Blog Tour + Review: 10 Things I Hate About Pinky by Sandhya Menon

Hello, friends! I’m thrilled to be the next stop on the 10 Things I Hate About Pinky Blog Tour! 10TIHAP is the third and final book in the Dimpleverse series by Sandhya Menon. If you haven’t read any of Sandhya’s books yet, you need to change that right now. I love the way Sandhya writes rom-coms: an enjoyable mix of swoony romance, charming characters, and sparkling wit. If you want to know more about the Dimpleverse books then read my reviews for When Dimple Met Rishi and There’s Something About Sweetie.

Be sure to grab your copy of 10 Things I Hate About Pinky on July 21st!

Before we go any further, check out the official synopsis for 10 Things I Hate About Pinky:

The delightful follow-up to When Dimple Met Rishi and There’s Something about Sweetie, which follows Ashish’s friends Pinky and Samir as they pretend to date in order to achieve their individual goals, to disastrous and hilarious results.

Pinky Kumar wears the social justice warrior badge with pride. From raccoon hospitals to persecuted rock stars, no cause is too esoteric for her to champion. But a teeny tiny part of her also really enjoys making her conservative, buttoned-up corporate lawyer parents cringe.

Samir Jha might have a few…quirks remaining from the time he had to take care of his sick mother, like the endless lists he makes in his planner and the way he schedules every minute of every day, but those are good things. They make life predictable and steady.

Pinky loves lazy summers at her parents’ Cape Cod lake house, but after listening to them harangue her about the poor decisions she’s made (a.k.a. boyfriends she’s had), she hatches a plan. Get her sorta-friend-sorta-enemy—who is a total Harvard-bound Mama’s boy—to pose as her perfect boyfriend for the summer.

When Samir’s internship falls through, leaving him with an unplanned summer, he gets a text from Pinky asking if he’ll be her fake boyfriend in exchange for a new internship. He jumps at the opportunity; Pinky’s a weirdo, but he can survive a summer with her if there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

As they bicker their way through lighthouses and butterfly habitats, sparks fly, and they both realize this will be a summer they’ll never forget.

*Thank you to Sandhya Menon for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!*

~>Are the characters well-developed in the story?<~

Yes, very much so! I felt that Pinky and Samir were very sure of who they are and unapologetically themselves around others. While they have this one thing in common, in other ways they are complete polar opposites of each other. Pinky is all fire and passion, whereas Samir is calm and level-headed. They can’t stand each other but are also incredibly attracted to each other too. I live for this type of dynamic in characters!!

Family plays a significant role in all of Sandhya’s books. Pinky has a very prickly relationship with her mother, and it’s what prompts her to come up with the fake boyfriend scheme in the first place. Samir has a close relationship with his mother to the point that it is beginning to stifle him, but he doesn’t know how to express that to her. I loved how Pinky and Samir help each other confront the truth of their family problems with support and understanding. It’s that encouragement they need to create more healthy relationships with their respective parents.

~>Is the plot engaging? How is the pacing?<~

The anticipation of Pinky and Samir’s relationship going from enemies to lovers was enough to keep me reading. It just kept getting better and better with each page that I couldn’t put it down. The story flows amusingly from one fake date scenario to the next without feeling contrived.

~>What romance tropes are used and is the romance well-written?<~

My two favorite tropes are used in 10TIHAP–fake dating and enemies to lovers! Pinky and Samir’s romance is by far my favorite in the Dimpleverse! I loved loved their sizzling chemistry, their snarky banter, and the quiet moments of connection between them. The romantic build-up for Pinky and Samir is A+, and I thoroughly enjoyed every interaction of theirs.

~>Do any important themes stand out in the story?<~

Yes, two lessons stood out to me in the story. First, it’s important to fight for what you believe in. Pinky pours her heart and soul into activism and I feel she is a timely example for readers. Second, it’s okay to seek out professional help for mental health reasons. This is something that Samir learns to help him overcome his obsessive habit of meticulously planning every part of his day to have a sense of control.

~>What was the overall feeling upon finishing the book<~

My heart was bursting with all the love for 10TIHAP but it was also sad because it’s the LAST Dimpleverse book! I could read about these characters forever. 10TIHAP is now my favorite Sandhya Menon book. It hit all the right notes for me: fun characters, hot romance, and a satisfying end to a fabulous series.

My rating: 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟