"An entertaining and delightful story about breaking tradition, creating your own path, and standing your ground."
- Jane Igharo, author of Ties That Tether
"Anisha Bhatia crafts a heartwarming story of self-discovery filled with deep emotion. Hilarious and relatable, the effervescent main character captured my heart from the first page and wouldn't let go. I can't wait for Anisha's next book!" — Sara Desai, author of The Dating Plan
"A heartfelt romp . . . [Bhatia's] characters exemplify what it means to be true to yourself no matter what others may think."
— Booklist
"A boisterous family drama set in Mumbai, India, The Rules of Arrangement takes satirical aim at marriage-obsessed cultural norms."
— Shelf Awareness
“This story had such a warmly familiar 'coming of age' feel to it, and just goes to show it doesn't matter how old you are - there's always time to get to know yourself. This was a love story - about family, friends, romance but most importantly about loving yourself.”
— B.S. Casey, author of Constellations and What If?
“Anisha Bhatia had me hooked from the first few lines of this lovely, rollicking story. Zoya has a fabulous voice, funny and irreverent and instantly relatable. The Rules of Arrangement took me on a wild ride as Zoya, not thin enough and too ambitious for the satisfaction of her "aunties," navigates the process of having a marriage arranged for her--before (horror of horrors!) she gets too old. The trouble is, she's good at her job. Really good. And so as she navigates this process, she's well aware that much of what makes her *her* is at stake. Meanwhile, she's finding love--real love--on her own terms. She just doesn't know it until long after the reader does. Like all my favorite books, The Rules of Arrangement has a fabulous supporting cast, from Zoya's aunties to her swoon-worthy boss and the teenage boy who works in Zoya's office. I loved every minute of this book. More, please!” — Kathleen M. Basi, author of A Song For The Road
“The Rules of Arrangement by Anisha Bhatia is a wonderful, heartwarming, and contemporary fiction novel that is a breath of fresh air. Yes, this is a contemporary romance, but it is honestly so much more. I loved this book, Zoya, and the messages of accepting oneself flaws and all, that we females are more then just a dress size, hair color, or what society expects of us. We are so much more and we owe it to ourselves to be more like Zoya. Fabulous!” — Rachel, Blogger
“Wow. This was such a fun book. I wasn’t sure what to expect; the description said Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows meets Crazy Rich Asians and I enjoyed both, so I thought I’d read this too. And I’m so glad I did because this was so fun. I was snorting out loud with laughter! This story had heart, family, great characters, and a solid ending. The ending could have gone so many ways, but I think they chose the best.”
— Karen Fan, Blogger
“I loved this book! As a single girl in my late 20s I could very much relate to the main character Zoya. That was the beauty of this book, the relatability. Even though the main character Zoya is living in Bombay and in that regard lives a life very different from my own I could connect with her as a character, and relate as she struggled to find herself and what life had in store for her. I also enjoyed the romance in this book, although there were times when I struggled when I knew that Zoya deserved better but I was happy with the way that it ended. I think that reading culturally diverse books is so important and am really glad I gave this book a shot! I would gladly read anything else by Anisha Bhatia.” — Sydney Palmer, Blogger
“I am happy this book ended the way I wanted... I wanted to shake Zoya and tell her to speak up, say no, tell them off. But of course, she has traditions and rules to follow.. This book gave me great insight on Indian marriage culture and women’s treatment... The fact that Zoya realized her worth and power is the true win for me. I love the book cover, loved what the book represents and means.. Just loved it.”
— Teneisha, Blogger
“I absolutely adored this book! The writing was spectacular and I had a hard time putting it down - even when I desperately needed to be doing other things. The well-developed characters were one of the highlights. Zoya was a delightful narrator. She was funny, relatable, and I found myself cheering for her throughout the book (sometimes out-loud). Bhatia did a wonderful job of writing Zoya's struggle to choose between the traditions of her family and her own dreams in a way that was realistic and respectful of the conflict she was undergoing.Even the secondary characters felt three-dimensional and I loved the special relationship that Zoya had with her Sheila Bua. If you're looking for a fast, easy read about finding your place within your family and cultural traditions, while still being true to yourself, I highly recommend The Rules of Arrangement!” — Nina, Blogger
“So I just finished reading an ARC of The Rules of Arrangement and my heart is completely full. It is the fuzzy and warm kind of novel I just needed before my semester exams. What I absolutely loved about this novel is how fun, contemporary and practical it is along with social commentary on society, subtle patriarchy in Indian families and how women are privy to it, etc.”
— Shriya Dasgupta, Blogger
“TheRules of Arrangement had me laughing, crying, cheering and craving amazing foods I've never even heard of. Anisha Bhatia brings us along and immerses her readers deep in a world steeped with tradition and ambushing aunties as we follow 26 year old, unmarried, Zoya as she struggles to find balance between honoring her family and honoring herself. Zoya tries desperately to reconcile the two side of her life is a uproaringly funny Indian Bridget Jones style tale filled with heart that will not leave your disappointed. I love this book and gave it 5 stars but wish I could give it 6 for all the Harry Potter references!” — Nikki Huddleston, Blogger
“I loved this book and the MC so much! Zoya is a good Indian daughter who does what any good daughter should- she agrees to an arranged marriage. However, her potential matches leave quite a bit to be desired. Finally, she is matched to (what seems to be) the perfect man, and finds the characteristics she thought would be in her perfect man aren’t in him. They are in her boss though... will Zoya find happiness? Read this book! You won’t be disappointed!” — Kyrie, Blogger
“I really enjoyed this book.This book is not like your typical romance. I was anticipating just from the title a romance between a guy and girl thrown into an arranged marriage and that alone BUT this book is so much more. This book is definitely one that should not be passed up if you want to read a romance and learn something. Not just about the character but about yourself too. Zoya is a plus sized girl and throughout the book she does acknowledge it. She loves herself and is not apologetic about it. I commend her for that since its not easy to do so if that is all you think about-or family members point it out constantly. She opens herself up to the possibilities of life. Zoya has a deep love for her family and for her ambitions in life and must choose who to honor, them or herself? I loved Zoya's character and how fun it was to read about her love for food, family and New York City. I too love all those things so I felt like I could relate. This book will make you make you laugh and make you want to hug every family member after you finish.” — Gina Melissa, Blogger
“You know when you read a book and you’re instantly transported to where it’s taking place? That’s this book. Bhatia is great at describing the scene. You get a sense of the colors, the scents, the tastes, the overall feel of the scene. It’s phenomenal.” — Eleanor Lynn, Blogger
“I LOVE seeing books with South East rep, especially when the main character isn't this perfect light skinned, skinny girl ideal that a lot of harmful stereotypes are based around. Zoya has been faced with those her whole life. Always too dark, too fat and seen as a burden on her family since she's the only child. Luckily she has a good support system in the terms of her cousins and friends - which are SO important. At the root of it, this story is really about sisterly love, and the unspoken bonds and rules women have. I think the ending was perfectly suited for this story.” — Trishla, Blogger