A review by jennabenna
The Marriage Game by Sara Desai

1.5

Read this book if you like toxic masculinity. The love-interest, Sam, full-on only every wants to sleep with or "protect" women, and punch other men. He is emotionally stunted, estranged from his family, possessive of his sister. He literally gets in bloody bar fights against his friend, randomly threatens people for no reason, is a total jerk at work, and has self-absorbed bullies as friends and coworkers. His behavior is WAY out of line in the climax of the book
attending a cocaine and stripper filled party instead of meeting Layla's family, and then defending his decision to evict Laylas family from their restaurant
and yet somehow Layla is the one making a grand gesture to win him back? 
Also, most of the banter between the two leads is in front of other people in a way that is really awkward. And the pacing of the book is off as well. 
Plus, TONS of trigger warnings (in addition to the violent toxic masculinity). A bunch of stuff happens that should be really
upsetting to the characters, but is just casually presented in a cluncky way to move the plot along and doesnt get the attention it deserved  
just to name a few, her parents are losing their restaurant, her brother died, her dad has a heart attack and is comatose in the hospital, the leads get in a car accident, one of her suitors beats up his female Employee within earshot of Layla, Sam's sister was pushed down the stairs by her abusive husband and is now wheelchair bound, Layla has a coworker with a girlfriend who is constantly sexually harassing her, including rubbing her body against his boner when she asks him to stop 
and thats not even all of the intense or misogynistic stuff that is presented casually in the story. I would have  given a lower star rating, but the Indian representation was nice, and her dad was sweet. Overall, Do not recommend.
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