Rearranged by R.P. Cowdrey – Review

Two weddings. Two flight risks. One serendipitous encounter.

When Archie escapes her big fat Indian wedding and Prasad ditches his own bridezilla, the last thing they expect is to find another wedding runaway hiding in the same restaurant. She’s a planner. He’s a dreamer. But as the aunties close in, the past catches up, and the chemistry gets harder to ignore, they’re left with one burning question: what if running away leads you exactly where you’re meant to be?

Purchase Link: Rearranged

I picked up Rearranged with anticipation and curiosity. The arranged marriage premise stood out to me because it’s something I have absolutely no personal experience with, and I was interested to see how that dynamic would be explored. What I didn’t realize at the time was that this story is very short, under one hundred pages!

Honestly, I liked this book far more than I expected to. It was quirky, charming, a little too-good-to-be-true in places, but in a way that worked for the story. While the plot was fairly predictable, that didn’t bother me much given the length. There simply isn’t a lot of room in a novella this short to keep readers guessing, and that felt understandable rather than disappointing.

What surprised me most was how emotionally invested I became in such a short amount of time. The author did an impressive job of making the characters feel relatable and endearing very quickly. I genuinely enjoyed both main characters, and the banter between them was one of my favorite parts of the story. They were easy to root for and genuinely likable, which made the story feel warm and engaging despite its brevity.

The arranged marriage concept itself was the most compelling part for me. I found myself wanting so much more insight into what the characters were thinking and feeling as they stepped into this obligation so willingly. I wanted to explore the fears, expectations, and emotional weight that comes with such a decision. By the end, I was left with lingering questions about what happened after the final page. Did they fall in love? Did the marriage work? What did their life together actually look like?

My biggest takeaway is that I wish this had been a full-length novel. Had this exact story, with these characters and this premise, been expanded into something longer, I would have happily read every page. The author mentioned an interest in writing more stories like this, and I would absolutely be there for it.

Rearranged may be short, but it left a strong impression. It’s a quick, enjoyable read that made me want more, which, in many ways, feels like a compliment in itself.

R.P. Cowdrey writes romantic comedies with a love for all things charming, quirky, and heartwarming. Inspired by classic rom coms like Father Goose (Cary Grant), Boing Boing Boing (Tony Curtis & Jerry Lewis), and modern favorites like Sleepless in Seattle and Sixteen Candles—not to mention his current K-drama romance addiction—R.P. crafts delightful love stories filled with humor, heart, and happily-ever-afters.

But rom coms aren’t his only passion. Writing under his full name, Russell Cowdrey, he is also the author of historical science fiction and fantasy adventures, most notably the Lamentations and Magic series. Blending aliens, elves, magic, archaeology, military history, romance, and found family, Russell’s books are perfect for fans of Indiana Jones, Stargate, and The Mummy (the Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz version, of course).

Whether it’s epic worlds or romantic mishaps, Russell/R.P. Cowdrey believes one thing holds true: History is Magic and Love Stories Make Life Better.