A cute quick romance with two of my favorite tropes: fake dating and grumpy x sunshine. Plus, lots of family drama. I wasn't completely sold on Dev as the MMC but I enjoyed Naomi's character and the moments where she's learning little pieces of Bengali culture from him. While both MCs are Bengali, Naomi wasn't raised knowing much about her culture or being in contact with her Bengali family members, while Dev was raised traditionally and surrounded by family. While it is a romance, it focuses a lot on cultural identity, growing up without really being immersed in half of who you are, and the feeling of not belonging as a result. I liked the depth that added to the story and learning about Naomi's mom's background. I think the family drama and the struggles Naomi is going through will draw people in who can relate to feeling like they have missed out on half of who they are whether because they were raised that way or just grew up distant from family geographically or emotionally. Both MCs are also embarking on new career paths - Naomi is branching out on her own after leaving a bigger company and Dev wants to change his entirely. I really liked that aspect of the story and think readers will find it relatable, especially now when many people are finding themselves changing jobs more frequently and finding that they have more interests/talents that suit them better than what they originally planned on. It's a bit of a slow burn but once they get together things get steamy very quickly! Sunshine and Spice is not your typical romance, in that I do feel like it's more of a coming of age, finding your roots, drama with some romance but I enjoyed it.

I received a drc from Berkley via NetGalley which I have voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

There is nothing I enjoy more than to be educated while I read, especially when it comes to reading fiction. I love that this romcom focused on the cultural traditions, foods and lives of East Asian families. I found the characters to be very relatable and thoroughly enjoyed the banter and witty jokes friends have as they begin to get closer!

Fake Dating will forever be a top 3 trope for me, but this was incredible with the aunties also match making for him as the story continued on. Dev and Naomi were so much fun to get to know, and I truly enjoyed their passions and how they stood up for what they believe in, especially about their family histories and culture.

I think anyone with people pleasing tendencies can relate to wanting to do what your mother wants for you... even if it means fake dating the girl your mom hired to rebrand her Bazaar. The romance was a treat, but honestly the way Naomi worked through the lack of knowledge about her culture and the Bengali language while deciding if she wanted to immerse herself to learn more, or keep everyone at arms length as her mother raised her.

Fun, steamy fast paced, intriguing read that kept my attention and was different than my usual choices! Would recommend.

Loved the chemistry between Naomi and Dev. Also, loved the second-generation and South Asian representation. Definitely recommend!

So the general premise of the book was nice. It was this girl Naomi, who is a whitewashed second generation Canadian-Indian (Bengali) girl who has no touch with her culture because her mom experienced the most tiger of tiger parenting from super strict Indian parents, which made the mom rebel and have a kid at 18. After the parents cut the mom off, the mom never felt any attachment to Indian culture and subsequently never taught her daughter anything. This could have been an interesting premise because this fully Indian girl is raised by a Russian/Ukrainian white stepdad and knows a lot about that culture.

Naomi goes to Gia as a potential lead to redesign Gia's shop and Gia immediately starts judging Naomi for not being cultured and I understand that's a first generation immigrant thing to do but it was so in your face and preachy that I feel like it didn't get the message across. Even if we assume Gia had good intentions and this is a plausible real life interaction, the dialogue felt stilted and comical.

Gia is also looking for matches for her son because he's in his early 30s now and he doesn't want to get married because he doesn't want to get cut out of his family for marrying out of his culture. Why is he worried? He's never been interested in marrying within the culture because he doesn't want to date and marry someone that blindly obeys their parents. So while Naomi is doing a redesign for DEV'S MOM she is also pretending to be dating him which is a terrible idea because who dates their client?? I guess what makes it comical is that Gia can't know and so Gia is setting up her son on all these arranged marriage dates while Naomi is supposed to save Dev's ass and pretend to be his scary and in loe girlfriend. It's like her and Dev are supposed to have chemistry but you can't see it. Suddenly, there's a line about him being attracted to her and I'm like where did that come from??

AND THEN 10-12 chapters in they start sleeping together but they never actually put a label on their relationship. The actual climax happens when Gia finds out that Naomi has been doing this with her son and it's supposed to be this whole dramatic moment because then Naomi's mom comes in and yells at Gia in perfect Bengali. There's supposed to be tension but it's immediately resolved so you don't feel anything.

Also Dev has no idea Naomi is Bengali and assume she's west Indian but in the reveal, he finds out she's Bengali and that's a point of contention?? Whitewashed Indians have existed for decades, it's 2024, some diaspora aren't attached to their culture!!! I don't get why she hid it and I don't get why he was mad she hid it when it's a nonissue.

This book was clearly supposed to be a grumpy x sunshine book but they both sound grumpy as hell. I'm supposed to (as the reader) think that she's sunshine just because I'm told to feel that even though nothing about her being bubbly is ever shown in the text. I was not convinced that her smearing gulab jamun syrup on Dev's beard was supposed to be hot.

Dev is supposed to be an accountant but quits his job because he wants to go into sports but they never talk about what he actually wants to do with his career, it's just vaguely mentioned as ~sports~

Very confusing. Very boring. I think a lot of the book issues could have been resolved if it were a little longer in length.

I loved this book! It was the cutest rom com. I love Dev and Naomi's relationship. I also loved how both of their cultures were showcased in the book, I can relate because both of my parents are immigrants. The fake dating trope is always a favorite of mine! Thank you Net Galley and Berkley Publishing for allowing me to read this book.

Naomi is determined to do whatever it takes to make her new brand consulting successful. She gets a huge opportunity when she is hired by the Mukherjee family to rebrand their bazaar. Only, she was hired because of her Bengali roots, a culture Naomi’s mom avoided and did not teach Naomi about at all. She gets help from Dev, Gia Mukherjee’s son. Gia has recently hired a matchmaker for Dev who wants a love marriage. They agree to fake date while he teaches her about Bengali culture.
Fake dating is one of my favorite tropes, and this book does it so well! The family dynamics, the rich culture, and the different ways the two characters react to the culture and traditions make this book so special. I love that Naomi is such a strong, successful woman, and Dev has the sweetest heart. Their dates were so much fun, and I would love to do some of those activities with my husband. This was a fun read nad I will be looking for more from Aurora Palit!
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.Good.

I went into this expecting fake dating but really it's so much deeper. This is about your sense of identity, community, and freedom of choice. Both main characters are Indian but relate very differently to that aspect of themselves, the MMC is in a very traditional and religiously observant household (with patriarchal leanings) and the FMC was raised in the complete opposite direction and these traditions are completely new to her. At the start neither feel their own experience was really favorable for them and they start to learn from each other with some forced proximity/workplace plot.

This background of theirs makes things higher stakes, how would his mother ever accept her and vice versa. It all culminated into such deep introspection and angst it had me crying in public. I just really really loved this book.

Thank you to Berkley for the free book!

Sunshine and Spice has so much heart—a romance that’s more than just chemistry but a meaningful exploration of shared and diverging experiences within the same cultural framework. The romantic main characters Naomi and Dev were a refreshing juxtaposition of perspectives on tradition and individuality, making their dynamic feel uniquely rich and resonant.

Getting into the story took me a while. The stakes, especially early on, felt too cozy to create real tension between our leads. But once I was in, the relatable grind of navigating tricky work politics, the weight of family expectations, and the bittersweetness of romantic connection amidst it all felt so grounded and true. For anyone who’s felt the strain of balancing workplace survival with family dynamics or struggled to honor tradition while finding their own path, this book really delivers.

Ultimately, Sunshine and Spice is a love story about acceptance—of each other, of cultural complexities, and of themselves. For a debut, this was a lovely start, and I’ll be looking forward to seeing what this author does next. Four stars!

TL;DR: This was a charming debut, layered with relatable struggles, family dynamics, and a beautifully woven cultural perspective. It took a bit to hook me, and some of the stakes felt low at times, but overall, this one shines with sincerity.

1. This would make the cutest movie (in my opinion)
2. I learned so much about Bengali and Indian culture as someone who has not been exposed to it much before
3. There were many things I found sooo relatable as an Asian American from an immigrant family and I felt all the emotions - happy, sad, frustrated, all of it

Sunshine and Spice is the perfect title for this romance (really, truly). The relationship between Naomi and Dev made me laugh out loud while each characters relationship with their culture made my heart ache a bit. Such a fun and cute read!

4✨️

What a cute romcom! I love Dev and Naomi's relationship and how much their culture is integrated into their romance. As a child of immigrants myself, I understood Dev and Naomi's struggles with integrating into different cultures at the same time. And fake dating is one of my favorite tropes!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the eARC! 💗

Naomi is a brand consultant who is working to rebrand a local traditional family bazaar. Naomi is not familiar with her roots & is considered "whitewash". Dev knows what his mom likes & works with Naomi to help her rebrand the family business. The catch is they decided to fake date to stop the matchmaking process Dev's mother is so insistent on. I liked Naomi's character because I was able to relate with her. I'm not familiar with a lot of traditions for my heritage. I loved seeing Naomi learn about her own heritage & form a nontraditional bond with Dev.

I'm always here for a grumpy/sunshine dynamic, and this novel delivers that energy in spades. Add in a wonderful cast of characters, wit galore, and great representation, and you have a recipe for success. And I look forward to reading more from author Aurora Palit in the future!

As someone who moved from India to the US a decade ago, I'm always searching for books with South Asian characters that mirror my journey. Often, I find authors overemphasize cultural aspects, feeling unnatural or cringey. But this book? It's refreshingly different.

What I loved:
• Dev's traditional family and Naomi's unconventional upbringing felt authentic and balanced
• Characters and their ecosystems were real, consistent , and valid
• The love story? Predictable, but in the best way

This book doesn't force-feed culture; it weaves it naturally into the story. It's perfect for:
• South Asian readers seeking genuine representation
• Anyone who enjoys a heartfelt, culturally nuanced romance

Sunshine and Spice was such a delightful, charming romance. The author is from my city and we had the pleasure of hosting an evening with her. Her writing was witty and well-crafted, the banter between her characters was funny and entertaining, and the couple had undeniable chemistry!

This turned out to be an unexpected hit for me! It had witty chemistry, great family dynamics, and the ever-relatable journey of finding and reconnecting with one’s culture and identity.

I’ve always been a fan of opposites-attract romances, especially when they’re blended with the grump/sunshine and forbidden romance tropes. And this book does it right! The main characters, Dev and Naomi, are as different as they come. Dev’s upbringing is deeply rooted in his culture and traditions, while Naomi’s is much more westernized. Their paths cross when Naomi is hired to revamp Dev’s mom’s store. The setting allows for plenty of hilarious and heartwarming family interactions such as a crazy matchmaking schemes common in many Asian families, something I found all too relatable!
Of course, things get even more interesting when Dev decides to fake-date Naomi to avoid his mom’s relentless matchmaking. You can probably guess where that leads, but the journey is still satisfying and filled with moments that made me smile.

One of the highlights for me was the exploration of cultural connection. Naomi’s yearning to rediscover her cultural roots resonated with me, as I’ve sometimes felt the same longing. Dev’s character is also portrayed with such depth, his internal struggles with being the overachieving kid, trying not to disappoint his family, and the way these pressures follow him into adulthood were beautifully handled.

While I enjoyed the story overall, I found the romance a bit underdeveloped. I wasn’t fully convinced of Dev and Naomi’s romantic connection, and it left me wanting more emotional build-up to truly root for them as a couple.
Despite this, Sunshine and Spice was a lovely debut read from Aurora Palit, I’m excited to see what she writes next, as this was a delightful introduction to her work!

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4 stars!

I really enjoyed "Sunshine and Spice" by Aurora Palit, a grumpy x sunshine, forced proximity, fake dating Desi romance. It's a deceptively deep story that is cute, spicy, and exploratory. There are a lot of compelling things about this book, including the family dynamics, the cultural traditions, the banter between the main characters Naomi and Dev, the conversations about identity, and finding a place where you truly belong. Naomi and Dev both have expectations placed upon them that they have to live up to. Dev has always been the one to keep the peace in his family, usually by doing whatever they want him to do and disregarding his own wants and feelings in the process. Naomi is Bengali but was not raised to know any Bengali culture or traditions because of something her mother went through when she was younger. Naomi doesn't feel like she belongs, and Dev feels like he belongs so much that his own self is being erased. I have a hunch that this plot point will be super relatable to many readers. I think the fake dating trope is implemented very well here, though there could have been a little more connection between Naomi and Dev. I found this to be a very quick-moving book that kept me engaged and interested the entire time I read it. I recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Aurora Palit, and Berkley Publishing Group for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Naomi and Dev are both struggling against their mother's expectations, their society/social norms, and finding themselves. Another fake dateing turns real story, but with a whole host of matchmaker-approved potential dates and a family business rebrand thrown in for good measure. Fun book!

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was super cute and definitely felt like a fast read. I loved being in Naomi's shoes for this entire book and feeling like an outsider and wanting to learn about her own culture and getting a taste of it. One of my gripes though is that it doesn't really feel like she is actually getting the lessons it says she is going to get that is mention in the description. I would have enjoyed seeing even more about their cultures.

I kind of wanted to see the outcome of Naomi meeting her grandparents but I do get that we don't really need it.

I did overall really enjoy this book though.

This was a fun quick read read, but I think I would have preferred more fiction than romance here. I wanted more depth to Naomi and Dev separately before really rooting for them together. Dev also felt more underdeveloped than Naomi and that made me not as invested in them as a couple.

I think the most fascinating part was the business and culture side of things, particularly how Naomi is viewed as lesser in the eyes of other Bengalis because she lacks the same cultural knowledge, name recognition, and language skills. The cultural aspects were by far the most interesting and the romance aspects just didn't add to it for me, though I think if slightly more developed I could have really loved them together.

Grumpy/sunshine is always kind of hit or miss for me, but fake dating usually brings me back in so that was definitely my favorite part. I think this would make a good tv series or movie, especially for the costumes and sets!