"Sunshine and Spice" by Aurora Palit is a delightful tale of one woman's search for identity, love, and acceptance. Naomi, who grew up far away from her mother's original Bengali community, always felt something was missing in her life and yearned to know more about her roots. Her mother, who left the community as an unwed teenage mother, never wanted Naomi to know how sticky such a community could be. In fact, she never talked about that side of Naomi EVER.

Now, as an adult, Naomi helps people rebrand their businesses and she takes on a Bengali client. She didn't plan to fall for her client's son, who is doing his best to resist his mother's matchmaking plans for his future. Dev sees Naomi as an outsider, a safe choice to have a "pretend" relationship with. They have no idea that she is actually one of them.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. My opinion is my own.

We all know fake dating is one of my favorite romance tropes. If you didn’t well now you know. 😍 When nervous Naomi’s interview is mistaken for our grumpy/sunshine Dev’s marriage match, I knew this one would be entertaining. That meet was not cute but very funny! Naomi’s plan was to try and please her potential boss who is Dev’s mother who desperately wants Dev to marry. Naomi and Dev come up with the fake dating scheme to help one another out.

I enjoyed how each one dealt with real but different issues of fitting in as well as cultural aspects. They leaned on one another initially strangers turned friends, but grew into something more, of course! But not only that, they were able to find their voices to speak on what they wanted and believed. Also, they were able to stand up and talk to the hardest people, their parents. Dev was a help to Naomi as she had never known her true background and often times pushed it to the back. This one was fun to read to see how their fake dating blossomed into something beautiful and life changing for them both!

This was a fun romcom with a deeper message. I loved learning about Bengali culture and appreciated the author’s efforts to define many unfamiliar terms. The rest were easy to Google. Naomi and Dev were such a sweet couple, and their romance blossomed in a believable way. I identified with a lot of Naomi’s outsider feelings, and I think a lot of other readers will too. There was some spice in this book but not a ton. I recommend it!

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

✨ Review ✨ Sunshine and Spice by Aurora Palit; Narrated by: Soneela Nankani, Imran Sheikh

Thanks to Berkley, PRHAudio and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

This was such a fun fake dating romance! The book features two Bengali characters -- Naomi who's trying to secure a brand consulting gig at Gia's Bazaar, and Dev, Gia's son. When Gia hires a matchmaker to try to make a match for Dev and Naomi is trying to get the brand consulting just right, they agree to a bargain -- Naomi pretends to be Dev's girlfriend to fend off potential brides, and Dev helps Naomi to get the details perfect.

Beyond this simple plot layer though, I loved the tensions and reflection that threaded through the story about familial obligations and immigrant life. Dev grew up in a traditional Bengali family, complete with familial expectations and more traditional cultural norms. Naomi grew up in a family where her mom suppressed her Bengali culture and identity and was separated from her elders. Because of this Dev and Naomi grew up in very different circumstances, and also are looking for things beyond that (Dev - more freedom, Naomi - more cultural connection).

I thought this was both fun in its plot and deep in its reflections on immigrant life, and I really enjoyed it! My only critique is that it perhaps flagged a bit in the middle as things maybe felt a little predictable, but then she came back in and shook things up!

🎧 The two narrators both narrated brilliant, engaging me fully to where it felt like I was in the story. Great audio!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.75)
Genre: f/m romance
Setting: somewhere in Canada but omg I forgot where! 😬
Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins
Reminds me of: Nisha Sharma's books
Pub Date: Sep 10, 2024

Read this if you like:
⭕️ Bengali and other South Asian food and sweets
⭕️ grumpy-sunshine
⭕️ fake dating
⭕️ immigrant narratives

When two complete opposites agree to fake date in order to solve their cultural dilemmas, they find the only force more powerful than an immigrant mother's matchmaking schemes might just be true love.

What to expect:
☀️Desi romance set in Canada
☀️struggles with cultural identity
☀️grumpy x sunshine
☀️piggy back rides
☀️forbidden romance
☀️matchmaking and family expectations
☀️open door

Oh how I loved this book 😍 It's funny, messy, full of chemistry, and absolutely beautiful.
Naomi is second generation Indian Canadian but was cut off from her Indian heritage, leaving others in the community to calling her "white washed" and other terms I think constitute as racial slurs. She's determined to make her new design business a success, and gets hired on to convert Dev's mother's store into a cafe. Dev is grumpy and awkward, and I adored him! Watching him and Naomi work through their very different familial struggles and come together was the sweetest.

Naomi will do anything to make her brand consultating business take off
Dev will do anything to deflect his mother's attention from finding him a wife.

Opposites attract in this fun and sassy fake dating rom-com. It was a quick read, and I enjoyed the chemistry between Naomi and Dev. The inclusion of first/second generation immigrants and Bengali culture added a freshness to the grumpy-sunshine, fake dating trope. This was more than just a romance for me. It was educational, too. As Naomi learned and explored her heritage, I was able to learn a thing or two, as well. I was surprised to find out that this is a debut novel for Aurora Palit...I will definitely be keeping an eye out for future releases.

An arc provided by netgalley and the publisher was read and reviewed honestly. All opinions are my own.

Thank you @BerkleyRomance #Berkley #BerkleyPartner for the free book and to @PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

In order to escape his mother's matchmaking endeavors, Dev agrees to fake date Naomi. She is hopeful their pretend match will give provide her inroads to working more on brand development with the local Indian community.

I found the ways in which this book explored culture, diaspora, and authenticity incredibly powerful. Though Dev and Naomi have similar ethnic backgrounds, she was raised completely separate from Bengali traditions. In contrast, his family expects him to follow those traditions.

I enjoyed their fun interactions. I especially appreciated the cooking class, complete with great good metaphors. I want to visit the cafe. And wow was the relationship between Naomi and Dev spicy! The only drawbacks for me were that at times I was annoyed with his lack of initiative and backbone. But I always delight in character growth and was glad to see some here.

Soneela Nankani and Imran Sheikh narrated the audiobook. While I always appreciate her performances, I was not not as fond of his voices for older female characters.

Romance • Generational Trauma • Indian Culture
Publication Date • 10 September 2024

Thank you @berkleypub and @prhaudio for the free review copy and audiobook.

Here is a tried and true fake dating trope but make it under the guise of shirking the familial expectation of arranged marriage. It’s got a legit Indian matchmaker, Veera Aunty. It’s a story of second and third generation Bengali-Canadian immigrants living in a smallish province. It’s about a trinket shop that’s about to get rebranded into a place of gathering and community, serving up chai and mishti (Bengali for “sweet” aka dessert!).

This is the backdrop for Sunshine and Spice.

I right away was pulled into this book - it gripped me with main character moody Dev (who shares a name with my own dad.. who always told people to call him “Dave” to make it easier for them and him) and sunshiny Naomi Kelly. There is a scene where Dev mistakes Naomi as someone his mother is trying to set him up with which had me rolling laughing. There were also moments where I felt this sense being seen: the shame of not being fluent in languages and just wanting so much to fit in, to belong.

As it’s a romance, Naomi and Dev will get their HEA, loose ends tied up neatly and predictably, with some spicy open door scenes along the way. The romance was my least fave part of this book (granted I’m not normally a romance reader), as I think the book shines more in the sections around culture, belonging, assimilation, and expectations of being caught between cultures.

🎧 The audiobook was easy listening with dual narration by Soneela Nankani as Naomi and Imran Sheikh as Dev.

Such a fun story; loved the Toronto setting and sunshine/cinnamon roll vibes, as well as the interesting (and new-to-me) differences in the cultural experiences of the two protagonists.

A solid debut!

This was one of the new to me authors for 2025, and I’m happy I gave Sunshine and Spice a shot. It turned into a heartfelt, less rom-com romance. There is a solid grumpy/sunshine vibe between the characters that will appeal to those who love the trope.

Taking a step back, I won’t rehash the blurb. What’s familiar? This has the age-old opposites attract, grump/sunshine, forbidden romance vibe. The hero, Dev, comes from a South Asian family steeped in culture and tradition. Whereas Naomi, our heroine, was raised with a more Western approach. Naomi gets tangled up with Dev when she’s hired to oversee his mother’s store rebrand. Except Dev needs more help, he’s currently the target of his mother’s matchmaking schemes. What better way to get those potential brides off his back than faking a relationship with Naomi in return for helping her make the rebrand a success?

What makes this story unique? The main characters, the setting, the entire dynamic of the story. There is so much to unpack, from the cultural elements present to Naomi’s constant feeling of ‘other’ as she interacts with Dev and his family, longing for her own connection to a culture she lost out on growing up.

There are constant dynamics between what both Naomi and Dev want and the expectations that have been ingrained in them since childhood. For Dev, it’s his desire to be an obedient son, not to make waves when everyone else in his family is known for causing disruption. For Naomi, it’s being raised to be her own person without cultural ties or expectations yet craving what Dev has always taken for granted. This push and pull is what dragged me into the story after the book had a bit of a slow start. However, I won’t lie; series firsts tend to have a slow momentum sometimes as they set the tone and world.

For the overall story pacing, once the adhesion beat takes place, locking Dev and Naomi into a partnership of sorts filled with heat and attraction, I couldn’t stop reading. I enjoyed the ride of Dev and Naomi falling for each other and was equally eager for when it would all fall apart like a house of cards. Palit did a great job of keeping me guessing, and I couldn’t really predict how this would end.

Overall, if you are looking for something with a touch of the familiar, though with an immersive romance from a totally different perspective, Palit brings a breath of fresh air to the contemporary genre. For readers who enjoy Nisha Sharma.

~ Landra

Much like Naomi, I’ve always felt I’ve had my foot in two worlds, being the first generation of immigrant parents. However, unlike Naomi, I’ve been immersed in my parents’ culture through the home, which has made it easier for me to find my way with my parents’ world. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for Naomi not knowing her culture but having a desire to learn. These were the best parts of the book, following along as she learned more about her heritage. The instant spark with Dave was perfect and I enjoyed following along as they realized they were well matched. Naomi was also a savvy businessperson, working to get her new business off the ground. This was the perfect mix of culture, romance, and finding your own way in the world.

I loved it! The characters, the drama, the spin on fake dating (fake dating, but behind your parents back, and also all the secrets). The spice!! I love how this book focuses on how the "grass is always greener" and how both MCs seem like their upbringing and family situations disappoint them, but grow so much throughout the book. I could viscerally feel Naomi's longing for her ancestral culture, a feeling of belonging that she has never had, always feeling alone in the middle. I loved seeing Dev's culture through her eyes and learning so much alongside her. (I had tears from some of her wide-eye revelations, happiness, and at a scene at the end where she was told she does belong and will learn!) Such a fun and spicy romance!

Unfortunately this adult romance was not for me.

I made it about 20% in before I decided to stop. I enjoyed the setting, as it was not one I see a lot of in this space. The main characters inner dialogue was not something I enjoyed. I think I'm just not a fan of books written with the tone of the main female character, it's a very valid thought space to be in as an immigrant, but it's tiring to me as a minority also. I think I would have enjoyed their fake dating but was not invested enough in either of them due to the reason stated earlier and the fact that the male character is going through his own version of "being in a box". Readers who want to go on a journey with characters coming into their own in their culture would enjoy this. The writing was good, just a bit too telling for my tastes also.

Thank you @BerkleyPub and @BerkleyRomance for the free book and thank you @PRHAudio for the #gifted listening copy of Sunshine and Spice! #BerkleyBookstagram #berkleypub #BerkleyIG #berkley #PRHAudioPartner #PRHAInfluencer #SunshineAndSpice #AuroraPalit #berkleyromance

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐀𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐚 𝐍𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐦𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐤𝐡
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

𝟒★

This was such a fun one! It included some of my favorite trope all wrapped into one and Naomi and Dev had the most amazing banter. I loved how this book was full of cultural traditions, and it gave me the chance to learn more about another culture and I really enjoyed that aspect. I also really appreciated how this book wasn’t just focused on romance, but took a look at topics such as immigration and creating a sense of identity and community. Overall, I really enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend it!

🧡Fake Dating
🧡Grumpy x Sunshine
🧡Workplace Romance
🧡Dual POV
🧡Forced Proximity

🎧I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the talented duo, Soneela Nankani and Imran Sheikh. I thought both narrators were phenomenal. I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook and would highly recommend this one on audio!

Posted on Goodreads on September 17, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around September 18, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on September 17, 2024
**-will post on designated date

This was a quick and fun read with some laugh-out-loud moments as well as ones I cheered for Naomi as an underdog. My favorite part of this novel was the cultural aspects and how Naomi had been kept from her Bengali traditions because of her mom's decision. This added depth to the characters and plot and I wished for more of this part. I liked the friendship between Dev and Naomi and their banter and chemistry and thought the ending, although predictable, was sweet.

DNF @ 40%

I adored the FMC Naomi, and because I like her, I can't in good conscious root for her to have a relationship with Dev. I am a huge fan of the grumpy/sunshine trope. It doesn't bother me that he's grumpy. It DOES bother me that he is rude, particularly to women, and including Naomi.

In the beginning, his mother is setting him up on dates, and he basically igores his dates, and even treats them with disdain. Again, it's not a problem that he doesn't want to go on the dates with the women that his mom sets him up with, but since he is going on them, he should at least be somewhat kind to the women who have to suffer his presence.

He was completely rude to Naomi when he first met her. I got to the point where they have started fake dating - to benefit him - and he is just rude to her during a cooking class they take together.

I understand that in many communitites, it is still traditional for the women to do much of the cooking and caregiving for children, and as long as that's what the women want, that's totally fine. But Dev seems to look down on women's work.

I'm going to give this 3 stars, which may seem extremely generous for a book that I'm DNFing. I look at it this way - if I were in a situation where this was the ONLY book that I had access to, I believe I would finish it, and I would mostly like it and give it 3 stars. But the reality is that I have hundreds of books at my fingertips, and I would rather read something that I adored than something that I liked.

Reading this book made me happy. I enjoyed the story and the romance itself kept me captivated from start to finish. It’s heartwarming with characters that you root for and a plot that’s not repetitive and keeps you involved in the story from start to finish. Honestly, most of all I just loved the interaction between the hero and heroine as they were falling in love with one another.

This was a fun rom-com with a different kind of protagonist set than I typically see. I’ll admit I don’t gravitate most strongly to romance, but there is something about the fake dating trope that gets me and this book fit that. It also has grumpy/sunny which I thought was good but while Naomi was a little muted from a stereotypical sunny (Which I loved, way more realistic) Dev was a little exaggerated for me as a grumpy which detracted a little for me at times. I loved the cultural pieces of this book, both the details I’m not familiar with and the dynamics between generations with immigrants and a character completely cut off from her culture. Naomi is desperate to get the rebranding job of Gio’s Bazaar shop because since going on her own money is very tight. Dev, Gio’s son, is struggling to avoid the matchmaker and potential matches his mother is forcing his way. They decide to help each other Dev with advice on the bazaar and Naomi pretending to be his girlfriend to make prospective matches leave him alone. The beginning was a bit slow, but overall it was a fun, light, good debut.

Naomi Kelly has opened her own business, and she needs a new client fast, or it’s scrambled eggs and ramen for the next month. As a brand consultant, she knows how to take a struggling business and turn it around. But her passion is to help the small, family-run businesses, and in her town in Canada, that means fitting in with the local Bengali community. She’s Indo-Canadian herself, but her mother hasn’t been a part of the Bengali community for a long time, and Naomi grew up without much connection to her Bengali heritage.

She’s gotten a chance to pitch to Gia Mukherjee, and she has to get this right. Gia has been running a bazaar for many years, and it used to be community hub. But then her husband had a stroke, and she had to close the store to help him. Now she wants to build up her business again, but the store is filled with kitschy knickknacks that no one wants to buy. The other stores in the strip mall where she is have changed, and Gia’s needs a whole new plan. Naomi can see that immediately, from the tacky tchotchkes that fill the shelves and the layer of dust over them.

Meanwhile, there is one thing Gia wants more than the rebranding of her bazaar. She wants her son Dev to settle down and get married. She’s even hired a matchmaker, and the matchmaker jumps right in with several women who she thinks would be perfect for Dev. It’s all set. Except for one thing. Dev isn’t interested in getting married, and certainly not to any of the women the matchmaker has found for him. So when he’s at the store and Gia drops by to do some more research for her pitch, Dev takes her for one of the women he’d been set up with and tries to shut her down.

When Dev realizes his mistake, he apologizes. But it gives Naomi an idea. She can pretend to be his girlfriend, scaring off the women the matchmaker will send his way, if he helps her out with the rebranding of the store and helps her fit in better with the Bengali community. And Naomi has a great pitch—to turn the bazaar into a coffeeshop. It will bring the community back to Gia’s and give customers a much-needed cafe. It will take a lot of work to transform it, but Naomi is up for it. And she has to do a good job, to get referrals throughout the community.

But when the fake relationship stars to throw out real sparks, Naomi and Dev find themselves in a difficult position. They need to decide for themselves if their family expectations are more important to them, or if love is.

Sunshine and Spice is a sweet rom com that looks at the way social norms influence us and how love can disrupt the status quo. Aurora Palit’s story of love and family has spice and humor and lots of heart. It’s about finding your own voice in a family and chasing the dreams that mean the most to you.

I really enjoyed Sunshine and Spice. I liked these characters and couldn’t wait to see how things would turn out. I especially liked how they wanted something different than what their families wanted for them, but they found ways to balance their independence with their family obligations. Learning more about Bengali culture was fascinating, and seeing how their relationship played out is just lots of fun.

Egalleys for Sunshine and Spice were provided by Berkley through NetGalley, with many thanks.

I’ve been really looking forward to this one since I saw it on an email. It was so insightful and clever writing. It felt like I have read this book before, the characters were so wonderful to read about and it felt like this book was just MEANT to be loved