I’ve been loving the Love in Translation series and this is my favorite so far! Love Craves Caradmom has a predictable twist, but it brought back all my nostalgia feels! Keep reading this book review of Love Craves Cardamom for my full thoughts.
Summary
Archana Dhawan’s fall semester of senior year is a boy-free zone. Hot off a break-up, she’s determined to find herself in her parents’ homeland of Rajasthan, India. More importantly, she must complete her capstone project by interning at one of the most prestigious art galleries in the country. There’s no room for distractions if she wants to make her mark on the art world as a museum curator.
Alas, the universe is clearly trying to tempt her. On day one, she meets the most attractive boy she’s seen ever on the train to her new school. Then she runs into him again at work. As it turns out, not only is the museum connected to a palace, but the cute boy, Shiv, is a royal gardener!
He offers to show her the real city of Jaipur, from fresh food that he cooks to local spots tourists never visit. Their chemistry is undeniable, and just as she begins to open up to the idea of romance, she gets shocking news: Shiv is actually a prince. Thrust into the spotlight, is Archi prepared to be the one on display?
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Life rarely goes according to plan and Love Craves Cardaomom is that to a T. Immediately I loved how Love Craves Cardamom explores the unethical museum acquisition and theft. I think this is a topic that should be discussed more, so it was a joy to see in this contemporary romance. Additionally Love Craves Cardamom explores the responsibility and impact of curation in galleries and museums. This second in the series packs a punch in terms of exploring these timely and important topics. I also enjoyed how Archi explores her identity, concept of home, and diasporic feels.
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I appreciated how in Love Craves Cardamom, we see how we can have these honest and vulnerable conversations when we don’t have pretenses. Sometimes we need a blank slate to have these conversations only a lack of predisposition has. What is in a name? While I could see the twist a mile away, and I was totally with Archi, this felt super nostalgic to some films I grew up seeing. And it was still delightful to wonder how it was all going to go down. Overall, this book explores how desperately we want to be seen for who we are, truly, and now our illusions. It’s an homage to not being completely bound to our plans and to have some wiggle room.
Find Love Craves Cardaomom on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.