Author: Manali Desai
Publisher: Self Published
I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
What do you think is the biggest challenge for a romantic relationship?
Gayatri Kulkarni: A gen Z girl who has always lived under the shadow of her elder brother Sharad; so much so that she even chose her degree and college following in his footsteps. Although she doesn’t regret it, she wishes her parents would understand her dream to pursue her one true passion - DANCE. Varun Agarwal: A millennial who believes there are no shortcuts in life. He has learned the hard way that being born into a wealthy family comes with more cons than the world would ever understand. She belongs to a Maharashtrian middle-class family from the suburbs. He hails from an affluent family in South Bombay. The only common point between them - being Mumbaikars. How do their paths cross in this city of dreams? Gayatri believes it’s because of Abhi Agarwal, Varun’s younger brother, who also happens to be her brother’s batchmate and close friend. But Varun has harbored a crush on her long before they exchanged hellos and phone numbers. Their story is a meeting of two generations and families, who are poles apart. Is there drama involved? Gayatri is often called a drama queen by those who know her. But after Varun’s entry into her life, she’s transformed from Miss Melodrama to Miss Mellowed Drama. Find out all about that transition in this much-awaited spin-off from Manali Desai’s debut novel, Love (Try) Angle, Love & (Mellow) Drama (Love Trials-II)
The second book in the Love Trials series by Manali is wonderfully crafted. The plot has been planned in detail and the story keeps you hooked on till the last page. Manali has extensively used Bollywood as a plot point to emphasize on key moments in the story. The story spans across years and through the transition of time, the story takes you through unabashed love, heartbreak, pandemic, death and a slew of emotions that each of the characters is feeling. Taking the time to let each emotion sink in, the book has crests and troughs that make the journey oh so interesting. The storytelling is highly compelling and the drama of the characters is so extensively penned that it makes you read the book cover to cover in one go. What I loved about the book was that the story is relatable with real problems that love marriages go through. Another aspect of the book that stood out for me was the idea of using songs to add a layer to the characters, and that for me was truly wonderful. There are scenes in the book that will make you fall down laughing, and there are equally somber scenes that will bring you to the verge of tears. The pandemic sequence and the pre-climax sequences specially stood out for me for their sheer imagery and the emotional factor. The climax is quite interesting, and I loved that the book does not end the story, rather puts a break to it.
Coming to the characters, Gayatri’s character is very well created. I
liked the way Manali has created a character who loves drama and being over the
top, but at the same time is very clear about her priorities. The strength of
this character was the fact that she stands up against every adversity and
comes out stronger. Her DDLJ obsession is quite interestingly chronicled, and
kudos to the author for using that as a pivot point of the story as well. Varun’s
character is also created with a good detail in mind. His perspectives in the
story are interesting. I liked the fact that he is created as an opposite to
Gayatri, but there are traits which are quite similar as well. Another
interesting character in the story is the city of Mumbai, and how Manali uses
it as a part of the story. From eating places to the travel routes, the essence
of the city comes out in the story and gives an interesting character to it.
A special mention to the titles and the quotes from the characters that
form the beginning of each chapter. Reading them and getting a sense of the
chapter was quite a good touch on the book. Including the playlist of the songs
referred to in the book (46) is a wonderful way to enjoy the book, and
personally I would highly recommend keeping the playlist handy while reading
the book.
Overall, I can confidently say that this is one of the best works of
Manali I have read, and specially for keeping me reading from the point where I
thought the story had ended, and pivoting to a completely different situation
was truly amazing. The book scores a 4.88/5 for me.
Get a copy of the book on Amazon India.
Check out my review of the first book of the Love Trials Series: Love (Try) Angle
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