I absolutely adored this second chance, interracial love story between Indian American doctor Preeti and her first love Daniel, a successful Black man from a wealthy family. Cultural differences caused Preeti to run away from a chance at true love six years before but she never quite got over Daniel. Now the two are temporary roommates bringing up all the old feelings and making Preeti second guess whether the arranged marriage to a man her parents want her to marry will really make her happy.

The chemistry between Preeti and Daniel was on fire!! I loved how supportive and sensitive Daniel was as Preeti struggles with her anxiety and touch aversion. The author does such a great job dealing with some heavy issues including the stigma surrounding mental illness and racism among both cultural communities. One of my favorite parts was Preeti's girl gang and Daniel's extended family who welcomed Preeti wholeheartedly. The balance between positive and negative influences on their relationships was really relatable I thought.

Excellent on audio narrated by Soneela Nankani and highly recommend for fans of Sara Desai and Sonali Dev. This can be read as a standalone but I enjoyed the cameos from The trouble with hating you. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy!

CW: mental illness, touch aversion, anxiety, racism, fetal death, slut shaming

Thank you to @hachetteaudio for providing an ALC on NetGalley! I’m a sucker for second chance romances and a teal cover, so of course I had to grab this one!

Pub date: Sept 21

In one sentence: Preeti and Daniel never got over each other - will a shared temporary sublease bring them back together or tear them further apart?

This book was a bit of a miss for me. I did like the forced proximity plotline. I also loved the subplot of Preeti’s career as a doctor and her hard work to find a job post-residency.

A lot of this book felt very negative - Preeti was shamed by her Indian community for previously dating and having sex with Daniel, a Black man. In addition, Preeti has a deep touch aversion that negatively impacts her life. I’m glad the author raised these issues, as I want to see romcoms tackle the hard stuff, but I wish they had been better balanced with more positive content to keep me engaged.

I also didn’t love how Daniel “rescued” Preeti - it felt like the author was setting him up as the only one who could fix her. This kind of plot line feels very misleading - Preeti clearly needed therapy, not a new boyfriend. No one can fix another person, no matter how wonderful they are.

I really appreciated the diversity of this story, but it’s not on my romcom must reads list.

Review posted to Goodreads and Instagram on 9/13/21.

This was a sweet, yet slightly steamy, second-chance romance story.  The characters were well developed and likeable and the story was entertaining. I appreciated that there was a discussion of anxiety and touch aversion in the book which helps to normalize this disorder. The discussion of the culture and family issues that often face the first generation born in a new country was interesting and reflective of what I’ve heard from others in this community.

What was most enjoyable about this book was the fierceness of Preeti’s love for Daniel.  Six years after their breakup, and with much more life experience, Preeti now shows the confidence she needs to fight for her man. Who doesn’t love a strong female character?

I listened to the audiobook version of First Love Take Two which was narrated by Soneela Nankani.  She provides an enthusiastic and authentic performance which was a pleasure to listen to.  I would not hesitate to recommend this version of the book for those that appreciate this format.

Thank you to @netgalley @hachetteaudio @readforever for the ALC in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts…
Enjoyable. I liked Patel’s “The Trouble With Hating You.” I thought Liya’s story was well written and I appreciated her backstory. But, I thought this book, Preeti’s story, was even better. This was a slow burn and steamy, second chance romance. But, I thought it portrayed well the issues, that could present themselves, in interracial relationships. I understood, related and felt for Preeti’s struggles. I did, a couple of times, thought certain parts were stretched out or repetitive. However, that was very minor as the open conversations about race, social class and mental health were well done allowing the stories of Daniel and Preeti flow together nicely. And Daniel…the guitar scene 🥲

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC. I really wanted to like this book, however, I didn’t connect with the characters. The story is very cheesy and I felt the story line was little bit slow. I didn’t like the narrator in this audiobook either, her voice was so weird at some parts. She was trying to make a “sexy” voice but it wasn’t pleasant to hear.

The only thing that I really appreciated about this books is the cultural facts that the author provides and how elders in India think when it comes to family, relationships, etc.

First Love, Take Two
by Sajni Patel
Narrated by Soneela Nankani

I received an audiobook arc from NetGalley and Hachette Audio, Forever in exchange for an honest review.

I have read Sajni Patels previous book - The Trouble With Hating You. It’s probably not impossible to understand/enjoy this book if you haven’t read the other one first but there are several references that will make much more sense if you have.

I would not categorize this as closed door but it’s also not completely open door - maybe door ajar?

I am personally not often a fan of second chance romances that stem from miscommunications. That is somewhat the case here which is personally frustrating because in books and reality I’m the person thinking - just talk to each other.

I appreciated addressing the stigma surrounding mental health. It is important to normalize mental health struggles so that people feel they can seek medical assistance for this just like they would for back pain or high blood pressure.

Trigger Warnings - racism, family problems/expectations/controlling, anxiety attacks.

Narration and sound quality were excellent.

For me this was 4/5.

4.5 stars rounded up!

I thought I loved Liya's story, which definitely had some heartbreaking moments...but Patel leveled up with Preeti's story!

As with The Trouble With Hating You, First Love Take Two is a contemporary romance that deals with some really heavy topics (racism, heart attack - recounted, cancer - mentioned, stillbirth - on page), so be mindful of that before diving into this one.

Preeti Patel is finishing up her residency, which means stress is at an all time high as she tries to balance looking for a job, finding a place to live, and her hectic residency hours. When Liya offers up her apartment for the next few months, Preeti immediately jumps on board. The only problem is that she has to share the apartment with her ex-boyfriend Daniel, and these two have a mountain of unresolved issues.

I think Patel does a really fantastic job highlighting the issues that can arise with interracial couples. Here, Preeti’s traditional Indian community does not accept Daniel, a Black American man, and the things said about him solely because of the color of his skin are vile. As someone who is biracial and is in an interracial marriage, I felt so much of Preeti’s pain and struggles. We do see Preeti realize her own strength as she navigates these issues.

I really loved seeing the way that Preeti interacted with her parents: the love, cultural traditions, and pride. I also loved seeing the same with Daniel and his grandparents. The scenes with Daniel and his grandmother cooking had me swooning (also drooling because I wanted one of everything).

Overall, if you’re looking for a romance with phenomenal characters, a second chance romance, drool worthy food description that also tackles some serious issues than this one will definitely be for you!

I really don't know what to say in review, this book has left me speechless because it touches home and the memories which are both good and bad. Okay so here goes nothing..
A perfect book to showcase Indian Culture with respect to the upbringing and marriage. This book is so much relatable that it hurts.

Preeti is an Indian, soon to be a doctor and her character is all that what is thought us, to respect elders, not to answer back even though they are wrong, no matter how much we grow up, we are always treated as child. I loved how beautifully Sajni Patel has explored these topics with also showing that sometimes we have to stand up against wrong and how communication is so very important.

Daniel is Black American, an architect. He is such an amazing, totally understanding guy. I loved how character so so much. You guys need to know him. I wish I had his POV as well. It would have been cherry on the cake. Both of them are kickass.

I had tears in my eyes reading this book, it filled my heart with love and so much of it. This book was adorable, Preeti and Daniel were adorable, their banter, chemistry everything about them. The thoughts, feelings everything in this book was sweet. I loved how Sajni Patel touched upon mental illness, racism and showed how important it is to talk about it and point out if someone is wrong. She has talked about culture, family, friendship, second chances, loyalty, compassion and also forced proximity 😍

Sajni Patel you touched my heart in a way I can't explain, I wished I had take two as well.

The narrator Soneela Nankani did an excellent job on this book. Hats off!
Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio for a chance to this book.

This felt shallow and dull. It was pretty cliched. I just didn't feel motivated to continue listening to it. I suspected it was predictable.

Many of you know that The Trouble with Hating You was one of my very favorite romances of last year, so to say I was excited about the next in the series is an understatement! And definitely did not disappoint!! Patel knows how to write wonderful chemistry and I felt the love between Daniel and Preeti immediately!

Read it if you love:
✨Second chance romance
✨INCREDIBLE chemistry
✨Realistic mental health rep
✨Honest insights about racism in relationships
✨Excellent female friendships
✨ONE BED!

The narration was so well done and I really felt Preeti’s emotions.

Absolutely loved this book! I appreciated the honest conversation about racism and classism and the conflict of living your life for yourself and pleasing your parents. The story flowed well but the main characters picking up where they left off after 6 years initially seemed unrealistic but the more I read the more I understood their personalities and bond. Looking forward to reading more form you! I also read The Trouble With Hating You and enjoyed it!

This second chance romance hit all the right notes! Preeti and Daniel were college sweethearts whose failed relationship is revived when they are suddenly living together for a few weeks after 6 years apart. Preeti's character was all over the place trying to make everyone happy while also standing up for herself and trying to figure out how to own her independence and decisions. The author did an excellent job of putting Preeti's anxiety and touch aversion on the page along with the stigma that goes with both.

Daniel for his part was one of those ideal book boyfriends with zero flaws until you get to know him and realize he also had lots of outside pressure to fit into a a mold that was not right. These two characters were very different from race and religion to life goals and status but they a fun and flirty chemistry and so much promise. This story pulled at my heartstrings more than once!

If you love a second chance romance, multicultural romance, representation in romance, or simply love a grand gesture, then this book is for you!

I went into this book having not read the first book but I do recommend reading the first book in this series before enjoying this one. A few past events and characters were mentioned in this book that I feel were more thoroughly explored in the first book so I was left a little... not lost... but in want of more details having not read the first. This was overall a really sweet romance novel that delved into the forced proximity, one bed and second chance tropes. It also dealt with some pretty heavy topics as well which I appreciated like mental health, touch aversion, cultural expectations, family dynamics and expectations, race issues, socioeconomic issues and mixed race couplings. For me the story was a bit long winded but I enjoyed it and would go back and read the first and future books.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC of this book. All opinions remain my own as always.

heartwarming, second chance, forced proximity romance with a little bit of steam this one is for you. I found the narrators voice to seem super young at times like they shouldn't be reading it very soft and junivellw.

I absolutely loved this book, it is definitely one of my top favorite romances of the year so far. I found Pretti the main character to be so relatable, I also have touch aversion and anxiety and I thought the author did a great job of bringing these real issues to light in the book. The book also delves into racial discrimination, and how the characters dealt with that through their powerful love and connection, you couldn't help but root for them.

In the novel we follow Preeti who is dealing with stress of her residency, trying to find a permanent position, finding a place to live and dealing with a relationship she isn't really invested in. Through in some mental health issues including anxiety and touch aversion, Preeti is dealing with a lot, thankfully she found a place to stay but it happens to have a roommate who is her ex, Daniel that she still might be in love with. As the story progresses I found that Preeti is really realizing who she is as a person and finding out what she wants out of her life, not necessarily complying with everyone else's expectations.

I was sent this book from the publisher/publicity team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

Triggers for mental health, pregnancy loss, and racism.

I was a little lost at first with this one. So many things are brought up like we should know about it. Characters, relationships, and incidents were thrown at you when you had no clue what they were talking about. It has been a while since I read the first book in this series, but I do not remember any of this being in that book either.

I loved the first reunion between Preeti and Daniel. I love the situation they find themselves in as they are reunited after six years. It is very clear how both of them still love each other. I love their banter and how Daniel is always there for Preeti.

This does have a lot to do with cultural expectations when it comes to dating within your same race and dating in general. I love how Preeti stands up for herself, her family, and Daniel in the end.

This was a little slow moving. I did find myself cheering for Preeti and Daniel to be together. I do feel the romance was not the forefront of this story though. I wanted more with them as I really loved the two of them.

Overall, I was a little disappointed with this one. When it started I thought it was going to be a solid 4/5 stars, but as the story continued it dragged just a little too much. I wanted more romance.

What about sharing a home with your ex, and even worse.. share with someone you left six years ago after someone wanted you to left. No explanation. How can they be even friends again?

Both succesful in life expect... love.

But hopefully they are older and more mature. Unfortunatelly their families have different plans. They are from different families, different cultures but somehow connected from the beggining.

Cross the fingers and dive in this funny and tender story. You wont be disapointed.


Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for this great listening.

Fantastic audio which complements the book as a whole. The narrator is engaging with good pronunciation.

Preeti Patel is on track for getting her life in order. She's finishing up her final months of residency, looking for a job, and on the verge of announcing an arranged engagement to a man who checks all her family's boxes. But Preeti's anxiety has never been worse and she can't bear to be touched by the man she's supposed to spend the rest of her life with. And her most pressing problem is that her living arrangements have fallen through and she has days to find somewhere else to live or else she will have to move back in with her parents.

So when a friend who moved out of town offers up her old apartment as a stop-gap for a couple months. One small problem. The same friend also offered up the apartment to another friend, Preeti's ex-boyfriend Daniel, who Preeti never got over, the boyfriend who would never be accepted by her community and whose family would never accept her.

This book was so fun and had so much to love! The one who got away, family conflict, social conflict, frank discussion about mental health. I received the audiobook version of this book and the narrator was engaging. I definitely recommend this book.