MY SO-CALLED BOLLYWOOD LIFE

Priya Ayyar narrates this #ownvoices teen novel about destiny, love, and staying true to yourself. High school senior and self-proclaimed Bollywood film geek Winnie Mehta has been told about her soul mate from a young age, thanks to a prophecy by a Hindu priest. Unlike the majority of her family, she is not convinced that her ex-boyfriend, Raj, is her prophesized destiny. While Ayyar give accents to the characters who are from India, overall her performance comes across as flat and unengaged. Additionally, the slow narrative pace of the story and the sometimes poorly differentiated character voices fail to capture the listener's attention, making this a difficult listen. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2018]