Never Have I Ever

Netflix. TV-14.

Season 1 of this funny, contemporary show, which premiered this spring, explores the life of first-generation Indian American teenager Devi, who tries to up her social status with disastrous results. Created by Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher, the comedy is inspired by Kaling’s childhood.

READ-ALIKES

I Believe in a Thing Called Love. Maurene Goo. Farrar. 2017.
Gr 7 Up—Overachieving Korean American high schooler Desi, inspired by her favorite Korean dramas, comes up with a multi-step plan to land the boy of her dreams in this funny teen romance. Readers looking for a sweet love story with plenty of laughs will enjoy this one.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. Jenny Han. S. & S.. 2014.
Gr 7-10—When biracial (Korean/white) Lara Jean’s secret love letters get accidentally sent, she tries desperately to convince her neighbor Josh that she’s over her crush on him, while also dealing with new attention from the other boys she wrote to. A charming, humorous romance that will appeal to readers who cringed, laughed, and smiled at Devi’s high school missteps.

When Dimple Met Rishi. Sandhya Menon. S. & S. 2017.
Gr 9 Up—In this teen rom-com, First generation Indian American teen Dimple Shah, an ambitious coder, is matched by her parents with suitable guy Rishi Patel. The thing is, she doesn’t know about it. To get to know Dimple better, Rishi secretly attends her summer coding camp. Also consider Menon’s companion titles, There’s Something About Sweetie and 10 Things I Hate About Pinky (all S. & S., 2019, 2020), which will all appeal to fans.

Abby Johnson is the collection development leader at the Floyd County (IN) Library.