If you are looking for an easy vacation read I'd recommend picking up Only Because It's You. The overall story was cute and heartwarming but a bit too predictable. The story development is a bit too slow for my taste but I did enjoy it overall. Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada (Adult) for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

"So this is how six-time champion bridesmaid Mizan Begashaw, who does not do marriage (but has a misplaced engagement ring still in her possession, and a hidden album of her parents' wedding on her phone and keeps finding herself in other women's wedding gowns), lands herself married, eh?"

Miz, who moved to Canada when she was two and has citizenship, is not one for marriage and is happy with her hook-up guy ... until she finds an engagement ring in his gym bag and runs for the hills (literally: there is a running theme in this one). Kal is one of Miz's best friends, they met in Ethiopia when she got sent there for a summer with her dad (her parents are estranged) and now he's an actor who relies on sponsorship from his theatre company to maintain his residency. When he loses this, one option is a fake marriage, and Miz realises she's the one, but then panics when it all gets a bit real. Other NG reviewers found this flimsy and their fake-to-real journey (because of course that's what happens) unbelievable, but actually I felt it was set up nicely and over a longer period than it appeared. I liked the use of Amharic words and phrases with or without translations (Miz' Amharic is not great and she keeps having to be corrected) and it was an enjoyable, light read with decent side characters.

Blog review published 07 May 2025: https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2025/05/07/two-novels-of-diaspora-rebecca-fisseha-only-because-its-you-and-christina-fonthes-where-you-go-i-will-go/

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, sweet and held my interest. I enjoyed this book and will look for more books by this author.

4.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley, Doubleday Canada / Penguin Random House Canada and the author for an arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

This is currently a standalone romance book told in the first person of both Miz and Kal, set in Toronto.

Miz and Kal met when she was sent by her mother to live in Ethiopia with her father.

Miz is anti-marriage and commitment itself scares her. Her parents have an estranged relationship and Miz never wanted that type of headache.

Kal, on the other hand, values marriage and is a hopeless romantic. The person he was with from 15-26, he thought he was going to marry. Years later and he still grieves it.

Their love, to me, was more comforting and calming. The type you don’t realize it’s there until it’s gone. I enjoyed their playfulness and the comfortability that comes with truly knowing someone else.

The side plot with the engagement ring was funny in the beginning, but it got less funny as it went on because I don’t understand her about that.

I enjoyed all the other side characters and both of the character’s families. My favorite part was the trip they took.

I wasn’t a big fan of how things were resolved after the third act break up. I felt like both of them were in the wrong about certain things, but only one of them took accountability.

I love the title. It fits the story perfectly. There’s also some gems in here about life.

Read this for:
✈️ Marriage of convenience
✈️ Friends to lovers
✈️ Set in Canada
✈️ Childhood friends
✈️ Values Marriage x Anti-Marriage
✈️ Complicated family dynamics

OVERALL
Overall, I give this a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

I don’t know what it was about this book, but I couldn’t put it down and I found myself thinking about it. I loved it overall, even though they both did the most at times.

I can’t even explain how good this book is.
A beautiful story and a heartfelt romance.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

This one was a bit of a miss for me. I really wanted to love it, but I just didn't feel an emotional connection to the characters.

I will try another book from this author though. Perhaps this one just wasn't for me.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

In "Only Because It’s You" by Rebecca Fisseha, the beloved marriage of convenience trope takes center stage, expertly woven into a heartfelt, emotionally engaging narrative that captivates readers from the very first page. This favorite trope transforms Miz and Kal’s relationship from cherished childhood friends into partners in a "fake" marriage that quickly deepens into something genuine, filled with emotional tension and heartfelt moments that resonate deeply with the audience.

Miz and Kal’s lifelong friendship adds rich layers of depth and authenticity to their bond, making their transition into marriage feel both natural and profoundly resonant. Their shared history—marked by years of laughter, shared secrets, and unwavering support—enhances every vulnerable moment and romantic spark, creating a tapestry of emotion that is both tender and compelling. Readers are drawn into their world, experiencing the evolution of their relationship with every heartfelt exchange and stolen glance.

What truly sets this story apart is Kal’s emotional openness, which stands out as a beacon of sincerity and warmth. He falls first, and he falls hard, his genuine affection and unwavering support making him deeply endearing to both Miz and the reader. Kal’s vulnerability and heartfelt gestures add a refreshing depth to his character, highlighting his dedication and the strength of his love. His journey is one of patience and quiet resilience, as he navigates the complexities of his feelings and the challenges of a relationship that begins under pretenses but grows into something undeniably real.

On the other hand, Miz’s fear of commitment introduces relatable tension and emotional complexity. Her internal struggle with vulnerability and her gradual journey toward embracing love are both moving and satisfying. As she confronts her fears and opens her heart, readers are taken on an emotional rollercoaster, witnessing her growth and the transformative power of genuine connection. Miz’s character arc is a testament to the courage it takes to let go of past insecurities and embrace the possibility of true happiness.

"Only Because It’s You" is more than just a romance; it is a heartfelt exploration of friendship, love, and the courage to open one’s heart. Set against the irresistible backdrop of a marriage of convenience, Fisseha crafts a story that’s emotionally resonant and charming, leaving a lasting impact long after the final page is turned. The novel beautifully captures the essence of what it means to grow with someone, to face life’s challenges together, and to find solace and strength in the most unexpected places. Fisseha’s masterful storytelling, rich character development, and emotionally charged narrative make "Only Because It’s You" a compelling and unforgettable read.

I had high hopes for Only Because It's You by Rebecca Fisseha, but unfortunately, the slow start made it difficult for me to connect with the characters. The opening scene, in particular, left me frustrated. The FMC's attachment to an engagement ring that wasn’t hers felt confusing and unnecessary. I kept wondering why this plot point was even needed in the story at all, as it didn’t seem to add value to the narrative or character development.

In the early chapters, I struggled to connect with the characters, especially Kal. His negativity, particularly toward Miz, felt off. Given that they've been friends for 22 years, there should have been a deeper understanding between them. Kal’s behavior made me question whether their friendship was genuine, especially with his harsh treatment of her. While I understand he’s going through his own crisis, it seemed misplaced and threw off the dynamic between them.

I usually enjoy "friends to lovers" tropes or "marriage of convenience" plots, but this one missed the mark for me. The tension didn’t build as I had hoped, and I struggled to stay invested. The closing night scene of Kal’s play showed promise, with potential for playful, flirty banter to allow some chemistry to develop. However, it felt like a bucket of ice was splashed on that moment when Kal received bad news, interrupting any chance of meaningful connection between them.

The writing felt a bit disjointed at times, which made it harder for me to fully immerse myself in the story. However, there were moments where I could see the potential for a more cohesive and engaging narrative.

Overall, while there were some moments of promise, the slow pacing and confusing plot elements left me wishing for a stronger start.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC! There was so much love and the foundation for a great friends to lovers arc, but I just didn’t believe any of it. For me it fell flat and it didn’t sit right for me. I’m an absolutely sucker for friends to lovers, but unfortunately this was not the case with this one.

This is not a new story. It’s been done a million times before where one of the character’s visa expires and they need to marry a friend in orders to stay at their job or stay with their family or whatever the reasoning is. The Friends to Lovers was not believable at all for me. For it to go from neither of them having romantic feelings to Kal being smitten straight away, was rather dramatic and didn’t make sense to me. I understand some people don’t see something until it’s right in front of them, but this was way past that.

What could be a good book with some extra work on the story and the tropes themselves would make this an amazing book. Unfortunately for me, it blends into the background. I so wanted to like this one.

This book was very cute. I personally am a sucker for a friends to lovers trope, and this was definitely a light, easy read which I needed. Rebecca Fisseha’s “Only Because It’s You” follows your female main character, Miz who doesn’t like long term commitments, and your male main character, Kal, who is an aspiring actor who is about to get his big break. He is at risk of being sent back home to Ethiopia from Toronto and needs a sponsor for his citizenship there. Miz and Kal are good friends and Miz doesn’t know what she would do without Kal in her life, so they are faced with one choice; they must get married, just for convenience, with the plan of eventually getting divorced of course. Feelings seem so simple until they aren't anymore. Reading about these two characters navigating their journey together from friends to more was sweet. I love and appreciate the diverse representation in this book as well. Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for anyone who likes the friends to lovers trope, and marriage of convenience. Thank you Rebecca Fisseha, Penguin Random House Canada, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you so much for Rebecca Fisseha and Penguin Random House for this E-ARC and! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Find more on my IG @kayreads_romance

⚠️ !! Please be sure to check any TWs before diving in !! ⚠️

What to expect:
* Marriage of Convenience
* Friends to Lovers
* MCs in their 30s
* She’s afraid to commit
* Childhood besties
* Old-School romance
* Generation Clash
* Late in life wedding


Thoughts: This book was funny and charming and I loved getting to see some Ethiopian representation in a romance book!

Miz and Kal have been friends since they met as teens in Ethiopia. Now they both live in Toronto. Miz is a physiotherapist, she doesn't believe in marriage and ended things with her latest hook up after finding a ring and freaking out. Kal is a stage actor who is at the end of his work visa, and with no prospect of finding a way to stay has accepted his dream is coming to an end.

Miz can't picture her life without Kal and tries to find a way for him to stay and eventually just offers to marry him for papers. They both soon realize there is something between them neither of them expected.

I am notoriously a lover of a fake dating and marriage of convenience stories, but this one did not work for me. I did not root for the couple or feel the chemistry. The writing from page one just did not gel with me. The exploration of Ethiopian culture was the highlight for me. There is a lot of potential for this author to write something I could love in the future but this release just didn't do it for me.

There’s a lot to admire in this debut, but ultimately, it didn’t come together for me — and I ended up not finishing it.

The premise had so much potential. Set between Toronto and Addis Ababa, the story follows Miz and Kal, childhood friends who reconnect years later when Kal moves to Canada. Facing immigration hurdles, Kal asks Miz to marry him in a bid to secure permanent residency — a high-stakes decision that begins to test their relationship and personal boundaries.

I was especially drawn to the way this book integrates Canada’s immigration process into a romance plot. It’s not often you see IRCC forms and visa struggles in contemporary fiction, let alone in a romance. Kwan also threads in generational trauma and cultural expectations with subtlety, particularly around Miz’s upbringing and skewed perception of love.

Unfortunately, the character dynamics didn’t work for me. Miz’s actions felt impulsive and often careless — particularly in crucial moments — which made it hard for me to connect with or root for her. Kal, on the other hand, felt more grounded, but their relationship often read as one-sided and emotionally draining. What could’ve been a thoughtful exploration of friendship evolving into love ended up feeling imbalanced, and that made it hard for me to stay engaged.

While I didn’t finish the book, I still think it had something meaningful to say about identity, immigration, and the messy realities of love. It just didn’t quite land for me personally. I’m giving it 3 stars for the originality and the themes.

It’s crazy how your upbringing and past experiences with love can really shape how you see relationships. Miz, the main girl, is not here for marriage after watching her parents fall apart. Then there’s Kal, Mr. Hopeless Romantic, who fully believes his love life should feel like his parents’ still-sweet marriage. So when their friendship starts tiptoeing into something more? Whew… lines get blurry real quick.

This was a light-hearted read with the kind of funny moments that sneak up on you. I really appreciated seeing how love plays out in different cultural settings, tradition, expectations, and all. It made the story feel even more real and layered.

This was a quick, and cute friends-to-lovers read.
Due to all the things are happening in our country with immigration, this story was perfect for this time. I did enjoy the character development of Miz, Kal, and the stories of both families were perfect.

Thank you Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Only Because It's You was a book I truly wanted to love, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. I usually enjoy a good fake marriage trope, but this one just didn’t deliver the charm or emotional pull I look for in the genre. The chemistry between the characters lacked spark, and I found myself missing the kind of witty banter or compelling tension that makes stories like this shine.

The main character, Miz, was particularly tough for me to connect with. From the moment she took the ring and began lying to everyone around her, I struggled to root for her. Her choices didn’t make her feel flawed in a relatable way - they just made her hard to like. And honestly, I kept thinking, “Would I even want to be friends with her?” That made it hard to stay invested in her journey.

I can see this book resonating with other readers, and I know there’s an audience that will appreciate what Fisseha was aiming for. Sadly, I’m just not one of them.

LOVED this!! A fresh, fun take on friends-to-lovers with all the drama I crave!

This book was an absolute blast from start to finish! It follows Miz and Kal, childhood besties from Ethiopia now living in Canada. Miz is firmly anti-marriage… until Kal’s visa is in jeopardy and he’s about to be sent back home. So what does she do? Marries him, of course! Just a casual best-friend-wedding-to-save-your-immigration-status situation—what could possibly go wrong?

Spoiler: so much. And I loved every minute of it.

This story gave me everything I want in a romcom: a playful twist on the friends-to-lovers trope, a fake marriage full of real feelings, and just the right dose of messy, glorious drama. The plot was fun, fast-paced, and kept me totally hooked. I lived for the scene where Miz tries to set Kal up with multiple Ethiopian women in Toronto… only for all of them to show up at the same time. Pure chaos. I was cackling.

Miz and Kal are the kind of characters that make your heart ache in the best way. Reading from both of their perspectives? SO satisfying. Watching them tiptoe around their feelings, each thinking the other doesn’t feel the same? Ugh, my heart. Also, Kal is such a soft, sweet cinnamon roll—I adored him. Miz really scored with that one.

Now, the only thing that didn’t fully hit for me was the Daniel drama. It dragged on a bit, and I kept waiting for some kind of satisfying takedown that never quite came. Miz being hesitant to tell Naomi the truth about Daniel? Girl… no. If I found out I was the side chick and the guy was about to propose? Oh, I’d be yelling it from the rooftops. And when Daniel slithered back at the end like, “we can still hook up tho”? Absolutely not. I needed more justice there!

But overall—what a fun, swoony, messy-in-the-best-way romcom. I tore through this in three days and had such a great time with it. Highly recommend if you love heartfelt tropes, lovable characters, and a little chaos sprinkled on top.

I loved reading Miz’s and Kal’s story and being introduced to Ethiopian culture throughout the book! However, I did not agree with or understand some of Miz’s decisions from the beginning and towards the middle of the book. I felt that some of the decisions she made were unnecessary. I also feel that some of the deliberate miscommunication could have been omitted to avoid some of the situations Miz found herself in.

Loved this!!!! Highly recommend anyone to read it, thank you for accepting me! Definitely need the trophy copy for my shelf

A genuinely funny and high-stakes romance. Mizan and Kal have been friends forever and, in a cocktail of immigration issues, comedy and yearning, the two decide to get married in order for Kal to stay in Canada. This book has the loveliest friends-to-lovers dynamic, and I loved flipping between their lives and families in Canada and Ethiopia. The chemistry, text banter, and family traditions and celebrations were so much fun to read.
Conflicts and tension build throughout this story, and I appreciate the genuine introspections of Miz and how patiently and kindly their expectations were resolved by the end. This book was a good mix of upbeat fun with somber reflections; some of the pacing and lead-up to events could have been given more details (and the side plot with Daniel didn’t contribute much to the story for me) but overall was a very very sweet rom-com.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC, posted on goodreads