Diwali is a time to celebrate the triumph of good over evil, but for Niki this year, it’s a time to start over. She lost her job, her parents are pushing her to agree to an arranged marriage, and all she really wants is to get away from it all and help her best friend celebrate her wedding half way around the world. When she impulsively books a flight to join the celebrations, Niki never expected to find a sense of community and love she’s been missing in the States.
Sonja Lalli is among the authors we’ve read this year that started their professional journeys by studying the law. She currently works as a journalist for a legal magazine in London, but still finds time to write beautiful novels like A Holly Jolly Diwali about Indian culture and heritage juxtaposed against the melting pot of the American society. Her inclusions of celebrations like both Diwali and Christmas in her writing give a real-life approach to what growing up in that melting pot becomes for so many emigrant families. From the cultural pressure to marry to discrimination based on skin tone or region, Lalli brings the challenges of the Indian culture to the mainstream audience in a way that hits at the heart. This book is about putting yourself first and learning to love exactly who you are.
I give A Holly Jolly Diwali 4 out of 5 stars. This meet-cute light romance is perfect for this time of year when the holidays are starting and you just want one more escape into a good book before they start full force. I love the way Lalli builds characters and makes them so relatable! I also found the plot not as predictable as I had imagined – a few twists along the way really kept me interested. Some of the events, like a group honeymoon, seem far fetched to me, but this may simply be a cultural difference. One reason I really liked this book is that Niki asks the question “why do we celebrate Diwali” several times to the older members of her community. This seeking of knowledge, not just tradition, is so common to people in my generation who only know you do certain things because your mother and grandmother before you did exactly that.
This is a great book if you’re looking to learn more about the Indian culture while reading a cute romance. With some very light references to sex, this book would best be directed to audiences over 13. A friend’s book club is doing a “read through the holidays” event this year and I recommended this book to her – it’s a great way to get exposure to Diwali in a real life way. I would also recommend this book to anyone who has friends who celebrate Diwali and you’re looking to better understand the holiday yourself.
I chose A Holly Jolly Diwali for the Read With Lindsey Reading Challenge prompt “Diwali”. I have always been fascinated by the Hindu Festival of Lights (especially Rangoli!) I started reading novels specifically focused on the events a few years ago, but this one was a different kind of take. It really felt like a Crazy Rich Asians meets The Candid Life of Meena Dave. I really didn’t want to put it down!
Diwali begins on Friday, November 1st this year. May the lights of Diwali remove all the darkness in your life!
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