The Five-Day Reunion

December 20, 2021
Divorcées pretend to still be married in Shroff’s emotionally charged Once Upon a Wedding series opener. Law student Anita Virani hasn’t seen her ex-husband, Nikhil Joshi, in the three years since their divorce—until Nikhil’s mother makes Anita an offer she can’t refuse. She wants Anita to attend her daughter’s five-day wedding celebration as Nikhil’s wife to help her save face in front of her family, whom she never told about her son’s failed marriage. In exchange, she’ll pay Anita’s law school tuition. But she doesn’t tell Anita that Nikhil is unaware of this arrangement, leading to an explosive reunion. Nikhil, a writer who’s eager to prove his worth to his family after refusing to work in the family law firm, agrees to the charade to appease his mother. The wedding festivities force proximity between the couple and unearth buried feelings. But can love rekindle among lingering arguments about Nikhil’s workaholic tendencies and Anita’s career path? This question gives rise to a tempestuous will-they-won’t-they that Shroff (Then There Was You)expertly balances with family drama. Fans of juicy, tropey contemporaries should snap this up. Agent: Rachel Brooks, BookEnds Literary.

December 15, 2021
Bumping into your ex at a wedding can be awkward, even more so if everyone else at the wedding thinks you are still married. Given that they have been divorced for three years, Nikhil Joshi is more than a bit surprised to see his ex-wife, Anita Virani, at his younger sister Tina's wedding. It turns out, though, that Nikhil's mother, Seema, never bothered to tell anyone that he and Anita are no longer married. Now, for different reasons Nikhil and Anita agree to fake being in love with each other for the five days that make up this Indian wedding celebration. The only problem is the recent kiss Nikhil and Anita share seems very, very real. Shroff (Then There Was You, 2021) begins her Once Upon a Wedding series with a beautifully crafted, second-chance-at-love story that not only offers readers an intriguing window onto Indian culture but also deftly illustrates the universality of family dynamics.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.