Can’t Wait Wednesday was once Waiting on Wednesday, but the purpose is the same: for bloggers to highlight what they’re waiting on. This week that is American Betiya
Betiya is Hindi for daughter, and I think it’s the first time I’ve seen a Hindi word like this in a title. Here’s the blurb
Fans of Sandhya Menon, Erika Sanchez and Jandy Nelson will identify with this powerful story of a young artist grappling with first love, family boundaries, and the complications of a cross-cultural relationship.
Rani Kelkar has never lied to her parents, until she meets Oliver. The same qualities that draw her in–his tattoos, his charisma, his passion for art–make him her mother’s worst nightmare.
They begin dating in secret, but when Oliver’s troubled home life unravels, he starts to ask more of Rani than she knows how to give, desperately trying to fit into her world, no matter how high the cost. When a twist of fate leads Rani from Evanston, Illinois to Pune, India for a summer, she has a reckoning with herself–and what’s really brewing beneath the surface of her first love.
Winner of the SCBWI Emerging Voices award, Anuradha Rajurkar takes an honest look at the ways cultures can clash in an interracial relationship. Braiding together themes of sexuality, artistic expression, and appropriation, she gives voice to a girl claiming ownership of her identity, one shattered stereotype at a time.
I am curious about how this author takes on cross-cultural relationships in an honest way — I don’t actually think there’s a happy ending to this in terms of a romance at least, but it’s Rani’s (means Queen) ownership of who she is that interests me most.
What are you waiting on this week?
Great pick! I also really like what you bring up and why you’re interested in reading this. I’m adding it to my list.
I think this sounds great. I hope it handles the cross cultural relationship really well.
I like the sound of this one, and I also like the cover. I hope it’s as good as its premise!
I’ve got to say the synopsis got me really curious. I also don’t get happily ever after vibes from it but not every book needs to have that.
This definitely sounds like a lot more than a romance, and I like that!
Yes… what an intriguing premise! And it might well be that the ‘happily ever after’ romantic requirement might not lead to a ‘happily ever after’ for Rani… How many of us actually end up with our first love being our lifelong companion?
I’m intrigued by this blurb, it does sound like it’s a more serious look at cross cultural relationships, which is a good thing. I also love that she’s an artist!
This sounds really good, Verushka. I am with you. I think seeing how Rani navigates everything and comes into her own would be the draw for me as well. I hope this turns out to be a great read. It sounds like it has a lot of potential!
The summary of this really piqued my interest. Adding it to my tbr!- Here is my post-https://paigesofbook.blogspot.com/2021/01/cant-wait-wednesday-desolations-of.html.
I love the look of this! Added it to my tbr.
This sounds so interesting and the cover is very eye-catching. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I actually have an ARC of this book and am really excited about it. I already feel the tears forming in my eyes.