Own Voice Romance. I love the quirky, funny and unusual romance. The author adequately developed both leads making the reader highly invested in their romance. I felt that the pacing dragged a bit, but the ending was just right. I loved the side characters and family.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Accidentally Engaged is my first full novel by Farah Heron, well the first I completed anyway (I struggled with The Chai Factor somewhat, and have put it aside for now, although I do hope to go back to it, given the way it’s been raved about and I did see its potential). Thankfully, while there are some connections to the first book, it can still be read as a stand-alone.

This book is so much fun, and the main reason is all the food porn. Within the first pages, I was overwhelmed by all the descriptions, and definitely do not recommend reading on an empty stomach.

While this book differs from many romances in being single POV (albeit third limited instead of first person), I think it allows the reader to get to know Reena while also really becoming invested in those around her. She can be insecure, she has issues with her family, and she has life goals, and I found a lot to love about her.

And while it would have been nice to get something from Nadim’s POV, I appreciate that we got to know him as Reena did, especially as there was a secret he kept from her that tested their relationship. He’s still incredibly swoonworthy filtered through her perspective, and I really liked them together. Their relationship isn’t one full of melodrama for the most part, and I liked how normal it felt.

I also really liked seeing the familial relationships and what it’s like living in the desi community in a way that felt prominent without making the story feel less like a romance. The relationships Reena and Nadim have with their parents and others are complex and not without their issues, and I appreciate the way Heron delves into all the little nuances.

I really liked this book, and I think both those who liked Farah Heron’s first book and new readers will enjoy this one.

Read if you like: fun and witty romances, friends to lovers, baking tv shows.
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I loved this book. The plot was engaging and a great pace, the characters were super cute, and I thought the concept behind this book was fantastic. Reena meets Nadim in the hallway of her apartment building, but what she learns is that she is meant to marry Nadim. Her parents hope that her and Nadim will marry, and because she doesn't want to follow what her parents say, she tells Nadim that she will not marry him, but can be friends. But when Nadim agrees to help Reena compete in a cooking tv contest, they find themselves getting closer.
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I really loved how Reena and Nadim connected over their love for food. Their relationship develops in a believable way, albeit a bit dramatized. I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen.

At first glance, it’s the smells of sourdough, beer, wine, and cheese that make this book enticing. But as you keep reading, the dynamic characters, the tension between tradition and modern love, and the widespread representation of minority groups are what keep you reading. Accidentally Engaged is a charming romcom between Reena and Nadim. The two fake their engagement as Reena applies to a cooking competition on TV.

Throughout the book, Heron expertly blends the chaos of being multicultural in this poignant romantic comedy. Though this was only a preview, I look forward to reading the full book when it comes out in March 2021.

Thank you, Farah, for sharing Reena and her story with us. Thank you for increasing representation in the the romantic comedy space. Thank you for creating characters that we can see ourselves in!


#bookstagram #fiction #romcom #southeastasianwomen #grandcentralpublishing #accidentallyengagedapreview #netgalley #voicesandviewpoints

3.5
What I liked:
- All the talk about cooking and bread making
- The culture! I loved learning more about the cultures of both Reena and Nadim, the food that connected them to home and how it connected them with each other.
- Reena's relationship with Saira, I love how they finally opened up to one another and started supporting each other. Their relationship arch was my favorite.

What I didn't like:
- There was a lot packed into this, the author touched on many subjects that need to be talked about more often but because there were so many, I felt like she wasn't able to dive deep the way I would have wanted.
- How long all the secrets when on for, it was honestly frustrating that no one would just talk to each other
- I'm not a big fan of the idea of secretly dating someone your parents would actually love for you to be with because you have a poor relationship with them. I get that is partially because I don't personally relate to this.

Accidentally Engaged was a delightful read! It was also a delicious read!

I adored Reena and Nadim both together and apart and all the side characters add the perfect balance of sweet and salty. This book was literary umami! Did I mention food is also a major character? It's basically Reena, Nadim and food!

What I adore most about the way Farah writes is that she exposes the reader to a segment of a culture they may be unfamiliar with without it feeling like a powerpoint presentation. The world is so much bigger than we tend to acknowledge and getting tidbits, and recipes even, from places we weren't expecting was such a great surprise.

I loved the competition (and now feel the need to write a letter to FoodNetwork Canada to insist they look into doing one) and the deeper issues touched upon. I also love how Farah writes about a place I know well. A place so often replaced by more, well American, cities to "appeal to the American audience." I feel like Farah has proven that books can take place in Canada and be unapologetically Canadian. The balance of culture and home and traditions is absolute perfection.

Thank you to Forever Publishing and Netgalley for a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for an honest review!

TW - mental health issues, eating disorder

This was a cute story that intertwined the Muslim culture, bread baking, and falling in love. I don't think I've ever read a book that contained these themes. While this was a bit predictable, it was still fun to watch the two fall in love. I could have done without the foot fetish parts, but other than that, it was a fun read. And it makes you want to eat all of the bread.

I absolutely loved this book. The mix of feelings was great, the chemistry between the characters was amazing and the "arranged marriage" topic was touched in a different way and with a touch of food!

Hilarious, real, and swoony!

Reena Manji may not be the perfect daughter, sister, or financial assistant, but she can make the perfect sourdough loaf. Her starters can be temperamental (you, Brian), but she loves them. So life is good with bread. When Nadim, her father's new employee and her parents latest marriage prospect, moves into her complex and raves about her bread and food, she knows she shouldn't let him get too close. But when Reeena hits rock bottom, Nadium agrees to help in a cooking contest. The catch, they have to pretend to be engaged.

When sparks fly and the food is delicious, the lines Reena has drawn start to blur. She knows they both have secrets, but she won't think about it. But when she starts to discover more secrets (thanks to gossiping parents, nosy sisteres, and meddling family members), nothing is quite what she thought.

I highly recommend you read this book. It's funny, real, and THE FOOD. You'll be wishing you could sample all of Reena's dishes and bread. It's quick paced, real, and hilarious. I loved Reena's family and how each was holding on to secrets and how they were revealed. The chemistry between Reena and Nadim will have you swooning!

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Pub for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Beware this book will make you want bread ASAP.

Reena Manji loves bread and food in general. She is known for her breadmaking skills. When she learns of a cooking contest on FoodTV she wants to enter. The grand prize is a special on the network and $10,000 to use at a culinary school which has an artisan bread class she's been dying to take. The only problem is the contest is geared towards homecooking in pairs, either family members or couples (spouses, fiancés). Reena's saving grace has arrived in Nadim, her new neighbor with the sexy British accent. He has everything going for him with Reena except the big problem of her parents want her to marry Nadim. Her parents have arranged for her hand in marriage to Nadim in exchange for Nadim's father financial help in their family business. Reena is not a fan of the arranged marriage agreement and Nadim is fine with forgoing it as well. With that an arrangement is made, Nadim will pretend to be Reena's fiancé for the contest. There's one big problem with Reena's plan their chemistry on video is undeniable and it might be too much for Reena to ignore too.

Accidentally Engaged is fantastic and be ready to hear me talk about it all year. You need a romance, have you heard of Accidentally Engaged? If you read romance you know this is a fake relationship trope. I love this trope so much. It has become my favorite trope to be honest. Accidentally Engaged is a closed door romance and my only critique is I wish it was open door. The chemistry of Nadim and Reena radiates off the pages. I loved the influence of the Indian culture into the narrative and how it is infuses with the Canadian setting. As soon as I read the synopsis I knew it would be a book I'd love. Besides being one of my favorite tropes I'm also a sucker for foodie romance. Bring me all the foodie romances please! Lucky for me Forever Pub has a slate of them set for 2021.

Prepare yourself (and your bellies) for this delicious story! I don't think I have ever been so hungry and inspired to bake as I was while reading Accidentally Engaged. I started it before bed one night and less than 24 hours later, I had a chocolate bundt cake and a loaf of everything bread. LOL

What I loved:
- Reena's journey was so relatable. Her struggles with her family and her own identity really resonated with me. I know all too well how the threat of shaming one's family and "saving face" are such a heavy burden to bear. How expectation and obligation can override any personal aspirations or goals. The confusion of family coming first, when so much is hidden and not talked about (either because of fear and judgement or because no one wants to burden anyone). I thought the author did an amazing job showcasing these topics in the novel.
- Reena and Nadim. I loved how genuine they were with each other. The lack of filter and judgement was wonderful. Plus, they had amazing chemistry (Nadim was such a charmer!) I about died from the scene with all the sourdough babies.
- ALL THE FOOD. I'm hungry just writing this review. LOL
- The friendships. I loved Amira, Duncan, Shayne, and Marley. They were such a wonderful support system and were not afraid to call Reena out on her BS. Yes, they sometimes let her meander there, but I appreciated that they always had her back. This is my first book by the author, so I didn't realize Amira and Duncan had their own story (The Chai Factor). Definitely adding it to my TBR.
- The healing of Reena's relationship with her sister Saira. There was a lot of hurt feelings and baggage between these two, but I liked that the author let things unfold naturally here. There wasn't a magic solution. Just communication, listening, and most importantly time.

What didn't quite work:
- Sometimes the plot threads felt a little overwhelming. There was a lot going on and to unpack with our characters. Reena's journey was the focus, but I would have liked a little more time spent on her and Nadim's evolution.
- The pacing was slow and steady until the end, where it felt like it went into overdrive. The ending wrapped up a little abruptly.
- As much as I liked the positive steps the Manji family made at the end, it also felt a little too tidy. Some traditions and ways of doing things die hard and I don't think the cultural pressures would have been disregarded so easily. It didn't feel genuine to have everyone suddenly adopt new ways of thinking.

Overall, this was a wonderful novel and I'm looking forward to reading more books by the author in the future!

CW: depression, alcohol, mental health, mentions of eating disorder

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Thank you to Forever Pub for a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to the book, I went down a rabbit hole of recipes for sourdough bread and starters. I enjoyed the fake dating trope and thought Nadim and Reena had good chemistry. There is good humor and obviously excellent Indian food references so the pages flew by. However, I do have to say the lie/conflict was a bit dramatic. Overall, a quick paced cute #ownvoices romance!

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but I now know Farrah Heron will be on my “must read” list from now on. This book was sexy, funny, thoughtful, surprising, and heartwarming. Heron’s ability to weave family dynamics with a new relationship with typical thirties struggles was so well-done, I keep expecting to run in to Nadim and Reena at my neighborhood bar.

***3.5*** I had a fun time reading this. The first three quarters of this book I really enjoyed.
I am a sucker for a fake dating trope so this book immediately caught my attention. The characters and the writing are where this book really shines. Farah Heron does a really wonderful job of immersing you in Indian cuisine and culture while also, showcasing a really cute romance.

Reena and Nadim’s relationship was really sweet. I loved that they shared an instant connection but their relationship wasn’t strictly based off of physical attraction. They also had similar interest and mutual respect for each other (albeit begrudgingly on Reena’s part). This added a layer of depth to the relationship and made it more believable for me. Reena was also an interesting character to read from because she was flawed but also real. I loved her strength, knowing exactly who she was and not being willing to be pushed around by her family. She wasn’t perfect and that came through on page in her relationships with not only her family but Nadim, as well.

The last twenty five percent of the book is where my interest started to decline. The story turned into a straight up soap opera. There was so much drama, outlandish secrets and lies. I also, felt like the conflict that “broke” Reena and Nadim up was such a silly misunderstanding. And all the build up for Nadim’s mysterious past seemed to deflate with no actual payoff. I was happy that it was resolved rather quickly and I really liked how the story ended but I felt like some of the things we had to “wade” through to get there could have been eliminated.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading from this author in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an E-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book made me hungry - literally and figuratively. This follows Reena and Nadim as they navigate cultural matchmaking schemes, fake engagements, real relationships and a cooking competition.

This book is everything I've wanted as a South Asian with immigrant parents. Reena as a main character is flawed and interesting and her South Asian roots don't represent her entire being. She's a person - who happens to be South Asian/African just looking to find her own path. The other half of the coin is Nadim - who is also just looking for a do over. He's a person who has a past - but is trying to find a new future. I love the burgeoning friendship and conflicted feelings that began to develop between these two. It felt real and realistic, but by far my favorite relationship was the one that needed mending between the two sisters. Reena and Saira have a strained relationship - but as the story progresses you really see that relationship blossom.

Outside of all the food in this book - the best thing was the discussion on the importance of mental health. As someone who has struggled with their own mental health since college I appreciated Saira so much. She was constantly talking about her therapist and the things she was doing to find her own happiness. So often is the South Asian culture we sweep mental health under the rug - we're expected to just power through - and NEVER talk about it lest you show some form of weakness. The Aunties and Uncles will eat you alive.

This story felt really important to me and just incredibly special. Bonus - you get some recipes at the end. Be prepared to find yourself in the kitchen baking bread and making egg curry even before you've finished reading.

Beware...if you are on a low carb diet, you will need some cheat days!

Accidentally Engaged follows Reena, an amateur bread-making enthusiast and her run-in with her attractive neighbor...who also happens to be the man her parents want her to marry. When FoodTV network starts casting for a couples cooking competition, Reena is suddenly cast in the spotlight with a fake fiancé.

This story was full of heart and fun. Reena was a sweet main female with her male counterpart being just as adorable. This story was light and endearing. The romance was organic and filled with many swoon-worthy moments.

Thank you Forever and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy.

4 stars

Oh man, we all need a good rom-com every now and then, don't we? I read Farah Heron's previous book, THE CHAI FACTOR and was excited to get the chance to read this one too. What I enjoyed so much about the first book was also present in ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED – Yes, you get a heartwarming story, a lovable heroine, and a happy ending but you also get characters dealing with real things in their lives, things like mental health, strained family relationships, problems at work, etc. Heron writes great rom-coms, but also gives us a little more, and I really like that.

This book in particular is also a love letter to good food. Get yourself a good sourdough loaf or some chai before you start reading it. You'll want it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read an advanced review copy.

This book is amazing. Reena is such a fantastic character. Watching her journey to a place of being ok with herself and following her dreams, while she gets to know Nadim is so fun to watch. She's well-written, interesting, and relatable - all things that are sometimes hard to find. Nadim is an interesting character and his journey was exciting to follow, I really had no idea how he was going to turn out. so that resolution was great.

The storyline here is great, Reena and Nadim are fantastic characters and the side characters are great, and the baking and cooking will make you hungry. Definitely recommend this one!

Well, this was a really sweet book! Accidentally Engaged was the story of Reena and Nadim who were set up by their parents to be married. Of course, it wasn't quite as simple as that but I don't want to give too much away! Traditional Indian culture is at the forefront of this story, which I found really cool.

It should be noted that you should have a supply of snacks near you at all times while reading this one, or at the very least, some nice fresh bread! Reena was trying out for a cooking competition and was a bread baker and in almost every single chapter, delicious sour dough breads and traditional Indian dishes were discussed in great detail! I loved the attention on this area, but this book made me hungry!

I enjoyed the witty banter and the craziness of the two families! I also enjoyed the romance story between Reena and Nadim and how it developed. Overall, a cute story!

Full review is on the blog (www.acourtofbooksandbrews.com). Short and brief review below!

Desi Representation, meddling parents, fake engagement, cooking competition, laugh out loud moments (throughout the entire book), wonderful supporting characters, likable love interests, fun bantering and undeniable chemistry 🔥!

A wonderfully woven story centered around family, love, and food. I cannot thank @Netgalley and @readforeverpub (@grandcentralpub) enough for giving me the chance to read this book early in exchange for an honest review!