I read the first of this series - Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors - three years ago when I was new to reading romantic comedies. It fell really flat for me, so I stepped back from reading Sonali Dev. But I didn’t step back from reading romantic comedy. After I got a few more romantic comedies under my belt (Kate Clayborn, Emily Henry, Beth O’Leary, etc), I realized that these novels are generally low angst, low stakes books with a guaranteed happily ever after (or happily for now) ending. Kind of like cotton candy for the brain.

The Emma Project opens on the Raje family estate at a party celebrating the oldest Raje brother winning the California gubernatorial race. In quick succession the reader is introduced to all the Raje siblings as the couples are caught stumbling into a hidden alcove by the youngest Raje brother (the male protagonist) and a female family friend who fake dated the oldest Raje brother (the female protagonist). That sweeping opening chapter provides enough background for this novel to be read as a stand-alone novel.

The second chapter sets up the central conflict of the novel: the billionaire tech entrepreneur suggests that the female protagonist share his endowment (that she thought was hers alone) with the male protagonist. The female protagonist has been planning her project for roughly a decade, so she denigrates the male protagonist’s project as an “Emma Project,” after the Jane Austen novel in which Emma engages in vanity projects (matchmaking) to play with other people’s lives out of ennui. Therefore, as hard as the female protagonist seeks to cut the male protagonist out of the endowment, the male protagonist seeks to validate his project as more than just an Emma project.

A lot happens from the initial set up chapters to the happily ever after ending. All of it is low angst, low stakes. There are confidence issues that pop up and get worked out. There are long-standing family issues that rear their heads and get smacked down. There is laughter; there is lust; there is intoxication; there is vomiting; there is homelessness; there is dyslexia. And the sexy times are right there in your face on the page, starting with The Thigh Incident. But even those scenes aren’t high intensity, high stakes; they are much more Big Bang Theory than Fifty Shades of Grey.

Personally, I would streamline the book by cutting the Esha and Siddhartha subplot. There seems to be enough there to give these two their own book (or at least novella), so I would prefer to see this book focus on the two protagonists.

Overall, this book was a pleasant read. I definitely recommend it to anyone already invested in the Rajes series, as well as to anyone who enjoys a comfortable romantic comedy. There are definitely enough laughter and tears to go around.

I received this book as a digital advance reader copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

Wow! This is another fastest reading experience for me! Probably this book is my favorite one of the series! I sigh slowly as I remember this is the last installment of Rajes! I think I loved each member’s story!

I was so ready to enjoy this book. My reasons are obvious;
Gender swapped Indian- American Emma retelling is such a good idea!

Bringing back Incense and Sensibility’s greatest supporting character as heroine is another fabulous choice! I was already devoted fan of Naina from the previous installment!

The book truly carries true essence of Austen’s Emma and Vansh’s Emma project is realistic reflection of true soul of the original story!

Great combination of multi layered, flawed but genuine characterization and such a lovely lighthearted romance you may resonate with!

If you don’t get interested in the previous books of the series, I highly recommend you not to miss this one!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

It’s always bittersweet when a series comes to an end. I’ve loved the Rajes through three other books and I’ll miss them. The Emma Project was well done and I really appreciated getting Naina’s story. The secondary plot with Esha was a nice treat and complimented Vansh and Naina’s story well.

The Emma Project by Sonali Dev (The Rajes #4)
Tags: Contemporary Romance; Age Gap Romance; Slow Burn; Austen Inspired

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2022, and I can honestly say it did not disappoint. Once again, Sonali Dev has delivered a heartwarming story – filled with memorable, multifaceted and flawed characters, love, friendship and emotion. One of the things I love best about her writing style is her ability to deliver both a lighthearted romance, but still take on hard issues and truths in an honest way. She balances the two so that I still find myself devouring the pages, and coming back for more and left with an overall feeling of happiness and hope.


I have loved the entire Rajes series, and I was so happy that every single book delivered for me – and it was bittersweet to realize this was the last book of the series. I am always a fan of an Austen inspired tale, it’s initially what drew me to the series. In this case, I loved that Dev chose not only a gender swap but to take the heart of Emma and weave it into this book with Vansh as an “Emma Project”.


I was actually worried going into this book when I found out it was to be Vansh and Naina’s book. I was fresh off of reading Incense and Sensibility (Yash and India’s story) – and when I saw Naina it was like a starched record noise for me. What?! Am I reading that right? Here’s the tell of a truly talented author though. Dev managed to completely pull me in and make me root for Naina – I loved seeing multiple sides of characters (good and bad) and finding a way to see the different perspectives. I was converted to ship the two by the end – so Bravo to the author!


For fans of: age gap romance (the woman is older!), slow burn romance, Austen Inspired reads.


All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for the gifted early copy to read!

This was okay. I struggled to connect with the characters and the writing style often fell flat. I just couldn’t get invested in this story and was disappointed

Unfortunately not the book for me. I struggled to connect with the writing style unfortunately. The characters also fell flat for me. A Do not finish for me and it’s me and not the book. I’m sure that fans of the series will enjoy this instalment but that fan was not me.

this was so cute! definitely my favorite from this series!

i loved vansh so much - he's just trying to prove himself in a world that sees him as a spoiled child.

and naina... she's everything.

their romance wasn't perfect, but it was pretty darn cute.

highly recommend this (even if you didn't *love* the previous installments).