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Bollywood Wives
Zara Das is Bollywood's hottest property, her every move watched by the eyes of the press. Riding high from the success of a string of blockbusters, she has the world at her feet, but the scandal from her latest film threatens to dethrone her as Bollywood's reigning queen. So when superstar director Raj Dillon stages a lavish retelling of Pride and Prejudice, moving the shoot from Mumbai's soundstages to London, Zara knows this is the role that could put her back on top. Coming with them are the Bollywood Wives Jackie, Sasha, and Rani bringing their own off-screen drama. But behind the diamonds, designer clothes and seven-star hotels lies the truth of how Zara reached the top. And when a dead body is found in her hotel room, it seems that someone is determined to take Zara down and will stop at nothing to expose her darkest secrets. Zara has spent years running from her past. But now it's caught up with her... Everyone's talking about Bollywood Wives : 'Wow!! Sexy, mysterious, suspenseful and full of delicious and devious surprises... loved it!' Angela Marsons
'A sultry, sexy and rather dark thriller that pulls out all the stops!' My Chestnut Reading Tree
'A great book for reading on a hot beach somewhere and it certainly took me back to my Jackie Collins days!' Always Need More Books
'Real Housewives meets Bollywood ... a showstopper of a read.' Steph Broadribb
'Full of glitz and glamour ... I read it in a day.' Ayisha Malik
'A sultry, sexy and rather dark thriller that pulls out all the stops!' My Chestnut Reading Tree
'A great book for reading on a hot beach somewhere and it certainly took me back to my Jackie Collins days!' Always Need More Books
'Real Housewives meets Bollywood ... a showstopper of a read.' Steph Broadribb
'Full of glitz and glamour ... I read it in a day.' Ayisha Malik
350 pages, Paperback
Published September 12, 2019
21 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
February 22, 2019
A riveting tale packed with scandal, mystery, sizzle, and glamour!
This book was so fun bursting with glitz, glam, and drama! A compelling story that showcased the excessive wealth and luxury surrounding Bollywood. I was completely invested and captivated from the very first page, brought back memories of books of old, this book definitely had a bit of a Jackie Collins vibe to it.
Zara has kicked and clawed her way to the top and is now a BIG Bollywood star. Now she is in London starring in a retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Zara has always felt judged and look down upon by the Bollywood wives, but these ladies have secrets of their own. BUT when a dead body is discovered in Zara‘s room will she lose everything that she has worked so hard for? Will her secrets be revealed? And what is behind the dead body?
A tantalizing tale Full of brilliant and colorful characters! Zara was such a fabulously drawn character, as were all the secondary characters in this book. SO much drama, gossip, and angst. SO much fun to read! The perfect escapist story, a book to lose yourself in.
If you like scandal, glitz, glam, and steam topped off with the perfect amount of drama, this one is for you! Recommend!
🎵🎵🎵 Song Running Through My Head
I have no idea what these lyrics mean so apologies if it’s anything offensive, but this song really just reminds me of Bollywood! And I really like this song makes me want to dance!
Jai ho, jai ho
Aaja, aaja jind shamiyane ke tale
Aaja jariwale nile aasman ke tale
Jai ho, jai ho
Ratti, ratti sachi maine jaan gavayi hai
Nach, nach koylo pe raat bitayi hai
Akhiyon ki neend maine phoonko se uda di
Neele tare se maine ungli jalayi hai
Aaja, aaja jind shamiyane ke tale
Aaja jariwale nile aasman ke tale
Chakh le, ha, chakh le ye raat shahad hai, chakh le
Rakh le, ha, dil hai dil aakhri had hai, rakh le
Kala, kala kajal tera koi kala jadoo hai na
Kala, kala kajal tera koi kala jadoo hai na
Aaja, aaja jind shamiyane ke tale
Aaja jariwale nile aasman ke tale
Jai ho,…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UxLSZoF...
*** huge thank you too Hera Books for my copy of this book ***
This book was so fun bursting with glitz, glam, and drama! A compelling story that showcased the excessive wealth and luxury surrounding Bollywood. I was completely invested and captivated from the very first page, brought back memories of books of old, this book definitely had a bit of a Jackie Collins vibe to it.
Zara has kicked and clawed her way to the top and is now a BIG Bollywood star. Now she is in London starring in a retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Zara has always felt judged and look down upon by the Bollywood wives, but these ladies have secrets of their own. BUT when a dead body is discovered in Zara‘s room will she lose everything that she has worked so hard for? Will her secrets be revealed? And what is behind the dead body?
A tantalizing tale Full of brilliant and colorful characters! Zara was such a fabulously drawn character, as were all the secondary characters in this book. SO much drama, gossip, and angst. SO much fun to read! The perfect escapist story, a book to lose yourself in.
If you like scandal, glitz, glam, and steam topped off with the perfect amount of drama, this one is for you! Recommend!
🎵🎵🎵 Song Running Through My Head
I have no idea what these lyrics mean so apologies if it’s anything offensive, but this song really just reminds me of Bollywood! And I really like this song makes me want to dance!
Jai ho, jai ho
Aaja, aaja jind shamiyane ke tale
Aaja jariwale nile aasman ke tale
Jai ho, jai ho
Ratti, ratti sachi maine jaan gavayi hai
Nach, nach koylo pe raat bitayi hai
Akhiyon ki neend maine phoonko se uda di
Neele tare se maine ungli jalayi hai
Aaja, aaja jind shamiyane ke tale
Aaja jariwale nile aasman ke tale
Chakh le, ha, chakh le ye raat shahad hai, chakh le
Rakh le, ha, dil hai dil aakhri had hai, rakh le
Kala, kala kajal tera koi kala jadoo hai na
Kala, kala kajal tera koi kala jadoo hai na
Aaja, aaja jind shamiyane ke tale
Aaja jariwale nile aasman ke tale
Jai ho,…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UxLSZoF...
*** huge thank you too Hera Books for my copy of this book ***
January 9, 2019
A sexy, dark and considered thriller set in the world of Bollywood films, brilliant characters and mega fun to read.
Definitely has a dark side and the resolution is beautifully unexpected. Plenty of social commentary wrapped up in a glamorous addictive plot that will keep you turning those pages.
Recommended. Full review to follow for the official tour.
Definitely has a dark side and the resolution is beautifully unexpected. Plenty of social commentary wrapped up in a glamorous addictive plot that will keep you turning those pages.
Recommended. Full review to follow for the official tour.
January 7, 2019
I had a feeling from the moment I first saw this book that I would love it, and having just finished reading it, wow that is one fabulous book.
I will admit to start with it was a bit of slow burner, but the payoff is worth it. Takes a while to get to grips will all the secondary characters, the main one Zara is key, but there are plenty of sub plots too, and other threads that once you have them straight in your mind are equally rewarding too.
Bollywood Wives is a book that contains everything, we have very early on clear death threats to Zara, there is action, drama, sex, mystery, intrigue, scandal, a Bollywood movie being made in London, a diverse cast of characters, insights into modern India, some unimaginable levels of luxury and that is just for starters.
That isn't even counting the more serious side of the book where we see how Zara, and few of the others have worked their way up from nothing to the stars they are, and their pasts are a real rags to riches story, with real struggles on the way.
It's the sort of book that will appeal to so many different people, those interested in films, Bollywood, India, plus those who tend to read books with suspense and sex, and relationships etc... It is definitely a blockbuster sort of book, which is why my only slight issue was that I didn't save it until I read it on holiday.
I love reading these sorts of books poolside, and its definitely one who wants to escape for a while should read. I was transported to a world far different to my own which was fascinating, and I was very keen to always find out what happened next.
I loved Alex Khan's writing, and its clear this is a world he knows a lot about, and I hope he will write future books that feature Bollywood, or India, as I love reading about characters so vastly different to myself.
That ending completely took me by surprise too, as did quite a few of the various reveals. Bollywood Wives kept me on my toes and I loved every moment of it, especially the second half of the book.
Thank you to Hera Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
I will admit to start with it was a bit of slow burner, but the payoff is worth it. Takes a while to get to grips will all the secondary characters, the main one Zara is key, but there are plenty of sub plots too, and other threads that once you have them straight in your mind are equally rewarding too.
Bollywood Wives is a book that contains everything, we have very early on clear death threats to Zara, there is action, drama, sex, mystery, intrigue, scandal, a Bollywood movie being made in London, a diverse cast of characters, insights into modern India, some unimaginable levels of luxury and that is just for starters.
That isn't even counting the more serious side of the book where we see how Zara, and few of the others have worked their way up from nothing to the stars they are, and their pasts are a real rags to riches story, with real struggles on the way.
It's the sort of book that will appeal to so many different people, those interested in films, Bollywood, India, plus those who tend to read books with suspense and sex, and relationships etc... It is definitely a blockbuster sort of book, which is why my only slight issue was that I didn't save it until I read it on holiday.
I love reading these sorts of books poolside, and its definitely one who wants to escape for a while should read. I was transported to a world far different to my own which was fascinating, and I was very keen to always find out what happened next.
I loved Alex Khan's writing, and its clear this is a world he knows a lot about, and I hope he will write future books that feature Bollywood, or India, as I love reading about characters so vastly different to myself.
That ending completely took me by surprise too, as did quite a few of the various reveals. Bollywood Wives kept me on my toes and I loved every moment of it, especially the second half of the book.
Thank you to Hera Books and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
February 18, 2019
This is a new direction for Alex Caan away from his police procedural series as he ventures out as Alex Khan and a rather sexy women’s fiction novel with a flair of mystery and murder as an added bonus. The focus though is on the relationships of the wives of the stars of the film industry along with the beautiful top billing leading lady, Zara Das.
Zara hadn’t travelled on a right of passage through privilege, to get to top billing status, she had done things that she wasn’t proud of and it could all be taken away in an instant. She had found herself on shaky ground lately but the opportunity to go to London and star in a new film was the opening that she needed, to get back in the good books of the fans. This is along with the sympathy gained from an attempt on her life recently too, where her driver was killed. Threats keep coming making everyone seem like a suspect at different times in the story.
The Bollywood wives could never see Zara as being good enough for them because of her background, though they all have secrets about their personal lives that they would prefer to be kept private. Putting a perfect couple front on for the press was paramount to them. Now a dangerous mix of cast members have been brought together, to star in the new film, that for a price have promised to play nice. This in itself is causing plenty behind the scenes tension.
There is plenty of gossip, lots of very steamy bedroom scenes and total queen bitch moments to keep any bonkbuster readers very happy. Throw in blackmail, murder and a rather sexy head of security bloke and it definitely has the ingredients for an all round must read novel. Really liked how this book all tied up at the end, very clever story lines.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book, which I have reviewed honestly.
Zara hadn’t travelled on a right of passage through privilege, to get to top billing status, she had done things that she wasn’t proud of and it could all be taken away in an instant. She had found herself on shaky ground lately but the opportunity to go to London and star in a new film was the opening that she needed, to get back in the good books of the fans. This is along with the sympathy gained from an attempt on her life recently too, where her driver was killed. Threats keep coming making everyone seem like a suspect at different times in the story.
The Bollywood wives could never see Zara as being good enough for them because of her background, though they all have secrets about their personal lives that they would prefer to be kept private. Putting a perfect couple front on for the press was paramount to them. Now a dangerous mix of cast members have been brought together, to star in the new film, that for a price have promised to play nice. This in itself is causing plenty behind the scenes tension.
There is plenty of gossip, lots of very steamy bedroom scenes and total queen bitch moments to keep any bonkbuster readers very happy. Throw in blackmail, murder and a rather sexy head of security bloke and it definitely has the ingredients for an all round must read novel. Really liked how this book all tied up at the end, very clever story lines.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book, which I have reviewed honestly.
February 8, 2019
Visit the locations in the novel
From Mumbai to London, those Bollywood wives love a scandal!
Cue the Bollywood music and let’s dance. This novel is so firmly immersed in the Bollywood culture, I could hear the music as I read, hear the clang of bracelets and feel the spotlight of fame on my face. A Story of Bollywood Wives by Alex Kahn is a dancing and musical delight!
If you want a novel about a fun, fast and furious industry and a scandalous one at that, this is the book for you! Even that cover looks alluring..
Bollywood Wives was a fun and exciting read. I might have seen a few Bollywood movies in my time, but I know little about the industry but it fascinates me. Having seen that cover, I was more than intrigued about reading it and dipping my toe into this world. Cue the music, the scandals and the intrigue!
Although the book starts off in Mumbai, we move swiftly to London when the main star Zara and the rest of the cast and crew of a film go to film overseas. There was humour from the off as Zara takes it very badly when she doesn’t exactly get the star treatment she expects from Heathrow. Once in the poshest hotel in London, she is clear that her staff should stay up the road. Zara is under pressure however, as she’s received several threatening messages from an unknown person.
There’s a lot to this novel – not just the juicy scandals, the lap of luxury and an insight into the whole Bollywood industry. Zara and women like her have worked hard to get where they are. Bollywood is no nicer or easier to get into than Hollywood it would seem. Women here are just as easily exploited and must be tougher than the men to succeed.
The writing and pace was fitting – the second half of the book was even more gripping than the first. Alex Kahn knows his stuff and makes it fun, accessible and eye-catching.
Get the music on and read to the rhythm!
February 14, 2019
This book!!! I absolutely loved it!! But it made me realise just how much I miss all the lovely “bonkbusters” of the 1980s-the ones I had hidden in my school bag that I used to devour on the school bus every morning and afternoon. Ever since Shirley Conran asked “Which of you bitches is my mother?” in Lace and made me look at goldfish in a completely different light (you’ll know what I mean if you’re a woman of a certain age like me!!) I have loved to read books about groups of women who all have different personalities but who are forced together due to their circumstances. And the recent(ish) success of The Real Housewives franchise has also made me realise we need MORE of those female dynamics in our fiction so thank goodness Alex Khan has come along to throw some shapes with his Bollywood Housewives and what a fabulous job he does too.
I have read books by Alex before, in his alter ego author persona of Alex Caan, but they were crime thrillers so in a way it’s no surprise that Bollywood Wives also contains a mystery to be solved. This enigma twists its way through the lives of a group of women who are connected through a Bollywood remake of Pride and Prejudice by top director Raj Dillon. The star of his new film is Zara Das, a beautiful actress who knows that this role will cement her place as one of Bollywood’s finest. But behind every successful star is that tough rise to the top and Zara hasn’t had the best start in life. The scenes that looked into her background were poignant and deeply affecting at times so it was wonderful to see her success, even though she didn’t have the freedom she probably expected to have. Still, she gets to stay in 7 star hotels with personal butlers but when incidents start to occur that show Zara is in danger, she realises that it’s not easy to hide from your past as it’s secrets will always try to hunt you down.
This is a sultry, sexy and rather dark thriller that pulls out all the stops! Alex Khan creates beautifully crafted and stylish characters, all of whom brought out different emotions in me. There were some very steamy scenes and some rather unexpected twists as well. The ending in particular surprised me and I do love an unpredictable denouement! So I’m hoping that although this is the first steamy thriller from Alex Khan, it won’t be his last. A heady mix of glamour, power, greed and jealousy wrapped up in a scandalously addictive mystery.
Highly recommended by me!
I have read books by Alex before, in his alter ego author persona of Alex Caan, but they were crime thrillers so in a way it’s no surprise that Bollywood Wives also contains a mystery to be solved. This enigma twists its way through the lives of a group of women who are connected through a Bollywood remake of Pride and Prejudice by top director Raj Dillon. The star of his new film is Zara Das, a beautiful actress who knows that this role will cement her place as one of Bollywood’s finest. But behind every successful star is that tough rise to the top and Zara hasn’t had the best start in life. The scenes that looked into her background were poignant and deeply affecting at times so it was wonderful to see her success, even though she didn’t have the freedom she probably expected to have. Still, she gets to stay in 7 star hotels with personal butlers but when incidents start to occur that show Zara is in danger, she realises that it’s not easy to hide from your past as it’s secrets will always try to hunt you down.
This is a sultry, sexy and rather dark thriller that pulls out all the stops! Alex Khan creates beautifully crafted and stylish characters, all of whom brought out different emotions in me. There were some very steamy scenes and some rather unexpected twists as well. The ending in particular surprised me and I do love an unpredictable denouement! So I’m hoping that although this is the first steamy thriller from Alex Khan, it won’t be his last. A heady mix of glamour, power, greed and jealousy wrapped up in a scandalously addictive mystery.
Highly recommended by me!
February 15, 2019
* I voluntarily reviewed this book on Netgalley
As soon as I saw the cover of BOLLYWOOD WIVES by Alex Khan I had a feeling that it was going to be right up my street and I was right!!
Mystery, danger, tension, lust, and so much more nestles amongst these pages, all set against a stunning backdrop where Bollywood fever has taken over for a new movie, remaking the wonderful Pride and Prejudice. The setting is wonderfully descriptive and as someone who knew next to nothing about Bollywood, this story really makes it come alive for the reader. There are a lot of characters to get to grips with at the beginning but they all provide a special element or subplot to the overall book and make the story richer in the process. The lifestyle of the super-rich will make your jaw drop at times and there is just so much drama throughout that you will never want to put this book down.
BOLLYWOOD WIVES by Alex Khan is a firecracker of a story with something for everyone, from romance to suspense, and this is a book that is vibrant and addictive in all of the right ways!
As soon as I saw the cover of BOLLYWOOD WIVES by Alex Khan I had a feeling that it was going to be right up my street and I was right!!
Mystery, danger, tension, lust, and so much more nestles amongst these pages, all set against a stunning backdrop where Bollywood fever has taken over for a new movie, remaking the wonderful Pride and Prejudice. The setting is wonderfully descriptive and as someone who knew next to nothing about Bollywood, this story really makes it come alive for the reader. There are a lot of characters to get to grips with at the beginning but they all provide a special element or subplot to the overall book and make the story richer in the process. The lifestyle of the super-rich will make your jaw drop at times and there is just so much drama throughout that you will never want to put this book down.
BOLLYWOOD WIVES by Alex Khan is a firecracker of a story with something for everyone, from romance to suspense, and this is a book that is vibrant and addictive in all of the right ways!
February 8, 2019
Bollywood Wives is a genre of book I haven’t read in a while. I used to love the likes of Jilly Cooper and Jackie Collins when I was in my teens/early twenties but since then have drifted away from them. Well Alex Khan has given me a taste of just what I have been missing in all that time!
This a story packed with attitude. It is flamboyant, colourful, sexy as well as thrilling. What more could a reader want? In fact it’s a bit of a diva, as it demands attention and boy did it have all of mine.
The author takes us into the heart and soul of being a Bollywood star and the whole movie experience. There is a whole array of characters, all of who seem to have big egos, of which I was hoping someone would pull them down a peg or too. At the same time though I loved their arrogance.
There is so much to keep the reader entertained. From plenty of bedroom action, that will have you getting a bit hot under the collar, secrets, lies, mystery, suspense and even a few surprising twists every now and again. It really is jam packed full of reading pleasure.
Bollywood Wives is a vibrant and gripping read. This book for me was lots of fun and really makes for some addictive reading. A highly entertaining read that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.
This a story packed with attitude. It is flamboyant, colourful, sexy as well as thrilling. What more could a reader want? In fact it’s a bit of a diva, as it demands attention and boy did it have all of mine.
The author takes us into the heart and soul of being a Bollywood star and the whole movie experience. There is a whole array of characters, all of who seem to have big egos, of which I was hoping someone would pull them down a peg or too. At the same time though I loved their arrogance.
There is so much to keep the reader entertained. From plenty of bedroom action, that will have you getting a bit hot under the collar, secrets, lies, mystery, suspense and even a few surprising twists every now and again. It really is jam packed full of reading pleasure.
Bollywood Wives is a vibrant and gripping read. This book for me was lots of fun and really makes for some addictive reading. A highly entertaining read that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.
January 24, 2020
As a young adult I used to devour Jackie Collins’s novels and I never realised how much I missed that style of story….until now.
Bollywood Wives is a racy and glamorous tale of love, deceit and money. It was perfect for an indulgent getaway into a world I’ll never be part of and once I started there was no stopping me until I’d finished.
Initially I found the character of Zara Das quite unlikeable but as her character developed it became clear why she put on an act and that she was a completely different person underneath the facade. She also provides a strong feminist voice throught the narrative.
The backdrop for this story is pure luxury and fantasy. But underneath all the glitter and glitz lies a darker side that the public don’t see. Alex Khan delves into this aspect of fame and does a great job of highlighting some real life issues around exploitation and the media.
A sizzling and fast paced novel with plenty of surprises.
Bollywood Wives is a racy and glamorous tale of love, deceit and money. It was perfect for an indulgent getaway into a world I’ll never be part of and once I started there was no stopping me until I’d finished.
Initially I found the character of Zara Das quite unlikeable but as her character developed it became clear why she put on an act and that she was a completely different person underneath the facade. She also provides a strong feminist voice throught the narrative.
The backdrop for this story is pure luxury and fantasy. But underneath all the glitter and glitz lies a darker side that the public don’t see. Alex Khan delves into this aspect of fame and does a great job of highlighting some real life issues around exploitation and the media.
A sizzling and fast paced novel with plenty of surprises.
September 24, 2019
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I absolutely LOVED this book!!
It is fabulous from the front cover right through to the ending – it is definitely a book I am going to be recommending and I am so glad that I grabbed a copy to review!
I thought that the plot was brilliant, the setting was great and I loved the characters – they were so well developed it made for an excellent read! My mum loves this type of book so will be making sure she gets a copy for Mother’s Day!
It is five stars from me for this one – a brilliant story, full of excitement that was completely addictive and really had me hooked – very highly recommended!! I loved it!!
I absolutely LOVED this book!!
It is fabulous from the front cover right through to the ending – it is definitely a book I am going to be recommending and I am so glad that I grabbed a copy to review!
I thought that the plot was brilliant, the setting was great and I loved the characters – they were so well developed it made for an excellent read! My mum loves this type of book so will be making sure she gets a copy for Mother’s Day!
It is five stars from me for this one – a brilliant story, full of excitement that was completely addictive and really had me hooked – very highly recommended!! I loved it!!
January 10, 2019
Took me a while to get into this book but what a blockbuster it turned out to be. Full of intrigue, mystery, sex and drama it has all the makings for a really good film. Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
February 18, 2019
NOTE: The publisher graciously gave me a copy of this book and asked me to write a review.
Although I’ve been an avid film fan for many years, my exposure to the Indian film industry has been rather limited. I have seen Westernized versions of Bollywood films, movies such as “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Bride and Prejudice,” but I haven’t had the true Bollywood experience. Considering that nearly 2,000 movies a year are made in India, the most in any country, there’s a definite gap in my film knowledge. So, when asked to write a review of Alex Khan’s “Bollywood Wives,” a novel set against the backdrop of that industry, I was intrigued and eager to learn something. What I encountered was a type of storyline with which I’ve become very familiar over the years, but viewed in a whole new, and oftentimes very fascinating light.
The star of “Bollywood Wives” is Zara Das, the current queen of author Khan’s fictional version of Bollywood. Zara has come to England to take part in a lavish, all-star Bollywood version of “Pride and Prejudice” (it took the fictional producers a decade longer to come up with the idea than it took the producers of the real-life “Bride and Prejudice”). The supporting characters in “Bollywood Wives” are the various actors, producers, directors of the movie and their assorted friends and lovers, all of whom have all sorts of rivalries, feuds, insecurities, hang-ups, and hidden agendas. Khan serves all of this up with enthusiasm, exploring each main character’s mindset in depth as the action hops from one location, and often from one bed to another. There’s plenty of catty and sharp dialogue, as the women frequently try to take each other down. There’s plenty of sometimes graphic sex as well. And, there are bits and pieces of all kinds of common plot devices, including impotence, surrogate parenthood, secret sex tapes, blackmail, and closeted characters. Finally, and, fittingly for a book from an author who started out as a crime writer, there’s murder and attempted murder.
Truth be told, the above plot outline probably applies to a whole lot of steamy potboilers that often make the best sort of guilty reading pleasures. Judging “Bollywood Wives” by the standards of books by authors like Jacqueline Susann and Sidney Sheldon (I know I’m dating myself here, but this genre isn’t my forte), Alex Khan’s book holds up quite well. The novel, although lengthy, is quite readable, well plotted, and well organized. I could have done without some of the excessive foreshadowing Khan uses, but otherwise, the book flows smoothly and is easy to follow, despite its many characters. Some of them are a bit stereotypical (there’s one actress who should just have the letter “B” for bitch tattooed on her forehead), but, for the most part, they go beyond the stock saints and sinners who often populate this sort of work. The male characters in the book don’t come off all that well, though, as they take turns displaying all kinds of chauvinistic qualities whenever they have to deal with unsettling information. Also, although “Bollywood Wives” isn’t really a mystery, the identity of the culprits was rather well disguised, and the eventual reveal fooled me.
But “Bollywood Wives” isn’t just a typical, slick potboiler with a cast of characters who hail from Mumbai rather than Hollywood. For me, it was my first real immersion in the intricacies of the Indian film industry, and Bollywood and the underlying Indian culture are essential elements that shape the book and make it exotically different and more interesting than other works in this genre. “Bollywood Wives” repeatedly drove home the point that the Indian film industry isn’t just people in colorful costumes bursting into song at a moment’s notice. Instead, Bollywood has all the intrigue and dirty tricks of its American counterpart, but it also reflects Indian culture and that society’s more rigid class structure. Some of the characters in “Bollywood Wives” are essentially film royalty, which, in India, is considerably closer to Buckingham Palace than to the Kardashians. Zara, on the other hand, is a genuine rags-to-riches story, only in her case, the rags are literal. The Bollywood casting couch also rears its ugly head in the book, but the Indian version is far more debasing to its victims than anything encountered in Hollywood.
One major storyline in “Bollywood Wives” is entirely derived from the unique Indian film culture. As the book begins, Zara has been receiving death threats, which culminated in an explosion that killed her driver. These threats originated because, in her last picture, Zara actually had the audacity (on the director’s orders) to sing a song in the middle of an epic in which she played a revered historical figure. Many of Zara’s fans viewed her actions as heresy, and the fallout from the scandal is the main reason for her appearing in London as the book begins. My mind actually boggled at the thought that this type of “scandal” could have such repercussions, especially when contrasted with an American cinema in which popular young actresses can virtually do anything on- or off-screen without consequence.
This type of culture shock occurs several times in “Bollywood Wives”, and usually, Khan hasn’t added these incidents to the storyline merely to add to the book’s novelty value. Instead, the peculiarities of Indian and Bollywood culture shape the plot and the characters, giving them greater depth than you might imagine based on the genre. Since author Khan tells his story primarily from the perspective of the various characters, we don’t get the benefit of an omnipotent narrator delivering a lecture on history and culture, but, instead, we pick up bits and pieces gradually and often with greater impact. I don’t know how accurate “Bollywood Wives” is, but it definitely has the right feel to it, leading me to want to do some more research into that film industry.
I’ve tried to avoid any food references in this review, but I’ll finish up with one. “Bollywood Wives” is a well-made soap-operatic melodrama with a powerful cultural kick to it, like a healthy dose of curry, which gives it a uniquely exotic flavor. Fans of this type of novel or of the film world will find themselves going along with every plot twist and bit of intrigue. Hooray for Bollywood and these wives.
Although I’ve been an avid film fan for many years, my exposure to the Indian film industry has been rather limited. I have seen Westernized versions of Bollywood films, movies such as “Slumdog Millionaire” and “Bride and Prejudice,” but I haven’t had the true Bollywood experience. Considering that nearly 2,000 movies a year are made in India, the most in any country, there’s a definite gap in my film knowledge. So, when asked to write a review of Alex Khan’s “Bollywood Wives,” a novel set against the backdrop of that industry, I was intrigued and eager to learn something. What I encountered was a type of storyline with which I’ve become very familiar over the years, but viewed in a whole new, and oftentimes very fascinating light.
The star of “Bollywood Wives” is Zara Das, the current queen of author Khan’s fictional version of Bollywood. Zara has come to England to take part in a lavish, all-star Bollywood version of “Pride and Prejudice” (it took the fictional producers a decade longer to come up with the idea than it took the producers of the real-life “Bride and Prejudice”). The supporting characters in “Bollywood Wives” are the various actors, producers, directors of the movie and their assorted friends and lovers, all of whom have all sorts of rivalries, feuds, insecurities, hang-ups, and hidden agendas. Khan serves all of this up with enthusiasm, exploring each main character’s mindset in depth as the action hops from one location, and often from one bed to another. There’s plenty of catty and sharp dialogue, as the women frequently try to take each other down. There’s plenty of sometimes graphic sex as well. And, there are bits and pieces of all kinds of common plot devices, including impotence, surrogate parenthood, secret sex tapes, blackmail, and closeted characters. Finally, and, fittingly for a book from an author who started out as a crime writer, there’s murder and attempted murder.
Truth be told, the above plot outline probably applies to a whole lot of steamy potboilers that often make the best sort of guilty reading pleasures. Judging “Bollywood Wives” by the standards of books by authors like Jacqueline Susann and Sidney Sheldon (I know I’m dating myself here, but this genre isn’t my forte), Alex Khan’s book holds up quite well. The novel, although lengthy, is quite readable, well plotted, and well organized. I could have done without some of the excessive foreshadowing Khan uses, but otherwise, the book flows smoothly and is easy to follow, despite its many characters. Some of them are a bit stereotypical (there’s one actress who should just have the letter “B” for bitch tattooed on her forehead), but, for the most part, they go beyond the stock saints and sinners who often populate this sort of work. The male characters in the book don’t come off all that well, though, as they take turns displaying all kinds of chauvinistic qualities whenever they have to deal with unsettling information. Also, although “Bollywood Wives” isn’t really a mystery, the identity of the culprits was rather well disguised, and the eventual reveal fooled me.
But “Bollywood Wives” isn’t just a typical, slick potboiler with a cast of characters who hail from Mumbai rather than Hollywood. For me, it was my first real immersion in the intricacies of the Indian film industry, and Bollywood and the underlying Indian culture are essential elements that shape the book and make it exotically different and more interesting than other works in this genre. “Bollywood Wives” repeatedly drove home the point that the Indian film industry isn’t just people in colorful costumes bursting into song at a moment’s notice. Instead, Bollywood has all the intrigue and dirty tricks of its American counterpart, but it also reflects Indian culture and that society’s more rigid class structure. Some of the characters in “Bollywood Wives” are essentially film royalty, which, in India, is considerably closer to Buckingham Palace than to the Kardashians. Zara, on the other hand, is a genuine rags-to-riches story, only in her case, the rags are literal. The Bollywood casting couch also rears its ugly head in the book, but the Indian version is far more debasing to its victims than anything encountered in Hollywood.
One major storyline in “Bollywood Wives” is entirely derived from the unique Indian film culture. As the book begins, Zara has been receiving death threats, which culminated in an explosion that killed her driver. These threats originated because, in her last picture, Zara actually had the audacity (on the director’s orders) to sing a song in the middle of an epic in which she played a revered historical figure. Many of Zara’s fans viewed her actions as heresy, and the fallout from the scandal is the main reason for her appearing in London as the book begins. My mind actually boggled at the thought that this type of “scandal” could have such repercussions, especially when contrasted with an American cinema in which popular young actresses can virtually do anything on- or off-screen without consequence.
This type of culture shock occurs several times in “Bollywood Wives”, and usually, Khan hasn’t added these incidents to the storyline merely to add to the book’s novelty value. Instead, the peculiarities of Indian and Bollywood culture shape the plot and the characters, giving them greater depth than you might imagine based on the genre. Since author Khan tells his story primarily from the perspective of the various characters, we don’t get the benefit of an omnipotent narrator delivering a lecture on history and culture, but, instead, we pick up bits and pieces gradually and often with greater impact. I don’t know how accurate “Bollywood Wives” is, but it definitely has the right feel to it, leading me to want to do some more research into that film industry.
I’ve tried to avoid any food references in this review, but I’ll finish up with one. “Bollywood Wives” is a well-made soap-operatic melodrama with a powerful cultural kick to it, like a healthy dose of curry, which gives it a uniquely exotic flavor. Fans of this type of novel or of the film world will find themselves going along with every plot twist and bit of intrigue. Hooray for Bollywood and these wives.
February 21, 2019
Bollywood Wives is a melting pot of thriller, crime, feminism, Real Housewives and Sex & the City, dressed in a sari, and yes, I realise how weird that sounds, but it works!
Beyond the glitter and glamour of Bollywood we find the stark truth of Indian society and Indian men stuck in their conservative ways and we follow a bunch of strong women going against the flow and trying to make their mark.
Full review on my blog: https://frombelgiumwithbooklove.com/b...
Beyond the glitter and glamour of Bollywood we find the stark truth of Indian society and Indian men stuck in their conservative ways and we follow a bunch of strong women going against the flow and trying to make their mark.
Full review on my blog: https://frombelgiumwithbooklove.com/b...
February 11, 2019
This book was so not what I expected! It started off more or less as what I thought it would be, but then took a turn and headed off in a completely different direction!
I loved the insider look into the world of Bollywood. It's a whole different ballgame to Hollywood - in fact it's on a different level entirely, and could probably teach Hollywood a thing or two!
The complex intricacies of the relationships between the Bollywood Wives, their husbands, children, leading ladies, and men is so layered and so convoluted, as can only be when many of them are from communities that are intertwined and interwoven over many years going back to the earliest days of the industry - some even pre-dating that. Throw in a few outsiders and jealousies and misunderstandings are sure to come into play.
Khan makes good use of all of this: the familiarity, together with the suspicion that is introduced when 'others' intrude and 'old school' are unwilling to get to know new ways and newcomers.
Zara Das is the Queen of Bollywood, but has made many enemies with some poor choices made in her most recent film. People are out to get her, and her past is threatening to catch up with her. Because Zara wasn't born into Bollywood royalty. She's risen up through the ranks the hard way, something that many don't know. But someone thinks it's time her fans are told the real story.
And now she's in London with some of Bollywood's biggest names, both on and off camera. The entire crew have come along to create what's touted to be the biggest Bollywood blockbuster ever. And the wives have come too. But some are not just there to watch the action taking place on set. They all seem to have ulterior motives and private agenda's.
The book is a little long ... in fact it takes on rather epic proportions! But it's Bollywood, right?! So it needs the stage to be set, the story to unfold, the action, the drama, the tragedy, and best of all ... don't forget ... the love story (and some utterly toe-curling sex)! Khan dishes it all up in sequin-covered spades!
This is an engrossing read - don't mistake it for a frothy chick-lit (how I hate that term) you might think it is. It is so, so much more than that. It shows a deep understanding of Indian culture (not just Bollywood), as well as what it takes for women to get ahead in a world that is male-dominated, and where dated notions of women's roles are what drive male ego's. It speaks up for strong female role-models, for breaking out of moulds that are set for them in so many areas of life, be it in the home or in the workforce. Khan has done an outstanding job in cleverly creating female characters who will look as if they comply to the norm, but who in actual fact are wily enough to know how to go out and achieve what they want, in a way that will show their strength. They have guts, daring, courage and tenacity. These aren't wallflowers to be trifled with, or to be taken lightly. These women have looked adversity in the eye, challenged it and won.
4 stars for this powerhouse of a book!
I loved the insider look into the world of Bollywood. It's a whole different ballgame to Hollywood - in fact it's on a different level entirely, and could probably teach Hollywood a thing or two!
The complex intricacies of the relationships between the Bollywood Wives, their husbands, children, leading ladies, and men is so layered and so convoluted, as can only be when many of them are from communities that are intertwined and interwoven over many years going back to the earliest days of the industry - some even pre-dating that. Throw in a few outsiders and jealousies and misunderstandings are sure to come into play.
Khan makes good use of all of this: the familiarity, together with the suspicion that is introduced when 'others' intrude and 'old school' are unwilling to get to know new ways and newcomers.
Zara Das is the Queen of Bollywood, but has made many enemies with some poor choices made in her most recent film. People are out to get her, and her past is threatening to catch up with her. Because Zara wasn't born into Bollywood royalty. She's risen up through the ranks the hard way, something that many don't know. But someone thinks it's time her fans are told the real story.
And now she's in London with some of Bollywood's biggest names, both on and off camera. The entire crew have come along to create what's touted to be the biggest Bollywood blockbuster ever. And the wives have come too. But some are not just there to watch the action taking place on set. They all seem to have ulterior motives and private agenda's.
The book is a little long ... in fact it takes on rather epic proportions! But it's Bollywood, right?! So it needs the stage to be set, the story to unfold, the action, the drama, the tragedy, and best of all ... don't forget ... the love story (and some utterly toe-curling sex)! Khan dishes it all up in sequin-covered spades!
This is an engrossing read - don't mistake it for a frothy chick-lit (how I hate that term) you might think it is. It is so, so much more than that. It shows a deep understanding of Indian culture (not just Bollywood), as well as what it takes for women to get ahead in a world that is male-dominated, and where dated notions of women's roles are what drive male ego's. It speaks up for strong female role-models, for breaking out of moulds that are set for them in so many areas of life, be it in the home or in the workforce. Khan has done an outstanding job in cleverly creating female characters who will look as if they comply to the norm, but who in actual fact are wily enough to know how to go out and achieve what they want, in a way that will show their strength. They have guts, daring, courage and tenacity. These aren't wallflowers to be trifled with, or to be taken lightly. These women have looked adversity in the eye, challenged it and won.
4 stars for this powerhouse of a book!
October 22, 2019
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and Hera Books for this free copy.
First off, the fact that Khan mentioned Aishwarya Rai and Priyanka Chopra as inspirations for the main character Zara Das to aspire to be like, well that was one of my favorite parts. Why? Because I freaking love both of these women and I swear they need more credit than they get and not just for their beauty.
Aishwarya Rai
Priyanka Chopra
Second, I really liked that Khan was able to show two different sides of Zara, even though she was really great at hiding her true self when she needed to – which was pretty much all the time. When I was reading this, I was specifically thinking about how the premise of Zara’s origin story and her climb to the top reminded me or something else I either read or watched, but I unfortunately forgot what I was thinking about. The perks of growing old, I guess.
But I digress.
Seeing – even briefly – how much Zara had to sacrifice and do to get to the status that she was at in the beginning of the book, and the lengths that she would go to in order to maintain that status was almost awe inspiring. I feel like it makes a morally grey and almost unrootable character like Zara a little bit worth cheering for. There were so many times where I actually didn’t like her, especially because of how often she would refer to other bollywood actresses or wives or anyone else as bitches or whatever. It kind of got old for me, but I guess that’s just how it is for her. That’s her word, I guess.
The other part that intrigued me about this novel was the whole murder mystery aspect of it, and the fact that it wasn’t in her home turf of Mumbai. I think being in a foreign location to film a movie and having to deal with a murder that someone wants to pin on you makes for some juicy time. Especially since Zara is not a stranger to the constant death threats, and even an attempt on her life at a premiere of one of her movies. It’s sad that the incident was deadly – not for Zara but for someone on her staff – and that somehow Zara has had to steel herself from actually feeling some sort of emotion about it. Is that strength or cowardice? I can’t really say. But in this world, I feel like Zara being truthful and vulnerable to her fears would have had her slaughtered by the press and others in the industry before she could even blink.
This was definitely an interesting novel, and I’m curious to see what else Khan will write in the future.
First off, the fact that Khan mentioned Aishwarya Rai and Priyanka Chopra as inspirations for the main character Zara Das to aspire to be like, well that was one of my favorite parts. Why? Because I freaking love both of these women and I swear they need more credit than they get and not just for their beauty.
Aishwarya Rai
Priyanka Chopra
Second, I really liked that Khan was able to show two different sides of Zara, even though she was really great at hiding her true self when she needed to – which was pretty much all the time. When I was reading this, I was specifically thinking about how the premise of Zara’s origin story and her climb to the top reminded me or something else I either read or watched, but I unfortunately forgot what I was thinking about. The perks of growing old, I guess.
But I digress.
Seeing – even briefly – how much Zara had to sacrifice and do to get to the status that she was at in the beginning of the book, and the lengths that she would go to in order to maintain that status was almost awe inspiring. I feel like it makes a morally grey and almost unrootable character like Zara a little bit worth cheering for. There were so many times where I actually didn’t like her, especially because of how often she would refer to other bollywood actresses or wives or anyone else as bitches or whatever. It kind of got old for me, but I guess that’s just how it is for her. That’s her word, I guess.
The other part that intrigued me about this novel was the whole murder mystery aspect of it, and the fact that it wasn’t in her home turf of Mumbai. I think being in a foreign location to film a movie and having to deal with a murder that someone wants to pin on you makes for some juicy time. Especially since Zara is not a stranger to the constant death threats, and even an attempt on her life at a premiere of one of her movies. It’s sad that the incident was deadly – not for Zara but for someone on her staff – and that somehow Zara has had to steel herself from actually feeling some sort of emotion about it. Is that strength or cowardice? I can’t really say. But in this world, I feel like Zara being truthful and vulnerable to her fears would have had her slaughtered by the press and others in the industry before she could even blink.
This was definitely an interesting novel, and I’m curious to see what else Khan will write in the future.
March 9, 2019
Bollywood Wives by Alex Khan has been described as sexy, addictive and gripping ... well just so you know ... it is all three of those things and more.
It's not often you get a UK crime fiction novel with a cover like this, is it? And for me this is just the icing on a rather delectable cake. This story is refreshingly different from anything else out there and takes British crime fiction into new territory. It's also a damn good read.
Khan takes us into the world of Bollywood superstar Zara Das where it's not all glamour, make-up and designer clothes (although there is a fair amount of that too). Privy to the bitchiness, the tension, the malaise that lingers malevolently just beneath the surface and often breaks through, we are soon draw into a fragile world that looks set to implode.
Khan skillfully draws a well rounded flawed, yet charismatic character in Zara by drip feeding snippets of her backstory into the mix of up market rivalry and jealousy. Having narrowly escaped a murder attempt after acting in a controversial role in Bollywood, Zara flees to London to work opposite a sought after leading man in a remake of Pride and Prejudice.
Her life under threat, brooding bodyguard Dan heading a team that surrounds her and further attempts on her life leave Zara in need of friends - but all she has are the Bollywood Wives - the directors wife Jackie, Zara's on screen lover's wife Sasha and Rani, the wife of prominent elder statesman actor Ajay
This is a quick and enthusiastic read filled with high drama and over the top behavior tempered by death threats and underlying uncertainties. As a character Zara 's story is the real hook. Who doesn't love a rags to riches story? But like all good rags to riches stories there are always those who with to harm you.
Khan brings perception and humour to the glamorous world he has set his novel in - there were some real full on chortle moments as his characters let loose as only the wealthy and indulged can. The characters all carry secrets and it is these that bring a commonality between the reader and the novel. Strip away the glitz, glitter and glamour and many of these human issues could play out equally well on the set of Eastenders or Corrie. Khan shows us that human nature is the same the world over, but it is oh so refreshing to read about it as if the plot was one massive Bollywood, star studded extravaganza.
Oh.... I nearly forgot ... Sex!
Khan brings the sexy juiciness to the whole suburban (Indian) theme by not shying away from the sex scenes ... and how could he when sex and jealousy and how sex is used is one of the prevailing themes through the novel and is pivotal to the tense, narcissistic, atmosphere?
It's not often you get a UK crime fiction novel with a cover like this, is it? And for me this is just the icing on a rather delectable cake. This story is refreshingly different from anything else out there and takes British crime fiction into new territory. It's also a damn good read.
Khan takes us into the world of Bollywood superstar Zara Das where it's not all glamour, make-up and designer clothes (although there is a fair amount of that too). Privy to the bitchiness, the tension, the malaise that lingers malevolently just beneath the surface and often breaks through, we are soon draw into a fragile world that looks set to implode.
Khan skillfully draws a well rounded flawed, yet charismatic character in Zara by drip feeding snippets of her backstory into the mix of up market rivalry and jealousy. Having narrowly escaped a murder attempt after acting in a controversial role in Bollywood, Zara flees to London to work opposite a sought after leading man in a remake of Pride and Prejudice.
Her life under threat, brooding bodyguard Dan heading a team that surrounds her and further attempts on her life leave Zara in need of friends - but all she has are the Bollywood Wives - the directors wife Jackie, Zara's on screen lover's wife Sasha and Rani, the wife of prominent elder statesman actor Ajay
This is a quick and enthusiastic read filled with high drama and over the top behavior tempered by death threats and underlying uncertainties. As a character Zara 's story is the real hook. Who doesn't love a rags to riches story? But like all good rags to riches stories there are always those who with to harm you.
Khan brings perception and humour to the glamorous world he has set his novel in - there were some real full on chortle moments as his characters let loose as only the wealthy and indulged can. The characters all carry secrets and it is these that bring a commonality between the reader and the novel. Strip away the glitz, glitter and glamour and many of these human issues could play out equally well on the set of Eastenders or Corrie. Khan shows us that human nature is the same the world over, but it is oh so refreshing to read about it as if the plot was one massive Bollywood, star studded extravaganza.
Oh.... I nearly forgot ... Sex!
Khan brings the sexy juiciness to the whole suburban (Indian) theme by not shying away from the sex scenes ... and how could he when sex and jealousy and how sex is used is one of the prevailing themes through the novel and is pivotal to the tense, narcissistic, atmosphere?
February 19, 2019
My full review at https://wp.me/pajm6f-jI
Alex Khan's new Bollywood Wives is dipped in the style and elements of Bollywood that I could literally feel the music and dance oozing from the book. Being an Indian, one doesn't have to do a lot of explaining to us about Bollywood and it's popular culture. So when I first read the plot, I knew I had to read it! I really enjoyed Alex's descriptions of a Bollywood flick and how it really works in India. The riches to rag story is almost true that I can actually think so many actors whose life must have been this book itself!
From Mumbai to London, the story quickly swifts when Zara and her crew start to shoot a new movie overseas. Zara is still shaken by the tragic bombing of her car and the death of her driver. She even visits his family and offers to help them, unknown to the press. They still call her by names, and hate her for portraying the Indian queen. With the threats of violence and anger still coming her way, she feels just a bit secured having her rugged bodyguard along with her.
Bollywood Wives was a fun and interesting read that I did not want to end. For me, it felt like a true story. Credits to Alex's depiction of the reality and building the intrigue by using the juicy bits in the right amount - scandal, sex, violence, music and luxury! You also get a better insight of the Bollywood and the pressure it builds on the hardworking employees of the industry. Bollywood is fierce, and doesn't allow weak hearted to enter and survive! It's full of competition and only the mightiest of all, survives longer! For women, it's tougher than ever and Zara is an uplifting, and exciting woman of her kind!
I am a huge fan of Jackie COllins. I grew up reading all of her collections and could instantly relate this book with some of her bestsellers. The pace is fast and consistent that one could actually enjoy the rhythm of Bollywood in every single of the book!
Alex Khan's new Bollywood Wives is dipped in the style and elements of Bollywood that I could literally feel the music and dance oozing from the book. Being an Indian, one doesn't have to do a lot of explaining to us about Bollywood and it's popular culture. So when I first read the plot, I knew I had to read it! I really enjoyed Alex's descriptions of a Bollywood flick and how it really works in India. The riches to rag story is almost true that I can actually think so many actors whose life must have been this book itself!
From Mumbai to London, the story quickly swifts when Zara and her crew start to shoot a new movie overseas. Zara is still shaken by the tragic bombing of her car and the death of her driver. She even visits his family and offers to help them, unknown to the press. They still call her by names, and hate her for portraying the Indian queen. With the threats of violence and anger still coming her way, she feels just a bit secured having her rugged bodyguard along with her.
Bollywood Wives was a fun and interesting read that I did not want to end. For me, it felt like a true story. Credits to Alex's depiction of the reality and building the intrigue by using the juicy bits in the right amount - scandal, sex, violence, music and luxury! You also get a better insight of the Bollywood and the pressure it builds on the hardworking employees of the industry. Bollywood is fierce, and doesn't allow weak hearted to enter and survive! It's full of competition and only the mightiest of all, survives longer! For women, it's tougher than ever and Zara is an uplifting, and exciting woman of her kind!
I am a huge fan of Jackie COllins. I grew up reading all of her collections and could instantly relate this book with some of her bestsellers. The pace is fast and consistent that one could actually enjoy the rhythm of Bollywood in every single of the book!
February 6, 2019
This is a great story told around the life of the Bollywood stars, how they have succeeded and what are they capable to do to maintain their popularity, maybe killing, lying and manipulating? Ready for a fast trip to the glamorous world?
I can not say that this is the type of books I read, but it intrigued me discovering a little bit of the Bollywood world and their backstage, their dreams and their hopes; it had been a surprising and tumultuous read, because not all the stars shine…
This is the story of Zara and all the crew that will accompany her to the new Bollywood movie; someone is trying to scare her and attempt on her life; but she is not ready to hide, she wants the world to accept her and maintain her diva status. The only problem is that she is starting to feel the pressure of being a cold diva so maybe it will be the moment to change and to start trusting other people…
The story is not only based on Zara’s life but all the other women surrounding her, their stories and problems. I don’t want to tell much about them, it’s more interesting if you read their story!
I was quite surprised how the author explains the Indian society, very classical and close minded, but all the characters on the book are females trying to break the chains their life had been keeping them.
This had been a feminist read, on how women are kept behind their husbands/fathers/men in their life, and how is it on our hands to change our path, where women are ready to follow their dreams instead of keeping quiet. I know lately this is a theme that is in everybody’s talks, but, I think that if we don’t talk about it there will never be a big change!
Ready to discover the dark and light side of Bollywood?
I can not say that this is the type of books I read, but it intrigued me discovering a little bit of the Bollywood world and their backstage, their dreams and their hopes; it had been a surprising and tumultuous read, because not all the stars shine…
This is the story of Zara and all the crew that will accompany her to the new Bollywood movie; someone is trying to scare her and attempt on her life; but she is not ready to hide, she wants the world to accept her and maintain her diva status. The only problem is that she is starting to feel the pressure of being a cold diva so maybe it will be the moment to change and to start trusting other people…
The story is not only based on Zara’s life but all the other women surrounding her, their stories and problems. I don’t want to tell much about them, it’s more interesting if you read their story!
I was quite surprised how the author explains the Indian society, very classical and close minded, but all the characters on the book are females trying to break the chains their life had been keeping them.
This had been a feminist read, on how women are kept behind their husbands/fathers/men in their life, and how is it on our hands to change our path, where women are ready to follow their dreams instead of keeping quiet. I know lately this is a theme that is in everybody’s talks, but, I think that if we don’t talk about it there will never be a big change!
Ready to discover the dark and light side of Bollywood?
August 28, 2021
Bollywood wives vs Hollywood wives. They are all married to powerful men in the film industry and none of them shy away from a little scandal and want to keep it hidden from the outside world. What happens in H(B)ollywood stays there, but sometimes things are leaked and that's when it all explodes. Happy families suddenly appear to be something else altogether. Long standing marriages are broken of on the verge of being broken.
When you are famous all eyes are on you. Everybody wants to know everything there is to know about you and when it's something juicy they even want it more. Sometimes you had to do things you did not want to and those are the things you want to keep hidden in a box and throw the key as far away as humanly possible. It seems though someone has kept them hidden too, but threatens to reveal them to all and sundry...
Does true love exist behind the scenes? It most certainly does. They struggle with the same things ’normal’ people do, but it’s a lot harder when the press is lurking everywhere.
Being famous must be great… sometimes. Being on the top must be great too… sometimes. Getting to the top is not easy when you don’t have money to back you up. Staying on top is a lot of hard work too, each and every day. What some people wouldn’t do to stay there…
A good story I enjoyed reading although I have to admit I sometimes struggled with the names. Must be my old age LOL.
Did I expect this ending? No, not at all. I had something different in mind. 😊 4 stars
Thank you
When you are famous all eyes are on you. Everybody wants to know everything there is to know about you and when it's something juicy they even want it more. Sometimes you had to do things you did not want to and those are the things you want to keep hidden in a box and throw the key as far away as humanly possible. It seems though someone has kept them hidden too, but threatens to reveal them to all and sundry...
Does true love exist behind the scenes? It most certainly does. They struggle with the same things ’normal’ people do, but it’s a lot harder when the press is lurking everywhere.
Being famous must be great… sometimes. Being on the top must be great too… sometimes. Getting to the top is not easy when you don’t have money to back you up. Staying on top is a lot of hard work too, each and every day. What some people wouldn’t do to stay there…
A good story I enjoyed reading although I have to admit I sometimes struggled with the names. Must be my old age LOL.
Did I expect this ending? No, not at all. I had something different in mind. 😊 4 stars
Thank you
February 2, 2019
I love stories like this and couldn’t wait to read it. Had it not been for the fact I had to sleep I would have read this in one sitting. Instead I picked it up again this morning and read until I was done.
I found myself not liking the character of Zara for the first part of the book, she came across as a proper bitch if I’m being honest. I soon found myself warming to her though as the book went on. I loved the characters of Sasha, Rani and Jackie as their stories began to be told. Every one of them had been affected in different ways by the world they lived in and were trying to get through life as best they could. But sometimes that isn’t enough and they each made decisions during the story that would change their lives forever. I was rooting for them all so much.
The male characters were so different throughout, but I loved reading about them as well for what they brought to the overall story.
I felt that the end of the story wasn’t the end of the characters’ story however. In particular I feel there is more to hear from Dan, I was gutted with the way things went. Mind you, I can’t blame him given what he discovered. What a shocker that was. I also feel that the part of the story detailing Zara’s brother deserves to be dealt with. That is only my personal thoughts of course, and should the author decide to bring us more I for one will be waiting with bated breath.
Many thanks to Hera and Netgalley for providing a copy.
I found myself not liking the character of Zara for the first part of the book, she came across as a proper bitch if I’m being honest. I soon found myself warming to her though as the book went on. I loved the characters of Sasha, Rani and Jackie as their stories began to be told. Every one of them had been affected in different ways by the world they lived in and were trying to get through life as best they could. But sometimes that isn’t enough and they each made decisions during the story that would change their lives forever. I was rooting for them all so much.
The male characters were so different throughout, but I loved reading about them as well for what they brought to the overall story.
I felt that the end of the story wasn’t the end of the characters’ story however. In particular I feel there is more to hear from Dan, I was gutted with the way things went. Mind you, I can’t blame him given what he discovered. What a shocker that was. I also feel that the part of the story detailing Zara’s brother deserves to be dealt with. That is only my personal thoughts of course, and should the author decide to bring us more I for one will be waiting with bated breath.
Many thanks to Hera and Netgalley for providing a copy.
October 21, 2019
This is a story full of contrasts, It opens up the Bollywood film world, and is fascinating to read, but there is a darker side to this book. Intelligent commentary on Indian society, and the deceit and depravity that simmers below Bollywood’s glamour and ostentatious wealth.
There is a wonderful cast of characters, including Zara, who the story revolves around. Despite her celebrity status, she has secrets, and these make her vulnerable. The writing style is informative and inclusive, you feel part of what is happening, even though most of the readers will have little experience of such a glamorous, dangerous world.
On one level this a bonkbuster romance, snapshots of lives, full of sex, secrets and money, but underneath there is a hidden noir world of abuse and desperation. The thriller is well-plotted and gives the story additional depth and interest.
The ending is poignant but ultimately hopeful, as people who can make a difference and help others not to suffer, as they did, finally find the courage to act.
An insightful look at an important twenty-first-century phenomenon, with a clever fusion of genres, and believable, complex characters.
I received a copy of this book from Hera Books in return for an honest review.
There is a wonderful cast of characters, including Zara, who the story revolves around. Despite her celebrity status, she has secrets, and these make her vulnerable. The writing style is informative and inclusive, you feel part of what is happening, even though most of the readers will have little experience of such a glamorous, dangerous world.
On one level this a bonkbuster romance, snapshots of lives, full of sex, secrets and money, but underneath there is a hidden noir world of abuse and desperation. The thriller is well-plotted and gives the story additional depth and interest.
The ending is poignant but ultimately hopeful, as people who can make a difference and help others not to suffer, as they did, finally find the courage to act.
An insightful look at an important twenty-first-century phenomenon, with a clever fusion of genres, and believable, complex characters.
I received a copy of this book from Hera Books in return for an honest review.
August 30, 2022
i enjoyed reading this novel.
it is actually a trashy novel and i like reading trashy novels.
it is about a woman called zara das who is bollywoods hottest actress and she comes to mumbai , india and she starts working over there.
her family disowns her and she dosent know what to do.
she is followed and stalked by the paparazzi where ever she goes.
she then goes to london,england where a bollywood version of pride and prejudice is being shot and
it is also called kismet india.
there are details given about mumbai,india and london,england.
she works in that film and receives death threats every day and there is poison put in her makeup and she does not know what to do.
she acts alongside many bollywood stars and get famous.
she is currently in london and then there is a dead body found in her hotel room and there is chaos every where and the people want to find out that who is behind this murder and want to bring him to justice as soon as possible.
the novel revolves around zara das and her bollywood career and about the actors she interacts with.
in the end , she goes back to india and starts acting again.
this novel was nice and also very funny.
it is actually a trashy novel and i like reading trashy novels.
it is about a woman called zara das who is bollywoods hottest actress and she comes to mumbai , india and she starts working over there.
her family disowns her and she dosent know what to do.
she is followed and stalked by the paparazzi where ever she goes.
she then goes to london,england where a bollywood version of pride and prejudice is being shot and
it is also called kismet india.
there are details given about mumbai,india and london,england.
she works in that film and receives death threats every day and there is poison put in her makeup and she does not know what to do.
she acts alongside many bollywood stars and get famous.
she is currently in london and then there is a dead body found in her hotel room and there is chaos every where and the people want to find out that who is behind this murder and want to bring him to justice as soon as possible.
the novel revolves around zara das and her bollywood career and about the actors she interacts with.
in the end , she goes back to india and starts acting again.
this novel was nice and also very funny.
October 17, 2019
The biggest scandals happen off-camera...
Zara Das is Bollywood’s hottest property, her every move watched by the eyes of the press. Riding high from the success of a string of blockbusters, she has the world at her feet, but the scandal from her latest film threatens to dethrone her as Bollywood’s reigning queen.
So when superstar director Raj Dillon stages a lavish retelling of Pride and Prejudice, moving the shoot from Mumbai’s soundstages to London, Zara knows this is the role that could put her back on top. Coming with them are the Bollywood Wives - Jackie, Sasha, and Rani - bringing their own off-screen drama.
Alex Caan/Khan writes a brilliant thirller with a difference about Bollywood and glamour it was brilliant and gripping and it blow me away a heartbreaking thirller that will have you on a rollocoster ride Zara Das stills the show an ending that was a nail biting all an all a blockbuster will be reading more from this talented author ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Zara Das is Bollywood’s hottest property, her every move watched by the eyes of the press. Riding high from the success of a string of blockbusters, she has the world at her feet, but the scandal from her latest film threatens to dethrone her as Bollywood’s reigning queen.
So when superstar director Raj Dillon stages a lavish retelling of Pride and Prejudice, moving the shoot from Mumbai’s soundstages to London, Zara knows this is the role that could put her back on top. Coming with them are the Bollywood Wives - Jackie, Sasha, and Rani - bringing their own off-screen drama.
Alex Caan/Khan writes a brilliant thirller with a difference about Bollywood and glamour it was brilliant and gripping and it blow me away a heartbreaking thirller that will have you on a rollocoster ride Zara Das stills the show an ending that was a nail biting all an all a blockbuster will be reading more from this talented author ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 10, 2019
If you are looking for a book that is full of suspense, great characters, mystery, tension and sex a plenty then there is every chance that Bollywood Wives is just what you need on your bookshelf. This is a sexy, thrilling and often tense story which brings Bollywood to London and will keep readers hooked from the very explosive start.
I think with Bollywood Wives that it is safe to say that you may take the boy out of the thriller genre, but you can't take the thriller genre out of the boy. The central theme of the story, aside from filming of the big budget Bollywood movie, is Zara's bid to salvage her career whilst staying safe from a serious threat to her life, caused by the scandal which surrounded her last movie. From the opening chapter which literally kicks things off with a bang, you know that Zara is a woman with a target on her back. What you don't know is just who is the person taking aim. There are plenty of people with reason to hold a grudge, and it is here that Alex Khan's pedigree as a thriller writer stands out as he gives the reader plenty of clues, plenty of suspects, but holds back the vital elements which will allow you to point the finger at any one person, whilst keeping you alert, waiting to see what will happen next.
I love the way in which the world of Bollywood is brought to life in this book, the sense of scale and even grandeur that the author is able to bring to the pages in describing the whole set up for the movie. Perhaps little more than a big budget Hollywood movie would similarly manage, but there is that extra sense of glamour and opulence about Bollywood which is echoed in the lifestyles of the people who inhabit that world. And there are some truly colourful characters inhabiting the pages of this book too, people whose lives are slowly laid bare for the reader. Those who have loved and lost, those who have never known how to love, and those that use love, and their body, as a weapon, or perhaps a tool, to get exactly what they want.
I love a novel with strong female leads and it really is the women who rule in this novel. As well as Zara, you have the 'Bollywood Wives', Jackie, Sasha, Rani and (ex-wife) Laila. They each have their part to play, be it supporting their husbands, or taking their place in the heart of the movie. They are far from weak, although Sasha is perhaps the most timid amongst them. She is full of ambition but has not yet been able to realise it, taking a backseat to her actor husband. The book explores that strange kinship between the women and how they strive to find their own path for varying different reasons. Zara sits on the outside of this group, however you do see a thawing in relations as the story progresses. Zara is a hard character to get to like, quite aloof and almost antagonistic at times, but the more you understand about Zara, the more sympathetic you become and her story betrays the darker side of all the glitz and glamour that is seen in front of the camera.
And yes ... There is sex. Quite a bit of it to be fair. Between husbands and wives. Between colleagues. Between young wannabe starlets and older men who really should know better ... Steamy, sexy and certain to appeal to those who love a bit of romance and passion in their novels, there are plenty of scenes to titillate and cause a few blushes. And there is chemistry a plenty between Zara and her bodyguard Dan. I really kind of liked Dan, even if he was quite abrupt and dismissive of Zara, misunderstanding her in the same way the reader will. You can feel the tension between them, it leaps off the page, Alex Khan has pitched it just right, keeping the reader on edge wondering when or even if, anything will happen.
Tense, sexy and full of glamour, it's a perfect blend of intrigue and passion and is set to be a big hit with readers who like their thrillers on the sexy side.
I think with Bollywood Wives that it is safe to say that you may take the boy out of the thriller genre, but you can't take the thriller genre out of the boy. The central theme of the story, aside from filming of the big budget Bollywood movie, is Zara's bid to salvage her career whilst staying safe from a serious threat to her life, caused by the scandal which surrounded her last movie. From the opening chapter which literally kicks things off with a bang, you know that Zara is a woman with a target on her back. What you don't know is just who is the person taking aim. There are plenty of people with reason to hold a grudge, and it is here that Alex Khan's pedigree as a thriller writer stands out as he gives the reader plenty of clues, plenty of suspects, but holds back the vital elements which will allow you to point the finger at any one person, whilst keeping you alert, waiting to see what will happen next.
I love the way in which the world of Bollywood is brought to life in this book, the sense of scale and even grandeur that the author is able to bring to the pages in describing the whole set up for the movie. Perhaps little more than a big budget Hollywood movie would similarly manage, but there is that extra sense of glamour and opulence about Bollywood which is echoed in the lifestyles of the people who inhabit that world. And there are some truly colourful characters inhabiting the pages of this book too, people whose lives are slowly laid bare for the reader. Those who have loved and lost, those who have never known how to love, and those that use love, and their body, as a weapon, or perhaps a tool, to get exactly what they want.
I love a novel with strong female leads and it really is the women who rule in this novel. As well as Zara, you have the 'Bollywood Wives', Jackie, Sasha, Rani and (ex-wife) Laila. They each have their part to play, be it supporting their husbands, or taking their place in the heart of the movie. They are far from weak, although Sasha is perhaps the most timid amongst them. She is full of ambition but has not yet been able to realise it, taking a backseat to her actor husband. The book explores that strange kinship between the women and how they strive to find their own path for varying different reasons. Zara sits on the outside of this group, however you do see a thawing in relations as the story progresses. Zara is a hard character to get to like, quite aloof and almost antagonistic at times, but the more you understand about Zara, the more sympathetic you become and her story betrays the darker side of all the glitz and glamour that is seen in front of the camera.
And yes ... There is sex. Quite a bit of it to be fair. Between husbands and wives. Between colleagues. Between young wannabe starlets and older men who really should know better ... Steamy, sexy and certain to appeal to those who love a bit of romance and passion in their novels, there are plenty of scenes to titillate and cause a few blushes. And there is chemistry a plenty between Zara and her bodyguard Dan. I really kind of liked Dan, even if he was quite abrupt and dismissive of Zara, misunderstanding her in the same way the reader will. You can feel the tension between them, it leaps off the page, Alex Khan has pitched it just right, keeping the reader on edge wondering when or even if, anything will happen.
Tense, sexy and full of glamour, it's a perfect blend of intrigue and passion and is set to be a big hit with readers who like their thrillers on the sexy side.
October 20, 2019
I would usually moan about Bollywood Wives slow start, and I make no secret of my dislike of them, but I enjoyed the book so much, that I can live with it because the story is truly worth it.
I like a story that has plenty happening, and I got that, all fitted into a nice sized book. Seriously, this book is like the Tardis. It has so much quality content packed in.
One thing that I did struggle with was the amount of characters but I have had this problem before and it may well be my memory at fault. I did get to grips with everyone eventually.
I really do feel that I have been on a journey through reading this fabulous story. I don't want to give too much away but the description rich writing style really carried me away.
I like a story that has plenty happening, and I got that, all fitted into a nice sized book. Seriously, this book is like the Tardis. It has so much quality content packed in.
One thing that I did struggle with was the amount of characters but I have had this problem before and it may well be my memory at fault. I did get to grips with everyone eventually.
I really do feel that I have been on a journey through reading this fabulous story. I don't want to give too much away but the description rich writing style really carried me away.
March 28, 2019
Having never heard of this writer, I had no expectations whatsoever. So, I was pleasantly surprised at discovering a well written, fairly well researched story about Bollywood and its shenanigans. I would have been happy to give 4 stars if I didn’t feel so let down by the end. It was rushed, inconsistent and terribly disappointing! Mr Khan, you have the writing chops but you need to work at better plot lines.
October 17, 2019
What a pleasant surprise this book was!
After reading the synopsis I had this idea of the story in my mind, but the more I read, the less the story in my mind and the actual story matched!
In first instance, the story is about Zara Das, the biggest Bollywood actress at the moment. She’s the victim of a scandal...
So she accepts to shoot a remake of Pride & Prejudice à la Bollywood in London.
And here we get to meet several other women, being also part in the whole Bollywood world.
It was great to read how each power couple has its own demons and hides it all for the world. It proves again that the world cinema is not all glitter and glamour.
In the end, those famous persons are just as regular as us.
For me, it was like reading a soap opera. I’m not saying this in a bad way, but all I want to say is that so many things happens. When one issue is resolved, the next thing is lurking behind the corner and it’s even bigger and insurmountable...
Every character has a secret and works with a hidden agenda in some way.
And this aspect made me binge read this book, as I just couldn’t put it away and needed to know what would happen next!
The author wrote an amazing story, keeping you hooked once you’re in it.
It’s such an easy reading, that despite the urgence of knowing, it was a pleasure being submerged in the Bollywood world.
A real page turner, and when the next part of the serie comes out, I’ll be there to read it too!
November 21, 2021
Bollywood Wives is an exciting novel that portrayed the Bollywood industry and followed the journeys of four empowering women. This novel kept me on my toes with the mystery surrounding a crime and I definitely didn’t expect the ending! I would recommend this book for anyone that likes thriller, crime and drama genres (alongside some steamy scenes 😉)! Great read, cannot wait to explore more novels written by Alex Khan.
September 30, 2024
This was perhaps the most different and fascinating book I've read this year. As a lover of Bollywood movies, it was so refreshing to read a different take, one that shows not only the glamour, but also the human realness that we don't see when watching the movies.
At times I hated each one of the characters, but by the end, I truly felt myself wishing I could share friendship with each one of them. Truly a stunning book!
At times I hated each one of the characters, but by the end, I truly felt myself wishing I could share friendship with each one of them. Truly a stunning book!
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