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THE SHAADI SET-UP

Lillie Vale

An Indian-American woman signs herself and her boyfriend up for a matchmaking site to prove to her meddling family that they're a perfect match, only to be paired instead with her ex.
Twenty-six-year-old Rita Chitniss is determined to get her happy ending. She has a budding career as a furniture restorer, a cozy home with two dogs she loves, and a hot, successful new boyfriend. Too bad she has to keep Neil a secret from her parents, since the bad blood between their families makes him the last man her traditional mother would ever accept. But if she and Neil can get paired up through a popular Indian dating site, the matchmaking algorithms may be just enough to convince her parents that they belong together.

One issue: Rita and Neil don't match on the first try. Or the second. Or the third. Instead, Rita matches with Milan, her high school boyfriend who shattered her heart and who her mother keeps pushing her towards now that he's a hot-shot realtor. Ignoring the website--and her family--is one thing, but ignoring Milan proves more difficult, especially when she's reluctantly agreed to help him flip a hard-to-sell house. And the more time they spend together, the more Rita begins to question what she really wants, and who she really loves...

A witty and heartfelt rom-com debut for fans of Jasmine Guillory, Helen Hoang, and Alisha Rai.

Lillie Vale is the author of the young adult novels Small Town Hearts and Beauty and the Besharam (forthcoming from Viking Children's). Born in Mumbai, she grew up in Mississippi, Texas, and North Dakota, and now resides in an Indiana college town. The Shaadi Set-Up is her debut novel for adults.
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Published 2021-09-07 by Putnam

Comments

Charming as hell and wonderfully witty, The Shaadi Set-Up had me grinning, swooning, and sweating. Watching Rita and Milan torture each other is truly delicious, and the tension between them is so thick you'd need several buzzsaws to cut it. A pitch-perfect romantic comedy and a new all-time favorite.

Funny, sexy, and so full of love! With hilarious and vibrant prose, memorable characters you can't help but fall in love with, and a new twist on modern dating, this second-chance at love story is addictively readable. I was rooting for Rita and Milan to overcome their complicated history and find their happily ever after from the moment I met them on the page!

THE SHAADI SET-UP is one of PopSugar's 14 Best New Romance Books That Will Sweep You Off Your Feet BuzzFeed's Romance Novels You Need to Read This Summer BookRiot's 11 Books Like Beach Read for Beach Reading and Beyond

If you loved the beach house aspect of Beach Read and the renovation of it, The Shaadi Set-Up might be the thing you're looking for. Reunited exes have to work together to flip a house! Rita and Milan will find out that their feelings for each other are not easily forgotten. Read more...

Vale's sweet, slow-building, funny, second-chance love story, her debut romance novel, offers lush settings, a clever and amusing predicament, and a memorable match. Read more...

The writing has some standout moments, from the author's celebration of Indian American culture to her lush and mouthwatering descriptions of food. Read more...

[A] pitch-perfect contemporary love story... Entertaining throughout, Vale's delightful storytelling will charm readers. Read more...

YA author Vale makes a splash with her laugh-out-loud adult debut... Vale evenly balances heart and heat, while imbuing her rom-com with cultural specificity and delicately exploring familial obligation and heartbreak. Hilarious and heartfelt, this second chance romance proves it's never too late to start again Read more...

The Shaadi Set-Up was hands down one of the best books that I have read staring Desi (Indian) characters! This book not only checked off a number of boxes but went above and beyond creating a perfect second chance romance. Rita and Milan will forever hold a special spot in my heart, along with their meddlesome families. Vale is definitely a new favorite author of mine and I would highly recommend reading this book ASAP! Read more...

Vale's bittersweet, slow-burn story of lost love and difficult choices is lightened by plenty of humor and charming characters. It will please fans of Jasmine Guillory, Sonali Dev, or Tessa Bailey's 'Hot & Hammered' series of renovation-themed romances. Read more...

The Shaadi Set-Up is my favorite ever second chance romance. Hilarious and emotional, with characters who feel so real I didn't want to let them go, Rita and Milan punched a hole through my heart. I can't wait to dog-ear all my favorite passages. This is an absolute treasure of a love story.

What sets The Shaadi Set-Up apart is Vale's luscious prose and deft characterizations. A fun yet thoughtful novel that ties together love for family, friends, and the one that got away, The Shaadi Set-Up is a heart-warming debut you won't soon forget.