CW: mentions of breast cancer 

 

Just Playing House by Farah Heron is a companion novel to Accidentally Engaged. It follows Marley Kamal, a luxury fashion sales associate, who is offered the opportunity to style Hollywood’s newest heartthrob. The only problem is the timing—Marley’s about to have major surgery. And the heartthrob in question is none other than her high school friend and prom date Nikhil Shamdasani. They haven’t spoken since high school but they make a deal: Marley will style Nikhil for his events, and Nikhil will help care for her after her surgery. This is a sweet, funny and emotional romance about two people finding their way back to each other. 

 

Marley and Nikhil’s individual circumstances allow for several important discussions to be had in this book. Marley’s story features conversations about health and caregiving. She’s a carrier of the BRCA gene mutation, which puts her at higher risk of developing breast cancer. Marley is scheduled for a mastectomy to reduce her breast cancer risk. Heron herself is a carrier of this gene mutation, and it’s clear that a lot of care and thought went into writing about this topic. Marley’s struggles and emotions feel real. Marley is also sorting out her career and love life alongside navigating her health, which is a lot. While I love the focus on her health, I wish Marley’s character development was stronger for other aspects of her story. 

 

Nikhil’s journey highlights the racism of Hollywood with his experiences of being mistreated by industry professionals and being accused of being a “diversity hire.” I appreciate all of the conversations about the challenges of being a person of colour in a predominately white industry, and it’s refreshing to see these discussions written with clarity and nuance. 

 

My favourite aspect of this book is the focus on friendship. It was beautiful to read about two people who are incredibly supportive of each other’s needs and dreams outside of a romantic relationship. Reconnecting as friends forms the basis of their romance, and it’s stronger because of it. I enjoyed their chemistry and loved witnessing them learn how to grow together and lean on each other. I wish their backstory was further explored, but I also recognize that this book is about who the characters are now and not who they were in high school. I was also bothered by Nikhil constantly putting Marley on a pedestal, but there are other moments that clearly show how much he loves and admires her. Nikhil takes his caregiving responsibilities seriously and his devotion to Marley is sweet. 

 

I love Farah Heron’s stories and despite my criticisms, this one is no different. Just Playing House is an enjoyable, funny and emotional book that tackles serious topics with care. Thank you Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC to review.