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Spotless
BEING FOURTEEN IS TOUGH. BEING RAGA RACHEL MATHEW? EVEN TOUGHER.
Once a girl who faced the camera with flair, Raga now finds herself under an unforgiving spotlight. Her skin has changed, and with it, everything else. Her friendships are drifting, and school feels like a minefield. Her parents care. Maybe a little more than she'd like. And the mirror? It reflects someone she no longer recognizes.
Right when it all starts to feel too much, life nudges her towards something unexpected. A chance. A crack of light.
And things begin to shift. Slowly. Awkwardly. Surprisingly. Raga is forced to confront herself. Honestly. Gently. Courageously. A heartfelt coming-of-age story, Spotless is a moving novel in verse about growing up and letting go. Tender and quietly powerful, it's a journey of finding your voice when you're not sure who you are. After all, even the moon takes time to be whole.
Once a girl who faced the camera with flair, Raga now finds herself under an unforgiving spotlight. Her skin has changed, and with it, everything else. Her friendships are drifting, and school feels like a minefield. Her parents care. Maybe a little more than she'd like. And the mirror? It reflects someone she no longer recognizes.
Right when it all starts to feel too much, life nudges her towards something unexpected. A chance. A crack of light.
And things begin to shift. Slowly. Awkwardly. Surprisingly. Raga is forced to confront herself. Honestly. Gently. Courageously. A heartfelt coming-of-age story, Spotless is a moving novel in verse about growing up and letting go. Tender and quietly powerful, it's a journey of finding your voice when you're not sure who you are. After all, even the moon takes time to be whole.
264 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2025
2 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
About the author
Vibha Batra
40 books31 followersVibha Batra is an author, advertising consultant, graphic novelist, poet, lyricist, translator,
travel writer, playwright, translator and columnist. Her published books include: The Secret Life of Debbie G, Merry the Elephant's Rainy Day, Bathinda to Bangkok, The Reluctant Debutante, The Dream Merchants, Keeping it Real, Euro Trip,
Ludhiana to London, Glitter and Gloss, The Activist and The Capitalist, Sweet Sixteen (Yeah,
Right!), Seventeen and Done (You Bet!), Eighteen and Wiser (Not Quite!,) Ishaavaasya
Upanishad: Knowledge and Action, Tongue-in-cheek, A Twist of Lime and Family Crossword.
She has also contributed short stories and poems to several anthologies.
travel writer, playwright, translator and columnist. Her published books include: The Secret Life of Debbie G, Merry the Elephant's Rainy Day, Bathinda to Bangkok, The Reluctant Debutante, The Dream Merchants, Keeping it Real, Euro Trip,
Ludhiana to London, Glitter and Gloss, The Activist and The Capitalist, Sweet Sixteen (Yeah,
Right!), Seventeen and Done (You Bet!), Eighteen and Wiser (Not Quite!,) Ishaavaasya
Upanishad: Knowledge and Action, Tongue-in-cheek, A Twist of Lime and Family Crossword.
She has also contributed short stories and poems to several anthologies.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 11, 2026
Some books do not try to explain you to yourself, they simply sit beside you and say I get it. Spotless was that book for me! (Children's and Teens should MOST DEFINITELY read this book!!)
Being my first read from Hachette India, I went in with curiosity and a need to understand what kind of story this would be but what I didn't expect was how deeply seen I would feel. This story captures the quiet chaos of growing up especially the feeling of waking up one day and not recognizing yourself anymore.
Raga’s emotions felt uncomfortably familiar, the self consciousness, he urge to shrink, the confusion of trying to belong while feeling disconnected from your own body and thoughts. This book being in verse format makes it feel raw and personal like reading something that was never meant to be shared only felt
This book did not fix anything for me instead it did something better. It validated emotions I rarely know how to explain. It reminded me that feeling lost, uncomfortable or unsure does not mean you are broken, it just means you are human.
Spotless is soft, honest and deeply comforting & most importantly, it made me feel understood and that alone makes it unforgettable!💌
PS: The illustrations in this book made reading this feel even better✨
Being my first read from Hachette India, I went in with curiosity and a need to understand what kind of story this would be but what I didn't expect was how deeply seen I would feel. This story captures the quiet chaos of growing up especially the feeling of waking up one day and not recognizing yourself anymore.
Raga’s emotions felt uncomfortably familiar, the self consciousness, he urge to shrink, the confusion of trying to belong while feeling disconnected from your own body and thoughts. This book being in verse format makes it feel raw and personal like reading something that was never meant to be shared only felt
This book did not fix anything for me instead it did something better. It validated emotions I rarely know how to explain. It reminded me that feeling lost, uncomfortable or unsure does not mean you are broken, it just means you are human.
Spotless is soft, honest and deeply comforting & most importantly, it made me feel understood and that alone makes it unforgettable!💌
PS: The illustrations in this book made reading this feel even better✨
November 27, 2025
“Healing is not about becoming the old version of yourself. It’s about letting yourself be someone new.”
Some books feel like stories.
And then some books feel like someone quietly sat beside you, looked into your life, and said, “Hey… I see you.”
Spotless was that book for me.
On the surface, it’s about Raga Rachel Mathew a 14 year old, confused, hurting, and suddenly unsure of her own skin. A girl who once posed for cameras without a second thought now flinches at her reflection. Friendships slip. School becomes exhausting. Her parents care a little too loudly. And she starts asking innocent questions that don’t come with soft answers.
But here’s the thing, while reading her story, it stopped being just Raga’s story.
It started becoming mine too.
I didn’t expect a YA novel in verse to hit me this personally, but there were lines and moments that echoed a very real, very raw “before and after” in my own life especially after having the condition that changed everything for me.
Just like Raga, I’ve had that moment where the mirror shows someone unfamiliar. Where your body shifts in ways you never asked for. Where the world around you keeps moving normally while you’re suddenly carrying something heavier, something you never planned to hold.
And that’s why this book didn’t feel fictional.
It's honest, unpolishedand quietly powerful.
Raga’s questions are simple, innocent, childish but stabbed deeper because I knew exactly how it feels when life doesn’t give gentle answers back. When answers arrive in the form of discomfort, silence, fear, or acceptance you’re not ready for.
The writing is soft but sharp. Tender but unfiltered. And despite being written in verse, it never once feels incomplete. Every page feels like a little breath you didn’t know you were holding.
What I loved the most is how the author didn’t rush Raga’s healing. Things shift slowly, awkwardly, messily, realistically. Just like real life. Just like how recovery, identity, and self-acceptance actually happen.
If you’ve ever stood in front of a mirror and hesitated, If you’ve ever felt your “before” and “after” collide, If you’ve ever tried to understand a new version of yourself this book will sit with you in that space without forcing you to be okay immediately.
Spotless is not just a coming-of-age story.
For me, it became a reminder that healing isn’t linear. Identity isn’t fixed. And sometimes, growing up means learning to be gentle with the parts of yourself you don’t fully understand yet.
A tender, raw, quietly brave book and a deeply personal read for me.
Some books feel like stories.
And then some books feel like someone quietly sat beside you, looked into your life, and said, “Hey… I see you.”
Spotless was that book for me.
On the surface, it’s about Raga Rachel Mathew a 14 year old, confused, hurting, and suddenly unsure of her own skin. A girl who once posed for cameras without a second thought now flinches at her reflection. Friendships slip. School becomes exhausting. Her parents care a little too loudly. And she starts asking innocent questions that don’t come with soft answers.
But here’s the thing, while reading her story, it stopped being just Raga’s story.
It started becoming mine too.
I didn’t expect a YA novel in verse to hit me this personally, but there were lines and moments that echoed a very real, very raw “before and after” in my own life especially after having the condition that changed everything for me.
Just like Raga, I’ve had that moment where the mirror shows someone unfamiliar. Where your body shifts in ways you never asked for. Where the world around you keeps moving normally while you’re suddenly carrying something heavier, something you never planned to hold.
And that’s why this book didn’t feel fictional.
It's honest, unpolishedand quietly powerful.
Raga’s questions are simple, innocent, childish but stabbed deeper because I knew exactly how it feels when life doesn’t give gentle answers back. When answers arrive in the form of discomfort, silence, fear, or acceptance you’re not ready for.
The writing is soft but sharp. Tender but unfiltered. And despite being written in verse, it never once feels incomplete. Every page feels like a little breath you didn’t know you were holding.
What I loved the most is how the author didn’t rush Raga’s healing. Things shift slowly, awkwardly, messily, realistically. Just like real life. Just like how recovery, identity, and self-acceptance actually happen.
If you’ve ever stood in front of a mirror and hesitated, If you’ve ever felt your “before” and “after” collide, If you’ve ever tried to understand a new version of yourself this book will sit with you in that space without forcing you to be okay immediately.
Spotless is not just a coming-of-age story.
For me, it became a reminder that healing isn’t linear. Identity isn’t fixed. And sometimes, growing up means learning to be gentle with the parts of yourself you don’t fully understand yet.
A tender, raw, quietly brave book and a deeply personal read for me.
December 1, 2025
Spotless is not a story about a physical illness, but rather a delicate — almost lyrical — coming-of-age journey. The protagonist’s struggles and “scars” feel emotional and symbolic, not literal. Vibha Batra’s novel in verse captures the quiet pain and tentative hope of growing up — of reconciling with hurt, doubts, and rediscovering self.
For a reader who has ever felt “blemished” by memories, mistakes, or inner turmoil, Spotless offers a gentle, soothing embrace. It reminds you that healing often begins not by erasing the scars, but by seeing them, accepting them, and learning to live with grace.
Perhaps I once interpreted the “spots” as physical — maybe that says more about what I was feeling than what the book intended. But in its true essence, Spotless remains a comforting companion for anyone learning to grow, survive, and find their voice again.
For a reader who has ever felt “blemished” by memories, mistakes, or inner turmoil, Spotless offers a gentle, soothing embrace. It reminds you that healing often begins not by erasing the scars, but by seeing them, accepting them, and learning to live with grace.
Perhaps I once interpreted the “spots” as physical — maybe that says more about what I was feeling than what the book intended. But in its true essence, Spotless remains a comforting companion for anyone learning to grow, survive, and find their voice again.
October 3, 2025
This is the story of Raga Rachel Matthew, who gets diagnosed with an autoimmune skin disorder in a very early age. It’s a story of making your soul spotless ignoring the appearance. It’s a story about more than self-love, but self-acceptance. This story moves so smoothly that when you start flipping pages you won’t stop. It will keep you going until you are at the last page talking to yourself of how brilliantly written this book is. Using “moon” as the metaphor for the whole character development of Raga is such a great take on authors’ part 🤌🏻. And did I mention the cute yet mind boggling sketches? They’re very imaginative in approach. Loved them too.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews