Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev

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.

There is a lot to love about this book by Sonali Dev. The characters are richly written, the prose is smooth and a pleasure to read, and it plays enough with the source material that it still feels original. 

So right out of the gate, this is a re-imagining of Pride and Prejudice. But don’t let that scare you off in any way. While there are inspirations behind the book, it is able to stand completely on its own. If you haven’t read Pride and Prejudice, or have and aren’t much of a fan, this novel is still a treat. In terms of the title, Pride and Prejudice, and Other Flavors, think of the original book as a set of seasonings that inspired a different entree. 

I don’t want to spoil too much of the novel by simply listing differences, but I do want to point out one which made me enjoy this book more than the inspiration by Austen, and that is where the love story sits. I personally find Austen a bit too emotionally removed for me to feel invested, and that’s often because the themes that deal with family in her books are always one step removes, since marriage is a family affair rather than solely a personal one of the heart. In Dev’s novel, I truly appreciate that the love shown through family dynamics and drama is a bit more direct and resonated all the more with me for that. 

Review by Adam

Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover

Kenna Rowan, a young mother released from prison, returns to town to reconnect with her daughter and is met by stiff opposition and harsh judgment. While starting her life from scratch, she meets Ledger, a local bar owner who shows Kenna compassion and is understanding at great risk of losing people he cares about. The author does an incredible job getting into the headspace of all the characters as they deal with conflicting emotions and decisions and most importantly the truth. Shown from both perspectives, Reminders of Him explores family relationships, forgiveness, and redemption and does not shy away from including raw discussions that make it an emotional rollercoaster.