Blame it on the Wedding Season – Book Review

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If there was one thing Indian weddings excelled at other than glitter, it was family misunderstandings that escalated faster than fireworks

Indian weddings have always been a mix of rituals, chaos, laughter and endless shenanigans. Nobody is ever completely prepared; something or the other is bound to go hilariously wrong, and somehow, those very mishaps become the stories everyone remembers. Because honestly, without a little chaos, can you even call it an Indian wedding?

Blame It on the Wedding Season follows Aanya Kapoor, a wedding planner who finds herself taking charge of her cousin Simran’s wedding. And as you’d expect, planning a wedding—especially one in your own family—is anything but smooth sailing.

Then there’s Advay Mehra, the groom Vikram’s cousin, best man and Aanya’s senior from college. Their reunion begins on an appropriately chaotic note when the groom’s side occupies the bride’s room, creating the perfect collision between Aanya and Advay.

From there, the wedding chaos only gets bigger. The décor collapses, mehendi trays go missing, guest accommodation becomes an issue, the generator decides to act up, and the DJ loses the pen drive. And that’s just the beginning. With every new mishap, the list keeps getting longer, adding another layer of drama to an already chaotic wedding.

Amid the rituals, family drama, unexpected disasters and endless wedding arrangements, the celebrations turn into an entertaining roller coaster. And while Aanya is busy trying to make sure everything goes according to plan, something unexpected begins brewing between her and Advay. Their chemistry and banter add another layer to the narrative, keeping the romance moving alongside all the wedding madness.

If you’ve ever attended a big fat Indian wedding, you’ll probably recognise this beautifully organised chaos. And if you’ve ever planned one, you’ll recognise it even more. Family interference, venue politics, last-minute arrangements, misunderstandings—especially the romantic kind—gossip, emotional drama and the sheer number of people who somehow have an opinion on everything… you name it, this book probably has it.

The banter between Aanya and Advay is witty, funny and sprinkled with just the right amount of cute flirting. You can almost see Aanya falling for him, only to watch her pull herself back every single time. Their exchanges bring a lightness to the story and make their growing chemistry hard to miss.

I particularly loved Advay’s character. He is mature, caring, sweet, optimistic, charming and, above all, a gentleman. What makes him stand out is the way he notices the little things Aanya does, making him even more endearing. Honestly, who wouldn’t fall for a man like that? He is pretty much the benchmark a girl could dream of.

Then there’s Kabir, Aanya’s right-hand man in the wedding-planning business. His humour adds another layer of entertainment to the story and brings some much-needed comic relief amid all the wedding madness.

Overall, the book makes you smile at the cute chemistry, laugh at the madness, roll your eyes at the endless gossip between aunties and uncles, and keep wondering what disaster will strike next—because clearly, it’s all to be blamed on the wedding season.

The humour is a fun mix of situational, conversational and sarcastic moments, with romance naturally woven into the chaos. The story doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s exactly what makes it such an easy and entertaining read.

Though it’s a 250+ page read, the book is easy to finish in a couple of sittings. I would have happily read it in one go, but unfortunately, I don’t have that luxury of time. The story flows smoothly for most of the book, with the only slight shift coming around Aanya’s big realisation—the one she has been holding back for quite some time.

I particularly enjoyed the slow-burn romance between Aanya and Advay. The book doesn’t rush their relationship, allowing their chemistry to build through conversations, glances and those quiet moments when everyone around them seems to know what’s happening, except the two people involved. I also liked that Simran’s wedding remains the backdrop, while the larger focus stays on Aanya and Advay without getting lost in multiple subplots.

The ending did feel a little rushed, although I was happy to see Aanya have her own runaway moment before making the decision to stay.

And honestly, the wedding chaos feels familiar, but it’s the constant chatter, mishaps and madness that make it fun. What keeps the story lively is the chemistry between Aanya and Advay, especially those moments when their feelings are obvious to everyone around them while they continue to play innocent.

This is a light-hearted read that works particularly well when you’re exhausted and looking for something easy, relaxing and entertaining without having to think too hard.

What really kept me hooked, though, was Rhea Noor’s writing style. This is the second book by her that I’ve read, and by now, I can certainly recognise her style. There’s something different and engaging about her writing, particularly the way she brings emotions into the narrative. It’s the kind of writing that makes you want to go back and read certain parts again, simply because of the way the emotions are expressed.

Who should read this?

This one is for readers who pick up books purely for fun, especially if you enjoy Indian wedding romances, old-acquaintance romance, enemies-to-lovers-style banter, a wedding-planning backdrop, family drama and light-hearted contemporary fiction.

At its core, Blame It on the Wedding Season is about two people finding their way back to each other while everyone around them seems determined to make sure that doesn’t happen without a little drama.

It is funny, witty, romantic and entertaining—and sometimes, that is exactly what you want from a book that proudly announces itself as a wedding rom-com.