First Love, Take Two

by Sajni Patel

Overview

On the verge of realizing her dream of being a doctor, Preeti Patel should be ecstatic. But between the stress of her residency, trying to find a job, and managing her traditional, no-boundaries family, Preeti's anxiety is through the roof. Relationships and love aren't even an option. Fortunately, Preeti's finally found a new place to stay . . . only to discover that her new roommate is her ex.

Preeti never quite got over Daniel Thompson. Super-hot, plenty of swagger, amazing cook—the guy is practically perfect. And if it weren't for their families, there might have been a happily ever after. But it's hard to keep her sanity and libido in check when the man of her dreams is sleeping mere feet away. Can Preeti and Daniel find a way to stand up and fight for each other one last time . . . before they lose their second chance?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538733387
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	09/21/2021
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	125,605
File size:	765 KB

About the Author

Award-winning author Sajni Patel was born in vibrant India and raised in the heart of Texas. She draws on personal experiences, cultural expectations, and Southern flair to create worlds centered around strong Indian women. Once in MMA, she’s now all about puppies, rainbows, and tortured love stories. She divides her time between Hawai’i (where honu is her #1 obsession) and Austin (where she not-so-secretly watches Matthew McConaughey from afar during UT football games). Queso is her weakness and thanks to her family’s cooking, Indian/Tex-Mex cuisine is a real thing. She’s a die-hard Marvel Comics fan, an ube fanatic, and is always wrapped up in a story.

Editorial Reviews

"Liya and Jay are a couple I've been waiting forever to meet in a romance novel. The Trouble with Hating You has delicious banter, deep wounds, heartwarming friendships, and a path to love that often feels impossibly hard, and the payoff is satisfying enough to give you a book hangover the size of Texas."—Sonali Dev, USA Today bestselling author

"With witty banter and fascinating characters, Sajni Patel takes the classic enemies-to-lovers trope to a deliciously charming level. I loved everything about this book."—Farrah Rochon, USA Today bestselling author

"This is a crowd pleaser.”—Publishers Weekly

"The enemies-to-lovers arc is classic, but the cultural specificity [Sajni] Patel brings makes this rom-com feel fun and fresh."—Publishers Weekly, on The Trouble with Hating You

"Sajni Patel bursts onto the scene with a debut that will make you laugh!"—Jenny Holiday, USA Today bestselling author

"The Trouble with Hating You was everything I needed —witty banter, explosive chemistry, and a hard won HEA that still has me smiling long after reading the last page. I can't wait for Sajni's next book!"—A.J. Pine, USA Today bestselling author

"An enjoyable debut! The chemistry between Liya and Jay is off the charts. You'll be rooting for these two from their first meeting!"—Farah Heron

"Patel's vivid comedy of conflict and love within an upscale, urban Indian American enclave features endearing protagonists..."—Booklist, on The Trouble with Hating You

" . . . a rewarding romance set in an intriguing world that combines proper second-generation Indian Americans with a Texan swagger."—Shelf Awareness, on The Trouble with Hating You

From the Publisher

09/01/2021

Preeti Patel needs a job, a husband, and a new apartment. The problem? Her residency is giving her anxiety, she doesn't love her boyfriend (let alone want to marry him), and her only viable roommate is Daniel Thompson, a close friend's gorgeous brother who also happens to be her ex. Patel peppers the novel with thoughtful instances of anxiety, racism, and conflict between traditional and modern values, but the lack of chemistry between the two love interests and some unneeded drama dominate the reading experience. VERDICT Patel's formulaic companion to The Trouble with Hating You leans too hard on tropes, though it's recommended for readers who enjoyed the first book and want an HEA that wraps up conflict.—Rachel Alexander, Peabody Inst. Lib., MA

Library Journal

2021-07-28
A doctor is forced to reexamine her own hurts when she gets a second chance at a relationship with the love of her life.

Houston-based doctor Preeti Patel is juggling multiple anxieties: Not only does she need to find a new apartment, but she's in the middle of hunting for a permanent position as a medical resident. She locates a place where she can stay until she gets a job, but she has to share it with her ex-boyfriend Daniel Thompson for a few weeks. Preeti has been assiduously avoiding Daniel since she broke up with him six years ago without giving a reason. But while living in close quarters with Daniel, she's forced to accept her feelings for him and finds herself compelled to reevaluate her priorities and give him honest answers about their past. Preeti’s struggles with anxiety are illustrated in graphic detail, but the dynamics of her relationship with Daniel, which hinges more on the memories of a previous connection than on any significant development in the present, remain less well developed. Preeti’s interactions with her friends and family are occasionally fun and heartwarming, and the characters’ penchant for long emotional monologues are reminiscent of melodramatic Bollywood films. But author Patel is sharply insightful when she hints at the complex links among religion, roots, and community in the Hindu Indian diaspora and exposes the fault lines in several of these communities, particularly the deeply entrenched racism and sexism that sometimes fracture them.

An uncomplicated and often one-note romance uplifted by evocative descriptions of its social and cultural setting.

Kirkus Reviews