Hey there guys!
Happy Saturday! I came back from spending a pair of days (mostly) unplugged at my parents' cottage, getting loads of puppy love, getting pampered by my mum and watching shooting stars at night with my mum and bro. And reading, loads of reading! Less ARCs than I should have, but I despite my best intentions, I'm always a mood reader at heart!
Still I managed to read a pair of ARCs and start another, and one of them is the one I'm reviewing today for this week's Saturday Pages, counting it towards my ARC August challenge and also since it is a diverse read, towards my 105 Challenge!
The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I read and loved Sonali's debut last year so when I heard about her next book coming out this year I knew I had to read it! Of course I did a lil jig when I got approved for it on NetGalley by the publisher and after reading it I already have it preordered for myself and for my ex didi.
Ria's story is not an easy one, given what a traumatic past she had to deal with and what she fears will be the sure consequences to her future. She's carved herself a career on Bollywood and she keeps everyone away from her. But when her cousin calls her and begs her to attend her wedding, she feels like she needs to go and be there for the family that loves her, and after a potential scandal, leaving Mumbai for Chicago seems like the best option.
While I don't know all that much about the insides of the world of Bollywood, I have been treated as part of an Indian family both in India and in the US, and reading this book felt like being back there. The descriptions are effortless and vivid and the relationships between the characters always so well developed!
Ria is a very complex character with many different sides to her, and we can very well see them at play when she is just Ria with her family, to when we see her as Ria Parkar, the film star. She's both strong and enormously fragile, always battling with herself and trying to get through everything on her own. I wanted her to finally allow others to help her and seeing how hard her path was through it all really made my heart ache!
The romance here was particularly heartbreaking because of the history between Vikram and Ria and how meeting again after ten years there's a lot of pain and anger and suffering but still an undeniable chemistry and a knowing about each other that was painful to read about. I don't know if it'll be as painful for other people as it was for me, but the emotions jump out of the pages!
Mental health and the stigma still associated to mental health illnesses is also a big component of the book. Ria's life has been defined by that stigma and it's what continue to define how she sees herself and how she shapes her future.
A fantastic book with a wonderfully complex romance and a lot of depth. Bravo Sonali Dev! Very well deserved 5 stars!
View all my reviews
Happy Saturday! I came back from spending a pair of days (mostly) unplugged at my parents' cottage, getting loads of puppy love, getting pampered by my mum and watching shooting stars at night with my mum and bro. And reading, loads of reading! Less ARCs than I should have, but I despite my best intentions, I'm always a mood reader at heart!
Still I managed to read a pair of ARCs and start another, and one of them is the one I'm reviewing today for this week's Saturday Pages, counting it towards my ARC August challenge and also since it is a diverse read, towards my 105 Challenge!
The Bollywood Bride by Sonali DevMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I read and loved Sonali's debut last year so when I heard about her next book coming out this year I knew I had to read it! Of course I did a lil jig when I got approved for it on NetGalley by the publisher and after reading it I already have it preordered for myself and for my ex didi.
Ria's story is not an easy one, given what a traumatic past she had to deal with and what she fears will be the sure consequences to her future. She's carved herself a career on Bollywood and she keeps everyone away from her. But when her cousin calls her and begs her to attend her wedding, she feels like she needs to go and be there for the family that loves her, and after a potential scandal, leaving Mumbai for Chicago seems like the best option.
While I don't know all that much about the insides of the world of Bollywood, I have been treated as part of an Indian family both in India and in the US, and reading this book felt like being back there. The descriptions are effortless and vivid and the relationships between the characters always so well developed!
Ria is a very complex character with many different sides to her, and we can very well see them at play when she is just Ria with her family, to when we see her as Ria Parkar, the film star. She's both strong and enormously fragile, always battling with herself and trying to get through everything on her own. I wanted her to finally allow others to help her and seeing how hard her path was through it all really made my heart ache!
The romance here was particularly heartbreaking because of the history between Vikram and Ria and how meeting again after ten years there's a lot of pain and anger and suffering but still an undeniable chemistry and a knowing about each other that was painful to read about. I don't know if it'll be as painful for other people as it was for me, but the emotions jump out of the pages!
Mental health and the stigma still associated to mental health illnesses is also a big component of the book. Ria's life has been defined by that stigma and it's what continue to define how she sees herself and how she shapes her future.
A fantastic book with a wonderfully complex romance and a lot of depth. Bravo Sonali Dev! Very well deserved 5 stars!
View all my reviews
It's a shame you don't have a donate button! I'd defknitely donate
ReplyDeletetto this brilliant blog! I guess for now i'll settle foor bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google
account. I look forward to fresh updatres and will talk about
this site with my Facebook group. Talk soon!
My web site Advokatska kancelarija (jeantes.tumblr.com)
A few years back we had a cable television channel called AZN TV. It had tons of Bollywood movies and I was an avid watcher. I loved them so much. But after a couple of years they discontinued the channel and I had to say good-bye to my Asian films and my K-dramas. *sniffles* Anyway, I think I would probably like this book. And yay to another 101 Challenge and ARC August double hit. :)
ReplyDeleteAZN TV is an Indian channel I think, because I've seen it while in India! I wish it was easier to watch Bollywood movies with English subtitles! ;)
DeleteAw, yay for reading lots :D That is always the best. <3 This book sounds all kinds of interesting. Not for me, but so glad you loved it so much :D Stunning review Pili. <3
ReplyDeleteThank you so much sweetie!! =D
DeleteThis book sounds so incredibly diverse! I'd love to read more about Indian culture, traditions, values, and relationships - I feel like it would be something so refreshing to read because it's not something I don't consume (reading-wise) regularly. Plus, the fact that it also sheds light on mental illnesses is a huge, huge plus.
ReplyDeleteFaye at The Social Potato
Not reading this review too closely as I will indeed be reading this one, in about three weeks or so! My September Pili-Pushed novel :) I am so so so happy to see the five-star rating, Pili!
ReplyDeleteAlyssa @ The Eater of Books!