Recipe for Persuasion

From the author of Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors comes another , clever, deeply layered, and heartwarming romantic comedy that follows in the Jane Austen tradition—this time, with a twist on Persuasion.Chef Ashna Raje desperately needs a new strategy. How else can she save her beloved restaurant and prove to her estranged, overachieving mother that she isn’t a complete screw up? When she’s asked to join the cast of Cooking with the Stars, the latest hit reality show teaming chefs with celebrities, it seems like just the leap of faith she needs to put her restaurant back on the map. She’s a chef, what’s the worst that could happen? Rico Silva, that’s what.  Being paired with a celebrity who was her first love, the man who ghosted her at the worst possible time in her life, only proves what Ashna has always believed: leaps of faith are a recipe for disaster. FIFA winning soccer star Rico Silva isn't too happy to be paired up with Ashna either. Losing Ashna years ago almost destroyed him. The only silver lining to this bizarre situation is that he can finally prove to Ashna that he's definitely over her. But when their catastrophic first meeting goes viral, social media becomes obsessed with their chemistry. The competition on the show is fierce…and so is the simmering desire between Ashna and Rico.  Every minute they spend together rekindles feelings that pull them toward their disastrous past. Will letting go again be another recipe for heartbreak—or a recipe for persuasion…? In Recipe for Persuasion, Sonali Dev once again takes readers on an unforgettable adventure in this fresh, fun, and enchanting romantic comedy.

"A delight from start to finish, both for Jane Austen fans looking for a fresh take and readers seeking deeply felt relationships and complicated family dynamics. In Dev's world, the past is alive in the present; I was wholly engrossed and had plenty to think about. At the same time, the reality TV storyline added a thread of pure fun escapism--something all of us need right now." — Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times bestselling author  “Clever allusions to Persuasion aside (even Jane Austen fans will be challenged to spot them all), this is a sumptuously multilayered story about the ways love gets tangled in family life and romantic relationships.” — Library Journal (starred review) "Dev continues the story of the Raje family with this nuanced and powerful second chance romance, a loose riff on Jane Austen’s Persuasion. Dev balances the toe-curling romance with high-octane family drama...[her] candor and sensitivity in both story lines set this family-centric romance apart. Readers are sure to be impressed." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) "No one writes like Sonali Dev. Recipe for Persuasion is a complex, thoughtful exploration of family dynamics, mothers and daughters, and the sorrows we often endure before we find our true place in life. A rich, delicious tale." — Barbara O'Neal, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids "Master storyteller Sonali Dev pens another fantastic Jane Austen retelling with this intricately layered tale of the complexities of familial and romantic love. Full of yearning and wit—and featuring a delicious hero—this book is not to be missed!" — Jamie Beck, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author A must read... this heartwarming romantic comedy promises to make us laugh and tug at our heartstrings.” — She Reads "Sonali Dev does it again!  In a nod to Austen’s classic, Recipe for Persuasion dices up family drama, slow-boils the romance between Chef Ashna and footballer, Rico Silva, as they come to terms with their past and their current feelings Master Chef-style. You will gobble up this Dev concoction like your favorite dessert … and then you’ll want seconds." — Falguni Kothari, USA Today bestselling author Praise for Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors: “A profound, unique talent, Sonali Dev grabs the reader by the heart.” — Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author “This book is delicious! A window into a beautifully rich family and cultural life, and romance that made our hearts glow, Dev has a place of honor on our bookshelves!”  — Christina Lauren, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

USA Today Bestselling author Sonali Dev writes Bollywood-style love stories that explore issues faced by women around the world. Sonali’s novels have been on Library Journal, NPR, Washington Post, and Kirkus’s Best Books of the year lists. She has won the American Library Association’s award for best romance, the RT Reviewer Choice Award for best contemporary  romance, multiple RT Seals of Excellence, is a RITA® finalist, and has been listed for the Dublin Literary Award. Shelf Awareness calls her “Not only one of the best but one of the bravest romance novelists working today.”She lives in Chicagoland with her husband, two visiting adult children, and the world’s most perfect dog.Find more at sonalidev.com.