If you’ve ever watched a rom-com and thought, “This is cute, but where’s the family drama? The cultural tension? The auntie asking inappropriate questions at dinner?”—you’re not alone.
When I started writing The “I” in Indian, I wanted to explore what love looks like when you’re navigating two cultures, generations of expectations, and your own internal tug-of-war between identity and independence. The result? A messy, heartfelt, and sometimes hilarious story about Aria, a second-generation Indian-American woman, and Leo, the Italian-American guy who falls for her—but not without a few cultural curveballs along the way.
The book is fiction—but the inspiration came from some very real (and very beloved) on-screen love stories that tackled similar themes: mixed cultures, family clashes, and the courage to choose your own path. So if you were obsessed with any of these stories below, there’s a very good chance The “I” in Indian will hit you right in the feels.
1. Cece and Schmidt – New Girl
She’s the grounded Indian-American with big dreams and a family full of expectations. He’s the awkwardly confident Jewish guy who falls for her hard, even if he can’t pronounce her full name or figure out how to act cool at an Indian wedding.
Cece and Schmidt’s relationship is full of missteps, misunderstandings, and major cultural learning curves—but it’s also filled with effort, growth, and deep love. That’s what makes them so special. They don’t shy away from the hard parts. They lean in.
Like Cece, Aria is caught between her American life and her Indian upbringing. Like Schmidt, Leo is deeply sincere—even when he messes up. Their love isn’t about perfect harmony—it’s about learning to listen, adjust, and show up again the next day.
2. Jess and Joe – Bend It Like Beckham
An all-time classic. Jess is a British-Indian girl who dreams of becoming a soccer star. Her parents? Not so much. Between sneaking off to play and falling for her white coach, Joe, Jess is constantly pulled between tradition and passion, family and freedom.
The beauty of this story is that it gets how layered cultural conflict can be. It’s not about rebellion—it’s about making room for more than one truth to exist at the same time.
In The “I” in Indian, Aria doesn’t want to turn her back on her culture. She just wants to stop being punished by it. Her romance with Leo isn’t about erasing her Indian identity—it’s about embracing all the parts of herself, even the ones she’s been taught to hide.
3. Toula and Ian – My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Toula’s family is loud, opinionated, and steeped in Greek tradition. Ian is… not. Which is why their relationship triggers every alarm bell in the family home. But what Toula learns—as Aria does too—is that love can be the catalyst for reimagining what family acceptance looks like.
The hilarious culture clashes, the awkward meet-the-parents moment, the “he’s not one of us” panic—it’s all there. But so is the tenderness of building a new kind of bridge. Not replacing your roots, but expanding them.
For Aria and Leo, that means difficult conversations, hurt feelings, and yes, a fair share of overcooked dinner-table tension. But it also means fighting for something real—even when the people you love don’t immediately understand it.
4. Carrie Bradshaw & Co. – Sex and the City
Okay, technically not a romance in the classic sense—but this one had to make the list. Because sometimes, the most transformative love stories are the ones we build with our friends.
Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha showed an entire generation of women that your friend group can be your family. That when your dating life is a disaster, your career’s in flux, or your parents don’t understand you, it’s your chosen sisters who pull you out of the spiral with wine, wisdom, and a touch of side-eye.
In The “I” in Indian, Aria’s friendships are everything. Her best friend Veera is bold, brutally honest, and never afraid to say what Aria needs to hear. Her younger sister Saira, seemingly perfect, helps Aria see that no one has it all figured out—even when they play by the rules. These women are her mirror, her lifeline, her reminder that love doesn’t only come with a ring. Sometimes, it comes with a ride-or-die who shows up at your door with takeout and hard truths.
Why These Stories?
Because they’re more than just love stories.
They’re stories about becoming.
They’re about what happens when two worlds collide—and the people brave enough to try and build a bridge between them. They show the emotional labor of loving across cultural lines, the comedy that comes with miscommunication, and the strength it takes to rewrite inherited narratives.
The “I” in Indian is fiction—but like these beloved classics, it’s rooted in something very real:
That love, identity, and family are rarely clean and uncomplicated.
But when they’re honest, they’re powerful.
So if you’ve ever laughed through Cece and Schmidt’s chaos, rooted for Jess to chase her dream (and her heart), cried at Toula’s quiet strength, or found yourself saved by your best friends…
You’ll feel right at home in Aria and Leo’s world.
Want more?
Pre-order The “I” in Indian now or sign up for the newsletter to get exclusive content, behind-the-scenes inspiration, and bonus chapters straight to your inbox.
Because the best stories?
Are the ones that reflect you.