Spotlight & Giveaway: THE DESIGN OF US by Sajni Patel

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Sajni Patel to HJ!

Hi Sajni and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, THE DESIGN OF US!

Please summarize the book for the readers here:

Two bickering coworkers find themselves stuck together on vacation where one impulsive lie leads to a weeklong adventure of fake dating.
 

Please share your favorite line(s) or quote from this book:

“She could stop entire worlds looking like that.”
“The Return of the Scowl should be the title of his memoir because there it was.”
“How are you going to handle me licking you when you can’t even handle me looking at you?”
“I drew my lip in between my teeth, devouring the sight of him as he stood over the railing like some water-soaked saver of sea turtles.”
“We were floating in a bubble drifting on this moment in time.”

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

• The title, The Design of Us, is a play on words for the two main characters who work in UX (user experience) and are also known as UX designers. Bhanu is a UX researcher and Sunny is a UX developer, and together they design websites and apps. UX is the bridge between tech and creativity to create a seamless, perfect design for its users.
• The book was inspired by my studies in UX design. I can still smell the Sharpie fumes…
• The book takes places in the Seattle/Tacoma area, where I lived, and in Hawai’I, where I currently live.
• The book brings up commentary on the negative side of tourism in Hawai’I and how tourists can behave without consideration or respect for the land, people, and culture. As well as conversation around being mindful of wildlife conservation.
• This book, as with all my stories, is riddled with food. I love ube, and there’s no shortage of this purple ingredient for numerous desserts.

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

Sunny is attracted to Bhanu’s intelligence, leadership, beauty, and witt. Their banter is off the charts.
Bhanu is attracted to Sunny’s protective and considerate nature…and his Denzel voice.

Did any scene have you blushing, crying or laughing while writing it? And Why?

I tend to write sweet or closed-door romances, and this time I pushed myself a little more into sultrier scenes. Still closed-door, but a bit more build-up before we get there. Like when Bhanu is on Sunny’s lap in the living room and he begins to let out some dirty words. I blushed. My siblings will be reading this!

Readers should read this book….

If you like slow burn romances, vacation destinations, banter, enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating, one-bed, STEM, grumpy/sunshine, a funny but meddling family, nerdy talk, and sweet moments.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have in the works?

I’m currently working on the next romance. My next release is the second book in my YA dark fantasy Venom series from Disney/Rick Riordan Presents, which releases next spring.
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: A print copy of THE DESIGN OF US by Sajni Patel.  

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: Would you ever take in your hot but infuriating work nemesis, sharing your space and your vacation?

 
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Book Info:

One impulsive lie leads to a weeklong adventure of fake dating for two bickering coworkers in this swoony destination wedding rom-com by Sajni Patel, author of The Trouble with Hating You.

Sunshine incarnate Bhanu brings big UX energy to whatever she does, including going for the promotion where her only serious competition is her work nemesis, AKA Sunny, the grump with the Denzel voice. She expected to get a reprieve from him while visiting her family in Hawai’i, but the universe has other plans. When Bhanu runs into Sunny at the hotel and witnesses his ex criticizing him about being single, Bhanu does the first thing that comes to mind: she impetuously claims to be Sunny’s girlfriend just to get some peace and quiet. Except Sunny is on island for a friend’s wedding and his ex has already texted the entire wedding party about this mysterious girlfriend.

Bhanu truly is the bane of Sunny’s existence. But the last thing he wants to do is cause tension during his friend’s wedding festivities, much less be the object of their pity. He has no choice except to play along, if only he and Bhanu can put aside their quarreling and act like a real couple.

Between Bhanu’s hilariously meddling family and Sunny’s ecstatic friends, the two are pushed closer together, even as stress mounts over the impending promotion.

They say what happens on island, stays on island. But as Sunny and Bhanu let their guards down, will either of them be able to resist this romantic getaway without crossing the line?
 
 

Meet the Author:

Sajni Patel was born in vibrant India and raised in the heart of Texas, surrounded by a lot of delicious food and plenty of diversity. She draws on her personal experiences, cultural expectations, and southern flair to create worlds that center around strong Indian women. Once in MMA, she’s now all about puppies and rainbows and tortured love stories. She currently lives in Austin where she not-so-secretly watches Mathew McConaughey from afar during UT football games. Queso is her weakness and thanks to her family’s cooking, Indian/Tex-Mex cuisine is a real thing. She’s a die-hard Marvel Comics fan, a lover of chocolates from around the world, and is always wrapped up in a story.