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writtenbydnicole's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Cursing
Minor: Incest and Infidelity
emfass's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
I liked all the attention paid to food in this book, although I would've gladly traded some of the time spent on the page for getting to know the hero better, or exploring the heroine's mental health in more depth. I did appreciate the representation of being so wrapped up in family dynamics and trying to keep everyone happy, and the paradox of simultaneously trying to lead a life of your own.
There were some things I did like about this book, but ultimately I struggled with a lot of it. There was a moment 75% of the way through where Reena, the heroine, is having a reckoning with herself about needing to face her issues. She's taking stock of her life and the things she's dealt with. As her issues were being listed, I noticed that most of these things had taken place off page, or before the book had started, which made me feel a bit...left behind? I found I didn't care as much as I wished I did in this moment of her story. I think this connects into my main struggle with the book: there was a lot of pulling into Reena's mind in the middle of a scene or conversation so that we as the reader could get context/background for what was going on, but it led to me feeling detached from the scene we were currently in, especially when it would go on for a couple paragraphs or pages. Additionally, my number one complaint that arises when a book doesn't really grab me applies here: too much telling, not enough showing.
I was incredibly wary when we met Nadim, especially because of how much he was flirting with Reena after she'd made it clear (I thought) that she wasn't interested, or certainly before she was showing him any mutual interest. With that said, I thought consent representation was pretty great when it came up throughout the rest of the book.
I didn't love the myriad subplots, though I mostly found them hard to track in the moment of revelation when they all came together at the end. In trying to follow the reveals, my brain got tired, and in emerging from the other side, I'm not sure how well they served the story as opposed to just diffusing focus.
Lastly, I am always bummed by fade-to-black steamy scenes. I'm happy for them to exist that way for those readers that want them, but I want to be present for all the moments of the main characters getting to know each other and building intimacy.
There were some things I did like about this book, but ultimately I struggled with a lot of it. There was a moment 75% of the way through where Reena, the heroine, is having a reckoning with herself about needing to face her issues. She's taking stock of her life and the things she's dealt with. As her issues were being listed, I noticed that most of these things had taken place off page, or before the book had started, which made me feel a bit...left behind? I found I didn't care as much as I wished I did in this moment of her story. I think this connects into my main struggle with the book: there was a lot of pulling into Reena's mind in the middle of a scene or conversation so that we as the reader could get context/background for what was going on, but it led to me feeling detached from the scene we were currently in, especially when it would go on for a couple paragraphs or pages. Additionally, my number one complaint that arises when a book doesn't really grab me applies here: too much telling, not enough showing.
I was incredibly wary when we met Nadim, especially because of how much he was flirting with Reena after she'd made it clear (I thought) that she wasn't interested, or certainly before she was showing him any mutual interest. With that said, I thought consent representation was pretty great when it came up throughout the rest of the book.
I didn't love the myriad subplots, though I mostly found them hard to track in the moment of revelation when they all came together at the end. In trying to follow the reveals, my brain got tired, and in emerging from the other side, I'm not sure how well they served the story as opposed to just diffusing focus.
Lastly, I am always bummed by fade-to-black steamy scenes. I'm happy for them to exist that way for those readers that want them, but I want to be present for all the moments of the main characters getting to know each other and building intimacy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
Minor: Sexual content
now_booking's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-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
5.0
This was an easy 5 stars for me! Within the first 10 minutes of picking this up, I already knew this was going to be fabulous- my first impressions of this being breezily relatable, relevant and absolutely delicious were spot on. It has all the ingredients I like- an introspective slightly neurotic heroine, complex family dynamics, female friendships, an instantly emotionally-available hero, and the most delectable breads (my favourite) and food. This book is absolute rom-com gold to me.
The premise of this book is that Reena is an aspiring baker and all round cooking/bread making savant stuck in a financial job she doesn’t really care about and trying to keep her head above water when it comes to her meddling family. When said meddling family hooks her up with recently arrived to Canada, Nadim, she instantly rejects him so as not to reward their meddling even though she’s super attracted to him. When the worst of days leads to Reena and Nadim inadvertently entering entering a tv cooking competition for families, the two find themselves accidentally engaged.
Everything about this book is absolutely adorable. Indeed now I’m gagging to read this author’s debut, The Chai Factor, which I believe stars Reena’s best friend in this book, Amira. I need more of this author’s engaging, eminently-readable humour and wit, as well as her understanding of family and people and society. But have no fear, you CAN start with this book. It is completely standalone and makes absolute sense even if you haven’t read Amira’s book- I’m a stickler for reading in order and though the vague references to Amira’s story intrigued me, I was never lost in the story.
What’s great about this is that it follows traditional rom-com plotting in terms of the way the story is told, but the FOOD!!!! The culture!!!! The family!!! All of that adds colour and life and vibrancy to what is a standard rom-com plot trajectory. There’s as much intrigue and tension in this as there is emotion and vulnerability. There’s humour and there’s brokenness. There’s relationships being healed and truths being told, but also the recognition that some relationships are beyond healing. I love the amount of growth in both protagonists as characters. The amount of learning to go beyond past toxic acceptance of situations and relationships with themselves and others that no longer serve them. I adored the complexity of the family dynamics from Reena’s fraught relationship with her parents, and with her sister Saira. Nadim was an absolute delight- imperfect but adorable and likable with his kinks and closed off openness. He was a perfect match to Reena who was more reserved and self-protective.
Heat-wise, this felt immensely spicy even though it’s more a closed door romance or at least, one with the door ajar. It’s not explicit but there’s so much chemistry and banter foreplay and food foreplay that it feels hotter than it probably is in truth. The characters in this are Ismaili (Muslim) but it’s not a book in which religion is a significant theme. To me, and social norms are more significant in this novel than religion is, but I’d love to read some own voices reviews about how this read to people who share a cultural background with the characters. Personally, I felt like I got new insights into East African Indian food and diaspora culture and it was a joy to experience. I HIGHLY recommend this to any fans of food-based romances or rom-coms. This book is gentle but also dramatic and a perfect read if you’re looking to be consumed by your next read.
I got a complimentary copy of this book from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of this book is that Reena is an aspiring baker and all round cooking/bread making savant stuck in a financial job she doesn’t really care about and trying to keep her head above water when it comes to her meddling family. When said meddling family hooks her up with recently arrived to Canada, Nadim, she instantly rejects him so as not to reward their meddling even though she’s super attracted to him. When the worst of days leads to Reena and Nadim inadvertently entering entering a tv cooking competition for families, the two find themselves accidentally engaged.
Everything about this book is absolutely adorable. Indeed now I’m gagging to read this author’s debut, The Chai Factor, which I believe stars Reena’s best friend in this book, Amira. I need more of this author’s engaging, eminently-readable humour and wit, as well as her understanding of family and people and society. But have no fear, you CAN start with this book. It is completely standalone and makes absolute sense even if you haven’t read Amira’s book- I’m a stickler for reading in order and though the vague references to Amira’s story intrigued me, I was never lost in the story.
What’s great about this is that it follows traditional rom-com plotting in terms of the way the story is told, but the FOOD!!!! The culture!!!! The family!!! All of that adds colour and life and vibrancy to what is a standard rom-com plot trajectory. There’s as much intrigue and tension in this as there is emotion and vulnerability. There’s humour and there’s brokenness. There’s relationships being healed and truths being told, but also the recognition that some relationships are beyond healing. I love the amount of growth in both protagonists as characters. The amount of learning to go beyond past toxic acceptance of situations and relationships with themselves and others that no longer serve them. I adored the complexity of the family dynamics from Reena’s fraught relationship with her parents, and with her sister Saira. Nadim was an absolute delight- imperfect but adorable and likable with his kinks and closed off openness. He was a perfect match to Reena who was more reserved and self-protective.
Heat-wise, this felt immensely spicy even though it’s more a closed door romance or at least, one with the door ajar. It’s not explicit but there’s so much chemistry and banter foreplay and food foreplay that it feels hotter than it probably is in truth. The characters in this are Ismaili (Muslim) but it’s not a book in which religion is a significant theme. To me, and social norms are more significant in this novel than religion is, but I’d love to read some own voices reviews about how this read to people who share a cultural background with the characters. Personally, I felt like I got new insights into East African Indian food and diaspora culture and it was a joy to experience. I HIGHLY recommend this to any fans of food-based romances or rom-coms. This book is gentle but also dramatic and a perfect read if you’re looking to be consumed by your next read.
I got a complimentary copy of this book from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
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