This was my first Farah Heron book, but I want to read them all now!

At first, I went a bit back and forth on this one. Starting it, I immediately loved Kamila and Rohan, who were both amazing characters. Then eventually, the book got a little heavy on their jobs - they're both accountants - and that didn't interest me as much. I almost DNFd, but I'm very glad I didn't.

Because the second half of the book absolutely made the book for me, it was so good! There was so much emotional and psychological depth, and so much development, and I felt very invested in the romance. It was kind of a slowburn, but I shipped them so much from the start, and the third act conflict was actually really believable and didn't feel forced like often happens in romance books.

Thank you to to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first time reading a Farah Heron book, and I will absolutely be reading more. Kamila Knows Best is a fun and sassy Bollywood-esque Emma inspired story. The characters are so well developed with deep feeling relationships and lively banter. The main character, Kamila, is very lovable. She is a bold, stylish, dog loving, fabulous party throwing, CPA. I love that she is passionate about her career and friends. This book is not only fun and bright, but it also covers very deep topics. Heron covers topics like abuse/emotional abuse, mental health, and normalizing therapy, Kamila's relationship with her parents is a major theme throughout the book. This si a friends to lovers story and I am here for it! Rohan is a fantastic book boyfriend, very supportive but also challenges Kamila and provides the right about of sass and spice.

This book also made me HUNGRY. All this talk of momos and biyrani. Delicious! I loved the addition of some recipes at the close of the book!

Book Format & Source: e-book ARC via NetGalley. I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Any ARC editing errors noticed are assumed corrected prior to the final published copy release.

Review & Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I loved Kamila and Rohan’s characters. Spicy, strong-willed, intelligent, thoughtful, and caring. I don’t know if I’d call this a second chance romance but I really enjoyed it and you could definitely classify it as friends to lovers!
Kamila is a bad-a** b*tch and I’m totally here for it. This book made me want to watch a Bollywood movie, something I’ve never seen before.
This was a great romance pick. Filled with dynamic characters, yummy food, and Bollywood fun!
Themes: believing in yourself and knowing that you are worthy. Importance of being true to yourself, being your most authentic self. For you, not for anyone else. Not to prove someone wrong or to be what everyone else needs. You do you and be the best version of yourself, but your authentic self.
Touches on additional themes: infidelity, lgbtq+ friendly, Indian culture and expectations, family, and business matters.
Miscellaneous fun fact: I loved the dogs and the nickname of one of them!
Recommend for: fans of romance, fans of diverse BIPOC authors and characters

My Review Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥.5

Romance Steam Factor: PG13 – this is exactly how I like my romance. Just a hint to the behind the bedroom but not overly graphic.

I struggled a bit connecting with the characters in this book. I heard that it started slow so I wanted to keep at it to see if it would improve, but it was a miss for me. I felt like the character development was a little all over the place, the plot lines were repetitive and I just didn't buy the relationship development between the two MCs.

I did enjoy aspects about family, traditions, and growth, but it wasn't enough for me to connect with what the characters were going through. I've seen online a lot of people loved this book, so I think this could just be me.

KAMILA KNOWS BEST by Farah Heron is a contemporary retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma. Kamila has it all - a job she loves at her father’s financial firm, volunteer work at a local shelter, the ability to glam it up at perfectly planned Bollywood night parties, and a great circle of friends. Including Rohan, one of her oldest friends who’s always there when she or her father needs him. Everything is fantastic. Until she takes on maybe just one thing too many. And her childhood nemesis returns to town.

Kamila is so relatable - trying to make time for all of the important people and things in her life. She’s juggling a career, caring for her aging father, keeping involved with her friendships. She’s also dealing with the lingering pain of her dead mother’s emotional abuse.

Rohan so obviously cares for her so it’s a sweet slow burn in this friends to lovers romcom.

Extra points for calling out not only misogyny but also pitting women against each other. Also a big yes for looking at racism against brown women in what’s traditionally a man’s world of financial advice/CPA.

Kamila Knows best gives you:
*Southeast Asian rep with delicious food descriptions
*Adorable dogs in sweaters!
*Close proximity, slow burn
*Lots of witty banter
*Great friends group
*Family dynamics good and bad
*Mental health issues
*Two very likable leads

This is a must-read for fans of Emma, Sonali Dev, and Sara Desai.

I tried to get into the book a few times but just couldn't connect with the writing and the story. It felt a bit all over the place. I've enjoyed this author before so I was surprised. It just didn't click.

Though following in the footsteps of Jane Austen’s Emma, Heron (Accidentally Engaged, 2021) presents a matchmaking heroine who is uniquely Indian Muslim Canadian. Heron’s sensitive insights infuse this romance with both immense charm and emotional depth.

Kamila’s life is pretty damn good. She loves her job, her weekly Bollywood movie nights with her friends, snuggling the puppies at the shelter, and matchmaking her friends. She does wish her father would cut down on his work hours, but is glad Rohan is around to help out with his medical needs. Kamila has always been a planner, but suddenly all her plans seem to be falling apart.

Gah Kamila was just so damn lovable! I loved her quirky self so much, I want to be her friend in real life! I really liked that this book focused on someone who is so confident, but deep down has a lot of insecurities. I feel like sometimes I can come off the same way, so I really enjoyed seeing that portrayed in a character. Farah Heron has quickly become a must read author for me, and this book did not in any way disappoint! Can’t wait to see what she writes next!

This was definitely a slow burn romance that I truly enjoyed! This was my first Farah Heron book and I’m ready to pick up some more! I loved the relationship between Kamila and Rohan. There is very little steam but it did not take away from the book or the main characters’ chemistry. I had so much fun with this book and highly recommend!

This one is so much better than the author's previous book which I enjoyed as well! Bollywood theme parties, cute dogs, mouth-watering food and absolutely adorable hero - Rohan who is so caring and sweet, altogether make a delightful romcom. And the epic rain scene cannot be more Bollywood-esque. As a fan of momos, this was too close to heart for me without a doubt. I liked how Kamila and Rohan's friendship grew into something more very organically. The author handled Kamila's insecurities and emotional abuse very maturely. As an Indian origin women, I totally understand what is expected of girls/women within our communities even if living far away in various countries but her mother was definitely extreme. The way family bonding is really strong is depicted appropriately for the culture. It was a cute and emotional read!

Now, I need to get my biriyani right away!! My family and extended family truly understand the value of biriyani and we cannot think of life without biriyani at all!

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this retelling of Emma. It’s one of my favorite Jane Austen stories and the author did a great job of keeping the chemistry between the two main characters. Rohan and Kamila are great people and even though I knew what was sort of going to happen, it was still lovely to read about. Loved the additional characters also, and the Indian themes and recipes.

I would love to be friends with Kamila. Happy, open, and optimistic, she knows what she wants and who she is. Not to mention she holds the weekly movie nights that often include a themed drink and food. Kamila is gving and caring, to the animal shelter she volunteers at, and especially to her dad. She also has long time family friend Rohan who she relies for help with her father. Rohan is a reliable and stable part of her life.

I completely enjoyed this story which gives a nob to the classic novel Emma. This is a contemporary romance that includes fun banter, and feel it in your toes chemistry. I loved the friendships and family, the heart-warming moments, the personal growth, and healing. And the laughs to keep the story light and fun. The author has given us complex characters with rich emotions and motivations.

I will be recommending this slow burn friends-to-lovers story to everyone.
Thank you Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the arc. This is my honest review.

This was my first book by the author and I must say it was quite enjoyable. It captivated me thoroughly and left me wanting more. It was well written and I love how the story unfolded.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever/Grand Central Publishing for an advanced copy of this book!

I read (and mostly enjoyed!) Farah Heron’s Accidentally Engaged, but I actually ended up liking Kamila Knows Best better. Described as “Jane Austen’s Emma goes Bollywood”, this story follows Kamila, a successful young woman, as she navigates life, love, work, and owning an Instagram-famous dog named Darcy. There are definitely a lot of similarities between Kamila and Emma. In the authors note, Heron noted that Jane Austen described Emma as “a heroine whom no one but myself will much like.” Similarly, Kamila did have some unlikable tendencies—but over the course of the story she definitely became more likable as we learned more about her values and character.

This was a fun, charming romance with a lot of delicious Bollywood and food references (she even included two recipes at the end). Rohan was a great, caring love interest and this was an enjoyable slow burn friends-to-lovers romance. My only issue is that, because it’s a slow burn, the pacing itself is a bit slow so the romantic story doesn’t really unfold until after the 90% mark. Much like Heron’s other stories, this is like a 1 out of 5 on the steam scale. It’s a pretty closed-door romance (which she’s mentioned in a previous BBBC chat is an intentional choice) but you do still pick up on the chemistry between the characters.

All in all, I enjoyed this book! It’s a cute, fast read and I’d recommend it to my friends :)

The first half of this book was a bit slow for me but luckily it picked up the pace. I loved Kamila and her personality on helping people and volunteering all the time. I loved her relationship with her dad and it was nice to finally read a book where the Indian parent is supportive! ( Though her mom wasn’t. )
I really liked Rohan and his caring nature with Kamila and her dad. I liked the friendship a lot.
One of my favorite things from this book was Potato, the puppy! Those scenes stole my heart and now I need to go get one!!!

Read if you like:
Strong female heroine
Friends to lovers romance
Heroine’s POV
Featuring puppies
Closed door romance

It’s a slow-burn, friends to lovers and a modern retelling of Emma. It was an absolute fun and spicy romcom that kept me entertaining and hooked till the very end. I really like how layered and raw characters have been portrayed. Also, the angst, the battle of wits, and banter was just chef’s kiss! I really enjoyed it.

Kamila has a pretty great life - a job she loves, friends she adores and who adore her, a wonderful dog, and of course Rohan, her childhood friend who's always been by her side. Nothing needs to change. Right? Right?

I adored this book. Partly because I love Austen's Emma and enjoyed picking out its echoes here, but what sold me most on this book are the characters. Kamila is a heroine I loved rooting for, one who felt authentic with her joy and her insecurity. Rohan was an absolutely swoon-worthy hero who had sizzling chemistry with Kamila, but he is a good friend to her too, and I appreciated that. The slow-burn nature of the romance works for me, though some readers may not like that the characters did not get together until the very end of the story.

But the plot of the book is also great, as Kamila works to silence the critical voice in her head. The struggles she faces as a woman who is underestimated due to her femininity rang true, and I appreciated that the author focused on her work life as well as the romance. The Emerald plot-line adds interest to the story, but it is also vitally important to Kamila and the author sells us on that well.

Overall, a really wonderful romance with lovable leads and an engaging plot. Also adorable dogs named after Pride and Prejudice characters!

Thanks to Forever Publishing for the free book.
I've never read Emma, so I can't make comparisons to the retelling aspect of this book, but I did like a majority of the story. I loved Kamila. She knows what she wants, who she is, and what her goals are. She talks openly about discovering these things in years of therapy - LOVE when this is talked about and normalized! Kamila's fashion sense was so much fun to read about. And her relationship with her dad was so lovely. The care between these characters was heartfelt. I do have mixed feelings about Rohan. I understood him, but I also thought that he could've been a more supportive and less naive character when it came to decisions involving Kamila. But Kamila was surrounded by lots of amazing friends. Their candor was refreshing to read - especially between her and Asha.
I did think the book was slow in the first half, but I was invested enough to keep going, and I'm glad I did. I enjoyed the character transformations that happened in the later half of the book. They took their time to learn and grow, which paid off in realistic ways in the end. It was a fun book - and all of the dogs were such a fun bonus!

This novel was so much fun. Romantic, contemporary Emma reimaginjng that is brilliantly executed. Kamila is an endearing heroine. Overall a solid read that will appeal to a broad audience

This book was a ton of fun to read and kept you highly animated. Great read from a new author to me.