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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
In a word, I loved this book. I have been anticipating this book's release for months, and several authors I love, like Courtney Milan, have been raving about it. I worried that it wouldn't live up to the hype, but I adored it - I laughed, I cried, and I had a hard time putting it down.
Mili was married at the age of four in her rural village in India to a 12 year old boy. After that, she has never met her husband, but is trapped in her marriage hopeful that someday he will return for her. She is orphaned and raised by her grandmother. She knows her husband is an air force pilot, and convinces her grandmother that her husband would want an educated wife, and goes to America to study on a scholarship.
Samir, a famous Bollywood director, is the brother of her childhood husband. His older brother Virat assumes that his childhood marriage has been annulled and has a very pregnant wife. After something happens to Virat, he learns that the childhood marriage was not annulled and begs his brother Samir to find Mili to annul the marriage so that his child will not be born a bastard.
When Samir knocks on Mili's door she mistakes him for the brother of her recently eloped roommate, and tries to run away so that he can't question her as to the runaway bride's whereabouts. When she's injured in her attempted flight, Samir doesn't have the heart to force the annulment papers on her, and ends up taking care of her and becomes wrapped up in the drama of her roommate's elopement.
This book had several things I loved, it has elements of historical romance fiction -- a childhood engagement/betrothal, and the forbidden love then of a brother, and the added spice of Indian culture and Bollywood. So it's both familiar and new. I would highly recommend this to lovers of both historical and contemporary romances. Like many contemporary romance heroines, Mili has few relatives, and not only comes to love the hero, but yearns for the full teasing family life he has with his brother, mother and sister-in-law.
You don't have to be a lover of all things Bollywood to enjoy it, but there are several little references that bring a smile if you do. Like the hero's older brother saying to the depressed Samir, "Bhai, why are you being all Devdas?" which is a reference to a famous Shahrukh Khan movie in which he dies of a broken heart when his love marries another.
I was lucky to meet the debut author at her book launch, and she confirmed my suspicion that Samir, the hero, is somewhat modeled after Hrithrik Roshan, the famous Bollywood superstar. Those golden eyes and tawny locks were a dead giveaway:
As a friend said, " Wow. Okay, I could read a book about him!"
I'm excited that Sonali Dev is intending this to be the first of a series, and it will be a loooong wait for me until the next book, Bollywood Wedding, comes out in a year! I told Sonali Dev, "Write faster!" It's exciting to find a great new debut author whose characters are something different and new than what we usually see in most contemporary romances.
Mili was married at the age of four in her rural village in India to a 12 year old boy. After that, she has never met her husband, but is trapped in her marriage hopeful that someday he will return for her. She is orphaned and raised by her grandmother. She knows her husband is an air force pilot, and convinces her grandmother that her husband would want an educated wife, and goes to America to study on a scholarship.
Samir, a famous Bollywood director, is the brother of her childhood husband. His older brother Virat assumes that his childhood marriage has been annulled and has a very pregnant wife. After something happens to Virat, he learns that the childhood marriage was not annulled and begs his brother Samir to find Mili to annul the marriage so that his child will not be born a bastard.
When Samir knocks on Mili's door she mistakes him for the brother of her recently eloped roommate, and tries to run away so that he can't question her as to the runaway bride's whereabouts. When she's injured in her attempted flight, Samir doesn't have the heart to force the annulment papers on her, and ends up taking care of her and becomes wrapped up in the drama of her roommate's elopement.
This book had several things I loved, it has elements of historical romance fiction -- a childhood engagement/betrothal, and the forbidden love then of a brother, and the added spice of Indian culture and Bollywood. So it's both familiar and new. I would highly recommend this to lovers of both historical and contemporary romances. Like many contemporary romance heroines, Mili has few relatives, and not only comes to love the hero, but yearns for the full teasing family life he has with his brother, mother and sister-in-law.
You don't have to be a lover of all things Bollywood to enjoy it, but there are several little references that bring a smile if you do. Like the hero's older brother saying to the depressed Samir, "Bhai, why are you being all Devdas?" which is a reference to a famous Shahrukh Khan movie in which he dies of a broken heart when his love marries another.
I was lucky to meet the debut author at her book launch, and she confirmed my suspicion that Samir, the hero, is somewhat modeled after Hrithrik Roshan, the famous Bollywood superstar. Those golden eyes and tawny locks were a dead giveaway:
As a friend said, " Wow. Okay, I could read a book about him!"I'm excited that Sonali Dev is intending this to be the first of a series, and it will be a loooong wait for me until the next book, Bollywood Wedding, comes out in a year! I told Sonali Dev, "Write faster!" It's exciting to find a great new debut author whose characters are something different and new than what we usually see in most contemporary romances.
this was definitely an affair to remember!
it was like watching an indian movie but really much much better
Loved It!! Beautifully written. Thank you Sonali Dev for melting my heart
First one for Sonali Dev and i Killed it, read it one shot....
Totally love Sa..mir lol and Mili, she is so cute, a sweetheart, soft at heart and still strong. Samir is such a typical male...he unravels as well.
I especially love that the romance was developed and did not leave me chopping at the bits as most times bollywood romances tend to do as if noone ever kisses...hello!!
It was a first for me attempting the indian culture romance affair, i was abit unsure as to how it would unfold.
The story captures the culture deeply and i love that i can relate, and indian songs which i happen to love too, pehla nasha is one of my favs ...so i was totally swept away at the emotions and settings.
I love Bollywood and i always always wanted to read romances set in this. I finally found one.
Thank you Sonali Dev.
it was like watching an indian movie but really much much better
Loved It!! Beautifully written. Thank you Sonali Dev for melting my heart
First one for Sonali Dev and i Killed it, read it one shot....
Totally love Sa..mir lol and Mili, she is so cute, a sweetheart, soft at heart and still strong. Samir is such a typical male...he unravels as well.
I especially love that the romance was developed and did not leave me chopping at the bits as most times bollywood romances tend to do as if noone ever kisses...hello!!
It was a first for me attempting the indian culture romance affair, i was abit unsure as to how it would unfold.
The story captures the culture deeply and i love that i can relate, and indian songs which i happen to love too, pehla nasha is one of my favs ...so i was totally swept away at the emotions and settings.
I love Bollywood and i always always wanted to read romances set in this. I finally found one.
Thank you Sonali Dev.
This is a very over the top story but that’s okay…sometimes that’s exactly what I need. I’ve read Sonali Dev’s more recent titles so I went back to read an older one. I enjoyed the characters in this one and their commitment to family and traditions. I also enjoyed when they realized that following traditions isn’t always the right thing to do.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Suicide attempt
I LOVE Sonali Dev's novels. My one disappointment is that now I've finished reading the book, and I wish I weren't, because I enjoyed it so much!
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really liked the flow of this book and the writing, however I do have some problems with the MMC. I thought Sam was a bit too controlling and misogynistic. Mili was a bit naive, but she was also very tender hearted and kind, so I have no faults with her. I did overall enjoy this book, but as a romance, I was left feeling a little let down.
okay i'm gonna attempt to be semi-professional with this review and start with the story rather than my feels
so mili gets married when she's four and her husband jets off to be a pilot. she doesn't see him for twenty years. she spends that time trying to take care of her family and become the best bride possible and eventually is like '...okay best bride but also i want an education in america! an officer will expect an educated wife, right grandma? RIGHT'
meanwhile samir -- the disappearing groom's brother -- is off being a bollywood director and a jerk. i mean he loves his brother alot! but also he's the kind of dick who sleeps with a lot of women and is like eww gross if any of them have the temerity to catch feelings
so virat -- the groom -- is grown up, married, and with a kid on the way which is all good until he ends up in an accident and freaks out bc like. he's pretty sure the whole child marriage thing wasn't legal? it would be really screwed up if it was! he was twelve, he couldn't consent! but now he's got this legal notice from his former child bride claiming his estate if he dies and that is not okay, his real wife and child would be illegitimized!! samir please do me a solid and convince this girl to sign off on an annulment
anyways you can probably guess where its going from there. on to the feels!
we'll start with bad because i like ending on a good note: the gender politics of this book are not great. mostly because of samir -- dude is definitely hauling about a madonna-whore complex -- but specifically
she's known him for two weeks at this point. also i'm not saying false abuse allegations never happen but considering how very often abuse victims aren't believed and don't report it or leave because of lack of support, adding to the whole cultural narrative that women lie about abuse is kiiiiiiinda messed up
anyways you're prob like why are you still rating this well after that z and i will tell you it's because this romance is delicious. in multiple senses! first: as established samir is a jerk but you know what is the most fun thing to do with jerks? watch them crumble when they meet bundles of joy and sunshine and fall into orbit, like i was reading the first half of this like oh man, you are gonna fall SO HARD buddy, she is gonna have you wrapped around her little finger, i can't wait, definitely tell him more about how you believe in love and optimism miri, i wanna see his face when he realizes you're totally right
second: the food porn. oh my GOD, the food in this book, i just ate dinner before i started reading this and i still read it feeling betrayed bc what the heck, i can't be hungry, i just had a full meal! yet i am still hungry in my SOUL because all of this sounds so good?!?
like i said. delicious. 3 stars
so mili gets married when she's four and her husband jets off to be a pilot. she doesn't see him for twenty years. she spends that time trying to take care of her family and become the best bride possible and eventually is like '...okay best bride but also i want an education in america! an officer will expect an educated wife, right grandma? RIGHT'
meanwhile samir -- the disappearing groom's brother -- is off being a bollywood director and a jerk. i mean he loves his brother alot! but also he's the kind of dick who sleeps with a lot of women and is like eww gross if any of them have the temerity to catch feelings
so virat -- the groom -- is grown up, married, and with a kid on the way which is all good until he ends up in an accident and freaks out bc like. he's pretty sure the whole child marriage thing wasn't legal? it would be really screwed up if it was! he was twelve, he couldn't consent! but now he's got this legal notice from his former child bride claiming his estate if he dies and that is not okay, his real wife and child would be illegitimized!! samir please do me a solid and convince this girl to sign off on an annulment
anyways you can probably guess where its going from there. on to the feels!
we'll start with bad because i like ending on a good note: the gender politics of this book are not great. mostly because of samir -- dude is definitely hauling about a madonna-whore complex -- but specifically
Spoiler
there's this whole plot point where samir's ex falsely accuses him of abuse and another girl shares a magazine article about it with mili and she attacks her because HOW DARE YOU, samir would never!!!!she's known him for two weeks at this point. also i'm not saying false abuse allegations never happen but considering how very often abuse victims aren't believed and don't report it or leave because of lack of support, adding to the whole cultural narrative that women lie about abuse is kiiiiiiinda messed up
anyways you're prob like why are you still rating this well after that z and i will tell you it's because this romance is delicious. in multiple senses! first: as established samir is a jerk but you know what is the most fun thing to do with jerks? watch them crumble when they meet bundles of joy and sunshine and fall into orbit, like i was reading the first half of this like oh man, you are gonna fall SO HARD buddy, she is gonna have you wrapped around her little finger, i can't wait, definitely tell him more about how you believe in love and optimism miri, i wanna see his face when he realizes you're totally right
second: the food porn. oh my GOD, the food in this book, i just ate dinner before i started reading this and i still read it feeling betrayed bc what the heck, i can't be hungry, i just had a full meal! yet i am still hungry in my SOUL because all of this sounds so good?!?
like i said. delicious. 3 stars
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There were multiple times where I almost dnf'd this book; I wasn't a fan of how the tropes were presented. Big man, little woman. Miscommunication. A relationship built on lies. Really the only thing that kept me reading was my enjoyment of the author's voice.
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
i enjoyed this book despite itself? like reading it without critical goggles, it was quite a wild ride (international shenanigans! friend drama! elopements!) and a lot of fun. thinking about it later, though, wow. there was a hell of a lot of things going on (the child bride, samir being a complete and total asshole and not really needing to work as hard for his redemption as the narrative should have made him) that ruined some of that breathless enjoyment and envelopment in the story. i'm hopeful that dev's next book has a different take on the hero and heroine, because i did love her writing.