Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Table for One

Rate this book
Taara Maheshwari, a single woman in her thirties and a successful lawyer, is tough from outside but a die heart fan of romantic movies from inside.

She grew up seeking her “happily ever after’ but amid various heartbreaks and culture of modern age short term relationships, her believe in “true connections" got replaced by the comfort of being “emotionally disconnected.”
After she turned 31, her parents persuaded her into meeting a guy for marriage who sounded just perfect for her. Acting on impulse, she told her parents that she would meet him only if they let her go on a trip to Europe.

As Taara went on to explore the world, she experienced what actually happens when a single Indian girl travels to Europe all by herself. Is it only about dancing, singing or falling in love? What happens after you fall in love? Does love conquer all?

Only her story would tell.

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 23, 2018

10 people are currently reading
41 people want to read

About the author

Neha Bindal

2 books3 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
28 (17%)
4 stars
67 (42%)
3 stars
46 (29%)
2 stars
11 (7%)
1 star
5 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
Profile Image for Shweta Panda.
12 reviews7 followers
September 22, 2018
I won't be spoiling the suspense by revealing all the details but trust me I laughed with Taara and cried with her as well. I can relate to her as an Indian girl. The lines like, "food isn't just food for Indians- it is an emotion, and a way of expression." truly expresses my feelings. The insecurities, the societal pressure and her fears made me connect with Taara immediately.


The way she always wanted to be free and get away from her family for a few days. The way she starts feeling bad after being free. These are things which we normally feel. She was suffering from extreme loneliness but she "realized something wasn't right in staying on the perfect world, even in the darkest hour."

"I stopped fighting with my loneliness and started facing it. I accepted that I needed to stop waiting; stop waiting for someone, or something real to fill me up and give me a reason." But as the days passed, the definition of alone changed for her. It wasn't a "closed dark room" anymore but "a whole wide world full of opportunities."


Even in Europe, after falling in love, she lost her guy three times and found him back. But at the end, I promise you guys, a surprise will be waiting for you. The least expected of all. That's what I loved about this book. Falling in love when you least expect it and then the fear of leaving your love behind.


Full review at https://flyleaflifestyle.blogspot.com...
.
Book blog https://flyleaflifestyle.blogspot.com/
Profile Image for Anukriti Malik .
183 reviews126 followers
August 22, 2018
Rating - 2.5/5

How often do you pick up a book because the cover and blurb seemed super interesting but after a few pages in you feel disheartened and could have invested your time in some other book ?
Well , that just happened with me.

Table For One revolves around the life of Taara , a successful lawyer in her late twenties. She is single and is being persuaded by her parents to meet an eligible bachelor and get married. Taara agrees to her parent's wish but with a demand - she wants to go on a solo vacation to Europe. As she flies to the city of her dreams , she experiences things that are going to change her life.

I picked this book up with great expectations because every girl out there dreams of taking a solo trip in her life. But what let me down was the execution. The narration of this book felt too much inspired by the movie "Queen" starring Kangana Ranaut who too takes a solo trip to Europe. Several parts of the plot seemed similar to the movie and I didn't like it. It felt as if i'm reading the screenplay of the movie in a layman's language.
The writing style was blank and nothing impressive. The flow of the narration was constant and I couldn't connect with the story at any point of time. It was too plain.

The book went a little better towards the end where the originality in the story came to surface and pulled me a little closer to the book. The main attraction was the cover of the book which really had me at the first look.

Final Verdict
Not entirely happy with this one. You can pick it up for a quick travel read or skip it.
Profile Image for Khyati Gautam.
880 reviews244 followers
August 8, 2018
Taara decides to go on a month-long Europe trip in exchange of fulfilling her Dad's desire of getting her married. And she sets off rather quickly as the novel begins abruptly and moves on with a hard-to-catch pace. I found it a bit difficult to absorb her regrets, her remorse, grief, betrayal, and every memory of her past that kept hovering on her head. 

The book is centered on Taara who is on her way to a quite absurd term in our Indian mindset for women, 'solo travel.' Yes, she chooses to move around the beautiful locations of Paris, Switzerland, and Italy, all by herself. This aspect of her personality fascinated me. I liked her resolve to let go of her past and vent her pent-up emotions to feel invigorated. She does feel changed over the course of her journey. She learns to stand for herself, get over her inhibitions, open herself to new people and accept the life as it comes. Her transformation got me completely. She explores herself and comes to terms with herself. It is a brave thing to face yourself. She does that. That's effective. Oh! And the description of the cities of Europe is captivating. I felt like traversing through them. Now, I so badly want to go on a solo trip. 

The cover is extremely attractive. You could not take your eyes off it. It does justice to the story of Taara Maheshwari completely. 

The writing style is kept simple. Said that even a newbie would find it easier to grasp and enjoy the journey of Taara. The story goes on smoothly. The pace has been steady throughout the book. What I specifically disliked about the book was its adaptation into a soft porn while Taara and Fred make love. Agreed that people in love tend to 'want' each other but in my opinion, love could be expressed and illustrated in a more beautiful way. It does not always have to cross the lanes of wild and steamy love-making sessions to attain peace. Sex is natural but not the only way to say that the two entangled bodies are in love! I cringed reading that and skipped it everytime I happened to arrive at any such instance. 

The narrative is good. The plotline and the concept behind solo travel are really nice but the whole narration could have been better. Rest, it is good for a one-time read! 
Profile Image for Dilip Chauhan.
250 reviews27 followers
August 9, 2018
Thank to @half_baked_beans for the review copy. It was a refreshing read.

Rating.
Overall - 4 ⭐
Plot - 3.5 ⭐
Pace - 3.5 ⭐
Narration - 4 ⭐
Characters - 3.5 ⭐
Book cover - 5 ⭐
Such a refreshing read!
Taara age 31, fed-up with her life, her temperory relationships, over protective family, decides to say fuck off to everything and go to an adventure trip to Europe solo!!!
That's why the title, Table For One.
In between her month long journey, she will find new people, new places new experience new love but most importantly new herself.
I like this book so much because it's simple short and fast paced.
Narration is easy to understand and plot and events are very realistic.
I like the characters which are also very realistic.
I like the chemistry between Taara and Fred (to know who?) Read the book.
Over all it was a fun read, I can't say it was an emotional rollercoaster but it will touch your heart in it's own way!
If you want a ordinary story which will give you extraordinary feelings do try this book.
Profile Image for Ruchi Patel.
1,142 reviews94 followers
December 20, 2018
Table for one by Neha Bindal

My Ratings- 4/5 stars

Blurb- It’s the story of our protagonist Taara Maheshwari, who is thirty one year old single girl, working as property lawyer. She had several relationships in her life. The first one with the guy named Tarun, she loved him very much but her father was not ready for their marriage, so Tarun refused to meet her family. After several failed relationships, she lost faith in concept of true love and soul mates.



I am happy that I picked up this book. Simple yet fascinating. I can relate many things with my life so enjoyed reading it. Very well description written on Europe traveling. I am definitely imagining whole thing in my mind and so badly want to travel all of those places now. Good one! @scribblerneha @half_baked_beans

Read full review at
https://drruchipatel.wordpress.com/20...

Profile Image for Aishwary Mehta (The_Fugitive_Biker).
229 reviews30 followers
September 28, 2018
Quote from the Book I Liked - 'Memory is a beautiful thing if you don't have to deal with the past.' (Page 108)

Rating - 2.5 Stars

Plot Summary - Taara Maheshwari, a single woman in her thirties and a successful lawyer, is tough from outside but a die heart fan of romantic movies from the inside.

She grew up seeking her “happily ever after’ but amid various heartbreaks and culture of modern age short-term relationships, her belief in “true connections” got replaced by the comfort of being “emotionally disconnected.”
After she turned 31, her parents persuaded her into meeting a guy for marriage who sounded just perfect for her. Acting on impulse, she told her parents that she would meet him only if they let her go on a trip to Europe.

As Taara went on to explore the world, she experienced what actually happens when a single Indian girl travels to Europe all by herself. Is it only about dancing, singing or falling in love? What happens after you fall in love? Does love conquer all?

Only her story would tell.


My Review - So there is this girl Taara, who always obeyed what her parents told her to, may it be her choice of career or may it be every single decision of her life. She had many setbacks in her love life. She crossed her age of 30 now and is been forced by her parents to get married to a Guy whos she even hasn’t been friends with him or has known him (Story of many Indian Families). While having such a discussion with her parents, all of a sudden she agrees to marry the Guy her father has chosen for her but on a condition, A Solo Trip to Europe. Sounds familiar? Yup! Remember the Iconic movie ‘Dil Wale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’, where a similar situation leads Kajol to go on a Europe trip on an agreement with her parents to marry the Guy her father chose for her.

The story is similar to the movie at a very great length. The book although felt good in the first half but in the second half. Umm… nope the book diverts itself from the main story base of an Independent woman on a Solo trip to a Naive girl who fell in love with a Random guy she felt connected with too. The book could have been great if it kept up to travel and how she (Taara) faced all that a Solo traveler might face in an unknown country. But the addition of same age-old Romance that too from a famous Bollywood movie ruin the book for me.

Personally, I avoid reading romantic novels (and Movies) especially by Indian Authors not because I hate them or something but because of the same plot, the same story, and same baseline of all that is written.

Conclusion - A casual and light read which will take you to Europe until loves comes into the plot and ruins the book.

Full Review on Blog.
Link to Blog - The Tales of Fugitive Biker
4 reviews
September 29, 2018
This is the story of Taara Maheshwari, a 31-year-old woman, who decides to take matters into her own hands and give a spin to her dreary life. After striking a deal with her parents, she takes off to Europe for a month long vacation in a quest to understand life and herself, and break free from her memories.

The first thing that you notice is the book's cover and the title- they are both true to the core of the story, giving a complete picture of what's to come.

What struck me the most in the story was the relatability of Taara's character. Being a single 31-one- year old in India is no easy feat, more so if you are a woman. It becomes even more difficult when you feel unaccepted by the opposite gender, underconfident in your own beauty.

My favourite lines from the book are the following:
1. The definition of alone had changed for me in the last ten days. Alone wasn't just a closed dark room anymore but a whole wide world full of opportunities. I needed to explore and occupy the vastness of the world inside of me, which until now I hadn't truly understood.
2. We are all taught that the most beautiful part of a fairytale is “happily ever after”. But we fail to notice that all fairy tales begin with “Once upon a time”. Once. It all happened. It was all real. Once.

These lines are so real and show her progress so much. From starting off as a meek woman who is fighting for acceptance, her transformation to this new person is beautiful to witness. The way her personality has been shown to grow is very realistic; her struggles and fears explained all too well. From initially panicking at the thought of travelling alone to going on the “couples” Seine cruise, to going for the trek even though she is scared of it, to daring to falling in love again even though that was the one thing she had fled away from, it shows how life-changing this trip has proven to be for her.

I especially love how before each major country, a page has been dedicated to a quote about that place. What's nice here is the way that quote comes to life in the next few pages. The way the author has described the locations will make you feel like you are travelling with her. She has very well captured the life of various countries by making the reader part of the different experiences she has there. The narrative of the book is extremely good, making the reader want to flip the page and know what Taara does next; making them experience her lows and celebrate her highs.

I loved the way Taara had fun and interacted with people she met on her trip- be it going for drinks with the old man she meets at the ATM, or roaming around Paris with Snigdha (and continuing her journey without her later), or conversing with Paulo. I liked the way various characters all throughout the book have been given just enough space in Taara's story; they come when they should and leave when it's their time.

What I didn't like though were some minute details, be it the protagonist saying that most women are neutral to politics, or her shock on discovering that someone is gay. Although I realize that these facts have no correlation to the story as such, reading them made me flinch for a minute or so. Another thing is the way the story ends; it somehow feels incomplete. I wanted to know what happens when she comes back, how does she deal with her father, what does she do about her engagement, but none of these made it to the story. The end, instead, focused too much on a man. I understand that he is one of the main characters of the story, but Taara is the focus here; she should have been in the limelight in the end.

On the whole, the book is a breezy, light read and can easily be finished in one sitting. It was a very fun read!
Profile Image for Mishika.
135 reviews24 followers
August 30, 2018
(I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the author.)

When I picked up this book, I was hoping to read something different and something new. However, I was pretty disappointed. And the lack of proofreading and editing only made it even more cumbersome for me to read this book in one flow.

The story is of one Taara Maheshwari, dejected in her love life and not sure about what she wants from her life. On an impulse, she decides to quit her job and take a one-month Euro trip (not in the same sequence). However, she barters the 'permission' to go on this trip with her father on the condition that she will come back to India to marry the boy her parents have zeroed down for her.

Destiny, however, has other plans for her. While on her trip, Taara meets some very interesting people, starting right at the airport when she is about to board her flight from India. All these people, at every given point in the trip, manage to shape her journey in a certain way. How does Taara survive alone in a foreign land? What is in store for her? Will Taara be able to find what she is looking for? The book explores all these ideas in a short, 171 page read.

The thing that I liked was the detailed description of European cities. The vivid imagination of the author almost compelled me to pack my bags and board a flight right now!
The end was also a relief from the cliched romance endings. I am glad about that.

The story: The story was not what I expected it to be. The blurb does not give it away, but the book (especially towards the second half) is essentially a cliched romance.

The protagonist: I can't find words to describe how much I detest the character of Taara. She is not only portrayed to be extremely immature for her age but also seems very superficial in her approach to life. Throughout the book, the reader can see how Taara has always looked for a man to be the anchor of her life. Now, per se, this may not be a bad thing, but this cannot be the only thing that defines a woman and her life, and her life choices and decisions. The constant need to have someone to fulfill you is, in the very least, dangerous to one's emotional character. I see a lot of 'Taara' in many people around me, and my opinion of them is the same. Be your own anchor - that is the advice I would give Taara if I had a chance to meet her. The clinginess is apparent on the face of it.

I usually like books with the portrayal of a woman as a strong individual. This book, in my opinion, failed to do that.

The language: The language was alright, but the book has definitely not been proofread before being published. There were glaring grammatical mistakes, punctuation missing, etc. right from the beginning. Even the blurb is not error free.

Also, the constant focus on body image, the reference to 'blacks', the reference to consumption of alcohol as being 'cool', reference to most women being neutral to politics, the shock on discovering someone's orientation, and such typical stereotyping threw me off. (Pretty inappropriate, in my opinion.)

The book, all in all, is an easy breezy, light read and can be finished in one sitting. There is no 'wow' factor in the book. Recommended for those who are looking for a light read between books.
84 reviews5 followers
September 29, 2018
"Travel brings Power and Love back into your life" This phrase sums up the story of Tara who is 31 years old independent but not so happy with her life kind of girl. She lost the faith in love and trust because of Failure in love and unsuccessful relationships.Somewhere she was stuck between who she is, who she wants to be and who she should be.
Every parents have wish to get their children married and settled in life and that's what the only wish of Tara's parents. She agreed to fulfill their wish on one condition - Her solo trip to Europe - Wow, Wow, Wow... This might be the dream of every woman to discover herself, and what's better than to travel alone to some unknown places. And when she did not get the leave approval she left her job, Bingo girl!
And then her journey started to 3 most beautiful places of Europe; Paris, Switzerland and Italy. Description of the places she visited are so real that a reader can actually join Tara in her journey. It shows the author's detailed knowledge about the places. Some of the characters potrayed very well, all the characters she met during her journey had their own story and distinct nature. Sajid - the guide, Snigdha - Beautiful independent wife and mother of 2 kids traveling solo to get the freedom from routine life, Ashwin - Purvi and their short term love story, Martha - a beautiful 70 years old widow lady and her friend Paulo-- these are the few interesting characters gives the different colour and shape to the storyline. And how to forget Fred - New found love of Tara and their beautiful love story is the essence of the book.
So will Tara find her true love? will she be able to discover her real her? Will she be able to be strong enough to overcome all her fears in life? Read this beautiful journey of Tara and visit Europe through Author's words. Climax made me speechless, although I could not get convinced with the end but that's how the character of Tara - Unpredictable and now after her journey more clear about what she wants in her life.
So it's not just her journey to Europe, it's her journey from what she is to what she should be.
Language of the book is lucid and easy to grasp. Cover the main attraction of the book and title is totally apt with the storyline. Overall it's an interesting read.
Profile Image for Nidhi Srivastava.
Author 4 books14 followers
August 7, 2018
I had to wait a little longer to unwrap the book mail for this beauty. I was travelling when the book arrived as an early delivery. I was anxious to open the package and dive into the world of travel. The book cover evidently describes about the plot of the novel, where you see shining European architecture, a travel bag and backpacking girl. The plot is about Taara and her expedition to Europe. A little hint of Bollywood hit “DDLJ”, where Taara tries to escape from the problems of her life. Every girls problem begins with love story, brutal heart breaks and happy ending in form of life partner. Taara was no different, a woman struggling with heart breaks and smiling at the dinner table for the sake of family. Maheshwari household was like every Indian household, where decisions were made by only the father and children had to obey. With life driving towards arranged marriage, Taara pulled the brakes and announced her solo trip to Europe. A super filmy one from the author, where her parents agreed to her decision (I would love that if my parents agreed ever). The author takes you to the romantic sunsets of Paris, artistic streets of Italy, serene meadows of Switzerland and some deserted cold nights. I believed I was travelling and shopping with Taara in her journey meeting new people. For few questions, life throws you in difficult situations… whether it was the deserted roads where Taara walked or stranger she met at the park. I was waiting for her prince to come up to her during her travel and change the course again towards the SRK-Kajol situation. However, the Euro trip had something else planned for Taara, who was set to marry just after the trip. The arranged marriage thing made the trip even more special one for her. I wished for a different ending to the Euro chapter, and know more about the family reaction after knowing the foreign encounters of Taara. I believe the trip got over pretty fast 😛 I would love to read a sequel to this book, where Table for One turns out to be Table for Two.
Profile Image for SHRADDHA MAHAPATRA.
77 reviews3 followers
September 1, 2018
This book is from the house of @half_baked_beans .The protagonist - Taara who is thirty one, is a lady, frustrated with her job life and depressed of past relationships which didn't work.She decides to resign her Job of a lawyer and visit Europe for a month as a Solivagant.She explores the places-Paris,Switzerland and Italy ,creates so many memories,gets over her anxiety and fear, of what a girl in India is generic to have.She meets people and falls in love with a guy named Fred,gets over her scared heart and boring life.Also she has promised her father to agree for an arrange marriage if he lets her go to Europe for a solo trip,which he did.Now you guys read the book and find out how she copes up with it,if she stays with Fred or comes back to India?

I honestly cannot express how much I enjoyed reading this book.This book not only tells you Taara's story but actually shows you the places where Taara goes ! The description and narration of the book is so flawless that it makes this book "a must have" in your collection! It's not often that you find such an amazing story from many authors.This books gives you reasons to fall in love with yourself,explore places and go easy on life ,which is very important ! I felt the narration is a little similar to that of Chetan Bhagat's style of writing, which I enjoy.However the author has her unique way of expressing the story.The language is easy which adds to the flow of reading the book.The content is crisp, unique and very gripping.I am so much in love with the book that I am definitely piling it up for my re-reads.@scribblerneha Thankyou for such an amazing read.Definitely craving for more stories from you.
I give it a 5/5 ❤
Profile Image for Ankita Deshkar.
12 reviews1 follower
August 5, 2018
Table For One: Gripping yet slow


“No matter who we are, what we do, or where we live, deep inside we all feel incomplete. It’s like we have lost something and need to get it back. Just what that something is, most of us never find out. And of those who do, even fewer manage to go out and look for it.”

Neha Bindal’s, Table For One is a quest of a 31 year-old lady, Taara trying to find peace and a purpose to be happy. After a number of meaningless relationships and a numerous ups and downs, Taara lives her dream and gives up her job to fulfil her dream to take a solo trip to Europe.
Going from place to place, Bindal beautifully covers all the spots of the trip, from snow-clad mountains to the lush green parks of Rome.
Taara who is having a gala time at the trip, is attracted towards Fred who feels the same for her and soon develops a liking. Oh! Wait there is a twist though, Taara has promised her father to fulfil his wish once she returns from the trip.
The novel is gripping yet feels like you are watching Kangana Ranaut’s ‘Queen’ at times.
At times the whole novel looses the point and is taken forward in one plain direction. I am still clueless about when did Taara talk to her family. She did just the first day of her vacation, which seems weird.
All in all, the novel is good, you try to seek a purpose for yourself while you read it.
Happy Reading!

Profile Image for Mugdha Mahajan.
774 reviews79 followers
August 10, 2018
“No matter who we are, what we do, or where we live, deep inside we all feel incomplete. It’s like we have lost something and need to get it back. Just what that something is, most of us never find out. And of those who do, even fewer manage to go out and look for it.”

Taara, a single girl in her thirties was unsatisfied with her life as well as her job. Marriage was still not on her cards because of some haunting past memories. Something was missing in her life and she wished to explore her desires and for once think about her happiness. 

After persuading her father, she finally decided to go on a month long solo trip to Europe to find peace and to discover her inner self. Experiencing everything for the very first time, she had mixed feelings- she was nervous as well as happy. She was free to roam anywhere without the fear of being judged.  She discovers her newly found freedom while travelling the beautiful cities- Paris, Switzerland and Italy. Living all alone in Europe she finds new Taara in herself, who is confident and is ready to face every challenge. But love somehow finds a way to reach her through Fred, a Firangi she meets while on her trip. Will she be able to love him? or it's just a casual fling? Will she be able to discover herself or get lost while finding love?

Come and take a ride with Taara and explore the beautiful cities of Europe.

The story is definitely intriguing. The story did have resemblance to the Bollywood movie 'Queen' but I liked the plot. I loved Taara's character - she was not a typical Indian women thinking about marriage and family at 31 but challenging herself to go on a solo trip to Europe.Her transformation is what I loved the most. The cities were described so beautifully that I really wished to visit them once. The writing style is easy and simple. The book is a easy breezy read with a good narrative style.

Profile Image for Solitude and  books.
1,169 reviews52 followers
September 10, 2018
Taara has stepped into her 30s, unmarried,a practicing lawyer.But as her father suggests her to get married she promises to meet the new guy if she is allowed to go on a solo trip to Europe for a month.I very much liked the opening of the story.

Taara once had a dream just like most girls to find true love, to meet prince charming but past heartbreaks and amidst the modern trend of casual relationships she almost forgets self esteem and gets emotionally distant with her own feelings but just like you and I she still has that wish alive in a distant corner of her heart caged to get free one day.She just wanted a break,an opportunity to explore the world but as she starts exploring the beautiful lands of flowers,food & vivid cultural hubs of Switzerland,Italy,France , she starts meeting new people & situations that let her come out of her shell.She enjoys , sings,dances and starts having self realization.She gets new definition of happiness,joy and Love.

Overall a nice story !
Profile Image for Nidhi Author.
109 reviews6 followers
September 24, 2018
‘Table For One’ By Neha Bindal is a book that will remind you of days of the adventures you did in life and will make you regret if you never did any. The title of the book is apt and the cover is designed amazingly. I feel no other cover would have done justice to the novel. The blurb will excite you to turn the pages as soon as possible.
The book holds the story of Taara Maheshwari, the main protagonist of the novel. Taara is all set for her solo trip to Europe. Her parents sent her on the promise that once she is back she will get married. The story takes an exciting turn after this. She was experiencing new things and most importantly she was discovering herself. The book will run various emotions within you. The narrative technique of the author is brilliant. The description of the places done by the author will make you feel like you are travelling with Taara. Overall, the book proved to be an enjoyable read for me.
Profile Image for Aryan Sarath.
Author 3 books35 followers
October 2, 2018
This is a story which revolves around the protagonist Taara who has had a failed love experience not once but twice. While her love with Tarun Malik has to be forcefully withdrawn due to the family pressure, she doesn't get lucky with Shivam as well.

On top of this, she also gets to see her ex-fiancee with another girl. While she starts searching the real purpose of her life, she decides to go on a solo trip to Europe. This is where she gets to see the real world and the perceptions of her life. She gets to meet Ragini, a co-passenger who embarks on a journey after successfully completing her life's duties.

Taara travels to England, Paris, Switzerland and finally to Italy. She gets to meet varied characters including Sajid(a tour guide), Snigdha, Ashwin(Tour Manager), Alex(Trek In-Charge), Shelton & Alvin(Trekkers), Fred, Purvi. Martha among others.

The story revolves around lives of these characters who hails from different countries which obviously boasts of different cultures. The story also portrays in a subtle way as to how the lives of women in India is influenced by her family and other circumstances and how she is been forced to compromise and live her life adjusting to the stark realities.

I liked the way, the story has portrayed the protagonist who was not only bold but also drives a message as to how one(especially women) could lead a independent and a happy life, living for herself and not for others.
Profile Image for Nithya K.
Author 5 books32 followers
August 9, 2018
Table for One was sent by the Publisher.

The book cover looked very interesting. Also, the plot about a lone woman travelling by herself was intriguing. A very different tale where the show-don't-tell rule has not been used at all. It is written in a linear manner, which gives an impression that the author is sitting and monotonously narrating the story to an audience.

I love travelling. I love stories for the same reason. They take me to different places, allow me to be different people. This book is apparently about Taara's journey to realize that self-love is an important aspect of life. There are times when one has to do what one does not want to. It is important to be real and honest and not succumb to external pressure and expectations. Taara's story is all about discovery. Travel to Europe with Taara and understand the importance of weaving in nuances in storytelling. On the lines of Queen, but with Europe as a backdrop, Table for One seems like a brave attempt to tell a story about a single woman traveler. Sometimes there are instances when one must keep aside the stars and do what one must do. I am giving the book 4 stars.
Borrow this book today.
Profile Image for Neha.
133 reviews34 followers
August 23, 2018
3.3/5 (the reason I don't give rating to books sometimes after I read them. This book was around 2.5 when I read, but while reviewing I felt it was a surely 3+)

Light, easy, refreshing read that will give you, Queen meets, DDLJ and English Vinglish vibes.

Things that worked out for me :
> BEA-U-TIFUL Cover, the Title and the story in general.
> Loved the description of places Taara visited.
> Emotions were shown plain and simple yet deep, and I could connect with them (except some)

Things that didn’t worked for me :

> There were parts in the story that I wish were given more read-time, too many loose ends. (mentioned in weird things’ section)
> The steamy action wasn’t required at all. Sometimes things can be left unsaid and to be felt loved.
> The end was kind of cliffhanger, it left me with so many questions. (Is she working now ? How her parents reacted to the fact that things didn’t work out as she said before leaving.) Well, I am a very caring person, and it makes my duty to know about the character I invested in.

Authoress Neha Bindal YOU NEED TO WRITE A SEQUEL, to answer above . 😀

Writing style of Authoress, Neha reminded me of articles that was shown/written by Carry Bradshaw in Sex & the City. They always had that edge of questions at the end, and they were two faced.

Full review at https://smileaturself.wordpress.com/2...
Profile Image for Ankita Arora.
139 reviews19 followers
September 9, 2018
Table for One is a travel-romantic novel with the protagonist taking a solo trip to Europe before she surrenders to the married life.

Taara, a 31-year old successful lawyer, decides to abandon her monotonous life for once and do something adventurous. Her parents are orthodox when it comes to things like career and marriage. They wish for her to get married now as she is way beyond the marriageable age and women of her age usually have two kids!

She decides to take a solo trip to Europe for which she had to quit her job and agree to one condition her father laid before her, that she'll have to marry the guy of their choice when she returns. She agreed and her dream journey began. Table for One takes you through the 30 days of Taara's life in Europe filled with adventure and spontaneity, something that Taara had never experienced.

- The cover and blurb sounds very promising and would pick up this book just for that. But the narrative doesn't really justify the blurb and the expectations that came with it.
- The story feels like taken mostly from Queen and bits from DDLJ. It is mentioned that the book is inspired by the two but it had no originality.
- The narrative is smooth and has visual imagery but lacks uniqueness.
- Some parts were quite interesting and kept me hooked.
- The intimate scenes felt a bit forced and not required. They were quite a few and felt like they were added just to give Taara's character a third dimension of being bold. But the scenes were bland overall.

It's a short, fun and one-time read.
+0.5 only for the cover.
Profile Image for Pranav Pandey.
14 reviews3 followers
August 19, 2018
As I picked up the book, I did not realize when I was done with the first 30 odd pages. A very easy-going, smooth plot and you will be able to just flow through it. A good quality to have for any book. This is indeed a new genre, personal experiences mixed with a bit of humor, hidden desires, love, tinge of patriotism and life lessons. The author does a good job at not overdoing the perosnal experience part, which otherwise would have turned the whole thing philosophical.
Coming to the story part, it mainly revolves around Taara(the protagonist) exploring Europe and the completely new experiences and different situations she encounters. The plot was well connected and did not turn monotonous at any point. I just wished there was some ends which could have been tied up, but overall it was a nice read. The protagonist was shown as a strong, independent woman, with her share of breakdowns, best of both worlds.
When you look at the fact that these kind of books, tracing the journey of a single Indian girl, revolting against the social taboos present in the country are almost rare to come out, this is a job well done by the author.
Profile Image for Isha Choudhury.
17 reviews4 followers
September 7, 2018
Table for One is an extremely empowering, and a pleasant book. The protagonist, Taara is an extremely career driven yet unsatisfied with love and has low self-esteem issues. The book explores the theme of solo-traveling by a woman who seeks to discover herself while being on a Europe tour covering Paris, Switzerland, and Italy after having quit her job. I thoroughly enjoyed the book because the narration is extremely beautiful and doesn't go into too many unnecessary details which aren't required. The short love story that Taara has with Fred is extremely heartwarming and heart-wrenching at the same time. The book is a reason you'll want to dream, break the shackles, love like there is no tomorrow and be content with the way life is.
Profile Image for That Book Nerd You Know.
58 reviews4 followers
August 22, 2018
TITLE: Table For One
AUTHOR: Neha Bindal
PAGES: 200
PUBLISHER: Half Baked Beans
GENRE: Self Help
THE BLURB:
Taara Maheshwari, a single woman in her thirties and a successful lawyer, is tough from outside but a die heart fan of romantic movies from inside. She grew up seeking her “happily ever after’ but amid various heartbreaks andculture of modern age short term relationships,her believe in “true connections" got replaced by the comfort of being “emotionally disconnected.” After she turned 31, her parents persuaded her into meeting a guy for marriage who sounded just perfect for her. Acting on impulse,she told her parents that she would meet him only if they let her go on atrip to Europe. As Taara went on to explore the world, she experienced what actually happens when a single Indian girl travels to Europe all by herself. Is it only about dancing, singing or falling in love? What happens after you fall in love? Does love conquer all? Only her story would tell.
IF I COULD REVIEW IT IN A SINGLE LINE:
Taara will make you fall in love with her
THE REVIEW:
A girl on a journey to find herself, sound very much like 'Queen' doesn't it? But no, I was pleasantly surprised and very happy with the turn of events of this book. Table For One is a absolute treat to my entire fraternity out there and for everyone else.
Tara was the absolute sweetheart we'd love to meet, enjoy and be like if we could.
With picturesque locations, bang on enteries, beautiful epilogues and a much better travel blog this book is everything and more; it inspired me to go on a journey of self love, purely to find out answers to so many questions I have been dreading. With an engaging write-up and a beautiful presentation, apt vocabulary and a believable entree the novel is worthy of various accolades.
Getting over a broken heart she goes to on a self voyage to the snowey Alps and is the envy of everyone.
What inspired most to buy the book was the story line since I love Self Help books and this one is a gem. Like Carrie Bradshaw says Today is the best time to be single, to be single and on a date with yourself. Taara was on a date with herself and she made the entire bookstagram fall for her.
She transforms into this beautiful, strong and confident woman that we all envision to be and have the hopes of becoming.
The book yes has the core idea similar to Queen and that is one thing that'll take away points from the rating, but other than that book is flawless.

Cover: 4/5
Title: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Language: 4/5
Story: 4/5
Writing and Presentation: 4/5
Overall: 3.5/5
Disclaimer: I was sent this book by publisher for an honest review. The review is absolutely my own and hasn’t been influenced by anyone.
275 reviews
August 18, 2018
This is the story of Taara, a confused single woman when it comes to relationships. She breaks her heart in one or two relationships with her insecurities and builds a wall around her completely to avoid another heartbreak. She completely loses trust in love and life and doesn't know what to look forward to in her life. At this juncture, when her father suggests an arranged marriage, she agrees with one condition that he should allow her to do a solo Europe trip before marriage. When she thinks of this trip as an escape from marriage, it completely transforms her soul. This story is her journey of transformation and more than that, understanding herself by accepting her negatives and appreciating all good things.


What I liked?


I loved the details of places in Europe, its cuisine, and cultures. It was as if I am on a trip to Switzerland, Italy, and France. Being a lover of travel, I loved this part first.


Taara meets different people and learns something about her life through the conversations with people. There is always something to learn from others. I liked that these lessons were not preachy but practical. Taara learns to fight hard and never give up when she faces extreme weather conditions while hiking Alps. She struggles hard and enjoys her success. She learns what it is to be to love and be loved unconditionally.


I loved these lines from the book



"May be life wasn’t about trying to fix something broken, maybe it’s about starting over and creating something new."



"Life is strange, so illusionary and still so real, I thought. Why do we live? I asked myself. We love and want to be loved."

The book cover is good and the title is apt.


What might have been better?


I couldn't understand Snigdha and her purpose in Europe trip. Being a married woman, she loves another man who disappoints her and starts another fling with a Srilankan during her trip. I didn't get a clarity on what she wants or what Taara thinks of her. It was also unclear why Ashwin disappears without any explanation. Characterization might have been better.


I felt that the ending was abrupt and of course, I didn't like it. I understand that Taara now wants to live in the present and do whatever she likes but I felt bad for Fred. Maybe , the story will have the next part where both meet 🙂



My Rating: 4/5


I recommend to the readers who love traveling and want to read a single woman's journey.



PS: I have received a free e-review copy of the book from the author in exchange of my review and this is my honest option on the book.

Profile Image for Yuva Ranjini.
227 reviews12 followers
August 5, 2018
Author : Neha bindal.
Publisher: Half baked beans.
Genre : Drama.
Pages : 171

Spoiler-free treat:

Taara, a girl who is a perfect combination of true gypsy soul and formal mind. In the world full of perspective and prejudices, we’ve become material and starts acting to satisfy others definition. Have we ever bothered to pause and take a look about how are we all truly living our life in the way that really we want?

Barely 1% may be. But would they ever manage to get a clear picture of real life while exploring the purpose of living and start loving oneself?

“What is life after all? Illusion or reality?”

“What are you getting into? I asked myself but got no reply”.
.
.
.
are the quotes which speak the philosophy in undertone.

If want to attempt self-exploration, try dive into this:

So here, Taara is a single woman in her thirties, a successful lawyer who has no complications in her life. She experiences several heart breaks and the short term relationships which seem getting her nowhere yet dwell in swirl, copes her love life would never reminisce.

As her parent convinces to marry Saurav, she agrees upon one condition, if they permit her to go on a solo trip. At this point, her exploration starts. Hoping this trip will save from her gloomy life and do some magic to get insights about the depths of life and of course the love life.

And so her travel for self-exploration is on. She meets strangers, explores extravagant and many kind on the process. Did she find her “happily ever after” like the most fairy tales portrays? Or did she learn more perspective about life?

The characters Ragini, Snigdha, Purvi are intertwined well. But Venky, Martha, martin fills in her with some valuable realisation. The whole plot blends equally with plus and minus sides. She faces the criticism and rejection equally.

We get some fresh reflections about India, looking from European space, along. This book is real booze to one’s mind and surely will sync you with the spectacular picturesque detail. The story is totally intriguing and perfect travelogue.

Writing style and picking the pace up, is so pure and real. And the protagonist has truly lived her life, breaking stereotypes of typical Indian culture. Give one shot read to cover this book, if possible to explore it better.

Overall, Protagonist has lived up to my expectations.

Grab the copy to know and get drench in her topsy-turvy experiences.

My Rating : 4.5/5

Buy link : https://www.amazon.in/TABLE-ONE-Neha-...
31 reviews24 followers
September 27, 2018
A fast-paced novel with a tight focus on the emotional journey of an Indian girl travelling in Europe.


I think this book would help other people, especially Indian ladies to learn that traveling alone and trying new things can be scary, but sometimes when we try, we can find things that make us happy too. And this book will help others know that heart breaks are okay and a part of Life. This book teaches you about trying a new thing, taking chances and moving on and lets you understand how it's important to get over your past.

The protagonist not only travels alone to a different continent but also faces the struggles by herself and conquers the hurdles with loads of exciting experiences and lovely memories to cherish forever.

Worth-reading - Yes

My favorite part is when the author explains the places she visits. Everything is explained so briefly yet deeply that places come live in your imagination. For instance, the café where she spins the wheel and win free food and drinks and stuffs herself so much that it becomes difficult to move.

And I, being a café explorer could understand the struggle, when you have to choose a single café from all the beautiful cafes in front of you.

France was full of beautiful cafes and it is hard to decide which one to eat at. After much confusion, I choose a café on the main street which had blue flowers hanging from the roof.

I also loved the way the food experience was explained too. Reading them would make my mouth water.

The croissant was warm, soft and had the filling of chocolate mixed with honey. I relished it until the last bite.

Re-read – One-Time Read

Although the story appears to be inspired a little from the Bollywood movie ‘Queen’. The Protagonist being the solo traveler, visits Europe after a heartbreak, make friends, explores a sex toy shops, the unlikeness of food at a café, finding love and then moving on in life. However, this book has its own distinct flow.

To be Honest, I would not like any sequel of this book. Somethings are lovely unfinished and the ending of this book is complete in itself.

Girls who are 20-45 years old would like this book, because this book gives a sense of women empowerment with each chapter passing.

I am taking this line for my next Instagram post– Food isn’t just food to Indians – It is an emotion, and a way of expression.

P.S. - I loved the quality of the pages of the paperback copy of the book.
Profile Image for Sindhu Vinod.
207 reviews7 followers
August 14, 2018
One's destination is never a place, but always a new way of seeing things.

The first thing that made me awe was the cover of the book. It looks to be wonderfully designed keeping in mind the asthetics of a travelogue or the diary of a traveler. Kudos to the creator.

I had an initial thought the book is on the similar lines of ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ but I was proved wrong.

Taara is just another girl like you and me who is in her early thirties. She has a modern upbringing and self-determining nature. The way she is described projects a girl next door image, but she sounds detained deep inside by the heart. She is a confused person who does not know what she wants.

 

After being crushed in two break ups, the girl grabs the opportunity to strike a deal with her father putting her future on stake and wanting to go on a solo trip. So, what does the trip have in store for her.

The trip which starts as a journey of exploration finally ends in rediscovering herself but now a strong woman. The cover gives you the feel that the book is about the places she visits but you are in for a surprise.

Every happening in life is a lesson and everything happens for a reason and every person whom we come across has a part to play.

Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eyes, that is where we realize love is what we feel and can be felt with memories too. The author has done complete justice to this.

The plot had a lucid narration to support and a let go feel which was commendable. An addition of a chapter of her life after the return from trip could have been added.

Love like you’ve never been hurt aptly complemented her. The novel is a light read and a good book to be carried on a journey.

The writing style was simple and lucid, with not much of a clichéd drama. Most places had a Bollywood reference which gives it a more Indie feel. In fact, the author’s description about the various places takes you on an imaginary solo travel.

Takes us women, on a trip of self-realization is this book in short. Go ahead and grab your copy.

I finished this book in a day, such intriguing was the way the author had written it.

“As you travel solo, being totally responsible for yourself, it’s inevitable that you will discover just how capable you are!”

“If you never go, you will never know!”, so get ready and pack your bags.
189 reviews3 followers
August 12, 2018
PRODUCT DETAILS

Title: Table For One

Author: Neha Bindal

Format: Paperback

Publisher: HALF BAKED BEANS

ASIN: B07FQ7MWBC



BLURB

Taara Maheshwari, a single woman in her thirties and a successful lawyer, is tough from outside but a die heart fan of romantic movies from inside. She grew up seeking her “happily ever after’ but amid various heartbreaks and culture of modern age short term relationships,her believe in “true connections" got replaced by the comfort of being “emotionally disconnected.” After she turned 31, her parents persuaded her into meeting a guy for marriage who sounded just perfect for her. Acting on impulse,she told her parents that she would meet him only if they let her go on a trip to Europe. As Taara went on to explore the world, she experienced what actually happens when a single Indian girl travels to Europe all by herself. Is it only about dancing, singing or falling in love? What happens after you fall in love? Does love conquer all? Only her story would tell.



REVIEW

Cover - The cover design looks fresh and enchanting. Here, for this novel, the great pattern is chosen and this looks mesmerizing which intrigues the reader.

Title - With the story, title fits completely and matches the plot.

Narration - Author has enchanted the narration in a really appreciable manner. The journey of Taara emancipates every girl whether she is in her 20s, 30s, 40s or whatever digits she is growing in.

Here, in this story, Taara decides to travel abroad, Europe- the city of love, passion and food. This is not a travel guide, but a guide to live a life with fun and enthusiasm to not worry about age, gender, money, sorrows, family et cetera.

Characters - The protagonist Taara has been developed as a strong character and other sidekicks have been portrayed well in the plot-line.

Pace - The story is little slow and expects a quick read, which it was not.

Language - The book has a simple language and English. There was not anything fancy, which made it easy and sober. 

Everything was good, nothing negative in particular. The story flow could have been little quick.



RATING

Cover - 4/5

Title - 4/5

Narration - 3/5

Plot - 4/5

Characters - 3/5

Pace - 2/5

Overall - 4/5


Profile Image for Divya Garg.
25 reviews18 followers
August 25, 2018
Taara Maheshwari, lawyer by profession and in her early thirties. In the fast-paced world, juggling in the modern relationships, she came across few heartbreaks and start doubting herself. And as for every other girl in the Indian family, Taara’s parents keep convincing her to settle down since it’s the Age; Taara agrees but with a zeal to see the world by going on a solo Europe trip before finally surrendering to the fate. A decision taken on impulse turns to one memorable journey as 'Table for one' traces Taara's search for freedom, love, liberation, exploration. So, where the Trip will lead her, on a journey of living one last time or on a journey of lifetime, by finding herself?
As I picked up the book, It was really a page turner, fast paced one. I did not realize that I keep turning the page one after the another and was done much sooner than I expected to be. A very easy-going, smooth plot and you will be able to just flow through it. It may come close in relation to Elizabeth Gilbert's – Eat, Pray, love or Simran’s Europe tour from DDLJ, though it may relate but it’s not really one; its Taara’s journey where author has done good job in narrating it all. The writing style is simple and lucid she has kept it easy going that makes it a page turner. The imagery used was vivid and picturesque detailed which in turn makes it totally an intriguing one and a perfect travelogue.
The few things which I felt should have been looked upon more were:
• The supporting characters that fleet away without leaving much to ponder.
• More than required steamy angles, few emotional moments would have been better otherwise.
• The Ending that left me asking so many questions? A little abrupt, where the good going story demanded a lot more.
Things that I really like:
• Cover page of the book, that forced me to pick the book soon.
• The narrative style and the description of the places, Taara has visited.
• It’s a smooth, faced paced, and good read. Grab your own copy to know more of Taara’s journey of the smiles, love, rejections and knowing herself.

Buying link: https://amzn.to/2OJrlnZ
https://www.amazon.in/TABLE-ONE-Neha-...

Price : Rs. 199(Paperback), Kindle Edition : Rs. 0 (as of today)
My rating: 3.75/5 stars
Profile Image for Anshul Goel.
34 reviews
October 11, 2019
Table For One is the story of a thirty-one year old single woman and a successful lawyer named Taara Maheshwari and her journey about finding herself and fulfilling her demands of going on a solo trip to Europe. For Taara comfort overlooks everything and she is a girl who always topped school, greeted elders with love and respect and always did what her parents expected her to do. She appears to be tough from outside but is a die heart fan of romantic movies from inside. She experiences heartbreaks and soon becomes emotionally disconnected from people. After she turned thirty-one, her parents persuaded her to meet a guy for marriage who according to them sounded ‘just’ perfect for her. She agreed only when her parents allowed her to take a solo trip across Europe which had always been her dream. She starts her journey on a positive note of exploring the hidden possibilities of the world and discover her true self during this process. She had to make a rush to catch her flight to Paris during which she accidently slips and is saved by a mysterious man. She reaches Paris and soon realises that something in her is missing. She realises that she is the victim of the disease called loneliness. She soon travels to Switzerland where she meets a group of Indian passengers and Fred with whom she developed some sort of a connection which she hadn’t really expected. She then travels to Italy and finally back home. Throughout this journey she did all that she dreamt of and even realised that she still had hope and emotions left in her for people close to her and that she just had to let it all in through the window and not keep it shut with the fear of breaking again.
Who all did she meet and what else she discovered? Did she fell in love and if she did what happened then? To find the answers to these questions just pick this book up, delve in straight and find it for yourself!
The book has been very well written and has simple and lucid language. The author has beautifully carved each word on the pages making it a heart touching and an emotional read for me. I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it and it did make me discover things which were missing in me by following the magical journey of Taara.
All in all a great read.
Profile Image for Ayushi Nair.
133 reviews37 followers
September 8, 2018
This is the story of protagonist Taara Maheshwari, a successful lawyer in her early thirties still unmarried. She is a confused women, who had encountered some heart breaks and doesn't know what to she wanted in her life. As her parents convinces for an arrange marriage. To which she agreed only if her parents would allow her for solo trip in Europe before marriage. She promised to meet the man once she returned back from the trip fortunately her parents agreed. She thinks it's an escape from marriage and quit her job to fulfill her dream to take a solo trip to Europe. Here her self-exploration starts with travelling diverse destinations, meets different kinds of peoples all around there, sang a song in public, danced crazily, went on trekking,  and many more she explored the Europe. Taara in this trips founds new friends as well as she is attracted towards Fred and was in love with him. To know more what happen next read the book. The book is a bag of emotions of love, heartbreaks, travel, romance, adventure, external love, internal love, self realization, happiness, peace, friends, family, life, and many more.

Language is simple crisp and lucid and has the ability to bring live the events narrated in the book. The story flows like a movie and takes the readers on a journey  to Paris, Switzerland and Italy with Taara the every scene is so well written than you can actually get images of them in your mind. Characterization should be have been strong and done better and i don't like the sudden climax. The faced paced and engaging narration. The writer’s words has the capacity to hold the reader till the last page. The storytelling style was different and simply adorable. I loved Taara character through out the book. Characterization should be done better and i don't like the sudden climax. The cover and title is beautifully crafted.

"We are all taught that the most beautiful part of a fairy-tale is “happily ever after”. But we fail to notice that all fairy tales begin with “Once upon a time”. Once. It all happened. It was all real. Once."

I'll recommend this book to all the avid reader's.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.