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Once Upon a Wedding #1
The Five-Day Reunion
They ended their marriage, but they never fell out of love...
Law student Anita Virani hasn't seen her ex-husband since the ink dried on their divorce papers. Now she's agreed to pretend she's still married to Nikhil until his sister's wedding celebrations are over -- because her former mother-in-law neglected to tell her family of their split! The closeness they share during the marriage act gives Anita new insight into the man she once loved so deeply. And reignites Nikhil's feelings for her...
Harlequin Special Edition -- Stories of love, compassion and happiness.
Law student Anita Virani hasn't seen her ex-husband since the ink dried on their divorce papers. Now she's agreed to pretend she's still married to Nikhil until his sister's wedding celebrations are over -- because her former mother-in-law neglected to tell her family of their split! The closeness they share during the marriage act gives Anita new insight into the man she once loved so deeply. And reignites Nikhil's feelings for her...
Harlequin Special Edition -- Stories of love, compassion and happiness.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2022
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May 3, 2023I enjoyed this one immensely. Great second-chance-romance set up with the hero discovering his mother hasn't actually let his family know he's divorced, but has bribed his ex wife to turn up at the big family wedding pretending they're still married. this is obviously a ridiculous way to go on, and is played out with full enjoyment of the ridiculousness, but it's also the decorative flourish on a very solid story of a couple who married too young, with too many needs they were (unreasonably and unspokenly) expecting the other to fulfil. Nikhil and Anita both had some growing up to do, and the spun-sugar confection of story is very solidly grounded in real feelings, real problems (excessive work, family pressure, going unacknowledged in one's family, sibling rivalry). Bit of a case of Evil Ex, never my favourite thing, but a hugely enjoyable read and I bought the next two.
July 6, 2022
This is a Second Chance Romance, and this is the first book in the Once Upon a Wedding Book series. The characters in this book was really developed and great, and I loved following these character. I love that the characters in this book show the culture so well. I loved that we are getting different type of characters in this book then the normal romance characters. The two main characters are divorce, but in their culture divorce is not a thing. I love seeing these characters finding themselves again and finding their love for each other again. This is a very good read, and if you love second chance romance with great characters you should check out this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin) or author (Mona Shroff) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
January 19, 2024
The Five Day Reunion by Mona Shroff
Once Upon a Wedding series #1. Harlequin Special Edition. Second chance troupe. Own voices. Traditions, food and customs in this series are as descendants of India.
Anita and Nikhil married young and subsequently divorced a short time later. Three years after their divorce, they are required to attend a traditional five day wedding event as if they are still married. All thanks to a mother that didn’t want to share the news of the divorces and an elderly relative with health issues. Forced to share a hotel room, the two realize they still love each other but can they reconcile their issues?
A lovely story of traditions and family and an unfortunate lack of communication. They love each other but with some much going on in their lives, they don’t make time to share dreams, wishes or even goals. After some drama and close family advice and interference, we do get a happy ending.
Just talk to each other!
The customs described sound beautiful and enriching. I’m not sure I would want to spend that much time with family as a reading introvert though!
Once Upon a Wedding series #1. Harlequin Special Edition. Second chance troupe. Own voices. Traditions, food and customs in this series are as descendants of India.
Anita and Nikhil married young and subsequently divorced a short time later. Three years after their divorce, they are required to attend a traditional five day wedding event as if they are still married. All thanks to a mother that didn’t want to share the news of the divorces and an elderly relative with health issues. Forced to share a hotel room, the two realize they still love each other but can they reconcile their issues?
A lovely story of traditions and family and an unfortunate lack of communication. They love each other but with some much going on in their lives, they don’t make time to share dreams, wishes or even goals. After some drama and close family advice and interference, we do get a happy ending.
Just talk to each other!
The customs described sound beautiful and enriching. I’m not sure I would want to spend that much time with family as a reading introvert though!
January 21, 2022
*I was kindly sent this book by the author, but all thoughts are strictly my own*
I was hesitant going into a new Mona Shroff book, because I loved Then There Was You so much. I was afraid nothing would live up to it. I feel like that one was much more emotional overall, but this one was more fun, light hearted, and joyous. I loved this second chance romance, and that the family was clearly trying to get them back together after all of this time, because they knew that they both still cared for one another. The meddling family added the best dynamic to this story, and I am so glad to say that I really enjoyed myself with this one! Can't wait to read another one from Shroff!
I was hesitant going into a new Mona Shroff book, because I loved Then There Was You so much. I was afraid nothing would live up to it. I feel like that one was much more emotional overall, but this one was more fun, light hearted, and joyous. I loved this second chance romance, and that the family was clearly trying to get them back together after all of this time, because they knew that they both still cared for one another. The meddling family added the best dynamic to this story, and I am so glad to say that I really enjoyed myself with this one! Can't wait to read another one from Shroff!
July 29, 2023
This was a fake relationship book where the fake relationship actually made sense for once and I appreciated that. Anita and Nikhil have been divorced for a couple of years now but must pretend to still be happily married during the week of his sister's wedding because his mother failed to tell the rest of their family about the divorce. Feeling guilty because of the stigma over divorce in their community and Nikhil's grandfather's health, they decide to go along with it. This was a sweet and funny romance and I liked listening to the audiobook. But characters felt like real people and I liked how they approached and addressed their issues.
December 23, 2021
The Five-Day Reunion is a fake relationship romance between a divorced couple, so it isn't hard to see the second chance coming. Anita and Nikhil certainly have plenty of tension between them - I mean, they didn't divorce without a reason, so they have some stuff to work out, and a wedding is a pretty good place to remember what brought them together in the first place. The story has a good pace, and while there is some angst, it's tempered with a fun and entertaining storyline. This is my first time reading Mona Shroff, but it won't be my last. I enjoyed this one, and it's great for curling up on the couch for an afternoon's escape.
December 12, 2021
Solid Second Chance Romance. This is one of those second chance / forced proximity / fake dating types of romance tales, all combined during a five day traditional Indian wedding celebration. The angst between the two leads is palpable, and their own individual motivations are solidly grounded. The Indian family interventions - and ensuing irritating (for the characters) hilarity (for the readers) hijinx - are well done, and Shroff does well to explain the various ceremonies reasonably well in-story so that those not familiar with them can follow along and not get lost in the story, yet not so much that it becomes an academic treatise on each ceremony. Overall a fun, funny, and short-ish (220 ish page) romance that gives a solid break from reality for many, and really... isn't that most of what we expect a book to do? Very much recommended.
July 4, 2022
Nikhil and Anita were married, its true
But they've been divorced for years now, too.
So why is she now at his sister's wedding
Wearing her original wedding ring?
This is a story of two loves who parted
Leaving them both really broken hearted.
They never fell out of love but now
They need to pretend they're still together somehow.
Five days is how long the wedding party will be
Will they survive it all, you need to read it to see.
It is a story of attitudes, aspirations and more
As well as family, pressures and folks to ignore!
With tasty Indian dishes, traditions and spice,
This story cooks up something really nice.
Full of flavour and colour, love and romance,
It is all about giving true love more than a chance!
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
A different, moving read and this is my honest review.
But they've been divorced for years now, too.
So why is she now at his sister's wedding
Wearing her original wedding ring?
This is a story of two loves who parted
Leaving them both really broken hearted.
They never fell out of love but now
They need to pretend they're still together somehow.
Five days is how long the wedding party will be
Will they survive it all, you need to read it to see.
It is a story of attitudes, aspirations and more
As well as family, pressures and folks to ignore!
With tasty Indian dishes, traditions and spice,
This story cooks up something really nice.
Full of flavour and colour, love and romance,
It is all about giving true love more than a chance!
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
A different, moving read and this is my honest review.
April 30, 2022
Law student, Anita and her writer ex-husband, Nikhil are forced to act like a married couple again for Nikhil’s sister’s five- day-wedding for the sake of his sickly grandfather’s well-being. Though, they ended their marriage; the love never really fallen out.
Typically, I am not a fan of second chance romances but this one was written really well. I really enjoyed the simplicity of the story! I loved the angst of it all and the characters were all well played out.
Nikhil was literally so perfect, I wish fictional men were real <3 :/
Typically, I am not a fan of second chance romances but this one was written really well. I really enjoyed the simplicity of the story! I loved the angst of it all and the characters were all well played out.
Nikhil was literally so perfect, I wish fictional men were real <3 :/
January 12, 2022
TWs: death of loved ones, divorce, mention of miscarriage
Rep: South Asian MCs
I read this book in one sitting so I basically devoured it. I initially picked it up because one of my bookstagram, now real-life friends shared it. Of course, I found the cover swoon-worthy and I’m always on the lookout for South Asian romances, specifically adult ones now that that’s the category I fall into.
I found both Anita and Nikhil to be quite likable and realistic characters. They each had their own backstory and set of characteristics that meshed well together. They each had their flaws, but they acknowledged them. I thought their chemistry was definitely a highlight, but more than that, I found the moments in which they were reminiscing about the past or replicating doing something from the past in the present moment very sweet. Romance doesn’t always have to be the whole Bollywood shebang (something I love as much as the next Brown person). I find every day, smaller moments more intimate and something that I personally crave in a relationship. Things like cooking together or having conversations about one’s likes/dislikes.
I loved the forced proximity of course and that the timeline was over a five day period of Nikhil’s sister Tina’s wedding. The wedding festivities were described with such vigor and it made me miss going to Indian weddings greatly.
Another aspect that I really enjoyed about this book was the family ties and rifts between family members. I found all of the reasons that Nikhil resented his family to be honest and similar to feelings a lot of South Asian immigrant children feel. Many of the reasons that Nikhil didn’t get along with his brother Rocky was due to the interior pressure he felt having to be successful in his career especially because he felt like the black sheep of the family (not a lawyer like the rest of his siblings and parents).
I appreciated the commentary on Anita and Nikhil’s mom very powerful as well. Being that they are both women of color who are pursuing careers in law while still taking care of their family is something to admire. However, when it comes to the South Asian community, people will continue to ask why they don’t make enough time for family, why they don’t have kids yet, etc.
Being a woman of color in any male-dominated field is already a difficult task without getting hounded by the community about what you should or should not be doing better.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it!
Characters: 8/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Plot: 6/10
Intrigue: 7/10
Logic: 6/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Rating: 7.0 or 4 stars
Rep: South Asian MCs
I read this book in one sitting so I basically devoured it. I initially picked it up because one of my bookstagram, now real-life friends shared it. Of course, I found the cover swoon-worthy and I’m always on the lookout for South Asian romances, specifically adult ones now that that’s the category I fall into.
I found both Anita and Nikhil to be quite likable and realistic characters. They each had their own backstory and set of characteristics that meshed well together. They each had their flaws, but they acknowledged them. I thought their chemistry was definitely a highlight, but more than that, I found the moments in which they were reminiscing about the past or replicating doing something from the past in the present moment very sweet. Romance doesn’t always have to be the whole Bollywood shebang (something I love as much as the next Brown person). I find every day, smaller moments more intimate and something that I personally crave in a relationship. Things like cooking together or having conversations about one’s likes/dislikes.
I loved the forced proximity of course and that the timeline was over a five day period of Nikhil’s sister Tina’s wedding. The wedding festivities were described with such vigor and it made me miss going to Indian weddings greatly.
Another aspect that I really enjoyed about this book was the family ties and rifts between family members. I found all of the reasons that Nikhil resented his family to be honest and similar to feelings a lot of South Asian immigrant children feel. Many of the reasons that Nikhil didn’t get along with his brother Rocky was due to the interior pressure he felt having to be successful in his career especially because he felt like the black sheep of the family (not a lawyer like the rest of his siblings and parents).
I appreciated the commentary on Anita and Nikhil’s mom very powerful as well. Being that they are both women of color who are pursuing careers in law while still taking care of their family is something to admire. However, when it comes to the South Asian community, people will continue to ask why they don’t make enough time for family, why they don’t have kids yet, etc.
Being a woman of color in any male-dominated field is already a difficult task without getting hounded by the community about what you should or should not be doing better.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it!
Characters: 8/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Plot: 6/10
Intrigue: 7/10
Logic: 6/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Rating: 7.0 or 4 stars
February 1, 2022
There were several things I liked about this book so let’s start with the good.
1. First of all, that cover! 2 Desi characters in Desi outfits on a harlequin romance made me so happy and yes, I totally one clicked this book without even reading the blurb because the cover made me feel so seen.
2. The blurb, once I read it, also made me excited because it was a second chance romance with a divorced couple being forced to pretend they were still married to keep up appearances for the sake of his family.
3. All the wedding stuff - Indian weddings are notorious for lasting days and have a multitude of events and this one had all the events I’ve grown up attending and it was just really lovely to see.
4. The family and the judgment over divorce - it’s not that I *liked* it, it’s more that it felt very realistic to me. There’s a lot of judgment and lot about having to keep up appearances in this book that really resonated with me on a personal level.
5. The general family dynamics between the different generations and the siblings felt very realistic to me as well.
Now for the things I didn’t love:
1. That the hero quits his job to sit at home staring at a computer while his wife works 2 jobs to support them and then when she wants to go to law school, he pretty much dismissed her dreams because of his family, it just really rubbed me the wrong way.
2. The author mentions that the heroine is a law student and this is a very personal nit to pick but the hero’s family acts like she’s already a lawyer and then she shows up to court to represent a client without an actual licensed attorney present and she’s still just about to be a 3L. Idk, all of that was off to me. I didn’t love that storyline.
3. I could see why she left and I think he needed to address his hang ups especially with his family and how he felt continually dismissed by them all.
4. Villainous ex is not a trope I will ever like and this one had it and I don’t think it really elevated the story in any way.
5. This is a closed door romance - no heat and I would have liked some heat.
Anyway; these are my thoughts. Overall, I liked the representation but just wanted more character development and a bit of heat.
1. First of all, that cover! 2 Desi characters in Desi outfits on a harlequin romance made me so happy and yes, I totally one clicked this book without even reading the blurb because the cover made me feel so seen.
2. The blurb, once I read it, also made me excited because it was a second chance romance with a divorced couple being forced to pretend they were still married to keep up appearances for the sake of his family.
3. All the wedding stuff - Indian weddings are notorious for lasting days and have a multitude of events and this one had all the events I’ve grown up attending and it was just really lovely to see.
4. The family and the judgment over divorce - it’s not that I *liked* it, it’s more that it felt very realistic to me. There’s a lot of judgment and lot about having to keep up appearances in this book that really resonated with me on a personal level.
5. The general family dynamics between the different generations and the siblings felt very realistic to me as well.
Now for the things I didn’t love:
1. That the hero quits his job to sit at home staring at a computer while his wife works 2 jobs to support them and then when she wants to go to law school, he pretty much dismissed her dreams because of his family, it just really rubbed me the wrong way.
2. The author mentions that the heroine is a law student and this is a very personal nit to pick but the hero’s family acts like she’s already a lawyer and then she shows up to court to represent a client without an actual licensed attorney present and she’s still just about to be a 3L. Idk, all of that was off to me. I didn’t love that storyline.
3. I could see why she left and I think he needed to address his hang ups especially with his family and how he felt continually dismissed by them all.
4. Villainous ex is not a trope I will ever like and this one had it and I don’t think it really elevated the story in any way.
5. This is a closed door romance - no heat and I would have liked some heat.
Anyway; these are my thoughts. Overall, I liked the representation but just wanted more character development and a bit of heat.
January 25, 2022
Anita Virani reluctantly agrees to pretend to still be married to her ex-husband Nikhil. It is his sister's wedding and the family does not want their grandfather to know that Anita and Nikhil are divorced. He had recent heart problems and they think the embarrassment of a divorce might be too much for his health. Culture also played a huge role as to what was going on. The wedding arrangements will take place over several days and all Anita and Nikhil need to do is to act as if they are still happily married.
Meanwhile, Anita is a law student and she will get something out of this arrangment. She strikes a deal with her former mother-in-law but is none too pleased for the role suddenly thrust upon her. Will Anita be able to spend day after day with Nikhil and deny the fact that she never stopped loving him? or he her?
Why did the two divorce in the first place and what will they do with the flame of desire flairs between them? Not only that but they have a strong emotional connection that gives them both pause.
I loved this story! The wedding customs were interesting to see played out as was the rekindling of romance between Anita and Nikhil. As this is the first book in the Once Upon a Wedding series, readers get to know the extended family, bringing in an emotional edge to a sweet romance and thus laying the groundwork for what promises to be an engaging series.
Many thanks to Harlequin Special Edition and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Meanwhile, Anita is a law student and she will get something out of this arrangment. She strikes a deal with her former mother-in-law but is none too pleased for the role suddenly thrust upon her. Will Anita be able to spend day after day with Nikhil and deny the fact that she never stopped loving him? or he her?
Why did the two divorce in the first place and what will they do with the flame of desire flairs between them? Not only that but they have a strong emotional connection that gives them both pause.
I loved this story! The wedding customs were interesting to see played out as was the rekindling of romance between Anita and Nikhil. As this is the first book in the Once Upon a Wedding series, readers get to know the extended family, bringing in an emotional edge to a sweet romance and thus laying the groundwork for what promises to be an engaging series.
Many thanks to Harlequin Special Edition and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
December 26, 2021
Perfect rainy day companion! Fabulous read - the characters are real and the story so well told. Loved the book! Definitely read this one!
January 27, 2022
Terrific second chance romance. Anita and Nikhil married young and divorced after just two years. They haven't seen each other in the three years since then. When Nikhil arrives at his mother's home for the start of his sister, Tina's, five days of wedding festivities, he is shocked to find his ex-wife there. Furious, he confronts his mother, who confesses that she never told the rest of the family about the divorce. Afraid of the news's effect on her elderly father, Nikhil's mother begs him to pretend they are still married until the wedding is over.
Nikhil is very reluctant to play along. He's still hurt and angry over the way Anita walked away from their marriage. Anita is also dubious, but his mother made her an offer she couldn't refuse. Forced to spend time together to keep up the deception, it doesn't take long for old feelings to resurface. But both of them have significant baggage from their past that must be dealt with before they can think about giving in to those feelings.
Nikhil is the odd man out in his family. All of the others are lawyers, while he is a writer. Despite being a best-selling author, Nikhil gets no respect from his family members. I ached for him because it's obvious that it hurts. I lost count of the number of times he was put down, asked when he'd get a "real job," or just plain ignored. Meanwhile, Anita, who is in her third year of law school, gets all of the attention he doesn't, which adds to his frustration. I could feel Nikhil's determination to show them all, even though he did the same things he blamed them for.
I liked how the time they spent together brought back memories of the good times, which helped make their forced proximity easier to carry off. With a little more maturity under their belts, they also begin to see that neither one was blameless in the failure of their marriage. I loved seeing them open up about their feelings and perceptions during those last days and realize that they'd still be married if they'd been better at communicating. It gave me hope for them when I saw Nikhil's pride in Anita's community law work and Anita's vocal support of him when his family's cluelessness/obnoxiousness got out of hand.
When Nikhil's ex-girlfriend shows up and wants him back, she doesn't take well to being denied. I could tell she would be trouble, especially when Anita got involved. In this case, Nikhil's brother had his back, and I loved seeing them deal with her quickly and decisively. Unfortunately, she didn't go quietly and stirred up quite a storm in her wake. I loved Anita's response.
With the cat out of the bag, Nikhil and Anita have some soul-searching and decisions to make. I loved Nikhil's advice from his brother and mother, which helped him realize he couldn't let history repeat itself. I loved his big moment and seeing that they've both learned from their mistakes. The epilogue was fantastic.
I loved the setting of a traditional Indian wedding. The information about the clothes, food, and entertainment was fascinating. I'm not familiar with the ceremonies, and I loved how each part was shown in a way that I could easily understand. I also liked how each event that Anita and Nikhil participated in brought back memories or gave them the chance to clear up something from their past.
The family dynamics were complex. Nikhil's feelings of being the black sheep were understandable because of how he was treated. His backstory made his insecurity when it came to anything to do with the family law firm heartbreaking to witness. Nikhil's mother irritated me through most of the book because she was one of the worst offenders, mainly to "save face" with her relatives. I liked Nikhil's grandfather. He was kind, funny, and more with-it than most gave him credit for. Nikhil's aunts were a pain and busybodies of the worst variety. I loved his sister, Tina, and her support of Nikhil. His brother Rocky bugged me for a long time but redeemed himself. I liked the younger couples, who seemed more relaxed and fun-loving.
#netgalley
Nikhil is very reluctant to play along. He's still hurt and angry over the way Anita walked away from their marriage. Anita is also dubious, but his mother made her an offer she couldn't refuse. Forced to spend time together to keep up the deception, it doesn't take long for old feelings to resurface. But both of them have significant baggage from their past that must be dealt with before they can think about giving in to those feelings.
Nikhil is the odd man out in his family. All of the others are lawyers, while he is a writer. Despite being a best-selling author, Nikhil gets no respect from his family members. I ached for him because it's obvious that it hurts. I lost count of the number of times he was put down, asked when he'd get a "real job," or just plain ignored. Meanwhile, Anita, who is in her third year of law school, gets all of the attention he doesn't, which adds to his frustration. I could feel Nikhil's determination to show them all, even though he did the same things he blamed them for.
I liked how the time they spent together brought back memories of the good times, which helped make their forced proximity easier to carry off. With a little more maturity under their belts, they also begin to see that neither one was blameless in the failure of their marriage. I loved seeing them open up about their feelings and perceptions during those last days and realize that they'd still be married if they'd been better at communicating. It gave me hope for them when I saw Nikhil's pride in Anita's community law work and Anita's vocal support of him when his family's cluelessness/obnoxiousness got out of hand.
When Nikhil's ex-girlfriend shows up and wants him back, she doesn't take well to being denied. I could tell she would be trouble, especially when Anita got involved. In this case, Nikhil's brother had his back, and I loved seeing them deal with her quickly and decisively. Unfortunately, she didn't go quietly and stirred up quite a storm in her wake. I loved Anita's response.
With the cat out of the bag, Nikhil and Anita have some soul-searching and decisions to make. I loved Nikhil's advice from his brother and mother, which helped him realize he couldn't let history repeat itself. I loved his big moment and seeing that they've both learned from their mistakes. The epilogue was fantastic.
I loved the setting of a traditional Indian wedding. The information about the clothes, food, and entertainment was fascinating. I'm not familiar with the ceremonies, and I loved how each part was shown in a way that I could easily understand. I also liked how each event that Anita and Nikhil participated in brought back memories or gave them the chance to clear up something from their past.
The family dynamics were complex. Nikhil's feelings of being the black sheep were understandable because of how he was treated. His backstory made his insecurity when it came to anything to do with the family law firm heartbreaking to witness. Nikhil's mother irritated me through most of the book because she was one of the worst offenders, mainly to "save face" with her relatives. I liked Nikhil's grandfather. He was kind, funny, and more with-it than most gave him credit for. Nikhil's aunts were a pain and busybodies of the worst variety. I loved his sister, Tina, and her support of Nikhil. His brother Rocky bugged me for a long time but redeemed himself. I liked the younger couples, who seemed more relaxed and fun-loving.
#netgalley
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September 7, 2023Disclaimer if you’ve read other reviews by me and are noticing a pattern: You’re correct that I don’t really give starred reviews because I don’t like leaving them. Most often, I will only leave them if I vehemently despised a book.I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all.
Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless if I add stars or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
I adored this second-chance, forced proximity, fake dating Indian romance! This is the first book I’ve read by Mona Shroff but it will *not* be my last.
The details about Indian culture were so perfectly woven in! From the wedding traditions, to the food descriptions, to the elegant wedding attire, to the cultural conversations surrounding divorce, children, or family, Shroff clearly took such great care in representing Indian culture!
This is a great example of why representation matters, and how good representation illustrates nuance and layers of any identity. I felt the frustration and exhaustion of Nikhil in constantly feeling second-best when it came to his family, and I felt the deep love and protection that Tina (Nikhil’s sister) had for her older brother, even during a time that was supposed to be all about her and her relationship!
I felt the shame that Anita felt when admitting how much she missed Nikhil’s side of the family, and I felt the pressure from some elders who constantly questioned when they would have babies! This is why the setting of a wedding is a goldmine, because it’s the perfect mix of stress, excitement, and joy. Family is complicated, but gosh, do these people love each other!!
The dynamic between Anita & Nikhil was full of antagonistic quips, devastation, & major “the one who got away” energy. However, the journey towards reconciliation was so much fun as it all unfolded. As these two let go of assumptions and accepted the person who stood before them today (rather than the person who signed divorce papers three years ago), they allow their pain & heartbreak to finally be acknowledged & only then, can they decide if it’s something worth repairing.
This is a closed door romance but there’s plenty of angst, tension, longing, & swoon-worthy moments! Shroff wrote a beautiful story about forgiveness, growing up, & rediscovering lost love.
Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless if I add stars or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
I adored this second-chance, forced proximity, fake dating Indian romance! This is the first book I’ve read by Mona Shroff but it will *not* be my last.
The details about Indian culture were so perfectly woven in! From the wedding traditions, to the food descriptions, to the elegant wedding attire, to the cultural conversations surrounding divorce, children, or family, Shroff clearly took such great care in representing Indian culture!
This is a great example of why representation matters, and how good representation illustrates nuance and layers of any identity. I felt the frustration and exhaustion of Nikhil in constantly feeling second-best when it came to his family, and I felt the deep love and protection that Tina (Nikhil’s sister) had for her older brother, even during a time that was supposed to be all about her and her relationship!
I felt the shame that Anita felt when admitting how much she missed Nikhil’s side of the family, and I felt the pressure from some elders who constantly questioned when they would have babies! This is why the setting of a wedding is a goldmine, because it’s the perfect mix of stress, excitement, and joy. Family is complicated, but gosh, do these people love each other!!
The dynamic between Anita & Nikhil was full of antagonistic quips, devastation, & major “the one who got away” energy. However, the journey towards reconciliation was so much fun as it all unfolded. As these two let go of assumptions and accepted the person who stood before them today (rather than the person who signed divorce papers three years ago), they allow their pain & heartbreak to finally be acknowledged & only then, can they decide if it’s something worth repairing.
This is a closed door romance but there’s plenty of angst, tension, longing, & swoon-worthy moments! Shroff wrote a beautiful story about forgiveness, growing up, & rediscovering lost love.
January 18, 2022
This is a new-to-me author and the culture the characters are from is one I don’t know a whole lot about. I’m always interested in learning more about other cultures, especially the way they integrate into living in the United States. When the first-generation Americans are still very much alive and part of the story, but the main characters are second or third generation and are expected to straddle so many different expectations. In this story, I didn’t feel the main characters were pulled in too many directions with these expectations, but Nikhil’s mom sure was. And that’s what got everyone into so much trouble.
This a beautiful second-chance romance with a bunch of forced-proximity and fake spouse thrown into the mix. Nikhil’s mom never told the rest of the family that he had gotten divorced from Anita and here it is his little sister’s big wedding celebration. Five days of festivities where Anita will be expected to be in attendance. Anita and Nikhil have not talked, let alone seen each other, in years. It hurts too much. They were still very much in love when they divorced, only they didn’t talk things out so they don’t really know that. There is a lot of hurt and baggage for them to wade through. Not that either is really thinking they’re going to do that. They just want to act their part, keep Nikhil’s mom and grandfather happy, and go on their way. Neither can handle the heartbreak a second time.
We all know how plans like this tend to go. There is too strong of a connection between Anita and Nikhil for them to not fall into old habits and buried feelings. While I always felt that connection, and even a low simmer of heat, there was only once where I felt the full-on butterflies and fireworks of this couple. But that works for this story. It’s more about them finding their way back to each other and learning how to properly communicate. The chemistry and caring were there, they just needed to dig a bit.
I thoroughly enjoyed the imagery of the wedding celebrations; the clothes and food and entertainment. The author blended the story with the setting in such a way that I felt as though I learned a lot without feeling like I was being schooled. She is certainly an author I will be reading more from.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
You can find an excerpt from this book over on my blog, All In Good Time.
This a beautiful second-chance romance with a bunch of forced-proximity and fake spouse thrown into the mix. Nikhil’s mom never told the rest of the family that he had gotten divorced from Anita and here it is his little sister’s big wedding celebration. Five days of festivities where Anita will be expected to be in attendance. Anita and Nikhil have not talked, let alone seen each other, in years. It hurts too much. They were still very much in love when they divorced, only they didn’t talk things out so they don’t really know that. There is a lot of hurt and baggage for them to wade through. Not that either is really thinking they’re going to do that. They just want to act their part, keep Nikhil’s mom and grandfather happy, and go on their way. Neither can handle the heartbreak a second time.
We all know how plans like this tend to go. There is too strong of a connection between Anita and Nikhil for them to not fall into old habits and buried feelings. While I always felt that connection, and even a low simmer of heat, there was only once where I felt the full-on butterflies and fireworks of this couple. But that works for this story. It’s more about them finding their way back to each other and learning how to properly communicate. The chemistry and caring were there, they just needed to dig a bit.
I thoroughly enjoyed the imagery of the wedding celebrations; the clothes and food and entertainment. The author blended the story with the setting in such a way that I felt as though I learned a lot without feeling like I was being schooled. She is certainly an author I will be reading more from.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
You can find an excerpt from this book over on my blog, All In Good Time.
January 28, 2022
Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance
The Five-Day Reunion begins the Once Upon A Wedding series with a romance that touched my heart and several tropes like a second-chance romance, the forced proximity factors, or even a pretend marriage for a good cause years after they officially divorced. Anita and Nikhil were once a young couple deeply in love, but real-life often gets in the way of the romance and their short marriage was soon over — or it had been until Nikhil’s sister’s wedding celebration where once lovers, once married partners will reunite with unexpected to them results before this celebration is over. Nikhil’s mother had never told certain members of her family about the divorce, feeling that it reflected badly on her… and in her elderly father’s eyes, that would have been very true. Now she’s begging Anita and Nikhil to pretend that all is well, they are still happily married to avoid upsetting Nikhil’s grandfather or adding to his health issues with the truth. They will reluctantly agree, after all, it’s only a five-day celebration what could possibly go wrong, right? It only takes a brief moment to fall back in love when one gets the chance to see the one they’ve always loved with fresh, mature eyes… so, yeah, what indeed could possibly go wrong?
I was easily caught up in The Five-Day Reunion for so many reasons. The writing is smooth, the plot interesting, the characters believable in their choices, and the tears or laughter flowed easily as I learned about traditions and celebrations that captured my imagination. It’s a story that’s rich in describing the thought process and traditions of a culture that I’ve only looked in on from the outside. I love to learn new things, it’s one reason why I devour so many novels. So that was an added bonus for me, personally, in Anita’s and Nikhil’s romance.
The road to romance is often bumpy and full of potholes, and that certainly was still the case for Nikhil and Anita. Yet, this time with a bit more maturity and perhaps more open minds they were able to find the love that has always been there and rebuild, not what they had but something new and fresh between them only this time with eyes wide open and hearts willing to bend and understand another view beyond their own. I enjoyed watching the journey as Nikhil and Anita faced the unique situation they were placed in and then owned it as a way back into each other’s lives. I had fun here, and I’ll definitely be on the watch for the next title in the Once Upon A Wedding series.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own – good, bad, or indifferent. I was not financially compensated for this review and no expectation of a positive review was promised.*
The Five-Day Reunion begins the Once Upon A Wedding series with a romance that touched my heart and several tropes like a second-chance romance, the forced proximity factors, or even a pretend marriage for a good cause years after they officially divorced. Anita and Nikhil were once a young couple deeply in love, but real-life often gets in the way of the romance and their short marriage was soon over — or it had been until Nikhil’s sister’s wedding celebration where once lovers, once married partners will reunite with unexpected to them results before this celebration is over. Nikhil’s mother had never told certain members of her family about the divorce, feeling that it reflected badly on her… and in her elderly father’s eyes, that would have been very true. Now she’s begging Anita and Nikhil to pretend that all is well, they are still happily married to avoid upsetting Nikhil’s grandfather or adding to his health issues with the truth. They will reluctantly agree, after all, it’s only a five-day celebration what could possibly go wrong, right? It only takes a brief moment to fall back in love when one gets the chance to see the one they’ve always loved with fresh, mature eyes… so, yeah, what indeed could possibly go wrong?
I was easily caught up in The Five-Day Reunion for so many reasons. The writing is smooth, the plot interesting, the characters believable in their choices, and the tears or laughter flowed easily as I learned about traditions and celebrations that captured my imagination. It’s a story that’s rich in describing the thought process and traditions of a culture that I’ve only looked in on from the outside. I love to learn new things, it’s one reason why I devour so many novels. So that was an added bonus for me, personally, in Anita’s and Nikhil’s romance.
The road to romance is often bumpy and full of potholes, and that certainly was still the case for Nikhil and Anita. Yet, this time with a bit more maturity and perhaps more open minds they were able to find the love that has always been there and rebuild, not what they had but something new and fresh between them only this time with eyes wide open and hearts willing to bend and understand another view beyond their own. I enjoyed watching the journey as Nikhil and Anita faced the unique situation they were placed in and then owned it as a way back into each other’s lives. I had fun here, and I’ll definitely be on the watch for the next title in the Once Upon A Wedding series.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own – good, bad, or indifferent. I was not financially compensated for this review and no expectation of a positive review was promised.*
May 2, 2023
https://celebrityreaders.com/2023/05/...
3.5 stars — Well oops. Apparently I started this review, but barely wrote anything and didn’t realize it. So this is going to be bare bones.
I really enjoyed seeing elements of the Indian wedding festivities that I have participated in with friends. I still don’t know them that well, but I recognized a few different ceremonies.
Anita was a pretty solid heroine. I loved how passionate she was once she figured out what she wanted to do with her life, and how ardently she wanted to help those less fortunate.
Nikhail rubbed me a bit wrong at the beginning, but he settled in okay as the story went on. He had a pretty big chip on his shoulder that he needed to get around, but I feel like he did eventually figure some stuff out.
They were interesting together because we are introduced to them after they have already split, and while it’s obvious they both have feelings for the other, they both believe that they cannot make it work. While we didn’t get flashback flashbacks, we did get glimpses of what their initial courtship was like in their reminiscing (either in their heads or with one another). I appreciated that a big component was just wrong time, and both of them needing to grow on their own.
There was obviously a bit family and cultural component to the story, and specifically to their relationship. As with most cultures, there are good parts and bad parts. It’s funny how in some ways they can be so supportive and there for one another, but there are these undercurrents of expectations that kind of mess things up at times. I was particularly bummed about the shame associated with divorce that was central to at least the community represented in this book. That was definitely something this white girl had a hard time grasping and connecting with.
So yeah. Definitely a solid Harlequin romance, but I wasn’t left clamouring for Anita’s brother’s story or anything.
3.5 stars — Well oops. Apparently I started this review, but barely wrote anything and didn’t realize it. So this is going to be bare bones.
I really enjoyed seeing elements of the Indian wedding festivities that I have participated in with friends. I still don’t know them that well, but I recognized a few different ceremonies.
Anita was a pretty solid heroine. I loved how passionate she was once she figured out what she wanted to do with her life, and how ardently she wanted to help those less fortunate.
Nikhail rubbed me a bit wrong at the beginning, but he settled in okay as the story went on. He had a pretty big chip on his shoulder that he needed to get around, but I feel like he did eventually figure some stuff out.
They were interesting together because we are introduced to them after they have already split, and while it’s obvious they both have feelings for the other, they both believe that they cannot make it work. While we didn’t get flashback flashbacks, we did get glimpses of what their initial courtship was like in their reminiscing (either in their heads or with one another). I appreciated that a big component was just wrong time, and both of them needing to grow on their own.
There was obviously a bit family and cultural component to the story, and specifically to their relationship. As with most cultures, there are good parts and bad parts. It’s funny how in some ways they can be so supportive and there for one another, but there are these undercurrents of expectations that kind of mess things up at times. I was particularly bummed about the shame associated with divorce that was central to at least the community represented in this book. That was definitely something this white girl had a hard time grasping and connecting with.
So yeah. Definitely a solid Harlequin romance, but I wasn’t left clamouring for Anita’s brother’s story or anything.
January 19, 2024
3.5 stars
I don't love 2nd chance in contemporary, and this was a good example of why. While the breakup the first time felt real, with Anita walking out (for reasons I won't say here because it's revealed later in the book), it also very much felt like breakup one could have been avoided if they'd talked one thing through and also been mature enough to have a tough conversation. The setup for the fake getting back together part though was excellent. We love a matchmaking mama, and Nikhil's mom does it well here.
I think ultimately what annoyed me was Anita and Nikhil very clearly are in love with one another through the whole book, but they aren't mature enough to talk about it until someone else forces their hand.
I don't love 2nd chance in contemporary, and this was a good example of why. While the breakup the first time felt real, with Anita walking out (for reasons I won't say here because it's revealed later in the book), it also very much felt like breakup one could have been avoided if they'd talked one thing through and also been mature enough to have a tough conversation. The setup for the fake getting back together part though was excellent. We love a matchmaking mama, and Nikhil's mom does it well here.
I think ultimately what annoyed me was Anita and Nikhil very clearly are in love with one another through the whole book, but they aren't mature enough to talk about it until someone else forces their hand.
January 15, 2024
I love the fact that they didn’t just end up back together easily. There was a lot of work and communication that had to happen. It made the ending very satisfying. I listened to the audio version and it was really well done. #CMCon24
January 22, 2022
An adorably flawed romance. The Five-Day Reunion dares to make you smile while on the cusp of breaking your heart. Shroff opens emotions to a tale of love as crazy as it is endearing. Nikhil and Anita give love a refreshing look that speaks to the heart on every level.
August 24, 2024
A fun and intriguing storyline with overflowing compassion for family tradition with loving support for everyone.
Highly recommend
Highly recommend
October 24, 2023
"The Five -Day Reunion" by Mona Shroff is about Anita and Nikhill, who were once married going to Nikhill's sisters wedding. Nikhill had no clue that his ex-wife, Anita, was going to be there. They play along that they are still married because Nikhill's Grandpa has health problems, and they don't want him to get worse by hearing that Anita and Nikhill aren't together anymore. With them spending time together, they realize that the love that they had for each other never really left. This is a very good read, and I highly recommend reading it
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September 6, 202412%
Negative energy in this book
Negative energy in this book
January 25, 2022
The Five-Day Reunion follows Anita and Nikhil, a couple once madly in love but now divorced, as they pretend to still be married during the wedding celebrations for Nikhil's sister. Nikhil's mother never told anyone of their divorce, and now Anita and Nikhil are forced to interact closely. But even as they try to keep some distance between them, Anita and Nikhil realize they might still have feelings for each other.
This was a super quick, fun romance! It's both a second chance romance and fake dating/married, so it was all kinds of fun. The characters were super great too, especially Nikhil's family. There was the perfect amount of pining and longing. It was also dual POV which worked great to see Anita and Nikhil's thoughts.
This was a super quick, fun romance! It's both a second chance romance and fake dating/married, so it was all kinds of fun. The characters were super great too, especially Nikhil's family. There was the perfect amount of pining and longing. It was also dual POV which worked great to see Anita and Nikhil's thoughts.
February 1, 2022
Loved the concept and the way it was told. The reason they broke up in the first place, when finally revealed, was really down to a lack of communication. I enjoyed the family interactions and the wedding scenes...learned a lot about Indian weddings and culture.
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January 1, 2022Categories
Romance, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Once Upon a Wedding (Book #1)
Romance, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Once Upon a Wedding (Book #1)
January 30, 2024
I'm a big fan of second chances. Anita and Nikhil have been divorced for years but most of the family doesn't know. When Nikhil's sister gets married, the two of them pretend that they are still together.
I loved the family interactions and the wedding traditions. It's a fun story and I'm looking forward to more books in the series.
I loved the family interactions and the wedding traditions. It's a fun story and I'm looking forward to more books in the series.
Read
January 28, 2022This slow burn, second chance for Anita and Nikhil is absolutely lovely. The main characters are SO loveable and the whole time I was just cheering for their second chance.
The story was it's own very unique spin on the second chance trope and the author nailed the right amount of outside twists to keep their story interesting. When thinking back on the book, the characters and their storylines are so deep and detailed, you learn so much about the main characters' separate and united pasts, and yet never felt overdone or convoluted.
I loved the author's display of how loving and being loved aren't straight forward or easy things to give and get - sometimes we try and miss, and sometimes we don't try. The main and side characters struggle to love others in the way they need to be loved, struggle to see the love they are given, especially struggle to see the love they aren't giving, and yearn for the love they lack.
Just an absolute love for me.
The story was it's own very unique spin on the second chance trope and the author nailed the right amount of outside twists to keep their story interesting. When thinking back on the book, the characters and their storylines are so deep and detailed, you learn so much about the main characters' separate and united pasts, and yet never felt overdone or convoluted.
I loved the author's display of how loving and being loved aren't straight forward or easy things to give and get - sometimes we try and miss, and sometimes we don't try. The main and side characters struggle to love others in the way they need to be loved, struggle to see the love they are given, especially struggle to see the love they aren't giving, and yearn for the love they lack.
Just an absolute love for me.
January 31, 2022
I was super disappointed that I didn't like this one. I loved Shroff's two books and was so excited for this one. But sadly I just felt so bored.
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