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Partners in Crime
Indian Matchmaking meets Date Night in this fun, romantic adventure in which a match-made couple about to be engaged gets caught up in a caper that puts their future—and lives—in danger.
At thirty-five, with a stable job as an accountant, Mira Chaudhary wants nothing more than to find a boring man to spend the rest of her life with. Having had enough excitement in her younger days and desperately trying to escape her dysfunctional past, she turns to a matching app specializing in Indian American singles to help her find someone to settle down with.
Enter Naveen Desai. An English professor with an uneventful, normal, and—dare she say it, boring—life, Naveen is perfect.
But just when things are going well, Mira receives news that her aunt has died. Suddenly a trip to Las Vegas to settle her aunt’s affairs turns into a mad dash to escape kidnappers, evade art thieves, and consorting with hackers who can decipher just what it was Mira’s aunt was involved with. Mira just hopes that Naveen isn’t chased away by the very same life of “excitement” that she’s been trying to get away from. But maybe, over the course of one wild night, Mira and Naveen will find the love connection that neither expected.
At thirty-five, with a stable job as an accountant, Mira Chaudhary wants nothing more than to find a boring man to spend the rest of her life with. Having had enough excitement in her younger days and desperately trying to escape her dysfunctional past, she turns to a matching app specializing in Indian American singles to help her find someone to settle down with.
Enter Naveen Desai. An English professor with an uneventful, normal, and—dare she say it, boring—life, Naveen is perfect.
But just when things are going well, Mira receives news that her aunt has died. Suddenly a trip to Las Vegas to settle her aunt’s affairs turns into a mad dash to escape kidnappers, evade art thieves, and consorting with hackers who can decipher just what it was Mira’s aunt was involved with. Mira just hopes that Naveen isn’t chased away by the very same life of “excitement” that she’s been trying to get away from. But maybe, over the course of one wild night, Mira and Naveen will find the love connection that neither expected.
400 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,352 reviews
February 16, 2023
This is exhilarating action packed, fast pacing, twisty, entertaining romantic suspense you’re easily drawn into and read in one sit!
Mira and Naveen’s unresolved feelings, sizzling chemistry attract your attention. The mysterious, adventurous plot line; the big schemes, unexpected twists you never see it coming, cat-mouse games, two ex-lovers’ heart throbbing escape from criminals are exciting elements that help you enjoy the full wild ride!
This is absolutely different story from the previous works the author had crafted! It starts like a romcom:We witness one of the failed dating attempts of Mira who is provided service of professional matchmaker. She’s broken hearted to be dumped by her last candidate. And we’re also introduced to Naveen: who was one of the dates of Mira( actually he’s the first guy she’s match made), an efficient lawyer,working with his grandfather who is suffering from health issues, forced to get marry sooner in exchange of having six bedroom house ( thanks to her very persuasive and wealthy mother)
Mira comes to Naveen’s office without any knowledge he’s the lawyer of her recently passed away aunt to be informed about her inheritance.
Naveen gets shocked because the woman who dumped her with a text and broke her heart has a different name and this is not the only lie she’s told about her past.
The opening of the story seemed like an intriguing romcom till Mira leaves the office and getting manhandled by two masked men. Naveen who follows her to the garage, tries to rescue her and unfortunately finds himself awake at a strange place, crawling near gagged and zip locked Mira,kidnapped, beaten and drugged.
Two ex lovers turn into partners in crime to get rid of the men who kidnapped them and looking for a valuable necklace that help him solve the entire trouble they got themselves into.
This means they have to lower their guards, talking about the secrets and baggages they’ve been carrying. But as they dig out more about Mira’s criminal parents’ pasts, they realize nothing as it seems and they are at the risk of losing their lives.
This was quick and enjoyable read! I had so much fun and highly recommend to the fan of action packed, heart throbbing thriller and romance fans!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this entertaining digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Mira and Naveen’s unresolved feelings, sizzling chemistry attract your attention. The mysterious, adventurous plot line; the big schemes, unexpected twists you never see it coming, cat-mouse games, two ex-lovers’ heart throbbing escape from criminals are exciting elements that help you enjoy the full wild ride!
This is absolutely different story from the previous works the author had crafted! It starts like a romcom:We witness one of the failed dating attempts of Mira who is provided service of professional matchmaker. She’s broken hearted to be dumped by her last candidate. And we’re also introduced to Naveen: who was one of the dates of Mira( actually he’s the first guy she’s match made), an efficient lawyer,working with his grandfather who is suffering from health issues, forced to get marry sooner in exchange of having six bedroom house ( thanks to her very persuasive and wealthy mother)
Mira comes to Naveen’s office without any knowledge he’s the lawyer of her recently passed away aunt to be informed about her inheritance.
Naveen gets shocked because the woman who dumped her with a text and broke her heart has a different name and this is not the only lie she’s told about her past.
The opening of the story seemed like an intriguing romcom till Mira leaves the office and getting manhandled by two masked men. Naveen who follows her to the garage, tries to rescue her and unfortunately finds himself awake at a strange place, crawling near gagged and zip locked Mira,kidnapped, beaten and drugged.
Two ex lovers turn into partners in crime to get rid of the men who kidnapped them and looking for a valuable necklace that help him solve the entire trouble they got themselves into.
This means they have to lower their guards, talking about the secrets and baggages they’ve been carrying. But as they dig out more about Mira’s criminal parents’ pasts, they realize nothing as it seems and they are at the risk of losing their lives.
This was quick and enjoyable read! I had so much fun and highly recommend to the fan of action packed, heart throbbing thriller and romance fans!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this entertaining digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
January 4, 2023
honestly this book shocked me with how good it is like i can believe it!! this is a scavenger hunt with guns and marriage matches?? it’s so interesting!! 4.5 stars
October 15, 2022
Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai
Contemporary romance. Own voice - Indian. Second chance.
Mira knows her dysfunctional family is keeping her from making a match with a suitable partner. Getting kidnapped with her first rejected match has Mari and Naveen on a crazy quest through Las Vegas. She broke his heart the first time around, but the more he learns about the real woman, the less concerned Naveen is about the past.
Running, searching, clues and conspiracy. Maybe even the mafia. Mira and Naveen are caught up in a mystery they can’t walk away from. And every clue has more of Miri’s past exposed and twists that surprise and delight.
Engaging and absorbing.
I don’t know if it’s a series but their is an intriguing hook at the end that leans towards that.
Excerpt:
“Was he dead?
Naveen didn’t think he was, but then again, he didn’t have much previous experience being dead.”
Excerpt from Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai
I received a paperback copy of this book from the publisher.
Contemporary romance. Own voice - Indian. Second chance.
Mira knows her dysfunctional family is keeping her from making a match with a suitable partner. Getting kidnapped with her first rejected match has Mari and Naveen on a crazy quest through Las Vegas. She broke his heart the first time around, but the more he learns about the real woman, the less concerned Naveen is about the past.
Running, searching, clues and conspiracy. Maybe even the mafia. Mira and Naveen are caught up in a mystery they can’t walk away from. And every clue has more of Miri’s past exposed and twists that surprise and delight.
Engaging and absorbing.
I don’t know if it’s a series but their is an intriguing hook at the end that leans towards that.
Excerpt:
“Was he dead?
Naveen didn’t think he was, but then again, he didn’t have much previous experience being dead.”
Excerpt from Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai
I received a paperback copy of this book from the publisher.
September 26, 2024
Amira appears unlucky in love. Not even matchmakers have been helpful. On a disastrous date she is contacted to settle her aunt’s estate. Thank goodness for the distraction and a way out of that messy date. Her decision to go directly to her aunt’s lawyer’s office sets this story in motion. Because now she meets Naveen. The San Francisco lawyer who is working for his uncle’s small practice. Surprisingly, he is also looking for love. Oh, what could this mean in the rom-com world of love matches?
The problem is, Naveen is someone Amira has been matched with before and dumped. Oh no! What will readers be in for now? Well, it is a bit more complicated than a love match. We’ve got criminals in this story and a kidnapping, too. And, here you have this couple, Amira and Naveen who don’t want to be together, suddenly together on a madcap adventure. What is in store for them? Is this how one gets to a HEA?
If you want a light read this book will give you… Silly. Cute. Charming. Entertaining and Fun.
The problem is, Naveen is someone Amira has been matched with before and dumped. Oh no! What will readers be in for now? Well, it is a bit more complicated than a love match. We’ve got criminals in this story and a kidnapping, too. And, here you have this couple, Amira and Naveen who don’t want to be together, suddenly together on a madcap adventure. What is in store for them? Is this how one gets to a HEA?
If you want a light read this book will give you… Silly. Cute. Charming. Entertaining and Fun.
October 23, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up
This was so much fun! I don't know that the cover really gives the right vibe but Partners in Crime is a romantic suspense novel with a second chance romance.
Mira is an accountant who wants nothing more than to be married and settled, but her Indian matchmaker can't seem to find a guy to stick. Perhaps because her family is non-existent. When her aunt dies and the will is read, her lawyer is Naveen- the first match she refused. But not because he was awful, because she was too into him and his family too intimidating.
Meanwhile Naveen is very, very single and Mira left an impression. But they are unexpectedly kidnapped at gunpoint and swept into an underworld of crime connected to Mira's family secrets! They must track down a diamond necklace and try to survive, but perhaps a flame will be resurrected along the way?
This was delightful, rompy fun with a couple of solid steamy scenes coming late in the book. I'm hit and miss with Alisha Rai, but this one was definitely a hit. I enjoyed the characters, was swept into the story, and was rooting for them to get back together. The audio narration is also excellent! I received an audio review copy of this book from Libro.FM. All opinions are my own.
This was so much fun! I don't know that the cover really gives the right vibe but Partners in Crime is a romantic suspense novel with a second chance romance.
Mira is an accountant who wants nothing more than to be married and settled, but her Indian matchmaker can't seem to find a guy to stick. Perhaps because her family is non-existent. When her aunt dies and the will is read, her lawyer is Naveen- the first match she refused. But not because he was awful, because she was too into him and his family too intimidating.
Meanwhile Naveen is very, very single and Mira left an impression. But they are unexpectedly kidnapped at gunpoint and swept into an underworld of crime connected to Mira's family secrets! They must track down a diamond necklace and try to survive, but perhaps a flame will be resurrected along the way?
This was delightful, rompy fun with a couple of solid steamy scenes coming late in the book. I'm hit and miss with Alisha Rai, but this one was definitely a hit. I enjoyed the characters, was swept into the story, and was rooting for them to get back together. The audio narration is also excellent! I received an audio review copy of this book from Libro.FM. All opinions are my own.
September 24, 2022
This is a light-hearted contemporary romance with an adventurous spirit. There's Indian matchmaking, secrets, kidnapping, a dysfunctional family and charming characters. Something for everyone. The author is new to me and I read an uncorrected proof.
October 28, 2022
Genuinely want Alisha Rai to try something different in her future books.
This works, it was cute but need more depth and layers to the story.
This works, it was cute but need more depth and layers to the story.
October 31, 2024
I liked it and found it fairly entertaining, but that's about it, to be honest.
Read
May 27, 2022This is the first Alisha Rai book that I didn't LOVE. I was very excited to read it because it's a second chance romance and the premise sounded like a good action-comedy. I was mostly indifferent to the book and sadly, the romance didn't deliver for me. The chemistry wasn't really there? Which is odd because usually Alisha writes good chemistry. And no angst too despite this being a second chance romance that ended on a sour note. Anyways, once talk about cryptocurrency, I completely zoned out.
Read
April 22, 2023Entertaining second chance romance / crime caper, with our MCs running around in pursuit of a McGuffin while falling back in love. Exuberantly implausible action and lots of left turns, plus a fun supporting cast. I do hope the sister gets a book.
Read
November 19, 2022Got an ALC from libro fm and HarperAudio
I can’t say I enjoyed this much. Lot of it was a recollection not much was going on in the present, two sex scenes , implausible turn of events and for the life of me I don’t get the point of the title
I can’t say I enjoyed this much. Lot of it was a recollection not much was going on in the present, two sex scenes , implausible turn of events and for the life of me I don’t get the point of the title
December 10, 2022
This wasn't fun/funny enough to be a rom-com but didn't quite flow like a romantic suspense either. I was looking forward to this because the cover was giving me heist rom-com. That's not what this is. There were a lot of ideas here but the execution really didn't work for me.
And unfortunately the mcs didn't have enough chemistry together to make this satisfying read. The sex scenes were really dry and the audio narration actually made the dirty talk sound uncomfortable.
And unfortunately the mcs didn't have enough chemistry together to make this satisfying read. The sex scenes were really dry and the audio narration actually made the dirty talk sound uncomfortable.
January 16, 2023
i wanted a cute romcom, but i got a suspense thriller ridiculous book with just a little romance. not complaining about the thrilling parts tho it was fun but tbh it was so over done and soooo ridiculous i laughed every single chapter. i guess I'm not the target audience for this, this has vibes of things we never got over ( in a sense of suspence) and jennifer anniston meets adam sndler movie. i flew through it tho and kinda enjoyed? but it was very messy
November 11, 2022
Similar to Janet Evanovich books without that many hilarious situations. The writing and idea are decent enough. 3.5 stars
Main Con: The long male pov seemed unnecessary to me. Wasn't interesting.
Main Con: The long male pov seemed unnecessary to me. Wasn't interesting.
October 22, 2022
This was a madcap, dual POV, second chance romance that was pure fun and impossible to put down!! As a huge fan of Alisha Rai, I had high expectations for this latest standalone and it did NOT disappoint!!
Mira and Naveen find themselves forced together when they're kidnapped by jewel thieves and have to work together to escape. Full of crazy Las Vegas antics, escape rooms, illicit poker games, steamy on the run sex and lots of family drama. This book gave me a TON of Something wilder vibes and delivered pure entertainment.
Great on audio narrated by my fav Soneela Nankani and new to me narrator Shahjehan Khan.
Much thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollinsCa for my early digital and physical arc copies in exchange for my honest review! I can't recommend this one enough if you're looking for a fun, high octane adventure romance with a beautiful cover!
⚠️TW: recovering alcoholic
Mira and Naveen find themselves forced together when they're kidnapped by jewel thieves and have to work together to escape. Full of crazy Las Vegas antics, escape rooms, illicit poker games, steamy on the run sex and lots of family drama. This book gave me a TON of Something wilder vibes and delivered pure entertainment.
Great on audio narrated by my fav Soneela Nankani and new to me narrator Shahjehan Khan.
Much thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollinsCa for my early digital and physical arc copies in exchange for my honest review! I can't recommend this one enough if you're looking for a fun, high octane adventure romance with a beautiful cover!
⚠️TW: recovering alcoholic
October 19, 2022
“A lawyer in the streets and a criminal in the sheets.”
If anyone tried to tell me all the things that were going to happen in Partners in Crime were going to happen, I would have called them a liar. I went in without reading the blurb and with only the super fun cover as the draw. So imagine my surprise when I started reading and realized that PIC is basically if Wedding Season and Game Night had a super cute but mischievous bookish baby.
Partners in Crime was funny and emotional, but also had a suspenseful plot that kept these characters on the move and a little stressed. I’m not sure if falling in love while trying not to get k-worded is the healthiest, but this is a second chance romance so it works. Enjoyed this one because it felt unique and kept me guessing.
*Audio through Libro.fm
If anyone tried to tell me all the things that were going to happen in Partners in Crime were going to happen, I would have called them a liar. I went in without reading the blurb and with only the super fun cover as the draw. So imagine my surprise when I started reading and realized that PIC is basically if Wedding Season and Game Night had a super cute but mischievous bookish baby.
Partners in Crime was funny and emotional, but also had a suspenseful plot that kept these characters on the move and a little stressed. I’m not sure if falling in love while trying not to get k-worded is the healthiest, but this is a second chance romance so it works. Enjoyed this one because it felt unique and kept me guessing.
*Audio through Libro.fm
January 10, 2023
This was so much fun. It's about two exes, Mira Patel and Naveen Desai, who meet each other once again when Mira has to settle her aunt's affairs and Naveen turns out to be her aunt's lawyer. And then they both get kidnapped. What follows is an epic adventure involving a trip to Vegas, illegal poker games, discovering each other's past, reconnecting with old friends, understanding the mess Mira's father left them in, crashing parties, forgeries and a lot more - all while trying to find a necklace and evading the men who kidnapped them.
It's adventurous and fun and I had a great time listening to the audiobook. This is my fourth book by Alisha Rai and she has never disappointed me. Looking forward to what she comes up with next.
It's adventurous and fun and I had a great time listening to the audiobook. This is my fourth book by Alisha Rai and she has never disappointed me. Looking forward to what she comes up with next.
November 12, 2022
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3.5 stars rounded up on Goodreads
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for inviting me to read Partners in Crime and for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
A review will be up on my blog on November 12, 2021 at 10 am CST on Honey Roselea Reads for you guys to check out!
My review on Partners in Crime will be accessible using this link from November 12, 2021 at 10 am CST and onward.
For now, here is a preview to what the review will look like:
❀❀❀❀
After her aunt passes away, Mira Chaudhary is pushed to meet with her aunt’s attorney in discussion of her will, only to be met with her ex, Naveen Desai. Pushed into a shocking situation of kidnapping, heist doing, and tight situations facing each other’s reignited chemistry, Mira and Naveen are forced to confront their past together.
I gave Partners in Crime 3.5 stars, enjoying the second chance romance between Mira and Naveen. This is my first novel by Alisha Rai — and definitely not my last — and I found this fun to read. I think the kidnapping and the idea of Mira and Naveen having to… [ continue reading ]
April 1, 2023
I thought Alisha Rai was a new author to me, but it seems I've read something by her before (Hot as Hades) which was over 10 years ago and I don't really remember it, so she might as well be new. After this though I might go back and reread that because it sounds vaguely familiar.
Partners in Crime was a great audiobook, but I didn't really like the female narrator, her delivery didn't seem natural. I eventually got used to her, and really ended up liking this.
Both Mira and Naveen are pretty good characters, I like both of them and I love them together. I feel like I also have to mention that I didn't like the sex scenes, they were kind of cringy. Luckily, there's few of them, so it didn't take away from the rest of the story.
This book had some mystery elements and I enjoyed that most of all. It blended well with the romance and gave it a little extra something that kept me engaged - it's what made me finish it in a couple of hours, despite my plans to stretch it to two days.
I hope Alisha Rai writes more books like this, I'd be happy to read them.
Partners in Crime was a great audiobook, but I didn't really like the female narrator, her delivery didn't seem natural. I eventually got used to her, and really ended up liking this.
Both Mira and Naveen are pretty good characters, I like both of them and I love them together. I feel like I also have to mention that I didn't like the sex scenes, they were kind of cringy. Luckily, there's few of them, so it didn't take away from the rest of the story.
This book had some mystery elements and I enjoyed that most of all. It blended well with the romance and gave it a little extra something that kept me engaged - it's what made me finish it in a couple of hours, despite my plans to stretch it to two days.
I hope Alisha Rai writes more books like this, I'd be happy to read them.
June 15, 2022
This is my first Alisha Rai book, and I loved it! This is a second chance romance with a lot of twists and turns in the storyline. Mira and Naveen are ex-lovers who have unresolved feelings that must be addressed. While they're being hunted by criminals around Nevada, they don't really have time to sit down and chat.
Mira is a complex woman who has a complicated background. Mira has been utilizing a professional matchmaker for a long time, but all of her attempts have failed. Almost all of them end with her breaking up with them, although her most recent one did not. Naveen had hired the same professional matchmaker as Mira, and the two had been paired up. They were both each others first matches. Mira, on the other hand, abruptly ended their relationship. Since his grandfather is suffering from health problems, Naveen is working as a lawyer alongside him.
Mira's aunt has sadly passed away, so she must now speak with a lawyer to learn about her inheritance. Naveen's law firm happened to be the one her aunt went to. Both of them are caught off guard, but Naveen more so. Considering Mira isn't her real name, it took Naveen a long time to track down Mira so he could tell her about her inheritance. Now, Naveen discovers that a lot of what he thought he knew was a falsehood.
The events that follow set in motion a lengthy and chaotic voyage. Mira is attacked by two men as she exits the office. Naveen happened to be following her out and saw what was going on right away and tried to save her. Unfortunately, this did not go so well, and they were both drugged and kidnapped as a result.
When they finally wake up, they find themselves in an unfamiliar environment. After they awaken, their kidnappers rush in and demand immediate answers. The kidnappers are on the lookout for a valuable necklace, and they believe these two are the ones who know where it is. They, on the other hand, have no idea what they're talking about. Now, they must work together to stay alive and locate this necklace.
Even though they dated, a lot of the information they didn't divulge when dating is about to come out during this chaotic trip of escaping criminals. Hmm, that seems like a lot of fun, doesn't it?
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸
Mira is a complex woman who has a complicated background. Mira has been utilizing a professional matchmaker for a long time, but all of her attempts have failed. Almost all of them end with her breaking up with them, although her most recent one did not. Naveen had hired the same professional matchmaker as Mira, and the two had been paired up. They were both each others first matches. Mira, on the other hand, abruptly ended their relationship. Since his grandfather is suffering from health problems, Naveen is working as a lawyer alongside him.
Mira's aunt has sadly passed away, so she must now speak with a lawyer to learn about her inheritance. Naveen's law firm happened to be the one her aunt went to. Both of them are caught off guard, but Naveen more so. Considering Mira isn't her real name, it took Naveen a long time to track down Mira so he could tell her about her inheritance. Now, Naveen discovers that a lot of what he thought he knew was a falsehood.
The events that follow set in motion a lengthy and chaotic voyage. Mira is attacked by two men as she exits the office. Naveen happened to be following her out and saw what was going on right away and tried to save her. Unfortunately, this did not go so well, and they were both drugged and kidnapped as a result.
When they finally wake up, they find themselves in an unfamiliar environment. After they awaken, their kidnappers rush in and demand immediate answers. The kidnappers are on the lookout for a valuable necklace, and they believe these two are the ones who know where it is. They, on the other hand, have no idea what they're talking about. Now, they must work together to stay alive and locate this necklace.
Even though they dated, a lot of the information they didn't divulge when dating is about to come out during this chaotic trip of escaping criminals. Hmm, that seems like a lot of fun, doesn't it?
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸
May 4, 2023
such a fun if at times corny read😏
thank you to libro.fm, the author, and the publisher for an alc of this book
thank you to libro.fm, the author, and the publisher for an alc of this book
April 4, 2024
I found this to be quick moving and slow-paced at the same time haha.
Set up is fun! It's essentially a second chance romance with a heist/hostage plot. Lots of shenanigans, criminal activity, and yearning.
But the length of the book...I was itching to be done with it and there was still so much book left.
Don't get me wrong, the stakes were high and the story compelling, but it wasn't compelling enough to hold my interest in a chokehold.
Rating: 2.5 rounded up to 3 stars.
Set up is fun! It's essentially a second chance romance with a heist/hostage plot. Lots of shenanigans, criminal activity, and yearning.
But the length of the book...I was itching to be done with it and there was still so much book left.
Don't get me wrong, the stakes were high and the story compelling, but it wasn't compelling enough to hold my interest in a chokehold.
Rating: 2.5 rounded up to 3 stars.
December 17, 2023
Me ha durado un par de horas del ritmazo tan loco que tiene. Ha sido como ver la típica película romántica con acción de los 2000 donde disfrutabas como una loca por los plot twist tan wtf que tiene.
Me ha gustado mucho y ha sido una buena lectura.
Me ha gustado mucho y ha sido una buena lectura.
July 23, 2023
what soap drama was this 😭 istg there was so much unnecessary drama like why are so many ppl faking their deaths. and for a book categorised as romance there was hardly any..
January 6, 2023
sooo good. felt like a classic indian movie and i absolutely loved it
January 23, 2023
This book was an outfit that needed at least one accessory pruned from it before going out in public. Did I mostly enjoy it? Yes! Am I satisfied with my decision to stop buying Rai's books and get them from the library instead? Also yes.
July 15, 2022
There’s nothing quite like pivoting your expectations of a book when you’re already five chapters deep in it. That’s exactly what happened to me with this read. Based off the cover, I went into this novel expecting the plot focus to be on romance. But when looking at the synopsis, it’s clear that this novel is more of a comedic thriller than a romance novel. Those two pieces clashed and truly threw off my expectations for this story to the point that I considered DNF’ing this novel.
Labeling a strength to this novel, it would have to be the characterization—despite me not truly feeling the chemistry with the second-chance romance. Mira and Naveen had distinct character voices, which made it easy to determine who was leading the narration in each chapter. Also, there was some personality and life experience mirroring (such as, both main characters being estranged from their siblings) that didn’t muddy up the story, even if those backstory plots grew repetitive over time.
Emotions wise, I didn’t feel much from (or for) the characters, especially when it came to Mira’s grief over her aunt. Her arc was learning how to stop bottling up her emotions and learn to feel them, sure. But I can’t help but feel that was at a detriment to the tone and the reader’s ability to connect with Mira as a character. And I will admit, I wasn’t completely feeling the chemistry between Mira and Naveen. That’s a result of the plot spanning a forty-eight-hour period more than anything else.
The other thing I noticed about the characterization was the overall lack of change either character went through. The changes were self-contained and focused on inter-personal relationships. For example, the change that Mira went through was mostly in terms of how she viewed her sister. (Mirrored in Naveen with his brother Kiran.) Both sibling forgiveness arcs felt empty because it was a resolution Mira and Naveen came to without interacting with their estranged siblings (well, until the very end). For a book based in crime-adventure, I would’ve liked to see more agency and growth from the main characters. Sure, they grew as individual people, but I wanted to see more emotional fall-out and change from the various situations they were in.
Story structure wise, this was set up as the A-plot being the romance and the B-plot being the crime plot. But somewhere along the way, the two plots flipped with the B-plot being the more dominant plot. Which was fine, but it subverted my expectations of this book and I never quite recovered from that. It made it more difficult to invest myself in the plot of characters when the cover and synopsis prepped me for a romance novel, but the greater plot was focused on this criminal adventure.
One last plot note.
This is a nit-picky thing, but the author really enjoys using the word “pregnant” to describe pauses or silences. Using that descriptor once or twice is okay, but it was used eight times. For me, personally, it felt overused.
In the case of this second-chance romance, the story was mostly a miss for me. There were many moments that could be considered comedic or romantic, but the story was missing the emotional backbone to truly invest me in the story. This story had big shoes to fill and it’s just not there yet.
Note: There is a difference in available synopses. The Goodreads synopsis, as of July 15th, 2022, had incorrect details. (Such as, Naveen being an English professor and not a lawyer.) The Netgalley synopsis is correct to what I read in this novel. If you are interested in this novel, I would visit that page to get more accurate marketing.
TW: negligent parenting (off-page), sex
Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Labeling a strength to this novel, it would have to be the characterization—despite me not truly feeling the chemistry with the second-chance romance. Mira and Naveen had distinct character voices, which made it easy to determine who was leading the narration in each chapter. Also, there was some personality and life experience mirroring (such as, both main characters being estranged from their siblings) that didn’t muddy up the story, even if those backstory plots grew repetitive over time.
Emotions wise, I didn’t feel much from (or for) the characters, especially when it came to Mira’s grief over her aunt. Her arc was learning how to stop bottling up her emotions and learn to feel them, sure. But I can’t help but feel that was at a detriment to the tone and the reader’s ability to connect with Mira as a character. And I will admit, I wasn’t completely feeling the chemistry between Mira and Naveen. That’s a result of the plot spanning a forty-eight-hour period more than anything else.
The other thing I noticed about the characterization was the overall lack of change either character went through. The changes were self-contained and focused on inter-personal relationships. For example, the change that Mira went through was mostly in terms of how she viewed her sister. (Mirrored in Naveen with his brother Kiran.) Both sibling forgiveness arcs felt empty because it was a resolution Mira and Naveen came to without interacting with their estranged siblings (well, until the very end). For a book based in crime-adventure, I would’ve liked to see more agency and growth from the main characters. Sure, they grew as individual people, but I wanted to see more emotional fall-out and change from the various situations they were in.
Story structure wise, this was set up as the A-plot being the romance and the B-plot being the crime plot. But somewhere along the way, the two plots flipped with the B-plot being the more dominant plot. Which was fine, but it subverted my expectations of this book and I never quite recovered from that. It made it more difficult to invest myself in the plot of characters when the cover and synopsis prepped me for a romance novel, but the greater plot was focused on this criminal adventure.
One last plot note.
This is a nit-picky thing, but the author really enjoys using the word “pregnant” to describe pauses or silences. Using that descriptor once or twice is okay, but it was used eight times. For me, personally, it felt overused.
In the case of this second-chance romance, the story was mostly a miss for me. There were many moments that could be considered comedic or romantic, but the story was missing the emotional backbone to truly invest me in the story. This story had big shoes to fill and it’s just not there yet.
Note: There is a difference in available synopses. The Goodreads synopsis, as of July 15th, 2022, had incorrect details. (Such as, Naveen being an English professor and not a lawyer.) The Netgalley synopsis is correct to what I read in this novel. If you are interested in this novel, I would visit that page to get more accurate marketing.
TW: negligent parenting (off-page), sex
Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
June 19, 2022
This is more like 2.5 stars for me. Partners in Crime starts out like a regular rom-com with Mira having yet one more failed relationship from the matchmaker she uses. And Naveen, one of the original failed suitors of Mira's, is settling into his role as an attorney at his grandfather's law firm and trying to get his mother to stop talking about marriage.
The book quickly switches from a rom-com to something much more like an adventure romp? It's not exactly a suspense, but not exactly a straight up romance. When the two are thrown together at Naveen's office for the reading of Mira's aunt's will they get kidnapped at gunpoint...and it was like a record scratch for me because it was so jarring. Yes, the kidnapping is mentioned in the blurb but the actual occurrence was very early in the book, and just so out of nowhere that I had to reread the chapter at least twice.
From there chaos ensues and my interest decreased with each new part of the adventure. They have to go on a quest essentially to find this necklace Mira's father supposedly stole, and it puts them in danger at many turns. I didn't feel the connection between the two of them and it felt like the relationship was lacking.
This has a very adventure vibe - think The Lost City movie, it could work for a lot of readers who enjoyed that, it just didn't work for me.
The book quickly switches from a rom-com to something much more like an adventure romp? It's not exactly a suspense, but not exactly a straight up romance. When the two are thrown together at Naveen's office for the reading of Mira's aunt's will they get kidnapped at gunpoint...and it was like a record scratch for me because it was so jarring. Yes, the kidnapping is mentioned in the blurb but the actual occurrence was very early in the book, and just so out of nowhere that I had to reread the chapter at least twice.
From there chaos ensues and my interest decreased with each new part of the adventure. They have to go on a quest essentially to find this necklace Mira's father supposedly stole, and it puts them in danger at many turns. I didn't feel the connection between the two of them and it felt like the relationship was lacking.
This has a very adventure vibe - think The Lost City movie, it could work for a lot of readers who enjoyed that, it just didn't work for me.
December 2, 2022
I love Alisha and this sounded amazing... sadly it was a bit underwhelming.
I liked Mira and Nareen well enough. They're both good people with secrets in their pasts. They're thrown back together amid this so-called mystery, but I just didn't connect with them as a couple. I did enjoy several of the side characters and could have done with more of them.
Plot wise, it was a little boring. Even though they were on the run, the tension was non-existent. There wasn't the sense of urgency I was expecting for this sort of set up and that made it easy for me to set down and ignore.
Overall, something kept me reading and I did like the ending and epilogue, but I could have easily left this unfinished.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I liked Mira and Nareen well enough. They're both good people with secrets in their pasts. They're thrown back together amid this so-called mystery, but I just didn't connect with them as a couple. I did enjoy several of the side characters and could have done with more of them.
Plot wise, it was a little boring. Even though they were on the run, the tension was non-existent. There wasn't the sense of urgency I was expecting for this sort of set up and that made it easy for me to set down and ignore.
Overall, something kept me reading and I did like the ending and epilogue, but I could have easily left this unfinished.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
Want to read
May 1, 2022This cover and the synopsis are giving me Dhoom 2 Bollywood vibes and I am here for it. THIS MAN IS AN ENGLISH PROFESSOR. (Update: Alisha told me on IG he's a lawyer in the final version of the book, also the Amazon copy states Mira Patel, so there's a name change lol!)
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