Book Review: What A Boy Wants by Nyrae Dawn

About the book:

Title: What A Boy Wants

Paperback, 272 pages
Published September 26th 2013 by Headline Eternal 

Genre: YA Romance

Rating: 3/5

Blurb:
Courtesy of watching his mom's relationships, Sebastian Hawkins knows what girls need to do to get a guy. He has what he considers a PHD in hooking up. When he needs extra cash for a car, Sebastian starts up an online venture as The Hook-up Doctor, to anonymously help girls land the guy of their dreams. Of course, his services don't offer a happily-ever-after guarantee. He's seen firsthand getting together never means staying together.

And then he falls in love...
With the last girl he would expect...
Totally not in his game plan.

Suddenly, Sebastian finds himself muddled in the game he's always prided himself on. He can't even pick up girls at parties anymore! Why would anyone want to be in love when it turns you into a stuttering, screwed-up, mess with really lame stalker tendencies? Stalking? Totally not his gig.

But the Hook-up Doctor won't let himself go down easily. He's always known how to give a girl what she wants and now it's time to figure out what a boy wants... and he definitely plans on getting it.

About the author

Is a compulsive reader and writer who loves YA fiction. Loves nothing more than writing about young adults. Lives in Southern California with husband and two children.

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My Review:

I received this book in a giveaway, and was excited by the blurb. I wanted it to be one of those entertaining as hell reads, that makes you double-up when the girl and boy bump into each other, or avoid each other. But...
A very cliched plot. A guy who plays hook-up doctor, much like the beaten-to-death concept of Love Guru, is a witness to failed relationships. He saw multiple break-ups and divorces of his mom and he has no damn to give about relationships.

He also has a steady friend circle, Sebastian Pris, Aspen and Jaden didn't impress upon me instantly, although their banter was amusing, and very amateurish. They talked like really young middle-graders.
Fav line? "If you mess this up, I will mess you up too!" That's what girl best friends are for.
The story does have some feels, and was an enjoyable read when you have a few hours handy, without the energy to commit to a long, deep book.
The part showing love is messy and difficult were really entertaining. But even that dragged a lot.
The fact that Sebastian was getting to know it better, chapter after chapter, was what salvaged the whole romance. Loved that bit.

Maybe it was the first-person narration, but it seemed to stretch for no reason. I almost went over and shouted over the pages, addressing the boy, "pull yourself together!"
Overall, I felt that the book could have been woven stronger than this.

Links to the book:

Source of the review copy: Won in a giveaway

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Book Review: Destiny Of Shattered Dreams by Nilesh Rathod

About the book:

Title: Destiny of Shattered Dreams

Paperback, First Edition, 254 pages
Published May 20th 2016 by Rupa Publications

Genre: Fiction (Corporate Thriller)

Rating: 4/5

Blurb: An insider’s view into what goes on behind the glittering facade of corporate stardom, DESTINY of SHATTERED DREAMS is a fast-paced
tale of a brilliant young man’s meteoric rise. It is also a moving portrayal of the fallibility of love.

Ambition, passion
and raw courage are Atul Malhotra’s key aides to realizing his dreams as he learns the art of gambling for high stakes. What follows is a game of treachery, infidelity and murder.

The book lays bare the sordid corporate-politico nexus that compels this once middle-class boy to deftly learn the ropes and negotiate a world where dirty deals and power plays can make or break lives, where one wrong choice could be fatal.

A tale of yachts and hidden Swiss accounts, sordid affairs of lust, intrigue and exhilarating highs, Nilesh Rathod’s Destiny of Shattered Dreams is also the story of innocence forever lost.

About the author

Nilesh Rathod is a businessperson, writer and poet. Co-founder of Ensemble Infrastructure India Limited, Nilesh’s company currently employs over 2000 people.

Destiny of Shattered Dreams is his debut novel. Nilesh is currently working on his second novel. He lives in Mumbai, you may email him at nilesh@nileshrathod.in or visit his webpage http://www.nileshrathod.in You may also follow him on twitter @authornilesh or at http://facebook.com/authornilesh

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Email:

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My Review:

Plot:
I will begin by telling how this book is built on its strong plot. The entire book, with all its life-like characters, is standing on its racy and flawless plot.
The themes and issues it touches are the the corporate debauchery, political vile, moral turpitude, emotional depravity which has become so characteristic of an unfettered ambition now a days.
The plot open where Atul malhotra, our protagonist has been jailed for his crimes. It also reminded me of The Bet by Anton Chekov. Of course, the plot is in a different setting, with contemporary jargons and engagements.
Rathod carefully weaves the story, giving it a realistic setting, turns, twists and end. Which is what makes him a master story-teller. He has set out his characters in the corporate arena, and unfolded the story in a very clever fashion.
It starts out with the celebrated rise of a start-up and then,, its maligning by political influence and force, not to mention blood. All of this ends up in court, with everyone getting what they deserve.

Characters:
Atul, the protagonist is a risky character. Risky, because there isn't really anything to like about him and with the story revolving around him practically, it is difficult not to react to his presence.
Example of the consequences of talent gone greedy, risk gone awry and ambition gone haywire, his life, both in its personal and professional aspects is a lesson in the making.

His partners: Rakesh, Qazi, Prem were all predictable, on the other hand. They were those typical partners who complete each other, bringing their own expertise to the table

Roshni and Aarti were the romantic interests of Atul, the former his now-estranged wife and the latter could be termed easily the reason for estrangement. The matrimonial tangent has been messy for this mess, and rest assured, he will be spending the rest of his live atoning his sins.

Book-aesthetics: 

Brownie points to the book for the infusion of snippets of poetry within the pages. Those were a welcome respite in the plot, and were certainly good ones.
The cover page is more symbolic, and does give away the corporate feel of the plot.

Links to the book: Amazon | Kindle| Flipkart | Uread  | Goodreads | 

Source of the review copy: I thank the author for providing me with a review copy in return for an honest review. 

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Author Spotlight and Interview: Prachi Garg, Author of Superwomen

I love reading non-fiction, especially the kind that inspires me into action and celebrates the lives and efforts of people doing legendary work.

Which partly explains why I loved reading the book Superwomen. (Check out my review here)

Today, the mind behind the book joins us for a conversation.

Kritika: We begin with the question every writer is asked: what made you write this book, what was the trigger, the motivation?

Prachi: I always wanted to write since my childhood. You may say writing was in my genes, but where I was always stuck was, what to write. As I started my start-up www.ghoomophiro.com , I faced a few challenges, and this is where I thought of speaking to a few lovely ladies, and then I decided to pen down the stories of these superwomen, so that this could be inspiration for all. And this is how Superwomen was created.

Kritika: How did you go about writing the book? What was the research like? 

Prachi: First I chose my subjects, which were entrepreneurial women, who started their ventures between the ages of 25 to 30 years. Then I researched about such women, spoke to them, took their consent for interaction, interacted with them, wrote their stories and finally got it verified with them. I am highly thankful to each one of them and the publisher for the final product.

Kritika: What role does your interaction with the entrepreneurs play?

Prachi: I think the entire book is based on their interaction, hence it played an important role. However, during these interactions, I myself learnt a lot and how to come out of challenges.

Kritika: Being an entrepreneur yourself and having studied a lot of them, any advice you'd like to dole out to the aspiring ones?

Prachi: My only advise is "Don't get disheartened by small hiccups and don't listen to the people who don't matter, as you can't make everyone happy. It is your life, live it the way you want." 

Kritika: What is the process of writing your first book like?

Prachi: It is a long process. Especially for a debut author, finding a publisher who can trust your idea is very tedious. It might take lot of time, then multiple rounds of editing require a lot of patience. But yes, the final results are indeed worth the wait and beyond.

Kritika: You talk about the trials of being a debut author, any advice to authors in the process of penning down their first novel?

Prachi: Debut authors should trust their ideas and shouldn't get disappointed at rejections. Instead they should work on the feedback and multiple rounds of peer reviews. This helps to hone the whole manuscripts.

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Source of the review copy: Author

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Book Review: Super Women by Prachi Garg

About the Book:

This book brings forth the stories of twenty women entrepreneurs who have struck a perfect personal-professional harmony, and a chord with their immediate consumers. Their innovative ventures encompass a varied range of services – from supporting victims of acid attacks, to providing free skin care solutions; from online retail of lingerie, handmade bags and fashion accessories, to eco-friendly products of everyday utility; from pet care products, to quirky merchandise; from empowering folk artists, to providing clinical assistance to those going through tough times; from image consulting to house hunting; from arty solutions, to innovative marketing and corporate communication; from creating happy readers to making religious ceremonies simpler – these entrepreneurs have opened avenues formerly unexplored. Superwomen is an interesting journey of how they played all their roles to perfection, aligning their families with their ambitions, showing the world their true mettle
Paperback, 168 pages
Published February 10th 2016 by Srishti Publishers & Distributors

About The Author:

Prachi Garg is a true blue Mirandian, who is an entrepreneur herself. She co-founded Ghoomophiro.com and Anmoluphar.com. An alumna of Great Lakes Institute of Management, she is passionate about writing and travelling.


My Review:

The best part about such books that enlist a cluster of entrepreneurs is the dose of inspiration and optimism in every story.
Rashmi Bansal's Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish started this trend and it caught up on fast, with Anuradha Goyal's The Mouse Charmers chronicling the contemporary, technology-driven enterprises.
Super Women comes under the same genre as a breath of fresh air, enlisting very fresh and recent ideas start-ups/businesses/enterprises.
What helps the cause of this book is the fact that the author herself falls in the category she writes at length about, and yet the enterprises and enterprising women she has  chosen are all so varied and vivid, one cannot help but be awed by each story.

The substance is like the books I mentioned above, it is a summary account of everything encompassing the journey- the ideas, the hopes, the struggles, the process, the risks, and the eventual success and learning.

The author writes about the initial ventures in a very simplistic manner, with the factual details gaining precedence over the journey, it is when I reach the sixth or seventh account that the writing is infused with the emotion and descriptions it deserves. Thereon, the journeys have been defined precisely, picking the right details, aligning it with the readers' expectations from the book.

It apprises one of many different, uncanny and quirky ventures functioning out there, while at the same time imparts crucial lessons in business acumen, management, establishing credibility, etc.
Some of these enterprises functioning in a niche segment include make Love not Scars, Heads Up for Tails, ShubhPuja etc
The book is definitely worth a read for the upcoming entrepreneurs.

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Source of the review copy: Author

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Book Review: My Last Love Story by Falguni Kothari

About the Book:

Perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes’s, Me Before You, My Last Love Story is a heartbreakingly romantic tale about the complexities of trauma and whether love can right a wrong.

I, Simeen Desai, am tired of making lemonade with the lemons life has handed me.

Love is meant to heal wounds.

Love was meant to make my world sparkle and spin.

Love has ripped my life apart and shattered my soul. 

I love my husband, and he loves me.

But Nirvaan is dying.

I love my husband. I want to make him happy.

But he is asking for the impossible. 

I don’t want a baby.

I don’t want to make nice with Zayaan.

I don’t want another chance at another love story. 

Book Links:Goodreads * Amazon US * Amazon IN

My Review:

It is not often that you come across a book whose plot gyrates to touch every human foible possible. This is a story of three people from India, while the setting is abroad. Initially, as you delve into the book, it might seem just another story about Indian immigrants abroad and their struggles of fitting in, while battling conflicts with their culture. This book has so many levels, you could be on the last page and still be peeling through more dimensions added to the plot. This, is partly why the end is what it is, although I do yearn for a little more solidity in the conclusions. Yet, it was in measured exactness real and raw: no cliche, no fantastical unblemished happily-ever-after.

My Last Love Story delivers what it promises: an exploration of the protagonist's love story, as seen from her own eyes, and to contemplate and decide whether it'd be the last. There's so much about this story that is unconventional, that sets it apart, a review wouldn't suffice to enlist it all. The friendship and the trials and tribulations that accompany the friendship of our main characters is so unusual, its conception is a brilliant work of the author's mind. 

Above everything, the story is also a narrative of the difficult decisions one is forced to make in life. There is a tragedy, and then there's you dealing with the tragedy. There's a problem, and then it's your call on how you'll deal with it. To mess it up a notch, add love to the equation. 
The characters face some real tragedies. And the expression has been so real and raw, you almost relate to it. At one point, it is, "I wished that my anxiety could be stripped off as easily as the raincoat."  At another, it is "In my mind, I perpetuated the fantasy we’d once imagined for us because to think about the truth of our situation, about the inoperable metastatic tumor inside my husband’s brain, was anathema to me."

The reading experience has been enriching and productive too, with a rich and steady stream of vocabulary and rich phrases and witticisms. 

No mention could probably end without that inevitable, inexplicable comparison to JoJo Moyes' Me Before You. Here's my verdict: the richness of content in this story, due to its Indian roots far surpasses that of MBY, while I'd yearn for an ending like the one Moyes gave, with a conclusion to the character portrayed ill.

About the Author:

Falguni Kothari is an internationally bestselling hybrid author and an amateur Latin and Ballroom dance silver medalist with a background in Indian Classical dance. She writes in a variety of genres sewn together by the colorful threads of her South Asian heritage and expat experiences. When not writing or dancing, she fools around on all manner of social media, and loves to connect with her readers. My Last Love Story is her fourth novel.

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