Me, Mia, Multiple

by Debashish Irengbam

Killing yourself should be easy, right? Pop a few sleeping pills, lie on a railway track and let the train do the rest of the work. Neat, swift, painless. Yet dramatic. What could possibly go wrong with Jeevan Raikar's plan? Well, this: a girls' night out happening at the graveyard next door, starring a vodka-swilling blackmailer and her dead mother. And so, Jeevan - who ought to be dead by now, mind you - is stuck with bubbly Mia, raging Tanya and sensuous Alisha. Which might seem like an enviable situation to be in, but for one tiny catch. They are all the same person. Me, Mia, Multiple is a debut that cares little for convention: a romance with a twist, a twisted romance, a romantic twister. Whatever you want to call it, you'll tear through it with sheer pleasure.

Genres: Indian Literature, Romance

376 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2015

Reviews

[Aradhna · Rating 5 out of 5]

YOU are capable of anything and everything in your life; you have a soft side to love younger ones, to respect your elders, a strong backbone to fight against any hell you come across, a mind to weigh what is right/ wrong but at the same time you tend to face your problems by bowing down to it, because you know how to SURVIVE.

This is what this book taught me and I am going to take it forward in my life…

This story weaves around Jeevan Raikar who is a victim of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is taking you on a journey of how he struggles to keep everyone happy while distancing himself from the world at large. His 3 sisters who are worried about their only brother while trying to balance their married life as well. His nil of a love life which is an icing on these problems and aid his suicidal attempts which are mind you number 3!

Here comes Mia! Crashing Jeevan’s suicide attempt number 4 while tangling him with her own mess of a life. A life which is so jumbled, a doctor and a retired ACP i.e. her father Albert D’costa has a field day around her.

Author provides a sensible introduction to Multiple Personality Disorder or Dissociative Identity Disorder along with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
I empathize with Jeevan because I personally have been to that dark hole called depression and PTSD which is difficult in the most horrible way. You don’t want to hurt your loved ones but it is not at all in your hand to cope up with your emotions and you just break down enough to let go for the good from this world, thinking it will give you freedom and much awaited release to your loved ones; who are suffering because of you. But that’s where it is wrong and I can say this only when I am looking at it from outside, not when I was in the clutches of that darkness. I never want to go back there and feel that air; tight with humiliation and pity for myself which suffocates my each breath while tempting me to succumb. Your loved ones matters, YOU matter; not only because they love you, but they don’t want you to suffer alone, they want you to confide in them which you feel like burdening them with your silly problems and that’s where you’re wrong darling.
It takes one to know one, yeah that’s about right for people who suffer from these situations. No one can understand you because no one is there to live your life, so it’s you who has to make an effort and come out of it, yeah you need help from your family, friends and loved ones to reach out to and try to understand you. But trust me, you can do it!
Mia is a whole big can of worms in itself! The way Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) is explained through this book, it’s just a coping mechanism build and developed by your own self against something horrific incident which has shocked you enough that your brain just cannot compute it enough to process it further. Rather, it will build a new mechanism altogether and blocks that incident to stop further acknowledgement in your life. I will say it’s a boon because when that ugly truth rears it face, you’re left to drown in its wake. What happened with Mia and how she went about her life with her alters is a great insight into these psychological disorder and how you can take a loved one’s help along with medicine facility which in today’s world is a miracle in itself.

Conclusion

There are authors who explain everything and every emotion in detail while using nefarious comparison to their situations which might become tedious sometimes but you know you can’t skip a line/ even a word because it is just that much good.
I have enjoyed such humorous works only by Tara Sivec till now and I must say, Debashish Irengbam has stamped a new bar for Indian Authors in Romantic-Comedy genre to look forward to. Debashish Irengbam has written this beautiful story in a hilarious way which will not only make you pee your pants, it’ll keep you on your toes till you finish this roller coaster ride called Me, Mia, Multiple! How every time Jeevan meets Mia, Tania, or Alisha, he returns with something broken or at least a black eye as a reward! I had a difficult time to pause my reading at night (it was that tempting) I use to read it first thing in the morning by hiding it under my pillow as my Mumma is not a fan of me being a Night Owl!

[Chhimi Tenduf-La · Rating 5 out of 5]

The genius of Me Mia Multiple is that the author has made a complex plot accessible. He would make an incredible teacher!

As a writer myself, I was very annoyed to read about this wonderfully original idea as it is something well beyond my own imagination. This is a profound book which makes you laugh out loud as many times as you can manage before having to take a break to catch your breath. The dialogue is hip, convincing, and flows beautifully. The author, with seemingly awesome ease, creates amazing characters and writes with a style and tone that makes this an absolute joy to read.

I can't speak highly enough about this book and am thrilled to see it doing so well. I can't wait for the next book by this author, due out soon I believe - but not soon enough for me.

[Dhanush · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book because my friend was constantly nagging me to read it for over a year now. I should have probably listened to him earlier and read it. I am a slow reader and have a short attention span, so it's hard for me to read, which is why I love audiobooks. But I loved this book. It was an easy read and kept me flowing through pages before I would realise it had been an hour or two and didn't even realise it.
I loved the story and the twists that came with it. I could relate to Jeevan in many ways which made the story even more fun to read. I had several moments in the story when I would think "That's just like me", and it excited me to keep going.
As for the characters, I would constantly get frustrated with Jeevan for many reasons as I read through it. Mia was like likeable and a fun character. I loved a lot of moments in the book. It's one of my favourite romance stories I have read.

[Aindrila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debashish Irengbam's Me,Mia, Multiple was a fun ride. As the blurb clearly states, this is the story of Jeevan Raikar, who is rescued from his latest suicide attempt by a rather odd girl, Mia D'Costa. From there on begins the hilarious and bizarre ride of a suicidal man and a girl who has her own issues. Alternatingly funny and dark, this is a fun read that makes you turn the pages because you are eager to know what misadventure awaits Jeevan in the next pages and Debashish doesn't disappoint. The story moves at a fast pace and keeps you hooked. The writing is flawless and the flashbacks are incorporated flawlessly. Definitely an author to watch out for.

Ideally I'd give the book 4.75 stars but sadly Goodreads doesn't let me do that and I could not take away from the wonderful book by rating it 4 stars, so 5 stars it is.

[Harsha]

Actual rating: 3.5/5

This was a very entertaining book, just what I needed to take my mind off my exam stress. Quick-paced, quirky and funny, with just the right amount of drama and romance. Despite its overall light-hearted feel, the book also touches upon a few serious issues like suicide, mental health and abuse, and treats them sensitively, while taking care not to make it overtly sentimental or morose, but not sounding too casual either. The twist at the end did not however come really as a surprise for me, as I had kind of suspected what might have happened to Mia in her childhood,I think when Tanya freaked out at the dinner with Jeevan's family, seeing the Barbie frock and I was proven right, though I'm not sure if that is a good thing or bad.

[Shrilaxmi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read this book in school and I liked it back then. I still like it now, seven years later but for very different reasons. The plot is interestingly complex and well-paced too. Most of the characters were well written and I will admit this even though I did not like some of them. This is such a good "Indian" book. The more normal facets of the story were very relatable - the familial interactions, the speech, and the general hangouts. It was funny too! Sometimes in a dark way, but I like that.

I received a free copy of this book from the author.

[Rag. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a boy meets girl story. The quirky part is, both of them are broken beyond repair. Or, so it seems in the beginning. Sounds like a depressing love story but it gets better and better as you read.

The story is poignant yet funny. There are heart-wrenching monologues, there are little moments which can give you a jolt and then there are plenty of incidents which will put a smile on your face. An enjoyable read and definitely a good way to spend eight hours of your life.

[Tarang Sinha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lighthearted yet intense. Funny yet serious.

I really, I mean really liked Me Mia Multiple for it's (Oddly) unique plot, unpredictability and exceptional humour! It churns your thoughts. Basically, entertaining and gripping!

[Priyanka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't heard of the book, until my mom brought it home. She read it in 3 days. I initially brushed it aside as just another romantic comedy. The only reason I began reading it was because the author is from my state and known to my family.
Well, I was hooked from the start! The author has beautifully woven the characters and the alter egos of Mia. I loved the comic descriptions especially of the Mumbai local. And many others which are subtly present throughout the book. I literally would giggle while reading.
To end, I think it's a brilliant read with a fresh story. Go read it!

[rubina brar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was recommended this book by Tarang Sinha and let me take this opportunity to thank her for recommending this amazing read! I was so pleasantly surprised to read a great contemporary fiction novel by an Indian author in an Indian setting. Debashish Irengbam certainly did his research on Multiple Personality Disorder. The book is written in simple easy to understand language and the script flows quickly. Though the main characters deal with depression and MPD, the book is humorous, sarcastic and brilliant at times. It is a touching story with not a hint of boredom and one that keeps you hooked. So much so that i read it in one go!
In the beginning i found Jeevan's character a little annoying as he was obstinately depressed and hung up on his ex. But as the story progressed i admired his consistency, that was what made him special. Inspite of having every reason to give up on Mia (and Tanya and Alisha) and despite her crazy control freak father, he held on. It is this consistency which made him depressed in the first case, as it was never reciprocated but it is a part of his personality and what makes him survive eventually. Mia's character is so beautifully written, and the disorder is explained and justified so well that i was blown away by its simplicity and effectiveness. Jeevan's sisters are interesting side characters who supply extra drama and humor to the story, but at the same time they are very real and relatable. I found his friend/flatmate Kapil's character so funny even though it is a bit clichéd. But his cluelessness and randomness made me laugh out loud. The twist in the end is what makes the story so special and brings it all together. Though i expected something like it but in no way does that take away from the book. It is not a mystery novel but a romantic one. Excellent story, great writing and well researched characters. What's not to love? I recommend this book to everyone, its something different in the typical and repetitive world of Indian contemporary romance writing.

[Lao Tzu · Rating 4 out of 5]

At last, found a book with a legit character for personality disorder. It has everything, romance, family drama, action, humor, and dark secrets. It's unique, funny and so twisted.

[Dmitri Ivanov · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am the last person to read commercial fiction. In fact the only reason I read this was because two of my friends kept discussing it (deliberately in front of me) and annoyed me to the point that I ended up reading the book.

And as much as I was trying to avoid the - 'I told you so!' - from them, I did end up really enjoying the book. The book plays out like a Bollywood Blockbuster, a GOOD Bollywood Blockbuster. The kind you don't mind paying the 450 bucks for, the kind where despite the elements being familiar, they don't overdo anything! Kinda like the way the film, Queen worked out (nothing in their plot is similar, but what I mean is, it's just that well done).

At no point do you feel like skipping paras, contort your face at the cliches that most books of this genre offer or cringe at parts that you really wish the author had thought twice before putting in.

The book is genuinely funny, has a well-paced plot and quite a little twist (as the the cover suggests) at the end, which takes you my surprise and yet blends in perfectly well with the plot.

This is just one of those books that I don't imagine anyone hating. You can love it, like it, maybe even feel 'meh' about it. But there is no hate, which is pretty much the highest compliment one can pay to any kind of work.

Also now, I really wanna discuss the end with someone else.

[Jai Mehra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really, really liked it. The comic parts are very funny and I loved the way the romance develops between the two. Plus, the twist in the end blew my mind away (No spoilers!)

[Anil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

[Nikhil · Rating 4 out of 5]

very different and interesting love story... loved it

[Samarth Srivastava]

It has been my favourite book ever since i completed it. It was extraordinarily original.
I cried a pool in bits of it. Ecstatic.

[twentiesgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only bought this book because i wanted to be spontaneous and buy something that’s not on my to-read list. After reading the summary and the first few pages of the book i decided that i liked the humor of the author.

At first, i really did not like Jeevan, l feel like he was too selfish and negative about everything (which i guess is expected since he was depressed and also the main reason why he has to meet Mia) but i just couldnt bear to read those kind of thoughts. I always find myself rebutting his views about life. Then the story progressed, he met Mia and i got more details about his backstory and i find myself enjoying this book.

I liked how Jeevan grew and became more aware of the people around him. I liked how their love made them both want to be better. I also liked how the author was talking about these depressing stuff in a way that doesnt make you feel uncomfortable. Because he tries to inject some humor into it and frankly i do agree with his views about how life is so messed up sometimes. You meet people you honestly don’t understand because why would such toxic people exist right? But taking everything to heart will just wear you out so try to work your way around it by finding humor in it.

Overall i gave this book 5 stars because i learned something about depression and dissociative disorder. I also enjoyed the writing of the author and i liked the story between Jeevan and Mia.

[Shreela Sen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truthfully, I started out by being very judgemental about this book ... "how can one treat Split personality disorder with such casualness? Do they know what extreme childhood trauma leads to the happening of that?
Me, Mia, Multiple deals with multiple issues, that society, esp. Indian society considers taboo. & it deals with these with commendable balance, sensitivity, common-parlance language, & common-sense (though I would not say wit. There is a bit humour, but thankfully, it's NOT dark humour).
It is another "young man in IT industry recounts his love-story" novel, but with a LOT of substance. Due to the nature of it's subject matter, sometimes the reading gets very heavy & laboured (for a romance).
The characters, all (given such extreme circumstances as described in this book) are REAL. Character development is good, & even secondary characters have been given reasonable depth. The novel also does a great job of not becoming a feminist narrative (I have nothing against feminist narratives, but every book does not have to be it) despite its very sensitive content, & also, despite the very painful on-goings, succeeds to be entertaining.
Recommended. For all adults.

[Audrey Coutinho · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book because I read 'Charlie Next Door' and enjoyed it, and wanted to read other books by the author. For the first 2-3 chapters, I hated the book. I had a typical Indian feel - most words seemed to be found from a thesaurus, there was an overuse of adjectives, several references to western pop culture and a general feeling that the author was trying too hard with the characters, dialogues and descriptions. However, once I got involved in the plot, nothing else mattered. It was a little cliched - a troubled boy meeting a troubled girl and fighting against multiple odds to end up together. But somehow the twists, the writing style, and of course the DID angle left me wanting to know what will happen next! I gave an extra star only because I love stories with multiple personalities, their backgrounds and the curing process. I have to admit, the author has handled a lot of sensitive topics extremely well.

[Sami · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book captures your attention with it's humour first. Its wit and the character's quirks are fun to follow. You would assume that there can't be much more. I thought surely the author will run out of comparisons. But it doesn't happen. There is a genuine story being told. Characters are connected to each other in a genuine way, people react to each other and their motivations are relatable. Everything I assumed to be superficial turned out to be merely a veil and what's behind that veil is brought forward with skill, the revelation leaving you with more empathy for it's characters. As a result I can guarantee you a fertile and clever plot that moves you. Do read this gem you will not be disappointed.

[Deepti · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this story is quite interesting but I found myself thinking that the author had resorted to cliches to resolve it. Towards the end of the book, a few words stood out to me - "cinematic", "Bollywood script", "theatrical". This book is just that. A love story that is so fantastically unreal and improbable that you can't put it down no matter how hard you try. I did some digging on this author and he was a student at the FTII; no wonder then, that his novel is implausible, unrealistic, maniacal and yet completely unputdownable. I give it three stars because although it has a loose plot and fantasy-like unrealism, it grabs your interest to the very end.

[Smriti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first found an excerpt of this book in 2019 and ever since it had been on my TBR, the reason why it took me so long to finally read it was because, I didn’t quite like one of Debashish Irengbam’s books and so I was a bit skeptical about it. But I was wrong, not only did this book lived up to my expectations, but it’s actually one of the best books I have read this year. From the first paragraph I was so so absorbed, that I even ignored my 9month old at times to quickly finish the chapter. It’s a sweet mystery, very comic, yet serious at the same time, also raises quite serious issues. I loved it. Must read .

[Bhuvan Shree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping and unusual story of a person who thinks he's looser but Miraculously being save by a mysterious girl . The girls has certain challanges in life and it's their journey how the protagonist suffer there is thriller and there is comedy which grips you till end. Plus there is personality disorder thing in this book don't want to reveal the story it's amazing you won't regret it reading .

[Aya Banana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book definitely deserved to be talked more of. A love story with a twist indeed.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even know how to review this book..it painfully shows you a reality some people go through whilst giving you hope. Somehow, by the end it felt like coming home. 10/10 would recommend!

[Olaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating 3.8

[Tushti Bhatia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title of the book plays a major role to hook the attention of the reader. ‘Me, Mia, Multiple’ by Debashish Irengbam was one of the titles that forced me to pick the book as early as possible. I was really excited to flip through the pages and that excitement really paid off.

The book is about Jeevan Raikar who got introduced in the story as being rescued from a Suicide attempt but stay patient; the book is not a boring drama of a suicidal person but is a very hilarious read (Overall, not the whole book). Soon after the rescue thing, Jeevan meets a girl named Mia D’Costa and then begins the real twister and fast paced, unexpected life journey of Jeevan. The book talks about various things but never stops over an issue for longer. Flash Backs and the mystery of girl, makes the reader to go through the pages quickly as everyone is curious to know where the story will end and believe me, the author justifies the end in pretty unexpected way and takes the whole read of the book to the another level.

The story of the book is pretty fast and never leaves the central theme. It keeps you on toes till the very end, and finally with the climax you’ll be bound to bow down in front of the author for creating this masterpiece. The mystic background of the characters always makes you anticipate the story and that’s where the author wins over the heart of reader.

Overall, it would suggest you to please do a favor on yourself and pick the book right now.

[Rucha Anjaria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I GOT THIS BOOK AS A WIN WITH GOODREADS GIVE-AWAYS, FOR WHICH I AM THANKFUL TO THE SPONSORS.
coming to the actual review, it is not deliciously interesting, neither completely rubbish, the actual inherent concept o the story dealing with multiple personality disorders is interesting, and also it is quite funny in few bits, but hard to place in a genre kind of a book. I would consider it a one time quick read, and I certainly can say I had way higher expectations, so it turned up somewhere on the "OKAY" scale rather than becoming a book which can't be put down.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gooooooooood. This book is an emotional roller coaster!!!! When i tell you this author didn’t let me chill for a few minutes!!!

It’s got humor, wit, suspense (not in a crazy way. Just enough). It made me laugh. It made me shriek. It made me gasp. It made me cry.

And that’s all I’m gonna say. Highly recommend!!

[Akanksha Mishra · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was alittle confusing at first but later it became clear.
Its rather long and got little boring at points. But overall its an ok book.