Sleepless in Dubai

by Sajni Patel Narrated by Soneela Nankani

Overview

From the author of My Sister's Big Fat Indian Wedding comes a hilarious, smart, and swoon-worthy rom-com about two teens traveling to Dubai for Diwali

In this hate-to-love romance, Nikki, an aspiring photographer, accompanies her family on a trip to Dubai to celebrate the five days of Diwali in style. It should be the trip of a lifetime, if Yash, the boy next door-with whom Nikki has a rocky history-weren't on board.

Caught up in the festive spirit, Nikki's family encourages her to get reacquainted with Yash. Turns out, a lot can change on a twelve-hour flight besides just continents. But can betrayals and conflicting ambitions be set aside long enough for the two teens to discover the true meaning of the Festival of Lights?

Perfect for fans of Tokyo Ever After and The Upside of Falling, this exuberant novel captures all the joy of family celebrations along with the heady exhilaration of first love.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"Patel’s friends-to-lovers romance takes readers on a journey of friendship, love, and celebrating Indian culture...An endearing, feel-good rom-com celebrating love, heritage, and friendship."—Kirkus

Kirkus

"Patel’s friends-to-lovers romance takes readers on a journey of friendship, love, and celebrating Indian culture...An endearing, feel-good rom-com celebrating love, heritage, and friendship."

Kirkus Reviews

2023-08-11
Patel’s friends-to-lovers romance takes readers on a journey of friendship, love, and celebrating Indian culture set between Austin and Dubai.

High school senior and aspiring photographer Nikki finds herself pushed to repair her relationship with neighbor and former best friend Yash during a weeklong trip to Dubai to celebrate Diwali with their families. The teens’ parents are incredibly close, and Nikki’s mother and father urge her to do the right thing: “there is light in forgiveness, and only darkness by holding grudges.” As the trip goes on, the two do mend their rift, but complicating matters, Nikki realizes she’s developing romantic feelings for the boy she grew up with. She fears that this revelation would ruin their still-fragile rapport but fails to stop herself from impulsively confessing that she likes him. As it turns out, Yash has a confession of his own, one related to a complicated secret he’s been hiding from her that threatens their newly rebuilt trust. The book is humorous and full of sharp wit. It touches lightly on topics of otherness, feminism, extended family and community, and cultural differences in ways that will speak to teens from many backgrounds. Patel’s Gujarati characters move through lovingly described surroundings, but the setting is at times overdeveloped, slowing the pace of the narrative. Food and joyous all-out Diwali celebrations also feature heavily, adding to the festive mood.

An endearing, feel-good rom-com celebrating love, heritage, and friendship. (Romance. 13-18)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940160393926
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	10/24/2023
Edition description:	Unabridged

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