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What happens when a free spirited lawyer who doesn’t trust in love meets a control freak? Well, as a good Desi auntie-in-the-making, she decides to find him a girlfriend, of course!

Deeply traumatized by her parents’ childhood divorce, Zara lives life to the beat of her own drum, avoiding romantic entanglements and inviting everyone to share into the fun she radiates like sunshine. Jay, her polar opposite, is a workaholic in search of security and a sense of belonging.

Jay has decided he needs a partner: a classy, elegant and poised woman would be his perfect counterpart as he expands his security business internationally. So the unruly, loud, and wild girl who shows up in a too-small bridesmaid dress at the joint bachelor/bachelorette party he’s attending is clearly not for him - despite the uncontrollable attraction he experiences.

In an attempt to stave off the attraction she feels, Zara convinces Jay to let her use her matchmaking skills to find him a partner - but her usual mojo is out of service, and Jay seems more interested in getting to know her rather than going on dates with other women…

I loved this grump meets sunshine romance! Jay and Zara are imperfect but perfect for each other. They’re fleshed-out, three-dimensional characters with believable insecurities and fears. As an attorney, do I believe the football scene (IYKYK)? Maybe not lol - but that’s why it’s a romcom! I loved the growth Zara and Jay go through on their way to HEA. Five very happy stars!

E-ARC provided by NetGalley and Berkley Romance in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleyromance.

Publication Date: Nov 16, 2021

Bookstagram Review coming soon 🤗

I have read three books in this series in quick succession, so I noticed things I might not otherwise. For example, Desai's couples tend to fit into a pattern: stoic hero with a high-powered job and a deeply troubled past, sunny heroine who is determined to help him, and a mutually beneficial deal that brings them into close proximity. It's not quite manic pixie dream girl territory, but it's close.

In this installment, attorney Zara is a bubbly extrovert who entertains her fellow guests at the dreaded singles table during every summer's many weddings. Jay is an ex-military security expert who specializes in high-profile clients. They strike up a deal: Zara will find Jay a match at one of the season's singles tables, and Jay will introduce her to some celebrities to help her break into entertainment law. But inevitably, their strictly professional arrangement is complicated by a mutual attraction, and their equal determination to avoid relationships.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Let me be the first to say that Sara Desai literally puts the ‘comedy’ in ‘romantic-comedy.’ The Singles Table was ridiculously funny, over-the-top, and adorable, as expected with all of Sara’s books in this series. Jay and Zara are truly hate-to-lovers excellence and I loved following their shenanigans. This may be my favorite out of all three books in the Marriage series, if not tied with The Dating Plan. This book isn’t as connected to The Marriage Game and The Dating Plan as these two books were with each other, so you don’t have to read the first two books to enjoy this one. Nevertheless, I loved all the easter eggs we got from the first two books, like Taara & Mehar Auntie and Faroz LOL.

First of all, I LOVE Zara so much. She’s so incredibly funny as a main character in an Adult Romance and I was fully laughing out loud following all the hijinks she was getting into. I love how unapologetically herself she is and how she fully owns her over-the-top personality. After seeing so many South Asian women in western media be portrayed as this “subdued” type, I definitely appreciated her vivacious character (the same goes for Daisy and Layla, too). I also love that Jay fell in love with her because of her personality and didn’t shy away from it at all (as I imagine most brown men would IRL). All the chapters in which he was talking about how she stole his heart because of her personality was so cute.

Speaking of Jay, South Asian authors really need to stop writing about brown men named Jay/Jai that keep stealing my heart omg. I loved Jay’s journey with trying to manage his PTSD and how he wasn’t even ashamed of claiming that he had PTSD from serving. Mental health is almost always swept under the rug with South Asian communities, and I really appreciated how honest he was with himself, and ultimately with Zara. I also adored his relationship with his mom!! They have the sweetest relationship and I found it so cute how protective he was of her.

I think the only reason I knocked this book off one star is because nothing really happened in this book to be honest? The previous two books had major points of conflict between our main couple but here there weren't really any tangible points of conflict throughout the book. It kind of followed this repetitive pattern of Zara and Jay hanging out with neither of them admitting their feelings, and then Jay realizing he liked Zara and trying to tell her, followed by Zara running away because she’s scared of her feelings and Jay chasing after her trying to convince her that what they have is real. I think I would have appreciated a bigger/more serious conflict during the climax scene as well, because it felt like they ‘fought’ (if you could even call it that) over nothing.

Ultimately, I definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud South Asian rom-com. I really hope Sara has more books planned in this series!

3.5 Stars!!! I wasn't expecting to love it as much as the dating game but Zara and Jay stole my heart. There are very few books that get the enemies-TRULY HATE EACH OTHER - friends to lovers but this book definitely delivers on that. The fact that this was dual POV definitely enhances the experience, and of course it has the grumpy sunshine dynamic. Definitely recommend!!!

This was a pretty average romance for me. It was a lighthearted fluffy read, but semi-forgettable. The only thing I really think I will remember was the abundance of pop culture references that will really date this book in a few years. It was hard for me to feel the chemistry in this romance and the characters fell a bit flat. This wasn't a bad romance book, but it wasn't a standout either. 2.5 stars!

I loved loved loved this enemy to lovers romance!

I loved how the free spirited Zara broke down the defenses of grumpy sexy Jay.

I thought the characters were not only relatable but fun and I loved that their love story built and how they both learned to accept each other's differences. AND they both had real world problems that weren't solved in a few chapters.

It was one of the most satisfying romance novel I've read this year!

This is by far the best Sara Desai book yet. I loved Zara and Jay. Sara really does well with the quirky main character, but rounds them out with a full personality so they feel super realistic. I want a Jay. I would like to know how to find a Jay.

I really enjoyed the Emma concept and how mental health was addressed in a way that doesn’t feel overly addressed, but handled with respect. Sara’s writing made me giggle out loud many times and I could NOT put it down. It’s a great read!

My ONLY critique is that the epilogue was a little much. It all happened really fast. I think I would have liked it two or three years in the future but having it be one year felt rushed.

Oh my god this book!! I am upset that this is the first Sara Desai book I’ve read because WOW. I loved the characters. Loved the overbearing, loving family. Loved the storyline. Freaking Zara and Jay!!! Ugh what a mix. Zara and her spunky, fun, sexy self meets Jay, calm, cool, stud who is the epitome of a boss man. Both are so determined that they are not the right match for each other but the world seems keen on keeping them interacting and building up some tension! Whewww the spice was REAL between these twooooo! I loved the meet cute and the chemistry. And also… who doesn’t love Indian weddings!? This was such a fun, magical romance that will give you exactly what you are looking for! Bring on the warm fuzzies and make your way to the singles table!!

Thank you to Berkley publishing and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I adored this book! Zara's energy and zest for life was so refreshing and fun to read about! Her and Jay's chemistry was really good, and I love them as a couple. I loved the wacky paintball game, what a unique "meet cute".

Sara Desai has created yet another sweet, funny, sexy romance with lovable characters. You'll spend the entire book cheering for Zara and Jay to get together and you certainly won't be disappointed.

This book is incredible and Sara Desai is my new favorite romance writer! I could relate to Mackenzie. This book gave me Josh and Hazel/Chuck and Blair vibes but the crazy antics were not as present which is a good thing.

Sara Desai truly has a gift for writing….laugh out loud and sexy scenes…yes!

Zara is the character that has been told she’s always been told she’s too loud, too much and not marriage material.
Jay is overworked, post military and not ready to settled down.
They are the perfect opposites attract trope.

This book has more sexy hot scenes than the last ones… yum!
It also touches on PTSD and combat, love this aspect and that Jay gets the therapy and help he needs.

Another magical Sara Desai romance is ready to light up your life, giving you full joy, entertainment, fun, warming your heart, making your entire week!

Another exemplary enemies to lovers and sunshine meets the grump troupes make us hooked up with this journey at first sight.

Zara Patel, biggest fan of celebrities, working hard to be an entertainment lawyer in her peculiar and unique terms as if she’s casted as a lawyer in Ally McBeal series ( she may rock with her musical abilities), great fan of Broadway and Lin-Manuel Miranda( who isn’t:) ), is single and she plans to stay that way but now the wedding season already started and the group of aunties act like jackals which smelled the miserable souls of bachelors , chasing around the entire singles to match for getting more bonus points. Game is on!

She attends a wedding of couple( Tarun and Maria) she matched, reserved her permanent place in singles table. But she doesn’t expect to sit with the arrogant, egotistical,sucking the joy out of life like black hole guy ( that’s exactly her words for him) she’s met at their competitive paintball game, at the same table. His name is Jay Donovan, ex military security specialist, owner of his own security company, already pissed the hell of Zara at bachelors paintball game which ended his ass turned into a target!

He thinks she’s wild, unruly,loud, totally out of control. But he also realizes she’s full of joy, bringing happiness to all the people around her, energetic, eccentric, one of a kind…

As they keep bumping into each other during ceremonies, they finally make a deal. Jay’s mother puts pressure on him to find the one and Zara wants to find more celebrity clients to make her place permanent at her new firm. As Zara finds proper candidates to date with Jay, he’ll invite him to the red carpet events to meet with the celebrities.

But what if she doesn’t want to find him the best match. What if she was the best match he truly desires!

This was so much entertaining with lots of traditional pre wedding and wedding ceremonies, humorous Aunties, hot and sexy chemistry of Zara and Jay!

I enjoyed my reading time so much as I did with the other books. Looking forward to next work of Ms. Desai!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

Very fun rom-com featuring two characters who are both very attached to their families and their respective cultures and traditions, but also have a bit of a rebellious streak. I look forward to recommending this to readers who enjoy lighthearted, fun rom-coms.

I love a romcom at a wedding book. I was rooting for these two characters from the beginning. I couldn't wait to find out what happened. Highly recommend!

What a fun read! I kicked off 2021 reading Desai's second book in this series, The Dating Plan, and devoured it, so I was thrilled to get the chance to read her third book early and it didn't disappoint. The plot felt slightly slower than her other books., but I felt did a great job of balancing between fun and playful and tackling some more serious topics, like divorce and mental illness. Zara and Jay's characters were so well developed, and I found myself really rooting for both of them, both as a couple and as individuals. I can't wait to see what Desai comes up with next!

"The Singles Table" by Sara Desai
Marriage #3
Release Date: 11.16.2021

Zara Patel has sworn off love. She will focus on working as a lawyer and helping her friends find love, while obsessing over celebrities. Zara feels comfortable sitting at the singles table, being the life of the party, until she meets Jay Donovan.

Jay also has no time for love. He is a former military security specialist and only focuses on working hard to build his security company.

He is not happy that he is stuck looking at Zara's beautiful face throughout wedding season, even though there is an instant attraction.

They make a deal. Zara will find Jay someone special, as long as Jay will introduce Zara to some of his clients.

This is the first book of Ms. Desai's I am reading, and I cannot wait to read the previous two in this series! I love Zara and Jay! I loved their banter and chemistry. What a sweet and fun read!


Thank you to @netgalley for the opportunity to read in exchange for my honest opinion.

#bookstagrammer #bookstagram #netgalley #netgalleyreads #netgalleybooks #2021bookreleases #contemporaryromance #romcombooks #thesinglestable #saradesai

Sadly, I think its time for me to give up on this author. I have read her previous books in this series and they just weren't for me. I wanted to read this one because the cover is just so adorable, but sadly, I didn't enjoy it either. The story is well written and the storyline is original and interesting. It is definitely a me issue, and not an author issue.

I wish it was possible to give this book 6 stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I absolutely fell in love with this book, it's characters, and the rest of the series! While you don't need to read the first two books in this series before this one, I highly recommend it as it makes you appreciate these character that much more. It's refreshing to have a rom-com where the characters have flaws and figures like real people. The reasons for them to be hesitant to love the other are problems real people have and struggle with. And while this book definitely talks about dark pasts and traumas, it has comedy sprinkled in to break it up. I hope there will be more books in this series and look forward to any books Sara Desai writes!

Desai doesn't disappoint with this third book of the Marriage series. Full of humor (SO MUCH HUMOR) and witty dialog and characters you'll love to love.