Harsh Kodela is his family’s black sheep, the blackest ever. He’s the ‘actor’ in his family’s world of politics and power. Except no one knows just how much he’s acting, every second of every day.
Raashi Gadde is the cuckoo in the Gadde nest. A PhD in Aeronautical Engineering, she is the prickly introvert in a family that lives for the media and its spotlight.
The oil to Harsh’s water, the salt to his wounds, Raashi finds herself constantly at loggerheads with the man. When an argument between the two of them at one of Harsh’s movie premieres goes viral, Raashi finds herself the most trolled woman in the state. Harsh’s own image devolves from being the State’s heartthrob to a toxic alpha male, a fact that is unacceptable on a personal and professional level.
When Harsh’s PR team suggests a fake relationship between the two to soothe public opinion, Harsh and Raashi are horrified. But the families convince them that the strategy is sound and most importantly, ‘temporary.’
Until the day, their past catches up with their distorted present and Raashi and Harsh find themselves in a very ‘real’ engaged to be married moment.
Rage propels the couple to stay as far away from each other as possible. But where there is strong emotion, there is also room for more. Can Raashi look past the face Harsh shows the world and see the man he truly is? Can Harsh ever love a woman who stands for everything he could never achieve himself, for failures his father has long reviled him for? Hate and Love may be two sides of the same coin... Can the same be said for Rage?
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.
Married in Rage is the third book in the Dynasty Rebels series by Shilpa Suraj. It is the story of Harsh Kodela, the superstar son of the CM. Always slighted by his domineering father, he decides to play the fool, hiding the pain in his heart. Raashi Gadde is a PHD and introvert. She is as different from Harsh as day is from night. They cannot meet and not lapse into a war of words, which usually leaves them seething with anger. But one day, that war goes too far. They end up getting fake engaged and then getting married to one another. Does their rage abate under the simmering chemistry between them? Married in Rage is a quick read. It holds the reader's interest from the first page (which is quite a tongue-in-cheek barb at the state of our film industry) until the happily ever after. The good part about Shilpa's books is how strong the female protagonist always is. Raashi, despite her diminutive size, is the same. It exposes how men in powerful positions exploit the feelings and emotions of the vulnerable. That the patina of distinguished usually hides something dirty. Harsh was one of my favourite characters in the previous two books and Shilpa has done a great job in building layers to his character. Another thing that I loved in this book is the banter between Harsh and Raashi. Chuckle-inducing it directly hits the funny bone. I am now looking forward to Ram's story, which will complete the quartet.
I’m a big fan of Shilpa Suraj, and Married in Rage, the third book in the Dynasty Rebels series, truly delivers, especially with its gripping enemies-to-lovers storyline. This time, we get the story of Harsh, the rebellious actor who avoids family and politics due to his contrast thoughts with that of family and Raashi, the introverted scholar who shuns the media spotlight, who is back in India for good and facing her fears and past baggage.
The book explores their contrasting personalities, forcing them together after a scandalous media controversy leads to a fake dating arrangement. As tensions rise, so does their chemistry, sparking witty banter and sizzling romantic moments against a backdrop of family drama between the Kodela and Gadde clans.
While I’ve enjoyed Shilpa Suraj’s previous books, this one exceeded my expectations. It blends family dynamics, romance, and deeper themes like parenting, familyhood, and dyslexia, all while keeping the characters relatable and authentic. The extrovert-vs-introvert dynamic adds layers to the love story, and the dialogue is as sharp as ever, hitting all the right notes.
Overall, Married in Rage is the best in the series, with an engaging plot, fiery chemistry, and a satisfying narrative. The epilogue has me eagerly anticipating the next couple’s story!
This is the story of Harsh Kodela, the black sheep of the Kodela family and Raashi Gadde, the cuckoo in the Gadde nest. Harsh is an actor, and not a politician like his father and elder brother. He is acting, every second of every day. Raashi is a PhD in Aeronautical Engineering and an introvert in a media family. They cannot stand each other and when one of their arguments goes viral, the PR team suggests a fake relationship between the two to soothe public opinion. They are horrified, but their families convince them that the strategy is ‘temporary.’ The story is fast paced and as the characters are familiar, it feels like the entire story is playing right before our eyes. The story has elements of family drama, rage, sibling love. I loved the characters, and how their feelings are portrayed. And I loved how the siblings stood up for each other. The way the author has brought in the past of the characters is commendable, and makes us see them in a new light justifying their actions. The story is a page turner. I am really waiting for Ram’s story next.
I am amazed at the way the author has explained the complexity of lives of Harsh Kodela and Raashi Gadde.
Harsh, the black sheep of his political family, and Raashi, the introverted PhD holder, are expertly crafted characters. Their initial animosity towards each other made their love story all the more gripping.
The author masterfully explored themes of individuality, family dynamics, and the blurred lines between resentment and desire.
The fake relationship is nothing new when it comes to the romance genre, but the way it is presented surely left me breathless with its slow-burn element in the mix.
The story is well-balanced, with a mix of emotional moments, humorous interactions, and intense confrontations. Overall, it's a must-read.
I am eagerly looking forward to the story of Ram and Aadhya.
Trope : Enemies to Lovers, Forced Engagement, Redemption Arc.
The book's title alone sets the tone, and true to its promise, this story is brimming with anger, frustration, and unresolved emotions that keep you hooked from start to finish. The combination of the enemies-to-lovers trope, intense emotional drama, and the redemption arc makes Married in Rage a gripping read. If you enjoy fiery romances with characters who have to fight through their emotions to find love, this book will not disappoint. The story touches on how generational trauma, misunderstandings, and familial pressure can impact personal relationships.
Not sure if this one is my favourite of the stories so far but I love Harsh and Raashi's chemistry. We still never found out why they actually hated each other unless it's just due to each other's jealousy of one being smart and the other being a social butterfly but it's not ever stated. But honestly the chemistry between the two is PERFECT. they're literally made for each other. My only thing was not seeing the full revenge on the evil guy but we'll see it in the next book. (Also, that epilogue was so good, I'm so excited for the next book!!!!)
Harsh Kodela, the youngest of the Kodela siblings is the ‘actor’ in a family of politicians, his father being the current Chief Minister and his elder brother Agastya the famous minister and obvious heir to his father’s political throne. Harsh was always considered a nuisance by his father for all the trouble he inadvertently got into. Raashi Gadde has returned from the US for good, after completing her PhD in aeronautical engineering. Unlike the Gadde siblings, she is the introvert who minded her own business and was almost invisible to her family also.
When Harsh and Raashi bumped into each other at Harsh’s movie screening, as Raashi accompanied her elder sister Priyanka who is now married to Agastya, sparks flew between the duo. However, these are not romantic sparks but dangerous flames as Raashi’s caustic remarks about Harsh’s character go viral. Next day, Harsh’s female fans, Harshians physically assault Raashi enraged by her comments about their beloved hero.
As Harsh’s PR team try to salvage the situation by suggesting a fake relationship, Harsh is forced to play along to avoid his career from crashing and Raashi also gets involved in this fake drama when she comes face-to-face with her past demons. From fake engagement to hurried marriage, will Harsh and Raashi be able to understand the real persona of each other, forms the rest of the story.
This is the third book in the Dynasty Rebels series after Married in Hate and Married in Deceit and as hinted at the end of book2, narrates the story of Harsh and Raashi. Harsh had good footage in the previous two books as the fun Kodela sibling and Raashi was introduced only in the second book as the spunky Gadde sibling. Harsh is the hot, desirable hero for his millions of fangirls, but at home his father left no chance to humiliate and taunt him. Raashi had her own share of misadventures from the past which she is ashamed of and would never dare share her troubles with her family.
The story starts with a bang introducing the charismatic lifestyle of Harsh, quickly moving to the conflict between Harsh and Raashi and the ensuing controversy in media. Their engagement and marriage along with the mystery man in Raashi’s life keep the reader engaged. From then on the story moves at a slow pace until pre climax where Raashi’s past is revealed. Raashi’s secret’s connection to the earlier two books in the series is interesting.
The middle parts are where I found the story lacking in engagement, as Harsh’s childhood struggle and Raashi’s past secret are the only USP of the story. The author’s strength had always been in creating interesting male protaganists and Harsh pales in character development when compared to Aarush or Agastya. Even Raashi’s character is not a standout except in the one scene where she stands up for Harsh to his father.
The fourth book will narrate the story of Ram and Aadhya, hence glimpses of their story and relationship is also shown in this story, building up to the next one in the series. Even if you have not read the first two books in this series you can still pick this one, however, reading the first two books in that order prior to picking this one will help appreciate the family dynamics.
“You are many things, Raashi Gadde. But you never were and never will be nothing.”
Power Couple is what I would call Raashi and Harsh!!! The way they stood for each other, especially Raashi standing up against his father was so fucking satisfying. It was disappointing that Harsh and his father didn't get the much-needed closure and that the whole family didn't get to know about Harsh's dyslexia.
I absolutely love the reverse grumpy x sunshine trope. Their banter was top-notch and gave off a genuine enemies-to-lovers vibe. The journey from fake dating to a marriage of convenience and then to a love marriage was beautifully crafted. One character I adore wholeheartedly is Ram; that guy has my heart. The way he stood up for his sisters was so heartwarming.
Now, talking about our main characters, Harsh and Raashi, they are both fireballs. Their personalities are incredibly different yet somehow similar. Harsh, with his heart of gold, is a ray of sunshine despite being treated poorly by his own family. He never stops being himself, which is what I truly admire about him. The way he supported Raashi when she thought she needed to change herself to feel noticed was wonderful—he made her feel secure about who she is. Raashi, the little firecracker and literal sunshine protector, isn’t afraid to speak her mind and take responsibility for her mistakes, which makes her very special.