Pronounced Guilty-Monica Singh

Book: Pronounced Guilty
Author: Monica Singh
Publisher: Readomania

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Do you believe that people convicted of crimes deserve a chance at redemption?

Is redemption possible behind bars? Dushyant Dave, a disillusioned advocate, spearheads a radical mission: Bandi Mukti Morcha, India’s first open-prison dedicated to rehabilitating criminals serving life sentences. Joining him are Vijendar Singh, a reluctant ex-convict, and Dr Anusuya Savarkar, a seasoned psychologist, both harbouring their own demons. As inmate resistance and political agendas mount, secrets unravel and trusts shatter; the project teetering on collapse. Can this unlikely trio bridge their differences to make the program a success or will Bandi Mukti Morcha crumble under the weight of its own ambition? Will society ever embrace a second chance for those it has pronounced guilty? Pronounced Guilty is not just a novel—it’s a reflection of the world we live in. Step inside the courtroom of conscience and explore the price of justice, the weight of guilt, and the echoes of redemption.

The book focuses on an important question of the possibility of redemption and the root cause of crimes. The book opens with a heart wrenching scene where Vijendar is arrested just because he has had a criminal past, and from there starts a journey to change the lives of people who have completed their sentences. The second part of the book is when the Bandi Mukti Morcha is created and the process of rehabilitation is shown. The courtroom part of the book is quite well written and I liked the detailing that the author has put in while describing those scenes and the emotions of the people while sitting as the arguments were being parried. What I liked about the book was the flow and the narrative that keeps you turning the pages. What did not work for me was the second half of the book where the entire setup of the open prison is shown and the writing lacked a bit of research and execution on that end. A book that focused on the redemption of convicts could have shed a bit more of light on the open-prison part of the book, but sadly there are glimpses, but not much of spotlight on the open prison. The sub-plot involving the female prisoner was good to show that corruption can breach lines everywhere, but it felt a bit unnecessary and its role in the climax was also a bit sketchy.

Coming to the characters, Dushyant Dave’s character was very well written and his scenes in the court were quite wonderful to read. Another character whose writing impressed me was that of Vijendar and his character arc throughout the story. I felt that Dr. Anusuya’s character could have been a bit more detailed and contributory to the plot, rather she felt more like a side character in the bigger scheme of things.

Overall, Pronounced Guilty is a book that I would recommend to people to understand the concept of redemption and the idea of open prisons. The book scores a 4.63/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India or your nearest bookstore!

The Unforgettable Woman-Pankaj Giri

Book: The Unforgettable Woman
Author: Pankaj Giri
Publisher: Bee Books

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

How would you react if a long-time secret came to light?

Abandoned by his wife and daughter and living with his cousin’s son, senior doctor Adarsh leads a lonely life . . . until he begins glimpsing someone in the streets of his hometown, Ilathang—a woman he knew once, a woman who had long disappeared. As Smriti starts working as a teacher at Ilathang Government School, she develops an affectionate bond with her PG owner’s teenage son—who is suffering from drug addiction—which fulfils her childhood craving for a brother. But one day in the summer of 2007, a dramatic turn of events unveils a devastating secret, a secret that turns her life upside down. Will Adarsh be able to discover the mystery behind the curious glimpses of the woman? Will Smriti be able to recover from the trauma of the shattering secret? Set in fictional towns in the beautiful state of Sikkim, The Unforgettable Woman is an inspirational, heart-touching story that explores the themes of regret, love, and forgiveness and shows how a single secret can influence several lives.

The book is wonderfully written and the plot is so engaging that you keep turning the pages. As the story progresses, you are pulled into the plot and it keeps you hooked. The writing is quite impressive and the plot threads are extremely well connected and the idea of how relationships can stand the test of time. Pankaj explores the idea of love and how the different aspects of love manifest in the relationships we have with people around us. The book also explores the idea of fate in a beautiful manner and how interconnectedness of life binds us all. The writing in the book is quite powerful and makes you think of how one impacts the people around us as well. What I loved about the book was that the author has left crumbs to the climax all through the book but only when you reach the end do the bits make sense and you get to see the whole picture. Pankaj’s mix of love, regret and forgiveness in this story make the entire reading experience a delight. Another aspect of his writing that shines through is the simplicity and honesty. As a writer, he stays true to the core storyline and slowly lets the story unfold as you live and breathe with his characters. The climax has been given its due and the author takes his time revealing the thread connecting his characters and the core idea of the story. The way he reveals how Smriti, Dr. Adarsh, Shobha, Savitri, and Mr. Sharma were connected is quite magical.

Coming to the characters, each of the primary character in the story has been written in painstaking detail. There are no loose ends that seem frivolous or unnecessary at any point. Each character that has been introduced is integral to the story. The author also does not waste time in describing our protagonists, but lets the scenes take over and you have a picture of them. The book is driven primarily through the interactions between the characters and each of the interaction gives you something to think about as you keep turning the pages.

This is a book I would highly recommend to anyone looking to read a story of love, regret and forgiveness, and one that is heartwarming, perfect for a winter evening to pair with a cup of hot chocolate. The book scores a perfect 5 from me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India.

Embraces In Ink: Notes from the Soul-Manali Desai

Book: Embraces In Ink: Notes from the Soul
Author: Manali Desai
Publisher: Amazon Kindle

How would you define gratitude?

When was the last time you said 'thank you'? Be it to your parents, siblings, friends, the books that made you smile, the movies that made you laugh, or anyone and anything else? Was it today? Was it so long ago that you can't even remember? How often do you feel blessed or perceive a sense of gratitude for the simple joys that every day brings? We generally take the people around us for granted, failing to appreciate their contribution in our daily happiness. The same goes for things too; right from a sunny day during winters, to a rainy day after the long summers, or from the perfectly cooked dish, to the comfort of a quilt. The pages within, Embraces in Ink, make you look at these very things and people, by tapping into your feelings about them; emotions you may not even have realized you had for the smallest of gestures, words, and blessings, whether manmade or natural. Come, take this journey, where these, Notes from the Soul, will make you feel grateful towards life and everything that it has to offer.

Embraces In Ink is a wonderful collection of letters that explore how one can be grateful for the little things in life. The book is divided into 6 sections that explore gratitude to things, self, family, friend, everyone and walls. Each of the pieces included in this collection is a wonderfully written piece that forces to look within you and think of someone or something to thank. The writing is extremely relatable and as a reader, you are bound to find some pieces that resonate with yourself and that is what makes this book a great read. Manali also explores our dark sides as well when she writes letters to “Dear Aggravator” and “Dear Backstabber,” but in the same tone also addressing “Dear Artists” and “Dear Domestic Help.” This shows the spectrum in which she writes and that is evident throughout the book. “When Socials Become Anti Social” deserves a special mention because it is a mirror to what we have become today and how social media has become a part of our lives.

The book is an easy read, but in no way a simple read because the pieces help you look within you, focus, and explore facets of your life that have become hidden somewhere. The book also helps you identify the people and things that make our lives better and shows a path to being grateful for their existence and support. From the animate to the inanimate, the pieces have a life of their own and I am sure that some of them would find mention on your social media stories, or snaps or maybe snippets on your wall.

Overall, the book is a definite recommendation in case you like reading letters and poetry. The book scores a 4.94/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon Kindle.

The Blogchatter Book of Love-Multiple Authors

Book: The Blogchatter Book of Love
Author: Multiple Authors
Publisher: Readomania

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

What does the idea of love mean to you?

What if love isn't just a single, defined emotion? What if it's a spectrum of feelings that transcends borders and defies societal expectations? This is where the magic of romance lies, and our journey begins. A woman who had to leave her motherland behind but passes on the legacy to her granddaughter, a sister who has to prove her love and worth on an impossible mission to save their kingdom, a husband obsessed with his wife's dreams, a woman navigating motherhood in the times of AI, star-crossed lovers with love blossoming anew among books—be prepared to traverse different worlds in these pages. Love beyond marital ties, borders, acceptable gender norms, social structures, age, beyond distance, or the realms as we know them; dive into 18 stories from Blogchatter's community writers that celebrate the many hues of love and life.

The book is a collection of 18 stories that explore various aspects of love. Right from the love for self, or a pet, the stories cover a wide array of relationships and what can love mean to different people. Each story is well written and fits perfectly into the overarching theme. The stories are heartwarming and make you believe in love all over again. The community writers have explored some interesting concepts and the stories keep you hooked and into the book. Each of the stories have been written wonderfully, and I loved that no two stories were similar. The stories that stood out for me were One True Love, A Cry for Love, A Pawsome Love Story and Janmabhumischa. Each of these stories explore Love from a perspective that really made me smile. The other stories were also good, but somehow felt undercooked. While the emotions that they covered were nicely though of, the writing needed a bit more of editing.

Overall, the book is a nice collection of stories and the various ideas of love. The book scores a 4.25/5 from me.

Grab a copy of the book on Amazon India or your nearest bookstore.

This review is powered by Blogchatter Book Review Program

Mr. Joshi’s Bride-Vani

Book: Mr. Joshi’s Bride
Author: Vani
Publisher: Vishwakarma Books

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

How would you define your perfect spouse?

Parshuraman Joshi is every Indian girl’s dream husband. Who wouldn’t want to snap up a 27-year-old, well-educated, Punjabi NRI boy, after all? He was named after the axe-wielding warrior avatar of the mighty Lord Vishnu, meant to conquer hearts and have girls swooning all over him. However, Parshuraman works as an IT professional in Canada and has neither the time nor the inclination to pursue romantic interests. While the only motivation driving his grandmother, aunt, and sister is to get him married before he finds himself a ‘gori’, or worse, is considered too old to marry a nice, young girl from a good Indian family. He has bigger issues vexing him, such as dealing with Jennifer Graham, his ‘fireball’ of a colleague from Mumbai who is always creating trouble for him. With Parshuraman facing unforeseen problems in his quest, will he still be able to find his perfect bride? Read the book to find out.

Vani’s book is an interestingly written story of Parashuraman and his family who are desperate to find a wife for him. The book is a basically written as Parashuraman’s interactions with the girls who his family finds and the chaos that ensues after he meets them. The book is propelled by the series of events that unfold after each meeting. What I loved about the book was its linear storytelling and the simple plot that keeps you entertained. The interactions between Parashuraman and the prospective brides have been penned in a funny way, and each of the suitor comes with their own set of quirks that add a nice flavor to the story. The interactions between Parashuraman, Reyman and Jennifer are interesting as well. What did not work for me in the book was the fact that it felt more like a collection of anecdotes connected by a common thread. While the story was good in the individual moments, the overall theme felt a little bleak, specially the second half of the book. The climax, though quite fitting, also felt a bit flat to me. While the cliche did add to the fun of the story, it felt a bit forced to me.

Coming to the characters, the book primarily focuses on Parashuraman and how his life has been. His character has been detailed and we see how his personality is influenced by his family as well as his lifestyle in Canada. The characters of Ragini, Parvati auntie and Parashuraman’s grandmother have been detailed quite nicely as well. What I felt was that Jennifer’s character could have been explored a bit more as well to add a layer to the storytelling and to establish her importance in the plot.

Overall, the book is a nice and light read which can interest anyone who wishes to pick up a book to have a good time. The book scores a 4.25/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India.

World’s Best Ex-Girlfriend-Durjoy Datta

Book: World’s Best Ex-Girlfriend
Author: Durjoy Datta
Publisher: Penguin India

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

What if you keep running into the same person you are running away from?

The last time Daksh met Aanchal, it was at a wedding in Dubai. A brief spark and then both of them move on. It’s not necessary to be together even if you love each other to the moon and back, right? Wrong. Not being with the one you love means that there is always this heart-shaped hole in your lives, a pain that you can’t understand, a longing that refuses to go away. What happens when the Band-Aid on this relationship is ripped off, and they are pushed together to finally see what life for them would be like? What happens when they put aside their ambitions and emotions to finally look at filling the hole? World’s Best Ex-Girlfriend is a romance that will take the reader through the wringer of love.

World’s Best Ex-Girlfriend is a wonderfully penned story that takes forward the story of Daksh and Aanchal and explores how their life unfolds. The book is quite well written and the idea of how two people in love can be drift apart, but can come back with even more love come out perfectly. There are moments in the book which will make you laugh, and then there are moments in the book that will make your eyes wet. The writing is engaging and the interactions between Daksh and Aanchal keep you entertained and engrossed in the book right till the end. The idea that the person you love will find a way to come back to you is reinforced repeatedly through various instances and the jumps in time. As for me, there were aspects of their Daksh’s life that I could really resonate with and that made the story even more alive. Another aspect of the story that did stand out for me was the plot point when Daksh and Aanchal finally realise their feelings for each other and something goes wrong, many times over, but they still decide to try once more, and I think that was the one thing that the book reinforces that when you love someone, you can always find a reason to be together. With everything that happens in the book, you look for a happily-ever-after, but also there is a dread that something will go wrong with either of our protagonists. The climax is quite sudden and can truly shock you.

The detailing of the characters in the book, and not just the protagonists, makes the book such a good read. Be it Amruta, Rabbani, Gaurav or Vanita, each of our characters has been fleshed out and plays an important role in the story and none of them feel out of place in the entire plot. I liked how Rabbani is put forth as a fresh perspective, especially towards the end and becomes the voice of reason for Daksh. Amruta as a part of Daksh’s life is also very well detailed. The entire sub-plot of friends to family was something I truly enjoyed.

Overall, a definite recommendation for people who love reading a wonderful story of two people who are meant for each other, finding and losing each other through various points in their lives. The book scores a 4.94/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book from your nearest bookstore or on Amazon India.

The Grand Samara-Trisha Das

Book: The Grand Samara
Author: Trisha Das
Publisher: Bloomsbury India

I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

What would be your definition of Home?

Home has always been a temporary arrangement for Samara Mansingh, a wayfaring wedding photographer and the daughter of a diplomat. When her father is uprooted once again, Samara needs a place to stay in Delhi. Next stop: the Khanna family. Samara’s memories of the Khannas are vague at best, but she doesn’t remember their home feeling so much like a war zone. And the last thing their surly eldest son, Sharav, wants is a houseguest eavesdropping on the chaos. Sharav has a melodramatic sister pushing back on an arranged marriage, a withdrawn leadsinger brother who won’t sing, and a widowed mother hiding her grief in the garden. Sweeping into the household like a tornado, irrepressible Samara is a practically perfect distraction. She has a mind to help a girl find true love, push a young man to find his voice, and bring a lonely and loving widow out of mourning. Maybe Samara can even get on Sharav’s ruggedly handsome good side. The only sure thing is that the Khanna family will never be the same again. Neither will Samara, who may finally find what she’s been missing her entire life: a home.

The book is a wonderful story of how the idea of home is something we are all looking for, sometimes in a place, sometimes in a person, but the pursuit of that home is what makes our life. The writing of the book is quite engaging and keeps you hooked. What worked for me in the book was the linear storytelling and the manner in which the situations develop in the book. I loved how a “pre-Samara” dinner at Sharav’s house is shown, and the change that happens when Samara comes to live with them. Samara’s interactions with each family member have been planned and written quite nicely. Trisha takes each family member and their interaction with Samara to bring out various aspects of the plot. Another aspect of the book that I loved was the Sharav-Samara interaction. Right from the first moment to the last page, Trisha writes a roller-coaster ride of emotions. The whole scene about Sharav’s arranged marriage was just so perfect and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The humor in the book is on point and you’ll definitely laugh like a crazy person whenever you come across a humorous part of the book. The climax is the highlight of the book and the comedy of errors is quite a fun part to read and at the same time, heartwarming in the manner it is written.

The characters in the book have been written in detail. Trisha has given due thought to the characters and each of them has been crafted to fit into the story perfectly. I liked the manner in which Samara’s character has been written. She has her own flaws, but I loved how she makes the lives of those around her better. The way she helps Sharav’s sister find love, his brother his voice and herself a place she could call home. Sharav’s character as the “in-charge” of the Khanna household who likes to take charge and keep things in control was also something that was fun to read. Nonita and her family deserve a mention just for the fun they brought into the plot.

Overall, this is a book that is equal parts funny and heartwarming. The book is highly recommended to anyone who loves reading a well-written story. The book scores a 4.81/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book on Amazon India or your nearest bookstore.