Disclaimer: I received an eARC for review consideration through NetGalley, on behalf of the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Reena has spent her life trying to avoid her parents’ meddling. She keeps things to herself, refuses to work for the family company, and goes out of her way to avoid them learning anything about her life. She is angry with her younger sister for shattering her dreams, but never tells her. Essentially she has created an island for herself with just her best friend knowing what is actually happening in her life.

She is initially attracted to Nadim, until she discovers that he works for her father and their families want them to marry, then she backs off fast.

Nadim is earnest and funny and totally into Reena. But he has secrets of his own and a past he doesn’t want to talk about.

No matter how much she doesn’t want anything to do with Nadim, Reena is drawn to him. And her desire to win a cooking show that she thinks will change her life has them going from neighbors, to friends, to fake fiancés, to real lovers. All without sharing the deepest parts of themselves.

Through the ups and downs of the story, Reena and Nadim both learn about themselves. And Reena learns a lot about the family she has always kept at arms length. Nothing is as she imagined it to be.

I enjoyed this story and the banter between the main characters. Reena made me want to learn how to bake bread. I really loved the way everything came together in the end, and I hope this family learned their lesson that they just need to talk to each other!.