A review by thatotherjlo
Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron

lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book was fine.

The premise was fun, the food sounds so yummy, and there's some very funny bits throughout (the scene with the bread starters was so cute!). Reena generally felt fleshed out and I appreciated her love for and desire to protect her food and culture from trendy acculturation. But she felt like the only character who received that treatment, and Nadim (the love interest) felt more like a Frankenstein('s monster) of stories and quirks meant to make him interesting than like a cohesive character. The same feels true of Reena's family dynamics, especially when it comes to her sister, and for the whole plot around the conflict between Reena and Nadim's families.

Not a bad choice if you're looking for a quick pick-me-up, but it's likely to leave you hungry -- both for Indian food and a bit more substance.