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

✨BOOK REVIEW: Marriage and Masti by Nisha Sharma

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5

4.25/5

This was my first read by Nisha Sharma and it certainly will not be my last. HOW HAVE I NOT PICKED UP A BOOK OF HERS BEFORE?! Immediately adding her others to my TBR. This book is part of the trilogy inspired by The Twelfth Night. You can read it as a standalone, which is what I did, but I will definitely be going back to the first two books because I am sure it would have added even MORE layers to this delicious story. I appreciated the fact that even if I had not read the first two, I did not feel lost at all — and that is something that can happen when it comes to books that are stand alone reads yet part of a series. Nothing felt rushed or fake about this friends to lovers “fake” marriage and that has always been a qualm of mine in these tropes.

As a desi punjabi girl myself, let me tell you how refreshing it was to see a brown couple in LOVE. Your girl is traumatized so this was so nice to read about. Girl had me wanting to download Dil Mil right after I read it to find my own Punjabi man (until I remembered Deepak is sadly fictional, sigh.) I guess SRK movies will have to suffice.

Nisha is so wonderful at writing about topics that really hit home, whether it be the specific patriarchy that plagues the South Asian communities, the diaspora, the struggles of setting boundaries with our parents and the fight to become your own person and not just an extension of them and the guilt — oh, the guilt.

⭐️⭐️✨ = 2 stars and a consideration

⭐️ I didn’t know that I needed… *that* done to me while wearing a lengha until I read that entire chapter, and I… yeah. Just… yeah.

⭐️ The way Deepak stands up for Veera against her father?!?! There is nothing hotter than a man who won’t think twice about protecting his loved one even if it might make the aunties faint at the way he is speaking to the elders. If I witnessed my man doing that in person? You bet that lengha scene would be happening right then and there.

✨ Honestly? I cannot think of a single consideration other than at myself for not reading her books sooner. I SHALL GET ON IT.

Thank you to, @NishaWrites, @avonbooks, and Net Galley for this ARC! #marriageandmasti #nishasharma

Pub Date: Aug 27, 2024

This has been a highly anticipated read for me, so when Nisha Sharma's team reached out with an ARC I immediately downloaded my copy and took it with me on vacation! Marriage & Masti is the final instalment in the 'If Shakespeare Were an Auntie' trilogy and it goes out with a bang. This was Sharma's strongest novel in the trilogy and left such positive memories with me.

Marriage & Masti puts a modern desi twist on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and closes out a wonderful trilogy that re-shapes Shakespeare works for culturally diverse readers.

When Veera and Deepak throw caution to the wind and accidentally get married they remain committed because they both follow sacred Hindu traditions. Traditions that I've never truly seen been highlighted or honoured in the romance genre, I'm taking the moment to say it's the first time that I've ever read a true summary of a Hindu wedding that was meaningful and succinct for readers to understand. For that alone I must thank Nisha Sharma. It's so lovely to see cultural values and traditions being given a light to shine in a modern setting with two characters that are independent with an author not shying away from traditions that still resonate with diasporas.

Cultural moments and religious festivals were utilized as vehicles to facilitate emotional growth. Sharma leans into the South Asian experience and lets it bloom throughout her novel. But most importantly she allows her characters to embrace their identities. From the numerous traditions of welcoming a bride to the family, Deepak helping Veera to fix her lengha/dupatta, the practice of fasting for Karwa Chauth, and the premise of a jeevansathi (a life partner). It's masterfully done and I'll say this now, the vermillion/sindoor scene will forever be a favourite. That's a special scene that I will never forget.

Marriage & Masti covers the trope of friends to lovers, marriage of convince, and in an odd way arranged marriages. When thrown together they make a moving novel. I will always say this, I never thought I would ever see this kind of representation in the romance genre and knowing that it's steadily growing makes me so happy. While the trilogy is sadly coming to an end, I can't wait for Nisha's next novel.

Thank you so much Harper Collins, Nisha Sharma and NetGalley! I'm happy to give this 5 stars.

Ok so friends to lovers where she falls first but he falls harder is quickly becoming a favorite scenario of mine in romance books. There’s just something so magical about that moment when he finally finds out how she’s felt all this time. Throw in a fake (tho it’s kind of real) marriage, and I just DIE. So many swoony and giggle inducing moments are in this book, I swear. This is easily my new favorite of Nisha’s books. Like, wow.

And on top of the romance, this was a huge love letter to single, successful, women who often feel alienated. The sisterly love and female friendships also made me very emotional! Just, a remarkable book.

There was ONE spicy moment I didn’t love in the ENTIRE book, but otherwise, all the spice was very hot and well choreographed. Like, Nisha had me clutching my pearls. And to be fair, the one scene I didn’t like, I think it was supposed to be cheesy and silly haha.

*I received an arc from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*

This was the best conclusion to this trilogy I could have ever asked for. I loved the other two book, Bobbi and Bunty specifically are my favorites! But I had such a good feeling about Veera and Deepak, I knew their story was going to be perfect. And it WAS. I love friends to lovers so much and watching Deepak and Vera’s friendship throughout the other books made this SO SWEET. And a marriage of convenience??? It was absolutely wonderful. Nisha writes with so much love and it never disappoints.

First and foremost I LOVE how every time Veera said their relationship was fake, Deepak corrected her. That man had it SO BAD. Before he even fully understood his feelings, he was IN SO DEEP. And I loved it so much. And Veera of course has had feelings for Deepak for so long, and she was just scared to lose him!

Veera has my HEART! I loved her watching her really grow and change throughout the book. She was always a badass, but by the end she was a confident badass! I also love a girl who cries when she’s mad. I love her so much. And DEEPAK DATTA! Nisha knows how to write a GOOD MAN! I was unprepared for how much I love him.

I also love the friendships! Veera, Kareena and Bobbi are my favorite friends!! And of course Deepak, Prem and Bunty! I wish we could have seen more of the guys this time around! I love this group so much. They love each other so much and they always show up for each other!!

Thank you SO MUCH to Nisha Sharma and Avon for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I’ve absolutely adored Nisha Sharma’s If Shakespeare Were an Auntie trilogy. Deepak and Veera’s story was the perfect retelling of Twelfth Night. The storyline was wonderful, making me laugh, gasp, and turn the page again and again.

#IfShakespeareWereAnAuntie #TwelfthNight #MarriageandMasti #NishaSharma #NetGalley

This was a good ending to the series but im also a little sad that it's done. First of all, if you haven't started this series then what are you waiting for, i need more people to read it because it's well-written, spicy, and diverse. This book is a friend to lovers, accidental marriage turned marriage of convenience and it was great. The main characters had unrequited love where the fmc loved him first and then he did, but they didn't know. This had all the vibes of wealthy Indians with family business, parental trauma, and lots of cultural references. I loved all the descriptions and scenes with the Sari dresses, bangles, Hindu traditions, Indian weddings, and food.

I really liked the romance, friends to lovers is really growing on me y'all. The main characters friendship was so sweet and they had that closeness that comes with being friends. The tension though was giving especially with the characters trying to figure out their feelings and how real their marriage was. There weren't too many steamy scenes but the ones that were there were good. Of course, I recommend this book for anyone who loves contemporary romance! Thank you Nisha Sharma and Avon for this arc for an honest review.

Read for:
- Friends to lovers
- Accidental marriage
- Close-knit friend group
- Shakespeare retelling
- Indian mc's
- 🌶️🌶️