WOW - another smash hit by Nisha Sharma. Last year, Dating Dr. Dil was an absolute favorite of mine. A spicy South Asian romance with elements that felt at home to me: meddling aunties and found family, and Tastes Like Shakkar brings that same energy with Bobbi and Benjamin. I love seeing when main characters follow similar to careers as my own, and I resonated a lot with Bobbi in this book as an Event Manager. The pressure for perfection, especially when it's someone you have a close relationship with. And the steam in this book!! Was off the charts. The only thing that I was gripping my hair from was OMG the meddling!! I was so stressed!! But I think Benjamin Padda definitely made up for it in the end ;)

I loved this as much as I loved the first book in the series, Dating Dr. Dill! This story is about Bobbi and Benjamin starting off on the wrong foot and then being pushed back at each other in a forced proximity situation. Someone has to plan the best friend's wedding after all! The representation in Nisha's books are done so well and really feel inclusive and immersive. It was hard to not crave Indian food after reading Ben showing his love to Bobbi with his cooking (and caretaking!). Would recommend if you love a mystery subplot with scheming Aunties who just want everyone to be happy and in love!

I absolutely loved Dating Dr Dil and so was thrilled to read an early copy of the second in this series which is a modern retelling of Much Ado About Nothing. Sharma delivers some seriously excellent fat rep in our main character Bobbi. The chemistry between Bobbi and Benjamin was very hot and I adored them together. It’s rare to see the combination of fat rep and kink which made the steamy scenes electric. The commentary on how we get our worth from work and family commitments was really rich and well done.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Retellings are something I am always excited to read. This rom-com series features Millennial retellings of Shakespeare’s most popular plays. Dating Dr. Dil (2022) was a retelling of The Taming of the Shrew and Tastes Like Shakkar (2023) is a feminist retelling of Much Ado About Nothing.

This follows up the events just after the book 1, thus you will be see almost all the characters of book 1 in this. Plus, in this book our MCs are the bestie of Prem and Kareena i.e. Benjamin aka Bunty and Bobbi.

Bobbi's sassiness was top notch and the way she represented XL MC ✨🛐 this Punjabi kudi has my heart ❤️ and Bunty was such a suprise omg 🙈✨✨ 🔥🔥🔥

In this book, Bobbi is managing the wedding event of Prem and Kareena along with Bunty but there's a shadi sabotager who is continuously messing up the things they are planning for giving a great day to their besties.

The author has used a different writing style from book 1 and I definitely enjoyed reading every bit of it ✨🤌

This is a 3.75 for me and I gotta say, I was not expecting to enjoy it this month! Bobbi and Bunty really jumped off the page for me in the first book, and I was so excited to read their story. I appreciate the conversations around familial guilt in South Asian families and it was healing to watch our characters move on from that. The smut was so fun to read!!!! I think the big reveal of the saboteur at the end was just slightly underwhelming, especially considering we never even spend time with the character. There's a theatrical nature to this story and I think it was done really well.

I absolutely adore this brilliant sequel to Dating Dr. Dil!! This book showcase Bobbi- a wedding planner and Kareena's bestfriend- alongside Bunty- an Indian chef and Prem's bestfriend as a delightful couple.

The story takes you through many tropes, my favourite being enemies to lovers and trust me it was so well done. In fact, I'd even go as far to say that it was much better that the prequel.

Desi representation is important to me and I believe Sharma has done an amazing job with her portrayal through this book. Aunties and Indian communities are huge parts of our lives and I appreciate the positive take on it rather than shaming our culture with characters who hate their background like many depictions do. I believe this book is accurate in showing some struggles of brown people, while still emphasising on the way they accustom themselves to their background happily.

Bobbi and Bunty are both such beautiful characters with so much depth, I found myself lost reading for hours. Nothing about them felt far fetched. They had valid, relatable dilemmas and struggles, and I was overjoyed at the way the story ended.

Now when you find you yourself around Indian media, drama is essential in EVERYTHING. And you won't be disappointed by the drama of the 'shaadi sabotage' which gives you a hearty laugh and some enjoyment.

If you didn't already realize what I was leading up to with all of this-let me say it straight out. Tastes like Shakkar is a superb book which you MUST read<3

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for a complimentary e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and Nisha Sharma for an advanced copy of Tastes Like Shakkar in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book, but I’m not at all surprised since I also loved Dating Dr. Dil. This book was enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and so very spicy. Some added kinks too, which was a very pleasant surprise.

Overall, this story was so fun and entertaining- the texts between Bobbi and Bunty were hilarious and I absolutely adore the Aunties. I was laughing so much while reading.

I can’t wait for the next book in the series, which will center around Deepak and Veera- and I’m super excited to see how THAT pans out.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for a free copy of Taste Like Shakkar for an honest review. This one is for fans of Dating Dr. Dill and for those who may not have liked the first one. I found this one to be very different than the first and more enjoyable.

There were some annoying plot points and some parts where your want to scream at both of the main characters but other than that it was an enjoyable quick romance read.

I will be reading the third when it comes out for sure.

Super cute follow-up to the first novel in the series. Love the representation and spice as always! Will be looking forward to the next book in the series.

3.5 ☆

bunty having food prepped and ready for bobbi cause he knows she forgets to eat when she's working is everything!!! enjoyed this more than dr. dil - benjamin and bobbie are very sweet and seeing them become a team to prep for prem and kareena's wedding was so wholesome! there was a fun side plot to the book surrounding a wedding sabotage-er that i wasn't expecting, but it ended up being pretty entertaining!

This is a textbook definition of a romantic comedy!!

This is enemies to lovers at its finest. It's full of witty, banter and hilarity. The main characters and the side characters are all delightful. And you know it's going to be good when it revolves around a wedding and all of the disasters that are taking place.

I also enjoyed the fact that there was a slight mystery element to this one because somebody is trying to sabotage the wedding . And they're trying to figure out who and why.

And it's this mystery that forces Bobbi and Benjamin to set aside their differences and work together to figure out who is sabotaging the wedding of people they very much care about and love.

First, the more time they spend together, the more they see each other for who they truly are and it's absolutely delightful when we're reading Benjamin's chapters to see his inner monologue of thoughts about Bobbi and how much he just adores her in the second half of the book.

Just like Dating Dr. Dil, this book is full of humor and banter. Fun loving characters and a whole lot of heart.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

***Thank you to Netgalley, Nisha Sharma and Avon Books for the ARC. Opinions are my own***
Release Date: 08.01.2023

Tastes Like Shakkar is the second book in the series “If Shakespeare was an Auntie” and no shade to Dating Dr. Dil but this book blew that one out of the water. Tastes Like Shakkar tells the story of Bobbi and Benjamin. Bobbi is a wedding planner who is assisting her best friend have the most ideal wedding ever. Benjamin is a world renowned chef also helping with the food side of said wedding (and is the best friend of the groom). The two have to overcome their issues to make the wedding work, but things get twisted when they learn someone is trying to sabotage the wedding. Through the forced proximity of them planning the wedding and dealing with the dramas that came with it, they start to realize the chemistry is undeniable. But both Bobbi and Benjamin are too career focused to a fault, and when their paths start going in other directions, they need to see what is the bigger picture … or walk away for good.

As an ex-NJ resident, I love hearing the little names of cities I once frequented. I love learning about other cultures and theres no better way than reading it in a book that was wonderfully written. Also the spice was wooowe, I wasn’t anticipating much of that (but definitely appreciated). What I’m trading to say is … PUT ON TOP OF YOUR TBR.

4.5/5 stars
+forced proximity
+enemies to lovers

Inspired by Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, Tastes Like Shakkar infuses romance culture and tradition into a page-turning, swoon-worthy novel.

Our leading lady, Bobbi Kaur, is a hardworking wedding planner hoping to take over the family business. Sparks fly when Bobbi and Chef Benjamin “Bunty” Padda, heir to a naan fortune, first meet, but a misunderstanding leads to a contentious relationship. While planning her best friend Kareena’s wedding (yes, Kareena and Prem from Dating Dr. Dil), she gets paired up with Bunty. The two call a truce to support the wedding, and their enemies-to-lovers arc begins. However, things aren’t simple because someone is trying to sabotage the wedding. The shaadi saboteur mystery is a sensational twist and gives us the opportunity to hang out with the aunties.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. From the deep bottom of the belly moments of laughter to the heart-touching moments Bunty would call Bobbi, sapno ki rani, queen of my dreams, there are only things to love. Also, the spice was chef’s kiss. I know that was cheap, but I couldn’t resist. Nisha Sharma has crafted an excellent novel and I can’t wait to read about Veera & Deepak.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this eArc! Tastes Like Shakkar will be available Aug 1, 2023!

This was a fun and quick read. I loved Dating Dr. Dil and was excited to read Nina Sharma’s newest book. I liked the characters and inclusion of food (I always love a foodie book) and the hints at steam were fun. Ultimately I found this book to have less steam than expected, but still enjoyed it nonetheless! I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys food romance, or an enemies to lovers trope.

Bobbi and Bunty can GET IT!

Thank you to Avon Books and Netgalley for an eArc of Tastes Like Shakkar. This is my honest review.

Tastes Like Shakkar follows Bobbi Kaur, a passionate, loyal, and generous woman who tends to overextend herself but she prides herself on being totally capable. As a wedding planner, she is a badass who works hard for her clients. In Tastes Like Shakkar, she is planning the wedding of her best friend (Karessa and Prem from Dating Dr. Dil). She's up against her frenemy turned lover, Benjamin Bunty Padda, a chef/heir to a Naan fortune, who is also very committed to his work and his family (loyal, passionate, etc.).

Bobbi and Bunti have to work together to pull off the wedding. There is also a shaadi saboteur who is committed to ruining Karessa and Prem's wedding. Shenanigans, heart to hearts, and steamy love scenes ensue.

I really liked Tastes Like Shakkar. I love the world that Nisha Sharma creates. The supporting characters do seem a little one-dimensional but they are also endearing. I'm not sure about the interstitials or Benjamin's notes. But overall, a fun read.

Tastes Like Shakkar is the second book in Shakespeare Aunties series by Nisha Sharma. This book follows Bobbi, an adopted plus-size wedding planner, who is best friends with Kareena, the heroine of Dating Dr. Dil, and Benjamin, one of Prem's best friends. Bobbi is tasked with planning Kareena and Prem's wedding and through a complicated series of events, Benjamin gets dragged in to potentially cater the wedding as he is a chef.
Bobbi and Benjamin have had an antagonistic relationship since they first met, when Benjamin refused to speak with one of Bobbi's clients about potentially catering their wedding. That antagonistic relationship continues when they are reunited to discuss the planning on their friends' wedding. Things begin to take a turn as they spend more time together.

Benjamin loved to provide food for Bobbi and it was so sweet to see him do so over and over throughout the book. More and more, we see him showing how much he cares for Bobbi even though he was avoiding being in a relationship at the beginning of the book and I loved how his progression was portrayed.

I loved seeing the dynamics between all the side characters again and the aunties having a role in this book as well. I did enjoy the mystery sub-plot. I felt like it very much played a small role throughout the whole book so I would say if you aren't a fan of mysteries, this book can still be right up your alley.

Overall, I highly recommend this book and would rate it 4.25 stars.

Wow, Nisha Sharma really outdid herself with this one! I absolutely loved this book and didn’t want to put it down. I loved Bobbi and Bunty- I think they had such great chemistry and really understood each other. I loved their banter and seeing how their dynamic evolved over the course of the book. I felt that the 3rd act breakup was very realistic and it definitely had me tearing up. Honorable mention to the secondary plot: we love a wedding especially one that is chaotic and full of shenanigans. I really enjoyed this fun twist of the shaadi saboteur. And don’t let me forget to let you all know that this book has some quality spice just like Dating Dr. Dil featuring some rope play (fans of Dirty Rowdy Thing take note and pick up this book). I absolutely recommend this book, this is a perfect summer romcom!

*I received the ARC for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Tastes Like Shakkar

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I read Dating Dr. Dil last year and had to try this adjacent romcom when it came up on @netgalley!

Benjamin and Bobbi are forced to hang out more when their best friends are getting married. Together they work to get things ready for the wedding, despite someone’s attempts to derail everything.

The sabotage underlying story almost made this a little bit like a cozy mystery! It added so much family drama to the plot. Though I thought this one was a little predictable, the epilogue has me excited for the next one in the series!

Thanks to @netgalley for this eARC of Tastes Like Shakkar, which comes out August 1st!

Inspired by Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, Tastes Like Shakkar follows Bobbi and Bunty the best friends of Kareena and Prem from Dating Dr. Dil. In their novel Bobbi and Bunty are not on the best of terms but they have to use their assets to help Kareena and Prem with their wedding. As a wedding planner Bobbi is determined to give Kareena the best wedding ever and as one of Prem’s best friends Bunty wants to do all he can to help things run smoothly between him and Bobbi. What they don’t expect is for someone trying to sabotage Kareena and Prem’s wedding. As they work together to find this person (with the help of the aunties) they realize they have more in common then they first thought and as their obvious attraction builds they choose to pursue it. This story was cute and fun a great continuation to this wonderful friend group. I loved seeing the aunties help Bobbi and Bunty in this secret mission but also work to bring them closer together. I loved both Bobbi and Bunty’s individual journeys. Their growth was perfectly paced and the intimate moments they shared throughout were perfect. If you enjoyed Dating Dr. Dil you will definitely enjoy Tastes Like Shakkar. 4⭐️

I really liked Dating Dr. Dil so k was excited to be able to read Taste Like Shakkar. It was really good! There was a fun plot, great characters (that we knew and loved and got to understand and love even more), and some good spicy scenes. Really everything a girl could ask for!