Ten Things I Hate About Pinky is the last book set in the Dimpleverse is filled with fun, love, and summer days. Sandhya Menon, the NYT bestselling author of several novels that feature Indian characters, has created yet another entertaining, romantic, and character-driven YA contemporary with desi expectations and the idea of standing up for what’s right. It’s exciting to see her, the writer, answer a few quick questions about this latest book of hers!
Pinky Kumar wears the social justice warrior badge with pride. From raccoon hospitals to persecuted rock stars, no cause is too esoteric for her to champion. But a teeny-tiny part of her also really enjoys making her conservative, buttoned-up corporate lawyer parents cringe.
Samir Jha might have a few . . . quirks remaining from the time he had to take care of his sick mother, like the endless lists he makes in his planner and the way he schedules every minute of every day, but those are good things. They make life predictable and steady.
Pinky loves lazy summers at her parents’ Cape Cod lake house, but after listening to them harangue her about the poor decisions (aka boyfriends) she’s made, she hatches a plan. Get her sorta-friend-sorta-enemy, Samir—who is a total Harvard-bound Mama’s boy—to pose as her perfect boyfriend for the summer. As they bicker their way through lighthouses and butterfly habitats, sparks fly, and they both realize this will be a summer they’ll never forget.
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How did you come up with the idea for 10 Things I Hate about Pinky?
I knew at the time I wrote There’s Something about Sweetie, which was the Dimpleverse companion novel that came before 10 Things I Hate about Pinky, that the two protagonists would be Pinky and Samir. What I didn’t know was what the plot would be or where the story would take place. At the time that I was making those decisions, it was right in the middle of summer and I totally gave into my love (some might say obsession) with summer! That’s why the book is set at a lake house on Cape Cod, features a light house and a butterfly habitat, and has plenty of summery scenes (including of the make out variety!).
What was your favorite scene to write in 10 Things I Hate about Pinky?
Oh my gosh, so many! Like I said before, I absolutely let my inner summer-lover run wild. There’s a scene where Samir and Pinky (who fake date in the course of the book) practice kissing in a tree that I absolutely looooved writing. There’s a scene where they cook together that my design team loved so much, it almost made the back cover! And I also really just loved in general showing what I like to call Samir’s sneaky hotness. I wanted readers and Pinky to realize at the same time that this seemingly goody-two-shoes guy is actually kind of really hot, and my favorite thing has been getting emails from early readers saying precisely that!
Will there be any more novels in the Dimpleverse?
Well, never say never, but I did picture 10 Things I Hate about Pinky as the last story in that universe (*sniff*). Who knows what the future holds, but for now, I think I’ve said my goodbyes. I hope readers enjoy this final chapter in the universe!
Sandhya Menon
She is the New York Times bestselling author of several novels with lots of kissing, girl power, and swoony boys. Her books have been featured in many cool places, including on The Today Show, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, NPR, Seventeen, Entertainment Weekly, and Buzzfeed. Two of her books have won the Colorado Book Award, and her Dimpleverse series was turned into a hit TV show with Netflix India. A full-time dog servant, Sandhya makes her home in the foggy mountains of Colorado. With a glass of wine at her elbow, she also pens adult romances under the name Lily Menon.
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This post is written for a promotional blog tour hosted by the publicist of this book but everything stated in the post, except for the responses by the author, is solely my opinion and recommendation.
Ah loved reading all of Sandhya’s answers. Makes me very pumped to read her books. Hopefully soon hehe <3<3