[Audiobook Review] First Love, Take Two by Sajni Patel

I loved this latest romance from Sajni Patel. Preeti is so close to achieving her dreams of becoming a doctor. All the long hours and extra shifts are finally going to pay off. But the end of her residency means having to find a job and a place to live, on top of trying to please her traditional Indian family. She thought she could achieve all that by marrying the Indian boy everyone approves of. But then her new roommate ends up being her ex, Daniel. Daniel, who has been closer to her than anyone else. Daniel, who she has never stopped loving. Daniel, who is Black and not acceptable to most of Preeti's large Indian family. But Daniel hasn't ever gotten over Preeti either, and as past secrets come to light, both Preeti and Daniel will have to decide if their second-chance romance is worth more than family expectations.

Preeti and Daniel's second chance at love was so well done. Both main characters came from such different life experiences, but they worked so well together. And I absolutely loved how real their problems were, especially as they worked to overcome them. With all the stress of her work and finding new living arrangements, Preeti has more than enough to give her anxiety; add in the constant trials of pleasing your family and possibly marrying a boy you don't love, and it was beautiful to see Preeti finally stand up for herself and seek help. Some parts of this book were very real and very raw. Preeti has to acknowledge and get treatment for anxiety, as well as working through relationships with an aversion to touch. Daniel discusses racism in everyday life and has to acknowledge that Preeti's extended family are racists. All of these sensitive topics are handled very well, both by Patel as well as in the context of the story. Having to deal with family that can be racist, or unkind, or just can't understand you can be very difficult and can be impossible for some people. I loved that Daniel and Preeti didn't shy away from their mental, emotional, societal, and familial issues and showed everyone that love can give you the strength to make your toughest decisions. 

I listened to First Love, Take Two via an ALC from Libro.FM. Soneela Nankani did a fantastic job at bringing Preeti, Daniel, and all their friends and family to life. There was no question when a new character was talking, and every single player - from the main characters to the extended family - all had unique voices and personalities. Nankani brought such life to Preeti, through her highs and lows, and I really enjoyed listening to the cadence and rhythm of Nankani's voice. Her voice demands attention, never lulling me to sleep or asking me to lose focus, and that was exactly what Pretti and Daniel's story needed. When Preeti was admitting to her anxiety or when Daniel was discussing the racism he faces everyday, the care and tone Nankani uses makes the listener sit up and pay attention. I really enjoyed the words Patel wrote, but Nankani took those words and made them even more entertaining. I'm excited to find some other titles to listen to in Nankani's back catalog, so thank you to Libro.FM for introducing me to this fantastic narrator. 

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Release date: 9/21/21
Format: Audiobook
Audiobook ALC provided by: Libro.FM