The Bollywood Bride | Sonali Dev | Book Review
The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev is the first book by the author that I have read. This is the story of Ria and Vikram. Best friends since childhood turned lovers who are then separated by fate and Ria’s turbulent past, this story sounds familiar but wait till you read it and it is then we notice all the differences. Read my Review, the book blurb, quotes, publication history and buy links in the post below.
About the Bollywood Bride:
Title and Author: The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev
No. of Pages: 352
Series: Bollywood #2
Publication Date: 29th September 2015 by Kensington Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Indian Author, Indian Fiction, Bollywood Romance, Romance Novel, Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Friends-to-Lovers
Language: English
The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev Book Review:
The Bollywood Bride is the story of Ria and Vikram. Although the second book in the “Bollywood Series“, it can be read as a standalone story.
You want to be friends? he’d asked her. And her life had changed.”
Quotes from The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev
'You want to be friends? he'd asked her. And her life had changed.'-#BookQuote The Bollywood Bride by @Sonali_Dev #BookReview on #NjkinnysBlog #NjkinnyRecommends Click To Tweet
Best friends since childhood turned lovers who are then separated by fate and Ria’s turbulent past, this story sounds familiar but wait till you read it and it is then we notice all the differences.
This is not a simple story in any sense. The plot is complex, the characters multi dimensional and the situations abound in drama. Author’s writing style is simple, engaging and full of colour. She paints the scenarios vividly and creates a movie like picture in the readers mind. At the end of the story, I felt like I had known all these people all my life. They were so real!
Sonali dabbles in serious issues like mental disease, personal relationships, people’s concern of looking good in society, privacy issues of celebrities etc. All these and more are so beautiful brought to life in this book and I could sympathize and understand the effects such things have on a person.
'It was paranoia and it was part of her special gift of depression, along with sadness and fear.'-#BookQuote The Bollywood Bride by @Sonali_Dev #BookReview on #NjkinnysBlog #NjkinnyRecommends Click To TweetIt was paranoia and it was part of her special gift of depression, along with sadness and fear.”
Quotes from The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev
You put your soul into something and people think they can pass judgment on it just like that.” She snapped her fingers. “I’ll never get used to the critics.”
Quotes from The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev
'You put your soul into something and people think they can pass judgment on it just like that. Click To Tweet
They were surrounded by people, seemingly enjoying the company, but they kept stealing glances at each other as if everything else were just a distraction.”
Quotes from The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev
'They were surrounded by people, seemingly enjoying the company, but they kept stealing glances at each other as if everything else were just a distraction.'-#BookQuote The Bollywood Bride by @Sonali_Dev #BookReview on #NjkinnysBlog… Click To Tweet
The characters are developed admirably and the author manages to make them real in our minds. Ria has had a traumatic past but she finds happiness with Vikram which is then taken away from her due to certain circumstances. She is a character that has faced so much and still stood strong and I admired her for it. However, in the second half of the book, I started feeling like she was not developing any more. While Vikram evolved into a mature and more patient man who knew what he wanted in life and ready to overcome anything to get it, she stayed trapped in her misery and fears.
'She wanted to bury what was inside her deeper where it would stop haunting her.'-#BookQuote The Bollywood Bride by @Sonali_Dev #BookReview on #NjkinnysBlog #NjkinnyRecommends Click To TweetShe wanted to bury what was inside her deeper where it would stop haunting her.”
Quotes from The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev
'He was hungering for the fight they had never had. The one she owed him, but could never give him.'-#BookQuote The Bollywood Bride by @Sonali_Dev #BookReview on #NjkinnysBlog #NjkinnyRecommends Click To TweetHe was hungering for the fight they had never had. The one she owed him, but could never give him.”
Quotes from The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev
Relationship between Vikram and Ria is passionate, sweet, heartfelt and of the forever kind that had me rooting for them, then sighing in contentment and then swooning over Vikram.
'I want you, exactly the way you are today, the way you'll be tomorrow, and fifty years from now. And I want you to want me enough to deal with whatever happens. I can't promise you'll be okay. But without you I will never be okay. And I… Click To TweetI want you, exactly the way you are today, the way you’ll be tomorrow, and fifty years from now. And I want you to want me enough to deal with whatever happens. I can’t promise you’ll be okay. But without you I will never be okay. And I know that without me you will never be okay either.”
Quotes from The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev
The Indian marriage is shown in all its grandeur and each ceremony brought a happy little smile on my face, watching all the familiar marriage drama unfold before my eyes with only one difference that this drama was taking place in a foreign country! Happy laughter, celebrations and gaiety felt real and was beautifully brought to life was the author. A second chance at first love amidst all this happiness will leave you celebrating love and life, no doubt about it.
This book is all about fighting for something you believe in and acknowledging that we deserve the freedom from all our fears, dilemmas, doubts and any other kind of shackles that we often bind ourselves in.
'But you know what else I figured out? That there’s more to life than chasing shit. That I didn’t have to achieve things to be someone everyone wants me to be.'-#BookQuote The Bollywood Bride by @Sonali_Dev #BookReview on #NjkinnysBlog… Click To TweetBut you know what else I figured out? That there’s more to life than chasing shit. That I didn’t have to achieve things to be someone everyone wants me to be.”
Quotes from The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev
All in all, The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev is a story that makes us laugh, cry, feel blessed and then determined to fight for our happiness. A through and through entertaining book, I give it 4.5 Bollywood Stars out of 5 and recommend it all romance lovers. You’ll love it!
I liked Sonali’s style and look forward to reading more from her in the future.
I received an ARC from the author and the publishers, Kensington from NetGalley and I am very thankful to them. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.
Buy From:
Explore the complete Bollywood Series by Sonali Dev:
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