Scan barcode
bekkasbookclub's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This is a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma, filled with great characters and some laugh out loud moments. I had so much fun connecting the similarities to the original Emma (and of course Clueless, which is also a retelling). Heron did an amazing job creating a smart, sassy, and independent woman. She is fiercely loyal to her father and friends. I loved that she is serious about her work as an accountant who helps small businesses but also cares about fashion and her hair. Once again, Farah Heron’s food descriptions in this book had me 🤤 and I need to find some biryani soon. She also didn’t stick to food, puppies, and romance but dove into some deeper topics that added depth to the story. This friends to lovers romance is filled with fantastic banter, clean, sexual tension, and the message of not only taking care of other but remembering to take care of ourselves.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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 is one of those special romances that gives you the coveted happily ever after feeling while also staying true to the challenges of life with humor and poise. It's aspirational in that it shows a relationship built on communication, maturity, and a fair bit of teasing, and also in that it shows a woman coming to terms with her career goals, rethinking her judgments of other people (good and bad), and confronting her socialization and trauma that lead her towards people-pleasing. It peels back the veneer of girl power to look at how feminine presentation is mocked and belittled in a professional setting, how skills like event planning are both treated as necessary and even assumed for women while their importance and impactfulness are simultaneously minimized.
Kamila's story is an Emma retelling, an Austen work I have yet to read, but my experience with film adaptations gives me the (limited) authority to say that Kamila's meddling and social managing ring true to the original. She loves matchmaking, planning parties, running her dog's very stylish TikTok, and volunteering with the animal shelter. She's also the first to step up to support her friends and her Dad, and she's passionate about supporting women-led small businesses as an accountant. Kamila contains multitudes, and this is an example of single POV romance done well. Being so familiar with her mind helped me have compassion when she made a bad decision and made me all the more impressed by her fits and starts of ultimately profound personal growth. I found her not only admirable but likable, and the entire cast of supporting characters gave me warm, fuzzy feelings from her family to her friends to her secret nemesis.
In terms of the romance, Rohan is a dreamy love interest because he is supportive with no strings attached, learns from his mistakes, and is neither pushy nor a pushover. He challenges Kamila but respectfully and with love. While the romance wasn't always front and center with other moving pieces of the story, it always shone through. First, "accidentally falling asleep on someone's chest" is a god tier trope for me so 10/10. Purely because of this book, I have also decided to add to the list of best tropes "two people who always dress to impress becoming comfortable being a mess in front of each other." And it's not a trope, but intense attraction to forearms is something I can get behind. It's friends-to-lovers done right with layers upon layers.
This romance has it all. It covers issues with an intersectional view, covering disparate topics from mental health to race to family expectations. It's nuanced without derailing the story with a thesis, thoughtful while retaining a signature sense of humor I found irresistible. All the relationships show progress, and the enviable strength of Kamila's bonds with others don't smack of unrealistic perfection. Honestly, I can't recommend it more. Thanks to Forever for my copy to read and review. I'll 100% be seeking out more from this author in the future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity, Islamophobia, and Cultural appropriation
100_pages_hr's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.75
I really enjoyed this Desi Own Voices book. I had heard it was an Emma retelling but went into it with an open mind since those aren't my favorite and I enjoyed it simply as a friend's to lovers story.
I absolutely loved Rohan. He was pretty perfect both in looks and in personality. I loved all the ways he was there for Kam and her dad. I think he is the sole reason I'm rating the book so high. Well, that and the food. I'm hungry now!
Kam drove me pretty insane to be honest, but she definitely grew a lot throughout the book and I liked her a lot more by the end. I appreciated the representation she gave from how she was raised by her mother. I also did really appreciate her dedication and commitment even if I felt it was a little too much at times.
As always I loved the Own Voices representation in this book. The insight into family life are so interesting.
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.
I absolutely loved Rohan. He was pretty perfect both in looks and in personality. I loved all the ways he was there for Kam and her dad. I think he is the sole reason I'm rating the book so high. Well, that and the food. I'm hungry now!
Kam drove me pretty insane to be honest, but she definitely grew a lot throughout the book and I liked her a lot more by the end. I appreciated the representation she gave from how she was raised by her mother. I also did really appreciate her dedication and commitment even if I felt it was a little too much at times.
As always I loved the Own Voices representation in this book. The insight into family life are so interesting.
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity, Medical content, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
stephsbooktalk's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
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? Yes
4.0
Thank you so much NetGalley, Farah Heron & Forever Publishing for an advance copy of this book!
This is my first book by Farah Heron. I had meant to read "Accidentally Engaged" but the ever growing TBR prevented me but I am so glad I read this!
Kamila Hussian is a later 20s ambitious young woman who wants to please everyone in her life. She is likes to take care of everyone and not always taking their feelings into consideration. She works for her dad's business Emerald as a CPA, volunteers at an animal shelter and even has Bollywood movie parties every Friday night with all the works (lots of food and drinks). I seriously love her time management skills because girl knows how to keep herself busy.
I love that this book highlights mental health in older adults and children taking care of their aging parents. I also loved that we saw the progression of Kamila and Rohan's relationship throughout the book. Rohan seems like such a stand up guy and would do anything for Kamila's family and for Kamila. He also isn't afraid to stand up to her and tells her the things she may not want to hear.
It was also refreshing to have the main female protagonist make reference a few times about not wanting to have children. Most books that I have read never really come out and say this which as someone who likely will never have children was happy to see. And to know you can have a fulfilled life without that element.
The writing in this was really light and fluffy and occasionally came off as YA in the dialogue (internal monologue and the repetitiveness of what was going on). One thing I did love is that the author incorporated so much of the Indian culture into this book. It made me want to experience a Bollywood movie as well as go visit the local Indian restaurants and try the foods mentioned in the book (thankfully she also provided recipes to try).
I really would love to see this adapted to screen as I think it would work perfectly on any streaming service as a rom com.
This is my first book by Farah Heron. I had meant to read "Accidentally Engaged" but the ever growing TBR prevented me but I am so glad I read this!
Kamila Hussian is a later 20s ambitious young woman who wants to please everyone in her life. She is likes to take care of everyone and not always taking their feelings into consideration. She works for her dad's business Emerald as a CPA, volunteers at an animal shelter and even has Bollywood movie parties every Friday night with all the works (lots of food and drinks). I seriously love her time management skills because girl knows how to keep herself busy.
I love that this book highlights mental health in older adults and children taking care of their aging parents. I also loved that we saw the progression of Kamila and Rohan's relationship throughout the book. Rohan seems like such a stand up guy and would do anything for Kamila's family and for Kamila. He also isn't afraid to stand up to her and tells her the things she may not want to hear.
It was also refreshing to have the main female protagonist make reference a few times about not wanting to have children. Most books that I have read never really come out and say this which as someone who likely will never have children was happy to see. And to know you can have a fulfilled life without that element.
The writing in this was really light and fluffy and occasionally came off as YA in the dialogue (internal monologue and the repetitiveness of what was going on). One thing I did love is that the author incorporated so much of the Indian culture into this book. It made me want to experience a Bollywood movie as well as go visit the local Indian restaurants and try the foods mentioned in the book (thankfully she also provided recipes to try).
I really would love to see this adapted to screen as I think it would work perfectly on any streaming service as a rom com.
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness and Death of parent