thee_bibliophile_'s review against another edition
5.0
Before Booktok, I never knew that I could read a book where I related to the main characters besides personality. I'm talking about skin colour, family dynamics and culture. It was so damaging to me as a young girl to constantly wish for blue eyes, blonde hair, fairer skin and pin straight hair because of how the media portrayed "beautiful women", and the sad thing is that these are the standards in Bollywood and South Asian Culture.
I am so grateful to the fact that our generation has woken up and we are taking a stand for representation. Kids these days will grow up seeing people that look like them and reading about them. Whilst our job is not yet complete and we still have more work cut out for us, I am thankful to authors like Nisha Sharma for cementing the foundation of representation in South Asian Culture.
Dating Dr Dil was so special to me because it was the FIRST EVER desi romance book that I had ever read. I read this book when I was 18 years old in 2021 March and it hasn't left my mind ever since. Prem and Kareena's story is so precious to me because of how they started and ended. I loved the fact that Nisha continuously articulated that desi relationships arent just relationships between the two partners but their families as well. I loved that Prem got a second chance at love and a realistic encounter with his ex-in-laws; they weren't enthusiastic about him putting his 'past' behind him but at the same time they were humble enough to realize that he needed to live his life. I loved that she showed 'sensible' things that brown kids grew up with and touched on so many elements of this universal experience we all had growing up.
It felt like home, it felt like I was reading about my life and my family.
The aunties were the icing on the cake and I'm so excited to be reading about them again in the sequel. Prem standing up for Kareena in front of the community and to her father no less will always be cemented in my mind because every brown girl wishes to have someone to defend her the way he did.
And as for that ending?? I won't spoil it but Prem set the bar for brown boys everywhere with his groveling.
There were life lessons, some tears because I read about the toxicity, sexism and Internalized misogyny I grew up witnessing and experiencing - but a beautiful happy ending despite everything - an ending that was expected of how every brown person would act throughout the book, climax and end.
I'm so thankful to BIPOC authors for allowing WOC to feel beautiful in their stories. I'm also extremely grateful to them for all their hard work even though they are STILL underrepresented.
Know that readers like me see you, love you and appreciate all your hard work.
You guys truly deserve every bit of success.
Aunty Nisha, thank you for giving Desi women this beautiful story.
I am so grateful to the fact that our generation has woken up and we are taking a stand for representation. Kids these days will grow up seeing people that look like them and reading about them. Whilst our job is not yet complete and we still have more work cut out for us, I am thankful to authors like Nisha Sharma for cementing the foundation of representation in South Asian Culture.
Dating Dr Dil was so special to me because it was the FIRST EVER desi romance book that I had ever read. I read this book when I was 18 years old in 2021 March and it hasn't left my mind ever since. Prem and Kareena's story is so precious to me because of how they started and ended. I loved the fact that Nisha continuously articulated that desi relationships arent just relationships between the two partners but their families as well. I loved that Prem got a second chance at love and a realistic encounter with his ex-in-laws; they weren't enthusiastic about him putting his 'past' behind him but at the same time they were humble enough to realize that he needed to live his life. I loved that she showed 'sensible' things that brown kids grew up with and touched on so many elements of this universal experience we all had growing up.
It felt like home, it felt like I was reading about my life and my family.
The aunties were the icing on the cake and I'm so excited to be reading about them again in the sequel. Prem standing up for Kareena in front of the community and to her father no less will always be cemented in my mind because every brown girl wishes to have someone to defend her the way he did.
And as for that ending?? I won't spoil it but Prem set the bar for brown boys everywhere with his groveling.
There were life lessons, some tears because I read about the toxicity, sexism and Internalized misogyny I grew up witnessing and experiencing - but a beautiful happy ending despite everything - an ending that was expected of how every brown person would act throughout the book, climax and end.
I'm so thankful to BIPOC authors for allowing WOC to feel beautiful in their stories. I'm also extremely grateful to them for all their hard work even though they are STILL underrepresented.
Know that readers like me see you, love you and appreciate all your hard work.
You guys truly deserve every bit of success.
Aunty Nisha, thank you for giving Desi women this beautiful story.
ifyoureabirdimabird's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
annrhub's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
thatsoneforthebooks's review against another edition
4.0
Kareena and Prem (Dr. Dil) keep bumping into each other early in this book with varying results -- they had insta-chemistry where they met at a bar, but then Prem deserted her mid-kiss. When they meet again, the encounter isn't so sparkly as they face off. The book moves between these two extremes of love and hate as Prem and Kareena speculate a fake dating relationship to help them both achieve their goals (buying Kareena's mom's home and Prem launching a community health center). Along the way, they have to determine what love means to them, and whether the other provides what they're looking for.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Location: Jersey
Reminds me of: 10 Things I Hate About You
Pub Date: Out now!
This would have been a perfect 5-star book for me - I loved the dialogue, the romance, the silliness and irreverence...except for that the male MC kept referring to a body part of his as Charlie. Again, and again, and again. No context, not even in his dialogue...just in his inner thoughts. It was annoying and distracting. I'm so excited for the sequels, but please Avon, don't let this happen in all of these books.
I love a modern adaptation, and while I've never read The Taming of the Shrew, I've long been a fan of the story line via 10 Things I Hate About You. This book will give you all the Heath Ledger singing in the stands vibes; the paintball Julia Stiles grins. I loved how this book gave me those same feelings; and I love that it did it within a New Jersey Desi culture/setting.
Read this if you like:
⭕️ the movie 10 Things I Hate About You and/or contemporary Shakespeare adaptations
⭕️ Fake Dating stories
⭕️ Characters going on fun, creative dates
Thanks to Avon Books and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Location: Jersey
Reminds me of: 10 Things I Hate About You
Pub Date: Out now!
This would have been a perfect 5-star book for me - I loved the dialogue, the romance, the silliness and irreverence...except for that the male MC kept referring to a body part of his as Charlie. Again, and again, and again. No context, not even in his dialogue...just in his inner thoughts. It was annoying and distracting. I'm so excited for the sequels, but please Avon, don't let this happen in all of these books.
I love a modern adaptation, and while I've never read The Taming of the Shrew, I've long been a fan of the story line via 10 Things I Hate About You. This book will give you all the Heath Ledger singing in the stands vibes; the paintball Julia Stiles grins. I loved how this book gave me those same feelings; and I love that it did it within a New Jersey Desi culture/setting.
Read this if you like:
⭕️ the movie 10 Things I Hate About You and/or contemporary Shakespeare adaptations
⭕️ Fake Dating stories
⭕️ Characters going on fun, creative dates
Thanks to Avon Books and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book!
jennycanreadalot's review against another edition
5.0
This was a great book. I loved Prem and Kareena together. I can't wait to read the next book about Bobbi and Bunty. I went into this book knowing he was going to call his penis "Charlie" so I wasn't shocked, but yes it was jarring and weird and I just had to ignore it because I liked the rest of the story.
dannycakez8808's review against another edition
4.0
This one was a very fun read! I enjoyed learning more about the Indian customs and traditions. Our main protagonist is very likable. She is a career woman who hasn't found the time yet to find the one. She is feeling the pressure to be married now that she is 30 and her younger sister is engaged. Hence where Dr. Dil comes into our story. This one was fun and romantic. Highly recommend
elinexmartens's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
magnoliapigeonbookblurbs's review against another edition
4.0
What a absolute hoot!
Read if you like:
-Enemies to lovers
-Fake dating
-Complicated family dynamics
-Lough out loud moments
-
Read if you like:
-Enemies to lovers
-Fake dating
-Complicated family dynamics
-Lough out loud moments
-