Pretty cute. I checked this out from the library, completely forgetting that I'd obtained it through the Amazon First Reads months ago but never read it, whoops. I do wonder how much of it is ripped from the author's life though (and given the IT background and the Amazon publishing... is there also an affiliation there??

Food descriptions sounded amazing. Fun read, not super deep. ( )

Formula romcom. Couple meets under unfortunate circumstances. Each has been promised the project lead for a new product and believes the other is totally unqualified for it. When Emma wins the project (RIishi believes unfairly), the pair are forced to work together. Of course it becomes a love/hate situation where both are the convinced the attraction in unreciprocated. Sound familiar?
The situation is complicated in that she is a flaming red head American while he is from Southern India. Running the project requires her to move to Bangalore where she has no friends and no clue about local cultural norms.
He is under pressure from his family to marry (ideally an arranged marriage) to a local woman who understands the culture, would submit to her husband and mother-in-law and maintain the familiy’s traditions. The urgency (aside from the global parental refrain, “So when are you going to give us grandchildren?”) is that Rishi’s sister has reached a marriageable age but cannot, within local tradition, marry unless her older brother marries first. He wants to marry for love and hasn’t found the right woman yet.
Running throughout the book are all the prejudices held by the characters themselves and the communities they live in. A Northern Indian bride would not be appropriate for Rishi because she wouldn’t understand the rituals or know how to cook the right food. Marrying for love is always ruinous. Arranged marriages are best because they provide a safe, comfortable relationship with the community norms where love will eventually grow.
Jane Austin did all this a lot better!
The eponymous marriage code refers both to a program Emma wrote to find the”perfect bride” for Rishi – one who could meet all cultural expectations and still be a companion he could love. It also refers to all the strictures cultures (both his and hers) place on “acceptable” marriages.
It should be no real surprise how the book ends. Note: food and cooking are intimately involved.
It’s a cute but hardly outstanding book. It has all the elements for a Hollywood/Bollywood summer movie. Just don’t hold your breath for another Bride and Prejudice. ( )

This was an entertaining read. There were a lot of descriptions of the food in India since the main character loves to eat. It was great reading a book that takes place in modern day India. I have read some historical fiction, but it is nice getting a feel for the current culture of another country. It took awhile for the story to get moving, but by the end I was drawn in and hesitating to put it down. Overall, I liked it and it was nice reading a lighter book after some heavier books I have read this month. ( )