I love a good Austen retelling of any sort, but this one was very slow. Emma in general isn't always a likable character and Heron definitely used that in the first part of the book. I enjoyed the banter with Rohan and all of the great side characters. I loved the culture and the food and the community, but it was hard for me to stay invested in the story.

I enjoyed Kamila Knows Best.  Kamila’s character is very well developed and I found her to be much more complex than one would expect from a romance novel.  Outwardly she is very confident and fun-loving. What isn’t revealed early in the book is how the words of her late mother have affected her confidence and self-esteem.

This is a friends to lovers romance trope at its very best.  The lifelong friendship between Kamila and Rohan was endearing to read. The fact that Kamila’s sister is married to Rohan’s brother makes it all the more romantic.  This relationship truly celebrates friendship and the extent one goes to for the ones they love.

I loved reading about Kamila’s relationship with her father who has mental health challenges. While she was a little wild in her teen years, once her mother dies Kamila’s vow to care for her father tamed her.  She’s completely career-focused and has no time for romance.  That is, until she realizes she’s in love with Rohan.

There was plenty to keep the reader entertained in this book.  The Bollywood movie night parties that Kamila throws each Friday were the settings for great food, conversation and fun with friends.  For those of us who love dogs, there is some very cute moments in the book between Kamila and her beloved dog Darcy.  I look forward to reading more from this author.

3.5 STARS - Kamila Knows Best is the third book I've read by this Canadian author in less than a year so you could say that I've been on a bit of a roll with Farah Heron's books. When I heard this latest book was a friends-to-lovers RomCom and a retelling of Jane Austen's Emma, I was intrigued. I'm going to come clean and say that I've never read Austen's Emma but I know the gist of the story so I was excited to see what Heron would do with this well-known plot in a modern setting.

The story is set in Toronno (Toronto for non-Canadians) and follows Kamila, a CPA who always puts everyone else's needs before her own. Kamila has a good life - she has her family, her group of friends with their weekly Bollywood movie night and a job and volunteering that she loves. She is 100% unapologetically herself and I found it refreshing how candidly she spoke about her sex life and, most especially, her time in therapy. It was wonderful to see and will help to normalize therapy for readers.

Once again Heron includes delicious foodie fodder with amazing descriptions of food, like momos and biryani, which I cannot wait to try! But the first half was a bit of a slow go for me. There's repetition as Kamila goes through the issues over and over in her head and the focus on her job as a CPA didn't keep me on the edge of my seat. But things pick up and I appreciated learning about Kamila's background and how events in her childhood have impacted her adult life. It's not all food, dogs and romance here and I like that added depth.

This is a contemporary romance with good banter, a friends to lovers romance with a fantastic enemies to friends trope thrown in for good measure. It's a good pick for dog lovers, romance lovers and foodies who want an entertaining story with themes of friendship and family and is a good lesson about how we can help others but cannot forget to take care of ourselves.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a sucker for a good Jane Austen retelling, and this one is so delightful! It was a quick and fun read, and I love the reinterpretation of Emma's England into the South Asian culture of Toronto.

Farah Heron even, dare I say, improved upon some aspects of the original story. I love how she handled Kamila (Emma) and Jana's (Jane Fairfax) relationship. And I thought she did a great job at making the Frank Churchill character look like the total cad that he is (no one can convince me otherwise).

Thank you to Netgalley, Forever, and the author for the eARC in exchange for my review.

✨ Review ✨ Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron
In this Emma retelling, Kamila works as an accountant alongside her father. As she tries to convince her father to retire for her health, Kamila juggles her past baggage with her deceased mom, her commitment to helping others be happy, and her need to relieve her dad's work load. Kamila and her best friend Ronan banter away throughout the book as they come to terms with their friendship - will it lead to more?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: romance, classic retelling
Location: Toronto
Reminds me of: Emma 😂
Pub Date: March 8, 2022

Emma ISNT my favorite Jane Austin because I find Emma's character to be not so loveable. Early in the book this was also true of Kamila - I didn't love her, but she really grew on me. I was so invested in this love story - I couldn't wait for Kamila to realize she's in love with Ronan. He was such a great character!

I also loved this for the jarring shift to the contemporary world - just as Clueless is so loveable, I loved that Kamila loved fashion and dogs and social media. This was such a fun light read that any Jane Austin retelling lover will enjoy!

Read this if you like:
⭕️ Jane Austin or classics retellings
⭕️ delicious food descriptions
⭕️ puppy prom

Thanks to Forever and #netgalley for a copy of this book!

After reading approx. half of the book I decided to DNF at this time. Kamila as a character started to get on my nerves and I was dreading picking up the book. I appreciate what Farah was doing within the story, but for me right now this isn't the story I need.

I’ve never read Emma or seen a movie adaptation, so I went into this book completely blind as to what the storyline of Emma is. I think that actually worked in my favor since I didn’t have anything to compare the book to. While I did find the book a little too slow for my liking, I did like Kamila and the friends to lovers relationship of her and Rohan.

Book Review
Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron

This read is a Friends to lovers trope with themes of Mental health issues,
And the obedient Good daughter who is constantly misjudged by her friends and family. An Austen retelling (I was clueless until I read the author notes and then I was like- duh) with a modern twist.

My thoughts:
Perfect for animal lovers- cant look at another yellow lab without thinking Potatoe (just read it you will see what I mean)

What I learned:
You Can be a career driven feminist AND a social philanthropic media maven.

Overall
A fun read that left me feeling good 😊

Thanks @readforeverpub for my copy in return for an honest review

this was a nice story. I liked Kamila a lot, especially how good she felt about herself, which was a long journey. The stuff with her mom just made me sad. I was less into the subplot about her ex-high school rival on the scene, that just wasn't my jam.

This is one of the best Emma retellings I've ever read. Every character was modernized so well, while retaining their essence. I think Kamila and her father especially nailed the relationship between Emma and Mr. Woodhouse, and Rohan was the perfect Mr. Knightley. It was a super fun read.

Kamila is concerned for her father’s health and decides to step up her work commitments to prove that she can handle the accounting firm if he transitions to part-time. Her long-time nemesis Jana is back in town and already making snide comments. She’s so concerned with making sure everyone loves her that she doesn’t realize she isn’t doing what’s best for her. On the verge of losing everything she truly wants, she decides to chase her dreams even if it means disappointing those she loves.

I really enjoyed this story. Some parts reminded me of Clueless in a good way.

4.5
I absolutely adore how Farah Heron writes! Her main characters are always so feisty and interesting without being stereotypically "quirky". They are unique without being unique if that makes sense!

Right from the start I knew where this book was going and I spent the entire book anxious for it to get there. But the ride was so much fun. Kamila was such a well rounded character with flaws and perfections abound. Her greatest flaw perhaps was not seeing what was right in front of her the entire time!

Rohan was a great hero. Misunderstood by Kamila but pretty understood by the reader! Seeing her not SEE him was so frustrating but in the most satisfying way!

The secondary characters were also great. That's another thing Farah does well, she puts just as much effort into the side characters as she does with the mains. This means you get more depth across the board in the characters alone before we even get to the plot!

There were times I wondered if I liked the dog stuff (and I am a dog LOVER) but then it all wraps up so perfectly that in the end, I definitely liked it!

Definitely perfect for fans of Farah's other books! And just like her other books make sure you have eaten before you read... although to be honest you'll still be craving some delicious food!

Thank you to Forever Publishing and Netgalley for a copy in exchange of an honest review!

Once again Farrah heron knocks it out of the park. At first I was a little worried it would be too similar to her latest book as once again it centres around another young influencer. But this is really a book about family and I absolutely gobbled it up

3.8*

I have not seen (or read) Emma so my review isn’t based off it being a retelling.

This book started off pretty good - I liked the dynamics between Kamila and Rohan. Every time I would see his name I would remember Rohan from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. I was excited to see how the friends to lovers would develop, it was just like a bollywood movie from the late 90s or early 2000s playing out. A lot of drama, pretty decent development. Kamila got frustrating at times because of her “me me me” personality. However, the book really picked it up in the second half which made it worth it to read.

Also, if you want to read this book because of Muslim represent, I don’t think I would recommend it solely based on that considering it’s not the best rep as Kamila isn’t really religious.

Things I liked:
- [ ] The book being set in Toronto
- [ ] The trope
- [ ] Rohan
- [ ] Kamila and Jana’s development
- [ ] The weekly Bollywood movie nights

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC and to Forever Publishing for the book!

Full review to come on Instagram and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

Ok, so as a self-proclaimed Janeite, I had high hopes for this modern-day retelling of Emma. And let me tell you, Farah Heron surpassed all my expectations in this delightful, swoony, and funny story about matchmaking, romance and frenemies.

Kamila Hussain’s life might not be perfect, but, whew, it’s close. She lives a life of comfort, filled with her elaborate Bollywood movie parties, a dog with more Instagram followers than most reality stars, a job she loves, and an endless array of friends who clearly need her help finding love. In fact, Kamila is so busy with her friends’ love lives, she’s hardly given any thought to her own . . .

Fortunately, Kamila has Rohan Nasser. A longtime friend of the family, he’s hugely successful, with the deliciously lean, firm body of a rock climber. Only lately, Kamila’s “harmless flirting” with Rohan is making her insides do a little bhangra dance.

But between planning the local shelter’s puppy prom, throwing a huge work event, and proving to everyone that she’s got it all figured out, Kamila isn’t letting herself get distracted—until her secret nemesis returns to town with an eye for Rohan. Suddenly, it seems like the more Kamila tries to plan, the more things are starting to unravel—and her perfectly ordered life is about to be turned upside down.

Kamila Hussain is one of the most delightful characters I’ve read in a while. She’s faceted, difficult and has a heart of gold. She strives to be the perfect daughter, friend, and employee, but as we all know perfection is often hiding some dark spots. Kamila is delightful because she’s so darn real. Farah has crafted a character who seemingly lives a life of perfect privilege, but is overcoming emotional abuse, imposter syndrome and a crippling fear about losing her father, who’s her whole world. She is raw and emotional and the perfect modern-day heroine. She, like the original Emma, has a delightful personality: she is a whip smart accountant with a passion for accounting, but also a crazy dog lover (her beloved pup is named Darcy, naturally) who has a social media following for both herself and her dog. She also volunteers her time at the local dog shelter and is renowned for her over the top parties she throws for her friends. Basic, she may think she is, but Kamila is certainly not a simple woman.

Kamila and her longtime family friend Rohan are a sweet and spicy couple. Like Emma and Mr. Knightley that they are based on, the couple have friction and respect and watching them admit their feelings warmed my heart on a cold winter’s night. Rohan is the perfect gentleman for Kamila – he loves her heart, respects her intelligence, and quietly supports and champions her every chance he gets. The bedroom scenes in Kamila Knows Best are definitely quieter than Farah’s previous books but is much more in line with the story that this book is based on. It suits the book.

For me, a hallmark of Farah’s romances is her large cast of secondary characters that bring humour and emotion to the story. Like my other favourites by Farah, Kamila Knows Best was chock full of terrific friends and family (and food, so much delicious food). Kamila’s relationship with her father was a rollercoaster of emotion for me: he has some serious physical and mental health issues that Kamila is devoted to helping solve. Through the novel, we watch as Kamila overcomes some of her own demons and works to show her father that she is so much more than what he expects. It’s a brave act. My favourite relationship of Kamila’s, however, is with her frenemy Jana – the perfect scion Kamila has been compared to her for her entire life. Watching these two strong powerful women become vulnerable to each other was almost as emotional for me as the love story was.

With keen commentary on social issues, mental health and prejudices in the workforce, Heron modernizes Emma with her hallmark tone and wit. Kamila knows best is a feast for the eyes and heart, with subtle Austen easter eggs that will delight fans.

Thank you, Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

WARNING - you must have food nearby.
I absolutely love Farah's use of food in her novels. Her use of food and description could almost make it the main character - utilized to set the scene, illustrate comradery among her characters, a tool to show Kamila's love for her friends and family. So enjoyable - and recipes are at the end. Thank goodness!
Kamila knows best - the best way to dress dogs; the best way to pair Bollywood with food; the best friends to setup for their HAE; the best way to care for those she loves; the best way to ensure her father's health.
Kamila is living her best life - until Jana moves back. Her nemesis growing up - causing her so much humiliation and verbal abuse from her mother. And now she's back. Attending her weekly Bollywood movie nights. Thanks to Rohan's invitation - what a traitor.
Humor. Women friendships and their basis on superficial everything. Food. The food. And Rohan - I definitely have a thing for forearms, only reemphasized by this book.
Highly recommend!

Kamila Knows Best should go down as one of the best Emma retellings of all time. Readers who know the source material will recognize the beats, but it isn't necessary to be an expert in the source material to enjoy this story (what is necessary is knowing that you'll come out of this book with a mighty craving for biryani). Readers should know that this book incorporates serious issues of abuse and mental illness in a respectful way. Kamila has a full life working with her father as a CPA, planning her weekly Bollywood parties, and making her dog, Darcy, a social media star, but she keeps running into frustrations when people underestimate her intelligence and contributions. Add to that she's finding she may have an inconvenient crush on a lifelong friend, and her longtime nemesis has returned to town, Kamila certainly has a lot on her plate. This was a charming story that had me laughing at times, and was also filled with poignant moments.

Kamila spends her time looking after her dad, planning parties for her friends, and volunteering at a dog shelter. Steady, dependable Rohan is always around helping her. This life is a long way from her rebellious teenage years. and she feels like she has it together. Until her childhood nemesis returns and people in her life think she is too flighty and unfocused to take on a work challenge. When her dad has a health crisis her world is upended. She wants to prove that she can handle the challenges but can she without losing herself? A challenge of family and expectations and finding a way to be true to yourself.

This was a really cute book, a fantastic retelling of Jane Austin's 'Emma'. I'm not a huge fan of friends-to-lovers, but this was a great exception! The book has a slow beginning, but I'm glad I pushed through.