The Rules of Arrangement: A Novel

At twenty-six, Zoya is an independent, up-and-coming ad exec who's in no hurry to marry. But in Mumbai, where arranged marriages are the norm, she's under tremendous pressure to marry before she's considered too old. The fact that she's dark-skinned and curvy is another mark against her. She's interviewing for her dream job based in New York City when she receives an unexpected marriage proposal. She has to choose between following the expected path, and pursuing the life she wants for herself. Putting herself first could mean shaming her family and destroying any chance of marriage in the future. But how can she bear to spend the rest of her life wondering what might have been? This book challenged me to put aside my cultural biases so I could relate to Zoya's dilemma. In so many ways, she seems very modern. It's hard to imagine how she could allow the expectations of others—which she doesn't hold herself—to limit her. And yet, the stakes of defying her culture are high, and not only for herself. This novel is strongly focused on the main plot, so be prepared to be immersed unrelentingly in this cultural tug of war from beginning to end. Zoya's internal world is rich and vibrant, so you experience everything as powerfully as she does. It makes for compelling women's fiction. The audio is also well done. Thanks, NetGalley, for the audio ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.