I love a good book with POC. I was able to get the preview copy that came with 4 chapters. So my review will only contain these four chapters in mind.
I like this book a lot. I was hooked when she started talking about the hot new guy trying to bring his Bicycle in the apartment 😂😂. I love the interaction with the side characters and can’t wait to read more.
I am excited to see this relationship btw Reena and Nadim blossom cuz they sure do have chemistry. Both are cheeky and sexy people. I look forward to reading the rest

A cute book, lighthearted and engaging as the title promises! I loved how Renna refers to her sourdough starters as she pounds them into delicious breads - as she thinks of all the men her parents have suggested she marry. Then her father makes an actual move. He devises a plan with serious thinking - he has the perfect match in Ramid who is one of his employees.... the story takes off with secrets being held and what happens next - you have to read to find out!

I was so excited to preview the first 4 chapters in exchange for a review! This in no means changes my overall rating, I truly enjoyed those chapters and will definitely add it to my shelf to read the rest!

First, the description of the foods and the breads are so vivid my mouth was drooling the whole time! This is such a cute rom-com I was literally laughing out loud. Btw I already love Shayne and in my head he’s my bestie. I can totally relate to the dating and work life pressures from parents so I connected to the book.

If you’re a rom-com fan, you’re going to enjoy this one!

I was given an advanced copy of chapters 1-4 and while it is hard to know really where the story is going to go, you can tell that the banter between the love interests is going to be interesting and amazing. I look forward to reading the full novel in the future. I can not wait to see what journey this couple will go on!

This seems so sweet! I really like the character development, and as a baker myself that element seems fun as well. Excited to read the whole book!

I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak at Accidentally Engaged and let me tell you, it is ordered and on its way! After many failed attempts at dating did Reena finally find the one? A mystery man that could possibly sweep her off her feet.

I’ve seen this book pop-up on recommendation lists and it sounded really cute, so I was excited to preview the first 4 chapters!

I’m a sucker for the arranged-marriage trope, but I’ve really only read mafia books with that trope, so this is new and different for me. Reena seems really funny and I already love the chemistry between her and Nadim. I can’t wait to see what happens between them and especially their families.

I think what I’m most excited about this book is all of the descriptions about delicious food, but I definitely won’t be able to read this on an empty stomach.

I'd like to thank NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Farah Heron for providing me with a preview of this book in exchange for an honest review! I must say, even after only four chapters, I'm ready to dive into this book! It has such potential and I really loved getting to meet the characters. The writing style also really worked for me and I loved the accidental meeting between Reena and Nadim - plus the fact that their families want them together, which makes it exciting. Overall, I found the romance to already be intriguing and the story to be very unique and fun. I'm definitely adding this to my tbr! :)

The first 4 chapters and I'm ready to dive into the rest of this book!

On her way into her building, Reena holds the door for her neighbor who also turns out to be the man that her family has arranged her to marry. Between his British accent and incredibly good looks, Reena can't help but be attracted to him so they end up drunkenly making a cooking show application video - and the fake relationship they start, might turn into a real one.

Great start to a fun and flirty 'fake dating' trope romance. I really enjoyed the minor characters in this story so far and am looking forward to getting some of my questions/plot points wrapped up.

Thank you to Net Galley and Forever Publishing for the partial Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for a fair and honest review
4/5 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I enjoyed the free preview of the book and had to finish it.

Reena is laid off (again) and does not want to tell her family.  Especially after she finds out they have moved in a guy next door to her that they want her to marry.  But when they make a drunken video application to a cooking show they actually get selected to move on.  And then she does the unthinkable, and falls in love with him.  While she bakes and cooks away her stress, her family’s secrets slowly unfold.  But in the end, they all end in a better place.

I loved this book!  It moves fast and has so many comic moments.  I appreciated the frank discussion of mental health issues.

I loved this preview- and must have more!
On her way to her family's weekly painful brunch, Reena holds the door for a man juggling his bike and beer. And he's her new neighbor- killer smile, great ass and calls her a goddess. YES PLEASE! Until he realizes who she is - their parents are desperate to arrange their marriage.
Great start to a funny, realistic and sweet romance.

Oh. My. God.

I can already tell, just from the preliminary chapters, that this book is definitely a potential favorite. The chaos, the blooming romance, the characters, the writing - that is to say, everything. It all feels perfect for me, and it already holds a lot of potential, going off of the premise. I really can't wait for this book, and I hope most of all that it doesn't disappoint!

Food-centric romances don't always work for me (stop talking about smells and tastes and textures and just make out on the marble countertop already). If I want food as a sensory experience I'll eat it, I don't need to read about it. However, here all the culinary stuff fit into the character work and the themes of home and family, so I can forgive it for spending inordinate amounts of time on bread making.

Reena has a clear, specific narrative voice and Nadim is well-rendered as a character given that it's a single POV novel. It's cute, but not revelatory.

I had seen this book pop up from time to time on Instagram so when I saw that Net Galley had the first four chapters available, I definitely knew I wanted to check it out.

I am a sucker for these types of books especially those that involved fake dating (at least that is what I am presuming will be happening). This also has the bonus of also involving food and possibly reality tv which I am all about.

Reena's personality jumped off the page and I found her very much enjoyable. I also liked her cousin Marley and friend Shayne. I could picture the three of them together on Marley's couch gossiping as if it were my friends and I.

I enjoyed the fact that this takes place in another country that I have never been to (Canada) and that it involves an arrange married that is not part of my culture. I had read another book that dealt with that but from what I've read from this so far, I can already say it's better than one I had read.

I am looking forward to reading more and getting some of my questions answered: Does Reena go on the cooking show? Does she ask Nadim to join her? Why is Nadim single? Do they ever hook up?

One of the tips for writing a review was to answer the question: What makes this book different from others? The answer is nothing. The first four chapters of this book suggest Heron's novel will be just like every other sugary romance on the market right now. When did the blue print for romance novels become cringey inner dialogue? And how do we change it? When Reena thinks to herself "a brown Captain America" I wanted to throw myself down some stairs. I don't if it's obnoxious because who even thinks like this or because the writer's giving 'pick me' energy. Probably both.

On a nicer note, I found the chapter surrounding Reena's dinner with her family to be more enjoyable than the rest of her interactions. Granted, I think Reena's a pushover and sibling rivalry is passe and parents that pit siblings against each other is bad parenting and should be called out on it. I respect Reena's parents' representation because I think it's accurate, and I can relate to not being enough. Ultimately, though, I found myself frustrated reading the interaction because I wanted more from Reena.

It's possible this book turns it around and gets better, but I doubt it. There are too many cliche aspects, with the "arranged marriage" and "hot neighbor with an accent," that I don't think it can be redeemed. IF the novel leans into Reena's issues with her parents and sisters more, it'll be a worthwhile read but since I suspect we're just going to watch Reena pine and swoon over her neighbor, I say pass and read a romance novel with a bit more nuance.

This was a fun romance following an attempted arranged marriage match who end up fake dating to enter a cooking competition. I enjoyed the chemistry between Reena and Nadim from day one, even if Reena was set on denying that he may be a good match.

There is so much food and baking in the story so you will not want to approach on an empty stomach, including and adorable scene with a sourdough starter. I didn’t love all the secrecy between the family, but understand its intention to cause some drama. I always just wish people communicate with one another sooner.

Overall it’s a sweet romance about family expectations and following your dreams.

In the preview we are introduced to Reena who is working a job she hates in finances in order to avoid working for the family business while dreaming of being able to write a cook book and work in the food and culinary industry. We are also introduced to Nadim who moves in across the hall: he has a British accent, the body of Captain America, and is working for her father. Her family is conspiring to get her married and have sent him to live there in hopes that they will get together and strengthen their families’ business partnership. At the end of the preview Reena finds out about an opportunity that could allow her to leave her job in finances and pursue the courses she has been dreaming of taking to finally work in the food industry.

Only the first four chapters were available but I'm curious to see how the rest of this book will go. I love fake relationship tropes and I feel like this is the beginning of that trope.

Nadim, aka brown Captain America, is attractive and seems like a great match for Reena who is set on going against what her parents want. Reena's parents have a path set out for her - great financial career and amazing husband - but she doesn't want either. Especially because her parents have been parading potential perfect Muslim husbands in front of her. .I love Reena's independence and willingness to do what she's passionate about even without her parent's support.

Although I'm only giving it 3 stars for now, I'm sure my stars will change once I get to read the full book. Not too much happened in the first four chapters so I can't give an accurate rating but it's off to a great start!

I’m very excited to read on past chapter 4 - Reena is already so lovable and I love the cultural twist on the “fake relationship” trope that is being set up (and hinted toward in the book title). I’m enjoying getting to see Reena and Nadim interact more, and wish the preview didn’t end where it did!

I also really enjoy the tension between Reena and her parents, but especially between her and her sister Saura. I want to know more about that backstory (which I’m sure is to come in the following chapters) surrounding the cooking “rivalry” and how it will juxtapose her finance career and relate to her relationship with her parents.

I guess I’ll have to wait to see how the story progresses, but I’m already hooked!

When a book makes you laugh in the very first paragraph, you know it’s a keeper. Accidentally Engaged is sweet and funny, the writing keeps you invested in the story. I haven’t read anything by Farah Heron yet, but you can be sure after this preview that will change. Reena and Nadim are neighbors, so this is has forced proximity trope. I can’t wait to get my hands on more of this love story!