I enjoy this series. The characters are well developed and the familial issues are realistic. Daniel is the ultimate book boyfriend that is really too good to be true. One thing to nitpick is that for a doctor vying for a coveted position, Preeti sure doesn't work a whole lot toward the end of the book. It seems less than realistic given her profession.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for an advanced copy of this book in exchange of my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book. I think it handles a lot of very sensitive topics delicately and I love the two protagonists. I was a little sad it wasn't dual POV like the first book, but Preeti was a great narrator so I wasn't too upset. I want to find a Daniel.

My only critique is that it happened REALLY FAST. Like the entire book takes place over 2 weeks. I know there was a lot of history there but two weeks is a really quick turn around for being broken up for 6 years to a happily ever after that comes with rom coms. It was also closed door, which isn't my favorite but I love Sajni Patel's writing so I was able to handle that. I just wish we could have seen them date. Relearn some things about each other.

I am in love with this book. After the reading The Trouble with Hating You I was so excited for Daniel and Preeti's story. Their story made me feel pain. I could feel of the love between them and there were just so many factors holding them back. I loved the emotional growth that Preeti went on through out this book. She was able to fighting for herself and not just for the people around her. Her and Daniel I feel are soulmates and I hope you too because the was amazing,

So excited to preview this book that I had to (very quickly) procure a copy of Sajni Patel’s companion book, The Trouble with Hating You.
Updated review: 3.5 stars. Daniel and Preeti have such good chemistry. This is a must for me in reading romance. I loved and believed the sweetness, honesty and difficulty these two had with trying out love for a second chance romance. As a pair of exes forced to share an apartment of their friend Liya for 3 weeks, Daniel and Preeti inevitably have to work by through their past and their current situation amidst the excellent trope of “only ONE bed”. I enjoyed the flirting and fire between Daniel and Preeti, but honestly would have loved to see a bit more action on the page instead of behind closed doors. Sajni Patel does an excellent job of incorporating family and family drama into her books (I can say the same for The Trouble with Hating You), but I had difficulty with the brutal racism and verbal harshness of the Hindu community and Preeti’s aunties in regards to Preeti and Daniel’s relationship. The slut-shaming of Preeti was tough to read at times and although I can appreciate the honesty and probable realism of what it might be like for a black man to date an Indian woman, I wished that perhaps the issues could have been better resolved or developed. Perhaps this was just me, but the negativity felt like anger that needed an outlet and I wanted to see more in the way that anger could be changed for the better. I very much appreciated reading Sajni Patel’s Q&A (especially about racism) at the end of the book and hope the publisher sees this into the final copy.
Daniel is a wealthy man and comes from a very wealthy family which at times seemed to read a little braggadocio and less fairytale. I think this was meant to add to the Cinderella allure, but it fell a little flat at times. I did, however, enjoy the multitude of food scenes: eating, cooking, using food to heal and share; this is where Patel shined. I would find it hilarious if Preeti and Daniel co-wrote a cookbook with Preeti’s ideas and Daniel’s execution (because we all know we’d end up with charred veggies if left to Preeti’s cooking).
For me, First Love, Take Two was a strong companion to The Trouble with Hating You with a bit more steam and quality character development. I want to thank NetGalley and Forever for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review. And thank you to Sajni for writing about my hometown with love!

This was a really tender, second-chance love story. The main characters have a lot to deal with in this book--including issues with racism--and while the love story was sweet, it was very long for the plot of the book. I do believe, however, that this is the best book in the series so far.

First Love, Take Two is the second book in The Trouble With Hating You series. This romance book explores second chance romance, anxiety, interracial relationships, social pressure from community, and friendship. I appreciated that the author had a note in the beginning expressing that the story contains heavy and sensitive subjects including mental health and racism. Overall, I liked reading this one. I’m usually not a fan of second chance romances, but the chemistry between Preeti and Daniel is clearly shown in the pages. One of my favorite aspects of the book is that the author doesn’t hold back. She shows the good, the bad, the ugly. The book shows the social and cultural conflicts that the older and younger generations have against each other. Personally, I loved The Trouble With Hating You more, but this is such a strong sequel. I would recommend picking this up, but keep in mind of the author’s note before you do.

This book really hit home for me. I have been in interracial relationships where I didn't feel fully accepted by my boyfriend's community and he did not feel embraced by mine. I love that the author talks about these kinds of real life issues and doesn't gloss over them. These are some of the challenges many interracial couples have to face everyday. The author does an incredible job at addressing the issue of anti-Blackness within the Indian community in this book and I appreciate how honest and frank she is.

The heroine Preeti an Indian woman, finds herself unwittingly becoming the roommate of her first love and ex Daniel, a Black man. These two are obviously still in love and never really got over each other. The only reason why their relationship ended was due to pressure from her family and community because Daniel is Black.

This time around the forced proximity of living together creates an unwinnable challenge for both Preeti and Daniel to keep their hands off of each other. They definitely can not! (Thankfully!) This leads to some delicious steamy scenes between them.

I really appreciate the balance of romance and real world issues in this book. Aside from race, this book focuses on issues like mental health, job and career pressures and family dynamics.

I really loved Daniel's character and my only criticism of this book is that we don't get his POV.

Overall, First Love Take Two is both entertaining and informative. It gives romance lovers like me a steamy romance with depth and an incredibly interesting story with real life issues that are completely relatable. I can't wait to read the author's next book.

Thank you Forever Publishing and Netgalley for my advance reading copy.

Preeti had to leave the love of her life. Stuck between her family’s expectations and Daniel’s family’s, she felt she had no choice. But when an unexpected second chance comes around, how does Preeti deal with it this time? Six years later, familiar territory packed with emotional baggage resurfaces. The pressure to please, the stress to uphold a certain cultural image, the colossal impact on her future?

Sajni Patel does it again! This fellow ube-loving author delivered yet another touching love story that incorporated mental health, racism, familial pressures and expectations (both Preeti’s and Daniel’s), and the importance of true friendships. This second chance romance had me screaming, “just talk already!” for the first half, but had me ugly crying for the later part of the second. Daniel was a sweetheart, a solid man who loved hard. Like damn. And, Preeti showed tremendous growth worth commending because standing up to traditional elders is never easy. Both were each other’s “the one that got away,” and despite uncertainty, their chemistry throughout was unfaltering.

If you loved THE TROUBLE WITH HATING YOU, I have no doubt that you’d love this one, too. I also recommend to fans of LOVE & OTHER WORDS.

The plot of First Love, Take-Two is about love, family, loyalty, prejudice, and second chances. Sajni Patel is a gifted writer who can write with compassion and insight on mental health, racism, and cultural difficulties. She manages to combine these concerns with a good amount of levity and heart. It immediately drew me in, and I read it all in one sitting. I couldn't wait for Preeti and Daniel's happy ending because their love was so genuine, strong, and obvious.

I liked the tension between Preeti and Daniel. When they were alone in a room together, you could sense the fire between them. I really liked how Preeti ultimately found her voice and the fortitude to stand up for herself and her family. From the beginning of the book, you can see her character growth from this flighty, timid person to become this powerful, communicative, stand-up-for-yourself lady!

I love me some diverse stories.

Thank you @readforeverpub for a copy of First Love, Take Two. I was excited to read a second chance story between Preeti and Daniel. I appreciate this book explored so many deeper issues such as mental health, racism, and familial duties. I love how these issues were handled and how Preeti and Daniel figure out if they have a second chance.

This book was just what I needed to pull myself out of a reading slump. So many important issues discussed like anxiety, stigma with mental health, communication, family expectations, to name a few. Plus a cute romantic story on top of it? It was a great read. Cannot recommend enough

Then you NetGalley and Forever for The arc in exchange for an honest review. Pub day Sept 21.

This novel is a love story that embraces some difficult themes: the impact of racism on a community of Indian immigrants and the destructive force of toxic relationships within families and close-knit communities. The book is a sequel of sorts to the author's previous novel, The Trouble With Hating You, and the main characters of that novel make an appearance here as secondary characters. The protagonists in First Love, Take Two are Preeti, a second-generation Indian-American, and Daniel, the son of wealthy high-society black parents. They meet again six years after they broke up. Each one is dealing with the fallout of their relationship, which Preeti ended because of pressure from her Indian community and concern for the health of her mother, who landed in the hospital with a heart attack because of the ostracism and vicious attacks from that same community over her daughter's relationship. Unknown to Daniel, his father was also complicit in breaking up the couple, telling Preeti that as a member of a traditional Indian family, she could never fit in with their ultra-wealthy, high-flying society. The novel traces the slow healing of the couple's relationship as they deal with their anger and sadness, and the progression of Preeti's character as she learns to take a stand against racism and the hostility and continuing opposition from the elders of her community. Both the main characters have depth, and Preeti, in particular, develops believably as she finds the strength to stand up for what is right while remaining true to her parents' values and their concern for the impact of her actions on others. The book also treats society's prejudice against those struggling with mental health issues and the shame and guilt carried by the sufferers, adding depth to the narrative.

I went into First Love, Take Two thinking it’d be a light second chance romcom based on its cover, but what I got instead was an emotional, beautiful romance reminiscent of The Notebook. This second chance, forced proximity, closed door romance follows Preeti as she is finishing her residency, searching for a permanent position, suffering from uncontrollable anxiety, moving into her friend’s apartment only to find her new roommate is Daniel, her ex she broke up with unexpectedly six years prior. The two have the most amazing chemistry; their sexual tension is off the charts! And more than that, they are so wonderfully supportive. Even in their anger and angst from their break up, they create a safe space for each other in this one-bedroom home. Preeti is so strong and determined and lovable. She holds her own, even as she is constantly faced with adversity and judgement coming both inside her community and out. And Daniel is such a strong, kind presence who has such a large heart. I was swooning so hard for him! This is the second in a series, so while it can be read as a stand-alone, I wish I had read the first—I felt there was a little catch up I was playing to fill in the missing bits from the first book. Even so, I loved the representation of mental health issues and anxiety and watching Preeti come to terms of it. The slow burn of this too was perfect. Everything fell together so wonderfully, and I loved the emphasis on taking care of yourself and getting the respect/support from a partner. I do think some of Daniel’s jealousy was a little over done at times, but I seriously am just in awe of this book. It is emotional and takes on so many heavy topics, including mental health, racism, and intergenerational conflicts, while also being a love story and a story of growth. I laughed and cried and could not put it down—I read it in a day! I couldn’t recommend this book enough!

This is my first book by Sajni Patel but I don’t think it’ll be my last! I didn’t know that this was a follow up to the Trouble with Hating You, and while I wish I would have read that one first I was still able to follow along with First Love, Take Two. I enjoyed the second half of this novel better than the first, which is probably due to learning the backstory and feeling like I was missing something serious that happened prior to where we meet Preeti and Daniel, but overall I was able to use context clues to piece it together.

I love how patient and kind Daniel is, but how he’s also not just a pushover. He’s a flirt, he knows he loves Preeti, but he gives her the space to do what she needs to do. I enjoyed the two of them as a couple.

There were some things that I didn’t love, but overall they didn’t diminish from the story. I think that there could have been a little more angst and tension when Preeti and Daniel see each other again at the apartment. I know how awkward I would be if I was running into someone I didn’t want to see, and I think it could have been amped up. All in all, though, it ended well and that’s what matters. Thank you for the opportunity to review!

I read The Trouble with Hating You last year and loved every single second of that book. I was so glad when the author decided to come out with a second book with one of Liya's close circle friend's, Preeti.

Preeti is almost finished with her residency to achieve her lifelong goal of becoming a doctor. Between the stress of her work, her traditional family, a possible engagement with a man she's not sure she loves, and needing to find a new place to live, she's about to combust with anxiety.

Liya offers up her condo until Preeti can find a permanent place to live but it comes with a catch. She also offered it to Preeti's ex-boyfriend and the only man she's ever truly loved, Daniel.

Can she handle being in the same room with him after so long apart? Or will they find love again even though both of their families disapprove of their relationship? Read it and find out!!

4/5⭐️

Disclosure: There is a very triggering situation that Preeti deals with at the hospital regarding a stillbirth. It's only a small part of a chapter, but it is still worth mentioning because it really took me by surprise.

On the verge of realizing her dream of being a doctor, Preeti Patel should be ecstatic. But between the stress of her residency, trying to find a job, and managing her traditional, no-boundaries family, Preeti's anxiety is through the roof. Preeti also needs to find a new place to live and quickly before her best friends is back from her honeymoon. Fortunately, another friend offered up her apt but its comes with a temporary roommate......her ex who is back in town.

Sajni Patel's second novel did not disappoint. I absolutely loved it and could not put it down even though I normally have a hard time reading ebooks! First Love, Take Two embraces traditional Indian culture and touches on love, family, loyalty, diversity, and mental health. More than that, the novel references the issues and racism experienced by mixed-race couples. Patel is a talented writer that was able to shine a light on the negative reactions towards a relationship that crosses the cultural divide. She does this with compassion, insight and an empathy but also balances it with a healthy dose of heart and humor. There was nothing to hate on with this novel. If I could give this a 10 star out of 5, I would.

Pre-order your copy, release date is Sept 21st

Thank you #netgalley

What a delightful eye opening read. I I was not aware of the strife that interracial couples can face from their families. Or the guilt and manipulation that they can face. Preeti’s life was so overwhelming that I wanted to take her therapy myself. Daniel was a perfect man to pair with Preeti, and I am glad this book went deeper than just a miscommunication story. Sajni Patel clearly knows how to write a romance that revolves around real issues. Thank you Netgalley and Forever for the opportunity to review. This is my honest opinion.

* f/m romance
* Indian heroine x black hero
* second chance romance
* forced proximity (roommates)
* mental health rep
* only one bed trope

Tw: racism, anxiety, depressive episodes, miscarriage, mention of heart attack

Pretti is a chief medical resident who currently has too much on her mind that cause her anxiety: residency, looking for a job and temporary apartment, and a fiancé with whom she is not in love. She is over the moon when her friend suggests her to live in her old apartment. When Pretti finds out that she will be sharing this place with her ex-boyfriend whom she has not seen in six years, her enthusiasm quickly fades away.

The first few days are awkward, but it's impossible to avoid another person in a small space. Having breakfast together, talking, flirting and even sharing a bed bring back good old memories. Daniel is patient with Preeti, but he wants to find out what caused their separation. She can't give a reason why she broke up with Daniel. She is afraid that if she gets involved with him again, it will harm not only her parents but also Daniel. But can she resist if Daniel is the best thing in her life?

What I liked:

✔️ Sajni's writing style. Sometimes I struggle with connecting with the story and characters at the beginning, but she started the book by describing Pretti's profession, her friends and family, and why she broke up with Daniel. 

✔️ author combines light topics like romance and friendship with heavy ones like racism, mental illness and touch aversion.

✔️ the banter, flirting and chemistry between main characters were through the roof.

✔️ the power of women and their friendship.

✔️ hero - the sweetest and softest love interest

What I didn't like:

✔️ I wish I could read Daniel's POV

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Loved this one!! A fantastic second chance romance that is steamy and quite emotional. Patel draws such compelling characters. Recommend.

***ARC***
I’ve read the trouble with hating you a few weeks ago and boy did I loooove it. it instantly became my favourite read of all time. and how excited was I to see that sajni was about to release a new book, following preeti, liya’s best friend. you can imagine how excited I was to be approved to read this book, I had already preordered it and even tho I was fine waiting it release, a part of me couldn’t way.

i have a profound love for sajni’s writing because she doesn’t just write romantic love stories, she writes love stories period. it tackled so many important subjects within brown communities especially. but every people of color can relate to some parts. she offered us, a representation, that imo, I never thought we could reach. and as much as saw it in TTWHY, I didn’t thought she would do it again, even greater.

You’re following Preeti, she is soon to be a doctor in a family practice hospital and she has a reputation within her community because in the past she fell in love with Daniel. an american, a black man. it was her greatest and first love but for some reason she had to break up with him. since then she try to reconstruct her life, without him, which turns out difficult, especially when she was the one breaking up, leaving him without explanation. what a shame, that years after, in unfortunate set of time she found herself obligated to share an apartment with him. and after all these years, it’s time to woman up and own her mistakes. what happens when you still make sparkles with your ex ?

This story was so sweet in so many ways, preeti is such an interesting, loveable character and what a pleasure seeing her grow and finally reach her full potential. it’s a story about mistakes and weaknesses but also about growing and understanding. it was so human, so true, so real. when I say this book is a love story it’s because it’s not just the love between preeti and daniel that we follow, it’s the love preeti develop for herself, it’s the love she shares with her parents, it’s the love she shares with her friends, it’s the love she shares with her patients.

the anxiety arc was so incredible to follow, especially for me who also fight anxiety / panic attacks, to see my own struggle, my own journey, was cathartic. the racism arc was so powerful because it is a difficult matter to tackle. the whole thing was just an odd of us, people of color, of our cultures, of our life. i will be eternally grateful for sajni to open these difficult topics of mental illnesses being considered as such and internalised racism within coloured communities.

If you are in search of a well executed second chance love story, some swoon, a pinch of tension and whole mountain of cuteness, than pick this book (but not before reading the trouble with hating you, it would be all that fun).

Thank you Hachette Book Group to have give me the chance to read this book before release and thank you Sajni for writing such amazing stories.

Rating : 4.5⭐️