A Holly Jolly Diwali by Sonya Lalli

Description from Goodreads:

One type-A data analyst discovers her free-spirited side on an impulsive journey from bustling Mumbai to the gorgeous beaches of Goa and finds love waiting for her on Christmas morning. Twenty-nine-year-old Niki Randhawa has always made practical decisions. Despite her love for music and art, she became an analyst for the stability. She's always stuck close to home, in case her family needed her. And she's always dated guys that seem good on paper, rather than the ones who give her butterflies. When she's laid off, Niki realizes that practical hasn't exactly paid off for her. So for the first time ever, she throws caution to the wind and books a last-minute flight for her friend Diya's wedding. Niki arrives in India just in time to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, where she meets London musician Sameer Mukherji. Maybe it's the splendor of Mumbai or the magic of the holiday season, but Niki is immediately drawn to Sam. At the wedding, the champagne flows and their flirtatious banter makes it clear that the attraction is mutual. When Niki and Sam join Diya, her husband and their friends on a group honeymoon, their connection grows deeper. Free-spirited Sam helps Niki get in touch with her passionate and creative side, and with her Indian roots. When she gets a new job offer back home, Niki must decide what she wants out of the next chapter of her life--to cling to the straight and narrow like always, or to take a leap of faith and live the kind of bold life the old Niki never would have dreamed of.

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My Review:

I picked up this book on a whim from the library. It was displayed in the new book aisle and it looked really cute. I really liked the cover. Plus, I have been reading more serious romance or books in general lately and wanted a fluffy pick me up. Let me tell you, this book delivered. It was perfectly paced, the main characters had amazing chemistry that flowed naturally, the main character, Niki, was funny and super relatable herself, and I just had a great time reading the book from start to finish.

Back to the pacing. The story slowed very naturally despite only being a couple of months in time passage. While I am not a huge fan of stories involving quick romance or love at first sight, I felt the author did a great job as I was constantly forgetting the characters only knew each other for a few weeks, not years. So, I am graciously overlooking this whirlwind romance because of how enjoyable it was. I was literally burning through this book so fast. I was able to finish it in one day.

I really enjoyed Niki as a character. Not only was she funny and a good supportive friend, but I could also relate to her on a personal level. My sister and I have a very similar dynamic. The only difference is that I am the older sibling. I felt the need to overcompensate for my sister's wildness and freedom by trying to be the perfect daughter in my own way. I also liked that she wasn't afraid to stand up for herself and others. It was also great to see how she handled her insecurities. I loved seeing how she progressed throughout the book.

Sam was very interesting. While I did love him as the male lead, sometimes it felt like I really did not know much about him. I could not connect with him very much. He was a bit more simple than I would have liked. Not that I'm looking for someone wild, but I guess I just wanted more? I did love how respectful he was of Niki and respected her decisions for the most part. I did enjoy seeing him work through continuing with his dreams and facing reality while also trying to merge the two in a way. I almost wish there were chapters from his point of view. That would be a cool bonus chapter incentive or something fun to have on the author's website.

Overall, Sonya does an amazing job of blending culture, romance, the harsh realities of being an adult, and slight comedy in a wonderful package. I almost wish this was a movie as while my imagination is amazing, I would love to see Niki's and Sam's romance play out on the big screen. If you're looking for a cute whirlwind romance, this is the book for you. I look forward to reading more books like this author.