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Never Meant to Stay
A bighearted romantic comedy about family and finding the perfect match set against the exuberant backdrop of contemporary Delhi.
Home has always been a temporary arrangement for Samara Mansingh, a wayfaring wedding photographer and the daughter of a diplomat. When her father is uprooted once again, Samara needs a place to stay in Delhi. Next stop: the Khanna family. Samara’s memories of the Khannas are vague at best, but she doesn’t remember their home feeling so much like a war zone. And the last thing their surly eldest son, Sharav, wants is a houseguest eavesdropping on the chaos.
Sharav has a melodramatic sister pushing back on an arranged marriage, a withdrawn lead-singer brother who won’t sing, and a widowed mother hiding her grief in the garden. Sweeping into the household like a tornado, irrepressible Samara is a practically perfect distraction. She has a mind to help a girl find true love, push a young man to find his voice, and bring a lonely and loving widow out of mourning. Maybe Samara can even get on Sharav’s ruggedly handsome good side.
The only sure thing is that the Khanna family will never be the same again. Neither will Samara, who may finally find what she’s been missing her entire life: a home.
Home has always been a temporary arrangement for Samara Mansingh, a wayfaring wedding photographer and the daughter of a diplomat. When her father is uprooted once again, Samara needs a place to stay in Delhi. Next stop: the Khanna family. Samara’s memories of the Khannas are vague at best, but she doesn’t remember their home feeling so much like a war zone. And the last thing their surly eldest son, Sharav, wants is a houseguest eavesdropping on the chaos.
Sharav has a melodramatic sister pushing back on an arranged marriage, a withdrawn lead-singer brother who won’t sing, and a widowed mother hiding her grief in the garden. Sweeping into the household like a tornado, irrepressible Samara is a practically perfect distraction. She has a mind to help a girl find true love, push a young man to find his voice, and bring a lonely and loving widow out of mourning. Maybe Samara can even get on Sharav’s ruggedly handsome good side.
The only sure thing is that the Khanna family will never be the same again. Neither will Samara, who may finally find what she’s been missing her entire life: a home.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2023
1406 people are currently reading
7322 people want to read
About the author
Trisha Das
8 books45 followersTrisha Das is the author of Never Meant To Stay, a bighearted romantic comedy about family and finding the perfect match, Ms Draupadi Kuru: After the Pandavas and its sequel The Misters Kuru: A Return to Mahabharata, which feature characters from the Mahabharata dropping down from heaven into modern day Delhi, Kama’s Last Sutra, a historical time-travel romance, The Mahabharata Re-imagined, The Art of the Television Interview and the internationally acclaimed How to write a Documentary Script. Ms Draupadi Kuru was nominated for the MAMI Book to Screen award.
Trisha has written columns and short stories for Magical Women, a feminist fantasy anthology, and publications like Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Grazia India, Hindustan Times and Scroll.
In her film-making career, Trisha has directed over 40 documentaries. She's won an Indian National Film Award and was the University of Georgia’s International Artist of the year. She's been a visiting artist at University of Michigan, New York University, INSEAD and Emory College. Her films have been widely screened at international film festivals, telecast on the Discovery Channel, the Star Network, NDTV and Doordarshan and have helped propel funding for grassroots social change across India.
You can follow Trisha on Instagram @trishadas, Facebook @trishadasauthor or contact her via email at trishadasauthor@gmail.com.
Trisha has written columns and short stories for Magical Women, a feminist fantasy anthology, and publications like Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Grazia India, Hindustan Times and Scroll.
In her film-making career, Trisha has directed over 40 documentaries. She's won an Indian National Film Award and was the University of Georgia’s International Artist of the year. She's been a visiting artist at University of Michigan, New York University, INSEAD and Emory College. Her films have been widely screened at international film festivals, telecast on the Discovery Channel, the Star Network, NDTV and Doordarshan and have helped propel funding for grassroots social change across India.
You can follow Trisha on Instagram @trishadas, Facebook @trishadasauthor or contact her via email at trishadasauthor@gmail.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 365 reviews
November 8, 2023
I found Never Meant To Stay via Amazon’s First Reads program and it was such a delightful read. The cast of characters work really well together and i felt like they all were developed well enough to stand on their own. I loved how absolutely unruffled Samara was by so many situations. She was chaotic and lovable in so many ways. The love interest, Sharav had all the best qualities of the duty bound man who can’t see past what he “should” do to what he “wants” to do.
I’m not super familiar with Indian wedding customs and it was fun to get a look at all the culture and traditions involved as well.
Overall it was a really enjoyable read.
I’m not super familiar with Indian wedding customs and it was fun to get a look at all the culture and traditions involved as well.
Overall it was a really enjoyable read.
January 17, 2024
Never Meant to Stay was such a fun read that now I am going to have to make it a priority to read more Trisha Das! This is a new-to-me author, and I loved the way the book made me laugh and gave me all the feels at the same time. The pacing moves pretty quickly, and I listened to the entire book in basically one sitting. Samara is one of my favorite female characters I have had in a novel in quite some time, and I adored her ability to help everyone in surprisingly sneaky but useful ways. I love that I also got to learn more about another culture through reading this, and having there be not one but TWO romances that transpire was adorbs and made my heart happy.
The audiobook for Never Meant to Stay is what I would call a must-listen, and I thought that Ulka Mohanty did just a fantastic job with multiple viewpoints. The POVs jump around in each chapter, but I was never confused about whose viewpoint I was in, and I have to give massive props to the author for that. That doesn't always translate to audio well when there is only one narrator, but it did perfectly in this instance. I would have liked even more focus on the romance in the storyline, but overall, this still had an excellent balance for me, and I love that it made me LOL. There is just a touch of steam, but for the most part, this was just a really funny, dramatic, and endearing romcom that I will not be forgetting anytime soon.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The audiobook for Never Meant to Stay is what I would call a must-listen, and I thought that Ulka Mohanty did just a fantastic job with multiple viewpoints. The POVs jump around in each chapter, but I was never confused about whose viewpoint I was in, and I have to give massive props to the author for that. That doesn't always translate to audio well when there is only one narrator, but it did perfectly in this instance. I would have liked even more focus on the romance in the storyline, but overall, this still had an excellent balance for me, and I love that it made me LOL. There is just a touch of steam, but for the most part, this was just a really funny, dramatic, and endearing romcom that I will not be forgetting anytime soon.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
February 6, 2026
Y'all KNOW that as soon soon as I saw this book was a homage to The Grand Sophy I had to read it. I adore The Grand Sophy.
Which make this book hard to rate. On the one hand, it reminded me of one of my favorite books! I genuinely don't know if the plot works objectively because I was so pleased to see the 'familiar' story play out. On the other hand, it doesn't...quite live up to it.
Part of the problem is just the nature of books written in 2023 versus those from 1950. In 1950, you could get away with a more impersonal, third party narrator. We don't see inside Sophy's head. You have to piece together her emotions (and any insecurities she might feel) through the gestures or comments in the text. It is lots of showing, which richly rewards re-reading.
In modern romance novels, we expect our heroines to be vulnerable and therefore relatable. Samara's insecurities are drummed into the reader from page 1 with her first person POV. She comes across less like a woman with an audacious plan for every situation, and more like a leaf blown around by fate and pheromones.
But the problem doesn't just lie with her first person POV. The story itself removes any ownership from her. She's attracted to Sharav, but she isn't going to fight for him. That rests on his shoulders.
And unfortunately for the reader, Sharav isn't very good at fighting.
I give credit to the story that the angst feels surprisingly minimal considering the main tension in their romance is the fact that he is engaged to someone else. But even with his own first person POV throughout the text, I struggled to like Sharav. He lacks self-awareness. Now, that can work if it fuels his character growth. (See Sharav's literary counterpart, Charles, from The Grand Sophy!) But I felt like the climactic break from tradition and duty did not feel earned. Or maybe I was just too fed up with him by the end to give it proper due.
Overall, this is a fun story, and I'm glad I read it. I'd probably even read more. But it makes pretty fundamental changes to the characters and in doing so loses some of what makes The Grand Sophy so memorable.
Which make this book hard to rate. On the one hand, it reminded me of one of my favorite books! I genuinely don't know if the plot works objectively because I was so pleased to see the 'familiar' story play out. On the other hand, it doesn't...quite live up to it.
Part of the problem is just the nature of books written in 2023 versus those from 1950. In 1950, you could get away with a more impersonal, third party narrator. We don't see inside Sophy's head. You have to piece together her emotions (and any insecurities she might feel) through the gestures or comments in the text. It is lots of showing, which richly rewards re-reading.
In modern romance novels, we expect our heroines to be vulnerable and therefore relatable. Samara's insecurities are drummed into the reader from page 1 with her first person POV. She comes across less like a woman with an audacious plan for every situation, and more like a leaf blown around by fate and pheromones.
But the problem doesn't just lie with her first person POV. The story itself removes any ownership from her. She's attracted to Sharav, but she isn't going to fight for him. That rests on his shoulders.
And unfortunately for the reader, Sharav isn't very good at fighting.
I give credit to the story that the angst feels surprisingly minimal considering the main tension in their romance is the fact that he is engaged to someone else. But even with his own first person POV throughout the text, I struggled to like Sharav. He lacks self-awareness. Now, that can work if it fuels his character growth. (See Sharav's literary counterpart, Charles, from The Grand Sophy!) But I felt like the climactic break from tradition and duty did not feel earned. Or maybe I was just too fed up with him by the end to give it proper due.
Overall, this is a fun story, and I'm glad I read it. I'd probably even read more. But it makes pretty fundamental changes to the characters and in doing so loses some of what makes The Grand Sophy so memorable.
January 15, 2024
⭐️4.4
December 27, 2023
Lively, East Indian, forced-proximity romcom, which is a fun homage to The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
Samara Mansingh is the 25-year-old daughter of an esteemed Punjabi diplomat, who has been employed by the government of India for Samara's whole life. Her mother died when she was very small, and Samara grew up living all over the world with her father. She has never felt that she truly belonged anywhere, or that any relationships she formed were more than temporary. She attended university in NYC, obtaining a BFA in photography, and she has been attempting to land a permanent photography job in NYC for some time, but with no luck so far. She has been living in Delhi with her father for the past year, working as a highly paid, freelance photographer for over-the-top, society engagement parties and weddings. She has been having a blast doing these crazy jobs and enjoying the exotic ambience of Delhi.
Then, out of the blue, her father announces that he has been transferred for a new assignment in Africa and will be leaving in a few weeks. Samara does not want to go with him, because she is strongly attached to her goal of remaining in Delhi until she receives a job offer from NYC, building up her savings with exorbitant fees from photography opportunities, which would not be available where her father will be located in Africa. But her father is adamant that it is not safe for a young, single woman to live alone in Delhi. He makes an arrangement for her to lodge with the highly prosperous Khanna family, who live in a huge house in a ritzy section of Delhi. They are fellow Punjabis, and their deceased patriarch was a very close friend of his.
For the past six years since his father's death, 29-year-old Sharav Khanna has been running the family corporation, which produces huge pieces of equipment that are utilized to manufacture various types of machinery. Six months ago, he became betrothed to Nonita Kapoor, a beautiful, 20-something socialite, who fancies herself a social media influencer, and who hails from an extremely wealthy Punjabi family. It is an arranged marriage, agreed upon when Mrs Kapoor approached his mother, Jyoti, to make the match. At the time, Sharav was steadily plowing forward in a very staid, endlessly conventional life, and he did not notice any of narcissistic Nonita's many character flaws, which were blazingly obvious to his mother, his 19-year-old brother, Dhruv, and his 23-year-old sister, Diya. All that mattered to Sharav when he agreed to the betrothal was that Nonita has the same elite social background, has polished social manners, seems to share similar goals for a decorous lifestyle, and accepted as a normal aspect of Indian society that multi-generational family members would be living with her and her husband after their marriage. The latter arrangement is definitely made slightly less intrusive due to the fact that the Khanna mansion is commodious enough that it is possible to strategically ignore each other, if everyone escapes to a different part of the house. However, from the first day that Samara moves into the Khanna household, everything that Sharav has never questioned, as the way his life should be, is thrown into unsettling and irritating flux.
At the very first family dinner she shares with the Khanna family, sensitively observant Samara notices that all is not well for this family. Sharav is emotionally distant from his mother and siblings. Jyoti Aunty (a term of respect for adults who are closely associated with a younger person) is obviously still mourning her dead husband. And Dhruv and Diya are clearly feeling angrily alienated from and misunderstood by their older brother. Over the following days and weeks, little by little, Samara begins to step in, gently and compassionately attempting to save this troubled family from itself.
This is a highly entertaining, multicultural romance with a fascinatingly accurate and vivid portrayal of the cosmopolitan, urban setting of Delhi, India. Just as in the Georgette Heyer novel, The Grand Sophy, Samara is a highly competent, and frequently highly amusing, catalyst for life-affirming change in the unhappy extended family that she grows deeply attached to.
I loved Samara and Sharav, who are both highly sympathetic characters. And there is an adorable secondary romance that Samara successfully promotes. Samara's mutually tender and nurturing relationship with Jyoti Aunty brought me to tears more than once. And to me personally, what Samara did to help heal Dhruv's emotional issue was both heartwarming and praiseworthy, as to how psychologically accurate her choices are.
One of my favorite subcharacters in this novel, who has no parallel in TGS, is the colorful, 50-something, Punjabi cook, Biba. She has resided with the Khannas for over 30 years and is completely comfortable scolding Sharav when she believes he needs to be straightened out. The descriptions of the gourmet meals and snacks that she regularly provides to the lucky Khannas made my mouth water.
Similar to TGS, there are a lot of elements of comedy of error in this story, which are not resolved until the very end of the novel. But happily, unlike TGS, there is a lovely little epilogue that vividly demonstrates a believable and heartwarming HEA.
There is very little more than kissing onstage in this novel, and the brief honeymoon scene is closed bedroom door. There is also no foul language, and no drunkenness among the main characters.
I obtained a Kindle copy of this novel through Amazon's First Reads. Immediately afterwards, I noticed that the audiobook version was available for only $1.99 on Audible, and I snatched it up. I used the Whispersync link to read and listen to the book simultaneously, which I find especially helpful when an audiobook, such as this one, contains foreign names and phrases. The narrator, Ulka Mohanty, does a fabulous job. Each character is given a distinct voice, with a very convincing Punjabi or Hindi accent, and she is one of the few female narrators I've ever listened to who can deepen her voice in a convincing way to portray male characters.
I rate both the novel itself and the audiobook version at 5 stars.
Samara Mansingh is the 25-year-old daughter of an esteemed Punjabi diplomat, who has been employed by the government of India for Samara's whole life. Her mother died when she was very small, and Samara grew up living all over the world with her father. She has never felt that she truly belonged anywhere, or that any relationships she formed were more than temporary. She attended university in NYC, obtaining a BFA in photography, and she has been attempting to land a permanent photography job in NYC for some time, but with no luck so far. She has been living in Delhi with her father for the past year, working as a highly paid, freelance photographer for over-the-top, society engagement parties and weddings. She has been having a blast doing these crazy jobs and enjoying the exotic ambience of Delhi.
Then, out of the blue, her father announces that he has been transferred for a new assignment in Africa and will be leaving in a few weeks. Samara does not want to go with him, because she is strongly attached to her goal of remaining in Delhi until she receives a job offer from NYC, building up her savings with exorbitant fees from photography opportunities, which would not be available where her father will be located in Africa. But her father is adamant that it is not safe for a young, single woman to live alone in Delhi. He makes an arrangement for her to lodge with the highly prosperous Khanna family, who live in a huge house in a ritzy section of Delhi. They are fellow Punjabis, and their deceased patriarch was a very close friend of his.
For the past six years since his father's death, 29-year-old Sharav Khanna has been running the family corporation, which produces huge pieces of equipment that are utilized to manufacture various types of machinery. Six months ago, he became betrothed to Nonita Kapoor, a beautiful, 20-something socialite, who fancies herself a social media influencer, and who hails from an extremely wealthy Punjabi family. It is an arranged marriage, agreed upon when Mrs Kapoor approached his mother, Jyoti, to make the match. At the time, Sharav was steadily plowing forward in a very staid, endlessly conventional life, and he did not notice any of narcissistic Nonita's many character flaws, which were blazingly obvious to his mother, his 19-year-old brother, Dhruv, and his 23-year-old sister, Diya. All that mattered to Sharav when he agreed to the betrothal was that Nonita has the same elite social background, has polished social manners, seems to share similar goals for a decorous lifestyle, and accepted as a normal aspect of Indian society that multi-generational family members would be living with her and her husband after their marriage. The latter arrangement is definitely made slightly less intrusive due to the fact that the Khanna mansion is commodious enough that it is possible to strategically ignore each other, if everyone escapes to a different part of the house. However, from the first day that Samara moves into the Khanna household, everything that Sharav has never questioned, as the way his life should be, is thrown into unsettling and irritating flux.
At the very first family dinner she shares with the Khanna family, sensitively observant Samara notices that all is not well for this family. Sharav is emotionally distant from his mother and siblings. Jyoti Aunty (a term of respect for adults who are closely associated with a younger person) is obviously still mourning her dead husband. And Dhruv and Diya are clearly feeling angrily alienated from and misunderstood by their older brother. Over the following days and weeks, little by little, Samara begins to step in, gently and compassionately attempting to save this troubled family from itself.
This is a highly entertaining, multicultural romance with a fascinatingly accurate and vivid portrayal of the cosmopolitan, urban setting of Delhi, India. Just as in the Georgette Heyer novel, The Grand Sophy, Samara is a highly competent, and frequently highly amusing, catalyst for life-affirming change in the unhappy extended family that she grows deeply attached to.
I loved Samara and Sharav, who are both highly sympathetic characters. And there is an adorable secondary romance that Samara successfully promotes. Samara's mutually tender and nurturing relationship with Jyoti Aunty brought me to tears more than once. And to me personally, what Samara did to help heal Dhruv's emotional issue was both heartwarming and praiseworthy, as to how psychologically accurate her choices are.
One of my favorite subcharacters in this novel, who has no parallel in TGS, is the colorful, 50-something, Punjabi cook, Biba. She has resided with the Khannas for over 30 years and is completely comfortable scolding Sharav when she believes he needs to be straightened out. The descriptions of the gourmet meals and snacks that she regularly provides to the lucky Khannas made my mouth water.
Similar to TGS, there are a lot of elements of comedy of error in this story, which are not resolved until the very end of the novel. But happily, unlike TGS, there is a lovely little epilogue that vividly demonstrates a believable and heartwarming HEA.
There is very little more than kissing onstage in this novel, and the brief honeymoon scene is closed bedroom door. There is also no foul language, and no drunkenness among the main characters.
I obtained a Kindle copy of this novel through Amazon's First Reads. Immediately afterwards, I noticed that the audiobook version was available for only $1.99 on Audible, and I snatched it up. I used the Whispersync link to read and listen to the book simultaneously, which I find especially helpful when an audiobook, such as this one, contains foreign names and phrases. The narrator, Ulka Mohanty, does a fabulous job. Each character is given a distinct voice, with a very convincing Punjabi or Hindi accent, and she is one of the few female narrators I've ever listened to who can deepen her voice in a convincing way to portray male characters.
I rate both the novel itself and the audiobook version at 5 stars.
January 10, 2024
𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪: #OwnVoices Indian romantic comedy / women's fiction
Thank you #partners @getredprbooks @amazonpublishing for my #gifted copy
𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆
𝗧𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝗗𝗮𝘀
⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧: Samara, photographer and daughter of a diplomat, has never really had the opportunity to put down roots, raised by a single father who spent year after year traveling the world with Samara in tow. Now at age 25, with dreams of being a photographer in NYC, her father must leave on assignment once again. Samara decides she wants to stay in Delhi, continuing to pursue her dreams. Leery of leaving her home alone, Samara's father arranges for her to stay with the Khanna family, despite the fact that she hasn't seen them in ages. Though initially hesitant, it's not long before Samara realizes how much this family needs her, and how much she craves what they have: a home and a family, regardless of how tumultuous their current state of affairs.
𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦: Never Meant to Stay is a multilayered, lighthearted, feel-good story, equal parts women's fiction and romance. Its steeped in the vibrancy of Indian culture, cuisine, and traditions, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! While a light read overall, it does touch on many deeper issues within this fractured family. I love the humor, the found family component, and how each character was so authentically themselves. The relationships Samara built with the Khanna family, particularly with a certain someone, felt mature and heartfelt. The romance itself is tender, wholesome, and slow-burn, with no on page spice.
🎧 I read this along with the audio, which was expertly narrated by Ulka Mohanty. Fantastic performance!
At just 283 pages, this was a quick, entertaining read. Fans of Sonali Dev will eat this one up!
📌Available now! Also available on Kindle Unlimited in both ebook and audiobook.
Thank you #partners @getredprbooks @amazonpublishing for my #gifted copy
𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆
𝗧𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮 𝗗𝗮𝘀
⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧: Samara, photographer and daughter of a diplomat, has never really had the opportunity to put down roots, raised by a single father who spent year after year traveling the world with Samara in tow. Now at age 25, with dreams of being a photographer in NYC, her father must leave on assignment once again. Samara decides she wants to stay in Delhi, continuing to pursue her dreams. Leery of leaving her home alone, Samara's father arranges for her to stay with the Khanna family, despite the fact that she hasn't seen them in ages. Though initially hesitant, it's not long before Samara realizes how much this family needs her, and how much she craves what they have: a home and a family, regardless of how tumultuous their current state of affairs.
𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦: Never Meant to Stay is a multilayered, lighthearted, feel-good story, equal parts women's fiction and romance. Its steeped in the vibrancy of Indian culture, cuisine, and traditions, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! While a light read overall, it does touch on many deeper issues within this fractured family. I love the humor, the found family component, and how each character was so authentically themselves. The relationships Samara built with the Khanna family, particularly with a certain someone, felt mature and heartfelt. The romance itself is tender, wholesome, and slow-burn, with no on page spice.
🎧 I read this along with the audio, which was expertly narrated by Ulka Mohanty. Fantastic performance!
At just 283 pages, this was a quick, entertaining read. Fans of Sonali Dev will eat this one up!
📌Available now! Also available on Kindle Unlimited in both ebook and audiobook.
January 25, 2024
Never Meant To Stay is a wonderful story about found families. I absoluted loved how highly developed the characters were in this story.
There are strong themes of familial and cultural expectations with the backdrop of love and compassion by so many in the community.
At the heart, though, it's a romance. There were many side stories of love that weavef throughout the novel.
Highly entertaining, well developed, and expertly paced.
I looked forward to reading more by this author.
There are strong themes of familial and cultural expectations with the backdrop of love and compassion by so many in the community.
At the heart, though, it's a romance. There were many side stories of love that weavef throughout the novel.
Highly entertaining, well developed, and expertly paced.
I looked forward to reading more by this author.
September 10, 2024
1 star for the cheating trope, but giving an extra star for the fun Indian culture that the book good-naturedly pokes fun at, and the likable FMC character.
About the cheating:
He’s an engaged man and too much of a coward to cancel his engagement even when he knows his One True Love reciprocates his feelings. They watch movies together, go out to lunch, fantasize about each other, etc, so initially it’s emotional cheating.
Then they almost kiss a few times and finally they DO kiss. He feels guilty (ya think?), and yet he still won’t choose her.
His marriage is looming, 3 weeks, one week, the day of, the guests are all there, and HE’S STILL SUCH AN IDIOT COWARD and moving forward with marrying a woman he has a strong aversion to when the love of his life is standing over there in his wedding party.
I’m too mad to even want him to get a HEA.
The author tries to sweeten the cheating aspect by making his fiancé a snotty, shallow person. The MMC can’t stand her but sticks with this arranged marriage because engagements are very serious in the Indian culture. (Which just adds weight to the fact that he is cheating on his fiancé!)
I don’t like this type of character. It’s a character that is certainly no longer attractive to me nor one that I can respect.
Super lame. I’m mad at the characters and couldn’t care less if they get their HEA.
**I did love how the FMC gets back at his cowardly-ness by wearing a casually sexy shirt-dress and knowingly positioning herself while playing a game of pool with the sole purpose to make him sweat. Haha! Serves him right. That was my favorite scene.
Details:
- Dual POV
- Happy, mature, kind, even-headed FMC (that I really liked!!)
- Ironically honor-bound-while-also-cheating MMC.
- Meh chemistry
- wealthy, OTT Indian Punjabi culture (fun setting)
- slow beginning. I listened on double speed because I was feeling meh about the whole thing.
- great writing
- FANTASTIC narration! (via KU audio)
- fun cover
Content:
- Language - no swearing
- Spice - plenty of sideways references to his aroused state in his pants. Based off that, I would have expected a sex scene but it’s surprisingly closed door at the end (which I appreciate).
About the cheating:
He’s an engaged man and too much of a coward to cancel his engagement even when he knows his One True Love reciprocates his feelings. They watch movies together, go out to lunch, fantasize about each other, etc, so initially it’s emotional cheating.
Then they almost kiss a few times and finally they DO kiss. He feels guilty (ya think?), and yet he still won’t choose her.
His marriage is looming, 3 weeks, one week, the day of, the guests are all there, and HE’S STILL SUCH AN IDIOT COWARD and moving forward with marrying a woman he has a strong aversion to when the love of his life is standing over there in his wedding party.
I’m too mad to even want him to get a HEA.
The author tries to sweeten the cheating aspect by making his fiancé a snotty, shallow person. The MMC can’t stand her but sticks with this arranged marriage because engagements are very serious in the Indian culture. (Which just adds weight to the fact that he is cheating on his fiancé!)
I don’t like this type of character. It’s a character that is certainly no longer attractive to me nor one that I can respect.
Super lame. I’m mad at the characters and couldn’t care less if they get their HEA.
**I did love how the FMC gets back at his cowardly-ness by wearing a casually sexy shirt-dress and knowingly positioning herself while playing a game of pool with the sole purpose to make him sweat. Haha! Serves him right. That was my favorite scene.
Details:
- Dual POV
- Happy, mature, kind, even-headed FMC (that I really liked!!)
- Ironically honor-bound-while-also-cheating MMC.
- Meh chemistry
- wealthy, OTT Indian Punjabi culture (fun setting)
- slow beginning. I listened on double speed because I was feeling meh about the whole thing.
- great writing
- FANTASTIC narration! (via KU audio)
- fun cover
Content:
- Language - no swearing
- Spice - plenty of sideways references to his aroused state in his pants. Based off that, I would have expected a sex scene but it’s surprisingly closed door at the end (which I appreciate).
January 25, 2024
2.5 stars. Really liked being immersed in the life of an Indian family and hearing about life and dating in India. Lots of humor. But I could just NOT with the hero. Why the capable female lead fell in love with an engaged man who “refuses to acknowledge his feelings for her” is beyond me. He in no way shape or form deserved the heroine. The MMC and FMC had zero chemistry, I really didn’t care if they ever got together- in fact I kept waiting for her to kick him to the curb. I ultimately started to hate the heroine toward the end because she helped plan his wedding to another woman. What woman in their right mind does that?!?!? The book tried so hard to be a modern feminist novel but it was wrapped up in so much idiocy and letting men get away with bullsh*t that in the end I just couldn’t.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2023
It was fun and lighthearted. An interesting viewpoint into Indian culture, with which I was not very familiar. The two main characters spent way too much fantasizing about each other, which diminished their love story and made me wonder if all they really felt for each other was lust. I actually liked the secondary characters better. But overall not a bad read.
January 8, 2024
I quite enjoyed this because of the Desi rep, but it was a bit cringey at times. It also followed a lot of the classic tropes in desi stories.
It was nice to finally read a book set in India, but why did Samara have to be super perfect with every single person in the family? It wouldn't hurt if she was a bit more flawed.
I think the fact that her relationship with Sharav wasn't properly established was what made it fall a little flat for me at times. I needed a bit more to truly believe they connected that quickly.
Also, I noticed people were talking about there being no spice, but I think it was very similar to a classic Bollywood styled story, where they don't do anything physical, and if they do its just heavily implied.
But overall, I did enjoy it as a nice quick read.
It was nice to finally read a book set in India, but why did Samara have to be super perfect with every single person in the family? It wouldn't hurt if she was a bit more flawed.
I think the fact that her relationship with Sharav wasn't properly established was what made it fall a little flat for me at times. I needed a bit more to truly believe they connected that quickly.
Also, I noticed people were talking about there being no spice, but I think it was very similar to a classic Bollywood styled story, where they don't do anything physical, and if they do its just heavily implied.
But overall, I did enjoy it as a nice quick read.
September 16, 2024
A classic, Hallmark-esque romance. Very happy to see an Indian cast represented with such authenticity, charm, and empathy. I smiled and laughed multiple times as I read. Recommend if you’re looking for a fun, light read.
January 8, 2024
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I instantly pulled in from the beginning with a fun disaster and meet-cute (or two).
Samara was a delightful character. I couldn't help but love her witty remarks, sassy attitude, and caring heart.
I adored the Khanna family. They are a bit of a fun disaster, but in such an entertaining way and I loved how Samara became such a huge part of the family.
Let's talk about the rugged Sharav. His description swayed me to read this one and he was perfectly stoic, bossy, and protective. I couldn't get enough. His devotion to his family was top-notch.
Samara and Sharav engage in some fun banter and give grumpy-sunshine vibes. I enjoyed the way she pushed his buttons. Their bickering and banter was a lot of fun! Their attraction created the perfect slow burn. Be warned for those who don't like cheating, he is engaged and his attraction and feelings are obvious.
This is packed with family, tradition, and culture. The author does a fantastic job of capturing it all.
Family drama and expectations aren't always easy. There are conflicts and hurdles, but plenty of laughs, giggles, and fun bickering.
Written in third-person narration from multiple PoVs.
I instantly pulled in from the beginning with a fun disaster and meet-cute (or two).
Samara was a delightful character. I couldn't help but love her witty remarks, sassy attitude, and caring heart.
I adored the Khanna family. They are a bit of a fun disaster, but in such an entertaining way and I loved how Samara became such a huge part of the family.
Let's talk about the rugged Sharav. His description swayed me to read this one and he was perfectly stoic, bossy, and protective. I couldn't get enough. His devotion to his family was top-notch.
Samara and Sharav engage in some fun banter and give grumpy-sunshine vibes. I enjoyed the way she pushed his buttons. Their bickering and banter was a lot of fun! Their attraction created the perfect slow burn. Be warned for those who don't like cheating, he is engaged and his attraction and feelings are obvious.
This is packed with family, tradition, and culture. The author does a fantastic job of capturing it all.
Family drama and expectations aren't always easy. There are conflicts and hurdles, but plenty of laughs, giggles, and fun bickering.
Written in third-person narration from multiple PoVs.
December 19, 2023
Never Meant to stay is a fun, funny, and lively romantic comedy! This book held my interest the entire time. The characters are well developed in this book and it was full of culture. I was absolutely captivated by how descriptive this book was about the food, scenery, and culture of Delhi! I did not expect to love this book so much….. I definitely recommend if you like a lighthearted rom-com!
November 28, 2023
Samara is a wedding photographer and the daughter of a diplomat. Home has always been a temporary thing for her. When her dad gets a new assignment half way through the wedding season, and Samara has weddings booked, she ends up staying with old family friends for a while.
Being the strong woman she is, Samara has it in her head that, she will help the son find his voice, help a girl find true love, and leave the family forever different. One things for sure, she will never be forgotten by them, but can she find happiness for herself along the way as well?
This is such a fun and lighthearted read that focuses on Indian weddings and culture. I will say that miscommunication was the heart of this novel, and the characters could have saved so much time and heartache had they listened and stood up for what they wanted, but I do understand that much of this is deeply cultural and I felt that this aspect was well explained. I really enjoyed the characters in this book. They were all well developed and written, despite me wanting to smack them at times. The author wrote in a way that was so descriptive and mesmerizing that it felt like you were right there living with the characters, which is my favorite way to experience a story. I hope that someday I am able to experience events as grand as the ones that the characters got to experience, it would be amazing! I loved the way this story ended, and it had me guessing until the very end.
If you have the opportunity to read this one, I suggest that you check it out.
Thank you so much to the author and Get Red PR, @GetRedPR for this e-arc for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Being the strong woman she is, Samara has it in her head that, she will help the son find his voice, help a girl find true love, and leave the family forever different. One things for sure, she will never be forgotten by them, but can she find happiness for herself along the way as well?
This is such a fun and lighthearted read that focuses on Indian weddings and culture. I will say that miscommunication was the heart of this novel, and the characters could have saved so much time and heartache had they listened and stood up for what they wanted, but I do understand that much of this is deeply cultural and I felt that this aspect was well explained. I really enjoyed the characters in this book. They were all well developed and written, despite me wanting to smack them at times. The author wrote in a way that was so descriptive and mesmerizing that it felt like you were right there living with the characters, which is my favorite way to experience a story. I hope that someday I am able to experience events as grand as the ones that the characters got to experience, it would be amazing! I loved the way this story ended, and it had me guessing until the very end.
If you have the opportunity to read this one, I suggest that you check it out.
Thank you so much to the author and Get Red PR, @GetRedPR for this e-arc for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 26, 2023
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: closed door but lots of good tension; slow burn
I thought this one was really cute and an enjoyable read. I found myself not wanting the story to end as I got sucked into this family’s story. I really liked that the focus wasn’t just on Samara and Sharav, but we also got to explore Diya, Dhruv, and the mom’s stories and how Samara helped them. Samara never really had a home, and in helping this family come back together, she made a space for herself, and I just thought it was all really beautiful. It’s about family, love, and that honor isn’t always what you think it is; sometimes the best way to honor your family, and the memory of one, isn’t what was expected, but becomes more than you could have ever hoped. Putting acceptance before pride goes a long way.
Thank you to the author and Get Red PR for the early copy of this beautiful story! I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Spice: closed door but lots of good tension; slow burn
I thought this one was really cute and an enjoyable read. I found myself not wanting the story to end as I got sucked into this family’s story. I really liked that the focus wasn’t just on Samara and Sharav, but we also got to explore Diya, Dhruv, and the mom’s stories and how Samara helped them. Samara never really had a home, and in helping this family come back together, she made a space for herself, and I just thought it was all really beautiful. It’s about family, love, and that honor isn’t always what you think it is; sometimes the best way to honor your family, and the memory of one, isn’t what was expected, but becomes more than you could have ever hoped. Putting acceptance before pride goes a long way.
Thank you to the author and Get Red PR for the early copy of this beautiful story! I thoroughly enjoyed it.
December 6, 2023
A Sweet Read
If you like gardens, good food, travel, down to earth values, and comedy, this book is perfect. Full of warmth, people being people, and I especially enjoyed learning a bit about aspects of Punjabi and Delhi culture. Very well written! I’ll definitely be reading anything Trisha Das publishes.
If you like gardens, good food, travel, down to earth values, and comedy, this book is perfect. Full of warmth, people being people, and I especially enjoyed learning a bit about aspects of Punjabi and Delhi culture. Very well written! I’ll definitely be reading anything Trisha Das publishes.
April 11, 2024
Never Meant to Stay—PG
Violence: no
Language: 19
Sex: yes, but no details
There is an unusual amount of genital arousal (pants, groin, lady bits!) as an attraction meter going on, which isn’t the vibe of the rest of the book at all. I thought the heroine was great the way she made such a positive difference in others’ lives.
Violence: no
Language: 19
Sex: yes, but no details
There is an unusual amount of genital arousal (pants, groin, lady bits!) as an attraction meter going on, which isn’t the vibe of the rest of the book at all. I thought the heroine was great the way she made such a positive difference in others’ lives.
January 19, 2024
I enjoy reading books written by and based in cultures different than mine! I liked that it was a quick read, but it was just over the top corny to me and I found the main character unlikeable.
May 14, 2024
girl what was that cringey plot i was cacccckling
March 3, 2024
Diving into this book, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the engaging narrative that unfolded. While matchmaking and arranged marriages aren't typically my cup of tea, the author skillfully wove a tale that transcended my preconceptions. The characters, in particular, became cherished companions, each with their unique charm and quirks.
What stood out most was the book's ability to turn a potentially disliked theme into a source of enjoyment. The author's writing style painted vivid scenes, allowing me to escape into the story on those rainy days. It became a comforting ritual, turning the pages to uncover the fates of characters I had grown to love.
The intricate plot twists and well-developed relationships kept me eagerly turning pages, transforming what could have been a mundane subject into a captivating experience. In a literary landscape where clichés often abound, this book managed to carve out its own niche, offering a refreshing and entertaining perspective on love and relationships.
In conclusion, this book has become a cherished addition to my reading repertoire. It defied my expectations, proving that even themes I might initially shy away from can be presented in a way that captivates and entertains. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a delightful escape into a world where characters come alive, and the unexpected becomes a welcomed companion.
What stood out most was the book's ability to turn a potentially disliked theme into a source of enjoyment. The author's writing style painted vivid scenes, allowing me to escape into the story on those rainy days. It became a comforting ritual, turning the pages to uncover the fates of characters I had grown to love.
The intricate plot twists and well-developed relationships kept me eagerly turning pages, transforming what could have been a mundane subject into a captivating experience. In a literary landscape where clichés often abound, this book managed to carve out its own niche, offering a refreshing and entertaining perspective on love and relationships.
In conclusion, this book has become a cherished addition to my reading repertoire. It defied my expectations, proving that even themes I might initially shy away from can be presented in a way that captivates and entertains. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a delightful escape into a world where characters come alive, and the unexpected becomes a welcomed companion.
January 22, 2024
A very good book that I enjoyed very much.
I couldn't put this book down so I ended up in finishing it in one evening.
Great characters and a cool story.
This new to me author did a wonderful job in bringing them to life and I enjoyed in getting to know them.
Das made me grin and laugh out loud throughout this sweet story too. She's amazing.
The setting of this story is different than what I'm used to reading about but it was truly delightful and the food sounded delicious. It made me drool and sigh at the same time.
I loved Samara. She was a joy and I found myself rooting for her.
I found myself rooting for Samara and Sharav. What a cute couple!
Home really is a special place. I feel like Samara right now. No true place to call home. Maybe someday.
5 stars for this fun and cute read! I highly recommend
Cute cover too. It was what made me want to read it.
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
I couldn't put this book down so I ended up in finishing it in one evening.
Great characters and a cool story.
This new to me author did a wonderful job in bringing them to life and I enjoyed in getting to know them.
Das made me grin and laugh out loud throughout this sweet story too. She's amazing.
The setting of this story is different than what I'm used to reading about but it was truly delightful and the food sounded delicious. It made me drool and sigh at the same time.
I loved Samara. She was a joy and I found myself rooting for her.
I found myself rooting for Samara and Sharav. What a cute couple!
Home really is a special place. I feel like Samara right now. No true place to call home. Maybe someday.
5 stars for this fun and cute read! I highly recommend
Cute cover too. It was what made me want to read it.
My thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 4, 2026
Thank god it was a quick bc it was torturous trying to finish it for the sake of book club. I wanted to like it, expecting a crazy rich asians with Indian culture. It was so far from that. There is such minimal description for important things like the characters… and so much unnecessary drawl and references to American pop culture like don’t stop believing and the Simpsons. It’s not at all believable. It’s a hot inconsistent mess. Like she spells out child instead of just using any Indian language term bc that’s complex…. But casually dropping navratna is cool. So much time is spent on cliche subplots that idk how she found the time to fall in love with the bland MMC between all her meddling and an entire job she’s almost never doing. It’s 0 to 100 and so cringey to read the descriptions of their interactions. This reads like an 8th writing assignment with phrases like “her ovaries summersaulted like puppies for treats” GTFO.
Someone else’s review said they would’ve been into it if they were 12 and that sounds about right.
Someone else’s review said they would’ve been into it if they were 12 and that sounds about right.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2023
This was an Amazon First Reads pick for November but I somehow missed that so THANK YOU Get Red PR for my earc.
Never Meant to Stay is a Indian contemporary tale about wedding photographer, Samara, and her stay with close friends of the family. She never knew she needed a safety net and stability yet know she may find it. Even better, she's going to help Sharav's family find it as well.
Weaved inside Samaras story are a few other points of view from the family. I quickly listened to Never Meant to Stay on audio and enjoyed the story even more as our narrator, Ulka Mohanty, is Indian. The rich culture, including Indian food and traditions, made me hungry and wanting to try out some recipes! I was also entwined with each character's journey- rooting for each to find their peace.
Never Meant to Stay is a Indian contemporary tale about wedding photographer, Samara, and her stay with close friends of the family. She never knew she needed a safety net and stability yet know she may find it. Even better, she's going to help Sharav's family find it as well.
Weaved inside Samaras story are a few other points of view from the family. I quickly listened to Never Meant to Stay on audio and enjoyed the story even more as our narrator, Ulka Mohanty, is Indian. The rich culture, including Indian food and traditions, made me hungry and wanting to try out some recipes! I was also entwined with each character's journey- rooting for each to find their peace.
December 28, 2023
Thank you to GetRedPr and Amazon Publishing for my complimentary copy of Never Meant to Stay. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was such a fun romcom read. I loved everything about Samara. Some may call her meddling, but I was in awe of her willingness to step in and solve all the Khanna’s problems.
Perfect for the lazy days between the Holidays. It’s the perfect little vacation to Delhi.
I binged it in a day.
Found family
Forced proximity
Healing
This would be a great movie !
This was such a fun romcom read. I loved everything about Samara. Some may call her meddling, but I was in awe of her willingness to step in and solve all the Khanna’s problems.
Perfect for the lazy days between the Holidays. It’s the perfect little vacation to Delhi.
I binged it in a day.
Found family
Forced proximity
Healing
This would be a great movie !
January 1, 2024
what a fun read! i really enjoyed the characters and light-heartedness of this book. it was a simple story but in such a beautiful setting. i found myself rooting for almost all of the characters (iykyk) and relating to them quite a bit, or at least understanding. so glad i found this and gave it a shot, would highly recommend!
January 8, 2024
A romantic comedy
This was a very light read. I was so tickled throughout the entire book. The last few pages had me beyond tickled. I'm all for romantic comedies and this one delivered.
This was a very light read. I was so tickled throughout the entire book. The last few pages had me beyond tickled. I'm all for romantic comedies and this one delivered.
December 22, 2023
3.5 stars
December 26, 2023
3.5 stars. It was a fun read which is exactly what i was in the mood for. I enjoyed the setting (Delhi) and descriptions of the culture and food. The characters were fun to get to know too for the most part. However, I wasn't a fan of the how the story unfolded between Samara and Sharav (won't say more b/c I don't want to give any spoilers).
January 21, 2024
A sweet, hilarious read. I hope there's a sequel one day.
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