Romance, Sisterhood and How Simi Got Her Groom Back with Sonali Dev

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 FictionThe Caste and the Star by Leylah Attar — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance / Second ChancePartners in Crime by Alisha Rai — Buy on Amazon | Romantic Comedy / Second Chance / Heist Romance⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome back Sonali Dev01:00 – Behind the scenes of her latest book release03:00 – Writing process & juggling multiple books04:30 – What How Simi Got Her Groom Back is about06:30 – Immigration, legality vs. morality, and storytelling08:00 – Why joy is an act of rebellion10:00 – How books build empathy11:00 – Romance novels and self-worth13:30 – Raising your standards in love & life15:00 – Choosing joy in everyday decisions17:00 – Visibility, bravery, and showing up authentically19:30 – What Sonali loves to read21:30 – Reading across genres vs. sticking to romance24:00 – Book rec: The Caste and the Star27:00 – Book rec: Partners in Crime30:00 – Where to find Sonali DevJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!