The premise of the book was intriguing and the story was ok. I just think I don’t like certain troupes that end up being way too predictable. Admittedly it takes a lot to make me like a contemporary romance but I read the first one so I figured why not? Some paving issues but overall an ok read.

I just reviewed Sugar, Spice, and Can't Play Nice by Annika Sharma. #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]
thank you netgally for sending me this book.
sugar, Spice and can't play nice by Annika Sharma is now one of my favorite books of 2023.
being a desi girl, I relate so much with the characters and the habits they do ( like taking of the chappals before entering the house).
This book is about Payal an inspiring fashion artiest and Ayaan Malhotra that one child in every desi family that desperately needs to prove themself. What's the problem with this? Both of them needs to get married to each other , one to save their company and the other to pursue their dreams .

would this arrange marriage work ? or would everything fall apart?

This wasn't a big hit for me. I didn't understand why the characters broke up in the middle as they were doing the same thing to each other so being so mad enough to end things seemed strange. I also didn't particularly like either main character.

Thank you NetGalley for Sugar, Spice, and Can’t Play Nice! I love a fake dating/fake engagement and enemies to lovers story and this book did not disappoint! Ayaan and Payal are such fleshed out characters with their own emotional baggage, ideals, and career dreams; I really loved that about them and the writing. Their chemistry from the outset is undeniable, and watching them attract and resist and attract again was a lovely roller coaster of first love and true love.

I think my only “problem” with this book was Payal’s hypocrisy over perceived slights by Ayaan, which, to be fair, is very real, human behavior. So on one hand, it could be viewed as well-written, but on the other, I was still annoyed at her, as I would be a real human, for that behavior.

Sugar, Spice, and Can’t Play Nice has been out for just over a month now and I give it 4 stars!

Payal is finally realizing her dream of being a fashion designer. Moving away from the family business, she's ready to set out on her own. Then she gets summons from her family calling her back to London. Their business is not doing so well and they've worked out a deal to merge with another family-run company. And part of that deal is a marriage between Payal and that family's son Ayaan.

Neither Payal nor Ayaan are wanting to get married, but they understand the sacrifices one makes for family, and their willing to court one another. Especially since they'll both be getting something out of it. Payal will get some support for her growing fashion brand and Ayaan has been promised the role of CMO in his family's business. Both are secretly planning to end the engagement once they get what they want out of the merger. That is, until their feelings for one another start becoming real.

I loved the back and forth between Payal and Ayaan. So alike in their circumstances yet their approaches are often different and it's those points where they end up running up against one another. Both are invested in their families yet they want to be known for their own skills. They don't want to follow in the same path as their parents, but they find themselves on it anyway.

Just each time Payal and Ayan were together was magic. Sparks flew and I equally enjoyed the moments they challenged one another as I did the moments where they were totally in sync.

I felt like we got more time with the CMC this time around and I really enjoyed the further depth and understanding we get of their group dynamic. I cannot wait for Sonam and Akosh's stories.

If you haven't read the first book, you can totally pick this one up on its own. Although, once you do, you'll be compelled to go back to the beginning and fill in the blanks.

This book was a journey but i really enjoyed the ride. One night stands turned into an arranged marriage, what is not to love. The characters in this book were very well written and loved the depth of them. A lovely read.

Please be sure to read the first book in the series! It makes for a much more enjoyable read! Either way, Sugar, Spice and Can't Play Nice is such a lovely, fun and swoony read! Absolutely recommend!

SUGAR SPICE AND CANT PLAY NICE - ANNIKA SHARMA
3.5⭐
PLOT - Payal an upcoming fashion designer is forced by her parents to an arranged marriage to save their family business to none other than Ayaan a seriel dater with whom things ended badly after their hookup. But they both have something to gain with this arrangement but as they spend time together they develop feelings for each other.
What will happen when they both come to know each other's true reason for their arrangement?
Can love happen in this arrangement?

MY THOUGHTS -
I Love marriage of convenience..it's my fav troupe. As I myself had an arranged marriage i enjoyed how their family set them up though not in ideal circumstances, how you come to love a person over time once you get to know them.
However both Payal and Ayaan at many instances were selfish and childish plus there were selfish and childish and there was so much non communication which i didn't enjoy.
Secondary characters..the CMC club was as usual good as it continues from book 1.
I loved the 1st , this not so much yet would love to read further books in the series .
Thank you Netgalley and publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

SWOON! BUT be sure to read the first book!
I 100% did not realize there was a first book so had to read that first and now we get to love on Payal!

Sharma's writing is vibrant and engaging, effortlessly transporting readers into the story. The character of Payal is multi-dimensional and beautifully portrayed, capturing the nuances of her Pakistani-American heritage and the complexities of navigating two worlds. The themes of identity, family, and acceptance are delicately woven into the narrative, offering thought-provoking insights.

What truly sets this book apart is its ability to explore the universal struggle of finding one's place while staying true to one's roots. The rich cultural tapestry and the genuine emotions portrayed create a strong emotional connection between the reader and the characters.

"Sugar, Spice, and Can't Play Nice" is a compelling and inspiring read that tackles important issues with grace and depth. Annika Sharma's storytelling prowess shines through, making this book a must-read for anyone seeking a heartwarming and thought-provoking journey of self-discovery.

Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca for the advanced reading copy and Libro.fm and Dreamscape Media for the advanced listening copy, receipt of which did not impact my review.

SSACPN is book two in Annika Sharma’s Chai Masala Club series, featuring a group of four friends in NYC as they work, play, and fall in love. This book features always put together Payal Mehra, who is on the cusp of being one of the hottest new designers. The catch? To save the family business, she must marry fellow Londonor Ayaan Maholtra - whom she had a one night stand with not too long ago. Ayaan’s parents want him to settle down and think this is the way to do it. Both sets of parents do not see how accomplished and underestimate how successful their children are right now. As Payal and Ayaan spend more time together, they realize they have more in common than they thought and the chemistry from their ONS is still there. Could this be something that lasts, despite how it started?

Payal was one of my favorite side characters in the first book and I loved getting to know her better in SSACPN! She was independent, assertive, and kind. Ayaan was loyal, generous, and a little spoiled but had some good character growth to even that out in the end. Their chemistry was palpable and I adored the banter. Narrator Zehra Jane Naqvi did a fantastic job of pulling me into the story. Overall, a lovely read!

Imagine if your one night stand was the person your family wanted you to marry for a business deal? You may also leverage the engagement for your own career aspirations, planning to break it once the deal was done and you got what you wanted.

For Payal and Ayaan, this was their plans. That they didn't tell the other, the fiance they grew to love....that's another issue.

In the first chapter, Ayaan wasn't likeable. He is not responsible and acts first, thinks later in his personal life. This is an issue throughout the book, but he does grow and becomes a more thoughtful partner. Nonetheless, if they weren't engaged keeping them together, they may have never gotten to the point.

The up and down nature of their relationship did make it easy to put down this book. When they finally acknowledged their feelings to each other and their relationship had true feelings, it was harder to put down the book.

Though while Ayaan was the one who kept messing up, at the end they both had their secrets come out (as they always do), yet despite them doing the same thing (because they do think very similarly), it did feel a bit too one-sided with the blame on Ayaan and the expectation that he has to fix it and make the sacrifice, which I didn't enjoy. I think he really went above and beyond at the end and was glad that Payal let go of her fear.

Between trying to obtain respect and pride from their families while not feeling like a part of it, their ambition, and the way they support each other, Payal and Ayaan are similar people. Seeing them become a team, begin to heal their relationships with their families, and take joy in each other, their families, and their heritage was wonderful.

Overall, an enjoyable arranged marriage romance with beautiful imagery that was a perfect read for AAPI heritage month!

Thank you to netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Feat: closed door romance, arranged marriage, South Asian leads (British Indian), "I was using you for my own career aspirations but now I love you"

3.75 stars
0.5 spice

When Payal get’s set up by her family for a modern arranged marriage she’s willing to go through with it to save her family’s business but is not so delighted to find out that her groom-to-be is Ayaan. They’ve met before and he left a less than stellar impression on her, still, both decide to go through with the engagement and first impressions get a second chance.

I enjoyed both of our main characters and their slow-burn romance during the middle part of the book. Ayaan’s struggle with his past and his desire to prove himself to his parents was just as compelling as Payal’s driven passion to make her dreams come true.

The set up for their enemies-to-lovers arc on the other hand was less than enjoyable, it felt forced and overall half-baked.

Overall this book had it’s moments and a lot of charming scenes but felt incredibly predictable and at times undeserved when it came to some of the big emotional moments.

Payal’s parents are on the verge of losing their family business and only one thing can save it - an arranged marriage between Payal and Ayaan, the son of the family potentially buying the business. Payal and Ayaan agree to consider the marriage because they each have something to gain from agreeing to their parents’ demands. However, what proves to be challenging is keeping their respective reasons for agreeing to the engagement to themselves, especially when they realize they might actually like each other after all.

I loved the first book in this series thanks to the amazing friendships amongst the CMC, the incredible adventures the main characters went on while falling in love, as well as the depiction of the immigrant experience and Indian culture. While I didn’t love the main characters in this one quite as much as the first two, this book still had the incredible friend and family relationships that I loved in the first book. Similarly, this book also had rich cultural descriptions and I found I learned a lot about Indian culture through this book once again.

Payal and Ayaan were both very flawed and real characters, and while they both went into the relationship for selfish reasons and were keeping secrets for most of the book, it allowed for a lot of character growth by the end of the story. There were a few moments where I really was frustrated with them, but thankfully they got it together by the end. Overall, this book was a cute, quick read and I look forward to more from the series!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the advance copy.

I love the CMC books and cannot wait for the next one! I am loving the representation and everything I am learning from the South Asian culture.

This book centered around family and the familial dysfunction. Payal and Ayaan had very similar relationships with their families if you looked at it from a glace but when you really studied them you realized why their families had such dysfunction. Payal and Ayaan I felt were destined mates. They went through so much together and oddly enough them being together is what gave them the strength to show their families who they truly are. I really enjoyed the twists and turns this book took and I look forward to the next book from Annika Sharma.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review as always all words are my own.

If you enjoy romance without a ton of smut but just a touch of conversational innuendo for flirty fun and pg intimacy scenes - this book is a good place to start. The author utilized a detailed writing style that made me feel like I was in the scenes with the characters; and there is South Asian representation throughout as well. I personally love a slow burn, however the middle felt a tad dragged out for me. The last quarter of the book however really picks up the drama factor. Just something to add as well- the miscommunication (of feelings) trope is not my cup of tea, however I can see how this factor of the book would appeal to others.

Payal is an only child and slated to inherit her family's company, but she is working on her passion, creating her own fashion line. She uses an app for a hook up and matches with the son of family friends, they have a one night stand that ends in miscommunication and mis understanding. Ayaan is the family mess up looking to prove and redeem himself for past mistakes. They both are told by their family's they must get engaged as part of a merger deal between their family company's. They both see the potential to agree only by getting something out of it and ending it before actually getting married. As they both get to know each other and support the other, the facade may lead to real feelings.

This was fabulous, the culture, values, and diversity was such a breath of fresh air. The friendships and family dynamic were so well explored and written. The characters were flawed and dynamic and I could relate to them so well. I am very excited for the next instalment in this series.

When Payal has a one night stand with Ayaan she doesn’t think she’ll ever see him again. But when their families decide on a business deal that includes an engagement between Payal and Ayaan their fun hookup suddenly becomes a lot more serious. The business deal can benefit both Payal and Ayaan in professional ways so they agree to the engagement as long as they don’t announce it officially for several months and take the time to get to know each other. The more time Payal and Ayaan spend together the more they discover there is more to each other then they thought. Will they learn to love each other and go through with the engagement or will the pressure of their families and companies be too much?

I enjoyed this romance as it delved into pertinent issues we all face as adults when trying to both please our families and find love. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!

First I would like to say thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book's synopsis intrigued me, but reading it didn't quite hit the mark. The characters felt flat and there was no chemistry.

Sugar, Spice, and Can’t Play Nice
Genre: contemporary romance
Rating: really enjoyed

New book alert! Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the gifted digital copy in exchange for an honest review. This published last week!

The first in the series, Love, Chai, and Other Four Letter Words, was magic for me. I loved that we took a tour of New York City right along with Nash, as well as Kiran’s amazingly supportive and funny friend group, the CMC. When I saw the author picked up where we left off and it was Payal’s turn for love, I just about dropped everything to start this one.

Quick Summary: In this follow-up, we follow Payal and Ayaan, two transplants from England in NYC. The two casually knew each other, as their families run in the same circle. After they bump in to each other and hit it off, a night that started off as fun together ends in disaster… and then their families get involved. Their families agree of a business merger but there’s a catch. Arranged marriages worked out successfully for them, and they feel Payal and Ayaan would be a great wedding match. In order to save her family’s business, will Payal agree?

Thoughts: This series feels like a big, warm hug. We see both Payal’s and Ayaan’s growth as characters, as they struggle with the expectations of both a family business, as well as the traditional beliefs of their South Asian families. Like in the first book, this would be considered a closed door romance. While I’m firmly on #teamsteam, I almost didn’t notice and didn’t miss the spice one bit. Looking forward to seeing who’s next in book 3!

#sugarspiceandcantplaynice #lovechaiandotherfourletterwords

I read Love, Chai and Other Four Letter Words a little while ago, and it was a fun read. I enjoyed the look into Indian American culture and found that Sharma wrote quite well, and drew me into the story.

I was looking forward to this next book in the series and while it was a long wait, it was worth it! Payal and Ayaan’s arranged marriage to save the family company story was a unique twist on the standard fake engagement story. There were a whole lot of different aspects at play here with the Indian culture coming into it, along with some former flame jealousy and we get the Chai Masala Club friends from book one making many appearances and throwing in their opinions, plus the new friends of Ayaan who we like a lot. Great side character arcs!

I definitely enjoyed this storyline and the writing (pacing, character development and relationships, everything, really) better than the first book, and fully recommend it for everyone in the romance reader community! A great one to pick up, with this being released during AAPI Heritage Month!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca, and this is my honest feedback.