The first 4 chapters of Accidentally Engaged sound promising. We can meet the main character, Reena, who loves to bake bread. So much, in fact, that her hunky neighbor, Nadim, who she met just moments prior, informs her that he can smell it all the way in his apartment. Their connection is instant. However, it's quickly soured; he not only works for her father, but they are actually engaged to be wed! Of course this was the work of her meddling father. But she doesn't want a marriage that "facilitated" by her family; she wants something real. After a confronting family dinner where her family tries to push her toward Nadim, she learns about her sister's new cookbook release. She's left to confront her own failures with her own cookbook. It is then she learns about the Home Cooking Showdown, a video cooking contest, and her friends try to convince her to sign up. But the show is for family cooking, and her friends think she ought to have a husband, or the very least a fake boyfriend, to appeal to the show. What will she do?

Indian, African and Muslim representation, fake relationship trope. Sounds very promising!

I loved these first chapters. It establishes the stakes of the story well while also immediately getting us to like Reena and Nadim. They do appear quite perfect for each other, but you also completely understand why Reena is so reluctant to do anything that puts her under her parents thumb. The supporting cast of characters is also very interesting with good representation of queer characters which I loved. The dialogue is funny, and I really enjoyed Reena’s internal monologue and voice throughout—naming her sourdough starter Brian for example. I chuckled.

My main “complaint” is that after reading this I have a unquenchable desire to go bake bread. And am hungry. This is all a testament to the sensory details the author includes which sucked me in immediately.

Also, her sister is completely horrible. It’s good that she added the humanizing details about the infidelity so that we do, as readers, sympathize with her a little. But overall, I still kinda hate her.

I’m really excited about where this book is going and am definitely hoping for a great execution of the fake dating trope. A good set-up to the story without it feeling loaded up with exposition or info-dumping.

Thank you so much for the chance to read the first few chapters! I loved them.

So far, I am pleasantly charmed by the storyline and the characters. I wouldn't say that it's perfect, but any fault thus far is fairly minor and doesn't detract from the story. The writing is solid, and the plot is intriguing. All the scenes have been set, and I'm eager to continue reading.

These first 4 chapters from Netgalley are a promising start to Farah Heron’s second book. I’m intrigued about what leads Reena to change her mind about entering the cooking competition and asking Nadim to be her fake fiancé. I’m also curious to find out more about Nadim, who seems genuinely smitten with Reena. I am looking forward to reading the whole book when I have the chance.

3 stars so far
This seems like it will be a light and fun book. I always love having an MC who is a foodie/chef/ or just someone who enjoys cooking, though I'm still on the fence about Reena herself to be honest. I didn't click with her.
But I do like Reena's friends and most of all I love that the book has a diverse cast. I also think the cooking show and 'accidental' engagement will be quite fun.

Thank you Netgalley and Forever for the preview!!

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the sneak peak of Farah Heron’s book Accidentally Engaged.

I connected with Reena from the start with her love of food and bread making. She has very traditional Muslim parents who continuously play matchmakers and have set up her next suitor, Nadim, in the apartment next door. They meet and Reena is not swept off her feet.

In this sneak peek we see the cast of characters is going to be diverse and the scheme to get the two together is revealed.

Great preview of Accidentally Engaged! I loved having the chance to read the first four chapters and meet Reema and Nadim. I can't wait to read the full book!

Four chapters in and I'd forgotten this was a preview! I am totally hooked on Reena's story and intrigued by Nadim. So far we've been introduced to family dynamics, including extended family, and friends who are family.. I love a story with real community. How Reena navigates this all, I can't wait to read the whole book.
Five Stars so far.

I received a preview of chapters 1-4 of Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron. This is a very light and entertaining read. Accidentally Engaged is a story that follows Reena Manji whose hobby is making bread. Her parents are constantly meddling in her personal life trying to set-her up for marriage. In her apartment building she encounters a new tenant, Nadim, who she quickly learns that Reena's father and Nadim's father has entered a "business partnership" for the two of them to be married. The story introduces other characters, Saira, Reena's sister, which the stage is set for a tension filled relationship between the two. Shayne & Marley live upstairs in the apartment building and Shayne is working on convincing Reena to audition for FoodTV Home Cooking Showdown. The winner of this showdown wins a scholarship for culinary school, which is Reena's dream come true. The only catch is she needs a husband.....I can't wait to read the full copy of this book to see how the story unfolds with Reena and Nadim.

Bread or Love? Why pick when you can have both?
What I love about this book
- Fake marriage trope. Love their first meeting. It sure made a strong first impression.
- Growing up in a Muslim country, it is refreshing to read Muslim characters.
- Close cousin bond. I am very close with my cousins so I like how Reena is very close with her cousin like best friends.

What I don't like about this book
- Just one chapter in and I hated the family. I have very strong family value so I don't really like Reena's interaction with her family.

This will be a fun read with a lot of misconceptions and likeable and enjoyable characters.. Enjoyed the preview. Definitely want to find out what happens to Reena and Nadim and the rest of her family. So when you get a chance check it out, when it comes out.

I really enjoyed this chapter sampler of Accidentally Engaged! While this was only the first four chapters, I felt connected with Reena and I’m excited to see how she chooses to follow her cooking dreams and resolve the conflict with her sister. I’m also looking forward to seeing how the cooking competition and the pretend engagement pan out. And will Bri the Rye ever behave? I'll definitely be picking up a finished copy. Accidentally Engaged releases March 2, 2021. Thank you to Farah Heron, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Netgalley for a free chapter sampler in exchange for honest feedback.

This is an intriguing beginning! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the approved preview. Reena and Nadim have good chemistry right off the bat, and there’s clearly a lot of tension between each MC and their families on both sides with business ambitions fueling their matchmaking. I always find an arranged marriage plot makes for good conflict, and I’m curious to see how this plays out!

Great quick preview: I definitely want to read the book after reading the first 4 chapters. Great first meeting between the two main characters and while we all can guess it will lead to a happily ever after since it’s a rom-com, I’m looking forward to the journey to get there.

A very promising preview. So far Accidentally Engaged has shown a unique plot and the beginnings of a very cute romance. I am excited to read more.

I loved this short sneak preview! It was just enough to pull me in and get me invested.

I cant wait to read the full thing!

I already love Reena and cant wait to find out what happens with her as the story develops.

Because this is only a sample, I can't give a review. But the first 4 chapters are goood. I am hoping for a whole book.

This was a nice preview of a story I’m looking forward to reading. I love that she is introduced to someone by her parents and is now upset that she might like this person. It seems like it will be a nice romance to read.

I really enjoyed this excerpt. I found myself smiling and smirking quite a bit. This is like most other romance books - fun, flirty, and entertaining. I would definitely enjoy reading the rest of this fluffy romcom.

First of all, I will say that I can't stop thinking about how this book of only four chapters got me. Usually I need more to connect with the characters, their feelings, and what drives their actions. But in this book (what I see in the preview) we have strong and real characters with a Muslim representation that I really enjoyed ... and the descriptions of the baked bread? * chef's kiss * they almost made me get up for the bread. Reena's friends are amazing and I'm so excited to see how Reena and Nadim's story goes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing a preview for this book.