The Marriage Game

#FunFact: I first read this book one million years and a lifetime ago! At least that’s what it felt like this past weekend when I went to update with a review. I had a bunch of notes but Sara’s other identity is one of my all-time favorite authors, so I read it again! It made me feel just as good the second time around so YAY. Anywho, all that is just to tell you I really enjoyed this story. The book took me by surprise, tho … I shall explain …Okay, so I was not expecting this entire package Sara delivers with this story. It is funny (like seriously well plotted humorous shenanigans all around), it is super sexy (okay, that one is to be expected) and it warmed my heart and pulled at every single heart-string I had available. ALL AT THE SAME TIME! All of those characteristics were in constant motion throughout the story. It’s a bit hard to describe without giving you plot points, but just imagine yourself laughing, turned on AND having a *happy sigh* moment all at the same time. That’s what reading this book does. GLORIOUS.This book has some strong signature attributes that fit perfectly with Sara Desai’s pen-name, but it is also uniquely hers. It’s like taking a recipe handed down for generations and adding a few spices when it gets to you. Still that signature dish but with your own personal flare. That’s this book. I don’t know if Sara has alluded to who her other author name is because I didn’t have to stalk her to know who she was LOL so I have to keep the name reference vague (sorry lol) but MAN I wish I could just say it because I totally want to tell you to read all the books.Sara has never disappointed me with any book I have ever read (and re-read) of hers. This beautifully crafted romantic comedy is no different. It has a well-developed plot with growth and purpose. There is chemistry from page one and I was so captivated by the story-line, that hours passed in a blink while reading!

Recruitment consultant Layla crumbles from losing her job, her boyfriend, so she moves back home, and sets up shop at the office above her parents’ restaurant. It just so happens her father had already leased the office to a Sam Mehta, partner of a corporate downsizing firm who needs office space near his next potential client. Their motives to kick each other out of the office turn into a Game. Enter the potential bachelors from an online dating site that Layla’s father put together. Who wants their daughter to be lonely and unmarried? And, could the banter between Layla and Sam that emanates from close proximity be infuriating and inconvenient? Or, will their chemistry turn into something, nothing, or... everything?OKAY, THIS BOOK! My goodness. I felt ALL THE FEELS. Layla was so so vibrant, her personality, her spunk, her being—she was electric, fun, smart. I wanted everything to work out for her. And, Sam. OHHH SAM. He was damn right arrogant, cocky AF, but also very swoony. And, I may or may not have cried reading Chapter 29! Apart from love, this was a story about vengeance and redemption, learning and moving on, forgiving yourself, the importance of family and cultural roots laced with the right amount of humor—the sexual innuendos and witty retorts—that gave it such perfect balance. The internal conflicts were solid. The personalities shined through. The food, Bollywood references, alllll the meddling aunties livened up the ethnic flare. The spin on arranged marriages had to be what I loved the most. Needless to say, I LOVED how Desai wrote the story so beautifully. AND HELLO? It was set in the SF Bay Area. SF Giants fan over here!If you put The Trouble with Hating You, 10 Blind Dates, and Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating in a giant pot and mix it together, you’ll get The Marriage Game AND THEN SOME.

“You can’t live your life at a distance.”Layla Patel is down on her luck. She's just dumped her youtube boyfriend, who she found snorting cocaine of models, and then lost her job when a video of her going postal went viral. Nothing left to do but come home to San Fransisco to pick up the pieces. Much to her surprise, the office space her father promised her to start her new company is also being rented out to a one Sam Mehta. Sam is stern, serious and a huge problem for Layla. Not only does he represent everything she hates in business, he's also wracked by the guilt over his sister's accident he believes he could have prevented.As the two start battling it out over who can have the office outright, they are shocked to discover that Layla's father set up a profile and arranged dates for her on desilovematch.com. Losing hope that she'll ever find true love, Layla decides to go on the dates her father set up, with the help of Sam as her chaperone. The plan? If Layla finds a match, Sam keeps the office. If Layla doesn't, Sam has to leave. What could go wrong? Let the marriage game begin!This book is a must read if you like:❤️ Enemies to lovers❤️ Prank wars❤️ Diverse characters and delicious food❤️ Deception at every turn❤️ Complex characters

I was so excited when I first read the introduction to this story--the world and the characters were so vivid and magnetic. Unfortunately, the author does not keep that momentum throughout her book. There were choppy transitions between scenes, heavy dialogue and sparse descriptions, which made it feel like a fast paced film.The behavior and the dialogue of the characters were so inauthentic that I eventually became disenchanted with them. However, I am not giving up on this author because she is very talented. There were moments in her book, especially at the beginning, where she exhibited a special soulful knack for describing her characters and environment. These parts were priceless and resonated deeply with me.

This was the first book by this author that I’ve read and I’ll be looking for more!This is a funny, romantic and feisty novel with some snappy writing. Some paragraphs had me laughing out loud! I loved the antagonistic relationship that our 2 leads had...it reminded me of one of my favourite books, The Hating Game.Don’t be too concerned at the sheer number of characters you are introduced to in the first few chapters...a lot of them only feature fleetingly in the rest of the book!Cracking stuff! Can’t really understand why there aren’t many reviews? Read this book! I promise you won’t be disappointed!

A very undemanding, easy read with mostly likeable characters. It’s a great read for a rainy afternoon. I highly recommend.

So Whitt’s, funny and a fantastic romance read! I could not put it down! Can’t wait for another book to read from her. Or some kind of part 2!