Non Review Rant
This is my review of Adite Banerjie’s latest release Just The Way You Are (Soulmates #1). There may be spoilers, so be warned.
I picked this one because
1) I haven’t been able to finish Adite’s other book that I started ages ago
2) It is short and I like books that I can finish in one go. I literally finished it while making lunch today.
3) This reason is an extension to the second one. I have to meet my reading challenge on Goodreads of reading 150 books. I am 9 books short. If anyone has read short stories recently, please recommend. Thanks!
Alright, let’s get down to this review.
Book Details
Title: Just The Way You Are (Soulmates, #1)
Length: 64 pages
Published: 2 October, 2019
Price: INR 50 (Or you can borrow it for free if you’ve Kindle Unlimited subscription)
Link to buy from Amazon: Amazon.in
Book Description
Single mom and bridal makeup artiste Shikha Verma is finally in a good place – both professionally and on the personal front. A chance encounter with a charming musician, who is much younger than her, has her throwing caution to the winds and breaking vows she’s made to herself. Walking away is the right thing to do. After all, she can’t risk another heartbreak when she has only just recovered from one.
Yash Kulsreshtha has never been more attracted to a woman and the lady definitely is into him. Why then is Shikha is hell bent on pushing him away? Surely their age difference is not such a big deal? But before he can convince her, she storms out of his life. Are Yash and Shikha destined to stay apart or will life hand them a chance at happily-ever-after?
This novella is a feel-good, emotional romance and the first book of the Soulmates Series.
Author’s Profile
Adite Banerjie discovered the wonderful world of books at an early age which sparked her interest in writing. After a fulfilling and exciting career as a business journalist she turned her attention to fiction.
Three of her romance novels have been published by Harlequin/Harper Collins India. In 2018 she embarked on her indie journey as an author-publisher.
She also writes screenplays and in 2017 one of her scripts made it to the semi-finals of the prestigious Academy Nicholl Fellowships.
When she is not grappling with her current work-in-progress, she enjoys spending time with her husband and watching back-to-back movies.
Plot Summary
The book is about 40-ish Shikha, a makeup artist and single mom to a teenage Aman; and Yash, a 32 years old musician with some unresolved differences with his father.
Sikha and Yash hookup at a wedding. Though Yash clearly likes her, Shikha pushed him away; for he’s younger than her and the demons from her past don’t let her relax. Yash is determined to woo her the next day and she’s determined to evade him.
To add to this twist; there’s another girl Anamika who likes Yash. Yash’s father Rajbir is getting married at an old age; adding to Yash’s awkward equation with Rajbir. Over a course of 8 chapters, we witness a sweet romantic relationship building. We also understand the backstory of both characters. Of course, it ends on a happy note.
Review
Frankly, friendship is a loaded word these days.
I simply loved that line.
The story tackled romance between older woman and younger man; and the small subplots touched upon issues that we all have with family members, in one form or the other. I liked the plot.
It is a short, quick and unusual romance. The vocabulary is fab – it sounds poetic and doesn’t need you to pick up dictionary.
I don’t much like flashbacks. This was a short story and looking at its length, the story moves back and forth quite a bit. I prefer if things are straightened out. That could just be my personal preference. Other than this tiny problem, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I’d recommend it to everyone who likes short and clean romance story.
Shabana Mukhtar
