Sonali Dev took the book world by storm last year with her
debut, THE BOLLYWOOD AFFAIR. This year, Ms. Dev re-
demonstrates her amazing skill with THE BOLLYWOOD BRIDE.
This is a standalone book, but readers familiar with her
first work will appreciate the lush details of Indian
life. Gorgeous clothing, spicy food, and henna tattoos are
all described with loving detail amid the beautiful
rituals that enrich one's life.
Ria and Vikram are childhood friends who became lovers
and soulmates. They were torn apart 10 years ago by a
difficult decision of Ria's that left them bitter and
estranged. Ria has closed herself off and is known as the Ice
Princess to others in the Bollywood film industry. Vikram
is living a life that is superficially okay, thinking he has
finally moved on from Ria. Old secrets, deep hurts, and
suppressed passion come raging out when Ria
returns to Chicago for Vikram's brother's wedding. The
depth of feeling in this book is utterly compelling, and it
makes my heart clench to see the divide between Ria and
Vikram. I'm immediately sucked into experiencing the world
of these two ex-lovers.
The Indian wedding rituals provide the perfect setting
to this jewel of a story. Family and friends come together
to celebrate the union of Vikram's brother and his bride,
and the love in the families and community is incredibly
uplifting. Even with the devastating anguish in Ria and
Vikram's hearts, I still feel hope pulsing in the story
from Ria's "aunties" and the deep family support around the
characters.
THE BOLLYWOOD BRIDE is much darker than THE BOLLYWOOD AFFAIR. It is
wrenching, but heartrendingly beautiful. This book
tackles mental illness, personal privacy versus
celebrity 'stalking,' and family loyalties. The anguish of
Ria and Vikram rolls palpably off the pages, and it is
riveting. I devoured this book in one sitting. Sonali Dev's THE BOLLYWOOD
BRIDE joins my keeper shelf for its vivid depiction of two
individuals, surrounded by the rich and engaging pageantry
of evocative Indian culture, who struggle to reach each
other despite past hurts.
"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.
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