I went into this one with such high expectations because Dating Dr Dil was one of my favorite romances of last year. Unfortunately this one couldn’t quite follow in its predecessors footsteps.

I appreciate when there is a retelling that certain things need to happen in order for it to flow. However with this one I felt like the plot took precedence over the characters and I didn’t connect with them as much as I would have liked to. The relationship going from “enemies to lovers” was too quick between Bobbi and Benjamin and I could have used a little more time for them to simmer before they came to their truce. I think they just went from “we can’t be in the same room as each other” to “hey, I want to make out with your face” far too quickly.

Nisha Sharma still writes some of my favorite spice scenes and I enjoyed that aspect of the book. I really enjoyed the deeper look into South Asian cooking and their customs surrounding their wedding celebrations. Really I enjoyed almost every aspect of this book. Definitely a book that might not make my top 10 list, but it’s memorable nonetheless.

Oh how I missed this friend group!

This truly blew me away, this book is phenomenal!
The enemies to lovers when they truly have this uber charged bickering was such magic to read. I was anticipating each interaction with the characters. Love the found family and all the hilarious banter that showed up in this books as well. I need more plus size representation like THIS!
One of the faves of the year!

Bunty aur Bobbi!
The name of our main characters is so reminiscent of one of my fab Bollywood movie so I already had a built-in bias 😊

Seriously, this was a really fun read with the classic ‘enemies-to-lovers’ trope. Our two leads met, had chemistry but got off on the wrong foot. What follows is how their friends get these 2 stubborn folks together to have their HEA. Bunty is a world renowned chef while Bobbi is a fantastic wedding planner! They were just meant for each other 😊

I loved how Bunty took care of Bobbi. Minus the obligatory 3rd act breakup, he truly listened to her needs and took her seriously. It was really sexy. I admired Bobbi’s drive and the way she truly cared for her loved ones. I love how her plus-sizeness was addressed and not made a big deal of in the slightest minus references that felt true to life.

The food notes were so much fun, and really all the food references in general were fabulous. Book made me hungry.

I loved the Aunties! And that we got to see so much of Kareena and Prem too.

All in all, a lovely read.

Huge thanks to Avon and Harper Voyage and NetGalley for the ARC

Tastes Like Shakkar--yes, yes it does. So much sweet, sexy goodness but also a lot of spice and bite. The book opens ten months prior when Bobbi corners Benjamin to propose a business idea. She is a wedding planner and he is a chef. Everything makes sense. Except Benjamin refuses to hear Bobbi's idea outright. Other things (don't) happen, Benjamin puts his foot in his mouth and Bobbi decides that hating Benjamin is the best defense. Ten months later, their two best friends are engaged and Bobbi is the wedding planner. Benjamin is forced to help with the food and therefore, the two of them are forced to spend time together. For the sake of their friends, they call a truce.

The two of them together is as delicious as the recipe ideas Benjamin writes for Bobbi throughout the book. You can feel their yearning and angst, even if they won't admit it to the other. Nisha Sharma understands that we are smart, mature readers and don't need stupid games and silliness that few self-respecting adults would engage in to propel the story forward. Instead, she finds other ways to add conflict and I loved it. We really get to enjoy the two of them being together and really getting to become friends first. Then we see these two mature, mid-thirty years olds take their healthy, fun, sexy friendship to a relationship. They open up and when we get to some real, deep feelings, it just kind of happens and gave me pause. I had to sit for a minute and just be in that moment with them because it was so unexpected, and yet, not. Just felt very honest and real. The whole book feels honest and real. 

Nisha teases us with the chemistry but when she delivers, she *delivers*. She gives all we wanted and more. Benjamin is all sugar but he's got bite too with a little kinky side to him that is "chef's kiss." When he gets down to business, he *gets down to business*. He does not play. Bobbi is bold and lovely and she trusts Benjamin to support her.

Bonus points: One, the food in this book. Nisha did this to me in Dating Dr. Dil and she did it to me again. Food is my love language and there is so much talk of food in Tastes Like Shakkar. Can she write a cookbook next please? Benjamin shows his affection for Bobbi through food, whether it is cooking, eating, or delivering. Two, the friends/family. Man, do I love the friend groups in this series. There is so much love between them that it's almost its own love story watching the friends and family (mainly the aunties) support one another. 
I tore through this book in a 24 hour period. Absolutely loved it. Can NOT wait for the last book in the series. 

PS There is a "mafia romance" referenced in the book that Bobbi's book club is reading and in my head it was totally Mila Finelli.

I loved Dating Dr Dill with all my heart so I was super excited to read Tastes Like Shankar. This book does not disappoint! Steamy and fun, this book has everything I love in a romance. I adored Bobbi as a FMC- fierce, independent and curvy. Her banter with Bunty had me laughing out loud in so many places. Nisha Sharma nailed it with this story and is an autobuy author!

If you enjoyed Dating Dr. Dil, you’ll love Tastes Like Shakkar just as much! This second installment in Nisha Sharma’s If Shakespeare Was an Auntie series takes inspiration from Much Ado About Nothing. It starts with two enemies within the friend group, but it’s really just Bobbi who hates Bunty (Benjamin), and he goes along with it all. With their best friends getting married and a big wedding to plan, they call a truce and learn to cooperate… and even kind of like spending time together.

Tastes Like Shakkar has excellent pacing, especially in developing Bobbi and Bunty’s relationship. Even when they’re antagonistic with each other, they have noticeable chemistry. As wedding planning colleagues, they gradually warm up to each other, then appreciate each other’s support, and even start to like each other. It all develops so naturally. Even once things get spicy (and wow do they get spicy!), there’s enough breathing room for Bobbi and Bunty to build a strong emotional connection. Whether in a room together or exchanging flurries of texts while on different coasts, their relationship is perfectly paced and feels real.

In addition to planning a wedding and engaging in a romance of their own, Bunty and Bobbi also have a mystery on their hands: Someone is trying to sabotage Prem and Kareena’s wedding! This shaadi saboteur is playing dirty, even putting Bobbi’s job at risk and the wedding on the verge of cancellation. I didn’t go into this romance expecting a mystery, but I certainly enjoyed it here!

This novel is also a wonderful exploration of friendship and family—including those infamous aunties! Family relationships, especially when business is involved, aren’t always easy. I like how they navigate familial obligations, setting healthy boundaries, and learning to make yourself a priority, too. Work and ambition also play a big role here, including as a barrier to finding true love.

Another recurring theme is the racism the characters face. Gwen is kind of horrible, but I appreciate how Bobbi speaks up about respecting all people, regardless of race, religion, or cultural heritage. (And speaking of their Indian heritage, all the food Bunty cooks throughout the book sounds mouth-wateringly delicious!)

Finally, can I just gush over that epilogue? Oh no, Veera! What on earth are you doing, Deepak? I 100% can not wait to read the third book in this series, because I need answers! And one more happily ever after, of course.

Tastes Like Shakkar is delightful romance and a quick read. The characters are fun, the relationships (romantic, friends, and family) are well drawn, bigger topics shine through, and the mystery keeps up a sense of added excitement. If Shakespeare Was an Auntie is such a wonderful series, and I eagerly look forward to Deepak and Veera’s love story next.

Thank you, NetGalley for the free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

ok, it's official Bobbi Kaur is my new all-time favorite female main character. She is a driven take no nonsense type of girl who is also soft and loving and cares about the people she loves more than anything. I loved Benjamin as well but Bobbi stole the show! I loved Dating Dr. DIll but Tastes Like Shakkar has definitely topped it. The romance between Bobbi and Bunty was perfect, the closer look at the dynamics of the friend groups was so much fun, and the behind-the-scenes look at what makes an Indian Wedding come together was just amazing. I cannot recommend this book and series enough. I can't wait for book 3!!

Nisha Sharma has done it again and created a thoroughly enjoyable Much Ado About Nothing Shakespearean retelling. Even stronger than Dating Dr. Dil, Tastes Like Shakkar gives us two stubborn made-for-each-other MCs in Bobbi and Benjamin who can’t seem to be around each other without antagonizing the other one. But when they fall, they fall hard and they have some of the juiciest, sexiest moments. TLS opens not long after Dating Dr. Dil with the planning of Kareena and Prem’s wedding by best friend Bobbi, who is also in the wedding party. Months ago, Bobbi and Best Man Benjamin (Bunty) should have been acting on their flirtatious attraction, but one careless comment by Bunty pushes Bobbi far away from him. Now forced to interact with wedding planning, Bobbi and Benjamin have to learn how to get along and find that they have more in common as well as fiery attraction that keep them coming back for more.
You’ll love this story if you enjoy:
-a Shakespeare retelling
-a really good grovel
-fat rep that’s not in your face, but very honest
-nosy nosy aunties and lots of family action
-one of the simplest most thoughtful (grand) gestures by a male MC that will completely make you swoon
-rope play and 🥵 scenes that amazingly feel completely natural to the MCs
-texting and speaking banter
-FOOD!
I loved how straightforward Bobbi and Benjamin were with each other (which you definitely should be if you’re dating long distance), and how they interacted with one another. It’s rare that I like the male and female MCs equally, but I really liked both characters. The epilogue opens up Vera’s story, which I’m sure will be next and I will definitely be reading that one. Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
4.5 ⭐️

When they first met, Bobbi Kaur and Benjamin “Bunty” Padda had instant chemistry, but, oof, Bunty bungled that interaction. Now almost a year later, the two have been forced together to plan their best friends’ wedding. Kareena and Prem of Dating Dr. Dil are getting married; Bobbi is the wedding planner; and Bunty is the chef in charge of the menu.

Bobbi and Bunty’s antagonistic banter in the midst of all the wedding planning and attempts to thwart a shaadi saboteur’s plotting is downright delicious; their chemistry is spicy inside and outside of the kitchen; and it turns out that despite how much they butt heads, they truly are good for each other.

Read it for the South Asian and plus size rep; the drool-worthy food descriptions; the sweet moments, notes, and messages between Bobbi and Bunty; the aunties’ antics; and the delightful nods to William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing.

I received an advance copy of the book from Avon and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

I am a little torn over this series. I like the characters and the plots so far, but I am a fan of less-is-more when it comes to descriptive sexual scenes. And I need to say up-front that Tastes Like Shakkar got into some kinky stuff that I'm not usually a fan of reading about. I did skim some of these scenes, but I also think that Nisha Sharma could have gone in more depth than she did, but I'm glad she didn't. I want to continue the series to see how the next book will go because I'm a fan of the characters, but I will continue to skim those scenes if necessary.

Benjamin and Bobbi are friends of Prem and Kareena from book 1, Dating Dr. Dil. Benjamin slipped up and said something to Bobbi that he didn't mean one night. Bobbi took it in the most negative way possible, and she's been out to be enemies with Benjamin ever since. But we all know that enemies to lovers is one of the best tropes. Is there any readers out there that hate this setup? I'm genuinely curious.

Prem and Kareena's wedding is getting messed with, and since Bobbi is the wedding planner and Kareena's best friend, she's determined to find out who is trying to sabotage this wedding. Only what ends up happening is that Prem and Kareena call in some best friend cards to get Benjamin and Bobbi to work together on the menu and planning of the wedding. The time spent together means these two need to call a truce which leads to the past being explained, and of course, the tension between them comes to a head. And it wouldn't be true romance if feelings didn't develop.

Finding out who was sabotaging the wedding was impossible. The reader didn't have enough information to figure things out. But it was fun to wonder if various side characters were involved. And I didn't mind the mystery because it wasn't the biggest part the plot, but it did help move the story along.

My biggest questions was whether Benjamin would open his newest restaurant on the east or west coast. I knew the two would end up together, because hello...but would Bobbi relocate her wedding planning business to the west coast to be with Benjamin, or would Benjamin tell his family no and stay east coast with Bobbi and his friends?

Favorite quotes:
-He was already discovering that love tasted better with a little cheese.

-Why was having a little bit of Benjamin so much worse than being alone?

Poor Bobbi went through it in this book. She's trying her best to plan the best wedding possible for her friend who has never had much attention and spotlight in her life. She's also planning other events and maintaining all her clients, friends, and family relationships. She's forced to work with someone who hurt her, but she comes through that. Even still, she wonders if she's investing her heart only for things not to work out through the potential distance these two might have to face. In the end, Tastes Like Shakkar was a really good read. I liked how these two characters faced nearly everything together, and none of the conflicts felt unrealistic or forced. The mystery didn't take over the story, but it did help move things along. Tastes Like Shakkar gets 4 Stars. Have you read Tastes Like Shakkar? What did you think? Let me know!

Oh my word I absolutely ADORED this book so so much! This is the follow up to last year's Dating Dr. Dill and while I enjoyed that book, this one was just way more my style. It had me literally laughing out loud and was spicier than I expected going in!

Gosh the chemistry between Bobbi and Bunty could be felt off the page - it was truly electric and created some of the best banter I've read in awhile! Bobbi has everything I love in a strong female character - she is not perfectly imperfect and has high standards that she holds dear. Her commitment to her family and friends is admirable and created the perfect environment for a mix of silly shenanigans (including some wedding sabotage) and some incredibly heartfelt romance. Plus there was some super steamy bondage scenes that were sooo unexpected but I loved to see!

I love seeing Indian culture in a romance novel because I'm surrounded by it everyday in my work - it's vibrant, full of love, and I am glad it's getting to be shown in more books thanks to authors like Nisha Sharma!

I definitely recommend this book and think you should pick it up right away if you like EXTREME banter, explosive chemistry, shaadi saboteurs, and overly involved families!

This is easily a 4.5 star read!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

The instant I finished Dating Dr. Dil, I needed this book the way we need oxygen. And when I finally got my hands on the advanced copy, I simply consumed it. Bobby and Benjamin did not disappoint with their Bollywood-esque banter, and chemistry. I love the way Nisha Sharma explored Bobby’s self love and how natural it was. Bobbi and Bunty had you rooting for them from the first chapter. Both characters are headstrong and mature but tend to prioritize their loved ones over themselves. We still get to see them grow along side each other, and take the reigns of their of personal happiness, despite familial obligations. Throw in some very spicy times (didn’t expect that lol), and all those troublesome side characters we know – you have one the best rom-coms I’ve read this year!

I must also mention my favs rina and prem and how much i devoured every moment they appeared, i’m always rooting for my girl rina and it broke my heart to see her special day almost ruined. I also CANNOT wait for deepak and veera’s story…i have ideas about what it might be and i’m soo excited.

Thank you Avon Books, Netgalley and Nisha Sharma for sharing an ARC with me.

If you are looking for a heartwarming, sexy story with tension that you could cut with Bunty's chefs knife, you have come to the right place! Nisha Sharma's second book in this series is an absolute masterpiece that dives into complicated friendships and feelings that get pushed to the limit when someone decides they want to sabotage a wedding for Bobbi and Bunty's best friends.

The story outside of the romance alone is funny and incredibly entertaining, but the love story is what makes this book so special. You have two characters who have mutual friends who don't get along when they get off on the wrong foot during their first meeting. Then you have those same characters forced to work together on their best friend's wedding and on top of all of that, they have to catch the person that is trying to ruin that wedding. The set up of this story is entertaining on its own but then you add in hot sexual tension to the list, and you have a book that you simply cannot put down.

Aside from the beautiful love story between Bobbi and Bunty, you also have this found family aspect within their friend group that makes you appreciate platonic relationships as much as romantic ones. I have always enjoyed seeing strong friendships in romance novels and Sharma does a phenomenal job illustrating that with the six characters at the core of this series.

Overall, I loved this book so much. I love Bobbi and Bunty. And I love Nisha Sharma.

A dollop of enemies to lovers romance, a dash of wedding planning chaos, a pinch of mystery, and a sprinkle of delicious sounding food and you have the recipe for Tastes Like Shakkar. In this retelling of Much Ado About Nothing, Bobbi is determined to plan the perfect wedding with her best friend, but unfortunately that involves working with Ben, a man who gets on her last nerve. To make matters worse, someone is trying to sabotage the wedding. As Ben and Bobbi team up to ensure the wedding happens, they realize there might be sparks between them. But are those sparks enough to last after the wedding is over?

This book is another win from Nisha Sharma! The mix of romance, auntie antics, and cozy mystery was absolute perfection. I adored Bobbi and Ben together as well as their individual journeys to stand up for themselves when it came to their families and careers. The humor, the steam, the banter, all of it was just amazing. I will definitely be buying anything Nisha Sharma writes.

Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

4.25🌟 this follow up to dating dr. dil leans into the silly shenanigans and whimsy with the aunties and their antics surrounding the saboteur of the wedding, which made the reading experience so much fun!

the chemistry and flirtatious banter between bobbi and bunty was off the charts! the kitchen scene??? i loved reading about two very career-oriented people having to strike a balance between ambition at work, family, friends, and their relationship. bobbi is so determined and unflappable and it was so sweet to watch as she slowly let down her walls and started to allow bunty to take care of her the way he wanted to. another unique aspect to their story is that they, of course, experience conflict within their relationship, but are also dealing with external pressures, grappling with familial obligation and expectations placed upon them.

the focus on the importance of platonic love and friendship in this series is also really refreshing. i feel like often friends in books are just put to the wayside and used as a way to show that the main characters have lives outside of the romance. these friend groups can lean on one another, open up about their emotions freely, and give and take advice, and i love spending time with them!

*thank you to avon, netgalley, and nisha for the eARC!

I love a good Shakespeare retelling and I also loved the first book in this series, Dating Dr. Dil. Just like Dating Dr. Dil, Tastes Like Shakkar is based on one of my favorite Shakespeare comedies, Much Ado About Nothing. There's just enough to know it's based on Shakespeare, but you definitely know that it's the author's story and she's made it her own.

10 months ago, Benjamin/Bunty almost ruined Bobbi's career and now they're forced to work together for their friends' wedding, Bobbi as the wedding planner and Benjamin as the caterer. They antagonize each other and there's some pretty epic banter that I love. With their forced proximity, it leads to some epic tension.

This book also had a whodunnit/cozy mystery feel to it, surrounding the wedding, and I kept trying to figure out who was behind these sabotages.

Just like the last book, there's plenty of food, so don't read on an empty stomach. It also wouldn't be complete without the meddling Aunties. They're so much fun!

Overall, I loved it. It's funny, super steamy, and I loved the plus-sized rep. I'm definitely enjoying this series and can't wait for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager. I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

4 1/2 Stars

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley though all thoughts are my own.

Nisha Sharma has incredible sense for comedy.

Bobbi Kaur and Benjamin Padda are at odds with each other. After Benjamin nearly singlehandedly ruined Bobbi's career, they've been downright enemies of each other. But all that slowly changes as they are forced to work together when both their best friend's get married.

I absolutely loved the mini wedding sabotage plot line and the relationship bobby and "bunty" were growing. they are hot between the sheets too. And the army of aunties make me wish I had that for myself.

This book will absolutely make you want to go to a wedding like this and also will make you incredibly hungry. I loved it and I highly recommend.

Tastes Like Shakkar was my most anticipated romance release this year after I devoured Dating Dr. Dil in one day last year. I was so excited to re-enter the world of these characters and see how the friendships and family dynamics continued to play out. And wow!!!! I loved this book! I found Bobbi and Benjamin to both be complex and their chemistry was incredible. The mystery element of them tracking down the saboteur was exciting to follow and I was always rooting for them. I found their conflict believable and selfishly wish there were 100 more pages just so I could read more of their love story. (also wow.....the spice???? incredible!!)

I enjoyed this addition to the If Shakespeare was an Auntie series even more than the first and cannot wait to read the third! Thank you Avon and Netgalley for the e-arc 💛

**Thank you to Nisha Sharma, Avon Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to receive an ARC of 'Tastes Like Shakkar' in exchange for an honest review!!** I LOVED this book! I previously read Dating Dr. Dil and I was so excited when I saw there was a sequel coming out! Bobbi and Bunty are such fun characters and their romance was so hilarious and heartwarming. I love the concept of the Shakespeare retellings of this series and this was a great choice for these characters. Their awkward first encounter made for a good 'friend of my friend that I hate' version of enemies to lovers. I laughed out loud on multiple occasions, and I definitely cried as well. I love seeing representation from different cultures and I loved seeing all of the different aspects and time needed for an Indian wedding. The secondary plotline made so much more sense when I thought about how much time and energy it took to plan the wedding! I am SO looking forward to the next book with Veera!!

This was my first book by Nisha Sharma and I was not disappointed. I loved the cozy mystery element as well as the romance. Bobbi and Benjamin are both super likeable characters that you want it to work out for and Sharma doesn’t leave us waiting for the relationship to develop. Super spicy and well-written, I devoured this in less than a day and can’t wait to go back and read her first in this standalone series.