i really adored this book!! it was super swoony and the chemistry was off the rooftop. my biggest complaints that i would love to see fixed before publication is that the playlist is at the very end of the novel?? for what?? like all they describe it as is “she loves taylor swift” or that “she’s listening to taylor swift.” like it would be nice to know which songs they listened to in the moment which i thought was weird that they had it in the back of the book esp cause i’m a SUCKER for a playlist in a book. my other complaint was that parts of her character could’ve been a bit more fleshed out? especially like her job and possibly a little bit better ending with her sister? in some ways i wish it could’ve been a straight-up fake dating story to begin with. i feel like it would’ve made more sense. however, i understand why she did it because she wants a love marriage, but still . also there was definitely some parts that were a bit too millennial for my taste, and i thought that some of the tinder conversations were a little too cringey and there could’ve been a few less.

i really did like parts of this book. like his show, the bar scene being intermingled throughout the book, her love of her mom’s old car and house, his want to make a difference in the world, and the relationships between their families.

i would give it like a 3.5/5, but i will round up to a 4. thank you for the arc in exchange for an honest review!!

Dating Dr Dil was the perfect contemporary romance — if you love confident female characters, swoony love interests and fake dating you will absolutely love this novel. From the outset I fell in love with Kareena and Prem and their love-to hate- to love connection. I was all out laughing at times and really feeling deeply for them at others. I loved a look into the intricacies of Indian and Immigrant families and the aunties were downright hilarious.

Prem and Kareena’s relationship arc was sweet, complex, fulfilling and steamy and left me feeling completely satisfied by the end. The small details really sold it for me— from the descriptions of the food to Prem’s little thoughtful gestures, it was all so heartwarming. I can’t wait to read more of Nisha Sharma’s writing. Dating Dr Dil was a fantastic read which I didn’t want to put down— I’d highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: death of a loved one (past), grief, family tensions

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f insta attraction
-friends to frenemies to lovers
-one night to get it out of our systems
-just a hookup
-opposites attract

I adored Kareena's sexy librarian vibes. I related so much to her eldest daughter role in her family. The look at family was so honest, the bratty sister, the father in mourning, the grandma doing her best. Do not even get me started on the vibrator the grandma started using as a personal massager.

And Prem. Jaded Prem who was so gone on Kareena pretty much from the get go and in complete denial about it. I really enjoyed his journey from dealing with loss to accepting love in his life, all while trying in completely backwards ways to convince Kareena they belonged together.

The way this book also used their first conversation/meeting as a literary device to keep the plot moving forward. This book was such a fun, steamy read and I need to pick up more from this author immediately.

Steam: 4

I was sent this book by the publisher to read as an advanced copy for work and not for review. Thus I won’t be leaving a public review!

An adorable and sizzling romcom which features leads with immediate chemistry and yet understandable roadblocks on the way to figuring out their relationship and what they want from it.

Dating Dr. Dil is a romcom inspired by Taming of the Shrew and dives into themes of familial expectations, community, love vs arranged matches, and being true to yourself. Overall, this was a fun read, but it wasn’t for me. I haven’t read Taming of the Shrew so I wasn’t really sure if it lived up to the inspiration of it. I really loved Kareena, but I was not a fan of Prem at all which kind of turned me off from the story. I enjoyed the storyline and there were some laughable moments. I also loved the Taylor Swift references and inspired playlist in the back which was a nice touch. I liked how the author was able to capture the cultural expectations and family dynamics in the South Asian community in the storyline. If you like the fake dating trope in romcoms, I’d recommend picking this up.

Ok here we go. First, I LOVED how many Taylor Swift references this had! I opened it up and there on the first page was one! I also adored the Taylor Swift playlist at the end, but I wish it was at the beginning of the book so we could listen to it while reading. Another thing I really liked about this book is that it opened my eyes to some South Asian and Indian culture. I'm East Asian but it was really eye opening into Indian culture and I loved getting to see aspects of cuisine, religion, and tradition, incorporated throughout the story. Kareena and Prem had awesome chemistry, but god I could not stand Kareena's family. I do understand that's kind of the point, with an overbearing family making her feel like she's inadequate, but it made it hard to enjoy the parts of the book. I also wasn't the biggest fan of how much of a pushover and dramatic that Kareena was. Once again I get that that's the part of the point, but it made me feel like so many of there issues were only because Kareena makes her own mess. Prem had me about to fall off the edge of my bed though (THOSE STEAMY SCENES WHEW ) and I really loved Veera and Bobbi, as well as Prem's friends. I did enjoy the book as a whole but a lot of things made it hard along the way.

There is something so compelling about the tension between modern day Indian women and their traditional parents who want to see their daughters married off, and the adolescent-like lifestyle of sneaking around and dressing in modern clothes and showing up for family in cultural garb and extending the conceit that nice girls avoid sex and alcohol. And, these novels are rich with family, food, and other cultural details.

In Dating Dr. Dil, antique automobile aficionado Kareena has been working to buy the home her now-deceased mother built, that her father and grandmother want to sell. The pressure to marry is on because her younger sister is engaged. When she agrees to go with her influencer wanna-be sister to a taping of a local doctor's medical talk show addressing heart health, her outburst at Dr. Dil's anti-romance stance goes viral.

Since her relatives have given her a four-month reprieve to get engaged and keep the family's house, she and Dr. Dil strike a deal to act as lovers and get both of their families off their backs. Will she convince him that soulmates are a real thing, or will his heart stay impervious to love?

This had all the elements I love - humor, food, family dynamics. The only thing I didn't care for were Prem's affectionate terms for Kareena while actively trying to get her to sleep with him. It was just a little too slimy. His nobleness in wanting to provide healthcare for his community almost redeems him. Kareena, though, was a kick-ass character.

I received an advance reader's review copy of #DatingDrDil from #NetGalley.

I LOVED this book! Seriously, I read it in one day. The banter between Prem and Kareena was perfect. The spice was perfect. It was the best amount of enemies to lovers and it emphasized the importance of working through past issues with relationships and feelings. I will absolutely be recommending this book to my friends and followers & I am so thankful I got an arc!

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for this electronic arc in return for an honest review!

I loved reading this book! Kareena and Prem have great chemistry and are so easy to love. Some of my favorite things about this story are the aunties, Kareena's sweater vests, her passion for taking care of and keeping her mother's house, and Prem's dedication to his dream. Each of the main characters seemed well thought out. Still, I had fun talking back to the characters as if they could hear my advice and comments!

The aunties mentioned this being a classic Bollywood scenario and I must admit that I'd totally watch it! The only thing I wasn't a fan of was how many times Prem used his pet name for Kareena.

I find it so cool that the author set this story (and many others, I think) in Edison, NJ which is known to have a large population of South Asians. It made me feel like I could just step into the lives of these characters or recognize the landmarks mentioned in the story. I can imagine the folx who live there feeling really seen!

Sexiness was about 3 out of 5 so it's a good read for folx who enjoy that spice.

I will be picking up more books by Nisha Sharma!!

I always get a little nervous when I have the chance to review a book written by an author from another culture. I do not know enough about the culture to speak knowledgeably in that regard. But I also think it is important for white readers and reviewers to read, review, and promote books by authors of color. On top of that, I've had the chance to connect with this particular author on social media. Hearing her excitement about her book has made me look forward to reading it!

When Kareena and Prem - aka Dr. Dil - have a very public argument regarding their differing opinions on romance in relationships most people have no idea just how awkward the entire encounter was. After all, Kareena had no way of knowing that the good looking stranger she met and . . . flirted with in the bar was the popular host of his own local television show! She has just four months to get engaged and satisfy her somewhat traditional father but she wants romance. True, arranged marriages are a part of her culture but a great many in her generation are choosing to do things differently.

Once the argument airs, Prem has an image problem he needs to correct. Prem needs to create a better public persona and Kareena needs her dad to think she is engaged so she can get access to the money she needs to buy the family home. They each agree to solve the other person's problem. There is just one problem - the relationship may be fake but the chemistry between them is not.

One of my favorite things about this story was the groups of Auntys in Kareena's life. Yes, they were a little overly involved in her life and yes they were a meddling bunch. But it was clear that they adored Kareena with all of the affection of your favorite aunt. They had been her mother's best friends before she passed away and they took their responsibility to care for Kareena very seriously. As so often happens, cultural references in the book motivated me to dive into the details and traditions so that I enjoyed the story more.

Kareena and Prem's interactions had just the right level of sass and sexy energy. They are both strong-willed and stubborn without resorting to things like snark or insults. From the moment they met I was rooting for them to have the necessary conversations and get to their "happily ever after."

This was the first book I have read by Nisha Sharma and it is DEFINITELY not going to be the last.

I had high hopes for this book and while there were elements I enjoyed, overall I was left feeling a bit off. I could not enjoy either of our main characters. All of the conflicts were very over the top and dramatic to the point of cringey. I had a hard time enjoying the other family members in the story as well. I liked the cultural immersion, the fun food descriptions (yum!) and there was plenty of steam but overall for me the book didn't come together in a cohesive way.

To say I loved this book is an understatement. To say that I felt heard, seen, supported, and loved by the representation, the philosophy, and the storyline of this book is getting a little closer to the truth. Dating Dr. Dil follows the story of Kareena Mann (accompanied by a slew of witty aunties, two best friends, and her family) and Dr. Prem Verma as they set off on an enemies-to-lovers, fake engagement journey that makes them come to terms with the realities of finding love as "older" (30 year old) Indian adults.

The characters were beautiful reflections of the perfectly imperfect people in my own life. The banter was witty, the steam was hot, and the plot moved quickly. Thank you, @nishawrites, for creating this beautiful world for us! Dating Dr. Dil hits bookshelves on March 15. Thank you @avonbooks and @netgalley for an advanced reader copy of this book. Buy it, cherish it, and share it with your friends!

⭐️⭐️⭐️½

This was a fun romance featuring South Asian characters. I love learning a little about other cultures in novels and this one was immersed in South Asian culture. Little things like the term "desi" and paranthas were things I hadn't known about before and I appreciated learning a little about Kareena's culture.

The chemistry between Kareena and Prem was off the charts in this book. The sex scenes were steamy and all kinds of awesome. I was a little shocked by how steamy it was, considering the cover is so cute. I guess with illustrated covers, you can't really judge a book by it's cover! I am all about the steam so I really enjoyed those parts.

Kareen's Aunties and Prem's mother were crazy, funny, and I really enjoyed the big group scenes where they would do or say inappropriate things. Those ladies had no filter!

I wish that Prem's stubborness about not believing in love was not such a big thing in this book. It just didn't feel believable to me, even when it was revealed towards the end of why he was that way. It was very obvious he had feelings for Kareena and he was too stubborn to admit it!

Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥½-🔥🔥🔥🔥
⚠️: grief, death of a loved one

This was an enjoyable read from start to finish. It's funny, sexy, and thought-provoking.

I loved Kareema and Prem individually and together. They had great chemistry and it was fun to watch their individual journeys as they eventually came together. This is the third romance novel I've read recently that deals with arranged marriages and it was explained really well here as well as the difference between an arranged match and a love match. I could understand Kareema's desire to have a love marriage and how torn she was between being true to herself or loyal to her family and culture.

The writing is sharp and there are some fantastically funny moments. There's also a lot of steamy scenes. I highly recommend this one for readers of romance.

This book was so fun! It was a perfect romantic comedy that held some very important messages. There was cultural diversity and representation, which is always a plus. I also enjoyed that the fake dating trope was a part of the storyline, but how it was executed was really unique! Prem was amazing. Loved him. I also enjoyed the commentary regarding love languages and how love looks different for different people. Overall this book was a steamy and entertaining read, but filled with great messsages.

Okay I really enjoyed this one! I've never read a book by Nisha Sharma, but this one won't be my last. It was clever, smart, steamy, and just a joy to read.

I will say even as a massive Taylor Swift fan, there were perhaps *too* many mentions of her. But, Prem listened to reparation which added five years to my life and Nisha Sharma has a "Kareena & Prem's Taylor Swift Playlist" at the end which was GREAT.

This is a Taming of the Shrew inspired book and I LOVED this aspect of it. Kareena was such a great main character and I loved seeing her be picky and prickly.

TW: death of a parent, death of a loved one (prior to novel, but discussed), grief

Kareena's feeling the pressure of being 30, unmarried with no hopeful prospects, stress from her sister's impending wedding and her father retiring. Prem's so close to getting the money he needs to start a health center and is ready to move on from his late fiancée. And now everything is precarious after a failed hookup and a very public and viral argument that forces the two to reconcile and "fake" a relationship to meet their own individual goals.

I am absolutely crazy about this book!! Kareena is so headstrong and driven and determined to have a real love like her parents, matched only by Prem's own stubbornness and cynicism when it comes to love, they're opposites yet also incredibly similar at the same time. Their banter is witty and the tension is off the charts, but there are also very deep and emotional family dynamics that are discussed that perfectly encompass the first generation and immigrant family life (something that is very personal to me and very relatable.)

The character development is beautifully written. Both Kareena and Prem grow as individuals and together throughout their relationship in the book, describing perfectly how a relationship should function: with love, communication, and compatibility. I found myself sympathizing with both Prem and Kareena and their causes. I found myself craving pani puri and paranthas. And I found myself in love with this book and Kareena and Prem's relationship.

Kareena wants to buy her family’s home with the money her dad has put aside for her for her wedding, but even though she’s has professional success and is in her thirties, he’s not budging on giving it to her unless she’s engaged. Oh and also he’s listing the house in four months, nbd.

Prem, Dr. Dil, is so close to getting his community health center open. But when an argument with Kareena goes viral, investors are pulling out and Prem’s dreams are slipping away. So when Kareena’s aunties provide a solution, prove he’s the one for Kareena and they’ll ensure his clinic is funded, Prem sets out to convince her a partnership between them could work. Even though despite their initial attraction, they absolutely hate each other. Oh and Prem doesn’t believe in love. Nbd.

Omg I devoured this book. I was laughing out loud from the very beginning and there was no chance I wasn’t finishing this book in one day. I was hooked.

There are so many slapstick moments in this book that had me cracking up. So. Many. Moments!! I love all the funny mishaps in this book that are layered with rich South Asian culture, family dynamics, and so much heart.

I wanna read this again and I just read it.

Thank you, Avon for the ARC of this book. Review is my own.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for a e-galley of Dating Dr. Dil.

Yes to the rom-coms with the fake dating trope (let's be real, I like about 95% of the rom-com tropes). This book was a delight from start to finish with a nice dash of spice.

The book starts with Kareena and Prem locking eyes across a crowded bar and eventually making out in a back room. However, Prem walks out mid makeout without an explanation. Hurt and confused Kareena drowns her sorrows in alcohol as one does. Next day, hungover as all get out, Kareena discovers that Prem is non other than Dr. Dil. The confrontation that follows is...loud to say the least. However, they soon discover that they might need each other to get what they want. As Kareena and Prem start fake dating to achieve their end goals - a house for Kareena and a clinic building for Prem - they discover that their instant attraction might be more than fleeting.