This is definitely not the book for me! Such a ridiculous back and forth between the two main characters going nowhere! For all the hype, I couldn’t finish after over half of the book. So very disappointing.

I love retellings - they're some of my favorite things.

First, I didn't know this was part of a series do that made for a confusing start. Once I got in the swing of things I really enjoyed it. The characters were great and it stayed true to the original without being an exact copy.

Incense and Sensibility is the third in the author’s Jane Austen-inspired series about the Indian-American Raje family, but it is not necessary to read the others first.

This story features Yash Raje, a 38-year-old politician who was born under a “diamond-studded blanket of privilege” and is embroiled in a close race for Governor of California. Enthusiastic about improvements he can make in his state and about his chosen career, Yash is not expecting to get shot during a campaign event. Even worse, the shot went through his friend and bodyguard Abdul before hitting him, putting Abdul in a coma. Now Yash finds himself feeling empty, unmotivated, and panic-stricken that he is responsible for Abdul’s injury just two days after the bodyguard’s first child was born.

Several of Yash’s teenage years were blemished by a serious accident that put him in the hospital, and then a wheelchair, for many months, and left scars he keeps hidden. With the help of his supportive family, including several sisters and one younger brother, he was able to recover and to excel in law school and in his burgeoning political career. One of his sisters is even his campaign manager. But Yash has had to make some sacrifices. Most notably, he and his “girlfriend” Naina have used their 10-year relationship to keep their parents satisfied, although no one realizes that there is no romance involved. And that means that Yash has never allowed himself to find a soulmate that understands and inspires him.

India Dashwood runs her family’s yoga business, which is suffering financially, and watches over her younger sister, China, and her ailing mother. She met Yash on a memorable night 10 years earlier at the wedding of one of his sisters and never forgot him, although he never contacted her again.

The story of Yash’s journey to win his campaign, as well as his decision to finally push for what he really wants in life, sucked me in, along with India’s struggle to control her own desires to keep her mind and body strong and healthy, as inspired by her lifestyle and occupation. Although Yash and India are the protagonists, and there is arguably too much of the story devoted to the secondary characters who surround them, I found many of these secondary characters more believable and interesting. I will definitely be reading the other two in the series, which are already on my Kindle.

Incense and Sensibility by Sonali Dev is a great contemporary romance that is an update and twist on a retelling of Jane Austen’s classic that I thoroughly enjoyed.

This is the third book in this series: The Rajes. While I have not read the previous two books, I was easily able to follow this one. And by the way, I most certainly will be reading the entire series now!

I loved the relationship and transitions of the two main characters: Yash Raje and India Dashwood. Their opposite personalities and mantras really come together nicely through this narrative. Both have a strength that can help the other out. Both have their own complicated histories and insecurities that are addressed with this arrangement. (And I am not even included the added element of the complicated shared past.) I enjoyed the transitions, reflections, and changes as the story continues. I also enjoyed the ending. I look forward to more great books from this author.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and William Morrow for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

"The author of Recipe for Persuasion - "not only one of the best but one of the bravest romance novelists working today" (Shelf Awareness) - adds an Indian American twist to Jane Austen's classic Sense and Sensibility in this delightful retelling that is a feast for the senses.

Yash Raje, California’s first serious Indian gubernatorial candidate, has always known exactly what he wants - and how to use his privileged background to get it. He attributes his success to a simple mantra: control your feelings and you can control the world.

But when a hate-fueled incident at a rally critically injures his friend, Yash’s easy life suddenly feels like a lie, his control an illusion. When he tries to get back on the campaign trail, he blacks out with panic.

Desperate to keep Yash’s condition from leaking to the media, his family turns to the one person they trust - his sister’s best friend, India Dashwood, California’s foremost stress management coach. Raised by a family of yoga teachers, India has helped San Francisco’s high strung overachievers for a decade without so much as altering her breath. But this man - with his boundless ambition, simmering intensity, and absolute faith in his political beliefs - is like no other. Yash has spent a lifetime repressing everything to succeed.

Including their one magical night ten years ago - a too brief, too bright passion that if rekindled threatens the life he’s crafted for himself. Exposing the secrets might be the only way to save him but it’s also guaranteed to destroy the dream he’s willingly shouldered for his family and community...until now."

And speaking of Jane Austen, if you're not reading Sonali Dev right now you are seriously missing out.

I enjoyed this novel more than I expected because I don't enjoy politics. But the politics weren't overbearing and it made the book more fantasy than anything--a politician caring about their constituents and winning because of morals and not backroom deals? Yep, fantasy. Anyway, the romance was fun. I would've enjoyed if the two main protagonists were on the page more, but overall a fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read before it comes out in July! I have been loving this series and was so excited to dive back into the world of the Raje family! The Austen heroine I identify with the most is Elinor in Sense & Sensibility, and India did not disappoint as a woman with the weight of her family’s legacy on her shoulders! I loved the relationship between India & Yash, and the slow burn was painful at times but worth it in the end! I also enjoyed the way that Marianne’s story was brought to life through China’s experiences, and I’m excited to see how this is explored in the other installments in the series!

Dev's writing is lyrical, poetic even and I always get lost in her words. I did a full series coverage post proclaiming her writerly genius on Book+Main's blog. The link is attached below.

Complex and sensitive story about a woman you’d like to be (or at least be friends with) and a man you’d love to love (or at least vote for). Heartfelt family dynamics and compelling conflict combine in this sensitive slow-burn romance. Plus, Sonali Dev’s writing is so good! Buy this one.

I'm always up for a Jane Austen retelling. This one is unique and a fun read. A great modern day retelling of a classic story.

I love the Rajes family, and the inevitability of Yash and India made my heart hurt. It was light-hearted in a way that the second book lacked, while still acknowledging the struggles our cast of characters went through to get where they are. I read some reviews stating that this book was too politically charged, and I have to say that I strongly disagree. Yash was running for office, it should be no surprise to any reader that California politics would featured throughout the book. I enjoyed this book very much, and if the first two titles were enjoyable to you, Incense and Sensibility should also follow suit.

First and foremost, thank you to Somali Dev and @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is about Yash Raje and his gubernatorial run for California. Yash believes that if you can control your feelings, you can control the world around you. Yash loses all sense of control when someone tries to assassinate him while giving a speech. Yash is reconnected with someone he met 10 years ago - his sisters’ very close friend India Dashwood. Anyone who’s read the previous 2 books knows that Yash has been in a relationship with his childhood friend Naina for 10 years, but everything he felt for India that fateful night comes rushing back and threatens the life he’s worked hard to create. At 39-years-old, Yash is forced to face everything he’s ever buried deep.

I LOVED this book and I love Yash! Sonali Dev creates amazing characters that feel real. She sucks you into the world she’s created and makes it come alive. The only thing I hated about this book is that Yash Raje doesn’t really exist as a politician. 😓 This book will be released July 6th of this year and highly encourage everyone to read it!

Although it lacked the spice of the first two novels in this series, this adorable Austen retelling adhered strongly to the original. A surprisingly heavy read.

He's the first serious Indian gubenatorial candidate for California. She's trying to keep her family together and keep their yoga studio intact with her mothers issues. When Yash Raje's political goals are put on hold due to a race-related attack at a fundraiser, suddenly the governor ship doesn't seem so important. Sonali Dev's book Incense and Sensibility is smart, interesting, and captures a great deal of what goes on involving racism towards South Asian people in the United States.

As always, Sonali Dev doesn't hold back when it comes to writing about real life problems, the healthcare system, racism/ discrimination in America, and familial relationships. With rich details and heart stopping drama Incense and Sensibility is a book that will grab you and not let go until you're done reading it Dev does an amazing job of adapting Jane Austen books into her own realistic modern retellings with entirely unexpected but heartwarming endings.

Yash Raje is California’s first serious Indian-American gubernatorial candidate knows what he wants and how to use his family background and social standing to get it. Its all stems from his unrelenting emotional control, if he wants to remain true to his dream of being a public servant who serves everyone, no matter their background it needs to stay that way.

After a rally where a rogue gunman shoots Yash and critically injures his bodyguard and friend Yash realizes the way that he lives his life with his ceaseless control is all just an illusion. Suffering from anxiety attacks after getting shot when he tries to get back on the campaign trail, Yash has to turn to help from the one person who shouldn't want to help him.

India Dashwood is his sister's best friend, yoga therapist and the West Coast's foremost stress management coach. She also happens to be the woman that he spent two life altering nights with 10 years ago and then abandoned. India is compelled to help anyone who needs it but never asks for help herself. She manages her family's yoga business alone and takes care of her sick mother but she doesn't know if she can help Yash without hurting herself.

First of all: the punny title is spot on, I would give a star just for that.

Secondly: We need diverse books and this delivers. Basically the whole cast is diverse including multiple ethnicities, adoptive families, religious diversity, physical diversity, neurodiversity, LGBTQIA representation etc. Also a male character suffering from the PTSD of a sexual assault (women aren't always the victims). Some books feel like they are trying to hard to check all the boxes but not here. It all feels very natural and unforced.

Third: I have a soft spot for reignited romances and I definitely felt the steam between the two MCs. The delayed gratification was pretty well done.

It might have been nice to have the obstacles resolve a little sooner in the book or extend the story so we could have spent more time with the MCs as a couple. I feel like we needed more "after."

A Diverse and emotional retelling of Sense and Sensibility

Incense and Sensibility is book #3 in The Rajes series but can be read as a standalone. I had the pleasure of also reading and reviewing Recipe for Persuasion.

India Dashwood was adopted from Thailand when she was a baby and raised in her family's yoga studio in California.

Like her predecessor, Elinor, India was centered, just, loyal, and very compassionate.

India's younger sister China, who was adopted from Kenya, was all emotion, impulsiveness, and like Marianne, suffered a terrible heartbreak.

Edward Ferrars was represented by Yash Raje, a gubernatorial candidate who was suffering from trauma after being shot during a rally. He was engaged to the beautiful and cold Naina, who, like Lucy Steele, kept him tied to a relationship she knew he did not want to be in.

I loved the strong correlation with the original plot and characters, especially the impossible, self-sacrificing love between India and Yash. I felt deeply for India, as I always feel for Elinor, my favorite Austen heroine.

As in Recipe for Persuasion, the previous book in the series, the characters are varied, bringing different cultures, religions, social classes, and sexual orientations to the story.

It was lovely to revisit some of the previous book characters and learn a little about yoga and relaxation.

Incense and Sensibility is a lovely retelling of a most-loved story!

Warning: accident, trauma, comma, violence, illness, politics.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Incense and Sensibility is the third book in The Rajes series.

CW: discussion of past sexual assault, rape, racism, hate crimes

I have been anxiously awaiting for Sonali Dev to release Yash's story. He was someone who played a big role in the first book of this series, Pride, Prejudice And Other Flavors, I love the Rajes family and their dynamic.

My heart ached for Yash as he struggled with intimacy and moving past being assaulted. I related so much to the way he closed himself off and was weary about who to trust. I loved India and how she cared for her family, I wish I had gotten to know a little more about her. But I loved how she was always willing to help others and help them heal.

Incense and Sensibility is a complex second-chance romance. I loved how this romance was mature and vulnerable.

I recommend checking this out if you're looking for a second chance romance!

I've come to love Sonal Dev's interpretation of Jane Austen novels, and Incense and Sensibility is no exception. Yash Raje is in the campaign for his life for governor of California. India Dashwood, a yoga studio owner, fell in love with him a decade ago, only for him to ghost her. This one is probably her most subtle of adaptation- at first I thought it was just the names, but then figured it out fairly quickly. I don't think you need to read Sense and Sensibility to enjoy this one. I would recommend reading the first two Raje novels- it's not necessary, but the main characters from both of those novels appear here. I can't wait for the fourth book to come out!

Thank you Net Galley and William Morrow for an eARC of this book.

Incense and Sensibility is my first book by Sonali Dev. Although this is part of a trilogy, it can definitely be enjoyed as a stand alone book.
I went into this book without any expectations. I knew that it was a romance, and that it was loosely based on Sense and Sensibility; but not having read the Austen book, I did not know what to expect.

The story revolves around India Dashwood, an accomplished yogi and owner of a wellness studio and Yash Raje, who is running for governor of the state of California. India and Yash’s families have known each other for years. 10 years ago, India and Yash had a connection but they never got to the next step of what could have been.

The story starts out with a tragedy that brings the two main characters together after leading separate lives for the past 10 years. Their romance follows a “friends turned lovers” trope, but in a very good way.

Dev is very skilled at character development and making all the characters shine. Though this is a romance book at its core, the story is also about personal and inter-family relationships and what it truly means to love someone. I also appreciated the cultural representation and the characters’ diverse backgrounds. Yash Raje running for governor, in particular, was a great way to touch on many social themes explored in the course of the story.

I thought this was a gem of a book in terms of characters. Both characters were earnest and adorable; readers will genuinely root for them.

However, I did have issues with the pacing of the story and its overall length. The story was entertaining, but there was a lot of meandering to get to the ultimate payoff. While everything does get neatly tied up at the end, I thought it took a bit too long to get there.

I’d recommend this book to romance fans, and fans of authors Alisha Rai and Sarah Smith.