The romantic relationship part of this story is a slow, subtle but beautiful build. I love how the romance creeps up on them as they slowly and naturally ease back into the “forever” couple they were always intended to be while working out the issues. And, that ending really had me letting out a dreamy sigh!

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

I had a hard time getting through this one. It felt all over the place - I found it hard to find the story's heart.

Isha has a lot going on and is convinced that she can make it big - the amount of things going against her is what is holding her back
what I saw was a girl who made rash decisions and then blamed the world for things not working out
I started and stopped many times because it was hard for me to become invested in Isha and her story; unfortunately

Isha, Unscripted is such a fun rom com book! Sajni Patel is an incredible author and I can’t wait to read whatever they write next!!

When Isha’s opportunity to impress movie producers with her script, she hatches a plan with her cousin to get her movie in front of Matthew McConaughey - her old professor at University of Texas and fellow Austin resident. Even with the help she gets from a cute bartender, her night doesn’t go as planned.

This was just alright, alright, alright. It was silly and a little unbelievable. It was a quick listen.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Isha just wants to be a screenwriter much to the chagrin of her family. They want her to become a doctor, lawyer, some type of professional. When she finally gets a huge break, nothing goes according to plan and everything falls completely apart. Since that did not go well, her agent drops her. Now Isha is completely going off the rails trying to figure out how get her screenplay in front of someone important. Isha and her cousin Rohan decide that she should get a meeting with her famous professor - Matthew McConaughey from U of TX.

To bolster her courage, one drink turns into a LOT of drinks and she ends up in the guard shack of the McConaughey's neighborhood, in a lot of trouble.

The story continues to follow Isha's decisions after this night to see if her dreams can come true.

Isha, Unscripted by Sajni Patel was a wonderful, wild book that I thoroughly enjoyed and most definitely recommend!

Thank you @berkleypub for the free book and @prhaudio for the audio version as well. My thoughts are my own.
#penguinrandomhousepartner

I have heard such good things about this author that I hate that this was the first book of hers that I read. I felt the storyline, full of repeated drunkenness, bad decisions, and one catastrophe after another, was not believable and was just plain uninteresting. The main character, Isha, was immature and unrelatable. It was annoying that she constantly called the bartender Thirst Trap. The only character I did like was her cousin, Rohan, who was totally supportive.

Of course, I know that not every book is for everybody, so be sure to read the publishers’ synopsis and make your own decision.

I couldn't get into this and it might be because I just dont like MAtthew McConaughey and he's a big part of the story line. I really liked Rohan but Isha was challenigng for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: family tensions, violence

This was a voicey and fun book. I adored Isha and her relationship with her cousin. Still trying to figure out her life, desperate to breakthrough with her script Isha hits rock bottom as her agent drops her. But what looks like rock bottom, a lot of drinking and an almost clown attack, also leads to a crash cute and an adorable relationship.

I appreciated that this one didn't wrap things up in a perfect bow but with so much potential in Isha's life as she starts to meet her goals and living for her own expectations and not her parents. This was just a fun read.

Steam: 1

This book was a bit disappointing to me. There wasn't as much depth of the characters as I'd hoped for and it was such an odd, abrupt ending.

I had to DNF at about 10%. The MC said something so cringe I just could not continue. This book desperately needed a better editor.

Not sure I loved this one. Marketed as a coming of age story, but at almost 30, the age has come and gone. Isha drinks too much and actively sabotages herself, which isn't the cute quirky story the author would like us to think it is. There are only so many times I want to read the name Thirst Trap after said Thirst Trap has informed her of his name. I loved the author's previous books, but this one didn't hit the mark for me. The bestie cousin was the highlight of the book for me.

Requested this one a hot second ago because my book club was going to read it. Well. The person who runs my book club DNF'd it and canceled the pick. So suddenly I found myself with an eARC of a book that I didn't really want to read. But I gave it a try anyways. And I sadly didn't like it. I had enjoyed one of Patel's prior books, but this one just didn't work for me. It was fine? But nothing really stood out or made me want to pick it up. The beginning was very slow to start and I really didn't like how she kept calling the guy "Thirst Trap". It was cut the first time, then just annoying.

I ended up not finishing it myself which bums me out because I do like supporting diverse authors and stories, but this one just didn't work for me and all of my friends who read it either DNF'd it or gave it three stars. Life is too short to read book that I am not loving so I just had to set it down and call it a day.

I hope to read more from Patel and hope her next book is a better fit with my reading tastes.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the advance reading copy; all opions are my own!

ISHA, UNSCRIPTED brought strong 90's rom-com energy, and I was here for it. I rooted for Isha, entertained every step of the way by her journey's hijinks, and I really appreciated her dynamic with Rohan. It had a lovely dash of romance, a heroine I found so easy to root for, and an ending that left me hopeful and happy.

Thank you to @berkleypub, @NetGalley and @letstalkbookspromo for the #gifted copy of the book.

Isha Patel is a disappointment to her family. She is 28 and having moving back in with then after multiple failed attempts to get her big screenwriters debut. Her cousin Rohan is determined to help her make it big and it all starts with trying to reconnect her with her former professor, Matthew McConaughey. Little did Isha know she would find love along the way.

I adored Isha's relationship with her cousin, Rohan. He was always there by her side and knew her better than anyone. Their relationship was definitely my favorite part of the book. It was clear that he was more supportive than her parents.

i wanted to like this book, and i'm all for an unlikable protagonist, but this was...too much. what might have started off as quirky goofiness and a little bit of a charming hot mess quickly veered into secondhand embarrassment and too much cringe. this protagonist felt immature and impossible. sadly, not for me!

I was not a big fan of the characters which unfortunately, as a character based story made this a bit of a bummer.

Shirt synopsis: After a series of failures, Isha is trying to get her script into the hands of her college professor. None other than THE Matthew McConaughey.

My thoughts: This is my first by this author. It kept me engaged throughout and I was dying to hear how things ended up with “thirst trap.”

The banter was cute between Isha and “Thirst Trap” and I loved the relationship between Isha and her cousin Rohan. I think he stole the show, everyone deserves someone in their corner like him.

I did feel like the actions and decisions Isha made were juvenile and immature. Things a 22 year old would do rather than a 28 year old. That being said, it was enjoyable with many laugh out loud moments sprinkled throughout.

Read if you love:
* Pursuing your dreams
* Matthew McConaughy
* Bar fights and trespassing
* Familial expectations
* Ride or die cousins/friends

From my blog post: From beginning to end, I think there were tears in my eyes from how hard I was laughing. I had read most of Sajni’s other books and I really enjoyed them but this one has to be my favorite. When I say shenanigans happened in this book, I feel like that is an understatement. Isha had the best ride-or-run-from-threats-at-any-moment in her cousin and potential love interest in Thirst Trap. I was so sad when I finished this book because I wasn’t ready for it to end. If this book doesn’t become a movie, the world would be done a serious disservice because the level of comedy is just *Chef’s Kiss*, which made it the perfect escape read. Though there is so much I want to say, I’m not saying anymore because I don’t want to spoil anything but know, you should read this book (if you are over 18…if you aren’t, wait until you are please and thank you!).