Bras, Boys, and Blunders by Vidya Samson

What’s a girl gotta do to get her first bra, her first kiss, her first love?

If you thought the Middle East was all about fatwas and burkhas, think again. Join the fun as Veena, a naive teen from India, bungles her way through adolescence on the island of Bahrain. Laugh out loud as she deals with the intricacies of stubborn bras, crazy parents, racist classmates, first love, and the No-No Club, an abstinence club that degenerates into the Yes-Yes Club.

If you’ve ever struggled with body image issues, ever wanted to be different from what you are, ever wanted a hot guy or girl you couldn’t have, or if you just want a good laugh, this novel is for you, whether you’re nine, ninety, or anywhere in between.

This book’s premise is very amusing. An Indian girl who starts attending a Christian school. That’s pretty much all you need to hear to know it’s going to be an interesting read.

There are so many funny moments in the book. This is definitely a light read, but it is packed with well-written scenes and fun dialogue. The scene where Veena gets a haircut is one of the best ones, I think, and it show the author’s real gift for comedic pacing.

I would have enjoyed a bit more character development as the novella progresses, that is the one thing that left me a little disappointed. Veena is such an amusing character that I would have liked to have seen her mature a bit more. But I do recommend this novella, along with the author’s other book, Indian Maidens Bust Loose, if you enjoy a well-written, entertaining and fast-paced book.