Lies and Other Love Languages: A Novel

I had so many feels while reading this. I love this author so I barely glanced at the brief description for this book. So much loss and love shining through each page. True, uncomfortable, unconditional love. I really enjoyed watching Mallika's character growth. I loved each of the main characters for what they brought to the story. The sacrifices Vir and Rani Made for Vinny were so well described that my heart broke.

I really enjoyed this book. There was humor, drama, and plenty of emotional tugs. Each woman carried the weight of other people’s expectations. They were also very hard on themselves. Their journey to their truths being revealed was very interesting. I couldn’t wait to find out why the friends disconnected. It was a lot to take in. I loved to see how each woman overcame past traumas and insecurities. This was a well written journey with a lot of substance.

This story is not set in India; however, it is peopled entirely with Indian characters. The setting is actually America within an enclave of immigrants from India and their children, many of whom have married within the group. The story's main characters are two young girls and Dina--who meet as children and extend their friendship for about fifty years. Another important character is Millika, a part of the second generation of the enclave in America. The story is rich in family love, loyalty, as well as a striving for perfection. There are mentions of many Indian fishes,, dances, clothing, and terms of address to sharpen the flavor. You will enjoy it.

Loved it. Was brilliantly & awesomely written. I really enjoyed this book. And that's all I have to say about that

This was a very deep story with lots and lots of layers. Family members with all of its painful history. A very committed friendship intertwined with secrets and lots of love. In the end, understanding and love prevails. A beautiful read and a feel good ending.

It took awhile for me to finish this book. Appreciated the author’s choice to give every character a voice to be heard. With that in mind, it took longer for me finish this novel. Every character wasn’t exciting but in the end it’s real when you’re heard. That’s the insight of each character to hear their version of their story.

Sonali Dev does it again. She's written a beautiful love story unlike any other love story I’ve read. It’s nuanced, has a vivid cast of characters, and plenty of Bollywood easter eggs. The last third of this book cracked me open and left me a happy, teary mess. Thank you, Sonali!

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.

I loved the book simply because the characters are a mix of simple yet complicated. I tend to love books that I can emotionally bond with regardless of the experiences of the characters, though this book is vastly different from my life I can somehow connect with them and feel with them and for them.