Take a photo of a barcode or cover
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Fatphobia
emotional
fast-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:
No
Don't read when you are hunggry but this will make you hungry
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness
Moderate: Eating disorder, Sexual content, Alcohol
Minor: Biphobia, Body shaming, Incest
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
trigger warnings: job loss, depression, alcohol abuse, sex and nudity mention, biphobia mention, cheating mention, incest mention, eating disorder mention, islamophobia mention
bro this book was wild lmao. a wild foot fetish appears. i loved it either way though it was pretty funny and the romance was super adorable.
bro this book was wild lmao. a wild foot fetish appears. i loved it either way though it was pretty funny and the romance was super adorable.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Islamophobia, Death of parent
Minor: Biphobia, Body shaming, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Death of parent
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes. This in no way influences my review; all words, thoughts, and opinions are my own.
This is a great blending of family and friendship and romance, as well as finding your own path and finding love along the way. Really enjoyed this! Full review closer to release.
Full review:
This book is so wonderful!
Reena is unhappy at her finance job and finds her family to be overly meddling, especially when she learns her father has arranged her engagement with Nadim as part of a business agreement. But when she happens to meet him as her new neighbor, and he’s already smitten with the fresh-baked bread smells always coming from her apartment, she’s unwillingly attracted to him. When she loses her job and runs into Nadim at the local bar, they drunkenly submit a video to a cooking contest and find themselves faking their engagement in order to win prestigious baking course.
This was really fun and sweet, full of wonderful friendship and complicated familial relationships. I loved seeing the development between Reena and Saira, her younger sister, especially and how even a tense sibling bond can change with effort and time. I also loved how central food was and how much love was included in the meals Reena and Nadim made. I appreciated how they wanted to stay true to their roots as East African-Indian Muslims and refused to dilute or colonize their food.
I will admit I almost set this book aside because I was feeling bored and there’s more fatmisia than I’m wholly comfortable with, but I’m glad I stuck it out because the ending especially was super sweet. This has such a sweet romance and I think it played wonderfully with the fake dating trope. Definitely recommend if you’re interested in a romance where friendship and food are central, and family is complicated but still loving in their imperfect ways.
This is a great blending of family and friendship and romance, as well as finding your own path and finding love along the way. Really enjoyed this! Full review closer to release.
Full review:
This book is so wonderful!
Reena is unhappy at her finance job and finds her family to be overly meddling, especially when she learns her father has arranged her engagement with Nadim as part of a business agreement. But when she happens to meet him as her new neighbor, and he’s already smitten with the fresh-baked bread smells always coming from her apartment, she’s unwillingly attracted to him. When she loses her job and runs into Nadim at the local bar, they drunkenly submit a video to a cooking contest and find themselves faking their engagement in order to win prestigious baking course.
This was really fun and sweet, full of wonderful friendship and complicated familial relationships. I loved seeing the development between Reena and Saira, her younger sister, especially and how even a tense sibling bond can change with effort and time. I also loved how central food was and how much love was included in the meals Reena and Nadim made. I appreciated how they wanted to stay true to their roots as East African-Indian Muslims and refused to dilute or colonize their food.
I will admit I almost set this book aside because I was feeling bored and there’s more fatmisia than I’m wholly comfortable with, but I’m glad I stuck it out because the ending especially was super sweet. This has such a sweet romance and I think it played wonderfully with the fake dating trope. Definitely recommend if you’re interested in a romance where friendship and food are central, and family is complicated but still loving in their imperfect ways.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Mental illness
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Sexual content