Alert! Do not read this book when you are hungry!!

I absolutely adored Accidentally Engaged. It was like a hug or a fresh piece of warm bread out of the oven. It has humour, romance, friendship and family, all tied together by fantastic characters and writing. And is set in Toronto! You know I love my #CanLit.

Reena is at a crossroads in life. She hates her job, gets downsized, isn't thrilled with her love life and is tired of her family meddling into her personal affairs. Enter Nadim. The hot guy next door, who also happens to be the man her parents want her to marry. No spoilers here, but get ready for fun, romance and OH MY GOODNESS the baking. I have never craved food more while reading a book! Food as a connection point to culture, family and love is a big theme throughout the book and so well executed.

Reena and Nadim are stellar characters. Reena is my favourite kind of romantic lead- strong, independent and know what she wants. She grows without compromising her identity. Heron also creates a fantastic cast of secondary characters that enrich the story and the novel's world. The book also addresses serious topics like mental illness & tough family relationships in a very personal way. Outside of the romance, I really loved the relationship arc between Reena and her sister Saira.

If you're looking for a feel good read that will make you laugh, smile and swoon, pick-up Accidentally Engaged. You won't regret it! Oh and make sure to have some serious snacks on hand :)

Thank you to Forever, Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Books Canada & Netgalley for the gifted arc.

What I Liked:
-I loved these characters so much. I love the growth we saw in Saira and I loved how supportive Reena's friends were. I also loved the growth seen in Reena's parents.
-The plot was fun and unique.
-I laughed out loud multiple times and all of the sudden need some of Reena's cooking.
-The plot was a little outlandish, but it still worked perfectly.

What I Didn't Like/Wanted More Of:
-The ending was just a LITTLE too kitschy for me.

You Should Read if You Like:
-If you're a foodie, definitely pick this one up.

I first read Farah Heron’s Chai Factor last year and really enjoyed her writing & story - Accidentally Engaged brings back her enjoyable writing and picks up the story thread sort of related, but not quite to the first book (can be read stand alone). It’s funny, filled with bread & cooking delicious meals, has moments where I agree so much my eyes can’t stop rolling and touches upon a lot of subtle issues that can creep into the daily lives of a lot of Indian families, especially one of “image” (log kya kahenge 🙄😂) Can’t wait to see what the author cooks up (see what I did there?) next!!

Cute, adorable, delicious, and swoon-worthy! You’ll be wanting to try Reena’s recipes in no time! I absolutely loved Reena and Nadim’s story and I’m almost certain you will too!

Reena doesn’t love her career, the fact that she’s single, or the fact that her family loves to gossip and meddle in her life .... but she drowns them out when she focuses on her delicious bread making... until her father moves his newest employee down the hall in hopes she’ll marry him!

This man isn’t the typical Muslim bachelor, he’s built with a British accent... and even though he enjoys eating Reena’s bread creations, she knows she’ll never marry a man who works for her father... that is until the chance of a lifetime gets thrown her way, and Nadim agrees to fake an engagement with her to help her advance in the contest.

The contest brings them together and even though Reena told herself she’d never marry, let alone pursue this man, secrets are revealed on both sides and things get messy, not just in the kitchen...

This book was a lot of fun; I enjoyed the mix of family secrets, drama, and cultural importance set in a fast paced novel. The characters were very real and I want to know more about them!

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the reader's copy!

Now available.

Boisterous and chaotic, "Accidentally Engaged" is a hilarious romantic comedy set in the tight knit East African Muslim community in Toronto, CA. When introspective Reena Manji meets the handsome stranger next door, she can hardly predict the situation they will soon be entangled in. With more twists and turns than a challah and a love that's sure to rise to the occasion, Heron's novel explores the modern Muslim woman's life addressing taboo topics like drugs, romantic relationships and parents. I love how no one in this book is "perfect", that real life issues are explored in a light hearted manner. Though somewhat comically blown out of proportion, the Manjis are a 21st century family with 21st century issues. A thoroughly enjoyable read!

Solid, easy read. Very enjoyable, I also liked the Canadian setting. I just reviewed Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron. #AccidentallyEngaged #NetGalley

The story itself was fun and cute and I enjoyed the characters a lot. However, I did feel that the story dragged a bit in the second half, and the ending felt quite rushed. There was so much build-up to a lot of things that were resolved within a few pages toward the end. Overall I found it to be a quick and easy read, one that falls firmly in the category of "fine."

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

B-read any good books lately? do you need romance to fill your romantic heart and belly, with complicated and real characters that grow tremendously at the end of the book?

Today, Brian the Rye, her temperamental sourdough starter, hadn’t risen at all.

I knead to tell you about this book that has me completely hooked. No naan does romance like Farah Heron. She literally rip me apart when I read The Chai Factor. I could not stop thinking about it after reading it. Heron is one of my top favourite authors. Accidentally Engaged is a romantic comedy roll with culture, family expectations, and personal growth. This book is jam pack with so much it's delicious.

This book is perfect for anyone who loves :

- Big heart of a romantic
- Culture Enriched
- Food competition
- loves bread
- Fake dating trope
- complicated family drama
- Single POV
- small foot fetish ( if it rubs your way)

She literally makes me crave food through the entire book:

scents of smoky burnt sugar and mature grains mingled with a slight fruitiness. The taste exploded in her mouth when she sipped—rich molasses, caramel, and a slight bitterness that coated her tongue. This beer was exquisite. She closed her eyes as she took a second sip, stifling a moan. “Like it?” he asked. “Love it. Would be amazing with…” She thought for a moment. “Cheese. Maybe a sharp cheddar. Or smoked meat…short ribs. And definitely salty bread—pretzels, maybe.” He grinned.
One of my fav lines :

“Funny, I don’t remember ordering a woman. And I’m surprised they leave deliveries by the door here even when no one’s home. Anyone could have walked by and taken her.” Damnit. Nadim. So much for avoiding him. Reena opened her eyes and raised her eyebrows. “Oh, hello. Was that supposed to be funny?” “Apparently, not. Sorry,” he said, smiling. “But I didn’t expect to see you sitting in front of my door. Next time give me some warning and I’ll write a better quip.” He looked down. “Nice feet.”

Rye are you waiting for !!! Pick a copy up!
#AccidentallyEngaged #NetGalley

I really loved this book!

The whole book just felt...warm. I related to Reena and naming her bread dough SO MUCH. It felt so true to how we have all felt during this pandemic, like the only one we have to talk to is our bread.

The story itself I loved just as much as the characters. I loved the relationship between the two characters and thought it was SO cute. Between the baking and the adorable relationship....this book is one of my favorite romances I've read thus far!

I absolutely adore this novel. The characters are fun and the story pulls you in. However, I feel like this is a second book in a series in which I needed to read before this one to fully understand the backstory of the main character.

Farah Heron has only released two books and she is already one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. Farah's debut, The Chai Factor, is a work of art, and I was eager to pick up Accidentally Engaged. This book was just as joyful of an experience as The Chai Factor. You can tell that this story is a project that Farah Heron put all her heart into and I'm grateful that she decided to share it with readers.

At the center of Accidentally Engaged is Reena, a South Asian woman who is a little disgruntled at how her life is turning out to be and the pressure of her parents' expectations. She has a career in finance that she absolutely despises. Reena's true passion lies in cooking and baking, especially bread-baking. At the same time, her parents are trying to set her up with a "good Muslim boy" and their latest target, Nadim, also happens to be Reena's new neighbor. An opportunity to make her dreams come true arises in the form of a cooking contest, Reena and Nadim team up and enter a fake relationship. This not only provides her with a much-needed reprieve from her stagnant life, but it brings her a new friend and maybe love into her life.

I really like how Farah Heron writes her female protagonists. They are all such normal characters and it's easy to relate to them. I really adored Reena and related to her a lot. Both her connection and her discontentment with the South Asian community she grew up in rang a chord with me. Reena loves her culture, which the author weaves into the story really beautifully through the food and traditions, but there were also parts of it that she found suffocating. I like that Farah didn't shy away from showing the complexities and ups and downs of what it's like to grow up to South Asian immigrants. Reena's identity isn't the only layer of her character I liked. She starts off the book accompanied by low self-confidence and unhappiness at certain aspects of her life. We see a lot of her growth throughout Accidentally Engaged and it's very satisfying to someone who is rooting for her.

As much as I liked Reena, it was Nadim who stole the show for me, and admittedly, it's for a very selfish reason. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Nadim had grown up in Tanzania. I think a lot of people are under the impression that there are no South Asian communities in Africa. I grew up in one of these big communities myself, so this book feels like the only representation I will ever see in a romance book. If I seem protective towards Nadim, it's because this is the representation of my dreams. Anyways, Nadim is an actual angel who oozes sunshine! He is a sweetheart, knows how to lay on the charm, and is gentle. I liked that his personality was in contrast to Reena, who is a bit of a grump. They balanced each other out really well and I could see why they started off as such good friends.

If you enjoy the fake relationship and friends-to-more tropes, I think you are going to have a grand time with Accidentally Engaged. The progression of their relationship is fun! The two get close as they shoot for the contest from Reena's kitchen and as Nadim falls in love with her cooking, he slowly finds himself falling in love with her too. Honestly, they were precious together and they also had me laughing quite a few times. The cooking show scenes, in particular, were terrific because they not only show just how much chemistry the two share but also just how comfortable they become around each other as they film more episodes.

Accidentally Engaged is a beautiful book that explores love, family, culture, and cuisine within a South Asian community. It's rich and complex and doesn't shy away from showing both the ups and downs of growing up in the desi community. Just make sure you have a snack while reading the book. You're going to need it. I loved this book and I hope you will too!

Rated: PG
Sub-genre: Romantic Comedy
Trope: Fake Relationship
Pro: Characters have opposite personalities yet great chemistry; fun twists and turns; multidimensional character development
Con: Sex scenes too mild
Verdict: Makes me hungry

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Rating: 8/10
Steam:🔥🔥

Accidentally Engaged is such an entertaining romantic comedy packed with many authentic and relatable characters. Reena is the main character who is fed up with her parents meddling with her love life and pushing marriage. When she meets Nadim, the new tenant across the hallways from her apartment, she notices he’s an attractive man. She quickly learns he is working with his father and is the man her parents are hoping she will marry. That’s just the beginning of this delicious novel! With all the food descriptions and dynamic family personalities, and cooking show elements, this book was fantastic!

This romance was wonderful, and most definitely made me crave some freshly baked bread - and I’ve never wanted to do this before, but I also debated trying to learn how to make sourdough bread.

We have romance. We have Toronto. We have food. We have steam, both food and otherwise (tehe). We have a competition. What else could a book need? I was invested in Reena’s story as she balanced her dreams with her family and culture’s traditions. I also enjoyed following Reena and Nadim’s professional, romantic, and personal journeys in this #OwnVoices story.

(potential spoilers ahead)

I know this isn’t a huge turning point but during chapter eighteen, Reena mentions peeing after sex to prevent a UTI and I got weirdly excited about this. Normalizing books and making things completely normal and realistic make me happy. The sourdough topic also made me giggle with the rise (ba dum tsssh) of home bakers during this pandemic.

Great fun romance. This book combines family dynamics, Indian culture, great food and romance all in one book! Recipes are included.

Warning: The day after I finished this charming book, I made a loaf of challah and two dozen sourdough rolls. This book will make you want to bake! Had I known it was about a sourdough baker and a cooking reality competition, I would have read it much sooner.

Reena is an amateur baker who's feeling stuck in her career and her life. Her parents love her, but would really like to see her get a husband and a promotion (in either order). When she meets her handsome new neighbor, Nadim, she wonders if there might be sparks--but then she finds out he's working for her father, and their parents are trying to arrange a match between them. No, thanks.

The perfect opportunity comes up for Reena--a cooking competition show, with a prestigious baking school scholarship. Then she finds out it's for couples, so somehow she and Nadim end up entering as an "engaged" couple. But their onscreen chemistry starts to feel all too real.

This was a fun fake relationship story by an #ownvoices South Asian author. I look forward to reading her next book.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Forever Publishing and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'm always a little nervous starting a book that is getting a lot of hype on bookstagram, but Accidentally Engaged is worth all of the praise. This book will draw you in and definitely make you hungry!

I loved this book! Reena and Nadim were such wonderful characters. I was easily drawn to both of them. I enjoyed the friends to lovers. I don't always like romances that develop quickly, but these two seemed perfect for each other from the start. I loved their natural chemistry that was obvious from their earliest interactions. I especially loved when they cooked together.

I really enjoyed learning more about Reena and Nadim and their shared cultures, especially through the recipes they shared through the show.

I just adored the ending. It made me so happy. I highly recommend grabbing a copy when Accidentally Engaged is released in March!

4.5/5 stars rounded up. I loved this book! It was laugh-out-loud funny and I loved Reena, the recipes, the cooking show, it was all so good. I agree with other reviews that said it gets a little chaotic toward the end with so many storylines running at once, but I liked the juxtaposition of a family wanting to look so perfect on the outside but having all kinds of chaos on the inside. I found all of the unraveling family drama to be oddly relatable and it was a feel-good escape from a crazy time in the world nearing the end of the pandemic. I also love bread, so naturally I loved reading about bread and eating bread whilst reading about bread. I would absolutely recommend this for a fun, funny rom com that's different than a lot of others already out there.

Reena loves bread and treats her sourdough starter like her children. Her real family? Reena is over their constant meddling. So her father hires Nadim, Reena wants nothing to do with the very attractive man who lives across the hall. When Reena is presented an opportunity to apply for a baking show where the winner receives a television statement, Nadim steps in to be her fake fiancé.

This was so fun! I loved Reena and Nadim and their banter. I enjoyed listening to this - the narrator (Soneela Nankani) is fast becoming one of my favorites! (Also, I accidentally bought the Chai Factor from my new favorite website Book Outlet prior to reading this, so I have Amira and Duncan’s book to read when I get myself out of #NetGalley debt. I have SO many books left to review. SO many.)

Thanks to @NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for my ARC!