Say You'll Be Mine by Naina Kumar (Paperback)

Fiction - Romance - Romantic Comedy

RELEASE DATE: 1/16/2024 (WILL SHIP DIRECTLY FROM OUR SUPPLIER'S WAREHOUSE)

A teacher with big dreams joins forces with a no-nonsense engineer to survive an ex's wedding and escape matchmaking pressure from their Indian families. Their plan? Faking an engagement, of course.

"I couldn’t put down this page-turner . . . The new When Harry Met Sally. . . . A warm, smart, sexy, and absolutely charming debut." —Colleen Hoover

Meghna Raman’s parents wanted her to be an engineer, but instead she’s followed her passion, becoming a theater teacher and aspiring playwright. But when she discovers that her beloved writing partner, best friend, and secret crush, Seth, is suddenly engaged—and not to her—she realizes he’s about to become the one-that-got-away. Even worse, he’s asked her to be his best man. And worse than that, she’s agreed. Determined to try and move on and relieve a bit of the pressure she feels, Meghna agrees to let her parents introduce her to a potential match. Maybe she could marry the engineer that her parents still wish she’d become.

Grumpy, handsome engineer Karthik Murthy has seen enough of his parents’ marriage to know that it isn’t for him. He only agreed to his mother’s matchmaking attempts to make her happy, never dreaming he would meet someone as vibrant as Meghna. Though he can’t offer her a real marriage, a fake engagement could help Meghna soothe the sting of planning Seth’s wedding festivities and Karthik avoid the absurd number of set-ups his mother has planned for the next year. 

As the two find common ground, grow protective of each other’s hearts, and start to fall for the traits they originally thought they hated, an undeniable chemistry emerges. But soon, their expectations and insecurities threaten something that’s become a lot more real than they’d planned.

Say You’ll Be Mine is a delightful trip back to the heyday of swoony romantic comedies from the nineties, but with a deep and poignant look at the effects of culture and family in our most intimate relationships.

AUTHOR BIO: 

Naina Kumar is a lawyer by day and a reader and writer of romance at night. She lives in Texas, close to her family whose antics provide endless inspiration. When she's not writing, she enjoys taking her rowdy rescue dog on walks, rewatching Gilmore Girls on a loop, and shopping at HEB. Say You'll Be Mine is her debut novel.

“A fresh and charming story about finding love without losing yourself . . . I rooted for these wonderfully headstrong, big-hearted characters all the way.”—Linda Holmes, New York Times bestselling author of Evvie Drake Starts Over

“Stuffed to the brim with emotion, chemistry, and all the best microtropes, Say You’ll Be Mine is a romance lover’s dream.”—Ava Wilder, author of Will They or Won’t They

“Naina Kumar’s fresh, compelling voice and lovable characters (including a starchy hero that is now at the very top of my all-time favorites list) made me fall head-over-heels for Say You’ll Be Mine from the very first page. This debut about love, culture, family, and friendship is absolutely irresistible—I didn’t want to put it down!”—Sarah Adler, author of Mrs. Nash’s Ashes

“Swoony, smart and charming: Say You'll Be Mine is the type of South Asian diaspora romance I’ve always wished for. Naina Kumar’s debut is spectacular.”—Nisha Sharma, author of Dating Dr. Dil

“I adored this book! A sweet, funny, yet sizzling story of two people who unexpectedly find love while faking an engagement after being set up by their parents. I loved big-hearted and fun-loving (and pun-loving!) Meghna, and buttoned-up Karthik’s loyalty and passion was the perfect match for her. Add in some meddling (but mostly well-meaning) families, complicated friendships, and best of all, two characters who learn together how to be true to themselves. This book should be an instant romance classic!”—Farah Heron, author of Accidentally Engaged

“A delightful, layered book that addresses the frequent disconnect between what a person does, says, thinks they want, and actually wants—as individuals and within the context of their family, work, and community . . . The emotional roller coaster of this journey is warm, engrossing, joyful—and nerve-wracking.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“The strength of this sweet debut lies in the relationships with family members and friends and how they are tempered by cruel realities and the thorny path to true love. Kumar is a writer to watch.”—Booklist

“Kumar debuts with a swoon-worthy contemporary that marries a grumpy-sunshine romance with a deep exploration of familial relationships. . . . It’s a diverting convergence of romance tropes given weight by some deep emotions. This should earn Kumar plenty of fans.”—Publishers Weekly