Title: The Bollywood Lovers’ Club
Author: James Goldberg & Janci Patterson
Publisher: Independent
Genre: Novel
Year Published: 2021
Number of Pages: 286
Binding: Paperback
ISBN: 979-8525195578
Price: 16.99
Reviewed by Dan Call for the Association for Mormon Letters
A new school in a strange state, a calling to follow an unsanctioned post-secondary lifepath, a crumbling family, an concerningly eager new friend, cognitive dissonance raised by thriving faith traditions that have to be reconciled with on the ground realities, and frequent detours into mouthwatering descriptions of foods that I fully intend to hunt down and try (how have I never even heard of salty lassi? Poached pear sorbet? Yes, please!) The portraits of the hearts and minds of the characters in The Bollywood Lovers’ Club by James Goldberg and Janci Patterson are brought to life in rich, loving detail that won me over in no time.
I loved every page of this novel – it had me laughing out loud in some sections, gasping in panic for the predicaments heaped upon Amrita and Dave, and agonizing with them as they processed the weight of the choices their hearts were forcing them to to take. The narrative device of switching first person voice between Amrita and Dave succeeded (James and Janci did really well with creating relatable streams of teenage consciousness), compounding both the humor and the drama while also rewarding a close read to see how characters’ worldviews could work to constrain or liberate their thought processes.
At a first glance, this book seemed well outside of the type of text towards which I usually gravitate: I’m not an avid Bollywood fan and I’ve never read anything in which teen romance played a large part. While I don’t feel I can compare it to other books that may fit into this vein of writing, I would still recommend it as an engaging read. The conflicts at the heart of this story felt so real and daunting, and should resonate with anyone, regardless of religious affiliation or ethnicity.
Great review, I totally agree. The authors do a great job at developing the characters and creating a fully believable high school romance. They vividly portray Sikh culture and the Sikh-American experience to life, who wouldn’t want to go to that wedding and eat that food.
While YA romance usually emphasizes the importance of individual choice overcoming adversity, including family. This story shows two young people who have some conflicts with their parents, but deeply committed to remaining part of their familial and religious communities. I love that the authors created these characters, imbued with deep emotional lives.
This YA novel touched me deeply, reminding me of tough choices I faced at 17-18, between young love and heartfelt ties to one’s family and community.