Love it love it love it! It’s the first book I read by Sonali Dev but I instantly fell in love and I want to read everything she is written.
This story is so funny and so poignant and I’m in love with everything: the writing, the characters, the plot… everything.

Thank you Netgalley anche the publisher for the arc.

Happy endings aren't always what you expect then to be. This novel explores whether life is really as perfect as you think it is, amud the backdrop of New York City. Interesting story although it took me a bit to get into as I didn't like several of the secondary characters.

This book started a little slow for me, but really ended up being a charming story about believing in yourself and finding love along the way.

Mira is a very sheltered 28 year old. She is the dutiful Indian daughter who never steps out of line. She's engaged to Druv and he loves how drama free she is. When he bails on their engagement trip, she decides to go to NYC by herself. While there she reconnects with her twin brother, finds a lost ring, and begins an adventure to find the owner of said ring. The ring quest and reunion with her brother sparks something inside her, and she finally confronts her past and takes charge of her future.

The vibe of the beginning of this book almost felt YA but the heroine was 28 years old. Due to that style, it took me a minute to get into it. Once more of her story came out, I understand why she acted so subservient. I loved watching her develop a backbone with her conservative Indian family. I also enjoyed the mystery of the ring and the partnership with Krish that came with that mission. I liked the travel aspect of this book as well. The journey to New York and India added a lot to the story. The romance was a subplot but was also very sweet and fit perfectly into the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the e-book in exchange for my honest review.

Mira Salvi is the luckiest girl. She has a great job, she's engaged to the most perfect man, and she actually gets long with her future mother in law. Her own mother aggravates her to no end, but she understands how much her parents have struggled to make a good life for their family. She's really excited to finally go on an engagement trip to NYC with her fiancé. She's never been and he's so enthusiastic about showing her the city. Unfortunately, not for the first time, her fiancé has to back out, but suggests she take the trip on her own. Mira is apprehensive but accepts the offer, plus the reservations are all non-refundable. She also hopes to connect with her estranged twin brother and mend their broken family.
While exploring NYC on her own, Mira happens upon a ring attached to a chain. Something in her knows that this piece of jewelry means a lot to someone and she's determined to find the owner. She makes a social media post about the ring in search of the owner. Enter Krish Hale. Mira immediately dislikes his unsmiling, arrogant demeanor. She eventually realizes he's the only one that can probably help her find the owner of the ring.

The overall conclusion of this book is pretty predictable, which is nothing new with most rom-com style stories. It's the journey to get there that determines how good the book is. The story alternates between past and present. We get a little backstory of the ring through letters from two women from the past. I actually found those little bits of the book to be the most interesting. Mira was a bit exhausting, especially at first. She came off as naive and weak. Having grown up in a conservative Indian community myself, I could somewhat sympathize with her position, but I still didn't care for her stance between her parents and her twin. There were so many serious topics brought up in the book, including Mira's own trauma, but they weren't given as much importance as they should have. I actually felt these topics should have been delved into more. Not only would the book be a lot more interesting, but I feel readers could really get to know the characters better. There were so many stories that I wish had gotten more coverage. The relationship between Mira and Krish was put in the forefront, but I wanted more about the other characters and their struggles.
As for the ending, as I mentioned, it was somewhat predictable, but I wish it hadn't been. I would have liked a slightly more realistic ending. It still could have been happy, but maybe taken a little longer to get there.
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This one wasn't for me, but I have enjoyed this author's previous books and I will read future books. A huge thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for this ARC.

I love Sonali Dev’s books so i could not wait to get into this one.
To add to the tension, while Mira is out behaving as a tourist, she discovers a ring on a chain. Wishing to find the owner, she makes an emotional post asking the owner to contact her. The post goes viral which leads her to journalist Krish, who is willing to help her find the owner of the ring, as long as he can use their search for an article

This was marketing as a rom com but it was so much more. there were themes of family, nationality, parent-child dynamics, culture and of course romance.

Loved it. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the Arc. All opinions are my own.

There's Something About Mira by Sonali Dev is well-balanced, keeping readers engaged with a steady rhythm as each woman's story line unfolds. The blend of humor, heartache, and cultural context creates a vibrant and enjoyable read.

This was another great book by Sonali Dev. If you loved her classic adaptations you will love this also. She does such a great job of opening up the Indian culture & it was fun to learn about the Indian marriage customs. This book was a great rom-com with a little mystery involved. I was really pulled into all the characters & enjoyed how their stories all intertwined. Great read!

I desperatley want to attend an Indian wedding! I really enjoyed being immersed in the Indian culture!

A quest to find the owner of a lost ring. Multiple love stories. A journey towards authenticity and living one’s truth. A deep study into identity and belonging. And a trip to New York?!

There’s Something About Mira delighted me, especially in the second half of the book. I loved witnessing Mira’s evolution towards becoming her true self. The letters between Vasu and Suru were so beautiful. This book was magical.

“I am there you know. On your shoulder. As you are on mine.”

Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is such a lovely, insightful story centering on parents' expectations. Mira goes along with everything in hopes it will keep peace in her family and perhaps, reconcile her brother with their parents. She doesn't even explore her own wants and wishes, keeping everything locked up. The irony is she takes away people's pain in her profession. An unexpected solo trip and her desire to help others trigger a series of adventures that cracks open everything she's hidden away. I rooted for Mira all the way!

There's Something About Mira
By Sonali Dev
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have loved every book I've read by @sonali.dev so it comes as no surprise that she has done it once again with her new release, "There's Something About Mira."

This is a story of love and healing. With healing comes discomfort and pain. As anyone who has embarked on a therapy journey can tell you, it's it not a comfortable or quick and easy process. It also comes at great cost & not just the bill to a therapist. Healing requires change and growth. What I love about this book is the way Dev highlights the pay off: freedom and truth are all that is left when you live with authenticity. For Mira, for Rumi, for Sureva and Vasudha. It means being fully themselves and being fully loved. What more can we ask for?

This book has so many beautiful moments & profound passages - 157 of which I saved as Kindle highlights. It also has a fair number of heavy topics - from painful childhood memories to abuse, homophobia, & unplanned pregnancy (in the past). I prefer to read human stories with the full breadth of the human experience & Sonali Dev captures life in all its brutal humanity with "There's Something About Mira." I hope you'll read it for the perspectives she offers, the immersion into Indian culture, and the journey Mira takes back to herself. I'm so glad I did. 💛

One of my favorite quotes:

"(My dad) had a theory that for centuries humans have tried to control the world by forcing everyone into matching molds by getting them to close their minds. It’s why the pressure of discontent has turned humanity into a ticking bomb. The only way to defuse it is to change one heart at a time. Every time a single person opens their heart, the magic gets stronger." ✨

Thank you to @netgalley and Lake Union Publishing @amazonpublishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest feedback. As always, all opinions are my own. #TheresSomethingAboutMira is out now and also available on Kindle Unlimited.

Nailed it!
It had mystery, romance, personal struggle, self discovery and adventure.
At no point did I feel that one part of the story was over shadowing another, or that I didn't get enough time with a plot point. I enjoyed it cover to cover.

A few months before her wedding, Mira take a trip to New York and finds an obviously loved ring on a broken chain. The need to find the owner overtakes her, anyone who wears a ring on a chain must have a deep love for who ever gave it to them.

While scratching away the layers of mystery surrounding the ring, Mira also scratches away some of her own layers. Layers that have built over years of being a people pleaser.

This book had me in tears by the end.

Mira, a therapist specializing in pain management, is engage to Druv, a doctor who, by all accounts is the perfect man, even if he is a bit too attentive to his patients. When Druv cancels their pre-wedding trip to New York for the second time, Mira decides to go alone and use the trip as an opportunity to convince her twin brother Rumi to attend her wedding. The only problem is that Rumi has been disowned by their Indian parents because he is openly gay and in a relationship with Saket, who is invited to the wedding as long as he and Rumi aren't there together as a couple. Their reunion is fraught with tension, as Rumi cant' believe how under their thumb Mira still is. It is only Saket's skill, and love for both Rumi and Mira, that the visit goes well at all.

To add to the tension, while Mira is out behaving as a tourist, she discovers a ring on a chain. Wishing to find the owner, she makes an emotional post asking the owner to contact her. The post goes viral, which again puts Mira and Rumi at odds. It is through Saket that Mira meets journalist Krish, who is willing to help her find the owner of the ring, as long as he can use their search as fodder for an article. Once Mira finally agrees, she and Krish travel the world and back, finding not just the owner of the ring (s), but something each of them has been missing as well.

Labeled as a Romcom, Something about Mira is anything but. Part romance, part cultural discourse, part parent-child dynamics, part journey of self-actualization and introspection, and part understanding and accepting that families, regardless of nationality, are made up of individual yet interconnected people with wants, needs, and desires of their own.

The book should be read with a mind that is open to learning about others as well as self. Not to negate that this book is, first and foremost, the story of a first generation Indian American woman coming to terms with her family, her culture, her opposing beliefs, and her own needs, the brilliance of this book, and Sonali Dev's writing, is that as much as it gives the reader insight into Indian cultural norms, which for many non-Indian readers may seem archaic or outright impossible, there are simple themes throughout that speak to the humanness of all people. It doesn't force acceptance, as much as it invite introspection.

Sonali Dev takes us on a deep dive of the beauty and pain that tradition and culture can hold. Mira’s journey to understand herself, her culture, her brother, & her parents is met with laughs, tears, pain, beauty, shame, love, & everything in between.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the dialogue between Mira, her brother, & her brother’s fiance. I also loved that Dev doesn’t shy away from the harder aspects of her Indian-American culture. I not only laughed, but learned while reading There’s Something About Mira.

Thank you to Sonali Dev, Lake Union Publishing, & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review!

I adore Sonali Dev's writing. There is something just so comforting about it and this felt like a warm cup of hot chocolate for me. Mira was such a relatable character for me and I was rooting for her.

This book started out kinda ok for me... Druv and Mira are engaged, Druv is ambitious and doesn't want to go on a trip so Mira heads to NYC on her own. Cue an accidental ring discovery and Mira gets set on a journey...

I really was pulled in during the second half, where the pieces of the story start coming together and it also moves into more action than I bargained for!

It's dual timeline and perspective, and whether you love or hate the characters, it's beautiful to see how it unfolds.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC.

I enjoyed reading There's Something About Mira by Sonali Dev. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

I thoroughly enjoyed Sonali Dev's series about the Rajes, so I was excited when the author offered this advanced reader's copy of, "There's Something About Mira" to her Facebook followers.

Mira is the youngest child of first generation Indian parents who came to the US and worked their way up to owning their own grocery store. She's approaching 30, is engaged to be married, and preparing for the wedding festivities with her mother and fiancé's mother.

As part of her engagement gift, she and her fiancé are  heading to NYC. Mira has never been and she's hoping to visit her estranged brother.

While sightseeing in NYC, she finds a ring, and vows to find the owner. This sends her on an adventure from NYC, through India, and back home.

At first, I did not really like the character of Mira; however, this story is about Mira finding herself while she searches for the owner of the ring. Mira has always done what was expected of her and this has led to an unremarkable life. She is a recent graduate in pain management, and I think I would have liked to know more about this part of her life and why she chose that profession. I think this calling/profession could have played more into the end of the story as well.

Overall, I enjoyed this story very much, especially once Mira decided to find the owner of the ring. It was a slow start, but definitely picked up as the story progressed.

Thank you to the author, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC.

When Mira embarks on a solo trip, the last thing she expects to find is a lost ring. Finding the owner of this heirloom becomes Mira's sole focus and as she does, she comes to realize that maybe her story isn't as clear cut as she thought. This was quite an emotional read. I enjoyed following Mira's journey and applauded her standing up for what she wanted. Whilst there was romance, it was more a coming of age story than a romcom. Sonali Dev fans will love her new one!

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MIRA – and it’s absolutely wonderful!

Mira is a pain therapist and fully immersed in the Indian expatriate community in Chicago. She’s nearly 30, still lives at home and is recently engaged to Druv, an orthopaedic surgeon. He’s apparently the perfect guy and she’s lucky to be with him (or so she’s told). When Druv ducks out of a pre-engagement trip to New York, Mira goes on her own as she also wants to see her brother who is estranged from their parents.
In New York Mira finds a gold ring and her social media post about finding its owner sets up the chain of events that form the rest of the novel. Through that social media post, she meets journalist Krish who has his own reasons for wanting to be in on the ring’s story. Once Mira is back in Chicago we see a bit more of her family dynamic and there’s clues that something is amiss in her family, although we don’t find out what until much later. Her parents are closely aligned with her fiancé’s and both their mothers are more invested in their engagement and wedding, than are Mira and Druv.

Mira travels to India with the two mothers to purchase wedding outfits – and secretly to follow up a lead about the ring. Krish follows her and by sharing a road-trippy adventure with some danger and drama, Mira and Krish are thrown together. Readers might note this is a closed door romance and Mira is still with her fiancé for 90% of the novel – but there’s no cheating. Krish is mysterious, vulnerable and very attractive and when they open themselves to each other it’s tender and heartbreaking.

Mira’s parents prioritized their own social value over the wellbeing of their children. Mira has something devastating in her past, and it’s slowly revealed how both her parents and the community itself were involved. Queer love is explored through two same-sex relationships, one involving Mira’s brother and his partner, the other between the ring’s owners (almost lovers Vasu and Suru). Their story is initially told in letters, set thirty years previously and which slot in between the present-day action.

Even with the busyness of the visit to India and the backstory of the ring, I was never confused by the secondary characters – they are all well-drawn and play their parts so effectively. The mood is very cleverly handled, as there’s lots of joy – New York is wonderful for Mira, both with Krish and her sibling – her brother’s partner is a gem – but there’s also some difficult truths to process.

I would have liked more on-page connection between Krish and Mira, and comeuppance for Mira’s parents, who are so caught up in their social position that they reject their son and (almost) forsake their daughter.
I recommend this as contemporary and multicultural fiction, and closed-door romance. It’s dense and layered and celebrates the Indian diaspora, even as it illuminates some of its darker complexities. Beautifully written and author Sonali Dev skilfully juggles all the moving parts – so clever! I adored the understated tenderness between Mira and Krish and their hard-won happily ever after.

Thank you Sonali Dev, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.