A culturally rich, well written enemies to lovers romance with quirky characters and chaotic family dynamics. While the premise is strong and the humor shines, the romance didn’t quite land for me personally though contemporary romance fans will likely enjoy the ride.
Book Synopsis
Book Details
Pages: 352
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Berkley Books
Format: Paperback
After her life falls apart, recruitment consultant Layla Patel returns home to her family in San Francisco. But in the eyes of her father, who runs a Michelin starred restaurant, she can do no wrong. He would do anything to see her smile again. With the best intentions in mind, he offers her the office upstairs to start her new business and creates a profile on an online dating site to find her a man. She doesn’t know he’s arranged a series of blind dates until the first one comes knocking on her door…As CEO of a corporate downsizing company Sam Mehta is more used to conflict than calm. In search of a quiet new office, he finds the perfect space above a cozy Indian restaurant that smells like home. But when communication goes awry, he’s forced to share his space with the owner’s beautiful yet infuriating daughter Layla, her crazy family, and a parade of hopeful suitors, all of whom threaten to disrupt his carefully ordered life. As they face off in close quarters, the sarcasm and sparks fly. But when the battle for the office becomes a battle of the heart, Sam and Layla have to decide if this is love or just a game.
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Review
* Non-Spoiler Review*
Oof, I finally made it through this one. This book left me with mixed feelings. I really liked the premise, it had a unique cultural angle that was super engaging. I had fun reading about the wild dynamics of the main characters’ families, their religion, and beliefs.
That said, I was surprised to find myself struggling with the romance. It’s an enemies to lovers story (which I’m realising is actually one of my favorite tropes), complete with quirky side characters and some genuinely funny moments. But somehow, the story as a whole just didn’t click for me, I felt a bit “meh” about it.
Maybe I’m just not in the right headspace for this kind of book right now? It’s definitely well written, and while the enemies to lovers formula isn’t anything new, it’s executed solidly here.
All in all, I think contemporary romance fans would really enjoy this one, it just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
Spice Rating: 3/6 – See my rating system here
Book Rating: 3/5
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