Some stories were alright and the rest just mehh. Interesting twists with vampires but just didn't come together.

International Book Tour: My Big, Fat Desi Wedding edited by Prerna Pickett (A YA Romance Anthology)

Thank you so much, @mlc_tours x @pagestreetya for choosing me as a host for this beautiful and super-relatable book full of desi romances, desi weddings, food, traditions, cultures, love, fights, friendships, relationships, heartbreaks, second chances, strength and so much more.

All of the eight short stories in this anthology will make you giddy especially if you have grown up in a desi household or with watching extravagant Bollywood romances (SRK-coded specifically) or are somehow related to it. No matter the country, be it India, New York, or California and no matter it is a Pakistani, Indian, Zoroastrian or a Tamil Wedding, they will make you feel all of the emotions depicted in them.

From enemies to lovers, second chance romance, strangers to lovers, rivals to lovers, or even lovers to exes to lovers again, all of these tropes are present in these stories.

The presence of that one mysterious but wise aunty in all those weddings was such a pleasant thing to read.

The Disaster Wedding: It shows how words have consequences but only when you give power to them, the way they navigated through this was lovely.

A Cynic at a Wedding: I was slightly irritated by it initially but then everything becomes relatable and I was glad that dealing with emotions was dealt perfectly.

Sehra: This hit home like no other. I felt it to the core. But I was annoyed at the mention of Tariq’s one bad habit esp when nothing came out of it.

Fate’s Favorites: The whole idea of soulmatism in it was insane. I loved it to bits.

The Wedding Biryani: How mutual loss and grief can bring two apparent rivals together was brilliantly done.

A Confluence of Fate: I absolutely adored the strong female lead in this and how she stood her ground.

A Wedding Recipe for Disaster: The idea of a Punjabi Pashtun wedding was such a treat and how Istikhara prayers actually help.

"My Big Fat Desi Wedding" is the perfect wedding anthology any desi reader could ever dream of. This collection of stories brilliantly captures the essence of desi weddings bringing to life the flamboyant and vibrant celebrations that are an integral part of South Asian heritage.
"My Big Fat Desi Wedding" showcases the diversity within desi weddings : the contrast in rituals and customs from different regions and cultures within South Asia is beautifully highlighted, offering readers a glimpse into the unique ways love and union is celebrated across the subcontinent. The moments of anticipation as we climax to the wedding day, the butterflies in the stomach and the classic clichés that we all secretly adore are on point, adding a magnetic charm of the collection.
The anthology also underlines the fundamental notion about desi weddings that they are not just the union of two individuals, but the coming together and conjunction of two families. The stories explore the dynamics of family relationships, the sometimes-complex negotiations and the eventual blending of different traditions and values.
This book is a must-read for anyone who loves romance, culture, and the inherent magic of weddings. It is a celebration of love in all its forms and a testament to the beautiful chaos that is a desi wedding.

A lovely anthology from 8 different authors about South Asian weddings! All but two are contemporary settings (Fate's Favorites which has soulmarks!) and (A Very Bloody Kalyanam, Tamil vampires!)

I found myself laughing aloud and just really enjoying the ride, especially because all the stories are so specific yet universal for desi weddings and the frame story is that there's an auntie going to all the weddings so you'll get a spectrum of references to her. It's so fun.

General content notes:
A Cynic at a Shaadi is post breakup so FMC is depressed and Going through it, but MMC is an absolute delight. I don't think I've ever read an MMC with so much energy.
Sehra tackles parents who won't go to their son's wedding (to a white woman) and what his younger brother decides to do about it.
The Wedding Biriyani has grief related to parental death and trauma from shitty cheating parent.
A Very Bloody Kalyanam is incredible and critique casteism and has shitty parents. I loved it and wish it was a full length book, when will I get more desi vampires!!!!