Behind Frenemy Lines is my first read by Zen Cho. While it is a romance, the novel is equally an exploration of politics, workplace harassment and casual racis, but I have to say that the romance storlyline is light and low-key.

Kriya has just moved to a new law firm in the city of London, following her boss and mentor, and she is going to have to share an office with fellow lawyer, Charles Goh, an expatriate from Hong Kong. They have both been working in commercial law for years, and have come across each other many times, often in embarrassing or awkward ways, which has led her friends to sarcastically call him kawan baik, which translates to “best friend” in their native Malay. Kriya is has recently broken up with her long-term partner, while Charles is in an extended dry period, they both have complicated relationships with their extended families, especially their parents, who are still in their home countries. They’re both a little bit awkward, especially Charles.

The novel is written in alternating points of view and Charles’s chapters are hilarious. The way he truncates his thoughts and organises his dialogue is almost like a stream of consciousness. I don’t know that this will work for all readers, I found it a great way to show exactly what his communication is like. Anyway, Charles and Kriya do a spot of fake dating, attend a family wedding, work together, and have some misunderstandings, all while they fall for each other. At the same time, there are plenty of other things happening in their law firm which is (almost) more interesting than their romance. Kriya has come to the firm with her newly single boss, who is very subtly and inappropriately hitting on her, and her thought processes show how insidious this kind of predatory behaviour can be. Kriya second guesses herself, makes excuses, and ignores red flags because he has been a good boss in the past, he’s senior to her, they are new to this firm – and who would believe her anyway? Charles is also navigating dealing with a new and potentially lucrative client who has been introduced to the firm via one of his sleazy old school mates. Charles follows the rules, he’s process-driven and brilliant at his work, but he’s a bit blinkered as to how unscrupulous the political landscape can be. Charles and Kriya’s connection comes crashing into these two challenges and the fallout is so worth waiting for.

I loved the cultural representation. Charles and Kriya connect over food, there are meddling family members, manipulations cloaked in familial obligation and old boys’ networks. There’s subtle commentary on race, and how migrants might embrace their host country, even though their cultural connections are tenacious.

Behind Frenemy Lines is fast moving and propulsive, and I was fascinated by Charles’s gormlessness. He is booksmart, not streetsmart, to his detriment. Kriya is clued in to how venal people can be, but initially she’s not prepared to back her own experiences as a non-white female in a male-dominated profession. Recommended reading!

I enjoyed the book for its exploration of some difficult topics, and I really liked Kriya and Charles, both individually and as a couple.  Had their romance been stronger/more of a main focus, I would probably have awarded a higher grade, but as it stands, I’m offering a recommendation with the caveat that the romance isn’t as prominent a plot point as might be expected in the genre.