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Mrs Happily Single
‘There are some of us who are naturally sturdy, and then there are others who are like trailing vines.’
In the aftermath of a mysterious disappearance and an unexplained pregnancy, Malini walked out of her marriage and the life she had painstakingly created to forge a new beginning with her daughter, Sonali, firmly shutting the door to her past.
But when the nuns in Sonali’s convent school demand to see her child’s father in flesh and blood, Malini is forced to revisit a world she had forced herself to forget. Eight years later, she has to make yet another life-altering decision—will she forgive and forget the bitterness of their brief marriage and start afresh or is she happier on her own?
As their fairy tale unravels, Aakash and Malini find out there are no easy choices in marriage—and life.
In the aftermath of a mysterious disappearance and an unexplained pregnancy, Malini walked out of her marriage and the life she had painstakingly created to forge a new beginning with her daughter, Sonali, firmly shutting the door to her past.
But when the nuns in Sonali’s convent school demand to see her child’s father in flesh and blood, Malini is forced to revisit a world she had forced herself to forget. Eight years later, she has to make yet another life-altering decision—will she forgive and forget the bitterness of their brief marriage and start afresh or is she happier on her own?
As their fairy tale unravels, Aakash and Malini find out there are no easy choices in marriage—and life.
272 pages, Flexiback
First published June 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 3, 2025
It looked like a love story (from title, cover & blurbs) but is a contemporary fiction with family drama as the centre & strong, headstrong, but also vulnerable & flawed -real- female central characters.
It's a breath of fresh air as the main protagonist in present date is 60+ lady ... we find so few books about elder ladies' adventures of youth. Sure, women's adventures can be very different from what we grew up considering adventures (or very similar too...)
The book is in simple language & flowing prose, & effortlessly entwines egalitarian insights of a lived experience.
I enjoyed reading it.
It's a breath of fresh air as the main protagonist in present date is 60+ lady ... we find so few books about elder ladies' adventures of youth. Sure, women's adventures can be very different from what we grew up considering adventures (or very similar too...)
The book is in simple language & flowing prose, & effortlessly entwines egalitarian insights of a lived experience.
I enjoyed reading it.
May 15, 2026
Mrs. Happily Single - Shubha Sarma
“Life is unusual. Someone is the center of your universe today and the cause of its destruction the next day.”
Getting back to reading feels better when there is noise surrounded by. After nearly a month, it feels better. I swooped through this book in two hours. One of the reasons I chose this book is the title, and most married women will relate to the title, which includes me.
The story of Malini, who is orphaned and backed by her Mama and Mami. She is grateful for the life she has, and suddenly there is a groom who, along with Malini and her sister, will provide the security of the future. Though Malini likes her husband Akash, the doting mother interferes in everything, and the so-called loving son says yes to anything that his mother wants. One day, the storm came, and Malini left without any trace. Will she reconcile with him?
Once I finished, I was seething with rage, and when I thought about it, most men are the same; only some have been doing better than others. Last night I watched a video where Vidya Balan says, “Marriage is between two people; it’s only them, not for others." How true I felt. When the so-called parents interfere, it really gets ugly, and society can’t put words on it. If you really wish good, stay zip; that’s what I feel.
Recently a woman who simply asked, "Did you go to the hospital?" I was like, "It's between me and him, not yours." I badly want to ask for it back. My dignity and self-esteem never did that in the moment. Because I can’t stoop that low. Sorry for the rant 😬😬. The same story happens here in the story but with a lot of deep complex emotions. The ending was my favorite. Modern problems require modern solutions and some practical approach, and so-called MILs don’t keep pestering their DIL to do this and that; it keeps them in a space where they can’t feel safe.
The freedom women need is the basic thing. The author has wonderfully portrayed the characters and the loving friends of Malini. Don't we all have such kinds of friends? Overall, a great read with the interesting plot.
“Life is unusual. Someone is the center of your universe today and the cause of its destruction the next day.”
Getting back to reading feels better when there is noise surrounded by. After nearly a month, it feels better. I swooped through this book in two hours. One of the reasons I chose this book is the title, and most married women will relate to the title, which includes me.
The story of Malini, who is orphaned and backed by her Mama and Mami. She is grateful for the life she has, and suddenly there is a groom who, along with Malini and her sister, will provide the security of the future. Though Malini likes her husband Akash, the doting mother interferes in everything, and the so-called loving son says yes to anything that his mother wants. One day, the storm came, and Malini left without any trace. Will she reconcile with him?
Once I finished, I was seething with rage, and when I thought about it, most men are the same; only some have been doing better than others. Last night I watched a video where Vidya Balan says, “Marriage is between two people; it’s only them, not for others." How true I felt. When the so-called parents interfere, it really gets ugly, and society can’t put words on it. If you really wish good, stay zip; that’s what I feel.
Recently a woman who simply asked, "Did you go to the hospital?" I was like, "It's between me and him, not yours." I badly want to ask for it back. My dignity and self-esteem never did that in the moment. Because I can’t stoop that low. Sorry for the rant 😬😬. The same story happens here in the story but with a lot of deep complex emotions. The ending was my favorite. Modern problems require modern solutions and some practical approach, and so-called MILs don’t keep pestering their DIL to do this and that; it keeps them in a space where they can’t feel safe.
The freedom women need is the basic thing. The author has wonderfully portrayed the characters and the loving friends of Malini. Don't we all have such kinds of friends? Overall, a great read with the interesting plot.
November 1, 2025
A breezy read, even if I say so myself, Mrs. Happily Single has charged the imagination of mature (read middle-aged!) book readers everywhere. Its story about the need to love yourself and to boldly state that it is possible to be Happy and Single has triggered different responses. The characters are relatable and real, the emotions painfully so.
As the author, I'd say, this was one of the more challenging books to write. The characterization and the layered evolution of the key actors in the story was difficult, yet satisfying.
Happy reading mrs.Happily Single
As the author, I'd say, this was one of the more challenging books to write. The characterization and the layered evolution of the key actors in the story was difficult, yet satisfying.
Happy reading mrs.Happily Single
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews