Episode
Romance, Sisterhood and How Simi Got Her Groom Back with Sonali Dev
- Published
- Mar 23, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1937
- Processing state
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- http://www.whattoreadnextblog.com
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Summary
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. What happens when romance meets real life—immigration, identity, and the courage to choose joy anyway? In this episode, I sit down with Sonali Dev to talk about her latest novel How Simi Got Her Groom Back —a deeply emotional story about sisterhood, love, and what it really means to belong. We dive into the themes behind the book (including immigration and chosen family), plus a powerful conversation about romance as a tool for healing, self-worth, and rewriting the rules we’ve been given. If you love romance with depth, second chances, and stories that make you feel something real—this episode is for you. 📚 Books Mentioned How Simi Got Her Groom Back by Sonali Dev — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction The Caste and the Star by Leylah Attar — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance / Second Chance Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai — Buy on Amazon | Romantic Comedy / Second Chance / Heist Romance ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome back Sonali Dev 01:00 – Behind the scenes of her latest book release 03:00 – Writing process & juggling multiple books 04:30 – What How Simi Got Her Groom Back is about 06:30 – Immigration, legality vs. morality, and storytelling 08:00 – Why joy is an act of rebellion 10:00 – How books build empathy 11:00 – Romance novels and self-worth 13:30 – Raising your standards in love & life 15:00 – Choosing joy in everyday decisions 17:00 – Visibility, bravery, and showing up authentically 19:30 – What Sonali loves to read 21:30 – Reading across genres vs. sticking to romance 24:00 – Book rec: The Caste and the Star 27:00 – Book rec: Partners in Crime 30:00 – Where to find Sonali Dev Join the Conversation Subscribe to our Substack for…