Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev
It’s true that I have a ridiculous amount of “favorite” books, but one that perpetually sits at the top of the list is Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. I remember reading it for the first time and then being told that I had to watch the BBC adaptation with Colin Firth. My doubt was quickly replaced by delight, and since then I have devoured every movie and TV adaptation that I can get my hands on. I have also re-read and loved Pride & Prejudice more times than I would dare to count.
Over the years, I’ve picked up many retellings of Austen’s famous story, and I have never come across a variation that truly hit the mark. Until now. Sonali Dev’s Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors (William Morrow) is not just an amusing romp through relational mishaps, it’s a smart, funny novel that remains true to Austen’s basic storyline while exploring entirely new ground. This gender-bending rewrite casts an ambitious, brilliant woman as the Darcy we love to hate (and, of course, grow to love), and a man as her sweet and salty, family-oriented love interest (Elizabeth). The interpretation is so fresh and exciting it’s impossible not to devour the pages!
Dr. Trisha Raje is an acclaimed neurosurgeon and the daughter of Indian royalty living in California. Her family is rich, powerful, and extremely influential—especially her brother, whose political ambitions have huge implications for the entire family. But spunky Trisha has a hard time following the rules, and she has alienated her family in the pursuit of her dreams. As the novel opens, Trisha has an opportunity to redeem herself and reenter the fabric of family life. But everything is complicated when she meets chef DJ Caine. DJ is a promising new chef from the wrong side of the tracks, but he longs to prove himself as a man of character and merit. He is also the private chef the Rajes have hired for an important political dinner. Soon Trisha and DJ discover that they have a much deeper and totally unexpected connection that alternately pits them against one another and draws them together. To complicate matters even further, Trisha and DJ are polar opposites–but can’t deny the attraction they feel. As they clash, they discover truths about themselves and each other, and question the bonds of family and home.
Exquisitely written, warm, and wise, Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors is an absolute feast. Dev’s ability to sensitively tackle touch topics like identity, belonging and home is perfectly matched by her humor and heart. This laugh-out-loud novel is filled with wisdom and brimming with snappy dialogue and smashed stereotypes. It’s an absolute must-read for Pride & Prejudice fans, but even more so, it’s a must-read for anyone who likes smart novels about love, life, and the choices we make.
Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors is now available for purchase.
Read Aimie Runyan’s review of Dev’s follow-up Raje novel, Recipe for Persuasion
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