The Design of Us

Description

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?”The perfectly designed romcom.”—Ali Hazelwood #1 New York Times bestselling author of Love, TheoreticallySajni Patel is an award-winning author of women’s fiction and young adult books, drawing on her experiences growing up in Texas, an inexplicable knack for romance and comedy, and the recently resurfaced dark side of fantastical things. Her works have appeared on numerous “Best of the Year” and must-read lists from Cosmo; O, The Oprah Magazine; Teen Vogue; Apple Books; AudioFile; Tribeza; Austin Woman; NBC; Insider; PopSugar; BuzzFeed; and many others.Reader’s Guide
The Design of Us by Sajni Patel
Discussion Questions:

1. Bhanu struggles with social anxiety and can get overwhelmed in groups. Are there certain situations where you feel easily overwhelmed?

2. Sunny and Bhanu love to hate each other. Have you ever had an enemies-to-lovers romance of your own?

3. Bhanu loves ube, a popular food in Hawaii. When you travel, do you travel for food as well as destination? What are some of your favorite culinary discoveries?

4. Sunny’s father has recently been ill, and Sunny is struggling to share the burden of an ailing parent with his siblings. How do you handle sharing the burden when life throws hardships your way?

5. Bhanu and Sunny find themselves competing for the same job but manage to not let it come between them. Do you think you would be able to do the same?

6. Bhanu is dedicated to her job and struggles to take time for herself. How do you achieve your work-life balance?

7. Despite her feelings for Sunny, Bhanu steps in to pretend to be his girlfriend when she sees him struggling with his ex. Do you think you’d
be able to maintain that kind of charade?

8. Sejal seems to thrive on drama and wanted a more passionate relationship with Sunny, breaking up with him when he wouldn’t fight for her the way she wanted. Do you consider that passion, or do you think people can show their love without all the drama?US

Additional information