He calls his member CHARLIE! Charlie. I just couldn’t.

I finished the book because I just can bring myself to DNF books but this one just wasn’t it for me. From the description I was expecting Grey’s Anatomy level spice- I will never turn down a novel about doctors…

I loved Kareena- but I believe she could’ve done way better than Prem. The way she put him in his place on television was just ✨chef’s kiss✨! But she took him back way too quickly. For fucks sake he called her an “old single woman”. NOPE! I feel like she just settled for an asshole that was unwilling to change/grow up. She deserved so much better.

And Kareena’s family?! Trash. Trash. Trash. The way they constantly put her down just broke my heart for her.

📌 Pub Date: March 15, 2022

I was given an ARC of this story to read; but thoughts and opinions are all my own. Thank you to Netgalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the chance to read this book!

You know what? I liked it! It took a little longer than usual for this one to grow on me (and there were definitely things that bugged me along the way), but this felt really fresh and unique. We follow this non-couple as sparks fly between them - while there is plenty of chemistry, and they both would benefit greatly from an engagement, their vastly different opinions about love keep them apart. Kareena has seen love in action, and she's holding out for that... even though she's practically a senior citizen by Indian matchmaking standards. Prem doesn't believe in romantic love, but he wouldn't mind having Kareena as a partner for however long things last. It's these differences that threaten to tear them apart while they're being pulled together. The vibe is light and a little bit funny with some serious steam in the back half, and there's a lot to love about the book overall.

The story follows Kareena, a workaholic who finds herself single at an age that's not considered acceptable by those around her. When Kareena discovers that she needs to be engaged in order to keep the home she grew up in, she puts her dating life into overdrive. But a run-in with a sexy doctor threatens to derail her plans of finding a love match. While Prem and Kareena drive each other kinda crazy, they also have the kind of connection that rarely comes along. Unfortunately, Prem doesn't believe in romantic love, so he surely can't be the man Kareena has been looking for. As the status of their relationship shifts with every interaction, these find themselves drawn together through it all.

I really didn't know what to expect from this, but I liked the vibrant, sexy feel. Prem and Kareena are attracted to each other from the moment they meet, and the sparks definitely fly between them. It's not a super steamy book, but it certainly doesn't shy away from intimate scenes either. I loved how they fight their attraction (or Kareena does, at least), so there's plenty of sexual tension. This might've had a slower start for me because I was getting my bearings with the story, or it might've been that Kareena continues to date other guys for awhile. There's not really any major OM drama - it's obvious Prem is the guy for her - but I wish the emotional connection had kicked in sooner. That's also part of the story though, so I grudgingly accept that. Personality-wise, I liked both Kareena and Prem most of the time, but they both show the unflattering parts of themselves. Prem is pushy to the point of being obnoxious sometimes, but I actually liked him quite a bit. It's an interesting combination of characters and an intriguing start to what could be a great series of interconnected standalones. I'd definitely check out the author's work again, even though this wasn't a total homerun for me. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this diverse fake relationship romance.

I received this book before release via Net Galley and I devoured this book instantaneously. Having just returned from New Jersey it filled me with great delight to see the New Jersey references in this book! It’s also my way of continuing to indulge in romance books but with more representation! It’s a story of two stubborn brown people falling in love. It’s the fake marriage but then they fall in love trope! What more could you want? A desi twist? It has that too! Nosy aunties and lehngas plenty! I also think I cosplay as Kareena Mann for Halloween. Hmmm maybe a TikTok idea! 🤔

Don't you just love when a book is fun to read? Dating Dr. Dil is one of the best romantic comedies I've ever read. I enjoyed everything about it. Nisha's ability to effortlessly weave culture into her storytelling amazes me. I adore Kareena's friendship with Bobbi and Veera. The introduction of Prem's friends as love interests for the next book was well thought out. Finally, there's Prem, who is charming, sweet, and sexy. And I mean, who doesn't love a man willing to take a punch?
The setup of the story made sense with the fake engagement. The pacing was perfect; I didn't experience any moments of lag. The sexual content wasn't too much; about 3-4 scenes spread throughout the story.
Nisha has become a new favorite author of mine. I can't wait for the following books in the series.

This was such a fun romantic comedy. The banter and tension was perfection. I loved the spice and the aunty’s had me laughing out loud.

Such a fun rom com. Loved the story and the tension between Kareena and Prem. Their banter was amazing, as was the Mann family dynamic. This book had me both swooning and laughing out loud, especially whenever there was a scene that included the aunties. Enjoyed this so much! *I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had a great time reading this book. Kareena is a romantic at heart and believes in finding her one true love. Prem (our Dr Dil) does not believe Love, as an emotion, exists. He believes there is affection, care, respect etc but doesn’t know what Love is.
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These two instantly collide when they meet. They had instant chemistry. But they constantly clashed because of their opposite beliefs. I also loved how each had a motive that made them Fake Date.

Steam: This might be the steamiest Desi romance I’ve ever read. Extra points for just that. I truly believe that Desi romances MUST have this level of steam. I want to see more Desi men give such good orgasms to Desi women.
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I was happy with the rep. It was typical clashes of beliefs, lack of mushy emotional talks but the implied love and care from some family members.
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Thank you for providing me a copy of this book to review!

"The Taming of The Shrew" is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays, and this book is one of my new favorite retellings. Nisha Sharma has perfectly captured the spirit of Kate in Kareena, while also adding her own spin to the classic tale and heroine. I particularly enjoyed learning more about South Asian culture and communities while simultaneously gushing over an amazing romance and retelling.

This romance book ticks all the boxes for a great romance novel: a perfectly executed enemies-to-lovers trope, lots of banter, a hero who falls hard, and more than just a dash of spice. There were several very hot scenes in the book. Outside of spicy scenes, there are also some cute scenes that'll make you smile like the scene at the Met. This rom-com gave me all the feels.

While I love our leads, Prem and Kareena, the side characters were also endearing from the aunties to Kareena's sister and father. I found myself invested in each of them and their relationships with Kareena.

Overall, I loved this book, but I found myself questioning the logic of the plot in places. Kareena's reasons for wanting and not wanting to date Prem were believable. However, I thought Prem could've found another way to rebuild his reputation besides dating Kareena. As their relationship progresses, I questioned Prem's motivation less, but I did struggle to suspend my disbelief at the beginning of the book. There were also some minor parts of the dialogue where I felt the author was speaking rather than the characters.

Still, I highly recommend this book because it managed to get me out of a month-long reading slump and reinvigorated my love of romance novels. Also, if you're a fan of "The Taming of The Shrew" or its numerous retellings, like "Kiss Me Kate" and "10 Things I Hate About You," be sure to pick up this exceptional retelling.

This book! I finished an advance copy of Dating Dr. Dil at 2:00 AM in the morning. These characters absolutely refused to let me sleep until I reached the end of their story. And what a fun, emotional, snarky, steamy, funny, heart-tugging story it was. I couldn't get enough of it. Sharma's Indian-American heritage glowed like a shining star and her well-developed characters leaped from the pages with humor, snappy banter, steamy chemistry, and more than a little friction. The storyline was realistic, the characters were relatable, and the emotions they elicited from me covered the entire spectrum from laughing out loud to sopping up tears.
If you're in the mood for a smartly-written, enemies-to-lovers romcom brimming with cultural richness, ride-or-die friendships, meddling families, a bridezilla younger sister, aunties (OMG, I loved the aunties!), relevant relationship hurdles, and perfectly-pitched humor balanced with poignant emotion, you do not want to miss Nisha Sharma's Dating Dr. Dil.
As I told a friend the other day, when the first thing you want to do after turning the final page of a book is go back to page one and read it all over again, you know it’s a winner.

ARC received for fair and unbiased review

I was excited by the dedication of this book, which reads, "for the women who have been told to lower their standards. I hope you never do." Kareena's independence is a main feature of the story, and she unflinchingly addresses sexist expectations for her life trajectory and behavior. A hopeless romantic at her core but with a practical outer shell, she will not settle for anything less than true love. I appreciate how the story dives into her experiences and pressures as a daughter of immigrants and shows how complicated familial relationships impact mental health. My favorite parts of the book were the hilarious dating app convos at the beginning of chapters that almost universally led to Kareena blocking some idiot man. I also loved the *copy message and send to friends* followed by WHAT DO I DO?? The relateableness, honestly.

These upsides weren't enough to distract me from what I found to be a pretty lackluster romance. It begins with a fade-to-black on their initial conversation to skip to the make-out session, which is not an ideal ratio of activities to reel in this ace reviewer. Portions of that conversation are doled out later as breaks in the plot, which I find clever. It just didn't help me with the initial investment. I enjoyed the twist of auntie-curated fake dating rather than a top secret operation decided by the participants. It was fun to have unwilling partners in the scheme who have a reason to keep up the ruse and a basis of attraction between them but who desperately don't want to be together.

A major issue for me was Prem's alpha male energy, which we all know I hate with few exceptions. He actually says the phrase, "something about you makes me think that you find a little disrespect sexy" when he shows up to her date... with another person. To be fair, that person sucks. But it far from excuses his behavior. Also, an excellent murder mystery museum date does not absolve him of calling his dick Charlie at every turn. And I so deeply wish I was making that up.

I think there are powerful elements about this story and the author's thoughtful South Asian representation. The romance just wasn't my vibe and would work better for a reader with different preferences.

Heat Factor: There’s plenty of stuff that goes on, but he is very invested in her, er, orchid.
Character Chemistry: It’s Something at first sight, they just can’t agree on what that Something is
Plot: They’re soulmates who have fundamentally different beliefs about love, which pushes them apart, but life goal deadlines for both of them push them back together.
Overall: The Prem scenes after they have sex for the first time are amazing

This is a good book. Genuinely enjoyable. It also might have one of my favorite scenes ever when Prem was the one to absolutely freak out after they had sex because he was thinking it would just be hot sex but, in fact, it Meant Something. And then his friends come over unexpectedly and he has a little freak out with them where they’re like, “Dude, don’t be that guy. Leading a girl on is Not Cool.” And Prem’s all, “Okay but what if I keep her, like, forever though?”

I can’t do it justice unless I post an excerpt (a long one), which is kind of cheating you out of the full experience, so I won’t. But it was a delight.

Also, OMG Kareena’s sweater vests. I used to have a couple sweater vests that I thought were great - I mean, they were argyle, hello - and I cannot tell you how many people were all, “Really, Erin?” But even I would not have been wearing sweater vests to a bar or on a first date. Unless I had to go straight from work. But Kareena didn’t have that excuse. Either way, I’m loving Kareena’s style. You do you, Kareena.

Anyway, this is a Taming of the Shrew retelling that’s light on the taming and on the shrews. Kareena and Prem see each other in a restaurant and there’s an instant connection. What they’re both expecting to be an amazing hookup results in a missed connection that, due to their wildly different expectations of what their connection means, results in a public humiliation and loss of financing for Prem when Kareena reams him out during a livestream of his show.

I had mixed feelings about this because a public humiliation deserves a public apology, but Kareena doesn’t even apologize privately. And also Kareena makes a lot of assumptions about Prem's intentions based on one night where they met, talked, and kissed until Prem disappeared. So Kareena calls Prem a desi fuckboy, an appellation sticks to him all book long. And at first all we know is that his fiancee died and he’s been mourning her for three years, but as time goes on, it’s clear he’s had some hookups in the intervening years, so is he a desi fuckboy? Have I been misled by the fact that this is a Romance Novel and Kareena went off on him based on a lot of her own expectations and not because he was making promises he had no intention of keeping? From where I’m sitting, Prem’s characterization is decidedly not what I’d categorize as fuckboy, but Kareena doesn’t really get past that, either, even as she’s falling in love with him.

Of course that’s where The Taming of the Shrew really feels present, so if you’re willing to dive into that story, you’re probably getting what you’re expecting. They fight (or bicker) a lot. Then, too, the push-pull of their relationship includes some moments when boundary pushing (or just plain stepping over) occurs, but given that it’s a Taming of the Shrew retelling, it’s a little difficult to get past that hurdle. Prem has fun pushing Kareena’s buttons in part because Kareena likes having her buttons pushed - it’s part of the electricity between them - but there’s also the “we only have four months” component that makes him pushy and, if we’re calling a spade a spade, it’s probably not going to be for everyone. Though to be fair to Kareena, she’s very clear about what’s at stake for her, so she should hold the line and get what she needs. There’s nothing wrong with that.

There’s also timeline stuff that requires some suspension of disbelief (not that they can’t fall in love in that time, but that people will believe the show they put on). They have 4 months until Kareena has the deadline of her dad putting their house on the market, and Prem has to put down money for his clinic if he’s going to get the location he wants. But Kareena wants to spend several months dating other people before she commits to Prem, and Prem needs to demonstrate commitment and regain trust with a stable relationship in the same timeframe? This mostly seemed to be an adhesion plot thrust that, once activated, was not really a stressor unless Kareena became sentimental about the house.

In terms of the romance, the challenge for Prem and Kareena is that they seem to be looking for the same thing, but they’re refusing to call it by the name the other one does. Kareena wants a love match like her parents, but she refuses to acknowledge that love might be present and manifest in ways other than her expected Dating Plan. Or, really, she ends up conflating Prem’s refusal to say the words with an inability to feel the emotion. And it’s totally fair that she doesn’t want to have anything to do with a man who espouses the belief that love is a made up descriptor of multiple unstable feelings that are bad for the health and not conducive to a long and happy life or marriage. On the other hand, Prem doesn’t seem to realize that the emotions that he blames for the health hazards of falling in love can be present at any point when a person is emotionally engaged with another person, regardless of the word that’s used. Or that the things he wants in a partnership are manifestations of a loving commitment to another person.

At its core, this isn’t really a Taming of the Shrew book, but a story about how all the stars can align - the chemistry, the romance, the caring, the passion, the love - but fundamental differences in life philosophy, outlook, and goals can still torpedo a relationship. This is one case where the emotionally constipated hero isn’t hung up on commitment, he’s exclusively hung up on verbalizing his feelings. I didn’t like everything that went on in this book, but I did like that.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

This review is also available at The Smut Report.

Dating Dr. Dil is a steamy, fun romcom from Nisha Sharma. The book starts with Kareena on her 30th birthday that her family has forgotten. It all goes downhill from there when she learns her father is planning on selling the house and moving. Kareena makes a plan to buy the house from him. However, her dad promises that she can have the house as long as she is engaged in the next four months.
This is part enemies to lovers and part fake dating. I loved the characters. They were so spectacularly created and I loved learning about what made them tick.

Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma was a super cute romantic comedy full of heartwarming moments and delicious food. I rooted for Kareena and Prem, and I loved the aunties!

Dating Dr. Dil had a bit of a slow start for me, but once it got to the shed scene, baby, it picked up and kept me interested from that point on. The spice was high, but even better, I loved Kareena and Prem’s journey. I loved that they both had substance, which made this story more real and less cheesy. I would definitely read more from this author.

Pub date: 3/15/22
Genre: romance
In one sentence: Cardiologist Prem doesn't believe in love, but Kareena may be the one to change his mind.

This book was just plain fun to read. I loved Kareena, and I was rooting for her throughout her love journey - and wow, this one had some ups and downs. She's strong and fiery, and I loved seeing her put Prem in his place. Prem was a little annoying at times, but I warmed up to him by the end. The meddling aunties are of course the side character highlight of the book. 3.5 stars.

Warning: this one is a slow burn that turns up the steam very quickly towards the end!

Thank you to Avon for providing a NetGalley ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Paging Dr. Dil… 😏⁣
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Coming atcha with another great enemies to lovers romance !⁣
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Prem is a cardiologist, who believes love damages the heart. He has a talk show where he discusses heart health and how damaging love is on the heart.⁣
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Kareena is an attorney for women businesses, sassy, unfiltered and brilliant and dreams of finding love and getting her happy ever after; except she’s 30 and her family is giving her hell for not finding a husband yet.⁣
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These two couldn’t be any more opposite but also anymore alike. For being so anti love Prem sure knows how to make a girl swoon and for being so infatuated with the idea of love, Kareena tends to try to run from her feelings.⁣
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This book was filled with such fun banter, swoon worthy moments, excellent humor, amazing second cast besties for both Kareena and Prem; and spicy, steamy chemistry. It also has those hilarious, in your face aunties we all adore. ⁣
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
Thank you @avonbooks for an ARC for my honest review ! #netgalley #romcom #bookstagram #books

DATING DR. DIL by Nisha Sharma was delightful! I give it four stars. And, it is steamy my friends.⁣
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Our MCs are Kareena Mann and Prem Verma M.D., aka Dr. Dil.⁣
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Kareena is a beautiful, brilliant, and ambitious lawyer who recently left Big Law for her dream job.⁣
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She is turning 30 and has two goals:⁣
1. Find her true love and marry him⁣
2. Buy her family home from her father who is retiring to Florida in 6 months.⁣
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On the night of Kareena's 30th birthday dinner with her two best friends, she decides to grab one more drink at the bar and check out the scene.⁣
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Enter Prem Verma…Kareena and Prem hit it off instantly! BUT, just as they are getting close in the back office Prem suddenly gets a call and leaves.⁣
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The next day, massively hangover, Kareena accompanies her younger sister, Bindhu, a You-Tube sensation, to a shoot. To Kareena's horror, it is with Prem! Who is also known as Dr. Dil on his South Asian health advice show. To say it was a⁣
disaster when they recognized one another and engaged in a vicious argument is an understatement! Then it goes viral! Prem loses his main investor for his dream clinic.⁣
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Enter Bindhu and the Aunties…To apologize for what happened, Bindhu invites Prem to their family home where her and the Aunties present an idea to solve both his and Kareena's issues…a FAKE ENGAGEMENT! Then the fun begins!⁣
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If you also love the enemies-to-lovers trope, and don't have an issue with an open door romance that is steamy, this book is for you!

“We’re a team, Rina, honey. We have been from the start, but it just took us a bit of time to figure things out. Now we have a lifetime together.”

When a failed hookup with a stranger turns into a fake relationship, Kareena and Prem are determined to fool their families and friends into thinking they’re in love so both could receive money but it won’t be easy since they hate each other. Kareena’s main goal is to save her childhood home, but her family wants her to get married. But she wants a love marriage and not an arranged marriage: she wants a love story like her parents. Prem needs money to build a community health center but when he goes viral for not believing in love, his largest donor backs out and now they have to join forces regardless on their different views on love.

I didn’t expect to get into this book as quickly as I did, but I couldn’t put it down! The chemistry between Kareena and Prem was undeniable! And the fact that he remembered every single detail and notices everything about her truly made my heart melt! Peppermint creamer. Scrambled eggs. He was also so protective over her too.

🩺READ IF YOU LIKE🩺:
- dual POV
- cardiologist and tv host hero
- enemies to lovers
- fake dating
- meddling & matchmaking aunties
- opposites attract
- Taylor Swift
- South Asian representation
- Aunty WhatsApp groups message
- dating advice column
- chai & sweater vests

cw: misogynist, death of loved one, grief, gaslighting, panic attacks

Thank you to @netgalley and @avonbooks for the advanced copy! Dating Dr. Dil is now available!

I received this book as an ARC and BOY WAS I IMPRESSED!

Read for the romance, but stay for the aunties🤣 this story includes such amazing family members that just make you laugh. They remind me of my asian family & just made me feel less alone in set cultural ways.

The story starts with our MC, Rina who is a Taylor Swift lover, lawyer, renovator, mechanic, and hopeless romantic all in one. She loves the house she’s in, but her family is selling it with or without her. The only way she can buy it is to come up with LARGE amounts of money to buy it from her dad. In comes Prem, a doctor hot shot who is having similar problems, but with a clinic he wants to buy. Fate throws these two together to make a deal. An arranged fake marriage to get every one off their backs and to get everything that these two want. What they weren’t expecting was their chemistry ❤️‍🔥 and boy do they have it.

YALL THE SPICE IN THIS BOOK MADE MY JAW DROP 🥲 but in a classy way. Please read the book! It’s so cute & such an easy read!

I really enjoyed this book! It centers on Kareena, a 30 year old Indian American woman, and Prem, an Indian American man. Kareena is a lawyer specializing in helping women start businesses but her family wants her to settle down and get married. She’s waiting for a love match though. Prem is a cardiologist who believes that love isn’t real, and can actually hurt your heart. After a chance meeting, the two find they have undeniable chemistry, but are totally at odds philosophically. But when Kareena finds out her father is going to sell her beloved mother’s house unless she can get engaged (and access the money set aside for her, thereby allowing her to buy it) and Prem’s investor for his community center pulls out because of his down on live image, the two realize they might be of use to each other.

I loved the family storylines, and LOVED all the food talk. The chemistry was on point and the spice level was hot. I was surprised and delighted by the feminist and public health commentary. The only reason I didn’t give five stars is that some scenes felt a little too goofy for me personally. Looking forward to more from Nisha Sharma!

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing the free ARC in exchange for honest review.