NEVER KISS YOUR BEST FRIEND by SUMRIT SHAHI
“With that friend you’ve shared your first smoke, your first sneak-out, got drunk for the first time and then let all your fiercely guarded emotions and thoughts flow out without the fear of judgement or an iota of embarrassment.”
Never Kiss Your Best Friend hits right in the feels especially if you do have a close friend like Tanie or Sumer, even if you are not ‘in love’ you’d certainly love them more, once you finish reading this one.
The title’s indeed a forewarning here, which (obviously) has the implied meaning that DO NOT fall in love with your best friend. But who have we ever listened to?
In my opinion though, falling in love with your best friend would be like the best thing ever – this book offers an insight on why (or why not) my belief is right.
Initially both protagonists, Tanie Brar and Sumer Dhillon come across as brats but as the story progresses and the kids grow up, literally, you can’t help but grow attached to these characters, loving and hating them at the same time.
However, the timing is of essence here. Just like any other love story where both people fall in love with one another – just at different times. And of course, for them, confessions are cliché.
Also, the obsession of Indian parents to engineering does not go unheeded to in this one, as well.
Whatever unfolds in Sumer’s life if it were to happen to anyone – they’d be lead astray but that’s why we have friends and family, to bring us back. His case turned out different and it sure broke my heart, big time. There’s definitely something amiss when you read one of the best friends had something severe going on his life and the girl has got ABSOLUTELY no clue! Ignorant, much?
Meanwhile, special mention: Liaka – If I were into cussing, who knows what I’d have said for her! In my head I actually pictured her as a vamp from some cliché TV show.
The timeframes could be a bit confusing but it couldn’t have been written any better.
Coming to the last part, the culmination was something I’d never have predicted – no mystery, suspense or thriller but…let me not spoil it for you but just know when you’re in a for a (not so happy) surprise there!
Special mention to the diary entries’ document at the end tied all the ends together so beautifully, summing up the essence of the book impeccably.
I’d definitely recommend this one, if you love romance fics like me or even rom-coms for that matter.