Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing for the ARC. The author did an amazing job of creating beautiful characters. She made me love India, Yash, China…. But had me angry at Naina and China’s “girlfriend” (I think I blocked out her name, haha). Oh and Chutney is just the best name for a dog. 😂
This was a quick, easy, heartwarming read. I recommend reading it when it is published on 7/6/21.

Apparently I missed out on Books 1 & 2 of The Rajes series. Incense and Sensibility continues the saga of The Rajes with Yash, and his campaign to be Governor of California. It also reunited him with his long lost love India, a local yoga instructor. India's references to her profession and studio were spot on and I enjoyed her character as I teach yoga in my community.

This slow-burn romance is drawn out to the final pages with India and Yash, and honestly nothing else really occurs in the book which felt a little too long as a whole. I was also clearly missing some details on the side characters as I assuming there drama played out in the previous books.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the complimentary copy for an honest review.

I inhaled the ARC of this book! I've loved this series so much that I couldn't wait for the publication date to read it. I loved it! The Raje family keeps giving me so many feels. I had so many questions about Yash before this book. So enigmatic, so hard to read. And how would his run for the governor's mansion turn out? This answered all my questions and made me fall in love with him. India was a delight. The book is based on Sense and Sensibility, and India is closer to Eleanor Dashwood than any of the other characters in any of the books are like their Austen counterparts. I ached for her. The plot might be a little slow to unfold, but the writing is beautiful and the emotionality carried me along from start to finish.

Not one of my favorite books. Had trouble keeping the characters straight. Might have been easier if I had read the prior books before this one. Story was just ok. Main characters did nothing for me. Didn’t connect with them. This book did not make me want to pick up others by her.

I have been anxiously waiting for Yash’s story, and it was well worth the wait! Sonali Dev writes in a way that is relatable and that explores the richness of humanity-she is such a gifted weaver of stories. Yash and India are such a unique pair, and this is a book that I needed to read. Dev’s words somehow recentered me and refreshed some of the hope I had forgotten I held in this past year.

I received and ARC courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. The opinions are my own.

I was already familiar with this author through her Bollywood books which I so enjoyed. This book which is a part of a series is more serious than the Bollywood books and is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility but not totally.

Sonali Dev has give us a modern take on Jane Austen. There were times when I could see the direct correlation between the two books and yet there were other times when I completely forgot that the basic idea was founded on a true classic. We’ve been introduced to characters for whom we feel sympathy and at the same time we would like to give them a good shake and tell them to ‘wake up’ and listen to their hearts and common sense but then we wouldn’t have this story if they had.

I admit Sense and Sensibility is not my favorite Austen but I loved Incense and Sensibility because it is different and modern and there is so much more to this story than the original one. This story is far more detailed into the back history and even the present-day lives of the characters and this is the best way for the reader to understand the why of the characters current actions and reactions

I highly recommend this book and you don’t need to have read the original to enjoy this take on it.

Thank you to The Book Club Girls, NetGalley, HarperCollins Publisher and the author, Sonali Dev for the Uncorrected EProof of this book..

This early read from NetGalley took a bit of time to grow on me. I’m giving it 4 stars,but that took a bit to get to in my decision. This is the story of a couple of families in CA, where one is attempting to become the next governor of CA. That’s a life long dream to become a public servant, but in the process other dreams are put into a “box”. It is a tale of stretching ones boundaries and the limitations that we put upon ourselves.

3.5*
Dev returns once again to the Raje family. This time the focus is on Yosh Raje, the brother who wants to be a true public servant. He aspires to become the governor of California and all his focus is on telling the people of California about his plans to better the state and the lives of its residents. His campaign is charging ahead when a fanatic tries to kill him. Thanks to the quick reflexes of his ever-vigilant bodyguard, Yosh is injured but the bodyguard is left near death.

Suddenly Yosh is filled with anxiety. He’s worried about his bodyguard but also about his own safety. His sisters decide that any public knowledge of his fears will hurt his political aspirations, so they take him to see their good friend India Dashwood, a yoga instructor. Little do they know, Yosh and India had a brief romantic encounter that left them both reeling ten years earlier. But neither of the pair is anxious to re-connect.

As Yosh finds it hard to get back on track, he is drawn to the woman who is trying to help him and who still claims his thoughts. Complicating matters is the girlfriend he has been distantly paired with for ten years and who has suddenly become a media darling. Politics gets in the way of Yosh’s personal life but it has always been his number one goal, so he must decide whether to follow his heart or his gubernatorial dream.

Dev has created the Raje family of fascinating characters who are lovable and charming. Yosh and his sisters are delightful as are the Dashwood sisters. If this new book in the series has any downside, it’s in the protracted romance that was also a dominating factor in Recipe for Persuasion. Of course, Dev is following the basic plots of Austen’s celebrated novels so the long-suffering romantic aspirations are a given, but here it is such a focal point. Despite this, the novel is filled with great moments and strong characters.

A big MAHALO to The Book Club Girls and William Morrow/Harper Collins for the #arc of Incense and Sensibility by Sonali Dev Having loved the first two books, I did a happy dance when it came up as an early read & snapped it right up. Had my work week been less busy, I would have finished it long before today, but that’s okay as I got to hang out with the characters longer. What sets great retellings of Jane Austen books apart for me is when the author keeps to the heart of the original story but also adds their own spin & makes it a book a reader could enjoy even if they are not familiar with the original. Sonali Dev writes with such passion & love of Austen’s work, it shines through every page. I loved getting to know India, China, Tara & Chutney & getting to revisit the Raje family. I would have told you that Recipe for Persuasion was my favorite of the series but Yash & India may have stolen my heart.. And I will be making some of India’s mango chia overnight oats soon.

I'm a big fan of Sonali Dev's work, especially this series. After reading the previous two, it was so nice to finally get in the head of one of the most interesting and elusive Rajes - Yash. I loved hearing his story and watching him make the tough decisions to prioritize his own happiness. I did not expect to like India as much as I did, and I loved how Dev decided not to take the easy route of Yash staying with his childhood friend. I loved being the Rajes orbit again, but I wished to spend more time with Esha and the other Rajes, though I loved India's sister and Yash's bodyguard! Overall, I tore through this book very quickly, and I'm so glad I was able to get a copy!

Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for an advanced ecopy of this book. .

The third in the Raje series did not disappointed. In fact, I believe this is the strongest so far in the series. I liked that Dev dealt with social issues more in this book than in the previous ones. The same issues of family conflict are still there as is the romance. Another winner!

Incense and Sensibility is a sweet romance that deals with some racial issues. Raj is driven to change the world. A California state senator, he is the first Indian gubernatorial candidate that has a prayer of winning. Racism leads someone to take potshots at Raj at one of his rallies. His body guard is laying in the ICU and no one knows if he will wake up. Raj underwent surgery to remove a bullet from his arm. The race seems to be Raj's for the taking but the trauma from the incident is leading to panic attacks that keep him off the stage and out of the public. Needing help, Raj is turned to yoga guru, stress management coach, and his sister's best friend, India Dashwood. India has problems of her own with a struggling studio and a sick mother and definitely does not want to revisit the broken heart Raj gave her ten years ago. Fate has other ideas as Raj and India work their way through a few snags to a sweet HEA that leaves me wanting to read more of Sonali Dev. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

To preface this review - this is the first book I've read from in The Rajes series. Even from that perspective, it was still an excellent book. I did miss out on some of the experience that would've come with reading the 2 previous ones, but trust me I'll be going back for those! This book featured relevant political issues like affordable healthcare, gun control, and the Black Lives Matter movement, while also touching on holistic medicine and mental health. For those looking for steam, this may not be the book for you... But if you're a fan of a slow burn second chance romance? This is IT.

*Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review*

The latest book of Sonali Dev's retelling of Jane Austin's stories from an Indian American perspective. This one follows Yash as he runs for governor and learns to follow his heart.

It is a cute story. It helps to read the first two books so you know the other characters but is not necessary. There are many sub-plots to follow as well.

I’m apparently in the minority in my feelings for Incense and Sensibility, at least during early reviews, but this book felt WAY too long and overly complicated and the connection to the Jane Austen novel is tenuous at best. There really isn’t a single plot – there’s Yash’s run for office, anxiety issues and family dynamics. Then there’s India and her control issues and her family dynamics. And then there’s Yash and India’s relationship to each other after a brief encounter ten years ago. All of these things get explored equally, instead of picking a single focus with the other pieces serving as secondary stories. Perhaps this is why I struggle to see a true romantic connection between Yash and India, because the amount of detail that is dedicated to every single thing in this book makes their romance feel more like a circumstantial subplot. It would have taken this book away from falling into the contemporary romance genre, but I really feel like the story would have been best focused on Yash’s political run and how an assassination attempt and his reconnection with India leads him to reflect on why he’s running, if he’s still running for the right reasons, and if it is something that he still really wants – instead of feeling the need to do so for everyone else. The complex emotions behind his life choices and how much he’s willing to sacrifice of himself seem to be the true heart of the story. If Dev had written a book from one of these characters’ perspectives, trying to sort out their personal issues while falling in love it may have worked, but doing it with two characters that each clearly have their own stories to tell in the same book is just too much, or isn’t done well enough to not make the reader feel like they’re experiencing information overload.

I'm really enjoying this series. The setting is great, as are the characters. I love how Sonali Dev reimagines the Austen classics. India is the kind of woman that's easily portrayed as being perfect but Dev manages to add enough layers to give her complexity. The same can be said for Yash.
I absolutely devoured the first 75% of the book; I couldn't put it down. The last part of the book let it down for me a little though. India and Yash just don't spend enough time together to make me fully believe in their love and relationship. So the resolution of the conflict seemed a little too easy for me.

(PUB DATE 7.6)  Thanks to @NetGalley and @WilliamMorrow books for early copy of one of my most anticipated reads of 2021, 𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐄 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘.

I placed it on my hypothetical pedestal and it easily earned the spot. It was just lovely!

This second chance love story is deeply layered.  It's a story about family, responsibility, and power of choice.  I could feel the characters struggle between choosing what's expected of them or choosing what is true in their heart. 

What I appreciate about Dev's writing is her ability to blend light & dark into a wholly satisfying story. There is a romantic element paired with weightier issues like mental health, past sexual assault, racism, and hate crimes. 

I've read and adored the first two titles in this "series" - 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦, 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘖𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘍𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘴 and 𝘙𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯. This title can be read as a stand-alone, but reading the first two certainly adds depth.

This is the 3rd book in the Rajes series, and it was nice to round out the trilogy. A lot felt wrapped up very quickly, and not everything felt worked through, but I love Sonali Dev's writing, and any Jane Austin re-telling is an automatic read for me.

Sonali Dev is outstanding. The setting, characters, and sensory descriptions in this novel blew me away. Sensual and such a pleasure to read.

I thoroughly enjoy Sonali Dev's writing. I loved the first two books in this series, so I devoured Incense and Sensibility as soon as I got it. I wish I could have stayed in that world a bit longer - I felt the ending was a bit abrupt and I would have liked it to be much more fleshed out.

SPOILERS FOLLOW

It seemed way too easy a conclusion - Brandy's inheritance-ex-machina saves the studio, and that now that Yash told the press about his relationship with India, Naina backs off entirely and Yash's intimacy and body issues just disappear. It didn't need to be a sex scene, but some dialogue about the two of them working through those issues together would have been appreciated. Also, wouldn't have been a big adjustment for India to becoming the Governor's wife? The "no one remembers who they are anyway" seemed a bit flip and a bit of a cop out.
I also felt that China's story ended too abruptly. To me, the sisters' relationship in Sense and Sensibility is just as important to the story as their romantic ones are, and with this title I was expecting to have that incorporated more into the ending. We know China/Marianne is going to end up with Brandy/Brandon eventually but we never get that payoff. A final scene between the sisters could have helped illustrate how they've changed and grown throughout the course of the book.
I was very happy that Song's name choice was addressed and explained, because I was really distracted by that in Recipe for Persuasion!
Overall I really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more of Sonali Dev's work at my next opportunity.