First Love, Take Two by Sajni Patel
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: September 21, 2021
Genres: Contemporary Fiction
Book Review
Preeti Patel is struggling. At the tail end of her residency, she is overworked and underpaid, and now on top of that, she’s about to lose her place to live. Knowing her predicament, Liya, Preeti’s best friend, offers to let her live in her old apartment. There’s only one issue, Preeti’s ex-boyfriend, Daniel, is living there too. Daniel was the love of Preeti’s life until Preeti suddenly ended things six years ago with no explanation to Daniel. Now forced to live together, Preeti and Daniel must decide if they can put the past behind them or if their worlds are just too different.
First Love, Take Two is the sequel to The Trouble With Hating You, a book I adored when I read it last year. I loved returning to this world and getting to see how things were faring for Liya and some of the other characters from the first book. Though it would be helpful for some of the background, context, it is not necessary to read the first book to enjoy First Love, Take Two.
Told entirely in the first person from Preeti’s perspective, First Love, Take Two is an emotional rollercoaster of a second chance romance. Preeti is such a great character. I love how headstrong Preethi is and how much she takes charge and isn’t afraid to stand up for herself or her family. She is smart and hardworking, and she cares deeply about her patients.
I loved how Patel handled mental health in this book. Preeti suffers from severe anxiety, a taboo topic in the Indian and medical communities. She struggles in solitude, until Daniel comes back into her life, and helps her seek help. I liked Daniel from the beginning, but my favorite parts with him were while he is comforting Preeti during her anxiety attacks. It truly highlighted who he was as a person.
I highly recommend First Love, Take Two to fans of second chance romance and forced proximity in romance!
Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for the review copy! All opinions are my own.
Synopsis from Goodreads
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?
About the Author
Sajni Patel was born in vibrant India and raised in the heart of Texas, surrounded by a lot of delicious food and plenty of diversity. She draws on her personal experiences, cultural expectations, and Southern flair to create worlds that center on strong Indian women. Once an MMA fighter, she’s now all about puppies and rainbows and tortured love stories. She currently lives in 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, a lover of chocolates from around the world, and is always wrapped up in a story.
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thanks.
Erin Evelyn Reads 