What do you think?
Rate this book
It's Never Too Late...
In a nation where most women are taught to be submissive atevery stage in life, Maya stands out. In a society that finds fault inwomen for heinous crimes like rape, Maya stands up.Maya and Rajat fall in love while they study at IIT Kanpur;their daughter Sejal only makes the bond stronger even after yearsof marriage. Life is almost perfect when two petty criminalsdecide to make her fairytale life a tale of horror and fear with theirintention of molesting her.Will she be able to fight her fate while Rajat is away and saveherself and her five-year-old? Will she be able to undo all stereotypesand face the male-dominated society after that fateful night?Will Rajat stand up with her as she decides to battle her fears andtake the culprits to their just punishment?It’s Never Too Late is a story of every woman who decides tofight her fears and even destiny; of every human who chooses the right over the easy; of everywife who shoulders all responsibilities of the house; and of every mother who is unwavering inher resolve to ensure that her daughter grows up in a safer world.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2014
6 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Priyanka Baranwal
34 books3 followersPriyanka has penned three novels, one novella and several articles. She is also the creator of the short story series, One-cup stories, please!, on Amazon Kindle.
She is also a speaker and is passionate about working for children. She has been performing speaking sessions for children in schools on topics relevant to the age and time.
With deep love for playing guitar in the heart, Priyanka is currently based in Bangalore, India with her family.
She is also a speaker and is passionate about working for children. She has been performing speaking sessions for children in schools on topics relevant to the age and time.
With deep love for playing guitar in the heart, Priyanka is currently based in Bangalore, India with her family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 10, 2023
Such a waste of time it was!
May 4, 2014
On the name and the cover:
The cover looks sober and very well suits the book. Headlines of papers, pictures of women and a happy family picture, makes this cover a head-turner. Wasim Helal, the cover designer has done his part of job efficiently.
‘To win the battle against your biggest enemy: Fear’ – the tag line of the book says everything about the story. After completing the book, readers will appreciate the effort of the author to choose such an appropriate name and tag line for this work.
On the narrating style:
The author has chosen direct narrating style for telling her story, and has done proper justice to that. The way the author portrayed each and every scene with well crafted words, will make every reader glued to the book. This should be the way to write a debut novel.
On the story-line:
After reading the Author’s Note and the back blurb any reader would expect an intense story inside; but to my surprise, the first half of the book was only narrating the love story of Maya and Rajat. The story starts with Maya walking down her memory lane, by recollecting her IIT days where she had fallen in love with her present husband, Rajat. The author manages to keep that part interesting by her narrating style and by the shuffle between the past and present. From the second part the book started to show its true colors. When the fateful day came in Maya’s life and how she fought back to save her family was a breathtaking read. I could very easily say that the end will make every reader feel good for picking up this piece of art.
+ Point: The narrative style and the incident that took place at the second half of the book is the USP of
the book.
- Point: A few editing errors and the first half of the book can be the downfall of the book.
My favorite Line: I have saved us. (After reading this line I had tears in my eyes)
The cover looks sober and very well suits the book. Headlines of papers, pictures of women and a happy family picture, makes this cover a head-turner. Wasim Helal, the cover designer has done his part of job efficiently.
‘To win the battle against your biggest enemy: Fear’ – the tag line of the book says everything about the story. After completing the book, readers will appreciate the effort of the author to choose such an appropriate name and tag line for this work.
On the narrating style:
The author has chosen direct narrating style for telling her story, and has done proper justice to that. The way the author portrayed each and every scene with well crafted words, will make every reader glued to the book. This should be the way to write a debut novel.
On the story-line:
After reading the Author’s Note and the back blurb any reader would expect an intense story inside; but to my surprise, the first half of the book was only narrating the love story of Maya and Rajat. The story starts with Maya walking down her memory lane, by recollecting her IIT days where she had fallen in love with her present husband, Rajat. The author manages to keep that part interesting by her narrating style and by the shuffle between the past and present. From the second part the book started to show its true colors. When the fateful day came in Maya’s life and how she fought back to save her family was a breathtaking read. I could very easily say that the end will make every reader feel good for picking up this piece of art.
+ Point: The narrative style and the incident that took place at the second half of the book is the USP of
the book.
- Point: A few editing errors and the first half of the book can be the downfall of the book.
My favorite Line: I have saved us. (After reading this line I had tears in my eyes)
January 22, 2014
‘It’s Never Too Late’ isn’t just a story, or a fiction that you can read in leisure and keep away on your bookshelves; rather it’s a tale, an inspiration, of standing tall and fighting against adversity, facing blows and yet not being unfazed by them. It’s a depiction of bravery, nudging you to follow suit and get rid of your worst enemy – Fear.
We all have that inherent sense of fear playing in our subconscious; fear that can paralyze us and ruin our happiness. How often have we fallen prey to the lure of avoiding the fearful path and instead settling for an easier alternative? However, that never helps in the long run. Only if one can eradicate this sense of fear from one’s mind and soul can life become bigger and more beautiful.
Maya and Rajat’s friendship blossoms while they are studying together in IIT-Kanpur. As they spend more time together, their easy camaraderie paves way to love. They take a while to realize their true feelings, but once they do, they get married amidst promises and hope of a blissful life with each other. Their daughter, Sejal, accentuates their happiness and they are now a perfect family, full of love and care for each other.
However, things take a darker turn on that fateful night when Rajat leaves Maya and Sejal to attend the wedding of his sister. In the creepy silence of the night, two men enter her house, evil intent lurking in their eyes, as they attempt to molest her, and eventually try to kill her and Sejal. A night full of horror and monstrous immorality clutches hold of Maya; but then, the magical words enter her mind – ‘It’s Never Too Late’, and hereon, she starts controlling her fear, and shows immense grit and determination to come out into the light.
This book poses a flurry of questions, the doubts burning in the mind like an unexplored terrain. Rape is the fastest growing crime in the country, and incidentally, the society as a whole has still not been able to curb this heinous act. There has been laws, amendments and what not, but violence against women is still on the rise, and that in itself is a shameful feature of this ‘modern’ world where we live in.
Priyanka Baranwal shines on her debut, weaving a plot that coherently deals with the different dimensions of life and fear, and how the hurdles can be overcome with faith and love. Through numerous instances in the book, the author has highlighted the plight of several victims of such brutality, and how they now live in denial and a sense of hopelessness. Priyanka, through her protagonist Maya, gives a clear message of accepting your fear, and then getting rid of them.
The characters are very real, and you can easily relate to them. Rajat, Maya and Sejal are the pillars of support to each other, and it’s the beautiful love existing between them that helps the three in aiding to their wounds. As a reader, my heart goes out to all three of them, and especially to Sejal, for everything that they had to face. Through this fiction, Priyanka has unveiled the naked truth of crime that’s so dominant in our society now.
This book is a motivation, and a story of bravery, faith and courage, to be read by readers, both men and women, ‘cause fear, of any kind, is rooted deep within all of us. It’s never too late to take the first step against fear, and once you start fighting against your fear, you will explore new dimensions in your life.
Do pick up a copy, read, and get inspired. After all, it’s never too late to live with your head held high, sans all fear.
We all have that inherent sense of fear playing in our subconscious; fear that can paralyze us and ruin our happiness. How often have we fallen prey to the lure of avoiding the fearful path and instead settling for an easier alternative? However, that never helps in the long run. Only if one can eradicate this sense of fear from one’s mind and soul can life become bigger and more beautiful.
Maya and Rajat’s friendship blossoms while they are studying together in IIT-Kanpur. As they spend more time together, their easy camaraderie paves way to love. They take a while to realize their true feelings, but once they do, they get married amidst promises and hope of a blissful life with each other. Their daughter, Sejal, accentuates their happiness and they are now a perfect family, full of love and care for each other.
However, things take a darker turn on that fateful night when Rajat leaves Maya and Sejal to attend the wedding of his sister. In the creepy silence of the night, two men enter her house, evil intent lurking in their eyes, as they attempt to molest her, and eventually try to kill her and Sejal. A night full of horror and monstrous immorality clutches hold of Maya; but then, the magical words enter her mind – ‘It’s Never Too Late’, and hereon, she starts controlling her fear, and shows immense grit and determination to come out into the light.
This book poses a flurry of questions, the doubts burning in the mind like an unexplored terrain. Rape is the fastest growing crime in the country, and incidentally, the society as a whole has still not been able to curb this heinous act. There has been laws, amendments and what not, but violence against women is still on the rise, and that in itself is a shameful feature of this ‘modern’ world where we live in.
Priyanka Baranwal shines on her debut, weaving a plot that coherently deals with the different dimensions of life and fear, and how the hurdles can be overcome with faith and love. Through numerous instances in the book, the author has highlighted the plight of several victims of such brutality, and how they now live in denial and a sense of hopelessness. Priyanka, through her protagonist Maya, gives a clear message of accepting your fear, and then getting rid of them.
The characters are very real, and you can easily relate to them. Rajat, Maya and Sejal are the pillars of support to each other, and it’s the beautiful love existing between them that helps the three in aiding to their wounds. As a reader, my heart goes out to all three of them, and especially to Sejal, for everything that they had to face. Through this fiction, Priyanka has unveiled the naked truth of crime that’s so dominant in our society now.
This book is a motivation, and a story of bravery, faith and courage, to be read by readers, both men and women, ‘cause fear, of any kind, is rooted deep within all of us. It’s never too late to take the first step against fear, and once you start fighting against your fear, you will explore new dimensions in your life.
Do pick up a copy, read, and get inspired. After all, it’s never too late to live with your head held high, sans all fear.
February 17, 2017
http://www.b00kr3vi3ws.in/2014/02/Its...
Welcome to Maya and Rajat’s life as they meet, fall in love, celebrate new life and tackle hurdles together.
Maya and Rajat meet is, while studying in IIT-Kanpur. From being fellow IIT-ian to being friends to falling in love… Maya and Rajat take their time as they become more and more sure about what they want, they get married with promises of love, friendship and companionship. When Sejal, their daughter is born, their relationship takes on a new level altogether. But it is undeniable that they had found their own little ‘happily ever after’. That is until a fateful night, when Rajat is out of town to attend his sister’s marriage and two low-lives enter their home to turn their world upside down…
I have been waiting to get my hands on this book ever since I heard about it couple of months back. With Nirbhaya’s case still so fresh in our minds, the fact that a lady author has taken up this topic to write a fiction about had caught my eye immediately. So, as I begun to read this book, initially I felt a bit disappointed. It seemed like a love story… But then things took a turn and there was more action than I had expected. But it was only in the end that I realized that to tell this story effectively, the story just had to start where it did. Taking the journey right from the beginning of Maya and Rajat’s meeting was important because how else would we get to know them and if we didn’t really know their story before, their struggles would still seem like a story in the newspaper or TV instead of really feeling it. Thank You Priyanka, for letting us get to know Maya and Rajat the way I know them now – Strong, honest, intelligent and more importantly – a reflection of what we should be like. Thank You for setting an example through Maya, Rajat and even Sejal.
Some may say, that this is just a piece of fiction and that there is no need to get so emotional about it. And I agree, this is a piece of fiction that is so beautifully drawn that captures the essence of our reality today and as woman myself, I cannot but help feel proud of Maya for her quick thinking and her strong stance. Granted that Maya’s situation is maybe just one out of thousands that girls around the globe faces, but it is also true that most of us also need examples to be set in front of us to follow. Not everyone may get a chance to take their way through their captors or assailants, but it is important to fight back in any way you can.
This is the author’s debut Novel and Priyanka Baranwal and she has kept her style of story-telling simple. It is through her characters and her plot that she manages to ensnare her readers and captivate them. Simple language and common everyday language helps bring the story closer to home.
This is a brave attempt and I hope that it will inspire many women to be strong, take a stand and even fight back!
Welcome to Maya and Rajat’s life as they meet, fall in love, celebrate new life and tackle hurdles together.
Maya and Rajat meet is, while studying in IIT-Kanpur. From being fellow IIT-ian to being friends to falling in love… Maya and Rajat take their time as they become more and more sure about what they want, they get married with promises of love, friendship and companionship. When Sejal, their daughter is born, their relationship takes on a new level altogether. But it is undeniable that they had found their own little ‘happily ever after’. That is until a fateful night, when Rajat is out of town to attend his sister’s marriage and two low-lives enter their home to turn their world upside down…
I have been waiting to get my hands on this book ever since I heard about it couple of months back. With Nirbhaya’s case still so fresh in our minds, the fact that a lady author has taken up this topic to write a fiction about had caught my eye immediately. So, as I begun to read this book, initially I felt a bit disappointed. It seemed like a love story… But then things took a turn and there was more action than I had expected. But it was only in the end that I realized that to tell this story effectively, the story just had to start where it did. Taking the journey right from the beginning of Maya and Rajat’s meeting was important because how else would we get to know them and if we didn’t really know their story before, their struggles would still seem like a story in the newspaper or TV instead of really feeling it. Thank You Priyanka, for letting us get to know Maya and Rajat the way I know them now – Strong, honest, intelligent and more importantly – a reflection of what we should be like. Thank You for setting an example through Maya, Rajat and even Sejal.
Some may say, that this is just a piece of fiction and that there is no need to get so emotional about it. And I agree, this is a piece of fiction that is so beautifully drawn that captures the essence of our reality today and as woman myself, I cannot but help feel proud of Maya for her quick thinking and her strong stance. Granted that Maya’s situation is maybe just one out of thousands that girls around the globe faces, but it is also true that most of us also need examples to be set in front of us to follow. Not everyone may get a chance to take their way through their captors or assailants, but it is important to fight back in any way you can.
This is the author’s debut Novel and Priyanka Baranwal and she has kept her style of story-telling simple. It is through her characters and her plot that she manages to ensnare her readers and captivate them. Simple language and common everyday language helps bring the story closer to home.
This is a brave attempt and I hope that it will inspire many women to be strong, take a stand and even fight back!
January 30, 2014
To start off the cover design was very sober and syncs well with the main theme of the story . When I started reading it , it was enthralling with that same old college romance of IIT ( which we read a lot in the past half a decade ) continued till page-102 but author managed to maintain a good balance juggling between past and present.The story picks up momentum from page 103 - I won't narrate the story in brief and crack the suspense but the subject selection as the theme of the book is worth giving applaud for and I would like to congratulate the author for sticking to the plot till the end with good narrative skill especially when the story puts across a social message that - treat a woman with respect because a society with only men would be no less than a living hell and its a woman who beautifies a man's life and the society we live in.
A good one time read , recommended to readers
Good Luck !!
A good one time read , recommended to readers
Good Luck !!
August 3, 2018
According to me, the author has done a nice job in keeping up with the pace of the story.Although the plot seems to be a little filmy but then the subject chosen by the author is strong and therefore it is worth reading.The language is very easy to understand and the story has a very strong and clear message in the end.Overall a very good read.
January 4, 2016
http://maniparna5002.wordpress.com/
Priyanka Baranwal's debut work It's Never Too Late is about a woman , Maya , who shows the courage to stand against all evils on a fretful night . The first half of the book ( about 100 pages ) is dedicated to the days when both and Maya and Rajat were students of the IIT-Kanpur and though they were good friends but they were unaware of the fire which they both shared for each other . Their hearts spoke to them only when Maya , after finishing her engineering course , shifted to Bengaluru for her job leaving Rajat alone in the campus to yearn for her companionship. Maya too pines for her love Rajat , and on her birthday Rajat gives her the best surprise on visiting her . The rest of the pieces then falls perfectly and they got married .
The story starts on their tenth marriage anniversary as the reader finds them busy with the guests , In this ten years , they have made their own world along with their five-year-old daughter , Sejal. The story sways continuously between past and present as Maya ruminates on her life . She has a perfect world around her until one days she fells ill , some sort of complication arises regarding her illness and they are to postpone a marriage invitation which they have eagerly awaited to attend. Rajat's cousin Kavya Di is going to get married and they all are happened to be excited about that. But now the plan has gone awry because of Maya's frail constitution . Still Maya persuades Rajat to attend the ceremony alone who finally decides to drive to Mysore to her cousin's house leaving his family alone for day ...and NIGHT .
It happens to be a NIGHT of terror in Maya's life when two men break into her house with the most heinous intention..to rupture her physical integrity. Co-incidentally she finds her mobile phone useless with no balance left and that means she has to face the perpetrators alone with her little daughter. Will she be able to fight them back ? Will the society let her live with the same respect and peace after this eventful night ? And what about Rajat ? How would he behave as the representative of a male-chauvinist society ?
Life goes on and so the story. The account of that night teaches us the fact that women are not weak, they may be physically , but with strong determination and will , they can go against all odds . To save her child , a vulnerable mother can become as strong as a lioness.
The books definitely has a message. As the tagline says " To win the battle against your biggest enemy , Fear " . A society where they say " Don't get raped " instead of " Don't rape " , this book has raised voice for all those ill-fated women for whom life has become a stand-still without any meaning. The author definitely claims a big applause for bringing on this issue .
Considering from the viewpoint of literal appreciation the book has nothing much in store. There was ample scope for the author to make this book conspicuous in the crowd. But she missed the opportunity . The narrative style is too simple to be gripping for the first part of the book, and is quite dragging. ( The IIT romance has become a clichéd one ) . Moreover , there are too many loopholes ....in a country like India , it takes years for anyone to get justice , here in the shortest span of time the case gets resolved and the verdict is given. Rajat seems to be a super husband ! he is impeccable in his manners and emotions and there is no flaw in his character ! Apart from that particular night Maya's life looks like a modern fairy tale ..too good to believe.
Still , I would like to recommend it to all readers as to get an inspirational motivation , to fight back when it's most needed , to become triumphant over fear.
Priyanka Baranwal's debut work It's Never Too Late is about a woman , Maya , who shows the courage to stand against all evils on a fretful night . The first half of the book ( about 100 pages ) is dedicated to the days when both and Maya and Rajat were students of the IIT-Kanpur and though they were good friends but they were unaware of the fire which they both shared for each other . Their hearts spoke to them only when Maya , after finishing her engineering course , shifted to Bengaluru for her job leaving Rajat alone in the campus to yearn for her companionship. Maya too pines for her love Rajat , and on her birthday Rajat gives her the best surprise on visiting her . The rest of the pieces then falls perfectly and they got married .
The story starts on their tenth marriage anniversary as the reader finds them busy with the guests , In this ten years , they have made their own world along with their five-year-old daughter , Sejal. The story sways continuously between past and present as Maya ruminates on her life . She has a perfect world around her until one days she fells ill , some sort of complication arises regarding her illness and they are to postpone a marriage invitation which they have eagerly awaited to attend. Rajat's cousin Kavya Di is going to get married and they all are happened to be excited about that. But now the plan has gone awry because of Maya's frail constitution . Still Maya persuades Rajat to attend the ceremony alone who finally decides to drive to Mysore to her cousin's house leaving his family alone for day ...and NIGHT .
It happens to be a NIGHT of terror in Maya's life when two men break into her house with the most heinous intention..to rupture her physical integrity. Co-incidentally she finds her mobile phone useless with no balance left and that means she has to face the perpetrators alone with her little daughter. Will she be able to fight them back ? Will the society let her live with the same respect and peace after this eventful night ? And what about Rajat ? How would he behave as the representative of a male-chauvinist society ?
Life goes on and so the story. The account of that night teaches us the fact that women are not weak, they may be physically , but with strong determination and will , they can go against all odds . To save her child , a vulnerable mother can become as strong as a lioness.
The books definitely has a message. As the tagline says " To win the battle against your biggest enemy , Fear " . A society where they say " Don't get raped " instead of " Don't rape " , this book has raised voice for all those ill-fated women for whom life has become a stand-still without any meaning. The author definitely claims a big applause for bringing on this issue .
Considering from the viewpoint of literal appreciation the book has nothing much in store. There was ample scope for the author to make this book conspicuous in the crowd. But she missed the opportunity . The narrative style is too simple to be gripping for the first part of the book, and is quite dragging. ( The IIT romance has become a clichéd one ) . Moreover , there are too many loopholes ....in a country like India , it takes years for anyone to get justice , here in the shortest span of time the case gets resolved and the verdict is given. Rajat seems to be a super husband ! he is impeccable in his manners and emotions and there is no flaw in his character ! Apart from that particular night Maya's life looks like a modern fairy tale ..too good to believe.
Still , I would like to recommend it to all readers as to get an inspirational motivation , to fight back when it's most needed , to become triumphant over fear.
February 27, 2014
Well, if you shall ask me to judge it on the basis of it's literal presentation, I shall surely say that the book is not an attractive creation nor can you spend your time to read it twice. It never asks this.
But still, there is a certain attempt that you shall feel getting a success finally, an attempt that author had done. yes, she had a story and the story was not just a story. You shall have to agree with this point of my view.
There is an inspiration and a question that this story pushes into your mind.
As this was her debuting novel, I must not criticize her for the immature writing style and the simplicity that she has used in her work is of course not an issue to talk much upon.
But still, she has a story, she narrated it beautifully and yes, you shall not regret your first read of this book.
There are some points which are narrated much more emotionally than they needed to be meanwhile losing their grip over the reader's heart. But as an author, this might have been much difficult for her to express what she actually wanted to tell, so ignoring this negative part shall go okay.
I shall not ask you to put this book over other contemporary works, but still if you are fond of reading something deep but simply described, this book is surely for you!
But still, there is a certain attempt that you shall feel getting a success finally, an attempt that author had done. yes, she had a story and the story was not just a story. You shall have to agree with this point of my view.
There is an inspiration and a question that this story pushes into your mind.
As this was her debuting novel, I must not criticize her for the immature writing style and the simplicity that she has used in her work is of course not an issue to talk much upon.
But still, she has a story, she narrated it beautifully and yes, you shall not regret your first read of this book.
There are some points which are narrated much more emotionally than they needed to be meanwhile losing their grip over the reader's heart. But as an author, this might have been much difficult for her to express what she actually wanted to tell, so ignoring this negative part shall go okay.
I shall not ask you to put this book over other contemporary works, but still if you are fond of reading something deep but simply described, this book is surely for you!
May 20, 2014
What does a woman do when she’s alone and attacked inside her own house? How does she protect herself and her daughter? How does she overcome her fear? In the book, Maya has a loving husband Rajat and a pretty little daughter Sejal. She’s a happy woman, bound within the wings of her wonderful family. Snippets from her life are framed into scenes and described to the readers – from her student self at IIT to the wife and mother that she becomes later.
The author has shown maturity in choosing the most sensitive issue of women abuse in her debut novel. Read it for the plot, if you may. It will at least help you learn to curb your fears and fight for yourself.
Read the full review here: http://oneandahalfminutes.wordpress.c...
The author has shown maturity in choosing the most sensitive issue of women abuse in her debut novel. Read it for the plot, if you may. It will at least help you learn to curb your fears and fight for yourself.
Read the full review here: http://oneandahalfminutes.wordpress.c...
December 3, 2014
The women of 21st century are not supposed to take violence, physical abuse, molest, attack or rape silently. It’s time that we fight back. We need to overcome our fear someday, we need to realize our strength and we need to strongly give it back to the hooligans. Of course, because we are less than none!
Debutant author, Priyanka Baranwal’s book ‘Its Never Too Late’ is a simple story woven around a strong theme which advocates that a woman has to decide to fight her fears and destiny one day.
Read the full review: http://www.writersmelon.com/2014/03/b...
Debutant author, Priyanka Baranwal’s book ‘Its Never Too Late’ is a simple story woven around a strong theme which advocates that a woman has to decide to fight her fears and destiny one day.
Read the full review: http://www.writersmelon.com/2014/03/b...
August 1, 2017
Not a goodread
A good concept in hands of a poor writer. More than half of the book is useless flashback life story including presumably lucrative stuff like pottery , IIT, infatuation, Corporate lifestyle etc etc etc. It does include a love story too (supposedly). A great and much needed socIAL issue has been pointed out but with total injustice. Main character is blabbering science before criminals and they are listening it too. So much of bizarre storytelling is there that i had to skip whole paragraphs to finish it.
A good concept in hands of a poor writer. More than half of the book is useless flashback life story including presumably lucrative stuff like pottery , IIT, infatuation, Corporate lifestyle etc etc etc. It does include a love story too (supposedly). A great and much needed socIAL issue has been pointed out but with total injustice. Main character is blabbering science before criminals and they are listening it too. So much of bizarre storytelling is there that i had to skip whole paragraphs to finish it.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews