Title: Beauty and the Besharam
Author: Lillie Vale
Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 24th, 2022
Pages: 400
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4/5
Buy at: Blackwells | Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble | Add to Goodreads
Synopsis
Heated competition leads to even hotter romance in this YA summer rom-com for fans of Sandhya Menon, Emma Lord, and Wibbroka.
Seventeen-year-old, high-achieving Kavya Joshi has always been told she’s a little too ambitious, a little too mouthy, and overall just a little too much. In one word: besharam.
So, when her nemesis, Ian Jun, witnesses Kavya’s very public breakup with her loser boyfriend on the last day of junior year, she decides to lay low and spend the summer doing what she loves best–working part time playing princess roles for childrens’ birthday parties. But her plan is shot when she’s cast as Ariel instead of her beloved Belle, and learns that Ian will be her Prince Eric for the summer. [Cue the combative banter.]
Exhausted by Kavya and Ian’s years-long feud, their friends hatch a plan to end their rivalry by convincing them to participate in a series of challenges throughout the summer. Kavya is only too eager to finally be declared the winner. But as the competition heats up, so too does the romantic tension, until it escalates from a simmer to a full-on burn.
Blog Tour: Beauty and the Besharam by Lillie Vale #BookReview #BeautyandtheBesharamtour @ColoredPagesBT @LillieLabyrinth @PenguinTeen #BohoPonderings Share on X
Review:
Kavya Joshi is a fiercely competitive seventeen-year-old who does not shy away from speaking her mind. And often labeled besharam for that.
Ian Jun is a cinnamon roll who has his own demons to slay. The sunshine to Kavya’s grumpiness. Who loves Kavya for who she is. A sweet guy but definitely not a pushover.
Rivals to lovers. Grumpy girl x sunshine boy. Diverse characters. Realistic relationships. Cute banter. And most important of all, being your unapologetic self. Beauty and the Besharam by Lilly Vale is an easy summer read that is full of heart.
“Ever think that your desperate desire to win at everything kind of makes you the biggest loser?”
The beautiful cover sets the tone of the book. Although it is primarily a rom-com, it also has well-developed sub-plots. And side characters who actually add to the story. The parents. Kavya’s sister, Simran. The Moon Girls – Catie, Blair, and Val.
The LGBTQ rep is well done and does not appear to be mere tokenism. Although I do hope they were more built upon, particularly Simran’s.
The desi rep is highly relatable. Parental pressure on choosing the right career (that is not necessarily the one you want to choose). You aren’t a success until you snap up the most eligible man around, degrees and education be damned. Nosy aunties. That said, the book does not go down the done-to-death path. Kavya’s parents do support her choices.
“…she’s always saying how proud she is of Naina for being at the top of her field, for relocating to a new country and learning the language and everything… proud until it’s time for her to start popping out babies….
Rivals to lovers high schoolers. The plot may sound similar to Netflix’s Never Have I Ever but that is where the similarity ends. The book is more about being comfortable being in your own skin. Love does not mean making compromises and diminishing your light. It is okay to make mistakes and learn from them. Everything is not a competition.
I would recommend this book to every girl out there who has been asked to tone it down. To not be competitive. To be more girly. To stop being too much. In other words… stop being besharam.
Trigger warning: anxiety, sexism, death of a sibling.
Blog Tour: Beauty and the Besharam by Lillie Vale #BookReview #BeautyandtheBesharamtour @ColoredPagesBT @LillieLabyrinth @CindyAnnDSilva @nooranand #BlogaberryDazzle #BohoPonderings Share on X
About the Author
Lillie Vale is the author of books for both teens and adults, including The Decoy Girlfriend, Beauty and the Besharam, The Shaadi Set-Up, and Small Town Hearts, an American Library Association’s 2020 Rainbow Books List selection. She writes about secrets and yearning, complicated and ambitious girls who know what they want, the places we call home and people we find our way back to, and the magic we make. Born in Mumbai, she grew up in Mississippi, Texas, and North Dakota, and now lives in an Indiana college town. Find her on Twitter @LillieLabyrinth and Instagram @labyrinthspine, or visit her website lillielabyrinth.com.
Visit her online at LillieLabyrinth.com, Twitter, Instagram, or Goodreads.
Tour Schedule
May 23rd
Misty Realms – Blog Interview
Purposely Unperfect – Playlist
May 24th
Clouded Galaxy Reads – Playlist
Wiltedpages – Instagram Feed Post
May 25th
Tales Of A Bookbug – Book Review
Bohemian Bibliophile – Favorite Quotes
May 26th
@bansheesbookstagram – Instagram Feed Post
Solace in Reading – Book Recommendations Based on Book
May 27th
@bonggirlinabookworld – Instagram Feed Post
Melancholic Blithe – Blog Interview
Little Corner Reads – Book Recommendations Based On Book
May 28th
@toffiladyreader – Instagram Feed Post
PopTheButterfly Reads – Book Review
May 29th
Mulberryreads – Book Review
@book_with_girl – Book Review
Read in the Clouds – Book Review
I would like to thank Colored Pages Book Tours and Penguin Teen for providing a copy of the book for the blog tour. All opinions are my own.
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.
May 26, 2022 @ 9:44 am
The author looks like a young girl. You reviews are always honest like this one.The title is unique-Beauty and the besharam! Who would have thought that such a title would emerge from kids fairytales.
May 26, 2022 @ 7:42 pm
The name is pretty unusual. Maybe I wouldn’t think of picking it up if I didn’t read the review. So much for a name!
May 28, 2022 @ 6:37 am
U had me glued to the review, I can only imagine how much more interesting will the book itself be, sounds like a mind freshener.
May 28, 2022 @ 9:47 pm
Looks like the perfect book for teenagers. I will recommend it to my little sister who has just entered her teens for her vacation reading. Great review!
May 29, 2022 @ 3:03 pm
First off I love the cover of this book- super eye catching. Sounds like a cute read and something I may unabashedly pick up and devour!
May 29, 2022 @ 4:34 pm
This is really interesting Ritu. I hope I get to read this book. Let me see if I can
May 29, 2022 @ 5:02 pm
Beauty and Besharam what a unique name. Your review is in detail and tempted me to read out the book. Love the cover picture.
May 29, 2022 @ 5:34 pm
I loved the cover of the book. I remember you telling me about this one. I think our young lady would enjoy reading it..
May 29, 2022 @ 5:59 pm
Honest review.surely this book will be added to my list.
May 29, 2022 @ 10:19 pm
This sounds to be a great read. Colourful review with beautiful words put we’ll as a post.
May 29, 2022 @ 11:36 pm
You have made the book sounds so nice. I’m sure a young reader will enjoy it very much. Will let my niece know about this book.
May 30, 2022 @ 4:05 am
I have recently heard about this book from a friend because of the name. But had no idea that what it was. Your review is really honest and good.
May 30, 2022 @ 10:57 am
This seems a promising treat specially for young readers. Perfect put the review
May 30, 2022 @ 5:03 pm
I like the title and your review too Ritu… thank you for the clear picture. however, the book is too soon for my 12 year old and too late for me😄…
May 30, 2022 @ 8:56 pm
This is one interesting cover!!!! Hope you enjoy this one
May 31, 2022 @ 2:27 pm
To be honest, the cover page did not hold my attention much but our review is quite intriguing. Being a girl, I understand the emotions when asked to “Do not laugh loudly, be more girly, keep smiling etc.”. I would love to read this one soon solely on the basis of your review 🙂
May 31, 2022 @ 9:05 pm
Title of this book is different yet intriguing. Loved your honest and detailed review.
May 31, 2022 @ 11:25 pm
I just fell for the name, beauty and besharam most of the times people judge girls’ beauty and denote as besharam. I loved your narration and getting a copy right away.😀
August 4, 2022 @ 11:58 pm
Sounds like a fun read! Thanks for introducing it to me!