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Review: The Dating Plan by Sara Desai

Title: The Dating Plan

Author: Sara Desai

Year Published: 2021

Category: Adult fiction (romance)
Pages: 352
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Location (my 2021 Google Reading map) USA (California)

FTC Disclosure: I bought this book with my own money

Summary (from the inside flap of the book): Daisy Patel is a software engineer who understands lists and logic better than bosses and boyfriends. With her life all planned out, and no interest in love, the one thing she can't give her family is the marriage they expect. Left with few options, she asks her childhood crush to be her decoy fiancé.

Liam Murphy is a venture capitalist with something to prove. When he learns that his inheritance is contingent on being married, he realizes his best friend's little sister has the perfect solution to his problem. A marriage of convenience will get Daisy's matchmaking relatives off her back and fulfill the terms of his late grandfather's will. If only he hadn’t broken her tender teenage heart nine years ago…

Sparks fly when Daisy and Liam go on a series of dates to legitimize their fake relationship. Too late, they realize that very little is convenient about their arrangement. History and chemistry aren't about to follow the rules of this engagement.

Review: I am being so good about keeping to my pre-chosen February books and I am glad that this one was one of my choices. I read it in one day/night.

Daisy and Liam have chemistry and always have, all they have to do is admit it to each other and themselves and things will be ok. Too bad it takes 10 years to get there! Like most contemporary adult romances, the reader knows what the ending of this book will be (happy), but not exactly how we'll get there. During this unstable time in our lives, I am totally on board with this. I do think the premise of this book is more realistic than many because Daisy and Liam have known each other (and been attracted to each other) since they were teens, so now that they are in their 30s it seems natural that they end up together.

I love the role that family plays in this story. From Daisy's large "we will be involved in every facet of your life" family to Liam's large volatile and semi-dysfunctional family, we learn more about the main characters and what makes them tick. And, in the end, both families are full of love.

And, as a funny aside, if you appreciate a good spreadsheet and organization, you'll love Daisy!

Challenges for which this counts: 
  • A to Z--"D"
  • Diversity--South Asian main character
  • Popsugar--set somewhere I'd like to visit in 2021 (San Francisco)

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