Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt: A Novel

by Swati Hegde

In this second-chance workplace romance, two lawyers find themselves working in the same office after a steamy vacation fling a year and a half ago, from the author of Can't Help Faking in Love

Naina Shetty is a proud workaholic, and she is gunning for a promotion at her law firm. No distractions will get in her way this time, not even the bad breakup that happened over a year ago. She brushed off her pain with a long vacation and a no-strings-attached fling with a handsome stranger, but now Naina is back to business.

Unlucky-in-love Tejas Rajput hasn’t stopped thinking about the brown-eyed beauty he met on the beaches of Goa two summers ago. He’d been looking for a rebound to get over his ex—which is why he’d agreed to keep things strictly casual, use fake last names, and respond to all personal questions with “wrong answers only.” But he didn’t think he’d fall for her, hard, only for her to get on a plane and leave.

When they cross paths again—this time working at the same office—Naina is adamant that her no-relationships policy won’t change, especially not for Tejas, whose disarming smile and easygoing charm could spell trouble. Her career will always come first.

But as they team up for a case that could make or break their firm’s reputation, they discover that there’s something more than just sparks between them—and it might turn out to be true love.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Second Chance, Fiction, Queer, Adult

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 12, 2026

About the author

Swati Hegde is the author of Can’t Help Faking in Love and Match Me If You Can. She is also a freelance editor, mindset coach, and self-proclaimed coffee shop enthusiast who lives in Bangalore, India, and can often be found at the nearest café with a hot mug of tea or singing her favorite songs off-key at karaoke night. She looks forward to a long career bringing Indian stories and voices to light.

Swati is represented by Rachel Beck at Liza Dawson Associates. Her romance novels Match Me If You Can and Can't Help Faking in Love are out now from Penguin Random House, with forthcoming books As Long As You Loathe Me releasing on March 31 and Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt slated for May 12.

Find her on Instagram @SwatiHegdeAuthor.

Reviews

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Give me a pathetic, down-bad, bisexual MMC and i’m guaranteed to be a little feral.

This was a fun read. I’m actually not a huge second-chance girlie (gasp! i know), mostly my adhd doesn’t always love dual timeline. HOWEVER, this dual timeline worked. Every shift had me on pins and needles needed to know what the past held!

This is steamy, banter-filled, the concept is fun and definitely adds to the heat! PLUS THE MYSTERY of the murder trial was SO FUN!

| IG | TikTok |

Thank you Ballantine for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[charisse ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

book 8 of my 24hr arc readathon!

this book literally had all the tropes that i liked: second chance, workplace romance, forced proximity.. so like i was VERY excited to get into; however, i just didn't really care about either of the characters until after the half way mark. also there was kinda a lot going on with the legal mystery and it just felt like a lot is happening at the same time?? full rtc!

⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶˗ˋ୨♡୧ˊ˗︶︶︶⊹︶︶︶

₊˚⊹♡ pre-read ♡⊹˚₊ ↴
hehe i got the arc!! love the tropes! i'm genuinely so excited to pick this up

[Mai H.]

Valentine's Day TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Dell

[alicebme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and fast-paced. Male MC is a perfect cinnamon roll, so he’s completely unrealistic. Female MC is less frustrating than she could be, but the driven, emotionally messy thing is hard to read. The Goa flashbacks balanced all of that out though! like all the parts about India, and I wanted even more. The lawyer/detective bits were fine and served as the group project they needed to reconnect in the real world.

eArc from NetGalley

[Blair Warner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited about this one. It’s not very often you get a book with lawyers so when I saw it, I knew I had to read it. In the end, it was OK I’m gonna give it a 3.5 but this one I’m not gonna round up and it specifically because of when it came to the dual timeline I just didn’t think this one was as great as some of the other books that I’ve read. While dual timeline can definitely add to the book for me. It needs to be done super well for me to like it and I think this was just OK. I did like the writing physicall.y. It was easy for me to read when I was in the chapters. I did like the plot of the book of them working together to exonerate their client and the second chance romance. I liked Naina overall as the FMC I thought she was a strong character. But even though I liked the characters, the pacing of the book between the two timelines, I did kind of have an issue with it as I felt like one was slower than the other. I really preferred the Now timeline to the past timeline. I definitely think it’s worth giving a read.
Thank you to Ballantine|Dell for the complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was challenging for me to get through. About 1/3 of the way in I finally felt like I knew enough to be drawn in, but had this not been an ARC I would’ve been tempted to DNF. This was the first novel I’ve read with all characters from India, and I struggled with the names, but eventually did get used to them. I did really enjoy the timeline switches through the book - I felt it added to the depth of the characters of the story and it was easy to transition back and forth between past and present. The love story overall was cute, though I did feel like the present decision to fall for him again was sudden it made sense. The case was an interesting add to the story. I’m an attorney so while some of it wasn’t accurate and bothered me, I’m willing to put that aside and enjoy the fictional court drama for the story.

[Clara Gilleland · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish I loved this one, because the premise really grabbed me, but it just didn’t work for me.

My big issues:
- I didn’t really understand why Naina had such a big personality shift after Goa?
- I felt like there was too much time spent on the actual nuances of the case they were working on; it started to bog down the story when truly I just wanted the romance!
- It never felt clear to me why Naina continued to resist a relationship with Tejas (especially when factors like whether or not she would get a promotion didn’t really end up coming into play).

I really liked the concept but execution-wise this was a miss for me sadly! Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for this eARC!

[Anahita Karthik]

Yall Swati is so cool

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really said “your past will find you… in heels, holding a legal brief, and absolutely wrecking your emotional boundaries,” and honestly I was not prepared for that level of personal attack.

Swati Hegde’s Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt completely pulled me into its orbit, and I’m still not convinced I’ve recovered. Published by Ballantine | Dell—thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted ARC.

At its core, this is a second-chance romance—but not the easy kind. This is the messy, complicated, “we met at the wrong time but felt too right to forget” kind. Naina Shetty is a powerhouse—brilliant, driven, and deeply committed to her career after a breakup that taught her love is more liability than reward. She’s the kind of heroine who builds her life with intention… even if that means locking certain doors behind her.

And then Tejas Rajput walks back in like a memory she never properly filed away.

Their Goa fling? Pure lightning. No last names, no expectations, just sun-soaked days, reckless nights, and that dangerous kind of connection that feels like it could change everything if you let it. But what happens in Goa definitely does not stay in Goa—because now they’re coworkers, thrown together on a high-stakes case that forces proximity, tension, and way too many moments of “don’t look at him like that.”

The emotional push and pull here? Immaculate chaos. Naina’s resistance isn’t frustrating—it’s understandable. She’s protecting herself the only way she knows how, even when it costs her something real. And Tejas? Soft, steady, quietly relentless Tejas… the kind of man who doesn’t bulldoze her walls but stands there long enough that she starts questioning why they’re still up.

“I didn’t expect forever. I just didn’t expect you to matter this much.”

That line didn’t just hit—it lingered. Like a truth you weren’t ready to admit out loud.

What I loved most is how layered this felt. The dual timeline gives you the full emotional blueprint—who they were in Goa versus who they’ve become in the real world—and it makes every interaction sharper, heavier, more meaningful. You feel the shift. You feel what’s been lost… and what might still be there.

And then there’s the legal storyline, which honestly had no business being this engaging. The murder trial subplot adds stakes beyond the romance, grounding the story in something tangible while mirroring the central theme: truth isn’t always clean, and neither is love. Watching Naina and Tejas work together—challenging each other, respecting each other, slowly remembering why they worked in the first place—was just as compelling as the romance itself.

The side characters deserve their moment too, because they bring warmth, humor, and that lived-in feeling that makes the world feel real. Her work bestie? Absolute scene-stealer. Her father? A quiet emotional anchor that added depth to Naina in a way I didn’t expect but deeply appreciated.

This is for the readers who love ambitious women who refuse to shrink themselves for love, for those who crave emotionally intelligent men who show up instead of showing off, and for anyone who believes timing can ruin something… until it doesn’t.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Did I want a little more tension in places? Maybe. But did this still wrap itself around my heart in that soft, persistent way that lingers after the last page? Absolutely.

So tell me—are you the type to risk it all for a love that comes back around… or are you closing the case before it can reopen old wounds?

#LoveBeyondReasonableDoubt #SwatiHegde #NetGalley #RomanceReads #SecondChanceRomance #WorkplaceRomance #SlowBurnRomance #DesiRomance #Bookstagram #ARCReview #WomensFiction #RomanceBooks #2026Reads #CoffeeAndBooks #LegalRomance #ContemporaryRomance

[Kelsie ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Dell Romance for letting me read and review this book early. All thoughts are my own!!

I’ve read two other books by Swati Hegde and loved them both, so I was bummed that this one didn’t work for me.

Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt is a second chance romance between Naina and Tejas who spent two weeks together 18 months ago and now work together at the same law firm. They’re assigned the same case, and they rekindle their connection from their trip.

This book is dual timeline, and it’s roughly 300 pages. With second chance dual timelines, the author has to write two separate romantic relationships: the first time they were together and their second chance. I really struggled to believe that their second chance connection was enough for them to get back together. The time they spent together in Goa was really expanded on, but due to their “wrong answers only” decision they barely knew anything real about each other. Then, during their present day interactions, so much of their time was spent focused on their case that we weren’t getting enough of their romantic relationship for me to think they should end up together. With the book being only around 300 pages, I felt like there wasn’t enough time to fully flesh out a lot of aspects of this book, including their second chance at a relationship.

I really felt like they needed to have more conversations and learn more about each other to build an emotional connection instead of constantly having sex. And don’t get me wrong, I’m all for sex being a part of relationships and romance books. This is not a purity culture or a sex shaming critique!! But at 80%, I still didn’t feel like Naina actually cared about Tejas beyond wanting to have sex. They still barely knew each other at this point. I needed there to be more of an emotional connection for me to think that they’re actually in love with each other.

There were a few aspects to this story that were introduced in a way that makes you think they’re going to be big parts of the book, just for it to go unresolved.

The sexism and misogyny in their workplace is brought up a lot, but it never really progresses beyond showing it to us. There’s no resolution to that aspect of the story, and Naina just has to deal with it forever, I guess. Tejas sees it and acknowledges it, but he doesn’t do anything about it. He’s buddies with Dhanush, the boss’s nephew, knowing that Dhanush is awful to his co-workers. It made me like Tejas less, and Dhanush didn’t have enough of a change in character for me to like him towards the end.

The promotion looms over the beginning of the story in a way that makes the reader think it’ll be a big part of the plot, just for the results to not be mentioned until the epilogue. I was also hoping there would be actual stakes around the fact that they kissed at work. They mention a security camera, but then nothing ever comes of it. Naina kept putting up a boundary between them while they were at work, just for it to not really be a big deal.

Finally, I know that Naina says herself that she doesn’t have any friends outside of Anil, but I really wish there was another woman in her life to support her. The only other women she interacts with in this book are her client and some witnesses. She doesn’t even interact with her mother on page, despite saying she still has a good relationship with her after her parents divorced. It really isolated her through this book, and I wish that wasn’t the case. Even the other friends from their time in Goa never come back into the story, and it feels like a missed opportunity for her to build more community.

I’m still interested in reading more from this author, as I’ve read and loved some of their other work, but this book was a big miss for me.

[MJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first book by Swati Hegde and I wanted to love it so much. It's right up my alley - romance, second chance, dual timeline.. but it just did not hit.

First the positives. I love that it took place in India. Seeing another culture represented, not just in terms of the romance and expectations around marriage, the gay community, but also how the legal system/lawyers work in another country was incredibly interesting. And I love Anil, I thought he was such a good friend.

That's sort of where my positives end, though.

The premise could've been incredibly sweet - 2 lawyers that have to work together fall in love, but surprise, they has a 2 week fling over a year ago and haven't seen each other since! I really did not like how the dual timeline was done. There was not enough substance in the "past" chapters to justify giving it like half the book - it could've just been a prologue and maybe some flashbacks; I internally groaned whenever it was a flashback chapter. In the "present" chapters, way too much time was spent on the case the lawyers were working on; at first I found it interesting, but as it progressed it was just given too much page time. I wanted to see Naina and Tejas do more things together outside of their work, I didn't really care about this murder mystery that was happening. Ultimately, I just feel like I didn't believe that they loved each other. I like the choice to make Tejas bisexual, I would've like to explore that more; he was so hurt by his ex, but I felt like that plot ultimately fell flat when it could've added in more complexity.

Last thing, this is a closed door romance, which is totally fine, but it needs to be done with a little more finesse. Even if we don't see them having sex, I still want to feel some kind of passion. There were some points when they had sex, and then all of a sudden they were done and I had to re-read because I was not sure if they had sex? The transitions/the fade to black was done in a really clunky way that felt more confusing than anything.

Anyway, I did not enjoy this. It wasn't terrible, but I really never wanted to pick it up. If you're on the fence, I think you should definitely check it out, there was nothing crazy terrible, I just found myself bored by the progression of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine | Dell for this eARC.
2.5/5 stars

[Aamira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’ll get to the heart of the matter, I wasn’t a fan of this book. It’s an easy read, and I enjoyed the setting, but the characters were one dimensional and the story was written in broad strokes without any depth or nuance.

Naina and Tejas meet in Goa after both had their hearts broken by their partners. They decided to have a fun, no strings attached fling, but quickly develop feelings for each other. Scared of getting her heart broken again, Naina turns her back on the relationship only to run into Tejas again 18 months later when he gets a job at her law firm.

The premise of the story is cute, and I love a good second chance story, but there were just so many misses. Hegde uses a dual timeline to give us insight on Naina and Tejas’s previous relationship, but ultimately it wasn’t necessary. This could’ve easily been done in a prologue. I would’ve rather had more time spent in the present. This would’ve offered a greater development of their romance. As it is, all we get is Naina pushing Tejas away while they work on a case together until she suddenly decides to say to hell with it, let’s give it a go. There’s no real yearning, no fun witty banter, no tension.

Naina and Tejas are both one dimensional characters. In fact, I didn’t understand why the Naina in Goa was vastly different from the present day Naina. There’s no explanation as to why she goes from this fun loving, free spirit to this workaholic obsessed with making partner. There’s no real character growth on her part. As for Tejas, his defining character trait is his love for Naina and his cat Astrid.

Hegde glosses over major topics in this novel, such as Tejas’s bisexuality and the misogyny Naina faced and spent no real time providing commentary on the societal expectation of women in India. These would’ve been so interesting to delve into and given the novel more complexity and depth.

The murder trial was interesting, though pretty obvious as to who the perpetrator was. I didn’t mind the scenes in which they worked on the case, but I do feel it was a missed opportunity to build tension and to develop their relationship. It’s frustrating because this book had all of the makings to be a solid second chance novel, but instead was an okay read that I didn’t mind taking breaks from.

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt takes places mainly in two time periods in two parts of India: 2026 Bangalore and 2025 Goa. Back in 2025, Naina took a two week trip to Goa, where she meets Tejas, who she’s rooming with at a hostel. Both are reeling from recent breakups, but have an instant attraction to each other. When Tejas agrees to do the items on Naina’s Anti-Honeymoon Checklist with her, the two grow closer and quickly act on their attraction. It was the perfect vacation romance, but then things ended sourly and the two went their separate ways with no way of ever finding each other again, as they both made sure to not give away any real information about themselves.

Fast forward to a year later where Naina is trying for a promotion at work. She works in a swanky law firm and who should happen to show up but Tejas, who is also a lawyer, which she didn’t know. The two get assigned a case together, and are trying to prove a woman’s innocence, while also sorting through the closure the never truly got for their vacation fling.

A big theme of this book is misogyny, and how it affects women in different ways. Naina’s company is dripping with it, as she’s the only woman on her level in her field, so it’s constantly an uphill battle for her. Tejas is at first blissfully unaware, but he starts to notice more and more how different things are for her than her male counterparts.

The only reason she even gets that murder case (and not another, much higher profile case) is because the person being accused is a woman, Preethi, who allegedly kills her ex-lover, a bid time director in India. There is no innocent until proven guilty for Preethi in the public’s opinion, because everyone has already convinced themselves that she is guilty and robbed the world of one of their favorite directors.

As far as the romance aspect of this book goes, the Goa chapters do a lot to lay the foundation of the tension to come later in the Bangalore chapters. It is a tiny bit too insta-feelings for my liking, but easy to get past. This is a second chance romance in every aspect, and it has all the best parts of it. Naina and Tejas are great characters, but just know going in that the murder subplot has just as much importance in the story as the romance, so if you just want a straight romance, this might not be the book for you.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt definitely has the elements of a fun rom-com, and I absolutely adore that it’s based in India! Naina and Tejas are two heartbroken strangers who meet on a getaway trip to Goa, both seeking an escape from their previous toxic relationships. Sparks fly during their two-week fling, and the two don’t see each other again—that is, until a year and a half later but at Naina’s law firm in Bangalore where Tejas has just been hired.
The novel includes frequent flashbacks to their intense yet sweet time in Goa where we saw these characters slowly fall for each other. Flash forward to present day, Naina is highly invested in her work and cases, but afraid of the realities of a committed relationship, and scared to fall in love.
Luckily, we get a lot of forced proximity in this book as the two are put on a complex case together: a young actress has been accused of murdering her director, who was well-renowned and also happened to be her ex. I appreciated the narration of the book, and reading about the realities that young actresses and women have to face against misogynistic worldviews. It’s hard to see the online vitriol and abuse that the actress faces, as she hides and hopes for at least one person to believe her.
Naina and Tejas collaborate well as a team, and there are elements of solving a murder mystery that were pretty exciting. Amidst this insane courtroom drama, Naina still battles her internal struggles of getting over her past betrayal while wondering if choosing to love is worth the risk. I loved Naina’s no nonsense behavior— whether she was having a blast checking off her bucket list in Goa, or the way she is committed to her work and doting on her father (who is just one of my favorite characters) in Bangalore.
The middle of the story dragged a bit, as Naina as often hot-and-cold towards Tejas, making the will-they-won’t-they build up a bit frustrating. And as much as we love a soft, honest yet assertive king, there were definitely moments where Tejas came off as too clingy and too sure this relationship would work. Those were my only small complaints, but overall Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt was a lovely romance-mystery with a great social narrative.
Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

[Lynn_G · Rating 3 out of 5]

A workaholic junior associate gunning to make partner, Naina still lives with her father after a disastrous end to her engagement just before the wedding and honeymoon. While she ended up using the air fare and time off allotted, she spent the two weeks in a hostel where she met Tejas, who was also nursing a broken heart. The pair shared adventures over that period and (off page) intimacy, but no last names until Naina unceremoniously leaves.

About eighteen months later, Tejas arrives at the law firm as a new hire, and the pair are forced to work together on a case that has more twists and turns than Naina’s father’s beloved “Suits” TV series. Of course their feelings toward each other deepen and they become partners - to each other.

I loved the premise of the book and was looking forward to reading it. I loved the unapologetic bi representation the was promised with Tejas as well, and Naina’s acceptance of him. I really loved Naina’s father being supportive of her choices and pleasantly progressive in his ideas despite his own heartbreak surrounding her mother’s decision to leave while remaining a protective and skeptical dad.

There were many things overall working in this book’s favor, but unfortunately the execution wasn’t great. The flashbacks to Naina and Tejas’s lost fortnight in Goa juxtaposed with their present day timeline, the fade to black love scenes that abruptly ended often with the literal declaration by the narrator that they’d done the deed was just uninspired and instead of a buildup and true passion prior to the door closing, it fell woefully flat, and this reader felt the true soul connection between the MCs was sorely lacking. The large cast of characters who are mentioned but not actually interacted with or heard from in dialogue with either of the MCs made for some head scratching moments. It took far longer to read this ARC than I’d expected; at times it was nearly a DNF.

I was provided an advance reader copy from NetGalley, and I’m sharing my honest impressions.

[Tanisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a longtime romance lover, but I also enjoy stepping a little outside of my comfort zone every now and then. This book did exactly that for me. From the description alone, I had no idea what to expect in terms of setting or cultural backdrop, so I went in pretty open-minded. I was pleasantly surprised to find a story set in India, which immediately made this feel different from the romances I typically read. That fresh setting, combined with two main characters who are both lawyers, made this one stand out right away.

The story pulled me in quickly, especially with the way the main characters first connect and then unexpectedly cross paths again later. I always enjoy a good second chance element, and this one had a unique twist that kept things interesting. The forced proximity and shared work dynamic added tension in a way that felt natural, and I liked watching their relationship slowly evolve. The FMC’s initial reluctance to open herself up made the emotional moments feel more meaningful, and it was satisfying to see that shift over time.

I also really appreciated getting a glimpse into how the legal system works in a different country. It added an extra layer to the story that made it both engaging and educational without feeling overwhelming. It is not something I read about often, so it helped keep my interest from beginning to end.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It offered something a little different while still delivering a romance I could root for. It was a great reminder that stepping outside of my usual reading preferences can lead to some really enjoyable discoveries.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Naina is a junior associate at a law firm. She is shocked when her fling from last summer, Tejas, is hired at her firm. When they are paired up together on a tough case, old sparks flare back to life.

Things I liked: I liked having both POVs in both timelines, and I thought the “wrong answers only” thing was cute and original! I really enjoyed following along as they worked through their tough case. I kept trying to predict what had happened the night of the crime, and (as usual) I was way off! If there’s one thing I’m going to do, it’s completely miss all of the clues for a “whodunnit.”

Things I wasn’t so keen on: To me, the beginning of the book felt a little rushed. Instead of spending time introducing us to Naina and Tejas separately and building their characters as individuals, the book begins immediately with them crossing paths again. I would have felt more invested if I had already read a few chapters about both characters on their own (or even just one) and started to get a feel for them. It didn’t feel like there was enough of a buildup for their unexpected meeting to be meaningful to me. Also, I struggled a bit with the writing style. At times it felt like the characters were growing and developing, and then out of nowhere they would think things or say things to each other that seemed very immature.

Overall, I wanted to enjoy this more than I did. I think having the case included in the plot held my interest, and without it I would have struggled to get through the book on the dynamic between Naina and Tejas alone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC!

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn't exactly what I expected going in, but I ended up really enjoying.

What it is:
- Second-chance dual-POV, dual-timeline romance novel.
- In the present timeline, two lawyers - rising star Naina and new hire Tejas - work together to save a wrongly-accused client from a murder conviction.
- In the past timeline (18 months previously), Naina and Tejas meet for the first time while on vacation and embark on a two-week fling that turns unexpectedly deep.
- Present set in Bangalore; past set in Goa.

What I loved:
- Naina was a great character. I loved her ambition, and that she never had to sacrifice it to find love.
- The mystery element was well-done, giving the story additional suspense and contributing to the characters' developing relationship.
- The book was packed with interesting plot threads. There were best friends and work rivalries, family relationships and past heartbreaks. The romance felt more realistic because it was happening within two established lives.

What didn't work for me:
- The book was... packed with plot threads. There was so much going on that it was impossible for the author to fully develop everything within 300 pages, and a number of elements that felt important at the beginning were dropped in the second half.
- The past timeline was definitely slower-moving than the present. Since the characters were on vacation, there wasn't much going on other than their adventures and their feelings. Other readers might enjoy this travelogue aspect, but I was much more interested in the present timeline and this felt like a distraction.

[I received a complimentary ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. Opinions are my own.]

[Colorado · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a satisfying second chance romance. Over a year ago, Naina and Tejas each traveled for a beach vacation to get over painful breakups and meet when they were assigned as roommates at a hostel. Immediately attracted to each other but concerned about getting attached, they share first names only and almost no personal information. Tejas agrees to help Naina complete her Anti-Honeymoon Checklist. (She was originally supposed to be at the beach following her wedding.) As they go cliff diving and skinny dipping, sing karaoke, share romantic dinners, and lots of intimacy, they are both happier than they have ever been. Both have feelings, but Naina is terrified to get her heart broken. They share an incredible 2 weeks, followed by no contact.

18 months later, Tejas joins the same law firm where Naina practices. Both are assigned to a celebrity case involving the murder of a famous Bollywood director. There's some exciting mystery as they try to craft the defense of the accused actress and investigate what was happening on the movie set. As they work together, both gain respect for the other's capabilities and remember why they liked each other so much originally.

The book alternates between flashbacks to Naina's and Tejas's original encounters and current day action.

Tejas is a kind, optimistic and sunny soul. Naina is afraid of love and is determined to focus on her career. This is definitely a case of opposites complementing each other.

As with Hegde's other novels, there are vibrant descriptions of India's cities, food and culture.

I read an advance copy from the publisher. This is an honest review.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Swati Hedge was such a compelling and emotionally layered read/listen that completely pulled me in from the start. This story blends romance with deeper themes of identity, justice, and self-discovery in a way that feels both meaningful and engaging.

I absolutely loved the dynamic between the main characters—the tension, the vulnerability, and the slow unraveling of their feelings felt authentic and earned. There’s something so satisfying about watching two people challenge each other while also becoming a safe space for one another. The legal backdrop added an extra layer of intrigue that kept me invested, especially in the audiobook format where everything felt even more immersive.

Speaking of the audio—this ALC truly elevated the experience for me. The narration brought so much emotion and depth to the characters, making every moment hit just a little harder. I found myself completely absorbed, not wanting to hit pause.

While I really enjoyed the story overall, there were a few pacing moments where I wanted things to either slow down for more emotional depth or speed up to maintain momentum—that’s what kept it at a solid 4 stars for me. Still, the themes, romance, and character growth made this one incredibly memorable.

Huge thank you to Dell Romance and Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted ALC and physical ARC—so grateful to have experienced this one in both formats! 💕

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book sounded SO good in theory… but it just didn’t hit the way I wanted it to.

Vacation fling in Goa. Fake names. Wrong answers only. Then they end up working at the same law firm? That is elite romance setup. I was ready. Unfortunately, the actual story felt kind of… flat.

Naina is super career driven, which I liked at first, but she’s so committed to her no relationships rule that it starts to feel repetitive. I get guarding your heart. I do. But it felt like we kept going in the same emotional circle over and over. Tejas is sweet and charming, but I never felt like I really knew him beyond that. I wanted more depth, more tension, more something.

And for two lawyers working on a big case, I expected sharper banter and more spark. The slow burn was definitely slow… maybe too slow. The chemistry was talked about a lot, but I didn’t always feel it.

It’s not a bad book at all. It just felt underwhelming compared to how good the premise was. I kept waiting for it to really pull me in emotionally, and it never fully did.

This is a very soft, low drama, slow second chance romance, and you might enjoy this more than I did. For me, it was just okay, and I wanted to love it way more than I actually did.

Thank you to NetGalley, Swati Hedge, and Dell for the eARC of this book.

[Erica Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Legal romances are def having a moment right now and I am here for it.

Plot/Pacing: I zipped through this book in about 3-4 hours so the pacing was really decent and I found the plot to be very engaging. It is a vacation fling, second-chance romance where the former lovers become collogues at the same law firm. The book switches back and forth between the fling and present day. There is a murder trial side plot too that appealed to my true crime loving heart.

The Characters: Tejas is a romantic and so sweet. Naina has been burned by a dirtbag ex and is not ready to trust again. They both have passions outside of a romantic relationship, making them seem more whole. Because we get present day and the fling, I felt like the character development was great. The fling portrayed the idea of right person/wrong time sooo well and the heartbreak associated.

The Setting: I think is this maybe the second book I have read that takes place in contemporary India and I loved the experience! Getting narrative descriptions of places like Goa, Bangalore, and Mumbai from an author who lives there was really wonderful. Reading a romance in English of an non-western country with non-white characters was a nice change of pace and I hope we continue to see more of it in trad pub.

You have a new loyal reader, Swati! Off to check out more of her books!

[Alejandra Reyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of Love Beyond a Reasonable Doubt.

This story weaves together a vacation fling, a high-stakes murder trial, and a workplace dynamic where two attorneys are forced to act like strangers despite sharing a past. Told through a dual timeline, we slowly uncover how something that once felt easy and intimate turned into something cold and distant.

What stood out most to me was the setting and cultural depth. The portrayal of Indian culture and India itself was beautifully done—I genuinely felt transported. More than that, the way culture shaped the characters, their choices, and even how they loved added a depth that made the story feel grounded and real.

I also really enjoyed the murder trial subplot. It added tension and gave the story a strong backbone beyond the romance. The “we have to pretend we don’t know each other” workplace dynamic felt believable and relatable, especially within the professional stakes both characters were navigating.

This is a thoughtful, well-crafted story that blends love, ambition, and cultural identity in a meaningful way. It is for the girlies who are ambitious and are looking for that partner who will support their lofty career goals. Think Legally Blonde with a fun cultural and fling twist

[charmette.books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Beyond a Reasonable Doubt is a rom-com set in India featuring two attorneys. Naina is intensely career-driven, with no time for relationships or fun. Tejas is a new associate at her firm, and also her summer fling during their vacation in Goa the year prior. Told in a dual timeline, the reader sees the vacation dynamic between the main characters, as well as their current relationship as colleagues and friends.

I loved the premise of this novel, and I assumed that a romance between two lawyers would have extra witty banter. The romance between Tejas and Naina fell flat for me. I just didn’t feel an emotional connection or much chemistry between them. I liked both characters, but together they just didn’t work.

The subplot of the murder trial that Naina and Tejas collaborate on was interesting, if a bit predictable. I loved the setting of the book, and learning more about life in India. The pacing of the book was pretty slow, and I would have loved more banter and slowly building attraction during the entire book. It felt like the romance only started in the second half of the book. This is a light slow burn, second chance romance, so if you enjoy those tropes, you will probably like this book.

Thank you to Dell Books/Ballantine Publishing for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[inmyreadingera321 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like there was something missing from this book, though I don't know that I can quite put my finger on it. I think, to the best of my knowledge, that *thing* that felt lost was that, with the time jump between the "past" timeline and the "present" timeline, both characters underwent huge personality changes that never really felt addressed. This was particularly apparent to me with Naina's character -- I couldn't quite tell why she went from so wild and hopeful in Goa to hardened back in the present day. Her broken engagement didn't really feel like it was the cause of the change, and even though her time with Tejas was part of it, it didn't really explain it all that well. Similar with Tejas. I also think that there wasn't really enough "will they/won't they" in the present day, mostly because we knew that they both liked each other -- and they did too.

I think the most interesting part of the book, for me, was honestly the case that they were working on. While not the neatest-put-together mystery I've ever read, I was more intrigued to see what was happening on that front than between the two characters. There was a lot about this book that almost hit the mark, but overall for me it just wasn't quite there.

---------------

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

[Megan megmakestimetoread · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a cute premise: Tejas is the new lawyer at Naina's firm and also the one that got away after their fling in Goa 18 months earlier. Both were in Goa to heal broken hearts agter being dumped by (who they thought were) the loves of their lives. Tejas uses their work together on a high profile case to try to win Naina back, even when she insists on putting her career first.

What I loved:
The main characters were interesting and I was rooting for them
Bisexual and queer rep of South Asian men!
The setting in Bangalore teaching me more about Indian cultural dynamics of relationships, gender, class, etc
Tejas' sunny personality finding the good and connecting with everyone
Dual timeline worked to reveal their relationship in stages
Learning about the justice system in India after doing a deep dive about how it differs from the US in the middle of reading this
Naina's cute dad

What I didn't like:
All the courtroom and case melodramatics
The dialogue didn't always seem realistic

3 stars. Great for fans of Naina Kumar. Thanks to Net Galley and Dell/Balantine for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[katelyn fox · Rating 2 out of 5]

thank you netgalley and dell for the eARC of this book!

this was my first book by swati hegde and im sad i didn’t enjoy it more! the premise of the book had such a fun premise: two lawyers working on the same case after a steamy vacation fling.

now things i loved in this book. i absolutely loved the mystery of the murder case and watching them try to gather evidence. that was probably my favorite part of the book. the book was set in india, and it was my first book i’ve read set there. it was great reading about the different culture. also the best friend, anil, was definitely my favorite character! he deserves his own book for sure (:

now i just feel like there were pieces missing for me. the romance didn’t flow smoothly. multiples time i had to reread because i didn’t even realize the author was telling us they had sex. it was done in a very blunt way that didn’t make sense to me. i feel like both the main characters were lacking background. if we were given more of their backgrounds, struggles with relationships, and letting the readers feel it; than i think i would’ve connected more with the story.

[Natalie Intihar · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt, I need about seven hundred more books like it! Naina and Tejas are an instant delight and their reunification had me laughing out loud. The duality of their budding romance and their workplace situation was so intriguing and had me turning pages as fast as I could!

Naina and Tejas’ initial premise of “wrong answers only” coming to a front when they meet again in person is hilarious, and it is really the epitome of how a holiday romance could manage to go wrong. I enjoyed seeing both that holiday itself and the present moment and how those two timelines compared. One thing is for sure: the chemistry in Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt is never lacking.

The angle of the law case that Naina and Tejas are solving was so compelling! The way that Swati Hegde was able to weave in that plot alongside the love story was incredible. I would have happily read this book for either of those plots, and I was able to get them both here!

Thank you to Ballantine and Dell for the opportunity to read and review this book! I received a free advance copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Lisa Britton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt and ended up rating it 3.5 stars. This is a cute workplace second chance romance that follows Naina and Tejas, who first meet during a wild vacation and share a no-strings-attached fling before parting ways with no way to contact each other again. Of course, fate has other plans when they unexpectedly end up working at the same law firm and are assigned to the same high-profile murder case. As they work together to clear their client’s name, old feelings begin to resurface and they may just find their way back to each other.

What started as a fairly typical workplace romance ended up surprising me because I found myself becoming far more invested in the murder investigation than the romance itself. The legal case added an extra layer of tension and intrigue that kept me turning the pages, and honestly it became the standout aspect of the story for me.

While I did enjoy Naina and Tejas together, I felt like the romance could have used a little more humor and stronger banter between them. Their relationship was sweet, and I appreciated the satisfying ending, but I never fully connected to the chemistry in a way that made the romance particularly memorable. Still, the story as a whole was enjoyable and easy to read, especially with the added mystery elements woven throughout.

Overall, this was a solid and entertaining read that I think fans of Indian romances, workplace romances, and second chance love stories will enjoy, especially if you like a romantic subplot mixed with a murder investigation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the E-ARC copy and the opportunity to give my honest feedback.

[Sahana Ramnath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my third Swati Hegde book, and I loved it SO FRICKIN MUCH, she's just hit after hit for me. I loved the narration and the slow-burn between the characters in this one, and the dual timeline love story was absolutely perfect. I was racing through the book to read the MCs' first- and second-chance romances, and both of them totally delivered on the swoon and the emotions.

Also the secondary plot of solving the case the MCs are working on? I'm so impressed with how the author wove in a detailed and heart-wrenching murder mystery + trial alongside the main romance, the book was perfectly balanced between the swoon of the main plot, and the suspense/justice-seeking arc of the B plot.

++ The part of the book where the title is said is just so >>>>>> I'm dying to share it, but I can't coz it's so spoilery, but like... ((screams))

TWs - misogyny in the film industry (including the public's reaction), grooming of young women in the film industry, brief descriptions of a murder

-- ty to the author and the publisher for gifting me an advanced physical galley!
-- also received an eARC on Netgalley!