What If?

Life really is too short. What if I died tomorrow? 

There is so much I still want to do. I want to travel. To meet my soulmate. To find a job I don't hate and a home that I love.

What if? by Shari Low - Funniest book I've read so far !!

20 years ago, Shari Low published her first book "What if?", which was now reprinted as an updated version. You see, 20 years! It's a long back! So, when you feel something stupid is happening, you cannot argue things like - "Why can't she search online?!", "God, why can't she just ping and update" or "She should've exchanged numbers to keep in touch!!" Because you know, it's pre-internet era and an era where having a mobile phone with international calls is a luxury!

Coming to the story, Our pretty heroine, Carly Cooper just reached 30 and is now starting to experience mid-life crisis. Ask me why? 

One - She doesn't like her job but is just doing to pay her bills.
Two - She ridiculously dumped all her ex's, ending up with no one. 

The only soothing factor in her life right now is meeting her pals. They meet atleast once in a month and sometimes she catches up with her lovely young brothers too.

Now, in 1999, with just an year left for a new millenium to start, Carly wants to change the course of her life. "What if her Mr Right is one of her ex's?" is the question that disturbs her mind.

And that's it! As instinctive as she always is, Carly decides to revisit all her ex's in chronological order, right from the time when she lost her virginity at the age of 17. But not before discussing it with the girl gang and her two young brothers. Because they are the best! Either to support her or to laugh at her for the craziness. 

Carly is all set to start her journey. She has resigned her job, sold her flat and last but not the least - got all her credit cards ready, to pay for her travel expenses.

And by the way, she has dated 6 guys (ofcourse, not simultaneously) - all from different places. So, the only choice that she has right now to execute her plan is to start from where she ended. Because remember? It's a pre-internet era! 

She travels to each place to meet everyone starting with Nick, to Joe, then to Doug (with a stint with Mark), and to Tom, Phil and finally Sam - hoping she finds her soulmate in atleast one of them. 

She travels across London, Shanghai, Hong-kong, Ireland and feels glad that few of her girl friends accompanies her in few places. However, it isn't a cake-walk to find someone with just the name after almost 10-12 years. Malls have replaced shops, Hotels have replaced bars and many more changes have happened. But somehow, finally, Carly tracks all of them one by one only to get surprised in-return with some shocking revelations by each one of them!

So, will she ever be able to find the "one" and have a happily-ever-after life that she dreamt of? 

Or will she have to take up another ridiculous job to pay back to all the credit card companies before they get her arrested? 

Or What if she once again meets all of them at one place??...Many questions...Many confusions!

Read it to know it!!

On a side note, my guess is right about the "one"! He's been there right from the beginning. But you need imagination like mine to decipher it ;)

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P.S :- There are so many characters in this book, that I'm sure if you give a lot of gap between consecutive readings, you might definitely forget the names or even worse, the story itself!

P.P.S :- Though there are lot of names involved, most of them have significant importance in how the story evolves. So, its worth taking some effort to remember the names that you encounter, atleast till you finish the book.

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Happy Reading !!

Source: Amazon - Kindle Edition

A Second Chance

Relationships require openness, which means we have to let ourselves be vulnerable! But, make sure you are not letting anyone break you emotionally !!

A Second Chance by Sudeep Nagarkar is the story of a girl named Disha. It starts with her school time crush and ends with the love of her life. 

Disha is an introverted and very shy kind of a girl. Kajal is Disha's best friend and in a way, she is the only biggest strength for her in every situation. On the other hand, Raghav and Dhruv are best friends, Raghav being the flirtatious type and Dhruv being the sincere one. 

They all become friends, mainly because Disha has a crush on Raghav and the others want to help her. Meanwhile, Disha's grandmother, who is very close to her, dies. Disha takes a few days break from school only to return and realize that everyone parted their ways.

Fast forward to college, Disha and Kajal are still together. Thickest and strongest friends than before! Turns out, Raghav is also in the same college. Disha and Kajal tries to avoid him as much as possible, considering the fact that he being the reason for the entire fallout in school days. But, truth be told, the entire story which was portrayed back then in school days was not completely true. And though Disha is not the same shy girl as she was earlier, she is still hesitant to accept her deep feelings for Raghav !!

After clearing the misunderstandings, they once again become friends. This time, it did not stop with just friendship! Disha and Raghav soon became talk-of-the-college kind of couple. Disha is more than sure that her love life is back ! The love that she craved since school days. And the love that she did not find in her parents, who fight daily over petty things.

But...

Even before digesting the fact that she can also be loved by someone, Raghav leaves her due to some stupid commitmental anxiety issues. Disha is shattered. Actually traumatized!

You are allowed to breakdown, as long as you pick yourself back up and keep moving forward!!

Again fast forward to 2 years, Disha is working as a professor and is also busy with wedding preparations. Whose wedding you ask? Ofcourse not Disha's! It's Kajal's! 

By this time, Disha's parents are exhausted in search of a groom for Disha. And Disha is also tired of rejecting all the proposals for the fear of falling in the same love trap. But, she decided to give a serious shot for the next one. And turns out, its Dhruv this time. Considering the postive impression that Disha has on him, she is ready to go with the flow. 

(And did I mention that Dhruv had a crush on Disha? back in school days? I think you can imagine how happy Dhruv can be with this new alliance!)

Okay..So, Disha and Dhruv are happily married. And Disha is in cloud-nine with all the love that her husband and in-laws are showering on her.

Is this the happy ending which Disha always wanted?  

Why not?

Are there going to be any glitches because of their past mistakes?

Read it to know it!!

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P.S: Though I did not find the story-line super impressive, the writing style is simple and easy to understand. And this book shows that family and friends matter too, to stabilize the person, when they go through major setbacks in life.

So, until next time...

Happy Reading !!

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Source:  Amazon - Kindle Edition

The Girl with No Home

Straight to the story...

Jerusha has been abandoned by her mother at the age of 7. Her mother loved her father a lot and wants to live with him. But he himself is in a place, where she cannot afford to take Jerusha. She loved him a little too much that she decided to give up on Jerusha. And as a result, Jerusha is left with a guardian.

After few years of living here and there, Jerusha meets a man named Dan, a farmer and who is much older than Jerusha. She marries him and is all set to start a new life in a new place and in a new home. A home, which she can claim to be her place. And a home, which she can stay forever with her loving husband.

But life has thrown a new challenge at her. Jerusha is left alone in the same house just after 2 years of marriage. She cannot go anywhere else, because she never had a real home as such. So with no other choice left, Jerusha decided to stay back in the same house to live her life all alone once again !

As said, when there is a zig, there will always be a zag. I mean, if life throws challenges at you, just face it. Because it will also throw some cool stuff sooner or later.

And that is what happened in Jerusha's life too. After few days of being alone, she met a traveller named Joe. He was in search of some temporary work and a home to keep his daughter. 

Can you guess what's in store next ??

Jerusha and Joe fall for each other and gets married in a small ceremony with only few closest friends and neighbours. Their happiness has no bounds when they come to know that Jerusha is pregnant. Everything is so well and everyone are so happy. But here comes another zig. As much as Joe loves Jerusha, he also loves travelling, exploring and just hates settling in one place.

(And did I mention that he is a painter? May be I haven't !!)

Though Jerusha finds it difficult to accept, deep down, she knew that she cannot expect Joe to stick with her all his life. But she never expected that his departure would be this early. That too when she is carrying Joe's child. Nevertheless, Jerusha has no other choice left but to allow Joe to do what he wants to do.

And once again, Jerusha is left all alone. But this time, she has some hope that Joe might return to her. Whether he returns or not, only time and the pages in the book will decide. 

So start reading to find out.....

 - What happened to Jerusha's mother ?

 - Who is the guardian who took care of Jerusha ?

 - What happened to Dan (Jerusha's first husband) ?

- and finally, Will Joe comes back to Jerusha??

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P.S: One of the strange stories that I've read so far. I just found interesting to read the different culture that is showcased. But if you are looking for some fun read, this shouldn't be your pick.

Happy Reading !!

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Source: The Girl With No Home by Shiela Newberry

Hardcopy from 99bookscart.com

The Last Days of Summer

Summer for Kia is Rosewood. 

The traditions, the place, the ambience, the people, everything about Rosewood is so special for her. But why is she avoiding to visit Rosewood since two years? 

Now the time has come, where she no longer can give the same lame excuses to skip visiting Rosewood. Because - Nathaniel, Kia's grandfather and a famous writer, specially invited her to be a part of the grand garden party. Being Nathaniel's favourite grand daughter, how can she miss her own grandparents golden wedding? That too even after receiving a warm invitation from her favourite human being?

So, Kia is set to visit the beautiful Rosewood after 2 long years. The only thing she has to make sure to focus on is, attend the wedding and return immediately before anyone gets to know about her secret.

At Rosewood ----

Being back at home, everything looks the same for Kia. Dressing up for dinners, the cocktail parties, her father's delicious cooking and her grand father's spellbinding stories. But she hasn't expected the cold reception from her grand mother, complete avoidance by her sister and 'I-know-it-all' look from a stranger, Edward (Nathaniel's new assistant).

She realizes how badly she shattered every relationship. Especially with her sister, Ellie. While she is somehow trying to gel-in with the family after so long, there comes an emergency. She has to immediately start working on a project along with Edward.

Now, this project definetely cannot serve as a distraction for her. Because its a DO or DIE situation for her. As important it is to work on this project for Kia, it also comes with many complications involved in it. 

On one side, though her secret might not be out, there is clear scope that she might expose all the other family secrets which might further destroy the existing haphazard relationships of her family. And on the other side, working with Edward is not something that she is comfortable with - considering the fact that he knows more than enough of her secret.

With all these roadblocks involved, will Kia finally take up the prestigious project ? 

If YES, how can she do this to her family? Why is that project so important for her that she is ready to trade her family relations?

If NO, Does this mean, she is trying to save someone or something from being exposed? What help can it do to her or her family?

These last few days of Summer at Rosewood, has changed Kia's life forever. Ofcourse, it changed for good !!

Read it to know it !!

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P.S : It's an interesting plot with many things under one story. You can experience all the familial emotions that you need on a warm summer day.

Happy Reading !!

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Source - The Last Days of Summer by Sophie Pembroke - Hardcopy from 99bookscart.com