I love love looooove Sara’s books, and THE SINGLES TABLE is no exception. I could relate so much to Zara, and her big, loud personality. I, too, have been told that I am “too much” - too loud, too big, too boisterous. Zara’s journey is a reminder that we should never muffle ourselves for the comfort of others. It is a celebration of the women who are “too much,” and the people who love them just as they are.

And also it’s a super swoony, steamy, adorable rom-com that had me gasping with laughter. Sara Desai has definitely earned auto-buy status with me.

Sara Desai has gifted us another wonderful romantic comedy! It’s a grumpy/sunshine trope full of weddings, incredible food and meddling aunties within the Indian culture. Zara and Jay had an absolutely hilarious first meet at a bachelor/bachelorette party. They definitely get off on the wrong foot. But, as they keep meeting at the singles table at various weddings, they come up with a wager. She will find him a love match and he will introduce her to his celebrity clients.

Jay is a buttoned up workaholic. He has always been so focused on work that he’s forgotten about everything else in life. He doesn’t have any fun in his life. Enter Zara. She is like a tornado. She is clumsy, awkward and talks way too much. But, you can’t help but love her. She is so funny and incredibly entertaining. There are so many awkward yet completely amusing situations. The chemistry and banter between them was so good. The writing and pace were impeccable as always with this author. It’s another charming, entertaining, opposites attract rom-com and I would definitely recommend it!

Thank you Berkley Romance for gifting my a digital copy of The Singles Table by Sara Desai. This is the third book in this "series", but each can be read as a standalone. Out of the three books, The Marriage Game (the first one) still remains my favorite out of the three. In The Singles Table, we meet Jay and Zara, two people who could not be more different if they tried. Jay likes being in control and he likes things neat and buttoned up. Zara is the complete opposite- she is loud and calls it like she sees it, and is often the life of the party, doing beer funnels and sharing her stories of wild hook ups and fun times. When their friends' wedding brings the two of them together, they start off as enemies but pretty soon they will realize they have more in common than they think. There were scenes that I thought were really funny, for example, the beginning paintball scene, the zombie part scene, and when Zara sees Lin Manuel Miranda, and there were plenty of moments that were emotional. This is a slooooowwwwww burn; I think it is a little more than halfway before the two of them finally hook up, and while the steam is then on from there, I wish there would have been some more before this point in the story. Perhaps this is because a lot of the books I have been reading lately have been slow burn romances, but I found myself getting a little frustrated with Jay and Zara. As the reader, we know how the two of them feel about each other, but in the story to each other, they keep acting like they are only friends with no chemistry. Also, I wish more Jay's anxiety/PTSD would have been more of the story. It is so sweet when Zara takes care of him, but I think the topic of anxiety is more associated with women, although men suffer from it as well. I was excited to see Desai incorporate this into the story, but like I said, I just wish it would have been incorporated more. I would give this one 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 on Goodreads.

Highly entertaining and sweetly sexy journey. Was a fun, laugh out loud, action packed adventure filled with witty and engaging charters, emotional twists and exciting turns.

I loved this grumpy/sunshine book so much! Zara and Jay are such opposites, but they go so well together. I was immediately pulled in to their shenanigans and was completely immersed in this story. I had a smile on my face the whole time. 4.5 stars

Ahhh, another enjoyable series I’d recommend if you’re looking for a contemporary romance series with some love, laughter, and steam😍🤣🥵

I learned a lot more about Indian culture, more specifically dating and marriage traditions, and drooled reading and listening to all of the recipes and foods in the books 🤤

I wasn’t planning on reading this series in order but my audiobook holds came in at a convenient time, but you can definitely read it out of order (although reading in order will give you the background on secondary characters mentioned, etc.) The first and second, THE MARRIAGE GAME (enemies-to-lovers) and THE DATING PLAN (fake relationship meets second-chance) are probably tied for my fave in the series. The third, THE SINGLES TABLE felt less structured than the first two, but still an enjoyable enemies-to-lovers trope!

Thank you for a copy of my book (and to BookSparks too) in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me an e-book copy of THE SINGLES TABLE to review.

I LOVED Zara and Jay - their opposites attract story was interesting, funny and ended with loyalty to each other.

Zara is a free-spirit, much to her mother's disapproval. Jay, the military veteran with PTSD, is set in his ways, ready to make his security company top-notch. Zara wants to meet celebrities to help the law firm where she works. Jay just wants to block out relationships in order to not get hurt again. Both want to help out their families.

The paintball scene (yes, there's paintball!!) was hilarious and it helps set the stage for the two to get to know each other.

I enjoyed their personalities and their devotion to their families. I did become frustrated with Zara near the end of the book. I thought by that point she had become unafraid of love, but she still had growing to do!

I loved their chemistry, sizzle, fire and funny moments. I thought author, Sara Desai, hit another one out of the park.

I rate THE SINGLES TABLE four out of five stars.

This book will be enjoyable to fans of Sara Desai's Patel family series but newcomers should start with an earlier book in the series to fully appreciate it.

This book surprised me in the best ways. My first time reading Sara Desai and it won't be my last. I received an arc for this book and dug right in!

Zara Patel is a lawyer who on the side works as an unofficial matchmaker (don't tell her Aunties). She is definitely quirky and fun. She lives like at full speed, except when it comes to her love life. When it comes to relationships she doesn't do them, any more. After her parents' disastrous divorce she believes that love never lasts. That it eventually leaves.

Jay Dayal is ex-military, current CEO of a security company and the only thing on his mind is his mom and his business. His father was never in the picture and he grew up in poverty. So now he only concentrates on how to make sure he is successful and never has to worry about money ever again. He also loves his mom with all his heart and would do anything for her. Despite promising his mom he would find a wife, he has no time for love or relationships.

So when Zara and Jay meet, it isn't a bed of roses. They are total opposites and although they won't admit that they find the other attractive, they are definitely not each other's type. But Zara thinks he is someone's type and decides to help Jay fulfill his promise to his mom and help him find a wife.

What happens with these two is so fun to watch. I love reading diverse characters so reading about these Indian-Americans and their families and relationships is even better. The fact that they are from San Francisco (where I'm from) doesn't hurt either.

Sara injects enough snark, steam and fun into this book that keeps it moving at a great pace. The friends, or maybe frenemies?, to loves trope doesn't get too stereotypical. Zara's aunties are some of my favorite characters. They inject so much humor and levity to the book that I love when they pop up. I am ready to read the rest of Sara's books!

First of all, I didn't know it was a series but it can be read as a standalone.

The cover, the idea of singles table, the shaadi season - everything seemed so fun and I feel it could have been better especially if it had been toned down a bit in terms of exaggeration of aunties and their behaviours, everyone getting horny at the weddings, no one caring about the groom/bride and especially with the matchmaking. I know that was the main thing, the aunties matchmaking but it seemed like a failed humorous attempt. Let's be real if there were really so many young people ready for matchmaking and aunties actively and successfully creating matches, the singles table wouldn't even exist.

It began with a promising start, Zara's character is shown as this energy-buzzing, chaotic, lively person who pays little heed to others opinions and has a positive outlook on life despite of her difficult life situations. She meets Jay at a paint ball bachelor party, their first interaction was cute. Though Jay's description was very cliche. It's the shaadi season so they have unexpected encounters which were humorous and enjoyable.

After that, it got boring for me. They form a liking for each other. <spoiler> Both have commitment issues, but all of a sudden the I-don't-talk-feelings Jay is all lovey-dovey and the I-love-everything Zara is suddenly afraid of relations.

And because everything is going too smoothly, there comes two conflicts in a row. Jay and Zara stop talking until Zara realizes, he is the ONE. So she rushes after him, full bollywood style - racing cars full of relatives to the airport and confesses her love for him. </spoiler>

AND THEY LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

It was very similar to typical bollywood movies and there is nothing wrong with that if you enjoy those. I am just over the repetitive tropes and cliches so this book was not enjoyable for me.

I love a good enemy to lovers’ trope and after absolutely LOVING The Marriage Game, I could not wait to read this one. Overall, I really enjoyed the book, but it did not have the same magic as her previous book. Zara was smart, energetic, while Jay is pure serenity. I truly enjoyed the various characters and the amount of diversity in the story. The combination of both characters was charming, with funny moments, but nothing that I can say I fell in love with. Would I recommend this story, absolutely. It’s an easy breezy novel that you take on vacation, but in my opinion it was missing the spark that The Marriage Game had.

I really liked the story and the chemistry between the two main characters. It was well-paced and had aa good dose of humour.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Thank you, Berkley Publishing and #NetGalley for giving me a copy of The Singles Table in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars rounded down.

A cute story about Zara, the boisterous lawyer and lover of matchmaking singles during Desi wedding season, and Jay, a workaholic tech CEO and ex-military man who does NOT have the time to meet his match. When Jay agrees to introduce Zara to his celebrity clients in exchange for her working her matchmaking magic - opposites attract.

I enjoyed the dual POV in this book, and seeing the characters develop in different ways through Zara and Jay's perspectives. I'm a sucker for knowing the feelings the characters have for one another before they open up to each other. I was hesitant to like Jay in the early part of the book because he came off very cold and cranky- but as the book progressed his character loosened up I liked him a lot more! I found Zara's character growth to happen slowly, than all at once at the end. It was a lot to process for a second but it was still a great read!

CW: PTSD, panic attack, cancer, car accident, divorce.

Another very cute story from Sara Desai. I really enjoyed getting to know Jay and Zara and how well the story developed. I do wish we had a bit more interaction from earlier couples but still a great story!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

I read The Dating Plan from this author and loved it! This book didn’t engage with me as much as that one. Enemies to lovers is always hit or miss for me and this one just didn’t work.

I love Sara Desai's books. They are funny, rich in culture, hot as hell, and all of her characters are fully developed. The Singles Table was my favorite so far. I can't wait to read more.

I don’t know if a free-spirited lawyer shooting an obnoxious former military security specialist in the rear end with a paintball technically counts as a meet cute, but it was definitely enough to have me fully entertained and invested in seeing what happens between the protagonists of Sara Desai’s latest romance, The Singles Table.

After a bad break up, attorney Zara Patel has decided she’s done with trying to find love for herself. Instead, she’s going to focus on her career and on what she believes is her special gift, matchmaking. She plans to help her friends find romance during the wedding season and prides herself on her success record when it comes to matching guests at the singles table. That is, until she meets sexy but surly Jay Donovan, a security specialist with no time or interest in finding romance. Jay, a former military guy, is all about order, staying focused and working hard on his business. He has no idea that a paintball to his rear end during a pre-wedding paintball match is about to turn his world upside down. When Zara and Jay keep finding themselves at the singles table at wedding after wedding and Zara brags to Jay about her matchmaking prowess and confesses that she’s a little obsessed with celebrities, they end up making a little wager. If Zara can find Jay a match, he’ll introduce her to some of his celebrity clients.

Zara has this vibrant, larger than life personality that Jay can’t help but be captivated by, no matter how much he tries to tell himself she’s just annoying and too chaotic for him. And even though Jay comes across as rigid and gruff when she first meets him, Zara finds herself seeking him out at every wedding. I’m a sucker for a grumpy/sunshine romance so Jay and Zara’s often hilarious interactions were like catnip for me and I loved watching their relationship evolve, especially since they have such amazing chemistry and the more Zara interacts with Jay, the more she starts thinking maybe she doesn’t want to match him up with someone else.

Sara Desai’s The Singles Table was such a fun read. Jay and Zara’s journey, the festive wedding celebrations, and the meddling aunties who hound Zara throughout the wedding season, all made for such a delightfully entertaining and heartwarming read. If you’re in the mood for a grumpy/sunshine romance, The Singles Table is the perfect match for you.

The Singles Table is the third book in The Marriage series by Sara Desai. If you like light-hearted, laugh out-loud, steamy, quick-read romances this series is for you! I love that the books can be read in order or stand alone individually! And can we talk about the covers? Some of my absolute favorites to grace my shelves!

The Singles Table follows free-sprinted (and somewhat unconventional) attorney Zara, who has accepted her fate of playing match maker for others, but love not being in the cards for herself. As the wedding season kicks off, she is bound and determined to find a match for a fellow guest seated at the singles table: former military, now security specialist Jay. Jay is no nonsense, hardworking, laser focused and has absolutely no time for love. Zara is quite simply everything he is not. Undeterred by their polar opposite natures, Zara strikes Jay a deal. There’s nothing more she’d like to do than represent celebrity clients in court and Jay has connections… a match in exchange for an introduction. But will their deal lead to a match for Jay? Or bring the two closer together?

Goodness, there really is just something about the grumpy sunshine trope, am I right? And a dual perspective romance at that!! I absolutely loved the banter between Zara and Jay, these two had me laughing out loud! Zara’s antics are absolutely hysterical and watching Jay realize her energy is just what he needs in his life had my heart gushing. Then throw in the perfect amount of steam, celebrity encounters, paintball, and… a zombie party? The Singles Table is a joyous ride! It’s safe to say I am eagerly awaiting whatever Desai writes next.

This book was HAWT!! OMG Sara Desai wasn't wrong when she said this book is sexier than her other books. I liked how funny it was and loved reading it!

I have been provided with a review copy of The Singles Table from NetGalley for an impartial review. This is the third book in the Marriage Game series and I just loved getting to reenter this world. I was just drawn into this wonderful story and I just couldn’t get enough of it. It was just so easy to get lost in this great story. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.