Prospera Books have released some fantastic chick-lit titles, such as Talli Roland's novels (The Hating Game, Watching Willow Watts) and Nicky Schmidt's wonderfully funny Naked in Knightsbridge and Marrying Out of Money. So when news of The Bollywood Breakup Agency by Naina Gupta reached me, I was very excited. And having recently read this new novel, I can say that the wait was worth it.
Neela Solanki is young, stylish and lives a comfortable life on her family's money. The downside? Neela's traditional Indian family is intent on setting her up for marriage. But when Neela rejects the latest unattractive suitor of her parents' choosing, they decide to take things further. If Neela won't comply, then they'll take away her privileges.
Feisty Neela still finds the prospect of marrying someone she doesn't like a horrible one, and when her parents cut off her phone and credit cards, she realises that the only way she's going to keep up her much-loved lifestyle is by making some money. And fast.
When best friend V finds herself in a similar marriage-related situation, Neela comes up with the perfect plan to break up the unwilling pair. With V paying her for her 'break-up service' Neela soon knows how she can get hold of some money - by setting up a business specialising in the breakup of arranged marriages.
And it doesn't take long to get some willing clients. Pretty soon Neela's cooking up new and unique schemes to tear apart relationships for cash - with some hilarious results.
Meanwhile, Neela still has to deal with V's upcoming engagement, an ex who's trying everything to keep them together, and the lovely Navin - Indian soap star and heartthrob to boot, who's about to run right into Neela's path...
Can Neela successfully save her business, along with her own love life? Would Navin, the object of her affections, accept what she does for a living? She's about to find out.
I liked this book from the start when first introduced to Neela and her traditional Indian family, and it was interesting to read a chick-lit novel that focuses on a different culture. Whilst still keeping in with the general chick-lit formula, The Bollywood Breakup Agency takes a unique and funny look at the issue of arranged marriage.
However, one thing annoyed me about this book: Neela. At the beginning I found her funny and entertaining; a selfish, vain girl who's suddenly forced to fend for herself. Yet throughout the book, Neela didn't seem to change at all. Her spoiled attitude remained all the way through, and just when I thought that she would come to realise the error of her ways, she simply didn't. She fell for Navin due to his good looks and TV star status, and was quick to reject and ridicule any other suitor who didn't match up to her expectations. At first this was amusing, but Neela didn't seem to learn her lesson at all and continued to be a bit of a bitch, which left me feeling a bit annoyed.
That said, The Bollywood Breakup Agency was a very enjoyable read with a fun premise and I'm already looking forward to the sequel, The Bollywood Wife. Naina is a promising new author and I just hope that Neela changes her ways in the next book, because this first offering was such an addictive read!
Rating: 4/5
