A Bollywood Affair

Sonali Dev

Oct 2014 · Kensington Books

About this ebook

“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
 

Ratings and reviews

I picked up this book because one of my very favorite authors—Nalini Singh—recommended it to her readers. The synopsis sounded very interesting and I had never read anything with an Indian/Bollywood influence so I thought I’d take a chance. A BOLLYWOOD AFFAIR is a book that is full of culture, tradition, customs and love. The love of a husband who she’s never met. The love of a brother who would do anything for his own. The love of a husband for his wife. The love a mother/grandmother has for her child/grandchildren, and an unimaginable love between a man and a woman that defies all odds. The story takes us on a deeply heart-felt journey of circumstance and self-discovery. It is not just a love story; it’s about not letting your fears define you and dealing with the struggle to forgive even the most heinous of wrongs. I enjoyed the story and especially loved learning about the Indian culture. I thought the book was refreshing and original and I would definitely recommend it to any reader. This is a promising debut for Sonali Dev and I look forward to her next adventure. ***I was gifted an eBook copy from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Let’s just get this out of the way now: A Bollywood Affair is going down as one of my favorite books of all time, and it seems unfair to categorize it as five stars when it’s clearly so much more. Upon turning the last page, I immediately want to read it again. While Mili and Samir are extreme opposites, they bring out the best in each other. She brings out his heart and vulnerability, and he gives her tenacity purpose and eventually freedom. Of course, the truth eventually comes out — at the worst possible moment — and everything shatters, but the connection they’ve achieved can’t be abandoned. A Bollywood Affair is beautifully written, with wonderfully flawed characters, intense chemistry, and all the drama and humor of a Bollywood blockbuster film, leading to the perfect romantic ending. The story of Mili and Samir is universal, told in vivid detail with exceptional, emotional clarity and intense, undeniable chemistry. A Bollywood Affair is without a doubt a must-read for all romance lovers. *rcvd free book in exchange for review

This book is a genuine Bollywood Masala portraying two different types of India (modern and old) inter twined neatly with each other. The story has an amazing captivity to keep the reader involved. The relationships and emotions are vividly described. I couldn't keep my hands off the book once I started reading it. It is going on my recommended reading list for people who want to read Indian stories in a book with all the spice required.

About the author

Award winning author Sonali Dev writes Bollywood-style love stories that let her explore issues faced by women around the world while still indulging her faith in a happily ever after. Sonali’s novels have been on Library Journal, NPR, Washington Post, and Kirkus Best Books lists. She won the American Library Association’s award for best romance in 2014, is a RITA Finalist and RT Reviewer Choice Award Nominee, and is a winner of the RT Seal of Excellence. Sonali lives in the Chicago suburbs with her very patient and often amused husband, two teens who demand both patience and humor, and the world’s most perfect dog. Find out more at sonalidev.com.