Only Because It’s You

This lighthearted if underbaked contemporary from Fisseha (Daughters of Silence) finds Ethiopian Canadian Mizan “Miz” Begashaw determined never to marry, and certainly never to fall in love, convictions reinforced when she discovers a ring in her boyfriend’s gym bag and promptly dumps him. Then her best friend, aspiring actor Kalkidan “Kal” Legesse, reveals that his time in Toronto may be cut short by his expiring international work permit, forcing him to return home to Addis Ababa, where Miz’s estranged father lives and the pair met as children. To help Kal stay in Canada, Miz reluctantly agrees to a marriage of convenience. It’s a familiar setup delivered in a breezy tone and Fisseha adds interest by exploring cultural differences within the Ethiopian diaspora. Unfortunately, emotionally distant Miz and sensitive Kal’s transition from friends to lovers feels unevenly paced and unbelievable; their initial friendship never feels particularly strong and their chemistry doesn’t come through on the page. Meanwhile, many subplots—including the gym bag engagement ring that kicks things off—are dropped for large stretches of the story. Given the proliferation of marriage of convenience plots, readers will be better served elsewhere. (May)