The Spectacular Miss-Sonia Bahl

Book: The Spectacular Miss
Author: Sonia Bahl
Publisher: Fingerprint Publications

Do you believe that love at first sight exists?

The Spectacular Miss by Sonia Bahl is the story of Nira Sehgal, who at eight had only one wish, to be a boy. Steadfast in fulfilling her wishes, she steps into her brother’s clothes and becomes the self-appointed leader of the neighborhood boys. With a family that is filled with oddballs, her personality starts taking shape, and it is all but a poignant relationship with her brother’s best friend that actually shapes the way her life unfolds. A coming-of-age journey of a tomboy from Calcutta to a reluctant woman-in-progress in London, the book is a story of a misfit, always trying to fit in, but fails. Will her trysts with life bear fruit by uniting her with the one person she yearns for, who is always too old, and too married to be hers?

The story is very well narrated, and the plot has been crafted in detail, with the idiosyncrasies of the characters plotted well into the story. Beginning from Nira at the age of 8 to the Nira at 27 years, the story spans almost 2 decades. This journey from a tomboy in Calcutta to a doctor in London is not just a coming-of-age story, but also the story of how love can actually transcend age and time, as it strengthens over small little things one experiences. I loved the manner in which minute details in the initial story played a crucial part in the latter half. Sonia has taken the quirks and whims of a child, a teenager, and a Young Adult as they deal with life and comes to terms with their emotions and feelings. With some very interesting plot points, my favorite one was Nira’s family going to drop her to college, and the events that unfold. Coming to the climax, I almost fell for the pseudo climax that the story leads you into until you turn the page. It is one of the most amazing endings to a story I have come across, and the feeling when the other shoe drops is indescribable.

Coming to the characters, Sonia has crafted some very memorable characters in this story. Nira Sehgal is the misfit who wanted completely different things in life, and was steadfast in her belief. Her journey from aiming to pee standing up, to the city of London was nothing less than inspiring. As we see her grow and the nineteen years of her life, the story is not just about love and Nira finding her calling, but the way she matures through multiple events and how they shape her. Bir was another character who stunned me, and I think deserves a standalone novel of his own to tell us the other half of the story. Other characters such as Lucy, Rahil, Nick, and Omer, who though seem like supporting, are in fact one of the crucial ones who shape Nira’s life.

Overall, an amazing read, and a definite recommendation from me which scores a 4.38/5.

Get a copy of the book here.