Book Review of One Imperfect Family Reunion

My Thoughts
Reading a love story with drama has been a cup of my tea sometime back. Of late I have switched my interest in reality and non-fiction. This story is so good that I am unable to let go of the protagonists Vivek aka Vishesh and Ahana from my mind. When a story grabs the heart and creates an emotion while reading it means that the author has completely taken a reader’s mind in control. This hypnosis is a rare phenomenon while penning a romantic story. The author has completely excelled in this direction.

What to expect from the story?
This story has the main center point as ‘ love ‘ to its core. But it has more to offer than a normal teenage love story. The book narrates a powerful story in a simple language and is filled with intense emotions, strong characters, highly unexpected twists, and an underwhelming but beautiful feeling of love. All in all, expect a book with a great writing style from the author.

Who can read?
As the story is written in a simple and smooth flowing language with beautiful conversations, dialogues, and musings of life and love, the book is apt for a reader as young as a 14-year-old teenager till as elder as a 50-year-old adult. This being said, the book isn’t only meant for youngsters. It will also entertain with voracious readers or lovers of literary fiction.

What is the storyline?
Vivek Agnihotri is a confident man with values and vision. He is a leaning shoulder to his mother who is a woman of self–respect and strength to stand up on her own legs. She has taken a decision during the very young days of Vivek to set up her own business and thus has proved herself a successful woman entrepreneur. It may be the male ego or lack of confidence on his wife, Vivek’s father was against her decision. She took a brave step and was reluctant to staying back with her decision. Since then the family of three has lost communication with each other and egos overpowered the family bond.

Vivek’s beau Meera is a woman with a pleasing personality and charm. With a few days to their wedding, Vivek happens to meet a young girl studying her 11th class, Nandini at Tai’s home. Some fairy’s wand creates magic between Vivek and Nandini where they share a warm bond. Nandini introduces herself as a writer and narrates a story having two chapters with Vivek.

The story has a beautiful high school romance with values, feelings, aspirations, and inspiration. It is the story of Vishesh and Ahana.
It is the story of pure love. It is the story of inspiration in the form of a wonderful sport called “cricket”. The story is all about how Vishesh was smitten with Ahana and her personality, his interest in taking up the role a cricket commentator, and a values human being.

Nandini asks Vivek to take up a small challenge in scripting chapter 3 of the story. Meanwhile, just before two days of the wedding Vivek accidentally meets a person named Ali who utters a few sentences that shocks and astonishes Vivek. His quest to meet Ali and enquire about the few said things is what the later part of the story is.

My take on the characters:
I simply love how the characters of the book are written. They are dynamic and interesting and the transformations that they undergo next to perfection. I also like how we get to uncover the story from different events and timelines. There are many perspectives and voices. It is indeed a Herculean task to create many characters that have equal importance in the story. At one point in the time, a reader will personify every character and feel it.

How good is the author’s writing style?
I can seamlessly say this is one of the unique and beautiful ways of writing. I am not really sure if this is a first story from the author put the writing is just way too resplendent. I wish to choose strong words in vocabulary to define the author’s quality of language used. With many subplots within the main story, with numerous characters and perfect blending of emotions, the book delivers great contentment to the readers. There are also morals taught from every perspective in a very sublime level. There are some spelling errors that I hope the author while editing it for the final time will take care of.

There is also a lot of information given about the places mentioned in the story. There seems to be a little disconnect between the history of the place and the storyline, but if convinced while reading it is fine.

How is the climax?
When it comes to the climax part of a story from the romance genre, there isn’t much that is usually expected other than a happy ending. But Not every story is the same and not every author’s vision is the same. The thing worth mentioning here is that the book manages to hold on to the “suspense” right till the end. What is the suspense element in a love story? Well, it is the crux of the story.

How entertaining is the book?In simple words, don’t even take a chance to miss this wonderful story. It is a racy story with lots of emotions, drama, unveiled truths, and unexpected twists.

Final Verdict:
A definite and recommended read.

Review by Swapna Peri