First Love, Take Two

September 1, 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

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August 15, 2021
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.

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August 1, 2021
Patel follows up her dazzling debut, The Trouble with Hating You (2020), with a deeply romantic contemporary tale set in the same circle of friends. Preeti Patel is an Indian American chief medical resident working every hour she can as she struggles to find a position in family practice. Six years ago, she'd run out on the love of her life, Daniel Thompson, due to the racism and colorism expressed by her parents and community towards Daniel, who is Black, as well as disdain for her middle-class roots from Daniel's wealthy father, all of which undermined her sense of self-worth. Daniel was devastated. Circumstances have now put both of them in the same apartment as roommates, but their desire to please their parents is keeping them apart. Preeti's mental health is depicted with great sensitivity. Only Daniel can prevent her from spiraling, and only with each other can they find succor. The heart of the story is how they stand up to their parents and fight for the right to love each other. An excellent recommendation for fans of Farah Heron's romances.

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