The marriage code: a novel

Burroughs debuts with a fun but slightly stilted take on the enemies-to-lovers trope. Seattle programmer Emma puts all her energy into work after turning down her boyfriend's marriage proposal. So when Rishi, an app developer from the Bangalore office of Emma's company, threatens to poach her passion project, Helix, Emma is understandably upset. Meanwhile, Rishi hopes moving to Seattle to work on Helix will put his parents' plan to find him a suitable wife on pause. But then Emma talks the bosses into putting her back in charge, and management decides to move the Helix app team from Seattle to Bangalore. Though they got off on the wrong foot, Emma will do anything to get the brilliant Rishi on her team, including designing a web crawler to help Rishi find his perfect wife. But Emma's code doesn't account for the chemistry already brewing between the two of them. Unfortunately, though Burroughs sets up seemingly insurmountable differences in Emma and Rishi's cultures and values, their issues resolve with little real conversation. Most frustratingly, Burroughs lets Emma off the hook for an early racially insensitive comment comparing Rishi to a colonizer. The effective comedy and cute premise will draw readers in, but many will be unconvinced by the romance itself. Agent: Kimberly Brower, Brower Literary (Jan.)

DEBUT Feeling adrift after turning down her boyfriend's very public proposal, app developer Emma throws herself into her work and lands a promotion and a job in India. Rishi, the lead developer on her new project, was all but promised the promotion that Emma received. After some misunderstandings between the two in Seattle, Emma burrows her way into Rishi's good graces through her wit and excitement about exploring India. When Rishi's family decides it's time for him to marry, he enlists Emma to write a marriage code to find potential brides. Yet the more time Emma spends with Rishi looking for his future wife, the more the pair realizes they may actually be each other's perfect match. VERDICT Two engaging leads, plenty of family drama, and the vibrant backdrop of India blend in a slow-burn romance that is as much for seasoned readers as it is for those who are new to the genre. Burroughs is an author to watch. [Previewed in Kellie Tilton's "Choosing Love," LJ 10/20.]--Claire Brown, Red Deer P.L., Alberta, Canada

Two co-workers battle workplace animosity and meddling matchmaking relatives while on a trip to Bangalore in this contemporary romance debut. Emma Delaney is passionate about one thing and one thing only: her job as an engineer launching a literacy software program called Helix. Unfortunately, the product's launch wasn't as successful as predicted and Helix is in danger of being given to the app development team based in Bangalore, India. Rishi Iyengar is an app dev visiting the Seattle office for a few weeks from Bangalore, and his introduction to the Helix team doesn't go over well. Emma assumes the app team is trying to steal her software while Rishi harbors resentment that Emma got the promotion he was promised. But if Emma wants Helix to succeed, she'll need to get on board with transitioning to an app format, move to Bangalore, and coax Rishi to be her lead developer. They agree to a truce of sorts. If he agrees to be part of the team, she'll help him with one of his biggest concerns, and that's making his family happy by finally finding a wife. Of course, with both Emma and Rishi working in tech, they think the easiest way to accomplish this is by developing a marriage algorithm. There's a lot to like about this romance: a heroine who works in STEM, a workplace rivalry that feels authentic, and a setting we don't often see in the genre. The biggest weakness, unfortunately, is Emma's obliviousness and cringeworthy comments. In one scene, the Kama Sutra somehow appears in her luggage and pops out at an inopportune moment. Emma's initial insensitivity is a hurdle readers may or may not get over, but there's an appealing earnestness in her willingness to learn, absorb, and embrace the experiences Bangalore has to offer. A cute premise from a lively new voice in romance. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

DEBUT Feeling adrift after turning down her boyfriend's very public proposal, app developer Emma throws herself into her work and lands a promotion and a job in India. Rishi, the lead developer on her new project, was all but promised the promotion that Emma received. After some misunderstandings between the two in Seattle, Emma burrows her way into Rishi's good graces through her wit and excitement about exploring India. When Rishi's family decides it's time for him to marry, he enlists Emma to write a marriage code to find potential brides. Yet the more time Emma spends with Rishi looking for his future wife, the more the pair realizes they may actually be each other's perfect match. VERDICT Two engaging leads, plenty of family drama, and the vibrant backdrop of India blend in a slow-burn romance that is as much for seasoned readers as it is for those who are new to the genre. Burroughs is an author to watch. [Previewed in Kellie Tilton's "Choosing Love," LJ 10/20.]—Claire Brown, Red Deer P.L., Alberta, Canada

Burroughs debuts with a fun but slightly stilted take on the enemies-to-lovers trope. Seattle programmer Emma puts all her energy into work after turning down her boyfriend's marriage proposal. So when Rishi, an app developer from the Bangalore office of Emma's company, threatens to poach her passion project, Helix, Emma is understandably upset. Meanwhile, Rishi hopes moving to Seattle to work on Helix will put his parents' plan to find him a suitable wife on pause. But then Emma talks the bosses into putting her back in charge, and management decides to move the Helix app team from Seattle to Bangalore. Though they got off on the wrong foot, Emma will do anything to get the brilliant Rishi on her team, including designing a web crawler to help Rishi find his perfect wife. But Emma's code doesn't account for the chemistry already brewing between the two of them. Unfortunately, though Burroughs sets up seemingly insurmountable differences in Emma and Rishi's cultures and values, their issues resolve with little real conversation. Most frustratingly, Burroughs lets Emma off the hook for an early racially insensitive comment comparing Rishi to a colonizer. The effective comedy and cute premise will draw readers in, but many will be unconvinced by the romance itself. Agent: Kimberly Brower, Brower Literary (Jan.)