A Bollywood Affair

September 15, 2014

All the ingredients for a Bollywood movie can be found in this charming romance, including a perky and plucky young woman and a handsome and dashing young man. In her native Rajasthan village, Mili was married at age four to a little boy named Virat. An orphan raised by her grandmother, Mili has managed to come to America for college. Mili still takes her child marriage seriously and awaits her now-adult husband, whom she has never met, to come for her. But Virat has a wife in India who is about to have a baby. He sends his brother Samir, a heartthrob Bollywood director with his own turbulent backstory, to get Mili to sign the divorce papers. Samir doesn't reveal his identity to Mili right away, and soon they begin to fall for each other. Things become very complicated for Mili and Samir, but we can guess at the outcome of their story. VERDICT This tasty Indian American confection will satisfy female readers of any age who would enjoy a contemporary, transcontinental romance told with a light touch and lots of sizzle.--Leslie Patterson, Rehoboth, MA

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2014
Mili Rathod is ready to be the perfect Indian wife, if only her husband would come and claim her. Married at age 4, Mili has not seen or heard from her husband in 20 years, but she fervently believes that he is her one true love. Determined to prove her worth, Mili leaves India to study in Michigan, unaware that her husband and his family appealed to annul the marriage years ago. Known for his good looks and boyish charm, Samir Rathod is one of the most famous men in Bollywood. Accustomed to getting what he wants, Samir decides to find his brother's long-lost child bride in order to secure him a divorce. Posing as a man from Mili's village, Samir befriends her, never expecting to discover a sensitive yet fiery woman hidden beneath the guise of a dutiful Indian bride. 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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)