While there is certainly an audience for this book, it's not me. When I saw this was a desi fake-dating enemies-to-lovers story, I was all in. Then I realized it was a take on Taming of the Shrew, also a favorite of mine. But I can only describe this story as....aggressively heterosexual?
There's a line between doing a cocky but charming and redeemable character, and just making them a jerk. In this novel, Prem is on the wrong side of the line. He repeatedly refuses to respect Kareena wishes and always pushes to do things his way. He and Kareena only every comment on the other's physical appeal, and all their interactions come off as immature.
I made it 35% of the way through, but I gave up as soon as Prem referred to his penis as Charlie. I can't.

Kareena and Prem find themselves in the strange situation of having to date one another, even though they don't like each other. Life is complicated, and to make a long story short, it works! But it is not easy to spend time with someone you don't really like, and it is such a strain to pretend to have feelings...until it isn't. Kareena and Prem find they have more in common than they thought they did in this spicy romance. Fun and engaging!

This is the year of the romance!

Dating Dr. Dil was sweet and swoony with wonderful cultural representation. I love a romance that tackles deeper issues surrounding love, family, and identity. This book hit every mark of a solid romance.

Thank you Avon and Netgalley for a gifted eARC of this book.

I LOVE THIS BOOK! Cannot wait for the next one. This was an absolutely fantastic read. I read it in one day! I loved the main characters and I feel like this was a spin on "fake dating" so to speak that you don't really see. They don't ever even truly "fake date" so I think it added something different that I really enjoyed! I think all of the supporting characters were also interesting and I am so intrigued to hopefully see their relationships progress. This read would be great for fans of the Kiss Quotient series, Brown Sister series and I think even fans of The Hating Game or Love Hypothesis!

Apart from a few minor annoyances (Prem throwing her glasses a couple times and the whole "Charlie" thing) I really loved this one!

If you like RomCom hijinks. Strong familial side characters. Hot bedroom action. Great banter. You'll like this.

As a former theater kid I'm a sucker for a Shakespeare retelling, and I enjoyed this take of 'Taming of the Shrew'. This is a strong romance as well, and I'd say mid-high heat levels. I can't wait for the next series and other takes.

Thank you to @netgalley and @harpercollins publishers for the advanced eBook copy in exchange for an honest review.

Kareena Mann is the black sheep of her family. Unmarried at thirty, Kareena is feeling the pressures from family to find a husband, arranged marriage style. The only problem is she wants a love marriage like her father a late mother had. But with her family moving on and her father selling the last remaining reminder of her mother, Kareena needs a solution and quick to keep her mother’s house.

Dr. Prem Verma is Dr. Dil by day, cardiologist by night. When he meets Kareena at a bar, sparks fly but quickly turn sour when she discovers he doesn’t believe in love. Crazy arguments caused Prem to lose his biggest financier for his community center. But a quick fake engagement can fix both their problems. But can they stand each other long enough to make it until Kareena’s sister’s bridal shower?

This was a traditional enemies to lovers, which is a trope I love. I also love South Asian romances and authors, so this was up my alley. The romance was so hot I thought my pants caught fire 😂

Unfortunately, while I loved Kareena and her friends, Dr. Prem could take a hike. It wasn’t because he was self proclaimed Macho man, but because he was so condescending and overall disrespectful to Kareena. Maybe I’m over reacting, but the second he called Kareena “honey,” I was like nope, not for me lol.

I thought the aunties would have played a bigger role than they actually did. I thought it might be similar to “Dial A for Aunties” with their involvement, but other than high level, they weren’t as prevalent as I would have liked.

Dating Dr. Dill is a delightful contemporary reimagining of Taming of the Shrew. With references to Shakespeare and 10 Things I Hate About You, Nisha Sharma updates the source material to reflect the South Asian American experience, and I loved it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Kareena is a successful attorney who is single on her 30th birthday. After her family forgets in the excitement leading up to her younger sister’s wedding, she’s spending the evening out with friends and she meets Prem. They immediately hit it off, with great conversation and steamy chemistry. But, when he takes off unexpectedly, she’s furious and disappointed. Then she sees him the next day while accompanying her sister to a local tv studio; it turns out to be the set of The Dr. Dill Show, where Prem hosts the show about love and its effects on the physical body. When Kareena confronts him for deserting her, their argument goes viral and the plot takes off from there.

The characters in Dating Dr. Dill are so well drawn, from Kareena’s strength to her besties and meddling Desi aunties. The aunties could host their own tv show, and their text exchanges made me laugh every time they appeared. And while the superficial similarities to Taming of the Shrew are there, Prem’s reasons for being anti love and romance are fully explained and explored.

Kareena and Prem have a physical connection, and “one night to get it out of our systems” is clearly not going to work. I adored Kareena’s toughness, too, and her unwillingness to compromise on love, even when everyone else is telling her it’s her only choice if she wants to find a life partner.

Dating Dr. Dill takes on a Shakespeare classic that hasn’t aged well, and turns it into a fun, modern story. While I still spent a lot of time being indignant on Kareena’s behalf, I loved the steamy romance and family relationships that make up this charming romcom.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A contemporary enemies to lovers that while slightly predictable the characters were fun and the love-hate relationship made for some fun encounters 😉

Kareena dreams of finding her perfect love match, but hasn’t been in a rush to find her person. But when he dad announces he’s selling their house, her mother’s dream home, Kareena makes a deal with him - she can get the house if she gets engaged in four months. But when an argument with popular TV show host, Prem aka Dr. Dil, goes viral, it becomes harder to find a suitable soulmate. Prem on the other had has a deal with his own families, if he marries Kareena, they will help fund his dream of opening a community health center. Despite their intense chemistry, Kareena and Prep could not be more different when it comes to their opinions on love and romance. Yet they each need each other to get what they want from their families.

This is a fun, modern take on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. I loved these characters, especially Kareena’s strong, independent woman vibes. I love a good Taylor Swift reference AND I loved that this book even had a Taylor Swift playlist at the end! This book was filled with all the components of a perfect romcom: incredible chemistry from the start, laugh out loud moments, witty banter (bonus points for some of it being over text), and a sweet love story. I also adored the way South Asian culture was woven in and celebrated throughout the story. Plus the side characters were incredible - Kareena’s friends and the aunties added so much depth and fun to the story. I cannot wait for more Shakespeare adaptations from Nisha Sharma!

MY NEW FAVORITE ROMANTIC COMEDY.

SPICE: 🌶 🌶 🌶
INCLUDES: fake dating, enemies to lovers, dual pov & amazing banter
(NO CHEATING & HEA)

Miss Nisha Sharma really put her entire heart & soul into this book and it shows. I was not able to put it down and finished it so quickly. This is a MUST read for 2022.

Kareena wants an epic love story and refuses to marry if she isn't love. She's a complete badass who's a lawyer, restores cars, loves taylor swift and knows exactly what she wants and she is willing to fight for it. Her family is breathing down her neck about not being married yet and pull out all the stops to find her a husband. The aunties were my favorite part about this book because their favorite past time is banter & playing matchmakers. Would kill to be added to their groupchat.

Prem on the other hand is a cardiologist who ironically doesn't believe in love. He has his own talk show and wants to open a health clinic. Did I fall in love with Prem? Yes. His mom is also nagging him about getting married and I loved being able to see why he has this viewpoint of love and it all comes full circle.

The sexual tension between Kareena and Prem literally jumps out and you're honestly screaming the entire time. The spice? Yeah.... literally no words. Kareena may fall for this man first but he falls HARDER. Prem and Kareena could hit me with their car and I would say thank you. I absolutely loved their relationship and I'm crying just thinking about how perfect they are for each other

Thank you so much publishers for the opportunity to review this book! I have been on a huge romcom kick that features strong hilarious families! Dating Dr. Dill was right up that alley and I loved it! Their banter was hilarious and this was a satisfying fun book!

"I will forever think of this under your sweater vests now" ... um SWOON-WORTHY!!

This book is everything you could possibly want out of a romance novel. Nisha is a true professional at what she does and she has really given us all a treat here.

Dating Dr. Dil just sizzles, the delicious tension builds, until it hits you upside the head and you are letting wanting to thank it. The spice is hot and adds to the electric attraction between the two main characters. When I heard that Dating Dr. Dil was a Taming of the Shrew re-mix, I had some questions. Taming of the Shrew is definitely not a pillar of feminism or contemporary ideals of women, but I loved the direction that Nisha took in this story. She could have easily fallen into the trap of having an overbearing sexist love interest and a hard, unapproachable heroine, but Nisha has breathed new life into this story and shows that there are so many ways to look at love; self-love, familial love, relationship love have to be interrelated but treated differently. Nisha has undoubtable improved on the source material here!

This book is laugh-out-loud funny. I can't even tell you the last time I had to put a book down because I was laughing so hard. What an absolute treat!

Kareena is such an incredible heroine, she doesn't take anyone's BS and refuses to lower her standards for anyone in her life. She is intelligent, both academically and emotionally, but still has that lovable "oh wait, do I actually have feelings feelings for this person" moment. I love and feel honoured that I get to read books with women who feel like the women in my life. Kareena is real and grounded, struggling with the same challenges that so many women face and seeing her struggling through the obstacles of modern dating was totally relatable.

Prem is a total dreamboat. I'm talking "this man has to be fictional because there is no way he is actually real". He knows how to get the woman that he wants, but I love that we get to see the softer side of him, the vulnerable side.

Any couple with a communal love for Taylor Swift is the real deal in my book.

On top of being an incredible love story, Dating Dr. Dil also has some really engaging and thought-provoking conversations about themes prevalent in the South Asian community. Dating Dr. Dil feels like a celebration of South Asian culture through and through.

You need to check out this book, it's the perfect rom-com with a layering of real-world conversations and one huge overbearing-but-we-love-em family. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

Thank you to Nisha Sharma for this book. Thank you Harper Collins Canada, and Harper Collins for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Today's review is for a book that I definitely underestimated! I requested Dating Dr. Dil because of its synopsis. It seemed like a cute, if pretty standard, enemies to lovers romance that I was happy to give a chance. But what I ended up getting from this book was so much more than I expected!

Dating Dr. Dil follows Kareena, who's on a deadline to find her true love so that she can get engaged, which will allow her to inherit some money in order to pay for her family home, which will otherwise be put up for sale. Prem is a cardiologist and talk show host that doesn't believe in love. When Kareena confronts Prem publicly about his views on love, Prem loses the funding he needs to finally start building a clinic that focuses on South Asian health care. The solution is simple. Kareena and Prem must fake date and get engaged to repair Prem's reputation, and allow Kareena to inherit the money she so desperately wants. But with such different views on love, is it possible for these two to build any sort of relationship, even if it's fake?

You might be able to tell just from the synopsis alone, but this is a very layered book. Both of the main characters are complex individuals that are struggling to balance a number of things throughout the course of this novel. What I love is that while the romance is definitely front and center, all of their goals and dreams and hopes are continuously addressed throughout the book. Prem has the clinic he wants to create, Kareena has her home and car that she's working on refurbishing as a tribute to her deceased mother, and it's clear to see how important these driving forces are throughout the book.

But lest you think that a book dealing with so many topics, from South Asian health disparities to keeping a connection with those who have passed on, is heavy or sad in any way, let me set the record straight. This is a very entertaining, and downright funny book! The little snippets from Indians Abroad News and Kareena's online dating escapades were fantastic, but even just in general, I was unable to keep track of the amount of times I laughed out loud during certain scenes or conversations, because there were so many instances. It takes an incredible talent to balance these important topics with this lighthearted tone, but this book did it seamlessly!

Another aspect that I thought was handled perfectly, was the development of the relationship and eventual romance between Prem and Kareena. Things are quite complicated between them, with each of them having very different motivations and reasons for either wanting or not wanting to fake this engagement. However, throughout it all these two have very open communication about what it is they want. Their relationship may get messy at times, but these two always make it clear to one another what they need, and the story is that much stronger because of it!

I also really enjoyed how this book tackled complicated family relationships. Kareena doesn't have the best relationship with her grandmother, sister, or father, but there was a lot of nuance to why these relationships were this way, whether it stemmed from grief, cultural expectations, immigrant expectations, or some other complicated reason. This helped these relationships have a lot of depth, and inspired many conversations throughout the book that I really enjoyed reading about. And thankfully, Kareena has a support system through her friends and her aunties, so that she's not left to fend for herself throughout the book. While I do think that these characters were the least fleshed out, I still appreciated that they were there for Kareena when she needed them most!

In the end I gave this book 4.5 stars! This book is fun, funny, steamy, and has so many fantastic conversations throughout. I enjoyed myself thoroughly and I'd recommend it to any romance lover, whether you're new to the genre or an old fan!

Not sure if I consider this book a 2.5 or 3.

I had high hopes for Dating Dr Dil seeing the reviews on Bookstagram and on here but was pretty disappointed in the end.

I absolutely LOVED the Indian and Punjabi culture and representation in this book. This was SO well done and it was so interesting to be fully immersed in it and to learn aspects of another culture.

But I just didn't see the romantic connection between Prem & Rina. I thought that during the first two third of the book, we were only brushing the surface. Everything felt easy and like it was happening for the sole purpose of satisfying the sory. It felt convenient that something would happen.

Some of the characters' actions and reactions were also questionable at times and not really credible, especially Rina's family.

I will say that the steam level in this book is pretty high but because of the lack of connection between the two, from my POV, the steam didn't really do anything for me. Also, Charlie? HUGE no.

I liked the last third a bit better, especially when the two actually have a deeper conversation.

I read it in a day so overall I'd say if you want a quick and steamy read, you should pick it up. Unfortunately, it just wasn't for me

4 ⭐️ 3.5 🌶
Thanks you to my beautiful friend @rochreads for recommending this book and @netgalley for the ARC!

Trope:
🎊 Shakespeare retelling
🎊 south asian rep
🎊 enemies to lover
🎊 fake date
🎊 opposite attract

As an asian person, I understand the pressure coming from families and friends and this book really portrays it very well😭
The culture in this book was fun to learn and brought me to a new lens to understand the south asian culture that I have not known of.
Kareena who is an independent woman and Prem who is also known as Dr.Dil is a Tv doctor (who doesn’t really believe in actual love love if you get what I mean). He falls hard for Kareena who is a Taylor Swift fan and a romance reader and decides to fake date with her! The fake date turns to sarcasm and constant bickering to spice and happiness!
I absolutely love when FL are strong, independent, and are able to voice out their opinions for the love for others and this is what Kareena showed to her readers!

Happy reading and thank you once again!

#netgalley #bookworm #booktok #bookstagram #bookrecommendation #booksrecs #dr.dil #bookclub

Review posted at Smexy Books:
For me, one of the best things about Dating Dr. Dil was that as a romantic comedy, the humor was in the situation and the snark, and not in the characters. Both main characters are fully drawn and easy to identify with, even when I didn’t agree with them. Kareena Mann is a thirty-year old who provides legal counsel to women start-ups. She really knows her mind and her love for her late mother inflects a lot of her choices and passions. She was a strong character, but not rigidly so – she can stand up for what she wants, but she is not without moments of doubt. Dr. Prem Verma, the hero, is a cardiologist with a talk-show on a local South Asian Network. Several years before the novel begins, his fiancée had died of an undiagnosed illness. Since then, he had been working towards opening a clinic where the specific medical needs of the South Asian community, and other patients of color, would be attended to. He uses his talk-show in part to share health information with the Desi community in the NJ/NY area.

Here's the situation: both Kareena and Prem have reasons for needing to get engaged. They had what I would call a hot “partial” hookup, no spoilers, but what keeps Kareena from agreeing to Prem’s proposal of a fake engagement is their fundamental, philosophical difference on the matter of relationships. Kareena is looking for a Jeevansathi, a life partner. She believes in love marriages, like the one her parents had. Prem believes that what is mistaken as love is a fleeting biochemical reaction. He believes in arranged marriages based on compatibility, communication, and resulting in what to Kareena seems like a very businesslike relationship. As a result, Kareena only agrees to the fake engagement after she exhausts all her other online dating options before her 4 month deadline. Her Aunties, who are described as “progressive” in the novel (and definitely come across that way), help her in her journey. But like a Greek chorus, they know which way the wind is blowing.

I loved the sequence of dating app messages and first dates. Some of it was laugh out loud, some of it was infuriating, as it was meant to be. As she is trying to find love, we learn more about Prem and his aversion to emotion. Sometimes I wanted to shout at both at them to see what was in front of their eyes, sort of the opposite of telling a protagonist in a horror movie not to go down into the basement. Luckily, increasingly hot sex scenes between Kareena ad Prem signal to the reader what the protagonists don’t necessarily realize.

Dating Dr. Dil is also a critique of the misogyny in Desi culture related to dating, marriage, and sexuality. There are moving scenes when Prem’s mother and Kareena’s father open up to their children about their own marriages. One character that never gets to “explain” themselves is Bindu, Kareena’s sister. She’s the bridezilla in the novel, the spoiled younger sister who is about to get married. I kind of saw her as another victim of the pressures highlighted in the novel, but I was never sure.

CW: misogyny, death of mother, death of fiancée

Honestly not a huge fan of this one. The story was forced, didn’t flow and the characters were unrelatable. It was confusing and missing something. I feel like the author was into something, so I’m sure what she writes next will be great!

DATING DR. DIL – Nisha Sharma
Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-300110-7
March 15, 2022
Romantic Comedy

Jersey City – Present Day

Kareena Mann is somewhat content living the life she is, working at a job she likes and living in the family home with her father. Of course, she hasn’t found Mr. Right yet, and she is looking, but she has time, right? Her extended family is pushing her to marry and trying to help, but Kareena plans to find her soulmate on her own. But one day, her father informs her that he will be retiring soon—and selling the home. Kareena is devastated. This was the home where she has fond memories of her late mother. Her father says if she becomes engaged, then she can have the house. Kareena is now on a mad dash to find her soulmate. Attending a television taping of the popular show, the Dr. Dil Show, in which Dr. Prem Verma gives cardiac medical advice. Kareena gets into an argument with the man himself. Embarrassing!

But Kareena soon runs into Prem and learns that he is much like her. They might dislike each other but pretending to be dating might make their families believe they are headed to matrimony. Embarking on a series of “pretend dates,” they’re soon growing to like each other—and their frenemy relationship flies out the door to a serious sexual attraction. But both are dealing with the emotions of their past, including Kareena’s loss of her mother. The house is part of her mother. Can Kareena give it up? Will she go on with a planned pretend engagement with Prem, even though there is a growing attraction between them? When will she admit to both herself and him that she has feelings for him?

DATING DR. DIL has all the feels of a “woe is me” tale, but then it shifts to “I can do anything I set my mind on.” Learning that her father is going to not only retire but sell her beloved home is depressing for Kareena. How could he rip something she loves right out from under her? So now she has to come up with a plan to keep the house. Her father will give it to her only if she is settled down with Mr. Right. She embarks on a plan of online dating, but none of them seem right. Prem is in the background, yet always front and center. They banter with each other, fight, and then discover how much they enjoy each other. There is plenty of hot, sensual tension flowing between them. How long will it take before they act upon it?

Readers will enjoy the sexy banter between Kareena and Prem, while in between there is the comedic hovering of their various family and friends. Kareena and Prem come from traditional Indian families, many of whom love to do some matchmaking. Will they be secretly trying to push our couple together? If you love a romance filled with chaotic dating and families pressuring our couple to find their soulmates, then you won’t want to miss DATING DR. DIL. They have a few hiccups along the way, but in the end, they have each other.

Patti Fischer

Oh my goodness, I absolutely loved this! This is one of those books that I don't know how to review because I enjoyed reading it so much. The vibes, the representation, the spice, everything was just a joy to read. I've been in a mini-slump all week and haven't been able to read more than a chapter at a time, that is until this book! I nearly read it all in one sitting.

Not only is it a genuine romcom with laugh-out-loud moments, but it's also so thoughtful and insightful as well. There were so many moments and conversations about double standards between men and women, the expectations and experiences of immigrant families, modern arranged marriages, toxic family relationships, and health and love! What doesn't this book cover? And I know that may sound heavy, but it's done so deftly, it all blends and makes for a perfectly well-rounded story.

I loved Prem and Kareena, but I also loved all of their friends and I can't wait to see if/where this series goes next. It's one of those books I'd happily just read about their day-to-day lives. I loved the use of texting and the realistic portrayal of how awful dating apps can be! There's friends-to-enemies-back to friends-to-lovers, "let's do it once just to get it out of our system", and so much else. It's such a rich story, I know this chaotic review doesn't do it justice but just trust me and go out and read this book ASAP! I already know it's going to be one of my favorite books this year!