I received this book for free from Netgalley in order to prepare an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

A Bollywood Affair (Bollywood) by Sonali Dev
Series: Bollywood #1
Published by Kensington on October 28th 2014
Pages: 294
Goodreads

Just Draws the Reader In

A BOLLYWOOD AFFAIR is a great twist on the rake and the virgin story. Here, this contemporary novel is grounded in the diverse and complex Indian culture. Set on the edges of many divides in that culture, this is not only a glimpse into the complexity of cultures but it demonstrates that love can cross many boundaries.

THE STORY: Mili Rathod was married at the age of four to a boy in her village in India. For twenty years, Mili has kept her vows and “all Mili wanted was to be a good wife.” Her pursuit of that goal led her far from her village. She obtained an education and has come to the United States to pursue further education. She is working hard to make herself worthy of her husband — who she has not seen since her wedding.

The only problem for Mili is that her husband was not aware that they were still married (because they were underage, the marriage was supposed to be annulled). He has married another woman and is expecting a child. When he finds out about the marriage to Mili, he sends his younger brother, Samir Rathod to convince Mili to agree to an annulment.

Samir is a director and screenwriter and has a “love” life that consists of him walking away from women when they get too close. He is scarred by the history of his parents. Half-American, Samir was abandoned by his mother and has commitment issues as a result. In meeting Mili, Samir is struck by the contrast of his expectations and the reality of Mili. He is a caretaker and Mili brings joy to his life. Samir, however, fails to tell Mili who is actually is and thus the conflict exists over the secrets that each is keeping from the other.

OPINION: I loved Samir in this book. For a guy who seems so cynical, he quickly becomes such a caretaker to Mili that he is almost sweet. As the reader is drawn further into his story, the contradictions of Samir become more obvious and understandable. He is definitely the rake who hides his goodness and vulnerability.

Mili is such an interesting character. She definitely comes from her culture and yet she has transcended the small town she comes from without changing her essential nature. I love that she is committed to her marriage and yet at the same time has used it as an excuse to open doors that otherwise would have been closed to her.

I also appreciated how this book opened a window into a complex Indian culture. There are divisions between the older generation and the younger generation, the city dwellers and the rural people. In addition, there is the American versus Indian conflict. All of these divisions are treated with respect and I loved the fact that all of this is presented in a matter of fact manner.

The emotional connection between these characters is wonderful. I loved how their relationship progresses from friendship to love. Samir’s failure to be truthful to Mili has bad consequences and the deep emotional pain that Mili experiences is moving. I truly believed in these characters. They were memorable and really good people.

WORTH MENTIONING: I tried this book on the recommendation of the author Nalini Singh and I am really glad I did.

FINAL DECISION: I recommend this book because I think it is deeply emotional and has a unique story to tell about two really likeable people.

CONNECTED BOOKS: This book is a standalone.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in order to provide an honest review of the book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed here are my own.