The Singles Table by Sara Desai

Happy pub day to The Singles Table!!

The Singles Table is an enemies to lovers romantic comedy following Zara Patel, a free-spirited lawyer and Jay Dayal, an all-work-and-no-play type of guy only focusing on winning with no time for love.

This was my first Desai book (I didn’t realize it was the third book in a series oops) and I absolutely loved it! I didn’t feel like I was missing any info because I didn’t read the previous two books (Will be reading them asap obviously).

Things I loved about the book:
- the banter!!!!! So cute i’m obsessed
- Zara!! I loved her character so so much
- THE SPICE OHMYGODDDD
- Zara and Parvati’s friendship
- All the members of the tiger firm and their quirkiness

Things I disliked about the book:
- Jay’s initial intro in the book (the condescending terms of endearment) put me off and I wish it had been discussed or something so he could redeem himself from that

Overall, I really really enjoyed the book and it would’ve def been a 5 star read if not for that slight blip. I highly recommend reading this book if you like enemies to lovers, grumpy x sunshine, spicy books, and banter!!

Rating: 4/5
Spice: 5/5

Thank you @netgalley and @berkleypublishinggroup @berkleyromance for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I ate this book up! I couldn't put it down. This is a classic Grumpy/sunshine main characters, opposites attract rom com. Zara is a lawyer by day, and a self-proclaimed matchmaking auntie in the making during wedding season. Jay is an uptight ex-military man who can't stand Zara's easy going demeanor. And unfortunately for Jay, they cannot get rid of each other. So one night at the singles wedding of one of their many mutual weddings Zara dare's Jay to let her find him a girlfriend, in return for introductions to some of his celebrity clients at his security firm and he accepts. Both don't think they want or deserve love, but what if their arrangement brings them a love story neither through could exist.

I so related to Zara. I'm a musical nerd with a bit of a clumsy side. Desai writes these two opposite characters so well. Zara's family is big and meddling, Jay's is small and easy-going. Zara is bubbly and outgoing while Jay is reserved and has a bit of an edge, but yet you still want to eat Jay up. I really enjoyed the story and the comedy in the writing. The only thing i felt was a little weird was how fast Jay threw the "I don't date" mentality out the window and how easily Zara fell into the role of a girlfriend without even thinking she was a girlfriend.

From the first pages of The Singles Table I was laughing! I've enjoyed the first two books in the Marriage Game series and the earlier characters make appearances but this can totally be read as a standalone.

Opposites attract in this romantic comedy about a free spirited lawyer and a type A former military security specialist. Zara has sworn off love and wants to help her friends find matches during the wedding season, but when she crosses paths with Jay will she be able to find him someone?

This was such a fun enemies to lovers, grumpy/sunshine book! It has such fun characters and hilarious scenes - the fruit art, paintballing and the best witty banter. Plus this was pretty steamy, so I enjoyed that aspect too!

If you're looking for a great laugh out loud romantic comedy check this one out!

Huge thank you to netgalley and Berkley for the eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you love books that include friends with benefits, opposites attracting, and some good old spice then this book may be just right for you and you should definitely check it out on November 16th!

Trigger Warnings: PTSD and Parental Abandonment

Review:

When it comes to romantic comedies that is something that this author does oh so well! Similar to her other novel, The Dating Plan, this book was funny, over-the-top, and another one of those hate-to-love romances that you are sure to love yourself! This book is the third in the Marriage Game Series and in this novel, you meet a lawyer who not only loves to play matchmaker, but is also determined to meet the perfect match from a grumpy bachelor she meets. Now I absolutely LOVED Zara, because much like me she is "too much", too talkative, has loud outbursts, and at times can be too much to handle. This in the beginning is just way too much for Jay, but you soon realize he has a lot that he is dealing with in his life. His father abandoned his family, on top of his PTSD from his time in the Air Force. Throughout this story you watch him work through this and there is a lot of discussion about his mental health and all the while you watch his and Zara's love story unfold before your eyes. This was a great addition to the series and I cannot wait to see what this author has in store for us next!

This book had so many elements that I love..comedy, opposites attract, enemies to lovers, and off the charts chemistry. I picked this up and had such a hard time putting it down because I needed to know what happened. Jay and Zara couldn't be more different, except for the fact that neither of them wants a relationship. Zara is sunshine and Jay is a grump, and their first interaction on the paintball field literally had me laughing out loud. I loved seeing the push and pull of their feelings, and how they really got to know each other over time. This book did deal with some heavy issues, such as PTSD, panic, and divorce, and they were an integral part to the stories of both characters. I also really enjoyed the meddling Aunties, as they made everything a little bit better. This is a spicy rom-com and I would definitely recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the e-ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

This is the third book in this series and is Jay and Zara’s story. Jay is a grumpy bachelor who is a former military security specialist who has no time for love, as he is solely focused on his career. Zara is a free spirit with no filter, and she is a lawyer, who is determined to find the perfect match for Jay. Jay and Zara strike a deal at a friend’s wedding which will be mutually beneficial for them both. These two are complete opposites yet they complement each other perfectly, and the chemistry between them is undeniable. This is a well written fun story which is humorous, entertaining, and with witty banter, and love, which leads to an all-consuming page turner. I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

The Singles Table was so entertaining, I love a good grumpy plus sunshine trope, add in the overbearing aunties and friends, I’m sold. The chemistry between Zara and Jay was sizzling, and they had some steamy moments. While there were some heavy moments thrown in here, this was such a fun, lighthearted book that had me laughing out loud more than once!

Thank you to Berkley Romance, Sara Desai and NetGalley for advanced digital copy in exchange for review!

This is the second book written by Sara Desai that I’ve read and it is my new favorite! I read this book all in a day and regret nothing.

The Singles Table is the 3rd book in the Marriage Game series but can be read as a standalone. This is the story of sunshine girl Zara Patel and resident grump Jay Donovan. You’d never think romance was in the cards for these two when their first meeting included Zara shooting Jay in the behind with a paintball gun. As it turns out, a lot can change over a long wedding season.

While a professional attorney and local theater star, Zara is also an up and coming millennial rishta aunty. She makes it her mission to find Jay’s perfect match by the end of the wedding season. And in return, she wants all the celebrity introductions Jay can get her from his security clients. As the two start spending more time together over sexually suggestive art shows, zombie movie parties & themed restaurants, sparks start to fly. And maybe opposites do in fact attract.

Sara Desai has a talent for creating nuanced and deep characters. On the surface, Zara is fun and eccentric, the life of every party. She can be too much - accident prone is an understatement & you may have the urge to tape her mouth shut 😅- but it’s more endearing than annoying. But she also carries scars on her soul from her parents divorce and strained relationship with her mother. They feed into a deep seated fear of losing love that proves to be more than a little paralyzing for her. The best thing about Zara though is her self-awareness. She owns who she is, the good and the bad and is unapologetically herself.

And where Zara is bouncing off the walls, Jay is steady and grounded (he had a prisoner #786/ Veer Pratap Singh vibe, iykyk!). He comes off as rude or cold but underneath he’s sort of a marshmallow albeit a little burnt on the surface. And they compliment each other’s needs; Jay wants to protect and Zara feels calm and safe with him. Each has baggage that makes them feel undeserving of love. In each other though, they find all the things they were too scared to dream about.

I would argue this book is a slow burn romance. The anticipation of their first kiss had me on the edge of my seat! And after two near misses, when they finally come together, it’s nearly full steam ahead. And fair warning, the second half of this book is SPICY (🌶🌶🌶 /5) in the best way.

The Singles Table kept me hooked. Sara Desai has always done a good job of writing a rich, multicultural story and this one is no exception. I appreciate that she intersperses Hindi into her books much like Alexis Daria does with Spanish. And with the big weddings and families, this book takes the reader into some of best parts of the South Asian American experience. Compared to Sajni Patel’s books, which feel more realistic, The Singles Table has a Bollywood flair (complete with an airport chase!). You’ll definitely laugh and possibly cringe a few times (‘vulva fruit!!!’) but I am sure you won’t regret reading this book.

Tropes: enemies to lovers, sunshine/grump, boy falls first

The Singles Table was the perfect book to get me out of my post surgery funk, and it is my new favorite in the series!

What appealed to you the most in this story?

The laughter and humor in the story! I loved the contrast of a life of the party girl and a total grump. It made for some excellent laugh out loud moments. Oh, and the meddling aunties and their schemes were the best!

Which troupe is this rom-com?

This is an enemies to lovers troupe. As you all know it isn’t my favorite troupe, but Desia wrote it in a way that grabbed me and has me rethinking my views on the whole enemies to lovers thing.

How was the steam?

Oh baby get me a fan! The steam was reeeaaalll! Jay and Zara had wonderful chemistry and witty banter.

I loved reading about their relationship and watching it grow and morph throughout the story.

How was the pace?

This was a fast paced and highly entertaining story!

Do you recommend this book?

Yes! All three books in the series are so fun and I hope there are plans for more books in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the gifted ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Opposites attract in this sexy book.

I really loved seeing Jay and Zara’s relationship move from frustrated with each other, to friends, to more. I loved seeing the way they pushed each other’s buttons but also fully accepted them.

I do wish we saw a little more from Jay and Zara in terms of dealing with their baggage, but I understand that it’s not as fun as the sexy time and the banter.

Overall, super enjoyable read.

I didn't realize that this was the third book in a series, but that didn't stop me from enjoying every second of it. Zara was such a unique and positive character to read about, and Jay was just her perfect match.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for an advanced copy of The Singles Table.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pub Date: November 16, 2021
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️

My feelings about this book are truly conflicted because I wanted to like it so much. On the surface, I should love it. It's right up my alley, and it's my favorite genre. And that cover? Gorgeous! So why didn't this book jive for me?

First and foremost, I think the two main characters were just a major turnoff for me. The female lead, Zara, was just too much for me to handle. She was the stereotypical attention seeking female hiding her need for attention under a guise of carefree craziness. I don't usually get along with girls like that in my personal life, and I don't enjoy reading about them either. Despite the layers of her character that were unveiled throughout the story, I just didn't empathize with her at all. Honestly, I didn't even like her. It's really hard to get invested in a romance book about a character you don't like. The male character, Jay, was another stereotypical alpha male with a cocky attitude that was supposed to be endearing (I think) but was just a major turnoff. Honestly, I hated him from the beginning too. I don't enjoy dating swarmy, cocky alpha males IRL, and I also do not enjoy them in my contemporary romance novels. This was such a missed opportunity to write a progressive story in the contemporary romance genre, and I feel like the author just played into stereotypes because it was easy. This is the third book of hers I've read, and I would say similar things about all three. I don't think I'll be picking up anymore of her books TBH. I honestly felt like the supporting characters even played into stereotypes, which was disappointing.

What this book does well, though, is inclusivity and writing a story about diverse characters. I just wish those characters weren't written in the vein of a stereotype IMO.

I wish I had more positive things to say about this book, but I just don't. If you enjoyed her first two books in this series, you will probably like this one...if you're like me and on the fence about her characters, this one might push you over the edge like it did me. I honestly ALMOST DNF'd it, but was committed to reading until the end since I received an ARC copy of this book. If I had purchased this book, it would have been a solid DNF after chapter 5.

I gave this book two stars because I do feel like the romance was there/developed, and I don't think it is quite a one star book (compared to my other reads), at least for me.

Enemies-to-lovers is one of my favorite tropes and The Singles Table does it well. Jay and Zara meet at a pre-wedding paint ball game where they end up on the same team. Jay is ex-military and he takes his paint ball seriously, while Zara does everything she can to enjoy life. To the surprise of no one, they immediately clash.

Zara prides herself on being a matchmaker and before she knows it, she’s trying to find a “fling” match for Jay. But the more time she spends with Jay, the less she wants to find a match for him.

Zara was fun. She was upfront about her commitment fears, but otherwise was so lovable and free spirited. Jay was a bit of a marshmallow once you got passed his tough exterior. He had PTSD from his military experience and I loved that he was so free and open about it.

The best thing was Jay realizing he had feelings for Zara and then acting on them and not letting Zara push him away. Made my heart MELT. He was so protective and adoring.

I’ve loved every book in this series thus far and I hope more are coming.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the review copy.

Zara prides herself for her matchmaking abilities, so when she meets Jay, a veteran who takes everything very seriously, she sets out to find him the perfect match. The two of them are complete opposites - she’s never met a stranger and marches to the beat of her own drum and he’s proper and stern and a little standoffish at first.

This was a swoony and hilarious book that I couldn’t put down! It’s the third in a series, but I read them out of order and still enjoyed it a lot. The opposites attract trope was so well done, and the early interactions between Jay and Zara had me cracking up. As they both started to open up more and explore the ways grief and loss have impacted their views on love, the story really leveled up. I loved the side characters and laughed at loud anytime Zara’s dad showed up. The steamy scenes helped move the story forward and deepen the connection between Jay and Zara.

Content warnings: PTSD, divorce, drug use described by a side character, car accident

Thanks to Berkley Romance, NetGalley, and Social Butterfly PR for the early copy. All opinions are my own!

In The Singles Table, Sara Desai returns with her newest romance full of chemistry, passion, and lots of meddling aunties.

Zara Patel is unabashedly herself: loud, colorful, and oftentimes clumsy. So when she meets a tall, dark, and stoic man at the first bachelor/bachelorette party of the wedding season, she does what she does best: she annoys the hell out of him. But as annoying as he finds Zara, Jay Dayal could use her help. Zara is a self-proclaimed matchmaker, and Jay’s mom wants him to find love in his life. And Jay, providing security to the very people who could boost Zara’s career, could help Zara in return. So Jay and Zara come to an arrangement. But it’s not long before they’re both putting their arrangement on hold and blurring the lines between friends and lovers and questioning where their true passions lie.

I have read Sara Desai before, and I’ve loved every romance she’s written; The Singles Table has a lot to love, and I had a hard time putting this one down. Jay and Zara play up the grumpy/sunshine dynamic really well. Jay is former military, a workaholic, and too much of a protector to ever have fun. Zara is one hundred percent his opposite. She finds the fun in everything, laughs at herself, and takes her large and often-overbearing family in stride. On the surface, Jay and Zara have nothing in common, only brought together by their ability to help each other. But their chemistry is undeniable – at least to everyone except Zara and Jay.

I absolutely loved how Zara and Jay could go from reluctantly friendly, to flirty and sweet, to downright steamy. Desai wrote some very spicy scenes for these two main characters, and every single scene showcased the true heart and soul of these two characters. Outside of the bedroom, there were some laugh out loud moments between Jay and Zara, as well as among their friends and family.

As much as I loved the sexy scenes, some of my favorite parts of The Singles Table were Desai’s handling of the heavier topics. As a former air force pilot, Jay does suffer from PTSD from his last deployment. Part of Jay’s journey was coming to terms with his personal struggles, and taking the steps to finally get himself help. Likewise, Zara’s life is not all sprinkles and rainbows and she must have some difficult conversations as an adult child of divorced parents.

If I had to find something I could have done with less of, it was all the miscommunication between Zara and Jay. Both characters had a tendency to self-sabotage their own happiness by doubting and second-guessing the other person time and time again. While they did it all for the other’s presumed happiness, a little less assuming could have gotten them to their happily ever after a bit faster without hurting the overall story.

In the end, Sara Desai’s latest was about finding and pursuing your passions. Professionally, both Jay and Zara realized their dreams can change along the way. Personally, they realized the perfect person for them might just be found at the singles table.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

4/5 ⭐️s

This may be the best Sara Desai book yet! Zara and Jay were definitely my favorite couple (they clinched that title when Jay showed up in his full security uniform to play out one of Zara’s fantasies).

The set-up of them immediately disliking each other, then realizing they can be mutually beneficial to each other, before finally recognizing their attraction was just *chef’s kiss*. And when we finally got to the spice? YES, please! I loved every minute of it!

The Singles Table by Sara Desai
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers; Sunshine / Grump

Sara Desai has done it again – she’s delivered another fun, memorable romantic comedy (that I honestly wish would be made into a film adaptation 🤞😊)! She quickly became an auto-buy author for me, and I honestly pre-ordered my copy based on her name alone – I hadn’t even read the blurb yet when I dove in. Luckily, she delivered again and this book surpassed my expectations.

Where to start? Well this was an excellent romcom and example of the Sunshine / Grump trope that I didn’t even know that I really loved. The story follows Zara and Jay – she’s bright, fun and a bit eccentric to his counterpart of strict, calm and reserved. I was snagged by this one from page one – I loved the meet cute between Zara and Jay – it was a laugh out loud, fun scene. It left me smiling and I was so eager for Zara and Jay’s story to unfold. I honestly had to remind myself I was an adult and needed to go to sleep / work, not just read this one through start to finish.

The characters in this one were just great and really came to life in my mind. Obviously I enjoyed our leads – Zara with her energy, vibrancy and all around ‘extra-ness’. I think she would be a blast to have as a friend in real life. Then Jay with his strong, former military with a hidden soft side? Yeah, melt. However, the secondary characters were so fun and varied too – I loved Zara’s roomie / bestie Parvati (and hope maybe we’ll see a story for her in the future?), her co-workers were hilarious, and the aunties were too fun.

The pacing and flow of the story was perfect – I sped through, but I didn’t want it to end. This read was the equivalent of sitting in the sunshine with a favorite warm beverage and book. Heartwarming, fun, and it just left me smiling and content. I can not wait to see what comes out next. 💕

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review– it was (and is) one of my most highly anticipated reads and I enjoyed it immensely.

(Goodreads review posted on 11/11/21. Review post on Bookstagram @TheBookishDachshund will be posted this week. Amazon review to be posted on)

|| 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖

The Single’s Table
Sara Desai
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

|| 𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒:
Zara doesn’t want a relationship, but she loves playing matchmaker for others. It’s wedding season and time to hang out at the single’s table once again, while finding “the one” for her friends. Zara has a larger than life personality and always knows how to make people feel comfortable and laugh. That is until she meets Jay. Jay is serious and career driven. He lets few people in, and he doesn’t know how to relax. So what happens when Zara and Jay cross each other’s paths on a paintball field? Can these enemies turned friends help each other out? Zara is determined to find his perfect match, but what if she gets caught up her feelings for him?

|| 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄:
•Grumpy x Sunshine
•Enemies turned to friends to ???
•Mental health representation and emphasis on importance of therapy
•Steamy scenes, but nothing too crazy 🔥


|| 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒:
This book is set in the same world and extended family of The Marriage Game and The Dating Plan. The previous characters are mentioned very briefly, but this story is all about cousin Zara. I’ll be honest in TMG 8 thought the aunties were very overwhelming and distracted from the story, in TDP I felt that got better and we focused more on the relationship. Now this book was my FAVORITE of the three! I really loved Zara and Jay independently and together. I feel their story was well developed and I loved their chemistry! I don’t think this was as steamy as the others, but really everything was in the perfect balance! I think this relationship grew organically which I really enjoyed. Now I will say I can see some people not liking the epilogue because it escalates quickly 😂 but honestly I felt it fit Zara’s personality and I loved seeing what happens in the future for these characters!


Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Berkley Romance for a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The first book in the Marriage Game Series is still my favorite but this one featuring a sunshine and grump couple will leave you laughing out loud. Zara is someone I would love to hang out with because she sounds like a hoot and definitely the life of the party. I love the meddling aunties and their schemes. I thought the writing was good and the story draws you in quickly. My reason for not giving it 5 stars was I thought Zara and Jay's love for each other seemed very fickle. One minute he's telling her he loves her but then the next minute he's pushing her away. She also did something similar. It's a pet peeve of mine and I sometimes wish romance novels didn't have to have a big dramatic conflict with a lot of push and pull.

It’s official! I will read ANYTHING Sara Desai releases!! Sometimes you find an author and just connect so much with their writing style. The Singles Table is the third book in The Marriage Game series and let’s just say I’m obsessed with this giant Patel family!!

What I loved:
💛Zara. Hilarious, Broadway obsessed, and a bit wild, like a bull in a China shop - she gave me Hazel (ie: Josh & Hazel) vibes!
💛Jay!!! OMG. My second book BF named Jay. Tall, workaholic who would do anything for his mama ….I love a grumpy hero and he got the bill.
💛This book is literally LOL funny! I could not stop laughing at some moments - particularly the art show with the “fruit”…..
💛 Jay’s Mom (and her crazy BF). Zara’s Dad. And the meddling aunties, of course!!
💛Oooo boy the steam in this one!!!
💛Very well handled PTSD and panic.

This swoon worthy, laugh out loud,opposites attract romcom will put a huge smile on your face! It’s definitely my favorite of the series!