The Secret Wish List

by Preeti Shenoy

Does true love really exist or is it just a cliche? Can a single kiss really change your life?

At sixteen, Diksha like any girl her age, finds her life revolving around school, boys and endless hours of fun with her best friend. But one day, all that changes.

What starts as an innocent crush explodes into something far beyond her control. Eighteen years later, she finds herself at the crossroads of life. Urged by a twist of events, a wish list is born. But can a wish list help her piece back her life together? Will she succumb to the tangled mess of an extramarital relationship? Once again, Preeti Shenoy brings an extraordinary story that tugs at the heartstrings, with insight and wisdom, as she explores the delicate matters of the heart.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Indian Literature, Novels, Contemporary, Romantic, India

260 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Preeti Shenoy, one of India’s highest-selling authors with over a million books sold, has written seventeen bestselling titles. Known for her accessible style, she explores complex themes such as mental health, gender inequality, and socio-economic divides. Featured on Forbes’ list of influential Indian celebrities, Preeti has represented India at international literature festivals in Birmingham, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi.

Her work has been featured in major media outlets, including BBC World, Cosmopolitan, The Hindu, and The Times of India. She has received prestigious accolades, such as the Popular Choice Fiction Award (2021) from the Times of India’s AutHer Awards and Amazon India’s Most Popular Self-Help Book of 2021. She was also honoured as Indian of the Year and received the Business Excellence Award from the New Delhi Institute of Management.

Beyond writing, Preeti is a sought-after motivational speaker, having delivered talks at organizations like Walmart, Infosys, ISRO, KPMG, and Accenture. A fitness enthusiast, artist, and traveller, she has had her short stories and poetry featured in Condé Nast and Verve. She also writes a monthly opinion column for The Indian Express and has previously contributed to The Financial Chronicle.

Connect with Preeti:

Website: www.preetishenoy.com

Email: ps@preetishenoy.com

Twitter/X: @Preetishenoy

Blog: blog.preetishenoy.com

Instagram: @Preeti.Shenoy | @Preetishenoyart

Facebook: preeti.io/fb

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/preetishenoyauthor

Reviews

[Pooja Jeevagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The good things first...I liked her way of writing way more...maybe it was the change of publishing house...the formatting..or God knows what...but I kind of liked looking at this way better than the others by her...it seemed a little more professional than the usual Indian novels :)

The bad thing, I don't like the way marriages in her novel break...I don't know, if I didn't hold the husband responsible in 'Tea for Two...', I feel out there in this novel, Preeti has gone out of her way to show that the husband is an out n out black person...no I don't like the husband in the novel...but I can't say I even like the female protagonist either..

Fifteen years is too long of a time before you start yearning for a break...before you start hating your husband...if he was perfect for first ten years of your life, and you made sure to make a habit of it for first ten, why suddenly someone's death make you detest your husband...it's one thing to say your husband is inattentive, it's another to realize that he is suddenly a monster...

There is a lot I didn't understand the novel...there were so many double standards in there...things contradicted so much...suddenly the person closest to you, no longer wants to talk to you...you find the love you never knew u had 20 years back...a little too filmy, a little over the imagination...

A good effort by the author, but how I wish, she comes up with a successful marriage story...a story which comes through the bad times of relationship and picks up from an abyss to reach the cliff...It's probably time to change the strategy :)

[Alam · Rating 2 out of 5]

کتابْ سبکِ من نبود اما صرفاً چون هدیه بود از طرف یک دوست، خوندمش.
داستان مخصوصا برای خانم‌های ایرانی کاملا ملموس و قابل درک بود و شباهت فرهنگی جامعه هند و ایران برام جالب بود اما متاسفانه آبکی و کاااااملا قابل پیش بینی بود یعنی دقیقا از اون داستانا که ۲ فصل بخونی تا تهش میدونی چه اتفاقاتی قراره بیفته 😅

[Archit · Rating 1 out of 5]

This didn't work that well.

I liked her previous book, Life is what you make it and would say was inspiring. Unfortunately, The Secret Wish List, didn't make it.

[Shantharam · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those books that makes you think as a man, what women exactly want. Some might find the content offensive to our culture so if you are someone like Asaram Babu, refrain from reading this. Everyone else should find something that they did not knew before about relationships.

Even though my experience in relationships is as huge as earth is compared to the universe, i got some insights in what needs to be done to maintain a healthy one.

The good thing about this book, like all other books by Preeti Shenoy is that i could easily connect with the main character, feel her sufferings and happiness, which makes it special.

I am surely going to make a secret wish list and try and complete every single thing on that list. Life is short, make it large. The book struck a chord deep down in me and i am pretty sure the same can be said of many other readers.

[Devina Dutta · Rating 2 out of 5]

The 'Secret wish list' has a good blurb and an attractive jacket but that is all there is in Preeti Shenoy's latest novel. what started out as a promising story about a woman awakening and trying to relive her life turned into a mediocre Bollywood inspired stereotypical book. Secret boyfriends at 16, the demanding unappreciative husband, this novella seemed right from English vinglish sans the french hero and the former boyfriend'. However 'that' was likeable, this is definitely not. Throughout the story, as the heroine debated on leaving her husband or not, I wondered about finally trying to give Shenoy one more chance or not. Her last debacle, 'Tea for two...' was awful and it was only because of Life is what you make it, that I decided to give this book a try.
Although 'the secret wish list' had a certain freshness to it, it depleted and faltered right from the second chapter itself. The book has a continuous stilted narration which can seem pretty juvenile and lame if you are an avid reader.
Over all, the book can offer respite from all the wannabe Indian Bridget jones story that Indian authors seem to write these days. Certainly not Shenoy's best but definitely not the worst. Would really love it if she could write something that she really felt and right from the heart.

[Sridevi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really don't know what made me buy this book , perhaps it was the heavy discount offered by FLipkart . The story seemed to be a replica of "Tea for Two and a Piece of Cake " . The narration is stereotyped and the story is highly predictable .


OK , we all know Deeksha married early at nineneteen and all that , but the author needn't drill it down the readers' head in almost every alternate chapter .

Also , while the style of narration is highly personal , what surprised me was the amount of proofreading this book lacked . In chapter 13 for example , there should be "Deeksha" instead of Vibha at two places . Also the grammatical errors and typos are appaling .

I would anyday watch a Karan Johar movie instead of reading books like this because I would be at least assured of some song and dance .

[Pallavi Kamat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a long-time reader of Preeti Shenoy’s blog (www.justamotheroftwo.blogspot.com) and won The Secret Wish List in a contest on her blog titled Wishlist Wednesdays. Around the same time, I also had an opportunity to meet her when she came down to Mumbai to launch the book (http://pallosworld.blogspot.in/2013/0...)

The Secret Wishlist revolves around Diksha, Ankit, Tanu, Sandeep and Abhay. It starts off in Chennai, where, as a sixteen-year-old, Diksha is like any other typical teenager. She and her best friend Tanu spend hours and hours of time studying, discussing the latest crushes and gossiping. Enter Ankit, Diksha’s elder brother’s friend. Both Ankit and Diksha start liking each other and spending quite a bit of time together without the knowledge of either the parents or her elder brother. When the first opportunity for an overnight travel for a school project arises, both of them jump at it. However, things there take a turn for the worse due to which the lives of Ankit and Diksha are forever changed.

Cut to the present. In Bangalore, Diksha is married to Sandeep and they have a son Abhay. Diksha’s entire day, rather, existence revolves around both of them. Right from making the morning tea, to breakfast, lunch and dinner to catering to every whim and fancy of Sandeep and Abhay, Diksha seems to not have an individual life at all. She does not seem to mind her daily mundane life either.

However, a sudden event in her cousin’s life seems to jolt her out of her existence. At the behest of the cousin, she decides to try and take some control over her life and makes a wishlist – a list of things which she truly wants to do. Included in the list are items like snorkelling, getting drunk and learning salsa.

By a fortuitous turn of events, Tanu (who has been working at Gurgaon and recently re-located to Bangalore) re-enters her life and tells her that Ankit has been wanting to get in touch with her since a long time. With this conversation, Diksha’s heart and mind are forced to confront whether she would really want to meet him; if yes, what would the future course of action be, etc. How the issue is sorted out forms the climax of the story.

The best part about Preeti’s writings is the time and effort spent in etching out each and every character and the interactions between them. Diksha as a bubbly teenager; Diksha as a housewife; Diksha as a housewife wanting to live out her wishlist; Diksha as a housewife imagining what it would be to go back to Ankit – all the various stages have been carved out beautifully. Sandeep’s character has been shown to be a typical, male chauvinist who only cares for his well-being without giving a thought to what his wife wants. He cannot even imagine that she may have any wants. He comes across as extremely selfish and a person quite easy to hate.

Tanu has been portrayed as Diksha’s best friend – someone who has her best interests at heart and who forgives her friend’s faults. Ankit is the ideal guy – someone who is compassionate, caring and concerned; who wants to fulfil each and every wish of Diksha at whatever cost it entails. He lets his heart rule his mind.

The relationships and interactions between Diksha and Tanu, Diksha and her husband, Diksha and her son, Diksha and her parents, Diksha and her salsa instructor, Diksha and her mother-in-law, Diksha’s brother and Ankit and finally Diksha and Ankit have been developed in great detail.

Another aspect about her is the way she tackles “difficult” subjects such as having an extramarital relationship. Sure, we all scoff at the mere idea but we do not bother going behind and understanding the reasons for it.

My takeaways from the book are:

Parents may not always have the children’s best interests at heart. As parents, it is very important to be friends with your children and to really understand what is going on with them. If you are going to dictate and expect your child to only do what you want him/her to do, they are never going to be happy.

True love does really exist. You may not realize it immediately and it may take its own sweet time in reaching you. But it will eventually. Also, along the way, you may have to face some difficulties. But it will definitely be worth it. The only thing it demands is that you have the courage to accept it when it finally comes your way. Rest everything shall fall in place.

Marriage is a process of give and take. It is a process of compromising. It is not just expecting the wife to do all the work while the husband earns money. It is about realizing that your wife may also have some hopes and aspirations. It is about understanding that sometimes all one needs to do is lend a ear.

Lastly, friendship is a unique bond. You may be best friends but one act of indiscretion could cause a crack in that friendship. However, that crack could soon be mended as well. Your friend will always have your best interests at heart and will go out of the way to make sure you achieve them. Your friend will never judge you. You may not speak for days, weeks, or in the case of this book, years on end but when you do, you will catch up like there has been no break in between. That is the true test of friendship.

I was left wondering at the end what would have happened if Diksha had been in a happy marriage and Ankit had re-entered her life. Maybe, Preeti could re-write the book with a different ending :)

Like I mentioned at the beginning – I won this book in a contest organized by Preeti. And the post I wrote for that contest (http://pallosworld.blogspot.in/2013/0...) has been read by over 400 people till date. Guess, that is the power of Preeti’s blog.

[Kamala · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found this book more than a little disappointing. I'd expected depth and a little less predictability. Instead, it reinforced the cliche that a woman can't survive without a man by her side. I did think that the author's understanding of a housewife's low self-esteem and the enormous guilt that she has when she tries to do even the smallest things for herself was good, but the storyline seemed just way too convenient--like one of Karan Johar's candy floss hindi movies. The protagonist walks away from a fifteen year-old marriage into the arms of her childhood sweetheart. He is unattached, handsome, rich--a Mills and Boons type chocolate box hero who still loves her desperately and not only accepts but bonds with her nine-year old son. She's slim, looks just like she did as a teenager and is sufficiently ruffled by her husband's uncaring ways to call it quits. The transition is smooth and everything is hunky-dory and curiously enough, her mother-in-law is supportive of the arrangement, especially when the son she's left happens to be an only child! Now that doesn't seem like a story--it's an impossible fairy tale! The language veered too much towards the colloquial with words like 'darn' and tired phrases like 'done deal' thrown in for good measure. And since the editor in me never switches off, the typos and the grammatical errors that are peppered liberally through the book gave me the shudders. But I guess if you're looking for very light reading, you might like this one.

[Khushboo Sharma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick take on
The Secret Wish List - By Preeti Shenoy

Stories are all around, The Secret Wishlist is kind of the story that you see in and around happening with many married women. I have read author in her blogs which is spontaneous, simple and to the point. I like it. And this is the first book I read.
After 3rd book I stopped reading Chetan Bhagat not because he doesn’t write good stories but because he writes to much what I ready know and see around, if to expect next is predictable I don't see reading fiction and in this one some what exactly that happens.
A secret hidden buried deep down in teenager heart, layered on top of the society and family roles responsibility and expectations. It starts in parallel track in present and in teenage past, which make it very cliché and predictable to me. Diksha , the protagonist is at first a common teenage girl, who seeks usual experience of life and as she grows being woman she seeks usual acknowledgement of her existence. A purpose is what Indian woman gets missed out by enlarge due to society and not many start up for it, that theme is essence of the story.
We see many around us like that, we consult such women too. Why don’t you do this? why don’t you do that ? why don’t you take control of things ? but one just leaves it with suggestion but other one either carries a courage to solve or just succumb to it forever with conscious awareness of what is happening with their lives.
Diksha is one such girl who is trapped, it takes her 15 long years to realize and break her shackles. Plot has all points covered which leads her to decide and gather courage to change the course of her life but I just found it coming while reading whereby my surprise elements were dying as I read on. Also, as much as emotional and sensitive the story line is, the emotions and moments of characters are rushed. Literacy wise, author is still not in the genre which dives into the life of Diksha when she walks home after meeting her lover, turmoil state, torn heart, dejected self … I don’t see her heart coming alive in story narration.
It is indeed good and quick read with inspiration point in it but if you are looking forward to read classic storytelling is a step away. My take from the book I did pen down my Wish List and so it was worth a read.

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished reading it within 2 days. Overall a good read. You'd be able to relate to the character in the form of people you come across occasionally or it can be one of your friends. There are men like Sandeep who exist and take things for granted and then there are women like Diksha who are really scared of their husbands. So scared that they can't even talk to them about their interests or things they'd like to do. Society has set a pattern for a woman to live like this for the rest of their lives. Don't think or do anything that makes you feel happy. Its weird and even depressing but then we are taught to adjust so we do and accept that this is our fate and pretend to be happy with what we have and then life throws a question asking things you don't have answers to. You have a life, don't forget to live for yourself. Its perfectly fine to be selfish and think about things that make you happy. Make a wish list and start working on it because its your life. So want to write a long review but need sometime for that. I might write a blog post on this one.

[Ananya Deol · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story oozes innocence. I especially like the way Mrs. Shenoy has taken in consideration each subtle aspect of human emotion. An extremely engaging read,' The Secret Wishlist' can bring about a massive change in your life, can teach you how to ACTUALLY live on your own terms and how to find true felicity.

[Soumyabrata Gupta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Telling the tale of a woman

Soumyabrata Gupta

Preeti Shenoy’s new novel The Secret Wishlist once again looks within the confines of the bedroom doors and finds out the intricacies of a relationship shared between a wife and her husband beneath the covers of the bed sheet and over a cup of tea. Stressing upon the importance of communication, Shenoy shifts the story of her new novel between two time frames as Diksha, the sixteen-year-old and Diksha, the 35-year-old married woman grapple to find meanings in their existence when they set sail agains the ‘norms’ of society.

Coming from a traditional middle-class family, Diksha finds her life taking a turn for the worst when a harmless kiss with a senior from school, lands her in trouble. Her life gets shattered as she is withdrawn from the institution by her parents and a series of chaperoning ensues until she is married off to the suitable boy Sandeep at only 19 years of age.

15 years down the line, Diksha is but a meager housewife who lives on the whims and fancies of her extremely stringent and workaholic husband while she tries to raise their nine-year-old-son Abhay. A conversation with a depressed cousin Vibha, who has just lost her husband Mohan, however, soon forces her to take some life altering decisions when she realises that she has every right to live life according to her own wishes as well. Out of their conversation is born a secret wishlist and while a bit hesitant at first, Diksha soon finds herself spiraling into a world that she is less familiar with as she tries to find her own footing and her own individual identity amidst all the chaos..

From drinking booze, to joining a salsa class as Diksha plunges deeper into her own world, she finds herself regretting her marriage with each passing day and the entry of her once childhood crush Ankit (the boy she was caught kissing), soon culminates into an extra-marital relationship and her taking a decision that she never thought she had the courage to make. Finding her husband’s lack of interest in her or their family frustrating and herself feeling separated from her him, the story follows her life as she stands up for her rights and carves her own niche in the society.

Written in an extremely conversational style, Preeti Shenoy’s new offing is fluid in its narration and is an easy read. The characters in her novel are well etched from the suave Gaurav, to the vivacious Tanu, the soulful Ankit and the woman with dreans Diksha and Shenoy makes it a point of introducing vastly differing personas in order to create a stark picture where the crux of the novel gets highlighted through their differences Shenoy’s story is perhas a mirror reflecting the lives of every woman that one sees on the street, bazaars or outside the school gates each day, confined within the barriers of their own little existence. And while not condoning the women for their chosen path (the author does mention, that perhaps communication could have had saved the marriage), Shenoy’s novel shows an alternative path taken by a brave lady when everything seems to be braking apart for her. A little bit of spice and love in her life only serves to make her resolve that much stronger.

(As appearing in The Bengal Post newspaper on March 3, 2013 )

[Afshan Khan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished the book in 4 days. I took so long as frankly it didn't keep me glued to it. Unlike other books by Preeti Shenoy I have to say this one is boring , monotonous and repetitive . Opening of the book is good where school days are described. Story oscillates between present and past. The narration takes you back to school grounds and the teenage infatuations but after that I was just waiting for the end. I knew the end but had to finish it as I wanted to see if there is a twist!I would love to see a damsel not in distress the next time she writes a book. Its always a troubled woman who ultimately becomes strong and faces the world.

The protagonist Diksha is trapped in her married life and is seeking peace and real happiness. You feel connected to her but the way the events turn out its much more like a movie to me. The moment the book becomes a movie I lose interest. Every thing happens like she wants all of a sudden and her romance blooms which in real life is actually tough. The circumstances and the chances are co operative and she again finds her old love. Frankly too many lines were repetitive. After meeting her teenage love Ankit she keeps on saying the same things all over again. I know it happens in love but to read it in book was a bit boring !Few characters got dissolved in the mid. I thought there is some thing more to the character Vibha who is Diksha's cousin. Compared to the previous books this definitely was not up to the mark. It is like reading a similar story again. I loved Life is what you make it and felt Tea for two and a piece of cake was OK! This book is a time pass read and as it is the fourth book may be I expected a lot. I was expecting a story where lead roles would be doing all adventurous things in the wish list and not a woman oriented book where there are relationship or marital problems again.



Few bits I liked are the Salsa and the details, the mother in law who seemed extremely understanding and sweet. Such characters again are rare species in real life. I mean there are mothers who support even rapist sons so I don't think a mother in-law will support a daughter in-law immediately if she wants to walk out of a marriage. I liked the way places and localities are described. I liked the concept of writing down a secret wish list and ya I loved the cover page which lead to my great expectations.

[Shyam Sundar · Rating 4 out of 5]

i do always have a special keen interest in reading preethi shenoy's novels ! her simple narration make me involed in it ! every character she potrays is some or the other we see in our daily lives !

Dhiksha - the protagonist , was married to an idiot at her early age of 19 ! how her life turns upside down after 15 years of her marital life is the plot ! the story narrates how dhiksha tick off all her things in the secret wish list !

for general readers - the book is more like a mini-megaserial ! the story is very light & predictable !

for preethi shenoy lovers - this book won't let u down ! especially diksha's mindvoices ! at most instances u feel like slapping sandeep ! hugging Mrs. Pandit ! u wish u had a child like abhay !

i just expected gaurav & dhiksha would make a good pair ! but preethi makes a boomerang twist in that part !

if someone doesn't get out of your mind for years , then it is true love . <3 ^_^

PS - do make your own secret wishlist before starting with it ! you'll love reading it !

[Saloni Chaudhary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sometimes I read below average books to understand what a reader will not like. Now I know.

[Neetu Thakur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I still remember that I read this book in my school days and I finished the book in 3 days despite of my exams going on at that time.

The only thing I learnt from this book is never ever give upon your dreams n goals... we make our goals n universe works towards accomplishing the same... ofcourse with our hardwork n determination... Loved the book to the core !!!

P.S. One of my starting novel reads !!

[Sarika Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the book, I was looking to read since Long time. Thanks to Preeti Shenoy for good book.
Superb book loved it much. I have not disappointed. Excellent narration from a women's point of view. Must read !

[Kirti Changlani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flows smoothly.
Good for a one time read.

[Vrinda Lohana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only book I finished in two days☺

[Anjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written

The narration is remarkable. It makes you read the complete book in one breath.

An Indian, Bangalore based story of a typical Indian girl. I am sure most of us would have seen this character at least once in our life's. Women who keep living their lifes taking care of their husbands and kids when they are getting no care in return. Society believes it is the girls duty to remain door mats. This book just reminded that the society needs to change a lot. Parents need to believe their daughters too. Yes I truly loved it.

In short, a simple but elegant book.

[Abhilash Ruhela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some times, time does not favour and you get stuck in reading a book that could have got completed in just 3-4 hours. This book was bought for my friend to gift it to her on Birth day but later I decided to keep it for myself. "The Secret Wish List"- A Book of 260 pages published by "Westland Publishers". The authoress Preeti Shenoy who has written yet another amazing story needs no introduction. But there's something very funny and amusing about her journey as a writer is the shuffling of Publishers every time she comes up with a new book. Her first book was with Srishti Publications, then with Random House India and finally, this one with Westland Publication. Haha!

Coming to the story of "The Secret Wish List"- At sixteen, Diksha like any girl her age, finds her life revolving around school, boys and endless hours of fun with her best friend. But one day, all that changes. What starts as an innocent crush explodes into something far beyond her control. Eighteen years later, she finds herself at the crossroads of life. Urged by a twist of events, a wish list is born. But can a wish list help her piece back her life together? Will she succumb to the tangled mess of an extramarital relationship? The Secret Wish List is a captivating, engrossing, racy tale about following your heart, chasing your dreams and the meaning of friendship. To know more, read the book.


Coming to the author, there's no doubt that Preeti Shenoy is the best female author in the genre in which she writes. Every time she drafts a story, it comes up with a message and lots of learning. A girl/married woman reading it will always find a way out of her problems and a boy/husband reading it will always learn to respect women. And she does it with an entertaining manner rather than keeping the story too intense or up-to-the-point. She knows what to put where in the book which directly touches the heart of the readers. As the authoress herself is a married woman, she understands the plight of married women and hence, they would love reading her books more than anyone else. But what's interesting is that even youths like me loves reading her book. It does not have any age barrier. But I would like to demand Preeti Shenoy to write a happy married life of a woman in her next book as she is getting stereotyped as "one who writes only depressing tales of married women".

Coming to the good parts of book according to me- Initially, when the book begins, the way she keeps on shuffling between both the periods of story is too interesting. The school life of Diksha isn't kept too cheesy like other authors. Even that's interesting to read. Then her equation with Sandeep, her husband is described perfectly. I was able to imagine each and every sequence as it seems to be real and not a single part seems to be filmy and exaggerated. Her son, Abhay is my favorite character in the book. I just loved reading his conversations with his parents. I want my kid to be like him. :-) The scene when she meets Vibha and the concept of Wish List is revealed in the book is a perfect part. Even I felt that there should be something that every married person should make to keep himself/herself aspiring and motivated. And once her childhood friends come back in her life, the real fun in the story starts. As we sympathize with the protagonist, we start loving the way she breaks all the confinements and does what she always wants to.

All the moments in the book is worth appraising. But I won't talk about them as many Spoilers might come out and a Review looks nice when its short. The only problem that I find is the one I mentioned above- Too depressing story. Hence, I would ask authoress to please write something cheery next time. I would love to read an opposite version from you. :-) I would rate- 4/5. Yes, get the book. And in the end, Cover Designer of this book should be felicitated with something special. What an incredible work by him/her.

Thanks.

ABHILASH RUHELA - VEERU

[Abhishek · Rating 2 out of 5]

One shall credit Preeti Shenoy for motivating women to be independent, to live their lives, to come out of their cages and stand up for themselves.

Having said that, I believe she has a myopic view on independence and life, to the least that is what I felt after reading this book.

I would also suggest teenagers not to get inspired by this book. Her concept of first touch/kiss whatever, true love, adrenal rush through veins and getting back to her secret lover after 15 odd years of marriage is cheap.

Women can do better standing out for themselves, taking control over their lives and engage in events than what the book suggests. After all, is the protagonist, Deeksha, really independent? Having to go back to her childhood boyfriend? Isn't she a pray of her hormonal rush? Her thoughts throughout the 15 years of marriage were filled with her secret lover, now how independent her decisions would actually be?

The author portrays Deeksha's husband to be a conventional man and of whom Deeksha is scared. Having no say in their marital life and acting no more than a slave to her husband. It would have been a much better story if Deeksha would have fought to change or atleast try to change her husband's thinking and taking more control over their marital life. If that had not worked out well, she could have left him but certainly not for her childhood lover.

[Vishi Sinha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story portrays the woeful plight of a girl/a woman in typical patriarchal society, where her personal interests have no place. Diksha, the protagonist, like an average Indian woman, accepts whatever forced upon her, first by her parents and then by her husband. But life is not merely accepting what it offers. And there is never late to start when you are poised to turn your dreams into reality.

Diksha prepares a wish list, and this wish list eventually allows her to start her life again, on her own terms and her transformation from a mute person to a fearless person.

Preeti Shenoy's Secret Wishlist is a story that one sees in and around happening with many married women. Like her previous books, you find yourself easily connected to and sympathize with the protagonist, her sufferings and her quest for happiness. Hats off to the Author for this engrossing, captivating tale about following your heart and chasing your dreams.

[Baishali Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a web between Tanu, Diksha, Sandeep and Ankit.
Sixteen year old Diksha made a small mistake which turned out to be the worst nightmare of her life. Her parents changed her school and she was no longer in touch with her friends. Years later, 15 years after her marriage she found her calling and made a secret wishlist of hers along with her cousin vibha. One by one, she ticked off her entire wishlist and completed it.
Suddenly she finds her love Ankit and Tanu after 15 complete years of break and continues to be with them. She gets separated from her husband and happily follows her heart to live the entire life with her 16 year old love, Ankit.
Sandeep indulges himself completely in his work and Dikhsha found the meaning to her life.

Overall rating- 4.5/5

[Shayari · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a page turner as the language is breezy and makes apt for a lazy Sunday afternoon read. It is a cliched chicklit. The story is hurried in the last 50 pages, as if there Is a deadline to meet. That said this is definitely 'Skip it-and-you-will not-miss a thing- in your life' kind of book.

[Dr Kashmira Gohil · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A secret wish list" is made by a married girl, Diksha, who's seriously feeling left out of love & life with her ignoring, practical husband Sandeep who takes her for granted (the pitiful fact of most Indian household, unfortunately), after her friend Vibha's husband dies suddenly due to heart attack. Diksha was married early at 19 by her parents forcefully to prevent her so called 'ignominious' ways after she was caught kissing Ankit, a boy she loved at 16, in highschool during an overnight trip to another school for project competition. & After almost decade and half, marriage and child Abhay, at age 35, she works to fulfill her secret wish list she made, starting with enrolling for salsa dance, getting friendly with handsome salsa instructor Gaurav & after that one things get ticked off one by one in her list, as if by a miraculous chance. She reunites with her schooltime best friend Tanu (now hotshot banker) & through her, her childhood love Ankit (now a multimillionaire business man), who re enters in her life, and also yearning for her after all these years. This was the stuff of fairy tale, sugary, happy ending 😄 but made enjoyable to read by good story line, characters & their interactions. Finally all's well that ends well!!👍This author seems like, Indian's answer to Danielle Steel. I would give this story 3 to 3.5 stars.

[Kritika · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so torn on rating it a 2 or a 3 star. I loved the concept of the book and also the way the book was written so sticking with the 3 stars. I understand it is nice to read and have simple happy endings but life is not that perfect to just hand everything out on a silver platter. So many scenarios felt unrealistic and maybe too hyped. But then it is a fiction and anything can happen to anyone so - overall a quick easy read. Nothing deep or touching but does have a good story base which is needed to be read by many.

[Reader Vivek · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret Wish List.

This book teach us to speak. To speak was it necessary, Don't just endure. If you endure today, you will endure tomorrow itself. Then you have no way to escape. But you learnt the past mistake and understand how and when to speak, then you will definitely make your life meaningful.

This is the story of a married woman, named Diksha. She was not at all satisfied with her married life. Her husband not at all supports her in any work. She had an 8-year-old son and she had raised him herself.
She had a boyfriend when she was in school. She had true love with him. One day while they were just kissing in night moon, they were caught. After this incident, her father then sent her to a girls' school and soon married her at the age of 19 only.
But after the 15 years of marriage she not forget her true love Ankit.

One day an incident happens and Diksha's cousin writes from her, a secret wishlist. The things which she will want to do in her life. From this day her life gets changed. She experiences every day a new day for her. She forgets her boring life. To know more, read this beautiful story of Diksha. You will like this book.

Engaging story. We can easily connect to the story. I like the way she writes. Very simple writing.
The cover is nice. The title is good.

[Sreehari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Indian Bollywood Love Story. Too cringey at times with cooked up drama which is not at all convincing. I advise you to rather skip it.

[Nas Parveen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the women in the present India would surely have a list of wishes that might seems very normal to a guy
For achieveing these wishes sometimes we have to break apart some so called ties and ropes.The society here hungs as a sword over the head


The secret wishlist is all about how diksha finally finds her way to freedom there by check out her wishlist.


Its an easy read may be you can finish it off in a single
day