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How Simi Got Her Groom Back
Two sisters face the real consequences of a fake marriage scheme in an emotional yet hilarious novel about immigration, healing, and family from USA Today bestselling author Sonali Dev.
Two sisters. One fake marriage. Zero chance of keeping the truth hidden.
The Naik sisters escaped their traumatic past in Mumbai to come to the States, but their journeys have been vastly different. Simi is working toward a bright future as a pediatric nurse in a small town in Kentucky when Rupi shows up at her door in distress, on the run, and as always, dragging trouble in her wake.
With Rupi’s safety in jeopardy, the sisters hatch a desperate plan to keep her in the Rupi must get married—and fast—even if it means Simi recruiting the man she’s been secretly dating as her sister’s groom. A perfect plan? Not quite. But there aren’t many alternatives.
As the big day inches closer, Simi and Rupi face a storm of wedding shenanigans and romantic surprises, not to mention sisterly jealousies. As the stakes and tensions rise, will their secrets tear them apart or will they find a way to risk everything for love?
Two sisters. One fake marriage. Zero chance of keeping the truth hidden.
The Naik sisters escaped their traumatic past in Mumbai to come to the States, but their journeys have been vastly different. Simi is working toward a bright future as a pediatric nurse in a small town in Kentucky when Rupi shows up at her door in distress, on the run, and as always, dragging trouble in her wake.
With Rupi’s safety in jeopardy, the sisters hatch a desperate plan to keep her in the Rupi must get married—and fast—even if it means Simi recruiting the man she’s been secretly dating as her sister’s groom. A perfect plan? Not quite. But there aren’t many alternatives.
As the big day inches closer, Simi and Rupi face a storm of wedding shenanigans and romantic surprises, not to mention sisterly jealousies. As the stakes and tensions rise, will their secrets tear them apart or will they find a way to risk everything for love?
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 3, 2026
156 people are currently reading
4321 people want to read
About the author
Sonali Dev
17 books3,275 followersSonali Dev’s first literary work was a play about mistaken identities performed at her neighborhood Diwali extravaganza in Mumbai. She was eight years old. Despite this early success, Sonali spent the next few decades getting degrees in architecture and written communication, migrating across the globe, and starting a family while writing for magazines and websites. With the advent of her first gray hair her mad love for telling stories returned full force, and she now combines it with her insights into Indian culture to conjure up stories that make a mad tangle with her life as supermom, domestic goddess, and world traveler.
Sonali lives in the Chicago suburbs with her very patient and often amused husband and two teens who demand both patience and humor, and the world’s most perfect dog.
Sonali lives in the Chicago suburbs with her very patient and often amused husband and two teens who demand both patience and humor, and the world’s most perfect dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
March 16, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Two sisters, Simi and Rupi Naik, have been estranged for several years. Leaving their childhood home in Mumbai was a necessity for both of them, but the pain and trauma each holds has kept their lives in the United States relatively separate. Until Rupi finds herself in trouble and Simi comes up with a plan, Rupi will have to marry Simi's secret boyfriend, Prem. It will all work out, right?
This storyline, with the two sisters taking turns with the narrative, hooked me in the beginning. But over time, as they ironed out their family matters, it became clear that Simi was suffering from watching how quickly her boyfriend's family and her sister were getting along. I wanted the author to drop this trope quickly. Or I wanted Simi with that hot lawyer and forget the whole thing. I became very suspicious of good old Prem.
I think the saving grace of this novel is the two sisters, and it was their relationship that kept me turning the pages.
Publication Date: 03/03/26
Goodreads Review 05/03/26
#HowSimiGotHerGroomBack #NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Two sisters, Simi and Rupi Naik, have been estranged for several years. Leaving their childhood home in Mumbai was a necessity for both of them, but the pain and trauma each holds has kept their lives in the United States relatively separate. Until Rupi finds herself in trouble and Simi comes up with a plan, Rupi will have to marry Simi's secret boyfriend, Prem. It will all work out, right?
This storyline, with the two sisters taking turns with the narrative, hooked me in the beginning. But over time, as they ironed out their family matters, it became clear that Simi was suffering from watching how quickly her boyfriend's family and her sister were getting along. I wanted the author to drop this trope quickly. Or I wanted Simi with that hot lawyer and forget the whole thing. I became very suspicious of good old Prem.
I think the saving grace of this novel is the two sisters, and it was their relationship that kept me turning the pages.
Publication Date: 03/03/26
Goodreads Review 05/03/26
#HowSimiGotHerGroomBack #NetGalley
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January 7, 2026
Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:
A decade ago, I read Sonali Dev’s A Bollywood Affair and wrote, “I will now officially read any book she writes.” That still holds true, hence my shouting about her upcoming contemporary novel about sisters having to deal with childhood trauma and a fake marriage scheme. Knowing Dev, it’s gonna be emotional and I’m ready. Also, she had me at a title nod to How Stella Got Her Groove Back! —Jamie Canaves
A decade ago, I read Sonali Dev’s A Bollywood Affair and wrote, “I will now officially read any book she writes.” That still holds true, hence my shouting about her upcoming contemporary novel about sisters having to deal with childhood trauma and a fake marriage scheme. Knowing Dev, it’s gonna be emotional and I’m ready. Also, she had me at a title nod to How Stella Got Her Groove Back! —Jamie Canaves
March 9, 2026
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
When your sister basically says, I need to borrow your boyfriend for a few years to stay in the county, most normal people say, no. But, you wouldn't have this story if that happened and most sisters have not lived the lives that Simi and Rupi have. For their own reasons both seem to pull Prem into a badly hatched and crazy plan that puts him in love with one sister and engaged to the other in How Simi Got Her Groom Back.
Told from the dual PoVs of Simi and Rupi we see two sisters that have grown apart in the last few years, but who where once inseparable. Basically forgotten or an afterthought of their mother, Rupi raised Simi and made sure she was on a path to get out of Mumbi and set up a life in America. There are secrets in their past that have driven a wedge between them in their present and slowly the author teases out some of the details to build their story. Both Simi and Rupi are broken and will need time and the love of a new family, Prem's family, to help them heal.
Prem's family is the highlight of this book. I loved them and some of their crazy antics from the start. Prem's mother trying so hard to be a modern Indian woman in America while still holding to her values. Prem's siblings who have married but either live with or are around the family house so often it is like they live there or they do live there. The family and how they embraced this unconventional bride their son showed up with, was really the best part of the book for me.
The ending was fitting and I am satisfied (mostly) with the conclusion of the story. I think this being promoted like it is a romance. However, with the heavier subject matter and the focus on the story being the sister's relationship that is a bit misleading. The romantic lead would sometimes be gone for chapters and there was a long stretch of time when he and Simi didn't even seem to be talking to one another. There is also Raj, part of Prem's family and an immigration lawyer that develops the hint of a possible relationship with Rupi. The romance never seemed the focus of the story. I'd classify this more in the vein of contemporary fiction.
A few warnings. If you have strong opinions on immigration or are triggered by parental neglect or mentions of human trafficking this could be triggering for you. I struggled with the first half of the book because I didn't like Rupi and hated how Simi wouldn't stand up for herself with her sister and a few other characters. Rupi's character had been on the run for so long and in a space of living off chaos she was a bit like an addict in her thought processes. She came across as selfish, manipulative and a little mean. While Simi was a doormat in the wake of her sister and also manipulative to get Prem, her secret boyfriend of a year, to agree to marry Rupi so she could stay in the country and get a green card. I did like the people their characters became in the end, but it took time to get there. Wonderful growth though to a Bollywood type ending.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★
Diction: ★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★
Sound Effects: None
I appreciate using multiple narrators for the Dual PoV of the story. Each sisters voice and PoV came across as distinctive. Natasha Chandel is a new to me narrator and only has a few performances to her name. She did a very good job with Simi's character. I did find a few of the moments in dialog didn't separate out as well for me as other narrators but it was minor. Soneela Nankini is a narrator with a prolific catalog of audios under her belt. She has a smooth and pleasant voice that performed the story well. I was able to tell the characters apart and her narration choices show Rupi's exhaustion with the life she has lived along with some of the regret she has for stealing the life her sister was building with Prem. I was able to listen to both narrators at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
When your sister basically says, I need to borrow your boyfriend for a few years to stay in the county, most normal people say, no. But, you wouldn't have this story if that happened and most sisters have not lived the lives that Simi and Rupi have. For their own reasons both seem to pull Prem into a badly hatched and crazy plan that puts him in love with one sister and engaged to the other in How Simi Got Her Groom Back.
Told from the dual PoVs of Simi and Rupi we see two sisters that have grown apart in the last few years, but who where once inseparable. Basically forgotten or an afterthought of their mother, Rupi raised Simi and made sure she was on a path to get out of Mumbi and set up a life in America. There are secrets in their past that have driven a wedge between them in their present and slowly the author teases out some of the details to build their story. Both Simi and Rupi are broken and will need time and the love of a new family, Prem's family, to help them heal.
Prem's family is the highlight of this book. I loved them and some of their crazy antics from the start. Prem's mother trying so hard to be a modern Indian woman in America while still holding to her values. Prem's siblings who have married but either live with or are around the family house so often it is like they live there or they do live there. The family and how they embraced this unconventional bride their son showed up with, was really the best part of the book for me.
The ending was fitting and I am satisfied (mostly) with the conclusion of the story. I think this being promoted like it is a romance. However, with the heavier subject matter and the focus on the story being the sister's relationship that is a bit misleading. The romantic lead would sometimes be gone for chapters and there was a long stretch of time when he and Simi didn't even seem to be talking to one another. There is also Raj, part of Prem's family and an immigration lawyer that develops the hint of a possible relationship with Rupi. The romance never seemed the focus of the story. I'd classify this more in the vein of contemporary fiction.
A few warnings. If you have strong opinions on immigration or are triggered by parental neglect or mentions of human trafficking this could be triggering for you. I struggled with the first half of the book because I didn't like Rupi and hated how Simi wouldn't stand up for herself with her sister and a few other characters. Rupi's character had been on the run for so long and in a space of living off chaos she was a bit like an addict in her thought processes. She came across as selfish, manipulative and a little mean. While Simi was a doormat in the wake of her sister and also manipulative to get Prem, her secret boyfriend of a year, to agree to marry Rupi so she could stay in the country and get a green card. I did like the people their characters became in the end, but it took time to get there. Wonderful growth though to a Bollywood type ending.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★
Diction: ★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★
Sound Effects: None
I appreciate using multiple narrators for the Dual PoV of the story. Each sisters voice and PoV came across as distinctive. Natasha Chandel is a new to me narrator and only has a few performances to her name. She did a very good job with Simi's character. I did find a few of the moments in dialog didn't separate out as well for me as other narrators but it was minor. Soneela Nankini is a narrator with a prolific catalog of audios under her belt. She has a smooth and pleasant voice that performed the story well. I was able to tell the characters apart and her narration choices show Rupi's exhaustion with the life she has lived along with some of the regret she has for stealing the life her sister was building with Prem. I was able to listen to both narrators at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
February 26, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What to expect:
•dual POV
•fake dating (in a non-trope way)
•trigger warnings - human trafficking, immigration issues, blackmail, abuse, neglect
Simi has everything she's ever wanted: a job she enjoys, the promise of a green card, and a man who absolutely adores her. Simi and Prem are close to taking their relationship public until Simi's estranges sister, Rupi, shows up deathly ill, homeless, and lacking papers to stay in the US legally. Terrified of being deported back to India, Rupi quickly declares she will be marrying Prem and obtain a green card that way. Horrified but seeing no other options, Simi and Prem go along with Rupi's plan. The strain on Simi and Prem's relationship threatens to tear them apart and Rupi is fighting her attraction to her immigration lawyer, Saj. As they all try to keep their true feelings hidden, they risk losing those close to them, including Prem's family.
Overall, this was a pretty enjoyable read, although not the romance novel I expected. Some very serious and relevant themes of human trafficking and immigration issues were the main focus of the story and the way in which those were handled was well thought out and carefully executed. The large Indian family dynamics were fun and comforting to read about and provided hope to Rupi's story. The middle of the book felt a little slow and I would have liked to see more of Rupi and Saj's story unfold throughout the book. The ending felt disappointing to me after all the effort everyone went through but there is opportunity for a follow on book that would be great. Would love to see some content warnings before the due to the heavy topics discussed.
What to expect:
•dual POV
•fake dating (in a non-trope way)
•trigger warnings - human trafficking, immigration issues, blackmail, abuse, neglect
Simi has everything she's ever wanted: a job she enjoys, the promise of a green card, and a man who absolutely adores her. Simi and Prem are close to taking their relationship public until Simi's estranges sister, Rupi, shows up deathly ill, homeless, and lacking papers to stay in the US legally. Terrified of being deported back to India, Rupi quickly declares she will be marrying Prem and obtain a green card that way. Horrified but seeing no other options, Simi and Prem go along with Rupi's plan. The strain on Simi and Prem's relationship threatens to tear them apart and Rupi is fighting her attraction to her immigration lawyer, Saj. As they all try to keep their true feelings hidden, they risk losing those close to them, including Prem's family.
Overall, this was a pretty enjoyable read, although not the romance novel I expected. Some very serious and relevant themes of human trafficking and immigration issues were the main focus of the story and the way in which those were handled was well thought out and carefully executed. The large Indian family dynamics were fun and comforting to read about and provided hope to Rupi's story. The middle of the book felt a little slow and I would have liked to see more of Rupi and Saj's story unfold throughout the book. The ending felt disappointing to me after all the effort everyone went through but there is opportunity for a follow on book that would be great. Would love to see some content warnings before the due to the heavy topics discussed.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The story started well, but as we got introduced to the sisters, that's where the bumps in the road began. The MMCs had little to no character development, whereas the sisters had some. But more than building their bond, their presence annoyed me.
It started getting interesting when Prem's family came into the picture, creating fun family moments. The ending, though it had a happy Bollywood ending, felt very rushed.
I do feel that this would be better as a movie or a TV show rather than a book.
Actual rating: 2.5/5 ⭐️
Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!
It started getting interesting when Prem's family came into the picture, creating fun family moments. The ending, though it had a happy Bollywood ending, felt very rushed.
I do feel that this would be better as a movie or a TV show rather than a book.
Actual rating: 2.5/5 ⭐️
Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC!
October 16, 2025
I really wanted to like this book and was intrigued by the premise. But alas, I just couldn't get into it and for most of the book, I just wasn't a huge fan of Rupi and Simi's characters. Everyone was way too emotional and easy to anger and very insecure. Simi was irrationally jealous of Rupi and Prem, was oblivious to the fact that Prem was head over heels in love with her and that there were no signs of feelings between Rupi and Prem whatsoever. She was creating these unfounded thoughts of Rupi and Prem falling for each other and I just wanted to shake her from her delusions. She was also a huge doormat for her employers and I wanted her to stand up to them during the entire book. And Rupi is still resentful of Simi about what happened in their childhoods/history and throws it in Simi's face every time they argue. She gets very defensive every time someone challenges her actions and overall just seemed ungrateful for the sacrifices that were being made for her well-being. I thought she was being selfish and complaining for most of the book and I couldn't stand it.
That being said, Rupi and Simi have clearly been through a lot of trauma and they deserve their HEAs. The redeeming part of the book was the last 20% of the book, when the characters had gone through their development and became much more tolerable. There was finally a glimpse of sisterly devotion and love rather than resentment and jealousy. Saj and Prem's family were really the only characters that I liked through and through.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!
That being said, Rupi and Simi have clearly been through a lot of trauma and they deserve their HEAs. The redeeming part of the book was the last 20% of the book, when the characters had gone through their development and became much more tolerable. There was finally a glimpse of sisterly devotion and love rather than resentment and jealousy. Saj and Prem's family were really the only characters that I liked through and through.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!
November 6, 2025
This is a tricky review for me! There are things that really bothered me and other parts that I enjoyed.
Starting with the rough:
Simis character has no growth in the book. She actually takes about 20 steps backwards and then 15 steps forward. I don't understand the concept of being bullied by your sister for things you never asked for. Rupi was a whole other can of worms. A woman handed a horrible life and never able to get out of it until she guilts and shames her sister into helping her.. which is odd because her character constantly reminds you that she doesn't want people to pitty her. The book has so many dramatic reveals but nothing comes of those moments. Its as if they were forgotten and the quickly written off with a small paragraph towards the end of the book.
Now the things I enjoyed.. the family dynamics. The realistic view into an Indian household! So beautiful written. Reminded me of my own family. The dynamic of two sisters struggling. This is very real for sisters all over the world. A view into how hard the immigration process can be and how disgusting it can be when others take advantage of people. These were honest hard truths of our world.
Overall I felt this book had too much bickering and junk. The story jumps so quickly in the 2.5 months it's set across which killed some relationship growth. It just didn't grab my attention. I wasnt aching to pick up this book. Truthfully I felt very tired of reading when I got to about 30%
Starting with the rough:
Simis character has no growth in the book. She actually takes about 20 steps backwards and then 15 steps forward. I don't understand the concept of being bullied by your sister for things you never asked for. Rupi was a whole other can of worms. A woman handed a horrible life and never able to get out of it until she guilts and shames her sister into helping her.. which is odd because her character constantly reminds you that she doesn't want people to pitty her. The book has so many dramatic reveals but nothing comes of those moments. Its as if they were forgotten and the quickly written off with a small paragraph towards the end of the book.
Now the things I enjoyed.. the family dynamics. The realistic view into an Indian household! So beautiful written. Reminded me of my own family. The dynamic of two sisters struggling. This is very real for sisters all over the world. A view into how hard the immigration process can be and how disgusting it can be when others take advantage of people. These were honest hard truths of our world.
Overall I felt this book had too much bickering and junk. The story jumps so quickly in the 2.5 months it's set across which killed some relationship growth. It just didn't grab my attention. I wasnt aching to pick up this book. Truthfully I felt very tired of reading when I got to about 30%
November 21, 2025
3.25 / 5
this was so much to take in, and i mean this in the best possible way.
i loved rupi and simi. their characters were amazing, and i felt for the both of them so deeply. their jealousies, insecurities, pain, happiness, and fears were all so raw and gutwrenching and well-executed. i did feel there were some times that the core of their characterizations strayed, because they went back and forth so much with their feelings about their past and present. but why i was able to reconcile with that easily, as that inconsistency made them so much more authentic to me. watching these two sisters heal and find each other again was so beautiful, and i have to say i want more of it.
i was so invested in rupi and saj. simi and prem were adorable, and their happiness meant so much to me, but watching that slowburn unfold or unravel with rupi and saj was just everything. the book had all the classic things that you can find in a comforting bollywood movie and the episodes of a good hindi primetime show. i loved all four characters, but especially rupi and saj!! so. much. i wanted more of saj, and his entire backstory came tumbling in the third act a little bizarrely, in my opinion. hence the 3.25 instead of a 3.5 or 4.
the ending was a tad bit of a miss for me, even though it was unbelievably heartwarming and romantic. and some details could have been better fleshed out, but no complaints honestly.
thank you to netgalley and lake union publishing for the ARC!!
this was so much to take in, and i mean this in the best possible way.
i loved rupi and simi. their characters were amazing, and i felt for the both of them so deeply. their jealousies, insecurities, pain, happiness, and fears were all so raw and gutwrenching and well-executed. i did feel there were some times that the core of their characterizations strayed, because they went back and forth so much with their feelings about their past and present. but why i was able to reconcile with that easily, as that inconsistency made them so much more authentic to me. watching these two sisters heal and find each other again was so beautiful, and i have to say i want more of it.
i was so invested in rupi and saj. simi and prem were adorable, and their happiness meant so much to me, but watching that slowburn unfold or unravel with rupi and saj was just everything. the book had all the classic things that you can find in a comforting bollywood movie and the episodes of a good hindi primetime show. i loved all four characters, but especially rupi and saj!! so. much. i wanted more of saj, and his entire backstory came tumbling in the third act a little bizarrely, in my opinion. hence the 3.25 instead of a 3.5 or 4.
the ending was a tad bit of a miss for me, even though it was unbelievably heartwarming and romantic. and some details could have been better fleshed out, but no complaints honestly.
thank you to netgalley and lake union publishing for the ARC!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sisters, Rupi and Simi, have not seen each other since leaving India, and their horrible childhood, behind. Simi works as a pediatric nurse in a small town. She also is a nanny for her boss, Dr. Johnson's, triplets. She loves both her jobs and has also fallen in love with Prem Gupta, who just happens to be Dr. Johnson's brother in law. Simi dreams of one day being a part of the Gupta family and leaving her past far behind.
All her plans are destroyed when Rupi turns up at the hospital and begs for Simi's help. Rupi has spent her entire life keeping Simi safe, and now she needs Simi to save her. Her belongings, including her passport are gone. Being deported back to India is dangerous and terrifying. The only option is for Rupi to marry a citizen, and quickly. As much as it breaks her heart, Simi convinces Prem to marry Rupi. She cannot turn her back on the sister who has sacrificed so much for her.
As wedding planning begins, old traumas, and new jealousy develops between the sisters. Simi is heartbroken watching Rupi become welcomed into the loving Gupta family, something she'd always dreamt of. Rupi is unused to being surrounded by a large and loving family, something she had only seen in movies.
As the wedding day draws closer, tensions and conflicts rise and the sisters have to come to terms with their past as well as the future.
This book had everything. Romance, trauma, emotions, as well as some heartbreaking moments. I loved Rupi and Simi, their life in India was horrific. Reading about the sacrifices Rupi made throughout her whole life was devastating but the love the sisters had for each other was so touching. Simi's roller-coaster of emotions was so understandable and I really felt bad for everyone in the situation. Prem's love for Simi was super sweet, however I do wish we could have had more scenes with them to help build the romance. The Gupta family was straight out of a Bollywood movie! I absolutely loved all of them! I enjoyed seeing Rupi's relationships with everyone in the family develop as well as Simi finally advocating for herself. It also showed some of the harsh realities of immigration. You still read about similar things in the news today.
The end, though some parts felt a bit rushed, was perfect and heartwarming. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by the author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
All her plans are destroyed when Rupi turns up at the hospital and begs for Simi's help. Rupi has spent her entire life keeping Simi safe, and now she needs Simi to save her. Her belongings, including her passport are gone. Being deported back to India is dangerous and terrifying. The only option is for Rupi to marry a citizen, and quickly. As much as it breaks her heart, Simi convinces Prem to marry Rupi. She cannot turn her back on the sister who has sacrificed so much for her.
As wedding planning begins, old traumas, and new jealousy develops between the sisters. Simi is heartbroken watching Rupi become welcomed into the loving Gupta family, something she'd always dreamt of. Rupi is unused to being surrounded by a large and loving family, something she had only seen in movies.
As the wedding day draws closer, tensions and conflicts rise and the sisters have to come to terms with their past as well as the future.
This book had everything. Romance, trauma, emotions, as well as some heartbreaking moments. I loved Rupi and Simi, their life in India was horrific. Reading about the sacrifices Rupi made throughout her whole life was devastating but the love the sisters had for each other was so touching. Simi's roller-coaster of emotions was so understandable and I really felt bad for everyone in the situation. Prem's love for Simi was super sweet, however I do wish we could have had more scenes with them to help build the romance. The Gupta family was straight out of a Bollywood movie! I absolutely loved all of them! I enjoyed seeing Rupi's relationships with everyone in the family develop as well as Simi finally advocating for herself. It also showed some of the harsh realities of immigration. You still read about similar things in the news today.
The end, though some parts felt a bit rushed, was perfect and heartwarming. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by the author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 10, 2026
Sonali Dev, the Author of "How Simi Got Her Groom Back" has written an intriguing, captivating, and heartfelt novel. The Genres for this story are: Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction, India, Sister's Fiction, Family Fiction, and Romance. There is also a dash of suspense and comedy in this book. I appreciate that Sonali Dev discusses the importance of family, friendship, immigration rules, betrayals, human trafficking, love and hope. In this well-written novel, the author vividly describes the scenery, plot, and the dramatic, colorful, complicated , complex and flawed characters. In this emotional story, Simi and Rupi are sisters that are different. Both left Mumbai to come to the United States. Both had tragic childhoods, and often the older sister Rupi would watch out for Simi.
In present time, Simi is working to be a Pediatric Nurse, and is also a Nanny for triplets. Simi and Prem, a relative of the triplets have been seeing each other for a year. Prem would like to make the relationship official, so that the family can acknowledge it. Simi is also waiting for her green card, and doesn't want it to look like Prem had anything to do with her getting it. Simi and Rupi have been estranged for a while. Rupi is and expert at tattooing, and earns her living that way. Rupi has been hiding from danger that goes back to Mumbai. When she came to the United States, a man she trusted took her passport away. People are after Rupi, and she feels that she will be safe with her sister. Unfortunately Rupi is known for being the cause of trouble. On the bus to see Simi, Rupi's backpack with all her papers is stolen.
When Simi and Rupi do reunite, they come up with a plan that will keep Rupi safe, and able to stay in the United States. They decide a fake marriage between Rupi and Prem would help. Can you imagine how Simi and Prem feel? I love how the author writes about the shenanigans, and mishaps along the way, and the family's interactions. This is a wonderful, thought-provoking and memorable novel that I highly recommend.
In present time, Simi is working to be a Pediatric Nurse, and is also a Nanny for triplets. Simi and Prem, a relative of the triplets have been seeing each other for a year. Prem would like to make the relationship official, so that the family can acknowledge it. Simi is also waiting for her green card, and doesn't want it to look like Prem had anything to do with her getting it. Simi and Rupi have been estranged for a while. Rupi is and expert at tattooing, and earns her living that way. Rupi has been hiding from danger that goes back to Mumbai. When she came to the United States, a man she trusted took her passport away. People are after Rupi, and she feels that she will be safe with her sister. Unfortunately Rupi is known for being the cause of trouble. On the bus to see Simi, Rupi's backpack with all her papers is stolen.
When Simi and Rupi do reunite, they come up with a plan that will keep Rupi safe, and able to stay in the United States. They decide a fake marriage between Rupi and Prem would help. Can you imagine how Simi and Prem feel? I love how the author writes about the shenanigans, and mishaps along the way, and the family's interactions. This is a wonderful, thought-provoking and memorable novel that I highly recommend.
March 6, 2026
Audiobook review 🎧📖
How Simi Got Her Groom Back
by Sonali Dev
Narrated by Natasha Chandel; Soneela Nankani
Two sisters who escaped a traumatic past in Mumbai now live very different lives in the U.S. Simi is building a stable future as a pediatric nurse in a small Kentucky town, until her older sister Rupi suddenly appears at her door, on the run and in serious trouble. To keep Rupi safe and in the country, the sisters come up with a desperate plan: a quick marriage. The catch? Simi must convince the man she’s secretly been dating to marry her sister instead. As the rushed wedding approaches, chaos unfolds with unexpected romance, family tensions, and sisterly jealousy. With secrets piling up and emotions running high, the sisters must decide whether love and honesty are worth risking everything for.
💭 My thoughts:
From the first chapter, this one hooked me. I absolutely flew through the audiobook. The narration was fantastic and brought the story’s emotional moments to life in a way that made it hard to stop listening. Even though the book touches on some heavier themes, it balances them beautifully with heartfelt family moments that add warmth and lightness. I also loved the twist on the fake dating trope because it’s not used in the typical way, which made the story feel fresh and unique. The sister dynamic was messy, complicated, and incredibly real. By the end, I closed the book with a full heart and a big smile.
Happy reading 📖
How Simi Got Her Groom Back
by Sonali Dev
Narrated by Natasha Chandel; Soneela Nankani
Two sisters who escaped a traumatic past in Mumbai now live very different lives in the U.S. Simi is building a stable future as a pediatric nurse in a small Kentucky town, until her older sister Rupi suddenly appears at her door, on the run and in serious trouble. To keep Rupi safe and in the country, the sisters come up with a desperate plan: a quick marriage. The catch? Simi must convince the man she’s secretly been dating to marry her sister instead. As the rushed wedding approaches, chaos unfolds with unexpected romance, family tensions, and sisterly jealousy. With secrets piling up and emotions running high, the sisters must decide whether love and honesty are worth risking everything for.
💭 My thoughts:
From the first chapter, this one hooked me. I absolutely flew through the audiobook. The narration was fantastic and brought the story’s emotional moments to life in a way that made it hard to stop listening. Even though the book touches on some heavier themes, it balances them beautifully with heartfelt family moments that add warmth and lightness. I also loved the twist on the fake dating trope because it’s not used in the typical way, which made the story feel fresh and unique. The sister dynamic was messy, complicated, and incredibly real. By the end, I closed the book with a full heart and a big smile.
Happy reading 📖
Read
March 16, 2026This book may have a fake marriage trope but it isn’t the light fluffy one we sometimes see. The fake marriage in this case is so Simi’s sister doesn’t have to return to India where the girls lived a terrible life before going to the US. Simi has built a great life but lives in fear of deportation while she waits for her green card. Rupi is in trouble now and has always helped Simi and now it’s Simi helping her by allowing her boyfriend to be the groom so she can stay in the country. As the wedding approaches tensions arise and secrets come out. Prem, the intended groom, is a great character and only wants what is best for Simi and that means helping Rupi. I liked that we had the POV of both sisters. Overall an interesting and engaging story.
March 19, 2026
Dev always delivers! Family and love endure. I have enjoyed every single novel by this author 💕
March 14, 2026
3.8
This book was a cute romantic comedy an Easy read. Would recommend if you’re looking for a funny, leisurely read.
This book was a cute romantic comedy an Easy read. Would recommend if you’re looking for a funny, leisurely read.
March 17, 2026
solid 4 star bolly-ish rom com! entertaining and easy to read
November 20, 2025
Thank you to author Sonali Dev and publisher Lake Union Publishing for the How Simi Got Her Groom Back ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
Sisters Rupi and Simi grew up in conditions no child should experience. When Rupi finds herself in a trafficking situation, she goes to the only person she knows she can trust - her estranged sister, Simi. Simi’s only idea of help her sister? To marry Rupi off to Simi’s love of her life to secure her immigration status. Following love, heartache, betrayal, trauma, and more, these sisters have been through it all and have to learn how to work through every muddy detail of each other.
I can start off by saying that as an American, I am not well versed in Indian culture, but I find myself drawn to romances within the culture. I think it’s insightful to read from Indian authors about Indian culture and have really come to love peaking into that window from time to time. On to the book itself, I really enjoyed the concept of the story and felt like it provided an insight on immigration into America and why people choose to come here, despite America’s own faults.
Simi and Rupi’s relationship, despite being so tumultuous, was raw and real. Ngl though, as the oldest sister to a little sister, Rupi was pissing me off so bad. Like girl why are you letting your sister do this for you and sitting back watching her suffer so deeply while pretty much being like “yeah I deserve this because I did so much for my sister when I was younger” like this was maddening to me as the oldest sister. But to play devil’s advocate, I can see why Rupi would want her sister to want to help her BECAUSE of her sacrifices. Personally, I liked Simi too. I think the author did such a great job at writing the relationship between the sisters because this is how it feels in real life. No one can piss you off more than your sister BUT there’s nothing in the world you wouldn’t do to protect her either. Sisterly bonds run deeper than the ocean.
I thought this was a really nice read overall. I would adore a future novel that dives into Rupi and Saj’s journey in the future as they navigate a new relationship with all of Rupi’s relationship trauma.
Also, my chest physically hurt reading this because I was so stressed out and hurting FOR Simi. Reading all of the interactions between Rupi and Prem and his family physically pained me when reading through Simi’s eyes. I just wanted my girl to be happy ):
Sisters Rupi and Simi grew up in conditions no child should experience. When Rupi finds herself in a trafficking situation, she goes to the only person she knows she can trust - her estranged sister, Simi. Simi’s only idea of help her sister? To marry Rupi off to Simi’s love of her life to secure her immigration status. Following love, heartache, betrayal, trauma, and more, these sisters have been through it all and have to learn how to work through every muddy detail of each other.
I can start off by saying that as an American, I am not well versed in Indian culture, but I find myself drawn to romances within the culture. I think it’s insightful to read from Indian authors about Indian culture and have really come to love peaking into that window from time to time. On to the book itself, I really enjoyed the concept of the story and felt like it provided an insight on immigration into America and why people choose to come here, despite America’s own faults.
Simi and Rupi’s relationship, despite being so tumultuous, was raw and real. Ngl though, as the oldest sister to a little sister, Rupi was pissing me off so bad. Like girl why are you letting your sister do this for you and sitting back watching her suffer so deeply while pretty much being like “yeah I deserve this because I did so much for my sister when I was younger” like this was maddening to me as the oldest sister. But to play devil’s advocate, I can see why Rupi would want her sister to want to help her BECAUSE of her sacrifices. Personally, I liked Simi too. I think the author did such a great job at writing the relationship between the sisters because this is how it feels in real life. No one can piss you off more than your sister BUT there’s nothing in the world you wouldn’t do to protect her either. Sisterly bonds run deeper than the ocean.
I thought this was a really nice read overall. I would adore a future novel that dives into Rupi and Saj’s journey in the future as they navigate a new relationship with all of Rupi’s relationship trauma.
Also, my chest physically hurt reading this because I was so stressed out and hurting FOR Simi. Reading all of the interactions between Rupi and Prem and his family physically pained me when reading through Simi’s eyes. I just wanted my girl to be happy ):
November 30, 2025
So I changed the dates read because most of the time I didn’t read because I had a lot of exams. 😿
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The story follows two sisters, Rupi and Simi, who had a rough life back in India. Of course when the opportunity arises for Simi to have a better future abroad, Rupi isn’t going to stand in her way. In fact she sacrificed a lot and took the responsibility for the mess that Simi created. That doesn’t mean that Rupi doesn’t wish to have a better life too but this better life doesn’t seem that easy so she goes back to her sister for help.
So to be honest I didn’t enjoy this book. At the beginning I was really invested in the story but the writing made me cringe a lot. I think a lot of things could have been worded better with less extreme and not really fitting metaphors. After a while it just got too much but I kept reading.
The relationship between the sisters was sometimes the most annoying part for me. I get that their relationship is not supposed to be perfect from the start, especially in their situation but I hated that Rupi kept talking and reminiscing about how much she cared for her sister and how much she did for her but now in real life she didn’t have slight empathy for her. Yes, it was fine for Rupi to ask help for once but she didn’t even ask for help, she forced herself on her sister’s life. She didn’t even try to understand why that was so hurtful for her sister. Even if this things is meaningless to you, it has a lot of meaning to your sister and her boyfriend and you should have respected their boundaries. Simi just let herself get walked over by everyone but at least she had a kind of character development.
Despite all of this, I loved that the book talked about real life problems that actually affect a lot of people. So the characters and their situation didn’t feel so distant. The only characters that I liked were Sam and Prem’s dad. I loved how they were so open to Rupi and actually gave her the closeness that she was looking for.
Thanks to Lake Union publishing for providing this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
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The story follows two sisters, Rupi and Simi, who had a rough life back in India. Of course when the opportunity arises for Simi to have a better future abroad, Rupi isn’t going to stand in her way. In fact she sacrificed a lot and took the responsibility for the mess that Simi created. That doesn’t mean that Rupi doesn’t wish to have a better life too but this better life doesn’t seem that easy so she goes back to her sister for help.
So to be honest I didn’t enjoy this book. At the beginning I was really invested in the story but the writing made me cringe a lot. I think a lot of things could have been worded better with less extreme and not really fitting metaphors. After a while it just got too much but I kept reading.
The relationship between the sisters was sometimes the most annoying part for me. I get that their relationship is not supposed to be perfect from the start, especially in their situation but I hated that Rupi kept talking and reminiscing about how much she cared for her sister and how much she did for her but now in real life she didn’t have slight empathy for her. Yes, it was fine for Rupi to ask help for once but she didn’t even ask for help, she forced herself on her sister’s life. She didn’t even try to understand why that was so hurtful for her sister. Even if this things is meaningless to you, it has a lot of meaning to your sister and her boyfriend and you should have respected their boundaries. Simi just let herself get walked over by everyone but at least she had a kind of character development.
Despite all of this, I loved that the book talked about real life problems that actually affect a lot of people. So the characters and their situation didn’t feel so distant. The only characters that I liked were Sam and Prem’s dad. I loved how they were so open to Rupi and actually gave her the closeness that she was looking for.
Thanks to Lake Union publishing for providing this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
December 9, 2025
I’m still not sure what this book was. Based on the cover I thought it was a cute road trip romance book but it’s about sisterhood, immigration, and a fake marriage (and not in the trope way). To avoid deportation, Rupi has to marry her estranged sister, Simi’s, secret boyfriend. I don’t really know what to make of it. This might be one that I would have enjoyed more if I knew what it was about.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy.
Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
There's just something about women's fiction that calls my name on occasion. This Indian-flavored rom-com fits the genre well with its fake engagement scheme and all the social pressure that goes with it. So, let's talk about it.
This is the story of two sisters: Simi and Rupi. Simi's got life figured out — she's working a job she loves in a small Kentucky town and dating the man dreams are made of (or at least hers are). Her sister, Rupi, shows up completely out of options. The only way they see out of this mess is for Rupi to marry Simi's boyfriend.
I presume this book was a lot like an Indian soap opera because it reminded me of the American version. What should be straightforward becomes this twisted pretzel, but that pretzel is still delicious. There are some definite plot holes, but soap operas don't need to be super logical, so I don't see why the romcoms behind them should need to be either. This book is fun and, ultimately, romantic, which is the point, right?
Simi and Rupi are enjoyable female protagonists, albeit fitting female main character stereotypes to a tee. They may not always be right in what they think, but the paths their thoughts take make sense, and their feelings are relatable throughout the entirety of the story. What I like best about them, though, is that they both grow as characters by the end. This is one of my brain's necessary boxes for romcoms to check. The American setting is the right one for the story (obviously), but I had trouble imagining such a large Indian community in a town that's described as being very small. Of course, small to someone from an Indian city is likely very different from what I see as small.
Dev's writing in this book is conversational, quick-paced, and accessible. She's basically staging the soap opera scene in real time in the pages. She does this by keeping the story focused on character interactions with minimal description and high readability. It's the kind of book where one keeps turning the pages because someone said something and now needs to know the fallout. The reader's not meant to admire the prose, but to keep reading past their bedtime.
How Simi Got Her Groom Back is a great book to pick up between books with heavier themes. It's easily read, has characters one can root for, with healthy sprinklings of humor and romance. Readers of Sophie Kinsella and Mhairi McFarlane will find something to love here.
Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓 — Dramatic, messy, and very readable.
Let's Discuss
What’s more important to you in a rom-com: believability or the happy ending?
I read a digital copy made available by Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley, and this review reflects my honest opinion.
This is the story of two sisters: Simi and Rupi. Simi's got life figured out — she's working a job she loves in a small Kentucky town and dating the man dreams are made of (or at least hers are). Her sister, Rupi, shows up completely out of options. The only way they see out of this mess is for Rupi to marry Simi's boyfriend.
I presume this book was a lot like an Indian soap opera because it reminded me of the American version. What should be straightforward becomes this twisted pretzel, but that pretzel is still delicious. There are some definite plot holes, but soap operas don't need to be super logical, so I don't see why the romcoms behind them should need to be either. This book is fun and, ultimately, romantic, which is the point, right?
Simi and Rupi are enjoyable female protagonists, albeit fitting female main character stereotypes to a tee. They may not always be right in what they think, but the paths their thoughts take make sense, and their feelings are relatable throughout the entirety of the story. What I like best about them, though, is that they both grow as characters by the end. This is one of my brain's necessary boxes for romcoms to check. The American setting is the right one for the story (obviously), but I had trouble imagining such a large Indian community in a town that's described as being very small. Of course, small to someone from an Indian city is likely very different from what I see as small.
Dev's writing in this book is conversational, quick-paced, and accessible. She's basically staging the soap opera scene in real time in the pages. She does this by keeping the story focused on character interactions with minimal description and high readability. It's the kind of book where one keeps turning the pages because someone said something and now needs to know the fallout. The reader's not meant to admire the prose, but to keep reading past their bedtime.
How Simi Got Her Groom Back is a great book to pick up between books with heavier themes. It's easily read, has characters one can root for, with healthy sprinklings of humor and romance. Readers of Sophie Kinsella and Mhairi McFarlane will find something to love here.
Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓 — Dramatic, messy, and very readable.
Let's Discuss
What’s more important to you in a rom-com: believability or the happy ending?
I read a digital copy made available by Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley, and this review reflects my honest opinion.
December 8, 2025
📚How Simi Got Her Groom Back
✍🏻Sonali Dev
Blurb:
Two sisters face the real consequences of a fake marriage scheme in an emotional yet hilarious novel about immigration, healing, and family from USA Today bestselling author Sonali Dev.
Two sisters. One fake marriage. Zero chance of keeping the truth hidden.
The Naik sisters escaped their traumatic past in Mumbai to come to the States, but their journeys have been vastly different. Simi is working toward a bright future as a pediatric nurse in a small town in Kentucky when Rupi shows up at her door in distress, on the run, and as always, dragging trouble in her wake.
With Rupi’s safety in jeopardy, the sisters hatch a desperate plan to keep her in the Rupi must get married—and fast—even if it means Simi recruiting the man she’s been secretly dating as her sister’s groom. A perfect plan? Not quite. But there aren’t many alternatives.
As the big day inches closer, Simi and Rupi face a storm of wedding shenanigans and romantic surprises, not to mention sisterly jealousies. As the stakes and tensions rise, will their secrets tear them apart or will they find a way to risk everything for love?
My Thoughts:
I was so excited to get this ebook!! This book was an emotional rollercoaster it is also a fantastic story of two sisters reconciling and healing from trauma together, all while navigating broken systems and learning how to trust love of all flavors. My only complaint—I wish it were longer! I hope we get to revisit Simi and Rupi in the future to see how everything's turned out, even if it's just as a footnote in someone else's story. Well done, Sonali—now, just like I did with India's overnight oats recipe in Incense and Sensibility,
i loved Rupi and Simi. their characters were amazing, and i felt for the both of them so deeply. their jealousies, insecurities, pain, happiness, and fears were all so raw and gut wrenching and well-executed. Because they went back and forth so much with their feelings about their past and present. but why i was able to reconcile with that easily, as that inconsistency made them so much more authentic to me. watching these two sisters heal and find each other again was so beautiful
Thanks NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Author Sonali Dev for the advanced copy of "How Simi Got Her Groom Back" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#LakeUnionPublishing
#SonailDev
#HowSimiGotHerGroomBack
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻Sonali Dev
Blurb:
Two sisters face the real consequences of a fake marriage scheme in an emotional yet hilarious novel about immigration, healing, and family from USA Today bestselling author Sonali Dev.
Two sisters. One fake marriage. Zero chance of keeping the truth hidden.
The Naik sisters escaped their traumatic past in Mumbai to come to the States, but their journeys have been vastly different. Simi is working toward a bright future as a pediatric nurse in a small town in Kentucky when Rupi shows up at her door in distress, on the run, and as always, dragging trouble in her wake.
With Rupi’s safety in jeopardy, the sisters hatch a desperate plan to keep her in the Rupi must get married—and fast—even if it means Simi recruiting the man she’s been secretly dating as her sister’s groom. A perfect plan? Not quite. But there aren’t many alternatives.
As the big day inches closer, Simi and Rupi face a storm of wedding shenanigans and romantic surprises, not to mention sisterly jealousies. As the stakes and tensions rise, will their secrets tear them apart or will they find a way to risk everything for love?
My Thoughts:
I was so excited to get this ebook!! This book was an emotional rollercoaster it is also a fantastic story of two sisters reconciling and healing from trauma together, all while navigating broken systems and learning how to trust love of all flavors. My only complaint—I wish it were longer! I hope we get to revisit Simi and Rupi in the future to see how everything's turned out, even if it's just as a footnote in someone else's story. Well done, Sonali—now, just like I did with India's overnight oats recipe in Incense and Sensibility,
i loved Rupi and Simi. their characters were amazing, and i felt for the both of them so deeply. their jealousies, insecurities, pain, happiness, and fears were all so raw and gut wrenching and well-executed. Because they went back and forth so much with their feelings about their past and present. but why i was able to reconcile with that easily, as that inconsistency made them so much more authentic to me. watching these two sisters heal and find each other again was so beautiful
Thanks NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Author Sonali Dev for the advanced copy of "How Simi Got Her Groom Back" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#LakeUnionPublishing
#SonailDev
#HowSimiGotHerGroomBack
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sleep be damned! I read this in one sitting while rubbing my feet together. 🤭
I could not understand, for the life of me, why someone, sister or not, would offer up the love of their life to save somebody from deportation. Huh?! There's an old saying that goes, "Sweep around your own front door before you try to sweep around mine." This was a classic case of just that. Simi needed to focus on her own shit and let Rupi, at her big age of 30, deal with hers.
Did Simi make the ultimate sacrifice? Offering up her man? To save somebody else? HELL NAH!!! That is NOT my definition of sacrifice, let's argue. 💅🏽 I found the gesture to be bred from sheer manipulation and laced with the stench of gaslighting. The toxic energy between these sisters was shameful, however, it made for juicy reading, not gonna lie!
I have siblings and we argue, so I did feel like their relationship was very realistic. The trauma Rupi and Simi experienced happens to women all over the world, every single day. I love how the author dealt with these issues while highlighting immigration, such an important topic globally.
The Aftermath 🌷
I really enjoyed this book and will probably read it again. The laugh-out-loud moments were too many to count so boredom did not have an opportunity to creep in. The detailed descriptions of where the characters were and what they were doing made for such a great reading experience. I was constantly picturing the story unfold while it played out in my head just like a movie.
Consider me a new fan of Sonali Dev. I enjoyed her short story The Wedding Setup which influenced me to buy There's Something About Mira. It’s also the reason why I wanted to be an early reader of How Simi Got Her Groom Back.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union, and Sonali Dev for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I could not understand, for the life of me, why someone, sister or not, would offer up the love of their life to save somebody from deportation. Huh?! There's an old saying that goes, "Sweep around your own front door before you try to sweep around mine." This was a classic case of just that. Simi needed to focus on her own shit and let Rupi, at her big age of 30, deal with hers.
Did Simi make the ultimate sacrifice? Offering up her man? To save somebody else? HELL NAH!!! That is NOT my definition of sacrifice, let's argue. 💅🏽 I found the gesture to be bred from sheer manipulation and laced with the stench of gaslighting. The toxic energy between these sisters was shameful, however, it made for juicy reading, not gonna lie!
I have siblings and we argue, so I did feel like their relationship was very realistic. The trauma Rupi and Simi experienced happens to women all over the world, every single day. I love how the author dealt with these issues while highlighting immigration, such an important topic globally.
The Aftermath 🌷
I really enjoyed this book and will probably read it again. The laugh-out-loud moments were too many to count so boredom did not have an opportunity to creep in. The detailed descriptions of where the characters were and what they were doing made for such a great reading experience. I was constantly picturing the story unfold while it played out in my head just like a movie.
Consider me a new fan of Sonali Dev. I enjoyed her short story The Wedding Setup which influenced me to buy There's Something About Mira. It’s also the reason why I wanted to be an early reader of How Simi Got Her Groom Back.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union, and Sonali Dev for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
How Simi Got Her Groom Back
by Sonali Dev
Narrated by Natasha Chandel; Soneela Nankani
I have heard about Sonali Dev's books. Being an Indian, reading books written by Indian authors set in foreign countries especially US can be a bit painful. The way most authors portray Indians is so cliched. I think people want to read all about drama and what not but really does that exist? But again who am I kidding, it definitely does in some parts. Just that I'm not experiencing it myself, doesn't mean it isn't happening.
So this book is cliched but it was fun too. Or atleast some parts of it. It wasn't rom-com like I thought it would be from the title, it was more kind of women's fiction (I came to know about genre in last few months). The two sisters got on my nerves so much, if it hadn't been there constant blaming each other, this book would have been much much better.
They are jealous of each other, angry at each other and even though Simi suggests the solution which is quite dumb, she regrets it every moment. She doesn't trust Prem the man who she loves or the sister who gave up her dignity to keep her safe.
Also at points I didn't understand the way they behaved. Like there were points when Rupi snapped at Prem or her lawyer Saaj for being born without any difficulties in life, in short privileged. But they didn't owe anything to her or simi. These things annoyed hell out of me. Be grateful if someone is trying to help you, can you not? That just made both girls insufferable for me.
Prem's family was good but it was too sweet to bear. I mean who accepts this so easily that they were deceived by their own children, not Indian parents for sure. Nuh!!!
I believe this was total bollywood drama not something that actually happens in real life. Keep your brains aside and just enjoy. The characters only Simi and Rupi were a bit fleshed out , other were just fillers. Overall I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of it hadn't been audiobook I might have skimmed through the book and done with it.
I really enjoyed both narrations, they did a wonderful job in narrating the characters.
Thank you netgalley, brilliance audio for the wonderful audiobook in exchange of an honest review.
Book rating : 3 stars
Audiobook rating : 4stars
Overall rating : 3.5 stars
by Sonali Dev
Narrated by Natasha Chandel; Soneela Nankani
I have heard about Sonali Dev's books. Being an Indian, reading books written by Indian authors set in foreign countries especially US can be a bit painful. The way most authors portray Indians is so cliched. I think people want to read all about drama and what not but really does that exist? But again who am I kidding, it definitely does in some parts. Just that I'm not experiencing it myself, doesn't mean it isn't happening.
So this book is cliched but it was fun too. Or atleast some parts of it. It wasn't rom-com like I thought it would be from the title, it was more kind of women's fiction (I came to know about genre in last few months). The two sisters got on my nerves so much, if it hadn't been there constant blaming each other, this book would have been much much better.
They are jealous of each other, angry at each other and even though Simi suggests the solution which is quite dumb, she regrets it every moment. She doesn't trust Prem the man who she loves or the sister who gave up her dignity to keep her safe.
Also at points I didn't understand the way they behaved. Like there were points when Rupi snapped at Prem or her lawyer Saaj for being born without any difficulties in life, in short privileged. But they didn't owe anything to her or simi. These things annoyed hell out of me. Be grateful if someone is trying to help you, can you not? That just made both girls insufferable for me.
Prem's family was good but it was too sweet to bear. I mean who accepts this so easily that they were deceived by their own children, not Indian parents for sure. Nuh!!!
I believe this was total bollywood drama not something that actually happens in real life. Keep your brains aside and just enjoy. The characters only Simi and Rupi were a bit fleshed out , other were just fillers. Overall I enjoyed listening to the audiobook of it hadn't been audiobook I might have skimmed through the book and done with it.
I really enjoyed both narrations, they did a wonderful job in narrating the characters.
Thank you netgalley, brilliance audio for the wonderful audiobook in exchange of an honest review.
Book rating : 3 stars
Audiobook rating : 4stars
Overall rating : 3.5 stars
March 18, 2026
Sonali Dev took me on quite the emotional roller coaster with this book. It starts slow, from Rupi's point of view, a character I initially had trouble connecting with. I really didn't like her. At all. But that's part of Dev's skill in character building. I don't think I was supposed to. Not liking - or trusting - her gave her character the opportunity to grow, and me to change my mind, over the course of the book.
Simi was the sister I favored at the beginning of the book but, again, my feelings about her also changed over the course of the book. That's one of the things I enjoy about this author's writing. I never know what kind of journey she's going to take me - or her characters - on. I only know it's going to be one that will be thought-provoking, emotional, and heart-wrenching at times while also sprinkled with humor and human connection. Simi and Rupi are multi-layered, flawed, and carrying an immense amount of emotional trauma that impacts their decisions and actions in present time. They both have a significant growth arc that needs to be traveled before true happiness is in reach.
The story is told from the point of view of each sister, in alternating chapters. Viewing everything unfolding from their individual perspectives really gives it all an added punch. I vacillated back and forth among stomach-clenching heartache, pure rage, and endearing hope, never knowing until the final pages which way this story was going to go regarding either the romantic relationships or the immigration dilemma. Kudos to Dev for bringing this story to life in such a realistic, relatable way that it elicited so many visceral emotions in me.
The comedic relief in the book comes from Prem's family, a meddling, boisterous, welcoming group of people who, through their actions, show Rupi and Simi what a loving, supportive family looks like. Of course, that also heightens the angst when the recipient of all that love and support is the sister Prem is set to marry but not the sister Prem loves. It's a tangled mess that I, again, had no clue how Dev would unravel until the very end.
4.5 stars
ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
Fair and unbiased opinion
Simi was the sister I favored at the beginning of the book but, again, my feelings about her also changed over the course of the book. That's one of the things I enjoy about this author's writing. I never know what kind of journey she's going to take me - or her characters - on. I only know it's going to be one that will be thought-provoking, emotional, and heart-wrenching at times while also sprinkled with humor and human connection. Simi and Rupi are multi-layered, flawed, and carrying an immense amount of emotional trauma that impacts their decisions and actions in present time. They both have a significant growth arc that needs to be traveled before true happiness is in reach.
The story is told from the point of view of each sister, in alternating chapters. Viewing everything unfolding from their individual perspectives really gives it all an added punch. I vacillated back and forth among stomach-clenching heartache, pure rage, and endearing hope, never knowing until the final pages which way this story was going to go regarding either the romantic relationships or the immigration dilemma. Kudos to Dev for bringing this story to life in such a realistic, relatable way that it elicited so many visceral emotions in me.
The comedic relief in the book comes from Prem's family, a meddling, boisterous, welcoming group of people who, through their actions, show Rupi and Simi what a loving, supportive family looks like. Of course, that also heightens the angst when the recipient of all that love and support is the sister Prem is set to marry but not the sister Prem loves. It's a tangled mess that I, again, had no clue how Dev would unravel until the very end.
4.5 stars
ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
Fair and unbiased opinion
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sonali Dev is an author that I love, and her newest novel, How Simi Got Her Groove Back is a heartwarming story of two sisters finding a new path in America. Simi and Rupi grew up in a difficult home environment in Mumbai, in the care of a neglectful mother who brought many men in and out of their lives. Rupi essentially raised Simi, and both girls grew up fiercely protecting each other.
The story begins in Tennessee with Simi, a pediatric nurse who has fallen in love but is unsure of moving forward with Prem, her boyfriend, and is terrified about losing her green card and being deported. Rupi has been through a harrowing experience of being trafficked into the US, escaping her captors, and living day to day without a home or stable job. Rupi finds Simi when she is desperate for help to stay in the US, and they haphazardly concoct a fake engagement between Rupi and Prem, her sister’s boyfriend, to help Rupi get a green card. Enter Saj, the stoic, handsome immigration lawyer and friend of Prem’s family, who helps Rupi’s immigration case.
I love the complexity of Dev’s books, and there were so many characters and lovely relationships between Simi, Rupi, Saj, Prem and his family. Prem’s family embraces Rupi without judgment, and helps bring her back to life after so many years of trauma, fear, and pain. Simi and Prem share a pure, sweet love that was the main romance of the story. I would have liked to see more of Rupi and Saj’s connection and relationship too. The wonderfully caring family bonds are the strongest part of this novel.
The pacing of How Simi Got Her Groove Back really picks up after Rupi and Simi reunite in Tennessee, but the first part dragged a bit for me. As the book continues, I was more engrossed in the characters and their lives, but I had a hard time initially getting into the story. The plot really sang for the last twenty percent of the book, and I was left wanting more of these characters when the book ended.
Thank you to Sonali Dev, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The story begins in Tennessee with Simi, a pediatric nurse who has fallen in love but is unsure of moving forward with Prem, her boyfriend, and is terrified about losing her green card and being deported. Rupi has been through a harrowing experience of being trafficked into the US, escaping her captors, and living day to day without a home or stable job. Rupi finds Simi when she is desperate for help to stay in the US, and they haphazardly concoct a fake engagement between Rupi and Prem, her sister’s boyfriend, to help Rupi get a green card. Enter Saj, the stoic, handsome immigration lawyer and friend of Prem’s family, who helps Rupi’s immigration case.
I love the complexity of Dev’s books, and there were so many characters and lovely relationships between Simi, Rupi, Saj, Prem and his family. Prem’s family embraces Rupi without judgment, and helps bring her back to life after so many years of trauma, fear, and pain. Simi and Prem share a pure, sweet love that was the main romance of the story. I would have liked to see more of Rupi and Saj’s connection and relationship too. The wonderfully caring family bonds are the strongest part of this novel.
The pacing of How Simi Got Her Groove Back really picks up after Rupi and Simi reunite in Tennessee, but the first part dragged a bit for me. As the book continues, I was more engrossed in the characters and their lives, but I had a hard time initially getting into the story. The plot really sang for the last twenty percent of the book, and I was left wanting more of these characters when the book ended.
Thank you to Sonali Dev, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 12, 2026
With a title like How Simi Got Her Groom Back readers who pick up this latest release from Sonali Dev might be expecting a romcom style read, especially with that gorgeous vibrant cover, and while there is indeed a romance and several laugh out loud moments, this book which is above all a tale of sisterhood, tackles some much darker topics than you might expect, including human trafficking and sexual assault and exploitation.
The book tells the stories of two very different sisters, Simi, a young Indian immigrant working towards qualifying as a paediatric nurse and securing her green card, and Rupi, her older sister whose immigrant journey has been more traumatic and now finds herself on the run with no paperwork, no money and nowhere to go for help except to her little sister. Rupi's situation is so dire that she and Simi have to come up with a desperate plan to try to keep her in the country and that is how Rupi finds herself engaged to Simi's boyfriend, at least on paper. Of course this complex situation comes with much emotional turmoil and a few comedic moments to brighten the mood, but as the date of the wedding draws closer and more and more people are drawn into the lies will the sisters be drawn closer together or will the fragile threads of their reconnection be severed ?
At first I was not sure about this book, it was fine but I wasn't feeling excited about picking it up, but as we got more of Rupi's chapters I found myself being more drawn to her strength and determination and more invested in her story. Rupi's story did involve trafficking and exploitation, but the topic was sensitively handled and there was nothing graphic on page. The immigrant narrative is very timely and relevant to so much of what is happening in the United States at the moment, and the author does a great job of showing that even when you try to follow the correct processes and do everything by the book it is far from easy. As a story of the bonds of sisterhood this book ended up really working for me.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
The book tells the stories of two very different sisters, Simi, a young Indian immigrant working towards qualifying as a paediatric nurse and securing her green card, and Rupi, her older sister whose immigrant journey has been more traumatic and now finds herself on the run with no paperwork, no money and nowhere to go for help except to her little sister. Rupi's situation is so dire that she and Simi have to come up with a desperate plan to try to keep her in the country and that is how Rupi finds herself engaged to Simi's boyfriend, at least on paper. Of course this complex situation comes with much emotional turmoil and a few comedic moments to brighten the mood, but as the date of the wedding draws closer and more and more people are drawn into the lies will the sisters be drawn closer together or will the fragile threads of their reconnection be severed ?
At first I was not sure about this book, it was fine but I wasn't feeling excited about picking it up, but as we got more of Rupi's chapters I found myself being more drawn to her strength and determination and more invested in her story. Rupi's story did involve trafficking and exploitation, but the topic was sensitively handled and there was nothing graphic on page. The immigrant narrative is very timely and relevant to so much of what is happening in the United States at the moment, and the author does a great job of showing that even when you try to follow the correct processes and do everything by the book it is far from easy. As a story of the bonds of sisterhood this book ended up really working for me.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
March 9, 2026
A story about the women we become, the sisters who save us, and the love that survives even the hardest childhoods.
I want to begin by saying that I am not Indian, and while I’ve been close to friends who share elements of Rupi and Simi’s culture, history, religion, and family dynamics, much in this book was new to me. The dramatic pulse at the heart of this story is rooted in cultural heritage and tradition, and I can only imagine the pressures these women navigate — even before the specific conflicts of the novel take root.
This story leans far more toward women’s fiction than rom‑com. If you’re looking for a chirpy, lighthearted romance where danger and deep emotion are just window dressing on the way to a bubbly happily‑ever‑after, this may not be that book. But if you’re looking for a story about the power of women to survive, to emerge from less‑than‑ideal childhoods, and to fight their way back to each other as estranged sisters — then this novel delivers beautifully.
There are humorous moments, those flashes where life makes you laugh in spite of itself, and in that release you suddenly see something new. That’s the nuance Sonali Dev brings to this book: the ability to hold pain and humor in the same breath without diminishing either.
At its core, this is a powerful story of sisterhood and love — the kind where you can fight each other, cuss each other out, and still squeeze each other’s hands when the last card is dealt. The kind where, when the final card flips, they’ll cry with you in relief if you’ve won or in sorrow if you’ve lost, because only they know the full stakes of the game and the emotional toll it cost you. They’ll take you to a party while folding you into a hug, and mean both at the same time.
The challenge in reviewing this book is that it’s so finely woven — every emotional beat connected, every reveal earned — that sharing too many specifics risks spoiling the experience. This is a story that needs its reader to become another sister riding shotgun, witnessing the journey as it unfolds.
I want to begin by saying that I am not Indian, and while I’ve been close to friends who share elements of Rupi and Simi’s culture, history, religion, and family dynamics, much in this book was new to me. The dramatic pulse at the heart of this story is rooted in cultural heritage and tradition, and I can only imagine the pressures these women navigate — even before the specific conflicts of the novel take root.
This story leans far more toward women’s fiction than rom‑com. If you’re looking for a chirpy, lighthearted romance where danger and deep emotion are just window dressing on the way to a bubbly happily‑ever‑after, this may not be that book. But if you’re looking for a story about the power of women to survive, to emerge from less‑than‑ideal childhoods, and to fight their way back to each other as estranged sisters — then this novel delivers beautifully.
There are humorous moments, those flashes where life makes you laugh in spite of itself, and in that release you suddenly see something new. That’s the nuance Sonali Dev brings to this book: the ability to hold pain and humor in the same breath without diminishing either.
At its core, this is a powerful story of sisterhood and love — the kind where you can fight each other, cuss each other out, and still squeeze each other’s hands when the last card is dealt. The kind where, when the final card flips, they’ll cry with you in relief if you’ve won or in sorrow if you’ve lost, because only they know the full stakes of the game and the emotional toll it cost you. They’ll take you to a party while folding you into a hug, and mean both at the same time.
The challenge in reviewing this book is that it’s so finely woven — every emotional beat connected, every reveal earned — that sharing too many specifics risks spoiling the experience. This is a story that needs its reader to become another sister riding shotgun, witnessing the journey as it unfolds.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm always a big fan of fake dating, so equally enjoy the idea of a fake marriage. But these are circumstances that I could never have dreamed of, but yet it's a sign of just how strong the love between Simi and Rupi really is.
For Simi is allowing her boyfriend Prem to marry Rupi, in order for her sister to get a green card, and Simi's own green card application is having a few issues itself.
This is an eye opening story about the realities of immigration in America, and about how hard it must be for people to come to a new country, while fearing for their lives, or freedom back in their own country,
It's a story of family love, even more so than romance, both from the sisters, but also of Prem's family the Guptas, who embrace Rupi as their own. And Rupi who has never known these sorts of feelings has no idea how to cope with anything.
There is plenty of arguing between the siblings, but at the same time, when you learn about their upbringing, and then just what Rupi has been subjected to since arriving two years ago in America, well my heart had to go out to them.
It's no wonder the only way they believe they can keep each other safe is with this scheme, as what is clear is they dare not return to India. Simi though struggles with her decision.
I loved literally all the members of the Gupta clan, from the adorable baby triplets, to N&N, to Baba and especially Prem's mum too. They are all just wonderful people and although some of the story felt a tad confusing at times, mainly in terms of who knows what, and who is meant to know what element of the truth etc... it is absolutely wonderful.
I was hooked on this story, This is the first book I have read from this author but I'm fairly confident it won't be my last. I think many people would certainly benefit from the messages and sentiment of this story.
Thank you to Lake Union and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
For Simi is allowing her boyfriend Prem to marry Rupi, in order for her sister to get a green card, and Simi's own green card application is having a few issues itself.
This is an eye opening story about the realities of immigration in America, and about how hard it must be for people to come to a new country, while fearing for their lives, or freedom back in their own country,
It's a story of family love, even more so than romance, both from the sisters, but also of Prem's family the Guptas, who embrace Rupi as their own. And Rupi who has never known these sorts of feelings has no idea how to cope with anything.
There is plenty of arguing between the siblings, but at the same time, when you learn about their upbringing, and then just what Rupi has been subjected to since arriving two years ago in America, well my heart had to go out to them.
It's no wonder the only way they believe they can keep each other safe is with this scheme, as what is clear is they dare not return to India. Simi though struggles with her decision.
I loved literally all the members of the Gupta clan, from the adorable baby triplets, to N&N, to Baba and especially Prem's mum too. They are all just wonderful people and although some of the story felt a tad confusing at times, mainly in terms of who knows what, and who is meant to know what element of the truth etc... it is absolutely wonderful.
I was hooked on this story, This is the first book I have read from this author but I'm fairly confident it won't be my last. I think many people would certainly benefit from the messages and sentiment of this story.
Thank you to Lake Union and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
March 7, 2026
I really enjoyed "How Simi Got Her Groom Back." All the characters are so lovable, which is difficult to achieve with four protagonists. Sisters Rupi and Simi had a very tough childhood in India, and have not seen each for two years. Simi left India to work as a nurse in clinic in a small town in Kentucky. Rupi had a tumultuous journey from India to LA, and winds up heading to the small Kentucky town when she hits and rock bottom and needs Simi's help. Simi also nanny's part time for her boss and his wife. Through that job she met the wife's brother, Prem. They began dating in secret, not ready to tell the family yet. Prem also gets recruited to help Rupi, and he ropes in his best friend Saaj. There are layers upon layers of complex relationships. I will say that based on the title, cover and description, I thought this book would a lighter, funnier read. I was expecting a rom-com, instead this focused on immigration, human trafficking, and trauma. These serious issues were handled with care and the book as a whole was well executed. Prospective readers should definitely take a look at the trigger warnings, if that would help them. The romance took a back seat but was still present and very sweet. While there were moments of levity and humor, the story focused on sibling bonds, family relationships, overcoming hardship and learning to be vulnerable. I loved seeing the Gupta family dynamics throughout the book. The character development and relationships were a central part of the story. The ending was a little rushed and I wish I got to see more of the characters lives at the end. This book really made me think about how far we are willing to go to take care of loved ones and the sacrifices we are willing to make for them.
trigger warnings: human trafficking, immigration issues, blackmail, abuse, neglect, sexual assault and coercion (off page but mentioned)
trigger warnings: human trafficking, immigration issues, blackmail, abuse, neglect, sexual assault and coercion (off page but mentioned)
February 23, 2026
This book NEEDS content warnings! It's an EXCELLENT story. FIVE STARS. Truly. But given current events-- you must read with care. Immigration, Human Trafficking, Epstein-esque characters off page but in flash backs. PLEASE NOTE: I read the audio book. It went straight from the title, naming the author and narrators to Chapter 1. No dedication or anything else one might expect so perhaps the written text has content warnings- but audio does not and I would fully suggest adding them!
Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing, and Sonali Dev for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoy Sonali Dev's books tremendously. They do often carry heavy concepts, themes and plot points. But this fun cover, title and even the synopsis on the back of the book are a little deceiving compared to the actual weight of this whole story. We do get a LOVELY hea as promised in our romance genre- but please go in knowing the levity is not until the end.
This book was an incredible dual POV of two immigration experiences in our country. Now, based on publishing timelines- I know it was written with an understanding of how convoluted our country's immigration process is. But if it were written NOW- during ICE's occupation of Minneapolis and beyond- and not just being published now- I wonder how Sonali Dev would have changed the story with this current lens. Also- given the Epstein files we've been able to read- woof.
Characters 9
Atmosphere/Setting 9
Writing Style 9
Plot 9
Intrigue 9
Logic/Relationships 9
Enjoyment 9
Average Score: 9
CAWPILE rating method used. All credit to creator Book Roast on YouTube!
Does the title make sense to the story?
Yes- Matches the story- but not the tone..
Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing, and Sonali Dev for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoy Sonali Dev's books tremendously. They do often carry heavy concepts, themes and plot points. But this fun cover, title and even the synopsis on the back of the book are a little deceiving compared to the actual weight of this whole story. We do get a LOVELY hea as promised in our romance genre- but please go in knowing the levity is not until the end.
This book was an incredible dual POV of two immigration experiences in our country. Now, based on publishing timelines- I know it was written with an understanding of how convoluted our country's immigration process is. But if it were written NOW- during ICE's occupation of Minneapolis and beyond- and not just being published now- I wonder how Sonali Dev would have changed the story with this current lens. Also- given the Epstein files we've been able to read- woof.
Characters 9
Atmosphere/Setting 9
Writing Style 9
Plot 9
Intrigue 9
Logic/Relationships 9
Enjoyment 9
Average Score: 9
CAWPILE rating method used. All credit to creator Book Roast on YouTube!
Does the title make sense to the story?
Yes- Matches the story- but not the tone..
March 21, 2026
I’ve read several books by this author to mixed reviews but this one is hands down my least favorite. I felt that there were so many storylines happening (the blackmailing cop, the trafficking, the two very different sisters, the fake marriage, etc.) but most of it was very surface level so overall it just didn’t work. This story could’ve benefited from just picking one or two things to focus on and actually fleshing them out.
Speaking of, I never look up trigger warnings but wish that I had in this case because I was expecting a cute family story and instead got trafficking and assault. I almost DNFed on multiple occasions in part because of that but also in part because I was just never really into the overall story.
I also did not care for Rupi or Simi at all. Rupi was written as such a selfish and uncaring a-hole for a good chunk of the book that it was hard for me to switch my feelings about her once she started to let her guard down and let people see the real her. And then Simi was written as this really weak, docile, submissive person who just pissed me off to no end. Prem also was super annoying. He just kind of lets things happen to him as if he has no agency in his own life.
One aspect I did enjoy was the Guptas and would’ve loved more from them. I loved the scenes with Rupi and the patriarch of the family and felt that she really shone in those.
I think overall this book suffered by trying to do too much. Simple is sometimes better. You don’t have to write about every hard thing just to prove that one of your characters’ life is hard. It felt like misery p*rn at times.
Speaking of, I never look up trigger warnings but wish that I had in this case because I was expecting a cute family story and instead got trafficking and assault. I almost DNFed on multiple occasions in part because of that but also in part because I was just never really into the overall story.
I also did not care for Rupi or Simi at all. Rupi was written as such a selfish and uncaring a-hole for a good chunk of the book that it was hard for me to switch my feelings about her once she started to let her guard down and let people see the real her. And then Simi was written as this really weak, docile, submissive person who just pissed me off to no end. Prem also was super annoying. He just kind of lets things happen to him as if he has no agency in his own life.
One aspect I did enjoy was the Guptas and would’ve loved more from them. I loved the scenes with Rupi and the patriarch of the family and felt that she really shone in those.
I think overall this book suffered by trying to do too much. Simple is sometimes better. You don’t have to write about every hard thing just to prove that one of your characters’ life is hard. It felt like misery p*rn at times.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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