Imaginary Men

This charming novel about a Bengali-American matchmaker in San Francisco who creates an imaginary fiancé in order to satisfy her marriage-minded traditional parents offers a fresh variation on the timeless theme of a young woman's quest for true love. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Lina Ray has a knack for pairing up perfect couples as a professional matchmaker in San Francisco, but her well-meaning, highly traditional Indian family wants her to get married. When her Auntie Kiki introduces Lina to the bachelor from hell at her sister's wedding in India, Lina panics and blurts out, "I'm engaged!" Because what's the harm in a little lie? Who's sari now? Lina scrambles to find a real fiancé because Auntie Kiki will be coming to America soon to approve the match. But date after disastrous date gets her no closer to her prince -- until an actual prince arrives on her doorstep. Lina hasn't been able to stop fantasizing about traditional but dashing Raja Prasad since she met him in India. In fact, her imaginary fiancé has begun to resemble him! Now Raja is in San Francisco and wants Lina to find a suitable bride for his brother. Though they live oceans apart, Lina longs to bridge the gap. But when her fantastic fib catches up with her, life is suddenly like a Bollywood flick gone horribly wrong. Lina may have an over-developed fantasy life, but she certainly never imagined things would turn out like this! 'I specialise in hooking up American-born Indian women with their princes', admits twenty-nine-year-old Lina Ray. 'I have an uncanny ability to see connections between potential mates, like silvery threads.' But when it comes to her own life, this talented matchmaker hasn't seen any silvery threads since the tragic death of her fiance two years ago. And while Lina escapes the heartache by throwing herself into her work, her family seems driven to find her a husband. And so, while visiting India for her sister's wedding, Lina does the only thing she can do when confronted by persistent, pestering parents: she makes up a suitor. Explaining why the dashing international businessman who has won her heart never accompanies her to family gatherings leads to situations that are as uproarious as they are awkward. The charade takes an ironic turn when a real candidate - a strikingly handsome Indian prince named Raja Prasad - makes an impression on her at the wedding. And just when her elaborate lie is about to crash, Raja makes a surprise appearance in America.. In this hilarious and heartwarming first novel, a young Bengali-American matchmaker creates an imaginary fiance to satisfy her marriage-minded, traditional parents.