This was an enjoyable read - there was no point in the story where it felt drawn out and tired, and the feel good moments kept coming. Both MCs were interesting characters who you grow to root for and want the HEA conclusion.
I would have given this 4 stars if it wasn't for Annika's sheer inability to change her mind on how to prioritise life. It's mentioned a couple of times that she initially thought long distance relationships could work, but experience taught her otherwise when one relationship failed. D'uh one relationship, and we didn't get any detail to even try and explain how that must have been so traumatic to cause her inability to even think to try again.

This is such a fun read. It is romantic and has the normal will they won't they to it. The characters are fun, there are some nice laugh out loud moments to it and it is a good escapism read.

A heartwarming read - perfect for some escapism and relief.

Rav makes for the perfect leading man.

This one ticket SO many boxes for me and all my favourite tropes and it handles them really well:

Fake dating? Yes
Forced proximity? Yes
Childhood nemesis to lovers? Yes yes yes!

This is such a fun book for anyone who is looking for a lighthearted romance that has a strong female lead and features elements of Indian culture, particularly weddings.

The chemistry between Annika and Rav was pretty great, but it’s Annika’s relationship with her friends and family that I stuck around for.

The Love Arrangement is the perfect summer romance with a little added depth!

Thank you HQDigital and Netgalley for this eARC.

I both loved this book and felt like screaming at it at the same time! I love a fake dating story, but I hate how it always has a miscommunication trope. Like come on people, talk about how you’re feeling!!!!

As someone who very much thought Lauren should’ve taken the trip to Paris, Annika takes this to a whole new level. Like, it’s ok to reprioritise based on how you’re feeling girl.

Rav came across as the perfect gentleman, and bar one indiscretion, I love how perfect he was for Annika.

A fantastically frustrating enemies to lovers with a wonderful insight into other cultures and the complexities they add to dating.

Thank you NetGalley and HQ Stories for the arc.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This is a fascinating introductio to Iandian family dynamics in the UK. The characters are well drawn and believable. As with any true romance novel there’s a happy ever after, the journey in this book is very entertaining. Great summer romance reading.

Fake dating, forced proximity, enemies (on her part, at least) to lovers, rivalry, sunny vs grumpy, he falls first… this book has all the romance tropes fans of the genre look for and I’m so here for it.

Annika travels the world for her job and isn’t looking to settle down any time soon, but she did try to stop her father worrying about her after he falls ill by mentioning her boyfriend… and now she just needs to find someone to play the part. Enter the handsome Rav, in control and tied to his own life plan, these two can definitely learn a thing or two from each other. It worked well seeing the narrative from only Annika’s perspective, watching Rav slowly deviating from his life plans and falling for his spontaneous fake girlfriend, one heart melting comment at a time (you’ll swoon, I promise). Annika is, of course, oblivious and fighting her own feelings with such determination. This book was fun and flirty, but balanced this with vulnerability and warmth as Annika and Rav open up to each other and learn to share themselves and trust. They’re both overwhelmed by expectations forced upon them (real or perceived) and want to chart their own paths.

I enjoyed Annika’s relationship with her family, and Rav’s close bond with his friend - there’s choreographed dance scenes that I adored - and Ruby Basu manages to weave those strong relationships into the story alongside the romance. One downside, I would say, is how often Annika fixates on her ‘I can’t date’ belief. It comes into the story regularly and I did get a little frustrated with it, and her idea that not being able to do literally everything she wants to do whenever she wants to do it is a sacrifice when she just comes across as quite selfish. It’s hard to connect to her and her attitude overshadowed the blossoming relationship with Rav, who in contrast seems to be the one making all of the sacrifices.

This was a very enjoyable, easy-to-read summer romance. I loved the characters Rav and Annika and the fake dating theme . As I find the Indian culture and lifestyle fascinating and beautiful, I particularly enjoyed the Indian weddings traditions and culture depicted.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The plot of inventing or providing a fake boyfriend/fiancé to keep family or a business contact happy, in this case both, is far too popular nowadays, the Asian theme made a welcome difference.

Regrettably I had no empathy with Annika, she was infuriatingly blinkered, if she ever recognised what was in front of her she wouldn't accept it out of principle. She wanted to travel but spent months and months in one location in her role as an environmental consultant, when she could easily work remotely. Rav had such potential, but there was a lack of chemistry between him and Annika, non of the gentle teasing and flirting you'd expect.

I was looking forward to a light, amusing read, but was disappointed. The colourful descriptions of the Asian wedding in Dubai tipped my rating of The Love Arrangement from a paltry 2* to a middling 3*.

I look forward to a follow-up book about Tinu and Greg, two interesting minor characters who disappeared towards the end.

Thank you HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the ARC, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

This was more than two people meet, make an “arrangement” and then find each other attractive. The Love Arrangement made you care about Rav and Nikki and really root for them (Also we need to find out if Gavin ever falls in love)!! I’d read several sequel on this group as I enjoyed all the friends and family’s characters too.

I really enjoyed this book. Struggling with parental expectations and a beloved dad's health scares. Having an extended period at home instead of working abroad Nikki finds herself lying to make her dad happy and not stress. A fake boyfriend who needs to attend family get togethers with her.
Her nemesis in the neighbourhood paragon turns up. Learning to see past meet ups from each others perspectives helps them to appreciate each other but when work abroad beckons is this the end for them as agreed?

⭐️ 3.75/5 (rounded up to 4⭐️)
📚 56/36
📍 🇬🇧
🎡 Fake dating
✅ Indian culture
✅ Easy read
😩 I wanted to bond with the female MC but I sadly didn’t
🔄 A little repetitive in parts
✍️ Elena Armas/Helen Hoang vibes
📆 July 2022
*Publication Date - 17th August 2022

I received this eARC in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley and HQ Stories.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CgO5p0FLybi/

This book was sent to me from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly, where to start I loved this story between Niki and her ‘nemesis’ Rav… I just couldn’t put the book down. At times I was shouting at my screen at Niki when you just knew that what she was saying was not true…

This story will help people across the world that Long distance relationships don’t work for the wrong people but when you meet the right person then anything is possible and that it will work.. also if somebody decides to change their plans for the person they love then it is not always a compromise but something that they choose to do…

I would recommend this book to everyone I just want to know more about Niki and Rav so I am hoping that Ruby does a sequel to this book or a novella about their story and their futures…

Easiest 5 stars that I have given a book in a while and can’t wait to see what future books Ruby writes.

Independent and free-spirted Annika has no plans to settle down anytime soon… if only her parents felt the same way. But when her father unexpectedly falls ill, she’ll do anything to make things better. Even if it means suddenly blurting out she has a boyfriend.
The only issue is, he doesn’t exist.
Then, by chance, she bumps into handsome entrepreneur Rav, and she can’t believe her luck. He’s single, sworn off relationships and looking for a date to attend work events with. He’s the perfect solution to her troubles. Or is he?
Because there’s just one slight catch he also happens to be her childhood nemesis.
It was only ever supposed to be a simple, temporary arrangement. Nothing more. Certainly love was never part of the terms and conditions. But Annika’s about to discover that some deals are made to be broken…
Really enjoyable read totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and HQ
I just reviewed The Love Arrangement by Ruby Basu. #TheLoveArrangement #NetGalley

This was a very enjoyable read. I very much enjoyed that is involved multiple cultures and how they celebrate marriage. The characters were intriguing and well thought out and it was a joy to read about a woman who isn’t consumed by finding love or a family and is happily enjoying single life and her career.

Thankyou for giving me the chance to read this in advance. I love anything with an Asian theme in it. I find it fascinating and beautiful their culture and lifestyle. Would highly recommend this and makes a good summer read

Thank you for the advance copy of the book. It was lovely to read about the various relationships wishing the story and of course between the two main characters! Well write and a good summer read

I love to read anything with an Indian connection to it, and I enjoyed Ruby Basu's previous novel, so was excited to be given the chance to read this one, too!
Annika is in a good place in her life, however, expectations from her family and those around her are making her do things she isn't entirely comfortable with.
With a doting father whose health is ailing, she decides that the best thing to do to stop him from worrying is to find someone to be in a fake relationship with, so her parents don't have the worry about her 'settling down' on their minds.
What she wasn't expecting was for the help to come from a childhood nemesis.
Rav Gohil is the perfect child, growing up. Getting all the grades, the school, and university places, the ideal, well-paying job: well, he is the person all the Indian families compare their own children to.
A chance meeting at a singles event sets cogs turning that would never have even touched, before, and Annika and Rav embark upon a mutually beneficial fake romance, with a not-so-fake ending.

I must say, I did want to shake Annika a few times though when Rav was giving off such obvious signals with things he said and did. They could have been settled and happy even faster, but then again that would have meant the story finished too soon!
This was a lovely, easy-to-read romance. Good clean fun with a liberal sprinkle of different Indian cultures within.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for an ARC in exchange for an honest review,

Annika is an independent and ambitious woman who lives for her travelling job that she loves in the beginning of her thirties. Her parents started to worry about her that she won’t settle down and get married or have a long terms relationship. After that Annika came with that idea that she needs to find a fake boyfriend who helps her out in her situation (Annika doesn’t believe in long distance relationship after she failed with that in the past). Here comes Rav in the picture, an old family friends who is the perfect husband material in every parents eyes.

This was a solid read. I loved the Indian theme with the weddings and cultures. I was happy that between Rav and Annika were no cringe scenes with this fake dating idea and they planned out everything well. The only problem was the chemistry, that they couldn’t show psychical affection and through the book I didn’t really feel the connection between them. There was no showing of the feelings just the telling and I felt like I needed to be convinced as well that they’re together. The writing tried to be too professional and I relay missed reading about how they felt. But overall it was quick and enjoyable read.

A nice easy read on the somewhat old theme of a pretend boy/girl friend. Interesting in that it was set an a partly Asian theme and I enjoyed reading about the wedding traditions. Annika was just a little too self effacing at times, and a little too rigid in her ideas. But altogether she and Rav made it through , pushed somewhat by family and friends.. Id like to know what happened to Tinu, she seemed to disappear.
Thank you for a chance to read and review this book which was very enjoyable.