Incomplete Without You

by Vash Karuppa

Incomplete Without You is the second in a series of closely interrelated books that focus on a close-knit family and circle of their friends. If you love romantic thrillers featuring swoon worthy heroes and strong, independent heroines who are surrounded by a circle of enduring love from family and friends, you'll love this series! No cliffhangers. Guaranteed HEAs, always.

He's haunted by his past. She's hiding from hers.

After fleeing from a dangerous past, Drushti Sathiyavan has lived under a shadow of fear and anxiety. Afraid to trust anyone, she keeps a low profile, running her bakery Sweet Sensations, and taking care of her younger sister. She finds it difficult to forge relationships, until her friendship with Srinidhi Vahin leads her into a circle of friends who embrace her into their lives unconditionally. She is not prepared for the way in which they force their way into her space and, disturbingly, her heart. Especially the one man determined to break down the walls she built around her heart and past, Setheran Vahin.

Setheran Vahin had no desire to get into a relationship. After retiring from the military, he returned home and focused his energy on his business, Vahin Private Security & Protection Services. The only relationships he was interested in, were those with his family and close circle of friends, until Drushti burst into his life.

They start off on the wrong foot, are polar opposites, and yet somehow, can’t seem to resist the pull toward each other. When Setheran realizes Drushti's hiding from danger, he vows to protect her and her sister. He teaches her to cope with her fear, and gives her the courage to let someone in.
But the threat to Drushti’s life, and terror of her past, still lingers. She has no doubt her enemies will find her. While loving Setheran offers her happiness she thought she'd never find, allowing him fully into her life could cost him, and the people around them, their lives. Love is a liability she can't afford.

What begins as an unpredictable friendship, turns into a love affair that threatens to consume both of them. Secrets, hidden identities, past trauma, and a cruel twist of fate force them to realize that the bonds of friendship and love of family is everything!

516 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 27, 2026

About the author

Vash is a South African author of Indian origin who has been an avid reader from the tender age of five. Being a passionate romantic and voracious bookaholic, reading was a drug to which she had an instant addiction, one that only grew with time. While books in all genres interest her, it was romance that captured her heart. Even as a pre-teen, she loved the ‘happily ever after (HEA)’ syndrome leading her to fall in love with any book in the romance genre, and later as a teenager, dreams of writing her own HEA story.

Writing a novel has always been part of her bucket list, so, after spending years concentrating on her role as a corporate executive, she eventually unleashed her number one desire and passion for writing with Destiny for Love Arranged. Vash’s writing portrays the lives and dramas of ordinary people who readers can easily relate to. The crux of her stories celebrates the power of true love coupled with the timeless bonds and inevitable drama that exist between family and friends while capturing the true essence of diverse cultures especially nuances of the South Indian culture. Her stories are inspired by Indian traditions, but set in contemporary times.

She enjoys writing and reading above all else, but when Vash doesn’t have her nose stuck in a book, she can be found cooking, watching movies and hanging out with her close-knit family. Vash grew up in Durban and resides with her husband in Johannesburg, two of South Africa’s most stunning cities. She is a member of Romance Organisation of South Africa.

Vash loves interacting with her readers so please feel free to connect with her via her various social media platforms or on email at authorvashkaruppa@gmail.com

Reviews

[Louma · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC copy received from the author

I love big family dramas, and Incomplete Without You by Vash Karuppa totally delivered. Even though I haven’t read Book 1 (You Are My Reason) yet, this story was still easy to follow and it definitely made me want to go back and read it.

The best part of this book is the family vibe: the banter, the strong bonds between cousins and siblings, and the respect for elders. The family WhatsApp group chat was once again a highlight and had me smiling.
This book follows Setheran and Drushti, and their slow-burn romance was really enjoyable. Setheran and Drushti are a sweet couple. I loved the way he tries to win Drushti over, and you have no choice but to love the supporting cast.

I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series!

[Jeni · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC copy received from the Author

My love for reading big family dramas continue.. and just like book 1 - 'You are my Reason' , Vash Karuppa continues to give us another couples' story from this big happy family in book 2 - 'Incomplete Without You'

The best part about her books is the family banter, the bond of the cousins and siblings and the love and respect for their elders. The family whatsapp group chat is once again the highlight of this book too

Vash also gives us a glimpse of the world of NRI's, the way they follow all our Indian traditions blended with modern culture

'Incomplete without you' is the story of Gyan's cousin Setheran and Drushti in the 'Circle of enduring Love' series. We have already met them in Book 1

A chance encounter with Drushti leaves Setheran wanting for more and as luck would have it, he gets his perfect opportunity pretty soon.... Right from the start he feels something special for her and tries to woo her.... Though Drushti has similar feelings, she holds herself back for a reason... Setheran very sweetly and in a fun way tries to break through her defences and this makes their slow burn love story even more interesting

The couple is cute and Setheran is a 10 😍The sweet things he says all the time.... oooohhhh.....The supporting cast is spot on and the book is a reader's delight

Waiting for the next book in the series now...Guess it will be JC and Ishvani

[Navina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recieved an arc from the author and this is my honest review.
Incomplete Without You is a deeply emotional, slow-burn romance that places its focus not on dramatic twists or fast-paced events, but on healing, trauma, and the quiet struggle to reconnect with another person. The novel will strongly appeal to readers who enjoy introspective love stories, especially those that centre on emotionally scarred characters who are still searching for connection despite their pain. From the very beginning, the story draws the reader into a world shaped by grief, emotional isolation, fear of loving again, and lingering guilt. Rather than simply describing these feelings, the author allows the reader to live inside them, making the emotional experience feel raw and personal.
One of the author’s greatest strengths is the way the characters’ inner lives are portrayed. The internal monologues are detailed and realistic, showing how the characters wrestle with trust, self-blame, and the feeling of being broken. These thoughts do not feel exaggerated or artificial; instead, they reflect the way real people think when they have been hurt deeply. Because of this, the love story does not feel rushed or forced. It develops slowly and naturally, making the eventual emotional closeness between the characters feel earned rather than convenient.
This is not a dramatic or overly romanticised love story. The relationship grows through quiet conversations, small meaningful gestures, emotional vulnerability, and mutual understanding. The characters learn to lean on one another in subtle ways, creating a romance that feels mature and believable. Readers who enjoy slow-burn relationships, emotional tension, and the idea of two damaged people slowly finding comfort in each other will find this approach especially powerful.
The writing style supports this emotional depth. The prose is gentle and often poetic, with a strong focus on emotional states rather than action. Some of the most beautiful moments in the book come from descriptions of loneliness and longing, which are handled with sensitivity and care. The author’s language allows the reader to feel the weight of what the characters are going through, adding to the overall atmosphere of quiet sadness and hope.
Incomplete Without You is best suited for readers who enjoy emotional healing stories, trauma-bonded characters, deep internal reflection, and sad but hopeful love stories. Those who appreciate themes of grief, second chances, and quiet, meaningful connections will likely find the novel moving and memorable. Ultimately, this is a beautiful but emotionally intense book. It does not aim simply to entertain; instead, it seeks to heal, offering a story about broken people learning, slowly and gently, how to become whole again through love.

[Atmaram Sahakari · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the Circle of Enduring Love series, is the story of Dhristi and Setharan, two individuals with troubled past, trying to make a sense of growing attraction towards each other. An intense encounter over a minor misunderstanding, sparks the flame of attraction between the two. A combination of meddling family and the close friendship between Dristi's sister and Setharan's niece, forces them into close proximity of each other, transforming the mutual attraction into love.

Having had a stint in military, Setharan is now the successful owner of Vahin Private Security. In spite of being family man to the core, he has developed a strong aversion to commitment and marriage due to some prior events. On the other hand, Dristi the owner of Sweet Sensations Bakery, is independent, strong and yet a vulnerable girl. Having lost her parents at a young age and fleeing from dangerous past, she is extremely protective of her younger sister, who is the only other surviving member of her family.

As they say, 'The path of love isn't easy; it often involves navigating through challenges, misunderstandings, and sacrifices', both Dhristi and Setharan, are forced to face their fears and decide if it is worth giving love a chance. With the demons of the past casting shadow over their future of togetherness, whether they are able to overcome these challenges to achieve their happily ever after, is for you to read and find out.

If you are a fan of romantic thrillers, that showcase the lead character's struggles as well as their inner strength to overcome their fears, the easy camaraderie between the family members who share a very strong familial bond and the interspersing of humor elements to lighten up the tense atmosphere, I am sure you would enjoy reading this book.

[Arti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incomplete Without You by Vash Karuppa is the second book of the Circle of Enduring love series. This book is the story of Drushti Sathiyavan and Setheran Vahin set in South Africa.
After fleeing from a dangerous past, Drushti Sathiyavan keeps a low profile, running her bakery Sweet Sensations, and taking care of her younger sister. She finds it difficult to forge relationships, until her friendship with Srinidhi Vahin leads her into a circle of friends who treat her more like family.
After retiring from the military, Setheran Vahin returned home and focused his energy on his business, Vahin Private Security & Protection Services. The only relationships he is interested in are with his family and close circle of friends.
He's haunted by his past. She's hiding from hers. And when Setheran realizes Drushti's hiding from danger, he vows to protect her and her sister. But Drushti is scared that her enemies might hurt her friends, so for their sake, she keeps her feelings to herself.
I loved the story and really admire how the author managed to create two books in the series that move simultaneously and the best part is the consistency, both in the scenes and the dialogues.
The characters are lovable and we also meet characters from her other series as well, which shows that the Indian community in South Africa is close knit and people know each other and help each other like family.
The relationship between the cousins, the conversations in the whatsapp groups are so natural.
A must read. It can definitely be read as a standalone, but reading the first book in the series makes it all the more interesting
Eagerly waiting for the next book in the series.

[Subashni]

What’s not to love about a modern day romance with a little drama…Setheran and Drushti are clearly attracted to one another but a secret looms threatening their happy ending. It was hard to put down, I was intrigued and a there was a very unexpected twist in the story!

I really enjoyed the style of writing and the South Indian traditions explained ensures that our culture stays alive between the pages of books like this, I applaud Vash Karuppa for weaving this into her story telling.

There were moments when my heart ached for Drushti and other times I laughed so much at the family banter.

I look forward to the rest of the books in this series.

[Cynthia Kistasamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love stories with sweet, authentic, pure love, you know, that book with all the feels that leaves you on a happy cloud for days after the end, this books for you. Vash Karrupa has that special way of weaving emotionally heartfelt and genuine storylines that live with you long after the story has ended. Loved this book.

Review by Cynthia Kistasamy

[Arini Vlotman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a romance with found-family, sparks that jump of the page and layered characters all bound together in a memorable journey.
Karuppa weaves a sweet and light hearted tale with a barrage of side characters to create a sentimental and diverse story.

[Angela Peixoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Circle of enduring love series is a captivating second chance story and I look forward to the next instalment in this collection.