There were also a LOT of events in the book that just felt dramatic or downright unrealistic. I know it’s fiction, but I like to walk that fine line in romances to where something like this MIGHT happen to someone, you know?

Sara Desai tried to create a cast of characters that are so relatable and lovable, you'll feel like you're part of the plot. The main character, Lily, is a hopeless romantic who is determined to find love, even if it means joining her family's singles table at weddings. But things get complicated when she meets the charming and mysterious Rishi, who is not what he seems (the usual male trope). When we have a Tortured Hero who’s also The Older Brother’s Best Friend, we’re in for a good time. Marriage of convenience isn’t a trope I really gravitate towards, but the enemies to lovers and fake dating in this drew me in. I also read this the weekend after January 6th and it was a perfect and necessary escape from *gestures wildly.* Sam and Layla’s banter was so much fun. I loved watching them go on the ‘dates’ together. Layla was independent and fiery and I loved her character. Sam was great… for most of the book. I also adored so many of the side characters. Layla’s dad was my absolute favorite. I also loved Sam’s sister, friend John, and Layla’s cousin, Daisy. I don’t know why I didn’t expect to enjoy this as much as I did but it was great! The audio was fantastic and the romance was fun – lots of love/hate and forced proximity between the main characters.

What Research Says About the Dating Process

He thinks she’s wild, unruly,loud, totally out of control. But he also realizes she’s full of joy, bringing happiness to all the people around her, energetic, eccentric, one of a kind… The crème de la crème of this book is their first sex scene. I could have done without any of their sex scenes, but I laughed for 42 years about this scene. How did no one else catch it? The author literally took the Twilight sex scene (that we've all been laughing at for years) and just made it smutty. Like he SHATTERS her headboard with his bare hands. He's JUST A MAN. What is her furniture made of? Sawdust???

Unless I missed it, there are random quirks (like her obsession with Marvel, and how much she cares about her dog) that actually have nothing to do with the story. Quirks are fun IF they can be tied to the story. Otherwise Hulk and Iron Man bras are just weird, okay?

See a Problem?

I will be cautious about a person who seems self-centered—more interested in himself/herself than anything else (including our relationship).

These two people have apparently been in love with each other since they were teenagers. Daisy was unpopular and teased in high school and Liam was the hot kid that everyone either wanted, or wanted to be. But apparently he fell in love with Daisy and has held a torch for her for the last decade, though he literally stood her up on prom night and then VANISHED from their lives. He was her brother's best friend, and basically lived at their house for 8 years, but left without a word. The family was furious. But then we find out he did it to save A) his mom from her abusive marriage, and B) to protect Daisy's brother who got into a car accident while high. Liam took the fall and vanished. This is an annoying reason for him to leave. He could have said he was in a car accident without ratting out the brother, he could have explained he has to take his mom somewhere, or that his parents are separating and he has to go with the mom. He didn't have to spill all the beans about either situation. But instead, he just VANISHES. And the brother, knowing ALL ALONG he was just saving his skin, let the family hate his best friend, for a DECADE.I loved the main characters Layla and Sam and the chemistry between them. They had such great banter and I was rooting so hard for them. I also really liked Sara Desai’s writing style. This is her debut novel but it absolutely doesn’t feel like it is. Additionally, I also really enjoyed learning about Indian culture and I loved Layla’s family so much. They were all such great characters and it was always so entertaining when they all spent time together. The most hilarious parts of this book however were the dates Layla’s father had set up for her to find a suitable husband because each guy was for some reason or another an absolute disaster. Furthermore, Layla is a very outgoing person and seeing her interact with some of her more traditional family members or the date partners who still had a very traditional view of women was so funny. Another time!" She bolted away, clutching the boxes of pads as she wove in and out of the crowd, her heart pounding in her chest. When she'd woken up this morning, she would never have guessed she would be pulled away from her cozy workspace and dragged to a tech conference, only to wind up on the run from her ex, with an armload of pads and her matchmaking auntie hot on her heels. What stopped me from giving this a full 5-star rating is because I didn’t like how shit went down nearing the end. Sam obviously had too much guilt to work through to the point that it served as motivation to do unjust things. I didn’t like how he handled some stuff and I feel hurt on Layla’s behalf. The good thing is that he did his best to fix things, not just with Layla but also with her family and his best friend, John Lee.