Veera and Deepak are not having the greatest year. After Veera is fired from her dad's company, she and her twin sister decide to travel the world and end up stranded in Goa. Meanwhile, Deepak has just been dumped by his influencer fiancée in a viral Instagram video and desperately needs to escape the country, so he joins Veera in Goa. They drunkenly get married under the pretense of demonstrating a Hindu wedding ceremony, and they decide to pretend to stay married to restore their damaged reputations in the Desi community.

I really enjoyed the friends to lovers and marriage of convenience tropes in this book. Sharma did such a great job of developing the romance between the two characters. There was so much pining and it made me so giddy to see both of them admit their feelings for each other throughout the course of the book. Nisha Sharma always manages to weave in the cutest Bollywood-esque moments in her romance novels, and this book was filled with so many of these moments. I also loved how Sharma included the Punjabi wedding traditions in the book as well. There were several important themes touched on in this book alongside the romance, such as the importance of financial independence for South Asian women and how married women are more "respected" in the South Asian community, and how female friendships tend to change as people start to get partnered up. However, there were some things that I didn't quite enjoy in this book. I found Olivia's character to be a bit cringey, and at some points the business drama was a bit over the top for my taste. Overall, I felt that this was a very well written rom-com and a perfect end to the trilogy, and I'm sad that it's over.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon, and Nisha Sharma for providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

🪷Marriage and Masti by Nisha Sharma 🪷

Veera Mathur has had a rough year. Both of her best friends fell in love, her father fired her from her job, and the man she was crushing on got engaged to someone else. After traveling for eight months with her twin sister Sana, Veera finds herself face to face with her former crush in Goa. And before long, she finds herself married to said former crush after his engagement ended in a viral video. Deepak Datta is truly the only one who understands exactly the position Veera is in, but he’s never seen her as more than a friend until now.

Marriage and Masti is the third and final book in the Of Shakespeare Was An Auntie series and is a Twelfth Night adaptation. Twelfth Night has actually been the source material for two movies I unironically love way too much: She’s the Man (2006) and Just One of the Guys (1985). I also loved this book so this may just be one of my favorite Shakespeare plays to see in adaptation form!

This was a perfect book to conclude the series on. It was wonderful to see the Aunties again, and I love how much I learn about South Asian culture in each of these books.

This book is also one of the best executions of the “she fell first, he fell harder” trope because once Deepak falls he is down bad. And whew did I love that 👨🏽‍🍳💋

I recommend this series to all romance readers and all adaptation readers! It’s a really fun, funny, and heartfelt set of romances that also do a wonderful job depicting a unique and vibrant community!

Nisha Sharma has become one of my favorite authors and, not only do I love this series, I am so sad this is the final book in her If Shakespeare Was an Auntie series. This time, it's a Twelfth Night reimagining.

I think fake relationship/marriage of convenience is becoming my favorite trope because of all the PINING. And man, do they pine in this one. It also has a second chance feel, but more about their friendship and finding that again. I loved the pacing of it because they had to get back to being friends again, while also falling in love with each other. Finally letting themselves fall for one another.

I also really appreciated seeing the female friendship aspect and it's ebb and flow because it really does change us when we get older.

Overall, I loved it and will miss all of these characters terribly. At the same time, I'm excited to see what Nisha has up her sleeve next.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager. I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

4 1/2 Stars

I always knew Veera's story was going to be a special one, and Nisha Sharma did not disappoint!

The third instalment of this series proves that Shakespeare could have indeed been an aunty. Whilst it has the usual romance tropes (friends to lovers, accidental marriage), it's written in a refreshing way and each chapter had my attention. Deepak and Veera had the right amount of chemistry and I loved seeing their character development throughout the book.

One of the themes in the book is the change in friendship dynamics, especially when you start getting older and the people around you start settling down. I like that I was able to see that transition from Veera's POV. When you're in your late 20s/early 30s, you start seeing changes in your friendships and this is one of the few times that I've seen it covered in a novel.

I loved the element of humour the aunties bring to the book, and I think a spin off series based on them would be amazing. The reveal in Chapter 10 was not what I was expecting.

Thank you, Nisha, for writing books about brown girls like me. I've never felt so seen before, and reading about Bobby, Kareena and Veera had me feeling like they could be me and my friends.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for my arc copy

I will read anything Twelfth Night at this point. And combine that with second chance romance and I'm absolutely in love. Being dual POV, I was in love from the start. I adored how it's a combination of second chance romance and he 'thinks' he falls first. We also love a good fake marriage with two characters who have a lot of history. How it's definitely a great PR move, but how there's a real instant connection between them. Marriage & Masti is a loose retelling which has some elements I wish had a bit more space, but in general, I adored this book!

Thank you to Avon and NeGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f contemporary romance
-marriage of convenience
-friends to lovers
-it's always been you
-pining
-she fell first but he fell harder

Please know I am devestated this series is over. I have adored everything about it. This is the third and can be read enirely as a standalone but I think it i smuch more appreciated in the buildup of watching these two finally FINALLY get together. Veera being the final single one in the friend group, the world giving up on her business prowress, her best friend she's been in love with for a long time constnatly friendzoning her. I just wanted to hug her.

Deepak was a bit oblivious, and definitely not looking for love until an accidental marriage with his best friend wakes him up (did I SAY FINALLY). I loved watching this man just crumble in love for Veera, his best friends laughing around him as it was his time to become a simp. I loved all of the glimpses of our favorite couples, and all of the glimpses of the desi marraige traditions. But most of all I loved watching these two risk their friendship for the love that they both deserved.

Read This Book If…you love a Shakespeare retelling!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Marriage and Masti by Nisha Sharma

Genre: romance
Series: If Shakespeare Was an Auntie # 3
Spice Level: 4/5🌶, 3-4 explicit scenes
Setting: New Jersey, Brooklyn, and India
POV: dual, 3rd person, past tense
Tropes: accidental marriage, friends to lovers, longtime crush, fake marriage, billionaire, one bed, exhibitionist kink

My Thoughts:

I always love a Shakespeare or Jane Austen retelling, especially through the gaze of a culture I’m not as familiar with, and this Twelfth Night retelling was no different!

It had so many of my favorite tropes woven seamlessly, as well as a few I don’t typically read. I really appreciated how each of the main characters were trying to protect their own hearts, as well as their partners.

It’s tough for me to pick a favorite from this series, but I think M&M squeaked out the win from me! Overall, it’s a very satisfying ending to this series.

Memorable Quote: “They were both caught up in each other’s arms, holding on like they’d finally found each other, even though they’d been right there the whole time.”

Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy!

I just finished this book and omgg it was so good. There was never a dull moment. I enjoyed reading it so much. The friendship between Deepak and veera was so precious and watching it turn into something more was everything. I liked how Deepak realised that veera was the one for him from his POV. Also the family dimension was realistic in this book. Being myself from a desi family I definitely related how some people in our family understimates women and don't acknowledge their worth. But veera was a resilient woman and watching her fight for her rights was satisfying. The bond between mathur sisters was messy yet full of support and love. Being a elder sister myself I could see where sana was coming from and how she wanted to protect veera. It might feel suffocating sometimes but it was pretty realistic.
I really loved the friendship aspect in the book. The friendship between prem, kareena , Bobby, bunty, Deepak and veera was wholesome. Olivia and sana were added bonus. They are perfect together. I ship them so hard.

Overall I really enjoyed the book. Thank you so much to nisha Sharma and her team for sending me an ARC of this book.💗

What a perfect way to end the If Shakespeare Were an Auntie series! I LOVE Deepak and Veera! In Marriage and Masti we find my favorite trope in romance: marriage of convenience. I mean the perfect way to fall in love/get together in my opinion. Deepak and Veera meet through their friend Prem and Kareena. They form a beautiful friendship but when Deepak gets engaged without telling Veera it puts a strain on their relationship. The thing is Veera has been in love with Deepak for a while and she can’t reconcile him getting married to someone else. But when she needs help Deepak flies to her rescue ending in them married instead. This marriage makes Deepak realize that maybe just maybe Veera means more to him than anything. Can they make this marriage work? Can they convince themselves that these feelings are more than just getting carried away? Veera my sweet Veera! She was such a wonderful character to read about. She is both vulnerable and strong and I loved seeing her find her strength with the help of her loved ones. Deepak is wonderful too! A little bit of a workaholic he believes he will never love anything the way he loves his job but when this man falls it’s hard and true. Just like in business he fights with everything to keep his girl. This was my favorite pair out of the three and again I may be bias but these two have such a wonderful foundation. It only grows and gets stronger as time passes. Nisha knows how to write sweeping romance. It is definitely a favorite romance of 2024. I am so happy to have read this ahead of publication. You are all in for a grand finale! 5⭐️

I was most excited for Veera and Deepak’s story which makes this book all the more disappointing to me. These were not the Veera and Deepak that I knew from the first two books. They were caricatures of themselves and this read more like a billionaire romance than a romcom.

The reason Deepak was engaged to someone else at the beginning of the novel made no sense, him not seeing Veera in a romantic way until the beginning of this book made no sense, the fake marriage made no sense (and not in a good way), Veera’s sister made no sense, Veera’s dad made no sense…. Yeah…. It was very sloppy writing.

For two people who “loved each other so much”, their relationship had no meat to it. It was all lust and “I need you” “I want you” and absolutely no substance. Deepak was no longer a nerdy sweetheart but a strong finance bro…. I just did not understand what happened to his character from book 2 to this one at all.

Anyway…. This is definitely my least favorite of the series and has made me reconsider if this author’s writing is for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc copy of this book.

Easily the best out of the three If Shakespeare Was an Auntie books! I loved this one and I really loved Deepak and Veera. I'll miss Mrs. Gupta!

“Of course, she didn’t blame her. Who wanted to go back to New Jersey.”


First- let me just preface this by saying that this is one of my favorite series, ever. Since moving to VA from NJ, I used this series to help me feel a closeness to the state I grew up in. I laugh at the jokes, know exactly what they’re discussing when they’re in the jersey cities and suburbs. I love it.

Next, if Veera and Deepak aren’t your favorite couple in this series, I KNOW you’re lying. Friends to lovers with an accidental marriage? Swooon.

Veera is such a complex character dealing with SO MANY different emotions and she handles her shit with such grace, even if she has a meltdown in the comfort of her own home. I think we can ALL relate to her feelings towards Karina and Bobbi and the feeling of being left out, hell my heart BROKE for her, but to see them make up was such a sweet moment.

Her dad is also a huge tool and I’m so glad in the end he got what he deserved.

Deepak is such a typical NYC business bro. He can’t see what is right in front of him. He genuinely loves Veera and did so not just as a lover but also as a friend in the beginning. Seeing that transition was special.

The scene at Deepak’s parents house was hot🥵🥵

Overall, one of my favorite books of the year. I am deeply upset this series is over.

Superb installment of this series!

I didn't think that I could love a new book in this series more.

I am obsessed!

Rated 4.5 Stars

Marriage and Masti was a great read. It was a fun, intense, sweet at times, steamy and feel good read with angst and drama. I loved the relationship dynamics as well as the way the fake marriage between Veera and Deepak unfolded. I loved the authors spin on this trope. It was well done. Another thing I loved was the chemistry between the main characters. It was intense yet calm. These characters really surprised me especially Deepak, he had some hidden layers I wasn't expecting but was very much onboard with. I loved them together, they were the perfect foil, the perfect complement to each other. This book overflowed with found family and even biological family goodness. I absolutely loved it. I loved being fully immersed in this reimagined Shakespearean world steeped in South Asia culture once again. It was truly a masterpiece that I highly recommend.

This was such a cute end to the If Shakespeare was an aunty series! I loved Veera in the first 2 books, so I was especially excited to read her story. Veera & Deepak were really really cute together, especially when they always protect each other in front of Veera's family. I was (as always) taken aback by the sex scenes in this book. But surprisingly I enjoyed it more than I thought!

This book was swoony and also empowering. Veera is a strong and smart woman capable of doing anything she puts her mind to. I loved that fact that Sharma didn't make Deepak be Veera's "savior" or a "white knight" Instead he was an equal partner that believed in her and helped her move forward.

I loved this series and can't wait to see what Sharma writes next!

Thank you so much to Avon, NetGalley, and the author Nisha Sharma for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review!

Third in a series…
Same fun characters but it’s finally Veera’s turn for love!

Deepak and Veera have been part of the same friend group for years. She has always felt more for him but he had an arranged married planned to another woman. Veera’s heart is broken, but when she needs him the most he comes into rescue her and they have a second chance!

I love all of the cultural aspects and family traditions found in this book! I also enjoyed seeing all three couples back together again.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this as an ARC!

I just devoured Marriage & Masti, the latest installment in Nisha Sharma's If Shakespeare Were an Auntie series, and I'm still grinning from ear to ear! This novel is a delightful, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that will capture your heart and leave you feeling uplifted. The characters are so well-crafted and relatable. The banter is witty and engaging, the chemistry is electric, and the emotional connection is deep and abiding. The pacing is perfect, the dialogue is snappy, and the emotional depth is remarkable. Sharma tackles issues of identity, family, love, and self-acceptance with a deft hand, crafting a narrative that feels authentic and real. Their connection is electric and the spice is oh so nice. I also appreciated the way Sharma wove in elements of Indian culture and tradition, adding a richness and depth to the narrative. I would highly recommend Marriage & Masti to anyone looking for a heartwarming, humorous romance that will capture their heart and imagination. Nisha Sharma is a talented storyteller, and this book is a true masterpiece.. Definitely Your Next 5⭐ Read..

What a wrap up to this series - Nisha Sharma can WRITE OMG. I have been waiting for Deepak and Veera and this book didn't disappoint. You want a friends to lovers with fake marriage and meddling yet supportive aunties and Succession style boardroom shenanigans and amazing food descriptions and only one bed and….. you get the gist. BUY IT.

There is one only one bed scene where I literally cpmbusted. And then finding out who Mr.s Gupta is! The meddling Aunties. The boardroom vibes of how they were going to literally stage a COUP. The secondary sapphic relationship OMG. It's got everything a must read.

I have loved this series so much but the third and final installment might be my favorite! Marriage of convenience plus friends to lovers? A book could not be more tailored to my personal tastes!

We’ve seen best friends Deepak and Veera over the course of this series and I was so happy to watch them get their HEA. Deepak is getting ready to go before the board of his family business to be named the next CEO when his fiancé dumps him via a GRWM TikTok video. Needed space, he heads to India where his best friend Veera has been traveling. Deepak and Veera volunteer to demonstrate a Hindu wedding ceremony that ends up feeling a bit too real, and when they head home they decide to lean into it to help Deepak rehab his image with the board.

The chemistry between these two was sizzling, and their foundation of friendship made it so delicious. We get to see both of them grow and mature individually and together, and we get to spend lots of time with the characters we’ve loved throughout this series. I found the ceremonies and symbolism of the various newlywed ceremonies described in the book to be an incredibly genuine and authentic addition that really helped to endear these two to me along with their extended families. I will miss the universe created in this series and look forward to what comes next from Nisha!

I voluntarily read a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I always enjoy a Nisha Sharma read - ya or romance, so this one has been on my TBR since it was announced. Her books never fail to be fun, a bit sassy and have some great cultural tidbits too.

Marriage & Masti was the third and final book in her romance series If Shakespeare Were An Auntie, and it gave us the story of Veera and Deepak. I loved the two characters and really enjoyed seeing their story play out - it even featured a favorite trope of mine, fake relationship and made me rethink my stance on another trope (friends to lovers)

While I was obviously there for the love story, I also found the business / family dynamics angle an interesting plot to follow as well. I liked that we got a dual pov - it was fun seeing things from each perspective and getting the insight. I also enjoyed getting cameos from the other former couples in this story.

A fun, lighthearted read that was easy to read through in an afternoon. I will warn it does have some spicier bits and is not closed door, though it’s possible to skip around those bits too.