50 Ways the Heart Beats: The Kaamdev Challenge

by Shiv Bhowmik

Can a human heart survive falling in love fifty times, or is it destined to shatter? When Indra, the strict CEO of Heaven, argues that human romance is nothing but a temporary glitch in the syllabus, Kaamdev, the Creative Director of Chaos, stakes his entire career on a wild celestial bet. Their focus group of one? Dev, a chronically bewildered mortal possessing a heart held together by good intentions and questionably romantic life choices. Suddenly, the divine game is on, and Dev is thrust into a chaotic, all-you-can-eat buffet of romantic entanglements. From weaponising 90s romance novels against heavy machinery to losing his mind over a rival’s military-grade pencil case, Dev must navigate fifty distinct, messy heartbeats across his lifetime. But as the corporate ladders, poetic exit ramps, and political protests fade, the stakes turn deadly serious: if he fails to find true alignment with his final choice, the grand music of his heart will fade into permanent silence.

Close the spreadsheets, put away the rules, and dive into a brilliantly witty, second-hand-embarrassment-inducing odyssey about the magnificent mistakes we make for connection.

Grab your copy to discover how a heart learns to stay.

Genres: Love

338 pages, Hardcover

First published June 18, 2026

About the author

Shiv Bhowmik is a data scientist by profession and a storyteller by becoming. His fiction isn’t just written... it’s felt. With a voice steeped in longing, memory, and quiet resilience, Shiv explores the unspoken edges of human connection.

In his own words: “This was never a passion. It was a quiet becoming.”

Writing didn’t arrive as love at first sight. It was a stranger met in silence... a steady presence when all else faded. Over time, it became a mirror for emotions too complex for words, a translator for the ache between sentences.

What Shiv writes isn’t just fiction. It’s memory, wrapped in metaphor. It’s the heart speaking where the voice once trembled.

Each story is a breath he didn’t know he was holding.
Each line, a memory he left behind... now finding its way home.

He doesn’t write because he must.
He writes because somehow… writing remembers him.

Reviews

[a_geminireader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second book by Shiv Bhowmik, and after reading his previous book, I was quite curious about this one. What caught my attention first was the unique concept of bringing Kaamdev and Indra into a story about love and relationships. I really enjoyed their conversations because they were funny, entertaining and also gave different perspectives on love.

Dev’s journey felt relatable in many ways. From childhood crushes and awkward moments to heartbreaks and relationships, we get to see different phases of his life. I liked that every experience added something to his journey. It was not only about finding love but also about growing, learning and understanding himself along the way.

The writing is simple and easy to read, and the story has many light and funny moments. I especially enjoyed how Indian mythology was mixed with modern-day emotions without making the story feel complicated. Some moments made me smile, while a few thoughts stayed with me even after I finished the book.

Overall, I found " 50 Ways the Heart Beats" to be a sweet and enjoyable read. It talks about love, heartbreak, friendships and the experiences that slowly shape us. If you enjoy romance with a touch of Indian mythology and a story that focuses on personal growth, you can give this one a try.

[♡ Diyasha ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

50 𝑾𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒔
𝐴𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑟: 𝑆ℎ𝑖𝑣 𝐵ℎ𝑜𝑤𝑚𝑖𝑘

🍂 Imagine waking up every morning knowing your love life isn't just messy - it is literally a spector sport for two board celestial deities sitting on throne cushions in स्वर्गलोक. This is reality of 𝐷𝑒𝑣's daily existence.

🍂 To the rest of the world, 𝐷𝑒𝑣 is just an ordinary guy navigating the routine grind of modern Indian life: rushing through school yard pen-fights, surviving high-stakes college exams, enduring awkward suburban rishta tea sessions with overbearing relatives and trying not to spill coffee during tense corporate office shifts. But behind every sudden flutter of his pulse, every late-night text left on 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑, and every agonizing rejection, there is a cosmic scoreboard running in the heaven. 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑙 𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑦?

🍂 The story begins with स्वर्गलोक (heaven) where 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑎, the pragmatic and cynical King of the Gods, gets into a debate with Kaamdev, the God of love. There's two views - 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑎 & 𝐾𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑑𝑒𝑣.

𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑎, 𝐻𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑏𝑢𝑔𝑠, 𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑜𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑝𝑎𝑖𝑛.

𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝐾𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑑𝑒𝑣, 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑘 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒, 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒, ℎ𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓-𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦.

🍂 To settle the argument, they hatch "𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐾𝑎𝑎𝑚𝑑𝑒𝑣 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑒". They select an unsuspecting human subject, 𝐷𝑒𝑣, to test whether the person can endure fifty distinct emotional heartbeats - ranging from euphoric crush highs to soul crushing rejections - without giving up on love entirely.

🍂 without his knowledge, 𝐷𝑒𝑣's day-to-day journey - from childhood teacher crashes to late twenties swipe fatigue - is being live streamed to the Gods. On one side sits Indra, arms crossed, waiting for 𝐷𝑒𝑣 to break under the weight of logical cynicism. On the other hand there's Kaamdev, cheering on every foolish, brave and messy decision 𝐷𝑒𝑣 makes to put his heart break out there.

🍂 His first crush, playground rivalries and even first rejection - all are a point of assessment now. As 𝐷𝑒𝑣 enters from school to college, the stakes grow higher and the emotional beats became more intestine. The "𝑎𝑙𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑝𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑙" ambiguity of friend zones, late-night phone conversations that lead nowhere and secret crushes during hostel life. His first serious, adult relationship collapses due to miscommunication, distance and poor timing. He is left broken, temporarily confirming Indra's theory that love is a destructive force.

🍂 But his 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑛 𝑔𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑑 stands out when he navigates his mid to late twenties through 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 & 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔. His 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠, and 𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑏𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑡 points out the absurdities of adult dating life in India. Just as Indra seems poised to win the bet with 𝐷𝑒𝑣 nearing emotional numbness - he encounters a deeper, mature connection. Instead of rushing headlong into idealised passion, 𝐷𝑒𝑣 learns to embrace love with all its flaws, vulnerabilities and quiet comfort.

🍂 𝑨𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒔 & 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒎
• That episodic 50 HEARTBEATS through its 𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 & 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 keeps the book moving briskly. Some chapters feel like quick comedic vignettes, while the later corporate and adult chapters carry more emotional weight.
• The author uses sharp 𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆 & 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒓 with references of Indian pop culture and self deprecating humour and witty dialogue.
• The conversations of Indra and Kaamdev through 𝒎𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 acts as a clever Greek chorus mechanism, shifting the narrative from a simple romance to a playful philosophical debate on human behaviour.

🍂 Living with the plot means viewing the mundane, everyday embarrassments of falling in love not as tragic failure, but as necessary, hilarious steps in proving that the human heart is far tougher than the Gods give it credit for. By the time Kaamdev and Indra conclude their bet, the takeaway is clear; human hearts are fragile, but they are built to repair themselves. This one doesn't treat heartbreak as a tragic end, but as a rite of passage.

[Supriya K · Rating 5 out of 5]

50 WAYS THE HEART BEATS
By Shiv Bhowmik
Publisher: Notion Press


⭐ 10 STARS! IF I COULD GIVE IT MORE, I WOULD! ⭐

Some books make you smile, some make you laugh, and some leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about love. And then there's THIS BOOK! ❤️

It all starts with Indra and Kaamdev! 😂 Their banter and wager about whether human romance is just a temporary glitch had me thoroughly entertained. And choosing a baby for their little experiment? Oh, what could possibly go wrong? 🤣

Fifty times falling in love? FIFTY?! 😂 Someone please check on Dev because this man is going through more romantic chaos in one lifetime than most of us could handle! The combination of celestial drama, a ridiculous divine bet, and one very confused mortal trying to navigate it all? ABSOLUTE GENIUS!

My feminist mind initially screamed, "Fifty love stories? Are women just puppets in this game?" But I absolutely loved how the female characters were portrayed.

And INDRA! 😂❤️ While Kaamdev sees romance everywhere, Indra looks beyond it and explains what's really happening. I loved his observations and perspective. OFFICIALLY, I'M TEAM INDRA! 🤣❤️

Coming to the characters, I absolutely loved Zoya, Ananya, Riya, Aakriti, and Ms. Mehra! And Sameer? His samosas deserve a special mention! 😂❤️ I also felt sad for Natasha.

But beneath all the comedy and romantic mess, there's a bigger question waiting to be answered

Can a heart experience love again and again without losing itself, and what does it truly mean to find the one person worth choosing?

I also loved how the author cleared up the doubts and brought everything together beautifully. A brilliant conclusion to a unique story!

If you're looking for something witty, unconventional, funny, and thoughtful, put this one on your TBR!

OVERALL, a refreshing blend of Indian mythology, romance, humour, and life lessons. It reminds us that even relationships that don't last can change us in meaningful ways.

Also, I'm STILL struggling to pronounce pulchritudinous and schadenfreude! 😂

P.S...And guess what? His first love shares my name SUPRIYA! 🥹❤️ Tell me, how could I not love that little detail?

THIS IS A BOOK I WANT TO REREAD!

High recommended!!

#50waystheheartbeats #ShivBhowmik #notionpress #RomCom

[Shalu Kumari · Rating 4 out of 5]

50 Ways the Heart Beats by Shiv Bhowmik is one of those books that starts off feeling like a light romance and then quietly hits you with something deeper.

The setup is simple and fun. Up in swarg Lok, kaamdev and indra Dev have a bet. Kamdev believe the human heart can fell in love fifty times and still keep beating. Indra Dev thinks it'll break long before that. So rhey pick on an ordinary boy named Dev and let the experiment begin. What follows is Dev's life.... school crush on the science teacher, awkward college moments, office messes, short connections, proper heartbreaks... while the two gods watch from above and argue like an old married couple ( sorry indra Dev and kaam dev)

I loved the way the God's conversations are written. They're funny, a little philosophical, and never feel forced. Indra is all logic and eye rolls. Kaamdev keeps rooting for the messiness of it all. Those parts give the book a playful energy that stop it from becoming just another 'boy keeps falling in love ' story

What stayed with me the most is how honest Dev journey feels. He tries too hard sometimes. He adjusts himself to fit What he thinks people want. He makes questionable choices. He even shows up to therapy with a PowerPoint at one point ( that bit made me laugh out loud.. ). But slowly He start figuring out that love isn't about collecting perfect matches or forcing things to work
Sometimes people come into your life, teach you something and leave... and that's okay. Sometimes the real work is learning not to lose yourself while trying to keep someone else.

The writing is easy and warm. There are sweet small moments.. notebook conversations, library encounters, black pen and blue pen talks.. that feel genuine. And the book doesn't pretend every relationship has to end in forever to matter. That felt refreshing.

It's not a heavy book. It's funny, a bit chaotic, and surprisingly thoughtful underneath. If you like romance that mix mythology with everyday Indian life and don't mind a story that makes You smile and think at the same time, this one is worth picking up.

[Aparna Prabhu · Rating 4 out of 5]

”Kaamdev strolls in late, with a bow that looks like sugarcane and a quiver full of mischief. He smells faintly of gulab and bad decisions.”

- Shiv Bhowmik, 50 ways the heartbeats: The Kaamdev Challenge

50 ways the heartbeats: The Kaamdev Challenge by Shiv Bhowmik is a refreshing perspective on modern romance with a signature blend of mythology, humour, nostalgia and personal growth. Kaamdev and Indra are bound in a challenge that places bets on an ordinary human's ability to fall in love fifty times.

In Prithvi Lok, an infant's wailing pierces the air. A baby boy who was named Dev. Dev who was a charmer ever since he was born. As he grew older, he came across various women that taught him some aspects of love. He slowly develops his understanding of the emotion through some uneasy journeys. Nevertheless, each padhav, more important than the rest.

The jugalbandi of Kaam and Indra in the beginning was something completely unread of in different works that I came across. Shiv has given a different perspective. Something to think about. More to have a hearty laugh. The writing is seemingly easy and the lines have a visceral quality that will linger mainly because of Shiv's witticisms.

“That look at the bus stop will rearrange the boy’s timetable, his friend circle, and his sleep cycle.”

There are these small nuances that the author gets right even though it's cliche. For example: Soft eyes bruise better. And heal better. The line lands well mainly because of the scene. The scene where Dev is born. Shiv also exhibits is versatility in developing an poetic incident.

”Love isn't always about getting it right. It's about staying open long enough to know when it finally fits.”

[Madan Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shiv Bhowmik’s 50 Ways the Heart Beats: The Kaamdev Challenge turns the unpredictable chaos of falling in love into a brilliant cosmic experiment, blending modern Indian nostalgia from desktop pen fights and spelling bee slips to corporate spreadsheets with a hilarious heavenly bet between Indra and Kaamdev. Through Dev’s relatable journey across awkward crushes and tender heartbreaks, Bhowmik effortlessly captures the funny, embarrassing, and beautiful ways we seek connection, delivering a heartwarming rom-com that reminds us love is always worth the risk.

[Keerthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book about love ?

Nah ! This one is different ...
Like some books make you smile, some make you laugh, and some leave you thinking about your own understanding of love long after you've finished reading them. And then there are books like this that manage to do all three! Understanding another person's feelings is the key to every relationship . But as mentioned it's literally too difficult...
Honestly, I went into this book expecting a light hearted romance, but I didn't expect to have so much fun while also finding myself thinking about the way we love, the people we choose, and the little pieces of ourselves we leave behind in the process. Even many of them completely change from their own basic nature to adjust with another human being. It is kind of things we are left behind on a journey.

It all begins in Swarg Lok, where Kaamdev and Indra Dev make a rather ridiculous bet. Kaamdev believes the human heart can fall in love fifty times and still keep beating, while Indra Dev isn't convinced that the heart can survive that much romantic chaos. So, they choose an ordinary baby boy named Dev for their little experiment and watch his life unfold from above.
And honestly, choosing a human being for a divine experiment about love? What could possibly go wrong? 😂 You can see that situation from the below lines itself 💜

✌🏻Kaamdev, somewhere above, leans on a slice of cloud, watching with the satisfaction of a craftsman inspecting his handiwork. Indra pretends he's uninterested, but his eyes flick to the scene often enough

✌🏻Indra folds his arms. "You'll regret choosing someone so sentimental."
Kaam finally speaks. "That's the point. Love must survive the forgetting."

What follows is Dev's journey through school crushes, awkward college encounters, office complications, fleeting connections, and some very real heartbreaks. Watching one ordinary boy experience so much romantic chaos while two gods sit in heaven observing and arguing about it is such a fun premise. Their conversations sometimes felt like watching an old married couple disagree over absolutely everything. Sorry, Indra Dev and Kaamdev! 😂 But they literally do that ... Like look at these conversations..

✌🏻Indra, from his celestial box seat, let out a hearty laugh that nearly shook the stars out of the sky. "Oh, the sheer poetry of it! Drowned in a glass of water! All that preparation, all that posturing, undone by a word a seven-year-old could spell. You see, Kaamdev? The mortal heart isn't a symphony; it's a comedy of errors with disastrous pacing."

✌🏻Kaamdev watched the boy on stage, whose shoulders had slumped in defeat. But he also saw the girl next to him, Riya, who hadn't laughed. "You see a mistake, Indra. I see the moment the performance ended and something real began. He failed utterly and publicly, and now he has nothing left to hide behind."

✌🏻From his celestial vantage point, Kaamdev leans forward, intrigued. "Did you see that, Indra? A connection! A two-way current! He is the silhouette in her poem! This is no longer a hunt; it is a dance!"

✌🏻"VICTORY!" Kaamdev roars from the heavens, scattering a few clouds. "They have done it! The battlefield has become the dance floor! The war of words has ended in a treaty of the heart! Can you deny it now, Indra?"

But can we please talk about Indra and Kaamdev for a moment?
I absolutely loved their banter! Their conversations are funny, occasionally philosophical, and surprisingly insightful without feeling like the author is trying too hard to teach us a lesson. Like ,"ok now listen , it' s quote time " is not the way he implemented it . It casually went on during the situations...
Kaamdev sees romance everywhere and seems determined to believe in the heart's endless capacity for love. Indra, on the other hand, looks beyond the romantic excitement and questions what is actually happening. He observes human behaviour, points out uncomfortable truths, and often makes me stop and think. Being a keen observer, I literally connected with Indradev .. like observing a thing can definitely let you see that situation in different perspectives,like different POVs in a film ..we will get different emotions on observing a scenario.
And guess what? OFFICIALLY, I'M TEAM INDRA! 😂❤️

There's something I particularly appreciated about the way the story approaches love. My feminist mind initially went, "Fifty love stories? What a blunder it is ?" I was genuinely curious about how the female characters would be portrayed within this unusual setup. Of course I went on reading the book just to criticize that expected thing like it will materialise women for the sake of the story...,but the author slapped me 😄with his writings...Because that these women weren't simply there to make Dev fall in love, get his heart broken, and move on to the next chapter. Each character brings something different to his journey, and the story gives us reasons to look beyond the idea of women as mere milestones in a man's romantic life. Also some lines just changed the whole thing in a second like ....

✌🏻This was the chapter's true goodbye: saying farewell to the simplistic, self-centred versions of his own stories. He was letting go of the hero of his own narrative and was finally ready to meet the other, equally important, characters.

Coming to the characters, I absolutely loved Zoya, Ananya, Riya, Aakriti, and Ms. Mehra. Each of them left a different impression on me. And Sameer? His samosas deserve a special mention of their own! Some characters don't need grand speeches to become memorable; sometimes, it's the little things that make them stand out. 😂 Like samosa ✌🏻But what stayed with me the most was Dev himself.He isn't some perfect romantic hero who always knows what he wants or makes all the right decisions. He tries too hard sometimes. He adjusts himself to fit what he thinks other people want. He makes questionable choices, gets things wrong, and has to face the consequences of his own decisions.
And then there's that moment when he shows up to therapy with a PowerPoint presentation. I genuinely laughed out loud! 😂 Who even does that?! ....

Yet, beneath the comedy, I found something incredibly relatable about his journey. How often do we try to become the version of ourselves we think someone else will love? How often do we keep adjusting, compromising, and holding on because we desperately want a relationship to work? It really is a refreshing blend of Indian mythology, romance, humour, and thoughtful life lessons. It's funny, a little chaotic, and unexpectedly reflective beneath all the romantic drama.
If you enjoy unconventional romances that make you laugh, question things, and occasionally look at love a little differently, put this one on your TBR!

[Priya Dwivedi · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this masterpiece.
I had read lots of books but very few of them had a really good start as well as a very satisfying ending and Indeed this book made it through the list.

So here's the chotu sa review 🤌🏻
So the story starts with the heated argument between Indra the Ceo of heaven and kaamdev (the love god) .
Indra argued that Humans Exaggerate, confuse novelty for love , that mortal heart could not fall in love truly and completely.
So ,to prove his point that the heart's true nature is not to break , but to beat , To keep beating no matter what .kaamdev says let's bet 'LET ONE HEART FALL IN LOVE WITHOUT RESTRAINT, ONE MORTAL, FIFTY CHANCES ' .
.
& That's how we got our very own experiment piece 'Dev' around whom the whole story navigates. The divine spark ignites when Dev turned 8 ,he was in 4th standard,he developed a crush on his teacher Miss Supriya dubey 😭🤌🏻🤣 ,those scenes were really cute , little dev drawing heart shape rain drops in water cycle diagram 🤭.He tried every thing to stop miss dubey from leaving the school 🥲🤌🏻 that was the first time he realised that its okay to be sad when someone you likes goes away ✨.
Then comes the middle school ,class 8th Ananya the enemy,the shared wooden bench ,him describing her pencil box was 🤣 really funny ,the clash between them ,him trying to match her aesthetic and he failed drastically,The water cooler,the temporary ceasefire, enemy turned friend and for dev even more more than that 👀,the heartbreak happened when her dad got transferred 🤌🏻.
Then we see Riya the class topper ,10th standard,the spelling bee competition and dev's participation turning disaster with extra 'e' 🤦🏻‍♀️🥲😭✋🏻.
Then there were zoya years later in the debate competition .The most embarrassing yet hilarious part was when he thought his teacher was going to propose to him and him imagining his whole future with Ms.Avantika mehra his sociology teacher 🥲✋🏻.
Then comes the College freshers year 🤌🏻I really enjoyed reading his college years 🤣 him sitting in front of bulldozer and reading 90's romance novel for Aakriti 's Protest 👀🕵🏻‍♀️ dude was just trying to impress the girl .
Him turning Revolutionary to Poet for Isha 🤣was really sudden 🥲✋🏻 Reading that part was like bruh seriously ✋🏻🥲ruk ja .In second year he met Meera 🤌🏻 honestly I loved this part, the parle G- pact 🤌🏻🤌🏻loved this plot .
Then ,when see another plot twist ,Rhea ,the girl from debate hall 🙊🤣 I really wanted the ti breakup 🥲. The our spotlight was the Girl from library 🤌🏻loved that cute love story 💗 the blue pen black pen 🤌🏻🤌🏻.I really felt like punching his face while reading his initial phase in the corporate world .I found Aditi from the marketing team and their relationship is really cute .
Then we witnessed Alisha- the selfish one ,Sanjana- from Goa holiday,Tara the microphone girl ,life full of spotlights .kiara - lover turned rival again .Then we see the Mature relationship Between him and Natasha (Sameer - Dev's best friend -sister) but things didn't work out due to bad timing.
Shanaya from dating app ,the one who was just comfortable in text .we witness a fitness trainer,Aditi- the wedding girl🤌🏻,kiran - the coffe girl,Richa -an architect who didn't liked his 'BOOKSHELF ' 🥲🥲✨.Aisha from the crisis department ,I really enjoyed reading their first meet .A final year MBA student - Meera -the comedian and for the first time he was someone's muse 🤌🏻🤌🏻loved this part tooo.
And after all this heartbreak,letting go 🤌🏻 he found Ananya again' the seat partner the school ,class 8th ,and he thought he finally found this true soulmate👀but Ananya's word haunted him down '.She told him 'how easily he fall's in love and how easily he fall out ,she don't want to be just a story in his life 🤌🏻 .I enjoyed reading the Guru Girijan and his 🤣 remedies 😂😂do not try them 🤣 this visit to therapist,I really appreciate that ✋🏻. I will not tell you the ending Because I want you all to read and enjoy that thing NO SPOILERS!

Now coming to Indra and kaamdev ,I really loved their banters along the dev's story 🤣Indra's logical reason was on point ,I think he represents all the readers and sameer 🤌🏻 his illogical and hilarious remarks on dev's every relationship ending was hilarious 😂 but still dev was blessed to have him by his side ✨.
Though reading between chapters I felt like Dev is Red Flag 🥲😂 ,but kaamdev's explaintion on his every heart was somewhat made me change my mind 🤣✋🏻 .
I loved it ✨.

[PARTH BHATT · Rating 5 out of 5]

👉🏻 Fifty Heartbeats, Countless Lessons About Love ;

👉🏻 50 Ways the Heart Beats by Shiv Bhowmick is a refreshing blend of contemporary romance, comedy, and life lessons. At its centre is Dev, an ordinary young man whose experiences with love take an extraordinary turn when he unknowingly becomes part of an experiment involving two Hindu gods. Kaamdev believes that a human heart can fall in love fifty times, while Indradev doubts his claim. Their wager sets the stage for a story filled with romantic encounters, amusing divine conversations, and unexpected discoveries about the human heart.

👉🏻 Dev’s journey begins during his school years, when his first crush is his science teacher. From there, his feelings continue to find new destinations as he moves through school, college, and professional life. Each relationship introduces a different experience, and the narrative captures the excitement, awkwardness, and complications that accompany falling for someone new. The humour keeps the story entertaining, while Dev’s romantic adventures make it easy to become invested in his journey.

👉🏻 What makes the book more meaningful, however, is the gradual change in Dev’s understanding of love. In his desire to maintain relationships and keep the people around him happy, he begins adjusting himself to suit their expectations. Somewhere along the way, he loses touch with his own preferences, needs, and identity. His realisation that he no longer knows what truly makes him happy becomes a significant turning point in the story.

👉🏻 I appreciated how the narrative moves beyond the idea of romance as simply finding the right person. Dev’s experience highlights the importance of understanding yourself before building your happiness around someone else. His journey toward emotional stability, with the support of a psychiatrist, adds an important dimension to the story and reinforces the value of recognising when we need help.

👉🏻 One of my favourite aspects is the conversations between Kaamdev and Indradev. Their playful arguments are entertaining, but they also symbolise the constant struggle between the heart and the mind. The author balances humour with thoughtful observations about relationships, making the dialogues engaging without losing the story’s deeper purpose.

👉🏻 The pacing is another highlight. The slow-burn progression gives Dev’s experiences enough room to develop, and his character remains relatable despite the unusual premise. The book also offers a valuable reminder: not every relationship is meant to last forever, and that does not make the experience meaningless. People may leave, promises may break, and even sincere efforts may not save a relationship. Yet every connection leaves us with something to learn. As the story suggests, relationships are footprints along our journey, not the entirety of our lives.

👉🏻 Overall, 50 Ways the Heart Beats is an enjoyable read for those who like romance with a generous dose of humour and a thoughtful message beneath the entertainment. It explores love, identity, emotional growth, and the courage to rediscover yourself when relationships begin to take too much of you.

👉🏻 But the biggest question remains: will Dev finally find the person who stays, or will Kaamdev’s experiment continue to shape his destiny?

👉🏻 Pick up 50 Ways the Heart Beats by Shiv Bhowmick to discover where Dev’s journey leads!

[Parthib Mridha · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖 Book Review – 50 Ways the Heart Beats
✍🏻 Author: Shiv Bhowmik
⭐ Rating: 5/5

🌷I liked the idea behind 50 Ways the Heart Beats. Instead of telling one complete love story, the author shows how different people enter our lives at different times and leave us with different memories and lessons. That simple idea makes this book stand out.
The story follows Dev through different stages of his life. Every new chapter introduces a new experience, a new relationship and a new lesson. I liked that the book never rushed these moments. Every person had a purpose, and every relationship helped Dev grow in some way.
🌷One of the most interesting parts of the novel was the conversation between Kaamdev and Indra. At first, I thought they were there only for fun, but as the story moved forward, I realised their conversations also reflected Dev's journey. Their different opinions about love made the story more enjoyable and added a fresh touch to every chapter.
🌷The writing style is simple and easy to understand. The author does not depend on big twists to keep the story interesting. Instead, small moments and everyday conversations make the book feel real. The school chapters were my favourite, especially the notebook conversations, the spelling bee scene and the little moments between the characters. They made me smile because they felt honest and relatable.
🌷One of my favourite lines is on Page 38:
"The notebook romance wasn't over... it had just been renewed under entirely new, and far more interesting terms."
🌷This line shows that relationships do not always have to end. Sometimes they simply take a new shape, and that can be just as meaningful.
Another line page no. - 236 that stayed with me till the end was:
🌷"The mortal heart is, by far, the most resilient and magnificent asset in all of creation."
I think this line beautifully explains the message of the entire novel. No matter how many times life hurts us, we still find the strength to move forward.
🌷What I liked most about the ending was that it did not try to be dramatic. It quietly showed how much Dev had changed as a person. In the end, the story felt complete because his journey was about understanding himself, not just finding love.
🌷Overall, 50 Ways the Heart Beats is a thoughtful and meaningful read. It has romance, humour, friendship and emotional moments, but above all, it is a story about personal growth. If you enjoy books that focus on characters and life experiences more than dramatic twists, I would definitely recommend giving this one a read ✨

[GAANAVI DV · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I picked up 50 Ways the Heart Beats: The Kaamdev Challenge by Shiv Bhowmik I expected a romantic comedy but I found that 50 Ways the Heart Beats: The Kaamdev Challenge offered so much more than romance alone. 50 Ways the Heart Beats: The Kaamdev Challenge made me laugh, brought back memories I had not thought about in years and reminded me why I still believe in love even when love can be complicated.

What I loved from the start was the concept. The idea that Indra and Kaamdev placed a bet to see whether a human heart can fall in love fifty times without breaking was very entertaining. Indra treats love like a problem that needs fixing while Kaamdev sees love as beautiful and unpredictable. The contrasting views of Indra and Kaamdev added a fun twist to 50 Ways the Heart Beats: The Kaamdev Challenge. Made me eager to see how the story would unfold.

Devs journey through fifty romances was one of my parts of 50 Ways the Heart Beats: The Kaamdev Challenge. Some of Devs experiences were truly funny while others reminded me of the awkwardness of growing up and having crushes. Devs childhood crush on his Class 4 science teacher the silly classroom rivalries and even the mothers judging partners by their families petrol pumps felt very relatable and nostalgic. These little details made 50 Ways the Heart Beats: The Kaamdev Challenge feel familiar of just another fictional romance.

I especially enjoyed Dev and Ananyas relationship in 50 Ways the Heart Beats: The Kaamdev Challenge. Their childhood rivalry, those funny pen fights and the way their bond slowly turned into something made me root for them. The connection between Dev and Ananya felt different because it was not about falling in love; it was also about understanding each other and growing together. Knowing that Ananya is Devs heartbeat made 50 Ways the Heart Beats: The Kaamdev Challenge journey even more meaningful.

Beyond the humour 50 Ways the Heart Beats: The Kaamdev Challenge made me think about how people lose faith in love after being hurt. Sometimes we start to believe that failed relationships are a waste of time. 50 Ways the Heart Beats: The Kaamdev Challenge reminded me that every person who enters our lives leaves something behind. Even the relationships that do not last can teach us about ourselves, our expectations and what we truly want.

If you enjoy comedies that make you laugh while also giving you something to think about 50 Ways the Heart Beats: The Kaamdev Challenge is definitely worth picking up.

[Raj - Theist Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is quite a unique read as I haven’t read anything like this before.
Plot -Up in the heaven Indra Dev and Kamdev had a bet with each other because kamdev thinks that heart’s true nature is not to break but just to beat but Indra dev thinks that one cannot fall in love 50 times without heart break.So Kamdev gives power of charm to a boy named Dev to show that he can fall in love 50 times and still recover from it to fall again for another one.

✨Story is all about Dev who is struggling to find a perfect relationship and somehow find a flaw in every relation but he did not knew that he is destined like this by Kamdev to fall in love again and again.So after so many failed relationships,at the end he got to know that it was all god’s plan so at last he tried to patch up his relationship with one of his school crush Ananya (Without Kamdev’s charm) and that you have to read the book if Dev succeeded in the end or his heart was beating again for someone else 🤗.

Things I like the most
✨I really liked how Kamdev and Indradev conversed in his ever relation and every breakup.Those lines felt so real after every breakup Kamdev would say he learned this from this relationship ( that’s why so many pictures in carousel 🙈)

✨I liked the relation with Zoya ,the way they always meet and remind each other of old memories but don’t promise anything
I like the Kamdev line- Some don’t stay to love you.They just show you how to carry it better

✨Also liked relationship with Aisha cz professionally they were rivals but they were taking it in so friendly way so I enjoyed that chemistry.If she hasn’t gone to Singapore,I think they must have future someday

✨ The most important thing I have learned from the book -In this illusional world we are so used to be perfect that we want to find that in our relations too.Thats why Dev when he was adult found some good relations but couldn’t move forward because even a small thing in another person bothered him and he felt like he couldn’t resonate with them.This is so true these days also,everyone wants a perfect relationship which is not possible as God has made each and every person with mixture of good and bad and if we truly love someone we have to accept both ,,we can’t just focus on good and want them to change .

Overall ,it was a fun read and enjoyed alott while reading.Huge shoutout to the author who wrote such a unique book and amazing conversation you wrote between Indradev and Kamdev.That was just brilliant 👍

[Nilofa Pervin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can a person really fall in love fifty times?

That was the question that pulled me into 50 Ways the Heart Beats, and honestly, the idea itself sounded hilarious. When Kaamdev and Indradev start arguing about what love really is, they decide to settle the debate by choosing Dev as their experimental subject. And poor Dev has no idea what he has signed up for!

Throughout his life, Dev falls in love at different stages and with different people. But what I loved most is that these relationships aren't simply about romance. Every love teaches him something he needs to learn. Some are beautiful, some are chaotic, some are painfully funny, and some simply aren't meant to last.

The humour is one of the biggest strengths of the book. There were moments when I genuinely laughed at the way romance, technology and everyday life are brought together. One line that perfectly captures this quirky writing is:

«“The firewall has been breached the heart has overridden the user's manual commands! It will not be managed, it will not be optimized, it will simply... love!”»

And then there are those wonderfully relatable observations about relationships. I especially loved the thought that some loves are like terrariums beautiful, complete and capable of making a small space feel like the whole world, yet unable to survive outside it. It is such a simple metaphor for a complicated truth: not every love is meant to last forever, and that doesn't make it meaningless.

The book doesn't romanticise love as something perfect. Instead, it shows love in all its wonderfully messy forms with mistakes, misunderstandings, embarrassing moments, unexpected connections and lessons we don't always realise we're learning at the time.

What makes Dev's journey enjoyable is that by the time he reaches another relationship, he isn't exactly the same person he was before. Every heartbreak, every mistake and every connection leaves something behind.

50 Ways the Heart Beats is witty, unconventional and surprisingly thoughtful beneath all its chaos. It made me laugh, but more importantly, it made me think about how every love story whether it lasts a lifetime or only a chapter can change the person we become.

Because perhaps the real question isn't how many times we can fall in love, but how many times love can teach us who we are. ❤️

[Sayak Mukherjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖✨ BOOK: 50 Ways The Heart Beats
👑 AUTHOR: Shiv Bhowmik ✨
🖨️PUBLISHER : Aseem Prakashan
📑 PAGES: 249
💲PRICE: ₹ 599.00
📕FORMAT: Paperback

🌿 Vibes: Humour • Romance • SitRomCom

📖 🔖 Genre: Contemporary Romance Fiction

🧑‍💻 What happens when the Gods pre-plan your earthly love life up in their heavenly abode? Bhowmik brings this amazing tale resulting out of a celestial wager between two bickering gods - Indradev, the CEO of heaven and Kaamdev, the Creative Director of Chaos. The bet is about whether a human heart can find true love fifty times - Indra throws this challenge and the romanticist Kaamdev accepts this challenge.

The protagonist Dev is the chosen one with Kaamdev carefully handpicking him at the time of his birth. He then goes through the eventual cycle - his school life where he finds his first crush, then the story progresses through his college and his corporate life meeting his multiple "heart beats". The story has several arcs due to the diverse female characters. There is no specific trope but the reader gets multiple short episodes of romance that really get the story flowing aligned with the main theme. It seems like the narrative of a movie plot while reading. This is a very effortless read but let me tell you that the prose is real high quality. Bhowmik seems to be a master of banters and metaphors adding depth, spice and humour in the right proportions in between the pages. Watch out for the corporate jargons! There are some real laugh out loud moments in the first chapter, and the conversation between the two supreme deities throughout the chapters is a lesson for the readers as much as it is for Dev. Along with Dev, the readers also get to know about love and life. People come and go and they teach us something and they change us. We might have momentary halts but life must go on. Well so does Dev' life. But who wins the bet - Indradev or Kaamdev?

This is not your typical romance read. I enjoyed the story and will advise to read with pauses and reflect. Who knows which chapter might resonate with your real love life and heart break? Read to find out! If you miss it, it will be your loss.

🌸 Rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

[Livingbetweenthepages96 · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 : 50 Ways The Heart Beats by Shiv Bhowmik 📚

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 👁️ :

The celestial Gods are having a heated argument about how the human's heart works. While one of the God Kaamdev argues that a heart is capable capable of falling in love fifty times & can handle heartbreak to experience all emotions, Indra, the God of heaven disagrees with him saying that love is rare & is not possible of this feat & challenges Kaamdev.

Dev is the young boy who gets chosen by Kaamdev for this experimental romance. Dev's chaotic love life begins from a young age where he crushes on his science teacher who unfortunately departs to the US, followed by his benchmate who is his bitter rival where he messes up big time in the school's spelling bee competition. In every stage of his life he tries hard to please the women by stepping out of his comfort zone & manages to somehow get better of the situation through his wittiness & crazy solutions.


The love stories which stayed with me were the ones from the library where without meeting the person, they communicate through questions in books & the one with his hostel neighbor. Dev finds love with people who are a complete contrast to him, as well as individuals with similar taste whom he meets in corporate summits, he even once falls in love with his best friend's sister which doesn't last long.


Whenever, he feels like the bond will last there's an end phase. He losses all hope & turns to spiritual aid & therapy and that's when he meets one of his past loves who accidently stumbles upon him & their paths cross again.


Will Dev win over his past love? Is the heart really capable of 50 heartbreaks & love? Which God will be victorious in this quest?


𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒍𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒕 ♥️

• Cozy Contemporary fiction
• Niche themes like heartbreak, human emotions, love
• Funny & relatable
• Easy to read
• Detailed Storyline
• Comforting read


𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 ✍🏻

By day, Shiv Bhowmik is a data scientist who is engrossed in numbers & logic & by night, he is a rom-com writer who resides in Hyderabad, India.

[books.toread._ · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK: 50 Ways The Heart Beats
AUTHOR: Shiv Bhowmik
PUBLISHED BY : Notion press publisher
PAGES: 337

Would you like to see a romcom movie in Bollywood style but not on a screen, rather within the pages of a book? Then pick this book up and treat yourself.
The author introduces to us a heavenly scene where two powerful Gods, Indradev and Kaamdev and they debate over certain things ultimately ending in a bet on whether a heart can fall in love fifty times and still move on and carry on. Strange, right? Yeah, I know.
Then comes Dev, the protagonist of this fiction who is a victim of the aforesaid wager. Fancy a human project by the Gods. Here you are! Dev's heart is put to test. He has to fall in love several times and he is being closely watched by the two Gods with proper ananlysis by the powerful duo.
It starts with Dev's school life - his first crush on a young teacher, Miss Dubey. I loved this chapter. I also loved the penfight episode with Ananya, and spellbee contest with Riya Sharma. After sometime Dev goes for higher studies and he encounters love there as well - episodes with Avantika Mehra, and protest episode with Aakriti. Dev soon moves into his corporate life after his failed love episodes in college. We find him in romance episodes with barista, gym trainer, HR mentor, director, etc. So all the chapters are different and are like short stories with sub-plots. I liked the diversity of characters and the author's choice of words and a comfortable pacing. There is humour, banter, logic, life lesson, charm in Dev's story. I felt bad for Dev most of the time. Coming to the Gods, they play important role in the plot because of their live commentary. Their discussions are like life lessons and show readers symbolically the conflict between the head and the heart. I also liked Dev's friend Sameer. We all need a Sameer in our lives.
Now how Dev chooses the end is something to really read and find out. Reader's will be happy at the end, that is for sure.
#50waystheheartbeats

[Anasua · Rating 5 out of 5]

How would you feel if the Gods conversed with each other about love and life? Also, do the modern terms like HR or CEO relate to deities? Before sharing my experience with this book, I would like to say that it is really an "outside the box" concept. This book, for me, felt like a debate between Indra and Kaamdev, along with many more residing in Swarg Lok, about love and choices we made related to it.

I almost loved reading all the chapters. But I will always show my favor for the first chapter. The morning in Swarg Lok and the entry of the Apsaras and Gandharvas kind of practicing alaaps and Tanpuras made me feel that I am in a different world. A discussion sparks off but Chitragupta has something to enthrall the readers. Here, I enjoyed reading the message brought by him about complaints from the Earth that half of the love is not accepted and the rest complain of rain on the day of their receptions. I had a hearty laugh reading this area. It felt like watching a kind of performance or might be a comedy of humor.

Indra drops in to argue about love that should be rare. Kaamdev then fights back, calling Indra to be only the sole doer of bureaucratizing it. But all these are just the beginning. They have a bet about a mortal's heartbeat - Dev. This is so since Dev is now at the center of a test that Kaamdev has ruled out for him. Without any limitations or anything, he can fall in love or rise or fall or repeat, but finally, a choice to find a true alignment must be made by him.

What worked well for me is the quest that Dev is indulged into. It might look easy, but who knows the entities in Swarg Lok are managing everything. Dev might be just a piece of earth for them. I even felt there was no unnecessary bragging of any event or the context. This, in turn, has enhanced the elasticity of the storyline with no exaggeration in language and in the tone of this piece.

[readerkd · Rating 5 out of 5]

How many times can you fall in love? 💗

If someone had asked me this question before reading 50 Ways the Heart Beats, I would probably have answered in single digits. But this book made me realise how many times we can actually fall in love, even if not every time leads to a relationship. Sometimes, it is just a spark, a moment, or a feeling that stays somewhere in the back of our minds, even years later. And honestly, that was such a sweet realisation.

What I loved most was how beautifully all these little stories were woven together into one larger story. Despite having so many romantic encounters to cover, the narration never felt rushed or like it was skipping the moments that mattered. Of course, with so many stories, there isn't always enough room for proper character development, but I still felt that each character fit into the story just as they were meant to, no matter how briefly they appeared.

The constant teasing and arguments between Kaamdev and Indra were another favourite part of mine. Their little exchanges added so much fun to the story! 😂 And starting from Dev's birth and following him through different stages of life gave us the chance to explore romance in so many different forms and phases.

We have seen glimpses of these kinds of romantic situations in movies, but what made this book stand out for me was how it built a whole, relatable story around them. The awkwardness, the questionable decisions, the little sparks, and the memories we carry with us all felt wonderfully human.

For me, the biggest strength of this book is its realistic and relatable storytelling, wrapped in a witty, chaotic and genuinely entertaining premise. It reminded me that falling in love isn't always about finding your person. Sometimes, it is also about discovering the many ways your heart is capable of feeling.

And maybe, just maybe, every little heartbreak and every almost-love leaves a tiny piece of its story behind. ❤️

[Nidhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely one of the most fun romantic comedies I have read for some time. The plot is brilliant: Indra is a very rigid CEO of Heaven who thinks that human love is just a temporary malfunction in the program, while Kaamdev is a Creative Director of Chaos who bets his career on disproving such a belief. Their only subject of observation is Dev who is a confused human being that needs to go through fifty spectacular romances in one life. I was so drawn into the book from the very first bet and the corporate and celestial blend in the book made me smile starting from the first pages.

🔸 Heavenly jokes: The dialogue between Indra and Kaamdev is brilliant, humorous, and offers a smart idea to tell the story. Kaamdev finds love everywhere, while Indra tries to explain the essence of the events, so I found myself rooting for Indra. His cool and reasonable comments gave the story a sort of basis.

🔸 Dev's messiness: All the fifty love stories could easily merge into one story, which is not the case here. From harnessing the powers of the romantic novels of the nineties to the obsession with the pencil case of the opponent, the absurdity is fantastic and embarrassment is too vivid to ignore.

🔸 An impressive cast of characters: Zoya, Ananya, Riya, Aakriti, and Ms. Mehra are portrayed not only as a number of stops along the path of Dev’s journey but also as exquisitely detailed protagonists. The samosas cooked by Sameer deserve a separate mention, and the episode from Natasha’s life is honestly sad.

🔸 Humor with substance: Comedic elements don’t prevail over the emotional characteristics of the book. Corporate constructions, poetic slopes of exit, and protests are used as the setting, but the central point of the narrative is that Dev understands how complicated it is to connect to someone.

Conclusions:

However, there is a philosophical question behind the joke stated above: can love withstand the impact of fifty disappointments and still be able to last?

[Sunipa Das Chakraborty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this book! 50 ways the heart beats by Shiv Bhoumik.
I picked up this book while I was extremely stressed at work. And what's a better companion than a good book in such cases!
The story begins with Dev, the protagonist of this novel. He has been chosen by Kaamdev, the God of Love for an experiment- can a heart fall in Love for 50 times? He takes a bet with Indradev on this.
I was just wondering how is that even possible! How would the storyline go , but to my surprise it was fantastic. A number of romantic encounters but not a single one felt odd. Every person Dev came across had some role in his life and it was with every 'heartbeat' he was becoming the better version of himself.
Among those 50 crushes two of them felt really amazing to me. The first one was the girl he met in the library. Those conversations written on the margin of the books, those silly questions asked by Dev made their encounter really special for me. And the second one was obviously the feeling he had for Miss Dubey. At that little age when Dev was not even sure about what love is he loved her wholeheartedly! His raw and pure emotion even at that tender age left a deep impact in my mind!
And the constant conversations between Kaamdev and Indra made this story even more special. I personally think Kaamdev represents the heart and Indra the Brain. Their comments made it easier for the readers to dive deep into the actual results of every encounter!
And I feel The best part of this book is Dev's character development. With every love something changes in himself and he finnally finds out who he actually is.
This way this book is not only a story of a boy who finds his true self at the end of the day but also a lesson for readers to remind themselves that with every up and down we just get stronger and find the truest version of ourselves! ❤️

[Swarnali Karar · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The mortal heart is, by far, the most resilient and magnificent asset in all of creation."

If you have ever looked back at your old crushes and wondered what they taught you, then this is one book you'll probably connect with.

So today we're diving into "50 Ways the Heart Beats: The Kaamdev Challenge" by Shiv Bhowmik.

The main character is Dev, an ordinary boy who becomes the object of a cosmic bet between Kaamdev and Indra. He also experiences crushes, heartbreaks, missed chances, embarrassing situations and surprising opportunities.

● Dev is a relatable protagonist. His life journey feels realistic. It was fun seeing how he evolves in ups and downs.
● The mischievous personality of Kaamdev brings laughs where the skepticism of Indra serves as comic relief. The supporting characters also play an important part in the story.

The language of the story is straightforward and easygoing. The balance between the humor and emotions is maintained. The dialogues are witty.

As the story is based on different periods of Dev's life and relationships, there is always something going on. The narrative flows naturally. There are relatable events which remind of real-life crushes.

From childish school crushes and amusing misunderstandings to matchmaking by families and workplace mishaps, there is a lot of humor in the plot. The fun rivalry between Kaamdev and Indra is great to read.

Besides romance, the novel explores friendship, resilience, self-discovery, destiny and personal growth.

The concept is fresh and entertaining. I loved the blend of Indian mythology and contemporary romance.

The book conveys that love is messy and unpredictable, sometimes painful but always worth experiencing. Filled with humor, memorable characters, emotional moments and a mythological twist, this is a feel-good, one time read.

[Dipa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story begins with a debate between Devraj Indra and Kamdev about love and their different views on it. What starts as an argument soon turns into a challenge, and the result is quite unexpected, Kamdev’s love arrow hits Dev’s chest the moment he is born. And from there begins Dev’s journey filled with love, heartbreaks, confusion, and life lessons.

About Dev, I really liked the way the author developed his character. At some points, I laughed at his situations, at others I genuinely felt sorry for him, and there were moments when I just wanted to tell him, 'What you did was right, just stay strong!' His journey through love and heartbreak makes him an interesting character to follow. I also enjoyed his bond with Sameer and Arjun. Their friendship brought a lovely warmth and humour to the story.



One of my favourite scenes was when Mrs Mehra, a lecturer from a junior college, asked Dev to have a cup of chai with her. But Dev misunderstood the entire situation because of just one word “proposal.” I couldn’t stop smiling while reading that whole scene, and the lecture that followed made it even funnier.

I also enjoyed the playful banter between Indra and Kamdev throughout the book. Their conversations were entertaining, especially the way they discussed the lessons Dev had learned after every heartbreak. It added a unique touch to the story.



What kept me curious until the climax was the question of who would finally win, Kamdev or Devraj Indra? I kept wondering how their challenge would turn out and what the final outcome would be.

For me, it's a light-hearted and entertaining read filled with romance, humour, misunderstandings, friendship and valuable life lessons. If you enjoy stories that can make you laugh, keep you curious and leave you with something to think about, this one is worth picking up.

[Shubhi Savita · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when love becomes a celestial bet, romance turns into complete chaos, and finding “the one” requires going through fifty different romantic entanglements? You get a premise that is as amusing as it is intriguing!

The idea of a celestial bet between Indra and Kaamdev adds a refreshing mythological twist to a modern romantic comedy. Dev’s complicated love life, filled with awkward encounters, bewildering choices, and unexpected situations, promises plenty of humour and those wonderfully embarrassing moments that make you laugh while secretly wondering what you would have done in the same situation.

What I find particularly interesting is the deeper question hidden beneath all the romantic chaos: Does experiencing countless relationships bring us closer to understanding love, or does it only make the search more complicated? The contrast between playful humour and the genuine desire to find a meaningful connection gives the premise an interesting emotional layer.

Beyond the comedy and unconventional situations, the story seems to explore the difference between simply falling for someone and discovering a connection that is truly worth holding on to. After all the wrong turns, misunderstandings, and romantic misadventures, the real question remains: can we recognise the right kind of love when we finally encounter it?

Overall, this sounds like a fun and unconventional read for anyone who enjoys witty romantic fiction, imaginative storytelling, mythological elements, and the wonderfully unpredictable mess that love can sometimes be. A quirky concept with plenty of potential to entertain while making readers reflect on what they are actually searching for in love.

A promising premise that reminds us that sometimes, finding the right person begins with understanding what love really means. ❤️

[Megha Bhatia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when two ancient deities get bored and place a celestial bet on a mere mortal’s heart? That is the chaotic, hilarious, and surprisingly tender premise behind this book.

When Indra and Kaamdev enter a modern-day wager over whether a single human can genuinely fall in love fifty times, poor Dev becomes their unwitting test subject; and pure romantic mayhem ensues.

I went in expecting a standard, breezy romcom, but this story turned out to be far more nuanced. Fifty loves sounds like a recipe for either superficiality or emotional exhaustion. Yet, watching Kaamdev’s hopeless romanticism clash with Indra’s sharp, realistic observations felt like sitting through an ongoing debate between the heart and the analytical mind. I’ll admit it; I am officially Team Indra! And on a deeply personal note, discovering that Dev’s very first love interest shares my name, Supriya, instantly made me smile and hooked me right into his journey.

Behind the divine banter, Sameer’s legendary samosas, and tongue-twister vocabulary, lies a grounded coming-of-age story. Dev’s path isn't just about collecting crushes; it exposes the subtle danger of reshaping yourself to keep others happy until you lose your own identity. I deeply respected how the narrative handles emotional burnout, bringing in therapy and quiet self-reflection rather than pretending a grand romantic gesture can magically fix everything.

The story doesn't chase the fairy-tale myth of one perfect, eternal soulmate. Instead, it gently reminds us that connections don’t have to last a lifetime to be meaningful; some people simply arrive to leave footprints, offer wisdom, and help us grow. It’s a witty, unconventional, and heartwarming read that strikes a lovely balance between mythic comedy and genuine emotional depth.

[Rida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some people enter our lives to stay, some to teach us something and some simply to help us understand ourselves a little better.

"50 days the heart beats" by Shiv bhowmik.
This book was a bit different, and tbh i genuinely enjoyed how the author brought mythology and modern-day relationships together. It was different from what I usually read and that's exactly what made it memorable for me.

The premise- The story follows Dev (main character, i was sort of attached to him) whose life becomes a part of a bet between none other than two gods Kaamdev and Indra. "CAN A HEART FALL IN LOVE FIFTY TIMES AND STILL KEEP BEATING?"
and yes there's lots of girls (i don't even remember the name😭✋🏻)

WHAT STAYED WITH ME THE MOST:
1. Conversations between the two gods. Their playful arguments and commentary on Dev's romantic life add so much humour to the story.
2. Dev's journey. With every relationship, he learns something new not just about love, but about himself.
3. The call between Dev and Alisha (i felt bad for dev tbh)
4. The friendship between Sameer and Dev. (that kind of friend every person want and need to be)
5. Every relationship brings something different into Dev's life and watching him figure things out was genuinely interesting.
6. Okay, i cried yes i cried when Dev finally proposed ANANYA SHARMA!! ( i screamed, was really happy for both of them) not just that time but when Kaamdev state:
"It's not about how many stayed. Its about how many stayed with him"
7. one quote " Love isn't always about getting it right. Its about staying open long enough to know when it finally fits."

🐬if you are someone who wants a lighthearted read that makes you smile while quietly giving you something to think about, this book is worth picking up! i said what I said!!

[Pori Goswami · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

50 Ways the Heart Beats: The Kaamdev Challenge by Shiv Bhowmik

There was something genuinely refreshing about the premise of 50 Ways the Heart Beats. The idea of Kaamdev and Indra turning human love into a celesmy hamie calling other Hamies to join him to read this booktial debate, with Dev caught right in the middle of it, makes for an unusual and rather entertaining beginning. What follows is not simply a story about falling in love repeatedly, but an exploration of how differently we experience affection, attachment, heartbreak and companionship at different stages of life. I particularly enjoyed the contrast between the conversations happening in Swarg Lok and the very ordinary, sometimes hilariously complicated situations Dev finds himself in. Their banter adds a lovely layer of humour to the narrative, while Dev's experiences make the larger idea feel surprisingly grounded.

What I found most interesting was how the story allows Dev to be imperfect. He is someone who gets things wrong, overthinks situations, makes questionable decisions and occasionally finds himself in circumstances that are almost impossible to take seriously without laughing. Yet, that is precisely what makes his journey enjoyable. The relationships don't feel like a checklist of fifty romances; instead, they gradually reveal different dimensions of what it means to connect with another person. I also appreciated the distinctly Indian flavour of the storytelling, particularly the everyday interactions, family dynamics and little moments that feel familiar without trying too hard. The humour is one of the book's biggest strengths, but beneath all the amusing chaos, there are some rather thoughtful observations about growing up, understanding oneself and accepting that not every connection is meant to last forever.

[Early Morning Memories · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story starts with quite an unusual way not on planet Earth but in heaven, that also in a very unique designed corporate style. Indra is reimagined as a strict,

rule-bound CEO who views human romance as a temporary, trivial glitch in the grandeur of life and it's happenings. On the flip side is Kaamdev, the god of love, serving as the "Creative Director of Chaos" in the same corporate set up. When Indra dismisses the depth of mortal affection, Kaamdev bets his entire career on a wild celestial experiment and this is how the entire story starts and continuous.


They chose Dev, a mortal, for the whole experiment. It is an ordinary, chronically bewildered young man with interesting chronicles of life and it's bad timing and questionable romantic instincts.


Suddenly, Dev is thrust into an accidental, lifelong situation where his heart must navigate exactly fifty different entanglements—ranging from innocent childhood crushes and dramatic school rivalries, college short affairs, to awkward corporate office romances. Basically different situations and different types of moments.


I really liked the female protagonists - I specially liked the Parle-G pact, penfight episodes, library situations, maggi and morse code episodes. Author has used the female characters in a way that it brings out more of Dev's character.

The author aptly uses corporate lingo and jargons like KPIs, SWOT analysis for Dev's situations. Kaamdev and Indradev have deep symbolic significance. We need to think like Indradev but we also need to feel like Kaamdev. I felt sad because Dev had to go through so much because of this duo but all's well that end's well. Along with Dev, readers will also learn some life lessons in love.


What I liked about the book is it's interesting link of mortality with the mythological series making it crucial and interesting for the readers

[Susmita Samanta · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖 Book Review – 50 Ways the Heart Beats
✍🏻 Author: Shiv Bhowmik
⭐ Rating: 4.9/5

When I finished 50 Ways the Heart Beats , I didn't just remember the characters—I remembered the feelings they left behind. At first, I thought it would be a simple love story, but it turned out to be much more. It is a story about growing up, making mistakes, meeting different people and slowly understanding yourself.

One of my favourite parts of the book was the conversations between Kaamdev and Indra. Their funny arguments about love added both humour and depth to the story, making every chapter even more enjoyable.

I especially loved the school chapters. Dev's innocent admiration for his teacher, the pen fights with Ananya, the notebook conversations with Riya and the unforgettable spelling bee chapter made the story feel warm, relatable and full of life.

One quote that stayed with me is:

"The curse wasn't about falling in love. It was about losing himself in the process, every single time."
It reminds us that love should never make us lose who we are.

Another line I loved was:

"The mortal heart is, by far, the most resilient and magnificent asset in all of creation."
For me, this line perfectly captures the heart of the story.

The ending is simple but meaningful. Instead of a dramatic twist, the author focuses on Dev's personal growth and reminds us that love is not just about finding the right person—it's also about learning, healing and never losing yourself.

Overall, 50 Ways the Heart Beats is a heartfelt and meaningful read filled with beautiful memories, emotions and life lessons. If you enjoy emotional stories with relatable characters, I would definitely recommend this book.

[Sabita Dey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just completed reading the book, 50 Ways the Heart Beats by Shiv Bhowmick. It’s a contemporary romance with added comic relief. The story portrays the love story of a simple young boy, Dev and his transformation. Unknowingly, he is the subject of the Hindu god Kaamdev’s experiment, who bets that a human heart can fall in love 50 times. Indradev, on the other hand of the wager is sure Kaamdev will be wrong. Throughout the entire story, we experience the banter between these two Gods.

Since school days, Dev has fallen in love starting with the science teacher as his first crush, followed by his girl classmates. Gradually the story shifts and we see Dev in college and then at his workplace, falling in love relentlessly. Each and every journey with a new partner wins over our heart.

But the turning point of the story is when he realises that he is lost. To be in a warm relationship, he spends time to please others. Eventually, he forgets his likes and dislikes. When he is alone, he needs time to reflect on what can make him happy. However, with the help of a psychiatrist, he stabilises his emotions.

If someone is to leave, he will leave. Effort can make the moments beautiful for a moment. When it collapses the next moment, we feel shattered. The author rightly says that each relationship is a footprint in our life but not the life itself.

I loved the plot pacing, the slow burn was delectable. The MMC was nice and I could connect. The conversation of the Gods are symbolic of the conflicts of the head and the heart. The author has done a good job with the dialogues, humour and life lessons.

Will Dev meet the forever person in his life or will the curse remain? To find out, why don't you pick up "50 Ways the heart bearts"!

[Ruksana · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an unique concept this book has got! It's an amazing book which teaches us valuable life lessons through the narrative along with small conversations from the viewpoint of Gods.

The central theme is about two celestial Gods, Indra and Kaamdev challeging each other over whether a human heart can fall in love 50 times and as a result a wager is born leading to Dev, the protagonist, being choosen as a mortal subject for this experiment. Thats how it started but as the pages move, we learn each lesson for the love. And during each heart beat the conversations between Indra and Kaamdev were so fulfilling.

An innocent boy's love story begins at school, moves to college and gradually evolves to a corporate love life - Each stage is written in a way that is easy to follow and enjoy.

I loved the pair and chemistry in most of the heart beat episodes and each and every end gave an amazing explanation of love life. I also loved the ending 😍.

Some lines from the book ✨️

❤️ It's not poetry; it's panic that learned to rhyme. Healthy. Keeps expectation pressure low.

❤️ He realized the pen wasn't for the next war. It was a memorial.

❤️ And now he learns one of the hardest lessons. That some loves are like terrariums, perfect, beautiful, and self-contained. They can make a small room feel like the entire world, but they cannot survive in the open air. Not every love is a journey. Some are just a place to feel at home, for a little while.

The writing style is simple and yet articulated in a beautiful way. It is written in a full life evolution of Dev's character where we see him from the birth to a man he has become.

Want to know how it ended? Don't wait and grab the book and if you love the concept of different stages of love this is the one for you.