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Author: Shuchi Kalra
Publisher: Indireads
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #212,072 Paid in Kindle Store
No. of Pages: 159 pgs.
Disclaimer: I got this book from the Publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
Blurb
Meet Sri Anuprabha, aka Anu, a twenty-nine year-old banker who is terrified of entering her thirties. She dreams of quitting her job at the bank, sporting yoga pants and traipsing around the world. Her world turns upside down when things go awry and she is faced with the prospect of spending her days watching Tamil serials. She comes up with a five-point plan for reclaiming her life back before she hits the big 30. But things are never as simple as drawing up a flowchart in real life, are they? Especially with a ghastly recession rearing its ugly head…. Anu bumbles through the corridors of domesticity and travels on a funfilled roller coaster ride in a bid to discover her passion in life.Along the way, she meets new people, experiences crazy new things and learns some hard lessons in marriage, friendship, parenting and life. The Crossover Year is a funny, yet heartwarming story of a woman in search of her identity, and a chronicle of her hilarious quest for discovering her inner mojo. Bring out a platter of cookies and a steaming mug of chai, and join Anu on the ride of her lifetimeTravel journo, Kairavi Krishna (Kay) has had it with men. After a series of disasters (losers, philanderers, leeches, mama's boys and possessive psychos), she is all too tempted to walk out on the prospect of ever finding love. Accompanied by her best friend and flat-mate Baani, she sets off for Goa, hoping to get away from her miserable love life and vowing to stay clear of the male species.
Goa however, has a host of surprises in store for her. Ricky, her pesky ex-boyfriend, is busy painting the town red with his hot new girlfriend. Now what is poor Kay to do other than overdose on vodka, smoke pot, get an outrageous tattoo and fall off the hotel balcony? She wakes up in the hospital to the tender ministrations of Dr.Vivian D'Mello--young, suave and handsome as hell. Will Kay stick to her guns or will she fall for his ridiculously sexy charms? And what's up with the mixed signals he's giving out?.
Goa however, has a host of surprises in store for her. Ricky, her pesky ex-boyfriend, is busy painting the town red with his hot new girlfriend. Now what is poor Kay to do other than overdose on vodka, smoke pot, get an outrageous tattoo and fall off the hotel balcony? She wakes up in the hospital to the tender ministrations of Dr.Vivian D'Mello--young, suave and handsome as hell. Will Kay stick to her guns or will she fall for his ridiculously sexy charms? And what's up with the mixed signals he's giving out?.
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Review
Meet Kairavi…
A modern girl in modern India. Independent to the core. No family problems. In fact, she is the offspring of a pair of doting and loving parents. She has only one problem. Falling for the wrong guy, casual sex and booze.( okay make that three). As her friend Baani aptly says, ‘you are in love with the concept of falling in love.’ But do I as a reader like her? If it was my daughter – no. But, if it was me…. Yes. :)
And why not? She brings out a feeling of freedom in every girl. Till now all the romances highlight the Casanova image in a guy. When girls do it, it takes a different dimension. But not with Kairavi. A true representation of the Bold and the Beautiful in the Indian scenario.
Coming to beauty, she is not a raving beauty. Unruly hair, slightly on the plump side, five two, big bums and small breasts. But she makes it all up with her darling Thought Bubble. (Shuchi, that is bloody hilarious, by the way. ) Kairavi is fun, she is a magnet for trouble and unexpected situations.
Meet Vivian….
Our handsome doc in Goa. (Psst… and he is single and handsome in Goa? ) He starts with a macho image of being the rough and tough doc. It notches up to be the perfect friend and lover for Kairavi eventually…. Till a fiance does not appear in the scenario. Again a wrong man for poor Kay? (Nahiiiiiiiiiiin………..)
The Love Story?
What would you call a story where the heroine meets the hero, bruised and broken bones and in an unusual….ahem…..attire?(Shuchi, they really sell that? *imagine my jaws hanging out) ‘Done with Men, is not just a title of the story, it is a feeling of betrayal and hurt, young Kairavi feels after a string of wrong men and disillusionment in love.
When she meets Dr. Vivian in the hospital, his arrogance irritates her. But as they say, when you are hard to get, you are desired more. So, she wants him. She finds a friend in him and slowly falls in love with him, even though he was exactly the type whom she found in the ‘not happening’ category. So will she be able to keep him? Or will the tattoo…. Done with men…. be a part of her life forever?
What I liked….
The boldness in the story. Yes, it happens in our India. High time we stop and accept that ‘good girl’ does not mean black framed specs, oily hair and going to bed -alone, by eleven. ‘Good girl’ also does not mean, ambitious, tough, prudish and a go getter. ‘Good girl’ can be anyone. Slightly naughty, humorous, making mistakes and rising again. Lost, searching for love and taking her duties seriously. Being a friend in times of need even though expecting a lot from her friends in return. ‘Good girls’ can be like Kairavi too.
The only point I couldn’t relate to was why Kairavi had to let go of Vivian. If it was not considered a spoiler, I would have put the line here. But it was just ‘that one line’ which takes away the punch from that scene. (Hint: When Vivian goes to buy the ring with his fiancé…….)
Would I recommend this book….Definitely.
Just when you feel that you need a laugh, a cheer – this story will do that for you. Thank you Shuchi for writing this and making me laugh loudly at 3 a.m. At this rate, I would need the tattoo soon. :)
A modern girl in modern India. Independent to the core. No family problems. In fact, she is the offspring of a pair of doting and loving parents. She has only one problem. Falling for the wrong guy, casual sex and booze.( okay make that three). As her friend Baani aptly says, ‘you are in love with the concept of falling in love.’ But do I as a reader like her? If it was my daughter – no. But, if it was me…. Yes. :)
And why not? She brings out a feeling of freedom in every girl. Till now all the romances highlight the Casanova image in a guy. When girls do it, it takes a different dimension. But not with Kairavi. A true representation of the Bold and the Beautiful in the Indian scenario.
Coming to beauty, she is not a raving beauty. Unruly hair, slightly on the plump side, five two, big bums and small breasts. But she makes it all up with her darling Thought Bubble. (Shuchi, that is bloody hilarious, by the way. ) Kairavi is fun, she is a magnet for trouble and unexpected situations.
Meet Vivian….
Our handsome doc in Goa. (Psst… and he is single and handsome in Goa? ) He starts with a macho image of being the rough and tough doc. It notches up to be the perfect friend and lover for Kairavi eventually…. Till a fiance does not appear in the scenario. Again a wrong man for poor Kay? (Nahiiiiiiiiiiin………..)
The Love Story?
What would you call a story where the heroine meets the hero, bruised and broken bones and in an unusual….ahem…..attire?(Shuchi, they really sell that? *imagine my jaws hanging out) ‘Done with Men, is not just a title of the story, it is a feeling of betrayal and hurt, young Kairavi feels after a string of wrong men and disillusionment in love.
When she meets Dr. Vivian in the hospital, his arrogance irritates her. But as they say, when you are hard to get, you are desired more. So, she wants him. She finds a friend in him and slowly falls in love with him, even though he was exactly the type whom she found in the ‘not happening’ category. So will she be able to keep him? Or will the tattoo…. Done with men…. be a part of her life forever?
What I liked….
The boldness in the story. Yes, it happens in our India. High time we stop and accept that ‘good girl’ does not mean black framed specs, oily hair and going to bed -alone, by eleven. ‘Good girl’ also does not mean, ambitious, tough, prudish and a go getter. ‘Good girl’ can be anyone. Slightly naughty, humorous, making mistakes and rising again. Lost, searching for love and taking her duties seriously. Being a friend in times of need even though expecting a lot from her friends in return. ‘Good girls’ can be like Kairavi too.
The only point I couldn’t relate to was why Kairavi had to let go of Vivian. If it was not considered a spoiler, I would have put the line here. But it was just ‘that one line’ which takes away the punch from that scene. (Hint: When Vivian goes to buy the ring with his fiancé…….)
Would I recommend this book….Definitely.
Just when you feel that you need a laugh, a cheer – this story will do that for you. Thank you Shuchi for writing this and making me laugh loudly at 3 a.m. At this rate, I would need the tattoo soon. :)
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Rating
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