Caste in the Stars

She''s bound by tradition, but maybe they''re destined for love... Priya Solanki is a ''Dalit'' or ''untouchable,'' the lowest echelon of Indian castes-a stigma that follows individuals from birth to death, and as Priya learns, beyond oceans and continents. Traditionally assigned to occupations considered dishonorable for higher-caste communities, Priya''s father comes from generations of cremators. Deciding to honour his heritage, he opens a funeral home after immigrating to Canada. Determined to free herself from a label that deems her less worthy, less capable, and less intelligent, Priya leaves home against her parents'' wishes. But a failed romance lands her back in the spot she tried so hard to leave-home-and her parents consider her return a cosmic lesson in accepting her fate. Trapped between her parents'' expectations and their caste-assigned family business, she''s desperate to escape. But her plan takes a nosedive when Hollywood''s hottest heartthrob, Ethan Knight, rents out their funeral home to prepare for an upcoming role. And Ethan isn''t just any superstar-he was the boy next door, Priya''s secret teenage crush long before his brooding magnetism seduced millions. When her parents leave to go husband-hunting for her, Priya is left alone with Ethan, and old flames reignite. But cosying up to Ethan means stepping out of the shadows and into the paparazzi flashes-a terrifying prospect. If she can''t see herself as his equal, the world surely won''t. And even if Priya dares to follow her heart, she risks losing everything: her parents'' trust, her chance to break free from the funeral home, and Ethan. She''s bound by tradition, but maybe they''re destined for love... Priya Solanki is a ''Dalit'' or ''untouchable,'' the lowest echelon of Indian castes-a stigma that follows individuals from birth to death, and as Priya learns, beyond oceans and continents. Traditionally assigned to occupations considered dishonorable for higher-caste communities, Priya''s father comes from generations of cremators. Deciding to honour his heritage, he opens a funeral home after immigrating to Canada. Determined to free herself from a label that deems her less worthy, less capable, and less intelligent, Priya leaves home against her parents'' wishes. But a failed romance lands her back in the spot she tried so hard to leave-home-and her parents consider her return a cosmic lesson in accepting her fate. Trapped between her parents'' expectations and their caste-assigned family business, she''s desperate to escape. But her plan takes a nosedive when Hollywood''s hottest heartthrob, Ethan Knight, rents out their funeral home to prepare for an upcoming role. And Ethan isn''t just any superstar-he was the boy next door, Priya''s secret teenage crush long before his brooding magnetism seduced millions. When her parents leave to go husband-hunting for her, Priya is left alone with Ethan, and old flames reignite. But cosying up to Ethan means stepping out of the shadows and into the paparazzi flashes-a terrifying prospect. If she can''t see herself as his equal, the world surely won''t. And even if Priya dares to follow her heart, she risks losing everything: her parents'' trust, her chance to break free from the funeral home, and Ethan.