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Lies and Other Love Languages
From the bestselling author of The Vibrant Years comes an emotional story of three women navigating ugly truths and safe lies with only love to guide them on a journey of motherhood, friendship, and life.
Bestselling advice columnist Vandy Guru built her career teaching others how to live honestly and courageously, but after the loss of her beloved husband, Vandy’s public veneer can barely conceal her grief. When her beloved daughter Mallika suddenly disappears and her estranged childhood best friend Rani returns, stirring up long-buried secrets, Vandy’s carefully crafted life feels at risk.
Aspiring choreographer Mallika Guru is tired of failure. When another audition ends in rejection, she signs up for a genetic study to find out why she’s so different from her accomplished family. But the results reveal her whole life to be a lie, and Rani seems to be the only one who knows the truth.
Rani Parekh sacrificed everything for Vandy once. But to hold on to the life she’s rebuilt, she must confront her troubled history and face Vandy and Mallika. Join these three extraordinary women as they journey from LA to Mumbai on an incredible path of discovery, hope, and love.
Bestselling advice columnist Vandy Guru built her career teaching others how to live honestly and courageously, but after the loss of her beloved husband, Vandy’s public veneer can barely conceal her grief. When her beloved daughter Mallika suddenly disappears and her estranged childhood best friend Rani returns, stirring up long-buried secrets, Vandy’s carefully crafted life feels at risk.
Aspiring choreographer Mallika Guru is tired of failure. When another audition ends in rejection, she signs up for a genetic study to find out why she’s so different from her accomplished family. But the results reveal her whole life to be a lie, and Rani seems to be the only one who knows the truth.
Rani Parekh sacrificed everything for Vandy once. But to hold on to the life she’s rebuilt, she must confront her troubled history and face Vandy and Mallika. Join these three extraordinary women as they journey from LA to Mumbai on an incredible path of discovery, hope, and love.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2023
1018 people are currently reading
7803 people want to read
About the author
Sonali Dev
17 books3,233 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 297 reviews
November 6, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Trigger Warnings: Infertility, Multiple Miscarriages
A mother-daughter-focused contemporary that hops from the different characters to different time periods for readers to understand the full story.
I find myself on the 3.0 line. The book made me feel things when I was reading it, but I now feel very ambivalent about the book as I review it. The storyline was predictable as to why Vandy and Rani were not on speaking terms. Mallika, as a character, was one that I couldn't relate to very much. I know I should have felt compassion for her desire to uncover her parent's secrets. But the majority part of my brain was "Girl, aside from this, haven't you been given a pretty good life? What exactly are YOU lacking?" Personally, it felt as if she was making Rani become something in her life that she really wasn't supposed to be. So the story was better for me when it just focused on the two friends. Honestly, Vandy's story was too close to my own so it felt traumatizing. I wish I had a Rani!
Would I recommend it? Depends on the situation, depends on the reader.
Expected Publication 26/09/23
Goodreads Review 14/09/23
#LiesandOtherLoveLanguages #NetGalley
Trigger Warnings: Infertility, Multiple Miscarriages
A mother-daughter-focused contemporary that hops from the different characters to different time periods for readers to understand the full story.
I find myself on the 3.0 line. The book made me feel things when I was reading it, but I now feel very ambivalent about the book as I review it. The storyline was predictable as to why Vandy and Rani were not on speaking terms. Mallika, as a character, was one that I couldn't relate to very much. I know I should have felt compassion for her desire to uncover her parent's secrets. But the majority part of my brain was "Girl, aside from this, haven't you been given a pretty good life? What exactly are YOU lacking?" Personally, it felt as if she was making Rani become something in her life that she really wasn't supposed to be. So the story was better for me when it just focused on the two friends. Honestly, Vandy's story was too close to my own so it felt traumatizing. I wish I had a Rani!
Would I recommend it? Depends on the situation, depends on the reader.
Expected Publication 26/09/23
Goodreads Review 14/09/23
#LiesandOtherLoveLanguages #NetGalley
October 11, 2023
I don’t know how to feel…
May 14, 2023
I'm sad to say that, unlike Sonali Dev's last book (The Vibrant Years), I didn't love this one 😕. In the first part of the book, when the flashback chapters were about how Rani and Vandy met and their friendship through their teen years, I loved both characters and was anxious to find out what led to them not having a relationship in their current lives. I liked Rani, in particular. Reading the perspective of Rani as a child, coming from an impoverished and abusive situation in India and learning to trust people in a new country through the relationship she develops with "Vinny" was really moving. As the relationship progressed through time, though, I started to guess how things were going to play out with them and I started to kind of hate Vandy.
The more we learn about Vandy's life, the more we learn about how MUCH she has always had. Her entire life was built upon a large amount of embedded privilege -- she grew up never having to worry about money, had present and loving parents, found a career she loves and that pays her big money, and married the first guy she fell in love with (and the author definitely wants us to know that they were the happiest of all couples, super in love). Apparently, Vandy is this intensely compassionate person who always thinks of others before herself, but she was in a position of power over Rani from the moment they met, and she eventually takes advantage of that position. I just couldn't be okay with that. Some of the ick I felt about Vandy's use of her privilege was magnified when I read Mallika's chapters, and never really came around to liking her character. Her reactions to not having things in her life go 100% perfectly veered toward histrionic, and it made it hard to buy into her as someone who would inspire so much constant, sincere compassion from others and supposed romantic devotion from her love interest. I definitely will give Sonali Dev another shot, will keep snapping up her books as soon as they come out, but this one was just a miss for me. Womp womp.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for letting me read an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
The more we learn about Vandy's life, the more we learn about how MUCH she has always had. Her entire life was built upon a large amount of embedded privilege -- she grew up never having to worry about money, had present and loving parents, found a career she loves and that pays her big money, and married the first guy she fell in love with (and the author definitely wants us to know that they were the happiest of all couples, super in love). Apparently, Vandy is this intensely compassionate person who always thinks of others before herself, but she was in a position of power over Rani from the moment they met, and she eventually takes advantage of that position. I just couldn't be okay with that. Some of the ick I felt about Vandy's use of her privilege was magnified when I read Mallika's chapters, and never really came around to liking her character. Her reactions to not having things in her life go 100% perfectly veered toward histrionic, and it made it hard to buy into her as someone who would inspire so much constant, sincere compassion from others and supposed romantic devotion from her love interest. I definitely will give Sonali Dev another shot, will keep snapping up her books as soon as they come out, but this one was just a miss for me. Womp womp.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for letting me read an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
August 20, 2025
I did not like how the author started each chapter with the date and time frame, which was bolded and italicized, before even delving into the first paragraph of each chapter. For example, in chapter 2, the setting takes place 7 days ago; in chapter 3, 1979 years ago; in chapter 4, Saturday at 6pm; in chapter 5, 7 days ago; in chapter 6, 1979—44 years ago; in chapter 9, 1984 years ago; and in chapter 21, 1993—33 years ago. EVERY SINGLE chapter was like this, and I found it not only annoying, but the constant jumping back and forth made the story choppy and hard to follow. Each chapter was constantly switching the periods of time and made it hard to try to keep track of which character interacted with which individual in which period of time.
As a reader, I did not enjoy the story as much as I thought I would. The entire story is based on the characters from India and their culture. So if one is not familiar with the Indian culture, many points would be lost. For example, the author makes reference to pakoras, and if the reader did not know the food, the point would not be as clear or would be lost. I am familiar with the Indian culture, grew up around the people, dated an Indian man for 5 years, learned Hindi, learned how to cook all the dishes, attended weddings, etc., so I can say I am somewhat familiar with the mentality, culture, and lifestyle, which made me excited to read this book.
However, I am somewhat disappointed with the writing style. Perhaps I would have enjoyed this story if I had seen the movie first and then read the book. (Is there a movie?) I much prefer to watch the Bollywood movies than read the stories in print. Nonetheless, as an author, I learned how to consider writing a story using the present tense when the beginning of the chapter indicates past tense. I think this is cheating in a way for the writer, but I can say I definitely learned a few things about writing.
As a reader, I did not enjoy the story as much as I thought I would. The entire story is based on the characters from India and their culture. So if one is not familiar with the Indian culture, many points would be lost. For example, the author makes reference to pakoras, and if the reader did not know the food, the point would not be as clear or would be lost. I am familiar with the Indian culture, grew up around the people, dated an Indian man for 5 years, learned Hindi, learned how to cook all the dishes, attended weddings, etc., so I can say I am somewhat familiar with the mentality, culture, and lifestyle, which made me excited to read this book.
However, I am somewhat disappointed with the writing style. Perhaps I would have enjoyed this story if I had seen the movie first and then read the book. (Is there a movie?) I much prefer to watch the Bollywood movies than read the stories in print. Nonetheless, as an author, I learned how to consider writing a story using the present tense when the beginning of the chapter indicates past tense. I think this is cheating in a way for the writer, but I can say I definitely learned a few things about writing.
September 10, 2023
I’m speechless! This was so brave, painful and beautiful!
The story switches between three people, and between the past and now.
Vandy Guru loves her daughter Mallika so much it’s terrifying. Vandy is a successful advice columnist. She’s been married to the love of her life Vir, who died a year ago. On the surface Vandy is coping, inside she’s dying from grief.
Rani Parekh had been twelve when her mother died and she was sent from Bombay to her aunt in Los Angeles. Her mother had been a classical kathak dancer. Alcohol had been her nemesis. Rani and Vandy become best friends through quite heart breaking circumstances. The picture of Rani trying to find a safe space in the concrete jungle of LA, unlike the markets of Bombay is vivid.
Mallika is a choreographer. She currently is trying to organize the Aunties in dances for two weddings on the same weekend. Very trying! Mallika’s also waiting to hear from a Bollywood movie director about her presentation of dances for an up and coming movie.
Mallika, unlike her mother, views life through a pessimistic lens. Her father Vir helped her with this but now he’s not here. Mallika is not brave, is not a force of nature like her mother and aunties. She often wonders if it’s because she doesn’t have aqualine nose that goes with the Mehta genes. Mallika has her father’s nose.
There is so many parts to this tale, yet Dev brings it all together with masterful panache.
When Mallika doesn’t answer her mother’s phone calls the mystery, the story of these intertwine lives unravels, and it’s amazing. It’s friendship that goes beyond the norm.
A stellar read!
A Lake Union ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
The story switches between three people, and between the past and now.
Vandy Guru loves her daughter Mallika so much it’s terrifying. Vandy is a successful advice columnist. She’s been married to the love of her life Vir, who died a year ago. On the surface Vandy is coping, inside she’s dying from grief.
Rani Parekh had been twelve when her mother died and she was sent from Bombay to her aunt in Los Angeles. Her mother had been a classical kathak dancer. Alcohol had been her nemesis. Rani and Vandy become best friends through quite heart breaking circumstances. The picture of Rani trying to find a safe space in the concrete jungle of LA, unlike the markets of Bombay is vivid.
Mallika is a choreographer. She currently is trying to organize the Aunties in dances for two weddings on the same weekend. Very trying! Mallika’s also waiting to hear from a Bollywood movie director about her presentation of dances for an up and coming movie.
Mallika, unlike her mother, views life through a pessimistic lens. Her father Vir helped her with this but now he’s not here. Mallika is not brave, is not a force of nature like her mother and aunties. She often wonders if it’s because she doesn’t have aqualine nose that goes with the Mehta genes. Mallika has her father’s nose.
There is so many parts to this tale, yet Dev brings it all together with masterful panache.
When Mallika doesn’t answer her mother’s phone calls the mystery, the story of these intertwine lives unravels, and it’s amazing. It’s friendship that goes beyond the norm.
A stellar read!
A Lake Union ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
September 23, 2023
It took me quite awhile to get through this one, I may just not have been in the right mindset. (I swore at one point it must be a 500 pager - it’s not, it’s 350). It just felt like it dragged on for too long, and I didn’t feel a connection to any of the characters. Obviously others might feel differently (that’s what’s so great about books!) - so if the summary sounds good to you, then read it! For me, it’s just not my favorite.
December 26, 2023
Girl, What?!?
The last chapter should have been the prologue and then the story should have rewound. This story was all over the place with no real structure.
Chile, I couldn’t stand most of the characters but the most selfish was Vandy. She got on my last nerve. She destroyed so many lives with her antics.
I have nothing nice to say about this book, just that Vandy, Vir and Rani should have been a throuple with a baby.
*This was our October 2023 book club choice*
The last chapter should have been the prologue and then the story should have rewound. This story was all over the place with no real structure.
Chile, I couldn’t stand most of the characters but the most selfish was Vandy. She got on my last nerve. She destroyed so many lives with her antics.
I have nothing nice to say about this book, just that Vandy, Vir and Rani should have been a throuple with a baby.
*This was our October 2023 book club choice*
November 15, 2023
"Lies and Other Love Languages" by Sonali Dev is a captivating and emotionally rich novel that explores the complexities of love, relationships, and personal growth. Dev's writing effortlessly immerses readers in a world filled with intricate characters and thought-provoking themes.
One of the standout elements of the book is Dev's ability to craft multifaceted and relatable characters. The protagonist's journey of self-discovery, as well as her struggles with trust and vulnerability, are portrayed with depth and authenticity. The supporting characters are equally compelling, each bringing their own unique perspectives and experiences to the narrative.
Dev's exploration of love languages adds an intriguing layer to the story. Through her nuanced portrayal of different communication styles and emotional needs, she highlights the challenges and rewards that come with understanding and connecting with others on a deeper level. This theme adds depth and complexity to the relationships depicted throughout the novel.
The book also excels in its ability to balance heartfelt moments with moments of levity. Dev's writing style is witty and engaging, providing a refreshing and enjoyable reading experience. The pacing is well-managed, with the story unfolding at a steady pace, keeping readers invested and eager to discover what happens next.
Additionally, the book delves into thought-provoking social issues, such as cultural expectations, family dynamics, and the power of honesty. Dev navigates these topics with sensitivity and grace, offering insightful commentary and fostering empathy in the reader.
If there is any room for improvement, it could be in further developing certain secondary characters or subplots to enhance their impact on the overall story. However, this is a minor observation in an otherwise engaging and well-crafted novel.
Overall, "Lies and Other Love Languages" is a captivating and heartfelt read that showcases Sonali Dev's talent for crafting intricate characters and exploring complex themes. It is a compelling addition to the contemporary romance genre, and fans of Dev's previous works will undoubtedly find themselves enthralled by this latest offering.
One of the standout elements of the book is Dev's ability to craft multifaceted and relatable characters. The protagonist's journey of self-discovery, as well as her struggles with trust and vulnerability, are portrayed with depth and authenticity. The supporting characters are equally compelling, each bringing their own unique perspectives and experiences to the narrative.
Dev's exploration of love languages adds an intriguing layer to the story. Through her nuanced portrayal of different communication styles and emotional needs, she highlights the challenges and rewards that come with understanding and connecting with others on a deeper level. This theme adds depth and complexity to the relationships depicted throughout the novel.
The book also excels in its ability to balance heartfelt moments with moments of levity. Dev's writing style is witty and engaging, providing a refreshing and enjoyable reading experience. The pacing is well-managed, with the story unfolding at a steady pace, keeping readers invested and eager to discover what happens next.
Additionally, the book delves into thought-provoking social issues, such as cultural expectations, family dynamics, and the power of honesty. Dev navigates these topics with sensitivity and grace, offering insightful commentary and fostering empathy in the reader.
If there is any room for improvement, it could be in further developing certain secondary characters or subplots to enhance their impact on the overall story. However, this is a minor observation in an otherwise engaging and well-crafted novel.
Overall, "Lies and Other Love Languages" is a captivating and heartfelt read that showcases Sonali Dev's talent for crafting intricate characters and exploring complex themes. It is a compelling addition to the contemporary romance genre, and fans of Dev's previous works will undoubtedly find themselves enthralled by this latest offering.
June 14, 2023
I'm going to split my review in two: a bit about the actual book, followed by a rant about the blurb because I tried to write it starting with the blurb rant because I thought it would make more sense that way round but I decided nobody would read past it and the book really is great!
So firstly, wow! I loved this book so much! Which was so odd to me because at 50% I was a bit unsure because of the blurb stuff that I'll explain later. However, the next 50% was absolutely amazing and now that I understand the point and where it was all going, the first 50% was great too, although I did find some of Vandy's earlier chapters a bit slow and samey but I loved Mallika's and Rani's throughout. Told by the three women in alternating chapters, mostly in three different timelines (until they converge at the end) this was a really beautiful tale of love, loss, family, friendships, the lies you'll tell/truths you'll hide for those you love and how far you'll go for what you want/think is right. Pretty much every character was flawed in some way, many redeemable and some not (in my eyes) but each made a great character and most overcome them, I really loved the ending.
One of the other things I absolutely loved was the Indian family dynamics. I love the big families and how important family is in Indian culture.
As long as you know what to expect from this going into it I think it's an amazing story, truly beautiful and inspiring, but also equally heartbreaking. The book kind of starts almost at the end of the story and then you learn mostly through Rani's flashback chapters how things became the way they are before the final conclusion at the end. If you go into it expecting a poignant exploration of family and friendship you will not be disappointed. And admittedly the book was only categorised as Women's Fiction, which it absolutely is, I just don't usually check genres and go off the blurb which led me astray. I'll definitely be checking out more of Sonali's books because I loved it and now I know what to expect I think I'll enjoy others even more. Last thing to say before my blurb rant is to make sure you check the trigger warnings if you need them though because there's definitely a few.
So blurb rant. I'm going to mark this bit as spoilers purely so I can talk about how things happen in the book compared to the blurb. It's not hugely spoilery because I only mention things I think were obvious from the blurb anyway but some people might not want to know so it's up to you if you want to read ahead.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author for an ARC copy of the book so I could write this honest review.
So firstly, wow! I loved this book so much! Which was so odd to me because at 50% I was a bit unsure because of the blurb stuff that I'll explain later. However, the next 50% was absolutely amazing and now that I understand the point and where it was all going, the first 50% was great too, although I did find some of Vandy's earlier chapters a bit slow and samey but I loved Mallika's and Rani's throughout. Told by the three women in alternating chapters, mostly in three different timelines (until they converge at the end) this was a really beautiful tale of love, loss, family, friendships, the lies you'll tell/truths you'll hide for those you love and how far you'll go for what you want/think is right. Pretty much every character was flawed in some way, many redeemable and some not (in my eyes) but each made a great character and most overcome them, I really loved the ending.
One of the other things I absolutely loved was the Indian family dynamics. I love the big families and how important family is in Indian culture.
As long as you know what to expect from this going into it I think it's an amazing story, truly beautiful and inspiring, but also equally heartbreaking. The book kind of starts almost at the end of the story and then you learn mostly through Rani's flashback chapters how things became the way they are before the final conclusion at the end. If you go into it expecting a poignant exploration of family and friendship you will not be disappointed. And admittedly the book was only categorised as Women's Fiction, which it absolutely is, I just don't usually check genres and go off the blurb which led me astray. I'll definitely be checking out more of Sonali's books because I loved it and now I know what to expect I think I'll enjoy others even more. Last thing to say before my blurb rant is to make sure you check the trigger warnings if you need them though because there's definitely a few.
So blurb rant. I'm going to mark this bit as spoilers purely so I can talk about how things happen in the book compared to the blurb. It's not hugely spoilery because I only mention things I think were obvious from the blurb anyway but some people might not want to know so it's up to you if you want to read ahead.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author for an ARC copy of the book so I could write this honest review.
September 28, 2023
4.5 stars
Vandy, a successful advice columnist, outwardly puts on a show of poise and strength while inwardly grieving the recent loss of her husband. When her beloved daughter Mallika suddenly disappears without warning, Vandy is desperate to find answers. The more Vandy searches the more she is forced to confront the ghosts of her past, including her estranged best friend Rani. Lies and Other Love Languages is a story that unfolds in a series of flashbacks from 3 POVS. Vandy, Rani, and Mallika are 3 women bound by a secret that has been well guarded for many decades.
From the blurb and the first few chapters of the book you can already predict how the story will go. Yet getting to the ending, or should I say beginning, is an incredibly emotional and fraught journey. While I may not agree with all the choices made by the characters, I can understand the motivation behind them. Vandy is single minded in her goal to becoming a mother while Rani is determined to protect the family she has made at all costs.
Sonali Dev does such a wonderful job with multigenerational stories. What I love most about Dev's work is that she captures the longings, desires, and needs of women through all ages. Too often we relegate women of middle age to very austere matronly roles, devoid of any past life or youthful whimsy. This has been especially true in the South Asian community. We box them in to these roles that prevent them from being anything other than “pure and perfect.” Dev forces us to strip the women in our lives of the labels society has placed on them and to see them for who they truly are: beautifully flawed humans who are still works in progress.
Throughout the book Dev compares different mother-daughter relationships and the cycles we inadvertently create. One of the lines that resonated with me the most is:
“How did mothers go from being rocks you relied on to being the rocks you had to climb over to make your own way?”
But above all this is a story of friendship and the sacrifices we make and the lies we bear for the ones we love. The relationship between Vandy and Rani is the thread that weaves through the entire book. “A friend that loves you like this is rare. No gift is larger than that.”
My only critique is that the ending felt rushed and a few of the resolutions and conversations I was hoping to see happens off page in the last chapter. I know there will be criticism of Mallika and the privilege she holds. In fact the entire Mehta clan is immensely privileged and I am sure there is nepotism at play. But to me, Mallika represents the luxury of time and money that is afforded to children of successful and well connected first gen parents. And while I believe both she and Vandy need a little more self awareness of that power and privilege, it is something that is very prevalent in our communities. It would have been nice to get a little more insight into Vir’s background and how he landed in California but ultimately this is not his story.
Fans of Dev's The Vibrant Years may find Lies and Other Love Languages a bit jarring as this book deals with heavier topics that may not be comfortable for everyone.
TW: infertility, miscarriage, trauma, SA
Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review
Vandy, a successful advice columnist, outwardly puts on a show of poise and strength while inwardly grieving the recent loss of her husband. When her beloved daughter Mallika suddenly disappears without warning, Vandy is desperate to find answers. The more Vandy searches the more she is forced to confront the ghosts of her past, including her estranged best friend Rani. Lies and Other Love Languages is a story that unfolds in a series of flashbacks from 3 POVS. Vandy, Rani, and Mallika are 3 women bound by a secret that has been well guarded for many decades.
From the blurb and the first few chapters of the book you can already predict how the story will go. Yet getting to the ending, or should I say beginning, is an incredibly emotional and fraught journey. While I may not agree with all the choices made by the characters, I can understand the motivation behind them. Vandy is single minded in her goal to becoming a mother while Rani is determined to protect the family she has made at all costs.
Sonali Dev does such a wonderful job with multigenerational stories. What I love most about Dev's work is that she captures the longings, desires, and needs of women through all ages. Too often we relegate women of middle age to very austere matronly roles, devoid of any past life or youthful whimsy. This has been especially true in the South Asian community. We box them in to these roles that prevent them from being anything other than “pure and perfect.” Dev forces us to strip the women in our lives of the labels society has placed on them and to see them for who they truly are: beautifully flawed humans who are still works in progress.
Throughout the book Dev compares different mother-daughter relationships and the cycles we inadvertently create. One of the lines that resonated with me the most is:
“How did mothers go from being rocks you relied on to being the rocks you had to climb over to make your own way?”
But above all this is a story of friendship and the sacrifices we make and the lies we bear for the ones we love. The relationship between Vandy and Rani is the thread that weaves through the entire book. “A friend that loves you like this is rare. No gift is larger than that.”
My only critique is that the ending felt rushed and a few of the resolutions and conversations I was hoping to see happens off page in the last chapter. I know there will be criticism of Mallika and the privilege she holds. In fact the entire Mehta clan is immensely privileged and I am sure there is nepotism at play. But to me, Mallika represents the luxury of time and money that is afforded to children of successful and well connected first gen parents. And while I believe both she and Vandy need a little more self awareness of that power and privilege, it is something that is very prevalent in our communities. It would have been nice to get a little more insight into Vir’s background and how he landed in California but ultimately this is not his story.
Fans of Dev's The Vibrant Years may find Lies and Other Love Languages a bit jarring as this book deals with heavier topics that may not be comfortable for everyone.
TW: infertility, miscarriage, trauma, SA
Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review
November 2, 2023
A story about friendship and love.
This book was written in the format that is so popular these days, going backwards and forward in time, and from the viewpoint of different people. Am I the only person that finds this confusing? Not to mention distracting? You just get into the storyline when it switches to a different year in time or a different perspective to the story.
I enjoyed reading about a culture that I am not familiar with and I thought some of the characters were interesting. I appreciated the focus on the different types of loving relationships. The love of parents to a child, the love of the child to her parents, the love of long lasting friendships, and of course, the loving marriage relationship.
I did not like the ending, I found it disappointing and took away from a couple of those loving relationships to see the ultimate lies. As I also pointed out the jumping around was distracting for me. Because of these two reasons, I gave this two stars. That said there were things about this book that kept me reading until the end, so I think that says some people may not be as put off by my two criticisms as I was.
This book was written in the format that is so popular these days, going backwards and forward in time, and from the viewpoint of different people. Am I the only person that finds this confusing? Not to mention distracting? You just get into the storyline when it switches to a different year in time or a different perspective to the story.
I enjoyed reading about a culture that I am not familiar with and I thought some of the characters were interesting. I appreciated the focus on the different types of loving relationships. The love of parents to a child, the love of the child to her parents, the love of long lasting friendships, and of course, the loving marriage relationship.
I did not like the ending, I found it disappointing and took away from a couple of those loving relationships to see the ultimate lies. As I also pointed out the jumping around was distracting for me. Because of these two reasons, I gave this two stars. That said there were things about this book that kept me reading until the end, so I think that says some people may not be as put off by my two criticisms as I was.
August 19, 2024
I really enjoyed the culture in this book and connecting the past to the present. There’s always consequence in human action - some good, some great, some not so great, and some devastating. And when there’s multiple people involved, especially those that are close and even family, there’s consequences and a domino effect we cannot always predict, control, or have the foresight to consider before it happens. It showcases some of the desperate nature of humans, and how they are willing to do things they may not have thought they would be to either get what they desire or to support a friends ability to do so. This was a great story with various connections to past and present and between the cast of characters. Solid 4 star for me.
October 8, 2023
This was a more complex book than I initially thought. It explores families, marriage, female friendship, surrogacy, and other issues. Some of it is very believable, some is very predictable, but overall I thought it was a touching story and I enjoyed it.
January 10, 2025
The book started off a little slow but started to pick up after a few chapters. I enjoyed the 3 different POV’s and the insight of each character was discussed quite well. I thought this book did a great job of exploring grief and the loss of a loved one. I also appreciate that the author tried to deviate from the typical representations of traditional indian stereotypes. This book definitely pulled me out of a long reading slump!
Topics: Female friendships, mother-daughter relationships, (TW) infertility and miscarriages.
Topics: Female friendships, mother-daughter relationships, (TW) infertility and miscarriages.
January 21, 2024
4.5 stars … this started out a little slow for me and then wham, I was SO invested in all three women’s lives. The ending made me really think about and reevaluate how no nonsense I can be when it comes to certain things, which is always a sign of how well written a book is.
The ending made me cry. Such a beautiful story about the things we do for those we love. ❤️
The ending made me cry. Such a beautiful story about the things we do for those we love. ❤️
March 15, 2025
I liked the last 1/4 of the book but it took a while for me to get into it. I liked the story but sometimes the writing felt off for me. I also feel like the last chapter should have been a little sooner? The last page felt like a weird place to end the story. Overall, I’m not mad I read the book but I probably wouldn’t recommend it
TW: infertility and miscarriage
TW: infertility and miscarriage
January 28, 2024
Thanks Netgalley and the author for the earc.
Esse foi um dos livros mais doídos que eu já, que mostra como três mulheres estão unidas uma a outra e como que eu certo momento tudo se dissipou ao alcançar aquilo que sempre quis.
Vinny e Rani se tornaram amigas inseparáveis, com diferentes passados e experiências no mundo, porém logo depois do nascimento de Mika se separaram.
Depois de 27 anos e um ano do falecimento do Vir, marido de Vinny, algumas verdades vem a tona e a partir desse momento que vamos descobrir o que as separou e como elas vão se reconectar.
~~ SE NÃO DESEJA TOMAR SPOILER, PARE AQUI ~~
A concepção da Mika era por conta do amor que Vir e Rani tinham pela Vinny ao se deitarem juntos. Até aquele momento, sexo sempre foi automático para Rani, mas com Vir foi diferente. À separação de Vinny e Rani nunca foi sobre Mika, mas sobre Vir e a conexão que eles tiveram. Foi naquele momento que depois de ano negando que Rani nunca foi uma opção para Vir, que ela se apaixonou por ele. Por que ele soube como navegar com ela depois de traumas.
Para proteger o casamento da Vinny e Vir, Rany vai embora da vida deles. O que Vinny não sabe é que teve outros episódios onde Vir compartilha momentos e sentimentos íntimos com Rany e foi aqui que me quebrou, por que o maior medo da Mika era descobrir que o pai era como o avô (coisa que para Vinny sempre foi muito dolorido de ver) e ai temos a mesma questão: será que conseguimos escapar de padrões dos casamentos dos nossos pais? De verdade, eu não sei. Mas me entristece muito saber que Rani tem segredos que ela escolheu guardar para de certa forma inocentar um homem que sua melhor amiga e sua filha acham que ele era. Um peso que só ela carrega.
Embora Rani, carregue esses segredos, ela escolheu os te-los para que assim pudesse ter Vinny de volta em sua vida. Mesmo em meio as meias verdades… Eu acredito que no final, ela só não continuo a se apaixonar por Vir por amor a Vinny, mas Vir me pareceu ter recaídas e buscava as mesmas conexões que teve quando esteve com ela a primeira vez esquecendo totalmente os primeiros motivos de que os levou aquela situação.
Esse foi um dos livros mais doídos que eu já, que mostra como três mulheres estão unidas uma a outra e como que eu certo momento tudo se dissipou ao alcançar aquilo que sempre quis.
Vinny e Rani se tornaram amigas inseparáveis, com diferentes passados e experiências no mundo, porém logo depois do nascimento de Mika se separaram.
Depois de 27 anos e um ano do falecimento do Vir, marido de Vinny, algumas verdades vem a tona e a partir desse momento que vamos descobrir o que as separou e como elas vão se reconectar.
~~ SE NÃO DESEJA TOMAR SPOILER, PARE AQUI ~~
A concepção da Mika era por conta do amor que Vir e Rani tinham pela Vinny ao se deitarem juntos. Até aquele momento, sexo sempre foi automático para Rani, mas com Vir foi diferente. À separação de Vinny e Rani nunca foi sobre Mika, mas sobre Vir e a conexão que eles tiveram. Foi naquele momento que depois de ano negando que Rani nunca foi uma opção para Vir, que ela se apaixonou por ele. Por que ele soube como navegar com ela depois de traumas.
Para proteger o casamento da Vinny e Vir, Rany vai embora da vida deles. O que Vinny não sabe é que teve outros episódios onde Vir compartilha momentos e sentimentos íntimos com Rany e foi aqui que me quebrou, por que o maior medo da Mika era descobrir que o pai era como o avô (coisa que para Vinny sempre foi muito dolorido de ver) e ai temos a mesma questão: será que conseguimos escapar de padrões dos casamentos dos nossos pais? De verdade, eu não sei. Mas me entristece muito saber que Rani tem segredos que ela escolheu guardar para de certa forma inocentar um homem que sua melhor amiga e sua filha acham que ele era. Um peso que só ela carrega.
Embora Rani, carregue esses segredos, ela escolheu os te-los para que assim pudesse ter Vinny de volta em sua vida. Mesmo em meio as meias verdades… Eu acredito que no final, ela só não continuo a se apaixonar por Vir por amor a Vinny, mas Vir me pareceu ter recaídas e buscava as mesmas conexões que teve quando esteve com ela a primeira vez esquecendo totalmente os primeiros motivos de que os levou aquela situação.
August 30, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Lies and Other Love Languages is a bit of a slow start and honestly, the big reveal isn’t really that much of a secret. I think that’s why I had such a hard time getting into L&OLL. I knew from the very beginning exactly how this was going to play out and I wasn’t wrong. Once I got my head around that, it became much easier to delve into the story of two lifelong best friends, who haven’t spoken in 27 years, and a daughter and just enjoy it.
The story is told from the POV of three very strong Indian-American women; Vandy, Mallika and Rani. Although none of them understand how strong and lovable they really are. They might be lovable to the people in their lives, but they are all polarizing for being selfish, albeit in very different ways. It makes it hard to truly like any of them, but in a weird way you do.
Vandy kicks off L&OLL on a Saturday in 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in which she’s desperately trying to get in touch with her missing(?) daughter, Mallika. Mallika’ s portion of the story begins seven days ago and Rani’s narrative begins in 1979, when she first met Vandy or “Vinnie.” L&OLL continues this pattern throughout the book - Vandy, Mallika, Rani, Vandy, Mallika, Rani ... - with all of the narratives coming together in the present day.
I guess the biggest reason I didn’t love L&OLL is because I kept wondering how realistic it really is. I’m sure there are people out there who would do what the women in the book do, but it’s a little too big of a pill for me to swallow. Sometimes you just need to say “No.” Also Lies and Other Love Languages begs the questions “‘Is withholding information a lie?’ ‘When do you need to come clean and tell the truth?’ ‘Are we allowed secrets?’”
Overall, I recommend Lies and Other Love Languages. It’s a good story of friendship, love and forgiveness
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing a digital ARC for review. Lies and Other Love Languages is available on 26 September 2023.
Lies and Other Love Languages is a bit of a slow start and honestly, the big reveal isn’t really that much of a secret. I think that’s why I had such a hard time getting into L&OLL. I knew from the very beginning exactly how this was going to play out and I wasn’t wrong. Once I got my head around that, it became much easier to delve into the story of two lifelong best friends, who haven’t spoken in 27 years, and a daughter and just enjoy it.
The story is told from the POV of three very strong Indian-American women; Vandy, Mallika and Rani. Although none of them understand how strong and lovable they really are. They might be lovable to the people in their lives, but they are all polarizing for being selfish, albeit in very different ways. It makes it hard to truly like any of them, but in a weird way you do.
Vandy kicks off L&OLL on a Saturday in 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in which she’s desperately trying to get in touch with her missing(?) daughter, Mallika. Mallika’ s portion of the story begins seven days ago and Rani’s narrative begins in 1979, when she first met Vandy or “Vinnie.” L&OLL continues this pattern throughout the book - Vandy, Mallika, Rani, Vandy, Mallika, Rani ... - with all of the narratives coming together in the present day.
I guess the biggest reason I didn’t love L&OLL is because I kept wondering how realistic it really is. I’m sure there are people out there who would do what the women in the book do, but it’s a little too big of a pill for me to swallow. Sometimes you just need to say “No.” Also Lies and Other Love Languages begs the questions “‘Is withholding information a lie?’ ‘When do you need to come clean and tell the truth?’ ‘Are we allowed secrets?’”
Overall, I recommend Lies and Other Love Languages. It’s a good story of friendship, love and forgiveness
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing a digital ARC for review. Lies and Other Love Languages is available on 26 September 2023.
April 11, 2024
This was definitely a personal opinion and experience - so don't let my rating keep you from giving this one a try.
It's a story about friends and childhood and finding family and acceptance. I've read a few from this author and I typically love the characters and really connect to the story. It's engaging, well-written and almost always, this author's stories tackled really interesting relationships that tug at your heartstrings and make you love it.
But this one was a struggle for me. I just couldn't seem to get into the story. I struggled to like Rani and, while I don't need to like characters to like a story, one that is character driven and completely wrapped around characters definitely has to have one that I connect with and want to keep reading for.
This could have been situational and not at all reflective of the story. If this one sounds great, give it a try! I hope you love it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
It's a story about friends and childhood and finding family and acceptance. I've read a few from this author and I typically love the characters and really connect to the story. It's engaging, well-written and almost always, this author's stories tackled really interesting relationships that tug at your heartstrings and make you love it.
But this one was a struggle for me. I just couldn't seem to get into the story. I struggled to like Rani and, while I don't need to like characters to like a story, one that is character driven and completely wrapped around characters definitely has to have one that I connect with and want to keep reading for.
This could have been situational and not at all reflective of the story. If this one sounds great, give it a try! I hope you love it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Read
May 4, 2025I miss the Rajes from another series of hers but this was a terrific weekend read/listen.
February 9, 2025
The way I LOVE Sonali Dev's writing from different perspectives...
I had a sense early on of what the twist would be here (blurb kinda hints at the genetics and estranged friend trope), but I really enjoyed seeing this unfold between different points of view and periods in time for the different characters. The friendship between Vandy (ok I didn't love that she Anglo-zied her name, but that's just me) and Rani was complex and fiercely protected. I appreciated how the relationship between Mallika and Rex took a bit of a back seat but also added a romantic aspect to her story. I saw a bit of myself in her (going into a nontraditional field, being awkward and just idk in general seemed like me :) ) Overall, loved this book, can't wait for more of Sonali Dev's work!
I had a sense early on of what the twist would be here (blurb kinda hints at the genetics and estranged friend trope), but I really enjoyed seeing this unfold between different points of view and periods in time for the different characters. The friendship between Vandy (ok I didn't love that she Anglo-zied her name, but that's just me) and Rani was complex and fiercely protected. I appreciated how the relationship between Mallika and Rex took a bit of a back seat but also added a romantic aspect to her story. I saw a bit of myself in her (going into a nontraditional field, being awkward and just idk in general seemed like me :) ) Overall, loved this book, can't wait for more of Sonali Dev's work!
November 29, 2023
I normally really like Sonali Dev's books, but I didn't like this one as much. I didn't hate it, but I found it slow for a lot of it. Once Vandy made it to India, I think it finally picked up but that was so much toward the end of the book. I wish there had been more character growth throughout the book. Also, the synopsis made it seem like Mallika would be having this bonding journey with Rani, but that doesn't happen. It just didn't feel like it ever really took off and went anywhere.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 8, 2024
Sonali Dev really is one of my favorite contemporary authors. she has such an authentic voice when crafting her female characters. i read the second half of the book in one sitting, while the first half was a bit slower for me. what i loved most about this story was how it approached each character’s relationships with the others. every character had their flaws and made mistakes and they found their own ways to meet each other in the middle. the relationship dynamics in this book were so well done.
June 17, 2023
Having never read this author before I loved how I sounded from the blurb.
Written by 3 strong woman perspectives about family, love, loss.
Love how the culture of the Indian families was pertrade.
The beggining was slow starting out for me seemed a bit tedious in.parts but look past this and keep reading and your in for a wonderful well written story.
A new author to me to keep my eyes on.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.
Written by 3 strong woman perspectives about family, love, loss.
Love how the culture of the Indian families was pertrade.
The beggining was slow starting out for me seemed a bit tedious in.parts but look past this and keep reading and your in for a wonderful well written story.
A new author to me to keep my eyes on.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.
September 18, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.
I found that this book started off really slow. I had a hard time getting into this book. I was hoping for more since I read Vibrant Years and wasn't a fan of that one either.
The story is about three very strong Indian-American women; Vandy, Mallika and Rani. I found they very hard to like. I didn't not like them at all.
I am sorry to say I cannot recommend this one.
I found that this book started off really slow. I had a hard time getting into this book. I was hoping for more since I read Vibrant Years and wasn't a fan of that one either.
The story is about three very strong Indian-American women; Vandy, Mallika and Rani. I found they very hard to like. I didn't not like them at all.
I am sorry to say I cannot recommend this one.
December 4, 2023
This is a lovely story of friendship that I really enjoyed. Each of the three women portrayed in the book have had their own challenges, successes, and failures. The characters have a lot of depth and they try to support each other. They’re all Indian, and I liked reading about life in India and the making of Bollywood movies. 4 stars.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.
February 16, 2024
Lies and Other Love Languages is a compelling and emotional book that explores the power of truth and love in the lives of three women. The book offers a rich and diverse story that will appeal to fans of contemporary fiction, family drama, and multicultural romance. The book is well-written, well-developed, and well-executed, and I would recommend it to others who are looking for a captivating and meaningful read.
September 26, 2024
What starts off a family drama / detective novel when a South Asian mother tries to locate her adult daughter who she hasn't heard from in 12 hours (unbelievable in most western cultures, yet very real in others 😐) turns into the deeper and more complex question around the identity people, especially females, have of themselves, the lengths they go to attain it and the heartbreak they go through when they cannot achieve it.
January 29, 2024
Any love without boundaries is a tragedy.
Rani and Vandy had a friendship that was rooted in unconditional love and that is what spoiled it. This was a wordy read and I found myself annoyed with how long it took the author to get the point. But in the end, title of the book was perfect for the story.
Rani and Vandy had a friendship that was rooted in unconditional love and that is what spoiled it. This was a wordy read and I found myself annoyed with how long it took the author to get the point. But in the end, title of the book was perfect for the story.
February 13, 2024
This was entrancing. I loved the three different viewpoints, and the back and forth between the present, the very recent past, and the long ago. Dev's unfolding of the story of Rani's and Vandy's friendship was masterful, and Mallika's story was heartbreaking and exhilarating all at once. As always, the lavish descriptions of food left me hungry and longing to try authentic Indian cuisine!
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