This was the perfect conclusion to such a wonderful trilogy. I’ve been waiting for Veera and Deepak’s story since book one. Perfect execution of the she feel first but be feel harder troupe. Deepak was in love with her from the first page and Veera had no idea. I appreciated the subplot of establishing boundaries with family and going no-contact with a toxic parent. Veera was so brilliant. I love seeing a woman who loves her career and a partner who loves that about her. Thank you Avon and Net Galley for this ARC.

AHHHH! I can't believe this series is over. I read this one so slow for three reasons:

1. Our book release was going on at the same time and it was WILD.
2. I had too many ARCs that released before this one and I had to finish those.
and 3... and probably most on the nose... I didn't want this series to end.

I love Nisha's writing SO much. And these characters are SO well-rounded and lovable. I rooted for them the entire time and I LOVED that there was no 3rd act breakup. Made things much easier for my anxiety, that's for sure.

Deepak's pining over Veera was just... SWOON!!! And the spice was SO on point.

To rank the series....

My favorite still has to be Tastes Like Shakkar, then Marriage and Masti, then Dating Dr. Dil. My favorite MMC is still Bunty, and my favorite FMC is now Veera.

Do yourself a favor and read this one ASAP. And if you haven't read the others.. start at the beginning! You have time before August 27!

CHEMISTRY 😍

Ugh I’ve been waiting for this one! I absolutely adore Deepak and Veera’s relationship. Friends to lovers has never been my forte (unless it’s done right) and Nisha wrote this impeccably!

I loved every second of this book- I loved that Deepak and Veera always supported each other, I loved the family and friends aspects- even the hard parts. The friend group that was created in this trilogy was so beautiful, I love how close everyone is. And I loved how it ended, even if I’m sad that this trilogy is over.

I also really enjoyed reading about Indian customs and the weddings, and all of the cultural traditions that went along with it. It was beautiful, and perfectly descriptive for someone who isn’t the most knowledgeable in that subject. Some of the traditions felt so emotional just to read about, they were written so well.

Thank you to the publisher, Nisha’s team and NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

INCREDIBLE

Amazing final installment of this series (of standalones but like if you haven't definitely read Takes like Shakkar). Nisha did an amazing job really selling dislike/enemies to lovers in book 2 without either character ever going into too harsh or immature of a place and still making the love believable. Her skill is now shown on the opposite spectrum with this book, to write a friends to lovers without falling into a common trap with the trope- not having high enough stakes or chemistry. She delivered. FTL is a favorite trope of mine which actually makes me more critical of it and I approve of this book.

The angst of this FMC having fallen so hard and first and then the angst when the MMC falls for her and harder and is like omg. It's like the most delicious grovel the whole book but twisted in a way that doesn't feel so one sided or fruitless it's really a FMC who has had things taken from her (family billionaire daddy issues drama) who needs time and action to trust.

The marriage trope, this is like the drunken Vegas wedding trope but different location and more traditional/religious significance to their culture. I was eating it up. It doesn't feel like super forced fake dating because of their friendship and collaboration. The emotions of her being loved and accepted by his family ahhh you definitely need to read the scene when they go to his parents' house.

And again this at times is so serious with these business empires but then so humorous because Nisha's writing can be SO funny. I enjoyed every bit of this. Thank you so much to Avon for the free book.

These books just get better and better! Veera has been one of my favorite characters from the start so I was so excited to see her finally get her happy ending. Per usual, Nisha Sharma delivers with a combination of sweet romance and the spiciest spice!! This was the perfect conclusion to one of my favorite trilogies!

I love this series (if you haven't started it yet, please do so *immediately*) and Twelfth Night is my fave Shakespeare play, so I was really excited for this Twelfth Night inspired book.

We have the last pairing from the two groups of friends - Veera and Deepak. These two scions of major corporations are the only rich people in books I will allow. They've had a strong friendship over the series but Deepak got engaged to someone that would help his vote for CEO and didn't even tell Veera first. And then that engagement comes crashing down and with a host of other items they find themselves fake(???) married to help Deepak's bid for CEO and help Veera in her new venture. Marriage of convenience is so hard in contemporary and this one hit it out of the park.

Additional things I loved: 1) the very real feelings of a single friend who is left out after her friends all couple up - all of that was so real and I am *still* mad for Veera!, 2) the Punjabi realness, when they were trying to come up with a cute thing Veera could call Deepak and he asked if there was something in Punjabi she could call him, Veera said "You know Punjabis prefer to swear at each other as a sign of love." Y'all, I cackled so loud, on a silent airplane. And highlighted it (I have never highlighted anything in an ebook before). and lastly 3) the care and love of all the ceremonies/russums/customs done for the new bride. There is so much beauty in a South Asian custom and the love conveyed in it, especially from Deepak's mother had me cryyyying.

Oh also the aunties are back and I love them. So I guess they are honorary point number 4.

I'm so happy to have read this installment but also am simultaneously so sad because it means the series is over. I loved it. Seriously all three of these books are so good (Bunty is my favorite forever though, just saying).

Marriage & Masti comes out August 27, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Nisha Sharma for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

instagram.com/encyclopedia_britanika

Dating Dr. Dil was the first book I read written by an Indian author, and seeing a Punjabi FMC floored me. I was so in love with this whole community that I read Prem and Kareena’s story more times than I can count❤️

Now with the trilogy coming to an end I was so honored to receive an early copy to review and as expected I was not disappointed. From finally seeing Deepak and Veera’s story to getting glimpses of the rest of the gang, this was the perfect ending. As a Hindu Punjabi girl getting married soon, I love reading on all the traditions and getting excited. I loved the chemistry between the characters, and of course felt myself giggling and swooning at every point of romance

Couldn’t have asked for a better gang to fall in love with💕💕✨✨

I wanted to love this, because I absolutely LOVE Nisha Sharma, but it just didn't capture my interest the same way her other books did.
I found myself putting this down, and not being compelled to pick it back up, which is unusual for her writing. I just wasn't bought into the drama, honestly.

With her final installment of the If Shakespeare was an Auntie series based on Twelfth Night, Nisha Sharma sets the friends-to-lovers story of Veera and Deepak in the community of Desi diaspora living in New Jersey. The characters are lively and the romance is swoony.

This was a wonderful conclusion to the If Shakespeare Were an Auntie Series by Nisha Sharma. Though, book two still remains my favorite. This one centered on the third best friend Veera, who at the end of the last book decided to travel the globe with her sister after her father fires them both. Well and also because the man she loves got engaged to someone else. This story has a fake marriage with some real feelings, family drama straight out of Succession, and a happily ever after. Would always recommend this series to any romance readers. (Thank You to Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the ARC)

How does a fake marriage work when the ceremony has deep cultural meaning? And if the couple is not only best friends, but maybe kinda sortof already have feelings for each other? 

Twelfth Night is one Shakespeare play I know nothing about, so I went into this book with no expectations of the general storyline. I do love a fake marriage trope, and Veera and Deepak were just so good together! 

There are swoony romantic gestures (that wrist kiss! the pantsuits!), and plenty of heat (though I did want some consent talk before the kink). I really enjoyed how many wedding and newlywed ceremonies and events were included in the story. Of course we get ALLLL the meddling relatives, but also some working through of the family drama and expectations. All of the MCs from the previous two books play key side roles in this one, and I would recommend reading the series in order! 

Nisha Sharma's If Shakespeare Was an Auntie series is one of my favourite contemporary series and I'm sad it's finished! Marriage and Masti is out August 27, so you've got time to read Dating Dr. Dil and Tastes Like Shakkar if you haven't already!

Thank you to Nisha Sharma and Avon for an eARC copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. 
(review will be posted to Instagram closer to the pub date)

Nisha Sharma, you beautiful person. thank you for this series. rich with culture and laughter, incredible work. everything about it makes me laugh and cry and feel all the feels. prem and kareena made me fall in love with this world, bobbi and bunty brought me so much joy, but this one really got me. idk if it’s a friends to lovers, a she falls first, he falls harder, the fact that twelfth night is my favorite shakespeare play or just deepak “my wife” datta as a whole. but i ate up every second of it. thank you nisha and avon books for this ARC, please and forever send me them all i am your biggest fan.

I liked this book overall, however, I did feel it fell short compared to the other books in the series and I am sad it has concluded. Veera and Deepak's friends to lover romance was lovely to read about.

It was nice to read about being the single friend out of coupled friends, and exploring that narrative as your friends begin to get married. It was interesting to learn about all the religious ceremonies that take place once a couple is married as I am not HIndu and did miss the mention of the aunties in the book, but it was nice to see the mothers step up.

I am glad Veera and Deepak got their HEA and we get to get glimpses of the other couples in the book. There were a few moments that made me laugh and I enjoyed reading about their family drama.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book. I received a copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest review

Marriage and Masti is the childhood friends to lovers book of my dreams!! Nisha Sharma skillfully portrays the complexities of the protagonists' relationship, rooted in years of shared history and unspoken feelings. Their gradual transition from friends to lovers is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching, as they navigate the challenges of their pasts and the pressures of their cultural expectations. The vibrant depiction of Desi traditions and familial bonds adds authenticity and richness to the narrative.

What sets this book apart is its unflinching exploration of parent-daughter relationships and its impact on personal growth and relationships. The story doesn't shy away from the darker aspects of Veera's life, yet it balances these moments with hope and resilience. The emotional journey is so well written and explored beautifully, offering a profound look at how love and understanding can heal even the deepest wounds. Overall, this installment is a compelling and beautifully written addition to the series; and I was truly bummed when I had to read the last chapter with these characters who feel like they really are just a plane ride away in New Jersey.

The If Shakespeare was an Auntie series concludes with perfection.

Thank you to Nisha Sharma & Team, Avon, & NetGalley for the advance reader copy of Marriage and Masti!

Veera and Deepak. Fearless/Red and Lover (IYKYK). So many moments in the first two books build up to this one + the deleted scene from Tastes Like Shakkar!

It’s been a year since the end of Tastes Like Shakkar and A LOT has happened. Veera and Deepak's family companies merge, Veera and her twin, Sana, were fired by their father, and Deepak got engaged to someone else. Over the year, Veera and Sana have been traveling until a shipwreck forces Veera to reach out to Deepak. Veera’s reach out comes at the right time as Deepak’s fiancé, Olivia, has publicly broken up with him. Upon their reunion, Veera and Deepak end up married and return home hoping their marriage of convenience will help rebuild their careers.

It’s marriage of convenience, friends to lovers, and forced proximity all in one! Marriage of convenience is my favorite so I was so excited when I saw the story would include this trope. Their story plays out so well. I loved how Veera and Deepak’s relationship and feelings develop and come to light throughout the book. And beyond the love story, we get wonderful moments with Kareena, Prem, Bobbi, and Benjamin. We get to see friends work through life changes and there are the high stakes elements of the plot as Deepak seeks leadership of the company and Veera pursues the next step in her career. Deepak’s parents are the absolute BEST! AND, of course, the Aunties return!!

The book deserves all of the hype! I will miss this group of friends but simply love how perfectly this series concludes.

4.5 STARS!

I am so sad this series has finished. This will definitely be in my top 5 romance rereads forever. I adore Twelfth Night, and really appreciated all the little breadcrumbs throughout this book.
I love how the author really said "fuck the miscommunication trope, they're gunna talk it out". Super refreshing, probably my favorite part. Romance authors, take notes!
The reason for the half-star off: the stakes didn't feel too intense in this one like they did in the other novels in the series. Everything kind of worked out way too smoothly and quickly at the end. I would have like a little more detail and development in the final few chapters. Other than that, this was a fantastic read. Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy. I.cannot wait to see what Nisha Sharma does next!

I liked this installment best of the three books which is interesting bc typically friends to lovers and fake marriage are some of my least favorite tropes so for this to be my most favorite of the three really speaks to Sharma's excellent writing skills.

Marriage & Masti is the 3rd and final book in “If Shakespeare was an Auntie” and it follows Veera and Deepak. The friendship that led to them being lovers and a fake marriage was special. I love that every time Veera calls their marriage fake, Deepak corrects her. and it was an amazing conclusion. The friendship, especially the female friendship, was amazing. Overall, this was a great conclusion to this series and I’m sad that it ended.
Thank you SO MUCH to Nisha Sharma and Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC

An incredible conclusion to the Shakespeare as Aunties series, I loved this third book the most. It delicately balances romance and culture and friendship in a really harmonious and understanding way.

What a finish! You always wonder if the last couple in a series is gonna get a great story or if the author will run out of gas. But let me tell you, Nisha Sharma never does anything in half measures.

Veera and Deepak's friends-to-lovers story wrapped in a fake marriage has real gravitas. I loved that the cultural implications of marriage, with every tradition and ceremony tied to it, made their nuptials more significant than signing on the dotted line ever could. And gradually these two get in deeper and deeper, finally realizing that what they feel for each other is far from fake. It felt like a huge differentiator from what you typically see in fake marriage/marriage of convenience stories.

I loved the exploration of Veera's feeling like the third wheel as the last single friend in the group. Super relatable, and it seems to happen at every phase of life, as couples pair off, as friends get married and then when people have babies. The impacts to friend groups are huge.

But what I really loved was the reveal. I won't say more, but if you've read the whole series, it's like an Easter egg. And I hope you laugh out loud and say omg, like I did.

Content Notes: antiquated notions about women's roles