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Priya’s idyllic world turns upside down when she realizes her husband considers her dead weight after stripping her off her inheritance for his ambitions and lavish lifestyle.
Instantly attracted to Priya, Abhimanyu knows getting involved with a married woman is inviting trouble. But despite common sense, cautions and hesitations, he is drawn to help her.
Happily ever after has become a myth for Priya and trying to keep the relationship platonic is becoming more and more difficult for Abhimanyu.
In the tussle between ethics, fears and desires... will Priya embrace a second chance at happiness?
Instantly attracted to Priya, Abhimanyu knows getting involved with a married woman is inviting trouble. But despite common sense, cautions and hesitations, he is drawn to help her.
Happily ever after has become a myth for Priya and trying to keep the relationship platonic is becoming more and more difficult for Abhimanyu.
In the tussle between ethics, fears and desires... will Priya embrace a second chance at happiness?
202 pages, ebook
First published February 14, 2015
17 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Ruchi Singh
47 books124 followersAuthor of the bestselling romantic thriller ‘The Bodyguard’, Ruchi Singh is an IT professional and novelist writing under Romance and Suspense genre. She is a bilingual author and writes in both Hindi and English. Her other notable published novels are ‘Jugnu (Firefly)’ and ‘Guardian Angel’.
Winner of the Times Of India WriteIndia Season 1, she began her writing career writing short stories and articles, which have been published on various forums. She has been a contributing author to a number of anthologies and has published many short stories under various genres. She has also won the Indireads Story Competition, in ‘crime’ genre.
A voracious reader, she loves everything—from classics to memoirs to editorials to chick-lit, but her favourite genre is 'romantic thriller'.
Connect with Ruchi Singh on:
Official Website: ruchisingh.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ruchisinghauthor
Twitter: @ruchiwriter
Winner of the Times Of India WriteIndia Season 1, she began her writing career writing short stories and articles, which have been published on various forums. She has been a contributing author to a number of anthologies and has published many short stories under various genres. She has also won the Indireads Story Competition, in ‘crime’ genre.
A voracious reader, she loves everything—from classics to memoirs to editorials to chick-lit, but her favourite genre is 'romantic thriller'.
Connect with Ruchi Singh on:
Official Website: ruchisingh.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ruchisinghauthor
Twitter: @ruchiwriter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 19, 2015
I must say this is a very promising debut. The author, Ruchi Singh, has a nicely flowing writing style that pulls the reader in and makes reading a joy.
The book centers on Priya who has to deal with a husband who only used her for her money and is now going his merry way. While society expects her to fight for a marriage that has no real value or at least to meekly accept how he hooks up with another woman, the consequences are dire when Priya decides to finally live and search for the happiness she deserves. We follow the sensitive yet strong heroine on her way of accepting what can’t be changed, and changing what people say shouldn’t be changed. I found her transformation credible and was rooting for her courage all the way.
Enter Abhimanyu, a chance encounter that quickly turns into her biggest ally. He falls head over heels in love with Priya, but he tries his best to simply help her and be a great friend. I loved the chemistry and all the fights between the two, and I thought Abhi was an awesome hero with his heart in the right place.
The way the author has portrayed each of the two protagonists and the ‘villain’ is great. I hadn’t expected the twist at the end, but it fits perfectly and increases the suspense.
If you like a well written Indian romance that deals with divorce, true love and a woman finding her value, then you’ll love this book.
The book centers on Priya who has to deal with a husband who only used her for her money and is now going his merry way. While society expects her to fight for a marriage that has no real value or at least to meekly accept how he hooks up with another woman, the consequences are dire when Priya decides to finally live and search for the happiness she deserves. We follow the sensitive yet strong heroine on her way of accepting what can’t be changed, and changing what people say shouldn’t be changed. I found her transformation credible and was rooting for her courage all the way.
Enter Abhimanyu, a chance encounter that quickly turns into her biggest ally. He falls head over heels in love with Priya, but he tries his best to simply help her and be a great friend. I loved the chemistry and all the fights between the two, and I thought Abhi was an awesome hero with his heart in the right place.
The way the author has portrayed each of the two protagonists and the ‘villain’ is great. I hadn’t expected the twist at the end, but it fits perfectly and increases the suspense.
If you like a well written Indian romance that deals with divorce, true love and a woman finding her value, then you’ll love this book.
March 28, 2015
Great debut by Ruchi Singh! I am so glad I read this book.
The title is intriguing - very movie-ish, and as it turns out, very appropriate for this book. The storyline is strong, the characters well developed. The cover is a couple in silhouette against a very Indian backdrop - quite evocative of the plot!
Priya is strong and I love how her relationship with Abhi develops - from irritation to acceptance to love! The author does a good job with throwing twists and turns in the way of the young lovers. Through it all they flirt quite delightfully. And yet they are very well-behaved - despite all the chemistry - no hanky-panky until the divorce is final!
Quite a sweet story. Looking forward to Ruchi Singh's next. I hear it is going to be crime fiction - fun! fun!
The title is intriguing - very movie-ish, and as it turns out, very appropriate for this book. The storyline is strong, the characters well developed. The cover is a couple in silhouette against a very Indian backdrop - quite evocative of the plot!
Priya is strong and I love how her relationship with Abhi develops - from irritation to acceptance to love! The author does a good job with throwing twists and turns in the way of the young lovers. Through it all they flirt quite delightfully. And yet they are very well-behaved - despite all the chemistry - no hanky-panky until the divorce is final!
Quite a sweet story. Looking forward to Ruchi Singh's next. I hear it is going to be crime fiction - fun! fun!
June 8, 2015
I have read a number of short stories by Ruchi Singh on her blog I luv fiction (http://www.iluvfiction.com/search/lab...) and loved them. I had been keen to read her full length novel for a long time, but only got the time now. As I mentioned above, it was unputdownable once I began to read.
Priya is very young when her husband Sameer insists on divorcing her. He’s been cheating on her with other women and living off her earnings for a long time. But innocent Priya trusts him completely. Even when she finds out that he’s sleeping with model Jessica, Priya believes that it’s Jessica who’s got her claws into him and doesn’t realise Sameer is a selfish bastard.
While out with her friends, she meets Abhimanyu. He’s attracted to her from first sight and is shocked when he finds out that she’s married. Drawn to her despite the circumstances and everyone’s advice, Abhi helps Priya when she sets out to woo Sameer back.
The relationship between Abhi and Priya has been built beautifully. Priya seems weak in the beginning, but soon we realise that it’s because she’s young. She grows up fast and realises what kind of a cad her husband is. That’s when she files for a divorce.
I am not going to say much from this point on as I will let out spoilers. But the characters, sequences and the story has been built very well – from the good guys, to the bad guys, to the supporting characters, including Kitkat.
For a first novel, I must congratulate Ruchi Singh on spinning a wonderful story.
VERDICT: A must read if you like romances
Disclaimer: I received a free EPUB version of this book from the author in return for my honest review.
Priya is very young when her husband Sameer insists on divorcing her. He’s been cheating on her with other women and living off her earnings for a long time. But innocent Priya trusts him completely. Even when she finds out that he’s sleeping with model Jessica, Priya believes that it’s Jessica who’s got her claws into him and doesn’t realise Sameer is a selfish bastard.
While out with her friends, she meets Abhimanyu. He’s attracted to her from first sight and is shocked when he finds out that she’s married. Drawn to her despite the circumstances and everyone’s advice, Abhi helps Priya when she sets out to woo Sameer back.
The relationship between Abhi and Priya has been built beautifully. Priya seems weak in the beginning, but soon we realise that it’s because she’s young. She grows up fast and realises what kind of a cad her husband is. That’s when she files for a divorce.
I am not going to say much from this point on as I will let out spoilers. But the characters, sequences and the story has been built very well – from the good guys, to the bad guys, to the supporting characters, including Kitkat.
For a first novel, I must congratulate Ruchi Singh on spinning a wonderful story.
VERDICT: A must read if you like romances
Disclaimer: I received a free EPUB version of this book from the author in return for my honest review.
February 16, 2015
The story is set in a middle class surroundings and neatly traces the journey of a young girl as she breaks the shackles and taboos of a middle class upbringing to build for herself a happy future.
The book has a neat and linear narrative which makes it easy to read. The characters are very well fleshed out and every scene in the book is vivid. The book holds the reader's interest as the story unfolds and builds up to a befitting climax.
The first book from Ruchi Singh shows the potential of the author as she wields complete command over the characters, the settings and the plot. Highly recommended for all young adults!
The book has a neat and linear narrative which makes it easy to read. The characters are very well fleshed out and every scene in the book is vivid. The book holds the reader's interest as the story unfolds and builds up to a befitting climax.
The first book from Ruchi Singh shows the potential of the author as she wields complete command over the characters, the settings and the plot. Highly recommended for all young adults!
October 4, 2017
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars.
Very engaging. Characters and situations are well defined. Dialogues are interesting and witty.
Just a few little things here and there - like sometimes, I couldn't understand who is speaking as many times it's just 'she' or 'he'. It gets a little repetitive/stretched at times.
Overall, just like Jugnu, I enjoyed reading this book thoroughly. Looking forward to her next.
Very engaging. Characters and situations are well defined. Dialogues are interesting and witty.
Just a few little things here and there - like sometimes, I couldn't understand who is speaking as many times it's just 'she' or 'he'. It gets a little repetitive/stretched at times.
Overall, just like Jugnu, I enjoyed reading this book thoroughly. Looking forward to her next.
August 16, 2022
https://www.njkinnysblog.com/book-rev...
Priya's perfect world takes a tumble when she realizes that her husband is cheating on her and when he asks for a divorce, it seems like the last nail has been struck. Confused, in denial and still hopeful of saving her world, Priya takes the help of Abhimanyu, her friend's brother but is this relationship platonic or a beginning to something new?
Can Priya take a risk at a second chance at happiness?
Take 2 is Ruchi Singh's debut novel and while I have had the pleasure of reading her short stories, I was really impressed with her first attempt at novel writing.
The blurb is interesting and had me intrigued right from the start. The cover is beautiful and eye catching.
Take 2 follows Priya's life in a crisp, unbiased and sensitive fashion. Priya represents the modern woman in India who is progressive but still a believer in the age-old traditions and ready to fight to save her marriage. Sometimes she felt like an ostrict, in denial and still clinging to the hope of bringing her husband home but then Ruchi brings her transformation to the reader and her strength while tackling with the loss of her dream world and determination to rebuild her life. In between, characters like Priya's landlady bring out the backward views that still haunt people in India and their total refusal to change with time.
Abhimanyu or Abhi was overbearing but still a character I loved. His quiet strength, his knowledge of human character and his support towards Priya helps her through the difficult period. Komal and Aditi, Priya's friends were another lovely addition to the mix. This is one book where I loved all the characters, even the villains. Each character is sketched beautifully and developed skillfully to take the story forward and make it a story with impact.
Ruchi's writing style is engaging and simple. The scene descriptions and dialogues are expertly woven together and create a mental picture. I loved the inside look on the glamour world and the sly mechanisms of human character are well portrayed. The courtroom drama was again very entertaining and had me at the edge of my seat. I felt angry with Priya's husband and people like her guardians who had forced her into marrying young, her landlady who felt a wife's role was to please her husband even when he is a lying, cheating and worthless excuse of a man and the women in her society who only thought the worse if a man visited a married woman! Such petty thinking is an ugly spot on our rich culture and heritage and needs to change.
The author admirably contrasts such backward people with progressive people like Abhi's father who beautifully corrects his wife's wayward thoughts on marriage and what the society will think if Abhi married Priya even if she was divorced!The whole marriage dialogue had me smiling, thinking that as long as people like Abhi's father are there, there is still hope of improvement. :)
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed every second of the book right from start to finish and congratulate the author on a job well done. Strongly recommended to all readers, I give Take 2 4.5 out of 5 super shiny stars and definitely look forward to reading more from Ruchi in the future.
Priya's perfect world takes a tumble when she realizes that her husband is cheating on her and when he asks for a divorce, it seems like the last nail has been struck. Confused, in denial and still hopeful of saving her world, Priya takes the help of Abhimanyu, her friend's brother but is this relationship platonic or a beginning to something new?
Can Priya take a risk at a second chance at happiness?
Take 2 is Ruchi Singh's debut novel and while I have had the pleasure of reading her short stories, I was really impressed with her first attempt at novel writing.
The blurb is interesting and had me intrigued right from the start. The cover is beautiful and eye catching.
Take 2 follows Priya's life in a crisp, unbiased and sensitive fashion. Priya represents the modern woman in India who is progressive but still a believer in the age-old traditions and ready to fight to save her marriage. Sometimes she felt like an ostrict, in denial and still clinging to the hope of bringing her husband home but then Ruchi brings her transformation to the reader and her strength while tackling with the loss of her dream world and determination to rebuild her life. In between, characters like Priya's landlady bring out the backward views that still haunt people in India and their total refusal to change with time.
Abhimanyu or Abhi was overbearing but still a character I loved. His quiet strength, his knowledge of human character and his support towards Priya helps her through the difficult period. Komal and Aditi, Priya's friends were another lovely addition to the mix. This is one book where I loved all the characters, even the villains. Each character is sketched beautifully and developed skillfully to take the story forward and make it a story with impact.
Ruchi's writing style is engaging and simple. The scene descriptions and dialogues are expertly woven together and create a mental picture. I loved the inside look on the glamour world and the sly mechanisms of human character are well portrayed. The courtroom drama was again very entertaining and had me at the edge of my seat. I felt angry with Priya's husband and people like her guardians who had forced her into marrying young, her landlady who felt a wife's role was to please her husband even when he is a lying, cheating and worthless excuse of a man and the women in her society who only thought the worse if a man visited a married woman! Such petty thinking is an ugly spot on our rich culture and heritage and needs to change.
The author admirably contrasts such backward people with progressive people like Abhi's father who beautifully corrects his wife's wayward thoughts on marriage and what the society will think if Abhi married Priya even if she was divorced!The whole marriage dialogue had me smiling, thinking that as long as people like Abhi's father are there, there is still hope of improvement. :)
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed every second of the book right from start to finish and congratulate the author on a job well done. Strongly recommended to all readers, I give Take 2 4.5 out of 5 super shiny stars and definitely look forward to reading more from Ruchi in the future.
July 26, 2015
Read the full review here - Escape Reality - Book Reviews
Characters:
Meet Priya, a fierce, beautiful and independent young lady from Delhi who is the protagonist of the story. Priya is a software engineer who loves her job. A damsel in distress and yet a fierce lady who doesn't go down without a fight; that is Priya Mathur for you.
Meet Abhimanyu Malhotra, aka Abhi, is very successful at the age of 28 and is an eligible bachelor. Hot and dashing, he has many girls falling for him but his heart skips a beat whenever he meets Priya. An awesome cook, a gentle soul, the knight without shining armor (wink) and a dependable friend; that is Abhi for you.
Plot:
When Abhi sees Priya at the pub, for him it is love at first sight. He hadn't felt this strongly for anyone in his entire life but when he finds out that Priya is married, his heart is crushed. Though he convinces himself that it was nothing more than an instant attraction and he would stay away from her, Priya's thoughts and her face keep invading his mind.
Torn from the news of her husband Sameer cheating on her, the last thing Priya want is attention from another male. When Sameer asks for a divorce, Priya is not ready for it. All she wants is to get back with him somehow and stay away from Abhimanyu. Or at least that is what she thinks.
But when destiny throws them together, their resolves waver. So close, yet so far, they fight the attraction that they feel for each other. Priya, haunted by her past, isn't ready to place her trust on anyone again. Does that mean she will never be able to trust Abhi? Will she be able to look past her troubled past and listen to her heart? Will she be able to take the second chance at happiness that life has given her?
Things I Liked:
The story is narrated from both Priya and Abhi's view point, making it all more interesting. The narration is smooth and the language easy to read.
I liked the way the characters are portrayed. Priya, though troubled and broken, has a fierceness and a streak of self esteem that makes the readers like her instantly. Abhi, with is chivalry and magnificent culinary skills, doesn't take long to leave an impression either. Aditi and Rahul's banters, their loyalty to their friends and Komal's bubbly ways all make the story more fun to read.
I also like the court scene and Priya's curt and precise answers and of course the slap and the epic tagline ;) (Oh! I am not giving out anything more)
Things I Disliked:
I wish there was little more about Aditi and Rahul or at least what would happen to them in the end. A few minor typos were there but nothing major to put off the reader.
Verdict:
For a debut author, Ruchi has done a great job. Take 2 is a light and breezy read that you will love. Pick it up if you are a romance lover. You won't regret it!
Characters:
Meet Priya, a fierce, beautiful and independent young lady from Delhi who is the protagonist of the story. Priya is a software engineer who loves her job. A damsel in distress and yet a fierce lady who doesn't go down without a fight; that is Priya Mathur for you.
Meet Abhimanyu Malhotra, aka Abhi, is very successful at the age of 28 and is an eligible bachelor. Hot and dashing, he has many girls falling for him but his heart skips a beat whenever he meets Priya. An awesome cook, a gentle soul, the knight without shining armor (wink) and a dependable friend; that is Abhi for you.
Plot:
When Abhi sees Priya at the pub, for him it is love at first sight. He hadn't felt this strongly for anyone in his entire life but when he finds out that Priya is married, his heart is crushed. Though he convinces himself that it was nothing more than an instant attraction and he would stay away from her, Priya's thoughts and her face keep invading his mind.
Torn from the news of her husband Sameer cheating on her, the last thing Priya want is attention from another male. When Sameer asks for a divorce, Priya is not ready for it. All she wants is to get back with him somehow and stay away from Abhimanyu. Or at least that is what she thinks.
But when destiny throws them together, their resolves waver. So close, yet so far, they fight the attraction that they feel for each other. Priya, haunted by her past, isn't ready to place her trust on anyone again. Does that mean she will never be able to trust Abhi? Will she be able to look past her troubled past and listen to her heart? Will she be able to take the second chance at happiness that life has given her?
Things I Liked:
The story is narrated from both Priya and Abhi's view point, making it all more interesting. The narration is smooth and the language easy to read.
I liked the way the characters are portrayed. Priya, though troubled and broken, has a fierceness and a streak of self esteem that makes the readers like her instantly. Abhi, with is chivalry and magnificent culinary skills, doesn't take long to leave an impression either. Aditi and Rahul's banters, their loyalty to their friends and Komal's bubbly ways all make the story more fun to read.
I also like the court scene and Priya's curt and precise answers and of course the slap and the epic tagline ;) (Oh! I am not giving out anything more)
Things I Disliked:
I wish there was little more about Aditi and Rahul or at least what would happen to them in the end. A few minor typos were there but nothing major to put off the reader.
Verdict:
For a debut author, Ruchi has done a great job. Take 2 is a light and breezy read that you will love. Pick it up if you are a romance lover. You won't regret it!
August 15, 2015
I started reading Ruchi’s blog during the last April’s A to Z Challenge where she wrote Flash Fiction based on life’s philosophy or mood or emotions, interpreted using colours. And was I impressed? Every day of the week, I actually looked forward to read her stories. Yes, they were that amazing! When I got an opportunity to read and review her debut novel, I grabbed it immediately.
I started reading Take 2, one dull afternoon and finished reading it in a span of few hours. Yes, I read Take 2 at one go! Speaks a lot about the book, isn't it!
Take 2 is a tender story about love lost and love redeemed. The story opens in the midst of a heart-breaking betrayal. Priya’s two year old marriage breaks when her husband announces the D word over the phone. As Priya goes through an emotional roller-coaster ride, her friends form a big support system for her. Abhimanyu … Aah! Abhimanyu...swoon...he is a perfect male character. He is successful, strong willed, compassionate, loving, and patient. As a knight without the shining armour, he helps Priya to come out of her failed marriage but ends up falling in love with her. Their respective value systems come in the way of their desires and they choose to look the other way. The story is also about true friends and what they can do for each other.
From the very beginning of the story, it feels like you are growing up with the characters together, getting to know them and going through their ups and downs. Needless to say that the characterization is vivid and realistic.
I loved the camaraderie between the friends. The conversations between them are laced with wit and humour and sound so very natural. Along with romance, the story has lots of drama, suspense, action and even a villain. All these elements are woven in the story so well that it sucks you in right from the start. Ruchi’s writing in Take 2 is beautiful and flows effortlessly.
Although the majority of this story had a melancholy tone, yes, that’s because Priya had quite a lot of tears in her eyes (counting the unshed too) all throughout the book, Take 2 has a beautiful message of moving on in life, redemption, and second chance at love and happiness. It suggests that when life gives you a second chance, all you have to do is close your eyes and step into it.
Take 2 is a a well-written story of young love and second chances. So go on and read this interesting and compelling romance.
http://shilpaagarg.com/2015/08/take-2...
I started reading Take 2, one dull afternoon and finished reading it in a span of few hours. Yes, I read Take 2 at one go! Speaks a lot about the book, isn't it!
Take 2 is a tender story about love lost and love redeemed. The story opens in the midst of a heart-breaking betrayal. Priya’s two year old marriage breaks when her husband announces the D word over the phone. As Priya goes through an emotional roller-coaster ride, her friends form a big support system for her. Abhimanyu … Aah! Abhimanyu...swoon...he is a perfect male character. He is successful, strong willed, compassionate, loving, and patient. As a knight without the shining armour, he helps Priya to come out of her failed marriage but ends up falling in love with her. Their respective value systems come in the way of their desires and they choose to look the other way. The story is also about true friends and what they can do for each other.
From the very beginning of the story, it feels like you are growing up with the characters together, getting to know them and going through their ups and downs. Needless to say that the characterization is vivid and realistic.
I loved the camaraderie between the friends. The conversations between them are laced with wit and humour and sound so very natural. Along with romance, the story has lots of drama, suspense, action and even a villain. All these elements are woven in the story so well that it sucks you in right from the start. Ruchi’s writing in Take 2 is beautiful and flows effortlessly.
Although the majority of this story had a melancholy tone, yes, that’s because Priya had quite a lot of tears in her eyes (counting the unshed too) all throughout the book, Take 2 has a beautiful message of moving on in life, redemption, and second chance at love and happiness. It suggests that when life gives you a second chance, all you have to do is close your eyes and step into it.
Take 2 is a a well-written story of young love and second chances. So go on and read this interesting and compelling romance.
http://shilpaagarg.com/2015/08/take-2...
June 25, 2015
This is the first book by author Ruchi Singh and she deals with marital discord, divorce and second marriage! Quite a lot to take on in a first book but she has the knack to seamlessly write and sort the problems faced by the simple, pretty and homely Priya. Her husband Sameer is cheating on her after he has wasted all her inheritance. In fact she is the one who is keeping the house in order.
This book is truly a chance she took and I was very happy with a book full of real romance and faith. Even if it was not from the one Priya needed. Abhimanyu is her knight in shining armor and he is a true hero. Smart, successful and emotional, he is the complete package. A guy to drool over and wish for; if only we had more men like him around. He takes Priya under his wing and is her support system, her true anchor.
When she feels over whelmed he takes a step back, putting her happiness before his own. A gem of a man whose family is his support, which by the way is also very well etched by Ruchi. The parents, cousins and friends add a lot of depth to the story. I am sure Ruchi will have stories for a couple of them!
What I really enjoyed was the twist in the tale. The drama was not from the families but Abhimanyu’s office! The story gets a real life feel with the controversy, spite and plain old greed playing a big part. How the author managed to link all the people in this twist needs to be read.
I enjoyed the twists and turns, truly the path of true love is never easy. A well fleshed out book, with a lovely free flowing language. No errors that I could find glaring at me through the pages. It was indeed to cool to read a romance with substance and sound editing!
Do pick it for an uplifting read. 4 stars. * * * *
(I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange of my unbiased review.)
February 3, 2016
Originally Published on www.shanayatales.com
I have read more romance novels than I have read all the other genres combined. That itself lets you know how much I love them. Having said that, I find this genre very difficult to review, mostly because of the following reason.
To me, a romance novel is like comfort food. The flavours may vary, but at the end of the day, one knows that this is no-risk soul food. In a similar way, the story in these novels could take any direction, but there is a certain comfort in knowing that there is a happily ever after waiting for us at the end.
On the flip side, after a while all these stories kind of blend into one another. It takes a lot for a romance novel to stand out.
Take 2 is kind of a contradiction in this respect. It has a plot that is very Bollywood (for the lack of a better word), yet this one has been a standout for me, in-spite of a familiar story line.
The plot of the book revolves around the life of Priya, the quintessential girl-next-door, who married very young and got dumped by her husband Sameer, who used her merely as a means to get ahead in life. Enter Abhimanyu, a chance encounter in Priya’s world, who turns into a friend and ally, and eventually her knight without the armour. :) Read More
I have read more romance novels than I have read all the other genres combined. That itself lets you know how much I love them. Having said that, I find this genre very difficult to review, mostly because of the following reason.
To me, a romance novel is like comfort food. The flavours may vary, but at the end of the day, one knows that this is no-risk soul food. In a similar way, the story in these novels could take any direction, but there is a certain comfort in knowing that there is a happily ever after waiting for us at the end.
On the flip side, after a while all these stories kind of blend into one another. It takes a lot for a romance novel to stand out.
Take 2 is kind of a contradiction in this respect. It has a plot that is very Bollywood (for the lack of a better word), yet this one has been a standout for me, in-spite of a familiar story line.
The plot of the book revolves around the life of Priya, the quintessential girl-next-door, who married very young and got dumped by her husband Sameer, who used her merely as a means to get ahead in life. Enter Abhimanyu, a chance encounter in Priya’s world, who turns into a friend and ally, and eventually her knight without the armour. :) Read More
November 24, 2015
Take 2 – A beautiful reminder that life is all about taking chances. I loved this book for one simple reason. Ruchi Singh takes a predictable plot and makes it work with her wonderful narrative style.
The first few pages give you an indication of how the story is going to progress. But the urge to turn the pages doesn’t stop. It’s a simple one line plot of how two hesitant personalities find solace in each other.
The author doesn’t complicate things too much and keeps the tone light and breezy. It is an engaging battle of opposites. The protagonists are surrounded by likeable individuals who add their own colour to proceedings.
There’s warmth, friendship and love it’s wonderful cocktail to engage the reader. And then we have self-centred former husband and the ever jealous colleague who provide the much needed spice towards the very end.
A major plus is the clear character sketch. Each character in the plot is well defined Go for it if you are die-hard romantic at heart. This lovely tale might re-affirm your faith in love yet again. It is a wonderful lesson on how to hold the reader’s attention with a simple plot.
The first few pages give you an indication of how the story is going to progress. But the urge to turn the pages doesn’t stop. It’s a simple one line plot of how two hesitant personalities find solace in each other.
The author doesn’t complicate things too much and keeps the tone light and breezy. It is an engaging battle of opposites. The protagonists are surrounded by likeable individuals who add their own colour to proceedings.
There’s warmth, friendship and love it’s wonderful cocktail to engage the reader. And then we have self-centred former husband and the ever jealous colleague who provide the much needed spice towards the very end.
A major plus is the clear character sketch. Each character in the plot is well defined Go for it if you are die-hard romantic at heart. This lovely tale might re-affirm your faith in love yet again. It is a wonderful lesson on how to hold the reader’s attention with a simple plot.
August 24, 2015
Whenever I see a book of Love genre, I don't waste my time thinking whether to pick it or not. I start reading it. After completing the book, if I love the story, I praise about it open heartedly and if the story isn't upto the standards, I don't stop criticizing it. Well, this book, 'Take 2: Second Chance at Happiness falls in the former category. I enjoyed the story, fell in love with the protagonist, hated the antagonist and spent my time among the characters.
The story is basically about a girl, Priya. Her life goes upside down, when one morning her husband calls her up and says he don't want to continue their marriage life and wants a divorce. She was in a shock after hearing those words. She wanted to win him back, she decided that she will get her husband back into her life.
To read my complete review, click here: http://sp-fadinghues.blogspot.in/2015...
The story is basically about a girl, Priya. Her life goes upside down, when one morning her husband calls her up and says he don't want to continue their marriage life and wants a divorce. She was in a shock after hearing those words. She wanted to win him back, she decided that she will get her husband back into her life.
To read my complete review, click here: http://sp-fadinghues.blogspot.in/2015...
September 19, 2015
While physical and mental harassment causing a failed relationship is a topic that has been dealt before, her book is different for her lovely prose and her vulnerable heroine.
I usually expect dominant and confident heroes in romance. Abhimanyu was different but still managed to be captivating because of his sensitivity towards Priya. I did feel like shaking her on occasion to get some sense in her because she was so blind to her husband and his flaws but here Ruchi has stuck to the reality of the character she portrays. Her character represents women who become emotionally dependent and because of inherent mental make-up and social shackles find it difficult to end a bad marriage going worse.
Read the full review at:
http://summeritarhayne.com/2015/09/01...
I usually expect dominant and confident heroes in romance. Abhimanyu was different but still managed to be captivating because of his sensitivity towards Priya. I did feel like shaking her on occasion to get some sense in her because she was so blind to her husband and his flaws but here Ruchi has stuck to the reality of the character she portrays. Her character represents women who become emotionally dependent and because of inherent mental make-up and social shackles find it difficult to end a bad marriage going worse.
Read the full review at:
http://summeritarhayne.com/2015/09/01...
April 7, 2015
Take 2 is a story that revolves around happiness, peace of mind, and satisfaction that there is someone out there for oneself. Even though man could redefine the planet Pluto from a star to a dwarf planet, he still wants a body to lean onto whether it be during sickness or in good health. This story tries to capture that essence via a young lady named Priya.
Click here to read more...
http://abracabadra.blogspot.com/2015/...
Click here to read more...
http://abracabadra.blogspot.com/2015/...
April 23, 2015
This is not a review of the book but is a personal note to my good friend and author Ruchi Singh.
My dear Ruchi,
I cried for long (a rarity in my life and I can count the occasions on one hand) after I finished the book. I was sobbing like I didn't, even when I lost my daughters. I'll give you the reason in a few seconds.
First, take a bow and you don't have to be humble about it. You have immense talent. You can write and very well at that. Enjoy it, celebrate it and nurture it. Your writing is seamless and flows like chilled water out of a glass into a parched throat. Beautiful. Dialogues are great with subtle wit. I am in love with your style and the choice of words. A word of caution about the use of personal pronouns though (Him, her, his) - Over use of pronouns instead of proper nouns was confusing at places. Your chapters break with lovely hooks. They coax one to continue reading. I finished the book in one go, which btw has become a rarity with the books I am reading (even from well known award winning authors). Your characters are sculpted well, glowing as you intended them to be. I enjoyed the friendly banter among friends and am in love with Rahul, the ONLY character I like, which made sense to me. I disliked the characters of both Abhimanyu and Priya. (Hero and Heroine) They read like personifications of clichés. Abhimanyu was out of favor with his patronizing tone throughout the book, shoving his decisions like a military order for people to comply, is just not cool to me. I don't like I-know-what-is-good-for-you attitude in anyone and a big no no for a hero in my books. What a condescending arrogant butt. Our dear heroine is the damsel in distress looking for a shoulder as if that is the only thing that completes her. I mean come on. How many women in reality put off those thoughts for ever or at least for a few years and lead happy single lives? And that is the message you need to send out. That it is okay to live a single life. One need not fear a man's absence in one's life. It gives an opportunity to know one's self. Give the character and the reader (who is in a similar situation) the required inspiration to get stability in their mind that helps take control of their lives. Here our dear female MC seems like she can't stand on her own. "Oh what if I lose him and never find true love and turn into bitter Ms. Kothari," tone always irks me. It is such a cliché that single people are bitter or women without children are jealous of women with kids.
Unfortunately, the story did not invoke the emotions you were expecting from me. For two reasons. One, the plot was not for me. Not at my age and my hormone levels, and two it was bland and tasteless to my senses. All the twists and turns were predictable.
To me, reading and writing are serious business. I meticulously choose what I'd read and I am extremely careful with the intensity and impact my written word creates on a reader. The first question I usually ask after I am done with my first draft is – Will it make the person think beyond the story? Followed by: Did I inspire the person to have the courage to break the self-created barriers and see the POV I presented? Were my arguments logical, rational and well researched? Can they stand up and fight injustice? After all, writing comes with an altruistic goal of making some one's life better and richer with information, thoughts and povs to ponder upon and be inspired by, right? At least that is what reading and writing is to me. IMHO that is how an author connects with his/her readers.
In fact, the plot is very Bollywood, where most of the scenes feel like been there seen that. Also, the plot feeds into the existing crap surrounding women in Indian society.
Finally, to the reason I cried - When I read works from talented authors like you and when their work feeds into the existing norms and mores that SHOULD have been dumped in the Indian ocean a century ago, I feel lost, hurt and hopeless and thus my uncontrollable tears.
To me, picking up a debut novel is like a first date with the author. I am attempting to know the insides of the person through his/her written word. I am critical and judge ruthlessly. Nevertheless, I give my date a TAKE 2 to enthrall me, if I don't make the connection the first time.
But…but… (Well, what can I say, life comes with lot of st(iff)s and but(t)s, eh?), a word of caution - I'll not think twice to toss the second book and write off the writer, if Take 2 doesn't make the cut.
Oh, on a humorous note – You can have winter leaves (holidays) only in winter months. (Location 1809).
Also, am stumped to find every character intelligent and street smart in the story. Even Mona (Abhi's office dame).
There is my two cents worth. I am looking forward to your second book and to a connection with your thought. Hope it paves the path to a life long journey, where the writer and the reader's thoughts travel in harmony.
Cheers and take care.
Kind Regards,
Usha
Rating 2.75
I received an ebook from The India Readathon in exchange for an honest review.
My dear Ruchi,
I cried for long (a rarity in my life and I can count the occasions on one hand) after I finished the book. I was sobbing like I didn't, even when I lost my daughters. I'll give you the reason in a few seconds.
First, take a bow and you don't have to be humble about it. You have immense talent. You can write and very well at that. Enjoy it, celebrate it and nurture it. Your writing is seamless and flows like chilled water out of a glass into a parched throat. Beautiful. Dialogues are great with subtle wit. I am in love with your style and the choice of words. A word of caution about the use of personal pronouns though (Him, her, his) - Over use of pronouns instead of proper nouns was confusing at places. Your chapters break with lovely hooks. They coax one to continue reading. I finished the book in one go, which btw has become a rarity with the books I am reading (even from well known award winning authors). Your characters are sculpted well, glowing as you intended them to be. I enjoyed the friendly banter among friends and am in love with Rahul, the ONLY character I like, which made sense to me. I disliked the characters of both Abhimanyu and Priya. (Hero and Heroine) They read like personifications of clichés. Abhimanyu was out of favor with his patronizing tone throughout the book, shoving his decisions like a military order for people to comply, is just not cool to me. I don't like I-know-what-is-good-for-you attitude in anyone and a big no no for a hero in my books. What a condescending arrogant butt. Our dear heroine is the damsel in distress looking for a shoulder as if that is the only thing that completes her. I mean come on. How many women in reality put off those thoughts for ever or at least for a few years and lead happy single lives? And that is the message you need to send out. That it is okay to live a single life. One need not fear a man's absence in one's life. It gives an opportunity to know one's self. Give the character and the reader (who is in a similar situation) the required inspiration to get stability in their mind that helps take control of their lives. Here our dear female MC seems like she can't stand on her own. "Oh what if I lose him and never find true love and turn into bitter Ms. Kothari," tone always irks me. It is such a cliché that single people are bitter or women without children are jealous of women with kids.
Unfortunately, the story did not invoke the emotions you were expecting from me. For two reasons. One, the plot was not for me. Not at my age and my hormone levels, and two it was bland and tasteless to my senses. All the twists and turns were predictable.
To me, reading and writing are serious business. I meticulously choose what I'd read and I am extremely careful with the intensity and impact my written word creates on a reader. The first question I usually ask after I am done with my first draft is – Will it make the person think beyond the story? Followed by: Did I inspire the person to have the courage to break the self-created barriers and see the POV I presented? Were my arguments logical, rational and well researched? Can they stand up and fight injustice? After all, writing comes with an altruistic goal of making some one's life better and richer with information, thoughts and povs to ponder upon and be inspired by, right? At least that is what reading and writing is to me. IMHO that is how an author connects with his/her readers.
In fact, the plot is very Bollywood, where most of the scenes feel like been there seen that. Also, the plot feeds into the existing crap surrounding women in Indian society.
Finally, to the reason I cried - When I read works from talented authors like you and when their work feeds into the existing norms and mores that SHOULD have been dumped in the Indian ocean a century ago, I feel lost, hurt and hopeless and thus my uncontrollable tears.
To me, picking up a debut novel is like a first date with the author. I am attempting to know the insides of the person through his/her written word. I am critical and judge ruthlessly. Nevertheless, I give my date a TAKE 2 to enthrall me, if I don't make the connection the first time.
But…but… (Well, what can I say, life comes with lot of st(iff)s and but(t)s, eh?), a word of caution - I'll not think twice to toss the second book and write off the writer, if Take 2 doesn't make the cut.
Oh, on a humorous note – You can have winter leaves (holidays) only in winter months. (Location 1809).
Also, am stumped to find every character intelligent and street smart in the story. Even Mona (Abhi's office dame).
There is my two cents worth. I am looking forward to your second book and to a connection with your thought. Hope it paves the path to a life long journey, where the writer and the reader's thoughts travel in harmony.
Cheers and take care.
Kind Regards,
Usha
Rating 2.75
I received an ebook from The India Readathon in exchange for an honest review.
November 1, 2018
Crisp yet engaging
I love Ruchi's crisp and fast moving plots. This one was such a fast paced roller coaster emotional ride, that I forgot to sleep last night to finish it in one go
I love Ruchi's crisp and fast moving plots. This one was such a fast paced roller coaster emotional ride, that I forgot to sleep last night to finish it in one go
October 22, 2016
Life without Love.
When Priya fell in love and married the love of her life, she thought she has achieved everything. But Fate had something else for stored for her. The love of her life turned out to be a cad and refused to even acknowledge her as his wife in public when the tinsel town light beckoned him.
The Beauty and the Cad.
What a loser Sameer is! The sad part is people like him make a woman feel degraded and parasitic. I was curious about why Priya would accept his outrageous and deceitful behavior. Pitied her when she begged him to just talk to her. That instant, I was furious with her. He is a loser for god's sake. Wake up woman and move on!
Move on! Just two small words, yet such a difficult feat to achieve. The first thing I noticed about this novel is that Ms. Singh made this a journey for Priya - her destination being finding herself again. This is the moment when a reader will feel a bond forming with Priya as one travels with her to see if the self-doubts and fears are conquered. Humane and very relatable.
Fight for a relationship-
Even when Priya's friends knew that Sameer was a cheat, Priya wanted to fight for her marriage. Sometimes her humility grated my nerves. Just walk off mate, you deserve much better than Sameer but then Abhimanyu put forward the maxim of a relationship very simply.
"Or she will always regret that she didn’t do enough to save her marriage. There are few things in life that could be learned only by experience. You and I can just help."
That opened up the story a bit more. I accepted Priya's pursuit of Sameer with more compassion. Did not agree with her of course, but definitely understood. Ms. Singh has done a wonderful job of weaving the emotions through dialogues. The friends prove to be a great support system to Priya, or she would have turned out to be quite a washed out dame. But then, a woman facing such a magnitude of deceit cannot be expected to be chirpy. Ironically, it was this subdued nature and Abhimanyu's latent desire which kindled the chemistry between the two protags.
Growing Relationships...
Wham, bam, and a thank you, mam, is a very common feature of many of the love stories, I am reading nowadays. Every time, the H and h feel the fire burning within them the moment their eyes 'meet'. Reality begs to differ, and it is this treatment of a love-story which makes this novel a fabulous read. Abhimanyu grows on Priya. Emotions are unfolded and slowly a ray of light comes tearing the gloomy feeling that surrounds Priya. A love story that grows on you.
From Friendship to Love...
Priya grew as a character as the novel progressed. Her realization,
"A dream which she had dreamt for so long that she couldn’t accept the reality now."
- was the exact moment when her character shifted from being the victim to being the seeker of happiness. Beautiful moment. Abhimanyu, on the other hand, is too good to be true. You don't believe me?.. Check this line out.
"Abhimanyu always made breakfast for his parents when they stayed in Delhi with him."
And not only that, he makes breakfast for Priya, cooks for his friends - all with a smile. Sigh!!
The Twist
Just when I was getting comfortable in the yo-yo emotional ride between Priya and Abhi, there came the twist. Abhi gets arrested for an attempt to murder!
Reasoning
1. The twist was wonderful Totally unexpected. Just when the romance was becoming too much and moments when you wanted Priya and Abhi to get it over with, the twist came. Well placed and totally turning the basic genre of the story from Romance to Thriller.
2. Ms. Singh has tied up all the loose ends very neatly. EVERY INCIDENT that started ended. Just when the question of Priya taking money from Abhi popped up, especially when she refused it in the coffee shop, Ms. Singh inserts the Pizza incident and Priya continues to stay true to her character.
3. From the time the court scene started, this was one unputdownable novel.
4. The only reason I have taken away a star is because I felt the love scenes were stretched out. Too many times 'I love you but I won't talk about you' syndrome went on. But that is totally forgotten while I had some nail biting moments in the court scene.
Will I recommend this book : Yes. A must for romance lovers.
The Line that stayed with me ...
“Mom, I don’t want to answer that, it’s private.”
“It becomes my business when my child starts losing weight.
Moms !!! :D
When Priya fell in love and married the love of her life, she thought she has achieved everything. But Fate had something else for stored for her. The love of her life turned out to be a cad and refused to even acknowledge her as his wife in public when the tinsel town light beckoned him.
The Beauty and the Cad.
What a loser Sameer is! The sad part is people like him make a woman feel degraded and parasitic. I was curious about why Priya would accept his outrageous and deceitful behavior. Pitied her when she begged him to just talk to her. That instant, I was furious with her. He is a loser for god's sake. Wake up woman and move on!
Move on! Just two small words, yet such a difficult feat to achieve. The first thing I noticed about this novel is that Ms. Singh made this a journey for Priya - her destination being finding herself again. This is the moment when a reader will feel a bond forming with Priya as one travels with her to see if the self-doubts and fears are conquered. Humane and very relatable.
Fight for a relationship-
Even when Priya's friends knew that Sameer was a cheat, Priya wanted to fight for her marriage. Sometimes her humility grated my nerves. Just walk off mate, you deserve much better than Sameer but then Abhimanyu put forward the maxim of a relationship very simply.
"Or she will always regret that she didn’t do enough to save her marriage. There are few things in life that could be learned only by experience. You and I can just help."
That opened up the story a bit more. I accepted Priya's pursuit of Sameer with more compassion. Did not agree with her of course, but definitely understood. Ms. Singh has done a wonderful job of weaving the emotions through dialogues. The friends prove to be a great support system to Priya, or she would have turned out to be quite a washed out dame. But then, a woman facing such a magnitude of deceit cannot be expected to be chirpy. Ironically, it was this subdued nature and Abhimanyu's latent desire which kindled the chemistry between the two protags.
Growing Relationships...
Wham, bam, and a thank you, mam, is a very common feature of many of the love stories, I am reading nowadays. Every time, the H and h feel the fire burning within them the moment their eyes 'meet'. Reality begs to differ, and it is this treatment of a love-story which makes this novel a fabulous read. Abhimanyu grows on Priya. Emotions are unfolded and slowly a ray of light comes tearing the gloomy feeling that surrounds Priya. A love story that grows on you.
From Friendship to Love...
Priya grew as a character as the novel progressed. Her realization,
"A dream which she had dreamt for so long that she couldn’t accept the reality now."
- was the exact moment when her character shifted from being the victim to being the seeker of happiness. Beautiful moment. Abhimanyu, on the other hand, is too good to be true. You don't believe me?.. Check this line out.
"Abhimanyu always made breakfast for his parents when they stayed in Delhi with him."
And not only that, he makes breakfast for Priya, cooks for his friends - all with a smile. Sigh!!
The Twist
Just when I was getting comfortable in the yo-yo emotional ride between Priya and Abhi, there came the twist. Abhi gets arrested for an attempt to murder!
Reasoning
1. The twist was wonderful Totally unexpected. Just when the romance was becoming too much and moments when you wanted Priya and Abhi to get it over with, the twist came. Well placed and totally turning the basic genre of the story from Romance to Thriller.
2. Ms. Singh has tied up all the loose ends very neatly. EVERY INCIDENT that started ended. Just when the question of Priya taking money from Abhi popped up, especially when she refused it in the coffee shop, Ms. Singh inserts the Pizza incident and Priya continues to stay true to her character.
3. From the time the court scene started, this was one unputdownable novel.
4. The only reason I have taken away a star is because I felt the love scenes were stretched out. Too many times 'I love you but I won't talk about you' syndrome went on. But that is totally forgotten while I had some nail biting moments in the court scene.
Will I recommend this book : Yes. A must for romance lovers.
The Line that stayed with me ...
“Mom, I don’t want to answer that, it’s private.”
“It becomes my business when my child starts losing weight.
Moms !!! :D
March 13, 2017
A sweet date with a beautiful Romance!
A sweet romance all about second chances leaves you beaming with that innocent simple love.
Abhi and Priya are sure to take your through the knowing, finding, hurting and finally embracing love. The element of domestic violence is very sensitively added in the story. Amidst all the romances, second chances always held a positive vibe to it, a hope everyone would love to read about.
A sweet romance all about second chances leaves you beaming with that innocent simple love.
Abhi and Priya are sure to take your through the knowing, finding, hurting and finally embracing love. The element of domestic violence is very sensitively added in the story. Amidst all the romances, second chances always held a positive vibe to it, a hope everyone would love to read about.
July 29, 2020
A great debut book. I could picture it as a movie because the author has written it to give vivid imagery throughout.
December 24, 2015
Review: Take 2 by Ruchi Singh
After marrying Sameer, her childhood love, Priya gets a job in Delhi. Subsequently, they shift to Delhi from their home town Kanpur. Sameer is highly ambitious and wants to make a career in modelling. As a struggler he sustains on the income earned by Priya. Their relationship sours when Sameer ditches and dumps her for a well-established top model Jessica and starts to live with her. Then, she happens to meet Abhimanyu, a cousin of her friend Komal. He instantly falls for her and the story begins.
Being attracted towards a married woman, Abhimanyu is warned and becomes a bit apprehensive about the future of this relationship. On the other hand, keeping in view of her marital status, though on rocks, Priya too is not very enthusiastic about her future with Abhi, at least till the case of her divorce is settled. This is a story of love, hate, vengeance, jealousy, compromises and compulsions. Whether Priya and Abhi manage to turn the tide in their favor, read Take 2 by Ruchi Singh, published by Author’s Ink Publications, Rohtak.
Pros:
The strongest point of this novel is its narration. Though the story is simple having not much twists and turns and runs in linear fashion, its language has made it extremely interesting. The command of the authoress over the language impresses and even sometimes hypnotizes the reader for a spellbound reading. The novel is edited perfectly and typed with dexterity leaving no space for spelling or grammar mistakes. Congratulations!
Cons:
The story is so simple that at times it generates a tad disinterest in the mind of a reader. I wouldn’t say that it drags, but certainly it slows down as nothing much happens between the protagonists; courtesy to their war of nerves. The subplot, when Abhimanyu is falsely trapped by his colleague Vikram on the pretext of causing a serious roadside accident to him, is loosely knit, technically erroneous and fails to convince the reader beyond reasonable comprehension. Accidents are police cases and need immediate medical examination of the injured person in a government hospital and neither the police nor the doctors are so naïve not to judge the cocks-and-bull story of a person who pretends as seriously injured that he stays in comma for two days, not even when bribed.
Final Take:
Ruchi Singh has done a commendable job by presenting a simple story in a very crispy and lucid language and I look forward for more books from her pen. Best of luck!
An excerpt from Take 2 :
“A wave of regret and sorrow moved on his face. He caught hold of her arms and jerked her against him. She gasped. Plastering her against him, he kissed her, as if there’s no tomorrow. Then he pushed her free, as if she was a piece of smoldering coal and stormed out of the house, slamming the door shut.” Page 140.
New words I learned: Beanpole, Eon, Balk, Chignon, Muss, Brocade, Sweet-nothings and Chagrin
Rating: 3.5/5
By Rajeev Pundir
After marrying Sameer, her childhood love, Priya gets a job in Delhi. Subsequently, they shift to Delhi from their home town Kanpur. Sameer is highly ambitious and wants to make a career in modelling. As a struggler he sustains on the income earned by Priya. Their relationship sours when Sameer ditches and dumps her for a well-established top model Jessica and starts to live with her. Then, she happens to meet Abhimanyu, a cousin of her friend Komal. He instantly falls for her and the story begins.
Being attracted towards a married woman, Abhimanyu is warned and becomes a bit apprehensive about the future of this relationship. On the other hand, keeping in view of her marital status, though on rocks, Priya too is not very enthusiastic about her future with Abhi, at least till the case of her divorce is settled. This is a story of love, hate, vengeance, jealousy, compromises and compulsions. Whether Priya and Abhi manage to turn the tide in their favor, read Take 2 by Ruchi Singh, published by Author’s Ink Publications, Rohtak.
Pros:
The strongest point of this novel is its narration. Though the story is simple having not much twists and turns and runs in linear fashion, its language has made it extremely interesting. The command of the authoress over the language impresses and even sometimes hypnotizes the reader for a spellbound reading. The novel is edited perfectly and typed with dexterity leaving no space for spelling or grammar mistakes. Congratulations!
Cons:
The story is so simple that at times it generates a tad disinterest in the mind of a reader. I wouldn’t say that it drags, but certainly it slows down as nothing much happens between the protagonists; courtesy to their war of nerves. The subplot, when Abhimanyu is falsely trapped by his colleague Vikram on the pretext of causing a serious roadside accident to him, is loosely knit, technically erroneous and fails to convince the reader beyond reasonable comprehension. Accidents are police cases and need immediate medical examination of the injured person in a government hospital and neither the police nor the doctors are so naïve not to judge the cocks-and-bull story of a person who pretends as seriously injured that he stays in comma for two days, not even when bribed.
Final Take:
Ruchi Singh has done a commendable job by presenting a simple story in a very crispy and lucid language and I look forward for more books from her pen. Best of luck!
An excerpt from Take 2 :
“A wave of regret and sorrow moved on his face. He caught hold of her arms and jerked her against him. She gasped. Plastering her against him, he kissed her, as if there’s no tomorrow. Then he pushed her free, as if she was a piece of smoldering coal and stormed out of the house, slamming the door shut.” Page 140.
New words I learned: Beanpole, Eon, Balk, Chignon, Muss, Brocade, Sweet-nothings and Chagrin
Rating: 3.5/5
By Rajeev Pundir
March 2, 2017
Ruchi Singh makes a great debut with Take 2. Devastated by a cheating husband, who in the first place only married her for what he could get out of her, Priya is at her lowest. Abhimanyu can only see the gentle and beautiful soul that she is. Guilt, desire and traditions come in the way. The story unravels gently by Ruchi's able story telling.
December 15, 2015
‘Take 2’ is an interesting plot with ample doses of drama and witticism. The dialogues between friends are wholly entertaining, and descriptions meticulous. The pace of the story, a bit slow in the beginning, picks up momentum in the later half. Despite some interesting twists in the tale, the end was more or less predictable.
I do notice a certain degree of immaturity and inconsistency in the conduct of the principal players. Priya vows to hurt her husband, Sameer, very badly for deserting her and, at the same time, begs him to come back to her, knowing too well that he is a gone case! That doesn’t sound convincing to me, though such behavior is not uncommon in certain sections of our society. Sameer, who wants a divorce, is a real crook, and a bit of a clown, who has the audacity to ask her for money while sleeping with another woman. On the other hand, Priya is hanging on to her marital tag a trifle too longer. She should’ve discarded that rogue like an old shoe a lot earlier instead of chasing him pointlessly.
Abhi enters Priya’s life like a breath of fresh air and captures her heart. She is clearly besotted by him, but is in a constant state of denial, wondering whether to pursue that angle or not. Abhi has similar feelings for her, but he camouflages his real feelings behind the garb of a good Samaritan, willing to help her cope with her dilemma. Much to the anguish of Abhi, Priya decides to maintain her distance from him. Exasperated by her vacillation and tantrums, Abhi too chooses to keep away from her, but not for long.
The author has handled the court scenes quite deftly. The drama that follows after the discovery of the false plaster is quite hilarious. The villains in the case were understandably not professionals.
What surprises me most is how swiftly Abhi and Priya embrace each other after so much of blowing hot and cold. That profound moment of joy seems to have been rushed over—and lacks in depth, in my humble opinion. Perhaps the author could’ve stretched the emotional content a bit more before they finally unite. I for one would’ve liked to see Priya—who sheds tears all too frequently—bursting out in tears of happiness and burying her face in his chest, and Abhi smothering her with wet kisses.
A nice book to read on a rainy day.
I do notice a certain degree of immaturity and inconsistency in the conduct of the principal players. Priya vows to hurt her husband, Sameer, very badly for deserting her and, at the same time, begs him to come back to her, knowing too well that he is a gone case! That doesn’t sound convincing to me, though such behavior is not uncommon in certain sections of our society. Sameer, who wants a divorce, is a real crook, and a bit of a clown, who has the audacity to ask her for money while sleeping with another woman. On the other hand, Priya is hanging on to her marital tag a trifle too longer. She should’ve discarded that rogue like an old shoe a lot earlier instead of chasing him pointlessly.
Abhi enters Priya’s life like a breath of fresh air and captures her heart. She is clearly besotted by him, but is in a constant state of denial, wondering whether to pursue that angle or not. Abhi has similar feelings for her, but he camouflages his real feelings behind the garb of a good Samaritan, willing to help her cope with her dilemma. Much to the anguish of Abhi, Priya decides to maintain her distance from him. Exasperated by her vacillation and tantrums, Abhi too chooses to keep away from her, but not for long.
The author has handled the court scenes quite deftly. The drama that follows after the discovery of the false plaster is quite hilarious. The villains in the case were understandably not professionals.
What surprises me most is how swiftly Abhi and Priya embrace each other after so much of blowing hot and cold. That profound moment of joy seems to have been rushed over—and lacks in depth, in my humble opinion. Perhaps the author could’ve stretched the emotional content a bit more before they finally unite. I for one would’ve liked to see Priya—who sheds tears all too frequently—bursting out in tears of happiness and burying her face in his chest, and Abhi smothering her with wet kisses.
A nice book to read on a rainy day.
April 6, 2015
REVIEW:
Priya has married her college-days sweetheart neighbour when she was not even out of college due to a family pressure. But all is not sweet as she learns that her husband Sameer had cheated on her. Opportunistic Sameer avoids her phone calls and avoids her until Priya confronts him directly, where he pretends to be a stranger in public.
Abhimanyu is intrigued by Priya at first sight. He feels a strange urge to get to know her better and tries to get closer when he learns that she is married. He tries to back off from her when he finds he is unable to do that. He finds himself strangely attracted to her and when things take drastic turns, offers to help her get her husband back.
As they keep trying, Priya realises that she has slowly started falling for Abhimanyu, and he realises that however hard he tries, he cannot keep off her. Fate keeps throwing them together with the marriage preparation of Priya’s best friend Komal who is Abhimanyu’s cousin. They try hard to dampen the feelings for each other but it is visible to everyone around them.
How they overcome the inhibitions and how Priya gets over Sameer and takes the ultimate risk in her life in the faith of love forms the rest of the story. The plot is the age old story of love blossoming in unlikely places where the reader wants the lead pair to stop sacrificing and get together already. The characters are good natured, predictable with no unpleasant twists and thankfully no sudden unexpected behaviour.
The story adheres well to the summary and the title and tagline are apt. The cover image is beautifully minimalistic. The tale is a classic story told with special seasoning. The ending is of course happy, but that is why you started reading this book, you know?
WHAT I LIKED:
The simplicity of the story, the beauty and depth of the lead characters.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:
The story is predictable at some points but that is an added bonus.
VERDICT:
A perfect, breezy read for a calm summer evening or a cool rainy evening – you will love the sheer simplicity of it.
RATING: 4/5
Priya has married her college-days sweetheart neighbour when she was not even out of college due to a family pressure. But all is not sweet as she learns that her husband Sameer had cheated on her. Opportunistic Sameer avoids her phone calls and avoids her until Priya confronts him directly, where he pretends to be a stranger in public.
Abhimanyu is intrigued by Priya at first sight. He feels a strange urge to get to know her better and tries to get closer when he learns that she is married. He tries to back off from her when he finds he is unable to do that. He finds himself strangely attracted to her and when things take drastic turns, offers to help her get her husband back.
As they keep trying, Priya realises that she has slowly started falling for Abhimanyu, and he realises that however hard he tries, he cannot keep off her. Fate keeps throwing them together with the marriage preparation of Priya’s best friend Komal who is Abhimanyu’s cousin. They try hard to dampen the feelings for each other but it is visible to everyone around them.
How they overcome the inhibitions and how Priya gets over Sameer and takes the ultimate risk in her life in the faith of love forms the rest of the story. The plot is the age old story of love blossoming in unlikely places where the reader wants the lead pair to stop sacrificing and get together already. The characters are good natured, predictable with no unpleasant twists and thankfully no sudden unexpected behaviour.
The story adheres well to the summary and the title and tagline are apt. The cover image is beautifully minimalistic. The tale is a classic story told with special seasoning. The ending is of course happy, but that is why you started reading this book, you know?
WHAT I LIKED:
The simplicity of the story, the beauty and depth of the lead characters.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:
The story is predictable at some points but that is an added bonus.
VERDICT:
A perfect, breezy read for a calm summer evening or a cool rainy evening – you will love the sheer simplicity of it.
RATING: 4/5
September 6, 2015
I always look forward to stories about second chances, because life usually doesn't figure itself out in the first chance. These stories, therefore, turn out to be a decent dose of inspiration. Having said that, I also believe that a second chance holds meaning only if the first has been made use of well. Ruchi's story, thankfully, matched my expectations and therefore made for an enjoyable read.
The characters and the story are very real, very relatable. The thing that can go wrong with stories like these is too much suffering, too much doormatish behavior on the part of the woman. While letting go is difficult, holding on just for the sake of it shouldn't be encouraged either. I'm glad that Priya was shown to understand in time how much of Sameer she wanted to hold on to and how much and when she wanted to let go.
Out of the three main characters I liked Ruchi's potrayal of Priya the best. With her strengths and weaknesses both highlighted, Priya seems as real as any other woman, in a similar situation, that you or I may know. Abhimanyu and Sameer have been potrayed well too, inspiring emotions of love and hate, respectively, in the reader. But Priya stays my favorite.
When Nikita was introduced into the story, I thought we'll be going down the familiar lane of inspiring jealousy in Priya, which will eventually drive her towards Abhimanyu. But for stories like these, real life happens in many shades than just jealousy. And Ruchi paints her story with those shades well.
The editing was a bit lax in certain places and could've been done better, but, nonetheless Take 2 was a page-turner.
The characters and the story are very real, very relatable. The thing that can go wrong with stories like these is too much suffering, too much doormatish behavior on the part of the woman. While letting go is difficult, holding on just for the sake of it shouldn't be encouraged either. I'm glad that Priya was shown to understand in time how much of Sameer she wanted to hold on to and how much and when she wanted to let go.
Out of the three main characters I liked Ruchi's potrayal of Priya the best. With her strengths and weaknesses both highlighted, Priya seems as real as any other woman, in a similar situation, that you or I may know. Abhimanyu and Sameer have been potrayed well too, inspiring emotions of love and hate, respectively, in the reader. But Priya stays my favorite.
When Nikita was introduced into the story, I thought we'll be going down the familiar lane of inspiring jealousy in Priya, which will eventually drive her towards Abhimanyu. But for stories like these, real life happens in many shades than just jealousy. And Ruchi paints her story with those shades well.
The editing was a bit lax in certain places and could've been done better, but, nonetheless Take 2 was a page-turner.
February 27, 2015
Take 2 is Ruchi Singh's Debut Novel. Congrats to her for reaching the third position in the Amazon's popular book list within a week time. Take 2 is a superb and very written book by Ruchi Singh. The characters in the book are really mind blowing .The story line is simple.
Ruchi has narrated her story in a wonderful manner .She has very well described the emotion of all the characters in a very realistic way .Making you feel the anguish, the frustration , and the pain which her characters go through .
The Story is set in Delhi, Gurgoan and Chandigarh .The dialogues are quiet articulately written .The pace of story is normal. Initially it seemed to be boring but later parts of novel seemed to very interesting as Ruchi has very artistically written the drama in a brilliant way that would hold the reader attention. The confusions and drama are weaved very careful in a delicate way. I like the way she has described Priya's neighbors Mrs. Bhatia's reactions towards her , when she announces her divorce with her husband and when she bring Abhimanyu to her place .I love the way Ruchi has described Abhimanyu emotion's like his soft corner for Priya , because somewhere I could feel my own friend's attitude towards me when I was reading his character the book.
This book transported me to an different world. Awesome Read. Highly recommended to all the lovers of fiction .All the very best for the success of your book Ruchi .Waiting some more interesting novels from your side .
This my unbiased review of Take 2 by Ruchi Singh .
Ruchi has narrated her story in a wonderful manner .She has very well described the emotion of all the characters in a very realistic way .Making you feel the anguish, the frustration , and the pain which her characters go through .
The Story is set in Delhi, Gurgoan and Chandigarh .The dialogues are quiet articulately written .The pace of story is normal. Initially it seemed to be boring but later parts of novel seemed to very interesting as Ruchi has very artistically written the drama in a brilliant way that would hold the reader attention. The confusions and drama are weaved very careful in a delicate way. I like the way she has described Priya's neighbors Mrs. Bhatia's reactions towards her , when she announces her divorce with her husband and when she bring Abhimanyu to her place .I love the way Ruchi has described Abhimanyu emotion's like his soft corner for Priya , because somewhere I could feel my own friend's attitude towards me when I was reading his character the book.
This book transported me to an different world. Awesome Read. Highly recommended to all the lovers of fiction .All the very best for the success of your book Ruchi .Waiting some more interesting novels from your side .
This my unbiased review of Take 2 by Ruchi Singh .
February 26, 2015
I received the book as a review copy from the author. Take 2: Second chance at happiness is Ruchi Singh’s Debut book. It is the story of Priya and Abhimanyu set in Delhi and Gurgaon.
The characters:
Priya Verma, works as a software programmer in Delhi. Having lost her mother when she was six years old and her father when she is college, she marries her boyfriend Sameer, to get away from her relatives in Kanpur. Little does she realize that when she is studying and later, working, Sameer robs her of her inheritance and cheats on her all the while pretending that he is looking for a break in Bollywood. He wants her money, which she does not have, and they end up arguing, always.
Aditi is her best friend since childhood and she meets Komal in her office and the three become best friends sharing everything.
Abhimanyu Malhotra, 28, works for Star Communications. He has had a happy childhood in Chandigarh, where his parents stay and are always lining up prospective brides for him, whenever he goes there on vacation. Rahul is his best friend. Abhimanyu meets Priya in a pub and is smitten by her.
Priya asks Sameer for a divorce and files a case. In the interim, Abhimanyu also has problems at office. And all’s well that ends well.
My take:
The book has all the ingredients of a hindi movie: romance, drama, suspense and even, a villain. I loved the story a lot. The characters are well developed and the plot is quick paced. I loved it when Priya stalks Sameer with the help of Bobby.
A must read if you love romance.
The characters:
Priya Verma, works as a software programmer in Delhi. Having lost her mother when she was six years old and her father when she is college, she marries her boyfriend Sameer, to get away from her relatives in Kanpur. Little does she realize that when she is studying and later, working, Sameer robs her of her inheritance and cheats on her all the while pretending that he is looking for a break in Bollywood. He wants her money, which she does not have, and they end up arguing, always.
Aditi is her best friend since childhood and she meets Komal in her office and the three become best friends sharing everything.
Abhimanyu Malhotra, 28, works for Star Communications. He has had a happy childhood in Chandigarh, where his parents stay and are always lining up prospective brides for him, whenever he goes there on vacation. Rahul is his best friend. Abhimanyu meets Priya in a pub and is smitten by her.
Priya asks Sameer for a divorce and files a case. In the interim, Abhimanyu also has problems at office. And all’s well that ends well.
My take:
The book has all the ingredients of a hindi movie: romance, drama, suspense and even, a villain. I loved the story a lot. The characters are well developed and the plot is quick paced. I loved it when Priya stalks Sameer with the help of Bobby.
A must read if you love romance.
March 5, 2015
Like watching a Bollywood movie playing, with appropriate song and dance sequences in between, Ruchi's debut book Take 2 has it all! It takes the reader to a vividly magnificent trip into to the world of Priya - a working middle-class Delhi girl who married young and naive and finds herself at wits end when her no-good husband asks for a divorce. She tries her best to save the marriage despite her husband's infidelity; from glamouring up to make herself more attractive for her husband to holding another man's hand to make him feel jealous, the author's realistic portrayal of emotions makes the reader feel for Priya.
Enter Abhimanyu, a chance encounter in Priya's life that turns into her second chance at happiness. But will she embrace this opportunity?
What I most liked about the book was how each character was sketched to being believable. The greedy for money and fame husband, the happy-go-lucky and loyal friends of Priya and Abhimanyu, the annoying neighbour of Priya's who believes in the wife being subservient to her husband, the jealous co-worker, the lecherous manager, the feminist lawyer, the unexpected friend...the author has done justice to each of the individuals.
The court room climax written with wit, humour and immense suspense provides a befitting end.
Many congratulations to Ruchi for this excellent debut novel.
Enter Abhimanyu, a chance encounter in Priya's life that turns into her second chance at happiness. But will she embrace this opportunity?
What I most liked about the book was how each character was sketched to being believable. The greedy for money and fame husband, the happy-go-lucky and loyal friends of Priya and Abhimanyu, the annoying neighbour of Priya's who believes in the wife being subservient to her husband, the jealous co-worker, the lecherous manager, the feminist lawyer, the unexpected friend...the author has done justice to each of the individuals.
The court room climax written with wit, humour and immense suspense provides a befitting end.
Many congratulations to Ruchi for this excellent debut novel.
August 26, 2015
‘Take 2 – Second Chance at Happiness’ gets off to an intriguing start. Why is the hauntingly beautiful Priya so lost and woebegone? Who is the man causing her such heartbreak and who is the hunk at the bar who cannot take his eyes off her face? Miss-Beautiful-Eyes meets Abhimanyu and things can never be the same again. And then Priya drops the bomb―she is married! After this heady start, the book takes off on a zestful run, with many twists and turns that send your heart plunging in despair or soaring to the skies along with Priya’s and Abhi’s feelings. A cheating, wicked husband, a loving, sensitive wife, a caring, irresistible lover―this love triangle is always good for a gripping read. And Ruchi Singh spins a masterly web of desire and fear, morality and love, choices and repercussions. ‘Take 2’ is thoughtful, sweet and beautifully rooted in contemporary times.
April 27, 2015
The Author beautifully articulated the confusion that occurs in the mind of a girl who is depressed with the nature of her husband. Plus point for this novel is, that the author carried the feelings of Abhimanyu towards Priya in a lovely way. I can't exactly say its a drawback but this novel is no where different from the love stories that I have read before. There is no point in this novel that makes it outstanding either suspense/thrill.
This review is written as part of the India Readathon.
This review is written as part of the India Readathon.
April 2, 2016
fantastic book....
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