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A review by nikitanavalkar
Tastes Like Shakkar by Nisha Sharma
4.0
4.5 stars. Tastes like shakkar with a dash of mirch
Bobbi is a kickass wedding planner and the bride’s best friend, so of course she’s out to plan the wedding of the year for her bff and her man. But the man also has a best friend, Benjamin aka Bunty, who’s been a thorn in her side ever since he refused to work with her and insulted her in the process. Bunty is a scmancy chef who didn’t quite mean to insult Bobbi but loves to needle her anyway. Bobbi is big, beautiful, and owns every single curve, and Bunty freaking loves those curves and is happy to sexily toss her around like she deserves. And we love that in a hero.
They bicker, sparks all over the place, they truce, they horny, and then they kinky. Ropes and bondage have entered the chat you guys. You have no idea what it means for me, a lifelong romance reader (everything from closed door to erotic smut), to see a desi couple not just embracing their sexuality but being unapologetically kinky on page. I just don’t see it often enough. I only wish it was a little more fleshed out, but I know as a contemporary it had certain limitations. And then he feeds her, obvs being a chef, but he makes sure she eats often in her busy days. He leaves her adorable notes, gives her a nickname, makes her his muse, and is an overall A+ bf. Swoons like a dramatic bollywood heroine. The very definition of tastes like shakkar (sugar), but with a liberal dash of mirch (spice).
It’s not all shaadi and song and dance however. There’s a shaadi sabotage (gasp), desi aunties being their best nosy self, and a found family to envy. Sharma does a great job spotlighting the real issues of a mostly long distance relationship between 2 people with high powered careers, compounded by their desi families and their duty to them. The push pull between duty and wanting to be the everything for your family mixed with the guilt of wanting to live your own life separate from them, I felt that to the bone. And despite it all, the deep abiding love you carry for that family anyway, regardless of your differences. The author makes their shenanigans dramatic, yet so relatable to someone who knows. Heck, even something as small as all the Indian aunties drinking water without ice only? Those who get it, get it.
I wanted a tiny bit more from the Vegas bachelor/ette weekend, it felt a little to quickly cut off to me, but overall this book has edged out Dr Dil as my favorite in the series so far and I’m excited for everything that’s coming next.
Bobbi is a kickass wedding planner and the bride’s best friend, so of course she’s out to plan the wedding of the year for her bff and her man. But the man also has a best friend, Benjamin aka Bunty, who’s been a thorn in her side ever since he refused to work with her and insulted her in the process. Bunty is a scmancy chef who didn’t quite mean to insult Bobbi but loves to needle her anyway. Bobbi is big, beautiful, and owns every single curve, and Bunty freaking loves those curves and is happy to sexily toss her around like she deserves. And we love that in a hero.
They bicker, sparks all over the place, they truce, they horny, and then they kinky. Ropes and bondage have entered the chat you guys. You have no idea what it means for me, a lifelong romance reader (everything from closed door to erotic smut), to see a desi couple not just embracing their sexuality but being unapologetically kinky on page. I just don’t see it often enough. I only wish it was a little more fleshed out, but I know as a contemporary it had certain limitations. And then he feeds her, obvs being a chef, but he makes sure she eats often in her busy days. He leaves her adorable notes, gives her a nickname, makes her his muse, and is an overall A+ bf. Swoons like a dramatic bollywood heroine. The very definition of tastes like shakkar (sugar), but with a liberal dash of mirch (spice).
It’s not all shaadi and song and dance however. There’s a shaadi sabotage (gasp), desi aunties being their best nosy self, and a found family to envy. Sharma does a great job spotlighting the real issues of a mostly long distance relationship between 2 people with high powered careers, compounded by their desi families and their duty to them. The push pull between duty and wanting to be the everything for your family mixed with the guilt of wanting to live your own life separate from them, I felt that to the bone. And despite it all, the deep abiding love you carry for that family anyway, regardless of your differences. The author makes their shenanigans dramatic, yet so relatable to someone who knows. Heck, even something as small as all the Indian aunties drinking water without ice only? Those who get it, get it.
I wanted a tiny bit more from the Vegas bachelor/ette weekend, it felt a little to quickly cut off to me, but overall this book has edged out Dr Dil as my favorite in the series so far and I’m excited for everything that’s coming next.