I loved how Sara Desai portrayed the enemies to lovers trope in The Marriage Game, and I was glad she returned to that trope with The Singles Table. Out of all of the books so far in this series, for me this one was the funniest and I can easily see this being turned into a movie since I was laughing a lot throughout the book.

Zara is an over the top character, but in the best way. She is the kind of person you would want to have as a friend because you know you would always have fun with her, but she would also be there to support you through everything as well. Jay has a lot of baggage to work through with his father abandoning his family and his PTSD from his time in the Air Force, and while I like that there was a lot of discussion about his mental health, I would have liked to have seen more glimpses into him working through this. I also wanted more angst in the enemies part of the enemies to lovers trope between Zara and Jay. It was so great in the first couple of chapters, but then Jay's insta love for Zara kind of threw me off. Overall, The Singles Table is a great addition to this series and if Desai continues more books that follows the characters in this world, I'd love to see one involving Parvati as a starring character.

I would first like to thank Netgalley ( @netgalley ), Berkeley Publishing ( @berkleypub ), and Sara Desai ( @saradesaiwrites ) for an advanced e-ARC copy of this book on exchange for my honest review.

Swipe right to read @goodreads description of this book!
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The Singles Table is the highly anticipated third novel of the Marriage series by Sara Desai. As soon as Sara announced on her Instagram that ARC copies were available on Netgalley to be reviewed, I immediately ran to Netgalley and submitted my request. I was elated when I saw that I was lucky enough to be chosen.
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In the third book, we meet Zara Patel, a non traditional lawyer by day/ matchmaker by night. Zara is a free spirited, wild child and is born to be at the singles table for life. She is determined to never open her heart to anyone again, instead enjoying the “no strings attached” relationships. Instead she likes to match up for single table mates; giving those crazy Aunties a run for their money. But when she meets Jay Dayal, serious, stay focused attitude has her head spinning. She has to find a perfect match for Jay, but is anyone good enough for him?
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I absolutely loved this one! I loved the chemistry between Zara and Jay. I felt that their characters fit perfectly. I also felt that I could relate at times to both characters. The relationship also didn’t feel rushed which sometimes happens in a romance novel. This one ended realistically. Overall, it was exactly what I needed to read and would highly recommended to any and all romance lovers. 💛

This multicultural rom-com had me laughing and swooning. She’s a bundle of vibrant energy and he’s a bit of an arrogant grump. But together their chemistry simply sizzles. I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion because the shenanigans were infectious. And the secondary cast of meddling Desi aunties boosted the humor and heart. This one was racier than the previous books. (follow up to The Marriage Game and The Dating Game)

Read this if you:
*want to laugh out loud while reading
*are a free spirit
*love a grumpy leading man
*are competitive

I jump for joy anytime I get approved for a Berkley book - they never disappoint! This might have been my favorite of the series yet! I flew through this. Zara is incredible and Jay is amazing. I love these two together and their journey was so much fun to read about.

Pub Date: Nov 16

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for this copy! I MUST get my hands on a physical copy of this ASAP.

I hadn’t expected this to be my favorite of the series nor did I expect to swoon as much as I did. Honestly, hand to chest full lean on the arm of the chair sighing type of swoon.

I loved Zara. I loved that she loved her job and mostly enjoyed her life. She was vibrant and charismatic but also energetic in a way that could be a lot for someone who just can’t handle that kind of energy. Still scarred from her parent’s divorce (but in therapy and has a psychology degree herself) she’s pretty closed off to love and anything that even resembles it. She’s an excellent matchmaker with a perfect record and determined to find a match for the stoic bachelor Jay who is of course as kind as he is handsome. Jay who sometimes behaves like Zara is the only woman in the world.

I started out thinking “ugh no way Jay could be for me”. He seemed so stuffy and uptight. Painfully dull, even. I worried that he might turn out to be mean as well. Then, the second Zara entered his orbit it was like a switch flipped. If he thought he was subtle or discreet it was only because Zara willed herself not to see it. He pines so much it leeches into every interaction he has with her. I think he knew he was doomed when realized he was always aware when she was in the room and anxious when she wasn’t. Jay surprised me quite a bit how he seemed to easily lean into his feelings despite telling himself not to or worrying that she didn’t feel the same. The more he got to know her, the more he understood her and how to assess her needs - as it goes. He was completely infatuated the second he saw her, the way he spoke about her both in dialogue with how easily he complimented and professed and from just his perspective it was always clear he had a one track mind. He seemed pleased to just be around her in any capacity against his better judgement and it was sweet to see how he worked this out for himself internally.

You do see both perspectives and I did want to shake both characters at times and scream “we don’t have to be our parents!” It was such a delightful romance I devoured it in just a few hours, easy to breeze through especially when it gets steamy after 50%. The book also deals with PTSD in a way that doesn’t weigh the story down or seem patronizing. It was also quite sex positive, the characters are pretty open about talking about sex and they are not shamed for it. Many of the conflicts are external and separate from the relationship (until they’re not) but there are also periods of doubt - mostly one sided.

Steam level: 3/5 - ~3 open door, on page scenes

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A good romantic comedy novel that highlights diversity and the Indian culture. I liked the premise and characters. A well written romance novel. But I didn't find it remarkable or extraordinary.

Thank you, NetGalley for an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review:

𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 (𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀):⁣
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Zara is a celebrity lawyer who is determined to never open her heart up again after her parent’s divorce. She puts her energy into her career and her side-gig of matchmaking through the wedding season. Jay is an air force veteran who runs a security office and fights his demons by keeping himself ingrained in his work. He thinks Zara is reckless. She thinks he’s a stick-in-the-mud. They make a deal. She’ll help him find someone special, and he’ll introduce her to some celebrity clients. They might find that they're a better match than any Zara could make.


𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗜 𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵:⁣
Super easy to consume, light-hearted romance.
Diverse characters and pasts.
Believable interactions and witty dialogue.
I put the book down happy and feeling good about their romance.
I laughed really hard at the Zombie movie names.

𝗜 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻… 𝗼𝗸𝗮𝘆 𝗜 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘀:⁣
As with all ARCs - there were some spelling errors. I’m not harping on this… I just want to point out that they wrote Chardonnay and Chardineigh and I about peed myself from laughing. Just say it out loud... you'll laugh too.
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𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗲, 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂: ⁣
I recognize that Zara was dealing with some *emotions* but I found her aggravating at parts. Especially after the bombshell that Jay drops on her about the big three words. Her reactions were the only part of the book where I thought to myself "no thanks."
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𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝘁?⁣
Four high-fives. I had to take a high-five back for the Zara part because it just didn’t vibe with me.


Final thoughts:
Really enjoyed this book and walked away from it smiling. It’s a feel-good, cover-to-cover, read. I’ll reach for Sara Desai again.

Thanks again to Netgalley for an eARC and the opportunity to give my opinion on this book.

Sara Desai has done it again and delivered another excellent Romantic Comedy with a dose of spice. Her characters are so relatable and include real struggles with mental health and working through them. Zara and Jay seem like complete opposites but could actually find companionship in each other but not before Zara tries to work her matchmaking magic on him. She originally wants to set him up with the perfect polished corporate woman but nothing long-term in exchange for him introducing her to his celebrity clients. She is needing more clients as a new personal injury lawyer but loves helping in entertainment law.
Zara is an outspoken, bubbly, life of the party character, who isn't afraid to be herself. She doesn't feel the need to conform to the rigid standards of how a lawyer should act. Jay has done his best to be successful and show no weakness to others. This book will take you through a whirlwind of emotions and show that being yourself is more important than how others perceive.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone.

3.5 stars, rounded up

This newest Sara Desai had me cackling. The sunshine and the grump is always a good time, and Zara and Jay do not disappoint. Throw in a little match-making, an active wedding season, and a lot of chemistry, and this book totally delivered. It had its deeper and darker moments, so not a completely fluffy book, which I actually did appreciate.

Zara flickered in and out of being a manic pixie dream girl, but I honestly didn't mind. She is what happens when a manic pixie dream girl becomes a lawyer and unofficial matchmaker, and if that alone doesn't make you curious enough to read this, I don't know what will.

However, I did feel a little uncomfortable with how Jay's PTSD was portrayed. Maybe because it's something that's so personal and nuanced, and it felt like it was more a generic insertion into the story? Not as thoughtfully written as I would've hoped? I'm not sure. But it did rub me the wrong way.

Overall, this was still an enjoyable read! Readers of the first two books in the series definitely won't be disappointed.

ARC provided by NetGalley

Another super fun and sexy addition to Desai's series. I love the banter and playfulness! Zara and Jay are meant to be.

This was the perfect book to get me in the mood for wedding season! I found this one to be an even more enjoyable read than the first two in the series, and those were so fun. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and this 100% did it justice. The steam was reeeaaalll.
Jay and Zara had such good chemistry and banter. I loved reading about their relationship and seeing it change over the course of the book. It was nice to see a character like Zara who had an important and demanding job of being a lawyer still being portrayed as fun-loving and free-spirited. So often characters are written into stereotypical roles and personalities tied to a specific career and this book avoided that completely.
This was a quick read, entertaining read and I hope the author plans to continue on with books in this series!
Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley and the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Sara Desai is a wonderful author, perfectly blending romance and drama with many comedic elements for the perfect romance read. Jay and Zara are polar opposites of each other and it certainly wasn't love at first sight.
They both get past their warring personalities and discover the commonalities between them.

THE SINGLES TABLE is a romantic comedy filled with energetic hi-jinks, hilarious moments, and sizzling attraction between a couple who swear off dating. Zara Patel is a clumsy, chaotic, charismatic lady who loves her job as an entertainment lawyer. She doesn't trust in love and meets a devastatingly handsome control freak. She is traumatized by her parents' divorce when she was younger, so she avoids dating and lives life to the fullest. She is a matchmaker, like her Aunts, and makes a deal with the gorgeous grump, Jay. She will find him his perfect match, in exchange for a celebrity client from his security firm. Watch the antics fly!

Jay Dayal is a workaholic who owns a prestigious security firm, and has deep depression. He is a former military specialist with PTSD and likes order and control. His dream is to be financially secure and to take care of his mom. Coincidentally, he meets Zara at his friends pre-wedding party and is zapped literally and physically by her, which leaves a lasting impression.

Jay and Zara meet time and again at their friends' wedding parties and sit together at the singles table and chat. They are complete opposites. Jay is crabby, quiet and orderly. Zara is wild, crazy and happy. However, they are quite taken with each other. Will this unlikely couple discover they are the perfect match?

THE SINGLES TABLE is the funniest rom-com I have read in a long time! I laughed so hard at all of Zara's slapstick stunts and her bubbly personality. She is fun, lives life large and has no filter on her mouth. When Zara and Jay first meet things go awry, but he is sexy eye candy and Zara is lovely, so sparks fly.

Zara's sparkling personality soothes Jay's soul and he is irresistibly drawn to her. This rom-com is very special and delves into psychological issues of depression. Ms. Desai works her magic delivering a comedic plot with delicate touches of drama and mental problems. I was so touched and cried, so keep Kleenex handy. Zara's meddling auntie's, extended family and friends are over-the-top fun, humorous and lovable! I can't say enough good things about this book. Put THE SINGLES TABLE on your to-buy list. It is unputdownable!

I love this author’s first book so I knew that I would love this one! The cute romcom the synopsis helped me and kept me going throughout the whole book. I love the humor, the characters, and the banter. I was equally swooned and invested. This is a must read as well as anything else the author writes for me!

This is such a delightful, fun romance! Zara's shenanigans frequently had me laughing, and while it took me a bit longer to warm up to Jay, he charmed me fairly quickly. It is often a bit over-the-top (largely because Zara herself is almost always a bit over-the=top, something I usually enjoyed though admittedly did find tiresome at times), but the balance between Zara's outgoing zest for life and Jay's seemingly endless capacity to make everything far too serious made for a thoroughly entertaining dynamic.

While the humor and even the romance worked for me (most of the time, anyway, but if I have to read about an adult saying or thinking the phrase "sexy times" one more time I might implode), the plot itself did not. Mainly because there isn't really much of a plot to begin with. Jay and Zara both have a lot to work through before either of them is ready for a relationship, and it's baggage that really could be unpacked more thoroughly on the page if they're going to be included. As it is, most of their arguments feel repetitive, and they each resolve their issues more quickly than I would've liked. It just doesn't hit the emotional climax that I look for in my romance novels.

So overall--three stars! A solid read, funny and mostly lighthearted, with a highly entertaining cast of wild characters ranging from interfering aunties to ex-CIA coworkers.

I loved both The Marriage Game and The Dating Plan-and Sara Desai delivered yet again with The Singles Table. Heartwarming, sexy, and romantic, this book was utterly charming from beginning to end.

Paintball and weddings. Doesn’t get much better than that.

This book started off very strong. It lost me a bit in the middle there but ended perfectly. That epilogue though!!

Loved it! Another great rom com from Sara Desai. She's quickly becoming one of my favorite romance writers! Great characters, great plot.

Zara Patel, a loud, family oriented, bright, and fun loving lawyer, has resigned herself to a lifetime of weddings stuck at the singles table. A commitment-phobe due to her parents sudden divorce when she was 10 years old, she avoids serious relationships at all costs, if you keep everyone at arms length, they can’t hurt you.

Jay Dayal, former Air Force pilot and CEO of J-Tech Security claims he doesn’t have time for a serious relationship. He is hyper focused on growing his business and caring for his mother, the only family he has. He thinks he eventually wants to settle down with someone poised and career oriented.

But Zara and Jay find themselves on the same team during her cousins bachelor- bachelorette paintball game. Their personalities immediately clash, Zara loud and boisterous, Jay quiet and broody. Despite their clashing personalities, they are drawn to each other, they become friends. Zara, using her passion for match-making, decides to try and find Jay his perfect match…

Little does she know she just might be exactly what he needs.

This book was SO GOOD! Full of heart, this book will have you smiling and laughing, and feeling for these two main characters! As with all of Sara’s books, the large, meddling Desi aunties are out in full force and provide excellent comedy AND heart to the book. I love them!

The chemistry between Zara and Jay is FIRE. They compliment each other perfectly. Get your grump/sunshine and enemies-to-lovers fix by reading this one when it publishes in November!!

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for this eARC

I had never read anything by Sara Desai until this book, but man am I excited to read the rest of the series! Zara and Jay had such amazing chemistry - whether it be as friends, enemies, or lovers - and it really propelled the book to new heights. Lawyers so often get portrayed as harsh and dull, but Zara was anything but. I also loved how they embraced their culture throughout the book, be it with the weddings, the food, or with how they related to their loved ones. This book also got VERY steamy without too many descriptions of genitalia which I enjoyed. Overall a bubbly book that will leave you smiling.

*Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review*