Cover Image: The Dating Plan

The Dating Plan

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Member Reviews

Hilarious, enjoyable, and unique! The Dating Plan is a great new romance and I can see why I've been seeing it all over bookstagram and why it was chosen for a BOTM pick. Three-dimensional characters, realistic love story, funny banter and situations, etc make The Dating Plan a fun and meaningful romance read.

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I wasn’t 100% sold on this book as I feel the “fake dating to real dating” trope has been done better. That being said it’s definitely within the trope for any fans who are looking for a fun read.

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I enjoyed this book but it was not my favourite. I love the aspect of a female engineer and self empowerment but sometimes fake daring is not my cup of tea.

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I really enjoyed reading ( the marriage game ) by Sara Desai , she has an impressive writing style ( addictive , entertaining and classy ) .
( The dating plan ) was kinda OK , entertaining , but it wasn't as ( the marriage game ) for me .
I didn't like the characters that much .
Generally , I would recommend this book for romance lovers who like the " Fake relationship " Trope and enjoy a sweet romantic story .

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Sara Desai wrote another great love story with in depth characters, chock full of Bollywood-esque plot points. I love her writing!

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Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my copy of The Dating Plan by Sara Desai in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first book by Desai, I do plan to go back and read The Marriage Game soon. I liked the full cast full of well meaning and troublesome characters in Daisy and Liam's families. I am a big fan of the fake dating/engagement trope, and this one lived up to my expectations. I am always glad to see a main character that is not a pushover, too. The writing was clever and I will definitely be recommending this one to fellow readers.

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couldn't read it. sorry but life got to me and yeah couldnt read it sorry

couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry. couldnt read it sorry.

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After so much hype and hearing about this book I am so glad I picked it up! A cute, fun read! I just need to order a physical copy so I can have that cover on my shelf!

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I really enjoyed The Dating Plan. It was a little off the wall, a little quirky but definitely fun. Daisy and Liam were a pleasure to read.



Liam had his life together, finally. After an awkward past that took him away from his family, he’s finally home. But, for only one reason. Then Daisy comes barreling back into his life. She hates him with good cause. But, he can never tell her the real reason behind his leaving. He’ll do nothing but hurt her again. He has choices to make, a family feud to figure out, a woman who never really left his heart and another family to impress.



Daisy is the quirky one … lists, spreadsheets … that is what her life revolves around. She has no time to worry about things like a productive love life. Until she literally runs into a hard body and loses all her pads. (Yea, read the story). But, who she runs into is what is concerning … the man she hates most. The man that broke her heart. The man that has always had her heart. Now, she has choices to make as well. Does she stick to her plan? Does she save the company? Does she trust Liam enough to go along with the dates, spreadsheets and commitments that are written there. Or, does she finally go off plan and follow her heart.



The Dating Plan was such an enjoyable story to read. The charters were a riot. Liam and Daisy were fun, unpredictable (no matter how many spreadsheets there were) and meant for each other. Her family just put a little more laughter into the story line. We should all wish we had families as fun and outrageous as hers. Liam’s family, though boisterous, couldn’t hold a candle to Daisy’s family. And, both families play an important part in the love story of Liam and Daisy. The plot was a little predictable but thoroughly enjoying. Sara Desai did a wonderful job of bringing us through this whirlwind story, of families that were a little off-the-wall and of a love that was truly meant to be.

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Loved this one! I found Liam to be such a swoon worthy male lead. I loved the relationship between Daisy and her family as well. This was a great read. I cannot wait for the author's next book!

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Desai deftly uses several tropes to her advantage in this second chance romance. There's the brother's best friend--Liam Murphy--who stood up our heroine at the prom and wasn't heard from again for years. And there's the fake engagement, as Daisy Patel needs someone to keep the matchmaking aunties at bay. Software engineer Daisy is trying to save her start-up company, and convinces venture capitalist Liam to help them out. After all, he owes her. But in return, he needs a fake fiancee to make him look good as he vies for a partnership.

Overall I enjoyed this. Daisy is a bit too manic pixie dream girl, as she tries to help Liam move on from his difficult past. The pair are a good match, though, as they encourage one another to pursue their dreams and make peace with family.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

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Decided to DNF this one at 25%

The characters and overall plot didn't do much for me. For this type of contemporary romance, I need to be sucked in almost immediately and the enemies to lovers trope isn't new so when the storyline isn't fresh and the writing isn't strong, I know it is time to end it.

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This was my first from Sara Desai, I had heard raves about her other book in there series and was really excited to try one of her books. I don't think I enjoyed the beginning of this one as much as I hoped. I found the heroine to be kind of annoying? I may try and finish this one at a later point but for now its a DNF at 30%

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What I loved about this book was the diversity of characters, a look into an arranged marriage situation and the chemistry between Daisy & Liam. I have been recommending this book to all of my friends. Thank you for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Another cute story! Huge fan of this book and loved the characters. Very enjoyable! Definitely recommend picking up!

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Daisy Patel is a career-oriented software engineer for a promising startup who has no time for love, but try telling that to her marriage-obsessed aunties! Liam Murphy, Daisy’s brother’s ex-best friend, is a venture capitalist who stands to inherit his grandfather’s distillery but only if he’s married by his next birthday. When they run into each other after nine years at a technology conference, they realize that the perfect solution to both their problems is a fake engagement. But as they go on series of dates to legitimize their fake relationship, old feelings come back, and they soon realize that there is nothing convenient about this marriage of convenience.

I really enjoyed reading this one! Sara Desai’s writing is sharp and fast paced and her characters are complex and developed. I loved reading about Daisy’s enormous family, especially her aunties which were an absolute hoot! I really appreciated how they always looked out for each other, while still being a tad dysfunctional. Some of the scenarios were a bit far fetched, but they were balanced nicely with serious themes weaved throughout the story. So, come for the witty banter and the hilarious yet supportive family, but stay for two lovable characters finding their way to each other while confronting their pasts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for sharing this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

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This was a cute story. I really liked that these two knew each other as kids. Liam was Daisy’s brother’s best friend. He was always around the house and she had the hugest crush on him. However, on the night of her prom, Liam stood her up as her date and the family never heard from him again. He just disappeared without a word. So, to say things are a little rocky when Liam pops back into the picture would be putting it mildly. The entire family felt betrayed by Liam because he was one of them and then just left without word. Liam was just such a sweet and kindhearted character, though, that you couldn’t help but love him. He did whatever he had to do to win over Daisy and her family. If it meant eating some disgusting concoction that her aunt created so that he didn’t hurt her feelings, then he did it. Honestly, Liam was by far the best character in this story.

I also enjoyed the fact that we got a lot of behind the scenes footage of Liam and Daisy’s job. Whether it was being on a sinking ship and watching your friends get laid off, or sitting in a conference room having someone pitch you the idea of kombucha scoby sex toys, the readers were given a look in both Liam and Daisy’s lives. I really appreciated the fact that the author took the time to give us that instead of only showing us the moments when these two were together. Not only did it make for entertaining reading, but it allowed me to get a feel for the characters and connect with them a bit more on a personal level.

The Dating Plan is a cute romantic read. It’s also great as a stand-alone. I didn’t read the previous book in the series, and I never felt like I was missing something. The author has a great way of tying the last book with this one without making you feel like you missed something or making it feel like a recap. I loved the culture the author included in this story as well as the behind the scenes stuff with the characters at work. If you’re looking for a cute romantic read about two childhood crushes meeting up decades later, then give this a read.

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I loved this book so much. Both characters have serious issues, but the book deals with them while also maintaining the humor of the characters and the story.

I love when a book like this also has great secondary characters and Daisy's family is delightful and excellent comic relief in their interference in her love life. As a reader, I was rooting for Daisy and Liam, but I also couldn't wait for another scene with her aunts.

There are definitely some serious issues in this book, Liam grew up with an abusive father and Daisy is dealing with the abandonment of her mother, but the author weaves these topics in without the story feeling overwhelming or losing its sense of humor. The writing is funny and this is an author I will keep reading and recommending.

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I have loved the movements of seeing more Indian Romance novels hitting our shelves.

This book was so clever and such a binge worthy read! Desai sure has a way of having you fall in love with her characters.

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The Dating Plan is the second novel by author of The Marriage Game, Sara Desai, while I did not read The Marriage Game I definite will now. While the two stories are connected to one another as the main character of The Dating Plan, Daisy Patel, is the cousin and best friend of the female lead of The Marriage Game, Layla. So, if you want to see more of that world, definitely check out The Dating Plan, but even if you haven’t this is a great introduction to Sara Desai’s writing.
Daisy is a successful software engineer, but in her family that doesn’t matter because she is still single and doesn’t want to change that. The Patel family refuses to take her wanting to be single as a choice so they have taken it upon themselves to matchmake. Whether it’s ambushing her with friends’ single sons or trolling matchmaking websites they are determined to find a nice man for Daisy to marry, and soon. But Daisy doesn’t want anything to do with marriage or her family’s many attempts at match making.
Liam Murphy had a rough childhood, and his two solaces growing up were his grandfather’s distillery that he visited in the summer and hiding out at his best friend Sanjay Patel’s house, even if that meant having to deal with Sanjay’s annoying little sister, Daisy, and her crush on him. When something happened the night Liam was supposed to take Daisy to her senior prom and he stands her up, he leaves San Francisco for 9 years. Liam is back in San Francisco as a successful venture capitalist for his grandfather’s funeral, and he finds out that he was left the family distillery, skipping over his older brother as tradition mandated. As happy as Liam is to be able to save the family business from his brother wanting to sell it, there is a BIG catch, he has to be married by his next birthday, in two months, and he has to stay married for a year for him to be able to keep the business.
When Liam and Daisy ran into one another by chance at a work event, Daisy doesn’t hide how much she hates him for the what he did all those years ago. Liam hates that Daisy hates him, but he soon sees a benefit to Daisy’s feelings of hatred towards him, she can marry him without feelings getting in the way. At this proposal Daisy initially thinks that Liam has gone crazy, until he lays out the benefits, her family will stop trying to matchmake, and he’ll help the company she works for find funding to stay open. As their fake engagement goes on the feelings that they both had when they were young begin to resurface. Will this fake engagement turn into a real relationship and marriage?

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