“An impressive debut . . . Vibrant and exuberantly romantic, Affair is chock full of details that reflect India’s social and cultural flux.”—NPR.org Mili Rathod hasn’t seen her husband in twenty years—not since she was promised to him at the age of four. Yet marriage has allowed Mili a freedom rarely given to girls in her village. Her grandmother has even allowed her to leave India and study in America for eight months, all to make her the perfect modern wife. Which is exactly what Mili longs to be—if her husband would just come and claim her. Bollywood’s favorite director, Samir Rathod, has come to Michigan to secure a divorce for his older brother. Persuading a naïve village girl to sign the papers should be easy for someone with Samir’s tabloid-famous charm. But Mili is neither a fool nor a gold-digger. Open-hearted yet complex, she’s trying to reconcile her independence with cherished traditions. And before he can stop himself, Samir is immersed in Mili’s life—cooking her dal and rotis, escorting her to her roommate’s elaborate Indian wedding, and wondering where his loyalties and happiness lie. Heartfelt, witty, and thoroughly engaging, Sonali Dev’s debut is both a vivid exploration of modern India and a deeply honest story of love, in all its diversity. “Deeply-felt emotions that will keep readers turning the pages.”—Susan Elizabeth Phillips, New York Times-bestselling author “Debut author Sonali Dev writes a beautiful love story in A Bollywood Affair . . . One of the best romances I’ve read this year.”—USA Today
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year ● NPR Best Books of the Year ● Amazon Fall Reading Selection ● Goodreads Best Romances of the Month ● International Dublin Literary Award Longlist "A fresh new voice." —Susan Elizabeth Phillips, New York Times bestselling author Ria Parkar is Bollywood's favorite Ice Princess—beautiful, poised, and scandal-proof—until one impulsive act threatens to expose her destructive past. Traveling home to Chicago for her cousin's wedding offers a chance to diffuse the coming media storm and find solace in family, food, and outsized celebrations that are like one of her vibrant movies come to life. But it also means confronting Vikram Jathar. Ria and Vikram spent childhood summers together, a world away from Ria's exclusive boarding school in Mumbai. Their friendship grew seamlessly into love—until Ria made a shattering decision. As far as Vikram is concerned, Ria sold her soul for stardom and it's taken him years to rebuild his life. But beneath his pent-up anger, their bond remains unchanged. And now, among those who know her best, Ria may find the courage to face the secrets she's been guarding for everyone else's benefit—and a chance to stop acting and start living. Rich with details of modern Indian-American life, here is a warm, sexy, and witty story of love, family, and the difficult choices that arise in the name of both.
Kirkus Reviews Best Fiction of the Year ● NPR Great Reads ● RUSA Reading List Longlist Selection ● RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Award Winner “A rising talent.” —Booklist Dr. Nikhil 'Nic' Joshi had it all—marriage, career, purpose. Until, while working for Doctors Without Borders in a Mumbai slum, his wife, Jen, discovered a black market organ transplant ring. Before she could expose the truth, Jen was killed. Two years after the tragedy, Nic is a cruise ship doctor who spends his days treating seasickness and sunburn and his nights in a boozy haze. On one of those blurry evenings on deck, Nic meets a woman who makes a startling claim: she received Jen’s heart in a transplant and has a message for him. Nic wants to discount Jess Koirala’s story as absurd, but there’s something about her reckless desperation that resonates despite his doubts. Jess has spent years working her way out of a nightmarish life in Calcutta and into a respectable Bollywood dance troupe. Now she faces losing the one thing that matters—her young son, Joy. She needs to uncover the secrets Jen risked everything for; but the unforeseen bond that results between her and Nic is both a lifeline and a perilous complication. Delving beyond the surface of modern Indian-American life, acclaimed author Sonali Dev’s page-turning novel is both riveting and emotionally rewarding—an extraordinary story of human connection, bravery, and hope. Praise for Sonali Dev and Her Novels “Sonali Dev is a gifted writer who creates characters that capture the heart… I can’t wait for Sonali’s next book.” —Nalini Singh, New York Times bestselling author “Exquisitely written... A bright, beautiful gem.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review, on The Bollywood Bride “Dev's prose captures the rich and unique beauty of Indian culture while telling a story that is complex, culturally accurate, and full of emotion.” —Booklist on The Bollywood Bride “Vibrant and exuberantly romantic…chock full of details that reflect India's social and cultural flux.” —NPR.com on A Bollywood Affair
Her name means “miracle” in Sanskrit, and to her parents, that’s exactly what Kimaya is. The first baby to survive after several miscarriages, Kimi grows up in a mansion at the top of Mumbai’s Pali Hill, surrounded by love and privilege. But at eleven years old, she develops a rare illness that requires her to be confined to a germ-free ivory tower in her home, with only the Arabian Sea churning outside her window for company. . . . Until one person dares venture into her world. Tasked at fourteen years old with supporting his family, Rahul Savant shows up to wash Kimi’s windows, and an unlikely friendship develops across the plastic curtain of her isolation room. As years pass, Rahul becomes Kimi’s eyes to the outside world—and she becomes his inspiration to better himself by enrolling in the police force. But when a life-saving heart transplant offers the chance of a real future, both must face all that ties them together and keeps them apart. As Kimi anticipates a new life, Rahul struggles with loving someone he may yet lose. And when his investigation into a black market organ ring run by a sociopathic gang lord exposes dangerous secrets that cut too close to home, only Rahul's deep, abiding connection with Kimi can keep her safe—and reveal the true meaning of courage, loss, and second chances. Infused with the rhythms of life in modern-day India, acclaimed author Sonali Dev’s candid, rewarding novel beautifully evokes all the complexities of the human heart. Praise for Sonali Dev and A Change of Heart “In Dev’s seductive and complex story of love lost and then found, one layer of mystery leads to the next. . . . Will hold a permanent place in readers’ hearts.” –Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW “Dev deftly navigates the complex themes of bereavement, motherhood, and how the culture of India exists in America. . . . This is stunning all around.” –Booklist, STARRED REVIEW “Mystery, adventure, and romance are spiced with Bollywood glamour in this heart-stopping novel…. Riveting.” --Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
Award-winning author Sonali Dev launches a new series about the Rajes, an immigrant Indian family descended from royalty, who have built their lives in San Francisco... It is a truth universally acknowledged that only in an overachieving Indian American family can a genius daughter be considered a black sheep. Dr. Trisha Raje is San Francisco’s most acclaimed neurosurgeon. But that’s not enough for the Rajes, her influential immigrant family who’s achieved power by making its own non-negotiable rules: · Never trust an outsider · Never do anything to jeopardize your brother’s political aspirations · And never, ever, defy your family Trisha is guilty of breaking all three rules. But now she has a chance to redeem herself. So long as she doesn’t repeat old mistakes. Up-and-coming chef DJ Caine has known people like Trisha before, people who judge him by his rough beginnings and place pedigree above character. He needs the lucrative job the Rajes offer, but he values his pride too much to indulge Trisha’s arrogance. And then he discovers that she’s the only surgeon who can save his sister’s life. As the two clash, their assumptions crumble like the spun sugar on one of DJ’s stunning desserts. But before a future can be savored there’s a past to be reckoned with... A family trying to build home in a new land. A man who has never felt at home anywhere. And a choice to be made between the two.
What's haunting Bollywood's reigning king? Late 1990s, Mumbai. Superstar RK is traumatized by the inexplicable wails that have begun echoing through his sprawling heritage home. Is the superstar really being haunted? Or could the screams have something to do with his latest movie, a blockbuster about a haunted house? Enter former supermodel, the glamourous Akruti Rai, and the street-savvy Parvati Samant, private investigators with their own detective agency. As the plot thickens, and those around RK begin succumbing to what seems like supernatural malice, Akruti and Parvati must solve a crime set against a backdrop of suspicion and fear. After all, they wouldn't want RK's lady love, the stunning screen ingenue Alena, to become the next victim.
Sometimes you need to forget everything to recognize what matters the most. 11 July 2006, Mumbai.Sagarika Mehta walks out of her nine-year old marriage, meets with a near-fatal accident and goes into a deep coma: all on the same day. She wakes up with no memory of her past. After over a year in hospital, Rishab, her husband, whisks her away to Gurgaon to convalesce.There, in that plush apartment, with people waiting on her hand and foot, Sagarika feels a vague sense that something is wrong. Why does the scent of a particular cologne drive her into a frenzy? Why does the innocuous word 'cheeni' bother her? And why is Rishab so evasive to her queries about her past?As a desperate Sagarika searches for answers and learns to trust no one, she discovers that sometimes you need to forget everything to recognize what matters the most.
"Deeply-felt emotions that will keep readers turning the pages." --Susan Elizabeth Phillips, New York Times bestselling author Mili Rathod hasn't seen her husband in twenty years--not since she was promised to him at the age of four. Yet marriage has allowed Mili a freedom rarely given to girls in her village. Her grandmother has even allowed her to leave India and study in America for eight months, all to make her the perfect modern wife. Which is exactly what Mili longs to be--if her husband would just come and claim her. Bollywood's favorite director, Samir Rathod, has come to Michigan to secure a divorce for his older brother. Persuading a naïve village girl to sign the papers should be easy for someone with Samir's tabloid-famous charm. But Mili is neither a fool nor a gold-digger. Open-hearted yet complex, she's trying to reconcile her independence with cherished traditions. And before he can stop himself, Samir is immersed in Mili's life--cooking her dal and rotis, escorting her to her roommate's elaborate Indian wedding, and wondering where his loyalties and happiness lie. "Heartfelt, witty, and thoroughly engaging, Sonali Dev's debut is both a vivid exploration of modern India and a deeply honest story of love, in all its diversity. "A fresh new voice...Deeply-felt emotions that will keep readers turning pages. A BOLLYWOOD AFFAIR has it all."—Susan Elizabeth Phillips, New York Times bestselling author "Deeply romantic and emotional, with characters I fell in love with, A BOLLYWOOD AFFAIR is simply unputdownable. It's sexy, it's dramatic, but most of all, it's a sweet, hot love story that made me sigh and smile and want to read it all over again as soon as I turned the last page."—Nalini Singh, New York Times bestselling author "An impressive debut and a charming contemporary Indian fairytale...Vibrant and exuberantly romantic, Affair is chock full of details that reflect India's social and cultural flux." —NPR.com "As intricate as a henna tattoo and as sweet as gulab juman... this witty confection is sure to delight...Captures all the glamour, mix-ups and humor of a classic Bollywood film." —Shelf Awareness "Dev's heartfelt debut novel is rich in scenes and images illuminating Indian culture, leaving readers with a greater understanding and appreciation of Indian traditions while beautifully capturing the struggle between familial duty and self-discovery." —Booklist “A delightful debut packed with complex characters, deep emotions and just the right touch of humor. A tale of love, loss and second chances.”—Shobhan Bantwal, author of The Dowry Bride "In this enthralling tale of romantic complications Sonali Dev not only entertains but provides new insight into the human condition. A must read."—Mingmei Yip, author of Peach Blossom Pavilion “It is a true joy when a fresh new voice enters the genre, so make note of the name Sonali Dev! Based on this marvelous debut, Dev is set to become a star. Filled with warmth and completely unforgettable characters, this occasionally poignant story explores what happens when best laid plans go awry. An absolute winner from beginning to end, this spellbinding tale grabs your heart and never lets go!” —RT Book Reviews, 4.5 Stars, TOP PICK "This tasty Indian American confection will satisfy female readers of any age...A contemporary, transcontinental romance told with a light touch and lots of sizzle.—Library Journal
In the biggest casting coup of the Hindi film industry, five top stars are signed up for a new movie: Shahraan, a living legend still lamenting the loss of his first love; Reva and Neev, newcomers allied in a common journey; Nishani, the celebrity kid who must avenge her father's untimely death; and Kaash, the actor harbouring a secret love from his past. As their intimately intertwined personal stories take centre stage, the industry's underbelly is left exposed for all to see. By the time the curtain draws to a close, the gossip-hungry media has enough fodder on its plate to last a lifetime. Novoneel Chakraborty, bestselling author of the Stranger trilogy, unveils the grime behind the glitz, the insecurities and compromises, in a world where aspirants come prepared to strike a Faustian bargain. A beguiling tale of love, ambition, jealousy and betrayal, How About a Sin Tonight? will leave you asking for more.
Reversing his parents immigrant path, a young writer returns to India and discovers an old country making itself new. Anand Giridharadas sensed something was afoot as his plane prepared to land in Bombay. An elderly passenger looked at him and said, Were all trying to go that way, pointing to the rear. You, youre going this way. Giridharadas was...
