The Trouble with Hating You

"The Trouble With Hating You by Sajni Patel is a feisty, enemies-to-lovers office romantic comedy that also grapples with more serious subject matter. Liya Thakkar has a reputation as a wildly unsuitable woman, which is a big deal in her South Asian community in Texas. She doesn't care, and she is determined to remain single. So when her parents try to arrange a dinner with a prospective match, Jay Shah, she flees — only to run into him the next day at work, where he's a new consultant at her company. Liya and Jay can't help but argue every time they meet, whether at work or through chance encounters with mutual friends. The novel is full of rom-com staples — lots of sparky banter and adorably meddling friends — as well as serious consideration as to how a high school sexual assault has shaped Liya's character and how double standards in the community make it hard for her to move on ... until a real hero like Jay comes along to stand up for her and proudly stand by her for now and for a very modern happy ever after." -NPR

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"There is no meet-cute for Liya Thakkar and Jay Shah. A recently promoted biochemical engineer, Liya is shocked when, arriving late to her first managers' meeting, she is castigated by Jay, an attorney who has been retained to keep the company she works for from collapse. Then, when a date goes violently wrong, Liya escapes, but, in a Cinderella-like moment, she breaks the heel off one of her $1,400 Louboutins, twisting her ankle. She finds refuge in a diner, where Jay just so happens to be eating. He comes to her rescue, but then what? In this warm and witty tale of opposites, Patel portrays Jay as a traditional Indian American man very close to his widowed mother and his brother. Brilliant Liya is scorned in their community as a loose woman. Both are attractive and successful, yet deeply scarred by traumas in their youth. Can they find their way to romance? Patel's vivid comedy of conflict and love within an upscale, urban Indian American enclave features endearing protagonists within a circle of friends who all act with integrity andstrength." -BookList

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"Patel’s fast-paced romp of a debut offers a peek into the vibrant Indian-American community of Houston, Tex., introducing a self-assured heroine striving for independence from the traditional expectations of her family. Biochemical engineer Liya Thakkar is perfectly happy as a single woman. She has a devoted group of best friends, a new promotion at work, and no problem finding casual flings when she wants them. When her family tricks her into attending a matchmaking dinner, she embarrasses herself and her parents by fleeing—only to later discover her would-be suitor, Jay Shah, is the lawyer assigned to save her company from closing, and they’ll have to see much more of each other. Despite their awkward first meeting and ongoing bickering at work, the chemistry between Liya and Jay is clear to everyone around them. But the headstrong pair will both have to learn to be vulnerable before they can trust each other. Readers will root for Liya as she struggles against community gossip and the weight of disappointing the people who should love her unconditionally. The enemies-to-lovers arc is classic, but the cultural specificity Patel brings makes this rom-com feel fun and fresh." - Publishers Weekly

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“With witty banter and fascinating characters, Sajni Patel takes the classic enemies to lovers trope to a deliciously charming level. I loved everything about this book.” - Farrah Rochon, USA Today bestselling author 

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The Trouble with Hating You has delicious banter, deep wounds, heartwarming friendships, and a path to love that often feels impossibly hard, and the payoff is satisfying enough to give you a book hangover the size of Texas.” - Sonali Dev, USA Today bestselling author

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"Sajni Patel bursts onto the scene with a debut that will make you laugh!"-Jenny Holiday, USA Today bestselling author

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“The Trouble with Hating You was everything I needed--witty banter, explosive chemistry, and a hard won HEA that still has me smiling long after reading the last page. I can't wait for Preeti's book!” - AJ Pine, USA Today bestselling author

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​“An enjoyable debut! The chemistry between Liya and Jay is off the charts as they go from hating, to annoying, to needing each other, but what really shines in this witty rom-com is the touching relationships they have with their friends and family respectively. You'll be rooting for these two from their first meeting!” - Farah Heron, author of The Chai Factor