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Just Married, Please Excuse
Caution! Marriage Ahead-
Yashodhara, a quick-tempered gal from the big city is hitched to Vijay, a laidback desi boy from a small town – in one word - Trouble!
The young couple must learn to adjust to married life and to each other – whether it is Yashodhara's 'temper tantrums' or Vijay's foot-in-mouth syndrome – with a little help from their idiosyncratic staff, Zarreena and Vinod, their nutty friend Vivi and, of course, their respective families.
With the unexpected arrival of baby Anoushka a.k.a. Peanut, the battles escalate, fuelled by their vastly divergent views on raising a child. Will their many differences – so endearing at the start of their romance – actually turn out to mean that they are just incompatible? Will they ever manage to agree on anything? Or have they just bitten off more than they can chew?
A fresh and honest take on marriage and parenthood, and all the chaos that comes with it. This is a story of self-discovery that will have you laughing out loud – and sympathizing wholeheartedly with its quirky and likeable cast of characters.
Yashodhara, a quick-tempered gal from the big city is hitched to Vijay, a laidback desi boy from a small town – in one word - Trouble!
The young couple must learn to adjust to married life and to each other – whether it is Yashodhara's 'temper tantrums' or Vijay's foot-in-mouth syndrome – with a little help from their idiosyncratic staff, Zarreena and Vinod, their nutty friend Vivi and, of course, their respective families.
With the unexpected arrival of baby Anoushka a.k.a. Peanut, the battles escalate, fuelled by their vastly divergent views on raising a child. Will their many differences – so endearing at the start of their romance – actually turn out to mean that they are just incompatible? Will they ever manage to agree on anything? Or have they just bitten off more than they can chew?
A fresh and honest take on marriage and parenthood, and all the chaos that comes with it. This is a story of self-discovery that will have you laughing out loud – and sympathizing wholeheartedly with its quirky and likeable cast of characters.
258 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2012
70 people are currently reading
1328 people want to read
About the author
Yashodhara Lal
18 books138 followersYashodhara Lal's USP is in taking the ordinary and making it hilarious. She graduated from IIM-Bangalore in 2002 and has over 12 years of experience in the Marketing Domain across two large corporations in FMCG and media. She lives in Gurgaon with her husband Vijay, and the three small children they call Peanut, Pickle and Papad - all of whom never fail to provide her with material for her entertaining blog at http://www.yashodharalal.com.
'Just Married, Please Excuse' is her first book. 'Sorting Out Sid' is her latest work of fiction.
'Just Married, Please Excuse' is her first book. 'Sorting Out Sid' is her latest work of fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
January 23, 2024
Yashodhara Lal has written an exceptionally entertaining book. The story is about a couple who decides to get married after dating for just three months, despite facing various challenges such as age difference and different upbringings. Vijay, who comes from a conservative family in Jaipur, and Yashodhara Lal, raised by an open-minded single mother in Delhi, both work in the same MNC in Bangalore where they fall in love. After living together for three months, they decide to get married and move to Mumbai.
The story is divided into three parts. Part 1 focuses on their relationship and the process of getting married. Part 2 follows their move to Mumbai, their efforts to make new friends, and the revelation of Yashodhara's pregnancy. Part 3 deals with the couple adjusting to the fact that their personal space has diminished with the arrival of their child, which they struggle to accept.
Throughout all three parts, the couple faces various challenges. However, the author chooses to present them with humor and a touch of comedy. The book also features other interesting characters, such as Vivi, Yashodhara's friend, who has a unique body language, dressing style, and way of speaking. Another character is Zareena, their maid from Mumbai, and Kajal, Yashodhara's mother's maid, who moves to Mumbai to take care of the baby. Each character is introduced as a solution to a funny problem the couple faces.
For example, Vivi and her husband enter the picture because Yashodhara and Vijay feel that they have no social life. Yashodhara's friends are too young for Vijay, and Vijay's friends are too old for Yashodhara, as they all have children and lack common topics of conversation. This is when Vivi and her husband, with their eccentricities, come into the picture. Similarly, Zareena, their cook, unexpectedly enters their flat on the first day in Mumbai, demanding the spare key and announcing herself as she will be working for them.
What makes this book wonderful is that it never loses focus on the protagonists. From the beginning, when they try to overcome their age gap and differences, to the end, the story revolves around their efforts to maintain their relationship amidst the challenges of life. They realize that their funny little world makes the most sense when they view it through the same lens. The book ends with the couple having a daughter, but the author still keeps the focus on them and their relationship, which is the heart of the story.
So if you are looking for a light headed good read, then this is it. Go for this one.
The story is divided into three parts. Part 1 focuses on their relationship and the process of getting married. Part 2 follows their move to Mumbai, their efforts to make new friends, and the revelation of Yashodhara's pregnancy. Part 3 deals with the couple adjusting to the fact that their personal space has diminished with the arrival of their child, which they struggle to accept.
Throughout all three parts, the couple faces various challenges. However, the author chooses to present them with humor and a touch of comedy. The book also features other interesting characters, such as Vivi, Yashodhara's friend, who has a unique body language, dressing style, and way of speaking. Another character is Zareena, their maid from Mumbai, and Kajal, Yashodhara's mother's maid, who moves to Mumbai to take care of the baby. Each character is introduced as a solution to a funny problem the couple faces.
For example, Vivi and her husband enter the picture because Yashodhara and Vijay feel that they have no social life. Yashodhara's friends are too young for Vijay, and Vijay's friends are too old for Yashodhara, as they all have children and lack common topics of conversation. This is when Vivi and her husband, with their eccentricities, come into the picture. Similarly, Zareena, their cook, unexpectedly enters their flat on the first day in Mumbai, demanding the spare key and announcing herself as she will be working for them.
What makes this book wonderful is that it never loses focus on the protagonists. From the beginning, when they try to overcome their age gap and differences, to the end, the story revolves around their efforts to maintain their relationship amidst the challenges of life. They realize that their funny little world makes the most sense when they view it through the same lens. The book ends with the couple having a daughter, but the author still keeps the focus on them and their relationship, which is the heart of the story.
So if you are looking for a light headed good read, then this is it. Go for this one.
February 17, 2017
Yashodhara is a modern Delhi girl and Vijay is somewhat modern guy from Jaipur. The corporate world plays a cupid bringing them together. While Yashodhara is fun-loving, easy going sorts with a big temper, Vijay is more serious, steady and man of few words. While one is strictly non-vegetarian the other is strictly vegetarian. They couldn’t be more different. But since when did ‘love’ ever have a checklist of likes, dislikes and temperament? In a split-moment decision made by Yashodhara (not so sudden for Vijay, of course) they get hitched and life takes a different turn for both of them.
Let me get a small fact out of the way – I am newly married. I have only about 9 months of experience in this life and I couldn’t agree with the author more. I had more time with my husband before our marriage, yet everything is playing out in the same way. Reading this book was like reading my own life story, albeit with some differences.
Yashodhara has managed to keep the story so true to life. She has maintained a certain balance between all the elements. Also, she has incorporated her amazing sense of humour into the book so well that it had me in splits many a times. The characters develop over a period of time and the author lets you in to their psyche, which greatly helps in understanding each situation from both ends. But the USP of this book lies in the everyday, general conversational language that it is written in. It doesn’t have many BIG words and neither does it seem like a child’s work. It is simple and it is the way we talk. It helped immensely in picturing the characters, the situations and the conversations. But at the same time, I think that this book must have been written with only the Indian readers in mind as it had a lot of ‘Hindi’ in it without any translation provided.
‘Just Married, Please Excuse’ is a story that deals with the good and the bad, the ups and downs, the expected and the unexpected, the small things and big fights – in short with ‘Marriage’ and all that it entails.
It is quite a fast read – thank God for that since I do not think I would have been able to put down the book in between (then I could probably add a ‘dinner’ situation to the story). I am looking forward to getting my hands on the second book. I recommend this book to everyone – provided you understand Hindi too.
Let me get a small fact out of the way – I am newly married. I have only about 9 months of experience in this life and I couldn’t agree with the author more. I had more time with my husband before our marriage, yet everything is playing out in the same way. Reading this book was like reading my own life story, albeit with some differences.
Yashodhara has managed to keep the story so true to life. She has maintained a certain balance between all the elements. Also, she has incorporated her amazing sense of humour into the book so well that it had me in splits many a times. The characters develop over a period of time and the author lets you in to their psyche, which greatly helps in understanding each situation from both ends. But the USP of this book lies in the everyday, general conversational language that it is written in. It doesn’t have many BIG words and neither does it seem like a child’s work. It is simple and it is the way we talk. It helped immensely in picturing the characters, the situations and the conversations. But at the same time, I think that this book must have been written with only the Indian readers in mind as it had a lot of ‘Hindi’ in it without any translation provided.
‘Just Married, Please Excuse’ is a story that deals with the good and the bad, the ups and downs, the expected and the unexpected, the small things and big fights – in short with ‘Marriage’ and all that it entails.
It is quite a fast read – thank God for that since I do not think I would have been able to put down the book in between (then I could probably add a ‘dinner’ situation to the story). I am looking forward to getting my hands on the second book. I recommend this book to everyone – provided you understand Hindi too.
June 28, 2012
I have known Yashodhra Lal as a client of mine. A serious, strategist with little sense of humour. Or so I thought. Having said that, I did know that if she had written a book, it would certainly be above average. Such is her nature. She wouldn't put her name to anything that wasn't above par.
I finished JUST MARRIED PLEASE EXCUSE in one go. Which is a feat by itself since I usually stay away from fiction. I make an annual exception: Tony Parsons. And recently I also read Kiran Manral's lovely little book The Reluctant Detective.
JUST MARRIED PLEASE EXCUSE hums with a honesty and humour that is simply endearing. Yashodhra's writing style is speak easy and simple. None of the pretence that often is the handmaiden of first time fiction authors.
Yashodhra invites you into what is an album of her rather fine family, complete, like any family, with its idiosyncracies and charming nuances.
At one level it is a love story of two individuals who are complete opposite yet deeply together. It is a tale of love and how that love transforms as all love does when it enters into marriage.
Yet, Yashodhra does not speak just for herself and hers. The book is a mirror to all our lives and the lively relationships that dot them.
Hilarious mostly, Yashodhra characters are real. With a simplicity and a style that is terribly attractive.
If you are in a relationship, read this book. It will explain the complexities of feelings and bring you even closer to the person you love.
It is raw, it is refined. It is flawed. It is fabulous.
I finished JUST MARRIED PLEASE EXCUSE in one go. Which is a feat by itself since I usually stay away from fiction. I make an annual exception: Tony Parsons. And recently I also read Kiran Manral's lovely little book The Reluctant Detective.
JUST MARRIED PLEASE EXCUSE hums with a honesty and humour that is simply endearing. Yashodhra's writing style is speak easy and simple. None of the pretence that often is the handmaiden of first time fiction authors.
Yashodhra invites you into what is an album of her rather fine family, complete, like any family, with its idiosyncracies and charming nuances.
At one level it is a love story of two individuals who are complete opposite yet deeply together. It is a tale of love and how that love transforms as all love does when it enters into marriage.
Yet, Yashodhra does not speak just for herself and hers. The book is a mirror to all our lives and the lively relationships that dot them.
Hilarious mostly, Yashodhra characters are real. With a simplicity and a style that is terribly attractive.
If you are in a relationship, read this book. It will explain the complexities of feelings and bring you even closer to the person you love.
It is raw, it is refined. It is flawed. It is fabulous.
July 24, 2025
This was so bad, I'm not sure how to review it. Firstly, it's clearly her old blog in a form of a book, there's no plot, it's more like 'slice of life' book but it's totally about the author and her real life. There's no romance, no fiction, it's just a series of blog entries of her life, starting from the beginning of her marriage until 3 years later. A lot of dialogue in Hindi and another one (that's what I'm guessing from the fact that every time the help, Zarreeena, talked, it's was in full caps only. If you're not very familiar with Indian dialects/culture, it's hard to follow, honestly. I also resent chatgpt for selling it as a rom-com kind of book when it's clearly a memoir of some sort.
July 17, 2012
Everyone seems to find the book funny, awesome, hilarious! But for me the book is--REAL.I have to thank the writer for this book. Having been married for over a year now and checking random relationship websites ,as to how to tackle married life, Yash's book answers all of that in a uncomplicated manner! and the book also re assures that its ok to do the wrong things in a marriage, since everything will be fine with a lot of communication.
What's right with the book! EVERYTHING! Seriously it was like My husband and I were in the book.
Post reading the book, I have truly found new respect for the husband community. they have to deal with a lot of crap too!! I can so relate to everything in the book. From the wedding attire to the In laws, to being married young, to Vijay saying that ab toh ladki phas gayi ab kyun mehnat karun! My husband said the exact same thing and I was in shock! And still was till i read the book and thought its ok, men say things like these.
I also have to thank you Yash for making me understand my husband better through your book. Now i can ease up and not throw a fit, when my husband says something that i cannot digest!
All in all you would want to read the book in one go and request the author to write a sequel! Humble request!
May your book become an international best seller!
Again thank you for the book!
What's right with the book! EVERYTHING! Seriously it was like My husband and I were in the book.
Post reading the book, I have truly found new respect for the husband community. they have to deal with a lot of crap too!! I can so relate to everything in the book. From the wedding attire to the In laws, to being married young, to Vijay saying that ab toh ladki phas gayi ab kyun mehnat karun! My husband said the exact same thing and I was in shock! And still was till i read the book and thought its ok, men say things like these.
I also have to thank you Yash for making me understand my husband better through your book. Now i can ease up and not throw a fit, when my husband says something that i cannot digest!
All in all you would want to read the book in one go and request the author to write a sequel! Humble request!
May your book become an international best seller!
Again thank you for the book!
February 8, 2013
Foremost - Most of the reviews here are FAKE..Read them carefully and you will come to know that reviewers are somehow related to the author...Do a ctrl+f on client/neighbour..
I got trapped in these fake reviews posted here and on FLIPKART...On flipkart you will also notice that the bad reviews do not move up in the review section - no matter how many people find them helpful!!!
Book is about the author bragging -- may be -- her life..Just another imitation of Three mistakes...Put some fancy names such as IIT/IIM and the college goers get fascinated by these titles..
The percentage of content which might benefit you is Zero. Coming to the humor part - if you are Hitchhikers fan - than this book would seem like Vogon literature..
Please save yourselves from this commercial/marketing propaganda..
I got trapped in these fake reviews posted here and on FLIPKART...On flipkart you will also notice that the bad reviews do not move up in the review section - no matter how many people find them helpful!!!
Book is about the author bragging -- may be -- her life..Just another imitation of Three mistakes...Put some fancy names such as IIT/IIM and the college goers get fascinated by these titles..
The percentage of content which might benefit you is Zero. Coming to the humor part - if you are Hitchhikers fan - than this book would seem like Vogon literature..
Please save yourselves from this commercial/marketing propaganda..
July 9, 2012
Though the book is being launched on July 19th, I was fortunate enough to read it as my boss, who received an early copy was nice enough to lend it to me once she was done. When I think of Yashodhara Lal, I always remember her as a client who would occasionally gave me stares that stung like daggers when my team and I would put up a presentation that she thought was not quite up to the mark. I was always quite wary of her. However I would get a taste of her occasional good sense of humour every time we did something nice as well. Seeing that and from the constant raves about it from my bosses, I believe that I had to some extent made my mind that it would be a good read, even before I read it.
However once I read it, it was so much more. Apart from the many stomach clenching anecdotes, I was completely taken by the characters. I’m someone who believes that if a book or a sitcom is to become a hit, you have to fall in love with the characters and OH MY GOD has Yash managed to do just that. While Yash’s occasional shenanigans would often leave me in stiches, I have to say my favourite character was Vijay. Sometimes guys tend to do ridiculous things to impress girls and also behave a certain way once they ‘Fasaoed the girl’ and everytime a Vijay anecdote would come up, i'm certain, like myself, a lot of guys would relate. The one thing I loved that Yash has done through the book has opened a window into what the girl is thinking when guys do such stuff and I believe has helped in answering a question we guys occasionally ask ourselves, “ What the f*ck is she thinking?” For this Yash I thank you. The is a complete masala read with wonderfully touching moments that puts you in a good mood for the rest of the day. I was a bit sad when it ended. However I hope with anticipation, Yash will be writing again soon.
However once I read it, it was so much more. Apart from the many stomach clenching anecdotes, I was completely taken by the characters. I’m someone who believes that if a book or a sitcom is to become a hit, you have to fall in love with the characters and OH MY GOD has Yash managed to do just that. While Yash’s occasional shenanigans would often leave me in stiches, I have to say my favourite character was Vijay. Sometimes guys tend to do ridiculous things to impress girls and also behave a certain way once they ‘Fasaoed the girl’ and everytime a Vijay anecdote would come up, i'm certain, like myself, a lot of guys would relate. The one thing I loved that Yash has done through the book has opened a window into what the girl is thinking when guys do such stuff and I believe has helped in answering a question we guys occasionally ask ourselves, “ What the f*ck is she thinking?” For this Yash I thank you. The is a complete masala read with wonderfully touching moments that puts you in a good mood for the rest of the day. I was a bit sad when it ended. However I hope with anticipation, Yash will be writing again soon.
June 29, 2012
If there's one book you must read on a trip this summer, this has to be it. It's light, unpretentious and will keep you entertained through the course of the journey.
While there have been many books on marriage between mismatched individuals, this one stands out for being refreshingly honest. The characters are real, and the goof-ups make you sympathize with them (especially if you are also one of those women with foot in mouth syndrome). The down to earth humor, and unabashed autobiographical stories will keep you entertained all through. The book reads in a way that makes you almost see the characters and incidents in your minds eye, almost as if you were watching a movie (or a sitcom).
All in all, a good 'masala' read that you should not miss out on!
While there have been many books on marriage between mismatched individuals, this one stands out for being refreshingly honest. The characters are real, and the goof-ups make you sympathize with them (especially if you are also one of those women with foot in mouth syndrome). The down to earth humor, and unabashed autobiographical stories will keep you entertained all through. The book reads in a way that makes you almost see the characters and incidents in your minds eye, almost as if you were watching a movie (or a sitcom).
All in all, a good 'masala' read that you should not miss out on!
Read
January 6, 2025A delightfully frothy account of courtship and marriage between the highly strung modern heroine and her much more laidback but somewhat daft husband. It's kind of chicklitty in vibe, but the territory it dances over is quite serious stuff--marriage, family, pregnancy, marital issues--which gives the froth some weight. Funny and tremendously likeable.
May 21, 2016
This is the story of Yashodhara and Vijay and their journey of life via marriage and parenthood. The book is a very enjoyable, engaging and fast read. It is pretty well-written and the story flows smoothly. At every step there are hilarious anecdotes.
Recommended for reading while travelling or when you need something light but still well-written.
Recommended for reading while travelling or when you need something light but still well-written.
August 13, 2012
I got this book as a Goodreads First Reads.(Squeeee my first ever. It amazes me. Seriously- free books?) Being a minor in high school, you can imagine my embarrassment when telling my mom that I had just won a book entitled "Just Married, Please Excuse".
This book is not what I expected at all. I HATE Chetan Bagat novels (with fiery passion) and I expected something similar. What I got, however, was a cynically funny, interesting, and honest novel about marriage and life in general. This book is highly entertaining and had me laughing out loud many times (something Chetan Bagat's Five Point Someone failed to do. I didn't even chuckle once and it's SUPPOSE to be a funny novel).
This book would be a great book to read on the go.
The only thing I didn't like was the frequent Hindi. Many times in the book, the characters converse in Hindi. In the book, these Hindi words are written in English letters. No translations exist so losers like me who don't know Hindi have to blindly read.
The author, Yashodhara Lal, has written in a very down to earth and honest way. It doesn't seem like her first book at all!
An amazing book! I would write an in-depth essay about how awesome this book is, but I'm too lazy. :P
A must read for all quirky college students...
Looking forward to future books from her!
This book is not what I expected at all. I HATE Chetan Bagat novels (with fiery passion) and I expected something similar. What I got, however, was a cynically funny, interesting, and honest novel about marriage and life in general. This book is highly entertaining and had me laughing out loud many times (something Chetan Bagat's Five Point Someone failed to do. I didn't even chuckle once and it's SUPPOSE to be a funny novel).
This book would be a great book to read on the go.
The only thing I didn't like was the frequent Hindi. Many times in the book, the characters converse in Hindi. In the book, these Hindi words are written in English letters. No translations exist so losers like me who don't know Hindi have to blindly read.
The author, Yashodhara Lal, has written in a very down to earth and honest way. It doesn't seem like her first book at all!
An amazing book! I would write an in-depth essay about how awesome this book is, but I'm too lazy. :P
A must read for all quirky college students...
Looking forward to future books from her!
July 3, 2012
I have been one of the few lucky ones who got the pleasure to read the book before everyone actually gets their own copy.
Having finished the book in almost one go, I wanted the book to go and on. I have never been a very speedy reader but in this case I just did not want the book to end and every page I read wanted me to continue further.
Just Married Please Excuse, is a beautifully written book which left me awe struck. The characters so real that they almost talk to you and someone you can totally relate to.
The down to earth humor leaves you in bouts of laughter, and the real life situations keeps you entertained throughout.
This one is a must read for all. A complete entertainment package that will promise to keep you glued throughout -> almost like the FRIENDS series
Having finished the book in almost one go, I wanted the book to go and on. I have never been a very speedy reader but in this case I just did not want the book to end and every page I read wanted me to continue further.
Just Married Please Excuse, is a beautifully written book which left me awe struck. The characters so real that they almost talk to you and someone you can totally relate to.
The down to earth humor leaves you in bouts of laughter, and the real life situations keeps you entertained throughout.
This one is a must read for all. A complete entertainment package that will promise to keep you glued throughout -> almost like the FRIENDS series
July 30, 2012
I have been reading Yashodhara's blog for a couple of years now and always look forward to her updates. The way she writes is very fresh, casual, conversational, and just funny. You can't read what she writes and not come away smiling (I know, I know - unless of course she's writing something sad!) Because of the blog, I was really looking forward to getting my hands on the book. It was a really good read - what I like most is how honest the book is. It's her life as it really is - no pretense at all. The people are who they are - they're not perfect but they sure know how to have a good laugh at themselves and give you a few laughs along the way as well. And Vijay, is of course, my favorite character in the book. How could he not be? Really good book to pick up if you're in the mood for something light, funny, relaxing, and real.
July 16, 2012
Humourous, fun, interesting, light and totally relatable! Not an otherwise fast reader, this one I finished in just a couple of days laughing out loud in parts and feeling the unsaid warmth of the relationships in the book.
Loved some of the characters- especially the description of the household help- and the quirky marriage counsellor. The characters are brought to life simply by their dialogues rather than describing them physically....that's the type of writing I like!
Fast paced and fun, pick it up if you like the Zoya Factor, Piece of Cake type of light and entertaining reads...
Loved some of the characters- especially the description of the household help- and the quirky marriage counsellor. The characters are brought to life simply by their dialogues rather than describing them physically....that's the type of writing I like!
Fast paced and fun, pick it up if you like the Zoya Factor, Piece of Cake type of light and entertaining reads...
August 4, 2012
Just Married, Please Excuse is deceptively funny. It's funny because Yashodhara Lal has an unerring eye for the quirky, and can describe events and situations with disarming candour. I say deceptively funny, because it is a very honest portrait of a marriage, with all the associated joys and heartache that the early years of marriage and parenthood can bring. It demanded to be read through in one sitting, as I had to know what happened next, and is now being read again, slowly, savouring each authentic morsel of it. I honestly wish I'd had a book like this to read when I was newly married.
August 15, 2016
While this book had its entertaining moments and I feel any married couple will be able to relate to the majority of this book, it completely lacked a story. I felt like I was reading a personal diary. I found myself laughing out loud a few times, so I'm not saying this was not entertaining. What i AM saying is that I could skip 5 pages at a time and still not be confused, because it's not possible to miss anything in a book that has no real story, other than "the life and times of a married couple." It was fine for a quick read, but not recommend-worthy.
September 20, 2014
May be It is just me ( going by roaring reviews for this book on goodreads) that I found the book pretty average and it did not as "humurous" as many reviews say. I found it very boring even by the standards of "chick-lit". so it was one star for me.
July 2, 2013
Fact or Fiction? Imagination or Memoirs? These thoughts went through my head as I started reading “Just Married, Please Excuse” by Yashodhara Lal. As the story unfolded and the characters started to be introduced, I felt that the author was talking about her reminiscences.
The book is about Yashodhara, a 23 year old girl from Delhi, who has passed out from IIM, Bangalore and is working in a company, where she meets Vijay, 30, from Jaipur. They fall in love and get married. She has very humourously presented the events that precede the wedding, how they go and meet each others parents before the wedding, how she tries to be an ideal daughter-in-law to her conservative in-laws. She has funnily described the ordeals of a newly married couple.
She goes on to describe the pregnancy, the gynaecologist, who gives precisely three minutes to her patients, how they change the gynaecologist, the ordeals of child birth and also the difference of opinion among both of them in bringing up the baby. How they end up visiting a marriage counselor and also the visits of the parents’.
Overall, an OK book. Good for one time read.
The book is about Yashodhara, a 23 year old girl from Delhi, who has passed out from IIM, Bangalore and is working in a company, where she meets Vijay, 30, from Jaipur. They fall in love and get married. She has very humourously presented the events that precede the wedding, how they go and meet each others parents before the wedding, how she tries to be an ideal daughter-in-law to her conservative in-laws. She has funnily described the ordeals of a newly married couple.
She goes on to describe the pregnancy, the gynaecologist, who gives precisely three minutes to her patients, how they change the gynaecologist, the ordeals of child birth and also the difference of opinion among both of them in bringing up the baby. How they end up visiting a marriage counselor and also the visits of the parents’.
Overall, an OK book. Good for one time read.
July 21, 2019
Why I bought this?
I had liked 'How I became a farmer's wife?' by the same author and I was looking for a light read and felt this fit the bill.
What it is about?
Yashodara - an IIM-B graduate and Vijay - an IIT-Delhi graduate fall in love, get married and this book covers the happenings of their first 3 yrs of marriage.
Good things:
- writing style: Engaging and funny
- Language: pretty good
+ Book is peppered with chuckle-worthy moments
+ An easy read
Not so good things:
- Nearly 40 % of the book is devoted to her time of pregnancy and its aftermath i.e till the kid is an year old. Naturally, it is filled with a lot of mundane stuff ranging from Changing the diapers to fussing over little things that the baby does. Married people will find it very boring. I am not married but still I was like 'can I skip a few pages here?' now and then.
Rating: 3.5 stars
I had liked 'How I became a farmer's wife?' by the same author and I was looking for a light read and felt this fit the bill.
What it is about?
Yashodara - an IIM-B graduate and Vijay - an IIT-Delhi graduate fall in love, get married and this book covers the happenings of their first 3 yrs of marriage.
Good things:
- writing style: Engaging and funny
- Language: pretty good
+ Book is peppered with chuckle-worthy moments
+ An easy read
Not so good things:
- Nearly 40 % of the book is devoted to her time of pregnancy and its aftermath i.e till the kid is an year old. Naturally, it is filled with a lot of mundane stuff ranging from Changing the diapers to fussing over little things that the baby does. Married people will find it very boring. I am not married but still I was like 'can I skip a few pages here?' now and then.
Rating: 3.5 stars
November 27, 2012
I won this book in one of the Goodreads Giveaway. For me it was a simple, funny and light read. The whole concept of Yashodhara putting her own life on paper and sharing the good and bad moments of it, was new and entertaining. In very simple terms, it shows what most of the couples go through in early phases of their marriage and parenting. Having said that, it may be simple looking but it still manages to show the various shades of V and Y's relationship. At times things may not be as complicated as we often make them in our heads, and the author has beautifully shown that. The language is not very complicated and some of the incidents and dialogues actually made me laugh out loud, often making people sitting around me wonder what I am upto :)
August 6, 2014
Just married, please excuse is an honest and sincere effort from author Yashodhara. I really liked the way she portrayed each character they were SO realistic that we could relate to ‘all of’ them easily and also the story was more like a real time experience, I didn’t find anything out of context or exaggerating. Even the ending was smooth usually the books I have read tend to either elaborate the ending or finish it off soon that was not the case with this book. Over all a great, humors, clean and realistic book that I have read so far.
Rating 4.5/5
Rating 4.5/5
August 14, 2012
A brilliantly hilarious book - couldn't put it down till I finished the last page. Yashodhara strikes a good balance between humour and emotion. Had me in giggles in many parts especially the part about K and vijay:)
The language used looked so simple at first but then I realised that the words were chosen so beautifully as if we were having a direct conversation.
Great that Yashodhara could convert her life so far into a book. Hope that it is just the beginning and looking forward for more!
The language used looked so simple at first but then I realised that the words were chosen so beautifully as if we were having a direct conversation.
Great that Yashodhara could convert her life so far into a book. Hope that it is just the beginning and looking forward for more!
September 14, 2012
A staggeringly simple and honest account of a neo-Indian metro-sexual , modern Indian women as she travels through love, life and a lot more.It offers and inside view of Indian life and the big and small troubles that they face as a family in an India that is both Traditional and Modern simultaneously.
August 6, 2012
Awesome book from a debut writer. A simple, elegant but flowing writing style and the little moments interwoven in bigger shifts in married life is what this book is about.
One more thing, this book will save many a marriages.
One more thing, this book will save many a marriages.
September 19, 2012
A simple story with many hilarious angles to life post marriage and yet dealing with many PPDs. Really liked all the details thrown on each incident covered in the book. Wish i read what happens next in this Queen and King story after their princess.
September 10, 2012
'Just married, Please Excuse' is an uncomplicated and rollicking account of coming together of a couple hailing from disparate segments of the society. It is destined to put a stubborn smile on your face with its innate humour and disarming frankness.
December 15, 2012
A laugh riot. And it's such a nice feeling that the author is my neighbour and slowly turning into a friend. It is so clever n witty. There is also surprising sensitivity behind the humor. A must read!!!!
February 20, 2013
i totally loved this book... its a sincere take on marriage unlike the usual masala novels... it certainly does not contain any masala added to it to please the reader... its just about real life experiences... the way people react to real life situations :-) it was a refreshing read.
June 19, 2017
I read Yashodhara Lal’s There's Something About You about two years ago and had quite liked the book for its unlikely lead pair (What’s not to love about an overweight, clumsy woman and a mild mannered man finding love!) and her sense of humour. Since then the name of the author had stuck. So when I saw Just Married, Please Excuse in the book fair I bought it without any compunction.
Yashodhara (Y) is a drama queen losing her temper at the drop of a hat. Vijay (V) is steady and has a cool demeanor. Both work in the same company and they ‘fall’ in love. I don’t think it’s clearly stated in the book why V fell for Y. Complete opposites in every which way, they belong to different generations (a 7 year age gap) and have different backgrounds (big city girl and small town boy). They also have different world views and ideologies unable to agree on anything except their love for each other. With possibly the shortest courtship in the history of modern romance, they jump into matrimony because V is getting older. He pesters the reluctant Y to say yes within months of going out. Yes, that is how it happens. No, I am not exaggerating.
How is 30 old (unless of course you live in a small town like me)? Isn’t 40 the new 30? Are we still living in the 21st century? That is the beauty of living in India. You can simultaneously experience many centuries in one lifetime.
V wanted to know Y’s caste before approaching his family but he assures her it won’t matter. Y on the other hand has no clue about her caste. I would like to say casteism is regressive and has no place in the society but having seen the matrimonial columns, and living in the society with my eyes and ears open, I have seen caste rear its ugly head more often than I’d like to admit.
Just Married, Please Excuse isn’t exactly a romcom but a scathing look at marriage using humour (sarcasm) as a tool.
Even today in the presence of in-laws, the wife has to behave in a particular manner so as not to offend their sensibilities whereas men can (mostly) be who they are (hence more true to themselves). I don’t like this hypocrisy but it’s a reality for many. I have seen some of my friends and relatives morph into a more conservative avatar when they visit their in-laws, and do things they never do or don’t agree with, in their real lives.
Yashodara Lal does humour very well, particularly sarcasm. Both the characters, husband and wife, Y and V are fond of making jokes that makes it easier to tread over some of the uncomfortable issues Just Married, Please Excuse raises. While Y hides behind sarcasm V cracks inane jokes at wrong moments to diffuse the tension.
Midway through the book tedium had set in, and I had to force myself to keep turning the pages.The twist at the end which appeared to resolve everything was ridiculous but I had a good laugh. And that’s what matters in the end, right?
The book is unique because the woman has the upper hand here. Though sometimes too stubborn for her own good, Y asserts herself and doesn’t give in. She manages to retain her surname and her sense of self. One cannot take these things for granted even in these evolved times.
This is the only Indian book I have read in recent times where a couple goes for counselling. The sessions with the counsellor, and the way they were described, had me in splits. In India it is believed that one should not come between a husband and a wife even when one of them is abusive (Read Meena Kandasamy’s When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife to know what I am talking about). So taking this step to sort things amicably before they get worse is a welcome change.
The book appears deceptively light but deals with real issues that we never see after the proverbial happily ever after. There is a whole other world they would be stepping into. We see them get hitched and ride with them.
This is Yashodhara Lal’s first book and hence most likely to be autobiographical in nature than her other books. Her character’s name and surname in the book is same as the author in real life. Are you thinking what I am thinking?
Originally published here https://eternaloxymoron.wordpress.com...
Yashodhara (Y) is a drama queen losing her temper at the drop of a hat. Vijay (V) is steady and has a cool demeanor. Both work in the same company and they ‘fall’ in love. I don’t think it’s clearly stated in the book why V fell for Y. Complete opposites in every which way, they belong to different generations (a 7 year age gap) and have different backgrounds (big city girl and small town boy). They also have different world views and ideologies unable to agree on anything except their love for each other. With possibly the shortest courtship in the history of modern romance, they jump into matrimony because V is getting older. He pesters the reluctant Y to say yes within months of going out. Yes, that is how it happens. No, I am not exaggerating.
How is 30 old (unless of course you live in a small town like me)? Isn’t 40 the new 30? Are we still living in the 21st century? That is the beauty of living in India. You can simultaneously experience many centuries in one lifetime.
V wanted to know Y’s caste before approaching his family but he assures her it won’t matter. Y on the other hand has no clue about her caste. I would like to say casteism is regressive and has no place in the society but having seen the matrimonial columns, and living in the society with my eyes and ears open, I have seen caste rear its ugly head more often than I’d like to admit.
Just Married, Please Excuse isn’t exactly a romcom but a scathing look at marriage using humour (sarcasm) as a tool.
Even today in the presence of in-laws, the wife has to behave in a particular manner so as not to offend their sensibilities whereas men can (mostly) be who they are (hence more true to themselves). I don’t like this hypocrisy but it’s a reality for many. I have seen some of my friends and relatives morph into a more conservative avatar when they visit their in-laws, and do things they never do or don’t agree with, in their real lives.
Yashodara Lal does humour very well, particularly sarcasm. Both the characters, husband and wife, Y and V are fond of making jokes that makes it easier to tread over some of the uncomfortable issues Just Married, Please Excuse raises. While Y hides behind sarcasm V cracks inane jokes at wrong moments to diffuse the tension.
Midway through the book tedium had set in, and I had to force myself to keep turning the pages.The twist at the end which appeared to resolve everything was ridiculous but I had a good laugh. And that’s what matters in the end, right?
The book is unique because the woman has the upper hand here. Though sometimes too stubborn for her own good, Y asserts herself and doesn’t give in. She manages to retain her surname and her sense of self. One cannot take these things for granted even in these evolved times.
This is the only Indian book I have read in recent times where a couple goes for counselling. The sessions with the counsellor, and the way they were described, had me in splits. In India it is believed that one should not come between a husband and a wife even when one of them is abusive (Read Meena Kandasamy’s When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife to know what I am talking about). So taking this step to sort things amicably before they get worse is a welcome change.
The book appears deceptively light but deals with real issues that we never see after the proverbial happily ever after. There is a whole other world they would be stepping into. We see them get hitched and ride with them.
This is Yashodhara Lal’s first book and hence most likely to be autobiographical in nature than her other books. Her character’s name and surname in the book is same as the author in real life. Are you thinking what I am thinking?
Originally published here https://eternaloxymoron.wordpress.com...
December 22, 2015
This would be the last review of 2015 from my side.
"There's Something About You" was my first book by this author and it was so entertaining that I couldn't wait to start another one by her.
"Just Married, Please Excuse" is a different book for different sort of readers.
It is a hilarious and entertaining book for an unmarried reader and it is a true to life, real story for a married reader.
Yashodhara Lal has a unique ability to write light hearted romance with a dose of humour, this is what I like about this author. This is a story of a cosmopolitan girl Yashodhara and a boy Vijay with an age difference of around 7 years, Yashodhara is younger. They became friends and eventually got married and then they enter the world of reality from the world of their dreams. Here is where the roller coaster ride of their life starts and they start understanding the differences between the life of dreams and the real one.
Plot sound simple, right? Yes, it is. But the way it is narrated will simply make you laugh out loud in every situation, sometimes make you angry, and makes you sad at some point of time and what not. Simple story and gripping narration is what this book is all about.
One after the other events unfolding in Yashodhara and Vijay's life after marriage entertains you well throughout the book. Laughter never stops. Let it be the situation in which Yashodhara accepts Vijay's proposal of marriage, pregnancy blues of Yashodhara, Vijay's situation between office, home and babysitting, post parenthood drama in their life, their counselling sessions to save their marriage, are all high on dose of entertainment.
Only one complaint I had during reading this book, that author does not allow us to keep track of time. At many points I kept wondering what the timeline is now. I mean I was losing the track of time in between the unfolding events. But it was acceptable in return of the entertainment that the book delivered.
Overall a great and entertaining read. Must read for every humour genre lover like me.
"There's Something About You" was my first book by this author and it was so entertaining that I couldn't wait to start another one by her.
"Just Married, Please Excuse" is a different book for different sort of readers.
It is a hilarious and entertaining book for an unmarried reader and it is a true to life, real story for a married reader.
Yashodhara Lal has a unique ability to write light hearted romance with a dose of humour, this is what I like about this author. This is a story of a cosmopolitan girl Yashodhara and a boy Vijay with an age difference of around 7 years, Yashodhara is younger. They became friends and eventually got married and then they enter the world of reality from the world of their dreams. Here is where the roller coaster ride of their life starts and they start understanding the differences between the life of dreams and the real one.
Plot sound simple, right? Yes, it is. But the way it is narrated will simply make you laugh out loud in every situation, sometimes make you angry, and makes you sad at some point of time and what not. Simple story and gripping narration is what this book is all about.
One after the other events unfolding in Yashodhara and Vijay's life after marriage entertains you well throughout the book. Laughter never stops. Let it be the situation in which Yashodhara accepts Vijay's proposal of marriage, pregnancy blues of Yashodhara, Vijay's situation between office, home and babysitting, post parenthood drama in their life, their counselling sessions to save their marriage, are all high on dose of entertainment.
Only one complaint I had during reading this book, that author does not allow us to keep track of time. At many points I kept wondering what the timeline is now. I mean I was losing the track of time in between the unfolding events. But it was acceptable in return of the entertainment that the book delivered.
Overall a great and entertaining read. Must read for every humour genre lover like me.
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