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Unlove Story
A gay novel in which the rural landscapes of Bengal set the stage for a story that transcends the boundaries of tradition and love.
Mallar, a shy and introspective sixteen-year-old, finds himself drawn to Srijan, his classmate’s enigmatic elder cousin, during a fateful summer in a small-town family home. At first, Mallar’s fantasies take shape in secret sketches of Srijan. But soon, their connection becomes a complex play of mutual desire and dominance, which leads to the forging of a unique pact—a promise never to fall in love with each other.
As their lives take them from the serene landscapes of Bengal to the vibrant beaches of Chennai, the mysterious alleys of Paris, and the buzzing streets of Bangalore, the two men’s unconventional companionship deepens. With each meeting comes a new revelation, a fresh twist to their agreement, and a surprising facet of their identities. Mallar, reviving his childhood passion, embarks on a journey to establish himself as an artist. Collaborating on an art project, Mallar transforms Srijan’s body into a living canvas. But what begins as a creative endeavor quickly becomes a voyage into uncharted depths, as the canvas asks questions, challenges their resolve, and unravels hidden truths, culminating in new beginnings.
Delving into the intricate layers of two men’s lives, their fears, insecurities, hopes, and the mosaic of experiences that shape them, this novel is a testament to the complexities of human connection. One of the first openly gay novels written in Bengali, and the first to be translated into English, Sudipto Pal’s Unlove Story is a groundbreaking addition to the canon of queer literature from around the world.
Mallar, a shy and introspective sixteen-year-old, finds himself drawn to Srijan, his classmate’s enigmatic elder cousin, during a fateful summer in a small-town family home. At first, Mallar’s fantasies take shape in secret sketches of Srijan. But soon, their connection becomes a complex play of mutual desire and dominance, which leads to the forging of a unique pact—a promise never to fall in love with each other.
As their lives take them from the serene landscapes of Bengal to the vibrant beaches of Chennai, the mysterious alleys of Paris, and the buzzing streets of Bangalore, the two men’s unconventional companionship deepens. With each meeting comes a new revelation, a fresh twist to their agreement, and a surprising facet of their identities. Mallar, reviving his childhood passion, embarks on a journey to establish himself as an artist. Collaborating on an art project, Mallar transforms Srijan’s body into a living canvas. But what begins as a creative endeavor quickly becomes a voyage into uncharted depths, as the canvas asks questions, challenges their resolve, and unravels hidden truths, culminating in new beginnings.
Delving into the intricate layers of two men’s lives, their fears, insecurities, hopes, and the mosaic of experiences that shape them, this novel is a testament to the complexities of human connection. One of the first openly gay novels written in Bengali, and the first to be translated into English, Sudipto Pal’s Unlove Story is a groundbreaking addition to the canon of queer literature from around the world.
164 pages, Hardcover
Published December 24, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 1, 2026
I’m thoroughly mesmerised by this beautifully soul-crushing book. You don’t understand.
I read this masterpiece on New Year’s Day – started it a little after midnight and finished it early next morning.
I. couldn’t. put. this. book. down.
And I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better start to 2026.
There were multiple occasions while reading this book where I had to physically stop reading mid-sentence because it hurt. It f-ing hurt to read further. And I was so scared of what the character was going to say or do next.
It felt like the book unearthed some of my deepest thoughts and laid them bare in a way that was too jarring and real for me to face. During the last two parts of this book my heart felt like it was being pierced.
Sudipto Pal is a GENIUS. The writing is so layered – every single anecdote or metaphor cuts so deep. It will make you pause and reflect. The use of poetry at the beginning of every part of the book is absolute perfection.
The representation of the characters’ state of mind is so real. This is one of the few books where I have felt such conflicting emotions. I could completely relate to Mallar. Srijan’s mixed signals, his conditions and his constant back and forth infuriated me… but then he went ahead and said or did things that absolutely broke my heart.
If you’ve ever wanted to read a book that felt like “illicit affairs” by taylor swift, this is it. I mean – ‘don’t call me “baby”’, ‘for you i would ruin myself a million little times’ – I’m convinced this song was written for Mallar and Srijan.
I read this masterpiece on New Year’s Day – started it a little after midnight and finished it early next morning.
I. couldn’t. put. this. book. down.
And I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better start to 2026.
There were multiple occasions while reading this book where I had to physically stop reading mid-sentence because it hurt. It f-ing hurt to read further. And I was so scared of what the character was going to say or do next.
It felt like the book unearthed some of my deepest thoughts and laid them bare in a way that was too jarring and real for me to face. During the last two parts of this book my heart felt like it was being pierced.
Sudipto Pal is a GENIUS. The writing is so layered – every single anecdote or metaphor cuts so deep. It will make you pause and reflect. The use of poetry at the beginning of every part of the book is absolute perfection.
The representation of the characters’ state of mind is so real. This is one of the few books where I have felt such conflicting emotions. I could completely relate to Mallar. Srijan’s mixed signals, his conditions and his constant back and forth infuriated me… but then he went ahead and said or did things that absolutely broke my heart.
If you’ve ever wanted to read a book that felt like “illicit affairs” by taylor swift, this is it. I mean – ‘don’t call me “baby”’, ‘for you i would ruin myself a million little times’ – I’m convinced this song was written for Mallar and Srijan.
February 18, 2025
I can't fully express in words how beautiful and amazing "Unlove Story" is. Sudipto has done a splendid job in writing this book. The translation is done really well too, I was curious to read the original Bengali version (Bhalo Na Bashar Golpo) so I got a copy of that also.
I felt such a range of emotions, what the characters were going through felt so relatable. The book somewhat gave the vibes of "Call me by your name", yet completely unique and fresh.
I highly recommend for anyone who has loved or unloved someone, regardless of gender and sexual orientation, to read this book.
I felt such a range of emotions, what the characters were going through felt so relatable. The book somewhat gave the vibes of "Call me by your name", yet completely unique and fresh.
I highly recommend for anyone who has loved or unloved someone, regardless of gender and sexual orientation, to read this book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews