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laurenjodi 's review for:
A Bollywood Affair
by Sonali Dev
A Bollywood Affair
4 Stars
Married at the age of 4, Malvika "Mili" Rathod hasn't seen her husband for 20 years. Nevertheless, her married status has enabled her to achieve a freedom that other girls from her small village in India have been denied. Now if only her husband would come for her, Mili's life would be complete. Unfortunately, said husband has moved on with his life and needs an annulment. Enter his brother, Samir "Sam" Rathod, Bollywood's sexiest bad boy director, who travels to Michigan to confront Mili and get her to sign on the dotted line. What ensues is a delightful story of mistaken identity, yummy Indian cuisine and a romance for the ages . . .
The best word to describe this book is "cute". Sam's reformed rake persona will be familiar to any reader of historical romance, and it is great to see him falling so hard for Mili. Mili is a total Mary Sue but in such a sweet and caring way. Her klutzy moments only add to her charm. Sam and Mili's friends-to-lovers romance is enchanting and they have excellent chemistry together.
Usually, the dreaded keeping secrets trope is a complete no-no for me. Thankfully, Somali Dev manages to overcome its pitfalls as it makes sense in the storyline and never had me waiting for the other shoe to drop. Moreover, the manner in which it comes to light is very matter-of-fact and the ensuing drama and angst only enhance the romance.
The supporting cast is also great and some of the interactions, especially with Sam's family, are laugh-out-loud hilarious. It all made me think of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but set in India.
On a final note, I started out listening to the audiobook but had to stop halfway through. While Priya Ayyar's Indian accent is engaging, her male and female voices sound the same. This is problematic in a romance, especially as Sam is supposedly a huge guy with a deep baritone, but he sounds like a young girl.
All in all, this is highly recommended for lovers of food and romance. Warning - do not read this book when you are hungry.
4 Stars
Married at the age of 4, Malvika "Mili" Rathod hasn't seen her husband for 20 years. Nevertheless, her married status has enabled her to achieve a freedom that other girls from her small village in India have been denied. Now if only her husband would come for her, Mili's life would be complete. Unfortunately, said husband has moved on with his life and needs an annulment. Enter his brother, Samir "Sam" Rathod, Bollywood's sexiest bad boy director, who travels to Michigan to confront Mili and get her to sign on the dotted line. What ensues is a delightful story of mistaken identity, yummy Indian cuisine and a romance for the ages . . .
The best word to describe this book is "cute". Sam's reformed rake persona will be familiar to any reader of historical romance, and it is great to see him falling so hard for Mili. Mili is a total Mary Sue but in such a sweet and caring way. Her klutzy moments only add to her charm. Sam and Mili's friends-to-lovers romance is enchanting and they have excellent chemistry together.
Usually, the dreaded keeping secrets trope is a complete no-no for me. Thankfully, Somali Dev manages to overcome its pitfalls as it makes sense in the storyline and never had me waiting for the other shoe to drop. Moreover, the manner in which it comes to light is very matter-of-fact and the ensuing drama and angst only enhance the romance.
The supporting cast is also great and some of the interactions, especially with Sam's family, are laugh-out-loud hilarious. It all made me think of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but set in India.
On a final note, I started out listening to the audiobook but had to stop halfway through. While Priya Ayyar's Indian accent is engaging, her male and female voices sound the same. This is problematic in a romance, especially as Sam is supposedly a huge guy with a deep baritone, but he sounds like a young girl.
All in all, this is highly recommended for lovers of food and romance. Warning - do not read this book when you are hungry.