Accidentally Engaged is so cute! The first half of this book plays to the tune of a diverse rom-com, and Reena with her unique point of view and not-so-typical behavior really draws you in and allows you to identify with her. Then, all of a sudden, sexy Nadim with his craft beer and rakish good looks turns the world on its axis.

The second half of this book went a little deeper, and I was here for it. The author swiftly and delicately discusses topics like self expression, mental illness, eating disorders, and familial obligation, and she does it spectacularly. I loved everything about this book, even the recipes at the back!

I came to this book for the promise of an awkward but beautiful romance. I stayed for the awkward family dynamics, the bread (c’mon), the sourdough puppies, and the recipes at the end! Do yourselves a favor and pre-order this book. I hope you’ll love it.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Reena belongs to an overbearing Muslim family. They are in her business and always trying to set her up with a good boy. She is dead set on not marrying anyone that her parents have a hand in. Imagine her surprise when her new neighbor, who she cleverly deems “brown Captain America,” asks her out, but turns out to be her husband in an arranged marriage. Nadim is charming, funny and a huge flirt that seems to really be into Reena. Too bad she’s not going to marry him (and tells him this every chance she gets). The two decide to become friends, but not tell their families. After a drunken night has them entering a FoodTV contest, the pair has to pretend to be engaged for the cameras in order to keep their spot in the competition. But as things unfold, there just might be more to their relationship (and each other) that meets the eye.

Accidentally Engaged is cute, funny and I loved it! I laughed out loud so many times, I lost track. I loved Reena’s quirky personality, especially how she names all her bread starters. But I also loved the twists and turns. There were so many layers of mystery and deception that the book kept me guessing. It was so refreshing to see both characters embrace their culture and share their food with others. While both families were overbearing and at times, over the top, I felt like the relationships were authentic and so real.

This is definitely a must read!

I just wanted bread and Indian food the entire time I was reading this book. It was funny and sweet. Parts of it felt a little contrived but it was fun. It was all fade to black, so no sex.

Last year, I absolutely fell in love with Indian culture through books and this one made me fall ever deeper. Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing/Forever for this free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

When Reena Manji, 31, is baking bread, she’s in Complete control hates her career, loves baking bread and cooking, and is tired of her parents constantly trying to set her up and marry her off with what they consider to be good Muslim men. When Nadim, her sexy new Tanzanian neighbor with a heart stopping British accent moves across the hall from her, she starts to fall for his charm until she learns that not only is he is her father’s newest employee, but her parents have also arranged for the two of them to get married.

Nadim and Reena become really good friends and from the beginning, she let him know that she will never marry him.

This book was REALLY good and it made me laugh out loud a lot. It was a 5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me. Rom coms are quickly becoming my favorite book genre. It also made me very hungry between Reena’s bread baking and the cooking she and Nadim did during a FoodTV cooking contest. I’ve never had Indian food and unfortunately I can’t seem to find an Indian restaurant on Guam, but I’m really excited to try it one day! I also loved the relationship between Reena and her sister, Saira and I loved Saira’s Desi wedding planning. My only complaint is the typos throughout the book but hopefully they will all be caught before publication.

Accidentally Engaged by @farahheronauthor will be released on March 2, 2021 and I’ve already preordered my physical copy!

Accidentally Engaged is a delightful rom-com, with so much delectable descriptions of food and bread that I found myself needing to snack while reading (and order Indian takeout). I enjoyed following the relationship at the center of the book, and following how the main characters navigated the pressures of family and career against their feelings for each other. I immediately went and checked out Heron's first book.

I could not get enough of this book. The character development was done so well. The love that blossoms between our two protagonist will tug at all your heartstrings. I laughed so much because Reena was hilarious. The banter between Reena and Nadim is sooooo good. I could have honestly read 100 more pages cause I was not ready to let them go. The cultural and family ties embedded throughout the stories are complicated but shape the story in a beautiful way. The theme throughout the book was the connection we have to our roots through food and I so resonated with that. That’s how Peruvian food feels to me and Nadim constantly saying he felt at home when tasting Reena’s cooking made this story that much more special for me.

Accidentally Engaged is a fun feel-good romance about Reena, a Muslim bread baker, and Nadim, the latest of her parent's matchmaking attempts and their hijinks as they fake an engagement and hide a friendship to win a family cooking contest.

Reena is having a hard time, she's been downsized...again, the hot guy next door is everything she's ever wanted but he's her parents pick and officially off-limits, and her sourdough starters are her best long term relationship.

Nadim has got some secrets he's keeping from the hot baker next door, but I was still hooked from the first description of him as "brown captain America".

I liked the back and forth of Reena and Nadim's snarky conversation, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the family drama and the cooking were some of the best parts. I've never had/heard of most of the recipes mentioned in the book and now wish I had a place I could go to try these traditional meals.

I really loved this book! It focuses on so much more than just the romance aspect, it dives into the many facets of Reema's life as a single woman in her thirties, trying to find what makes her happy.

There are so many layers of complication to Reema and Nadim's relationship, and I was definitely rooting for them them the whole time. Nadim is the sweetest little quirky cinnamon roll, and I was smitten by him from the beginning.

Reema is real and relateable, even as she navigates a cooking show contest and a fake engagement, while trying to deal with a career crisis and her overbearing Indian family.

And the food aspect of this book left me with huge food cravings! Bread, craft beer, and the amazing Indian cuisine had my mouth watering. In fact, as soon as I finished, I made lentil soup and naan!

The writing is well-paced, and interesting, so I never felt a lull, and just kept turning the pages. I liked how the characters worked through their issues, normalizing mental illness and dealing with high-stakes problems in a purposeful way.

This book is the perfectly sweet HEA I was needing, and I'm looking forward to this author's other books!

I absolutely LOVED this book! It had me hooked form start to finish. This book was entertaining, funny, full of secrets and drama and it definitely left me feeling hungry for some good bread.

One of my favourite things about this book was that it featured a woman in her thirties who was single as most romances feature someone who is in their twenties. Reena whose passion for cooking makes her finance job even more boring, and real estate dealer, Nadim are thrown in neighbouring apartments by Reena's desi parents who are sent on finding a good Muslim husband for their daughter.

I loved the chemistry between Reena and Nadim as well as the family and friend dynamics, secrets and cultural expectations that make life hard.

This is an incredible romance which I would highly recommend to everyone!

This was perfectly serviceable but not the zingy novel I'd been personally hoping for. That being said, I can see this working for readers who will find the food angle, fake relationship trope, and family trials and triumphs to be enticing—it will likely make a perfect recommendation for a future What Should I Read Next guest.

When learning about a new culture what is one thing you want to know?

For me it’s food. One thing I love about culturally diverse books is the introduction to new cuisine. It’s fun to live vicariously through the flavors and scents of a recipe that is being made or a meal that characters are bonding over. And this book had an abundance of food that made me salivate just by the name alone and oh dear loaf, all the bread one could dream of. Give me all the rye Brian’s, sourdough Bobs, and all their puppies from carefully maintained starters. I wished nothing more than to just be able to jump into these pages and eat all day.

The writing style of the author is charming. I couldn’t help but have a permanent grin reading Nadim and Reena’s interaction. There was a subtlety in growth between Nadim and Reena from friends-to-more that captivated me from their very first encounter. It was easy to get lost in their connection because together they felt authentic and the progression was organic. There’s an instant attraction and the magnetism towards the other is undeniable from the very beginning. From their meet cute in the hallway to bonding over making meals, they didn’t have a fight chance against what was developing. Though they have lighthearted and witty banter, they are also able to connect on a deep level.

Bonding over food was at the core of their connection which blossomed by sharing their love for food and their history behind each recipe. In a way this brought a more Intimate setting and opened dialogue to connect more than just sharing a meal. You can learn a lot about a culture by the way they use food. It brings families together for open conversation, or in this case avoidance of truths, it can spark memories that bring comfort, or start traditions that bring people closer together.

I felt this book went above and beyond a typical romcom. This is a book more about Reena and her journey discovering her way in life, her purpose, and doing her best at adulting. It was interesting to dive into Reenas culture and see the stark contrast between her parents ideals and how they clash with her modernistic attitude. It was intriguing to see how Reena's relationship with each member would develop as the story progressed.

Please have a full stomach while reading this. The mere mention of Reena's creations had me salivating. The story had complexities that both opened my eyes to Indian culture and a new appreciation for my own culture. Thank you to Forever Pub and NetGalley for this ARC and my stomach thanks you Farroh for this amazing food journey and the surprise at the end.

I think this is a situation where this particular story didn't work for me. The writing is good, the characters were solid. But the plot could have been solved if the heroine developed boundaries, and the main couple actually talked to one another. This didn't hit the spot for me but I will try others by this author.

A fun and engaging read romance fans can look forward to coming out March 2!
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SUMMARY: When Reena meets her handsome neighbor, there’s immediate chemistry. Nadim is handsome and charming—but he’s also the man her parents are pushing her to marry! Wanting to live her own life, Reena vows never to marry him, but a cooking competition—in which contestants must be coupled up—has Reena looking to Nadim for help. That’s when things really start heating up!
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There’s so much to love about this book! Nadim was such a charmer, and every interaction between the couple put a smile on my face. Even Nadim’s unusual interest in feet just added another aspect to his goofy personality.
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I loved the strong cooking theme throughout the book. It was interesting to learn more about Indian food through the characters, and I enjoyed sitting in as they strategized how to navigate each challenge of the competition.
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I also enjoyed hearing from a diverse voice in the genre. I feel like so often stories from writers with backgrounds similar to Heron are shared in the form of Very Important (read: depressing) Books. And while those books should certainly be read and enjoyed, it’s nice to see these same themes—family, honor and secrecy in the Muslim migrant community—play out in a lower stakes, approachable format.
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I’d definitely recommend it for fans of the genre and look forward to seeing other books from this author!

A review from a reader that doesn't usually read romances-

I read the first couple of chapters and it was almost too corny for me. I put it down for a while, but I'm glad I came back to finish it!

I loved the Indian/ East African, Muslim, and mental health representation! Mental health isn't take about enough in the black community, and also I feel like the whole romance genre could use more diverse characters. This delivered!

I was drawn back into this book by the family drama, and secrets. That made it way more interesting.

I also really appreciated how this book was focused on black people having normal life experiences. There are so many books out there about oppression, and while those stories are necessary, we also need joyful Black stories to show that Black people are more than the challenges they face.

One final note about the smut- If you're looking for a graphic, steamy, scene, this aint it. Instead the sex scenes are movie-like in the sense that they start with some hot making out, then jump to 2 try satisfied people the next morning. I didn't mind this, because it allowed more focus on the characters, and may appeal to a more conservative Muslim audience?

This book has a lot of different aspects that I enjoyed it discusses Indian culture, arranged marriages and baking/cooking. I highly recommend reading this if you need a distraction and enjoy a light read. It does discuss mental health depression but skims over it very lightly which was a little disappointing. The HEA is not what you expect. I rate this a 3.75.


*************************I received an ARC for my honest review from NetGalley.********************************

Reena Manji is in a rough spot - she dislikes her job in Finance, is decidedly single, and constantly has to deal with her meddling family. But things are about to get worse when she gets laid off AND finds out that her father has arranged a marriage for her to Nadim, one of his business associates who just so happens to live across the hall from Reena… AND be smoking hot. Despite Reena’s refusal to marry Nadim, they strike up a friendship (partially based on his admiration for her amazing bread baking skills!) and soon find themselves faking an engagement in order to enter a TV cooking contest for couples that could give Reena the opportunity to pursue her passion for food. Along the way, Reena grows closer to Nadim, uncovers her family’s secrets, and most importantly - learns what will truly make her happy.

I really loved the characters in this book. Reena was so relatable and likable, and I really enjoyed learning about her quirks and personality. Nadim was the perfect mysterious, dark and handsome hero for the book! Reena’s family will feel familiar to anyone that has a family full of big personalities and high expectations. Although lighthearted and fun, the book portrayed some challenges with mental illness in a realistic and appropriate way.

I honestly think that my favorite thing about this book was learning about Reena and Nadim’s shared East African Indian Muslim Canadian culture. I loved learning more about the Muslim religion and traditions, and I can’t even tell you how hungry I was reading descriptions of the many East African and Indian dishes in the book. Also, fair warning - you will be overcome by a strong urge to bake... or at least eat... a lot of bread by the time you finish reading!

I highly recommend Accidentally Engaged - I think it will end up being one of my favorite romances of the year! And now that I’ve discovered Farah Heron, I’ve already added her debut novel, The Chai Factor, to my TBR list!

I really enjoyed Farah's take on two people pinned under their parents and the pressure of their cultures and beliefs. Although I can't relate to the storyline, I have a feeling there are quite a few people who can. Reena and Nadim"s relationship was an obvious instant attraction, the "love to hate " type. I fell in love with every character at some point in time in the book. Farah made you angry at the characters until at some point you would learn to understand why these characters were the way they were and you grew to love them. This is not just a love story between two people it is a story about family dynamics and overcoming expectations and history, going forwards and growing TOGETHER. Absolutely loved it! Farah based the story in Toronto, Canada which as a Canadian it was refreshing to read.
Most certainly will follow this Author as she writes future novels!
Thank you Netgalley for my ARC

“I could barely breathe that night when I found you sitting outside my door barefoot with a bag of bread. You were prickly and so independent, but I finally felt like I belonged somewhere. You feel like home.”

What You’ll Find:
✔️Romantic Comedy
✔️Culture Enriched
✔️Fake Relationship
✔️Closed Door
✔️Singular POV

Reena’s love is baking. Bread especially. What she doesn’t love is her finance job and her parent’s meddling. And meddle again they have, with her new sexy neighbour Nadim, who they want Reena to marry. When they find themselves pretending to be engaged for a cooking contest, their fake relationship changes and things get physical. But if feelings aren’t involved it shouldn’t matter when secrets are exposed, right?

This was such an enjoyable story! Fun and flirty. This is closed door, but had sizzling chemistry and great humour. Though it tackles some serious topics as well. And I enjoyed that, how well rounded this story felt.

I adored both MC’s. Reena is a little lost in life but that doesn’t dampen her spunky personality. Or her love for cooking. Nadim is just so sweet. And sexy to be honest. Just goes with the flow. The two of them complimented each other so well. It was fun to watch their relationship take its time as they become friends first.

This story wasn’t without its drama and secrets. And for me, some of it was a bit much. But this story was still exactly what I needed! Definitely check this one out, but be sure to have snacks handy. It will make you very hungry!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this advanced copy for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this one! Farah Heron put this story together beautifully with lots of neatly woven-in plot lines and unexpected intersections of characters. And it's a deep exploration of how Reena feels in her family, her career, and her life plan. The limited third-person POV works really well here, and as much as I would have wanted Nadim's POV, not showing it is a smart move so we're kept guessing not about his interest in Reena (because it's clear to me that he's into her, even if she isn't sure) but about his intentions and his backstory. The chemistry and banter between Reena and Nadim is fabulous. I do think the end was a bit rushed, but honestly, the book was such a delight that I don't really mind. 4.5 stars.

Do not read this while hungry because the food descriptions will have you wishing for all of the delicious food in the book and cursing that you don't have it in your house while you read!

In a week were I can't seem to read anything other than light, low stakes romance novels, this book was perfect.

While some of the plot points seemed overly dramatic and unrealistic, if you're willing to suspend disbelief while reading, this book is very enjoyable.

Reena is quirky but not overly so to the point where she is annoying and Nadim is almost too perfect for her.

I didn't love the message that you should forgive family for completely beyond the pale behavior just because "they're family" but was willing to overlook that for the sake of the adorable ending.

I especially enjoyed how in depth the details on Reena's bread baking were and loved the whole baking show plot line.