru has led a sheltered life, dreaming of the perfect Bollywood romance. For a moment, it seems like her life may start to resemble one- she’s beautiful, leading her class in medical school, and she has the attention of her handsome classmate, who just so happens to be of the same subcaste. But where a series of actions by her older brothers threatens to plunge her family into shame, she must make an arranged marriage. Through a series of heartbreaks and joys, her life will turn out very different than she expected.

REVIEW:
This is a book that needs to be read with a lot of cultural sensitivity! I found myself constantly trying to remember that I can’t view the story through my own lens because in my American mind, I was constantly shouting at Paru. But our lives, values, and expectations of life have always been different. The story grabs you right away. I read it in one day because I needed to know what would happen and when or even if Paru would finally find some strength. It’s a heartbreaking story with a lot of depth and frustration. Even when I was mad at Paru and her family and pretty much everyone in the book, I needed to know what happened. I was incredibly satisfied with the ending.