It's a coming-of-age story about a teen-aged girl (Dimple) living in the suburbs of NYC with her Indian parents. The crux of the book is a sort of love triangle between her; her ever-so-blonde, ever-so-slim, and ever-so-perfect friend Gwyn; and Karsh, the ever-so-imperfect boy introduced to Dimple as a sort of arranged-American-style marriage prospect. Dimple, who has aspirations to be a photographer (and who has a pet name for her camera, how cute!), seems rather two-dimensional, as drawn.

Naturally she sees Karsh, when introduced thru the parents, as a rather boring Indian boy. Gwyn, meanwhile, does the safari thing and sort of falls for Karsh, and enlists Dimple's help in getting her man. That help would include dressing Indian and going to South Asian identity seminars.

It turns out that Karsh is a well-known DJ which makes him desirable after all. Much of the book is spent on Gwyn chasing Karsh getting Dimple's help, who of course has fallen for Karsh herself.

Meanwhile Dimple discovers what lesbians are, and what a transsexual is, and duly marvels. Conveniently, her parents are so cool they sort of wink at all this teen discovery stuff.

So in the end of course true love outs and Dimple gets the guy, and meanwhile everyone gets to know everyone's culture, the Meaning of Friendship, etc etc.

I felt the book was over-long at 400+ pages. It also seemed a bit, well, juvenile.

On the other hand there were a couple of pieces of truly spectacular writing that made it up for me, both revolving around club life. As the author's bio states 'she is a lead singer/lyricist in a rock band' I spose it's territory she well knows. She really captured the magic that occurs when music, drugs, company, and dancing come together in an almost spiritual way.

So good, not great, maybe great for a teen-aged girl.

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