Damn. This was a steamy romance. There is fake dating, which is, of course, a cover for real dating, and Kareena and Prem have got passion and drive. They have fun together but yell at each other sometimes, too. There are several great themes covered by Sharma and I found this read to be page turning with a balanced approach to humor and emotion.
Great read! Thanks so much for the ARC!

This is a fun take on The Taming of the Shrew. There were times when I found myself disliking Kareena but, overall, I enjoyed the story. The food, humor, glimpses into an unfamiliar culture, and the friend groups of both Kareena and Prem were gold. DDD strongly hints at a series and if so, I'm ready for the next book.

Firstly I want to say how great it is how much BIPOC representation is starting to happen with traditionally published romances.

That being said, this book didn’t quite work for me, and I’m trouble putting my finger on an exact reason.

It could be the awkward feeling I got because most of the romantic scenes until the back 25% were told in flashbacks. This was totally weird since I felt like the reader was taken through the backseat of the story.

It also could be the fact that I didn’t like either of the main characters all that much, leaving me to barley root for their romance.

Alas, the pining is what mainly saved this book from getting two stars. So, three stars it gets.

I received an eARC of this book through NetGalley to review. Let me start by saying how freaking obsessed I am with this book!!! This book has all the markers of contemporary romance, but is a unique story and didn't have that "oh this books is just like ... but with a twist" feeling that you sometimes get! Kareena is incredibly stubborn and a bit prone to an emotional outburst, but you can't help loving her huge heart. Prem is just *chefs kiss* delicious! He has his hang ups about love, but man does he excel in the *spice*. I am very picky about spicy writhing but this author did a great job! I loved all the writing and didn't want to put it down the whole time! Definitely recommend picking it up! I'm off to preorder it ASAP because I can't wait to reread it in March!

Not gonna lie, this one rubbed me the wrong way. I loved the cultural and foodie references, and thought one of their dates sounded amazing (no spoilers but it’s a really fun idea at an NYC museum 🔎👀). And this one brought loads of wide open door steam scenes that I’m not mad about.🔥

But. I definitely got some “Baby, it’s cold outside” vibes. I get part of the fun in romance novels is the chase, but Bro, when she says no, do not show up at her family functions, in her backyard, or wherever she is meeting other dates. It’s 2021. Consent should be written into every single story. If this was a thriller, it easily could have ended in a restraining order. This blatant disregard of consent was a major turnoff for me and actually distracted me from much of the story.

This first book in the Aunties series was great.
Nisha does a great job building on her existing romance world and telling a story that is SEXY! There are so many great elements, but what I think I enjoyed the most was the representation of Indian- American culture.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the advance copy of this book!
I requested this book because I’m always down for a romance where one of the characters is a doctor. My inner Greys Anatomy stan requires it of me. The book isn’t super medical or anything. I’m just always here for a sexy doctor 🤣 Kareena is a lawyer and Prem is a cardiologist. They both are rocking at life except in the romance department.
I absolutely inhaled this book. It’s so good! I loved Kareena and Prem! Their connection was instant even if it took them a while to figure it out. I hope this is a start of a series because I need more of some of the other characters too. 100% down for more books in this friend group. I loved the aunties too, the chaotic loving energy they give off just makes me happy. The book references Taylor Swift a few times and I always love that. There is even a playlist of her songs at the end!
The romance is good. They are clearly meant for each other from the beginning. It gets spicy in a few scenes and it was good 🔥. I feel like books from Avon always come thru with the spice aaaaand a great romance.
This book will be released on 3/15/22! Definitely would recommend adding to your TBR if you love romcoms! Especially ones that are Shakespeare inspired! Taming of the Shrew for this one.

3.5 stars

I think it's possible that not everyone in the world knows 10 Things I Hate About You as well as I do and I think it's pretty likely that most people don't know Taming of the Shrew as well as I do, so I went into this with some specific expectations that were not met. After I got past the fact that this book wasn't what I was expecting going in, I found it pretty enjoyable.

I loved reading such a vibrant and complex South Asian-American community. The Aunties were so fun and all of the food descriptions had be salivating. I did find the characters' motivations kind of confusing and one-dimensional and there was a lot going on for there to actually be not a lot happening.

Interestingly enough, neither of these characters is as unlikable as I wanted them to be for this to be a 10 Things I Hate About You/Taming of the Shrew retelling. As far as I can tell, the main correlation was the fake dating, which isn't actually what those two original source texts are about. But this book is a fake dating book, so if that's your catnip, this might be interesting to you. There is also a fun shower sex scene unlike any I've read before so if that's your catnip, this one will definitely interest you. There's also a small dash of hate-to-lovers which I KNOW is your catnip. None of these, unfortunately, are my catnip, so it didn't really scratch any of my itches.

This was my first Nisha Sharma and I'll definitely be on the look out for more of hers. All in all, I wasn’t wowed, but this one was enjoyable!

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for this ARC.

CW: dead parent, death of a partner

this is the perfect steamy rom com!! the taylor swift references were *chefs kiss* and made me so much more excited about their relationship. nothing better than two swifties dating.

i loved the insta-love adjacent enemies to lovers tropes. it was so fun and their banter was perfection. there were so many indian food descriptions that made my mouth water.

Kareena and Prem are such an amazing couple and the character development was a high point in the book! the steamy scenes were so hot and good 🥵

overall, i loved everything about this book and i need a sequel for all their friends

this review is going to be very difficult for me to write! i struggled with this book. i didn’t start enjoying until 50% or so, which is a lot for me. i tend to decide whether i like a book or not before 30%, but since this was an arc i wanted to keep trying so i could finish and form an honest opinion.

here’s where the good comes! the second half was so good. it totally compensated the first one for me. kareena and prem were real enemies to lovers, with animosity on both sides, and it was super well done. once they started getting to know each other, their chemistry made the book addictive. and don’t get me started on the steam… oh my god, it was good. it was goooood, guys. i don’t know why but i thought this was going to be closed doors. well, i was pleasantly surprised because it gets really hot!

i am giving this book 3.5 stars because i started enjoying very late. i wish i could have connected with the story earlier. the writing was very compelling, and their personalities were super strong. i also loved bobbi and veera! and the aunties! not kareena’s family. prem gave them what they deserved!

dating dr. dil is out next march 15th! thanks to the publisher for my advance review copy!

rating: 3.5/5
steam: 3/5

I LOVED THIS SO MUCH!!! Dating Dr. Dil was heartwarming, swoon-worthy, and hilarious. I can already tell that Prem and Kareena's love story is going to live rent free in my mind for awhile.

The premise had me hooked from the very beginning (can we get more RomComs inspired by The Taming of the Shrew, please?). Kareena needs a fiance in order to unlock her inheritance so she can buy the family home that means so much to her before her father puts it on the market. Prem needs to repair his reputation to earn back his investors after Kareena tells him off on his talk show after their failed hookup. But a fake engagement with Prem has consequences Kareena isn't prepared for, like her growing attraction to a man who doesn't believe in love.

The banter between Prem and Kareena is nothing short of glorious. They push each other's buttons from the get-go (after their failed hookup, anyway), but despite their differences they can't deny the connection between them. I loved their dynamic together, and the ways they challenged each other. Also, I'm obsessed with how obsessed Prem was of Kareena. For a man who claimed not to believe in love, he sure as heck acted like a lovestruck fool for a good 85% of this.

I can't wait to see what else Nisha Sharma comes up with in the future! And you bet I'll be preordering Dating Dr. Dil!

This was very cute. I loved everything about this and I read it in two days. It was just delightful and I especially loved the banter between our two main characters. CW for death of a prior love. Interest due to illness. Some minor quibbles, but overall a good romance. My first by this author and I look forward to more.

❤️ AH I adored this one and devoured it in HOURS! It’s a enemies to lovers and fake dating combo I did know I needed. The banter was everything and the steam 🥵 it also touched on past relationship trauma and loss which I wasn’t expecting! I simply loved it!! It’s also a play off Taming of the Shrew soooooooo I basically am reading classics now 💃🏼

I read My So-Called Bollywood Life and wasn't a big fan so I was skeptical about this book. However, it had lots of good reviews, so I decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did! I really enjoyed this fake dating romance.

“What we have together may be short-lived, but it’s real. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to admit that, but I’m putting all my cards on the table here.” – Dr. Prem Verma

★★★★★/5
🌶🌶🌶/5

Blurb:
Dr. Prem Verma is dedicated to building a local community health center, but he needs to get donors with deep pockets. The Dr. Dil Show was doing just that, until his argument with Kareena went viral, and he’s left short changed. That’s when Kareena’s meddling aunties presented him with a solution: convince Kareena he’s her soulmate and they’ll fund his clinic.

Review:
Wow just wow! My only regret with this book is that I didn’t find this author sooner! Nisha Sharma has this ability to take you out of your current reality and transport you into this rich South Asian culture that will having you wanting to be a fly on the wall in every scene. If you are a foodie, you will love this book! I swear, every other chapter Prem, Kareena, or their family were engaging in some South Asian dish that you want to try immediately. I wish there was a recipe guide at the end of the book that you can try your hand at after you finish the book!
Now Prem and Kareena relationship is a perfect enemies to lovers where the man fall in love first but doesn’t want to admit it to himself or her. I love how the first time Prem and Kareena met at the bar they immediately clicked. Yes, there was attraction and sexual tension, but they spent the majority of their first meeting getting to know each other. Their relationship and views on marriage is the perfect example of how your upbring shapes you view on life. Because they saw love being portrayed in different ways, they couldn’t fathom that love could be shown in different forms and it is ok! As long as the person you love knows you love them!

Kareena:
I instantly related to Kareena. From being the oldest child and feeling like you must be perfect for your family to having all the degrees and dream job, but your family don’t feel like you’re accomplished until you are married with kids. What I loved most about Kareena is that even though she was struggling to meet her family’s expectations of her, she still stayed true to having a love marriage and keeping her mother’s memory alive! Kareena helped me realize that you can only do what makes you happy in this life because if you follow everyone else’s plans for you, you will be unhappy and unfulfilled forever.

Prem:
Omg!!! Where do I even begin with Prem!!! From the very first encounter between him and Kareena, he made it a point to remember everything about her. From what she likes for breakfast, to what car she has, all the way down to her food allergies!! And did I forget to mention that Prem is the big D energy and consent king!!! He literally screams I want to do every little dirty thing to your body, but I need you to ask for it first!!! UGH!!! He was amazing to read even though he made me mad when it came to expressing his true feelings for Kareena but in the end everything came full circle.

Tropes:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Fake Dating
- Kind of Grumpy / Sunshine

***Received ARC for honest review***

thank you netgalley and avon for the eARC!

this book was so, so fun. something about romances with cultural aspects will always resonate with me, and this book delivers it perfectly. i've always adores the a hates love, b loves love trope and in this case its done incredibly.

i loved reading their romance come to life, loved exploring the growth of each character, and even enjoyed learning about the side characters throughout the book.

overall just an incredible fun and cute read!

A new romantic comedy inspired by The Taming of the Shrew features a love-phobic TV doctor who must convince a love-obsessed homebody they are destined to be together. Two people who could not be more different. Kareena believes in true love, in only marrying if she found her soul mate, she wants a marriage like her parents and wont settle for less... until her father tells her that he will be selling their home and the only way she can buy it from him is if she gets engaged and gets the engagement money he set aside for her. She has only 4 months to find her soulmate because she won’t settle for an arranged marriage. Cue, Prem Verma. Prem is a doctor who believes that love doesn’t exist, in fact he thinks it is an illusion. He is the host of a viral show and is trying to get funding for his clinic. These two opposites go on one disasterous date... and when their argument goes viral Prem’s investors are pulling out. Now he will have to find a way to prove to his investors that he does believe in love and Kareena needs a fake engagement... and there just happens to be the fiery spark between the two of them. Soon these two will be questioning their beliefs and in the end if they really are perfect for one another. This was such a cute and funny story about two polar opposites, fake dating, and hilarious and nosy family. It’s a cute take on the taming of the shrew and definitely a fun read! I would definitely recommend it!

*Thanks Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

a shakespeare inspired modern day romance , sign me up for every single one! dating dr.dil was the perfect combination of humor, sweet moments, and a classic love story. kareena has always held out for her perfect love match, but when her dad tells her he’s selling her mother’s house all bets are off. oh and her dad just happened to drop that bomb on her 30th birthday… when she goes out to celebrate, kareena meets prem, a self renowned fixer of broken hearts. things go south though when prem leaves her in the middle of their hook up. they didn’t know when they met though that they needed each other in more ways in their thought.

prem didn’t believe love could happen, but when his laid eyes on kareena in that bar, prem started to second guess everything he thought.

i LOVED kareena as a main character: bold, independent, and a hopeless romantic at heart. and prem complimented her so well in every aspect. definitely pick this one up when it comes out!

thanks net galley and harper voyager for early access to this book!!

When I first saw Nisha’s publishing deal announcement that she was writing a series of desi romantic retellings of Shakespeare’s stories, I was immediately intrigued and have been waiting for one to release since. But I also have no clue about the plot of Taming of the Shrew, so I can’t comment anything on how close or not it is to the original. I can just say it stands very well on its own.

This was quite enjoyable to read all the way through. Nisha’s writing has a way to make you feel good and that’s what I felt for the most part. We have a sassy and true romantic at heart heroine Kareena who is happy to be working in the field that makes her happy even if her pay doesn’t live up to desi parents’ expectations. And Prem is a cardiologist who believes love only increases the risks for heart health. How these two come together is pretty explosive and funny, but one undeniable thing is that their chemistry is off the charts. She is a strong independent woman who knows what she wants and will not lower her standards just because she is thirty. And despite whatever misgiving he has about love as a concept, Prem is a considerate, attentive and respectful guy and they seemed so perfect together. They both also had a couple of amazing bffs and I have a feeling we might see them getting together in the upcoming books of this series.

But my problem with the book has to do with the families. Firstly, because this series is titled “If Shakespeare was an Auntie”, I’m glad depicted four delightful aunties who could be meddlesome as expected but also sweet and a bit more progressive than I would have thought. But it’s mostly Kareena’s family that infuriated me. Bindu, her younger sister is a full on Bridezilla and always taking advantage of her elder sister, disrespecting her but expecting only affection in return. But I liked how Kareena decided to deal with her towards the end.

But it’s both her father and grandma who were typical desi elders taunting Kareena for her choices and emotionally blackmailing her to get what they wanted. At this time in my life, I’ve realized that contemporary (or maybe even historical) romances don’t work for me because I’ve become too cynical. Even though I can still appreciate them when I need some fun, I’ve also understood that I should stay far away from desi romances. While it’s cool to see protagonists like myself on page, it’s very hard to listen to the elders on page regurgitate the same nonsense that I hear everyday irl from my family, and I absolutely have no interest in reliving all of it while reading as well, because books are my only source of joy these days.

Anyways, let me not dampen anyone else’s mood with my problems. This is a super fun romcom with interesting characters, sexy chemistry, great friends and some cool aunties and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for something like that. It’ll probably take a few months or an year for the next book to release and I hope I will be in a much better headspace to appreciate a desi romance novel by then.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

Definitely a fun read, recommend it.