Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar

A travel itinerary change grants a teen time to be the “main character of a cheesy rom-com” in Karthik’s heartfelt debut. After spending the summer in Mumbai with her family, 18-year-old Krishna Kumar can’t wait to return to the U.S. to start college at Johns Hopkins. But when her flight gets rescheduled, Krishna suddenly finds herself with four extra days in Mumbai, and she resolves to embark on an epic road trip to claim her first kiss by meeting up with her flirty crush Amrit, who’s attending a wedding in North Goa. Krishna enlists Priti, her cousin and former best friend, as well as Priti’s quiet but handsome bestie Rudra to accompany her on the almost 12-hour drive. Over the course of their journey, Krishna and Priti slowly rebuild their fractured friendship, while Krishna and Rudra struggle to resist the pull of their undeniable chemistry. Evocative depictions of Indian cuisine, culture, fashion, and language permeate this simultaneously appealing romantic comedy and thoughtful coming-of-age drama in which optimistic teens learn to build healthy relationships while navigating the transitional period between familiar childhood experiences and uncertain futures. Characters are of Indian descent. Ages 13–up. Agent: Rebecca Podos, Neighborhood Literary. (Jan.)