A Holly Jolly Diwali

Lalli's prose is deft, her characters are delightful and her book is the just-right holiday romance.--USA Today

One type-A data analyst discovers her free-spirited side on an impulsive journey from bustling Mumbai to the gorgeous beaches of Goa and finds love waiting for her on Christmas morning.

Twenty-nine-year-old Niki Randhawa has always made practical decisions. Despite her love for music and art, she became an analyst for the stability. She's always stuck close to home, in case her family needed her. And she's always dated guys that seem good on paper, rather than the ones who give her butterflies. When she's laid off, Niki realizes that practical hasn't exactly paid off for her. So for the first time ever, she throws caution to the wind and books a last-minute flight for her friend Diya's wedding.

Niki arrives in India just in time to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, where she meets London musician Sameer Mukherji. Maybe it's the splendor of Mumbai or the magic of the holiday season, but Niki is immediately drawn to Sam. At the wedding, the champagne flows and their flirtatious banter makes it clear that the attraction is mutual.

When Niki and Sam join Diya, her husband and their friends on a group honeymoon, their connection grows deeper. Free-spirited Sam helps Niki get in touch with her passionate and creative side, and with her Indian roots. When she gets a new job offer back home, Niki must decide what she wants out of the next chapter of her life--to cling to the straight and narrow like always, or to take a leap of faith and live the kind of bold life the old Niki never would have dreamed of.

Author: Sonya Lalli
Publisher: Berkley Books
Published: 10/05/2021
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 8.25h x 5.50w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9780593100950


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal Prepub Alert 05/01/2021 pg. 10
Library Journal 09/01/2021 pg. 57
Publishers Weekly 08/30/2021
Kirkus Reviews 09/01/2021
Booklist 09/15/2021 pg. 36

About the Author
Sonya Lalli is a romance and women's fiction author of Punjabi and Bengali heritage. Her books have been featured in Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Washington Post, Glamour and more. She lives in Vancouver with her husband.