Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Flawed

Rate this book
Why would anyone want perfection when they could have Vaani Jaishankar instead?

Aditya Khamankar was a chartered accountant who built his life on a bedrock of numbers. For no matter what happened, numbers and math never let you down. They stayed the same. And that fundamental fact defined many of his choices. He was the obedient son, the diligent student, the overachieving employee, the reliable friend. All he wanted in his life was routine and sensible discourse. All he craved in that same life was peace and quiet. And then his senior partner’s flighty daughter came home. And life as he knew it was never the same again…

Reality television villain and tabloid fodder, Vaani Jaishankar lived for the arclights. The notoriety, the glamour, the larger than life noise that came with it held her in thrall. Until the industry she loved and the people she trusted used and abandoned her. And now, she was back home. Darkening the doorstep of her childhood home, something she’d sworn she’d never do and working in her father’s accountancy firm…Could God just take her now already? And then there was her father’s business partner…

What happens when Perfection meets Flawed? Do the cracks beneath his façade show? Or is it as well hidden as the foundation of grit and ambition her shiny polish conceals?

When attraction wars with common sense and love burns a fiery rope that ties them together, Aditya and Vaani need to decide if this is enough…If they are enough for each other? For the world doesn’t believe they are and the world isn’t done with them yet…

257 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 25, 2023

54 people are currently reading
29 people want to read

About the author

Shilpa Suraj

39 books121 followers
Shilpa Suraj wears many hats - corporate drone, homemaker, mother to a fabulous toddler and author.

An avid reader with an overactive imagination, Shilpa has weaved stories in her head since she was a child. Her previous stints at Google, in an ad agency and as an entrepreneur provide colour to her present day stories, both fiction and non-fiction.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
42 (38%)
4 stars
44 (40%)
3 stars
17 (15%)
2 stars
4 (3%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for Sameeksha.
446 reviews17 followers
June 18, 2023
A new book by Shilpa Suraj!!
You know what that means?
A book that will smash the stereotypes and cliches!
A book that will explore new professions!

And no doubt Shilpa Suraj amazed us this time as well by being a cupid to a chartered account and a wannabe actress. Yes extreme opposites planning not to come across each other but end up working together.

The book has a good storyline but plot could have been a bit better. The characters are strong point but I wished Vanni's dad's character could have been gradually developed. The narration as always is engaging and the chemistry is good so much that I felt there should have been a bit more of the duo. Also the storyline of the sequel is too much to handle as I'm restless to know the story!

Aditya is mature, simple, caring, and always trying to help others and find solutions.
Vaani is bold, fierce, fun, but bit of a I don't care what others think, I'll do whatever I want kind of a person.

The duo working together initially feels like a nightmare but the cozy up to each other eventually.

While Vaani helps Aditya bring a smile on his face, understanding his personal life, Aditya also tries to help Vanni to bring a stability and less drama in her life but Vanni cannot live without drama, it follows her and so does Aditya.

Once their chemistry is acknowledged there's no going back but with a major age difference and complete opposite personalities how do they even survive this chemistry? Are they compatible for each other? What is the baggage both are suffering from?

To know more read this dramatic romance book with strong woman character and an interesting insight into life of actress.
Profile Image for Sameer Gudhate.
1,389 reviews49 followers
August 24, 2023
"Flawed: A Grumpy Sunshine Age Gap Romance" by Shilpa Suraj weaves a compelling narrative that explores the collision of perfection and imperfection, love and vulnerabilities. With an enticing blurb promising a collision of characters and ideals, Suraj takes readers on a journey that challenges societal norms and personal facades.

The novel introduces us to Aditya Khamankar, a chartered accountant who finds comfort in numbers and routine. However, his structured life takes a twist when Vaani Jaishankar, a reality TV star seeking refuge from her tumultuous past, crosses his path. As their lives collide, the story delves into their struggles, vulnerabilities, and the unexpected bond that forms between them.

Shilpa Suraj's writing style is engaging and immersive, effortlessly guiding readers through the emotional complexities of the characters. Her prose is well-crafted, managing to evoke a range of emotions, from the grumpy charm of Aditya to the flamboyant charisma of Vaani.

The characters are multi-dimensional, each grappling with their flaws and aspirations. Aditya's need for order clashes intriguingly with Vaani's chaotic history, leading to a dynamic push-pull relationship. The novel explores the idea that behind every facade lies a story that often defies expectations.

Suraj skillfully crafts the plot, gradually unraveling the layers of Aditya and Vaani's lives. The age gap romance adds an extra layer of depth to the story, while the well-paced structure keeps the reader engaged.

"Flawed" tackles themes of self-discovery, acceptance, and the pursuit of happiness beyond societal norms. The book emphasizes that embracing one's imperfections is essential for genuine connections.

The emotional impact of the novel is profound. Readers will empathize with the characters' struggles and cheer for their growth. The rollercoaster of emotions felt by Aditya and Vaani resonates deeply.

A significant strength lies in Suraj's ability to create relatable characters and a realistic portrayal of their emotional journeys. However, the ending could have been more nuanced to match the complexity of the narrative.

"Flawed" is a heartwarming and thought-provoking romance that navigates beyond the typical. The characters' chemistry and their personal growth make it a compelling read. While the pacing and character development shine, the story could have benefitted from a more unconventional resolution.

"Flawed: A Grumpy Sunshine Age Gap Romance" is a refreshing take on love, showcasing that genuine connections transcend societal norms. Shilpa Suraj's ability to intertwine flawed characters with a compelling plot results in a captivating novel that leaves readers contemplating the beauty of imperfections and the power of love.
Profile Image for Namrata Bhagtani-Sadhvani.
15 reviews26 followers
June 6, 2023
Shilpa Suraj is back with her brand new series 'In Disgrace' and you know how I always get excited whenever that happens!

'Flawed' is the story of a young wannabe actress and reality TV star Vaani Jaishankar and Aditya Khamankar, a chartered accountant by profession. Shilpa has really taken the 'opposites attract' premise and run with it - rather brilliantly, I must say.

Vaani is everything Aditya isn't - flighty, fun, fearless, colourful in choice and personality and very daring. I love how a character that could've almost become a caricature of its own self has been given a wonderful depth by Shilpa. There are certain reasons why Vaani is the way she is, and people love her for it.

Aditya, on the other hand, leads a dull and drab existence which is portrayed in terms of his office, clothes and home. He too, is the way he is because of certain circumstances involving his immediate family, for whom he is solely responsible.

They'd hardly be the kind of individuals who'd end up together, or even meet under normal circumstances but destiny intervenes in the form of Vaani's dad, who is also Aditya's boss. Shilpa brings out the development of the character arc beautifully - Vaani wants to be seen as a more than what she appears on the surface, and Aditya wants to be understood why he is the way he is.

Once that is established, the sparks between them fly but they still have a lot of battles to fight to get to their happily ever after. How that happens - well, read and find out!

Shilpa's brand is clear in every word of this story and I love how yet again she has given us a beautiful take on modern day relationships and how they can be used to smash stereotypes in every way possible!
Profile Image for Rimi.
714 reviews21 followers
August 27, 2023
Rating : 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5

Review :
4.5stars, yes, I'm giving it 4.5stars, prioritising that I finished the book in 24 hours, yes, the book is that much fun to read.

The story is a romance between Aditya and Vaani. Vaani who wants to be an actress in Bollywood, leaves her family behind. But now she came back after finishing one reality show. After which she doesn't have any work to do and kind of broke and needs a place to live. While Aditya is the business partner of Vaani's father. So when Vaani's father asks her to work in the office as compensate her lodging in their house and gain some money, she couldn't refuse. And that starts a close relationship between Aditya and Vaani.

I absolutely like the opening introduction of Vaani and the situation she's in. As well as the hilarious first encounter of our two protagonist. I also like how the author shows the father - daughter dynamics, where the father doesn't approve of his daughter's career choice but at the same time trying to help in his way.

I really like both of our main protagonists, Aditya and Vaani. How different both of them are from each other , having their own baggages. But at the same time they both appreciate their differences and understand and support each other. And their sweet romance mix with confusion and hesitation but nonetheless a good one. I also like how their relationship doesn't make the other person leave their happy job but find a middle ground.

So definitely a great fun romance I would love to recommend, if you're a fan of opposite attracts, office romance, grumpy x sunshine, with a good plot and character development.
Profile Image for Arti.
662 reviews107 followers
May 29, 2023
Given the ending would be happy, I really wanted to see the process..

Aditya Khamankar is a chartered accountant, a partner in an accountancy firm. He is the dependable son, diligent in his studies, has work ethics, a reliable worker. He likes his life to be simple and routine. He is perfect.

Vaani Jaishankar is unpredictable. She loves glamour and left home to become a star. She had no contact with her parents, only was in touch with her elder brother, till life happened and she had to come back to her parental home in Hyderabad from Mumbai. Something she had promised she would never do.

And when she reaches home, the first person she meets when she reaches home is Aditya, the junior partner in her father’s firm.

The characters are well etched, layered, and we get to know more about them as the story proceeds. They characters and their conversations and actions are very realistic. I loved how they were opposite to each other and how they complemented each other as well. The secondary characters also help decide the twists and turns in the story.

The story has all the elements, love, romance, hatred, friendship, comedy, politics, reality television.

But, the book needs to be read to see what happens when Perfection meets Flawed?
Profile Image for Anjali.
88 reviews1 follower
December 28, 2023
Flawled is the story of Vaani Jayashankar who is an actress, and an unpredictable girl, she got the tag of villain but she is neither villain nor angel. A rebellious girl who was always criticized for her choice, I mean she was never accepted by her family just because of her choice on the other hand Aditya Khamankar's character is like a perfect man. He dedicated his life to his family and work. In this story Vaani's character is filled with full of flaws and Aditya Khamankar is the character who brings stability to her life.

after finishing this book I can say that it is a good book with a great storyline and has some kind of movie vibe, so when I'm reading this book I feel like I'm watching a TV show. Shilpa Suraj wrote this book in simple language so it's easy to read and understand.
Profile Image for Khushbu Mathur.
117 reviews10 followers
July 29, 2023
My first book by Shilpa and Oh my god.. I loved it.. never has a romance book got me coming back to it again and again.. the writing is flowy, the character building is beautiful and the plot was engaging

The main trope is enemies to lovers but the characters own stories are also given weightage. The age gap trope is not very much highlighted like advertised but I still loved it
I especially liked the short length of chapters that made it a fast read..
the ending has left me in wait for the 2nd book in this series but as it sure started with a bang and left readers wanting for more
Profile Image for Zenobia Merchant.
37 reviews1 follower
July 31, 2023
What happens when opposites attract? Clichéd, right? Not really! When a feisty Vaani, a confident and don’t-give-a-damn girl, meets Aditya, an older, grumpy but mature man; fireworks are bound to fly. My overall rating for this book is 4/5. Flawed; should be read by every independent girl who believes in her dreams and is ready to fight for herself and believes in life and love without bothering about what the world will say. Recommended by me.

Read my complete review here: https://zens2cents.wordpress.com/2023...
Profile Image for Harmeen.
798 reviews12 followers
July 20, 2025
3.45 Stars. Lol this one was surprisingly good !! I actually loved Aditya & Vaani. They were good together, I loved how Aditya supported her no matter what. He gave her the support that her father never did. I just loved that. He believed in her, trusted her, cared for her, stood up for her. It was all so endearing.

The story overall was also good. It kept me interested. There wasn’t anything bad per se but I just wanted Aditya & Vaani’s relationship to develop better.
180 reviews4 followers
June 4, 2023
Okay read

I don't understand why people tend to write about glittering world of reality when in reality it is dark...
I don't like television reality shows so much so ..
I would not speak about it and the people's behaviour over there .
Story is good to read .
The characters are penned nicely..
Profile Image for Khushbu Patel.
85 reviews2 followers
July 20, 2023
I love the book and enjoyed reading it till the end.

To know what happens when Flawed meets a Perfectionist or how the love sparkles between all pink and white, read this amazing book by Shilpa Suraj
2 reviews
September 7, 2023
Breezy read

Really enjoyed the reading experience! Quirky, funny, unputdownable, relatable, romantic, family dynamics, all get covered in good beauties..Keep up the good work👍🏽
Profile Image for Angela Peixoto.
905 reviews22 followers
June 16, 2025
A book that holds your interest in every chapter and you cannot wait to continue reading the next one
Profile Image for Gunjan Upadhyay.
33 reviews
July 27, 2023
A contemporary romance story of a calm settled old-school boy Aditya and a sexy wanna-be Bollywood actress Vaani. The book is not just an unexpected love story but it touches on their flawed emotions, relationships, and career choices. Flawed by Shilpa Suraj beautifully explores the journey of the leading pair, finding their true selves, their strength, and weakness, and accepting their love for each other. Read the detailed review here- https://www.tuggunmommy.com/flawed-ro...
Profile Image for Ambica Gulati.
113 reviews26 followers
August 16, 2023
Living up to its name, the book shows us a life full of flaws. Aditya’s family has a history of schizophrenia. His mother and younger brother are both affected by this. In fact, the brother has to be rehabilitated in a hospital. Aditya is living a depressing life with dark secrets. Vaani’s father is a curt man, whose bark is worse than his bite. Vaani is a modern, unscrupulous girl in many ways, who thrives in front of the camera.

The good part of this romance is that there aren’t many characters. So, you tend to keep the sizzle in focus. The dialogues are bold and satirical. The scenes and settings, values and hidden emotions are all relatable. There are some spine-tingling moments in this romantic journey.

If you curl up on your reading chair with a cup of coffee and popcorn, you can finish the book in three hours flat. So, go ahead enjoy the turbulent love in this chick lit, for the end will make you wait for next book in ‘Disgrace’ series.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.