Title: Pride, Prejudice,
and Other Flavors
Author: Sonali Dev
Type: Fiction
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: William Morrow
(HarperCollins)

A physical copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that only in an overachieving Indian American family can a genius daughter be considered a black sheep.

Dr. Trisha Raje is San Francisco’s most acclaimed neurosurgeon. But that’s not enough for the Rajes, her influential immigrant family who’s achieved power by making its own non-negotiable rules:

·       Never trust an outsider
·       Never do anything to jeopardize your brother’s political aspirations
·       And never, ever, defy your family

Trisha is guilty of breaking all three rules. But now she has a chance to redeem herself. So long as she doesn’t repeat old mistakes.

Up-and-coming chef DJ Caine has known people like Trisha before, people who judge him by his rough beginnings and place pedigree above character. He needs the lucrative job the Rajes offer, but he values his pride too much to indulge Trisha’s arrogance. And then he discovers that she’s the only surgeon who can save his sister’s life.

As the two clash, their assumptions crumble like the spun sugar on one of DJ’s stunning desserts. But before a future can be savored there’s a past to be reckoned with…

A family trying to build home in a new land.

A man who has never felt at home anywhere.

And a choice to be made between the two.

I am a very big fan of Pride and Prejudice (and actually plan on re-watching the 2005 film adaptation for the millionth time sometime soon). I’ve also been on a rom-com kick with my reading, so it was as if Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors was made for me! My first impression when picking this read up was that I enjoyed the writing. It was easy to get into for me and also wasn’t lacking in quality like some of those paperback contemporary romance novels out there.

My second impression was that Sonali Dev put an interesting twist on the Pride and Prejudice story, while my third impression was that she provides a lot of backstory (especially for Trisha and DJ). When it comes to contemporary adult romance, it’s hard for me to find the right balance. I want the writing to be good, and for the main couple to have incredible chemistry, the plot to be good as well, and I also want it to be a quick read (but not too quick).

Yes, I’m a little picky, so please keep that in mind while reading the rest of my review! I absolutely loved how much thought Dev gave to the overall story, and how in depth she went with some of the characters’ histories. Sometimes I felt as if I didn’t want to go that far back, though, and that I wanted to return to the present plot. I kept having moments where I wanted to smoosh Trisha and DJ’s faces together and tell them to “just kiss.” But, I think that this frustration is definitely part of what makes a good Pride and Prejudice retelling on point.

Due to the amount of detail provided in this book, the page count was a little higher than your typical contemporary romance (which was fine too, but brings me back to my need for my romances to be quick reads but not too quick). And lastly, I wish that the chemistry between Trisha and DJ had been just a little more pronounced for me.

Otherwise, this was a great and entertaining read! I’m also happy about the fact that this is the first book in a series because I feel like I’ve really gotten to know the Raje family and their friends and family. I miss them a lot and can’t wait to dive back into their world (while also being very curious about where the story will go)!

Sonali Dev’s first literary work was a play about mistaken identities performed at her neighborhood Diwali extravaganza in Mumbai. She was eight years old. Despite this early success, Sonali spent the next few decades getting degrees in architecture and written communication, migrating across the globe, and starting a family while writing for magazines and websites.

With the advent of her first gray hair her mad love for telling stories returned full force, and she now combines it with her insights into Indian culture to conjure up stories that make a mad tangle with her life as supermom, domestic goddess, and world traveler. Sonali lives in the Chicago suburbs with her very patient and often amused husband and two teens who demand both patience and humor, and the world’s most perfect dog.

THANK YOU FOR READING MY REVIEW! HAVE YOU READ THIS BOOK? WHAT DID YOU THINK? AND IF YOU HAVEN’T READ IT YET, DO YOU WANT TO, OR NOT? HOW COME? LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS!

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