Ugh
I spent several months reading positive reviews of this book online, and now that I’ve read it, I’m wondering if it was some publisher pay-off because, yikes, I did not enjoy this at all.
Kareena Mann is a woman with strong ties to her family and tradition. Her father announces to the family that he plans to sell Kareena’s childhood home, which reminds her of her mother, and Kareena is devastated. She makes a pact that he will give her the house if she gets engaged within a specific time. First of all, I absolutely hate this trope. It’s financial and emotional abuse and manipulation, and every time I see it in a book, it loses a star in my head. It’s gross, and I hate it, but Kareena seemed like a good character to this point, so I stuck with it.
I regret this. Kareena goes on the Dr. Dil show with Dr. Prem Verma, a doctor who doesn’t believe in love. Their argument on the show goes viral, and he loses some funding for the community health center he’s trying to build. He is convinced (aka manipulated) by Kareena’s aunts into believing that if he convinces Kareena he could be her soulmate and fall for him, they will fund the clinic. So yay, more financial manipulation! Also, Prem is A DICK. I don’t know why the author wrote Prem as being so vehemently detestable in the hopes that we’d love to see him and Kareena fall in love because I would have liked to see him fall from a height. He’s an asshole; he’s condescending and thinks he’s better than everyone around him, and that’s not even the worst. Sure, he might be trying to raise health awareness through this community center, but he also NAMED HIS PENIS. AND MENTIONS IT. SEVERAL TIMES.
I am incredibly glad there is more South Asian representation in romance novels, and I don’t feel like I have any ability to judge whether that aspect was presented appropriately. All I can say is that I have read other romances with South Asian characters and authors that were far better written and enjoyable than this title. Also, I know this is supposed to be some sort of play on a Shakespeare play, but I cannot for the life of me see where in the summary or on my copy what it is referencing. Nothing in this gave me a “retelling” or “reimagining” feel, so not sure what is going on there.
Genuinely, this is the worst romance novel I have read in years. Kareena deserves better. She has a shitty family and an even shittier man who ruined all sex thoughts by talking to his penis in his head. HE NAMED HIS PENIS CHARLIE.
I can name about 15,000 fanfics with fewer words and more heart and interest than this garbage. Go read smutty fanfic; it’ll be far more enjoyable and better written, and maybe the female lead won’t be stuck in my nightmare life.
Title: Dating Dr. Dil
Author: Nisha Sharma
Format: Paperback
Pages: 364
ISBN: 9780063001107
Three Descriptors: Disappointing, Culturally Authentic, Off-Pace
Read Alikes:
Honey and Spice by Bolu Babalola
The Hookup Dilemma by Constance Gillam
The Shaadi Set-Up by Lillie Vale
By the Book by Jasmine Guillory
Recipe for Persuasion by Sonali Dev
<a href=”http://www.nuclearoverreactor.com”>Blog</a> / <a href=”https://twitter.com/CourtneyRoseMLS”>Twitter</a> / <a href=”https://www.instagram.com/crosereads/”>Instagram</a>
NuclearOverreactor 