A review by dominic_t
Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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? Yes

5.0

The end of the book was so good that I teared up a bit. "You're crying over the foot fetish book?" my wife asked.

Yes, this is a romance novel with recurring references to a foot fetish. Feet are frequently lovingly described, but the related sexual content is alluded to, not described.  I don't know if anyone was asking for good representation for foot fetishists, but they sure got it.

This was an absolutely beautiful book. The romantic love story unfolded in a way that I found really sweet and believable. I also really liked that each conflict between different characters was new; so many books rely on the characters having the same fight 4 different times before the happy ending. The main couple, Reena and Nadim, were so well-developed and sympathetic, and it was easy to root for their love story. I also loved the plot device of the cooking competition. Is it realistic? No. But it was a great device for moving the plot forward, and the scenes were so vivid and charming. It added so many interesting scenes, and it gave me something to look forward to other than the love story.

I am also a sucker for romance novels that explore love stories outside of the romantic relationship. I absolutely loved watching two other love stories unfolding: the love story between Reena and her family and the love story between Reena and...herself. Reena spends the book learning to intrinsically value herself instead of seeking external validation through accomplishments and the approval of others.
And part of that is learning to physically take care of herself. At the end of the book, she quit drinking because she realized she was using alcohol to stop feeling pain, and she didn't want to use it as a coping mechanism anymore.


Her family is also super dysfunctional, and they are all keeping secrets from each other. Reena feels like none of them know her or value her outside of her accomplishments; she doesn't trust them to love her and truly support her if she doesn't live up to their version of material success. She has a bitter rivalry with her sister and is completely antagonistic towards her parents. Over the course of the book, they build trust with one another and learn to bring out the best in each other. It is truly beautiful to see, and it is just as rewarding as the romantic plot.
She and her sister each have food related side hustles. They go from actively opposing one another to partnering with each other to open a restaurant and write a cookbook. It might seem a but unrealistic, but they were rebuilding their relationship for most of the book. It felt like a well-earned payoff to me.


This book is just great. I highly recommend it. I'm giving it a 10 out of 10--one for each toe.
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