This book is a great glimpse into a South Asian community in Texas. After being teased previously, we get to be re acquainted with Preeti, who is currently a chief resident, hoping to land her dream Doctor job.

Looking through Preeti's eyes at the pressure from her family and community without making it feel like a tired stereotype was really refreshing. I love the second chance romance aspect and the fact that this featured a forced proximity trope that didn't in itself feel forced. I also really liked how the author didn't shoehorn in the reasons that Preeti and Daniel had initially had to separate and instead made us wait to find them out. This book was a total breath of fresh air. A lot of contemporary romance can feel predictable. This one really felt as though we got to enjoy the characters time together and despite the fact that we probably knew how it was going to end and it never felt eyeroll inducing. I loved these characters!

I loved the side characters and how none of them felt like caricatures. They all felt fully developed and so fun to get to know. I also loved that these two characters truly felt In sync with one another, as though they were meant for each other. It really makes you root for them and made me get excited to see their journey unfold.

Seeing the mental health representation and mental health support that Daniel offered Preeti really made me love him even more. I truly can't wait to pick this book up again, and I'm certain that I'm going to love everything that Sajni Patel writes from here on out.

Thank you to Netgalley and (Forever) Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this book early.

I received an ARC for an honest review. Thank you to Sanji Patel and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity. I’ve been impatiently waiting for this book since Preeti and Daniel’s story was teased in the first book in the series. This book was heartfelt and the angst was palpable. The love and tension they felt about the past and where they wanted to go was agonizing to sit and read through at times. I loved Daniel’s character so much. He was an honest and loving person to his core. I enjoyed seeing Preeti’s growth and her strength build. The side characters are fun as always and well developed. I love the exploration of culture and family expectations and how that was written. I hope there are more books in the series and we get to go on Santa’s journey next!

Sajni Patel returns to writing about a close South Asian community in Texas. Preeti is finishing her time as chief resident and hoping to officially get her dream doctor job. She is on the verge of becoming engaged to a man she doesn't love to please her parents and community. But Daniel Thompson returns to her life. Six years ago she broke up with him without explanation. He wants to know why. He also happens to be her temporary roommate for three weeks thanks to a well meaning friend. Daniel is yummy perfect in every way except that he is black. That was never an issue for her but it caused a lot of stress and drama six years ago.

The story is told from Preeti's POV. I felt her anxiety and stress as she tries to please her parents and their traditional life that is more than religion it is family and community. Her character grows through letting friends support her, seeking professional help and learning to speak up for herself in a place where that is not valued. I wish she wasn't always so overwhelmed that she put off things that needed to be said. But that is one of her character flaws she is trying to overcome. And every woman deserves a Daniel in their life. This is beautifully written and gives a second chance romance while dealing with issues that include mental health, racism and cultural expectations. I somehow missed reading the first in the series, The Trouble with hating You, and will find it asap. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I loved The Trouble with Hating You and could not wait for this series to continue with First Love, Take Two and Preeti's story was excellent! Featuring a second-chance romance with Preeti and her first love Daniel forced to live together in a an apartment for a few weeks, I knew that Sajni Patel's stellar writing and humor would shine.

The tension between Preeti and Daniel was excellent, it was everything you could want in the second chance trope. I was rooting for them early on to discuss the reasons why they separated so they could reunite, but I know why Patel held off on it. Both Preeti and Daniel had things to work through in order for them to be in a place where they could discuss their breakup. I do wish the chapters alternated perspectives, I would have loved to have Daniel's view on things. While I loved both Preeti and Daniel's characters, my favorite thing in this book was the mental health representation and showing that is okay to talk about not being okay, and to get the help you need for your self.

Oh my was this book packed full of so many things!
TW- racism, mental health, toxicity, pregnancy loss (as the main character works as an L&D resident and boy did a chapter make me cry)

Preeti is a resident working towards getting a permanent position as a doctor. 6 years ago, she was dating Daniel. But certain circumstances took her away from him. He's the only one she would let touch her outside her family. She has a touch aversion and anxiety and Daniel knows how to help her and can recognize the signs.

When Liya gets married, she offers Preeti and Daniel (separately) to take over the end of her apartment lease. They will have to learn how to be with each other often again.

One person I could not stand in this book was Yuvan, Preeti's "fiancée". (when you read the book, you'll understand those quotations). He kept trying to touch Preeti even after she kept telling him she can't stand his touch. He made fun of her for her anxieties and then actually expects that she would still want to marry him.

But I loved this book. I loved and cheered so much when Preeti stood up to her gossipy, racist, rude, felt they were "holier than everyone else" aunties that were just so toxic to everyone in the community.

*I received a free copy of this through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Sajni Patel does it again! I loved the first one and I loved this one just as much. I could really connect with the main character in regards to anxiety. Patel wrote it perfectly. It was funny, it was cute, and I really, really enjoyed it. I am glad I read it!

First and foremost, I genuinely loved this book and I am not kidding when I say that I could not put it down. Second chance romances are not easy but Sajni Patel so masterfully wrote this that I don’t think I could ask for anything better. Even though I can’t personally relate to Preeti’s life, I was so deeply drawn into her story. This book is beautiful and intimate and raw and tender and at the end of the day just plain good. If you have ever liked romance, then you absolutely need to read this book.

FIRST LOVE, TAKE TWO is the story of Preeti Patel, Chief Resident at her clinic and steadily heading toward a fulltime position. But with roommate situations up in the air, she ends up sharing an apartment with her ex, Daniel, who she’s been avoiding for the past six years after breaking up with him. But there’s much more to the situation with that, and despite the fact Preeti thinks they both should have moved on, it’s clear they haven’t.

This book was a breath of fresh air and I am so happy that I got the chance to read it. I have so many good things I want to say about it, but I want to quickly get my minor issues out of the way. There were occasional moments where the chapters seemed to end at a weird time for me, like I turned the page and expected more. Secondly, there were a few moments with more modern slang that felt just a little bit forced. But frankly, I can’t think of much more to say that I disliked because this book is just that good.

Let’s start with the characters, and our main girl (woman) Preeti. Preeti is an absolutely incredible character and the thing I love about her most is that she is so incredibly human. A huge facet of this story is her dealing with her own anxiety and depression, and it was so well written and portrayed. Yes, it is a detriment to her but not to her character, in fact it only makes the character as a whole stronger. Even further, it’s not ever seen as something to be cured or changed, but instead some of the best moments in the entire book were Daniel helping Preeti with her anxiety, being that person for her that could make an overwhelming moment more bearable. Preeti is vulnerable but she’s also incredibly strong, and the book only furthers that arc of self growth and confidence. Throughout this book we see Preeti grow, most importantly, within herself, not because she needs to change for a relationship but in being better for herself.

And like any good book, Preeti is not the only amazing character in the book. I have to give an immense amount of love to Daniel who is possibly everything that could be wanted in a love interest because not only is he an amazing person, his character has so much depth and nuance that can speak for itself. But like Preeti, he’s not a perfect person, and once again it makes him all the more better. Preeti’s circle of friends and family is also incredible (obviously some are much more expanded upon in the first book in the series THE TROUBLE WITH HATING YOU), but Sajni Patel doesn’t even come close to slacking off as if the characters are already established. Everyone, from Grandma and Grandpa Thompson, Liya, Reema, Sana, Brandy, Preeti’s parents (Mummie and Papa) are so nuanced and complex and just absolutely delightful to read. I genuinely wouldn’t be mad to get a short story about each and every individual one of them because they’re just that good.

For the more plot driven, this book still fails to disappoint. It’s at heart, a romance, but it’s so much more than that. This book is watching characters learn and grow, watching relationships, romantic, platonic, familial, and more flourish under communication and care. This book is inherently character driven, but it’s also a journey. Preeti’s journey in becoming a doctor, the undertone of issues related to her relationship with Daniel, and most importantly to me her work on her own mental health provide important plot points that just further enrich the story. Sajni Patel didn’t hold back on any part and I’m so grateful for that fact.

Most of all, I think one of my absolute favourite things about this book was the relationships. Preeti and Daniel’s relationship is painful at times but so worth it. The very essence of second chance romance is captured as the two fall easily into old intimacy and slowly learn again how to truly talk to one another. It’s a second chance on the actual label, not on the love that never really dissipated. It’s hard to explain just how clearly perfect these two are for each other, in the way that they’re a safe place for one another no matter what, that intimacy isn’t just physical closeness but knowing the ins and outs of someone’s internal life. But the good relationships don’t stop there. The presence of Preeti’s girl group is exhilarating, not only to just see a group of women love each other so fiercely, but also to see the way they all work together in a balance. A group of well developed characters making an equally well developed friendship, what more could you ask for?

There are so many other good ones but I really need to talk about Preeti’s relationship with her parents. From the start, it’s clear that Preeti would do anything for them and this is a recurring theme throughout the book. Her love is clear and permanent. And that love is absolutely returned. Their relationship isn’t perfect and it’s clear that a part of the book is about how her relationship changes as she changes and grows. I can’t speak for the specifics of being within Preeti’s community, but what I can say is that the story of parents loving and supporting their child despite what others say is so near and dear to my heart, and once again, Patel writes it so well.

I could continue to talk about this book forever, about all the little nuances and details that made it such a good and satisfying read. It can be summed up this way, FIRST LOVE, TAKE TWO has beautiful characters, a beautiful romance, and doesn’t shy away from hard issues because they’re still intertwined with the previous two points. It’s amazing and I applaud Sajni Patel for this absolute work of art.

I love love love second chance romance trope. Give me that trope any day of the week and I'll eat it up. The chemistry between Preeti and Daniel was so good. Daniel's sister and grandparents were just a joy to read.
I really liked how this book touches on racism, mental health, and standing up for ones self. How supportive of each other Preeti and Daniel were.

First Love, Take Two is an obvious ex to lover trope that I’m not always the biggest fan of. There was a huge focus on mental health for this book and I really enjoyed that aspect of it. Preeti was sometimes a little frustrating as a main character when she talked a ton about better communication and then avoiding talking to her parents for huge lengths of time. Overall still a fun read.

TW: Racism, Xenophobia, Mental Health, Anxiety

I LOVED this book!! I was very excited after reading the first to jump into Preeti and Daniel's story. I was excited mostly because, as you can tell by the title, this is a second chance romance and it's one that's biracial and multicultural. I was so eager to understand what went wrong the first time and see how it would play out!

Preeti's medical residency is coming to an end and she's on the hunt for a job, but maybe more importantly she needs to find a place to live as one of her gal pals/her roommate is returning from her honeymoon to live in what was their apartment. Possibly coincidentally Preeti ends up having to live with her ex Daniel for 3-4 months; will sleeping in the same apartment with Daniel put her anxiety through the roof or will it be just what she needs?

While in 'The Trouble with Hating You' we are exposed to how the older generation within the Indian community can be very traditional and judgmental of a more Western style of living, in this book we get more of that with a larger focus on expectations of children born into the community, and the pressure and anxiety it can bring; every decision you make can alter your family's reputation and possibly even their health. We see how this comes to affect Preeti, but she's not the only one who has expectations to uphold.

Daniel has expectations to live up to of a different kind. Coming from a rich family he is expected to do as his father says and marry someone who can help the family business grow. This made for a very interesting combo of pressure from both of their families.

While they've been broken up for 6 years, the chemistry's still all there. Daniel never got an explanation as to why they broke up and clearly Preeti isn't over it either, why else would she be trying so hard to avoid him in their apartment? They know each other and what can console the other better than anyone else. I loved their initial tension and the way Daniel laid it all out there trying to get her to swoon. The guitar moments and his cooking, count me in! I could've only asked for heat but I don't think that's Patel's style.

As someone married to an Indian, Preeti's relationship with Yuvan took me back to dating days when my husband's family was sending him women's profiles for potential marriage. While it was quite a journey for us, I could relate to many things Preeti and Daniel went through in their relationship, especially the reputation marrying an American could have on my younger BIL's future marriage prospects. I am happy to say that my husband's parents are very much like Preeti's. While they don't necessarily stand up to the community as the racist aunties come at them with derogatory comments, they want their child's happiness and are proud of her.

Also, as it relates to Preeti's mom, I loved that Preeti was trying to help her mom break the mental health stigma by sharing her own experience. While I haven't spoken a whole lot about Mental Health being portrayed in the book, it plays a big role for Preeti and Daniel and is done very well IMO.

Not only were Preeti's parents some of my favorite characters BUT even more so Daniel's grandparents were the best. Family dinners and endless pie, yes please!

The last thing I wanted to mention is the hints of Indian details throughout. Many people not as familiar with the Indian culture may not have picked up on them but I got a good chuckle when mehndi was being used as hair dye, etc.

"Everything is hard. You have to choose your hard. Someone is going to shove their unsolicited, hurtful opinion no matter what you do. You can't live for others."

Toooo many quotable lines.. go pre-order this now, coming out 9/21!

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

A heartwarming second chance romance that deals with heavier subjects like racism and mental health. First Love, Take Two is the story of Daniel and Preeti, two ex lovers who're seeing each other again for the first time in 6 years and find that the chemistry between them is still strong..

The physical and emotional attraction between the characters as they see each other again after so many years is a lot for them to handle and all of the emotions (both negative and positive) that come up. Their break up was quite sudden and a lot was left unexplained. It was an enjoyable read. The romance was sweet and genuine. The connection between the two characters was undeniable.

3.5 out of 5 . I read this right after i read Trouble with Hating You, so that I would continue the story. And although I loved that I could continue with the goodness, and was happy to get into Preeti's story, this one wasn't as good as the original. Don't get me wrong, its still a great read, and a fun one sitting romance, its just not as good as Book 1. I think what didn't fully convince me is that there is not as much development in relationships. It is more clearing up misconceptions, but you start with people in love who've always been in love, so the buildup is not as good. However, I rally enjoyed both characters and the way the touch on racism and mental health seems very appropriate and well managed. In a way its a proper relationship transition from the first book. The first is all meet cute and romance building. This second book is how to make love happen in our complicated world.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book!

I was right from the beginning. I did love this, so very much.

I liked The Trouble With Hating You a lot but I absolutely loved this one. I love a good second chance romance and Preeti and Daniel were two amazing characters that felt so real and their story kept me intrigued from the very beginning. Also, Daniel Thompson is a prince amongst men, hands down.

I loved the character growth in Preeti, seeing her come to terms with her own guilt and worth as well as learning to stand up for herself. I sincerely hope there is more books in this world because I want to see Preeti and Daniel again like I got to do with Liya. I also hope there’s a book for Sana in the future.

I loved this so much. 4.5 😌

This book had some good aspects and some bad aspects for me, but a lot of it might be personal preference.

GOOD:
-I'm always a sucker for good OwnVoices South Asian rep, and this book definitely delivered! While my family is from a different part of India than Preeti's, I found the diaspora experience to be written so well in terms of judgmental aunties, the value we as Indians place on what others think of us, the stigmatization of topics like mental health and sexual assault, the prevalent racism (especially anti-Blackness), and more.
-I loved Preeti's character! Her struggles with anxiety were incredibly relatable to me.
-I also really loved most of the side characters and how Preeti had such a supportive and loving ensemble that had her back even in the face of adversity.
-The bits of Indian/Hindu culture thrown in (going to the temple regularly, wearing Indian clothing, the few descriptions of food) were super fun and enjoyable to read.
-The prevalence of an interracial relationship -- other than Talia Hibbert's novels, I think this might be the first time I've read a contemporary romance that centered a relationship between a Black person and a South Asian person.

NOT SO GOOD:
-The pacing felt a bit weird to me? The book felt slow at certain parts while it felt rushed at others (such as the ending), and overall could've probably been shorter.
-This might just be me being nitpicky, but the voice in which the story was told felt a bit juvenile and immature (that word has a much more negative connotation than I'd like, I don't mean it in a bad way). It feels like it would be better suited for a YA novel than for an adult novel.
-I really wished I could've had Daniel's POV throughout the story. It felt, understandably, a bit one-sided without it and it was frustrating not knowing what he was thinking as Preeti continued to self-sabotage and then grow as a person.
-While this was a second-chance romance, I wish we'd been able to see Preeti and Daniel's second attempt develop a bit more. Preeti seemed to spend a large portion of the book just fantasizing about the relationship they used to have, and I wish we could've seen how their dynamic stayed the same and/or changed after they established themselves the second time around.

Please do also note that the romance took a backseat in this novel to tackle the societal issues! Depending on who you are as a reader, this might be good or bad. Overall, this book definitely has a lot of things going for it and I do recommend, I just personally couldn't really enjoy the writing style and wished for some changes in how the romance was represented.

This is the follow up to “The Trouble with Hating You”, which I read and enjoyed. In this book, Preeti is almost done with her residency and is interviewing for a permanent job. When her roommate gets married, she moves into a friend’s apartment for the short term. To her surprise, she has a roommate, her ex boyfriend Daniel. She broke up with him after receiving brutal criticism and racism from her Indian community that affected her family as well as herself.

It’s obvious that family, her religion, and her community are very important to her. As they grow closer, Preeti acknowledges that Daniel is the love of her life, and she isn’t sure she can give him up again.

The book discussed the issues of racism and mental health in Preeti’s Hindu Indian community. Some of the details are pretty brutal, I found myself hoping that they were exaggerated for the sake of the book. I learned things I never knew, unusual for a romance book! I liked this one a lot, 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to E.H. at Forever for the widget.

First Love, Take Two - Sajni Patel

TW: anxiety attacks, miscarriage/stillbirth

I had high hopes for this but they were definitely met. I absolutely loved the love interest, Daniel. He is just the sweetest 🤩

Preeti is Indian, and Daniel is Black. They dated for years but broke up 6 years ago, due to their families. Now they have to spend 3 weeks in the same apartment. Preeti is finishing up her residency as a medical doctor, and Daniel is joining his father in the family business. Preeti is dating an Indian man that her parents approve of, though she still has feelings for Daniel. Preeti deals A LOT with her anxiety in this book but I liked the way it was portrayed. She feels mental health is stigmatized in her community but she finally gets help. Daniel was really understanding of her anxiety and knew how to calm her down and it was so sweet. 😭 This book also deals with racism within the Indian community.

The relationship development between the two main characters was so slow and sweet. I enjoyed the way they interacted and I was just seriously in love with both of them. I also love Preeti’s group of friends and it was fun to see them again in this book.
This was definitely a 5 star for me and I will be picking up everything Sajni Patel writes.

'First Love, Take Two' has a excellent premise with interesting plot, but after half way through it felt shallow. I couldn't emphasize with the main character, Preeti. Along side Preeti, the rest of the ensemble was very sweet but lacked much depth.

The story is engaging, endearing, and funny, yet the writing style can be awkward and cringy. Oftentimes, I found myself reading quotes meant to be inspirational, yet they were hollow.

Regardless, I liked this book and think many will find themselves enjoying a romantic story of second-chances love and personal growth.

“We weren’t snowflakes of innocent moments. We were snowstorms of powerful emotions.”

First of all I really had fun reading this book in the beginning but as I went further into the book I found many loopholes. I will mention all that in my review including what I liked.

Major TW: Racism, Depression/anxiety

What you will find in this:
✔️Interacial lovers
✔️Close proximity
✔️Ex is the new roommate
✔️Second chance romance

What I liked:
✔️I liked the hero little too much to agree (only because of him I read further)
✔️Girl gang friendship
✔️Affectionate grandparents and relation with them

What I didn’t like:
✔️Being a south asian I totally didn’t like the way the author showcased the family relations here. I mean I know we find gossip aunties everywhere that doesn’t mean there’s only evil witch aunties. There’s so much more than that in the culture.
✔️There weren’t any positive views on the culture shown in the book.
✔️I found too much negativity in the story.
✔️There were times I really got irritated with the heroine.

I devoured this book in two sittings! It was a great read with some heavy themes addressed in a balanced and thoughtful way. I also really appreciated the fact this was an #ownvoices and the authentic inclusion of family conflict with relationships and marriage in the Indian community. This is not a typical second chance romance and though some predictable story lines, I really enjoyed it!

A heartwarming childhood frenemies to lovers rom com. This book was a delight to read, fun and engaging. Fans of Emily Henry will appreciate First Love, Take Two.