Review - - Pride, Prejudice & Other Flavors

PRIDE, PREJUDICE & OTHER FLAVORS

by Sonali Dev

Publisher: William Morrow

Release Date: May 7, 2019

Reviewed by Hellie
    

It is a truth universally acknowledged that only in an overachieving Indian American family can a genius daughter be considered a black sheep.

Dr. Trisha Raje is San Francisco’s most acclaimed neurosurgeon. But that’s not enough for the Rajes, her influential immigrant family who’s achieved power by making its own non-negotiable rules:

·        Never trust an outsider

·        Never do anything to jeopardize your brother’s political aspirations

·        And never, ever, defy your family

Trisha is guilty of breaking all three rules. But now she has a chance to redeem herself. So long as she doesn’t repeat old mistakes.

Up-and-coming chef DJ Caine has known people like Trisha before, people who judge him by his rough beginnings and place pedigree above character. He needs the lucrative job the Rajes offer, but he values his pride too much to indulge Trisha’s arrogance. And then he discovers that she’s the only surgeon who can save his sister’s life.

As the two clash, their assumptions crumble like the spun sugar on one of DJ’s stunning desserts. But before a future can be savored there’s a past to be reckoned with…

A family trying to build a home in a new land.

A man who has never felt at home anywhere.

And a choice to be made between the two.

It is a Truth universally acknowledged that I cannot resist a book riffing on that timeless classic featuring a certain Mr. Darcy. It is also acknowledged I cannot resist a book that has food basically as a subplot that quite possibly substitutes for sex because I love me some food. Thus when presented with the opportunity to review this book, I was very much waving both hands going, “Me! Me! Send it to me!” I then proceeded to read it in about a day and a half, staying up until 2 A.M. to finish it, as I lied that I would just read one more chapter. 

I enjoyed myself thoroughly figuring out which of them was actually Darcy’s character in this revamped tale as well as pointing out various scenes that made me go, “Oh, Eliza overhears Darcy throwing shade on her!” and “Ooooh, here’s the worst proposal scene ever!”--and Dev does an excellent job of living up to the original scenes’ memorable factor of throwing shade and verbal diarrhea meant to win True Love’s Heart and failing miserably. But as much as the similarities abounded, there was much that was simply true to the story laid here. It was a story of fitting in with your family--especially a family that straddles two cultures, traditional Indian values and new American ones, forgiveness, belonging and worth, and the things that define who we are. It also touched on the realities of living in America if you’re a black man and the privileges afforded to those with wealth, no matter the skin color. 

Many of the interactions between the hero and heroine made me wince as they seemed to be at odds even when they were definitely not trying to be so. I wondered how they would ever be able to look past the differences and hurts they’d inflicted on each other. All in all, I felt both characters grew from their experiences and formed an authentic attachment. More importantly, I felt that the heroine finally began to have belonging within her own family again and found happiness. Well worth the read--and I hope you give it a shot. :) You can never have enough Darcy inspired spin-offs!