Bobbi Kaur has taken on the task of planning her best friends wedding. Unfortunately for her, this forces her to work directly with one of the groom's best friends, Benjamin "Bunty" Padda, which didn't go well for her in the past. But, when someone starts sabotaging the wedding plans, Bobbi and Benjamin are forced to work even more closely together and face their intense attraction towards each other.

I really really loved this! I thought both Bobbi and Benjamin were great characters and their banter (both in person and texting) was top notch! I loved seeing how their antagonistic relationship developed into love through their chemistry, which was pretty undeniable. There was a lot of humor in this and I, of course, loved seeing the Aunties again.

I also loved seeing how Benjamin helps Bobbi explore kink! It's not something we see in traditionally published romance novels often and I'm always pleased when I see it. Also if a guy ever wants to text me recipes that remind me of him, apparently I am indeed here for that. The plus size rep just...was. Which is something I love to see - we see Bobbi in the beginning experience a little bit of insecurity when Benjamin unintentionally implies that she's not his type. But other than that - she's...just fat and that is just accepted!

One thing I really really loved about this book is that it's really the story of two people getting to know each other, starting a relationship, and falling in love. There's no fake relationship/denying of feelings that seems to happen in so many romcoms. Don't get me wrong I actually love the fake dating trope but it was exciting for me to see something different - two people in their 30's learning more about each other and gradually falling for each other and learning how to be with each other.

I'm not Desi or from an immigrant family so I can't speak to all of the rep and how realistic it was BUT I can say that I could really appreciate the parallel struggles that the characters were facing with their families. The epilogue and glimpses we see throughout the book also made me super excited for the next book in the series!!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

So good. I can not wait to own the physical copy of this!!! Nisha’s writing style is so freaking good.

The dynamic between Benjamin and Bobbi was enjoyable and when Sharma thanked her aunties for asking for "something like 50 Shades of Gray"...well, she certainly delivered the smutty fun between these two. The characters were well thought out, interesting, and have some of the best friendships a fictional story could ask for. The idea of the Iago character being a wedding saboteur was delightful. There was a clear indication WHO was the culprit with an obvious red herring but I loved watching everyone come together to solve the problems. The pacing was perfect and I loved seeing these two stubborn workaholics figure out how to love each other and communicate.

Only thing I wish there was more of: the Vegas weekend! I wanted to see these characters having fun as a group!

A great sequel, a stellar standalone. I loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoyed Bobbi and Benjamin's story. It had my attention from the very first page and I read it in 2 days. I couldn't get enough of it. It was fun, full of laughter, and a mystery. The aunties are entertaining in every scene they are in. Their banter makes my chuckle. Bobbi and Benjamin also had a great banter, especially at the beginning after we found out why they don't get along. This book seemed to have the right amount of everything. It was better than the first book in this series which makes me think the next will be even better.

I will say I was glad there was no "Charlie" nonsense in this book like there was in <i>Dating Dr. Dil</i>.

I loved the setup of Veera's story at the end and can't wait to read it when it comes out. I know I'll enjoy it like I enjoyed this one.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy!

Enemies to lovers call a truce when their best friends are getting married. World-class chef and wedding planner come together to find out who's plotting against the wedding. Maybe they'll find out they like each other after all.

While the narration can get a bit confusing at times as you have many characters, it's actually a pretty nice book and I 100% prefer it to the first one. Food elements are A+, the enemies to lovers aspect is really respectful and fat phobia is treated with care. Im really looking forward to reading more from this author.

#TastesLikeShakkar #NetGalley

4/5. Releases 8/1/2023.

For when you're vibing with... classic snappy romcom moments, a plus size heroine who gets shit done while having vulnerabilities, casual kink, and long distance relationship cuteness.

It's up to Bobbi Kaur to make her best friend's wedding perfect. Unfortunately, she's dealing not only with a mysterious wedding saboteur, but the groom's best friend--highly irritating chef Benjamin "Bunty" Padda. Bobbi's future at her family's event planning business is at stake, and she's not going to let anything ruin this wedding. As the saboteur becomes serious, however, Bobbi has no choice but to team up with Benjamin... despite their attraction.

Quick Takes:

--I often struggle with traditionally published romcoms, so it was such a relief to be so engaged in one from the start. And I do think this book is a great example of how someone should begin a book like this. We immediately see Bobbi and Benjamin sparring, we immediately feel the sexual tension between them, and we immediately sense the miscommunication (and missed opportunities) that keep them apart. And then we lurch forward in time a little, and the beef! Is still real!

--One thing I really appreciate was how the intersection between Bobbi's body, food, and her sexuality worked. Bobbi is plus size (as you see on the cover, which is nice), and while she is confident and competent and bold, she still has moments of insecurity. In fact, that insecurity (and a miscommunication) is a big part of why she and Benjamin get off on the wrong foot. (Before really getting off on the right foot if you know what I mean.) That moment felt so painfully real to me. I completely got where she was coming from and why she reacted so strongly, even though I also got that he absolutely did not mean for her to interpret his words or actions the way she did. It's a hypersensitivity that comes with navigating the world with a body that isn't promoted as beautiful in the mainstream, this predetermined sense that you must be seen as unattractive.

At the same time, Benjamin's attraction to Bobbi and specifically her body is so remarkably clear and carnal and delicious. As is his attraction watching Bobbi eat. Food and cooking in romance is something I enjoy seeing. The food here is vividly described, and it all sounds amazing, but I've also personally been a bit weird about food lately, and I was a little worried about how it would come off to me. Seeing Bobbi have insecurities re: her body, while also enjoying food, and her enjoyment of food being so arousing to Benjamin, was super lovely. None of this is handled in an over the top, preachy way, either. Bobbi also has some moments of body positivity that are unique to her cultural background; and some of her insecurities are also unique in that sense. That really does a lot of work to add to the book and its world.

--I wouldn't actually call this enemies to lovers, as Bobbi and Benjamin get over their bullshit and become a couple fairly early on. What unfolds is really you seeing them work through a real relationship, complete with long distance. I love the epistolary aspects of this book, which is unusual for me, and I enjoyed seeing how easy it would be for either one of them to withdraw. They just couldn't, not all the way. Because love.

--A huge part of the novel is Bobbi and Benjamin dealing with not only expectations, but managing their families. To me, it was nice to see this kind of clash (which Nisha Sharma discusses more in her author's note, super worth reading) be significant without coming off as intensely abusive or life-wrecking. There's a middle ground between "healthy" and "toxic".

--I kind of felt wary about the wedding saboteur thing, just because I'm not a huuuuge fan of those types of plotlines. They often come off as gimmicky. But in this case, it was cute, it was funny, it didn't take over the key parts of the plot (Bobbi and Benjamin's love story and their family conflicts). There was a great amount of balance in this book, and I really appreciated it.

The Sex Stuff:

Um, so well done? First off, not super often that we see fat women (not like, hourglass bodacious, but women with actual thick thighs) depicted in kinky sex scenes. Second, there was kink! It's not super hardcore; but Benjamin is into bondage, Bobbi is into the fact that he's into bondage, and it's discussed upfront, without shame. They check in, there are safe words, it's all really good!

I also super loved the way Benjamin was a very lovely, sweet boyfriend, but also.... put it down? You get some shit I don't often see in trad contemporary romcoms right now (a straddle bj? Okay!). It's a great time.

While I can always use a bit more drama, I found Tastes Like Shakkar entertaining, sweet, and and hot. Like I said earlier, this subgenre has let me down a lot, but here we have a real success.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hands down, I loved this book. This was the first book of Nisha Sharma that I've read, and I couldn't put it down. The enemies to lovers story, while cliched, worked. The sex scenes were steamy, with some light bondage. But the story was about more than just Bobbi and Benjamin, it was about family and friendship. I cannot wait to read more books by Sharma.

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!