A MATCH MADE IN MEHENDI

Narrated by Priya Ayyar, this tale of matchmaking and rich family traditions focuses on 15-year-old Indian-American Simi, who resists becoming the next in her family's long line of matchmakers. Together, she, her best friend, and her techie brother develop a matchmaking app for their high school classmates. With the production's catchy intro music, the listener knows from the beginning that this is a fun, lighthearted novel. At times, Ayyar's delivery and tone are uneven, and she seems disengaged from the text. But her voice has a youthful quality that is perfect for the teens, and she gives the Indian-born characters seemingly appropriate accents. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2020]