The Singles Table
by Sara Desai
Personal injury lawyer Zara Patel loves romance for everyone but herself, and she plays matchmaker for friends while keeping her own heart well protected. Jay Dayal, a rigid former military security specialist, is the last man she expects to fall for, especially after she shoots him with a paintball at a friend's party. Seated together through a whole season of weddings, they strike a deal: she will find him a match if he introduces her to his celebrity clients. Their chemistry quickly blows up the plan, and a work conflict soon puts them on opposite sides. A lively, family-centered opposites-attract rom-com.
About This Book
The Singles Table is a contemporary romance novel by Sara Desai, first published in 2021 by Berkley. It runs 336 pages. Readers can expect opposites attract.
At a glance
- Genre
- Contemporary
- Trope
- Opposites Attract
- Length
- 336 pages
- Format
- Paperback
Where to read or listen
Get The Singles Table by Sara Desai
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- A matchmaker who protects her own heart must navigate a deal-turned-romance with a rigid security specialist while seated together through a season of weddings.
- Fans of lighthearted rom-coms
- Readers who enjoy wedding-season settings
- Light
- Features Opposites Attract
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Contemporary Rom-Com
Pairing: unknown
Power balance: Balanced; both are high-achieving professionals (lawyer and security specialist).
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
Moderate humor.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
Recommended audience: Adult romance readers.
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Zara Patel is a lawyer who helps others find love but avoids it herself. When she accidentally shoots Jay Dayal with a paintball at a friend's party, their paths keep crossing. Stuck together throughout a busy season of weddings, they agree to a trade: she will help him find a partner, and he will introduce her to his celebrity clients. As their relationship moves beyond the deal, professional conflicts emerge to challenge their burgeoning bond.
Central Conflict
A professional arrangement between Zara and Jay conflicts with their growing personal chemistry, further complicated by a work-related dispute that puts them on opposite sides.
Setting
A season of weddings; family-centered social environment.
Strengths
- Engaging premise with a clear professional setup
- Strong character archetypes
Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 3
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 4
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 5
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 6
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- October 13, 2026
- Confidence:
- High confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
Sara Desai
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- Berkley
- Format
- Paperback
- Length
- 336 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9780593100608
The Singles Table: quick answers
- Who wrote The Singles Table?
- The Singles Table was written by Sara Desai.
- When was The Singles Table published?
- The Singles Table was first published in 2021 by Berkley.
- What genre is The Singles Table?
- The Singles Table is a contemporary romance novel, with opposites attract.
- How many pages is The Singles Table?
- The Singles Table is 336 pages long (Paperback).
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get The Singles Table by Sara Desai
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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