When Dimple Met Rishi

Dimple Shah, one of the book’s protagonists, is an 18-year-old Indian American girl who is passionate about coding and web development. At the beginning of the novel, Dimple has just received her acceptance letter to Stanford University, and she attends Insomnia Con in San Francisco for the summer in hopes of meeting her idol, Jenny Lindt. Dimple is driven and determined when it comes to her education and career. She chafes against her parents’ expectations that she lead a traditional Indian life, especially when it comes to the idea of arranged marriage. Her relationship with her mother is especially difficult, and Dimple feels she’s disappointed her mother because she is headstrong and wants to carve her own path rather than follow tradition. At the beginning of the book, she’s sworn off makeup and boys and is focused on winning the grand prize at Insomnia Con to better her career opportunities.

Much of the book revolves around how Dimple’s relationship with Rishi Patel develops and how falling in love helps her change and grow. Through Rishi, Dimple comes to freshly understand and appreciate Indian tradition. She learns how traditions can support people in maintaining a connection with their ancestors and homeland. Frightened by her intense feelings for Rishi and scared of losing herself, Dimple ends their relationship.