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Those Pricey Thakur Girls #2
The House That BJ Built
I'll make my sisters squirm like well-salted earthworms. I won't sell. Even my jutti wont sell. And if I die na, then even my gosht won't sell! The late Binodini Thakur had been very clear that she would never agree to sell her hissa in her Bauji's big old house on Hailey Road. And her daughter Bonu, is determined to honor her mothers wishes.
But what to do about her four pushy aunts who are insisting she sell? One is bald and stingy, one is jobless and manless, one needs the money to 'save the nation' and one is stepmother to Bonus childhood crush-brilliant young Bollywood director Samar Vir Singh, who promised BJ upon his deathbed that he would get the house sold, divvy the money equally and end all the bickering within the family.
The first word baby Bonu ever spoke was 'Balls' and indeed, she is ballsy, bullshit-intolerant, brave and beautiful. But is she strong enough to weather emotional blackmail by the spadefull? Not to mention shady builders, wily politicians, spies, lies and the knee-buckling hotness of Samars intense eyes? Sharply observed and pulse-quickeningly romantic, this is Anuja Chauhan writing at her sparkling best!
But what to do about her four pushy aunts who are insisting she sell? One is bald and stingy, one is jobless and manless, one needs the money to 'save the nation' and one is stepmother to Bonus childhood crush-brilliant young Bollywood director Samar Vir Singh, who promised BJ upon his deathbed that he would get the house sold, divvy the money equally and end all the bickering within the family.
The first word baby Bonu ever spoke was 'Balls' and indeed, she is ballsy, bullshit-intolerant, brave and beautiful. But is she strong enough to weather emotional blackmail by the spadefull? Not to mention shady builders, wily politicians, spies, lies and the knee-buckling hotness of Samars intense eyes? Sharply observed and pulse-quickeningly romantic, this is Anuja Chauhan writing at her sparkling best!
410 pages, Paperback
First published May 25, 2015
98 people are currently reading
930 people want to read
About the author
Anuja Chauhan
11 books1,083 followersAnuja Chauhan is an Indian author and advertiser. She worked in the advertising agency, JWT India, for over 17 years. She has written 3 novels, The Zoya Factor (2008), Battle For Bittora (October 2010) and Those Pricey Thakur Girls (January 2013). All three books are romances.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews
February 16, 2016
‘… it was better to demolish the house and keep the family together than demolish the family and keep the house together.’
Anuja Chauhan is probably one of the few Indian authors whose books I do not hesitate to pick up. Her writing is as witty and humorous as ever, with a lot of Hinglish interspersed in the dialogues and the characters’ thoughts, probably to give it an air of authenticity. Also, I noticed a lot more Hindi words in this book compared to her previous books. (Of this, I can’t be sure. My memory fails me, but it’s just a thought.)
THE HOUSE THAT BJ BUILT is a recap into the lives of the alphabetically named sisters, Anjini, Binodini, Chandralekha, Debjani and Eshwari, The Pricey Thakur girls, now older, with families and problems of their own. Debjani had been my favorite character in THOSE PRICEY THAKUR GIRLS, but here, I found myself liking Anjini a lot more. The sisters’ quarrels, their tenderness towards their father, their attempts to set-up Eshwari with Satish Sridhar and their endless hassles with Bonu was hilarious and compelling.
“We are all vegetarians in RIGID,” Chandu volunteers. “We believe cows are our sisters.”
“And we believe our sisters are cows!” said Eshwari with an inelegant snort of laughter.
The protagonist of this book is actually Bonita Singh: 2nd sister Binodini’s daughter, survivor of a horrific accident that took the lives of her immediate family, leaving her alone with her grandparents and the cows (Yeah, that’s what she calls her mother’s sisters). Basically, I disliked Bonu with a passion. It’s not just that I couldn’t relate with her; I found her an annoying, arrogant, presumptuous, unscrupulous cheat! She wouldn’t even try to bond with her aunts and was being a massive pain in the ass for a good 80% of the book. Also, she was supposed to be 26, but felt more like she was 16. The only ‘good’ thing about her was her relationship with her grandfather, Justice Laxmi Narayan Thakur.
Thankfully, the love interest, Samar Vir Singh, a young, swoon-worthy Bollywood director of 2 hit films and on his way to direct a period drama based on his great-grandparents’ life, was redeeming in comparison. I liked his sense of right and wrong and his relationship with Anjini. I wish I could say the same about his taste in girls.
Recommended to people who enjoyed Those Pricey Thakur Girls.
February 17, 2017
I had borrowed ‘The Pricey Thakur Girls’ from a friend and had enjoyed the reading experience of it. So it was a no-brainer that I would pick this book up too. Only this time I delved into the book with some expectations.
The Thakur girls are back and this book is all about how the family wants to sell the house that BJ built. While the central plot deals with that, there are parallel storylines involving the central characters. On one hand we have Samar’s journey of making a film and on the other hand we have Bonu trying to keep her promise to her late mother. And then there is the blooming relationship between Satish and Eshwari.
The many characters in the book play their roles to perfection. Some have grown over two books while some have been late bloomers. The characterization plays an important role in shaping up the book. It is the character relationship and interactions, the family drama and politics that keeps the book entertaining and going. Since Bonita comes across as the stand out protagonist in this book, I have to say that I had a love-hate relationship with her and Samar in the book. I oscillated between loving and hating them as the book progressed and they absolutely drove me nuts. The easy flowing Hin-glish language and a narrative style that oozes humour keeps a reader hooked to the book. Romance, Drama and Comedy fill the pages of this book.
Like I said, having read ‘The Pricey Thakur Girls’, I picked up this book with certain expectations. While most of them were well met, this installment doesn’t really live up to the mark its predecessor made. Still, it is quite entertaining and a quick one-time read.
The Thakur girls are back and this book is all about how the family wants to sell the house that BJ built. While the central plot deals with that, there are parallel storylines involving the central characters. On one hand we have Samar’s journey of making a film and on the other hand we have Bonu trying to keep her promise to her late mother. And then there is the blooming relationship between Satish and Eshwari.
The many characters in the book play their roles to perfection. Some have grown over two books while some have been late bloomers. The characterization plays an important role in shaping up the book. It is the character relationship and interactions, the family drama and politics that keeps the book entertaining and going. Since Bonita comes across as the stand out protagonist in this book, I have to say that I had a love-hate relationship with her and Samar in the book. I oscillated between loving and hating them as the book progressed and they absolutely drove me nuts. The easy flowing Hin-glish language and a narrative style that oozes humour keeps a reader hooked to the book. Romance, Drama and Comedy fill the pages of this book.
Like I said, having read ‘The Pricey Thakur Girls’, I picked up this book with certain expectations. While most of them were well met, this installment doesn’t really live up to the mark its predecessor made. Still, it is quite entertaining and a quick one-time read.
June 6, 2015
So, in the two days since the book's release, I read the novel twice... Hence the three stars, despite my qualms with several aspects of the novel.
Pros
1. The relationship between Anji, Dabbu, Eshu. (Yes, Chandu doesn't count. I don't think she's meant to). I was caught unawares by how much I was invested in their relationship.
2. The story behind Samar's movie... Without spoiling anyone, I just loved how Anuja Chauhan developed what I thought was a throwaway joke in the Pricey Thakur Girls.
3. The prose is funny and true to the Anuja trademark. Once you've finished the story, you can come back and pick up reading at any random part of the novel and have a whale of a good time.
Cons
1. Bonu, Bonu... do I like you? Do I like you not? The thing is I didn't really get off the fence regarding her character. Technically, she's should be a sure fire draw. She's beautiful, she's smart, an entrepreneur (albeit, a shady one)... but I think she comes off as rather pseudo. Her internal angst doesn't make her very relatable.
2. Samar is sort of like Anurag Kashyap-y, but with Farhaan Akhtar's looks. He was really growing on me as a character, till suddenly he just morphs into this action hero out of the blue in the middle of the book. I mean, we have no clue about this side of his persona and suddenly he's developed Bollywood stunt skills. So, whiplash.
3. The love story was pretty....ordinary... I mean I was invested in Samar and Bonu's relationship to a point, but there was no real tennnnnsssiiiooonnnn.... despite the number of times different characters assure us that there is. I just went back and re-read Battle for Bittora. Come on, there's just no comparison with the electricity that Zain and Jini generate. But I will say, it was pretty cool to have so much of Samar's perspective.
4. There was just too much swearing and abusive language for my liking.
5.The prologue especially seemed gratuitous. The events of the prologue are summed pretty neatly at least twice later in the book. I don't know if it was just Chauhan trying really hard. And that was I really loved about her earlier...she doesn't try 'try' to be cool and current.
6. Another minor miff- the Aur Jee song was a nod to Chauhan's Pepsi ad and with all the family photographs as the basis of the cover and in the book trailer... I don't know, it was a bit of a turn off- like the book was so self-obsessed.
7. Steesh...... blah
8. Where's Antu? Why does no one talk about him? Not even Samar...which is realllly weeirrd.
Pros
1. The relationship between Anji, Dabbu, Eshu. (Yes, Chandu doesn't count. I don't think she's meant to). I was caught unawares by how much I was invested in their relationship.
2. The story behind Samar's movie... Without spoiling anyone, I just loved how Anuja Chauhan developed what I thought was a throwaway joke in the Pricey Thakur Girls.
3. The prose is funny and true to the Anuja trademark. Once you've finished the story, you can come back and pick up reading at any random part of the novel and have a whale of a good time.
Cons
1. Bonu, Bonu... do I like you? Do I like you not? The thing is I didn't really get off the fence regarding her character. Technically, she's should be a sure fire draw. She's beautiful, she's smart, an entrepreneur (albeit, a shady one)... but I think she comes off as rather pseudo. Her internal angst doesn't make her very relatable.
2. Samar is sort of like Anurag Kashyap-y, but with Farhaan Akhtar's looks. He was really growing on me as a character, till suddenly he just morphs into this action hero out of the blue in the middle of the book. I mean, we have no clue about this side of his persona and suddenly he's developed Bollywood stunt skills. So, whiplash.
3. The love story was pretty....ordinary... I mean I was invested in Samar and Bonu's relationship to a point, but there was no real tennnnnsssiiiooonnnn.... despite the number of times different characters assure us that there is. I just went back and re-read Battle for Bittora. Come on, there's just no comparison with the electricity that Zain and Jini generate. But I will say, it was pretty cool to have so much of Samar's perspective.
4. There was just too much swearing and abusive language for my liking.
5.The prologue especially seemed gratuitous. The events of the prologue are summed pretty neatly at least twice later in the book. I don't know if it was just Chauhan trying really hard. And that was I really loved about her earlier...she doesn't try 'try' to be cool and current.
6. Another minor miff- the Aur Jee song was a nod to Chauhan's Pepsi ad and with all the family photographs as the basis of the cover and in the book trailer... I don't know, it was a bit of a turn off- like the book was so self-obsessed.
7. Steesh...... blah
8. Where's Antu? Why does no one talk about him? Not even Samar...which is realllly weeirrd.
July 31, 2016
Looking back at what I thought of the pricy thakur girls, I find that I quibbled about how u felt that Anuja was using nostalgia a bit cynically. Perhaps I wondered about where the book would stand minus the warm memories of the 80s that some of us have. Well, this book anders it. On some pretty flimsy grounds as it turns out. The author's strengths are all here - natural sounding English dialogues, fun women (well, mostly girls. Even the women in their 40s seem like girls for some reason) and a plot that moves as rapidly as a Maruti 800 (see, I can do nostalgia plugs too. Hah) The issues remain - women who sound like girls, a plot where once again it requires the guys to (more or less) be the stereotypical strong, macho but sensitive and good looking men. (Oh also, endowed with good posteriors which will always get commented upon, even by close relatives no matter how creepy) And the girls, even though strong and independent still kinda crumble internally at the sight of the male leads (and sometimes breakdown externally too). The plot in this book is very very convoluted with many moving parts. Multiple love stories. (three at least. Four if you count the parents) A property dispute, a nasbandi, a movie shoot (item songs too), love triangles, orphaned women and a lot of easy coincidences. I also understand that this genre demands happy endings but the contrivance that lead to that ending are... Not very elegant or original. Frankly, the biggest surprise I had in this book was finding out the girl on the front cover and the kids on the back cover are the author's progeny. And not a single moment as funny as calling Hiranandani, Hijranandini. *giggle*. Still, this is a quick, inoffensive read. And if you're of a certain age, you may like this. I can think of worse authors to avoid.(*cough* cbag*cough *)
June 19, 2015
You know you've landed a gem of a book when something like this happens…
Samar does some research on item songs and tells his lyricist to come up with something creative.
‘See, I’ve done a full analysis on this,’ he tells her. ‘And currently, there seem to be five kinds of item songs. A, based on names—like Sheila, Munni, Chameli, Jalebi, Billo-rani etc. B, based on items of clothing—like chunari, choli, ghoonghat, ghagra, ghughroo, etc. C, based on geographical locations—like UP-Bihar, Agra-Viagra or Dilli-ki-sardi. D, based on slyly horny metaphors. And finally, E, based on pretentious pseudo-Sufi, Urdu porn.’
And the brilliant lyricist comes up with…THIS:-
‘Yeah,’ Samar grins. ‘And peacocks and a tiger and snakes and, as you can see, guns. We’ve gone all out. This qawwali is right in the beginning of the film. Zeeshan, playing the young Thakur, is having a decadent bachelor’s party in the haveli the night before his arranged marriage to his simple village wife.’
‘It’s an Aur Jee,’ Biren Tring explains to her kindly. ‘An Aur Jee is a very big, sexy party, in case you didn’t knew. The main punch of the quwaali is…’
He trails off, looking expectantly at the fat, south Bombay 3rd AD, who screws up his eyes and reads out, in a slightly pained voice:
Upar waale ne diya hai sab kuch, magar
Dil maangta hai thoda aur jee!
Aur jee, aur jee, aur jee, aur jee!
Aur jee, aur jee, aur jee, aur jee!
‘How…how nice,’ breathes Bonu, rendered practically speechless.
The book was an emotional roller coaster ….a laugh riot…a family drama…everything that the blurb promised... and more. Those Pricey Thakur Girls couldn't have asked for a more entertaining sequel!
Samar does some research on item songs and tells his lyricist to come up with something creative.
‘See, I’ve done a full analysis on this,’ he tells her. ‘And currently, there seem to be five kinds of item songs. A, based on names—like Sheila, Munni, Chameli, Jalebi, Billo-rani etc. B, based on items of clothing—like chunari, choli, ghoonghat, ghagra, ghughroo, etc. C, based on geographical locations—like UP-Bihar, Agra-Viagra or Dilli-ki-sardi. D, based on slyly horny metaphors. And finally, E, based on pretentious pseudo-Sufi, Urdu porn.’
And the brilliant lyricist comes up with…THIS:-
‘Yeah,’ Samar grins. ‘And peacocks and a tiger and snakes and, as you can see, guns. We’ve gone all out. This qawwali is right in the beginning of the film. Zeeshan, playing the young Thakur, is having a decadent bachelor’s party in the haveli the night before his arranged marriage to his simple village wife.’
‘It’s an Aur Jee,’ Biren Tring explains to her kindly. ‘An Aur Jee is a very big, sexy party, in case you didn’t knew. The main punch of the quwaali is…’
He trails off, looking expectantly at the fat, south Bombay 3rd AD, who screws up his eyes and reads out, in a slightly pained voice:
Upar waale ne diya hai sab kuch, magar
Dil maangta hai thoda aur jee!
Aur jee, aur jee, aur jee, aur jee!
Aur jee, aur jee, aur jee, aur jee!
‘How…how nice,’ breathes Bonu, rendered practically speechless.
The book was an emotional roller coaster ….a laugh riot…a family drama…everything that the blurb promised... and more. Those Pricey Thakur Girls couldn't have asked for a more entertaining sequel!
June 19, 2015
I love Anuja Chauhan's books. So much so that I walked through knee deep muddy water to the nearest bookstore to get The House That BJ Built.
I love her books enough to not read their electronic versions.
I love her books so much that I have single handedly badgered my friends to buy it.
I have read her book before a history test in class 8(the first edition of Zoya) and after a nsaty heartbreak in college (Pricey).
TO say I am a disappointed, is well an understatement.
This is a book which has the sideshows but not the stars.
It is Bonu and Samar which fall flat - they neither have the perfection of Zoya - Khoda, not the sexy tension of Jinni and co political candidate or the delightful charm of the girl with the mole on her chin and D for Dylan Singh.
I felt betrayed by the treatment given to Steesh- Eshawari (I want their own story, dammit!) , irritated by Chandu (so gimmicky).
The only characters that I really felt invested in was Anjini!
The plot was okayish.
All in all, it felt like Anuja herself was confused and wrote this with limited focus on the plot and rewriting.
I want a better book. I am holding out for Pasta's story.
I love her books enough to not read their electronic versions.
I love her books so much that I have single handedly badgered my friends to buy it.
I have read her book before a history test in class 8(the first edition of Zoya) and after a nsaty heartbreak in college (Pricey).
TO say I am a disappointed, is well an understatement.
This is a book which has the sideshows but not the stars.
It is Bonu and Samar which fall flat - they neither have the perfection of Zoya - Khoda, not the sexy tension of Jinni and co political candidate or the delightful charm of the girl with the mole on her chin and D for Dylan Singh.
I felt betrayed by the treatment given to Steesh- Eshawari (I want their own story, dammit!) , irritated by Chandu (so gimmicky).
The only characters that I really felt invested in was Anjini!
The plot was okayish.
All in all, it felt like Anuja herself was confused and wrote this with limited focus on the plot and rewriting.
I want a better book. I am holding out for Pasta's story.
April 28, 2020
4.25/4.5 stars
I can't make up my mind about what rating I want to give this book but I do know that it is such a fun read! I loved following the Thakur sisters from start to end and rooting for the romances in there. I'd love a couple of these sisters, I'd get annoyed at a couple of them, and I straight up hate Bonu's Chandu mausi. XD
But yes. Read 'Those Pricey Thakur Girls' first and then this one, and I promise you it's a wild ride from beginning to finish, filled with laughter and a few tears. LOVE!
I can't make up my mind about what rating I want to give this book but I do know that it is such a fun read! I loved following the Thakur sisters from start to end and rooting for the romances in there. I'd love a couple of these sisters, I'd get annoyed at a couple of them, and I straight up hate Bonu's Chandu mausi. XD
But yes. Read 'Those Pricey Thakur Girls' first and then this one, and I promise you it's a wild ride from beginning to finish, filled with laughter and a few tears. LOVE!
June 2, 2015
Received the copy of this book from Flipkart Review Program
It is a always nice to go back to read a little more about a few characters from a book you have read and loved. Early this year, on one of those long trans-atlantic flights, I happened to read the book ‘Those Pricey Thakur Girls (TPTG) which was a refreshing change from the routine romances that seem to have taken over the Indian writing landscape. I was pleasantly surprised both by the quality of writing and the ease with which the author Anuja Chauhan makes the characters from the book accessible to us. You really seem to like those characters and root for them to ensure that they get what (or rather whom) they want.
Having gotten a copy of the book ‘The House that BJ Built’ (THTBB) from the Flipkart review program, I was not too sure what Anuja Chauhan was going to write about in this book, especially looking at that title. I flip the title page and the index and I find a family tree which seemed very very familiar and instantly brought a smile on my face. This was about the Thakur Girls! And the house that BJ Built was house that featured in the prequel.
As said earlier Anuja’s books (I am guessing I can say books, since I’ve read two of them so far!) are those that bring characters to life and she does that with ease. If not for anything else, I was happy that I got to read the book for the characters and their journey. Set in a timeframe that is current (TPTG was set in the 1980s), THTBB picks up at a point where the Thakur girls are mostly ‘well-settled’ and the loveable BJ is around with his granddaughter Bonu running her own business. With a movie in the backdrop and property dispute in the forefront, Anuja weaves an entertaining tale with a lot of the characters you loved in the past with a few new characters as well. If it was the romance between D and D that got us excited in TPTG, there is a dose of romance here (actually almost two times the dose), which Bonu, E, Samar and ‘Sthish’. It is to be noted that the two Ss here do not hold a handle to the charm that was oozed by D in the prequel. But hey, the generation has changed too! Boys change too!
The highlight of this book for me is the likeable stereotyping of the Thakurs including their pronunciation and the lingo they use, the Tambrahms, and the occasional humorous take on the North-Easterners. There are many entertaining moments including a line about a former female actor who also was on the Censor board which cracked me up. While taking a dig at Bollywood in the very first page, THTTB seamlessly settles into the premise that could very be one of a Bollywood movie, albeit with all entertaining characters and interesting backstories.
One thing that did not work for me in the book, as with its predecessor, was the length of the book. An item number usually disrupts the pace of the movie. And so does one in this book too. With really crisp editing and by doing away with the item number, Anuja could have had a much tighter read which would have had every reader smiling through the book in entirety.
The House that BJ Built which does have Those Pricey Thakur Girls in it all while is definitely worth a staycation.
It is a always nice to go back to read a little more about a few characters from a book you have read and loved. Early this year, on one of those long trans-atlantic flights, I happened to read the book ‘Those Pricey Thakur Girls (TPTG) which was a refreshing change from the routine romances that seem to have taken over the Indian writing landscape. I was pleasantly surprised both by the quality of writing and the ease with which the author Anuja Chauhan makes the characters from the book accessible to us. You really seem to like those characters and root for them to ensure that they get what (or rather whom) they want.
Having gotten a copy of the book ‘The House that BJ Built’ (THTBB) from the Flipkart review program, I was not too sure what Anuja Chauhan was going to write about in this book, especially looking at that title. I flip the title page and the index and I find a family tree which seemed very very familiar and instantly brought a smile on my face. This was about the Thakur Girls! And the house that BJ Built was house that featured in the prequel.
As said earlier Anuja’s books (I am guessing I can say books, since I’ve read two of them so far!) are those that bring characters to life and she does that with ease. If not for anything else, I was happy that I got to read the book for the characters and their journey. Set in a timeframe that is current (TPTG was set in the 1980s), THTBB picks up at a point where the Thakur girls are mostly ‘well-settled’ and the loveable BJ is around with his granddaughter Bonu running her own business. With a movie in the backdrop and property dispute in the forefront, Anuja weaves an entertaining tale with a lot of the characters you loved in the past with a few new characters as well. If it was the romance between D and D that got us excited in TPTG, there is a dose of romance here (actually almost two times the dose), which Bonu, E, Samar and ‘Sthish’. It is to be noted that the two Ss here do not hold a handle to the charm that was oozed by D in the prequel. But hey, the generation has changed too! Boys change too!
The highlight of this book for me is the likeable stereotyping of the Thakurs including their pronunciation and the lingo they use, the Tambrahms, and the occasional humorous take on the North-Easterners. There are many entertaining moments including a line about a former female actor who also was on the Censor board which cracked me up. While taking a dig at Bollywood in the very first page, THTTB seamlessly settles into the premise that could very be one of a Bollywood movie, albeit with all entertaining characters and interesting backstories.
One thing that did not work for me in the book, as with its predecessor, was the length of the book. An item number usually disrupts the pace of the movie. And so does one in this book too. With really crisp editing and by doing away with the item number, Anuja could have had a much tighter read which would have had every reader smiling through the book in entirety.
The House that BJ Built which does have Those Pricey Thakur Girls in it all while is definitely worth a staycation.
June 6, 2015
So, in the two days since the book's release, I read the novel twice... Hence the three stars, despite my qualms with several aspects of the novel.
Pros
1. The relationship between Anji, Dabbu, Eshu. (Yes, Chandu doesn't count. I don't think she's meant to). I was caught unawares by how much I was invested in their relationship.
2. The story behind Samar's movie... Without spoiling anyone, I just loved how Anuja Chauhan developed what I thought was a throwaway joke in the Pricey Thakur Girls.
3. The prose is funny and true to the Anuja trademark. Once you've finished the story, you can come back and pick up reading at any random part of the novel and have a whale of a good time.
Cons
1. Bonu, Bonu... do I like you? Do I like you not? The thing is I didn't really get off the fence regarding her character. Technically, she's should be a sure fire draw. She's beautiful, she's smart, an entrepreneur (albeit, a shady one)... but I think she comes off as rather pseudo. Her internal angst doesn't make her very relatable.
2. Samar is sort of like Anurag Kashyap-y, but with Farhaan Akhtar's looks. He was really growing on me as a character, till suddenly he just morphs into this action hero out of the blue in the middle of the book. I mean, we have no clue about this side of his persona and suddenly he's developed Bollywood stunt skills. So, whiplash.
3. The love story was pretty....ordinary... I mean I was invested in Samar and Bonu's relationship to a point, but there was no real tennnnnsssiiiooonnnn.... despite the number of times different characters assure us that there is. I just went back and re-read Battle for Bittora. Come on, there's just no comparison with the electricity that Zain and Jini generate. But I will say, it was pretty cool to have so much of Samar's perspective.
4. There was just too much swearing and abusive language for my liking.
5.The prologue especially seemed gratuitous. The events of the prologue are summed pretty neatly at least twice later in the book. I don't know if it was just Chauhan trying really hard. And that was I really loved about her earlier...she doesn't try 'try' to be cool and current.
6. Another minor miff- the Aur Jee song was a nod to Chauhan's Pepsi ad and with all the family photographs as the basis of the cover and in the book trailer... I don't know, it was a bit of a turn off- like the book was so self-obsessed.
7. Steesh...... blah
8. Where's Antu? Why does no one talk about him? Not even Samar...which is realllly weeirrd.
Pros
1. The relationship between Anji, Dabbu, Eshu. (Yes, Chandu doesn't count. I don't think she's meant to). I was caught unawares by how much I was invested in their relationship.
2. The story behind Samar's movie... Without spoiling anyone, I just loved how Anuja Chauhan developed what I thought was a throwaway joke in the Pricey Thakur Girls.
3. The prose is funny and true to the Anuja trademark. Once you've finished the story, you can come back and pick up reading at any random part of the novel and have a whale of a good time.
Cons
1. Bonu, Bonu... do I like you? Do I like you not? The thing is I didn't really get off the fence regarding her character. Technically, she's should be a sure fire draw. She's beautiful, she's smart, an entrepreneur (albeit, a shady one)... but I think she comes off as rather pseudo. Her internal angst doesn't make her very relatable.
2. Samar is sort of like Anurag Kashyap-y, but with Farhaan Akhtar's looks. He was really growing on me as a character, till suddenly he just morphs into this action hero out of the blue in the middle of the book. I mean, we have no clue about this side of his persona and suddenly he's developed Bollywood stunt skills. So, whiplash.
3. The love story was pretty....ordinary... I mean I was invested in Samar and Bonu's relationship to a point, but there was no real tennnnnsssiiiooonnnn.... despite the number of times different characters assure us that there is. I just went back and re-read Battle for Bittora. Come on, there's just no comparison with the electricity that Zain and Jini generate. But I will say, it was pretty cool to have so much of Samar's perspective.
4. There was just too much swearing and abusive language for my liking.
5.The prologue especially seemed gratuitous. The events of the prologue are summed pretty neatly at least twice later in the book. I don't know if it was just Chauhan trying really hard. And that was I really loved about her earlier...she doesn't try 'try' to be cool and current.
6. Another minor miff- the Aur Jee song was a nod to Chauhan's Pepsi ad and with all the family photographs as the basis of the cover and in the book trailer... I don't know, it was a bit of a turn off- like the book was so self-obsessed.
7. Steesh...... blah
8. Where's Antu? Why does no one talk about him? Not even Samar...which is realllly weeirrd.
July 17, 2020
Oh well, what a hilarious, witty and enjoyable ride! Anuja Chauhan seems to have done it again!
Humour was the best element of this book, because The House That BJ Built was extremely extremely hilarious. Ms. Chauhan really knows how to do her way with humour. She always has, and that's what I love about her books. The thing is that most Indian contemporary romance novels turn out to be a disappointment for me, with the cringe worthy Hinglish, forced jokes and crappy themes. But not with Anuja Chauhan. Her jokes are never forced, they really make you laugh and the Hinglish used is just perfect. I don't know what to say, it just clicks, you know.
And the plot was good, not anything extraordinary but enjoyable. Bonita's character was really great. I liked her kickass feisty attitude. Though for the slightest of the moments, she would annoy me at times but that's nothing to mind. Our male lead, Samar Vir Singh, who also happens to be Bonu's step brother, was pretty hot and charming as well. So, yes, here we have really interesting leads who had a sizzling chemistry but I really wished there was a little more to them. I don;t know, it's just that the chemistry wasn't as thrilling as Jinni and Zain's from Battle For Bittora.
The rest of the plot was pretty cool as well. I enjoyed the family drama a lot. And Pushkar Thakur and his wife's story intriguing as well. So yes, overall, a fun and delightful read that will have you constantly cracking up.
Humour was the best element of this book, because The House That BJ Built was extremely extremely hilarious. Ms. Chauhan really knows how to do her way with humour. She always has, and that's what I love about her books. The thing is that most Indian contemporary romance novels turn out to be a disappointment for me, with the cringe worthy Hinglish, forced jokes and crappy themes. But not with Anuja Chauhan. Her jokes are never forced, they really make you laugh and the Hinglish used is just perfect. I don't know what to say, it just clicks, you know.
And the plot was good, not anything extraordinary but enjoyable. Bonita's character was really great. I liked her kickass feisty attitude. Though for the slightest of the moments, she would annoy me at times but that's nothing to mind. Our male lead, Samar Vir Singh, who also happens to be Bonu's step brother, was pretty hot and charming as well. So, yes, here we have really interesting leads who had a sizzling chemistry but I really wished there was a little more to them. I don;t know, it's just that the chemistry wasn't as thrilling as Jinni and Zain's from Battle For Bittora.
The rest of the plot was pretty cool as well. I enjoyed the family drama a lot. And Pushkar Thakur and his wife's story intriguing as well. So yes, overall, a fun and delightful read that will have you constantly cracking up.
June 2, 2015
Got the book from the Flipkart Review Program for The Reader (thereader.in). Our reviewer Neha Joshi reviewed it.
Anuja Chauhan welcomes you back to Number 16, Hailey Road, for yet another tantalizing love story, set in the backdrop of family feuds, politics, business and Bollywood.
It is the next generation of Thakurs in focus this time, with Bonita Singh
Rajawat and Samar Vir Singh falling into a love-hate relationship. Set against
the backdrop of the impending sale of their ancestral house, as promised to
BJ on his deathbed, Bonu and Samar are joined by their aunts to ward off
greedy step-uncles, slimy politicians and crazy lawyers. With the recurrence
of characters like the pug-faced chachiji, the chest-heavy Gulgul bhaisaab,
and even old Mr. Gambhir, the story is nothing less than a tumultuous
rollercoaster ride, peppered with tongue-in-cheek language and a hilarious
take on Indian pronunciation (Bail’s Pelsy for Bell’s Palsy, Cak-koo in the
nest for Cuckoo in the nest, and Steesh for Satish).
The House That BJ Built is a fun, light read that will leave you with a big smile on your face.
Anuja Chauhan welcomes you back to Number 16, Hailey Road, for yet another tantalizing love story, set in the backdrop of family feuds, politics, business and Bollywood.
It is the next generation of Thakurs in focus this time, with Bonita Singh
Rajawat and Samar Vir Singh falling into a love-hate relationship. Set against
the backdrop of the impending sale of their ancestral house, as promised to
BJ on his deathbed, Bonu and Samar are joined by their aunts to ward off
greedy step-uncles, slimy politicians and crazy lawyers. With the recurrence
of characters like the pug-faced chachiji, the chest-heavy Gulgul bhaisaab,
and even old Mr. Gambhir, the story is nothing less than a tumultuous
rollercoaster ride, peppered with tongue-in-cheek language and a hilarious
take on Indian pronunciation (Bail’s Pelsy for Bell’s Palsy, Cak-koo in the
nest for Cuckoo in the nest, and Steesh for Satish).
The House That BJ Built is a fun, light read that will leave you with a big smile on your face.
August 25, 2015
If you are really into Indian fiction and consider yourself a bookgeek, there is simply no way you couldn’t have heard of the name Anuja Chauhan as there is little chance of escaping the charms of this talented lady who has not one, not two but four bestselling books to her credit now..
Read the full review here - http://www.bookgeeks.in/entries/roman...
Read the full review here - http://www.bookgeeks.in/entries/roman...
June 26, 2015
such spunk, sauciness and fun in this book. i quite loved how the author handled bonu and samar's characters, very genuinely and with a sense of realness.
June 2, 2015
2.5, really. It was entertaining and breezy, but also just about okay.
June 2, 2015
Having received a copy from the publishers (thanks, Westland) via the Flipkart Review Program, I quickly procured a copy of the first book (this being a jump sequel), Those Pricey Thakur Girls, and read it overnight. And since I quite enjoyed TPTG, I had great expectations from The House That BJ Built. And Anuja Chauhan delivers brilliantly. In TPTG, she got to introduce each character, their idiosyncrasies and their quirks. This carries forward to The House That BJ Built as well, which is set twenty summers after the events of the first book (a fact that is subtly mentioned using a reference to a tree, a line I much enjoyed). However, the protagonists here are the kids from the prequel, each finding their own way in the world. Most of the characters from TPTG are back for the sequel, which revolves around a family squabble about the house in Hailey Road.
Samar and Bonita, the protagonists here, are again well etched, but the two together don't quite compare to the Dabbu-Dylan story from TPTG. However, the story does not require a perfect romance or a serious background to establish context and contrast - it requires the reader to imagine the situation in each character's shoes, which the author does delightfully well. Each character develops, but retains their quirks, and in this book, we get to see them in much richer detail.
I enjoyed this book as much as the first, and the quality of writing is consistent. The book, however, does sag a little bit towards the middle, especially with the extended bits of willtheywontthey, but very soon, it gets back on track. Anuja Chauhan has a knack of dropping the plot twists without warning, which works very well in this book. There are numerous such twists, and though one of them is very flimsy, the author manages to tie all loose ends together, just like TPTG. The ending is rather abrupt (everything is resolved in the last few pages), but in retrospect, it felt like the characters had plotted it all along. Such a decoy is most welcome, and leaves the reader to follow the trail, which I particularly liked. Again, there are some lines (including the description of the sun as a burning lozenge) that made me stop for a while to enjoy them, and though more such lines are most welcome, the book is led stronger by its characters and their stories.
Having read two books by Anuja Chauhan, I can't wait to see what she puts up next. Do read this if you enjoyed the first book, for this one marginally sneaks ahead of Those Pricey Thakur Girls in almost all departments.
Samar and Bonita, the protagonists here, are again well etched, but the two together don't quite compare to the Dabbu-Dylan story from TPTG. However, the story does not require a perfect romance or a serious background to establish context and contrast - it requires the reader to imagine the situation in each character's shoes, which the author does delightfully well. Each character develops, but retains their quirks, and in this book, we get to see them in much richer detail.
I enjoyed this book as much as the first, and the quality of writing is consistent. The book, however, does sag a little bit towards the middle, especially with the extended bits of willtheywontthey, but very soon, it gets back on track. Anuja Chauhan has a knack of dropping the plot twists without warning, which works very well in this book. There are numerous such twists, and though one of them is very flimsy, the author manages to tie all loose ends together, just like TPTG. The ending is rather abrupt (everything is resolved in the last few pages), but in retrospect, it felt like the characters had plotted it all along. Such a decoy is most welcome, and leaves the reader to follow the trail, which I particularly liked. Again, there are some lines (including the description of the sun as a burning lozenge) that made me stop for a while to enjoy them, and though more such lines are most welcome, the book is led stronger by its characters and their stories.
Having read two books by Anuja Chauhan, I can't wait to see what she puts up next. Do read this if you enjoyed the first book, for this one marginally sneaks ahead of Those Pricey Thakur Girls in almost all departments.
December 22, 2016
My favourite Thakur girls come back with a sequel .
So this one is some 20 years after Dylan-Dabbu marriage . Frankley speaking , I enjoyed The Pricey Thakur Girls much more , I think the characters were lovable back then and also I will give full marks for romance . This one is more petite , Ppl with evil masks , The awful property fights .
I don't know whether I like Bonu or not , really , she wants revenge for her parent's death . She keeps playing the old dialogue of her mother in her mind , at some point she sounded like Chandu chanting .
Jeez , I never never liked Chandu , she was tolerable in the first book coz she was absent . But all these characters got realistic touches I guess , not sugar-coated . So I gotto appreciate author there .
Samar , Gosh , who would have imagined him growing into hot-shot director saab ? Haaye , I fell for him . He is the only good thing about Bonu-Samar love story .
I craved for a glimpse of Dylan-Dabbu , you know after all they are the main characters in the first book . Anyways I am thankful at least we gotto read them , albeit separately . Anyday , they make perfect pair , Even now Dylan Singh Shekawat is drool worthy and Debjani Thakur is enviable .
Keeping characterisation aside , the plot was pretty good , I mean you just cannot put the book aside . Pushkar-Pushkarini story , Bonu-Samar , Eeshu-Steesh , BJ's house-Chachaji , pretty much intriguing .
Some scenes are so hilarious , I had to close my book and laughed for some rolling on the floor 'literally' , of course its Anuja Chauhan , you don't expect nothing less . ( Oh that Tring Trings -Khan -Public humiliation scene on stage is my favourite )
Definitely not recommended for people who wanna keep a straight face , this is a leisure read , Very long one at that .
So this one is some 20 years after Dylan-Dabbu marriage . Frankley speaking , I enjoyed The Pricey Thakur Girls much more , I think the characters were lovable back then and also I will give full marks for romance . This one is more petite , Ppl with evil masks , The awful property fights .
I don't know whether I like Bonu or not , really , she wants revenge for her parent's death . She keeps playing the old dialogue of her mother in her mind , at some point she sounded like Chandu chanting .
Jeez , I never never liked Chandu , she was tolerable in the first book coz she was absent . But all these characters got realistic touches I guess , not sugar-coated . So I gotto appreciate author there .
Samar , Gosh , who would have imagined him growing into hot-shot director saab ? Haaye , I fell for him . He is the only good thing about Bonu-Samar love story .
I craved for a glimpse of Dylan-Dabbu , you know after all they are the main characters in the first book . Anyways I am thankful at least we gotto read them , albeit separately . Anyday , they make perfect pair , Even now Dylan Singh Shekawat is drool worthy and Debjani Thakur is enviable .
Keeping characterisation aside , the plot was pretty good , I mean you just cannot put the book aside . Pushkar-Pushkarini story , Bonu-Samar , Eeshu-Steesh , BJ's house-Chachaji , pretty much intriguing .
Some scenes are so hilarious , I had to close my book and laughed for some rolling on the floor 'literally' , of course its Anuja Chauhan , you don't expect nothing less . ( Oh that Tring Trings -Khan -Public humiliation scene on stage is my favourite )
Definitely not recommended for people who wanna keep a straight face , this is a leisure read , Very long one at that .
August 10, 2015
As promised, the story is all about the house that BJ built and if those pricey Thakur girls sell the house or not. In spite of 410 pages, Anuja Chauhan startles the reader with several twists and turns. The narrative is lucid and incidents are quirky. Dialogs are relatable and characters have shades of grey – neither godly nor villainous. There is a splendid Bollywood movie-like charm about the book. It lets the reader envision not only the backdrop but the characters as well.
What I loved about the story is the sheer madness. It is everything a big fat Indian family would be. It also reemphasizes that blood is indeed thicker than water and at the end of the day, family matters! The hot and sizzling chemistry between Bonu and Samar is delicious. It would surely make you wish that you were Bonu (only if you are a woman reader, of course).
In short, Anuja Chauhan is back with another blockbuster book.
What I loved about the story is the sheer madness. It is everything a big fat Indian family would be. It also reemphasizes that blood is indeed thicker than water and at the end of the day, family matters! The hot and sizzling chemistry between Bonu and Samar is delicious. It would surely make you wish that you were Bonu (only if you are a woman reader, of course).
In short, Anuja Chauhan is back with another blockbuster book.
August 23, 2015
#donebefore
#chiclit
#hashtaggenre
It is easy to write off saying Anuja Chauhan has done this before. She has already written three 400 page each chiclits featuring romantic nauk jhonk between Delhi ki jhalli ladki and Mumbai ka Hottie ladka. With this I have actually summarized the story and the authors prowess in writing, rest of the plot and characters, who cares.
So why is it that I pick up this book again. Frankly it's a no brainier, it's light, it's funny, it's smart and it's easy. We all want such a read all the time. To put it in bookish sense, it's Indian version of Mills and Boons, in a nice family sort of way. It's a soap opera dished in Delhi humor, family drama and cheeky lines. There is a plot but how does that matter when you already know that boy and girl will eventually live happily ever after.
Read more here:
http://storywala.blogspot.com/2015/08...
#chiclit
#hashtaggenre
It is easy to write off saying Anuja Chauhan has done this before. She has already written three 400 page each chiclits featuring romantic nauk jhonk between Delhi ki jhalli ladki and Mumbai ka Hottie ladka. With this I have actually summarized the story and the authors prowess in writing, rest of the plot and characters, who cares.
So why is it that I pick up this book again. Frankly it's a no brainier, it's light, it's funny, it's smart and it's easy. We all want such a read all the time. To put it in bookish sense, it's Indian version of Mills and Boons, in a nice family sort of way. It's a soap opera dished in Delhi humor, family drama and cheeky lines. There is a plot but how does that matter when you already know that boy and girl will eventually live happily ever after.
Read more here:
http://storywala.blogspot.com/2015/08...
September 19, 2015
This book is amazing. This is the first book by author that I am reading and I seriously didn't have that much expectations from this book. But this book turned out to be wow.
The book is about Bonu Singh and the tale of selling the house that BJ built. There are four aunts who are all very interesting personalities and who definitely want to sell the house quickly. There is a handsome bachelor and then there are a lot of funny lovable characters.
This book is so good because of the characters. Each character, whether good or bad, would tickle you and at the same time impress you.
Talk about narration... LOL This book has humor and it has the kind of humor where the author doesn't try to make you laugh. But with what she writes, you just laugh.
I bet you would want to talk about this book once you finish it, you would miss it once you finish it, you would be satisfied but still unsatisfied once you finish it... this book is just amazing. Must read.
The book is about Bonu Singh and the tale of selling the house that BJ built. There are four aunts who are all very interesting personalities and who definitely want to sell the house quickly. There is a handsome bachelor and then there are a lot of funny lovable characters.
This book is so good because of the characters. Each character, whether good or bad, would tickle you and at the same time impress you.
Talk about narration... LOL This book has humor and it has the kind of humor where the author doesn't try to make you laugh. But with what she writes, you just laugh.
I bet you would want to talk about this book once you finish it, you would miss it once you finish it, you would be satisfied but still unsatisfied once you finish it... this book is just amazing. Must read.
May 10, 2016
It was a wonderful read. Anuja Chauhan didn't disappoint. This was another humorous rom-com filled with drama and many laugh-out-loud moments. Some of the dialogues are effortlessly hilarious. Drama kings and queens reign in the book. I found myself rooting for some of the characters that I did not like in 'Those Pricey Thakur girls' like Anjini. I was suspicious of the B and N Trings but liked the way it all turned out.
Bonu Singh and Samar is well etched.
Recommended to all those who love a rom-com and those who won't mind reading some clever Hinglish in between.
Bonu Singh and Samar is well etched.
Recommended to all those who love a rom-com and those who won't mind reading some clever Hinglish in between.
June 2, 2015
this indian drama got me so hooked to the story that i bid a goodbye to sleep till i finished. very entertaining. Bonu and Samar make an awesome pair , no matter how much hot headed both act. while I felt a lot of sympathy for Bonu, he aunts are a mix of a lot f emotions. perfect cast.
i now want to read the pricey thakur girls now.
i now want to read the pricey thakur girls now.
May 13, 2016
Ahh well. I had expected it to be a different kind of work altogether. Turned out to be a shallow, bollywoody thing. I thought twice to drop it in the middle, but then, this is like a bowlful of chocolate cookies (or titaura for that matter) which you know you shouldn't continue consuming, but you end up with an empty bowl. Nothing serious. I liked Bonu, btw.
May 30, 2015
Waited a month for the book to launch, and it's over in a day. *sigh*
July 9, 2016
I am completely in love with Anuja Chauhan's writing style. ❤
February 19, 2019
Is there an Anuja Chauhan fan club I can join?
May 12, 2024
“Il make them squirm like well-salted earthworms. I won’t sell. Even my jutti won’t sell. And if I die naa, then even my ghost won’t sell”
Daughter of a Pricey Thakur Girl, sitting in dark thinking about her mother’s words when her sisters didn’t want to sell the house that BJ Built. When they did not care about her financial crisis. And then she died. But Bonita Singh, Binni Thakur’s daughter is still alive, living at 16, Hailey Road to fulfill her mother’s wish. Will she be able to do it?
Bonita Singh, the one whose first word was “Balls”, who never gives up, is ballsy and intolerant towards bulls***, will she be able to overcome her Mausis plan to sell the house? Starting from Mausi Anjani, the famous beauty of Hailey road who now wants to Save the Nation, Mausi Chandralekha, who is a self-proclaimed monk, and Mausi Eshawari, who is jobless and manless. And the Mausis are not the only problem, AN Thakur, BJ’S brother who wants the property, some spies and lies and tenants who want 10 lakh hits on their YouTube video are other factors that will drive her crazy.
The House that BJ Built is a story of a daughter living between Crazy Thakur girls, her Mausis, who make her climb and scratch walls. After the demise of BJ Thakur, all three sisters now horde together at 16, Hailey Road to sell the house, but Bonita Singh refuses, clearly remembering her Mother Late Binodini Thakur’s words. But then things turn into one romantic chutney, when Bonita’s childhood crush, her Mausi Anjani’s stepson, Samar Singh comes back to 16 Hailey Road. BJ on his death bed makes Samar promise to sell the House and divide it equally amongst all her daughters. But will Samar be able to fulfill his wish when Bonu “Balls” Singh stands in his way? Who will win, Hormones or Genes?
A sequel to “Those Pricey Thakur Girls”, Anuja Chauhan has been true to her Delhi-pann while writing this book. From Hinglish to describing the nature of each character, she makes them stand true to their Delhi-based identity. Each and every character has created a perfect balance of rom-com. For Example; When Samar’s intense eyes are looking at Bonita, he suddenly reminds her that she is the same kid who used to run after him with Jars full of Susu (urine)! Phrases like this have made the book come alive with happiness and romance.
One of the best things about Anuja Chauhan’s writing is that she has a flare of making her characters relate to readers. When you read about Thakur Girls, they may remind you about someone who used to be just like them. Some relatives who are just like them, jobless, manless, spiteful and hypocrite. This genuine nature of characters makes her novels such a success.
The best character in the book is of Chachiji, AN Thakur’s wife! Sleazy and one who makes the most of an opportunity, her timing for dialogs and gossip is perfect in the book. When you think that dust might have settled down a bit, she jumps out of pages again and reminds you that she is still there. Her “Haw ji” and “Hai ji” act like extra masala in maggie, making it spicier and bone tickling. Samar takes away the award for the Hunk in the book. A famous Bollywood director with scruffy looks, one’s imagination may provide them with quite a delightful picture when you think about him.
Overall the book makes for an excellent read. I was glad that I took a break from all the heavy reading and ordered my copy on time. Although one thing that bothered me was dragging the story a little bit. Anuja might have altered at least 50 pages of the book, but then the overall composition is also worth reading. A book that may brighten up your week with Bonu Singh’s Chammak wali bangles and Thakur Saga at 16, Hailey Road.
Daughter of a Pricey Thakur Girl, sitting in dark thinking about her mother’s words when her sisters didn’t want to sell the house that BJ Built. When they did not care about her financial crisis. And then she died. But Bonita Singh, Binni Thakur’s daughter is still alive, living at 16, Hailey Road to fulfill her mother’s wish. Will she be able to do it?
Bonita Singh, the one whose first word was “Balls”, who never gives up, is ballsy and intolerant towards bulls***, will she be able to overcome her Mausis plan to sell the house? Starting from Mausi Anjani, the famous beauty of Hailey road who now wants to Save the Nation, Mausi Chandralekha, who is a self-proclaimed monk, and Mausi Eshawari, who is jobless and manless. And the Mausis are not the only problem, AN Thakur, BJ’S brother who wants the property, some spies and lies and tenants who want 10 lakh hits on their YouTube video are other factors that will drive her crazy.
The House that BJ Built is a story of a daughter living between Crazy Thakur girls, her Mausis, who make her climb and scratch walls. After the demise of BJ Thakur, all three sisters now horde together at 16, Hailey Road to sell the house, but Bonita Singh refuses, clearly remembering her Mother Late Binodini Thakur’s words. But then things turn into one romantic chutney, when Bonita’s childhood crush, her Mausi Anjani’s stepson, Samar Singh comes back to 16 Hailey Road. BJ on his death bed makes Samar promise to sell the House and divide it equally amongst all her daughters. But will Samar be able to fulfill his wish when Bonu “Balls” Singh stands in his way? Who will win, Hormones or Genes?
A sequel to “Those Pricey Thakur Girls”, Anuja Chauhan has been true to her Delhi-pann while writing this book. From Hinglish to describing the nature of each character, she makes them stand true to their Delhi-based identity. Each and every character has created a perfect balance of rom-com. For Example; When Samar’s intense eyes are looking at Bonita, he suddenly reminds her that she is the same kid who used to run after him with Jars full of Susu (urine)! Phrases like this have made the book come alive with happiness and romance.
One of the best things about Anuja Chauhan’s writing is that she has a flare of making her characters relate to readers. When you read about Thakur Girls, they may remind you about someone who used to be just like them. Some relatives who are just like them, jobless, manless, spiteful and hypocrite. This genuine nature of characters makes her novels such a success.
The best character in the book is of Chachiji, AN Thakur’s wife! Sleazy and one who makes the most of an opportunity, her timing for dialogs and gossip is perfect in the book. When you think that dust might have settled down a bit, she jumps out of pages again and reminds you that she is still there. Her “Haw ji” and “Hai ji” act like extra masala in maggie, making it spicier and bone tickling. Samar takes away the award for the Hunk in the book. A famous Bollywood director with scruffy looks, one’s imagination may provide them with quite a delightful picture when you think about him.
Overall the book makes for an excellent read. I was glad that I took a break from all the heavy reading and ordered my copy on time. Although one thing that bothered me was dragging the story a little bit. Anuja might have altered at least 50 pages of the book, but then the overall composition is also worth reading. A book that may brighten up your week with Bonu Singh’s Chammak wali bangles and Thakur Saga at 16, Hailey Road.
May 1, 2020
The book "The House That BJ Built", being the sequel of "Those Pricey Thakur Girls", is an entirely modern story compared to the earlier one. It is quite enjoyable that I couldn't put it aside even for a while. It's full of foxy and money-minded people with exciting and stunning twists, which add to the beauty of the story. I love all characters of the story, not like that I admire them, but I do love them because every character contribute something to the story, with one character lost ( if not a part of the story), the story loses it's integrity...
April 7, 2018
An awesome read. All about property's Hissa
It contains a lot of Hinglish.. rather plain Hindi or even Hindi slangs. the words like karoing, dish-kiyaaon, Hai-Hai, Tharki, and sometimes complete lines in hindi like Kitna dead skin hai! Aur face pe so much dryness and dark spots and blackheads! Meri maano, aap straightaway laser karwalo! We have a good offer—two full legs ke saath,...’.
In the beginning, I thought I may not be able to survive this book. Having not yet read "Those Pricey Thakur Girls" I was not familiar with the characters. But after first 2-3 chapters, the story took shape with many twists and turns following, it was really un-putdownable(if there is such a word). the characters are very well developed and have kind of a loud-and-clear impact. I do wonder if there are really any such kind of people, but they can exist in a Bollywood, or Ekta Kapoor's TV Serials.
Overall a thoroughly enjoyable book, by anyone who likes Indian Fiction. Recommended.
It contains a lot of Hinglish.. rather plain Hindi or even Hindi slangs. the words like karoing, dish-kiyaaon, Hai-Hai, Tharki, and sometimes complete lines in hindi like Kitna dead skin hai! Aur face pe so much dryness and dark spots and blackheads! Meri maano, aap straightaway laser karwalo! We have a good offer—two full legs ke saath,...’.
In the beginning, I thought I may not be able to survive this book. Having not yet read "Those Pricey Thakur Girls" I was not familiar with the characters. But after first 2-3 chapters, the story took shape with many twists and turns following, it was really un-putdownable(if there is such a word). the characters are very well developed and have kind of a loud-and-clear impact. I do wonder if there are really any such kind of people, but they can exist in a Bollywood, or Ekta Kapoor's TV Serials.
Overall a thoroughly enjoyable book, by anyone who likes Indian Fiction. Recommended.
January 17, 2020
Breezy, funny, feel good!
Read
June 23, 2021I LOVE YOU ANUJA CHAUHAN AND I WANT ALL YOUR MALE (love interest) CHARACTERS IN MY LIFE <3
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