‘Marriage Unarranged’ by Ritu Bhathal is an uplifting and enlightening tale about one woman’s journey towards self-discovery. Encompassing the themes of friendship, family, finding courage within and letting go of the things that are no longer good for you, this is a wonderful take on what happens when life doesn’t go exactly as you planned, and how, with the help of those who care about and love you, you can overcome even the most unthinkable of situations.
In Bhathal’s ‘Marriage Unarranged’, readers are introduced to Aashi. With preparations underway, Aashi is preparing for the biggest day of her life. She’s soon-to-be married to Ravi, the man of her dreams, and with the honeymoon destination still to be decided, Aashi heads over so that they can decide together, as a couple. Only, upon arrival, Aashi is taken aback to discover that Ravi’s work colleague is there. She’s not entirely sure why, and the rushed excuse provided by her soon-to-be-husband doesn’t really help her anxieties about the situation. When she finds the empty condom box, her worst fears come true.
Aashi’s story spirals from this devastating moment, and the perfect, happy future alongside Ravi she has always imagined ceases to exist. Rather than planning her wedding day, Aashi is now faced with the mentally draining challenge of un-planning it, and finding out what it means to let go of something she once believed was meant for her.
Bhathal is a wonderfully descriptive writer and she really brings the settings within this book to life. I particularly enjoyed the scenes in India, the descriptions of the food and scents wafting from the street vendors absolutely delicious. I felt as if I was right there, inhaling deeply, oh-so-tempted by the delights on offer. Bhathal writes with heart, and it shows in the pages. Her characters are friendly and funny, a pleasure to meet and travel alongside during their time in India. I really enjoyed the whole family-feel to this book, and Bhathal captures the culture of Aashi’s Sikh family perfectly. It felt warm and inviting, and completely lovely to watch as Aashi’s family rallied around her to ensure she remained on her feet and capable to continue with her life, albeit not a married one.
I really enjoyed the travel aspect to this story, it opened up Aashi’s world in a way like never before, and provided with her with the necessary opportunities to expand her friendships and experience. I loved watching Aashi grow and develop as a person throughout the progression of the plot, and I felt that Bhathal captured the essence of becoming a strong and independent woman perfectly. I felt proud of Aashi, and was thrilled that she’d made the right decision, regardless of what of anyone would think or say about it, which is such an important message to send out to readers.
Overall, ‘Marriage Unarranged’ by Ritu Bhathal was a fabulously funny, warm and encouraging story about finding oneself and discovering inner-strength. With a wonderful bunch of entertaining characters and a trip to remember, this is a great book that provides a whole lot of escapism for the reader. With thanks to the author for the reading copy of this book which in no way reflects my giving a fair and honest review.
It all started ended with that box… Aashi’s life was all set. Or so she thought… Like in the Bollywood films, Ravi would woo her, charm her family and they’d get married and live happily ever after. But then Aashi found the empty condom box… Putting her ex-fiancé and her innocence behind her, Aashi embarks upon an enlightening journey, to another country, where vibrant memories are created, and unforgettable friendships forged. Old images erased, new beginnings to explore. And how can she forget the handsome stranger she meets. A stranger who’s hiding something…
You can purchase your copy of ‘Marriage Unarranged’ by Ritu Bhathal here.
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