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The Bollywood Breakup Agency
When party-loving Neela Solanki rejects yet another loser in the long line of potential suitors who keep turning up in the ‘good’ room, her traditional Indian parents finally take decisive action. Fed up with her persistent refusal to provide them with a son-in-law and grandchild, the Solankis confiscate the phone, car and credit cards they pay for, and give her one last chance to comply before she is kicked out of the house.
Desperate for cash, Neela starts up a secret business breaking up the engagements of those trapped in the unstoppable force that is an Indian marriage arrangement. Add to that an addiction to Indian soap operas, being stalked by the latest loser’s father, a jilted ex and a love interest from an unlikely source, and Neela finds life is about to take a turn she never expected.
Desperate for cash, Neela starts up a secret business breaking up the engagements of those trapped in the unstoppable force that is an Indian marriage arrangement. Add to that an addiction to Indian soap operas, being stalked by the latest loser’s father, a jilted ex and a love interest from an unlikely source, and Neela finds life is about to take a turn she never expected.
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First published November 12, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 2, 2011
When I first started The Bollywood Breakup Agency by Naina Gupta, I thought I could tell what would happen. Neela Solanki, in her twenties, loves to party and have a good time, shop, and is fortunate enough to come from a wealthy family and doesn’t have to work, is getting pressured from her traditional Indian parents to find a suitable husband. Neela is against arranged marriages, and sees what her best friend V is going through with her disastrous soon to be husband. But when her parents tell her to either find a husband or they will cut her off financially, Neela starts a secretive new business- breaking up arranged marriages. Her first customer is bestie V, who can’t imagine spending the rest of her life with her repulsive fiancée. As word spreads, Neela’s services become more popular. At the same time, she is possibly finding love herself––but will he be accepting of her business? And will his family be accepting of her?
Like I said, I thought I knew what was coming. The first few chapters I was completely turned off from Neela. Egotistical (constantly talking about how she beautiful is), self-centered, selfish, and completely relies on Dad to fund her way through life. She even makes jokes about getting a “real” job––clearly so beneath her. As the story continued on, I kept waiting for the lightning bolt moment to strike––for Neela to realize her repulsive attitude was one that needed to be changed. But it didn’t happen. So I kept reading, thinking for sure this girl has to turn her life around at some point. Well––spoiler alert––it doesn’t. The self-centered, lazy, spoiled, selfish attitude reeks throughout the entire book. I’m confused. Why was this book written? All I took away from it was that the bad girl gets everything in the end. No lesson learned, all the way to the last page. And I figured out who Mr. Trivedi’s son was within the first two chapters. The suspense was not there if it was going to be mentioned every other page. And I’m sorry, but Neela doesn’t even love Navin as a person––she loves that he was a big TV star. She talks horribly to his dad, but he stands up for her? Baffling. I have no interest in reading the sequel and am really disappointed in this book. The idea behind The Bollywood Breakup Agency is a good one, but Neela needs a major life adjustment for me to be able to recommend this book.
This book was provided to me for review with no compensation
Like I said, I thought I knew what was coming. The first few chapters I was completely turned off from Neela. Egotistical (constantly talking about how she beautiful is), self-centered, selfish, and completely relies on Dad to fund her way through life. She even makes jokes about getting a “real” job––clearly so beneath her. As the story continued on, I kept waiting for the lightning bolt moment to strike––for Neela to realize her repulsive attitude was one that needed to be changed. But it didn’t happen. So I kept reading, thinking for sure this girl has to turn her life around at some point. Well––spoiler alert––it doesn’t. The self-centered, lazy, spoiled, selfish attitude reeks throughout the entire book. I’m confused. Why was this book written? All I took away from it was that the bad girl gets everything in the end. No lesson learned, all the way to the last page. And I figured out who Mr. Trivedi’s son was within the first two chapters. The suspense was not there if it was going to be mentioned every other page. And I’m sorry, but Neela doesn’t even love Navin as a person––she loves that he was a big TV star. She talks horribly to his dad, but he stands up for her? Baffling. I have no interest in reading the sequel and am really disappointed in this book. The idea behind The Bollywood Breakup Agency is a good one, but Neela needs a major life adjustment for me to be able to recommend this book.
This book was provided to me for review with no compensation
October 27, 2013
This book was kinda "meh." I did, however, attempt to let the sequel change my opinion. Sadly, the sequel is still not available, even though the back matter says "available in 2012!"
Largely, the problem with The Bollywood Breakup Agency is that it's doing a lot of things, but none of them well enough to stand up against other books. For instance:
As far as the main character is concerned, this book wants to be a knockoff of Confessions of a Shopaholic. We've got a clueless young woman who will do anything to get her high street shopping fix. Unlike the Shopaholic, though, Neela is largely unlikeable. Her naivete is obnoxious rather than cute. And the Shopaholic never purposely tries to hurt anyone in pursuit of getting what she wants.
As far as themes are concerned, another unsatisfied reviewer compared this book to Bridget Jones, but I'm going to say, "It wants to be Pride and Prejudice." A little old fashioned, yes, but the driving focus of marriage, marriage, marriage is right up Austen's alley. (And, of course, is perfect for uppper-class India which comes out of Austen's tradition.) Trying to modernize Austen is great, but requires a lot more snap.
When it comes to romance, this book is like a Brat Pack movie. Obvious, somewhat sickening, but cute because you love the actors. (Except you don't love the actors in this one, see above.)
Still, this novel had a great premise and some okay execution. I immediately went to the Kindle store to buy the sequel and planned to write my review after reading that. (Could've gotten a better review if this volume was just set-up for an awesome next one... or a worse review if it got lamer.) Of course, with the sequel not out a full year after the expected release date, I'm not waiting.
Largely, the problem with The Bollywood Breakup Agency is that it's doing a lot of things, but none of them well enough to stand up against other books. For instance:
As far as the main character is concerned, this book wants to be a knockoff of Confessions of a Shopaholic. We've got a clueless young woman who will do anything to get her high street shopping fix. Unlike the Shopaholic, though, Neela is largely unlikeable. Her naivete is obnoxious rather than cute. And the Shopaholic never purposely tries to hurt anyone in pursuit of getting what she wants.
As far as themes are concerned, another unsatisfied reviewer compared this book to Bridget Jones, but I'm going to say, "It wants to be Pride and Prejudice." A little old fashioned, yes, but the driving focus of marriage, marriage, marriage is right up Austen's alley. (And, of course, is perfect for uppper-class India which comes out of Austen's tradition.) Trying to modernize Austen is great, but requires a lot more snap.
When it comes to romance, this book is like a Brat Pack movie. Obvious, somewhat sickening, but cute because you love the actors. (Except you don't love the actors in this one, see above.)
Still, this novel had a great premise and some okay execution. I immediately went to the Kindle store to buy the sequel and planned to write my review after reading that. (Could've gotten a better review if this volume was just set-up for an awesome next one... or a worse review if it got lamer.) Of course, with the sequel not out a full year after the expected release date, I'm not waiting.
January 22, 2012
I was looking for something lightweight and fun to read yesterday afternoon and after a bit of a browse through my unread stuff I thought I would give this a try. Happily I seem to have stumbled across an entertaining, fun read and Gupta has written a classic chic-lit story with all the usual potential for misunderstanding, arguments and romance.
While slightly formulaic and a wee bit predictable (I was 27% of the way in according to my Kindle when I guessed a key plot point) this is a good story. I smiled repeatedly to myself and I chuckled out loud on occasion which I don't normally do with this style of novel, the characters were engaging and I still wanted to see how things turned out for the supporting cast of characters even once I had guessed Neela's ending. Gupta haas resited the ususal chick-lit authors need to put her characters in cringe inducing scenes that make me want to skip pages, and the embarasement Neela feels when she makes the occasional stumble is justified and balanced. Gupta has also resisted including a couple of graphic sex scences, which while sex sells often do nothing for the story. Granted sex is mentioned, after all the charcters are all over the age of consent, but it is not overdone and to be fair any graphic sex would have been a bit out of place for the culture of most of the characters.
Despite the fact Gupta avoided some of my chic-lit pet peeves I do have a few quibbles. Neela was our leading lady but she seemed underdeveloped compared to the other characters, she was rather self-centred and thoughtless but not irredeemable, yet she never really develops as a character despite the trouble she causes for others and ultimately for herself. The plot is driven by arranged marriages and Neela is determined to marry for love, which is fair enough, but I just can't believe that her (or a couple of the other characters) can fall so deeply in love at first sight. In fact I have real issues with how she falls for her final partner and how he falls for her too, I just can't see that ever happening in real life! Neela does criticise this sort of thing herself and her character vacillates between the usual romance heroine and a sensible girl who knows that movie love doesn't happen like that in real life. That doesn't stop her pursuing it though, and in all fairness every girl knows she will never be swept off her feet by the handsome prince (apart from the notable exception of the Duchess of Cambridge!) but we can still hope right?
Some of the coincidences and the inter-relationships between the characters are explained by the small community in which they live but it did stretch the bounds of believability at points. I often find that with this type of novel though so it wasn't unexpected and to some extent I was rooting for some of the more obvious outcomes so it's nice not to be disappointed!
The story is set in an Indian community and the traditions mentioned and described in the story help ground the novel in reality and the willingness of the characters to form relationships (as long as they are not arranged by parents) sets it apart for the usual neurotic Bridget J0nes/heartbroken & sworn off love/nobody understands me storyline and is certainly different to the other books I have read in this genre.
There is also an Indian soap-opera storyline woven through the story which allows Neela to air her opinions on life and the climax of this also seems to mirror Neela's story as the intrigues and revelations progress. It's also just as daft as UK soaps (if not dafter!) and cheerfully mocks the reuseable plots found in most soaps.
If you are looking for an entertaining read I would recommend this, it's a very promising first novel and I will definitely read the follow-up The Bollywood Wife when it comes out sometime later this year.
While slightly formulaic and a wee bit predictable (I was 27% of the way in according to my Kindle when I guessed a key plot point) this is a good story. I smiled repeatedly to myself and I chuckled out loud on occasion which I don't normally do with this style of novel, the characters were engaging and I still wanted to see how things turned out for the supporting cast of characters even once I had guessed Neela's ending. Gupta haas resited the ususal chick-lit authors need to put her characters in cringe inducing scenes that make me want to skip pages, and the embarasement Neela feels when she makes the occasional stumble is justified and balanced. Gupta has also resisted including a couple of graphic sex scences, which while sex sells often do nothing for the story. Granted sex is mentioned, after all the charcters are all over the age of consent, but it is not overdone and to be fair any graphic sex would have been a bit out of place for the culture of most of the characters.
Despite the fact Gupta avoided some of my chic-lit pet peeves I do have a few quibbles. Neela was our leading lady but she seemed underdeveloped compared to the other characters, she was rather self-centred and thoughtless but not irredeemable, yet she never really develops as a character despite the trouble she causes for others and ultimately for herself. The plot is driven by arranged marriages and Neela is determined to marry for love, which is fair enough, but I just can't believe that her (or a couple of the other characters) can fall so deeply in love at first sight. In fact I have real issues with how she falls for her final partner and how he falls for her too, I just can't see that ever happening in real life! Neela does criticise this sort of thing herself and her character vacillates between the usual romance heroine and a sensible girl who knows that movie love doesn't happen like that in real life. That doesn't stop her pursuing it though, and in all fairness every girl knows she will never be swept off her feet by the handsome prince (apart from the notable exception of the Duchess of Cambridge!) but we can still hope right?
Some of the coincidences and the inter-relationships between the characters are explained by the small community in which they live but it did stretch the bounds of believability at points. I often find that with this type of novel though so it wasn't unexpected and to some extent I was rooting for some of the more obvious outcomes so it's nice not to be disappointed!
The story is set in an Indian community and the traditions mentioned and described in the story help ground the novel in reality and the willingness of the characters to form relationships (as long as they are not arranged by parents) sets it apart for the usual neurotic Bridget J0nes/heartbroken & sworn off love/nobody understands me storyline and is certainly different to the other books I have read in this genre.
There is also an Indian soap-opera storyline woven through the story which allows Neela to air her opinions on life and the climax of this also seems to mirror Neela's story as the intrigues and revelations progress. It's also just as daft as UK soaps (if not dafter!) and cheerfully mocks the reuseable plots found in most soaps.
If you are looking for an entertaining read I would recommend this, it's a very promising first novel and I will definitely read the follow-up The Bollywood Wife when it comes out sometime later this year.
September 2, 2012
I downloaded this inexpensive Kindle book with no expectations. Yes, it could have used a good edit and proofreader, but it was a great summer read. Nothing profound, but FUN! The main character, Neela, living in a fairly traditional, Indian family in England, does not want an arranged marriage. In fact, she doesn't really want to get married, but wants to continue to live using her wealthy daddy's credit card and the car he bought her. She likes to shop, smoke shisha with her friends, sleep with her boyfriend who does want to marry her, and generally have fun with no responsibilities. When her dad pulls the plug on both the car and the credit cards, her friend offers her some money to break up her arranged engagement. From there, Neela's reputation as an engagement breaker spreads. The book is REALLY funny and enjoyable. I loved the interspersing of the actual tale with episodes from a Bollywood soap opera to which Neela's mother and grandmother are addicted. The juxtaposition of reality with a soap opera is brilliant.
Light, but an enjoyable read.
Light, but an enjoyable read.
May 22, 2013
Not that good, though all the elements were there -- British-born Desi princess doesn't want an arranged marriage, is cut off financially, so she goes into business breaking up unwanted (by the prospective bride or groom, not the parents concerned) engagements. The parallel Indian soap-opera was ungodly dull, and the pretty vicious ways the 'heroine' succeeded made her an unsympathetic character. There's a sequel, and knowing me I'll probably read it. But if the author hasn't improved in Bollywood Bride, I'm outie.
November 29, 2012
All I can say about this book is "meh." I didn't hate it but I didn't really like it either. It is your basic sort of fluffy chick lit, which I like and expected but this book really had nothing exceptional to make me really enjoy it. The main character was annoying to the end, the plot twists predictable and the ending really pissed me off. I gave it 3 stars because it didn't really deserve 2 but if GR allowed 1/2 stars this would be a 2 1/2 star book.
February 2, 2016
I enjoyed the book. Not he story was something most Indians in the uk are familiar. The twists (which were actually a little predictable and obvious) worked, like they were written for an Indian Serial Drama. My issue with the book was the use of grammar and sentence structure and the writer not using the right tense throughout each paragraph! It became a little annoying when I seemed to be spending most of my reading correcting the mistakes!
March 27, 2015
The book was funny at times. But Neela Solanki put me off. I didn't like her. She did feel some guilt and try to rectify things but her attitude sucked. You're meant to empathise and root for the protagonist. In this book the protagonist was quite annoying.
I do want to read the sequel, just to see if it's better.
I do want to read the sequel, just to see if it's better.
July 28, 2012
A light read and fun guaranteed. Though you can guess the end from the beginning, you do fall in love with the book somewhere down the line.
September 30, 2012
Finished the book but hated the main character. She came across as very selfish and conceited . Wanted to slap her at the end.
October 3, 2012
so-so. I would compare it to an indian soap opera. Very basic and predictable story.
December 28, 2018
It was just ok. I didn't hate or love it. At times it was really slow and repetitive and other times it was funny.
January 11, 2014
FUNNY
I'm married to an Arab, not an Indian, but the bicultural dichotomy is similar.This is a print version of the Bollywood soap opera. Chuckle worthy.
I'm married to an Arab, not an Indian, but the bicultural dichotomy is similar.This is a print version of the Bollywood soap opera. Chuckle worthy.
November 26, 2014
I absolutely loved this book....it was funny yet gripping, and you just couldn't wait to see what happened to the characters...cant wait to read the sequel....
July 21, 2014
It was ok, more chick lit than anything and romance, which isn't a genre I'm into.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews