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rosali's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mgs3's review against another edition
3.0
Book was a hit a d miss for me. I did enjoy the way Reena’s culture was a big part of her life. The way it was woven into the story through her cooking felt authentic to me and not cheap or stereotypical. Reena herself was a complex character and I felt could have been more but the storyline fell so flat. The whole family secrets that weren’t even that secret and kinda dumb made me want to roll my eyes and skip to the parts where it was just about just about Reena and Nadim. I will say the evolution of Reena and her sisters relationship although a bit rushed was nice to see.
smiley7245's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This is a stand alone book, but it also has characters from the previous story. But, I didn't know that until I was about halfway through this one. I LOVE fake dating. It is one of my favorite tropes. But I HATE secret keeping; it's one of my least favorite tropes. Unfortunately, this book had both and the secret keeping is what kept this from a higher rating. Reena is so relatable. Wanting to stand on her own and be a good daughter so she keeps things from her overbearing parents, while also comparing herself to her successful siblings. Nadim is great, but also frustrating because he is so clearly into Reena, but also doesn't want to tell her about himself or his past. And that catches up to them and temporarily breaks them up. Which sucks because they are pretending to be engaged for a cooking competition. It's almost too late when Reena starts communicating; first with her sister, then her parents, and finally Nadim. The eloping was so cute. Using their reception to film their final entry for the competition. And the little epilogue showing they won and that she and her sister are going into business together. This book was charming and funny. I will definitely be reading more from this author!
tagoreketabkhane31's review against another edition
4.0
What a fantastic read, and a truly unique contemporary romance novel from an #OwnVoice author, Farah Heron. When I first heard about this book, I was intrigued about the concept (while fake engagements have been done before, I got the sense that this would be different). Don't get me wrong - part of me was initially turned off by the un-practicing nature of both MCs (and really, most of the Muslim cast in this story) but I quickly realized that this was a specific sub-sect of Muslims, Shi'a Ismaili by NRIs from Tanzania (Ismailis, a sub-sect of Shi'a Islam, are known for their more secular and non-orthodoxy on many Islamic practices such as drinking, pre-marital sex, drug consumption, etc.) and once that was quickly contextualized (and I really did appreciate that Heron went out of her way to ensure that readers understood the various parts of the identities that made up both Reena and Nadim), the story was beautifully written, and I appreciated that Heron went out of her way for this #OwnVoices story to be so unique, so NRI, so East African and I quickly became engrossed in the story.
Reena is a very unique MC heroine - it's not that she is quirky, or that she is "different from other girls" - rather, its that even among her unique family, Reena is different and she sees that. Couple that with the meddling Indian parents, a dose of sibling rivalry, and a male MC who embodies both the good and bad of what brown men are known for (and some surprising things that they are not known for...), Heron did an excellent job crafting a unique and well executed story. And even though this is her second book (Chai Factor takes place before this book, and while in the same "universe", you don't need to have read that book to understand and enjoy this one), Accidentally Engaged is for sure the book that brings her notice for how well executed this #OwnVoice story shapes up to be. Finally, I really did appreciate that Heron went further and ensured that this book was not made for simply a white female audience. While romance is a female dominated genre, and indeed, specifically catered towards white women, Heron crafts an unapologetically Ismaili Muslim, Indian/East African/NRI Diaspora novel that is both familiar and unique, and that for me, is the main stand out for this book.
Of course, there were some things that I felt the book could have improved on. While the blurb does mention Muslim, I wished that the presentation had gone out of its way to showcase the Ismaili Muslim nature of the story. It was very present in the storyline, from how the Manji family interacted with the community (and also via social media), and I felt that was a missed opportunity to highlight this minority Islamic sect. Second, some of the actions of the Manji family seemed a bit exaggerated, almost as if to show that for their parents who wanted "good Muslim children" that they were not, and part of me wasn't sure if all of the "haram" that they did and caused were for the shock value, or to show "assimilation" in Canada. Finally, the aversion to pork being the golden line that the characters would not cross seemed silly to me as the rubicon on their Muslim identity.
Read this book for the #OwnVoice representation, a unique romance story line, real characters, and great food.
Reena is a very unique MC heroine - it's not that she is quirky, or that she is "different from other girls" - rather, its that even among her unique family, Reena is different and she sees that. Couple that with the meddling Indian parents, a dose of sibling rivalry, and a male MC who embodies both the good and bad of what brown men are known for (and some surprising things that they are not known for...), Heron did an excellent job crafting a unique and well executed story. And even though this is her second book (Chai Factor takes place before this book, and while in the same "universe", you don't need to have read that book to understand and enjoy this one), Accidentally Engaged is for sure the book that brings her notice for how well executed this #OwnVoice story shapes up to be. Finally, I really did appreciate that Heron went further and ensured that this book was not made for simply a white female audience. While romance is a female dominated genre, and indeed, specifically catered towards white women, Heron crafts an unapologetically Ismaili Muslim, Indian/East African/NRI Diaspora novel that is both familiar and unique, and that for me, is the main stand out for this book.
Of course, there were some things that I felt the book could have improved on. While the blurb does mention Muslim, I wished that the presentation had gone out of its way to showcase the Ismaili Muslim nature of the story. It was very present in the storyline, from how the Manji family interacted with the community (and also via social media), and I felt that was a missed opportunity to highlight this minority Islamic sect. Second, some of the actions of the Manji family seemed a bit exaggerated, almost as if to show that for their parents who wanted "good Muslim children" that they were not, and part of me wasn't sure if all of the "haram" that they did and caused were for the shock value, or to show "assimilation" in Canada. Finally, the aversion to pork being the golden line that the characters would not cross seemed silly to me as the rubicon on their Muslim identity.
Read this book for the #OwnVoice representation, a unique romance story line, real characters, and great food.
meml13's review against another edition
1.0
This book started of witty and fun. There was nice banter between the characters, there were fun lil bits about cooking, a nice amount of slow burn, and then it got weird.
I will not speak on the issues with the representation or the random foot fetish as so many other people have already done that but
Reena loses her job and ends up losing her mind? She constantly questions Nadim and his motives. She constantly complains about her sister and assumes the worst. She hides things from her parents but still gives them a lot of power in her life. She tells her best friend everything & then is shocked and upset when her friend tries to give advice on these things? And she complains SO MUCH. she is constantly in this "the world is against me" headspace. I'm here for a fake engagement & a cooking show and instead hearing Reena's whiny inner monologue about how nothing is going well for her and she's at such a low point when 1) she is literally fine and has so much going for her still? & 2) she puts herself in bad spots by being a terrible communicator and kind of a not great friend/human
DNF @ 58%
I will not speak on the issues with the representation or the random foot fetish as so many other people have already done that but
Reena loses her job and ends up losing her mind? She constantly questions Nadim and his motives. She constantly complains about her sister and assumes the worst. She hides things from her parents but still gives them a lot of power in her life. She tells her best friend everything & then is shocked and upset when her friend tries to give advice on these things? And she complains SO MUCH. she is constantly in this "the world is against me" headspace. I'm here for a fake engagement & a cooking show and instead hearing Reena's whiny inner monologue about how nothing is going well for her and she's at such a low point when 1) she is literally fine and has so much going for her still? & 2) she puts herself in bad spots by being a terrible communicator and kind of a not great friend/human
DNF @ 58%
gillyanaire's review against another edition
3.0
Farah Heron's Accidentally Engaged is a sweet lil rom-com. Obviously love stories set in Toronto/Canada because it does feel like we get forgotten.
sunset8305's review against another edition
3.0
This was a cute, quick read but I definitely think it could have been fifty pages or so shorter. So many relatable quirks to the protagonist and her family. I’d say 3.5 stars.
sakeenah's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
estanceveyrac's review against another edition
5.0
I wasn't very convinced when I started this book, but I ended up loving it!
It exceeded my expectations, with a wholesome story about family, community, carrier & love.
Really good book. I will have to read all the other books Farah Heron ever writes !
It exceeded my expectations, with a wholesome story about family, community, carrier & love.
Really good book. I will have to read all the other books Farah Heron ever writes !