The Bollywood Bride by Sonali Dev
Released: September 21, 2015
Contemporary Romance
Kensington
Reviewed by Mandi
After escaping the horrors of her childhood, Ria gets shipped from India to Chicago and is raised by her aunt and uncle and she becomes best friends with a boy named Vikram. She comes to them broken, having not spoken a word for more than a year. But during that summer, she meets Vikram, and her world changes. He becomes her friend, she speaks again – she lives again. As they grow into adults, their friendship turns into an intense love. They have both found the love of their lives. But their happy ever after is not in their grasp yet.
Vikram gets the chance to travel for a few months for his job, and Ria eagerly encourages him. But when he is gone, she gets an offer from a film producer and Ria learns, the horrors she faced from her mother, might be in her genetics too. She gets scared and thinks the only way to keep her beloved Vikram safe and for him to have a happy future, is for her to not be part of his life. She goes off with a sleazy movie producer, leaving Vikram stunned.
Fast forward ten years, Ria is a big time Bollywood movie star living in Mumbai and has not seen or spoken to Vikram all this time. But now her beloved cousin is getting married, so she is forcing herself to go back to Chicago for his wedding – and of course Vikram will be there. Will their love reunite in these two weeks?? My heart could barely take it!
Best friends to lovers and a second chance love story – gimme!! I really loved Sonali Dev’s first book, A Bollywood Affair last year. This one is more dark and somber – a different feel but still outstanding writing. I was a little worried after the first couple chapters, before Ria goes back to Chicago and meets with Vikram. The sleazy agent, the paparazzi – eh – I’m not a huge fan of those things. But once she gets to Chicago, we get a wonderful family atmosphere and angst that will pull at your heart.
Vikram is so, so angry at Ria for leaving him ten years ago. He has yet to recover from this, or even understand it. I don’t want to give too much away about Ria’s mother, so let me just say she has some mental issues – issues Ria fears will transfer to her. So instead of just coming out and telling Vikram this (wouldn’t that have been easier?) she pretends a movie career is what she wants and there is no room in her life for him. This devastates Ria, but she would rather him have a good life without her. Of course, Vikram can’t have a good life without her because he loves her so much!!
Their reunion is not a happy one. He lashes out at her. He uses his current girlfriend to make her feel jealous and he isn’t over the fact that she left him for another man.
“You’re good.” He looked at her as if he were seeing her for the first time. “You’re really good. I didn’t stand a chance, did I?” Hell, your sugar-fuckin’-daddy didn’t stand a chance, did he?” A short, mirthless laugh whooshed out of him. “But you know what? It doesn’t matter. Not anymore. I can see right through you now. Right fucking through you.”
He is so hurt over it all. They share stolen, intense, somber-filled glances. It’s told in Ria’s point of view, but you know Vikram has not moved on from her for one second. It’s the kind of book that makes you turn the pages as fast as you can because you can’t stand the fact that these two aren’t together. And this author REALLY makes you wait for that happy reunion. I almost didn’t make it *wink*
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” Even to her own ears her repetitive mumble sounded pathetic and unconvincing.
He leaned closer, locked her in place with his blazing gaze. “I’m talking about the big, searing holes we’re burning into each other. this insane, crazy thing between us. I’m taking about how badly we want each other. It’s time to finish this, Ria.”
Ria is referred to as the Ice Princess in the media – but in her real life, she is much more warm. She guards herself – which has come from years of being stalked by the paparazzi, but flashes of that girl Vikram used to know come through. Her aunts, cousins and friends surround her with love and laughter in the two weeks she is home for the wedding. It heals her and wakens her up to what she has been missing for ten years.
Vikram is broody deliciousness. So sexy stomping around, pissed off at the world. The hurt from Ria leaving him radiates off of him so intensely. You just want to hug him – and then get naked with him.
I enjoyed the angst in this one. It hurt, but with a solid HEA at the end, it was worth it.
Grade: B+
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