Sonali Dev- edited

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What happens when romance meets real life—immigration, identity, and the courage to choose joy anyway?

In this episode, I sit down with Sonali Dev to talk about her latest novel How Simi Got Her Groom Back—a deeply emotional story about sisterhood, love, and what it really means to belong. We dive into the themes behind the book (including immigration and chosen family), plus a powerful conversation about romance as a tool for healing, self-worth, and rewriting the rules we’ve been given.

If you love romance with depth, second chances, and stories that make you feel something real—this episode is for you.

📚 Books Mentioned

How Simi Got Her Groom Back by Sonali Dev — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction

The Caste and the Star by Leylah Attar — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance / Second Chance

Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai — Buy on Amazon | Romantic Comedy / Second Chance / Heist Romance

⏱️ Timestamps

1. 00:00 – Welcome back Sonali Dev
2. 01:00 – Behind the scenes of her latest book release
3. 03:00 – Writing process & juggling multiple books
4. 04:30 – What How Simi Got Her Groom Back is about
5. 06:30 – Immigration, legality vs. morality, and storytelling
6. 08:00 – Why joy is an act of rebellion
7. 10:00 – How books build empathy
8. 11:00 – Romance novels and self-worth
9. 13:30 – Raising your standards in love & life
10. 15:00 – Choosing joy in everyday decisions
11. 17:00 – Visibility, bravery, and showing up authentically
12. 19:30 – What Sonali loves to read
13. 21:30 – Reading across genres vs. sticking to romance
14. 24:00 – Book rec: The Caste and the Star
15. 27:00 – Book rec: Partners in Crime
16. 30:00 – Where to find Sonali Dev

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