All Signs Lead Back to You by Aniesha
Brahma
2013.
As the final bell for the day rang on
their last day in school, Diya Rai, had a chill run down her spine. The chill
of not knowing what the future holds for her and her high school sweetheart,
Ashwin Chowdhury.
So she does a preemptive strike.
She dumps him before he can hurt
her.
2015.
Two years later, Ashwin and Diya,
cross paths. Each holds grudges, feelings and only one half of the story that
completes them.
Told from alternating points of view,
through a non-linear timeline, this is the story about
first love, second chances and ALL the
SIGNS THAT LEAD BACK TO YOU.
Meet the
Characters
Diya Rai – is the
protagonist of the story whose actions have always had terrible consequences
for those around her. Diya is self-absorbed and never chooses anyone else over
her own self. Diya’s troubled past keeps her from letting people into her life.
Even though she’s hurt Ashwin she wants him back in her life years later.
Ashwin Chowdhury –
is her best friend in school and later on, boyfriend. He is left heartbroken by
Diya but when their paths cross later on, he realises he doesn’t want anything
to do with her. He lives with his mother and elder brother and hails from a
upper middle-class family background.
Nina Gonzales – is
Diya’s best friend in college. She and Diya had met during their admissions and
had become fast friends with one another. Nina and Ashwin end up competing with
one another to see who is really Diya’s best friend!
Rishabh – is the
quintessential hot, rich guy that Diya dates in college. He seems to be in love
with her, but Diya doesn’t seem to return the same affection towards him. Nina
hates his guts.
Trina – is the girl
Ashwin is interested in. She goes to the same college as Diya and Nina, and
while Diya dislikes her mostly because Ashwin seems to be interested in her,
Nina is indifferent to her.
Aniesha Brahma is an author who
realized her passion for writing at the tender age of six. She also happens to
be the social media manager for BEE Books. Her debut novel, The Secret Proposal
(2012) was published by General Press and was followed by When Our Worlds
Collide (2015) by the same. She blogs at: www.anieshabrahma.com and runs an online
magazine, BUZZ Magazine. She can be contacted at:
aniesha.brahma@gmail.com. She lives in
Kolkata with her family and her five super adorable cats!
My Review:
This YA story has been inspired from a lot of YA fiction out there, especially Paper Towns.
This is perhaps why the characters are the best part, with their quirks and histories and differences.
The story is a light-read and if you are looking for some thought-provoking YA, then this might not be for you. The novel spans across a handful of school and college years of the characters and traces their story as they meet new people, redefine themselves, define their relationships and learn crucial lessons.
The heartwarming part is how they let go and hold on to friends or support systems. That, for me, is the highlight of the plot. The comebacks and actions of the characters are amusing, but there isn't a particular highlight here. I wish the ends weren't so loosely tied.
Overall, the book is a fun, fast read.
Book available here:
