Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar

By Anahita Karthik, Read by Reena Dutt

Price: $10.99

On Sale: 1/27/2026

Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar Book Cover Enlarge Book Cover

Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar

By Anahita Karthik, Read by Reena Dutt

Price: $10.99

On Sale: 1/27/2026

About the Book

“Come for the road trip of a lifetime. Stay for the kissing!”— Meg Cabot, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Princess Diaries series

Buckle up for a wild ride with this cheeky and charming rom-com where one girl’s quest across India to seal her first kiss turns into finding first love in the most unexpected places. Perfect for fans of Axie Oh and Jenny Han!

Krishna Kumar may have gotten into her dream college, but that doesn’t mean she’s stopped being a bi disaster. Even after spending her whole summer in India flirting with her gorgeous neighbor Amrit, she has nothing to show for it. And now, her fate is sealed: she’s destined to be the only freshman who’s never been kissed.

But when her flight home is delayed right as a distinctly flirty text from Amrit lights up her phone, Krishna is determined to seize her last chance at a perfect first kiss with Amrit, even if it means asking her cousin-turned-nemesis, Priti, for help. Because Amrit is miles away at a family wedding—and Priti’s best friend, Rudra Desai, is the only one with a car.

The unlikely trio set off on a road trip to crash a wedding and save Krishna’s summer. But as she starts to fall for the quiet yet irresistibly hot and charming Rudra, who everyone knows is unrequitedly in love with Priti, Krishna realizes her heart better catch up to her head before she skips right past her first kiss and falls directly into her first heartbreak.

Product Details

ISBN: 9780063341166
Imprint: HarperCollins
On Sale: Jan 27, 2026
List price: $10.99
No of pages: 336
Trim Size: 1.000 in (w) x 1.000 in (h) x 1.000 in (d)
BISAC 1: YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / Contemporary *
BISAC 2: YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Coming of Age *
BISAC 3: YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / Clean & Wholesome *

Anahita Karthik

Biography

Anahita Karthik is a desi, queer, and multilingual writer of stories heavily inspired by Indian mythology, history, and culture. She has an MSt in creative writing from the University of Cambridge and a tech degree she’ll probably never use in her life. While she writes across genres, her stories usually include road trips, a slow burn romance, and nods to Indian cinema (both explicit and thematic). Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar is her debut novel, but her first feature was in My Big, Fat Desi Wedding anthology. She can be found posting excessively across platforms @ana_scribe or blogging about publishing on her website, anahitakarthik.com.


Reena Dutt

Reviews

“Come for the road trip of a lifetime. Stay for the kissing!” — Meg Cabot, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Princess Diaries series

“A sharp and fast-paced debut full of humor and heart that will leave readers squealing. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!” — Aamna Qureshi, USA Today bestselling author of The Baby Dragon Café and A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison

“A charming, delightful romance debut that belongs on every reader’s bookshelf.” — Nisha Sharma, author of Illusions of Fire and romance

Warm, funny, and irresistibly sweet—this book feels like riding shotgun with your favorite people.” — Farah Naz Rishi, author of It All Comes Back to You

“Expertly captures the essence of first love in this sunset-soaked, hilariously endearing romcom.”  — Sujin Witherspoon, author of Bingsu for Two

“This book, in its entirety, is an absolute joy. All of it. Every last drop.” — Charlene Thomas, author of It’s You Every Time

 “A sparkling, heartfelt rom-com that swept me off my feet from the very first page.” — Ananya Devarajan, author of Kismat Connection and Sanskari Sweetheart

This vibrant, atmospheric romcom will make you feel like you’re flying down the expressway to Goa with the windows down.” — Clare Osongco, author of Midnights with You

“An absolute must read with all the cinematic charm of a Bollywood movie.” — Stefany Valentine, author of First Love Language and Love Makes Mochi 

“A laugh-out-loud (and sometimes snort-out-loud) story, full of tender moments that have you yelling ‘KISS KISS KISS’ at the pages.” — Talia Tucker, author of Rules for Rule Breaking

“A sharply observed exploration of love and belonging” — Kirkus Reviews

About the Book

“Come for the road trip of a lifetime. Stay for the kissing!”— Meg Cabot, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Princess Diaries series

Buckle up for a wild ride with this cheeky and charming rom-com where one girl’s quest across India to seal her first kiss turns into finding first love in the most unexpected places. Perfect for fans of Axie Oh and Jenny Han!

Krishna Kumar may have gotten into her dream college, but that doesn’t mean she’s stopped being a bi disaster. Even after spending her whole summer in India flirting with her gorgeous neighbor Amrit, she has nothing to show for it. And now, her fate is sealed: she’s destined to be the only freshman who’s never been kissed.

But when her flight home is delayed right as a distinctly flirty text from Amrit lights up her phone, Krishna is determined to seize her last chance at a perfect first kiss with Amrit, even if it means asking her cousin-turned-nemesis, Priti, for help. Because Amrit is miles away at a family wedding—and Priti’s best friend, Rudra Desai, is the only one with a car.

The unlikely trio set off on a road trip to crash a wedding and save Krishna’s summer. But as she starts to fall for the quiet yet irresistibly hot and charming Rudra, who everyone knows is unrequitedly in love with Priti, Krishna realizes her heart better catch up to her head before she skips right past her first kiss and falls directly into her first heartbreak.

Product Details

ISBN: 9780063341166
Imprint: HarperCollins
On Sale: Jan 27, 2026
List price: $10.99
No of pages: 336
Trim Size: 1.000 in (w) x 1.000 in (h) x 1.000 in (d)
BISAC 1: YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / Contemporary *
BISAC 2: YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Coming of Age *
BISAC 3: YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / Clean & Wholesome *

Anahita Karthik

Biography

Anahita Karthik is a desi, queer, and multilingual writer of stories heavily inspired by Indian mythology, history, and culture. She has an MSt in creative writing from the University of Cambridge and a tech degree she’ll probably never use in her life. While she writes across genres, her stories usually include road trips, a slow burn romance, and nods to Indian cinema (both explicit and thematic). Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar is her debut novel, but her first feature was in My Big, Fat Desi Wedding anthology. She can be found posting excessively across platforms @ana_scribe or blogging about publishing on her website, anahitakarthik.com.


Reena Dutt

Reviews

“Come for the road trip of a lifetime. Stay for the kissing!” — Meg Cabot, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Princess Diaries series

“A sharp and fast-paced debut full of humor and heart that will leave readers squealing. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!” — Aamna Qureshi, USA Today bestselling author of The Baby Dragon Café and A Witch’s Guide to Love and Poison

“A charming, delightful romance debut that belongs on every reader’s bookshelf.” — Nisha Sharma, author of Illusions of Fire and romance

Warm, funny, and irresistibly sweet—this book feels like riding shotgun with your favorite people.” — Farah Naz Rishi, author of It All Comes Back to You

“Expertly captures the essence of first love in this sunset-soaked, hilariously endearing romcom.”  — Sujin Witherspoon, author of Bingsu for Two

“This book, in its entirety, is an absolute joy. All of it. Every last drop.” — Charlene Thomas, author of It’s You Every Time

 “A sparkling, heartfelt rom-com that swept me off my feet from the very first page.” — Ananya Devarajan, author of Kismat Connection and Sanskari Sweetheart

This vibrant, atmospheric romcom will make you feel like you’re flying down the expressway to Goa with the windows down.” — Clare Osongco, author of Midnights with You

“An absolute must read with all the cinematic charm of a Bollywood movie.” — Stefany Valentine, author of First Love Language and Love Makes Mochi 

“A laugh-out-loud (and sometimes snort-out-loud) story, full of tender moments that have you yelling ‘KISS KISS KISS’ at the pages.” — Talia Tucker, author of Rules for Rule Breaking

“A sharply observed exploration of love and belonging” — Kirkus Reviews

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