Payal Mehta's Romance Revenge Plot

$19.99 US
Penguin Young Readers | Kokila
12 per carton
On sale Sep 24, 2024 | 978-0-593-46188-4
Age 12 and up
Sales rights: World
This laugh-out-loud debut romance introduces perfectly imperfect Payal Mehta, whose plan to get her long-time crush to finally notice her is destined for success, but only if she ignores her budding feelings for her archnemesis...

Payal Mehta has had a crush on popular, athletic, all-around perfect Jonathan Slate ever since he smiled at her in freshman–year Spanish class. At a party during spring break of her junior year, Payal finally works up the courage to ask Jon to hang out. However, her romantic plans are derailed when he vomits on her Keds. Twice. But when Jon offers to take her out to lunch as an apology, Payal is convinced this is the start of their love story. 

Over chalupas and burritos at Taco Bell, Payal's best jokes are landing as planned. Jon is basically choking on his Coke—and then it happens. "Do you have a boyfriend?" Payal is (finally) about to get the guy. And then he tries to set her up with his Indian friend. Payal's best friends, Neil Patel and Divya Bhatt, are just as mad about the microagression as Payal is, but they think she’s a little too hung up on him. 

Determined to teach Jon a lesson by making him fall for her, Payal ropes in her archnemesis, Philip Kim, to help. It’s the perfect plan. Minus Philip’s snarky, annoying quips and lack of faith in its success. But as Payal lies to the people she loves, hides the too-Indian parts of herself in front of her crush, and learns that maybe Philip isn't the worst, she starts to wonder if what she's been looking for has been scowling at her all along...
Praise for Payal Mehta’s Romance Revenge Plot by Preeti Chhibber
 
“Look no further: here’s the funniest book of the year! Payal Mehta’s story soars with heart, humor, and brilliance, while still managing to subvert romantic comedy tropes in surprising ways. I was fist pumping AND crying in the final pages.”
 —Mark Oshiro, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Into the Light

"Outrageously funny, incisive and tender. Chhibber's romance is effervescent and effortlessly luminous."
 —Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Gilded Wolves
 
"Chhibber is a hilarious and delightful new voice in YA romance! A smart exploration of friendship, navigating a first crush, and diaspora teens finding their voice. A heartwarming coming-of-age!" 
 —Kat Cho, New York Times Bestselling author of Once Upon a K-Prom

“Hilariously charming and smartly nuanced, Payal Mehta’s Romance Revenge Plot is a refreshingly honest exploration of identity, friendships, microaggressions, and that awkward line between crushes and true love. A joyful, can’t-miss winner!”
 —Julian Winters, award-winning author of Right Where I Left You
 
"Payal Mehta's Romance Revenge Plot is love at first crush-him-under-your-heel-Payal-you-deserve-better! Delightfully hilarious and excruciatingly relatable, you know it's a good book when I'm up at 2am screaming 'KISS THE NERD.' Preeti Chhibber had me in a chokehold. I can't wait for her to do it again."
 —Ashley Poston, New York Times bestselling author of The Dead Romantics and The Seven Year Slip

About

This laugh-out-loud debut romance introduces perfectly imperfect Payal Mehta, whose plan to get her long-time crush to finally notice her is destined for success, but only if she ignores her budding feelings for her archnemesis...

Payal Mehta has had a crush on popular, athletic, all-around perfect Jonathan Slate ever since he smiled at her in freshman–year Spanish class. At a party during spring break of her junior year, Payal finally works up the courage to ask Jon to hang out. However, her romantic plans are derailed when he vomits on her Keds. Twice. But when Jon offers to take her out to lunch as an apology, Payal is convinced this is the start of their love story. 

Over chalupas and burritos at Taco Bell, Payal's best jokes are landing as planned. Jon is basically choking on his Coke—and then it happens. "Do you have a boyfriend?" Payal is (finally) about to get the guy. And then he tries to set her up with his Indian friend. Payal's best friends, Neil Patel and Divya Bhatt, are just as mad about the microagression as Payal is, but they think she’s a little too hung up on him. 

Determined to teach Jon a lesson by making him fall for her, Payal ropes in her archnemesis, Philip Kim, to help. It’s the perfect plan. Minus Philip’s snarky, annoying quips and lack of faith in its success. But as Payal lies to the people she loves, hides the too-Indian parts of herself in front of her crush, and learns that maybe Philip isn't the worst, she starts to wonder if what she's been looking for has been scowling at her all along...

Praise

Praise for Payal Mehta’s Romance Revenge Plot by Preeti Chhibber
 
“Look no further: here’s the funniest book of the year! Payal Mehta’s story soars with heart, humor, and brilliance, while still managing to subvert romantic comedy tropes in surprising ways. I was fist pumping AND crying in the final pages.”
 —Mark Oshiro, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Into the Light

"Outrageously funny, incisive and tender. Chhibber's romance is effervescent and effortlessly luminous."
 —Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Gilded Wolves
 
"Chhibber is a hilarious and delightful new voice in YA romance! A smart exploration of friendship, navigating a first crush, and diaspora teens finding their voice. A heartwarming coming-of-age!" 
 —Kat Cho, New York Times Bestselling author of Once Upon a K-Prom

“Hilariously charming and smartly nuanced, Payal Mehta’s Romance Revenge Plot is a refreshingly honest exploration of identity, friendships, microaggressions, and that awkward line between crushes and true love. A joyful, can’t-miss winner!”
 —Julian Winters, award-winning author of Right Where I Left You
 
"Payal Mehta's Romance Revenge Plot is love at first crush-him-under-your-heel-Payal-you-deserve-better! Delightfully hilarious and excruciatingly relatable, you know it's a good book when I'm up at 2am screaming 'KISS THE NERD.' Preeti Chhibber had me in a chokehold. I can't wait for her to do it again."
 —Ashley Poston, New York Times bestselling author of The Dead Romantics and The Seven Year Slip