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A review by avidreader87
Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Tastes Like Shakkar is a super fun enemies to lovers + cozy wedding saboteur mystery that had me hooked from the very beginning.
Bobbi, the female main, is SO easy to identify with. She has a big family legacy that she wants to uphold, works too hard, kind and charismatic, loves her family, and has big expectations for herself, in part because she can't help it and in part because her family has big expectations too. Bunty, the male main, is so likable. He has a big family legacy that he wants desperately to get out from underneath, works too hard, is kind and charismatic, loves his family and his friends, and has big expectations for himself.
Yea, they're like the same person - which for me keeps the tension through the hate-hate, love-hate, hate-love, love-love ebb and flow of the book. They're so dedicated to their work, and sometimes that's in conflict with one another and sometimes it's a perfect combo. They're so perfect, lovable, and you're just cheering for them the whole time.
The wedding saboteur twist is *chef's kiss* (haha, literally). I loved it - it was such a wonderful twist to the romance without getting dark or anything like that. Perfect cozy mystery romance vibes. This is such a fun read.
Full disclosure, I was so intimidated by the character list at the beginning - unlike many traditionally published romances that have a tight character list and perhaps introduce a few new characters to jump into the next romance in the series, this one has a big set of characters from the get go. There is family and friends and aunties and coworkers and inlaws and inlaws' inlaws. Don't let this intimidate you, like I did. I had no problem keeping up with who was who and what was going on. The wide character list adds to the value of this book - Bobbi and Bunty are the stars, but they're balanced on the foundation of a large cast of characters and it would definitely lack with out them. Love this read and highly recommend!
Bobbi, the female main, is SO easy to identify with. She has a big family legacy that she wants to uphold, works too hard, kind and charismatic, loves her family, and has big expectations for herself, in part because she can't help it and in part because her family has big expectations too. Bunty, the male main, is so likable. He has a big family legacy that he wants desperately to get out from underneath, works too hard, is kind and charismatic, loves his family and his friends, and has big expectations for himself.
Yea, they're like the same person - which for me keeps the tension through the hate-hate, love-hate, hate-love, love-love ebb and flow of the book. They're so dedicated to their work, and sometimes that's in conflict with one another and sometimes it's a perfect combo. They're so perfect, lovable, and you're just cheering for them the whole time.
The wedding saboteur twist is *chef's kiss* (haha, literally). I loved it - it was such a wonderful twist to the romance without getting dark or anything like that. Perfect cozy mystery romance vibes. This is such a fun read.
Full disclosure, I was so intimidated by the character list at the beginning - unlike many traditionally published romances that have a tight character list and perhaps introduce a few new characters to jump into the next romance in the series, this one has a big set of characters from the get go. There is family and friends and aunties and coworkers and inlaws and inlaws' inlaws. Don't let this intimidate you, like I did. I had no problem keeping up with who was who and what was going on. The wide character list adds to the value of this book - Bobbi and Bunty are the stars, but they're balanced on the foundation of a large cast of characters and it would definitely lack with out them. Love this read and highly recommend!