There's Something About Sweetie

Sweetie Nair is a confident high school track star who loves singing and happens to be fat. After hearing her mother constantly criticize her weight, Sweetie decides to prove that her size doesn't define her worth. Ashish Patel is recovering from a painful breakup when his parents suggest an arranged dating setup with an Indian-American girl. Though skeptical at first, he agrees to participate in the "Shen Project" - supervised dates with clear guidelines and expectations. As Sweetie and Ashish begin dating through this structured arrangement, they navigate family expectations, cultural traditions, and their own evolving relationship. Their story takes place against the backdrop of their Bay Area high school lives, complete with track meets, musical performances, and friend dynamics. The novel explores themes of body positivity, cultural identity, and the balance between honoring family traditions while forging one's own path. Through Sweetie and Ashish's experiences, the story examines how young people find their voices and stand up for their beliefs.

Readers call this a charming romance that tackles body positivity and family expectations. Many note it surpasses its companion novel "When Dimple Met Rishi" in character development and emotional depth. Readers appreciate: - Sweetie's confidence and athletic abilities - The dual perspective between Sweetie and Ashish - Authentic portrayal of Indian-American family dynamics - Discussion of fatphobia within South Asian communities - Strong female friendships Common criticisms: - Some found the resolution too neat - Parents' behavior feels extreme at times - Romance develops predictably Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (24,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (500+ ratings) BookPage: 5/5 Reader comments highlight Sweetie's characterization: "Finally a fat protagonist who isn't trying to lose weight" and "Shows you can be healthy at any size." Multiple reviews mention connecting with the cultural pressure around appearance and marriage, with one noting "This book would have meant everything to teenage me."

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🎭 The book explores body positivity through its protagonist Sweetie Nair, a confident plus-size track athlete who challenges societal beauty standards in Indian-American culture. 📚 Author Sandhya Menon wrote this as a companion novel to "When Dimple Met Rishi," with Rishi's brother Ashish as one of the main characters. 🏃‍♀️ The track and field elements in the story were inspired by Menon's own high school experiences on her track team. 🌺 The book incorporates elements of Indian matchmaking culture while simultaneously challenging traditional expectations about arranged relationships. 🎨 The cover art features an illustration by Regina Flath, who has designed several covers for young adult novels featuring South Asian characters.