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I Cannot Say Goodbye to You: An unforgettable romance novel by one of India’s most popular writers- Rithvik Singh
From one of India’s favorite poets comes his first romance novel—a story that will stay with you forever.
What if you were forced to say goodbye to the only person who ever loved you?
When Aashna loses everything and her parents refuse to love her, she is sent to boarding school.
Eventually, she realizes she had left her heart open, and someone decides to break into it—a tall, handsome (a bit too much), straight-out-of-the-movies guy who loves her with his whole heart.
But every time she goes back home, she meets an absence that will not let her sleep and a nightmare of a presence. Painfully tired of the hurt, she becomes what her mother could never a leaver.
With off-the-charts chemistry, witty conversations, and unexpected plot twists, I Cannot Say Goodbye to You is the story of Aashna and the people she loves (and loses).
P.S. Keep a tissue box nearby, since, you know, Rithvik wrote this novel.
What if you were forced to say goodbye to the only person who ever loved you?
When Aashna loses everything and her parents refuse to love her, she is sent to boarding school.
Eventually, she realizes she had left her heart open, and someone decides to break into it—a tall, handsome (a bit too much), straight-out-of-the-movies guy who loves her with his whole heart.
But every time she goes back home, she meets an absence that will not let her sleep and a nightmare of a presence. Painfully tired of the hurt, she becomes what her mother could never a leaver.
With off-the-charts chemistry, witty conversations, and unexpected plot twists, I Cannot Say Goodbye to You is the story of Aashna and the people she loves (and loses).
P.S. Keep a tissue box nearby, since, you know, Rithvik wrote this novel.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 30, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
February 18, 2026
I cannot say goodbye to you by doesn’t scream. It doesn’t try too hard. It just quietly sits beside you and touches all those soft corners of your heart you didn’t even know were still sensitive.🕊️
4.8/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It feels like a late-night conversation you didn’t plan to have but desperately needed. Simple words. Heavy emotions. There were lines I had to pause at… because they felt too personal. Like someone opened a door to memories I had carefully kept locked.💔
This book reminds you that sometimes love doesn’t end because we stop loving. It ends because life doesn’t always choose the same things our hearts do.The kind og love where you don’t hate them… you just miss them.💫
If you’ve ever loved deeply, lost silently, or held on longer than you should have… this book will understand you.This book doesn’t give you closure. It gives you understanding.🤍
Honest Realisation: sometimes we don’t struggle to say goodbye because we’re weak. We struggle because what we had mattered.🕊️🩵
4.8/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It feels like a late-night conversation you didn’t plan to have but desperately needed. Simple words. Heavy emotions. There were lines I had to pause at… because they felt too personal. Like someone opened a door to memories I had carefully kept locked.💔
This book reminds you that sometimes love doesn’t end because we stop loving. It ends because life doesn’t always choose the same things our hearts do.The kind og love where you don’t hate them… you just miss them.💫
If you’ve ever loved deeply, lost silently, or held on longer than you should have… this book will understand you.This book doesn’t give you closure. It gives you understanding.🤍
Honest Realisation: sometimes we don’t struggle to say goodbye because we’re weak. We struggle because what we had mattered.🕊️🩵
January 17, 2026
I picked this book on whim while in the airport. The author did a great job portraying the main character's family life and trauma. The prose was also poetic and touching at some points. I enjoyed the first half a lot more than the second. The main character's relationship with her best friend was my favorite part and I was a little surprised and slightly disappointed how it was dealt with later. I also feel like the very last couple of pages felt a little too soapy, but I did like the book overall. I think the best part of this book is the writing. There are a lot of lines that are so beautiful that you have to stop and think for a bit.
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April 14, 2026beautifulllllll
April 18, 2026
Reading the title, I thought it would maybe be a simple breakup story… about love, separation, and moving on. But this book turned out to be so much deeper than that.
" I Cannot Say Goodbye to You" is not just about goodbye. It’s about what stays after someone leaves the silence, the emptiness, the memories that don’t go away. Aashna’s story felt very real to me… like something someone has actually lived through.
The bond between Aashna and her Nani really touched my heart. It felt so pure, so full of comfort and love. And because of that, the loss felt even more painful. At the same time, I felt so much anger towards her father. This book makes you think… how much should someone suffer in the name of love? Are children just mean to be silent punching bag for their parents? I kept asking myself these questions while reading.
I cried a lot for Aashna… not just because of what happened to her, but because of how much she had to carry inside her heart without saying anything.
What stayed with me the most is her fear the fear that happiness doesn’t last, that if you love someone deeply, you might lose them. And slowly, she becomes someone who starts leaving before she can be left. That feeling hurt a lot… because it felt so true.
The story is slow in some parts, and some emotions repeat, but honestly, that’s how real pain feels. It doesn’t just go away it stays, it comes back again and again.
The writing is very simple, but it still makes you feel everything. It doesn’t try too hard, and maybe that’s why it feels so close to the heart.
For me, this book is not just about saying goodbye… it’s about not being able to say it, about holding on, about all the feelings that remain.
" I Cannot Say Goodbye to You" is not just about goodbye. It’s about what stays after someone leaves the silence, the emptiness, the memories that don’t go away. Aashna’s story felt very real to me… like something someone has actually lived through.
The bond between Aashna and her Nani really touched my heart. It felt so pure, so full of comfort and love. And because of that, the loss felt even more painful. At the same time, I felt so much anger towards her father. This book makes you think… how much should someone suffer in the name of love? Are children just mean to be silent punching bag for their parents? I kept asking myself these questions while reading.
I cried a lot for Aashna… not just because of what happened to her, but because of how much she had to carry inside her heart without saying anything.
What stayed with me the most is her fear the fear that happiness doesn’t last, that if you love someone deeply, you might lose them. And slowly, she becomes someone who starts leaving before she can be left. That feeling hurt a lot… because it felt so true.
The story is slow in some parts, and some emotions repeat, but honestly, that’s how real pain feels. It doesn’t just go away it stays, it comes back again and again.
The writing is very simple, but it still makes you feel everything. It doesn’t try too hard, and maybe that’s why it feels so close to the heart.
For me, this book is not just about saying goodbye… it’s about not being able to say it, about holding on, about all the feelings that remain.
April 27, 2026
I recently read I Cannot Say Goodbye to You and I have not read any of Rithvik Singh’s works before, but I had heard a lot of good things from readers. So when I came across this book, I did not want to miss it and decided to give it a try, and I was not disappointed. I actually ended up finishing it quite quickly.
This book feels very personal. It is simple to read, but the emotions hit deeper than you expect. (Why did some parts feel a little too real?) Aashna’s story is filled with love, hurt and that quiet kind of pain that stays with you.
What I liked most is how the story explores love that is not perfect. It shows how sometimes people love deeply but still cannot stay. The writing is easy and flows smoothly, which makes it a very bingeable read.
It is not overly dramatic, but it still manages to make you feel a lot. You just sit with the emotions for a while.
So overall, this is a heartfelt and emotional read that lingers even after you finish.
This book feels very personal. It is simple to read, but the emotions hit deeper than you expect. (Why did some parts feel a little too real?) Aashna’s story is filled with love, hurt and that quiet kind of pain that stays with you.
What I liked most is how the story explores love that is not perfect. It shows how sometimes people love deeply but still cannot stay. The writing is easy and flows smoothly, which makes it a very bingeable read.
It is not overly dramatic, but it still manages to make you feel a lot. You just sit with the emotions for a while.
So overall, this is a heartfelt and emotional read that lingers even after you finish.
April 30, 2026
Growing up in a house where all you have ever wanted was for it to feel like a home, where all you searched for was love and comfort, and where all you did was look for a sense of belonging where you could rest you heart, and losing the ones you have truly ever loved. This is definitely a must-read if all you've ever wanted was a sense of belonging in your house. 💌
Review of advance copy received from Author
I Cannot Say Goodbye to You by Rithvik Singh is a deeply emotional and heartfelt read that explores love, loss, and the ache of goodbye with sensitivity and grace. The story follows protagonists whose lives become intertwined through shared moments of vulnerability, connection, and longing. Singh’s writing captures the rawness of human emotion — the joy of first love, the pain of separation, and the quiet introspection that follows when words remain unspoken. This novel resonates with anyone who has ever felt the weight of parting with someone dear.
What makes this book especially compelling is how it balances simplicity with emotional depth. Singh’s prose is thoughtful and evocative, allowing readers to feel intimately connected to the characters’ journeys. The narrative isn’t rushed; instead, it unfolds at a reflective pace that invites you into the characters’ inner worlds. Their struggles with fear, hope, and acceptance are portrayed with honesty, making their experiences both personal and universal.
I Cannot Say Goodbye to You is more than a story about love — it’s about understanding the complexity of human relationships and the courage it takes to hold on and let go. With moments of both tenderness and heartache, this novel will stay with you long after the final page.
What makes this book especially compelling is how it balances simplicity with emotional depth. Singh’s prose is thoughtful and evocative, allowing readers to feel intimately connected to the characters’ journeys. The narrative isn’t rushed; instead, it unfolds at a reflective pace that invites you into the characters’ inner worlds. Their struggles with fear, hope, and acceptance are portrayed with honesty, making their experiences both personal and universal.
I Cannot Say Goodbye to You is more than a story about love — it’s about understanding the complexity of human relationships and the courage it takes to hold on and let go. With moments of both tenderness and heartache, this novel will stay with you long after the final page.
May 3, 2026
𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙎𝙖𝙮 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙗𝙮𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙔𝙤𝙪
𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧: 𝙍𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙫𝙞𝙠 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙝
"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦'𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯? 𝘔𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘢. 𝘛𝘰 𝘶𝘴. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘵. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘕𝘢𝘢𝘯𝘪 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴, 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦."
💌 I'm sorry that I judge a book by its cover. I know it's ridiculous - but I can't help it. Thinking of a book with a cute cover and title on it, I thought it must be a romantic lovey dovey themed page. But yes, I was wrong. With no judgement, I began this book with no 'that much expectation' - but now I'm into that loop 'what should be my next read from the same author that put this insane story in this book'.
💌 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙮
• Aashna and her Naani, Rekha Shekhawat - they share a special bond like no-one can ever be in this same relationship. For me, they look like best friends. Who share everything, protect each other and insanely secure about themselves - secure to keep themselves safe from one damn person and to protect one person from that one. And he's none other than Aashna's father.
• He's nothing but an example of deep rooted patriarchy. He is a religious one but never thinks to condemn his own cruel behaviour towards his wife. But what makes me think about the whole situation is - why doesn't her mother fight back though she herself is a working woman and lives in her own house? Maybe the answer also lies to the root of this patriarchal system.
• It all happens in front of a child named Aashna. Her Naani tries to stop and intrude in between them to save her daughter but she realises soon that peace is off their plate. They have to bear the punishment of overestimating the actions of a particular person who doesn't even recognise them as human beings. But what about that child who suffers thoroughly after seeing her parents like this? She realises - "𝘍𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥. 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘪𝘵. 𝘐 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘵."
💌 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣?
The part where she realises that her mother was wronged too by her father in every means and to make Aashna know about her feelings, her mother replies to her feelings with her letter, so that she can win her daughter's heart is a wholesome part. It's not about the end of a situation but it's about taking that notion to start your future securely and safely. With love, this mother daughter duo starts their new journey. At the end when she dedicated her book to her mother with her own title, that was the feeling of numbness. The realisation makes her understand that finally she's free and her mother too!
" '𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰?'
𝘐 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘥, 𝘈𝘢𝘬𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪 𝘒𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘺𝘢. 𝘔𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.' "
💌 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙚
• 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚: The insane amount of love is found through the eyes of Aashna - from getting her Naani's love to loosing it, from believing in friendship with Shanvika and Kanishq to loosing them both at the same time, again finding love again - Aashna makes us fall in love with the plot again.
• 𝙃𝙖𝙩𝙚: "Charity begins at home" - but what if "home" is the least part in your life to be there? I love how the author put synchronous parts all together to portray the violence against women - even if it's about your own wife or daughter, it's against all odds that a 𝘔𝘈𝘕 not prioritized any of them as his family. Is it about him? Or it's also about those who think ill of women? Or thinks that women are their possession. Or does this patriarchy gives them the right to misbehave with them in any occurrences in the name of 𝘙𝘐𝘎𝘏𝘛?
"𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳? 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵?"
• 𝙐𝙥𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜: The topic puts me off guard how can upbringing affect human beings! An improper upbringing can make a child turn into a monster like Aashna's father who walks on the path of his ancestors who make him taught that women should be under his hand and if the criteria of "her situation" doesn't match with them, don't think of her as a human being. This upbringing also matches the thinking of Naani and her daughter. Both are relatable in their thinking and understanding. They prioritize other's existence in their lives more than themselves - they think ill of themselves more than anyone can justify them. Their struggle re-creates the manner of Aashna who starts to doubt herself. She thinks that she's of no use to anyone. Even she has to prove herself to everyone to bring value into her life. Is this the effect of older generations values or the norms of familial status?
• 𝙎𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙣𝙭𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮: This theme of upbringing also brings social anxiety in her life. She starts doubting herself. She thinks that she's unworthy of everything till she meets Shanvika. Her doubts are gone after she comes to know about Shanvika's past. She accepts that everyone has their own trauma to deal with - from her Naani's death to Shanvika's trauma of abuse - they're all dealing with something. But is this permanent? The bond that helps to remove the social anxiety also brings back the trauma after the reason left. If the bond can remove Aashna's anxiety then their deliberate attack can bring them back!
• 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩: The very support that Aashna wanted from her family was given by Shanvika and Kanishq. The love and hope that this duo bring into her life can be a discussion of 'jealousy'. How beautifully they handled her when she broke down for her father, how she demotivated herself for degrading her Naani's dreams and maybe this is the reason why she was craving for their presence.
• 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙤𝙢: Aashna didn't fall into the trap of freedom taught by her mother but she soon realises that
"𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘥. 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘧 𝘐'𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧: 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘺. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘮𝘦. 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘳. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘮𝘦."
• And to be honest, this is our main mantra too. I wished to know about Kanishq and Aashna and later wanted to think about Aashna and Atharv - if they stayed together or not! What about Shanvika? And what about her own mother? Maybe it was realised later on that, freedom is not about compromising with your own life but to go deep down with your questions to find their answers.
💌 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩
It's a win win situation. Every aspect of this book and every character is there to be loved. They're unforgettable. But the end was unexpected. How the threads match with that ease is divine. I started this book the previous week and in just 4 days I finished reading it. And it was that addictive - not exaggerating anything from my part, but after a very long time I'm reading something Indian with that much intense plotline and proper character analysis. Each and every character has been portrayed beautifully that every part falls in proper places.
This is my 5/5 read of the month of May. And again I can never forget the story of Aashna.
𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧: 𝙍𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙫𝙞𝙠 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙝
"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦'𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯? 𝘔𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘢. 𝘛𝘰 𝘶𝘴. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘵. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘕𝘢𝘢𝘯𝘪 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴, 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦."
💌 I'm sorry that I judge a book by its cover. I know it's ridiculous - but I can't help it. Thinking of a book with a cute cover and title on it, I thought it must be a romantic lovey dovey themed page. But yes, I was wrong. With no judgement, I began this book with no 'that much expectation' - but now I'm into that loop 'what should be my next read from the same author that put this insane story in this book'.
💌 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙮
• Aashna and her Naani, Rekha Shekhawat - they share a special bond like no-one can ever be in this same relationship. For me, they look like best friends. Who share everything, protect each other and insanely secure about themselves - secure to keep themselves safe from one damn person and to protect one person from that one. And he's none other than Aashna's father.
• He's nothing but an example of deep rooted patriarchy. He is a religious one but never thinks to condemn his own cruel behaviour towards his wife. But what makes me think about the whole situation is - why doesn't her mother fight back though she herself is a working woman and lives in her own house? Maybe the answer also lies to the root of this patriarchal system.
• It all happens in front of a child named Aashna. Her Naani tries to stop and intrude in between them to save her daughter but she realises soon that peace is off their plate. They have to bear the punishment of overestimating the actions of a particular person who doesn't even recognise them as human beings. But what about that child who suffers thoroughly after seeing her parents like this? She realises - "𝘍𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥. 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘪𝘵. 𝘐 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘵."
💌 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣?
The part where she realises that her mother was wronged too by her father in every means and to make Aashna know about her feelings, her mother replies to her feelings with her letter, so that she can win her daughter's heart is a wholesome part. It's not about the end of a situation but it's about taking that notion to start your future securely and safely. With love, this mother daughter duo starts their new journey. At the end when she dedicated her book to her mother with her own title, that was the feeling of numbness. The realisation makes her understand that finally she's free and her mother too!
" '𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰?'
𝘐 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘥, 𝘈𝘢𝘬𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪 𝘒𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘺𝘢. 𝘔𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.' "
💌 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙚
• 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚: The insane amount of love is found through the eyes of Aashna - from getting her Naani's love to loosing it, from believing in friendship with Shanvika and Kanishq to loosing them both at the same time, again finding love again - Aashna makes us fall in love with the plot again.
• 𝙃𝙖𝙩𝙚: "Charity begins at home" - but what if "home" is the least part in your life to be there? I love how the author put synchronous parts all together to portray the violence against women - even if it's about your own wife or daughter, it's against all odds that a 𝘔𝘈𝘕 not prioritized any of them as his family. Is it about him? Or it's also about those who think ill of women? Or thinks that women are their possession. Or does this patriarchy gives them the right to misbehave with them in any occurrences in the name of 𝘙𝘐𝘎𝘏𝘛?
"𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳? 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵?"
• 𝙐𝙥𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜: The topic puts me off guard how can upbringing affect human beings! An improper upbringing can make a child turn into a monster like Aashna's father who walks on the path of his ancestors who make him taught that women should be under his hand and if the criteria of "her situation" doesn't match with them, don't think of her as a human being. This upbringing also matches the thinking of Naani and her daughter. Both are relatable in their thinking and understanding. They prioritize other's existence in their lives more than themselves - they think ill of themselves more than anyone can justify them. Their struggle re-creates the manner of Aashna who starts to doubt herself. She thinks that she's of no use to anyone. Even she has to prove herself to everyone to bring value into her life. Is this the effect of older generations values or the norms of familial status?
• 𝙎𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙣𝙭𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮: This theme of upbringing also brings social anxiety in her life. She starts doubting herself. She thinks that she's unworthy of everything till she meets Shanvika. Her doubts are gone after she comes to know about Shanvika's past. She accepts that everyone has their own trauma to deal with - from her Naani's death to Shanvika's trauma of abuse - they're all dealing with something. But is this permanent? The bond that helps to remove the social anxiety also brings back the trauma after the reason left. If the bond can remove Aashna's anxiety then their deliberate attack can bring them back!
• 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩: The very support that Aashna wanted from her family was given by Shanvika and Kanishq. The love and hope that this duo bring into her life can be a discussion of 'jealousy'. How beautifully they handled her when she broke down for her father, how she demotivated herself for degrading her Naani's dreams and maybe this is the reason why she was craving for their presence.
• 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙤𝙢: Aashna didn't fall into the trap of freedom taught by her mother but she soon realises that
"𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘥. 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘧 𝘐'𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧: 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘺. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘮𝘦. 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘳. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘮𝘦."
• And to be honest, this is our main mantra too. I wished to know about Kanishq and Aashna and later wanted to think about Aashna and Atharv - if they stayed together or not! What about Shanvika? And what about her own mother? Maybe it was realised later on that, freedom is not about compromising with your own life but to go deep down with your questions to find their answers.
💌 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩
It's a win win situation. Every aspect of this book and every character is there to be loved. They're unforgettable. But the end was unexpected. How the threads match with that ease is divine. I started this book the previous week and in just 4 days I finished reading it. And it was that addictive - not exaggerating anything from my part, but after a very long time I'm reading something Indian with that much intense plotline and proper character analysis. Each and every character has been portrayed beautifully that every part falls in proper places.
This is my 5/5 read of the month of May. And again I can never forget the story of Aashna.
May 4, 2026
𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙎𝙖𝙮 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙𝙗𝙮𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙔𝙤𝙪
𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧: 𝙍𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙫𝙞𝙠 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙝
"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦'𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯? 𝘔𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘢. 𝘛𝘰 𝘶𝘴. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘵. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘕𝘢𝘢𝘯𝘪 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴, 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦."
💌 I'm sorry that I judge a book by its cover. I know it's ridiculous - but I can't help it. Thinking of a book with a cute cover and title on it, I thought it must be a romantic lovey dovey themed page. But yes, I was wrong. With no judgement, I began this book with no 'that much expectation' - but now I'm into that loop 'what should be my next read from the same author that put this insane story in this book'.
💌 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙮
• Aashna and her Naani, Rekha Shekhawat - they share a special bond like no-one can ever be in this same relationship. For me, they look like best friends. Who share everything, protect each other and insanely secure about themselves - secure to keep themselves safe from one damn person and to protect one person from that one. And he's none other than Aashna's father.
• He's nothing but an example of deep rooted patriarchy. He is a religious one but never thinks to condemn his own cruel behaviour towards his wife. But what makes me think about the whole situation is - why doesn't her mother fight back though she herself is a working woman and lives in her own house? Maybe the answer also lies to the root of this patriarchal system.
• It all happens in front of a child named Aashna. Her Naani tries to stop and intrude in between them to save her daughter but she realises soon that peace is off their plate. They have to bear the punishment of overestimating the actions of a particular person who doesn't even recognise them as human beings. But what about that child who suffers thoroughly after seeing her parents like this? She realises - "𝘍𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥. 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘪𝘵. 𝘐 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘵."
💌 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣?
The part where she realises that her mother was wronged too by her father in every means and to make Aashna know about her feelings, her mother replies to her feelings with her letter, so that she can win her daughter's heart is a wholesome part. It's not about the end of a situation but it's about taking that notion to start your future securely and safely. With love, this mother daughter duo starts their new journey. At the end when she dedicated her book to her mother with her own title, that was the feeling of numbness. The realisation makes her understand that finally she's free and her mother too!
" '𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰?'
𝘐 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘥, 𝘈𝘢𝘬𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪 𝘒𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘺𝘢. 𝘔𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.' "
💌 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙚
• 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚: The insane amount of love is found through the eyes of Aashna - from getting her Naani's love to loosing it, from believing in friendship with Shanvika and Kanishq to loosing them both at the same time, again finding love again - Aashna makes us fall in love with the plot again.
• 𝙃𝙖𝙩𝙚: "Charity begins at home" - but what if "home" is the least part in your life to be there? I love how the author put synchronous parts all together to portray the violence against women - even if it's about your own wife or daughter, it's against all odds that a 𝘔𝘈𝘕 not prioritized any of them as his family. Is it about him? Or it's also about those who think ill of women? Or thinks that women are their possession. Or does this patriarchy gives them the right to misbehave with them in any occurrences in the name of 𝘙𝘐𝘎𝘏𝘛?
"𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳? 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵?"
• 𝙐𝙥𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜: The topic puts me off guard how can upbringing affect human beings! An improper upbringing can make a child turn into a monster like Aashna's father who walks on the path of his ancestors who make him taught that women should be under his hand and if the criteria of "her situation" doesn't match with them, don't think of her as a human being. This upbringing also matches the thinking of Naani and her daughter. Both are relatable in their thinking and understanding. They prioritize other's existence in their lives more than themselves - they think ill of themselves more than anyone can justify them. Their struggle re-creates the manner of Aashna who starts to doubt herself. She thinks that she's of no use to anyone. Even she has to prove herself to everyone to bring value into her life. Is this the effect of older generations values or the norms of familial status?
• 𝙎𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙣𝙭𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮: This theme of upbringing also brings social anxiety in her life. She starts doubting herself. She thinks that she's unworthy of everything till she meets Shanvika. Her doubts are gone after she comes to know about Shanvika's past. She accepts that everyone has their own trauma to deal with - from her Naani's death to Shanvika's trauma of abuse - they're all dealing with something. But is this permanent? The bond that helps to remove the social anxiety also brings back the trauma after the reason left. If the bond can remove Aashna's anxiety then their deliberate attack can bring them back!
• 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩: The very support that Aashna wanted from her family was given by Shanvika and Kanishq. The love and hope that this duo bring into her life can be a discussion of 'jealousy'. How beautifully they handled her when she broke down for her father, how she demotivated herself for degrading her Naani's dreams and maybe this is the reason why she was craving for their presence.
• 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙤𝙢: Aashna didn't fall into the trap of freedom taught by her mother but she soon realises that
"𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘥. 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘧 𝘐'𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧: 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘺. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘮𝘦. 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘳. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘮𝘦."
• And to be honest, this is our main mantra too. I wished to know about Kanishq and Aashna and later wanted to think about Aashna and Atharv - if they stayed together or not! What about Shanvika? And what about her own mother? Maybe it was realised later on that, freedom is not about compromising with your own life but to go deep down with your questions to find their answers.
💌 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩
It's a win win situation. Every aspect of this book and every character is there to be loved. They're unforgettable. But the end was unexpected. How the threads match with that ease is divine. I started this book the previous week and in just 4 days I finished reading it. And it was that addictive - not exaggerating anything from my part, but after a very long time I'm reading something Indian with that much intense plotline and proper character analysis. Each and every character has been portrayed beautifully that every part falls in proper places.
This is my 5/5 read of the month of May. And again I can never forget the story of Aashna.
𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧: 𝙍𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙫𝙞𝙠 𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙝
"𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦'𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘯? 𝘔𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘢. 𝘛𝘰 𝘶𝘴. 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘵. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘕𝘢𝘢𝘯𝘪 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴, 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦."
💌 I'm sorry that I judge a book by its cover. I know it's ridiculous - but I can't help it. Thinking of a book with a cute cover and title on it, I thought it must be a romantic lovey dovey themed page. But yes, I was wrong. With no judgement, I began this book with no 'that much expectation' - but now I'm into that loop 'what should be my next read from the same author that put this insane story in this book'.
💌 𝙎𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙮
• Aashna and her Naani, Rekha Shekhawat - they share a special bond like no-one can ever be in this same relationship. For me, they look like best friends. Who share everything, protect each other and insanely secure about themselves - secure to keep themselves safe from one damn person and to protect one person from that one. And he's none other than Aashna's father.
• He's nothing but an example of deep rooted patriarchy. He is a religious one but never thinks to condemn his own cruel behaviour towards his wife. But what makes me think about the whole situation is - why doesn't her mother fight back though she herself is a working woman and lives in her own house? Maybe the answer also lies to the root of this patriarchal system.
• It all happens in front of a child named Aashna. Her Naani tries to stop and intrude in between them to save her daughter but she realises soon that peace is off their plate. They have to bear the punishment of overestimating the actions of a particular person who doesn't even recognise them as human beings. But what about that child who suffers thoroughly after seeing her parents like this? She realises - "𝘍𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥. 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘪𝘵. 𝘐 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘵."
💌 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣?
The part where she realises that her mother was wronged too by her father in every means and to make Aashna know about her feelings, her mother replies to her feelings with her letter, so that she can win her daughter's heart is a wholesome part. It's not about the end of a situation but it's about taking that notion to start your future securely and safely. With love, this mother daughter duo starts their new journey. At the end when she dedicated her book to her mother with her own title, that was the feeling of numbness. The realisation makes her understand that finally she's free and her mother too!
" '𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰?'
𝘐 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘥, 𝘈𝘢𝘬𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪 𝘒𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘺𝘢. 𝘔𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.' "
💌 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙚
• 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚: The insane amount of love is found through the eyes of Aashna - from getting her Naani's love to loosing it, from believing in friendship with Shanvika and Kanishq to loosing them both at the same time, again finding love again - Aashna makes us fall in love with the plot again.
• 𝙃𝙖𝙩𝙚: "Charity begins at home" - but what if "home" is the least part in your life to be there? I love how the author put synchronous parts all together to portray the violence against women - even if it's about your own wife or daughter, it's against all odds that a 𝘔𝘈𝘕 not prioritized any of them as his family. Is it about him? Or it's also about those who think ill of women? Or thinks that women are their possession. Or does this patriarchy gives them the right to misbehave with them in any occurrences in the name of 𝘙𝘐𝘎𝘏𝘛?
"𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳? 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵?"
• 𝙐𝙥𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙜: The topic puts me off guard how can upbringing affect human beings! An improper upbringing can make a child turn into a monster like Aashna's father who walks on the path of his ancestors who make him taught that women should be under his hand and if the criteria of "her situation" doesn't match with them, don't think of her as a human being. This upbringing also matches the thinking of Naani and her daughter. Both are relatable in their thinking and understanding. They prioritize other's existence in their lives more than themselves - they think ill of themselves more than anyone can justify them. Their struggle re-creates the manner of Aashna who starts to doubt herself. She thinks that she's of no use to anyone. Even she has to prove herself to everyone to bring value into her life. Is this the effect of older generations values or the norms of familial status?
• 𝙎𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙣𝙭𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮: This theme of upbringing also brings social anxiety in her life. She starts doubting herself. She thinks that she's unworthy of everything till she meets Shanvika. Her doubts are gone after she comes to know about Shanvika's past. She accepts that everyone has their own trauma to deal with - from her Naani's death to Shanvika's trauma of abuse - they're all dealing with something. But is this permanent? The bond that helps to remove the social anxiety also brings back the trauma after the reason left. If the bond can remove Aashna's anxiety then their deliberate attack can bring them back!
• 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩: The very support that Aashna wanted from her family was given by Shanvika and Kanishq. The love and hope that this duo bring into her life can be a discussion of 'jealousy'. How beautifully they handled her when she broke down for her father, how she demotivated herself for degrading her Naani's dreams and maybe this is the reason why she was craving for their presence.
• 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙤𝙢: Aashna didn't fall into the trap of freedom taught by her mother but she soon realises that
"𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘥. 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘧 𝘐'𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧: 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘺. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘮𝘦. 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘳. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘮𝘦."
• And to be honest, this is our main mantra too. I wished to know about Kanishq and Aashna and later wanted to think about Aashna and Atharv - if they stayed together or not! What about Shanvika? And what about her own mother? Maybe it was realised later on that, freedom is not about compromising with your own life but to go deep down with your questions to find their answers.
💌 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙘𝙩
It's a win win situation. Every aspect of this book and every character is there to be loved. They're unforgettable. But the end was unexpected. How the threads match with that ease is divine. I started this book the previous week and in just 4 days I finished reading it. And it was that addictive - not exaggerating anything from my part, but after a very long time I'm reading something Indian with that much intense plotline and proper character analysis. Each and every character has been portrayed beautifully that every part falls in proper places.
This is my 5/5 read of the month of May. And again I can never forget the story of Aashna.
January 13, 2026
This book made me feel emotionally irritable in the best possible way. It’s not a love story in the typical sense, and that’s what makes it stand out. It’s more of a fictional life journey of a girl, tracing her path from childhood to the phase where she finds her soulmate.
The story revolves around her school life, college days, career, job, relationships, and most importantly, her childhood trauma shaped by an unhappy and violent family environment. That emotional depth makes the story very connecting, relatable, and raw.
As an Indian reader reading a book by an Indian author, it felt even more personal and familiar. The writing has a cozy, reflective vibe, and the story feels close to real life rather than dramatic fiction.
It’s emotional, thoughtful, and quietly powerful. A good, meaningful read.
The story revolves around her school life, college days, career, job, relationships, and most importantly, her childhood trauma shaped by an unhappy and violent family environment. That emotional depth makes the story very connecting, relatable, and raw.
As an Indian reader reading a book by an Indian author, it felt even more personal and familiar. The writing has a cozy, reflective vibe, and the story feels close to real life rather than dramatic fiction.
It’s emotional, thoughtful, and quietly powerful. A good, meaningful read.
May 4, 2026
There are some books that tell a story, and then there are those that quietly excavate something within you, an ache you didn’t know had a name. "I Cannot Say Goodbye to You" belongs, unmistakably, to the last category. It does not arrive with narrative spectacle or structural bravado. Instead, it lingers softly, insistently, like a memory you wish would loosen its grip but never quite does.
At its emotional core lies Aashna, a protagonist shaped less by what happens to her and more by what is withheld from her. Love, in this novel, is not an abundant force; it is scarce, conditional, and often painfully deferred. From a childhood marked by volatility and silence to an adulthood shadowed by emotional hesitation, Aashna becomes less a character and more a psychological landscape, one where attachment and abandonment exist in constant, uneasy proximity.
What makes the book compelling is not simply that it portrays trauma, but that it interrogates its afterlife. The question is not what happened to Aashna, but what stayed and what stays, the author suggests, is not always visible. It manifests in her inability to trust permanence, in her instinct to retreat from joy before it dissolves, in her quiet transformation into someone who leaves, not out of indifference, but out of preemptive self-preservation.
The romantic thread, primarily through Kanishk and Atharv, functions less as a conventional love triangle and more as a study in emotional compatibility. Kanishk embodies a kind of cinematic affection, warm, attentive, almost idealized. Yet there is a subtle artificiality to him, as though he exists more as a narrative promise than a fully realized emotional counterpart. Atharv, by contrast, operates on a quieter frequency. He understands pain not as an abstract concept but as lived experience, and it is this shared vocabulary of suffering that renders his connection with Aashna more grounded, more believable.
But the author is not particularly interested in offering resolution through romance. Love, here, is neither salvation nor closure. It is, at best, a temporary refuge and at worst, another site of vulnerability. The book resists the temptation to romanticize healing. Instead, it presents a more uncomfortable truth that sometimes, love does not repair us; it simply reveals the fractures more clearly.
•••
Stylistically, the book bears the unmistakable imprint of its author’s poetic origins. The prose is fluid, accessible, and often disarmingly simple. There is a rhythm to the writing, a quiet cadence that mirrors the internal monologue of someone processing grief in real time. At its best, this simplicity becomes its greatest strength, allowing the emotional weight to emerge organically without being burdened by linguistic excess.
•••
However, this same quality occasionally becomes a limitation. The narrative has a tendency to circle its own emotional terrain, revisiting familiar sentiments, loss, fear, withdrawal, without always deepening them. What initially feels like thematic consistency begins, in later sections, to resemble repetition. The pacing suffers as a result, particularly in the latter half, where the story seems less interested in progression and more in reiteration.
•••
There are also moments where the emotional intensity borders on overextension. The book is at its most powerful when it trusts silence when it allows absence to speak. But at times, it leans too heavily into articulation, spelling out feelings that might have resonated more deeply if left implied. This slight lack of restraint dilutes what is otherwise a carefully constructed emotional atmosphere.
•••
Yet, despite these imperfections, there is something undeniably sincere about the book. It does not posture as profound; it simply is. Its strength lies in its refusal to offer easy answers. There is no neat resolution, no definitive sense of closure, only a quiet acknowledgment that some wounds do not heal in ways that are visible or complete.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the novel is its understanding of grief, not as an event, but as a condition. It does not move linearly, nor does it resolve itself within narrative timelines. It lingers, resurfaces, reshapes. In that sense, the book feels less like a story and more like an emotional continuum, one that extends beyond its final page.
✍️ Strengths :
🔸Captures the psychological aftermath of childhood trauma with rare emotional precision
🔸Portrays love as complex, fragile, and often insufficient rather than idealized
🔸Maintains a deeply intimate, almost confessional narrative voice
🔸Explores grief as a lingering, evolving presence rather than a resolved arc
•••
✒️ Areas for Improvement :
▪️Repetitive emotional beats that slightly dilute narrative momentum
▪️Occasional over-articulation of feelings that could have been more subtly implied
▪️Uneven pacing, particularly in the latter half of the book
▪️Some character dynamics (notably Kanishk) feel more symbolic than fully fleshed out
•••
In conclusion, it is not a perfect book and it does not aspire to be. Its ambition lies elsewhere, in its attempt to articulate the quiet, often invisible ways in which we carry our past into our present. It is a book that understands that love is not always about holding on; sometimes, it is about learning why we let go. What remains, long after the final page, is not the plot but the feeling, the unsettling recognition that healing is rarely linear, and that the hardest goodbyes are often the ones we never fully say.
At its emotional core lies Aashna, a protagonist shaped less by what happens to her and more by what is withheld from her. Love, in this novel, is not an abundant force; it is scarce, conditional, and often painfully deferred. From a childhood marked by volatility and silence to an adulthood shadowed by emotional hesitation, Aashna becomes less a character and more a psychological landscape, one where attachment and abandonment exist in constant, uneasy proximity.
What makes the book compelling is not simply that it portrays trauma, but that it interrogates its afterlife. The question is not what happened to Aashna, but what stayed and what stays, the author suggests, is not always visible. It manifests in her inability to trust permanence, in her instinct to retreat from joy before it dissolves, in her quiet transformation into someone who leaves, not out of indifference, but out of preemptive self-preservation.
The romantic thread, primarily through Kanishk and Atharv, functions less as a conventional love triangle and more as a study in emotional compatibility. Kanishk embodies a kind of cinematic affection, warm, attentive, almost idealized. Yet there is a subtle artificiality to him, as though he exists more as a narrative promise than a fully realized emotional counterpart. Atharv, by contrast, operates on a quieter frequency. He understands pain not as an abstract concept but as lived experience, and it is this shared vocabulary of suffering that renders his connection with Aashna more grounded, more believable.
But the author is not particularly interested in offering resolution through romance. Love, here, is neither salvation nor closure. It is, at best, a temporary refuge and at worst, another site of vulnerability. The book resists the temptation to romanticize healing. Instead, it presents a more uncomfortable truth that sometimes, love does not repair us; it simply reveals the fractures more clearly.
•••
Stylistically, the book bears the unmistakable imprint of its author’s poetic origins. The prose is fluid, accessible, and often disarmingly simple. There is a rhythm to the writing, a quiet cadence that mirrors the internal monologue of someone processing grief in real time. At its best, this simplicity becomes its greatest strength, allowing the emotional weight to emerge organically without being burdened by linguistic excess.
•••
However, this same quality occasionally becomes a limitation. The narrative has a tendency to circle its own emotional terrain, revisiting familiar sentiments, loss, fear, withdrawal, without always deepening them. What initially feels like thematic consistency begins, in later sections, to resemble repetition. The pacing suffers as a result, particularly in the latter half, where the story seems less interested in progression and more in reiteration.
•••
There are also moments where the emotional intensity borders on overextension. The book is at its most powerful when it trusts silence when it allows absence to speak. But at times, it leans too heavily into articulation, spelling out feelings that might have resonated more deeply if left implied. This slight lack of restraint dilutes what is otherwise a carefully constructed emotional atmosphere.
•••
Yet, despite these imperfections, there is something undeniably sincere about the book. It does not posture as profound; it simply is. Its strength lies in its refusal to offer easy answers. There is no neat resolution, no definitive sense of closure, only a quiet acknowledgment that some wounds do not heal in ways that are visible or complete.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the novel is its understanding of grief, not as an event, but as a condition. It does not move linearly, nor does it resolve itself within narrative timelines. It lingers, resurfaces, reshapes. In that sense, the book feels less like a story and more like an emotional continuum, one that extends beyond its final page.
✍️ Strengths :
🔸Captures the psychological aftermath of childhood trauma with rare emotional precision
🔸Portrays love as complex, fragile, and often insufficient rather than idealized
🔸Maintains a deeply intimate, almost confessional narrative voice
🔸Explores grief as a lingering, evolving presence rather than a resolved arc
•••
✒️ Areas for Improvement :
▪️Repetitive emotional beats that slightly dilute narrative momentum
▪️Occasional over-articulation of feelings that could have been more subtly implied
▪️Uneven pacing, particularly in the latter half of the book
▪️Some character dynamics (notably Kanishk) feel more symbolic than fully fleshed out
•••
In conclusion, it is not a perfect book and it does not aspire to be. Its ambition lies elsewhere, in its attempt to articulate the quiet, often invisible ways in which we carry our past into our present. It is a book that understands that love is not always about holding on; sometimes, it is about learning why we let go. What remains, long after the final page, is not the plot but the feeling, the unsettling recognition that healing is rarely linear, and that the hardest goodbyes are often the ones we never fully say.
Review of advance copy
Honoured to be the first reviewer on Goodreads.
This was my first time reading a book by Rithvik Singh, and it left a lasting impression on me.
The writing immediately drew me in. The prose is descriptive and lyrical, which makes sense once you learn that the author is a poet. There were many heart-tugging, thought-provoking lines that stayed with me long after I finished reading.
My favourite:
"Dear Ma,
My heart was created in your womb, so why does it still see you as a stranger?"
OOOOOFFF!!! Powerful!
This was my first time reading a book by Rithvik Singh, and it left a lasting impression on me.
The writing immediately drew me in. The prose is descriptive and lyrical, which makes sense once you learn that the author is a poet. There were many heart-tugging, thought-provoking lines that stayed with me long after I finished reading.
My favourite:
"Dear Ma,
My heart was created in your womb, so why does it still see you as a stranger?"
OOOOOFFF!!! Powerful!
May 12, 2026
I Cannot Say Goodbye to You by Rithvik Singh completely shattered every expectation I had from this book.
I picked it up thinking it would be a soft emotional romance because of the cover and title but what I got instead was a deeply layered story about trauma, patriarchy, fear, healing, love, and freedom.
At the center of the story is Aashna a girl growing up in a home where silence becomes survival and fear becomes routine. The bond she shares with her Naani, Rekha Shekhawat, was easily one of the most beautiful parts of the book for me. Their relationship carried warmth, safety, and unconditional love in a house filled with emotional violence.
The book talks about patriarchy in such a raw and honest way. Aashna’s father hides behind religion and authority while continuously hurting the women in his own family. And through Aashna’s eyes, we see how childhood trauma quietly shapes self-worth, relationships, and even the ability to trust love.
But despite all the heaviness, this book also gives hope. Shanvika and Kanishq bring light into Aashna’s lonely life and remind her that love can exist without fear. The emotional growth, friendships, and journey toward freedom made this story unforgettable for me.
What I Liked About This Book:-
- The emotional depth of Aashna and Naani’s relationship
- Raw and realistic portrayal of patriarchy and domestic trauma
- Beautiful writing filled with memorable quotes
- Every character felt layered and emotionally real
- The exploration of social anxiety, self-doubt, and healing
- The way friendship and support were written with so much warmth
- The ending felt emotional, satisfying, and meaningful
What Stayed With Me:-
- Fear becoming a normal part of childhood can completely shape a person’s personality
- Love without respect can slowly destroy someone from within
- The way women are often taught to endure pain instead of leaving it
- How generational trauma silently passes from one person to another
- The idea that freedom is not selfish — sometimes it is survival
- Aashna realising that self-respect matters more than staying in painful relationships
- “I will never disrespect myself by staying with someone who refuses to respect me.” this line stayed in my mind long after I finished the book
Final Verdict
This book is heartbreaking, comforting, intense, and incredibly human all at once. It’s not just a story about pain but it’s about learning to walk away from it and choosing yourself despite everything.
Definitely one of the most emotionally impactful Indian fiction books I’ve read in a long time.
I picked it up thinking it would be a soft emotional romance because of the cover and title but what I got instead was a deeply layered story about trauma, patriarchy, fear, healing, love, and freedom.
At the center of the story is Aashna a girl growing up in a home where silence becomes survival and fear becomes routine. The bond she shares with her Naani, Rekha Shekhawat, was easily one of the most beautiful parts of the book for me. Their relationship carried warmth, safety, and unconditional love in a house filled with emotional violence.
The book talks about patriarchy in such a raw and honest way. Aashna’s father hides behind religion and authority while continuously hurting the women in his own family. And through Aashna’s eyes, we see how childhood trauma quietly shapes self-worth, relationships, and even the ability to trust love.
But despite all the heaviness, this book also gives hope. Shanvika and Kanishq bring light into Aashna’s lonely life and remind her that love can exist without fear. The emotional growth, friendships, and journey toward freedom made this story unforgettable for me.
What I Liked About This Book:-
- The emotional depth of Aashna and Naani’s relationship
- Raw and realistic portrayal of patriarchy and domestic trauma
- Beautiful writing filled with memorable quotes
- Every character felt layered and emotionally real
- The exploration of social anxiety, self-doubt, and healing
- The way friendship and support were written with so much warmth
- The ending felt emotional, satisfying, and meaningful
What Stayed With Me:-
- Fear becoming a normal part of childhood can completely shape a person’s personality
- Love without respect can slowly destroy someone from within
- The way women are often taught to endure pain instead of leaving it
- How generational trauma silently passes from one person to another
- The idea that freedom is not selfish — sometimes it is survival
- Aashna realising that self-respect matters more than staying in painful relationships
- “I will never disrespect myself by staying with someone who refuses to respect me.” this line stayed in my mind long after I finished the book
Final Verdict
This book is heartbreaking, comforting, intense, and incredibly human all at once. It’s not just a story about pain but it’s about learning to walk away from it and choosing yourself despite everything.
Definitely one of the most emotionally impactful Indian fiction books I’ve read in a long time.
April 22, 2026
'I Cannot Say Goodbye to You' by Rithvik Singh is my favourite read of 2026 so far. I was engrossed so much while reading this book that I finished it in a single day. Aashna's story is fiction, but it didn't seem so. It felt very real. I have wanted to hug many fictional characters while reading different books, but never have I ever wanted to get into a book and hug any character as much as I wanted to hug Aashna. You know that feeling when your throat closes up? Yes, exactly that. A few portions of the book were so intense with emotions, my throat dried up and I felt kind of suffocated. But books that do that to you are really good!
Aashna is the protagonist of the story who has had a very difficult life, from her very childhood. She only had her loving and caring Naani. Naani was literally her world. But fate had some cruel plans for her. Naani's death turned her world upside down. Aashna felt helpless, sad, depressed, not knowing what to do, when she was thrown away to the school hostel by her parents. But life took a turn there, but for the good this time. But was it going to be worth it?
But Aashna's life has never been easy. Her world turned upside down the second time. While reading, I knew the friendship and relationship won't be the same for some reason. I was so upset about what happened to her! I wanted to cry my eyes out and be the best friend she needed. But well, the ending was really good! I prayed for something like this for Aashna. After all she went through, she deserved what she got in the end. It was fulfilling and thank God, she found him, otherwise I really would have cried.
The book mainly focuses on friendship, relationships, family dynamics, emotions, attachment, and memories. All the characters are well developed. I'm grateful for Shanvika's friendship and Kanishq's love for Aashna, otherwise the story wouldn't have been the same. What I loved most about the story is its easy flowing writing style. This was my first book by the author and the story absolutely amazed me, and it pulled me out of my reading slump! If you're a romance reader and want to read a book full of emotions with which you can relate, I'd definitely suggest this book.
Trigger warning- Childhood trauma, abuse, anxiety.
Aashna is the protagonist of the story who has had a very difficult life, from her very childhood. She only had her loving and caring Naani. Naani was literally her world. But fate had some cruel plans for her. Naani's death turned her world upside down. Aashna felt helpless, sad, depressed, not knowing what to do, when she was thrown away to the school hostel by her parents. But life took a turn there, but for the good this time. But was it going to be worth it?
But Aashna's life has never been easy. Her world turned upside down the second time. While reading, I knew the friendship and relationship won't be the same for some reason. I was so upset about what happened to her! I wanted to cry my eyes out and be the best friend she needed. But well, the ending was really good! I prayed for something like this for Aashna. After all she went through, she deserved what she got in the end. It was fulfilling and thank God, she found him, otherwise I really would have cried.
The book mainly focuses on friendship, relationships, family dynamics, emotions, attachment, and memories. All the characters are well developed. I'm grateful for Shanvika's friendship and Kanishq's love for Aashna, otherwise the story wouldn't have been the same. What I loved most about the story is its easy flowing writing style. This was my first book by the author and the story absolutely amazed me, and it pulled me out of my reading slump! If you're a romance reader and want to read a book full of emotions with which you can relate, I'd definitely suggest this book.
Trigger warning- Childhood trauma, abuse, anxiety.
April 29, 2026
It’s hard to live when you imagine forever with someone and then have to learn how to live without them. That feeling sits quietly at the heart of I Cannot Say Goodbye to You, the debut novel by Rithvik Singh. Before this book, Singh was known for his poetry, writing short, emotionally direct pieces that explored love, loss, and everything in between. That background is visible here too, as he expands those emotions into a longer narrative while trying to retain the same intimacy and honesty.
The first thing that draws you in is the presentation. The cover is soft and understated, quietly reflecting the tone of the story, and the overall feel of the book shows careful thought in how it reaches its readers. Beyond that, it is the emotional core that stays with you. The story follows Aashna, whose life is shaped early by instability, grief, and the absence of safety. As she grows, those early experiences do not fade, they continue to shape how she connects with people and how she protects herself. There is something deeply familiar in that pattern, especially for anyone who has experienced personal loss, where the fear of losing again can feel just as strong as the loss itself.
At times, the writing carries the influence of Singh’s earlier poetry, simple, direct, and emotionally aware, though as a novel it occasionally lingers longer than needed. Still, there are moments that feel undeniably real, especially in how grief is portrayed as something that stays with you rather than something you simply move on from. It does not try too hard to be perfect, and that honesty works in its favor. In the end, this is less about grand romance and more about the quiet, complicated aftermath of loving someone deeply and learning what remains when they are no longer there.
The first thing that draws you in is the presentation. The cover is soft and understated, quietly reflecting the tone of the story, and the overall feel of the book shows careful thought in how it reaches its readers. Beyond that, it is the emotional core that stays with you. The story follows Aashna, whose life is shaped early by instability, grief, and the absence of safety. As she grows, those early experiences do not fade, they continue to shape how she connects with people and how she protects herself. There is something deeply familiar in that pattern, especially for anyone who has experienced personal loss, where the fear of losing again can feel just as strong as the loss itself.
At times, the writing carries the influence of Singh’s earlier poetry, simple, direct, and emotionally aware, though as a novel it occasionally lingers longer than needed. Still, there are moments that feel undeniably real, especially in how grief is portrayed as something that stays with you rather than something you simply move on from. It does not try too hard to be perfect, and that honesty works in its favor. In the end, this is less about grand romance and more about the quiet, complicated aftermath of loving someone deeply and learning what remains when they are no longer there.
May 8, 2026
I had heard so much about Rithivik's writing that I really wanted to try something myself. And I must say that his writings felt very lyrical to me, it had such a tying rhythm, a melody, a bond. I love how he uses metaphors to convey such intense emotions so easily. And how he connects them to the situation.
At its core, I Cannot Say Goodbye to You is about a girl, Aashna, who grows up feeling emotionally abandoned long before she experiences romantic contradictions. That detail matters because it explains why love, when it finally enters her life, feels both healing and terrifying. The story leans into that contradiction: wanting someone deeply but also fearing the damage they could do.
The book starts with her childhood, and we see how terrible those times were for her. Growing up in a toxic environment, always fearful, is something no child should go through. And then losing the only one in her life who ever cared for her, her naani, was a terrible blow for Aashna. Soon, she was sent off to boarding school instead of getting the love she deserved from her parents.
We see Aashna navigating different stages of her life with conflicting emotions. The book captures loneliness, attachment, and heartbreak in a way that feels lived-in, not exaggerated. Her reaction to the emotions also feels very honest; she is not shown as an ideal character but as a real one. She lashes out, smokes – does what we see people next to us doing.
The writing is easy and will immediately catch your reading attention. There are some editing errors; however, the emotional gravity of the book makes it a good read. If you want to pick up a non-typical romance book ( and want to shed a few tears ) give this a chance.
At its core, I Cannot Say Goodbye to You is about a girl, Aashna, who grows up feeling emotionally abandoned long before she experiences romantic contradictions. That detail matters because it explains why love, when it finally enters her life, feels both healing and terrifying. The story leans into that contradiction: wanting someone deeply but also fearing the damage they could do.
The book starts with her childhood, and we see how terrible those times were for her. Growing up in a toxic environment, always fearful, is something no child should go through. And then losing the only one in her life who ever cared for her, her naani, was a terrible blow for Aashna. Soon, she was sent off to boarding school instead of getting the love she deserved from her parents.
We see Aashna navigating different stages of her life with conflicting emotions. The book captures loneliness, attachment, and heartbreak in a way that feels lived-in, not exaggerated. Her reaction to the emotions also feels very honest; she is not shown as an ideal character but as a real one. She lashes out, smokes – does what we see people next to us doing.
The writing is easy and will immediately catch your reading attention. There are some editing errors; however, the emotional gravity of the book makes it a good read. If you want to pick up a non-typical romance book ( and want to shed a few tears ) give this a chance.
May 9, 2026
This book was my gateway back into fiction, and after a long hiatus from romance, I couldn’t have picked a better soul-stirring return. I picked this up randomly at a bookstore in Delhi expecting a light read, but I was completely blindsided by the emotional spectrum it covers. I cried at least five or six times reading through it. The writing is so cathartic that I frequently had to pause just to sit with the feelings the prose surfaced within me.
The maturity here is striking. It explores love that cannot last, the weight of being truly seen by someone and then losing them, and the grueling but beautiful process of slowly being vulnerable enough to be seen again. Witnessing the protagonist’s journey from standing up to her father to finding a truly safe space in a partner felt like the ultimate emotional payoff.
I’m honestly a little jealous of the protagonist. She processes things in her early college years that have taken me until my 30s to navigate!
And that ending? Do you believe in winks from the universe? Because how this book closes is one massive wink. For some, it might feel like a "cheesy" book trope, but for those of us who have experienced those moments of pure serendipity in real life, it was absolutely awe-inspiring. My jaw dropped. It felt so complete, so warm, and so fuzzy.
The only reason this isn’t a 5-star review is the book’s stance on "canceling" people. While the book does a fantastic job of encouraging self-discovery and unapologetic boundaries, the loss of her best friend felt like unnecessary stubbornness. I wish it had leaned into the idea of intentional repair work rather than just walking away when mistakes are made.
Still, it is an incredibly wholesome, wonderful journey that I’m so glad I went on.
The maturity here is striking. It explores love that cannot last, the weight of being truly seen by someone and then losing them, and the grueling but beautiful process of slowly being vulnerable enough to be seen again. Witnessing the protagonist’s journey from standing up to her father to finding a truly safe space in a partner felt like the ultimate emotional payoff.
I’m honestly a little jealous of the protagonist. She processes things in her early college years that have taken me until my 30s to navigate!
And that ending? Do you believe in winks from the universe? Because how this book closes is one massive wink. For some, it might feel like a "cheesy" book trope, but for those of us who have experienced those moments of pure serendipity in real life, it was absolutely awe-inspiring. My jaw dropped. It felt so complete, so warm, and so fuzzy.
The only reason this isn’t a 5-star review is the book’s stance on "canceling" people. While the book does a fantastic job of encouraging self-discovery and unapologetic boundaries, the loss of her best friend felt like unnecessary stubbornness. I wish it had leaned into the idea of intentional repair work rather than just walking away when mistakes are made.
Still, it is an incredibly wholesome, wonderful journey that I’m so glad I went on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 9, 2026
What if the hardest part of losing someone isn’t the goodbye, but the silence they leave behind?
While reading I Can't Say Goodbye to You, this thought stayed with me. For Aashna, that silence isn’t just painful—it’s deafening. Growing up in a house filled with her father’s vi***ce and her mother’s helpless silence, her Naani is the only person who makes life feel bearable. She’s her shield, her safe place. And when she suddenly passes away, it feels like the only light in Aashna’s life just goes out.
After that, everything changes. She’s sent off to a hostel, made to feel more like a burden than a daughter. And I think that’s where she starts becoming a “leaver”—someone who walks away before anyone else gets the chance to. Even when she finds a kind of love that feels straight out of a movie, she can’t fully hold onto it. There’s always this fear in her that happiness won’t stay. That it never does.
The book is divided into four parts, and I liked how it traces her journey—from a lonely girl to someone trying to handle a love she doesn’t fully trust. But honestly, somewhere after the second part, it started to feel a bit stretched. The same emotions—hurt, fear, running away—keep coming back in a loop, and it slows things down a little.
Still, I won’t deny this—Rithvik Singh really understands grief. The writing feels heavy in a very real, quiet way. It’s not dramatic, it just lingers… like loss does. For me, this book is less about what happens and more about what stays—the absence, the ache, and the courage it takes to finally stop running.
If you like slow, emotional reads that sit with you rather than rush you, this one might just stay with you for a while.
While reading I Can't Say Goodbye to You, this thought stayed with me. For Aashna, that silence isn’t just painful—it’s deafening. Growing up in a house filled with her father’s vi***ce and her mother’s helpless silence, her Naani is the only person who makes life feel bearable. She’s her shield, her safe place. And when she suddenly passes away, it feels like the only light in Aashna’s life just goes out.
After that, everything changes. She’s sent off to a hostel, made to feel more like a burden than a daughter. And I think that’s where she starts becoming a “leaver”—someone who walks away before anyone else gets the chance to. Even when she finds a kind of love that feels straight out of a movie, she can’t fully hold onto it. There’s always this fear in her that happiness won’t stay. That it never does.
The book is divided into four parts, and I liked how it traces her journey—from a lonely girl to someone trying to handle a love she doesn’t fully trust. But honestly, somewhere after the second part, it started to feel a bit stretched. The same emotions—hurt, fear, running away—keep coming back in a loop, and it slows things down a little.
Still, I won’t deny this—Rithvik Singh really understands grief. The writing feels heavy in a very real, quiet way. It’s not dramatic, it just lingers… like loss does. For me, this book is less about what happens and more about what stays—the absence, the ache, and the courage it takes to finally stop running.
If you like slow, emotional reads that sit with you rather than rush you, this one might just stay with you for a while.
May 6, 2026
This is a love story written by a poet. And you can feel that from the very first page. The words are soft. The feelings are heavy. It is about Aashna. A girl who is sent to boarding school because her parents refuse to love her. She grows up feeling empty. Then she meets someone. A tall, handsome boy who loves her with his whole heart. But love is not always enough to make someone stay. And that is what this book is really about.
I finished this book quickly. Not because it is short. But because the writing is easy and smooth. It pulls you in. But here is the thing. Even though it reads fast, it does not feel light. Some parts hit too close to home. The book does not shy away from pain. Aashna becomes what her mother could never be. A leaver. That line stayed with me for a long time. Keep a tissue box nearby. The warning on the cover is real.
The romance is warm and full of chemistry. The conversations are witty. But the real heart of the book is not the love story. It is the loneliness. The feeling of not belonging anywhere. The book does not tie everything up neatly. It stays messy. Like real life. Sometimes the feelings repeat a little too much. But somehow that also feels honest. Because when you are hurting, you do not say things once. You say them again and again.
This book is not perfect. But it does not need to be. It feels real. It feels like someone sat next to you and told you their truth. If you have ever loved someone you could not keep, or left a place that was supposed to be home, this book will find a corner in your heart. Do not read it for a tidy happy ending. Read it to feel understood. That is enough.
I finished this book quickly. Not because it is short. But because the writing is easy and smooth. It pulls you in. But here is the thing. Even though it reads fast, it does not feel light. Some parts hit too close to home. The book does not shy away from pain. Aashna becomes what her mother could never be. A leaver. That line stayed with me for a long time. Keep a tissue box nearby. The warning on the cover is real.
The romance is warm and full of chemistry. The conversations are witty. But the real heart of the book is not the love story. It is the loneliness. The feeling of not belonging anywhere. The book does not tie everything up neatly. It stays messy. Like real life. Sometimes the feelings repeat a little too much. But somehow that also feels honest. Because when you are hurting, you do not say things once. You say them again and again.
This book is not perfect. But it does not need to be. It feels real. It feels like someone sat next to you and told you their truth. If you have ever loved someone you could not keep, or left a place that was supposed to be home, this book will find a corner in your heart. Do not read it for a tidy happy ending. Read it to feel understood. That is enough.
April 23, 2026
I Cannot Say Goodbye to You is about Aashna’s life....her childhood, her struggles growing up, and how her past shapes the way she loves as an adult. I finished this book two days ago and I still catch myself thinking about her.
The story follows her from childhood all the way into adulthood. You see her in school, then college, then navigating her first job and her first serious relationship. But the book keeps pulling you back to one thing...her home life growing up. Her father has this anger that fills every corner of the house. Her mother is mostly silent. The only person who ever made her feel safe was her Nani. Those moments between them are so gentle and pure. You almost forget how heavy the rest of the story is.
Then Aashna grows up and meets someone who actually treats her well. For a while, you think maybe she'll be okay. But old wounds don't heal that easily. She keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop. Every good moment comes with this fear underneath... that happiness is temporary, that loving someone just means you'll lose them later. And slowly, she starts pulling away before anyone gets the chance to leave her first.
The writing is plain and direct. No fancy sentences trying too hard. Some chapters move slowly, but that's how grief works anyway. It doesn't rush.
This isn't a feel good romance. It's a quiet, honest look at how childhood shapes the way we love as adults.
The story follows her from childhood all the way into adulthood. You see her in school, then college, then navigating her first job and her first serious relationship. But the book keeps pulling you back to one thing...her home life growing up. Her father has this anger that fills every corner of the house. Her mother is mostly silent. The only person who ever made her feel safe was her Nani. Those moments between them are so gentle and pure. You almost forget how heavy the rest of the story is.
Then Aashna grows up and meets someone who actually treats her well. For a while, you think maybe she'll be okay. But old wounds don't heal that easily. She keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop. Every good moment comes with this fear underneath... that happiness is temporary, that loving someone just means you'll lose them later. And slowly, she starts pulling away before anyone gets the chance to leave her first.
The writing is plain and direct. No fancy sentences trying too hard. Some chapters move slowly, but that's how grief works anyway. It doesn't rush.
This isn't a feel good romance. It's a quiet, honest look at how childhood shapes the way we love as adults.
May 8, 2026
Rithvik Singh's emotionally complex romance, I Cannot Say Goodbye to You, subtly examines love, abandonment and the lingering effects of childhood trauma. The narrative chronicles Aashna's journey from a lonely upbringing to maturity, highlighting her battles with an uncaring household, a distant mother and an irate father. Her Nani is the only source of warmth she encounters during an otherwise difficult upbringing.
The way this book strikes a balance between compassion and tragedy is what makes it so captivating. Her love relationships with Kanishk and Atharv, as well as her friendship with Shanvika are genuine and profoundly human. Atharv is the best option for Aashna's emotional recovery because he genuinely comprehends her suffering where as Kanishk offers charm and tenderness.
Because of its frank depiction of how our capacity for love is shaped by our prior traumas, I suggest this book. It's a very contemplative tale that lingers long after the final page, not merely a romance.
Aashna's Nani is my favourite character because she embodies unconditional love in a narrative that is riddled with emotional gaps. Her moments have a long-lasting effect because they are tender and hopeful.
Because of its frank depiction of how our capacity for love is shaped by our prior traumas, I suggest this book. It's a very contemplative tale that lingers long after the final page, not merely a romance.
The way this book strikes a balance between compassion and tragedy is what makes it so captivating. Her love relationships with Kanishk and Atharv, as well as her friendship with Shanvika are genuine and profoundly human. Atharv is the best option for Aashna's emotional recovery because he genuinely comprehends her suffering where as Kanishk offers charm and tenderness.
Because of its frank depiction of how our capacity for love is shaped by our prior traumas, I suggest this book. It's a very contemplative tale that lingers long after the final page, not merely a romance.
Aashna's Nani is my favourite character because she embodies unconditional love in a narrative that is riddled with emotional gaps. Her moments have a long-lasting effect because they are tender and hopeful.
Because of its frank depiction of how our capacity for love is shaped by our prior traumas, I suggest this book. It's a very contemplative tale that lingers long after the final page, not merely a romance.
April 20, 2026
I picked up I Cannot Say Goodbye to You without expecting it to hit me this hard but it did. This book didn’t just make me emotional, it made me sit with feelings I didn’t even realise I was carrying.
Aashna as a character stayed with me. There’s this quiet loneliness around her throughout the story and it’s not something loud or dramatic, it’s just there, constant. And maybe that’s why it feels so real. There were so many moments where I just wanted to step into the book and hug her.
What also stood out to me was Rithvik’s writing. It’s simple but there’s a poetic softness to it. Nothing feels overdone but certain lines stay with you longer than you expect. It doesn’t try too hard to sound beautiful and maybe that’s why it actually is.
What really got to me was the way the story deals with loss and attachment. It’s not just about love, it’s about the fear of losing it, the inability to let go and how some people never really leave you even when they’re gone. The parts where she misses her Naani hit very close to home for me. I found myself thinking about my Baba and that made the whole reading experience even more personal.
This isn’t a book you read for the plot. You read it for how it makes you feel. And for me, it made me feel a lot, grief, love, longing, all of it, all at once.
Aashna as a character stayed with me. There’s this quiet loneliness around her throughout the story and it’s not something loud or dramatic, it’s just there, constant. And maybe that’s why it feels so real. There were so many moments where I just wanted to step into the book and hug her.
What also stood out to me was Rithvik’s writing. It’s simple but there’s a poetic softness to it. Nothing feels overdone but certain lines stay with you longer than you expect. It doesn’t try too hard to sound beautiful and maybe that’s why it actually is.
What really got to me was the way the story deals with loss and attachment. It’s not just about love, it’s about the fear of losing it, the inability to let go and how some people never really leave you even when they’re gone. The parts where she misses her Naani hit very close to home for me. I found myself thinking about my Baba and that made the whole reading experience even more personal.
This isn’t a book you read for the plot. You read it for how it makes you feel. And for me, it made me feel a lot, grief, love, longing, all of it, all at once.
May 8, 2026
Rithvik Singh’s I Cannot Say Goodbye to You is a deeply emotional romance novel that blends heartbreak, resilience, and the search for love into a poignant narrative. It’s a story of Aashna, her struggles with abandonment, and the bittersweet relationships that shape her journey.
Aashna Sent to boarding school after her parents refuse to love her, Aashna grows up with a sense of absence and longing.
She meets a charming, movie-like romantic figure who loves her wholeheartedly, but her home life remains haunted by pain and nightmares.
Tired of hurt, Aashna becomes what her mother could never be,a leaver, someone who chooses to walk away.
The novel is filled with witty conversations, off-the-charts chemistry, and unexpected plot turns that keep readers engaged.
A raw exploration of love, abandonment, and resilience.
Speaks to anyone who has struggled with family expectations, heartbreak, or self-discovery.
Perfect for fans of contemporary romance with strong emotional arcs.
Singh’s prose is simple yet lyrical, making it easy to connect with the characters.
I Cannot Say Goodbye to You is a tear-jerker romance that balances heartbreak with hope. It’s ideal for readers who enjoy emotionally charged love stories with relatable characters and dramatic twists. Singh’s storytelling ensures that Aashna’s journey will linger long after the last page.
Aashna Sent to boarding school after her parents refuse to love her, Aashna grows up with a sense of absence and longing.
She meets a charming, movie-like romantic figure who loves her wholeheartedly, but her home life remains haunted by pain and nightmares.
Tired of hurt, Aashna becomes what her mother could never be,a leaver, someone who chooses to walk away.
The novel is filled with witty conversations, off-the-charts chemistry, and unexpected plot turns that keep readers engaged.
A raw exploration of love, abandonment, and resilience.
Speaks to anyone who has struggled with family expectations, heartbreak, or self-discovery.
Perfect for fans of contemporary romance with strong emotional arcs.
Singh’s prose is simple yet lyrical, making it easy to connect with the characters.
I Cannot Say Goodbye to You is a tear-jerker romance that balances heartbreak with hope. It’s ideal for readers who enjoy emotionally charged love stories with relatable characters and dramatic twists. Singh’s storytelling ensures that Aashna’s journey will linger long after the last page.
April 28, 2026
‘I Cannot Say Goodbye to You’ by Rithvik Singh reads exactly like you’d expect from a poet, I.e. soft, emotional, and quietly heavy. The writing lingers more than it rushes, letting you sit with Aashna’s loneliness, her complicated idea of home, and the kind of love that feels both comforting and a little too intense to be real.
.
The romance brings warmth and chemistry, but it’s the undercurrent of loss and leaving that really stays with you. The book doesn’t tie things up neatly, it leans into the messiness of emotions, sometimes repeating them, sometimes pushing them a bit too far, but always with honesty.
It’s not subtle all the time, and it does dip into familiar tropes, but there’s something sincere about it. This isn’t a fast read, even if it moves quickly. It’s the kind you pause between chapters, not because it’s confusing, but because it hits a little too close in places. If you go in expecting a sweeping, dramatic love story, you’ll find that. But underneath it, there’s something more introspective, about grief, about growing up, and about the difficult, often necessary act of letting go.
It’s not perfect, but it doesn’t need to be. It feels honest in the way it lingers and sometimes, that’s enough.
.
The romance brings warmth and chemistry, but it’s the undercurrent of loss and leaving that really stays with you. The book doesn’t tie things up neatly, it leans into the messiness of emotions, sometimes repeating them, sometimes pushing them a bit too far, but always with honesty.
It’s not subtle all the time, and it does dip into familiar tropes, but there’s something sincere about it. This isn’t a fast read, even if it moves quickly. It’s the kind you pause between chapters, not because it’s confusing, but because it hits a little too close in places. If you go in expecting a sweeping, dramatic love story, you’ll find that. But underneath it, there’s something more introspective, about grief, about growing up, and about the difficult, often necessary act of letting go.
It’s not perfect, but it doesn’t need to be. It feels honest in the way it lingers and sometimes, that’s enough.
April 29, 2026
Reading "I Cannot Say Goodbye to You" felt very emotional and close to my heart. It was the kind of book that didn't just tell a story,it made me feel the love, grief, heartbreak, emotional wounds, and the kind of pain that stays with you for a long time.
The book felt like a journey through love, loss, and healing. It showed how hard it can be to hold on to someone, and also how difficult it can be to let go when holding on only causes more hurt. That's why the story stayed with me,it wasn't only about love, but also about emotional strength, acceptance, and moving forward after pain.
The writing style was easy to understand, but the feelings in the book were deep. Some parts made me want to pause and think, and some were so touching that they stayed in my mind even after I finished reading. By the end, I felt a mix of heartbreak and comfort.
But at the end, I didn't just feel sad I also felt a little healed. The book left me with that special kind of emotional ache that heartfelt books often leave behind: the feeling that I've been through something heavy but meaningful.
For me, it wasn't just a love story. It felt like a story about pain, healing, and learning to let go when something hurts too much.
The book felt like a journey through love, loss, and healing. It showed how hard it can be to hold on to someone, and also how difficult it can be to let go when holding on only causes more hurt. That's why the story stayed with me,it wasn't only about love, but also about emotional strength, acceptance, and moving forward after pain.
The writing style was easy to understand, but the feelings in the book were deep. Some parts made me want to pause and think, and some were so touching that they stayed in my mind even after I finished reading. By the end, I felt a mix of heartbreak and comfort.
But at the end, I didn't just feel sad I also felt a little healed. The book left me with that special kind of emotional ache that heartfelt books often leave behind: the feeling that I've been through something heavy but meaningful.
For me, it wasn't just a love story. It felt like a story about pain, healing, and learning to let go when something hurts too much.
May 8, 2026
This story follows Aashna who grows up feeling like a stranger in her own family. After being sent away to boarding school she carries the heavy weight of neglect and the pain of always being the one left behind. The plot shifts when she meets a boy who treats her like a dream but her past trauma makes it hard to fully accept that happiness.
The most moving part is her return home where she has to face the people who hurt her the most. Instead of staying in a cycle of sadness she finally decides to put her own heart first. It is a powerful journey about learning that sometimes leaving is the only way to truly find yourself.
Reading this felt like a warm hug and a reality check all at once. I really felt for Aashna because we have all had those moments where we wonder if we are enough for the people we love. The way the author describes that ache of being misunderstood by family is so spot on and honest.
In my opinion the best part is how it handles the concept of being a leaver. Usually leaving is seen as a bad thing but this book shows it can be an act of bravery. It is a deep and cinematic read that makes you think about your own boundaries while you cry over the beautiful prose.
The most moving part is her return home where she has to face the people who hurt her the most. Instead of staying in a cycle of sadness she finally decides to put her own heart first. It is a powerful journey about learning that sometimes leaving is the only way to truly find yourself.
Reading this felt like a warm hug and a reality check all at once. I really felt for Aashna because we have all had those moments where we wonder if we are enough for the people we love. The way the author describes that ache of being misunderstood by family is so spot on and honest.
In my opinion the best part is how it handles the concept of being a leaver. Usually leaving is seen as a bad thing but this book shows it can be an act of bravery. It is a deep and cinematic read that makes you think about your own boundaries while you cry over the beautiful prose.
April 13, 2026
i cannot say goodbye to you by rithvik singh
Omggg this author's first novel!! This was such an emotional and intense read 🤍
This book really pulls you into Aashna’s world of love, loss, and everything in between. From the beginning, you can feel her loneliness and the weight of not being loved the way she deserves. The story captures that vulnerability so well, especially as she slowly opens her heart again and lets someone in.
What stood out to me was the balance between romance and pain. The love story feels warm, full of chemistry and light moments, but there’s always this underlying sadness that never fully leaves. It’s not just about falling in love - it’s about what happens when life doesn’t let you hold on to it. The writing has that poetic touch, which makes the emotions hit even harder.
Overall, this felt like a heartfelt and bittersweet read that stays with you. It’s messy, emotional, and very real in how it portrays relationships and letting go. If you enjoy romance that makes you feel deeply and maybe even tear up a little, this is definitely one to pick up 🥺✨
Omggg this author's first novel!! This was such an emotional and intense read 🤍
This book really pulls you into Aashna’s world of love, loss, and everything in between. From the beginning, you can feel her loneliness and the weight of not being loved the way she deserves. The story captures that vulnerability so well, especially as she slowly opens her heart again and lets someone in.
What stood out to me was the balance between romance and pain. The love story feels warm, full of chemistry and light moments, but there’s always this underlying sadness that never fully leaves. It’s not just about falling in love - it’s about what happens when life doesn’t let you hold on to it. The writing has that poetic touch, which makes the emotions hit even harder.
Overall, this felt like a heartfelt and bittersweet read that stays with you. It’s messy, emotional, and very real in how it portrays relationships and letting go. If you enjoy romance that makes you feel deeply and maybe even tear up a little, this is definitely one to pick up 🥺✨
January 21, 2026
Rating : 4.5/5
“I Cannot Say Goodbye to You” by Rithvik Singh is a beautifully crafted story that tugged at my heartstrings and left a lasting impact.
The character development is exceptional, especially Aashna’s journey from a vulnerable young girl to a strong, emotionally independent woman 💪.
Her transformation is a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to grow, heal and thrive.
The writing is evocative and immersive, making it feel like you’re experiencing Aashna’s emotions firsthand. the pain of feeling unwanted, the ache of being left out and the struggle to find one’s place in the world 😔.
The author’s words are like a gentle whisper, speaking directly to your soul.
This book is a powerful reminder that growth is a journey and it’s okay to take your time.
I highly recommend this one to anyone who has ever felt lost, unseen, or unheard. It’s a story that will leave you feeling seen, heard, and empowered 🌟
Every girl, every woman, no matter what age you are, deserves to read this book and experience the beauty of Aashna’s journey.
“I Cannot Say Goodbye to You” by Rithvik Singh is a beautifully crafted story that tugged at my heartstrings and left a lasting impact.
The character development is exceptional, especially Aashna’s journey from a vulnerable young girl to a strong, emotionally independent woman 💪.
Her transformation is a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to grow, heal and thrive.
The writing is evocative and immersive, making it feel like you’re experiencing Aashna’s emotions firsthand. the pain of feeling unwanted, the ache of being left out and the struggle to find one’s place in the world 😔.
The author’s words are like a gentle whisper, speaking directly to your soul.
This book is a powerful reminder that growth is a journey and it’s okay to take your time.
I highly recommend this one to anyone who has ever felt lost, unseen, or unheard. It’s a story that will leave you feeling seen, heard, and empowered 🌟
Every girl, every woman, no matter what age you are, deserves to read this book and experience the beauty of Aashna’s journey.
March 8, 2026
Review by Indraja
In a world obsessed with loud "red flags" and surface-level advice, this book stands out as a sanctuary for the emotionally weary. It doesn’t just define boundaries; it breathes life into them through a delicate tapestry of notes, letters, and raw human feeling.
Highlights for me:
1. The Power of Simplicity: The author strips away the clinical jargon, explaining complex psychological boundaries in their simplest, most relatable forms.
2. Deconstructing Triggers: Instead of telling readers to avoid discomfort, the narrative encourages a deep dive into why we react the way we do, turning triggers into tools for character development.
3. Radical Care: At its core, the book is a manual on how to remain soft and caring without being a doormat, teaching readers how to protect their peace in an increasingly cynical social landscape.
"To truly develop, we must look deeper into what triggers us and, more importantly, what we no longer choose to carry."
Amazing light read.
In a world obsessed with loud "red flags" and surface-level advice, this book stands out as a sanctuary for the emotionally weary. It doesn’t just define boundaries; it breathes life into them through a delicate tapestry of notes, letters, and raw human feeling.
Highlights for me:
1. The Power of Simplicity: The author strips away the clinical jargon, explaining complex psychological boundaries in their simplest, most relatable forms.
2. Deconstructing Triggers: Instead of telling readers to avoid discomfort, the narrative encourages a deep dive into why we react the way we do, turning triggers into tools for character development.
3. Radical Care: At its core, the book is a manual on how to remain soft and caring without being a doormat, teaching readers how to protect their peace in an increasingly cynical social landscape.
"To truly develop, we must look deeper into what triggers us and, more importantly, what we no longer choose to carry."
Amazing light read.
April 29, 2026
Love stories always find a soft corner in my heart, but I Cannot Say Goodbye to You by Rithvik Singh felt a little more personal than usual. It’s not just about love, it’s about pain, absence, and the kind of longing that quietly stays with you.
Aashna’s journey really touched me. The way she deals with rejection from her own family and still keeps her heart open, it felt too real and emotional. And then comes that love… intense, filmy in a good way, but also fragile. I liked how their chemistry wasn’t just about romance, but also about comfort and understanding.
I liked the most , is the feeling of not being able to hold on to people you love. The story shows how sometimes love is not enough to make things stay, and that truth hits hard. The writing is simple, easy to read, and flows naturally, which made it even more relatable. Some moments made me smile, while others just quietly hurt.
For me, this book felt like a mix of warmth and heartbreak. It reminds you how love can heal you and break you at the same time. A simple yet emotional read .
Aashna’s journey really touched me. The way she deals with rejection from her own family and still keeps her heart open, it felt too real and emotional. And then comes that love… intense, filmy in a good way, but also fragile. I liked how their chemistry wasn’t just about romance, but also about comfort and understanding.
I liked the most , is the feeling of not being able to hold on to people you love. The story shows how sometimes love is not enough to make things stay, and that truth hits hard. The writing is simple, easy to read, and flows naturally, which made it even more relatable. Some moments made me smile, while others just quietly hurt.
For me, this book felt like a mix of warmth and heartbreak. It reminds you how love can heal you and break you at the same time. A simple yet emotional read .
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