ARC Review: Kamila Knows Best by Farah Heron

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.

• Title: Kamila Knows Best
• Author:  Farah Heron
• Publisher: Forever
• Publication Date: March 8, 2022
• Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Retelling
• Source: Digital ARC via Netgalley
• Targeted Age Range: Adult
• Content Warnings: divorce, mentions of heart disease, mentions of death of a parent, death of a friend, grief, depression, abuse, car accident, infidelity 
• Rating: ★★★★★

 I love Pride & Prejudice as much as the next person, but there’s something about Emma that just hits differently. One of my favorite Emma retellings/adaptations is Emma Approved, which I watched back when I was in high school and have rewatched countless times since — although we won’t acknowledge the failed Emma Approved revival back in 2018. I just loved that Emma was played by an Asian woman, that she got such a beautiful love story, and that the cast of Emma Approved was so diverse. When I heard that Farah Heron had written an Emma retelling, I instantly knew I had to get my hands on it! 

Kamila Knows Best is a delightful reimagining of the Austen classic that I simply couldn’t put down. Filled with heart and soul, tension and yearning, dynamic and witty characters, mouth watering food descriptions, and everything that makes Emma a classic, Kamila Knows Best has single handedly beat out every Emma retelling in my book. 

While Emma at its very core is a romance, it’s also a journey of self-improvement and a coming of age story. Kamila is learning who she is at twenty-seven, and all the parts that make her who she is. Between working to help small businesses, unlearning her trauma, taking care of her family, hosting Bollywood movie nights, dedicating her time to Puppy Prom, and helping with other fundraisers, Kamila really does it all. She’s constantly trying to make the world better, whether that’s through self-improvement, or actively uplifting and supporting her loved ones. While sometimes her actions are misguided, her heart is usually in the right place. Sometimes she meddles, especially when it comes to matchmaking, but in the end, all Kamila wants is for her friends to be happy, loved and treasured.  

One of my favorite aspects of Kamila Knows Best was the strong friendships. Kamila’s weekly Bollywood movie night party was so lovely to read about, and you could tell how much time and dedication she put into fostering her friendships and her community. In the end, Kamila’s strong friend group isn’t just a group of friends, but people she can depend on, and people that she can call family. I also loved reading about Kamila and her secret nemesis, their conflict, and how they were able to move on and ultimately support one another.

Kamila and her father were also such an endearing duo to read about. They were so tender with one another, and I loved how Kamila was able to show a softer side with her dad. Despite being thought of as selfish or shallow, Kamila always put her family first, and I really respected and admired her for that. At times, Kamila even says that her first priority is her father, simply showing how deep their bond is. 

Of course, this review would be amiss if I didn’t mention Rohan, our love interest. Rohan and Kamila’s dynamic was everything I was looking for. The tension, the chemistry, the banter and yearning — it’s literally perfect. In a way, they reminded me of my all time favorites, Blair and Dan from Gossip Girl, and Elle and Emmett from Legally Blonde (more so the musical than the movie). I spent a good portion of the book just waiting for the line, and I was not let down in the slightest. Rohan and Kamila truly made each other better, and watching them grow together, and individually was simply heartwarming.

Readers familiar with Emma know exactly how this story will pan out. And yet, Heron manages to put her own spin on the story, and makes it her own. Overall, I couldn’t recommend Kamila Knows Best more, especially if you’re looking for a wonderful Emma retelling, filled with lovable and diverse characters, and adorable romance. Oh, and puppies! 

Kamila Knows Best: Goodreads | TheStoryGraph | Bookshop | IndieBound