The four-chapter preview of Accidentally Engaged has me incredibly excited for the release of the book! I was already hooked by the first encounter between Reena and Nadim and their chemistry, but by the end of the preview was totally invested! I am excited about the baking element and the likely cooking competition plotline. This book seems like a great choice for fans of Talia Hibbert, Sarah Smith, and other rom com lovers. I will definitely be getting a copy to finish this book!

At first glance, it’s the smells of sourdough, beer, wine, and cheese that make this book enticing. But as you keep reading, the dynamic characters, the tension between tradition and modern love, and the widespread representation of minority groups are what keep you reading. Accidentally Engaged is a charming romcom between Reena and Nadim. The two fake their engagement as Reena applies to a cooking competition on TV.

Throughout the book, Heron expertly blends the chaos of being multicultural in this poignant romantic comedy. Though this was only a preview, I look forward to reading the full book when it comes out in March 2021.

Thank you, Farah, for sharing Reena and her story with us. Thank you for increasing representation in the the romantic comedy space. Thank you for creating characters that we can see ourselves in!

#bookstagram #fiction #romcom #southeastasianwomen #grandcentralpublishing #accidentallyengaged #voicesandviewpoints

The first chapter had me wanting more. Read all 4 in one sitting. I'm so bummed out was only a preview.

The story line is brilliant. Each page kept me wanting to learn more. There is a lot of family and cultural learnings in this book but it is very interesting and entertaining. I cannot wait till the book comes out.

A solid start to what promises to be an entertaining romance novel. I enjoy the fact that our main character has baking/cooking as a hobby, it's refreshing ! I'm also really interested in the family dynamics we were introduced to. I'm really looking forward to continuing with this book.

I loved this!! Accidentally Engaged is one of my anticipated 2021 releases and this preview made me so much more excited for the book. This contains the first few chapters and it was already enough to hook me in. I'm looking forward to reading the full story of Reena and Nadim.

I absolutely adore the first four chapters of this book! Haven’t felt anxious to read the rest of a book in a long time. I love all the characters that have been introduced so far (okay, minus Reena’s family — is it wrong to not want a redemption arc for them?) and can’t wait to see more of them in the story. Nadim is all swoon and so obviously perfect for Reena (the man loves bread!). I know there’ll probably be a lot of push and pull considering his relationship to her parents and marriage prospect status but I’m looking forward to it! Also, the food descriptions made me hungry so clearly I need to eat something before reading the rest of this book next year. Would highly recommend anyone check this out (at least the first four chapters)!

I could not even IMAGINE an arranged marriage! Especially not too the hottie next door. You can just see whats coming with this book in just 4 chapters. The Chemistry is there but so is the elephant in the room. I can't wait to read the full book. Thanks Netgalley and GCP for the ARC.

A nice preview of what seem like will be a fun book. Look forward to reading it in it’s entirety. Thank you

This preview of Farah Heron's ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED has only one flaw: it ended way too soon! The characters are believable and relatable, the relationships interesting and complex, and the stage is set for a richly detailed romance. Plus baking! I can't wait to find out what happens next. For now, I'll be dreaming of freshly baked loaves of fougasse appearing outside my door....

By the of the fourth chapter I had forgotten this was only a preview and was bummed I couldn’t keep reading! I can already tell that Reema’s friends will be my favorite characters in this book. Shayne and Marley are exactly the type of people I would want to hangout with! I’m also very intrigued by the family dynamics (and future drama that I am sure will play out). Nadim already has my heart as he seems like the exact type of guy I love reading about. Looking forward to reading the entire book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Forever (Central Grand Publishing) for the chance to preview this book!

I absolutely loved this! The idea of a reality show/cooking challenge really isn't my thing, but I could listen to her talk about bread all day! The setup of the building and her friends/cousin living in it with her, and now her "fiancé" as well, is so great. It's not exactly forced proximity, but it is in its own unique way. I'm really intrigued by the family dynamics, and I think this is going to play out with a lot of the tropes I love. I'm definitely interested in reading the whole book, this is going to do really well in 2021 I think!

This book preview has me incredibly excited to read the rest. In four chapters the premise is set up to be extremely exciting. Reena and Nadim already have undeniable chemistry and even the supporting cast of characters seem really intriguing. I already am intrigued by the sibling conflict between Reena and her sister because it's such deep betrayal that Reena has kept pent up. I'm really interested in seeing how and whether or not it's resolved. Not to mention how Reena and Nadim work through the fake fiance debacle!

The first 4 chapters of Accidentally Engaged sound promising. We can meet the main character, Reena, who loves to bake bread. So much, in fact, that her hunky neighbor, Nadim, who she met just moments prior, informs her that he can smell it all the way in his apartment. Their connection is instant. However, it's quickly soured; he not only works for her father, but they are actually engaged to be wed! Of course this was the work of her meddling father. But she doesn't want a marriage that "facilitated" by her family; she wants something real. After a confronting family dinner where her family tries to push her toward Nadim, she learns about her sister's new cookbook release. She's left to confront her own failures with her own cookbook. It is then she learns about the Home Cooking Showdown, a video cooking contest, and her friends try to convince her to sign up. But the show is for family cooking, and her friends think she ought to have a husband, or the very least a fake boyfriend, to appeal to the show. What will she do?

Indian, African and Muslim representation, fake relationship trope. Sounds very promising!

I loved these first chapters. It establishes the stakes of the story well while also immediately getting us to like Reena and Nadim. They do appear quite perfect for each other, but you also completely understand why Reena is so reluctant to do anything that puts her under her parents thumb. The supporting cast of characters is also very interesting with good representation of queer characters which I loved. The dialogue is funny, and I really enjoyed Reena’s internal monologue and voice throughout—naming her sourdough starter Brian for example. I chuckled.

My main “complaint” is that after reading this I have a unquenchable desire to go bake bread. And am hungry. This is all a testament to the sensory details the author includes which sucked me in immediately.

Also, her sister is completely horrible. It’s good that she added the humanizing details about the infidelity so that we do, as readers, sympathize with her a little. But overall, I still kinda hate her.

I’m really excited about where this book is going and am definitely hoping for a great execution of the fake dating trope. A good set-up to the story without it feeling loaded up with exposition or info-dumping.

Thank you so much for the chance to read the first few chapters! I loved them.

So far, I am pleasantly charmed by the storyline and the characters. I wouldn't say that it's perfect, but any fault thus far is fairly minor and doesn't detract from the story. The writing is solid, and the plot is intriguing. All the scenes have been set, and I'm eager to continue reading.

These first 4 chapters from Netgalley are a promising start to Farah Heron’s second book. I’m intrigued about what leads Reena to change her mind about entering the cooking competition and asking Nadim to be her fake fiancé. I’m also curious to find out more about Nadim, who seems genuinely smitten with Reena. I am looking forward to reading the whole book when I have the chance.

3 stars so far
This seems like it will be a light and fun book. I always love having an MC who is a foodie/chef/ or just someone who enjoys cooking, though I'm still on the fence about Reena herself to be honest. I didn't click with her.
But I do like Reena's friends and most of all I love that the book has a diverse cast. I also think the cooking show and 'accidental' engagement will be quite fun.

Thank you Netgalley and Forever for the preview!!

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the sneak peak of Farah Heron’s book Accidentally Engaged.

I connected with Reena from the start with her love of food and bread making. She has very traditional Muslim parents who continuously play matchmakers and have set up her next suitor, Nadim, in the apartment next door. They meet and Reena is not swept off her feet.

In this sneak peek we see the cast of characters is going to be diverse and the scheme to get the two together is revealed.

Great preview of Accidentally Engaged! I loved having the chance to read the first four chapters and meet Reema and Nadim. I can't wait to read the full book!

Four chapters in and I'd forgotten this was a preview! I am totally hooked on Reena's story and intrigued by Nadim. So far we've been introduced to family dynamics, including extended family, and friends who are family.. I love a story with real community. How Reena navigates this all, I can't wait to read the whole book.
Five Stars so far.