When Mira embarks on a solo trip, the last thing she expects to find is a lost ring. Finding the owner of this heirloom becomes Mira's sole focus and as she does, she comes to realize that maybe her story isn't as clear cut as she thought. This was quite an emotional read. I enjoyed following Mira's journey and applauded her standing up for what she wanted. Whilst there was romance, it was more a coming of age story than a romcom. Sonali Dev fans will love her new one!

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MIRA – and it’s absolutely wonderful!

Mira is a pain therapist and fully immersed in the Indian expatriate community in Chicago. She’s nearly 30, still lives at home and is recently engaged to Druv, an orthopaedic surgeon. He’s apparently the perfect guy and she’s lucky to be with him (or so she’s told). When Druv ducks out of a pre-engagement trip to New York, Mira goes on her own as she also wants to see her brother who is estranged from their parents.
In New York Mira finds a gold ring and her social media post about finding its owner sets up the chain of events that form the rest of the novel. Through that social media post, she meets journalist Krish who has his own reasons for wanting to be in on the ring’s story. Once Mira is back in Chicago we see a bit more of her family dynamic and there’s clues that something is amiss in her family, although we don’t find out what until much later. Her parents are closely aligned with her fiancé’s and both their mothers are more invested in their engagement and wedding, than are Mira and Druv.

Mira travels to India with the two mothers to purchase wedding outfits – and secretly to follow up a lead about the ring. Krish follows her and by sharing a road-trippy adventure with some danger and drama, Mira and Krish are thrown together. Readers might note this is a closed door romance and Mira is still with her fiancé for 90% of the novel – but there’s no cheating. Krish is mysterious, vulnerable and very attractive and when they open themselves to each other it’s tender and heartbreaking.

Mira’s parents prioritized their own social value over the wellbeing of their children. Mira has something devastating in her past, and it’s slowly revealed how both her parents and the community itself were involved. Queer love is explored through two same-sex relationships, one involving Mira’s brother and his partner, the other between the ring’s owners (almost lovers Vasu and Suru). Their story is initially told in letters, set thirty years previously and which slot in between the present-day action.

Even with the busyness of the visit to India and the backstory of the ring, I was never confused by the secondary characters – they are all well-drawn and play their parts so effectively. The mood is very cleverly handled, as there’s lots of joy – New York is wonderful for Mira, both with Krish and her sibling – her brother’s partner is a gem – but there’s also some difficult truths to process.

I would have liked more on-page connection between Krish and Mira, and comeuppance for Mira’s parents, who are so caught up in their social position that they reject their son and (almost) forsake their daughter.
I recommend this as contemporary and multicultural fiction, and closed-door romance. It’s dense and layered and celebrates the Indian diaspora, even as it illuminates some of its darker complexities. Beautifully written and author Sonali Dev skilfully juggles all the moving parts – so clever! I adored the understated tenderness between Mira and Krish and their hard-won happily ever after.

Thank you Sonali Dev, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MIRA – and it’s absolutely wonderful!

Mira is a pain therapist and fully immersed in the Indian expatriate community in Chicago. She’s nearly thirty, still lives at home and has recently become engaged to Druv, an orthopaedic surgeon. He’s apparently the perfect guy and she’s lucky to be with him (or so she’s told). When Druv ducks out of a pre-engagement trip to New York, Mira goes on her own as she wants to see her brother, who is estranged from their parents.

In New York Mira finds a gold ring, and her social media post about finding its owner sets up the chain of events that form the rest of the novel. Through that post, she meets journalist, Krish, who has his own reasons for wanting to be in on the ring’s story. Once Mira is back in Chicago we see a bit more of her family dynamic and there are clues that something is amiss in her family, although we don’t find out what that is until much later. Her parents are closely aligned with her fiancé’s parents, and both their mothers are more invested in their engagement and wedding than are Mira and Druv.

Mira travels to India with the two mothers to purchase wedding outfits – and secretly to follow up a lead about the ring. Krish follows her, and by sharing a road-trippy adventure with some danger and drama, Mira and Krish are thrown together. Readers might note this is a closed-door romance; Mira is still with her fiancé for 90% of the novel, but there’s no cheating. Krish is mysterious, vulnerable and very attractive, and when they open themselves to each other it’s tender and heartbreaking.

Mira’s parents have their own social value over the wellbeing of their children. Mira has something devastating in her past, and it’s slowly revealed how both her parents and the community itself were involved. Queer love is explored through two same-sex relationships, one involving Mira’s brother and his partner, the other between the ring’s owners (almost lovers Vasu and Suru). Their story is initially told in letters set thirty years previously and which slot in between the present-day action.

I won’t detail any more of the plot as it’s intricate and I don’t want to spoil it. Even with the busy-ness of the visit to India and the backstory of the ring, I was never confused by the secondary characters – they are all well-drawn and play their parts very effectively. The mood is very cleverly handled, as there’s lots of joy – New York is wonderful for Mira, both with Krish and her sibling (her brother’s partner is a gem) – but there are also some difficult truths to process.

I would have liked more on-page connection between Krish and Mira, and comeuppance for Mira’s parents, who are so caught up in their social position that they reject their son and (almost) forsake their daughter.

I recommend this contemporary and multicultural tale. It’s dense and layered and celebrates the Indian diaspora, even as it illuminates some of its darker complexities. There’s Something About Mira is beautifully written and author Sonali Dev skilfully juggles all the moving parts – so clever! I adored the understated tenderness between Mira and Krish and their hard-won happily ever after.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing/Amazon Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Sonali Dev. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Mira Salvi's life is going according to plan - she loves her job, she has a fiancé that her family adores, even though as a busy surgeon he can't accompany her on their engagement trip to NYC. Mira is anxious to enjoy her time as a tourist in the city. A chance fall leads to her discovering a beautiful ring on a chain, which she thinks is so romantic. Desperate to reunite the ring with its owner, she posts on social media and it goes viral. Only one other person seems to be as anxious as she is - journalist Krish Hale. They reluctantly join forces to trace the ring back to its rightful owner.

Best not go into this book thinking that it's going to be a rom com. While there are sweet and humorous moments, this is a wonderful book about trauma, forbidden love, standing up for yourself, and magical coincidences. The characters are so great - I could easily picture them in my mind. Mira was conditioned to be the peacemaker in her family and to hide away anything that wasn't perfect, and it was fabulous to go along her journey of self-discovery. Krish was another tortured soul, but was such a kind and caring man. It's emotional and I loved the ending. Grab this one for sure!

This is how a romance book is done! This blew me away. I was so attached to Mira and her story and her growth. This story is written with characters in mind - the cast is amazing and you can easily put yourself into the story. I love every bit of this.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for an early copy. This is out Today!

I love Sonali Dev books. There's Something About Mira is a really good read. I found the characters relatable and funny. I didn't expect the journey this book took me on but I loved it. Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

3.75 🌟

This book was not what I expected. At all.

This is definitely a book you should not judge by its cover. I thought I was getting a lighthearted romcom and this was anything but. I enjoyed watching Mira grow and come into her own during this book. Also, the mystery of finding the owner of the lost ring gripped me from the beginning. But this book deals with a lot of tough subjects - adoption, homophobia etc and was heavier than I expected.

Thanks, Netgalley for this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC!

Loved this book and the main characters. Explores very interesting social themes. A bit predictable but that's ok!

There’s Something about Mira by Sonali Dev is a thought-provoking novel that blends romance, self-discovery and family expectations in a deeply moving story.

"What if the love story you were searching for… was actually about loving yourself first?"

I really admired Mira’s strength and found her character to be relatable and her transformation was very inspiring. Her struggles with self-worth, Indian cultural pressures, and the fear of disappointing those she loves also felt deeply authentic and reclaiming her voice and happiness was both empowering and emotional in this book. The South Asian Indian cultural pressures and the challenges faced by immigrant families adds another layer of depth to the story.

There’s Something About Mira is perfect for readers who like second-chance romance, strong heroines, and stories about breaking free from expectations to find true happiness.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of the ARC.

Mira was such a compelling main character, and I loved following her journey of self-discovery. The lost ring gave her a purpose beyond her carefully planned life, and her adventure with Krish was both engaging and emotional. Krish was an unexpected but great character, adding depth to the story. Some parts of the book felt slow, especially before Mira’s trip to India, but the last quarter was incredibly moving and brought me to tears. While this book had some humor, it tackled serious topics, making it more emotional than a typical rom-com. The family dynamics were tough to read at times, but they added to the depth of the story. In the end, I’m really glad I stuck with it. Sonali Dev did a great job portraying complex characters and real-life struggles. If you can push through the slower parts, this book is definitely worth the read.

Mira Salvi has it all - a job she loves, a fiancé she adores....so why does it feel like there is something missing? After Druv has to cancel their engagement trip to New York City because of work again, & she has already changed dates with the airlines so many times she was warned that this time it was non-refundable, Mira decides to take the trip solo. After all, she has always wanted to see New York City, and her twin brother Rumi lives there with his boyfriend. She hasn't seen Rumi ever since their parents cut him out of their lives, and she really misses him. One day when she is out sight-seeing, she gets knocked over by a rambunctious little boy, and she falls to the pavement. As she is picking everything up to put it back in her purse, she notices a ring on a chain. She feels like it is her mission in life to reunite the ring to its rightful owner. She teams up with journalist Krish Hale & they begin the search that will lead to not only healing one broken heart, but may just change the course of Mira's life in a way she never dreamed possible.

I am a huge fan of this author's books, and this one did not disappoint. This is not just a love story, it was so much more. I love reading about the Indian culture, and this book, as with all of her books, was rich with it. Mira was a force to be reckoned with, and I could tell from the start she deserved so much better than Druv. It wasn't that he was a bad guy, because he wasn't.... he was great. It was just that he never put her first. The way her mother especially treated both Mira and Rumi just broke my heart. I can't fathom ever treating my daughter that way, no matter what she did, or who she loved. This is perfect for fans of Naina Kumar, Jasmine Guillory & Abby Jimenez.

This book isn’t so much about if they will get together but when and how. Our MC is sweet, kind and always puts everyone else first. It’s only when she listens to her heart and goes on a journey to find an answer that she finds her true self and her voice. This author has a way of writing stories that make you feel like you are right alongside the characters. It all feels so genuine that you can’t help but feel disappointed when the story comes to an end. This was a sweet read that tackles overbearing parents and following your gut to your happiness.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

There really is something about Mira. I loved her as a main character. I loved her journey to find herself. The mystery of the ring gives her a purpose for something to pursue. Krish is an an unlikely hero, but I loved his character too. It was difficult to read the hate that is directed to some people still today but it was a driving force in Mira's path. I enjoyed the story a lot. I haven't ready anything else by this author, but will look for some of her others since I enjoyed this one. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I was hoping to enjoy this one, but so far it has turned out quite different from what I expected, and I decided to DNF.

A large element of the story so far has been Mira's parents being horrifically homophobic towards Mira's brother, even going so far as to say he's dead to them. In the parts that I've read, Mira doesn't speak up about this to them, she actively keeps them in her life, and she even excuses their behaviour by saying they're from a different generation.

Then, she visits her brother and his partner in New York, and when her brother says he wants his partner to be at her wedding *explicitly as his partner*, Mira keeps saying "but he's invited!"

Now, I understand that the narrative will most likely show Mira's growth when it comes to this. It's most likely setting out to show how wrong this behaviour actually is, and how Mira should 100% support her brother.

But as a queer person, I do not have the patience to follow Mira along on that journey. I don't sympathize with her and I don't like reading about her as a main character. Maybe, hopefully, cishet readers might learn from this, but I do not have the patience nor the bandwidth to sympathize with someone who still needs to take a clear stance against homophobia.

Sonali Dev has a way of writing the most relatable characters I've ever read. Now this doesn't mean I've gone through every situation the characters have, but I've felt the emotions they have and the doubts and the turmoil. I love how she can make me connect to her characters in this way.

Now onto this book specifically: the plot was so fun! It takes a typical "lost item and a mission to find the owner" plot and makes it deeply emotional with the character who finds the lost item learning more about herself through the process of finding its owner. Mira really needed to grow, and this situation forced her to take that final step into just *thinking* about who she wanted to be and actually *becoming* that person.

The themes? Top notch. The family dynamics? Heartbreaking and healing. The romance? Sprinkled in. Dev's books are more "Women's Fiction" than "Romance" (not in a bad way), and I like how the Romance isn't the POINT, but it's a nice perk to all the growth the character was able to do (not that you need to grow or be your best self to be in a relationship, but I digress).

My favorite part of this book was Mira's personal growth. I truly love her as a character and wish her the best out there in the world.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review. I love reading Dev's books!

For me this book did not hit the mark, the story though being marketed as a romance was more of a women's fiction for me. I felt the author was trying to make a lot of things funny even though they weren't. I had hoped the book would grab me from the very beginning but I am not able to read it at this point of time because of how stretchy it feels.

I might pick it up on some other day with fresh mind but as now now it was a no-no for me.

I love the nuance that this author uses with her characters. Mira has so much going on in her life that she is just pushing aside. She’s just moving forward and ignore my all the things that are expected of her but are not serving her.
This book is much more a journey of the heart, not a romance. There is a love story within but it’s not the heart if the story.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the book drew me in but once I started reading it, I just couldn’t get into it at all.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

There’s something special about this book that I can’t quite pin down. It starts out light, like the romcoms Mira loves. We get gorgeous details of Indian food and wedding preparations. The HEA ending is satisfying.

But there’s a surprising amount of tension as well, in a love story communicated through letters from decades ago, and in what Mira and Krish go through while solving the mystery of the ring. The author did not shy away from difficult themes, and the tension created made Mira’s dilemma all the more poignant for me. I found myself caring about her story more than I often do when reading romance.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

There’s Something About Mira is an engaging story about fate, family and what it takes to discover what truly makes you happy. Sonali Dev’s emotional tale is Mira’s personal journey and well worth reading.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mira’s always had a tough time living up to her immigrant parents’ expectations. But when, at the old age of 30, she’s finally engaged to a successful doctor from their South Asian community, they are thrilled but convinced she’s going to mess up this opportunity. Her fiancé Druv plans an engagement getaway for the pair to NYC, only to cancel because of his important, busy schedule. So Mira steps out of her comfort zone and goes on her own. Once she arrives in New York, she meets up with her disowned brother, then finds a ring in Times Square. Naturally she goes on social media to locate who the ring belongs to, and in the process finds herself teaming up with Krish, a reporter who also wants to uncover the owner. Can they actually work together to find the ring’s owner, even while they seem to get on each other’s nerves? And does fate play a role?

Mira is a character who took a while for me to warm up to, but once I did, I was completely invested in her happiness. Mira begins the book as little wishy washy and naive, and it’s not always easy to understand her attachment to her bland yet perfect on paper fiancé. Once she heads to New York and steps outside her comfort zone, though, the story picks up and each twist and turn is welcome.

This book is billed as a romcom, which it definitely is not. That just makes it a different book than I expected, not a bad one. There are a few amusing quips, but Mira’s story is an emotional one about how family dynamics and abuse continue to shape people and their choices long after childhood. I also liked the multiple discussions of queer identity and how queer people have always built relationships, no matter the time period or setting.

There’s Something About Mira is an emotional and engaging tale. Mira’s journey is many experiences, from growing up in an immigrant community to conforming to her parents’ expectations to finally finding her own happiness. Sonali Dev creates indelible characters and it’s wonderful to spend time with them.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.