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Fool Me Twice
Since school, Sana has been the popular girl with excellent grades, beloved by both teachers and parents, living an enviable life. Sana and Ashish have been dating since the eleventh grade, sharing the kind of teenage romance that makes it to the bestsellers list, sells out theatres and causes their loveless friends to gag. Nothing, not even long-distance, can tear the two apart.
Except, maybe, a handsome, overachieving, book-reading senior from Sana’s college?
Pranav is the typical ‘cool guy’ sought after by the entire college. He also happens to be Sana’s new friend, Aanchal’s, brother. But he’s nothing more than a friend! Sana already has the best boyfriend in the world!
had, before a drunk driver on New Year’s Eve obliterated her happiness.
Set in New Delhi, Fool Me Twice is an unconventional story that will stump readers expecting a good, old romance trope. We meet and fall in love with a young couple planning their futures together when life rudely hijacks the steering wheel. Exploring the ways a twenty-year-old navigates grief and life after a loss that shatters most fifty-year-olds, Fool Me Twice looks at the complexity of falling in love 'again' at an age where most are falling for the first time, and what it feels like to move on from mourning one great love to make room for another.
Except, maybe, a handsome, overachieving, book-reading senior from Sana’s college?
Pranav is the typical ‘cool guy’ sought after by the entire college. He also happens to be Sana’s new friend, Aanchal’s, brother. But he’s nothing more than a friend! Sana already has the best boyfriend in the world!
had, before a drunk driver on New Year’s Eve obliterated her happiness.
Set in New Delhi, Fool Me Twice is an unconventional story that will stump readers expecting a good, old romance trope. We meet and fall in love with a young couple planning their futures together when life rudely hijacks the steering wheel. Exploring the ways a twenty-year-old navigates grief and life after a loss that shatters most fifty-year-olds, Fool Me Twice looks at the complexity of falling in love 'again' at an age where most are falling for the first time, and what it feels like to move on from mourning one great love to make room for another.
248 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2024
86 people are currently reading
1341 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
February 23, 2024
Had to log in to a Goodreads account after 11 years, so here we go.
(Yes, this is 2000 words, but the back half of that is just notes on individual sentences.)
-----------------------------------------
Overall, I had a good time reading this. This is a pretty good debut from a writer with a very high ceiling - it came through in patches in this story and hopefully will be more evident in her next book.
I enjoyed her character writing - every character feels like a real person, every character feels lived-in (especially Aanchal. Love Aanchal). I knew Ashish was going to die when I opened the book - I read the blurb, of course, so I knew what I was getting into. I put the book down to have dinner, 75 pages in, saw the blurb again, and realised I’d entirely forgotten that Ashish was doomed because I was enjoying a cute romantic narrative. Even when I was having trouble with the prose (see end) in the opening chapters, I was still invested in the character progression - I found myself looking forward to how Sana would deal with college life. (Pranav telling her to avoid debating because it’s cultish was hilarious given I met Nona because she was LSR debsoc. Pranav is right btw.)
There were some definite teething issues with getting into this novel - the first chapter has one too many sentences that sound unnatural and the odd grammatical mistake that made me raise an eyebrow (and pulled me out of the plot a little each time - see end), but the quality of the writing (and the editing) improves dramatically after the first 30 or so pages and by the time the kids have finished school and are getting ready for college, the book starts to flow quite well.
While all the character writing and learning about the Sana-Ashish romance is great, this book peaked for me between chapters 9 and 12. Ashish’s death and the effect it has on Sana is beautifully written. The sentences feel carefully constructed and the word choices feel sharp and thought through. Nona might owe her rise to fame for her ability to articulate love and make it feel relatable, but it’s her skill at writing a character navigating life through grief and loss that will stay with me - these are the chapters I will re-read every time I casually flip through this book again. The way Sana’s grief permeates through her interactions with Pranav feels entirely appropriate.
Although there’s the odd line here and there in the second half of the book that made me raise an eyebrow, they felt like minor aberrations and the actual writing felt pretty solid for the most part. I enjoyed Sana and Pranav trying to navigate their love for each other, even as they both make stupid decisions - from Sana blowing up about the Tanya thing and then playing the “I must not love you for your own good” card to all the tanhai Pranav has when he is a little silly, but young love is supposed to be dramatic so I’m not too mad about it. I have to say though - Pranav being a supposed fuckboi going “you’re the one” and actually meaning it after one kiss? It felt a little off.
I can’t say I’m a fan of the angle - , gay/bi/pan people generally get hypersexualised in all media, and it felt like a completely undercooked plot thread tacked on to make sure every character got paired up with someone. Not to mention we saw no indication or mention of at all - an important character going through the process of understanding their sexuality and then acting on it happening off-page in the time it took the main characters to have one conversation is a bit icky.
In contrast, I really liked the closing chapter - I thought it was a competent use of a as a plot device (Hello Disorientation), and I liked that even in , Ashish still retained some individuality and wasn’t just a projection of what Sana wanted to hear.
Nona, this is a monumental effort and you should be really very proud of yourself. All the best going forward, I can’t wait to see what you do next.
---------------------------------------------------------------
In writing this, I re-read the first five chapters of the book, and put down all the sentences or plot threads that I felt were awkward and pulled me out of the story. Of course I couldn't read without also noticing a few sentences that made me smile, so I've mentioned those as well. You’ll notice the vast majority are in the first chapter (this is what I meant when I said I was having trouble with the prose early on), and then they become much fewer and far in between, and mostly peter out by the end of chapter four. There's the occasional example in the back half of the book, but those didn't interfere with the reading experience, so I haven't included them here.
(Yes, this is 2000 words, but the back half of that is just notes on individual sentences.)
-----------------------------------------
Overall, I had a good time reading this. This is a pretty good debut from a writer with a very high ceiling - it came through in patches in this story and hopefully will be more evident in her next book.
I enjoyed her character writing - every character feels like a real person, every character feels lived-in (especially Aanchal. Love Aanchal). I knew Ashish was going to die when I opened the book - I read the blurb, of course, so I knew what I was getting into. I put the book down to have dinner, 75 pages in, saw the blurb again, and realised I’d entirely forgotten that Ashish was doomed because I was enjoying a cute romantic narrative. Even when I was having trouble with the prose (see end) in the opening chapters, I was still invested in the character progression - I found myself looking forward to how Sana would deal with college life. (Pranav telling her to avoid debating because it’s cultish was hilarious given I met Nona because she was LSR debsoc. Pranav is right btw.)
There were some definite teething issues with getting into this novel - the first chapter has one too many sentences that sound unnatural and the odd grammatical mistake that made me raise an eyebrow (and pulled me out of the plot a little each time - see end), but the quality of the writing (and the editing) improves dramatically after the first 30 or so pages and by the time the kids have finished school and are getting ready for college, the book starts to flow quite well.
While all the character writing and learning about the Sana-Ashish romance is great, this book peaked for me between chapters 9 and 12. Ashish’s death and the effect it has on Sana is beautifully written. The sentences feel carefully constructed and the word choices feel sharp and thought through. Nona might owe her rise to fame for her ability to articulate love and make it feel relatable, but it’s her skill at writing a character navigating life through grief and loss that will stay with me - these are the chapters I will re-read every time I casually flip through this book again. The way Sana’s grief permeates through her interactions with Pranav feels entirely appropriate.
Although there’s the odd line here and there in the second half of the book that made me raise an eyebrow, they felt like minor aberrations and the actual writing felt pretty solid for the most part. I enjoyed Sana and Pranav trying to navigate their love for each other, even as they both make stupid decisions - from Sana blowing up about the Tanya thing and then playing the “I must not love you for your own good” card to all the tanhai Pranav has when he is a little silly, but young love is supposed to be dramatic so I’m not too mad about it. I have to say though - Pranav being a supposed fuckboi going “you’re the one” and actually meaning it after one kiss? It felt a little off.
I can’t say I’m a fan of the angle - , gay/bi/pan people generally get hypersexualised in all media, and it felt like a completely undercooked plot thread tacked on to make sure every character got paired up with someone. Not to mention we saw no indication or mention of at all - an important character going through the process of understanding their sexuality and then acting on it happening off-page in the time it took the main characters to have one conversation is a bit icky.
In contrast, I really liked the closing chapter - I thought it was a competent use of a as a plot device (Hello Disorientation), and I liked that even in , Ashish still retained some individuality and wasn’t just a projection of what Sana wanted to hear.
Nona, this is a monumental effort and you should be really very proud of yourself. All the best going forward, I can’t wait to see what you do next.
---------------------------------------------------------------
In writing this, I re-read the first five chapters of the book, and put down all the sentences or plot threads that I felt were awkward and pulled me out of the story. Of course I couldn't read without also noticing a few sentences that made me smile, so I've mentioned those as well. You’ll notice the vast majority are in the first chapter (this is what I meant when I said I was having trouble with the prose early on), and then they become much fewer and far in between, and mostly peter out by the end of chapter four. There's the occasional example in the back half of the book, but those didn't interfere with the reading experience, so I haven't included them here.
March 30, 2024
The only character I liked in this book was Sana’s mother. That’s it.
Then again, grief isn’t really something you can compensate in 280 pages. The story was rushed, it could have been more than that. We could have seen Sana’s struggles in it.
Pranav? A BIG NO. The guy wanted to kiss her the day he saw her despite knowing she has a boyfriend :)
And miss Sana never really asked him to stop flirting.
The emotions of the characters were not felt because they were never really described in depth. Some parts were cheesy for me.
All in all. 2 is the best I can give :)
Then again, grief isn’t really something you can compensate in 280 pages. The story was rushed, it could have been more than that. We could have seen Sana’s struggles in it.
Pranav? A BIG NO. The guy wanted to kiss her the day he saw her despite knowing she has a boyfriend :)
And miss Sana never really asked him to stop flirting.
The emotions of the characters were not felt because they were never really described in depth. Some parts were cheesy for me.
All in all. 2 is the best I can give :)
January 21, 2025
I don't know what makes it a 3.71 stars, the effective PR or the poor quality readers.
August 10, 2024
If Meg Cabot had a hyper active ready to please Indian counterpart the author sounds like that through the course of the entire book. Playing with cliches & then just giving it a twist which can be spotted from a long mile away, it was quite a bore to be honest.
I thought of giving it a read post coming across her page on explore & it is as substandard as most things recommended on social media is.
I thought of giving it a read post coming across her page on explore & it is as substandard as most things recommended on social media is.
February 25, 2024
Fool me Twice- Nona Uppal: It's been 120 seconds since l've put this book down after finishing it and I am writing here so that I do not miss out on any of the thoughts l've had while and after reading this.
Just yesterday night, I messaged a friend stating that they are going to hear a lot about this book from me and that they should be prepared for it. While texting them the same I realised that i haven't picked up a romance book in so long and it dawned on me that this is my first romance book by an Indian author.
First things first, I have been a huge admirer of Nona and the way she pens down her emotions.
There are times when it feels like she's expressed exactly what I have felt or am feeling. Be it her Instagram stories, articles or write ups on Instagram, I make it a point to read everything she writes because I don't know, she just feels like someone who gets it, you know. *like Pranav gets Sana*
Coming to the book, I finished it in three sittings and all the three times, I never once wanted to put it down.
Reading the work of someone in the same age group with so many relatable feelings and references infused joy and giddiness in me. I do not want to give the plot away
Just know that if you're a fan of romantic clichés, Bollywood romances, (the wishing on a shooting star kind, the Jab we Met kind), literature and just the feeling of falling in love with someone and living with it, want to read something romantic without wanting to cringe, pick this up and you will love reading this. I have enjoyed the process of reading this book more than anything else. There were so many- 'ah, this has happened with me!' 'I wish I could experience this!' and
'aww' moments in this book for me and I'm sure it will be the same for you. I have been an ardent supporter of Nona before she wrote this and she hasn't disappointed her fans, she delivered! : P
I hope you write more. It feels like a personal win, you know, seeing you write captions and posts, and getting to hold this book as a copy.
Just yesterday night, I messaged a friend stating that they are going to hear a lot about this book from me and that they should be prepared for it. While texting them the same I realised that i haven't picked up a romance book in so long and it dawned on me that this is my first romance book by an Indian author.
First things first, I have been a huge admirer of Nona and the way she pens down her emotions.
There are times when it feels like she's expressed exactly what I have felt or am feeling. Be it her Instagram stories, articles or write ups on Instagram, I make it a point to read everything she writes because I don't know, she just feels like someone who gets it, you know. *like Pranav gets Sana*
Coming to the book, I finished it in three sittings and all the three times, I never once wanted to put it down.
Reading the work of someone in the same age group with so many relatable feelings and references infused joy and giddiness in me. I do not want to give the plot away
Just know that if you're a fan of romantic clichés, Bollywood romances, (the wishing on a shooting star kind, the Jab we Met kind), literature and just the feeling of falling in love with someone and living with it, want to read something romantic without wanting to cringe, pick this up and you will love reading this. I have enjoyed the process of reading this book more than anything else. There were so many- 'ah, this has happened with me!' 'I wish I could experience this!' and
'aww' moments in this book for me and I'm sure it will be the same for you. I have been an ardent supporter of Nona before she wrote this and she hasn't disappointed her fans, she delivered! : P
I hope you write more. It feels like a personal win, you know, seeing you write captions and posts, and getting to hold this book as a copy.
May 3, 2024
hehe
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2024
Am I the only one who didn’t cry while reading this? 😂😂 Lol… I had a lot of expectations for this but it was an ordinary read.
June 19, 2024
After seeing so much of the author on Instagram, I picked it up. It was a quick read but very juvenile. But the story is fun and just kept me engaged. I kept thinking about the story for a few days. It felt like a YA fiction and was written like how a 12 year old would. It felt very superficial without any character development. I dislike it when explicit scenes are added to the novel just for the sake of it and not because it would make the scene memorable or any better. I wish there was a proper conflict to make the story stronger. Nevertheless a good attempt for a debut novel and made me stay in the book for long after I finished it.
March 26, 2024
i’m choosing to not be too critical considering this is a debut and a good one at that.
the writing was 3/5 for me but she more than made up for it with her characters and the banter between them.
definitely giving it brownie points for making me sob into my palm for nearly 15 pages because wow, have not done that in a while.
i wish she translated the hindi phrases in between because that might not be accessible to everyone but again, it’s a debut and we can prolly look the other way this one time!
all in all, fun time and this definitely makes me want to pick up more desi romcoms 🫶🏼
the writing was 3/5 for me but she more than made up for it with her characters and the banter between them.
definitely giving it brownie points for making me sob into my palm for nearly 15 pages because wow, have not done that in a while.
i wish she translated the hindi phrases in between because that might not be accessible to everyone but again, it’s a debut and we can prolly look the other way this one time!
all in all, fun time and this definitely makes me want to pick up more desi romcoms 🫶🏼
April 15, 2025
⭐️1/2
I really wanted to like Fool Me Twice, especially since it’s the author’s debut. I came across her reels and posts often on my feed—she’s articulate, thoughtful, and seemed to have a great voice. So when I found out she had a book, I was genuinely excited to read it.
Unfortunately, the book didn’t live up to the expectations. The blurb on the back gives away nearly the entire plot, and by the time I was halfway through, I realised there wasn’t much left to discover. It felt like one of those movie trailers that reveals everything—leaving no room for intrigue.
The writing style and pacing reminded me more of a Wattpad story than a polished novel. The story itself had potential: themes of first love, long-distance, loss, and second chances. But they were all packed in so quickly and superficially that there was no time to connect with the characters or their emotions. Everything felt rushed and underdeveloped.
There are multiple main characters—Sana, Ashish, and Pranav—but they lack depth. Their relationships felt forced and underexplored, with little insight into what drew them to each other. Even the attempt to include LGBTQ+ representation felt abrupt, only introduced at the very end, which made it seem more like a checkbox than a meaningful inclusion.
The only part that resonated with me was a few pages describing grief and the process of losing someone close. Those moments had some emotional weight, but sadly, they were few and far between.
All in all, the book just didn’t work for me. I skimmed through most of it, hoping to find something memorable—but it never quite delivered.
I really wanted to like Fool Me Twice, especially since it’s the author’s debut. I came across her reels and posts often on my feed—she’s articulate, thoughtful, and seemed to have a great voice. So when I found out she had a book, I was genuinely excited to read it.
Unfortunately, the book didn’t live up to the expectations. The blurb on the back gives away nearly the entire plot, and by the time I was halfway through, I realised there wasn’t much left to discover. It felt like one of those movie trailers that reveals everything—leaving no room for intrigue.
The writing style and pacing reminded me more of a Wattpad story than a polished novel. The story itself had potential: themes of first love, long-distance, loss, and second chances. But they were all packed in so quickly and superficially that there was no time to connect with the characters or their emotions. Everything felt rushed and underdeveloped.
There are multiple main characters—Sana, Ashish, and Pranav—but they lack depth. Their relationships felt forced and underexplored, with little insight into what drew them to each other. Even the attempt to include LGBTQ+ representation felt abrupt, only introduced at the very end, which made it seem more like a checkbox than a meaningful inclusion.
The only part that resonated with me was a few pages describing grief and the process of losing someone close. Those moments had some emotional weight, but sadly, they were few and far between.
All in all, the book just didn’t work for me. I skimmed through most of it, hoping to find something memorable—but it never quite delivered.
February 28, 2024
I absolutely fell in love with this book. Could not stop reading - finished it in one go. Sana is of course my fav character. The setting made me go back to my college days. I could relate with Sana and feel every emotion. This took me on a whole journey - from giggling to crying to smiling. I can’t believe this is a debut author. Excited to read the next one by her
December 26, 2025
I’m sorry but this book was FUCKING SAD 😭💙💛
Like… why would you do this to me??? I just ate this up...
We start with Sana, her friendship with Bani, and then her falling in love with her childhood best friend Ashish 🥹💙💛
Everything is PERFECT. Soft. Warm. Safe.
Then he goes to the US, long distance happens, college starts — still okay, still hopeful 💛
She makes new friends Pranav and Aanchal (who turn out to be siblings 👀💙). Life feels like it’s moving forward.
AND THEN Ashish comes back for a surprise visit 😭💛💙
They’re happy. In love. Whole again.
And then—
New Year party.
On the way back.
BOOM.
HE’S DEAD.
WHY DID THE AUTHOR DO THIS????
WHYYYYYYYYYY 😭😭💙💛
I actually had to pause and stare at the wall.
The grief arc was brutal. Sana breaking, surviving, dragging herself back to college — it HURT but felt real 💔💙
And slowly… she finds comfort in Pranav. That transition was surprisingly tender.
Also — their kiss???
Lowkey HOT, not gonna lie 😮💨💛💙
And then comes the twist I did NOT see coming:
Bani being a lesbian 💙💛
And her ending up with Aanchal???
THEY WERE SO FUCKING ADORABLE 😭💛💙
By the end:
💙 grief
💛 healing
💙 love again
💛 hope
⭐ 4-star read for me
Super fast-paced, emotionally devastating, and a full-on rollercoaster 🎢💔
This book broke me, patched me up, and then hugged me tight 💙💛
Still thinking about Ashish though.
Still mad at the author.
Still worth it 😭💙💛
Like… why would you do this to me??? I just ate this up...
We start with Sana, her friendship with Bani, and then her falling in love with her childhood best friend Ashish 🥹💙💛
Everything is PERFECT. Soft. Warm. Safe.
Then he goes to the US, long distance happens, college starts — still okay, still hopeful 💛
She makes new friends Pranav and Aanchal (who turn out to be siblings 👀💙). Life feels like it’s moving forward.
AND THEN Ashish comes back for a surprise visit 😭💛💙
They’re happy. In love. Whole again.
And then—
New Year party.
On the way back.
BOOM.
HE’S DEAD.
WHY DID THE AUTHOR DO THIS????
WHYYYYYYYYYY 😭😭💙💛
I actually had to pause and stare at the wall.
The grief arc was brutal. Sana breaking, surviving, dragging herself back to college — it HURT but felt real 💔💙
And slowly… she finds comfort in Pranav. That transition was surprisingly tender.
Also — their kiss???
Lowkey HOT, not gonna lie 😮💨💛💙
And then comes the twist I did NOT see coming:
Bani being a lesbian 💙💛
And her ending up with Aanchal???
THEY WERE SO FUCKING ADORABLE 😭💛💙
By the end:
💙 grief
💛 healing
💙 love again
💛 hope
⭐ 4-star read for me
Super fast-paced, emotionally devastating, and a full-on rollercoaster 🎢💔
This book broke me, patched me up, and then hugged me tight 💙💛
Still thinking about Ashish though.
Still mad at the author.
Still worth it 😭💙💛
July 6, 2024
The characters are so well-written, you can see yourself, your best friends and your cute little crushes in them. The descriptions of grief, loss and eventually the new beginning(s) are beautifully written, which didn’t come as a surprise to me since I have been reading her work on Instagram for quite a few months.
I do believe we could have gone in-depth with a couple of things in the book, some parts felt a little rushed, but it was fitting for a book of 290 pages. All in all, we have a good debut novel.
I do believe we could have gone in-depth with a couple of things in the book, some parts felt a little rushed, but it was fitting for a book of 290 pages. All in all, we have a good debut novel.
June 19, 2024
i have loved reading nona's work on instagram in the past and was super stoked when she announced her debut novel. safe to say, my expectations were high, and while there were definitely parts of this book that i enjoyed, i was by and large left feeling underwhelmed.
the first part of this book was well thought out and i flew through the first 100 or so pages but it fell off massively in the second part. the book was marketed as a sort of second-chance romance but the second romance was literally so icky and the chemistry between the protagonist and her love interests was half-baked at best. the story, especially the second part, felt rushed, which sucks because it had potential and i was really rooting for this book to be a favourite.
there was so much to explore in terms of sana's grief and her experience with love after loss - there are plenty of intricacies when dealing with something so delicate - and i just feel like enough justice was not done.
the book was well-written and the author has the potential to be a great storyteller, but there were defintely inconsistencies, with parts feeling wordy and unnatural. but this is a debut novel, and a promising one at that, so i'll let it slide.
the side characters (especially the whole Anchal-Bani plotline) fell a little flat as well. lgbtq+ representation is great but this felt superficial and half-hearted.
i loved the acknowledgments. weird thing to appreciate, but nona has always had a very special way of expressing herself that makes you feel the love that she has for the people around her. a solid five stars for the acknowledgments.
i respect anyone who puts themselves out there. i adore nona and the love and effort that's gone into this project is apparent on every page. i am so excited to see what she does from here on out and will continue to silently cheer her on.
if you can't tell, i am deep in the trenches of my parasocial relationship with this instagram author. i plaster my weirdness all over goodreads and that's just how it is.
the first part of this book was well thought out and i flew through the first 100 or so pages but it fell off massively in the second part. the book was marketed as a sort of second-chance romance but the second romance was literally so icky and the chemistry between the protagonist and her love interests was half-baked at best. the story, especially the second part, felt rushed, which sucks because it had potential and i was really rooting for this book to be a favourite.
there was so much to explore in terms of sana's grief and her experience with love after loss - there are plenty of intricacies when dealing with something so delicate - and i just feel like enough justice was not done.
the book was well-written and the author has the potential to be a great storyteller, but there were defintely inconsistencies, with parts feeling wordy and unnatural. but this is a debut novel, and a promising one at that, so i'll let it slide.
the side characters (especially the whole Anchal-Bani plotline) fell a little flat as well. lgbtq+ representation is great but this felt superficial and half-hearted.
i loved the acknowledgments. weird thing to appreciate, but nona has always had a very special way of expressing herself that makes you feel the love that she has for the people around her. a solid five stars for the acknowledgments.
i respect anyone who puts themselves out there. i adore nona and the love and effort that's gone into this project is apparent on every page. i am so excited to see what she does from here on out and will continue to silently cheer her on.
if you can't tell, i am deep in the trenches of my parasocial relationship with this instagram author. i plaster my weirdness all over goodreads and that's just how it is.
April 5, 2025
Absolute Waste of time. Zero stars.
Picked up this book to read something light, didn't expect it to be this bad!
Authors should write books for the sake of writing, not just for making money. This book felt like scrolling through Instagram, people "Content-Creating" for the hell of it. ChatGpt would write a much better book IMO.
Picked up this book to read something light, didn't expect it to be this bad!
Authors should write books for the sake of writing, not just for making money. This book felt like scrolling through Instagram, people "Content-Creating" for the hell of it. ChatGpt would write a much better book IMO.
October 8, 2024
I picked up the book intrigued by the plot of grief and it did a good job for a debut novel, to build with the lines that make into a semi-properly constructed, completed image.
I liked all the 90s Indian kid references and the banter to certain extent. But the read felt rushed and less explored as when it comes to reading about grief and relationships affected by it, depth and nuances feel like a vital part of the plot.
Extra star is for the mom and best friends who made it a cozy experience at some places in the book.
I liked all the 90s Indian kid references and the banter to certain extent. But the read felt rushed and less explored as when it comes to reading about grief and relationships affected by it, depth and nuances feel like a vital part of the plot.
Extra star is for the mom and best friends who made it a cozy experience at some places in the book.
February 29, 2024
Ratings: 2.5/5. ( I had to three-star it here )
Favourite character - Bani
Favourite Chapters- 9,10,11,12
I had a lot of expectations from this book, but it wasn't up to it. The book cover was what intrigued me the most and I was impulsive enough to pre-order the book right after I got to know about it through a reel. The second thing that attracted me to this was its roots. As highlighted by the Author, it was based in Delhi, Which raised a lot of expectations in my tiny little mind. (Again) But after reading it I realised that it was just another Hollywood book with Indian characters in it. I couldn't find the desi-ness I picked this for. Apart from being based in Delhi, Indian Characters, DU...I couldn't find elements that would make me relate to it. I would have loved some healthy bickering, homely characters that remind you of your childhood or places that hold memories for people ( I am talking about people who live outside Delhi ). I know that it's based in Delhi so Delhi people would know it. But others need to relate too. This book could have contained places or things that would connect every Indian. But it lacked the relatability I signed up for, Apart from some really good movie references ( Jab We Met, Jaane tu ya Jaane na. ) I loved these references as these movies played a huge part in making me a hopeless romantic.
Chapters 9,10,11,12 were tense and made me Bawl my eyes out. Even though I have never lost a loved one in my life yet. I could understand and relate to Sana. But it only lasted till these chapters before disappearing.
The chemistry between the characters was okay-ish. I didn't find myself rooting for any of the male characters. While Ashish remained the school guy Sana fell in love with ( kudos to Bani for being the matchmaker ), Pranav wasn't good enough. Or you can say, I didn't find their chemistry passionate or swoon-worthy. When did Sana even start liking Pranav?? The part where Sana should have started falling in love with Pranav wasn't clear enough. I get it, they had so many moments from the open-air movies and all. But from these moments we pick up that Pranav is in love with her and not Sana. And the camping scene WAS romantic but it wasn't gradual. It was so sudden and meaningless that it seemed more like lust than love. Also, Pranav had OCD and there were moments when he'd get worried about Sana. But again, it felt very normal and not an OCD-level obsession. It would have felt the same if it was some other person and not someone who had OCD. Personally, if my friend didn't pick up my calls or reply to my text messages. I would think like that too, so there wasn't anything special about Pranav's case.
Coming to errors ( it might be possible that I missed these things somewhere )
1) It wasn't made clear that Pranav and Aanchal were cousins rather than siblings.
2) The Cottage was their parents...so why did they have to do the formalities regarding checking in and other stuff? As it was there, they had the power to do whatever they could, Right? But the power one gets by owning a hotel/Cottage wasn't there. They seemed like just another guest and not the Successors of the owner. It doesn't matter, but things like these put me off.
Also, it would have been so much better. If there were sweet mother-daughter moments. Sana's mother was so so good and yet all we got was Sana's complaints against her. Their relationship could have been deeper or at least Sana could have made efforts to understand her mother. It didn't feel like an Indian household, the regular groundings, threats and rules are what Americans do to their kids too. Where was the Indian touch in it? Indian mothers are so much more, they are dramatic, sarcastic and manipulating at some point. Although Sana's mother was great just as she was, stuff like these would have made it even more fun and relatable.
Anyway, this book wasn't for me. But it's not like others wouldn't enjoy it. It IS a pretty good read being a debut novel and The Author did a good job creating these emotions and sweet moments like the roller coaster ride. But for me, I'd prefer a swoon-worthy read that makes my heart race. So according to me, it was an average read, but this might differ for others as taste is subjective.
Anyways, congratulations to the Author Nona Uppal for her debut novel.
Favourite character - Bani
Favourite Chapters- 9,10,11,12
I had a lot of expectations from this book, but it wasn't up to it. The book cover was what intrigued me the most and I was impulsive enough to pre-order the book right after I got to know about it through a reel. The second thing that attracted me to this was its roots. As highlighted by the Author, it was based in Delhi, Which raised a lot of expectations in my tiny little mind. (Again) But after reading it I realised that it was just another Hollywood book with Indian characters in it. I couldn't find the desi-ness I picked this for. Apart from being based in Delhi, Indian Characters, DU...I couldn't find elements that would make me relate to it. I would have loved some healthy bickering, homely characters that remind you of your childhood or places that hold memories for people ( I am talking about people who live outside Delhi ). I know that it's based in Delhi so Delhi people would know it. But others need to relate too. This book could have contained places or things that would connect every Indian. But it lacked the relatability I signed up for, Apart from some really good movie references ( Jab We Met, Jaane tu ya Jaane na. ) I loved these references as these movies played a huge part in making me a hopeless romantic.
Chapters 9,10,11,12 were tense and made me Bawl my eyes out. Even though I have never lost a loved one in my life yet. I could understand and relate to Sana. But it only lasted till these chapters before disappearing.
The chemistry between the characters was okay-ish. I didn't find myself rooting for any of the male characters. While Ashish remained the school guy Sana fell in love with ( kudos to Bani for being the matchmaker ), Pranav wasn't good enough. Or you can say, I didn't find their chemistry passionate or swoon-worthy. When did Sana even start liking Pranav?? The part where Sana should have started falling in love with Pranav wasn't clear enough. I get it, they had so many moments from the open-air movies and all. But from these moments we pick up that Pranav is in love with her and not Sana. And the camping scene WAS romantic but it wasn't gradual. It was so sudden and meaningless that it seemed more like lust than love. Also, Pranav had OCD and there were moments when he'd get worried about Sana. But again, it felt very normal and not an OCD-level obsession. It would have felt the same if it was some other person and not someone who had OCD. Personally, if my friend didn't pick up my calls or reply to my text messages. I would think like that too, so there wasn't anything special about Pranav's case.
Coming to errors ( it might be possible that I missed these things somewhere )
1) It wasn't made clear that Pranav and Aanchal were cousins rather than siblings.
2) The Cottage was their parents...so why did they have to do the formalities regarding checking in and other stuff? As it was there, they had the power to do whatever they could, Right? But the power one gets by owning a hotel/Cottage wasn't there. They seemed like just another guest and not the Successors of the owner. It doesn't matter, but things like these put me off.
Also, it would have been so much better. If there were sweet mother-daughter moments. Sana's mother was so so good and yet all we got was Sana's complaints against her. Their relationship could have been deeper or at least Sana could have made efforts to understand her mother. It didn't feel like an Indian household, the regular groundings, threats and rules are what Americans do to their kids too. Where was the Indian touch in it? Indian mothers are so much more, they are dramatic, sarcastic and manipulating at some point. Although Sana's mother was great just as she was, stuff like these would have made it even more fun and relatable.
Anyway, this book wasn't for me. But it's not like others wouldn't enjoy it. It IS a pretty good read being a debut novel and The Author did a good job creating these emotions and sweet moments like the roller coaster ride. But for me, I'd prefer a swoon-worthy read that makes my heart race. So according to me, it was an average read, but this might differ for others as taste is subjective.
Anyways, congratulations to the Author Nona Uppal for her debut novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2025
Refreshing dive into an indian romance, the cultural familiarity made it fun! Not the best i’ve read but it had its moments of real tension and heart.
June 15, 2024
(3.5) considering this was my first ever desi romance and also the first indian author i’m reading after i have no idea… i loved it. like a lot.
the book read like a movie, the emotions it took me through, from laughing out loud to bawling my eyes to awing at the heart warming moments, to missing school days, this book did it all
the writing was my biggest ick, it started out meh but developed so much. also the hinglish dialogues were my favourite parts(watch me end every sentence with a yaar or arrey or haan or na… until i get over this book!)
also, nona uppal we need an alternative ending(!!), one where ashish and sana are together in an alternate universe, because i loved them sm :’))
bani and aanchal have my puura dil(see the influence already?)
and the exploration of grief was done so so well, loved her relationship with her mum
you see i did enjoy it, more than i expected to :)
the book read like a movie, the emotions it took me through, from laughing out loud to bawling my eyes to awing at the heart warming moments, to missing school days, this book did it all
the writing was my biggest ick, it started out meh but developed so much. also the hinglish dialogues were my favourite parts(watch me end every sentence with a yaar or arrey or haan or na… until i get over this book!)
also, nona uppal we need an alternative ending(!!), one where ashish and sana are together in an alternate universe, because i loved them sm :’))
bani and aanchal have my puura dil(see the influence already?)
and the exploration of grief was done so so well, loved her relationship with her mum
you see i did enjoy it, more than i expected to :)
June 22, 2024
The first half of the book was enthralling, with gripping storylines and the banter that kept me hooked. However, as Ashish's plotline concluded and Pranav entered the scene, the story became somewhat predictable. I felt that ending Ashish's track wasn't entirely necessary; perhaps the author could have explored other possibilities for his character. Despite this, the character development throughout was exceptional, particularly with Pranav's and Bani's introductions. The characters were well-crafted and brought to life brilliantly. Overall, it was a good, short read, and a commendable debut novel from the author. Kudos to her for creating such a compelling story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2025
I had high expectations for this one since it’s Nona Uppal’s debut. I’ve been following her on Instagram for a while and genuinely enjoy her movie reviews and book recommendations.
Unfortunately, this book fell short. The plot felt mundane and overly predictable, lacking the spark I was hoping for. I do hope her second book delivers more.
Unfortunately, this book fell short. The plot felt mundane and overly predictable, lacking the spark I was hoping for. I do hope her second book delivers more.
April 16, 2025
not for me. 1.5 ✨️
June 3, 2025
really juvenile.
(2.5)
(2.5)
May 16, 2025
4 stars🌟 🤩
give me 20 more of these right now please.
this book is practically a love letter to all the Indian teen girlies.
as an Indian teen girl who is a romantic at heart and going to be going to college in a few months, this book felt like a warm hug.
you don't even know how long I ve been waiting to read something like this aka a Desi Indian romance with high school vibes and jab we met references.
this book has every classic swoon worthy trope under the sun and somehow does not feel like too much.
its just perfect
I see so much of myself in Sana.
literally cried reading this book.
Once due to the ....well Ashish dying.
second happy tears cus I finally found my comfort read.
literally everything about this book was perfect.
it felt like it was written for me.
ughhh I already miss reading it for the first time, even though I onlg started it yesterday night and now it's afternoon.
absolutley loved bani and aanchal.
however this boom cld ve easily been another 100 150 pages longer.
The grief part and the ending with Pranav felt quite rushed.
The ending with Ashish.. wtf.. if has me conflicted, but that's life isn't it.
The book deals with very conflicted emotions that will keep u thinking.
but all in all m just happy to have found this masterpiece.
it has gotten me out of my slump.
also on a last note,
Ashish for Sana. Pranav for me😋
let's just not ask me on how I feel about Pranav.
manifesting a Pranav in my life when I join college in a few months hehe.
oh and also this book had me actually kicking my feet.
Basically all of them were when Pranav opens his mouth.
that man ughhh🫠
give me 20 more of these right now please.
this book is practically a love letter to all the Indian teen girlies.
as an Indian teen girl who is a romantic at heart and going to be going to college in a few months, this book felt like a warm hug.
you don't even know how long I ve been waiting to read something like this aka a Desi Indian romance with high school vibes and jab we met references.
this book has every classic swoon worthy trope under the sun and somehow does not feel like too much.
its just perfect
I see so much of myself in Sana.
literally cried reading this book.
Once due to the ....well Ashish dying.
second happy tears cus I finally found my comfort read.
literally everything about this book was perfect.
it felt like it was written for me.
ughhh I already miss reading it for the first time, even though I onlg started it yesterday night and now it's afternoon.
absolutley loved bani and aanchal.
however this boom cld ve easily been another 100 150 pages longer.
The grief part and the ending with Pranav felt quite rushed.
The ending with Ashish.. wtf.. if has me conflicted, but that's life isn't it.
The book deals with very conflicted emotions that will keep u thinking.
but all in all m just happy to have found this masterpiece.
it has gotten me out of my slump.
also on a last note,
Ashish for Sana. Pranav for me😋
let's just not ask me on how I feel about Pranav.
manifesting a Pranav in my life when I join college in a few months hehe.
oh and also this book had me actually kicking my feet.
Basically all of them were when Pranav opens his mouth.
that man ughhh🫠
August 7, 2025
“That's because love is predictable, Pranav. One of the two people will always be madly in love and know it, the other will be madly in love and not know it.
After that point, it's just a race to find out how they get together before it’s too late”
“I know people hate the romance genre in general,
for its predictability, but that's precisely why I love it. Isn't there enough uncertainty in life to seek it in cinema too? For me, there's something magical about that sequence, the promise of a happily ever after, that will never not soothe the deepest of my wounds.
What is there to fear when a happy ending is right
around the corner?”
Ahh…. Did I finish the book or did the book finish me? 🥹
So first of all, for a debut novel the author has done an incredible job writing this book with such amazing characters! I literally cried ugly reading this amazing book… I loved how the author made sure the characters felt so real and their journeys brought me to tears!
5⭐️
After that point, it's just a race to find out how they get together before it’s too late”
“I know people hate the romance genre in general,
for its predictability, but that's precisely why I love it. Isn't there enough uncertainty in life to seek it in cinema too? For me, there's something magical about that sequence, the promise of a happily ever after, that will never not soothe the deepest of my wounds.
What is there to fear when a happy ending is right
around the corner?”
Ahh…. Did I finish the book or did the book finish me? 🥹
So first of all, for a debut novel the author has done an incredible job writing this book with such amazing characters! I literally cried ugly reading this amazing book… I loved how the author made sure the characters felt so real and their journeys brought me to tears!
5⭐️
October 4, 2024
Sana, who has been the popular girl living her best life with her best boyfriend, Ashish, having the teenage romance where not even the long distance can tear them apart, until a famous, handsome senior named pranav from her college enters the picture, who also happens to be sana's new best friend's brother.
But does pranav happen to be the real reason for sana's and Ashish's breaking apart??
Written by an Indian author, depicting desi teenage romance and i especially adored the writing style on how the author described love, loss and grief (except for the hinglish verses).
But does pranav happen to be the real reason for sana's and Ashish's breaking apart??
Written by an Indian author, depicting desi teenage romance and i especially adored the writing style on how the author described love, loss and grief (except for the hinglish verses).
September 8, 2024
3.5 Stars -
good things happened to Sana (after bad things too) but they should’ve happened to me instead. 😏
this is exactly why i don’t read romance books. now i’m going to die of jealousy for a fictional character. 😖
good things happened to Sana (after bad things too) but they should’ve happened to me instead. 😏
this is exactly why i don’t read romance books. now i’m going to die of jealousy for a fictional character. 😖
March 14, 2025
I feel so bad for ashish even though he is 💀 but yess how can you love someone when there's no place in your heart anymore.... Sana you could have waited for at least a year 😞
And yess bani and anchal's endgame made me cringe so hard idk why? 🥱
That's it Byiee
And yess bani and anchal's endgame made me cringe so hard idk why? 🥱
That's it Byiee
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2024
Well written and tries to do something new in the Indian fiction scene; the author, while annoying on social media, is incredible in person. But honestly, this was just not for me.
July 18, 2024
3.5
so cuteee, i loved the characters, a bit rushed through things i think
so cuteee, i loved the characters, a bit rushed through things i think
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