Kamila Knows Best was such a treat.

Detailed writing, introspective characters, and good lord this book made me crave biryani.

Rating: 5🌟

Three things:
1. This book covers emotional abuse/death of a family member- so if that’s a trigger for you be cautious. BUT, it also talks about both Kamila and her Dads therapy journeys. Normalize all the therapy y’all! I am here for getting rid of the stigma around mental health care. Huge kudos to the author for this!
2. Gimme all the dogs. Potato. Darcy. Dog prom. It gave me life. Plus who doesn’t follow at least one dog on Instagram?
3. I love Rohan. Like love love. He’s a perfect book boyfriend, and is a great groveler! 😂

I had to try Biryani and Momos after this. 100% reccomend. Also the author included recipes im the back and we throughly enjoyed those.

The story was fast paced and just an all around lovely read.

This book was so cute, it's every rom com lovers dream. The obvious pining from rohan, kamila not knowing she's in love. It was everything I've ever needed. Also the act three breakup and reunion was everything I wanted. It lined up with Rohan's fantasy and I loved that so much.

I received an arc from netgalley.

Farah knocks it out of the park again! I loved Accidentally Engaged and I loved Kamila Knows Best just as much, if not more! What's not to love?

- Bollywood goodness!
- Friends to lovers! (my favorite!)
- Slow burn! (YESS)
- really fun dialogue!
- Complex characters with heavier issues that Farah still manages to make feel light.

It was wonderful! Can't wait to grab the paperback.

I think the premise was super good but i had to dnf after like 8 chapters. idk i just dont the writing or the dialogue is strong enough, nor is any of the chemistry bw the h and H

I’m such a sucker for Bollywood and this Bollywood Emma retelling is just so soo good!! It’s Clueless level good and I desperately hope this gets a movie adaptation!!

Kamila is Bollywood Cher but smarter, more mature, but still retaining her young charm. Rohan is dreamy and what the author does with the rest of the characters is just so much fun.

10/10 recommend!

THANK YOU NETGALLEY
😍 I finished this book wondering if someone had made a list of all my favorite things and combined them into one novel!
Dogs? Check. Friends to lovers? Check. Great banter and chemistry? Check. Mouth watering food descriptions? Check.
I could go on and on. If any of those check your boxes, this is a must read.
The banter and chemistry of an Abby Jimenez novel meets the character development and foodie vibes of Jasmine Guillory. The only thing I could have asked for was more steam. But I think that comes with the territory of being a slow burn friends to lovers. 🤷🏻‍♀️

🥰This book felt like talking to a good friend and I loved that! All the family friend drama, friends growing up together, secret nemesis, feeling under appreciated or valued, wondering if friends think of you as a sister or something more, and of course the friends that are hard to label but oh so important in your life. Thoroughly enjoyed this story and Heron’s writing!

🧠I liked how the health issue Heron chose to highlight wasn't your typical heart disease or cholesterol problem that's common in South Asians but rather it also incorporated mental health, something that unfortunately is still not taken seriously or talked about in the South Asian community.

🎶On a lighter note, Kamila plays Bollywood hits on a ukulele and though I don't listen to Bollywood music I'd be down to learn how to play them on a ukulele. I bet I'd be a hit at all the family shindigs. Thanks for the idea Heron!

📖 If you're debating reading this... I highly recommend reading it. My biggest issue with the book was Rohan's name because although I know South Asians that are non-Ismaili named Rohan I don't know any Ismaili's named Rohan so it didn't read right in my head. Other than that, no major qualms.

🙈Also... I think I might have my own Rohan... someone that's a comfort friend, someone I talk to, try to make plans with, don't mind seeing me at my worst, and low key don't want to see in a relationship with someone else. Only difference is I'm not dating him and I'm pretty sure he doesn't like me as more than a friend. And… Rohan has deliciously calloused hands and I’m pretty sure my friend has soft hands.

☺️Thank you @netgalley and @farahheronauthor for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Can’t wait for the world to read this one!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Kamila Knows Best over halloween weekend. It was a great to see a working woman who was unapologetic about her love of her work and things outside of work depicted so well. The Author did a fantastic job of showing us who Kamila was in always and it was interesting to see how those around her made judgements about what that said about what she wanted out of life.

In the end, Kamila asserted herself when the opinions of others started to keep her from what she wanted.

The one thing I wished for was more of Kamila and Rohan (her love interest) as a couple. We saw a lot of their friendship, but I wanted more of their relationship.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Farah Heron and NetGalley for the copy of the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Farah Heron for the arc in exchange for an honest review! I enjoyed this book and thought that it was super light-hearted and cute. I’m giving it 3.5 stars, rounded up.

This book follows Kamila Hussain, a character that seems to have it all. She has a finance job she loves, a popular Instagram account for her dog, and endless Bollywood movie parties for her friends. She has been friends with Rohan Nasser her entire life and grows closer to him throughout the novel (while secretly falling in love). I really enjoyed their relationship as they have a lot of chemistry and a solid background to build it on.

This book features a lot of elements that I love, plus it’s an Emma retelling. Kamila is a strong, independent character and I enjoyed reading about her. I loved the friends-to-lovers trope in this one as well.

I recommend this one to fans of romance! My only complaint is that some plot points seemed to slow down the story, but overall it was still very good. Thank you once again for the arc.

Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron
Tropes: Friends To Lovers; Slow Burn Romance
Steam: Some Steam, not over the top

After reading Heron’s last book (Accidentally Engaged – if you haven’t tried it yet, go grab it 😉) I knew I had to have this one without even knowing what it was about. Come to find it, the book is actually a slow burn, friends to lovers romcom and a modern spin on Austen’s Emma? Yeah, I was 100% sold and here for it.

The story was a fun, light hearted one (heavier topics are covered), but Heron manages to keep things light and the plot moving forward. I definitely enjoyed this one, I (unintentionally) read it all in one day. 😊

I enjoyed the friendship between Kamila and Rohan and watching as the romantic tension, will they-won’t they vibe continued to build throughout the story. The descriptions of the food, really made you wish you could have some in front of you asap. – And the Bollywood parties! I totally wish I could be at one – they sound so fun.

Kamila was a very real and relatable character, she was a great friend and it made you wish she was real – and that you could grab an invite to one of these events 😉 This book was filled with love, friendship, complex family issues – not to be missed.

Thank you to both Forever Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for my thoughts.

(Goodreads review posted 11/8/21. Will feature on Bookstagram (@TheBookishDachshund) in lead up with review post for week of release. Amazon review will be posted on release day.)

This book was such a fun read! I’m easily becoming a huge Heron fan! I love that she’s Canadian, I love the cultural and ethnic representation, and I love the ease in which her writing flows and grows! Also, those food descriptions ?! Do NOT read this book hungry. I need to order some traditional Indian food asap, or attempt to make the recipes found in the back of the book! Low spice, but lots of angst. I found some plot points a little bit slow or unnecessary but overall still an enjoyable read!

A lovely updated retelling of Jane Austen’s Emma. It was fun to get some Clueless vibes in there as well! Thanks to NetGalley and Forever books for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this take on Emma. In Jane Austen's original, I find Emma to be annoying and self-righteous. In this version, however, Kamila was much more relatable and likable. The characters were all transformed in ways that still stayed true to their original versions.

From the writer of Accidentally Engaged, Farah Heron writes another romcom with a lot of South Asian references that made me hungry! From the biryani, momos, and the drinks that the main character Kamila serve to her friends on their Friday Bollywood movie nights, and the fashionable outfits that she wears, this book is full of colorful descriptions and good taste. The love story comes from a friends-to-lovers trope and is definitely a slow-burning-just-get-together-already one. Rohan, her childhood friend, forever helper, and dashing executive, is definitely an ideal boyfriend to have.

This book goes through a lot of topics such as unbelievable expectations of mothers to their daughters to insecurities, and love of one’s father. Farah clearly knows what she’s writing about. Kamila’s fun personality, love of dogs, party planning, and imminent intelligence and skills in accounting/financial planning are admirable. Oh— and watch out for the bonus recipes at the end of the book.

This book was super cute. I love pretty much any Jane Austen retelling but I have the hardest time with the Emma ones. This is an Emma retelling that I enjoyed a lot. Kamila and Rohan were great. I love Farah Heron's book and will read anything she puts out.

This was so cute and fun! I could barely put it down and read it in two days! I love a good Austen retelling and this one became a fast favorite!
I loved every single character in this book and so many of them had such good development. And the sweet friendship between Kamila and Rohan made me swoon and I was rooting for them immediately! This will definitely not be my last Farah Heron book!
Recommend if you love rom-coms, writing about delicious food, and more of a closed door/fade to black romance.
Now all I can think about it biryani and boba!

This book left me hungry for food and Rohan! I devoured this book and loved every minute. Kamila is the type of girl you want to be best friend with. Farah brought her character to life in this book and you feel connected to her. Rohan is the type of person you want to have in your corner cheering you on like he does with Kamila. The tension between the two is undeniable within the first few chapters. Farah Heron chefs kiss to you and developing these characters!!

I’ve always loved Emma, from the original to Clueless and beyond! Kamila and Rohan are just wonderful, and although I knew the story, I was still on the edge of my seat, waiting impatiently for them to admit how perfect they are for each other! Modern touches and the storyline were fresh and just really perfect!

Forever Publishing, 😘
Thank You for this advance eARC!
I adored Accidentally Engaged one of the best I've read!
If you haven't read it yet you need to!

Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron....

Kamila's life is far from glamorous. But it's pretty dang close to it being.
She has a job she just loves, a group of friends who need her help constantly, and a dog who is her life!
She is living her best life, but she is always fixing her friends love affairs before her own.
Thankfully she has Rohan. Her well established friend of the family.
He is sexy, very successful and she has found herself flirting more with him and it's making her insides feel all weird.
But she can't get side tracked.... Until someone shows up in town who has her eyes on Rohan.
And Kamila starts to feel like her life is slowly unraveling.

A delightful and cute rom-com of Kamila and Rohan....
Heron is spot on with her plotting, story telling and character chemistry.
A fun, well written story. Full of great moments I enjoyed being part of.
It is heart warming and hopeful and so dang good.
The characters they felt so real to me.
And the romance felt very natural.
It was all woven together wonderfully and it was such a joy to read, even if a little cheesy at times; it brought such a smile to my face. I can't wait to read another of her books!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank You again Forever Pub, NG and Author for this amazing upcoming novel!

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.

I like Accidentally Engaged a lot so I really want to read this book! :) Kamila is a nice person and highly likable. I like her group of friends and family too. Not every character has to have a family complex and brood all the time over it. :) A fun and interesting book!

Thanks to the publisher for providing an arc.