When Love Came Calling-Preeti Shenoy

Book: When Love Came Calling
Author: Preeti Shenoy
Publisher: Srishti Publications

Do you think love as an emotion can power you as a person?

When Love Came Calling by Preeti Shenoy is the story of Puja and Arush, two young people who had nothing in common meet in a place where no distractions like social media are there, they start falling for each other and as time goes, fall madly in love with each other. When things take a turn, Puja and Arush face a sudden crisis, their love is put to a test. Puja sees the harsh reality of life, while Arush reanalyzes his image of India. The book explores their lives, love and journeys that can change you in ways more than one.

The book is an exceptionally well-told story that takes us through the euphoria of young love and the pain of a sudden breakup. Preeti has painstakingly created a canvas that is full of colors of the story sketched by her. While the main plot is about romance, Preeti has also explored parental pressures and the very Indian expectations of parents from their children. The story of Puja and how her choices were subdued and yet she musters up the courage to something so unexpected. In the story of Arush I loved how she creates a story of a love so powerful that encompasses not just humans but animals as well. The major part of the story is set in God’s Own Country of Kerala and the story moves from Kochi and the United Kingdom to the beautiful Wayanad, Ernakulam and Mattanchery. The descriptions are vivid and makes for a visual journey and a reader can almost experience what the characters are feeling at that moment. There are beautiful moments in the book, one that a reader would always cherish. The climax is extremely lovable, and the almost filmy ending made me smile wide.

The author has also picked up something that is extremely close to my heart personally, and I cannot complete this without mentioning the emails that our protagonists exchange, something that I love doing and I am glad that I am not the only person who thinks that writing emails is quite romantic and amazing!

Coming to our stars, Puja and Arush are diametrically opposite characters, and that is what attracted me towards the story. they are extremely relatable teenagers who are fussy, messy and yet organized. The character arc of Puja was the best one as through the timeline of the story, we see how she grows and even overpowers her fears. I loved the fact that she took a leap of faith when all she could see was darkness and this was a moment that shone in the book. Arush’s character was a brilliantly sketched one and added the right amount of spice to this sweet story to make it perfect and I could actually read out his parts in the British accent. One character without which the story might not have been this magical is Shanti Chechi and I am extremely happy the way she did what she did and without even flinching. That one scene was just perfect.

A special mention to the amazing sketches in the book that made the story come alive. A very minute detail that came to my attention was the artwork above each chapter which was quite significant with the mirror images of the flight path above Arush & Puja’s chapters, and the stethoscope above Chaitra’s.

The book gets a 4.93/5 from me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

Man Hunt-Priya Kumar

Book: Man Hunt
Author: Priya Kumar
Publisher: BooksThatInspire

Do you believe that we are responsible for anything that happens in our lives?

Manhunt by Priya Kumar is set in the wildlife of Nagarjuna Tiger Reserve and the story is filled with emotions like suspense, drama and divinity. The book addresses issues such as deforestation, genetic manipulation of fauna, corruption in the echelons of powers and media, and a message on the environmental impact of the actions of the humans. The book explores the idea of freedom and to fee alive, one has to embrace the version of yourself that is true. Life cannot be felt in the four walls of your house, and you need to step out to be alive.

The book is written in an interesting manner that tells a fictional tale taking place in the Nagarjuna Tiger Reserve where we meet a mysterious white tiger, a monk and an assortment of people who are lost and might just find themselves in the wild. The storytelling is extremely engaging that will captivate you and keep you hooked till the last page is turned. Priya has also taken up the idea of man-wildlife conflict and how it affects both negatively. She has also highlighted the point that corruption has become a disease that is eating the system from inside. The emotions in the story are quite raw and one would truly feel them as you read the story and journey through the world created by her. Apart from the story, the book also has subtle messages for the reader which can be imbibed in one’s life and the one which I found inspiring was that we need to live in the present and be focused on our own actions, rather than influencing others.

Coming to the characters in the book, I specially adored the characters of Bhikku and the White Tiger and the message they brought to fore. Bhikku’s journey and the way in which he influences the other characters as well as the reader is exemplary. For the Tiger, it symbolized the human-animal balance and that was a message that we need to portray to the entire world. Neil as a character impressed me in the manner in which he dealt with situations and the transformational journey he undertakes. Ram as a character was one of the surprises I did not expect and frankly that was a complete turnaround for me. Sakshi was a character with grit and determination, and Naseer embodied a person who had everything, yet was not ready to let go. Each of the characters, be it Rahul, Jay, Naina, were a specific feeling that we have inside us and Priya showed how each part of us reacts to situations.

Overall, the book was a great and transformative journey that would surely be memorable.

The book scores a 4.5/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

Mohini: The Enchantress-Anuja Chandramouli

Book: Mohini-The Enchantress
Author: Anuja Chandramouli
Publisher: Rupa Publications

Do you believe that there is an untold side to every story?

Mohini: The Enchantress tells us the story of the fabled Mohini, who was distilled from the essence of Vishnu himself, like never before. The story journeys from various fables and mythological stories told from her perspective as things happened, that tell us a different side of the Gods we revere. The book explores the story of Samudramanthan and the events that led to it, and what happened after that. Mohini gets to tell her side of the story, and as we wind up, we see how an enchantress gets enchanted and brings forth a god that’s revered by all.

The story of the book is brilliantly told from a perspective that only a few would have known. The stories are commonly told tales, but Anuja has taken them to a completely new level as she gives voice to the characters who had been lost to time and storytellers. She has brought forth a characters that had been pushed into oblivion. The tale is predominantly female-oriented as well as a focus is on gender fluidity and the idea of sexual freedom of an individual. The underlying message in the story was that of being true to oneself which would be one’s liberation. The theme of forbidden love is explored in more ways than one. The author has also taken up the idea of women empowerment through the stories and how exploitation of women has occurred through the ages. In the last story of Ayyappa, Anuja has also brought up the taboo that the third gender faces in our community, and how that is a part of our culture since ages. The climax of the book was amazing and unexpected that tied the complete story with a bow.

Coming to the characters, while Mohini is the central character and we see events from her perspective, each of the other characters, be it the Trimurtis, Shastha, or Chandra, stand on their own. Anuja has painstakingly given an individuality to each character that is in no manner compromised by Mohini’s storytelling. The characters are prominent ones that have featured in multiple tales, yet the way they have been created and the way in which they live a life of their own is commendable. The character arc of Mohini from a celestial being, an enchantress to a mother and feeling emotions is a great one that is inspiring. The one thing that stands out is the powerful feminine characters that bring out a fact that these tales were always overshadowed by their masculine counterparts, and the freedom to express themselves was never there.

The language of the book deserves a special mention as this is one of the most eloquently written books I have ever come across, as it added more than a few words to my vocabulary.

Overall, the book was truly enchanting, and it takes away 4.90/5 from me.

Grab your copy of the book here.

Thoughts Become Things-Sushil Hinge

Book: Thoughts Become Things: Transform Your Life Through Spiritual, Scientific & Practical Approach

Author: Sushil Hinge
Publisher: White Falcon Publishing

Do you believe everything that happens in our lives is a manifestation of our thoughts?

Thoughts Become Things by Sushil Hinge is a quick book that outlines how thoughts can be controlled and directed to invoke positivity in one’s life. A simple and unique book, the book takes up ancient techniques and formulas which can be easily applied in one’s life. The techniques are described with reasons so that a person can get attracted towards the practices.

The book is quite unique in the manner in which it is written. Simply drafted, the concepts are crisp and concise, one of the reasons this is a great book. The concepts of meditation, concentration etc. have been taken up in a very lucid manner, one that would appeal to a reader as well as a non-reader. With bullet points and crisp chapters, once can stop and start at any point in the book. The exercises in the book are quite helpful, and personally, I think I am going to start some of them as well.

The division of the book is primarily into 3 parts: Spiritual, Scientific & Practical. This division makes the reader able to connect the concepts to one another and grasp the message given in the book. the language of the book is immersive, and there are some fables in the book that add credence to the content in the book as well.

Overall, a good book that can form a part of the bookshelf of any person looking to increase positivity in their lives.

Grab a copy of the book here.

When I Find You - Shalini P. Sawkar

Book: When I Find You
Author: Shalini P. Sawkar
Publisher: Srishti Publications

Can anger drive you to extreme actions?

When I Find You by Shalini P. Sawkar is a short thriller that explores the dark side of love and revenge as it explores the story of why Nikhil takes a last minute flight from Delhi to Bengaluru and Vidya is trying to meddle in affairs that might land her in trouble.

The story is a short read that is quite fast paced that is quite engaging. The suspense is kept till the last page of the book that makes it a good read. The core idea is played with till almost the end and that is what makes it a good read. The one thing that didn’t work for me was the length as the story had the potential to be told a bit more, which could have added a bit more spice to it. The timeline is an interesting addition to the story. The climax is left open to interpretation and I am keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel to probably come out.

The characters are good with solid back stories. With Nikhil having shades of grey and the way they are shown is interesting. Vidya as a character seemed quite interesting as well with her snippets. I would have loved reading a bit about Eepsa as well had the story gone a bit more.

Overall, a good book that scores a 3.5/5 for me.

Get a copy here.

To You, With Love-Shravya Bhinder

Book: To You, With Love
Author: Shravya Bhinder
Publisher: Ebury Press (An Imprint of Penguin Random House)

Do you think Forever exists or is it a mirage?

To You, With Love by Shravya Bhinder is the story of Sahil Malhotra and Ayra Sharma who met in school and are completely opposites. Sahil has “new money”, is careless and carefree, whereas Ayra is a sensitive and reserved girl. Their story blooms slowly as the years pass. Though they get separated. Life gives them a second chance when a chance encounter happens. As the story unravels, Sahil discovers something about Ayra’s life that explains the reason of her behavior and they work towards overcoming it when another storm hits their coast and almost tears them apart. This is a story of love, loss and emotions.

The story of the book is something that one would have read before but the manner in which it is presented is quite fresh. The way in which it is present with alternating timelines is quite interesting and that is what gives this book its flavor. Shravya has taken up multiple points in the book that she addresses and each of them form a critical part of the story. The manner in which Ayra’s story is told is almost something that would send shivers down a reader’s spine when one reads it. With moments that would make one smile are peppered across the book, this story is a roller coaster in itself. There is an emotion of love that is primary, but the book also addresses loss in an interesting manner. The short notes from Ayra to Sahil make the book even better! The climax of the story is heart wrenching and would bring the reader close to tears if one is completely immersed in the story.

Coming to the characters which are one of the critical elements of this book. I usually start with the protagonists but in the case of this book, I would love to talk about Sahil’s parents who are almost like a solid foundation holding up the lives of Ayra and Sahil. The way they handle the situations is something I got truly inspired from. Coming to Ayra, the author has beautifully created a character that had a past that was full of horrors and a painful present, yet the hope never left her. Sahil portrayed a character who was capable of unconditional love and as we go through the story, one cannot resist falling in love with both of them. A special mention is needed for Bhanu & Pathak, the LGBTQ characters of the story, who are not just there for the sake of being there but are an integral part of the story.

Overall, a wonderful book that encapsulates multiple emotions and themes into a story making it unique.

The book scores a 4.31/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book here.

Love Un Stuck-Sudha Nair

Book: Love Un-Stuck
Author: Sudha Nair
Publisher: Self Published

Do you believe old crushes don’t disappear; they just remain hidden unless you come across one day?

Love Un-Stuck by Sudha Nair is the story of Kyra, a twenty-two-year-old girl who dreams of becoming a Bollywood, but her mother has taken up the project to get her married. Tired of the usual fights, she decides to make a run for it to Mumbai to attend an audition which she hopes is her ticket to her goal. Things take a turn when she runs into the very person she hates at her friend’s wedding, who unknown to her, might just be her partner-in-crime. Running towards her dream using her friend’s marriage as a cover, little does she know that this is a journey that would change her life completely.

The story of the book is told in an interesting manner that makes it an enjoyable read. The plot maintains a steady rhythm that is good enough to keep a reader engaged. The scenes are quite detailed and the chemistry between Irfan and Kyra is quite interesting. The way they describe each other gives a different dimension to the story. The plot is simple, although has its share of peaks and valleys. The scene at the music festival in Khandala was written extremely well, and I liked the manner in which the story takes a contemporary turn with the later part of the story, with a climax that gives proper closure to the readers. The title is a clever wordplay on the situations in the book, that is an interesting angle that the author has brought in the story.

The book is primarily driven by the characters of Kyra and Irfan as we see the story through their eyes. The character of Kyra is sketched as the dreamer who will do almost anything to fulfill her dreams. Irfan as been sketched as a person who was like Kyra but had mellowed down with age, though acts as a support to the protagonist. The character arcs of both Kyra and Irfan are quite interesting, given the way they started and the place where it all ends. I also liked how each of the characters has their own quirks that made them unique.  

Overall a love story that made me smile wider.

The book scores a 4/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

The Day Before Today: Lockdown Stories -Gayatri Gill

Book: The Day Before Today: Lockdown Stories
Author: Gayatri Gill
Publisher: Speaking Tiger Books

Do you think lockdown has given us a lot of stories to tell?

The Day Before Today by Gayatri Gill is a collection of 10 short stories around the theme of the lockdown imposed in India and the Covid-19 Pandemic. From a girl obsessed with a person she meets while buying groceries, a midnight feast, a ghost who falls in love and how a murder can be committed, and the person can easily escape. The book is a collection of such dark and thrilling stories that will engage you.

The stories in the book are told in an interesting manner that are engaging and keep a reader hooked till the last word of the story. The plots are taken from quite common situations, but Gayatri adds her own flavor to them to make them her own story. each of the stories have an interesting twist at the end that is sure to surprise the reader. I loved the way the tone was set in Day One with its last line. Positive is a story of hope and how the silver lining emerged from this cloud of the pandemic. Siya, circa 2020 and Siya, circa 2023 are 2 stories in continuation that take a thrilling twist to an all new level. Infection took my fancy because it highlights a grim reality that we saw and how a social divide exists, even in these testing times.

The characters of the book are quite commonplace, and that is what makes the book so interesting. The characters are relatable to the people we see around us daily. We can always see a Siya when we go out for shopping, or our parents when we try our hands at cooking and end up creating a mess. The romantic Ghost might not be a reality, but I would like to believe that it is a metaphor for a romantic liaison that arose in these times.

The sketches before each chapter by Niyati Singh are quite interesting and add a new dimension to the book.

Overall, a good read that scores a 4/5 for me.

Get your copies here.

The Undeserving Boss-Hasina Saiyeda

Book: The Undeserving Boss
Author: Hasina Saiyeda
Publisher: Thinktank Books

Do you think a leader learns on the job?

The Undeserving Boss by Hasina Saiyeda is the story of Ella who joins her father’s company MUSE after leaving a well-paying job and dreams of pursuing her masters in a foreign university. Things take a turn for the worse when she finds out a scam running under the very nose of her father that could derail the entire company and bring it down, along with the reputation that her father amassed over the years. As this corporate drama unfolds, journey with her as she unravels the mystery of the scam, and maybe finds something more than what she expected.

The concept of the story is nice and the idea of a corporate drama seems quite interesting at first, however the book just feels like a collection of happy-go-lucky incidents. The book, while has its share of interesting happenings and events, it lacks a certain flair that this story could have had. The basic concept of the scam is quite subtle and does not take the forefront in the story and sometimes disappears. The treatment of the central concept of an undeserving boss is also very fickle which could have added bit more twist to the story. it doesn’t seem to be quite engaging, and while a decent read for a first time, it might not catch someone’s fancy a second time. the climax is okayish, and quite filmy.

The characters in the story are quite relatable and the way they are presented in detail is commendable. The character of Ella seemed a bit underdeveloped to me and her character arc seemed quite flat, albeit there were some noticeable changes as the story progressed. The character of Aarav was quite interesting and he added a good flavor to the mix. Rest of the characters were good but lacked a certain depth.

Overall a decent read that scores 2.94/5 for me.

 Grab a copy here.

The Hour of Life-Dhruthik Shankar

Book: The Hour of Life
Author: Dhruthik Shankar
Publisher: Flipping Pages

What would you do if you only had an hour to live?

The Hour of Life by Dhruthik Shankar is the story of Jeeva, who is a 14-year old girl who is lying on a hospital bed, and almost on her deathbed when her estranged father Aryan comes to meet her. She had never met him before as he let her mother when she was born and this was their first meeting. While talking to her, she asks him what life is and he decides to narrate the same. What happens next forms the story.

The storytelling pattern is quite unique as it has stories and poems within the umbrella of the story. each of the story or the poem talks about a specific aspect of life and Dhruthik has basically used the stories as fables to deliver a life lesson. Each of the story and poem deals with a specific point and through the pages of the book we get to see his perspective on love, life, respect and a lot more. The short stories are engaging and quite relevant to the overall concept of the book. Coming to the poems in the book, they are composed beautifully that convey the point that the author wants to make in a good manner. The climax of the book was good and something quite fresh.

The characters in the book are crafted with precision and they have quite remarkable lives. The way Jeeva represents the frail nature of life and Aryan represents the fact that things change in the life is quite interesting.

Overall, it is worth reading for its content and unique storytelling.

The book scores a 3.81/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

Clean Slate-Preeti Rajput

Book: Clean Slate
Author: Preeti Rajput
Publisher: Amazon Kindle

Do you believe that things that happen in one’s life, happen for a reason?

Clean Slate by Preeti Rajput is a collection of 12 short stories that explore the raw human emotions and take up quite uncommon themes as they go along. A serial womanizer who is shunned by society decides to start afresh and his son tells him that he has asked a fairy to watch over him, a professor who is the target of a revenge plot by a spoilt brat etc. are some of the characters that we meet in the course of this book. An 8-year-old Urvi falls off the roof of her house and survives with a mark that seems to change the lives of Urvi and those around her. We also come across the story of Raghu who is bewildered to find his stuff missing everyday and discovers a secret no one would like. Like all graduates, Hari is on the lookout of a job when he receives an email, one that would change his life forever. Stories like these and more make up the book as they talk about revenge, love and a lot more.

The stories in the book are well written and the storyline of each of them is quite interesting with a flow that would interest a reader. The themes are taken from the usual stories that we hear around us of jealousy, love, revenge, luck and what not. Each of the story is quite different from the other which makes it a fun read as you cannot guess what the next story would talk about. The setting of the stories is not limited to a particular geography and thus one can easily relate to them despite being based out of any place. I particularly loved the stories Mr. Professor, Reincarnation, An Honest Idiot & If I Could Get a Second Chance. The theme of Reincarnation was amazing, and it showed a mirror to the society as it behaves around us. I would have liked if The Story of a laptop had a different ending, but it is still good.

The characters are quite relatable, be it Raghu or Urvi’s parents and even Sitaram. Each person feels as if they are telling a genuine, real story and that is what makes the stories this special. The way these characters get explored throughout the stories is commendable and I loved reading each and every moment of the book.

Overall, a good read that scores 4.19/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.

Swipe Left-Himanshu Goel

Book: Swipe Left
Author: Himanshu Goel
Publisher: Amazon Kindle

Do you think that people you meet on Dating apps can be trusted?

Swipe Left by Himanshu Goel is the story of Naina, who after her breakup with Karan decides to try out a Dating App Mategram on the insistence of her friend. After multiple left swipes, she finally comes across Ranveer, a chef who captures her attention and she decides to go out on a date with him. While the date was as perfect as it could be, there were secrets that Ranveer hadn’t yet told her.

The short story is crafted well; however, it lacks in the essence of being a thriller. The premise of the story was excellent, but its execution was subpar that would make you feel inadequate after completing it. While the story progresses, one would expect some sort of thrill to happen, but it was is if the fizz went out of the soda. The climax was very anticlimactic and almost as if a sudden brake is applied on a fast-moving car.

The characters of the story are relatable, and the twists are good. The character of Ranveer could have had more depth as well.

Overall, a decent book that scores a 2.88/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book here.

Divyastra-Nimish Tanna

Book: Divyastra
Author: Nimish Tanna
Publisher: Become Shakespeare

What would you do if you could control the world’s mightiest weapons?

Divyastra by Nimish Tanna explores the eons old stories of obtaining the weapons of the Gods just by invoking them. The only catch, it could only be transferred verbally, with no written records. In today’s world, however, one person who calls himself Guruji knows how to do it and uses the spells to help an innocent boy from Mumbai across various stages in his life. On a parallel track, Shankar is told a tale that puts him on a track of unmasking guruji and discovering a family secret. Amidst this story of ancient myths, wordplays and dispersed emotions, will Shankar ever be able to separate fact from fiction and find his true identity?

The book takes up a completely different track as it just takes the bare minimum from mythology and weaves a story around them. The storytelling is quite engaging and interesting, one that would keep a reader turning the pages as it moves along. the manner in which a tale within a tale is told is quite impressive. The way the concept of divine weapons has been treated is excellent and worthy of praise. I loved the manner in which the Nimish has hidden clues in plain sight in the story which feel so transparent in hindsight. While I liked the sub-plots, the second sub-plot of the Vaishnavastra didn’t seem that relevant and could have been crafted a little better, specially the treatment of the characters there as they have been reduced to just objects of desire. The climax of the book was amazing and hair raising.

This story is extremely character driven and talking at length about them would definitely leak out spoilers, but the characters are extremely well crafted. From the names to the character arcs, the details are quite fine and are extremely relevant to the story. I loved the wordplay in the character names and the manner they are revealed.

Overall a good book that scores a 4.13/5 for me.

Get a copy of the book here.

Creator's Image-Shwetha HS

Book: Creator’s Image-A Short Story Collection
Author: Shwetha HS
Publisher: Amazon Kindle

Creator’s Image by Shwetha HS is a collection of short stories that explore the many faces of a human being and take up concepts from evolution to love to the social construct of marriage and explore them from a different perspective. There are 11 stories in the book, each with their own idea that will keep you pondering upon them long after you have finished them.

The stories in the book are told in a very refreshing manner that is blunt and laced with truth and sarcasm. Each of the story in the book takes up a social issue and talks about it through their characters. From the titular story that talks about control, to Change in Paris where we see how social conventions force people to talk drastic decisions to Doses of Dreams where the author talks about the long-term impacts of living in a fantastical world and how that impacts each of us. The storytelling is powerful and keeps the reader engaged till the very end. Despite being a short book, it makes the reader concentrate on each story and makes them come back to it once they have read the climax to understand the nuances of storytelling that Shwetha has woven into the book. While I would have preferred the climax of the stories to be a bit more powerful in some of them, some like Check, Mate and Said and Unsaid were just perfect in the way they ended.

The characters of the book are common people, like you and me, ones that can be found around you and the stories are based on situations that one might just come across in their life, and that is what make the characters relatable and interesting. Being short stories, the way the author has detailed each character is excellent, and a special mention is required for Check, Mate as that had a character that was extremely detailed.

Overall a good book that scores a 3.25/5 for me.

Grab a copy of the book here.