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Just Playing House
As a luxury fashion sales associate, Marley Kamal is known for being cool, aspirational, and just the right amount of detached. One thing she is passionate about, getting surgery to reduce her chance of breast cancer after she learns she has the BRCA gene. But right before the scheduled operation, she has the professional opportunity of a lifetime - to style the latest up-and-coming Hollywood heartthrob.
Nikhil Shamdsani is either on the brink of superstardom or a complete breakdown. Going from a nobody actor to major Hollywood superhero hasn't been a smooth transition. Comic nerds think he's a diversity hire, while fans expect him to singlehandedly represent the entire Indian community. When Nikhil learns his old high school friend and prom date is now in high fashion, he's thrilled to have someone he can trust as his stylist.
So Marley and Nikhil make a deal. She'll style him for his events, and Nikhil will help care for her in the few critical weeks of after surgery. But soon Marley finds herself leaning on Nikhil as more than just a caregiver. And Nikhil finds his feelings growing stronger, too. When their rekindled friendship becomes something more, Marley fears her whole private life is about to be upended.
Nikhil Shamdsani is either on the brink of superstardom or a complete breakdown. Going from a nobody actor to major Hollywood superhero hasn't been a smooth transition. Comic nerds think he's a diversity hire, while fans expect him to singlehandedly represent the entire Indian community. When Nikhil learns his old high school friend and prom date is now in high fashion, he's thrilled to have someone he can trust as his stylist.
So Marley and Nikhil make a deal. She'll style him for his events, and Nikhil will help care for her in the few critical weeks of after surgery. But soon Marley finds herself leaning on Nikhil as more than just a caregiver. And Nikhil finds his feelings growing stronger, too. When their rekindled friendship becomes something more, Marley fears her whole private life is about to be upended.
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2024
90 people are currently reading
8334 people want to read
About the author
Farah Heron
13 books1,051 followersFarah Heron is a critically acclaimed author of romantic comedies for adults and young adults filled with huge South Asian families, delectable food, and most importantly, brown people falling stupidly in love. She lives in Toronto with her husband, two children, and a rabbit named Strawberry. She recently adopted two cats, who are now in charge.
Farah’s debut, The Chai Factor was named one of the summer’s best books by The Globe and Mail, and was praised in Book Riot, Smart Bitches Trashy Books, Bustle and more. Her next release, Accidentally Engaged, was listed as a best book of 2021 in Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, NPR, CBC Books, Kobo, and more. Her young adult debut, Tahira in Bloom, was recently released, and was praised as one of the best rom-coms of the year by USA today.
Farah’s debut, The Chai Factor was named one of the summer’s best books by The Globe and Mail, and was praised in Book Riot, Smart Bitches Trashy Books, Bustle and more. Her next release, Accidentally Engaged, was listed as a best book of 2021 in Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, NPR, CBC Books, Kobo, and more. Her young adult debut, Tahira in Bloom, was recently released, and was praised as one of the best rom-coms of the year by USA today.
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July 8, 2024Marley and Nikhil had a high school fling. Now she's a personal shopper and he's about to star in the latest superhero movie although he hates the publicity. So far so standard, but Marley is about to have a preventive double mastectomy. AKA this is not your run of the mill celeb romance.
This is a really heartfelt book, which digs in to Marley's complex and difficult feelings about her body, her future, her friends and relationships. Nobody in this book is perfect. Friends get pissed off with one another. Marley isn't a poster girl for preventive surgery by any means. All of which means we can really see how important it is for Nikhil to have her back, and for her to accept support. (There is a lot of detail about cancer, genes, and the reality of a double mastectomy in here, fyi.)
Actually this book is all about support, and how it's a strange and fluctuating thing. Every supportive relationship in this book is flawed and sometimes faltering or misplaced because everyone in this book has their own life and issues, just like everyone in reality does. It's imperfect but it's what we've got.
I was hugely invested in Marley's story. I'm not a celeb romance person so Nikhil's story engaged me less, but as Marley's other half he's 10/10, no notes. This book kept me fully engaged and occupied in the endless day waiting for the UK election results, and you can't ask for more than that.
This is a really heartfelt book, which digs in to Marley's complex and difficult feelings about her body, her future, her friends and relationships. Nobody in this book is perfect. Friends get pissed off with one another. Marley isn't a poster girl for preventive surgery by any means. All of which means we can really see how important it is for Nikhil to have her back, and for her to accept support. (There is a lot of detail about cancer, genes, and the reality of a double mastectomy in here, fyi.)
Actually this book is all about support, and how it's a strange and fluctuating thing. Every supportive relationship in this book is flawed and sometimes faltering or misplaced because everyone in this book has their own life and issues, just like everyone in reality does. It's imperfect but it's what we've got.
I was hugely invested in Marley's story. I'm not a celeb romance person so Nikhil's story engaged me less, but as Marley's other half he's 10/10, no notes. This book kept me fully engaged and occupied in the endless day waiting for the UK election results, and you can't ask for more than that.
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did-not-finish
February 19, 2024dnf’ed @76%
im sorry I tried my best but I genuinely can’t keep going. maybe I’ll pick this up again later and finish it (I doubt it) i stopped right after the third act conflict was presented because i was honestly just so done.
i’m not a big fan of second chance romance but i still went into this book with some kind of expectations. (boy was i wrong) i was gonna talk about the “good” parts of this book but my brain weirdly stop functioning so let’s cut right to the rant.
first of all the romance, i felt no chemistry; it was just pure lust. whenever they were talking, one of them (especially nikhil) would be thinking about them havingsex. that’s literally all this book was?! you wanna know how many times the word was mentioned (and i haven’t even finished the book). 30 TIMES!! yes you read that right. 30.damn.times.
here’s an example, they were talking about something serious and this is what the mmc is thinking : “and they could also have sex again.” can you not?! WE GET IT!! you’re physically attracted to her. and this goes both ways, it happened with the fmc too.
also the whole friends with benefits thing was not for me. about 20-30% in the book they decided they both needed some “pleasure” so they had a “one time thing”. and you’d think after that they would get together because they finally realised they had feelings for each other? no!
i also found myself skimming way too many times. i was getting really bored
other than that, the plot was interesting. kind of?
it’s nice to see representation of people of color & sexualities in books.
side note : most of the problems i had with this book are personal preferences so don’t let this review affect what you think of it!
thank you to netgalley and forever (grand central publishing) for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange of an honest review
im sorry I tried my best but I genuinely can’t keep going. maybe I’ll pick this up again later and finish it (
i’m not a big fan of second chance romance but i still went into this book with some kind of expectations. (
first of all the romance, i felt no chemistry; it was just pure lust. whenever they were talking, one of them (especially nikhil) would be thinking about them having
here’s an example, they were talking about something serious and this is what the mmc is thinking : “and they could also have sex again.” can you not?! WE GET IT!! you’re physically attracted to her. and this goes both ways, it happened with the fmc too.
also the whole friends with benefits thing was not for me. about 20-30% in the book they decided they both needed some “pleasure” so they had a “one time thing”. and you’d think after that they would get together because they finally realised they had feelings for each other? no!
i also found myself skimming way too many times. i was getting really bored
other than that, the plot was interesting. kind of?
it’s nice to see representation of people of color & sexualities in books.
side note : most of the problems i had with this book are personal preferences so don’t let this review affect what you think of it!
thank you to netgalley and forever (grand central publishing) for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange of an honest review
July 2, 2024
Just Playing House by Farah Heron
Contemporary romance. Second chance, Asian voice. BRCA gene story background. Alternating POV between hero and heroine.
Marley Kamal is a luxury fashion sales associate at a high end store. She is cool under pressure and can handle the most difficult of customers. Marley is hired to style a new and upcoming Hollywood actor that she must keep confidential. She is surprised to find he’s a former friend from high school and her former prom date. Back in high school, Marley and Nikhail become more than friends but with a family illness and future plans, they both decided to go their own way. Now, years later, the sizzle, between them is still alive and passion flairs. But Marley makes their night conditional to just the one time. She has surgery in her future and she doesn’t want to worry about a relationship at the same time. They can still work together for both their careers and keep it professional.
But can they?
A romance. With a lot of underlying issues of cancer, past and potential.
Marley is so brave to schedule surgery ahead of an 90% chance of getting cancer with the BRCA gene. And to not cave and put it off for weeks because her boss tells her she needs to…wow. I don’t know that I could have withstood that pressure. To be fair, my work has never been that high pressure or competitive.
And can we admit to swooning over Nikhail as he helped her after surgery? Yes. So hot. He was there with medications, support, food, and strength. And she wasn’t alone.
A lot of layered and complicated characters which are things I don’t usually notice, each with their own internal story which isn’t detailed until wrapping up.
Lots of eating and mentioning of cultural meals including rotli and daal, and biryani and more. Several characters that loved to cook or bake. Made me want to order in delivery!
Powerful romance and positivity against cancer. Yes drama. But at the core is a wonderful caring friendship and romance.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Contemporary romance. Second chance, Asian voice. BRCA gene story background. Alternating POV between hero and heroine.
Marley Kamal is a luxury fashion sales associate at a high end store. She is cool under pressure and can handle the most difficult of customers. Marley is hired to style a new and upcoming Hollywood actor that she must keep confidential. She is surprised to find he’s a former friend from high school and her former prom date. Back in high school, Marley and Nikhail become more than friends but with a family illness and future plans, they both decided to go their own way. Now, years later, the sizzle, between them is still alive and passion flairs. But Marley makes their night conditional to just the one time. She has surgery in her future and she doesn’t want to worry about a relationship at the same time. They can still work together for both their careers and keep it professional.
But can they?
A romance. With a lot of underlying issues of cancer, past and potential.
Marley is so brave to schedule surgery ahead of an 90% chance of getting cancer with the BRCA gene. And to not cave and put it off for weeks because her boss tells her she needs to…wow. I don’t know that I could have withstood that pressure. To be fair, my work has never been that high pressure or competitive.
And can we admit to swooning over Nikhail as he helped her after surgery? Yes. So hot. He was there with medications, support, food, and strength. And she wasn’t alone.
A lot of layered and complicated characters which are things I don’t usually notice, each with their own internal story which isn’t detailed until wrapping up.
Lots of eating and mentioning of cultural meals including rotli and daal, and biryani and more. Several characters that loved to cook or bake. Made me want to order in delivery!
Powerful romance and positivity against cancer. Yes drama. But at the core is a wonderful caring friendship and romance.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
dnf
June 11, 2024DNF this book at 50%. I was enjoying this story and appreciate that it covers such a heavy topic as BRACA gene and mastectomy but I was looking for something a bit more lighthearted and this book was depressing me. I am sure many readers will love this one, it’s just not for me (at least right now).
June 16, 2024
This was the first book I have read by Farrah Heron and I was not disappointed.
I feel lucky that my first one was so personal to Heron as a person with the BRCA gene. The love and care that was put into this novel is astronomical. I am thoroughly impressed with the writing and consideration taken.
My only complaint is I wish Marley had done counseling before her mastectomy. I think that literally would have been my only change to the story.
I love the characters, especially Nik. I mean, who wouldn’t want a hunky action movie star as your leading man?
Thank you to Forever, Heron, and NetGalley for the eARC. I cannot wait to read more by Heron.
I feel lucky that my first one was so personal to Heron as a person with the BRCA gene. The love and care that was put into this novel is astronomical. I am thoroughly impressed with the writing and consideration taken.
My only complaint is I wish Marley had done counseling before her mastectomy. I think that literally would have been my only change to the story.
I love the characters, especially Nik. I mean, who wouldn’t want a hunky action movie star as your leading man?
Thank you to Forever, Heron, and NetGalley for the eARC. I cannot wait to read more by Heron.
April 21, 2024
This title is a bit more difficult for me to process and review as I have done mixed feelings about it.
To start, I’ll say I think that Farah Heron is a talented author, and definitely one that will remain an autograb for me - if she writes it I want to read it. Her books always feature some great representation and I love that they make me think and feel while I’m reading them. I love that her books generally feature South Asian MCs and mental health representation.
I loved that we got some good representation in this book as well. I still think that the story gave voice and representation to an important topic, so it was great to see that in a book. I was really excited by the tropes and premise of the story. I liked that, overall, it was a slower build up of a relationship for the two mains.
However, while there were parts I really enjoyed and lots of potential- I did find the book to be a bit muddling. The story has a lot of elements going on, and in this case it felt stretched a bit too thin and wasn’t able to really deliver as much impact with the split focus. As a result of what was happening around them, it kind of felt that the characters got a bit lost as a result. While we get some development of the mains, I felt this was really missing on any other characters. And with the story having so much going on, it felt for me like the connection and romance between the mains didn’t get to develop as much either.
While this particular story is not my favorite of the authors, I’m still glad I read it and I’ll definitely continue to look forward to and try anything this author writes.
Thank you to the publisher for an opportunity to read an early copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely offered.
To start, I’ll say I think that Farah Heron is a talented author, and definitely one that will remain an autograb for me - if she writes it I want to read it. Her books always feature some great representation and I love that they make me think and feel while I’m reading them. I love that her books generally feature South Asian MCs and mental health representation.
I loved that we got some good representation in this book as well. I still think that the story gave voice and representation to an important topic, so it was great to see that in a book. I was really excited by the tropes and premise of the story. I liked that, overall, it was a slower build up of a relationship for the two mains.
However, while there were parts I really enjoyed and lots of potential- I did find the book to be a bit muddling. The story has a lot of elements going on, and in this case it felt stretched a bit too thin and wasn’t able to really deliver as much impact with the split focus. As a result of what was happening around them, it kind of felt that the characters got a bit lost as a result. While we get some development of the mains, I felt this was really missing on any other characters. And with the story having so much going on, it felt for me like the connection and romance between the mains didn’t get to develop as much either.
While this particular story is not my favorite of the authors, I’m still glad I read it and I’ll definitely continue to look forward to and try anything this author writes.
Thank you to the publisher for an opportunity to read an early copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely offered.
May 10, 2024
This book is so special. It was 100% a romance, but we also went so deep with the characters' families and personal lives outside of the relationship. The way Farah was able to make this story feel like a romance but also give the plot so much impact is a masterclass in romance writing.
The characters felt real, the side characters were lovable, the plot was impactful, and there were real stakes. Marley is a personal stylist. She has the BRCA1 gene and is having surgery to help mitigate her chances of getting cancer. Nikhil was her high school prom date and is now an up-and-coming movie star. There's forced proximity, celebrity romance, and caretaking. Marley and Nikhil were so sweet to one another and I loveddd how much of a simp he was for her.
I hate 3rd act breakups, so of course that annoyed me, but ultimately the ending was worth it. After reading this, I'm interested in seeking out Farah's backlist and will read her future releases.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
The characters felt real, the side characters were lovable, the plot was impactful, and there were real stakes. Marley is a personal stylist. She has the BRCA1 gene and is having surgery to help mitigate her chances of getting cancer. Nikhil was her high school prom date and is now an up-and-coming movie star. There's forced proximity, celebrity romance, and caretaking. Marley and Nikhil were so sweet to one another and I loveddd how much of a simp he was for her.
I hate 3rd act breakups, so of course that annoyed me, but ultimately the ending was worth it. After reading this, I'm interested in seeking out Farah's backlist and will read her future releases.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
July 11, 2024
⭐️: 4
🌶️: 2
🏡 second chance
🎀 celebrity
🏡 caretaking
🎀 forced proximity
🏡 BRCA genetic mutation carrier
Farah Heron delicately tip-toed the fine line between a sweet, light hearted read and a heartfelt, serious subject. In reading Marley’s story, I felt better educated on the BRCA genetic mutation, and I truly felt the emotions of this character. Nikhil wasn’t my favorite MMC of all time, but the way that he stepped up and cared for Marley in a time of vulnerability and weakness, was honorable. All around a strong, enjoyable story.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Forever Publishing and Farah Heron for the eARC.
🌶️🌶️ = open door, minimal detail
🌶️: 2
🏡 second chance
🎀 celebrity
🏡 caretaking
🎀 forced proximity
🏡 BRCA genetic mutation carrier
Farah Heron delicately tip-toed the fine line between a sweet, light hearted read and a heartfelt, serious subject. In reading Marley’s story, I felt better educated on the BRCA genetic mutation, and I truly felt the emotions of this character. Nikhil wasn’t my favorite MMC of all time, but the way that he stepped up and cared for Marley in a time of vulnerability and weakness, was honorable. All around a strong, enjoyable story.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Forever Publishing and Farah Heron for the eARC.
🌶️🌶️ = open door, minimal detail
July 2, 2024
While this book does cover some heavy topics, especially BRACA genes and mastectomy. I felt like it did it with dignity and grace. Farah is an author that continues to fall into the category, if she writes it, I'm reading it. Her books always have great representation, and make you think while still be really enjoyable and a great escape. This was the perfect way for me to end the month of June.
Marley is working as a stylist in a high fashion store in Toronto and is hoping to break into the personal shopping space after she recovers from her mastectomy that she is having as a result of being a carrier of the BRACA gene.
Nik is an up and coming actor, who is on the verge of becoming the next big star and the studio hires Marley to be his stylist, not knowing that they have a past-he ghosted her after they hooked up at prom. When Marley needs help recovering after surgery Nik volunteers to help and Marley sees a whole other side to Nik and maybe, just maybe they cán overcome their past to find their way to love.
If you're a fan of forced proximity, second chance romance, or celebrity romance, you'll enjoy this story.
Thanks to Forever and NotGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
Marley is working as a stylist in a high fashion store in Toronto and is hoping to break into the personal shopping space after she recovers from her mastectomy that she is having as a result of being a carrier of the BRACA gene.
Nik is an up and coming actor, who is on the verge of becoming the next big star and the studio hires Marley to be his stylist, not knowing that they have a past-he ghosted her after they hooked up at prom. When Marley needs help recovering after surgery Nik volunteers to help and Marley sees a whole other side to Nik and maybe, just maybe they cán overcome their past to find their way to love.
If you're a fan of forced proximity, second chance romance, or celebrity romance, you'll enjoy this story.
Thanks to Forever and NotGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
July 2, 2024
I fell in love with Farah's writing after reading The Chai Factor two years ago. There's just something so special about the characters she writes.
I enjoyed Just Playing House just as much and read it in an afternoon. The main characters, Marley and Nikhil were fantastic and I equally enjoyed many of the side characters. I love the diversity!! Plus there's a cat, come on now!
I love a solid second chance romance!!
The storyline is emotional, but it's also extremely heartwarming. The author wrote this based on her own personal experience with the BRCA1 genetic mutation.
My thanks to HBG Canada for the gifted copy!
Content Warnings: BRCA1 Mutation/Masectomy/Mentions of Breast Cancer/Death Of Loved One/Racism
I enjoyed Just Playing House just as much and read it in an afternoon. The main characters, Marley and Nikhil were fantastic and I equally enjoyed many of the side characters. I love the diversity!! Plus there's a cat, come on now!
I love a solid second chance romance!!
The storyline is emotional, but it's also extremely heartwarming. The author wrote this based on her own personal experience with the BRCA1 genetic mutation.
My thanks to HBG Canada for the gifted copy!
Content Warnings: BRCA1 Mutation/Masectomy/Mentions of Breast Cancer/Death Of Loved One/Racism
August 23, 2024
Special thanks to the author & @readforeverpub for my gifted copy‼️
I wanted to like this one a lot more but it dragged so much I mean way beyond a slow-burn. I honestly finished it for the sake of finishing. It wasn’t completely terrible but it didn’t hold my attention enough for me to really get into it. There were cute moments between Marley and Nikhil but a lot of the book was simply boring to me.
Highlight moments:
⭐️ Marley having a double mastectomy for safety precautions due to her being a carrier of a cancerous gene.
⭐️ Marley and Nikhil rekindling after he blew her off after prom. Love second chance romances.
⭐️ Nikhil’s acting career and the drama brought on by an unexpected publicity stunt.
⭐️ Nikhil’s brother selling him out for money.
⭐️ Loved how caring and protective Nikhil became after Marley’s surgery. He was ready to leave his career behind for her. Being in such close proximity (playing house) sparked feelings the two couldn’t deny and you can tell the chemistry never died between them.
⭐️ Marley allowed insecurities and the trauma her family experienced after losing her aunt to keep her from falling in to deep with Nikhil. But in the end she gave in and ended up with her happily ever after both relationship and career wise.
Overall, the book was meh but that doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it. The writing was decent, the characters were well drawn out and lovable, and the author also touched on some heavy themes. I just think this one wasn’t for me but it might be worth you giving it a read‼️
Rating: 3/5⭐️
I wanted to like this one a lot more but it dragged so much I mean way beyond a slow-burn. I honestly finished it for the sake of finishing. It wasn’t completely terrible but it didn’t hold my attention enough for me to really get into it. There were cute moments between Marley and Nikhil but a lot of the book was simply boring to me.
Highlight moments:
⭐️ Marley having a double mastectomy for safety precautions due to her being a carrier of a cancerous gene.
⭐️ Marley and Nikhil rekindling after he blew her off after prom. Love second chance romances.
⭐️ Nikhil’s acting career and the drama brought on by an unexpected publicity stunt.
⭐️ Nikhil’s brother selling him out for money.
⭐️ Loved how caring and protective Nikhil became after Marley’s surgery. He was ready to leave his career behind for her. Being in such close proximity (playing house) sparked feelings the two couldn’t deny and you can tell the chemistry never died between them.
⭐️ Marley allowed insecurities and the trauma her family experienced after losing her aunt to keep her from falling in to deep with Nikhil. But in the end she gave in and ended up with her happily ever after both relationship and career wise.
Overall, the book was meh but that doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy it. The writing was decent, the characters were well drawn out and lovable, and the author also touched on some heavy themes. I just think this one wasn’t for me but it might be worth you giving it a read‼️
Rating: 3/5⭐️
June 16, 2025
There was a lot of random, unnecessary plots in this book but I liked it overall
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December 20, 2024I thoroughly enjoyed this second chance romance. Although this is a romance book it definitely covers some serious topics. Marley carries the BRCA gene that causes breast cancer so she has made the decision to have a bilateral mastectomy. Nikhil has recently come back into her life and he is very supportive of her decision. They make a deal that she will be his personal stylist as he tries to push his tenuous acting career forward and he will care for her during her recovery. Due to their close proximity their romantic relationship slowly develops. I loved the secondary characters and their impact on the story. Overall this was a well written book with some important issues that are dealt with sensitively.
July 14, 2024
This was a 5 star prediction for me, but unfortunately, it didn't entirely live up to my expectations.
I loved seeing Marley's medical journey detailed in this book, because I think it does a lot to raise awareness, eradicate any stigma, and help people who are going through the same or a similar thing.
I became really excited to read this book because the synopsis detailed Nikhil taking care of her after her surgery, and he very much did, but I expected a little more from this in terms of the hurt-comfort it could have provided. The story, and Nikhil as a character, just didn't land for me as much as I wanted them to.
I loved seeing Marley's medical journey detailed in this book, because I think it does a lot to raise awareness, eradicate any stigma, and help people who are going through the same or a similar thing.
I became really excited to read this book because the synopsis detailed Nikhil taking care of her after her surgery, and he very much did, but I expected a little more from this in terms of the hurt-comfort it could have provided. The story, and Nikhil as a character, just didn't land for me as much as I wanted them to.
February 20, 2024
I read the Arc of Playing House on NetGalley.
Playing house is about two people, Mahreen “Marley” Kamal and Nikhil “Nik Sharma” Shamdasani. They went to prom together, ghosted each other, and are reunited when Marley becomes Nikhil's stylist. After a night of passion and an interesting turn of events Nikhil moves in with Marley to take care of her after her preventative double mastectomy. What happens when they begin to develop feelings for each other? Obviously the third act break up and reunion babe, come on! Follow along!
I thought this book was cute. I loved the diversity of cast! I love when authors write stories from the perspective of their own culture. There were a lot of references to food and drink that made me want to try them! It was good in the beginning and good in the end but it slumped in the middle. I liked the romance and how Nikhil seemed like a really nice guy. He was caring and affectionate and loving to Marley even when she wasn’t willing to be open yet.
I didn’t like a lot of things. This book feels like a millennial trying to appeal to the Gen Z crowd with stereotypical words and phrases. There are references to imposter syndrome, every popular celebrity, “feels” and virtue signaling mental health references. It has a poor representation of ADHD; as a person with ADHD, that’s disheartening. The characters that have depression or ADHD, that’s all they get. No other characteristics. And there isn’t any reason for them to have said disabilities. The male and female MCs parents are talked about in the first half in a mysterious way that is supposed to hint at why the MCs are the way that they are. Marleys mom is self obsessed and Nikhils mom is recently depressed. That’s it. No real Info on the dads though. It has an obscene amount of elipses. Take a shot every elipse and you’ll be plastered for weeks. I understand and appreciate the effort to keep it low spice, but there is almost a middle school view of anatomy to the tone of the book. It has “ awwwooooooga 🤤😩🥴🥹” vibes. I know that the story was made because of the Authors own journey with the BRCA gene, which is a genetic predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer, but the first act talks about boobs in such a weird way. The first chapter has a client of Marley’s trying to honk her boobs. It’s just weird to me, but maybe I’m prudish. There are a lot of things that are mentioned that just come from nowhere and go nowhere. Why bring it up if it has nothing to do with the story or plot or whatever is happening in the scene. Another subplot is Nikhils movie star journey and dealing with racism as an Indian man in the media industry. That’s great. Except every issue he has is “because he is brown.” When reading it, it’s clearly not. He’s classified as a diva because he’s brown, not because he’s fired like 3 dentists and five stylists. Everyone isn’t happy with him being the bronze shadow because he’s brown, not because he bombed his initial appearance and interview and is a rookie action movie actor. (It’s actually mentioned in a later chapter that most of the people upset with his part are upset because he has no action movie experience and little experience outside of comedy) So far, it is trying to confront racism against the Indian main character, but not in thoughtful or nuanced way, basically just by saying “white people, am I right?” idk, I’m not brown, but if you’re going to talk racism, actually be racist. There was only one instance of racism in this book, unless you count the acute racism towards white people. There is a saying, if mentioning the race or colour of skin doesn’t add anything to the story, then don’t say it, because it doesn’t matter. This book did not hear that saying. Most people that are white have no other description. They are just white. And most of the time, being the white person is bad. As a white person, that bothered me, and I’m not going to apologize for that.
I would recommend this book to readers of fluffy romance, people that want a little 🌶️ but not smut, and people who read for the vibes.
Content Summery:
🖍️ There is a decent amount of language in this book, but not terrible. There are two sex scenes that are a little spicy but there is not any smut, because it closes the door once the deed is started. There is some bodily talk that might be triggering to those with body dysmorphia🖍️
thank you to netgalley and forever (grand central publishing) for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange of an honest review
Playing house is about two people, Mahreen “Marley” Kamal and Nikhil “Nik Sharma” Shamdasani. They went to prom together, ghosted each other, and are reunited when Marley becomes Nikhil's stylist. After a night of passion and an interesting turn of events Nikhil moves in with Marley to take care of her after her preventative double mastectomy. What happens when they begin to develop feelings for each other? Obviously the third act break up and reunion babe, come on! Follow along!
I thought this book was cute. I loved the diversity of cast! I love when authors write stories from the perspective of their own culture. There were a lot of references to food and drink that made me want to try them! It was good in the beginning and good in the end but it slumped in the middle. I liked the romance and how Nikhil seemed like a really nice guy. He was caring and affectionate and loving to Marley even when she wasn’t willing to be open yet.
I didn’t like a lot of things. This book feels like a millennial trying to appeal to the Gen Z crowd with stereotypical words and phrases. There are references to imposter syndrome, every popular celebrity, “feels” and virtue signaling mental health references. It has a poor representation of ADHD; as a person with ADHD, that’s disheartening. The characters that have depression or ADHD, that’s all they get. No other characteristics. And there isn’t any reason for them to have said disabilities. The male and female MCs parents are talked about in the first half in a mysterious way that is supposed to hint at why the MCs are the way that they are. Marleys mom is self obsessed and Nikhils mom is recently depressed. That’s it. No real Info on the dads though. It has an obscene amount of elipses. Take a shot every elipse and you’ll be plastered for weeks. I understand and appreciate the effort to keep it low spice, but there is almost a middle school view of anatomy to the tone of the book. It has “ awwwooooooga 🤤😩🥴🥹” vibes. I know that the story was made because of the Authors own journey with the BRCA gene, which is a genetic predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer, but the first act talks about boobs in such a weird way. The first chapter has a client of Marley’s trying to honk her boobs. It’s just weird to me, but maybe I’m prudish. There are a lot of things that are mentioned that just come from nowhere and go nowhere. Why bring it up if it has nothing to do with the story or plot or whatever is happening in the scene. Another subplot is Nikhils movie star journey and dealing with racism as an Indian man in the media industry. That’s great. Except every issue he has is “because he is brown.” When reading it, it’s clearly not. He’s classified as a diva because he’s brown, not because he’s fired like 3 dentists and five stylists. Everyone isn’t happy with him being the bronze shadow because he’s brown, not because he bombed his initial appearance and interview and is a rookie action movie actor. (It’s actually mentioned in a later chapter that most of the people upset with his part are upset because he has no action movie experience and little experience outside of comedy) So far, it is trying to confront racism against the Indian main character, but not in thoughtful or nuanced way, basically just by saying “white people, am I right?” idk, I’m not brown, but if you’re going to talk racism, actually be racist. There was only one instance of racism in this book, unless you count the acute racism towards white people. There is a saying, if mentioning the race or colour of skin doesn’t add anything to the story, then don’t say it, because it doesn’t matter. This book did not hear that saying. Most people that are white have no other description. They are just white. And most of the time, being the white person is bad. As a white person, that bothered me, and I’m not going to apologize for that.
I would recommend this book to readers of fluffy romance, people that want a little 🌶️ but not smut, and people who read for the vibes.
Content Summery:
🖍️ There is a decent amount of language in this book, but not terrible. There are two sex scenes that are a little spicy but there is not any smut, because it closes the door once the deed is started. There is some bodily talk that might be triggering to those with body dysmorphia🖍️
thank you to netgalley and forever (grand central publishing) for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange of an honest review
July 8, 2024
I can’t recommend this book enough! Reasons to pick it up this summer (and there are many!):
✨A fav 🇨🇦 Canadian author
✨Toronto setting
✨Dual POV
✨Fav tropes: celebrity romance, forced proximity, second chance love story, caretaking
✨Diverse, Desi MCs, bisexual FMC
✨Disability rep: FMC who is a BRCA genetic mutation carrier with a high risk of breast and ovarian cancer and gets a prophylactic double mastectomy!! 💕
✨Cameos from the MCs of Accidentally engaged
Plus soooo much more! This book had amazing emotional depth, a great friend group and is by far my new favorite by Farah Heron!! Be sure to read the deeply personal author's note included at the end of the book too! Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever for an early digital and finish copy in exchange for my honest review! **My only complaint was that it's not available yet as an audiobook!
Steam level: open door, mild details
✨A fav 🇨🇦 Canadian author
✨Toronto setting
✨Dual POV
✨Fav tropes: celebrity romance, forced proximity, second chance love story, caretaking
✨Diverse, Desi MCs, bisexual FMC
✨Disability rep: FMC who is a BRCA genetic mutation carrier with a high risk of breast and ovarian cancer and gets a prophylactic double mastectomy!! 💕
✨Cameos from the MCs of Accidentally engaged
Plus soooo much more! This book had amazing emotional depth, a great friend group and is by far my new favorite by Farah Heron!! Be sure to read the deeply personal author's note included at the end of the book too! Many thanks to NetGalley and Forever for an early digital and finish copy in exchange for my honest review! **My only complaint was that it's not available yet as an audiobook!
Steam level: open door, mild details
July 11, 2024
Marley and Nikhil were friends with the potential for more in high school, but they haven’t seen one another since prom night of their final year. Now a fashion sales associate for an upscale department store, Marley’s been tasked with styling an up-and-coming Hollywood star with a diva reputation: none other than Nikhil.
Marley and Nikhil didn’t part on the best of terms, but it was due to lack of communication and some insecurities that, thankfully, are addressed early on in Just Playing House. This allows the pair to become fast friends and support one another. Marley is about to undergo a prophylactic double mastectomy after discovering she has the BRCA1 gene, and she needs someone to help care for her. Nikhil needs someone he trusts on his team, and Marley helps keep him calm. The timing of it all is kismet, and I love that both own up to their part in the downfall of their friendship.
I just adore Nikhil and Marley as they hang out and learn to open up to one another. Both carry a lot of baggage, and I love that they learn to cope and adapt from hanging out and realizing they care for one another. Nikhil is taken by everything Marley does. He is kind and generous and is willing to stand by her even at her lowest. She was always the ideal in his mind, but once he gets to know her as an adult, he realizes he loves the imperfect Marley even more. As the potential star in a fan-favorite superhero franchise, Nikhil’s life is public and under constant scrutiny, which doesn’t mesh well the very private Marley.
Marley is afraid of her future, knowing there is a high probability she may get sick. She hates that her uncle left her aunt when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and doesn’t want that for herself. So instead, Marley stays closed off. Yet, with Nikhil she finds herself unable to hold back. I love how the pair decide to live in the moment and “play house” while existing in a bubble outside their respective problems.
And there are a lot of problems that surround the pair. Both have to deal with toxic individuals who work against them, and I was beyond furious with these characters. *Small spoiler* Both Nikhil and Marley overcome their antagonists and succeed in positive ways, and I was a bit disappointed that we didn’t see a confrontation or the downfall of said characters. The author has written a healthy approach to the conflicts, but I wanted to see the bad guys taken down a few pegs. *end spoiler*
Just Playing House is a sweet, second-chance romance that works because the characters are willing to communicate and share their feelings.
My Rating: B
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by publisher
Marley and Nikhil didn’t part on the best of terms, but it was due to lack of communication and some insecurities that, thankfully, are addressed early on in Just Playing House. This allows the pair to become fast friends and support one another. Marley is about to undergo a prophylactic double mastectomy after discovering she has the BRCA1 gene, and she needs someone to help care for her. Nikhil needs someone he trusts on his team, and Marley helps keep him calm. The timing of it all is kismet, and I love that both own up to their part in the downfall of their friendship.
I just adore Nikhil and Marley as they hang out and learn to open up to one another. Both carry a lot of baggage, and I love that they learn to cope and adapt from hanging out and realizing they care for one another. Nikhil is taken by everything Marley does. He is kind and generous and is willing to stand by her even at her lowest. She was always the ideal in his mind, but once he gets to know her as an adult, he realizes he loves the imperfect Marley even more. As the potential star in a fan-favorite superhero franchise, Nikhil’s life is public and under constant scrutiny, which doesn’t mesh well the very private Marley.
Marley is afraid of her future, knowing there is a high probability she may get sick. She hates that her uncle left her aunt when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and doesn’t want that for herself. So instead, Marley stays closed off. Yet, with Nikhil she finds herself unable to hold back. I love how the pair decide to live in the moment and “play house” while existing in a bubble outside their respective problems.
And there are a lot of problems that surround the pair. Both have to deal with toxic individuals who work against them, and I was beyond furious with these characters. *Small spoiler* Both Nikhil and Marley overcome their antagonists and succeed in positive ways, and I was a bit disappointed that we didn’t see a confrontation or the downfall of said characters. The author has written a healthy approach to the conflicts, but I wanted to see the bad guys taken down a few pegs. *end spoiler*
Just Playing House is a sweet, second-chance romance that works because the characters are willing to communicate and share their feelings.
My Rating: B
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by publisher
June 26, 2024
ARC review
I really wish I could give half stars on here! I’d give this 3.5, so I rounded up.
Marley has always been a very private person, even with her closest friends. Nikhil is now a blossoming movie star, set to star in the hottest upcoming action film. They were friends in high school and even went to prom together, where they shared the night together. But they didn’t talk afterward and parted ways without even a goodbye.
Nikhil comes back into Marley’s life just as she’s about to have a prophylactic mastectomy. Nikhil ends up temporarily moving in with Marley to help care for her during her recovery, while Marley works as his stylist. As one might expect from a romance novel, their close proximity leads to falling for each other.
Marley’s journey through her surgery, recovery, brief relationship and breakup leads her to realize that she needs people in her life and that she doesn’t need to be so closed off with everyone. And I’m glad that when she realized it she immediately went to go work it out with Nikhil.
I was also glad to see things worked out for Nikhil too with his acting career, and that Marley took a chance on herself and started her own styling business.
The author’s note at the end is what made the story more impactful to me.
Overall I enjoyed this book. The relationship between Marley and Nikhil was really sweet and I loved how Nikhil was so supportive of Marley through her surgery recovery process.
I really wish I could give half stars on here! I’d give this 3.5, so I rounded up.
Marley has always been a very private person, even with her closest friends. Nikhil is now a blossoming movie star, set to star in the hottest upcoming action film. They were friends in high school and even went to prom together, where they shared the night together. But they didn’t talk afterward and parted ways without even a goodbye.
Nikhil comes back into Marley’s life just as she’s about to have a prophylactic mastectomy. Nikhil ends up temporarily moving in with Marley to help care for her during her recovery, while Marley works as his stylist. As one might expect from a romance novel, their close proximity leads to falling for each other.
Marley’s journey through her surgery, recovery, brief relationship and breakup leads her to realize that she needs people in her life and that she doesn’t need to be so closed off with everyone. And I’m glad that when she realized it she immediately went to go work it out with Nikhil.
I was also glad to see things worked out for Nikhil too with his acting career, and that Marley took a chance on herself and started her own styling business.
The author’s note at the end is what made the story more impactful to me.
Overall I enjoyed this book. The relationship between Marley and Nikhil was really sweet and I loved how Nikhil was so supportive of Marley through her surgery recovery process.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2024
Thank You Netgalley for the arc !!
I really wanted to like this but I just couldn’t get into the story I was just very bored ☹️. Really didn’t feel any chemistry between the characters and I really wasn’t vibing with the writing ☹️
I really wanted to like this but I just couldn’t get into the story I was just very bored ☹️. Really didn’t feel any chemistry between the characters and I really wasn’t vibing with the writing ☹️
November 8, 2024
we were rooting for yo- WE WERE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU. WHY MUST WE BE BLAND
December 19, 2024
I was hesitant to start this book. Post-surgery recovery is not an easy subject to read.
Reading the author's note after finishing and learning of her personal experience with the BRCA gene made the story hit extra hard.
The book started really strong for me. I liked the characters and got quickly involved in their story. The romance was quite nice as well. I really, really liked the focus on caring for the other, of being there for them in difficult times.
Now, the celebrity aspect was not my favourite, I admit. I can relate to the self-doubt and the pressure but somehow it didn't grab me.
I normally don't have an issue with third-act break-up in romance but this one was poorly done. It made so little sense, like it literally came out of nowhere. The final section lost the momentum, too much celebrity issues, too little personal, normal people mis/communication.
Over, I liked the story, appreciate that the difficult subject matter was handled with care but this is not one of my favourite romances of the author.
CW: cancer, double mastectomy, major surgery recovery, death of a relative from cancer (in the past), racism (addressed)
Reading the author's note after finishing and learning of her personal experience with the BRCA gene made the story hit extra hard.
The book started really strong for me. I liked the characters and got quickly involved in their story. The romance was quite nice as well. I really, really liked the focus on caring for the other, of being there for them in difficult times.
Now, the celebrity aspect was not my favourite, I admit. I can relate to the self-doubt and the pressure but somehow it didn't grab me.
I normally don't have an issue with third-act break-up in romance but this one was poorly done. It made so little sense, like it literally came out of nowhere. The final section lost the momentum, too much celebrity issues, too little personal, normal people mis/communication.
Over, I liked the story, appreciate that the difficult subject matter was handled with care but this is not one of my favourite romances of the author.
CW: cancer, double mastectomy, major surgery recovery, death of a relative from cancer (in the past), racism (addressed)
March 28, 2024
Reading a new book by Farah Heron makes me so so happy. And, this book doesn't disappoint. If anything, she is getting better with each book. Here, we have a second chance romance (which is not my jam, so the fact I love this book, should say something), with personal stylist and a soon to be huge movie star. Not only does this have so much food talk, great dialogue, but also a serious issue that affects real people. And, she does so in an approachable and understandable way. . I hope we get to revisit this world for one of the other characters' HEA.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
February 18, 2024
Heron has written a lovely multicultural second chance contemporary romance, with serious issues related to breast cancer surgery. I love that gorgeous Nik, now a big star, hires Marley to be his stylist despite the fact that he ghosted her after high school prom. Now he wants to take care of her as she recovers. Will they overcome their past to find True Love? Recommended!
November 24, 2024
This was fine.
The writing was pretty good and I genuinely learned things about BRCA1 and mastectomies, but the plot was super slow and everything felt very low stakes so it was like the strength of the writing was holding together 380 pages of a stretched out story. Was it unpleasant to read? No. Was it particularly exciting at any point? Also no.
I was very pleasantly surprised that this was set in Toronto (Canada represent)! The description of the various neighbourhoods as well as there being a significant Indian population in Markham were pretty spot on. One thing which didn’t make Canadian-sense was when the main character mentions she needs her job for the health benefits for her upcoming surgery – the cost of surgery and rehab after are covered by universal healthcare in Ontario, so maybe she’d get some additional supports if she had really incredible health benefits but even then it wouldn’t cover bandages, compression bras, etc, so this felt like a weird American slip made even weirder by the fact that the author is from Toronto? It’s mentioned twice in the first 50 pages then never comes up again so her benefits clearly can’t have been that fantastical.
I didn’t really feel the chemistry between the main two characters. He seemed very doting and like they have fun times together, but there weren’t really any sexy-leading-man vibes. BFFs? Sure. I’ll-upend-my-life-for-you-lust? No. The spicy scenes were also kind of odd. Each time there was like 3 pages describing his exploratory journey to her boobs and thighs, but then it cuts to “then we had mind blowing sex. I won’t bore you with the details.” I don’t even know what PG rating in-depth detail that stops suddenly at 2nd base is? PG-16?
I was also very confused on the resolution of the book. Without spoilers, they’re in a clusterfuck so band together to come up with their own plan but I have no idea how a) the plan they come up with solves anything, b) the one thing it does solve couldn’t have also been solved by an instagram post rather than an elaborate scheme, and c) the forces that be which they were trying to work around didn’t also prevent this plan from working. Also, in the last 1/4 of the book a bunch of people she knows or meets reveal they have also had mastectomies. And sure, surgical breast cancer prevention is increasing with new gene research, but it’s not a common enough surgery to run into more than one, let alone 3 people one after the other, to be in the realm of believable-coincidental-serendipity.
Also, now that I’ve read it the title seems random. Like sure, he moves into her place and they are temporarily living together but he’s there to take care of her post-op after major surgery so it’s not exactly a normal playing-house situation. And the book mostly focuses on their intrapersonal relationship and focuses next to zero on their living arrangement dynamic and what it’s like as roommates. It kinda felt like if they called it Harry Potter and the Gryffindor Common Room. Like, I guess they were there but that wasn’t really the point?
The writing was pretty good and I genuinely learned things about BRCA1 and mastectomies, but the plot was super slow and everything felt very low stakes so it was like the strength of the writing was holding together 380 pages of a stretched out story. Was it unpleasant to read? No. Was it particularly exciting at any point? Also no.
I was very pleasantly surprised that this was set in Toronto (Canada represent)! The description of the various neighbourhoods as well as there being a significant Indian population in Markham were pretty spot on. One thing which didn’t make Canadian-sense was when the main character mentions she needs her job for the health benefits for her upcoming surgery – the cost of surgery and rehab after are covered by universal healthcare in Ontario, so maybe she’d get some additional supports if she had really incredible health benefits but even then it wouldn’t cover bandages, compression bras, etc, so this felt like a weird American slip made even weirder by the fact that the author is from Toronto? It’s mentioned twice in the first 50 pages then never comes up again so her benefits clearly can’t have been that fantastical.
I didn’t really feel the chemistry between the main two characters. He seemed very doting and like they have fun times together, but there weren’t really any sexy-leading-man vibes. BFFs? Sure. I’ll-upend-my-life-for-you-lust? No. The spicy scenes were also kind of odd. Each time there was like 3 pages describing his exploratory journey to her boobs and thighs, but then it cuts to “then we had mind blowing sex. I won’t bore you with the details.” I don’t even know what PG rating in-depth detail that stops suddenly at 2nd base is? PG-16?
I was also very confused on the resolution of the book. Without spoilers, they’re in a clusterfuck so band together to come up with their own plan but I have no idea how a) the plan they come up with solves anything, b) the one thing it does solve couldn’t have also been solved by an instagram post rather than an elaborate scheme, and c) the forces that be which they were trying to work around didn’t also prevent this plan from working. Also, in the last 1/4 of the book a bunch of people she knows or meets reveal they have also had mastectomies. And sure, surgical breast cancer prevention is increasing with new gene research, but it’s not a common enough surgery to run into more than one, let alone 3 people one after the other, to be in the realm of believable-coincidental-serendipity.
Also, now that I’ve read it the title seems random. Like sure, he moves into her place and they are temporarily living together but he’s there to take care of her post-op after major surgery so it’s not exactly a normal playing-house situation. And the book mostly focuses on their intrapersonal relationship and focuses next to zero on their living arrangement dynamic and what it’s like as roommates. It kinda felt like if they called it Harry Potter and the Gryffindor Common Room. Like, I guess they were there but that wasn’t really the point?
June 29, 2024
3.5⭐️
“even the strongest women need support.”
just playing house is a gorgeous story of acceptance, healing and new beginnings set in toronto featuring a second chance/celebrity romance!
our fmc is a carrier of brca1 which is a genetic mutation that increases a person’s risk for active cancerous cells. her journey with this diagnosis leads her to have a prophylactic mastectomy and a previous high school fling now turned movie star she meets through her work as a stylist is conveniently available and more than happy to assist in her recovery while he’s in town filming for a major career propelling acting role. nikhail moves in with marley to better care for her and over the next six weeks they deepen their connection while weathering the outer elements making every effort to shake the foundation of their rekindled love.
things i loved:
— acts of service mmc
— meaningful representation
• both leads are south asian
• brca/prophylactic mastectomy
• fmc is bisexual along with majority of supporting cast being part of the lgbtq+ community
— cultural appreciation shown through cuisine! you will probably get hungry while reading this
i had honestly never heard of brca until reading this and feel so fortunate to have gotten to learn through this story which i felt gave a very honest and raw voice to such an important topic. knowing the author shared many similar experiences as her main character made this read so much more impactful.
while i loved the overarching premise, there were more than a few moments when i felt that a lot was going on and our main characters were stretched a bit too thin to have a strong development in their romance storyline. i felt totally bought into their chemistry but felt their culminating moment didn’t make as much impact as i had wished.
would love to check out other books by this author!
thanks so much to netgalley and forever pub for a digital arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!
tw: body dysmorphia, restrictive eating, racism, discrimination
“even the strongest women need support.”
just playing house is a gorgeous story of acceptance, healing and new beginnings set in toronto featuring a second chance/celebrity romance!
our fmc is a carrier of brca1 which is a genetic mutation that increases a person’s risk for active cancerous cells. her journey with this diagnosis leads her to have a prophylactic mastectomy and a previous high school fling now turned movie star she meets through her work as a stylist is conveniently available and more than happy to assist in her recovery while he’s in town filming for a major career propelling acting role. nikhail moves in with marley to better care for her and over the next six weeks they deepen their connection while weathering the outer elements making every effort to shake the foundation of their rekindled love.
things i loved:
— acts of service mmc
— meaningful representation
• both leads are south asian
• brca/prophylactic mastectomy
• fmc is bisexual along with majority of supporting cast being part of the lgbtq+ community
— cultural appreciation shown through cuisine! you will probably get hungry while reading this
i had honestly never heard of brca until reading this and feel so fortunate to have gotten to learn through this story which i felt gave a very honest and raw voice to such an important topic. knowing the author shared many similar experiences as her main character made this read so much more impactful.
while i loved the overarching premise, there were more than a few moments when i felt that a lot was going on and our main characters were stretched a bit too thin to have a strong development in their romance storyline. i felt totally bought into their chemistry but felt their culminating moment didn’t make as much impact as i had wished.
would love to check out other books by this author!
thanks so much to netgalley and forever pub for a digital arc in exchange for my honest thoughts!
tw: body dysmorphia, restrictive eating, racism, discrimination
September 18, 2024
3.5 ⭐️s
This book was the cutest and coziest romance I've read in a while! It's perfect for rainy weather and when you're searching for your comfort read!
The author does an amazing job at creating a wide cast of characters that you fall head-over-heels for and want to root for all the way. Each character was full fleshed out and had their own struggles and backstories which made me feel for every single one of them. Marley and Nikhil's characters were meant to be, and that was clear from the very first chapter. The amount of personal growth they shared as a couple as well as the journeys they each went through on their own were emotional and very relatable. Heron's personal health background really shone through in this novel and I think this will be a show of strength for so many that are going through something similar.
I really loved this author's writing style and her use of emotions in the book, however I think this book would have benefited from cutting some of the receptiveness and maybe being 100-150 pages shorter. There were a lot of conflicts that were brought up multiple times as well as repetitive phrases in the characters' respective psyches that I think the author could have done without. The author's writing is effectively "punchy" and I think she should lean more into that.
In all, I did enjoy my time with these characters, in Marley's cozy house, and watching these characters fight for the lives they deserve!
🪴second-chance
🪴 (somewhat) forced proximity
🪴he falls first, she falls harder
🪴 he takes care of her
🪴cast of lovable characters
"'Women are a hell of a lot stronger than we think they are. Sometimes our emotions get so big that it feels like we aren't coping, but really, we are. Women with BRCA mutations have usually been through so much before they even find out they have the mutation, so they're already strong. But even strong women need support.'"
This book was the cutest and coziest romance I've read in a while! It's perfect for rainy weather and when you're searching for your comfort read!
The author does an amazing job at creating a wide cast of characters that you fall head-over-heels for and want to root for all the way. Each character was full fleshed out and had their own struggles and backstories which made me feel for every single one of them. Marley and Nikhil's characters were meant to be, and that was clear from the very first chapter. The amount of personal growth they shared as a couple as well as the journeys they each went through on their own were emotional and very relatable. Heron's personal health background really shone through in this novel and I think this will be a show of strength for so many that are going through something similar.
I really loved this author's writing style and her use of emotions in the book, however I think this book would have benefited from cutting some of the receptiveness and maybe being 100-150 pages shorter. There were a lot of conflicts that were brought up multiple times as well as repetitive phrases in the characters' respective psyches that I think the author could have done without. The author's writing is effectively "punchy" and I think she should lean more into that.
In all, I did enjoy my time with these characters, in Marley's cozy house, and watching these characters fight for the lives they deserve!
🪴second-chance
🪴 (somewhat) forced proximity
🪴he falls first, she falls harder
🪴 he takes care of her
🪴cast of lovable characters
"'Women are a hell of a lot stronger than we think they are. Sometimes our emotions get so big that it feels like we aren't coping, but really, we are. Women with BRCA mutations have usually been through so much before they even find out they have the mutation, so they're already strong. But even strong women need support.'"
January 3, 2025
I love Farah Heron's romances. They aren't the spiciest, angstiest, or most dramatic. But they have so much heart, and deal with compelling real life situations. This is the most unique one yet, Marley is preparing for a prophylactic double mastectomy when Nikhil blasts back into her life. They had a fling in high school, but neither was prepared for anything more. But Nikhil is on the verge of acting stardom, and he needs a stylist he can trust on his team. So enter Marley. And when she needs someone to take care of her after her surgery, he jumps at the chance. And they play house.
The complex, generation impact of something like the BRCA gene is such a controversial choice to build a romance around but I think the risk paid off with dividends here. I like a contemporary romance with some emotional weight, so this had conflict build right into the characters even without exploring their second chance. Farah balanced it all beautifully, and I was right there with Marley and Nikhil for every step of their journey together.
I like a celebrity romance, especially one that doesn't glamorize it, and it's made very clear here that it's a barrier to the HEA instead of a bonus. Both characters have a growth arc of their own, plus realistic families and friends, and their actual romance is so soft. Which is necessary because it's a otherwise a bit of a heavy read. Gorgeous and important, but definitely know what you are getting into when you pick it up.
The complex, generation impact of something like the BRCA gene is such a controversial choice to build a romance around but I think the risk paid off with dividends here. I like a contemporary romance with some emotional weight, so this had conflict build right into the characters even without exploring their second chance. Farah balanced it all beautifully, and I was right there with Marley and Nikhil for every step of their journey together.
I like a celebrity romance, especially one that doesn't glamorize it, and it's made very clear here that it's a barrier to the HEA instead of a bonus. Both characters have a growth arc of their own, plus realistic families and friends, and their actual romance is so soft. Which is necessary because it's a otherwise a bit of a heavy read. Gorgeous and important, but definitely know what you are getting into when you pick it up.
June 29, 2024
I have been a HUGE Farah Heron fan since reading Accidentally Engaged, and while I've read many of her books, this one comes closest to how much I enjoyed that first book of hers I've read.
Having read plenty of actor/civilian romances I was thrilled to see how different this book was. I went in blind, just knowing I loved Farah's writing style, and being in love with the gorgeous cover and was instantly surprised and thrilled about the more serious tone our main character, Marley, had. I had never read a book that had a character with a BRCA mutation and who elected to have a mastectomy, and maybe it's me getting older but I really enjoyed the dive into a tougher topic and how it impacted not only the relationship with the love interest, but friends and family as well.
A second-chance romance that felt like the characters found their home in one another, I adored how Nik took care of her after her surgery, how she used her passion to make him better at his own job and how they fell in love through their friendship. Their careers were so interesting together, and I loved how it created drama and pushed them together over and over again with an interesting cast of co-workers and friends.
A huge thank you to the author for the signed copy of her ARC, I was absolutely thrilled to win such an anticipated read.
Having read plenty of actor/civilian romances I was thrilled to see how different this book was. I went in blind, just knowing I loved Farah's writing style, and being in love with the gorgeous cover and was instantly surprised and thrilled about the more serious tone our main character, Marley, had. I had never read a book that had a character with a BRCA mutation and who elected to have a mastectomy, and maybe it's me getting older but I really enjoyed the dive into a tougher topic and how it impacted not only the relationship with the love interest, but friends and family as well.
A second-chance romance that felt like the characters found their home in one another, I adored how Nik took care of her after her surgery, how she used her passion to make him better at his own job and how they fell in love through their friendship. Their careers were so interesting together, and I loved how it created drama and pushed them together over and over again with an interesting cast of co-workers and friends.
A huge thank you to the author for the signed copy of her ARC, I was absolutely thrilled to win such an anticipated read.
dnf-either-for-now-or-for-forever
July 20, 2024Farah Heron is an extremely talented writer, but, at least for me, making a romance novel out of a situation where the FMC is dealing with getting a preemptive mastectomy due to the BCRA gene was probably always going to be a challenge. And yet, that is not one of my triggers and I love Heron’s writing, so I thought I was a good candidate to read and enjoy this book. Unfortunately for me, it turns out maybe I’m not.
The romance in this book is between prom dates and good friends (high school) who had sex on prom night and then haven’t spoken since. Now Marley is a stylist (sort of) and Nik has just been cast as a superhero (which has caused a lot of racists to pop off). Their relationship slowly sinks back into friendship (with caretaking!), although their attraction to one another remains at the forefront. The problem comes, for me, in that when I reached the third act conflict, I didn’t believe it. I could see the groundwork for what Heron was trying to achieve, but it didn’t make any sense to me. And so, that was the point where I just sort of gave up. I’m not a third act break up fan regardless, and while I could have kept pushing myself to finish the book, I just couldn’t quite muster up the energy or willingness to do so.
All that to say, if this book helps someone, which I imagine it might, I think that’s amazing. I’m glad this book exists because I think there’s a chance it will bring comfort to someone. I also know that this book is not one that’s likely to work for a lot of people. It was a risky concept and I’m glad Heron got the opportunity to take that risk. That said, I rather hope her next book is a little less high concept because I think normally, Heron is so good at creating characters, but in Just Playing House the character interior work felt disconnected from the romance for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.
The romance in this book is between prom dates and good friends (high school) who had sex on prom night and then haven’t spoken since. Now Marley is a stylist (sort of) and Nik has just been cast as a superhero (which has caused a lot of racists to pop off). Their relationship slowly sinks back into friendship (with caretaking!), although their attraction to one another remains at the forefront. The problem comes, for me, in that when I reached the third act conflict, I didn’t believe it. I could see the groundwork for what Heron was trying to achieve, but it didn’t make any sense to me. And so, that was the point where I just sort of gave up. I’m not a third act break up fan regardless, and while I could have kept pushing myself to finish the book, I just couldn’t quite muster up the energy or willingness to do so.
All that to say, if this book helps someone, which I imagine it might, I think that’s amazing. I’m glad this book exists because I think there’s a chance it will bring comfort to someone. I also know that this book is not one that’s likely to work for a lot of people. It was a risky concept and I’m glad Heron got the opportunity to take that risk. That said, I rather hope her next book is a little less high concept because I think normally, Heron is so good at creating characters, but in Just Playing House the character interior work felt disconnected from the romance for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.
July 3, 2024
Just Playing House was the vulnerable, tender romance I didn’t know I needed, and I am so grateful to receive an eARC! Marley and Nikhil, once prom dates ,are now grown up and deep in the throes of their own successful careers. Nikhil has just been cast as a blockbuster superhero, and Marley is working as a department store stylist and about to undergo an double mastectomy as a preventative measure when the pair are thrust together again.
I adored so many parts of this romance and I think it is a great model for positive partners and growth of characters, which is a refreshing take from most of my reads. I was drawn to this book because of the character diversity and cultural representation, but when I saw the mention of BRCA1, my attention was piqued. I had no idea about BRCA1 or elective mastectomies and I could tell that Heron was writing this story from the heart, especially with the inclusion of living with BRCA1 and an introduction to what that lifestyle can look like for a person.
Thank you Farah Heron, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the chance to read this eARC!
#JustPlayingHouse #NetGalley
I adored so many parts of this romance and I think it is a great model for positive partners and growth of characters, which is a refreshing take from most of my reads. I was drawn to this book because of the character diversity and cultural representation, but when I saw the mention of BRCA1, my attention was piqued. I had no idea about BRCA1 or elective mastectomies and I could tell that Heron was writing this story from the heart, especially with the inclusion of living with BRCA1 and an introduction to what that lifestyle can look like for a person.
Thank you Farah Heron, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the chance to read this eARC!
#JustPlayingHouse #NetGalley
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