What do you think?
Rate this book
Pretty Complicated
Not yet published
Expected 3 Mar 26What would you do if a passing acquaintance left you their entire fortune, but with a pretty complicated caveat?
When Tara Mishra gambles on a mysterious offer, she doesn’t expect to collide with Brady Pierce: the man who wrecked her finances and her peace of mind. Brady’s mission is simple: protect Lionridge Hall from his aunt’s scheming nephew. But Tara’s arrival turns his world upside down.
The will is missing. The clock is ticking. And someone in the shadows wants them to fail. Between a meddling crew, a mischievous piglet, and a chemistry that could burn the house down, Tara and Brady must decide: trust each other or lose everything.
Pretty Complicated is a meet-cute, rags-to-riches romance featuring a lowkey morally grey heroine, and a hero forced to burn his rule book.
Sit back, relax, and watch the sparks fly...
When Tara Mishra gambles on a mysterious offer, she doesn’t expect to collide with Brady Pierce: the man who wrecked her finances and her peace of mind. Brady’s mission is simple: protect Lionridge Hall from his aunt’s scheming nephew. But Tara’s arrival turns his world upside down.
The will is missing. The clock is ticking. And someone in the shadows wants them to fail. Between a meddling crew, a mischievous piglet, and a chemistry that could burn the house down, Tara and Brady must decide: trust each other or lose everything.
Pretty Complicated is a meet-cute, rags-to-riches romance featuring a lowkey morally grey heroine, and a hero forced to burn his rule book.
Sit back, relax, and watch the sparks fly...
Paperback
Expected publication March 3, 2026
6 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Arini Vlotman
6 books59 followersArini is a romance fanatic, bookworm, book hoarder, and writer who believes that writers are superheroes and readers are her tribe. A people person and self-proclaimed word nerd, she finds comfort in almost any space. However, nothing compares to the joy of being at home with her husband, son, and fur babies.
Living in Johannesburg, South Africa, has gifted her a quirky worldview. In a place where laughter often involves poking fun at oneself, her sense of humour occasionally gets lost in translation. She hopes readers will be kind—she promises she’s funny!
One of her favourite hobbies is unapologetic fangirling (yes, it’s a thing!). Whether it’s musicians, books, movies, or obscure characters, Arini dives into her obsessions with the same gusto as Harry Potter charging into the Whomping Willow.
Connect with Arini on Instagram and TikTok (@arini_author) to share in her journey. Quirkiness, unite!
Living in Johannesburg, South Africa, has gifted her a quirky worldview. In a place where laughter often involves poking fun at oneself, her sense of humour occasionally gets lost in translation. She hopes readers will be kind—she promises she’s funny!
One of her favourite hobbies is unapologetic fangirling (yes, it’s a thing!). Whether it’s musicians, books, movies, or obscure characters, Arini dives into her obsessions with the same gusto as Harry Potter charging into the Whomping Willow.
Connect with Arini on Instagram and TikTok (@arini_author) to share in her journey. Quirkiness, unite!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.0 stars
Funny,chaotic,quirky, cute, laden with Batman x Joker references and a touch of mystery/suspense concocts the mixture that is Pretty Complicated.
I really enjoyed reading about Tara & Brady ♥️ they were quite the chaotic duo that's for sure and once the sparks of love began to burn their sweetness started to show, trust that their romance made for a cute & messy (in a good way) read. It definitely reads easy!
I liked the added mystery/suspense angle that Vlotman explored. It kept things interesting. I must say I never liked Glinda 😂
The Batman x Joker references had me grinning so hard as a superhero girly. Hands down my favourite pet/nicknames ever done in a romance so far. Like this book could be marketed to me with just 1 line:
✨️ She's the Joker to his Batman ✨️ consider me SOLD.
That golf cart scene really cemented the relationship between the 2 MCs. A pivotal & playful moment indeed so I definitely see why it was one of the author's favourite scenes to write.
Throw in a cutesy cat and pig as the fmc's pets and this was delightful. Ladoo's name is just everything 😂
I enjoyed seeing the other characters from the Femme Facade series. I joked and told Arini that like how Ana Huang has the Ana-verse she can have the Arini-verse 😂💖
I look forward to reading her upcoming work.
If you enjoyed Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry I have a feeling you'll love this one! So check it out. Also how cool it is that I'm the first Goodreads review yay! I'll be the first Storygraph review too as I'm gonna pop this onto their database.
Overall, a great read that I recommend!
Releases: March 3rd 2026
Go support a South African author! She deserves it ♥️
• Thanks Arini for the e-arc. All opinions are my own honest takes •
Funny,chaotic,quirky, cute, laden with Batman x Joker references and a touch of mystery/suspense concocts the mixture that is Pretty Complicated.
I really enjoyed reading about Tara & Brady ♥️ they were quite the chaotic duo that's for sure and once the sparks of love began to burn their sweetness started to show, trust that their romance made for a cute & messy (in a good way) read. It definitely reads easy!
I liked the added mystery/suspense angle that Vlotman explored. It kept things interesting. I must say I never liked Glinda 😂
The Batman x Joker references had me grinning so hard as a superhero girly. Hands down my favourite pet/nicknames ever done in a romance so far. Like this book could be marketed to me with just 1 line:
✨️ She's the Joker to his Batman ✨️ consider me SOLD.
That golf cart scene really cemented the relationship between the 2 MCs. A pivotal & playful moment indeed so I definitely see why it was one of the author's favourite scenes to write.
Throw in a cutesy cat and pig as the fmc's pets and this was delightful. Ladoo's name is just everything 😂
I enjoyed seeing the other characters from the Femme Facade series. I joked and told Arini that like how Ana Huang has the Ana-verse she can have the Arini-verse 😂💖
I look forward to reading her upcoming work.
If you enjoyed Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry I have a feeling you'll love this one! So check it out. Also how cool it is that I'm the first Goodreads review yay! I'll be the first Storygraph review too as I'm gonna pop this onto their database.
Overall, a great read that I recommend!
Releases: March 3rd 2026
Go support a South African author! She deserves it ♥️
• Thanks Arini for the e-arc. All opinions are my own honest takes •
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A brilliant, hilarious book 👏 THIS is what we're looking for as readers! I loved the banter in this book, the quirky Batman comments thrown in and the inner struggles of our characters was SO relatable! 🙏 there is a hidden depth to this book that my heart loved and my soul craved ❤️ the fact that the author also brought in characters from her previous books made it so special and unique too, I love how its interconnected!
"You deserve acceptance and unconditional love because there's someone out there, someone who'll help you be the very best version of yourself"
"You deserve acceptance and unconditional love because there's someone out there, someone who'll help you be the very best version of yourself"
Review of advance copy
Tropes: Proximity, Enemies to Lovers, Suspense, Multicultural (Indian and Cape Malay-Afrikaans), Opposites, Found Family, Mental Health Issues
Arini Vlotman writes multicultural romances teeming with humor and zest set in South Africa. Pretty Complicated is the third book in her series, Femme Façade; the books relate to crossover characters but can be read as standalones. Tara Mishra is larger than life and enters the first scene in the story like a sarcastic whirlwind! She goes into stealth mode when she observes her dishonest landlord talking to a stranger (handsome but still a stranger). Trying to avoid both, she is almost hit by a car when
“said” stranger swoops in to rescue her. Brady Pierce is conducting business when he observes Tara’s near accident, he rushes to save her, and she goes from spewing amusing sarcasm to blatant hostility. What in the world is her problem? But the universe again puts them in the same orbit and coincidently, Tara and Brady have yet another encounter when they learn that Tara is named in his aunt’s will. Now they are stuck together as they unravel his aunt’s schemes from the great beyond. They start off as dire enemies but gradually develop warmer feelings. What will happen when Brady discovers that they are connected in more ways than one?
Conclusion:
This book was a fun read with many laugh-out-loud moments. The dialog was crisp and sparkling. Tara was brash and sometimes belligerent but with a core of sweetness and nurturing. Poignantly, Brady was still grappling with an early loss and trying to make a difference in the lives of others. They made a well matched pair. Ms. Vlotman provided an intriguing mystery to her story, and I was absolutely surprised when the villains (at least one) were manifested! Final word, great entertainment, rich love story and a neatly executed mystery. I have not read all the stories in this series, but I certainly plan on doing just that!
Favorite Lines:
And together they would ensure he’d get Project Next Class off the ground again.
Her Indian genes, along with years of turmeric pastes and coconut oil, kept her skin looking vibrant and smooth.
There’s nothing like a fuzzy, cuddly kitten to warm up my cold, blackened heart.”
You deserve acceptance and unconditional love because there’s someone out there, someone who’ll help you be the very best version of yourself.
He'd have to work to bring the light back into her eyes, and into his life.
The woman was crazy.
“Oh, babe, you do that every time you smile at me.”
As much as she hated to admit it, Tara wasn't suited to a life of leisure.
Elron Pierce, who slipped into his native tongue of Cape Malay-Afrikaans when he was angry or excited, frowned even when he smiled, and ate koeksisters like bread, didn’t know the first thing to say to his only child.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
https://theretiredreader.com/f/pretty...
Arini Vlotman writes multicultural romances teeming with humor and zest set in South Africa. Pretty Complicated is the third book in her series, Femme Façade; the books relate to crossover characters but can be read as standalones. Tara Mishra is larger than life and enters the first scene in the story like a sarcastic whirlwind! She goes into stealth mode when she observes her dishonest landlord talking to a stranger (handsome but still a stranger). Trying to avoid both, she is almost hit by a car when
“said” stranger swoops in to rescue her. Brady Pierce is conducting business when he observes Tara’s near accident, he rushes to save her, and she goes from spewing amusing sarcasm to blatant hostility. What in the world is her problem? But the universe again puts them in the same orbit and coincidently, Tara and Brady have yet another encounter when they learn that Tara is named in his aunt’s will. Now they are stuck together as they unravel his aunt’s schemes from the great beyond. They start off as dire enemies but gradually develop warmer feelings. What will happen when Brady discovers that they are connected in more ways than one?
Conclusion:
This book was a fun read with many laugh-out-loud moments. The dialog was crisp and sparkling. Tara was brash and sometimes belligerent but with a core of sweetness and nurturing. Poignantly, Brady was still grappling with an early loss and trying to make a difference in the lives of others. They made a well matched pair. Ms. Vlotman provided an intriguing mystery to her story, and I was absolutely surprised when the villains (at least one) were manifested! Final word, great entertainment, rich love story and a neatly executed mystery. I have not read all the stories in this series, but I certainly plan on doing just that!
Favorite Lines:
And together they would ensure he’d get Project Next Class off the ground again.
Her Indian genes, along with years of turmeric pastes and coconut oil, kept her skin looking vibrant and smooth.
There’s nothing like a fuzzy, cuddly kitten to warm up my cold, blackened heart.”
You deserve acceptance and unconditional love because there’s someone out there, someone who’ll help you be the very best version of yourself.
He'd have to work to bring the light back into her eyes, and into his life.
The woman was crazy.
“Oh, babe, you do that every time you smile at me.”
As much as she hated to admit it, Tara wasn't suited to a life of leisure.
Elron Pierce, who slipped into his native tongue of Cape Malay-Afrikaans when he was angry or excited, frowned even when he smiled, and ate koeksisters like bread, didn’t know the first thing to say to his only child.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
https://theretiredreader.com/f/pretty...
January 30, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars) — ARC Review
Pretty Complicated by Arini Voltman hooked me from the very first chapter with tension, history, and banter that walks the line between sharp and hilarious.
What starts off looking like a chaotic meet-cute quickly reveals itself to be anything but. Tara and Brady already share a past, and it’s clear from their very first interaction that whatever happened between them left scars — especially for Tara. I loved that the story doesn’t info-dump their history, but instead lets the mystery simmer underneath every exchange.
Tara is already shaping up to be a layered FMC. She’s guarded, divorced, a plant lover, and devoted to her not-so-cuddly cat — which feels like the perfect metaphor for her personality. There’s a softness there, but it’s protected. The hint that she’s “morally grey” has me very curious about how her past choices will unfold.
Brady, on the other hand, is giving emotionally repressed man trying very hard to stay in control energy. His attempt to brush Tara off after their encounter is almost funny considering how clearly he cannot stop thinking about her. The internal denial vs. obvious fixation is delicious tension this early on.
One thing I especially appreciated is the strong South African setting. The details feel natural and lived-in — from everyday environmental touches to small background references that ground the story in a real place. It adds authenticity that makes the world feel familiar rather than generically “city romance.”
Pretty Complicated by Arini Voltman hooked me from the very first chapter with tension, history, and banter that walks the line between sharp and hilarious.
What starts off looking like a chaotic meet-cute quickly reveals itself to be anything but. Tara and Brady already share a past, and it’s clear from their very first interaction that whatever happened between them left scars — especially for Tara. I loved that the story doesn’t info-dump their history, but instead lets the mystery simmer underneath every exchange.
Tara is already shaping up to be a layered FMC. She’s guarded, divorced, a plant lover, and devoted to her not-so-cuddly cat — which feels like the perfect metaphor for her personality. There’s a softness there, but it’s protected. The hint that she’s “morally grey” has me very curious about how her past choices will unfold.
Brady, on the other hand, is giving emotionally repressed man trying very hard to stay in control energy. His attempt to brush Tara off after their encounter is almost funny considering how clearly he cannot stop thinking about her. The internal denial vs. obvious fixation is delicious tension this early on.
One thing I especially appreciated is the strong South African setting. The details feel natural and lived-in — from everyday environmental touches to small background references that ground the story in a real place. It adds authenticity that makes the world feel familiar rather than generically “city romance.”
Review of advance copy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Firstly, I want to say thank you to the author for gifting me a copy of the book. I absolutely loved and enjoyed the story! The banter was everything and the slow burn was eating me up to the point where I had to binge the last 37% of the book.
Absolutely great work!
Firstly, I want to say thank you to the author for gifting me a copy of the book. I absolutely loved and enjoyed the story! The banter was everything and the slow burn was eating me up to the point where I had to binge the last 37% of the book.
Absolutely great work!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews