Fractured Games: (A spicy billionaire x Publicist romance)

Arranged Games #5

by Simran ., Simrann

He thinks he’s unworthy of love. But I’m going to prove him wrong.”

Arya
I’ve been a good girl my entire life.
What did it get me?
Getting ditched at the altar and becoming a laughingstock in front of the world.
After stitching my broken heart together in hiding for months,
I bravely take a step back into reality,
Walking straight into another nightmare.
Until my white knight in shining armor struts in.
Nathan Singhania.
Beautifully broken. Insanely gorgeous. Lethally powerful.
The heartbreak in his eyes mirrored mine.
Our attraction burned hotter than lava.
When he swoops in as my knight again,
I give myself to him for one night.
No strings. No feelings.
The moment it’s over, his true colors come out.
Making me realize his charming act was a sinful trap.
Swearing off men forever, I pour myself into work.
But Karma isn’t done with me because when I step into the conference room,
The man sitting across the desk is none other than him.
Looking for a publicist to protect him from the scandal that disrupted his house of lies.

Nathan
The world has crowned me as the perfect gentleman.
It’s all false.
Because they don’t hear the hollow heart that beats inside my chest.
The chaos that lives in my head.
The lies on my tongue.
When the truth about my engagement is revealed that it was nothing but a sordid deal,
It causes the first crack in my perfect image.
Giving my enemies the opening they need.
Forced to hire a publicist, I don’t expect her to walk into the room.
Arya Chopra.
Elegant. Sexy. Sharp-tongued.
The woman who stirs my blood with a single glance,
Even when she throws daggers at me with her eyes.
Hiring her would be a test of my restraint. A distraction I cannot afford.
But when she turns the tables on me and says no in a bratty tone,
I take it as a challenge and show her who’s the boss.
Little do I know that I hired my own downfall.

Tropes:
Billionaire x Publicist
One Night Stand
Misunderstood Characters
Good Girl x Bad Boy
Fast Burn
Secret Hookups

Note: This is the fifth and final installment in the Arranged Games series. It features a morally grey billionaire and his sassy Publicist who goes toe to toe with him at every turn. Although it can be read as a standalone, it is recommended to read the series in order for better enjoyment and to avoid little spoilers.

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Billionaire Romance, Fiction, Dark

608 pages, Paperback

Published February 17, 2026

About the author

Writer of forbidden and super steamy romance

Reviews

[Kursed Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Left at the altar, Arya Chopra spends two months wallowing in self pity before her friends force her out of seclusion. Still struggling under the weight of the embarrassment and her family’s disappointment, Arya’s need for a moment’s reprieve inadvertently lands her in a bad situation.

A white knight cloaked in the shadows, Nathan Singhania comes to her rescue just in time. And continues to do so as fate keeps putting her in his path.

Good gravy. The trauma for both of these two ran so deep. It was painfully obvious that Nathan’s stony façade was just that, a façade. With all he suffered, it was understandable why he was emotionally unavailable. Still, with every setback, my heart shattered right alongside theirs.

While this one was a little more painful than I typically read, it was worth every tear. This is only my third Simran read, but she’s quickly becoming a must-read author for me.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Format: 📱

🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Mystery/Suspense, New Adult

Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}
Emotions: 🫠🥺🥵😳😍
Darkness: 🩶🩶
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

✨ Tropes: Billionaire, Enemies-to-Lovers, Family Saga, Forced Proximity, Jilted Bride, One Night Stand, Secret Relationship, Workplace
 
💫 Microtropes: Boy Obsessed, Caretaker/Protective MMC, Caveman/Bridal Carry, Friends w/ Benefits, “Good Girl”, Hand Necklace, Interracial/POC, Panty Thief, Pet Name, Scarred, Secrets & Lies, Tragic Past, Trauma Bonding, Who Hurt You?

🔆 Character: Publicist, White Collar

💋 Kinks: 🍑, Biting/Marking, Cum Jammer, Degradation, Dirty Talk, Discipline/Punishment, Domination, Finger Licking Good, Power Exchange, Praise, Public Play, Rimming, Spitting

🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a

🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, Domination, Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive, Makes Her Ex Watch, MINE!, Touch-Her-and-💀, Unhinged MMC

⛔️ Safety Squad: Assault (Not by MMC), Child Abuse, OW/OM Drama (Mild), Suicidal Ideations (by MMC), Substance Abuse, Violence, and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page, and in the past and present. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📍 Setting: City, India 🇮🇳

⚠️ Warning: This smutty read will have you DoorDashing batteries for BOB.

📣 Type: Fractured Games is part of the Arranged Games series of interconnected standalones. While no other books need to be read in order to follow the story, reading prior books may enhance the experience.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[sisy 🪽 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah I hated him.

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5🌟, 3🌶️

This finale delivered the kind of angst, healing, and love that makes a story impossible to forget.

Arya and Nathan are both carrying deep emotional scars, shaped by betrayal, loss, and the quiet belief that they were never meant to be chosen. Arya’s humiliation and heartbreak left her rebuilding herself from the ground up, while Nathan hides behind control and distance, convinced he is unworthy of anything real. Watching them recognize each other’s pain and still choose to stay felt incredibly raw and deeply moving.

Their connection is immediate but layered with tension, vulnerability, and undeniable chemistry. When Arya steps into his world as his publicist, their forced closeness breaks down the walls they both fought to keep intact. Nathan is intense, protective, and emotionally fragile beneath his composed exterior, while Arya meets him with strength and quiet defiance. Their banter, emotional push and pull, and slow growth toward trust made their relationship feel authentic and earned.

What made this story truly stand out was its emotional weight and the healing woven into every moment. Seeing Nathan slowly believe he deserved love, and Arya reclaim her worth, was both heartbreaking and beautiful. With familiar faces returning and everything coming full circle, this felt like a meaningful and satisfying ending to the series.

A deeply emotional and unforgettable ending that felt truly earned.

~~~~

Special thanks to Simran and Valentine PR for providing this Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. ✨

[Kayla Berger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can finish 600–700 page books in less than 24 hours, and I have read every book in the Arranged Games series within 24 hours as well. However, this was really hard — it took me 2 days to finish. I love all the characters in the series, and I am having a hard time saying goodbye to them, especially when this fifth and final book was the saddest. Arya and Nathan were so broken. I had such a hard time with them both feeling that they wanted more than a casual hookup but believing they didn’t deserve love. Every book in this series has made me cry, but this one definitely made me cry the most. Nathan and Arya deserved better childhoods and better parents. As a parent, I couldn’t imagine treating my child the way their parents treated them. But seeing them heal each other’s broken hearts truly was so special. I couldn’t have thought of a more perfect ending for these amazing characters. I am so grateful to Simran for allowing me to be a part of her content team and allowing me to have an ARC of Fractured Games.

[Nari · Rating 1 out of 5]

why are you begging for this man’s love…
should have dnfed 😭

[juli ୨ৎ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Si junto todas las escenas de sexo que leí en toda mi vida y las tripilico no llegan ni a la mitad de las que hay en este libro, fue un suplicio desde la mitad hasta el final.

[Leandra Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review-
I was not prepared for Nathan’s dirty mouth🤭 some of the things this man said had my jaw on the floor. I absolutely loved this book! Simran has taken off with my emotions again! These two are such a complicated but uncomplicated pair at the same time, I love that Nathan calls her angel and you see his complicated feeling and spirals. Rose was an absolute badass just being her and Iris was like the middle person trying to help the tension which truly made me laugh at some parts. I love that Arya finally stood up to her family and got out of that situation. If I have a dollar for every time I wanted to punch a parent during reading books I’d probably be rich.

[KayBeReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an opening! Arya is a jilted bride, she was embarrassed by her spineless ex fiancé. And Nathan is licking his wounds after what happened with Iris. These two have a chance encounter while out one night and then again during lunch one day. And both times Nathan is Arya’s dark knight in shining armor. Nathan is a menace when he wants to be and Arya is a sweetie and doesn’t let him walk all over her. Their banter is top tier and the “tension” between them is hot! Nathan is a very dominant man and Arya loves it. Now I don’t give spoilers but I have to say this Aryan( the ex) has problems. He made our girl feel bad about receiving pleasure from his mouth. I mean he went as far as gargling his mouth out. In my mind what I pictured was Ian from Shameless scrubbing his mouth out after he did same thing. But for those who watched Ian was gay, so that tracked. Now I’m not saying Aryan is but you never know. Now Nathan he has no problem with and he very much showed it! These two are hot hot hot 🥵! The spice marvelous! Nathan is naassssstttyyy, I like it. These two don’t how to keep their hand to themselves. They have electrifying chemistry. They are truly meant for each other. They have such great banter it’s a joy to read. I also want to say both their parents suck. This the first time a Simran book has made me cry. They all invoked emotion from me but this one legit brought tears to my eyes. It was beautiful. Darn you Nathan for making me not like you when you are the sweetest person ever. Arya is an amazing woman and deserves all the love and happiness( I always liked her even with what went Bianca, IYKYK). Fractured Games was everything and more.

[Andreea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fractured Games by Simian was an incredibly pleasant surprise. It was my first time reading this author and I truly hope it won’t be the last.

“The heart is often strong, but extremely hopeless when it’s at war with the mind.”

I loved seeing how the female character, Arya, transforms once she leaves her broken heart behind. From the timid girl we meet in the first chapters, she grows into a confident and strong woman. I liked how firm she is when facing Nathan, never hesitating to tell him exactly what’s on her mind. Betrayal doesn’t take away her kindness and I truly appreciated that about her.

“And an even bigger truth is… no one has control over their heart. It follows its own rules. Every warning fails against it.”

Nathan was an enigma at the beginning. Even though we get chapters from his perspective, it wasn’t easy for me to form a clear opinion about him. I knew part of his truth, but he kept doing complete 180s, which only added more emotion to the story. He remains a mysterious character, one who wears a mask.

“Perhaps a little bit of a gentleman does exist inside him. No matter how hard he tries to bury that side with barbed wire and cutting taunts.”

The intensity of their attraction is palpable from the very first moment. And oh, the tension! I loved the touch of jealousy woven into the story, combined with the characters’ assumptions and their fears rooted in past events. I even liked the moments when Nathan tries to make Ari hate him, driven by the belief that he’s not good enough for her and by the fact that he doesn’t want a relationship. I kept wanting to know why, and what other secrets he was hiding. It’s the kind of story that makes your heart clench and I love that.

“We’re a scandal waiting to happen.”

And the ending? OMG! The emotional rollercoaster it put me through! I went from fear to streams of tears and from tears to pure shock. It truly was a book that managed to surprise me. I was so focused on certain things that not even for a second would I have imagined what was about to happen. It’s a story that stays with you.

★★★★★

Thanks @valentine_pr_ for the ARC of this book!

[Inge Mosch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. I’ve read the other books in the series, and in those I really didn’t like Nathan. I really wanted to understand him and his actions better.

At the beginning of this book, I was afraid I wouldn’t like him here either, the push and pull between him and Arya was, at times, almost unbearable. However, as the story progressed, we got to see more of who he is and the reasoning behind his actions. By the end of the book, everything made sense. While I still didn’t approve of his past actions, I could finally understand why he did what he did. And at last, we were able to see the lovable Nathan. I loved Arya, she transformed from a broken girl to a strong woman, they really were great together! Their HEA felt so well deserved!

I loved the character development, the plot twists, the writing style of Simran and the storyline. The spice was really spicy! I loved how all the loose ends came together at the end of the book, and it truly felt like the story was complete. Just the best ending of an amazing series!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review Fractured Games by Simran

This one HURT in the best way. 😮‍💨💔

Arya is trying to rebuild herself after public breakup in walks Nathan emotionally closed off, controlled, and carrying his own damage.

The emotional tension is just as strong as the chemistry, and the healing journey feels real instead of rushed.

And NATHAN Sir. The hold this man had on me i will get on my knees for you and I will do anything UNWELL.

A messy, intense love story where both characters have to fight their own demons before they can fight for each other. 🖤

⭐ 4.5 Stars
🌶️🌶️🌶️ Spice Level

Thank you Simran for the ARC ❤️

[Kajal Patel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started out really well and I was interested in the story line. There were then too many third act breakups for no reason at all. The story just became flat for no reason. Like what the hell was the part where his dad tried to kill him???? Like that came out of literally no where and kinda wasn’t relevant at all. What was the point If them hiding their relationship the whole time either. There was so much potential but it really just fell flat after 50% of the way through. I would give it a 2.5-.75 if I could.

[thevelvetthorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fractured Games showcases genuinely solid writing — the prose is smooth, the emotional beats are easy to sink into, and the chemistry between the leads is the strongest element of the story. Simran handles attraction, tension, and those intimate moments with skill, creating a flow that keeps you turning the pages.

Where the book stumbles is the plot itself. Certain story choices feel unexpected or slightly out of place, almost as if the narrative is trying to fit several tropes at once. Some twists don’t fully align with the characters’ established arcs, making the overall progression feel a bit strange or uneven at times.

That said, it’s still an enjoyable, engaging read with memorable moments and heartfelt writing. Readers who love high-emotion romance, dramatic tension, and character-driven storytelling will find plenty to appreciate here.

arc review thank you valentine for providing me with this arc

[FireSerene Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delivered that push-and-pull dynamic perfectly. The trauma, the way they truly see each other, and how they protect one another, that’s where the real beauty lies. Painful, tender, and deeply emotional, their connection felt raw and earned, making the story hit even harder.

[constança beatriz · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.20

[Cazlovesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arya takes a job as publicist to notorious playboy Nathan — a man who doesn’t do relationships and never catches feelings.

Their attraction is instant and impossible to ignore. So they agree to keep it simple: friends with benefits. No emotions. No strings.

That plan falls apart fast.

Nathan may claim he can’t love, but when it comes to Arya, he’s fiercely protective and dangerously close to breaking all his own rules. With demons from his past haunting him, he’s not sure he deserves her.

Can Arya accept his darkness — and can Nathan become the man she needs him to be?

This is grumpy vs sunshine at its absolute finest.

I sat down with this book and didn’t move for five hours — completely devoured it in one sitting. The chemistry between Nathan and Arya is unreal, and the spice? Oh, it’s definitely spicing.

What I loved most was seeing Nathan’s softer side come out around Arya, watching those walls he built so carefully start to crack. And Arya wasn’t exactly open-hearted either — she’d locked her feelings away tight, but Nathan somehow found the key.

Such a beautiful, emotional, but exceedingly spicy love story.

[the endless tbr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I was anxiously waiting for this book, but I didn’t expect to love it this much. Nathan's redemption arc is one of the best I’ve read.
I devoured this book in one sitting.

Nathan Nathan Nathan, I did not expect to fall head over heels for you, but I did! His cold exterior is his shield, this man is passionate, protective, and absolutely swoony. I can say with absolute certainty that he is my favorite MMC Simran wrote.

Arya was another pleasant surprise for me. I really thought there was no way I would love her, but Simran proved me wrong again. She is fierce, independent, knows what she wants, and she is so relatable. The more you read about her past, the more you understand why she was manipulated into believing marriage was her only choice at the time.

Nathan & Arya are explosive, their chemistry is scorching and it will leave you gasping and screaming. These two burned the pages on my Kindle.

This book, in my opinion, is endless stars. The way Simran writes can only be described as magical. If you've never read one of her books, you are missing out on something out of this world. The plot, the characters, and the twists are just absolute perfection and it was so beautifully written.

[Lana Dawood · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

This book hurt in the best way possible. Nathan and Arya were both so broken, so convinced they didn’t deserve love or happiness, and it was heartbreaking watching them work through that.

The spice was spicing 🔥🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ “Good boy”

I didn’t like Nathan much in the previous books, so I was really excited for his story — and finally seeing behind his closed-off exterior completely changed my perspective. Simran did not disappoint. She gave us something raw, emotional, and beautifully painful.

And honestly? I need a dozen epilogues about all these couples because I’m not ready to say goodbye. I’ve grown so attached to them, and letting them go feels harder than it should. 😭😭

[Sumitra Porla · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW
Having loved the author’s previous books, I went into Fractured Games with high expectations—and it delivered the same emotional intensity while pushing the romance into darker, more addictive territory. Her signature style of flawed characters, slow-burning tension, and emotionally charged power dynamics is very much present here
The romance is edgy, emotionally messy, and deeply compelling. As a long-time reader of this author, I loved seeing how her writing has grown more confident and bold while still staying true to what made me fall in love with her stories in the first place.
If you’ve enjoyed her earlier books, Fractured Games will absolutely work its way under your skin—and stay there

[darkreadswithnalieee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dedication alone told me this book was going to ruin me in the best way.
“To the girlies who crave to be praised, rewarded with orgasms while being called a good girl… and the ones who enjoy taming an irredeemable morally grey man into being their good boy.”
Simran said: praise kink? morally grey billionaire? broken engagements? revenge? dirty mouth?
Yes.
And she DELIVERED.
Arya’s humiliation was brutal.
The prologue physically hurt.
Arya running through a palace in her pink bridal lehenga, mirrors reflecting a future that no longer exists… only to find out her fiancé didn’t just get cold feet — he left for New York that morning.
He planned it.
The humiliation.
The headlines.
The reputation damage.
Her father calling her worthless.
Blaming her.
Locking her away for seven months like she’s a scandal that needs hiding.
And the worst part?
She still loves him.
That emotional foundation makes everything that happens after hit harder.
Then Nathan enters.
Not as a hero.
As a morally grey, emotionally wrecked, self-destructive billionaire who is just as fractured as she is.
Nathan Singhania — whose fiancée left him for his estranged older brother.
The fake engagement.
The revenge plot.
The fact that it became real for him.
The spiraling.
The drinking.
The “I don’t want to be saved.”
He is not soft.
He is not healed.
He is not ready for love.
And that’s exactly why the tension works.
The rooftop scene???
When he twists the creep’s wrist.
When he carries her down the stairs.
When he gets angry that her ex made her believe she’s “too heavy.”
That moment?
“He was too weak to pick you up and admit it, so he put it on you.”
Sir.
SIR.
That wasn’t just protective.
That was psychological warfare against her insecurities.
The sexual tension is VIOLENT.
The almost-kiss.
The rejection.
The “I don’t want to get addicted to a savior complex.”
The party confrontation where he pulls her into his arms and tells her ex:
“Unlike you, I won’t be an idiot to let her go.”
Even though it’s fake.
Even though he claims it’s nothing.
Even though he refuses to love.
And then…
That corner scene.
His filthy mouth.
The nipple line.
The finger-fuck threat.
The “I caused the ache and only I will make you come.”
The dominance.
The control.
The praise kink undertone.
The ownership language.
He doesn’t seduce her gently.
He overwhelms her.
And she wants it.
But here’s what makes it more than spice.
They both admit something devastating:
“A relationship can be over, but it doesn’t mean you stop loving them.”
That line shattered me.
Because this isn’t two single, healed people.
This is two people still grieving.
Still in love with ghosts.
Trying to use each other to feel alive again.
And then the deal:
One time.
No strings.
No love.
He owns her orgasms.
She obeys.
He refuses emotional intimacy.
It’s transactional.
It’s dangerous.
It’s doomed.
Which makes it addictive.
The power dynamic when she becomes his publicist???
UNMATCHED.
The tension when she’s handling his scandal.
The controlled businessman energy.
The cold politeness.
The “You better know what you’re doing.”
The jealousy when his brother is mentioned.
And then on the phone:
“I’ll be a perfect gentleman… or a good boy. Whichever you prefer.”
THE PRAISE KINK CALLBACK.
The trench coat scene?
Her stripping.
Challenging him to resist.
Begging to be ruined.
Him finally snapping.
The wall.
The throat grip.
The command.
The “You come when I allow it.”
It’s not just sex.
It’s power.
It’s control.
It’s two broken people trying to feel something stronger than their heartbreak.
And Nathan?
He refuses happiness.
Even when he clearly cares.
Even when he rescues her again.
Even when he finds the man who hurt her and handles it without hesitation.
He protects her in ways her ex never did.
He sees her.
He defends her.
He wants her.
But he will not allow himself to love.
That’s the fracture.
Final Thoughts
Fractured Games is:
• Broken engagement x broken engagement
• Billionaire x disgraced socialite
• Fake engagement revenge fallout
• Praise kink
• Possessive morally grey MMC
• Publicist x client tension
• “I own your orgasms” dynamic
• Savior complex
• Emotional repression
• Dirty mouth that should be illegal
The spice is filthy.
The tension is relentless.
But what makes it hit is the emotional damage underneath it all.
This isn’t just about taming a morally grey man.
It’s about whether two people who believe they’re unworthy of love can stop sabotaging themselves long enough to choose it.
And I ate. It. Up.
If you crave praise, possession, and a man who says “good girl” like it’s a promise and a threat?
Nathan Singhania is waiting.
And he is not gentle.

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazon

Arya's just now deciding to get back into life and dating after her douche ex jilted her at the altar, when she has the hottest night of her life with Nathan. It's not supposed to mean anything, nor is it to be repeated, but he keeps coming to her rescue, until he doesn't, until his cruelty comes out. Until he becomes her newest client because he demands it. Now these two broken people will have to figure out how to work together, and keep their hearts intact at the same time.



Nathan is ruthless and cold, but has his reasons, ones he doesn't share with anyone. But now that he's fallen in love with Arya, perhaps it's the one time he should share, before it's too late - for them both.



Whew! Nathan is next level. Arya was the only one who could have brought him to his knees, though. Their banter is top notch, their chemistry is 5 alarm hot, but their emotional connection is the true standout. Though there were many times I wanted to slap Nathan for his cruel treatment of Arya, by the end I understood, not condoned, but understood, why he did the things he did. I may not have fallen in love with Nathan the way she did, but I do love their story, and as usual, love the author's storytelling. It's all the spice you can ask for, with even more heart.



ARC provided by Valentine PR for an honest review.

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[Rechal · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW ----

“𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹.”

Arya has followed the rules all her life. Perfect daughter. Perfect fiancée. Perfect girl who never steps out of line. The one time she doesn’t… she loses her sister. And when her fiancé leaves her at the altar, she isn’t just heartbroken — she’s publicly humiliated, and quietly discarded by parents who care more about reputation than their daughter’s pain.

After months of hiding and barely surviving her heartbreak, one reckless night out changes everything. A stranger saves her when she needs it most. She thinks she’ll never see him again. Except… she keeps running into him.

Always when her world is falling apart.

What starts as one night with strict rules turns into something she can’t forget — even when it ends in a way that makes her regret trusting him at other. Months later, fate traps them together again — this time professionally. And the emotional mess they never resolved? Still very much alive.

This isn’t a gentle love story. It’s two people trying to survive their own damage.

Arya wants to be loved so badly that she keeps moulding herself into whatever everyone else needs — especially her parents. She carries guilt for mistakes from her past and quietly believes that some of the pain in her life is karma finally catching up with her. She is soft, emotionally open, and painfully selfless… in a world that keeps punishing her for it.

Nathan is not the hero of anyone’s story. Publicly, he’s polished and untouchable. Privately, he’s a man who believes closeness only leads to destruction. The only person he ever loved without fear was his brother. Losing that bond — and growing up under a father who turned love into control — left him with deep abandonment scars and one devastating belief:

He is not afraid of love. He is unworthy of it. And that is what makes Nathan hurt in the quietest, most brutal way.

Fractured Games is not about grand gestures or fast healing. It’s about emotional resistance.

It's not a fall-in-love story. It’s a collide–pull away–set rules–break them–pretend it’s only physical (it’s not) kind of story.

Nathan plays hot and cold — but his actions constantly betray how deeply he feels, making it almost impossible for Arya to walk away, even when she knows she probably should.

What really stood out to me is how carefully Simran writes emotional boundaries. No one suddenly becomes brave. No one magically trusts. No one forgets their trauma just because the chemistry is intense.

Nathan’s internal conflict — wanting Arya while believing he will eventually destroy her — is written with so much emotional depth. His darkness is never romanticised. It’s painful, quiet, and rooted in childhood trauma.

Arya’s growth is just as powerful — learning to recognise the red flags she once ignored, and learning that love should never come at the cost of her own worth.

This is the only book I’ve read in this series —and I was honestly shocked by how emotionally connected I felt to both of them. I genuinely had tears in my eyes more than once.

The story delivers heartbreak, anger, softness, humour, desire and healing — without ever making the emotional journey feel rushed. The spice is intense, but it never replaces the emotional core. It deepens it.

This book gave me every feeling.

And yes— this is absolutely an emotionally wrecked but worth it read. I loved this. I loved Arya and Nathan. And I'm genuinely glad they found their way back to themselves — and to each other.

[Why Choose Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

If humiliation at the altar wasn’t enough, Arya then walks straight into a one night stand with a man who turns out to be professionally catastrophic.

Fractured Games is not a light office romance. It’s reputation management, emotional damage control, unresolved trauma, and two people who are spectacularly bad at believing they deserve love.

And naturally, they decide to work together.

Arya starts this story at rock bottom. Publicly abandoned. Privately shattered. The kind of heartbreak that makes you question your judgment, your worth, and your entire taste in men.

What I appreciated most about her is that she does not stay there.

She rebuilds quietly. She steps back into the world with dignity. And when Nathan reappears in her life as a professional necessity, she does not melt. She does not swoon. She does not forget.

She says no.

Firmly. Repeatedly. With spine.

Nathan Singhania is the golden boy with a carefully curated public image. Polished. Controlled. Perfect on paper. Except his engagement was a business arrangement, his inner world is chaos, and the mask he wears is cracking.

He is intense. He is controlling at times. He makes choices that will absolutely test your patience. But beneath the image management and arrogance is a man convinced he is fundamentally unworthy of real love.

Which, naturally, makes him behave in ways that almost guarantee he won’t get it.

After a disastrous public breakup, Nathan’s reputation takes a hit. Enter the need for a publicist.

Enter Arya.

She walks into that conference room not knowing the man across the table is the same one who offered her a night of escape and then revealed himself to be something else entirely.

Their professional relationship becomes a battlefield of tension, unresolved attraction, and power plays. Arya is sharp-tongued and unwilling to be charmed again. Nathan treats her refusal as a challenge, which tells you everything you need to know about him.

The attraction between them is immediate, but this is not an easy romance. Nathan pushes. Arya resists. Nathan retreats behind his mask. Arya refuses to chase.

There is jealousy. There are assumptions. There are emotional 180s from Nathan that make you question him just as Arya does. He tries, more than once, to make her hate him because he believes he will eventually destroy her anyway.

And underneath all of it is grief. Arya’s humiliation. Nathan’s hollow self perception. Two people shaped by betrayal and convinced they were never truly chosen.

Watching Nathan slowly unravel his belief that he is unworthy of love is where the emotional weight lands. Watching Arya reclaim her strength without losing her kindness is where the satisfaction lies.

The final stretch delivers genuine emotional impact. The kind where you think you see where it’s going and then the author pulls the rug anyway.

Fractured Games leans heavily into emotional tension and psychological push and pull. It is less about external drama and more about internal fracture.

Arya’s growth is steady and believable. Nathan remains complicated almost to the end, which may test your patience, but his unraveling feels intentional rather than careless.

The romance is intense, messy, and rooted in healing rather than simple attraction. It is two broken people learning that being chosen is not weakness.

This is dramatic. Emotional. Occasionally frustrating in a way that feels purposeful.

And that ending does not play safe.

[Danielle Spellbound Stories · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fractured Games further cements Simran as one of my favorite new authors. Late last year, I read The Invite and wondered where she’d been my whole life. Now, Fractured Games grabbed me fast—the kind of fast where you glance up, realize hours have disappeared, and you’re somehow still only about a third of the way through. (Which says a lot, because I’m a fast reader.) I was completely locked in from start to finish.

Arya and Nathan are both beautifully fractured characters, and what worked so well for me is how earned their emotional journey felt. Arya is coming off public humiliation and private heartbreak, and you feel every layer of her exhaustion—the pressure to be perfect, the quiet guilt she carries, and the way she’s learned to shrink herself to survive. She’s soft but not weak and sharp without being cruel. But she’s also incredibly easy to root for.

Nathan, meanwhile, is one of those morally grey heroes who actually deserves the label. He’s controlled, broody, and emotionally walled off, but Simran takes the time to unpack why. His self-loathing, his fear of attachment, and his belief that he’s fundamentally unworthy of love are woven into the story in a way that is painful and real, not performative. Watching those walls crack was deeply satisfying.

Their dynamic is where this book really shines. The banter is sharp, the chemistry is intense, and the push–pull between them never feels repetitive. What starts as physical quickly turns messy and emotional, and I loved that the story doesn’t rush the healing or pretend that desire alone fixes everything. These are two people who have to confront their damage before they can truly choose each other. And the payoff is sooo worth it!

The plot kept me engaged the entire time, balancing emotional depth with strong pacing and just enough tension to keep me turning pages. Simran’s prose is smooth and immersive, and she has a real talent for sitting in emotional moments without overexplaining them.

As a series finale, Fractured Games delivers closure while still packing a punch. Although I haven’t read the previous books, this installment hit hard enough that it immediately made me want to go back and read the entire series. It’s emotional, angsty, and ultimately very satisfying. Think the kind of ending that makes saying goodbye difficult, but feels right.

Final verdict: This one hit hard in all the best ways. A compelling, emotionally layered romance that reminded me exactly why I keep coming back to Simran’s books.

Rating: 4.5⭐
Spice: 3.5🌶️ (It’s intentional, emotionally charged, and impactful, not filler. It enhances the connection instead of replacing it.)

Genre:
🖤 Dark Romance

Tropes/Themes:
🖤Billionaire Romance
🖤 Billionaire × Publicist
🖤 One Night Stand
🖤 Misunderstood Characters
🖤 Good Girl × Bad Boy
🖤 Fast Burn
🖤 Secret Hookups
🖤 Workplace Proximity
🖤 Emotional Healing
🖤 Power Imbalance
🖤 Morally Grey Hero
🖤 Dislike to Love
🖤 I will fix you
🖤 Lots of Sneaking Around
🖤 Filthy Mouthed MMC
🖤 Jilted Bride

[Meaghan Kube · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I love you, Arya. It isn’t madness, it’s infinite love I feel for you in my bones. I think I’ve been falling for you since the moment you walked into the conference room.”

- - - - -

Fractured Games had me completely hooked from beginning to end. It has been a LONG TIME since I read a full book in less than a day, but this story was so intense and delicious.

What starts as a scandal involving a fake engagement quickly spirals into something far deeper - corporate secrets, family betrayal, and two people carrying more emotional weight than either of them should have to.

Nathan is one of those MMCs that sneaks up on you. On paper he’s the billionaire CEO, but underneath that title is a man who has spent most of his life carrying guilt that was never his to begin with. Watching his character slowly learn that redemption and forgiveness are possible was honestly one of my favorite parts of the story.

Arya was equally easy to root for. After being abandoned at the altar and rejected by her family, she’s trying to rebuild her life while navigating cultural expectations and emotional trauma. Her strength and vulnerability made her feel incredibly real, and I loved how she refused to give up on the people she cares about.

Their relationship develops in such a satisfying way. The chemistry is strong, the tension builds naturally, and the intimate moments feel meaningful rather than excessive. The spice level lands around a solid 3 out of 5 for me. They were present and impactful without ever taking away from the story.

And the plot. WOW!!!!

Every time I thought I had things figured out, something new would shift the narrative and raise the stakes. The twists kept me invested the entire time, and the tension surrounding Nathan’s family and the company added a level of suspense I wasn’t expecting.

The supporting characters also added a lot of warmth to the story. Friends like Noor, Nova, and Anaya create a sense of chosen family that both Nathan and Arya desperately need.

By the end of the book, watching Nathan finally begin to heal–choosing therapy, sobriety, and a future he once believed he didn’t deserve—was incredibly satisfying.

This story had romance, suspense, emotional depth, and characters I genuinely cared about. And they were EASY to care about. I will absolutely be reading the rest of this series, no doubt in my mind. I’ve already added them to my cart.

- - - - -
💥 ARC Disclosure:
I was provided an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. I was not monetarily compensated, nor was I required to leave a positive review.

Thank you to Simran for the opportunity to read this incredible story early. What an impactful author and writer you are. Thank you for also bringing what I imagine to be your culture and experience into this book. I LOVE when I can get a glimpse into what others might experience.

🕯️ rating baseline available in my Goodreads bio.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arya has followed the rules all her life, the one time she stepped out of the expectations of perfection placed on her, she ended up losing her relationship with her sister. When her fiance leaves her at the altar, she is humiliated both in the eyes of the public, and by her parents, who treat her like an embarassment. After months of hiding out, trying to mend her broken heart, her friends drag her out to the club, only for her to find herself at the mercy of a man refusing to take no for answer. When she is saved by a handsome man who carries her to safety, she assumes she will never see him again, only to run into him every time she finds herself in a situation where she needs saving. Choosing to give herself to him for one night, she agrees to no strings, vowing to go their separate ways, but his treatment of her when it’s over makes her regret ever giving him a second glance. Months later, her boss calls her to a meeting with a new client, and she finds herself face to face with the man who has haunted her thoughts for weeks, forced to act as his publicist.

Nathan is not the hero of anyone’s story. While the public may see him as a perfect gentleman, he has destroyed everyone who attempted to get close to him. When news gets out that his previous engagement was fake, he needs help redeeming his image, and is forced to hire a publicist. The last person he expected to see was Arya, the woman who makes him feel too much. When she looks at him with disdain and refuses to work with him, he knows he can’t let her walk away again. Although he knows that he will destroy her if she gets too close, he can’t seem to stay away, and is determined that he will never let her see the darkness he keeps within.

I received an early copy of this book from the author and Valentine PR and I was definitely not ready for this rollercoaster ride. Having read the previous books in the series recently, Arya and Nathan were definitely not my favourite characters, and I honestly wasn’t sure whether or not Nathan even deserved a redemption story, but this book was everything I didn’t even know I needed. While we saw a glimpse of his true feelings at the end of Illicit Games, I wasn’t expecting the depth of his inner darkness. It becomes quite clear that although he puts on a steady front, inside he’s still reliving the trauma he suffered as a boy, and truly believes he is not worthy of anything good. On her side, Arya thought she had everything she had ever wanted, but after her world came crashing down, she starts to see all the red flags her in her previous relationships. And while Nathan constantly plays hot and cold, his actions reveal his true feelings, making her unwilling to walk away. Their broken pieces somehow fit together perfectly, making them my favourite out of all the Games couples.

[Jessika S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“He never believed he deserved love… until she refused to let him keep running from it.”

First, I want to say a huge thank you to Simran and Valentine PR for trusting me with an early copy of Fractured Games. This was, without question, the emotional finale this series deserved.

Going into this, I’ll be honest—Nathan and Arya were not my favourite characters in the earlier books. I wasn’t sure Nathan even deserved a redemption story. But somehow, Simran took two broken people and gave them one of the most powerful, emotionally raw love stories in the entire series.

Nathan Singhania is the perfect example of a morally grey billionaire. To the world, he is flawless. Untouchable. In control. But beneath the carefully crafted persona is a man drowning in trauma, convinced he is unworthy of love, peace, or happiness. Watching his walls slowly crack—and seeing the vulnerable, broken man beneath—was both heartbreaking and beautiful. His pain felt real. His self-destruction felt real. And his redemption felt earned.

Arya completely stole my heart. After being humiliated, abandoned, and made to feel like she was never enough, her journey is one of reclaiming her strength, her voice, and her worth. She is sharp, resilient, and fiercely loyal, but also deeply human in her vulnerability. Watching her stand her ground against Nathan while still allowing herself to love him was incredibly powerful.

Their relationship is messy, intense, and emotionally consuming. The push and pull. The misunderstandings. The longing. The quiet moments of care beneath Nathan’s cold exterior. Their broken pieces somehow fit together in a way that felt inevitable.

This book took me on a complete emotional rollercoaster. I was smiling, blushing, hurting, and crying, especially in the final stretch. Seeing Nathan finally allow himself to be loved, and watching Arya grow into her strength, was deeply satisfying.

The character growth, emotional depth, plot twists, and beautifully written redemption arc made this story unforgettable. And the way everything tied together at the end made it the perfect conclusion to the Arranged Games series.

Nathan and Arya went from characters I wasn’t sure I loved… to becoming one of my favourite couples in the entire series.

This was emotional. Painful. Beautiful. And worth every single moment.

Absolutely 5 stars. All thoughts are my own. 🖤

[Faiza BEGUM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arya has spent her entire life doing exactly what was expected of her. Obedient daughter. Immaculate fiancée. The kind of woman who learns early that love is conditional on perfection. The moment she steps outside that narrow line, everything unravels. Her relationship with her sister fractures. Her fiancé abandons her at the altar. And instead of comfort, she’s met with disappointment and shame from parents more concerned with appearances than their daughter’s devastation.

She disappears for a while after that — not dramatically, but quietly. Existing rather than living. Until one night, when her friends force her back into the world, and she finds herself cornered, scared, and unheard. A stranger intervenes. He saves her. Carries her out of danger. And she assumes that’s where the story ends.

It doesn’t.

She keeps crossing paths with him — always when she’s vulnerable, always when she needs someone to step in. What’s supposed to be a single, rule-bound night becomes something that lingers far longer than either of them intended. And when it ends, the way he pulls away cuts deeper than she’s prepared for. She tells herself it was a mistake she won’t repeat.

Until months later, when her job forces her into a room with him again. This time, he isn’t just the man who occupies her thoughts — he’s her client. And she’s expected to help rebuild the image of the very person who broke something inside her.

Nathan doesn’t pretend to be a saviour. The world sees a composed, charming man with an impeccable reputation, but that image is a carefully maintained illusion. Anyone who has ever tried to get close to him has been damaged in the process. When the truth about his previous engagement comes out, he’s pushed into hiring a publicist to clean up the mess.

He never expects that publicist to be Arya.

She looks at him without warmth. Without forgiveness. And when she tries to walk away, he realises too late that he can’t let her go again — even though he’s convinced that if she stays, he’ll ruin her. Nathan doesn’t believe he’s incapable of love. He believes he doesn’t deserve it. That conviction was carved into him by loss, by control, by a childhood where affection was something that could be taken away at any moment.

This story doesn’t rush healing or soften trauma for convenience. It lives in hesitation. In boundaries that are tested, crossed,

[BookishMarineMama03 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting for this one! Fractured Games by Simran is the final book in the Arranged Games series. Nathan is here! If you love a book with every real, raw and vulnerable emotion, read this book! It will take you on a beautiful rollercoaster ride of tragedy, healing and beautiful love!

Nathan and Arya. We have seen them throughout the last four books but we finally get to truly dive deep into who they both are and why. They are both carrying wounds that never fully healed—betrayal that cut too deep, heartbreak that reshaped who they became, and years of being told they should expect less from love and life. Arya was humiliated and abandoned at the altar, blamed instead of comforted, and slowly pushed into the shadows of her own world. Nathan is a billionaire marked by loss, living under the weight of guilt, certain he’s the villain no one stays for. Ugh, these two will break your heart so beautifully! You feel their pain and grief so soul deep! When fate slams them together, they SEE EACH OTHER. What begins as a single moment of rescue spirals into a connection that is so raw, consuming, and impossible to escape. He’s protective, obsessive and no matter how hard he fights it, she is just too much of a temptation to turn away. Trust me, they both try! She tries to help as his publicist and falls in the midst. Their connection and chemistry, it is EXPLOSIVE!!! Pure fire!

Bring in all our friends from the past books and a few new ones which add so much to the whole story.

Grab the tissues! What truly makes this story cut so deep is Nathan’s pain. This strong man who “seems” to have it all carries a self-loathing, numbing his demons with alcohol and convinced he’s undeserving of love or redemption. But Arya sees past the scar and refuses to look away. Through her, he’s slowly loved back to life, one fragile moment at a time. And in turn he loves her to the depths of her soul. Simran, you wrote a beautiful ending to a FANTASTIC series! You MUST read all these books!

Rate: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 4/5🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

💗 Billionaire x Publicist
💗 Good Girl x Bad Boy
💗 Secret Fling
💗 Romantic Suspense
💗 Dislike to Love
💗 I will fix you
💗 Lots of sneaking around
💗 Emotional healing
💗 Fast Burn
💗 Filthy mouthed MMC

🩷THANK YOU Simran, Swipe The Book PR and Valentine PR for my ARC!

[Dolly Yadav · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚.”

4.2⭐

Spicy Stories are best when pinched with right amount of emotions and Fractured Games is exactly the kind of recipe that will burn your tongue in the best way.
The story follows Arya Chopra and Nathan Singhania, both having their own share of history of being " villain" in someone's life in past. Arya is rebuilding herself after left heartbroken at the altar on her wedding day by her fiance, swearing off men altogether .While Nathan is fighting his own demons in his head every night without anyone acknowledging.

Their chance encounter ends up them being heavily attracted and getting steamy with each other for one night- only for Arya to end up disappointed with Nathan's coldness afterwards. Months later ,they end up together again professionally —Arya as his publicist to fix the scandal surrounding Nathan's reputation. Things start getting heated as Nathan and Arya soon realises... they are more affected by each other than they let out to be.

The romance between Arya and Nathan is extremely spicy with a lot of push and pull dynamic where we see both of them submitting and dominating the relationship in their own way. Nathan's character is complicated yet very well written. He embodies the perfect villain persona — possessive (wild. WILD.), guarded, dangerous yet deeply vulnerable underneath. Every action and word kept me hooked. On the other hand , Arya is every bit a character worth loving, she's relatable in her insecurities. Seeing both characters evolving blossoming into a stronger version of themselves and fight for each other was exciting.

Other characters such as Arya's friends and Nathan's add a lightness to the dark tone of story. Honestly ? I hated both of their parents here , which made Nathan and Arya's struggles understandable and justified.

Last chapters were intense , honestly on 70% I was quiet scared about what will happen and it did. The plot played with my feelings with twists and revelations. Ending was worth that heartbreak though.

Overall, A spicy ( damn spicy I warn ya , you may need holy water afterwards) dark romance with complex characters that you can't help but love . If you prefer bad guys that are hella possessive and dangerous in love , hiding their demons beneath danger with good girls with a praise kink—then this book is a perfect pick.