Amma Diarylo Konni Pageelu

by Ravi Mantri

నాకో సంగతి చెప్పు... అసలు ఎవరైనా నీకు ఇంతకు ముందు ఉత్తరం రాశారా? ప్రేమలేఖలో, మామూలు లేఖలో. పోనీ నువ్వెప్పుడైనా రాశావా? మామూలుగా మనం రోజూ మాట్లాడుకునే మాటల్నే పొందిగ్గా పేర్చి కాయితం మీద పెడితే ఉత్తరం అయిపోతుందనుకునే అల్పసంతోషిని నేను. ఇవాళెందుకో ఇప్పటికిప్పుడే నీకో ప్రేమకథ చెప్పాలనిపించి, నీకు ఉత్తరాలు చదివే అలవాటుందో లేదో తెలీకుండానే రాసేస్తున్నాను.
బహుశా నేను అమ్మకథని చెప్పాలనుకోవడం దగ్గర, అమ్మకి కూడా ప్రేమకథ ఉంటుందనుకోవడం దగ్గర ఈ ప్రయాణం మొదలై ఉండొచ్చు. వెన్నెల రాత్రుల్లో అలల్ని లెక్కపెడుతూ, కలల్ని దాచుకుంటూ నేను ఇష్టంగా రాసిన ప్రేమలేఖే నా ఈ అమ్మడైరీలో కొన్నిపేజీలు.
ఇది అమ్మ ప్రేమకథ.

Genres: Love, Fiction, Emotional, Romance, Novels, Emotion, Love Story

194 pages, Paperback

Published June 8, 2023

Reviews

[Haripriya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. So refreshing. It felt so nostalgic reading a telugu book after a long time. And phrases like 'methaga muddadi' have my heart, I'm gonna use them in my daily communication one day.
Every chapter , every location description felt as if it has just rained and the view feels so fresh, smells good, idk so poetic to a point , the narration over powers the emotion(in a positive way).
The female protagonist is ultimate. The character feels so us and so herself at sametime.
My first soft romance lovestory.
Old school romance for win🥁.

[Nivas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oka manchi navala. Epudu telugu navalalu ante old books eh chadhivevadni. Recent ga publish aina pusthakam intha popular avvadam chusthunte kothaga undi. I liked the book very much. It deserves the appreciation it's receiving. Chala Mandi books chadavani vallu kuda ee book ni koni chaduvuthunnaru. It's a very good thing. Maybe it's a start to new age telugu novel writing. I hope more books will come in the near future.

[Vinaya Majji · Rating 1 out of 5]

Picked up this book only and only because of the huge hype it got on social media. I wanted to see what made everyone talk about it so much. So I read it quite quickly just to understand the craze. Honestly, I didn't get why it was so overhyped. It felt quite okayish and routine. It's a love story but for some reason, it just didn't click with me.

Maybe it's one of those books that works for some readers but personally, I wouldn't call it a "go to book" or something I'd recommend reading.

[Hima Halcyon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started reading after watching the millions of posts on Instagram about this book. I felt it was good but not as good as it said it is on social media.

[Pravallika Mandapalli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tbh, social media lo hype ichinantha em ledu.. basic story with knchm lag & cringe undey.. konni areas lo emotional ga baaga try chese..

Story mundu and venuka e writer dey sagam untadi extra ga ..

Na opinion lo ayte Just below average read idi.

[Divya Lalitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As far back as my memory goes, the first fictional novel I ever read was a Telugu book during my school days. It's been so long that I can't even recall the name, only that it was a murder mystery involving a lead character who owned a photo studio—I'm fairly sure the title started with an 'S'. If anyone recognizes it, please let me know! Before that, my reading was mostly limited to short stories in Telugu weekly magazines. After all these years, *Amma Diary Lo Konni Pagelu* became the next full-length Telugu book I picked up—and what a heartwarming experience it was.

I had seen a lot of buzz about this book on social media, and the title had stayed with me. Reading it felt like reconnecting with a forgotten part of myself—it brought back memories of my childhood and early reading days.

Since it's been years since I read anything in Telugu at length, the first few pages were a bit of a struggle. But once I got into the rhythm, the story swept me away like a breeze. Each and every character felt so vividly written, almost like people I personally know. Sarika, Abhi, and Nandu stole my heart.

There were moments when I wondered if characters like these could really exist—some of them felt almost too good to be true—but that didn't take away from how much I enjoyed reading about them. Sarika, in particular, stood out to me as one of the strongest female leads I've come across. She’s unafraid to voice her thoughts, faces life’s curveballs with grace, and never loses her smile. More than once, I found myself wondering what I would have done in her place.

Abhi was another beautifully written character. His maturity at such a young age was portrayed so well, even if I did find myself frustrated with a few of his decisions. When Nandu was introduced, I was already rooting for Abhi and instantly had reservations—but he completely won me over. In fact, he might just be my favorite character in the whole story.

One of the book’s strongest aspects is how even the supporting characters have depth and significance—they're not just fillers but integral to the narrative.

The pacing was smooth, and the little twists along the way kept things interesting. It gave me the same cozy feeling as watching a comfort movie from the 2000s. It’s very much a slice-of-life story, but you’re always curious to see what happens next.

I’m now eagerly waiting for whatever the author writes next. Whenever that day comes, I’ll be the first in line to read it.

[Vinothkumar Karunakaran · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was such a lovely book. There are shockingly lot of resemblance to my life giving a nostalgic feel. How one could write such a beautiful story. I wanted to read the Telugu version, sadly i understand telugu but can't read or write. No audiobook is also available, so forced to read the english version. It will give all good feel all through the book. At the end of the book, u will feel satisified with the ending. I completed the book in a record time. Completed the book in 4 sittings.

[Shrikriti · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read.
The book is through and thorough entertainer. Haven’t read something that is so rich in writing in so long, especially in a regional language. The story, the narration and the way it sheds light on key aspects of life is exuberant.
Definitely a must read if you’re new to regional language books

[Abhinav · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful

[Bhargav Golla · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the book starts out as a typical Telugu movie, I really liked the way the characters were written and developed throughout the story.
But the storytelling and the language feels fresh. Definitely a top Telugu debut novel that I read.

[Rama Subhashree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming ❤️

[Krishna Mahidhar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt like I've read a wonderful book after a long time. Every character's personality is written beautifully .

[Harshitha Reddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"**Amma Dairylo Konni Pagelu**" is my first Telugu novel, and I believe I made the right choice. It’s heartbreaking yet incredibly realistic. The story truly made me rethink a few things in my own life. In the 90s, people seemed content with what they had, so what are we missing today? What changed in the past 20 years? Or is this just one story, seen from one perspective? I wish I had the characteristics of that generation or the four people in the story. It left a bigger emotional impact on me than any other book I’ve read.

[KOTIPALLI GANESH · Rating 4 out of 5]

ఇది చదివేక ఏం రాశాడు కొత్తగా అనుకున్న కానీ పుస్తకం అయ్యాక తెలిసింది అక్షరాలు ఎక్కడ ఆగలేదని భావం మారలేదని రచయత పాత్రల స్వచ్చత మనస్సులో చాల సేపు వుంటుంది అలాంటి ఉన్నత భావాలు అంత ప్రేమ అంత ఆలోచన సముద్రపు కెరటాలు నుంచే వచ్చే గాలి ఉప్పు మొహానికి అంటుకున్నట్టు మనకి కొంచెం అంటు కొని వుంటది మన హృదయంలో

[Aishwarya Biswas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes life doesn’t go the way we’ve planned, and it’s okay. Destiny is the biggest maestro. He tests you by putting you in unexpected situations. But sometimes, he can make you meet the person where you actually belong, or he decides to change the trajectory. He brings you to the place where you could have been. Not every time are people bad. In our journey, whoever we meet, each one teaches a lesson.


I finished the book Amma’s Diary by Ravi Mantri. After closing the book, I sighed and looked into nothingness as I was trying to process the pool of emotions I experienced in these five days. It’s the shortest book that took me the longest time to finish because I kept pausing in between, bawled my eyes out, and sat with my head heavy with emotions.
Amma’s Diary is a love story — a heartbreakingly beautiful love story, if I have to describe it. I discovered it randomly while browsing through Amazon to add the next Indian writer to my TBR, and this one popped up. Destiny, I guess. One line from the book that stayed with me is, “The greatest tragedies in life don’t have villains. It’s destiny.”

The plot revolves around Sarika, a middle-aged woman who works as a principal of a well-known private school. She lives with her son, Jittu. One day, she notices that new tenants have moved into the neighborhood. One of them is a girl called Gita, who has completed her MBBS and is preparing for post-graduation. Gita bonds with Sarika in no time, and with her, Gita feels incredibly close, as if she is rediscovering her life again. The book then takes us on a journey tracing back to the mid-eighties, giving us an account of Sarika’s life. The story is written from different POVs, tracing multiple eras through their experiences and lives.

I had never realized that a story could be this painful until I read the last page. It has every element to be considered one of the greatest tragic stories I’ve come across in recent times — nostalgia, love, heartbreak, grief, loss, separation, and second chances but every tear is worth it. It’s not that there is something extraordinary about the story or the plot. It feels like our everyday life written through a different POV, viewed from another glass. There is so much heart and simplicity in the way the author plots it, and he ties all the emotions so well that it strikes the right chord and becomes a tangled mess of multiple feelings until the very last page.

Destiny is the biggest player, I tell you. ❤️

[Sanvi Speaks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book: Amma Diary lo Konni Pagelu by Ravi Mantri @ajupublications
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Blurb:
Abhi and Sarika were college sweethearts. Their love story ended abruptly when her mother stated the objections of their relationship and asked Sarika to marry Nandu. Nandu and sarika lead a good life, meanwhile Abhi is married to Chitra and leads a decent life. But was this the end of their lives? Will there be a chance of any future for them? What if their partners find out about them? Can love happen twice? With fate twisting their tales would there be a happy ending for Abhi and Sarika?
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I Love the banter between Abhiram and Sarika. Their moments always make me smile and giggle. I loved Abhi's playful character and always supporting her. Their separation was heartbreaking. Their story was beautiful.
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It's hard to get a person like Abhi but getting a person like Nandu is quite impossible. He is the greenest of the green flags ever. I like how they started slowly like friends, partners and fall for each other. Nandu unconditionally loved Sarika. The care, the concern and affection he has for her is the best. Nandu is "The right person in the wrong time" guy for Sarika. Honestly Nandu deserves more.
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Abhiram and Chitra's story was like a glimpse of their lives through the pages of dairy Chitra wrote. Probably because it's one person's POV (Sarika's). But I liked Chitra how she wanted to live in the present and how she encouraged and supported him. How she understood Abhiram and was there for him to cope up. While Abhiram was not past Abhiram, he now is distant and silent. He never left Chitra's side through his thick and thin. He slowly but surely accepted her, respected her and liked her. He showed his love through actions and their story has a bitter sweet ending. 
.
One thing I wanna tell is the writing was amazing. Many say telugu is a poetic language, but reading his words it definitely felt like poetry. His narration was splendid. I was in awe of the way he said things. On the whole it's a beautifully blended, heart warming story which I fall in love with. And congratulations Ravi mantrii for being the author of the month💖

[Balu · Rating 3 out of 5]

అమ్మ డైరీలో కొన్ని పేజీలు

ఈ పుస్తకం మొత్తం అభి,సారిక,నందు మొత్తం వీళ్ళ ముగ్గురు చుట్టూనే కథ తిరుగుతుంది..
9౦వ దశకంలో మొదలైన ఒక కాలేజీ లో జరిగే ప్రేమ కథ, కథలో భాగంగా అభి సారిక పరిచయం వాళ్ళ ప్రేమ చాలా సహజంగా అనిపించింది, చదివినంతసేపు ఒక చక్కటి ప్రేమ కథలో మనం కూడా ఒక భాగమైనట్టు కలిగే భావన చాలా సహజంగా అనిపించింది...
ప్రేమలో జరిగే సంభాషణలు ఆ ప్రేమని ఇంకాస్తాప్రేమతో చెప్పినట్టు అనిపించింది, సహజమైన ప్రేమలో త్యాగాలు, కనీళ్లకు కూడా అంతే గౌరవం దక్కుతుంది.
ఈ పుస్తకంలో ప్రధాన పాత్రల జీవితాలలో రెండు ప్రేమలు ఉంటాయి, ఒకటి కోరుకున్న ప్రేమ రెండు ముడివేసుకున్న ప్రేమ. వాస్తవికతకు ప్రాధాన్యం ఇవ్వాలి అని రచయిత కోరుకున్న ప్రేమని ముడివేసుకున్న ప్రేమని రెండిటిని గౌరవప్రదంగా రచించిన ఎంతో కొంత భాగం కోరుకున్న ప్రేమకే ఎక్కువ గౌరవం సముచిత స్థానం దక్కింది అనిపించింది.
కథలో రెండో భాగమైన ముడివేసుకున్న ప్రేమలు ఇద్దరి జీవితాలలో అంతే సహజంగా ప్రేమని ఆదరించిన ఎక్కడో మొదటి కథలో వున్నా అంత సహజత్వం కనిపించలేదు. ఇక్కడ ఎవరిని తక్కువ చేయకుండా ఎవ్వరిలో లోపాలను చూపించకుండా ప్రతి ఒక్కరిలోనూ ప్రేమను చూపించే మార్గం ద్వారా ఈ కథలో అందరు మంచివారే అందరిలో లోపాలు వున్నా కేవలం మంచితనం, ప్రేమ మాత్రమే చూపించాలి అనే ప్రయత్నం హర్షించదగ్గ నిర్ణయం. సహజత్వంతో మొదలైన ప్రేమ కథలో కాస్తా లోటు పాట్లు అసహజంగా అనిపించాయి.
చదివినంతసేపు ఆలోచింపచేస్తుంది, భావోద్వేగానికి గురిచేస్తుంది, జ్ఞ్యాపకాలును గుర్తుచేస్తుంది..

[Vishnu Bhavana Athuluri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt really happy reading a Telugu novel after such a long time. The story itself is quite ordinary, but the narration made it feel special. What I liked the most was how the author showed that parents shouldn’t completely sacrifice their lives for children, but instead find a balance, supporting their kids while also seeking their own happiness.

I also felt that it was a bit overhyped on social media. Still, the book does a very good job of portraying family relationships in a realistic way. The emotions are written beautifully, and the narration kept me connected throughout.

The diary-style writing gave me a very personal touch, it almost felt like I was directly listening to a mother’s heart. That warmth made it very relatable to me. At the same time, I did feel that the characters didn’t really grow much, but the beautiful narration balanced it out for me.

Overall, I’d say it’s a good read with touching emotions and strong narration.

[Chandana Sruthi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its a love Story but Mom's.
There is a girl , there is a boy and they fall in love. But they break up and go in separate ways.
The book is about their story and story after their break up under the narrative of protagonist Sarika(mom).

This is the first Telugu book I read with this generation author .I hope this book inspires more and more people to Write/Read in Telugu.

This is first story i have read authors note. Authors note kuda inta baga rastara ani ikkade ardam aindi.

Matalu enta bagunano. Katha mamulugane anipinchina a matalu unnai chudu bale mutchatesindi, edipinchinai, navichinai, kopam tepichinai, badha padetatlu chesai. Ravi mantri a matlamantrikuda.

E book eppudu nunchooo chadavali anukuntanu. Ippatiki Kudindi. Em Aithe nem chadivesa nachesindi. Na Review nachina nachaka poyina book chadavandi adi tapaka nachutundi.

[Nandini Reddy Dayal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book last year and it got lost in my sky-high TBR pile. Picked it up as a New Year read and I absolutely loved it.

The story of Sarika and Abhiram spans over decades of life, starting from a college campus. This isn't about a story so fresh that you have never read such a thought before. It is about how the best laid plans can tumble but you move on and realise that there is a larger life to live.

The author, Ravi Mantrii, obviously loves his music and songs as he incorporates so many to represent moments, memories and true background scores to the lives of Sarika and Abhiram.

I read it in Telugu, but it is available in English now. If you are looking to read slow paced romance that isn't about impractical impulsive actions, then this would be the one to pick.

[SwaPa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly didn't know what to expect when I started Amma’s Diary, but I’m so glad I gave it a chance. This is a simple yet incredibly powerful story about Sarika and Ram and the unpredictable turns life takes.

The author does an amazing job of portraying an "old school" kind of love, the kind that feels quiet but runs deep. It’s rare to find a book that balances the happiness of young love with the realistic struggles of adulthood so well. It flows so smoothly that I read it in one single sitting because I just had to know if they would finally get their second chance.

If you are looking for a quick, impactful read that will tug at your heartstrings, this is it.

[Jahnavi Bandaru · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the book. It's basically about one can never forget their first love.
I did find Sarika and Ram to be a bit selfish because of how they couldn't really love their partners as they as much they did but I guess that's what happens when you have such an intense first love. Nandhu's character was the ultimate green flag- I cried for him. Chithra and Nandhu are the most understanding people I have met, their love for their partners was on a whole other level.

[Shanthan B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best thing about this book is relatability! Most of them out there feel that arey..idhi mana life lo kuda jariginde!! Lot of moments captured were either from us or the people around us! I feel…Sacrifices made here in the book are not so practical or reliable! I doubt if that level of sacrifices can be made in these times! Anyways, conclusion entante, book chadivi me past incidents ni anubhoothi chendhandi!

[Remya Rajkumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is interesting how as children we often forget that our parents might have also had a past and the pain they might have had, the first half is emotional and intriguing you won't feel like keeping it down. Romance being expressed the right way. Second half feels bit dragged and ending was very normal like typical love story type. Overall though, it's nice story, to see things from different perspective.

[Sahitya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enno prema kathalu chadivina naku idhi kothaga anipinchindhi.Endhuku antey chepalenu emo, Prathi Oka prema kathalo prema untundhi aa prema manaki konchem premani panchuthundhi aa prema naku nachindhi.Rendo sari prema untundhi adhi sardhubatu ayna prema untundhi ani chupincharu.Kalisi undali ani rasipeti untey ela ayna kalustharu, konchem alasyamga ayna kalustharu.

[Sharmila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me cry, laugh, and smile as i turned each and every page.

if anyone thinking to build a habit of reading. This is the best book to start the journey.

The quote I remembered from this book

"Life is short. We never know when those we need will leave us. So keep loving them as you can. Expressing the love is important. This is the meaning of the life."

[JOHNSON XAVIER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Subtle yet deeply moving, Amma Diarylo Konni Pageelu unfolds not through grand twists but through the quiet grace of daily emotions and relationships. Its charm lies in its introspection — a tender portrayal of love, memory, and the human heart. For those seeking soulful storytelling over spectacle, this novel is a gentle delight.

[Chaitra Konda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this book at an airport in India and later found out it was originally written in Telugu and was translated to English. I read it after I came back from India and felt super nostalgic about the places, the food, literally everything. I immediately wanted to go back after finishing it. I LOVED the romance. It was so heartwarming yet sad. Super easy to read and I had a lot of fun with it.

[Raja · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the writing style is decently good, the overall plot felt convenient and commercial. Feels less like a book and more like a movie. Probably the reason for this one gaining popularity amongst the youth.

[Saire of Light · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and well written love story, if you like love stories that leave you thinking this is one of them. The pacing might be better as there some parts that's sped up and some are slow. But overall a nice and Heart warming tale.