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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
There were so many things I adored about this book. I ate it up in 2 days I was rooting for Mili the whole way through. I don’t think she ever really
Got the respect she deserved & it was hard reading about purity culture and accepting Samir as her love interest after I thought he messed up far beyond what is forgivable. At the end of the day, I usually don’t love romance novels but I really liked this!
Got the respect she deserved & it was hard reading about purity culture and accepting Samir as her love interest after I thought he messed up far beyond what is forgivable. At the end of the day, I usually don’t love romance novels but I really liked this!
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Enjoyable but limited by the unnecessary machinations of the protagonist.
Review/tongue bath at Beverages and Books:
http://beveragesandbooks.com/?p=255
http://beveragesandbooks.com/?p=255
2021 Review:
The Bollywood Bride — 4 ★
"Consider rereading, how risky it is, especially when the book is one that you loved. Always the chance that it won't hold up, that you might, for whatever reason, not love it as much. When this happens, and to me it happens all the time (and more and more as I get older), the effect is so disheartening that I now open old favorites warily."
— The Friend, Sigrid Nunez p. 78
When was the last time you reread a favorite book and your opinion of it changed?
—
I first listened to this book on Audible in 2016, and since then I've listened to it too many times to count. Honestly, I have no idea what inspired me to pick up a romance novel, but I did. It was my first time reading any of Sonali Dev's work (btw the story of how she got into romance writing is very wholesome & in my original Goodreads review if you are interested) and it did exactly what you hope a good romance novel will do to you: make you believe in love, sacrifice, and laying yourself bare for someone.
Over the years this book has been somewhat of a touchstone for me. A book to mark the changing of the season where I can again put in my headphones and go for a walk through my neighborhood or tend to our humble "yard." It was easy to love this book. From the amazing narration by Priya Ayyar, to learning about Indian food & culture, and of course a page-turning slow-burn enemies-to-friends romance. It checked all the boxes.
Fast forward — After a very long year & in celebration of a hopeful summer, I started listening to it again.
What I can say is I still do love this book. The heroine Mili is compassionate & head-strong whereas Samir is overly confident & a successful movie director with a traumatic past... That being said, this time around I was more aware of the gender sterotypes regarding women/women's bodies/female purity etc. Some of these things feel a little expected with a romance novel, but maybe that's why I prickled to it.
Since 2016 I've been fortunate to read so many books that while not being romance, encompass love. And through them I've been able to see the new ways author redifining the romance genre. I'm not mad that a book written in 2014 (this book) still holds onto these stereotypes, and I realize there is space to still love a book while recognizing it's problems. It's like Roxanne Gay says in Bad Femenist "Like most people, I'm full of contradictions,” and sometimes so are our book preferences.
Spot on Shelf? It’s likely. I'll always love The Bollywood Bride & get that giddy feeling inside when I'm listening to it, but I am excited to see what the future holds for Dev's forthcoming works.
--------------------------------------------------------
2016 Review (Some spoilers Included - proceed with caution)
5 ★
How we met: Three years ago, in 2016, was the first time I'd decided to give into the 6 month membership promotion with Audible. It was perfect, especially just having moved from South Dakota to graduate school in North Carolina, I had a lot of time to listen to books whether I be flying home or walking around a new campus and new city. I honestly do not remember the specific circumstance that brought me to choose Sonali Dev's "A Bollywood Affair," nor am I certain this or "The Bollywood Bride" were the first of hers I listened to, but I could not be more happy that I stumbled upon her writing.
What I learned about the book and Dev: This is my second time listening to "A Bollywood Affair," read by Priya Ayyar (which for just the sheer chance to hear Priya speak is worth the purchase), and this time around I wanted to learn more about Sonali Dev and what inspired her to create this series. I was pleasantly surprised that, prior to the series, Dev would not have considered herself a "romance writer" much less a romance reader. But one fatefully day, she asked her husband to grab her a book on his way home, and apparently having forgotten the context of said book genre, he grabbed the first thing he saw — a romance novel, likely picturing and man and woman intertwined on the cover in an unyielding embrace. Dev was apparently mortified, but having looked at her other options she realized the choice would have to do. Despite her apprehension at first, the novel spoke to deep parts of her and brought up that feeling of warmth that up until this point only Bollywood movies could muster within her. She startled and realized, this is the kind of book she had to learn how to write. Of course there is more to the story than that, but what I love most is that Dev's love of Bollywood — the unrealistic plots and coincidences, the love that defies all barriers and boundaries — allowed her to give birth to a series that has brought me so much joy and delight.
Synopsis: "A Bollywood Affair," the first of the series (but second she actually wrote) follows two characters, Samir, a heart throbbing Bollywood director with a "bad boy" streak — and Mili, a woman who has spent her entire life trying to be the wife her husband would want, a husband she was forced to marry as a child, who she has not seen since. Both are brought together when the legitimacy of Mili's childhood marriage is brought into question, threatening to destroy as well as free her from everything she's ever known. At first this book seems to follow the romantic Elizabeth Bennett/Darcy trope we all love — a normal girl, somehow gains the attention of the most desirable man on the Bollywood scene. But quickly you realize it is so much more than this. Dev has a gift of giving her characters so much backstory, so much emotion, that you feel as if you understand the characters and their motives even when they make you angry when they are simply trying to protect the ones they love. Not only this, but because culture is a key part to the story as a whole, Dev masterfully weaves in societal and family norms throughout the book from the foods to rituals and the unspoken rules and loyalty within each family.
My Thoughts: What makes Dev's work stands out is the sheer strength of her heroines. Even when they feel weak, we as the readers see they are in control and they are the movers of their own destinies (much like Hayao Miyazaki's heroines). Although Mili cannot deny the force between her and Samir, he is ultimately the one who is at her will, laying everything out.
Another thing that I really appreciate about Dev's writing is that for being a romance novel, she depicts the intimate encounters between the characters with such care and deliberateness — these scenes never go on for pages on end, but are striped, to the point, really focusing on the emotion and vulnerability between the characters. In other words, it's a great slow-burn.
Spot on Shelf? This is the second time I've listened to this audiobook, and I don't see that stopping in the future. If you are in need of a book that is steamy, romantic and offers a unique love story about people who aren’t white (praise) pick this book up. Spot certainly earned.
The Bollywood Bride — 4 ★
"Consider rereading, how risky it is, especially when the book is one that you loved. Always the chance that it won't hold up, that you might, for whatever reason, not love it as much. When this happens, and to me it happens all the time (and more and more as I get older), the effect is so disheartening that I now open old favorites warily."
— The Friend, Sigrid Nunez p. 78
When was the last time you reread a favorite book and your opinion of it changed?
—
I first listened to this book on Audible in 2016, and since then I've listened to it too many times to count. Honestly, I have no idea what inspired me to pick up a romance novel, but I did. It was my first time reading any of Sonali Dev's work (btw the story of how she got into romance writing is very wholesome & in my original Goodreads review if you are interested) and it did exactly what you hope a good romance novel will do to you: make you believe in love, sacrifice, and laying yourself bare for someone.
Over the years this book has been somewhat of a touchstone for me. A book to mark the changing of the season where I can again put in my headphones and go for a walk through my neighborhood or tend to our humble "yard." It was easy to love this book. From the amazing narration by Priya Ayyar, to learning about Indian food & culture, and of course a page-turning slow-burn enemies-to-friends romance. It checked all the boxes.
Fast forward — After a very long year & in celebration of a hopeful summer, I started listening to it again.
What I can say is I still do love this book. The heroine Mili is compassionate & head-strong whereas Samir is overly confident & a successful movie director with a traumatic past... That being said, this time around I was more aware of the gender sterotypes regarding women/women's bodies/female purity etc. Some of these things feel a little expected with a romance novel, but maybe that's why I prickled to it.
Since 2016 I've been fortunate to read so many books that while not being romance, encompass love. And through them I've been able to see the new ways author redifining the romance genre. I'm not mad that a book written in 2014 (this book) still holds onto these stereotypes, and I realize there is space to still love a book while recognizing it's problems. It's like Roxanne Gay says in Bad Femenist "Like most people, I'm full of contradictions,” and sometimes so are our book preferences.
Spot on Shelf? It’s likely. I'll always love The Bollywood Bride & get that giddy feeling inside when I'm listening to it, but I am excited to see what the future holds for Dev's forthcoming works.
--------------------------------------------------------
2016 Review (Some spoilers Included - proceed with caution)
5 ★
How we met: Three years ago, in 2016, was the first time I'd decided to give into the 6 month membership promotion with Audible. It was perfect, especially just having moved from South Dakota to graduate school in North Carolina, I had a lot of time to listen to books whether I be flying home or walking around a new campus and new city. I honestly do not remember the specific circumstance that brought me to choose Sonali Dev's "A Bollywood Affair," nor am I certain this or "The Bollywood Bride" were the first of hers I listened to, but I could not be more happy that I stumbled upon her writing.
What I learned about the book and Dev: This is my second time listening to "A Bollywood Affair," read by Priya Ayyar (which for just the sheer chance to hear Priya speak is worth the purchase), and this time around I wanted to learn more about Sonali Dev and what inspired her to create this series. I was pleasantly surprised that, prior to the series, Dev would not have considered herself a "romance writer" much less a romance reader. But one fatefully day, she asked her husband to grab her a book on his way home, and apparently having forgotten the context of said book genre, he grabbed the first thing he saw — a romance novel, likely picturing and man and woman intertwined on the cover in an unyielding embrace. Dev was apparently mortified, but having looked at her other options she realized the choice would have to do. Despite her apprehension at first, the novel spoke to deep parts of her and brought up that feeling of warmth that up until this point only Bollywood movies could muster within her. She startled and realized, this is the kind of book she had to learn how to write. Of course there is more to the story than that, but what I love most is that Dev's love of Bollywood — the unrealistic plots and coincidences, the love that defies all barriers and boundaries — allowed her to give birth to a series that has brought me so much joy and delight.
Synopsis: "A Bollywood Affair," the first of the series (but second she actually wrote) follows two characters, Samir, a heart throbbing Bollywood director with a "bad boy" streak — and Mili, a woman who has spent her entire life trying to be the wife her husband would want, a husband she was forced to marry as a child, who she has not seen since. Both are brought together when the legitimacy of Mili's childhood marriage is brought into question, threatening to destroy as well as free her from everything she's ever known. At first this book seems to follow the romantic Elizabeth Bennett/Darcy trope we all love — a normal girl, somehow gains the attention of the most desirable man on the Bollywood scene. But quickly you realize it is so much more than this. Dev has a gift of giving her characters so much backstory, so much emotion, that you feel as if you understand the characters and their motives even when they make you angry when they are simply trying to protect the ones they love. Not only this, but because culture is a key part to the story as a whole, Dev masterfully weaves in societal and family norms throughout the book from the foods to rituals and the unspoken rules and loyalty within each family.
My Thoughts: What makes Dev's work stands out is the sheer strength of her heroines. Even when they feel weak, we as the readers see they are in control and they are the movers of their own destinies (much like Hayao Miyazaki's heroines). Although Mili cannot deny the force between her and Samir, he is ultimately the one who is at her will, laying everything out.
Another thing that I really appreciate about Dev's writing is that for being a romance novel, she depicts the intimate encounters between the characters with such care and deliberateness — these scenes never go on for pages on end, but are striped, to the point, really focusing on the emotion and vulnerability between the characters. In other words, it's a great slow-burn.
Spot on Shelf? This is the second time I've listened to this audiobook, and I don't see that stopping in the future. If you are in need of a book that is steamy, romantic and offers a unique love story about people who aren’t white (praise) pick this book up. Spot certainly earned.
It cheesy. I mean cringe worthy cheesy. And I love it. Reading this book felt like watching a Bollywood movie and I half expected the character to break out in song and dance at any moment. It a light-hearted book that touches on some serious issues like child marriage, child abuse, and cross generational beliefs and values. We get a glimpse of Indian culture. India is changing, adopting new Western ideas and customs, while trying to hold on to its older traditions and beliefs. It's a balancing act that is portrayed in our heroine, Mili. She's a girl raised a traditional Indian home that has married her off at the age of four though she has never seen her since their marriage, who wants to honor the beliefs and traditions of her naani but longs for the freedom she sees Western women have to make their own choices.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did, unfortunately I could not get on board with the heroine. There were too many times I had to stop and remind myself the Mili is 24 and not 2. She cries at a drop of a hat, is prone to irrational outbursts, and is so klutzy I'm am pretty sure she's going to fall down the stairs and die. I liked the hero a lot more, but I'm not a fan of the womanizer who does a complete 180 the second he lays eyes on the heroine.
That being said, I really liked reading a romance where not only are both the hero and heroine POC (both are from India), they're also both extremely connected to their culture. And problems with the heroine aside, I found the book very engaging; I read the whole thing in one sitting.
That being said, I really liked reading a romance where not only are both the hero and heroine POC (both are from India), they're also both extremely connected to their culture. And problems with the heroine aside, I found the book very engaging; I read the whole thing in one sitting.
So I may or may not have stayed up until 5am finishing this book...
Fun contemporary but felt pretty unrealistic. What do I know.
I could not put this book down. I was completely captured by the hearts and minds of the two main characters, watching them fall in love was truly a pleasure.
Sonali Dev produced two characters who were very easy to become invested in. The plot was mostly driven by their secrets and when the truth would come out, and the effect it would have on their relationship.
I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Susan Elizabeth Phillips, the story really reminded me of her books. And if you haven't read SEP and enjoyed this book I would recommend, Kiss an Angel or This Heart of Mine.
Sonali Dev produced two characters who were very easy to become invested in. The plot was mostly driven by their secrets and when the truth would come out, and the effect it would have on their relationship.
I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Susan Elizabeth Phillips, the story really reminded me of her books. And if you haven't read SEP and enjoyed this book I would recommend, Kiss an Angel or This Heart of Mine.
Reading this was like candy. It was sweet, easy, and I enjoyed it. It was quite a good getaway from the shit happening in the world.