12/16/2019
In this uneven “Beauty and the Beast” retelling from Menon (When Dimple Met Rishi), Princess Jaya Rao is the heiress to an old Indian kingdom, and though India is now a democracy, she still has to act the part. This means doing her duty (acting “benevolent, firm, and fair”), aspiring to perfection, and looking after her free-spirited younger sister, Isha. Isha’s appearance in the tabloids is why, in Jaya’s senior year, they’ve been sent to St. Rosetta’s International Academy, a fancy boarding school in the Colorado mountains where the rich stash children who they want out of the public eye. Jaya has reconciled herself to it, though: Grey Emerson, scion of the English family that her own has feuded with over a cursed ruby for generations, also attends there. The plan is to break his heart as payback for his allegedly leaking a photo of Isha to the press. Seventeen-year-old Beast stand-in Grey is lonely, brooding, and, “tainted” by the curse, sure he can’t be with people. As if their family connection isn’t enough, Grey and Jaya’s tempestuous relationship becomes entangled with other school dramas. En route to the inevitable happy ending, readers may tire of repeated descriptions that underline not only the characters’ wealth and family connections but also their emotional states, which are often described, and then announced, within the protagonists’ alternating first-person narratives. Ages 12–up. Agent: Thao Le, Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency. (Feb.)
PRAISE FOR THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT SWEETIE
"Hilarious. . .focuses on the brilliant qualities that make us ourselves." —Today.cocm
“Adorable, joyous.” —BuzzFeed
“A love story that fans of When Dimple Met Rishi will adore.” —Bustle
“Anytime your soul needs a hug, pick up a Sandhya Menon novel.” —Book Riot
“Hits all the right notes.” —Booklist, starred review
“Swoon-prone readers will wish the Patel boys came in six-packs.” —BCCB
“An entertaining romance.” —Kirkus Reviews
“There's something about the way Sandhya Menon writes love stories. I'm head-over-heels for this charming, funny, romantic, life-affirming book.” —Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda and Leah on the Offbeat
"A thoroughly delightful romance featuring a spirited, confident, and lovable heroine and an unexpectedly dashing romantic hero. Add to your must-read shelves!” —Melissa de la Cruz, New York Times bestselling author of Alex & Eliza and Love & War
“There’s something irresistible about Sandhya Menon’s novels—the romances are sweet and winning, the humor is cheerful and sly, and the families are warm and complicated.” —Stephanie Perkins, bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss and There’s Someone Inside Your House
PRAISE FOR FROM TWINKLE, WITH LOVE
A Junior Library Guild Selection
Bustle’s 27 Most Anticipated YA Contemporary Books Hitting Shelves In 2018
Book Riot’s 25 YA Books to Add to Your 2018 TBR Right Now
B&N Teen’s 8 Diverse Romances to Read Right Now
“Cinematic.” —Teen Vogue
“Funny and sweet.” —Buzzfeed
“Delightful, inspiring, and the hug your heart most certainly needs.” —Book Riot
“A sweet, smart gem.” —School Library Journal, starred review
“Pitch-perfect.” —Booklist, starred review
“Charming and sophisticated.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Effervescent.” —Publishers Weekly
“Highly recommended.” —VOYA
PRAISE FOR WHEN DIMPLE MET RISHI
An NPR Best Book of 2017
A Buzzfeed Best YA Book of 2017
A Kirkus Best Teen Book of 2017
A School Library Journal Best Young Adult Book of 2017
A Chicago Public Library Best Teen Book of 2017
A Bustle Best YA Novel of 2017
A PopSugar Best Young Adult Novel of 2017
A Paste Magazine Best Young Adult Novel of 2017
A Book Riot Best Book of 2017
A B&N Teen Blog Best YA Novel of 2017
A Summer 2017 Top Ten Indie Next Pick
A Junior Library Guild Selection
“Effervescent.” —Chicago Tribune
“Full of warm characters and sweet romance.” —Entertainment Weekly
“Get ready to fall in love with Dimple Shah and Rishi Patel.” —HelloGiggles
“Adorable.” —Buzzfeed
“Deliciously quirky, funny, and nerdy.” —Bustle
“Charming and heartwarming.” —PopSugar
“Utterly delightful.” —BookRiot
“Heartwarming, empathetic, and often hilarious—a delightful read.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“A vibrant, joyous, funny love story.” —VOYA, starred review
“The strength of the story comes from its blending of Indian culture and values into a modern-day romance that scores of readers can enjoy.” —School Library Journal
“Bright and funny.” —Publishers Weekly
“Nuanced and thoughtful . . . will melt the hearts of readers.” —Booklist
01/10/2020
Gr 7 Up—Princess Jaya Rao and her younger sister Isha are sent to St. Rosetta's International Academy to get away from the tabloids and reports of Isha's missteps. At the heart of it all is Grey, the heir to the Emerson family, who has been taking pictures of Isha and selling them to the papers. When Jaya finds out Grey attends the same school, she plots her revenge. As the school year starts, Jaya is in every class with Grey and flirts with him to gain his trust, then break his heart. He's often confused by her actions and things don't go as planned. Jaya and Grey must find out what makes them each unique while also figuring out what it means to be part of a family. The stars align to make mischief in this story of loyalty, family honor, first love, and a generations-old feud. Told alternately by Jaya and Grey, readers learn about the history of each family and a curse that has carried on for generations. The story is well paced with enough action to balance the dialogue and character thoughts. The characters are well developed, the dialogue is current and believable, and the ongoing mystery combined with almost comic intrigue makes a solid YA romance. VERDICT Fans of Colleen Houck's A Tiger's Curse will enjoy this star-crossed tale; think Romeo and Juliet meets Sherlock Holmes. Recommended for teen libraries.—Cathleen Ash, Manor High School Library, TX
2019-11-19
Rajkumari Jaya Rao has one goal during her time at St. Rosetta's International Academy: to take revenge by breaking the heart of English aristocrat Grey Emerson.
Indian princesses Jaya Rao and her sister, Isha, begin their senior and sophomore years, respectively, at St. Rosetta's near Aspen, Colorado, a school that has a reputation for well-kept secrets. The Emersons and Raos have had a feud for generations over a ruby that once belonged to the Raos and was stolen by the Emersons in the days of British colonialism. Now Jaya has discovered that the Emersons have dragged her little sister into the feud, and she will not rest until she has gotten her revenge. On a mission to break Grey's heart, Jaya finds to her surprise that there is more to him than she thought. Grey, on the other hand, has lived as a recluse thanks to Jaya's great-great-grandmother's curse that makes his family fear he will die at age 18. Seeing Jaya at St. Rosetta's wearing a shining ruby pendant fills him with terror. The story is told from the perspectives of both Jaya and Grey. Readers will empathize with both of them, although their long internal monologues may cause their attention to waver at times. Grey is white, and there is diversity among the secondary characters.
A lukewarm retelling of "Beauty and the Beast." (map) (Romance. 12-16)
Narrators Shiromi Arserio and Jason Carpenter are perfectly matched in this modern-day fairy tale in which a forbidden romance blooms between aristocratic teens from rival families. Arserio portrays Princess Jaya in a controlled tone and a posh British accent that is well suited to the reserved and traditional teen. Jaya unexpectedly finds herself drawn to the quiet, brooding Grey Emerson, whose melancholy personality is enhanced by Carpenter’s deep, solemn voice—complete with an American accent that is fitting for this British teen, who is living in exile due to a family curse. The budding romance takes place at an international boarding school rife with drama. Listeners will be captivated by how easily the narrators flip between the accents of the diverse student body. Together, Arserio and Carpenter bring this cursed romance to life. J.E.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Narrators Shiromi Arserio and Jason Carpenter are perfectly matched in this modern-day fairy tale in which a forbidden romance blooms between aristocratic teens from rival families. Arserio portrays Princess Jaya in a controlled tone and a posh British accent that is well suited to the reserved and traditional teen. Jaya unexpectedly finds herself drawn to the quiet, brooding Grey Emerson, whose melancholy personality is enhanced by Carpenter’s deep, solemn voice—complete with an American accent that is fitting for this British teen, who is living in exile due to a family curse. The budding romance takes place at an international boarding school rife with drama. Listeners will be captivated by how easily the narrators flip between the accents of the diverse student body. Together, Arserio and Carpenter bring this cursed romance to life. J.E.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine