Layla Patel got fired and caught her man cheating on her. With her heart broken, she returns back home from New York to start her own company. She needs time to heal so her father allows her to use an office space above his restaurant. The problem is that he already agreed to let Sam Mehta lease the space for his company. Layla wants Sam gone but since her father is now dealing with a health crisis, Layla really has no choice but to try to share her space with Sam. 

As they face off in close quarters, the sarcasm and sparks fly. But when the battle for the office becomes a battle of the heart, Sam and Layla have to decide if this is love or just a game.’

Layla finds out that her father has been searching for a suitable husband for her, going as far as to set up a marriage profile on an arranged marriage site.

Thinking that her father might know her better, Layla decides to go along with meeting the ten eligible bachelors that have been handpicked for her. Sam having had a bad experience with the system of arranged marriages, after his own sister married an abusive drunk. He takes it upon himself to stand in as the male family member at the meetings and as a way to ensure Layla does not fall victim like his sister had.

The author does a great job of showing the family dynamic and how it impacts the relationship. Sam’s outlook on what happened to his sister defined how he viewed marriage and even showed his protectiveness of Layla. He is very controlled and organised and originally clashes with Layla because of her lack of organisation. He goes through a large change throughout the book which is very apparent.

The characters are also very strong and well developed. Layla is a strong female character and her strength doesn’t disappear just because she wants to find love. She goes through a lot of self-discovery and really figures out and embraces who she is as a person. The representation is appreciated. Both characters grow and help each other despite their initial dislike.

Great debut by this author. I look forward to other books by her. Rom-com fans should take note of this fresh, fun offering

Overall, The Marriage Game is a hilarious blend of humour, romance, and family. It’s a funny romantic comedy that I highly recommend to anyone who already loves the romance genre or anyone wanting to try the genre out. Desai has done a brilliant job at showing the life of this family and what an important role food and family play in this culture.