This is a heartfelt multigenerational novel exploring everything from family relationships and grief to friendship and your life’s calling. Vandy is still grieving the loss of her husband when her daughter Mallika takes off, leaving her to navigate it all. Meanwhile, Mallika knows her life is different from her family’s but she has nothing concrete..so she signs up for a genetic study. And as all of this is happening, Vandy’s childhood friend Rani shows up in town and must repair her fractured relationships while revealing her own secrets.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest (& very delayed) review.

Unfortunately I was unable to download this book before the archive date, so I'm not able to leave a review. I look forward to reading and reviewing books by this author in the future.

A beautifully written story that switches between three people, and between the past and present.

Vandy Guru, a successful advice columnist is grieving the death of Vir, her husband and love of her life.

She is desperately missing her daughter, Mallika, who is struggling to make a name for herself as a choreographer in L.A.

Rani Parekh was Vandy’s childhood best friend, but they have been estranged for years.

As three woman’s lives come together, so many secrets are revealed, hearts are broken and healed and we find out just how far the three women will go for love.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Sonali Dev and Lake Union for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing/Amazon Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of this novel by Sonali Dev. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Advice columnist Vandy Guru built her career teaching others how to live honestly and courageously, but after the loss of her beloved husband, Vandy’s public veneer can barely conceal her grief. When her beloved daughter Mallika suddenly disappears, Vandy feels like everything is slipping out of her control.. Mallika dreams of being a choreographer, but is not willing to sacrifice on the type of dance she wants to do. Vandy's best childhood friend, Rani, once sacrificed everything for Vandy, but knows she must confront their history.

I'm a fan of Dev's novels and after finishing and loving her latest, There's Something About Mira, realized that I have let this one languish on my TBR pile. While I enjoyed the story and was anxious to uncover all the secrets between these three women, I wasn't quite as invested as I usually am with her books. While the writing is still wonderful and immersive in Indian culture, I didn't feel the same connection to the characters as I usually do. I liked how the story changed timelines and perspectives to better understand the characters' actions.

I've read everything Sonali Dev has written, and I was delighted to receive a copy of Lies and Other Love Languages. This is another engaging exploration of secrets, lies, and families.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

I really loved this! It was so engaging and I couldn't put it down. Glad I got to read it early!

Thank you NetGalley and Sonali Dev!

This book was not my usual read, but it got me hooked! The pacing is just right, balancing lighthearted moments with more serious themes. Dev skillfully weaves in cultural elements that add richness to the story without overshadowing the personal aspects of the characters' experiences.

Overall, Lies and Other Love Languages is a refreshing and heartfelt read that resonates with anyone who has ever faced the complexities of love and communication. It's perfect for readers looking for a blend of romance, humor, and authenticity. Thank you for the gifted copy!

The author handled sensitive topics with the care and grace they deserved, showing the devastating consequences that Vandy’s decisions had on her family and her relationships years later. I thought Vandy and Rani’s characters had incredible depth, and I loved reading about their early relationship. Mallika’s point of view did not feel as well-developed however and perhaps because of this it felt like it sometimes took away from the central core of the story. I would have liked to have gotten more of Vir’s perspective as well, and the way Vandy’s decisions affected him. Altogether a pretty impactful story, carried by two incredible main characters more than by the plot, but wholly memorable.

This is an interesting story about family, spanning across generations and exploring how family lies are sometimes necessary to keep people protected. It traces the lives of the protagonists a mother and daughter duo, while they get on with their lives after a loss. The story flits into the mother Vandy's past with her childhood bestfriend Rani and their journey into adulthood. Here is where I have most issues, Rani's character faces a lot of trauma and ugly circumstances, but it's not explored enough to be meaningful. Vandy is also a very flawed character and puts her friend through hell, but she is given forgiveness and it feels like it's not earned. I don't mind grey shades to characters but it feels like there is too much going on and maybe fewer uncomfortable situations and plot lines would have helped explore the emotions in those plot lines better.

This was a very good book. I enjoyed reading it. The characters and plot kept me interested. I would read another book by this author.

As a writer, Sonali Dev is absolutely talented. I was invested in the story and as messy as the characters were, she developed them well and I felt like I really knew who they were, for the most part.

Personally, I really didn’t love where the plot went, and for that, it’s hard for me to say I really loved the story. But I would read more from this author.

(4.5 stars, rounded up to 5)

"Lies and Other Love Languages" by Anissa Gray is a stunning exploration of family dynamics, love, and forgiveness, earning it a well-deserved 4.5-star rating. The characters in the novel are intricately crafted, with each member of the dysfunctional Cooper family coming to life on the page with their own flaws, desires, and secrets. Gray's atmospheric prose and vivid descriptions beautifully capture the setting of Atlanta, Georgia, immersing readers in the vibrant culture and rich history of the city.

Gray's writing style is both poignant and compelling, drawing readers into the lives of the characters with its emotional depth and authenticity. The plot of "Lies and Other Love Languages" unfolds with a perfect blend of intrigue and heartache, as the Coopers navigate the complexities of their relationships and confront the truths that threaten to tear them apart. The logic behind the characters' actions feels sound, adding to the realism and resonance of the story. Additionally, Gray skillfully weaves themes of cultural relevance and diversity throughout the narrative, offering a nuanced exploration of race, class, and identity that feels timely and relevant.

Overall, "Lies and Other Love Languages" is a deeply moving and thought-provoking novel that will stay with readers long after they've turned the final page. Gray's skillful storytelling, richly drawn characters, and powerful themes make for an unforgettable reading experience. Whether you're drawn to family dramas or stories of redemption and forgiveness, "Lies and Other Love Languages" is a must-read that is sure to captivate and inspire.

This was definitely a personal opinion and experience - so don't let my rating keep you from giving this one a try.

It's a story about friends and childhood and finding family and acceptance. I've read a few from this author and I typically love the characters and really connect to the story. It's engaging, well-written and almost always, this author's stories tackled really interesting relationships that tug at your heartstrings and make you love it.

But this one was a struggle for me. I just couldn't seem to get into the story. I struggled to like Rani and, while I don't need to like characters to like a story, one that is character driven and completely wrapped around characters definitely has to have one that I connect with and want to keep reading for.

This could have been situational and not at all reflective of the story. If this one sounds great, give it a try! I hope you love it!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Vandy is a successful advice columnist. When her beloved daughter Mallika suddenly disappears without warning, Vandy is desperate to find answers. The more Vandy searches the more she is forced to confront the ghosts of her past, including her estranged best friend Rani. What I love most about Dev's work is that she captures the longings, desires, and needs of women through all ages. But above all this is a story of friendship and the sacrifices we make and the lies we bear for the ones we love.

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

Lies and Other Love Languages by Sonali Dev uses a multi-generational, multi-decade perspective to look at motherhood and friendship, and how much a person is willing to do for those they love. The book is well-written, well-developed, and well-executed, and I would recommend it to others who are looking for a captivating and meaningful read. I have read almost everything from this author and look forward to more from her!

I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller! Receiving an advanced copy was much appreciated. I believe both existing fans and newcomers will find it equally enjoyable.

I should know better by now. This is not my kind of read, so personally, I didnt like it, so I will rate 3 stars.

Lies and Other Love Languages is a compelling and emotional book that explores the power of truth and love in the lives of three women. The book offers a rich and diverse story that will appeal to fans of contemporary fiction, family drama, and multicultural romance. The book is well-written, well-developed, and well-executed, and I would recommend it to others who are looking for a captivating and meaningful read.

Secrets come to light regarding motherhood, family, and friends in Lies and Other Love Languages by Sonali Dev. Vandy Guru dispenses advice about all kinds of issues and has built a successful following yet she's hiding lifelong secrets that she cannot get past. Her daughter Mallika always felt like an outsider in her own family despite knowing that she's loved. Her latest failure to become a dancer prompts her to join a genetic study that reveals much more than she bargained for, and she flees to find the answers she so desperately needs about her personal and family history.

This book introduced me to Sonali Dev, and I'm so glad. The characters were engaging, and you root for them to be happy. Many issues are covered in this one novel, and it's not just a romance--questions arise about how far you would go to do something for a friend. It also covers the question about what is family, who is your family, and are genetics all that matters when it comes to building a family.

I really appreciated learning more about Indian culture and would have liked if there was a glossary for terms that I didn't know. I loved the dynamics between the families and pull between modern views and cultural views. There was a lot that caught my interest.

The story goes back and forth between Vandy, her estranged best friend Rani, and Vandy's daughter Mallika, so you get a wide perspective of what happens in the book. I liked all the characters and found them distinct and interesting. As I said before, you root for all of them.

Now, the ending feels quite abrupt in this book. While you do get closure for the most part, it ends in such a way that I almost wondered if my copy was unfinished. The final sentence didn't wrap it up the way I thought it could, and it wasn't a cliffhanger. This led to me giving this book four stars instead of five. Despite this, I cannot wait to consume all the rest of this wonderful author's books.

Told in different points of view, Lies and Other Love Languages by Sonali Dev focuses on relationships between mothers and daughters. The book started out slow for me and the ending was predictable. But once the book started to pick up, I found that the writing was engaging and I cared about what happened to the characters in the story. 3-1/2 stars rounded up to 4.