My Sister's Big Fat Indian Wedding - by Sajni Patel

About the Book

Gifted violinist Zurika Damani tries to juggle the obligations of her sister's extravagant wedding week while secretly preparing for a prominent music contest all while trying to dodge her family's matchmaking schemes.

Book Synopsis

Sajni Patel's My Sister's Big Fat Indian Wedding is a fresh, witty rom-com romp set against the backdrop of a high-profile music competition and a riotous Indian wedding.

"A vibrant and luscious celebration of the Indian culture. I couldn't have enough of everything--the extravagant wedding, the gorgeous outfits, the food, and of course, Patel's trademark strong female mains!" --Jesse Q. Sutanto, national bestselling author

Zurika Damani is a naturally gifted violinist with a particular love for hip-hop beats. But when you're part of a big Indian family, everyone has expectations, and those certainly don't include hip-hop violin. After being rejected by Juilliard, Zuri's last hope is a contest judged by a panel of top-tier college scouts. The only problem? This coveted competition happens to take place during her sister's extravagant wedding week. And Zuri has already been warned, repeatedly, that she is not to miss a single moment.

In the midst of the chaos, Zuri's mom is in matchmaking mode with the groom's South African cousin Naveen--who just happens to be a cocky vocalist set on stealing Zuri's spotlight at the scouting competition. Luckily Zuri has a crew of loud and loyal female cousins cheering her on. Now, all she has to do is wow the judges for a top spot, evade getting caught by her parents, resist Naveen's charms, and, oh yeah . . . not mess up her sister's big fat Indian wedding. What could possibly go wrong?

Review Quotes

"A vibrant and luscious celebration of the Indian culture. I couldn't have enough of everything--the extravagant wedding, the gorgeous outfits, the food, and of course, Patel's trademark strong female mains!"--Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties

"From prayerful puja to high-energy garba dances, Patel lovingly portrays the rich and vibrant festivities of a Gujarati Hindu wedding celebration. . .A sweet and entertaining romp." -- "Kirkus Reviews"

"Many teens will be able to relate to Zurika's persistence in following her dreams and courage in speaking up for herself. Zurika also embraces her Indo-Trinidadian roots and bucks against white beauty standards... Patel leverages Zurika's budding romance with Naveen well, and their sweet but competitive relationship will leave readers hopeful. This warm hug of a novel will find a cherished spot on many bookshelves."-- "Booklist"

"Provides a sweeping portrait of the South Asian diaspora, and offers an affectionate and lushly detailed window into the family's wedding experience."-- "Publishers Weekly"

About the Author

Sajni Patel is an author of adult and YA fiction. The Trouble with Hating You is the first of two women's fiction titles published with Grand Central/Forever. My Sister's Big Fat Indian Wedding, Patel's first book with Abrams, was published in 2022 to praise from reviewers, who called it "a warm hug of a novel" (Booklist) and "a sweet and entertaining romp" (Kirkus). Patel currently lives in Hawaii.