In this sequel to the bestselling Just Friends, find out what happens when headstrong and impulsive Tanie Brar meets her equally crazy best friend Sumer Singh Dhillon after five long years of separation. Heart-warming and poignant, Never Kiss Your Best Friend redefines the rules of friendship with its story of a boy and a girl who are soulmates in every sense.
*That moment when you have zero expectations on a book, instead, the book turns out to be the most witty and unforgettable read with the dashing characters and heartthrobing ending surprisingly....
*That moment when you have no idea how to pass the time, then found a random book in the Kindle and most unawaringly the book made your day.
*That moment when you are reading the book in a "well-I-have-to-read-the-book-anyhow" phase, but later on, the narration makes you so indulged that you unknowingly transform into a "I-HAVE-TO-FINISH-IT-NOW" phase.
*That moment when you make a mental note to buy the paperback of this novel by hook or crook.
*That moment when you close the book but your heart and brain is totally inside the book.
*That moment when you are prepared to go for his next book cheating the tbr list.
*That is the moment when the book deserves 5 star rating.......
“With that friend you’ve shared your first smoke, your first sneak-out, got drunk for the first time and then let all your fiercely guarded emotions and thoughts flow out without the fear of judgement or an iota of embarrassment.”
Never Kiss Your Best Friend hits right in the feels especially if you do have a close friend like Tanie or Sumer, even if you are not ‘in love’ you’d certainly love them more, once you finish reading this one.
The title’s indeed a forewarning here, which (obviously) has the implied meaning that DO NOT fall in love with your best friend. But who have we ever listened to?
In my opinion though, falling in love with your best friend would be like the best thing ever – this book offers an insight on why (or why not) my belief is right.
Initially both protagonists, Tanie Brar and Sumer Dhillon come across as brats but as the story progresses and the kids grow up, literally, you can’t help but grow attached to these characters, loving and hating them at the same time.
However, the timing is of essence here. Just like any other love story where both people fall in love with one another – just at different times. And of course, for them, confessions are cliché.
Also, the obsession of Indian parents to engineering does not go unheeded to in this one, as well.
Whatever unfolds in Sumer’s life if it were to happen to anyone – they’d be lead astray but that’s why we have friends and family, to bring us back. His case turned out different and it sure broke my heart, big time. There’s definitely something amiss when you read one of the best friends had something severe going on his life and the girl has got ABSOLUTELY no clue! Ignorant, much?
Meanwhile, special mention: Liaka – If I were into cussing, who knows what I’d have said for her! In my head I actually pictured her as a vamp from some cliché TV show.
The timeframes could be a bit confusing but it couldn’t have been written any better.
Coming to the last part, the culmination was something I’d never have predicted – no mystery, suspense or thriller but…let me not spoil it for you but just know when you’re in a for a (not so happy) surprise there!
Special mention to the diary entries’ document at the end tied all the ends together so beautifully, summing up the essence of the book impeccably.
I’d definitely recommend this one, if you love romance fics like me or even rom-coms for that matter.
Sumrit Shahi made his fans wait for 4 long years to read his next novel after writing 2 books. He became more popular after writing two super hit shows for Channel V- Sadda Haq and Million Dollar Girl. Since then, he is living life of his dreams at a very young age. I had read one of his 2 books that he released in 2010 and 2011 respectively but I cannot recall anything about it. It's Sumrit himself who made me remember that I had reviewed his book "Just Friends". I have just completed reading its sequel named "Never Kiss Your Best Friend". These days books with the word "friend" are doing very good. E.g. Half Girlfriend, World's Best Boyfriend. :-) Considering the cover page of this book and the title, it became quite evident what the whole book would be about. Both these factors are enough interesting to make you pick up the book if you like reading chick-lit fictions written by Indian authors.
Sumrit have used a very simple and good English language to narrate this story. The best part about the book is that author tried to speak everything in just 200 pages and didn't stretch the story. The ups and downs in the story are beautifully projected. His characters are surely realistic in terms of lifestyle that these cool class of people in metros live. I felt somewhere in between that Sumrit have written this book like a screenplay of the kind of series he writes. It's quite obvious as after writing a show for a long time, your writing style might change or you would like to experiment something new. I liked the humour and sarcasm that Sumrit have used as filler every now and then.
A special kind of friendship is presented between Tanie and Sumer. It's unusual and you'll wish to have such friend in your life. Whenever they fight, you know that they will patch up soon as books are generally a fairy-tale world but still reading about how they deal with the issue and try to remain unaffected by it is nicely written. The initial pages of the book are very interesting as its written in a fast pace. Also the climax is fine. The little suspense kept by the author also plays a big role in the formation of the anti-climax.
Coming to the drawbacks, I didn't like the characters having alcohols, boozing and going out of control in almost every page. I wanted the story to move ahead through real emotions and not by what the characters displayed in the shadow of alcohol. Also "Fuck" and similar type of words are used repeatedly just to show how cool the language is for teenagers of metro-cities. It becomes irritating after a point of time. Similarly, I didn't like the usage of "He Smiled. She smiled. Problem solved." in the cases where it wasn't even relevant.
Rest, I liked how the father-son tensed relationship is presented. I liked how two friends these days share even kisses so casually that it becomes hard even for themselves to give a name to their relationship. I liked how diary discloses few facts in the climax. There are many things in this book to appreciate and many that you will want to ask author "Why?" because you know he could have done wonderful even without writing those scenes. In all, I would give the book 3 stars out of 5. You can surely gift this one to your best friend of opposite sex and get your life changed withing 3 hours. Haha! And Hey, Sumrit, please do not take 4 years again to release your next. :-)
The first issue I had with this was that it jumped around in time so much that I had a difficult time keeping up with where we were in the story. It's only 200 pages, we don't need 6 different points in time. I also felt like Tanie and Sumer were so immature, always getting drunk, fighting with each other, and emotionally all over the place. The story didn't have a strong plot and the ending felt unnecessary. For those of you wondering, I didn't love the book before the end, but it really ruined it for me. There was a lot of Indian culture and the narrator did a good job with that part of it. It just wasn't for me.
I would recommend all the young boys to read this one as this will give u strength to confess ur love to ur partner before its too late -I would recommend all the pretty ladies to read this one as this will help u to understand ur partners/buddies unsaid feelings before u lose them completely -I would recommend all u sensible people of society to read this one and correct ur facts that yes "Girl and boy can b in buddy relationship for years if their feelings are pure and selfless.
Only because Nakuul Mehta is the cast for a web series based on this book. I decided to read it. It turns out be an emotional turmoil! Definitely not a book which I wanted to end the year with. #Noway#Dont read it
Why do we need to kill the most loved character!! Its good I won't say its great , the witty, too much alcoholism is used I mean its overatted... too much... well the web series is coming up so I decided to read exactly how it is.. well .. the series looks much promising.. I think better... than that.. hope the series doesn't end up like the book... otherwise the trailer is amazing !! Excited to watch
It's one of the best and heart touching book I've ever read... The story here is so twisted and carry a lot of surprises, emotions and pure love at once. This is one of those which makes us realise of how to live life.
I only read this book because I'd read the first one, I was facebook-friends with the author and I'd heard that he had some TV shows that were doing well. If you didn't guess it from my rating, I didn't really like this one. I've grown up in the past 4 years (2011 was when I read the first book) but I guess the author hasn't. I seriously thought his language would improve but it hasn't. If anything, it's worse! The whole book reads like a series of dialogues in a script.. Maybe working on a TV show isn't the best way to become a better writer. The disjointed language structure aside, even the story had no punch. Last time round, the author at least had an insight into the elite Delhi brat culture and MUNs. In this book, he has packed in every cliché that has ever been thought of in Bollywood and Indian Tellywood. The last book I could recommend to 17 year olds but this one was difficult to even finish. I hope Sumrit Shahi's TV shows are better than this book. Maybe it would have been better if he'd just pitched this book as a TV show, too.
Sumrit Shahi has evolved to a whole new level. The writing is very modern and Cool, the language used was so Rich yet had a funny twist to it. The climax was just un-expected and It made up for the Par story line. This book is purely for the YA. Funny,Witty,Hilarious book with an overdose of Booze/Alcoholic shit. Just 206 pages, A quick Breezy read. I did my best to control my tears When i read the penultimate chapter...Yet, Few drops of tears trickled down my cheeks :')
Next time, When Sumrit releases a book, I wish It has a more promising story line. With the Caliber he has, he should come out of his comfort zone and try to be innovative. :)
I guess I'm Over-rating the book a little, But nevertheless, This book was Quite Funny and It Entertained me to a great extent :D
Worst book I have ever read. First of all, this book kept encouraging the absurd idea that a guy and a girl can never be just friends. And don’t know when people are gonna understand that they SO CAN BE! I hate how people don’t understand what a best friend is and throw this label at someone who is just around you a lot. Its not a person who’s your friend just because he lives next to you, and you share lots of tuition classes and he goes to your neighbouring school. He/She is the person with whom you are truly real with. And no matter how Tanie and Sumer tried to show their relationship as one, and how “comfortable” they were with each other, its not how besties are supposed to be and Sumer’s suicide note made it clear. How he kept so many secrets from her, how he kept acting like a jerk from time and again. Even Tanie doesn’t lie on the right path of being a ‘best friend’. They both kept doing stupid child-like stuff. So, both the protagonists absolutely failed to make any sort of connection. Then there was all sorts of profane stuff. Unnecessary, not-funny adult jokes, body shaming, unnecessary drama, irresponsible driving. I was utterly surprised how they handled their life situations like being in love with your best friend, being forced to do engineering, finding out your father is actually your stepfather, finding out your bestfriend’s stepdad is cheating on his wife, finding out your girlfriend is a mean bitch and your bestfriend’s boyfriend is gay. I mean, I can think of 10 other ways I could have handled those situations better than they did. The author tried to write an emotionally complex story with common hardships of life but ended up with unnecessarily complicated story of two dumb kids who never grew up. The way of writing the story was somewhat good, it could surely connect with Indian youngsters but it was the story that sucked and you can’t just kill off the protagonist and expect the audience to feel magically connected with the book. It was like legit low-grade, cheap, absurd story people expect from desi romances. Sincerely disappointed in Indian romance fictions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Are you looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and feel all the emotions in between? Look no further than "Never Kiss your Best Friend" by Sumrit Shahi. This heartwarming story follows the lives of two best friends, Tanie and Sumer, as they navigate the complexities of friendship and love.
In "Never Kiss your Best Friend," we are introduced to Tanie and Sumer, who have been best friends since childhood. As they grow older, their friendship blossoms into something more, but they are hesitant to take the next step and risk their close bond. The book explores themes of love, friendship, and the struggles of young adulthood in a relatable and engaging way.
The characters in "Never Kiss your Best Friend" are well-developed and nuanced, making them easy to connect with and root for. Tanie is a strong and independent young woman, while Sumer is charming and lovable.
Sumrit Shahi's writing style is simple yet impactful, making the story easy to read and hard to put down. The dialogue is witty and authentic, capturing the essence of young love and friendship. Shahi's ability to evoke emotions through words is truly commendable, making "Never Kiss your Best Friend" a must-read for fans of romance and coming-of-age stories.
In conclusion, "Never Kiss your Best Friend" is a heartwarming and engaging read that will leave you with a smile on your face. The story of Tanie and Sumer is a beautiful ode to friendship, love, and the power of human connection. Whether you're a fan of romance novels or simply enjoy a good story, this book is sure to captivate you from the very first page.
So, what are you waiting for? Pick up a copy of "Never Kiss your Best Friend" today and experience the magic for yourself!
Just a caution of word. Be prepared for the unexpected ending.
This book revolves around the life of our female lead, Tanie and her childhood neighbour bestfriend Sumer. It starts at a point in the year 2020 where Tanie in Mumbai is living with Shruti and is employed. She is really pissed of her life and frustratedly tells us about all the imperfections taking place in her life perfectly. She goes clubbing the night to break from the monotony and she found Sumer. They stole a whisky from the bar and flew. They sat roadside drunk and kissed. Now Tanie connects all the past experiences and makes us feel nostalgic.
Basically this text covers the childhood mischief of the two friends. The 90's kids in India can surely relate to it. There was laughter, memories and all those mischiefs. Personally, I think that the author had forgotten the extent to which he should have used the sarcastic adult comments which teenagers use. It was appearing like a chat of teenagers. There was too much of the vulgar comedy which was not needed. Moreover there was exaggeration of the protagonist's childhood.
The title of the novel doesn't suggest so well. It was nowhere that a kiss made any profound impact on the storyline. Sumer's character was funny and Interesting but he is the one who uses most of the adult comedy. Tanie's college life was based in Delhi and certainly there were local references. However the story was predictable at various points. Some moments carried on a lot of excitement, emotion and pain.
The line that touched me the most was: "If you fall in love with a writer, you can never die".
However I really loved the friendship Sumer and Tanie shared. I just adored it and it was the only reason I think I could complete this one.
This was the weirdest book ever. Horrible idea to read it. First of all, the author's writing style was...unique. There were so many details that I could not even read them all. The story seemed jumbled. One moment something was happening and the next something else was happening. The author had a tendency to jump from one event to another. Characters were being introduced left and right, without context. Nothing seemed logical. It was hard to keep up with the story while I trying to figure out what was happening half the time.
Secondly, the story was crazy. It revolved around two adults, who both acted like a bunch of 12-year-olds. They claimed to be best friends but nothing backed up that statement. The summary did great to hype up the story. To myself, the story was about two kids who were thrown together by circumstances and ended up being friends. Then their already awkward friendship got even more awkward when they couldn't control their hormones around each.
I felt like I went into this story with very high expectations and came out with my dreams crashing and burning. And that is my final impression of this book. It may not be for everyone and hopefully, the upcoming tv show is 10x better than this disaster.
A 4 star review for this book that I read at an age when I probably should not have read it. The book has taken a toll on how I view friendships ever since. The story is needlessly heartbreaking. the only question you'll want to ask the author after it is over is "Why?" : 1) Why did you have to make him become a better person? 2) Why was his story so sad? 3) Why did they not confess their feelings when they should have!!!! 4) Why do I like the girl in spite of the way she is? Or do i like her because of the way she is? 5)
Truth be told, I don't remember every single detail of this story but one thing that I do remember is their friendship. They made me want something like what they had--at least in the beginning--when they were still full of hope, and carefree-ness that comes with not being exposes to the harsh lighting of society. Before everything went wrong.
But I'll stick to this one belief, the end could have been different.
Sumer and Tanie pass out drunk together on the same bed. She cries on his shoulder when she break up with a boyfriend. Surner will talk with her about football in the wee hours of the morning. Tanie asks Surmer for advice on how to keep her boyfriend satisfied. They like watching cheesy movies with each other and cry freely. She ask him to rate her butt. Dance with her in your boxers. But never, ever kiss your best friend. what happens when headstrong and impulsive Tanie Brar meets her equally crazy best friend Sumer Singh Dhillon after five long years of separation. Heart-warming about friendship and love. Never Kiss Your Best Friend shows that deep connection between friends that feels like two people who are each other soulmate which everyone searches for when falling in love. Why these two make everything so complex when they both seek the same thing. They feel perfect for one another.
The title was promising... I liked the plot. It shows the plight of indian teenagers where a guy and girl remaining friends has its shortcomings. It captured the insecurities of a teenager. One is always confused who's their friend who is not. It also shows the struggle we have when we reach college. Our school friends slowly start drifting away. In the end all of us change. The language in the book is simple. Some of the puns are so hilarious and cleverly delivered. It was an easy read. But not so sure that's how teenage indian girls speak even of they hail from metropolitan cities. Also though the thread was going in the right direction. Frankly speaking you could have just left it at Tanie and Sumer reconciling. The end felt a little bit like Nicholas Sparks novel... Guaranteed it makes a good television hit.. And truly its the writer's choice what they do with the characters.. All in all it was a good read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The books started off really well, it was great. Right from the beginning it was funny, but after a point of time it became alittle repetative and odd, tania and sumer are good as characters but they way they speak to one another and that over friendly nature felt quite artificial/atypical. They both act not like just friends rather as "Friends with benefits" they do all the shit, and expect us to believe they are just friends. I donno about others but I cant accept such shit. they say love yous' to each other and act lovey-dovey. First half of the book is good, its funny. Then starts the real torture, the author thought its funny maybe, but I should say its "Disgusting". No friends act like that, and all this compiled to such a common ending, i guessed it along time back. I knew it would happen long time back, whole novel revolves around alcohol and at the end he is teaching lessons, "Not to drink alcohol" It's injurious to health.
Among varying Slang throughout the narration depecting different phases of life, the storyline was quite okay, the incidents and plot were just fine. But the book left a lot unsaid.... for first the reason why Tan Tan was smoking.....a lost friend which she had lost multiple times earlier too....her feelings could have been clear and well conveyed,..... Second and bigger thing I did not like about the book was the ending it felt so abrupt, I mean okay they just met and it was meant to end with no further meetings but that one incident felt nothing...the letters were just abrupt and it just end ....there could have been a lot of emotions but that did not do well. Anyways a decent time pass, I liked the fresh way of expressing the relationship in between Tan Tan and Sumer and ofcourse the slangs did do well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
NOOOOO! ! MY BABY DESERVED SO MUCH MORE!!! THIS ALMOST HAD ME CRYING IN SCHOOL (almost, and trust me it's hard to make me cry , I didn't cry when I watched 5 feet apart). Never kiss your bestfriend, even if you do make sure it doesn't affect your friendship , if it does say that you're drunk . Travis and Sumer were the cutest . At first you won't really see how their friendship evaluates to something more , cause it isn't obvious (and it's the best part of it ) . I almost gave up on the book in the beginning but my friend (God bless her) convinced me that it was worth a shot . And I don't regret .
Idk about Taavi ,but my Sumer T_T the dude was funny , caring , cool, and God weird (in a good way )
Idk if this review will convince you or not , but give it a try .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I would not have given even half a star for this crap. It's just a mixture of non sensical stuff written in half sleep. No words to describe how bad it is. I can tell you 3 things, 1) A few pages as the start are good enough for you to think that you picked a good book. 2) How much ever crap is gonna come, you will tolerate it because you know the base is formed 3) Ending is made way too melodramatic expecting the readers to get teary eyes after reading all that CRAP.
I read this because my friend read it and didn't quite review it to me well and I had a decent amount of expectation from the writer of Sadda Haq. Be intelligent and don't read it. It's way too bad.
I don't know how one can be disappointed when they walked in with barely any expectations but that's exactly what happened with this book. It's full of cliched tropes and every single character is stereotypical and predictable. There all the things i absolutely dislike in a book like girl on girl hate, slut shaming, toxic masculinity, etc. I mean honestly, you name it and it's there and IT IS NOT CHALLENGED UGH. There also barely any character development that's seen.
I just read this book on a friend recommendation but honestly its an OKAY TO READ book. Nothing interesting and nothing like bad writing. But still wanna say book is better than the show. I usually binge read a book but sometimes i get bored with this one that almost finished it in a week. If you want to read as a beginner reader you can read it. But i highly doubt that a person who reads a long time like this one. Its kind of made for teenage or young people.
I just want to say Sumrit Shahi that you broke my heart into trillion zillion pieces 🥺🥺😭😭😭😭 at the end ! Why did you ??? I just thank makers of web series based on this one to not had copies the ending from novel 😣😣😣😣😣🥺🥺🥺 Atleast in the series they met in the end 🙇🏼♀️ Wish I could change the ending of ur novel too .
This book will make you fall in love again and again. The building of emotions and relationships was merely tremendous. The author has made the readers bind all the emotions to their life. Every page of this book fascinated us. The book confides about family, partners, carriers and many elements which can't be written in words. The unexpected conclusions amuse the readers.