Sunshine and Spice By Aurora Palit

In Love’s Cultural Currency, Naomi Kelly is determined to make her mark in the world of brand consulting. When she secures a high-stakes contract to revitalize the failing Mukherjee family bazaar, she knows the job is crucial for her business. However, as the “oops” baby of a free-spirited Bengali mother, Naomi feels disconnected from her cultural roots—a fact that doesn’t sit well with Gia Mukherjee, who views Naomi as an outsider.

Dev Mukherjee, Gia’s son, faces his own dilemma. With his mother pushing him towards an arranged marriage through a relentless matchmaker, Dev is desperate to avoid a loveless union. When a potential match mistakenly believes Naomi is Dev’s girlfriend, an ingenious plan emerges: Naomi will pretend to date Dev to thwart his mother’s matchmaking attempts in exchange for lessons in Bengali culture.

As Naomi and Dev navigate their faux relationship, they find themselves entangled in a series of cultural activities—from chaotic Garba dances to couples cooking classes. What begins as a strategic ruse soon turns into a genuine connection. Amidst the blurring lines between pretense and reality, their feelings for each other deepen.

Love’s Cultural Currency is a delightful exploration of identity, cultural expectations, and the transformative power of love. Naomi and Dev must grapple with what it means to conform and where their true desires lie, ultimately deciding how much they are willing to risk for a chance at real, lasting love.