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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
I truly don’t know who Sajni did it again! I absolutely loved Liya and Jay’s story, but she also had me falling in love with Daniel and Preeti. One of her chapters perfectly depicted how I believe safety in a relationship should be. I loved EVERYTHING about this story, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5 really.
So when I first started the book I saw that Daniel was black and immediately thought oh brother they broke up because of racism. I wasn’t wrong. I didn’t really enjoy how the author handled racism. It seemed kind of like the elephant in the room and when it was actually discussed it was just a blow up and then that was all and everything was happy. I definitely think there was more to be desired between our main characters. More character development. Who are they besides anxiety and desire to make their parents happy? Overall, it was a fine book. I enjoyed reading it for the most part.
So when I first started the book I saw that Daniel was black and immediately thought oh brother they broke up because of racism. I wasn’t wrong. I didn’t really enjoy how the author handled racism. It seemed kind of like the elephant in the room and when it was actually discussed it was just a blow up and then that was all and everything was happy. I definitely think there was more to be desired between our main characters. More character development. Who are they besides anxiety and desire to make their parents happy? Overall, it was a fine book. I enjoyed reading it for the most part.
“I’d lived years before you and things were fine. But then I met you and every facet of the world opened up and came to life. So, when we went through a time without each other, part of me died, stayed dead until I saw you again.”
Rep: Indian heroine, Black hero
Content Warning: Anxiety, Depressive Episode, Racism, Slut-shaming, Miscarriage
Tropes: Second chance romance, Forced proximity
A sweet and heartwarming story about second chance and standing up to what is right, even at the expense of getting socially exiled off the community.
Off to a start by juggling between job hunting, familial expectations to get married ASAP, practically getting kicked out of her apartment, and anxiety, Preeti Patel tried to put on a big girl mask to keep it together in front of everyone. It is until her best friend, Liya, offered her apartment to live for three weeks… with her ex she dumped years ago, Daniel, as a package.
First Love, Take Two brought us to see what it is like to live inside Preeti’s scrambled thoughts and watch her trying to sort out everything and get through her depressive episode—while avoiding the matter to explain to Daniel about why she left him.
Not only that, we got to meet Preeti’s sinister aunties who slut-shamed her for having sex outside marriage when she dated Daniel—while lashing out blatant racism to the architect—and watch Preeti stood up for herself and her family. You go girl.
What I loved the most about this book is how it manages to create multidimensional characters despite having quite a lot of them introduced. Maybe this does not offer much Indian cultures compared to the previous book, but I had to admit that I enjoyed this book a lot more.
Thank you for the arc from Grand Central - Forever.
4.25/5
I have a problem with this book— I can’t stop gushing about Preeti & Daniel
4.25/5
I have a problem with this book— I can’t stop gushing about Preeti & Daniel
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
FIRST LOVE, TAKE TWO is a delectable food heavy second chance biracial (bicultural?) romance set in Texas that suffers from a two dimensional love interest and intense miscommunication drama but was overall an enjoyable distracting read. I really struggle with romances when the biggest issue is miscommunication, it seems especially ridiculous that Preeti never offered Daniel the courtesy of explaining why she broke up with him and is still unable to have the conversation when it's been SIX YEARS. Daniel himself was sweet but bland. I appreciated all the ways he showed he still loved Preeti but other than that I didn't get much of a feel for him as a character. Preeti on the other hand is a strong main character and her journey to accept, and love, herself as a doctor with mental illness (she deals with anxiety, depression and an aversion to touch) was heartening to read. This can make the romance heavy to read at times as can the prejudice from Preeti's aunts but it's offset by the sweetness of the romance. I loved that this was an interracial relationship that didn't involve a white person but I do wish Patel had used more than food to explore Preeti and Daniel's cultural differences as well as provide some insight into how they want to navigate both cultures moving forward. Overall this was entertaining and sometimes laugh out loud funny, I love Preeti's friend group in particular and of course devilish grandparents (Daniel's) are always a good time.
I am just floored by this book. As a person in an interracial relationship and with generalized anxiety disorder, I related to Preeti so much. Personally, the depictions of an anxiety attack rang true to my own experiences. She has such immense pressure on her from her job and community and barely a moment to breathe. Add in moving in with your ex-boyfriend, navigating an arranged relationship, and medical drama? You could cut the tension with a scalpel. The clash of cultures here is never toned down to focus on the romance and I really appreciated that. Just because a book is marketed as a romance doesn't mean that it can't also discuss important themes such as racism and mental health. But don't worry - the steam that's here is STEEEEAMY.
*Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*
*Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review*
Second chance romance. This one was cute but also had some really triggering moments that I wasn’t expecting. Birth of a silent child was part of this so be aware if you’re considering reading.
TW: this book talks about racism, classism, stillbirth, anxiety and depression
This is the second book in "The Trouble with Hating You" series and continues where the first left off. Preeti is set to be married by a man that was set up by her parents as a tradition India custom. However, Preeti has a tough workload as a chief resident interviewing for a final doctor position around Texas. Her almost fiancé does not understand her job, her anxiety, or that she is not a tradition India woman. Preeti needs to find a new place to live since one of her best friends is now married and will be home from her honeymoon soon. Another one of her best friends offers her her old apartment that is fully furnished but there is one catch. The catch is that she will need to share it with her ex boyfriend, Daniel. The one she left 6 years ago with no reason. Will their stay in this tiny apartment bring them back together or tear them apart again?
This is the second book in "The Trouble with Hating You" series and continues where the first left off. Preeti is set to be married by a man that was set up by her parents as a tradition India custom. However, Preeti has a tough workload as a chief resident interviewing for a final doctor position around Texas. Her almost fiancé does not understand her job, her anxiety, or that she is not a tradition India woman. Preeti needs to find a new place to live since one of her best friends is now married and will be home from her honeymoon soon. Another one of her best friends offers her her old apartment that is fully furnished but there is one catch. The catch is that she will need to share it with her ex boyfriend, Daniel. The one she left 6 years ago with no reason. Will their stay in this tiny apartment bring them back together or tear them apart again?
Preeti's history with Daniel intrigued me so much when I read The Trouble With Hating You. So I was really excited to see their story in First Love, Take Two.
It's been six years since Preeti dumped Daniel. Now he's back in Houston, and both of them find the same temporary place to live. It's interesting reading a second chance romance where the POV is entirely from the perspective of the person who was in the wrong and broke both their hearts. I think reading in her voice made it much easier for me to like her and understand her. What I always love about second chance relationships is how we learn about their love and history. Theirs was especially deep.
Preeti has anxiety, and she decides to get treatment for it. The discussion of mental health and the stigma against treatment both in her culture and in her professional community was so powerful. I really appreciated the author's note at the beginning, which included content warnings that I have reproduced below. Forever has always been great about including those on sheets for reviewers, and I am so pleased to see them moving in to the beginning of books as well.
This is such a beautiful and emotional story.
Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.
TW: Anxiety, racism, fetal death
4.5 stars rounded up
It's been six years since Preeti dumped Daniel. Now he's back in Houston, and both of them find the same temporary place to live. It's interesting reading a second chance romance where the POV is entirely from the perspective of the person who was in the wrong and broke both their hearts. I think reading in her voice made it much easier for me to like her and understand her. What I always love about second chance relationships is how we learn about their love and history. Theirs was especially deep.
Preeti has anxiety, and she decides to get treatment for it. The discussion of mental health and the stigma against treatment both in her culture and in her professional community was so powerful. I really appreciated the author's note at the beginning, which included content warnings that I have reproduced below. Forever has always been great about including those on sheets for reviewers, and I am so pleased to see them moving in to the beginning of books as well.
This is such a beautiful and emotional story.
Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.
TW: Anxiety, racism, fetal death
4.5 stars rounded up
I’ve never read a book like this before. It’s one of a kind in its authentic portrayal of culture,classism, racism among ethnic groups, sexism, familial dynamics, mental health in south asian communities, and what it takes to be a feminist in this niche story. I loved The Trouble With Hating You, but I love this book so much as well because Preeti is so relatable to your eldest Indian daughter trying to please everyone and holding so much value in doing/being good.
As a Indian American med student who is also *surprise* a Patel, I’ve been waiting to get my hand on this book since it published (hello the main character Preeti is literally me). The wait was worth it. Sajni Patel again broached a topic in our culture that has never (to my knowledge) been depicted in such authenticity before. Its powerful how her female characters find their voice and strength without needing, but still receiving, support from their friends and partners. She captures family dynamics and lack of communication so well. Her characters are so true to culture I can think of people in my community they resemble. Respect for your elders is a huge concept that can manipulate brown women’s lives - and to stand up to that within one’s family is what helps break generational trauma. She portrays anxiety, self-talk, and its effect on perception of reality in a vividly accurate way. She shows us what a healthy (and not healthy) way of partners handling others anxieties looks like.
Also, Sajni Patel got a lot of the nuances of medicine so right in Preeti and her journey. The steps to getting there, the drive, the mental health repercussions, the good and the bad and the beautiful. She must have someone close to her in medicine, because this book kind of made me want to pursue FM residency.
As a Indian American med student who is also *surprise* a Patel, I’ve been waiting to get my hand on this book since it published (hello the main character Preeti is literally me). The wait was worth it. Sajni Patel again broached a topic in our culture that has never (to my knowledge) been depicted in such authenticity before. Its powerful how her female characters find their voice and strength without needing, but still receiving, support from their friends and partners. She captures family dynamics and lack of communication so well. Her characters are so true to culture I can think of people in my community they resemble. Respect for your elders is a huge concept that can manipulate brown women’s lives - and to stand up to that within one’s family is what helps break generational trauma. She portrays anxiety, self-talk, and its effect on perception of reality in a vividly accurate way. She shows us what a healthy (and not healthy) way of partners handling others anxieties looks like.
Also, Sajni Patel got a lot of the nuances of medicine so right in Preeti and her journey. The steps to getting there, the drive, the mental health repercussions, the good and the bad and the beautiful. She must have someone close to her in medicine, because this book kind of made me want to pursue FM residency.