Once Upon a Curfew

by Srishti Chaudhary

It is 1974. Indu has inherited a flat from her grandmother and wants to turn it into a library for women. Her parents think this will keep her suitably occupied till she marries her fiancé, Rajat, who's away studying in London.
But then she meets Rana, a young lawyer with sparkling wit and a heart of gold. He helps set up the library and their days light up with playful banter and the many Rajesh Khanna movies they watch together.
When the Emergency is declared, Indu's life turns upside down. Rana finds himself in trouble, while Rajat decides it's time to visit India and settle down. As the Emergency pervades their lives, Indu must decide not only who but what kind of life she will choose.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Indian Literature, Historical Fiction, India, Historical, Asian Literature

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 18, 2019

About the author

Dive into the world of Srishti Chaudhary, a captivating storyteller who weaves tales steeped in Indian culture and rich with emotion. Born and raised in Delhi, Srishti's background shines through in her novels, offering a glimpse into the heart of India.

The author behind the heartwarming novels "Once Upon a Curfew" and "Lallan Sweets," isn't one to shy away from powerful narratives. Drawn to writing from a young age, her stories naturally gravitate towards the unique experiences of women. But for Srishti, this isn't a calculated pursuit of social reform. It's a reflection of her own identity and a deep appreciation for the struggles and triumphs women face every day.

As a woman herself, Srishti understands the battles fought for rights and the courage it takes to break free from societal constraints. Her characters, therefore, become relatable heroines navigating love, family, and personal aspirations.Through their journeys, Srishti weaves stories that are both entertaining and subtly empowering.

Reviews

[bloomysoul · Rating 4 out of 5]

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀𐔌 . 🦚 ⋮ 𝓞𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘸 .ᐟ ֹ📜 ₊ ꒱
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀˖᯽ four stars 🪕

'I think I'll write you one,'
'Write me what?'
'A poem, of course.'

🗺️﹕𐔌・🐚 setting 〃 🛺・꒱


this is a romance story that takes you back to the 70s, set in retro india just a few years after independence. 🇮🇳✨ there's a lot of mention of what the world was like back then—how everything was changing, how people were treated after independence and partition, the new government, and how people were both for and against those changes. alongside that, the book beautifully explores women empowerment: educating women, their clothes, their jobs, and, most importantly, giving them the right to choose 🌸📚 and of course, there are mentions of bollywood superstars too! 🎞️🤍

♫ .. “ ye shaam mastaani, madahosh kiye jaaye
muje door koi khinche, teri aur liye jaaye “

🦢 ﹕𐔌・🪔 story in brief 〃🪷・꒱

indu is such a forward-thinking, independent, and intelligent girl 🩷 i loved how she dreamed of building a library exclusively for women- a place where they could study for hours in peace ✨ she's also a diehard fan of rajesh khanna (bollywood superstar), and how rana and her sister poked her about it 🤭 the way rana took the initiative to help indu build the library melted my heart. their banter? oh my god, i absolutely loved it! 😭🤍 the way he kept riling indu up and the looks she would give him were everything.

i loved the romance from that era- no physical intimacy, asking for permission before going on a walk or to the movies... it was all so patient and wholesome 🥹🌼 rana is such a gentleman, and he's genuinely funny too. the way he talks to indu and teases her is so adorable. and don't even get me started on the painting he made for her... 🎨💐

'Come on, it's the best love story of all time.'
'After ours, you mean?'

🛺﹕𐔌・🪞 overall thoughts 〃 🕊️・꒱

i adored all the little indian touches throughout the story- drinking chai, evening walks in the park, tucking jasmine behind each other's ears, street photography, and the mention of so many old hindi songs ☕🌿📸🎶 i found myself humming while reading like natty 🤭, lying in bed with the rain pouring outside. it was such a cozy experience, and it genuinely made me feel connected to my roots 🌧️ and lastly the cover is so pretty 🩷
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤpart (iii) completely changed the mood of the story and brought everything back to reality 😣 i felt so sad when they weren't in contact anymore. the ending was a bit rushed, though. i wanted to see more of the couple after everything they had been through. and poor rajat... i felt bad for him for almost half the book, but by the end he was absolutely disgusting, so i guess what happened to him was for the best 😉

ᝰ. to Swathi: reading this book with you made the experience even more fun and lovely! 🥹💕 I'm looking forward to reading more desi books together. I really enjoyed this one! 🌼

🔹Read more about the book here 🩷


🗓️┆ reading log :

￫ started: 15 july, 2026.
￫ finished: 22 july, 2026.

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·

ㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ♯ ⋮ pre-read ׁ ׅ 🍥

what a perfect day to finally start this book with my desi girl!! 🩵 i've had this sitting on my shelf for so long, and now i finally have the excuse to pick it up. thanks for buddy reading with me Swathi 💕☕🪷 i hope we enjoyyy!! 🫶✨

[Swathi✨️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐☆☆ 𝟑 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 💗

𝒮ℴ𝓂ℯ 𝓈𝓉ℴ𝓇𝒾ℯ𝓈 𝒻ℯℯ𝓁 𝓁𝒾𝓀ℯ 𝓌𝒶𝓇𝓂 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝒾 ℴ𝓃 𝒶 𝓌𝒾𝓃𝓉ℯ𝓇 𝒶𝒻𝓉ℯ𝓇𝓃ℴℴ𝓃... 𝒸ℴ𝓂𝒻ℴ𝓇𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝓃ℴ𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓁𝑔𝒾𝒸, 𝒻𝒶𝓂𝒾𝓁𝒾𝒶𝓇. 𝐼 ℴ𝓃𝓁𝓎 𝓌𝒾𝓈𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 ℴ𝓃ℯ 𝒽𝒶𝒹 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓎ℯ𝒹 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓂ℯ 𝒶 𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁ℯ 𝓁ℴ𝓃𝑔ℯ𝓇. ☕💗🍁

:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

🕊️💗 𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐇𝐈, 𝟏𝟗𝟕𝟒 — 𝐀 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐒, 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄, 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐔𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐃 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌𝐒 📚🍂💗🪔✨

There is something incredibly special about reading books written by Indian authors. 🥹💗 Maybe it's the familiar conversations, the little cultural nuances that don't need explaining, the family dynamics that feel so close to home, or the way our cities almost become characters themselves. Every time I pick up an Indian novel, it feels less like reading a story and more like stepping into someone's memories. And Once Upon a Curfew gave me exactly that feeling. 💗

From the very first chapter, I was transported to Delhi in the 1970s—a city wrapped in old Bollywood songs, winter mornings, libraries filled with forgotten books, handwritten letters, family expectations, political unrest, and quiet dreams that women were often told were too big to dream. 🌸📚 The atmosphere was honestly the strongest part of this book for me. You could almost hear Rajesh Khanna songs playing somewhere in the background, smell old paper inside the library, and picture Delhi streets bustling with life even while history quietly unfolded around them. It was cozy, nostalgic, and beautifully Indian in the best possible way. 💗

:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

🌼📖 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐔, 𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐀 & 𝐀 𝐋𝐈𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄 🥹💗📚

One of my favorite things about this novel was its simplicity. There aren't grand fantasy battles or shocking plot twists every few chapters. Instead, it's a story about choices. About growing up. About expectations. About women trying to find themselves in a world that has already planned their lives for them.

Indu felt frustrating at times, but she also felt incredibly human. She isn't perfect, and that's exactly why I found myself understanding her more as the story progressed. She's caught between duty and desire, between the future everyone expects for her and the future she secretly wants for herself. Watching her slowly question everything she'd always accepted was genuinely beautiful. 💗

And then there's Rana. 😭💗💗 Can we PLEASE talk about this man?? He brought such warmth into the story. Every interaction between him and Indu felt gentle, comforting, and full of quiet affection instead of loud declarations. Their conversations, the library, the little moments they shared—they all made my heart so soft. Their romance wasn't dramatic or over-the-top. It unfolded naturally, like turning pages in an old book you've loved forever. 📚🌸🫶🏻

:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

📚🪔 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐈𝐓 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋 🍂

I also appreciated that this book explored a period of Indian history that isn't often used as the backdrop for romance novels. The Emergency wasn't just there for aesthetic purposes—it shaped the lives of these characters and constantly reminded the reader that love and hope don't exist separately from history.

That said, I did wish the political storyline and the romance blended together a little more smoothly. There were moments where the pacing slowed down considerably, and other moments where important developments seemed to fly by too quickly. The ingredients for something truly unforgettable were all there—I just wished they had been given a little more room to breathe.

:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

🥹💔 𝐌𝐘 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐁𝐈𝐆 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐓... 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 😭📖

This is honestly what stopped this book from becoming a four—or even five-star read for me.

THE ENDING FELT SO RUSHED. 😭😭😭

After spending the entire book slowly building these relationships, these emotions, these dreams... everything suddenly wrapped up so quickly that I was left staring at the final page thinking,

"...that's it?"🥺

I wanted more.

I wanted to actually see Indu and Rana get their happy ending instead of simply imagining it. I wanted conversations. I wanted closure. I wanted to see what life looked like after everything they had gone through. Give me a wedding. Give me a small epilogue. Give me one peaceful morning where they're finally together without history standing between them. 😭💗💍🌸

After becoming emotionally invested in these characters, I don't think that's too much to ask.

I just needed... one more chapter.

Maybe two.

Maybe twenty. 🥹📚💗

:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

🌸✨ 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 💗💗

Despite my issues with the ending, I genuinely enjoyed this book. It reminded me why I love picking up stories by Indian authors—they carry a warmth that's difficult to explain unless you've experienced it. The setting felt authentic, the characters felt real, and the emotions quietly settled into my heart.

It isn't a loud romance.

It isn't a fast-paced historical thriller.

It's simply a soft, comforting story about love, identity, family, and finding the courage to choose your own life, even when the whole world expects something else from you. 💗

I just wish its ending had matched the beauty of everything that came before it.

Because this story deserved a finale that lingered.

And honestly... so did Indu and Rana. 🥹💗💗

:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

And lastly... a huge thank you to my bestie, BloomySoul, for buddy reading this with me. 🥹💗🌸 There is honestly nothing better than experiencing a story with someone who's screaming, crying, theorizing, and obsessing over every chapter right alongside you. Here's to many more buddy reads, countless fictional crushes, and an unhealthy amount of yapping together. Love you always, bestie.🫂💗💗

:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

⋆˚🌸˖° 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 ⋆˚🌸˖°

Always wanted to read one of her books💗
BR with my bestiee 𝓑𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓶𝔂 𝓢𝓸𝓾𝓵 .

[Pooja Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set against the backdrop of 1970s Delhi, an era of Rajesh Khanna's movies, the cold cozy winters of Delhi and a time when a wave of nationalism ran through the society, "Once Upon a Curfew" takes us through the life of our young protagonist, Indira Narayan, who wants to convert her grandma's old flat into a library for women, one where she has left behind hundreds of books, collected over all her years of living there.
🌼
Indira's family thinks it is a suitable idea since it will keep her occupied until she marries her fiance, Rajat, who is studying in London for two more years.
But when she meets Rana, a young lawyer full of life and humor, and the Emergency declared in India, the world that she once thought was perfect for her, will turn upside down. What kind of life will she choose now?
🌼
A refreshing take on the era surrounding the Emergency when the times were filled with political tension and yet Delhi was booming with life, it's movies, it's winters and it's love for Bollywood movies, the plot digresses significantly from how the story first started.
The romance brewing between two young souls, against the backdrop of a library, does sound promising but the narration dragged a bit when the courtship of Indira was developing, and the book could have done better with fewer dialogues.
🌼
Would have loved if the story moved in one direction and not scatter abruptly into subplots so much.
But with a strong plot-line, a very pleasant premise, lovable characters, an old school love story blossoming in a library and a peek into the yesteryear's struggle of people during the Emergency, this book has all the elements for a cozy mushy read.
.
.
.
.
🍂Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5/5
🍂 Genre: fiction, indian-literature, historical-fiction, romance

[Chhavi · Rating 5 out of 5]

1974.

Indu has just graduated and inherited a flat from her grandmother. And now she has an ocean of life decisions to cover. The typical decisions a girl should make, ofcours - love, marriage and career.

Now, she can either go down the socially acceptable path or create one of her own. But none is easy! And it is through this raging turmoil that Srishti Chaudhary has shown the anatomy of a woman's mind.

Women are indeed peculiar/irrational (whatever you call it) creatures. For instance, we think that it is our right to get mad over a boy, whom we rejected, when he dares to move on. And over that, we expect him to pamper us. There isn't any logical explanation for all of this. It's just the way it is.

This book is for all the high maintenance girls, who expect the world from their guy. You will hate Indu at times, but once you think about it, you will realise how much of yourself you see in her.

Spread over the period of emergency, Once upon a curfew is a medium-light book which is meant to give you a glimpses of that era and of the way a girl's mind works🙈

[Soha · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is when life gets stressful that a charming novel like Once Upon a Curfew becomes your companion.
.
The setup is 1974.
Indu, our sweet protagonist, inherits a flat from her grandmother. However, life changes when engaged to be married Indu meets Rana, a young lawyer. Setting up a library together and thanks to the cinemas of Rajesh Khanna, they fall in love.
But there's an emergency declared.
.
Srishti Chaudhary skillfully portrays how external forces shape the identities of individuals and the implications such events have on the lives of people.
Moreover, she also shapes poignant and introspective moments revealing the beauty of human connection amidst adversity. The author brings together personal narratives and broader societal themes, creating a story that lingers long after the last page.
.
Once Upon a Curfew is a tale of resistance, connection, and the search for meaning in the midst of a curfew that locks not only the city but also the hearts of its people.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 3 out of 5]

My thoughts:
This one could have been much better if it was shortened rather than stretched too long with loads of unnecessary dialogues.

I like this one as it talks about reading and books and book collection and book inheritance in the first few pages....(one of my reading weaknesses bleh🙃)

The story starts with the inheritance of an actual flat.
And everybody wanting to do something with it but for different purposes of their own.

And then....this one character, Indu, the main protagonist... she's so me! Ahem 🙋
She wants to establish a library!
The story tried to show support to women empowerment and giving support to a cause for only women/girls.

I actually love how simple the writing was and how easy it was to read this one.
The plot revolves around Indu's one dream of building a public library just for girls.
And the other myriad characters opposing to this or in sync with this dream of hers.

I loved the fact that this book is set in the past.
The era of classic Bollywood and writing letters!

The romance between the two main characters is subtle yet strong. (But I don't like the love triangle part. It was bad.)
The characters are convincing and well developed.
The humour works fine too.

The actual talks regarding politics and the politicians during that time do seem out of place and totally inconvenient. It was my least favourite part of the book. It actually disrupted the flow of the story.
The political component towards the end of the story actually ruined the later part of the book. The sudden change in the nature of the characters and the unexpected serious turn of the book after 80 percent of the book seemed a bit of a buzzkill.
I mean why?!
The book was doing good.
And everything changed ...and it made the read a bit disturbing.
Political unrest issues and it wasn't tackled well.
Then came the marriage issues of the main character, caught up in between two guys.

And the ending was really haphazard.

[Sarmistha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5

An interesting tale set against the backdrop of Emergency in India encompasses the waves of changes it brought in lives of the characters and how the masses got affected in general.
🌸
Indira Narayan born in an elite family driven by the spirit of making a difference in lives of women convert an inherited property into a library. She finds an ally in Rana, a pleasing young lawyer who help her in the task. The marriage of her elder sister Amita get badly affected by her act. Despite the few intial roadblocks, the library sets into motion attracting an active participation from young and old alike. But everything changes during the turmoil period.Loyalties are tested, choices are made and many acrid truths are uncovered.
🌸
An engaging narration coupled with a strong plot-line, beautiful premise, well defined characters peppered with a healthy dose of Bollywood. Readers will soon find themselves humming Rajesh Khanna’s songs.
The dash of politics, an upcoming marriage, girl education, Women rights, a love blossoms in library and a crisis in the country paints an alluring picture.I loved the wisdom dripping from Natty’s cryptic replies. One could not help smiling at the dramatic ending.
🌸
I would have loved a more serious take on the situation of Emergency.Few characters made a fleeting appearance leaving a lot of questions unanswered.
🌸
I would recommend the book to every reader who want to know the 1970’s Delhi, the political scenario and the craze of yesterday’s heroes.

[Udit Miglani · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I'm being overly harsh, but the premise was quite promising - a young woman, named after the PM of India, yearning to do something big, against the backdrop of emergency. Unfortunately, what the book had in imagination and references to popular places in delhi, of 1970s bollywood and gossip, it lacked in execution.

I was found wanting to identify with the protagonist, but despite her education, and access to liberal spaces, she seems clueless throughout. How do you start a library, and where do you go from it? How to navigate a romantic association(s)? What's really happening during the emergency?

I also didn't like how the love triangle develops, and is resolved. It seemed too much like how the right choice was also the easy choice - there was no conflict that was developed.

The time skips could also have been avoided, and instead used as a conduit to explore the protagonists emotions a bit more. A lot more.

And i wish there was a bit more to the political backdrop and the epoch than Bollywood, Karim's, and transistors. I didn't really feel transported to the decade, maybe too much dialogue?

Overall it's a nice, cute read, so 2.5.

[Marrie Kultz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this book completely on a whim during a reading slump, after abandoning three others that at least tried to challenge my brain. This one, however, immediately delivered what I wanted: a cute, cozy read with a charming post-independence setting, retro nostalgia, and film references sprinkled in like confetti. So far, so good.

But then the plot decided to take a long nap. Midway through, everything becomes so still that even turning the page feels like an act of blind optimism. You’re not exactly perched on the edge of your seat, more like sliding off it slowly out of boredom.

The romance? About as natural as a scripted reality show. And then there’s Indu. Initially presented as this strong, opinionated, modern feminist icon,,but somewhere along the line, she transforms into an annoying, performative version of feminism, with a pinch of classism. Also, she seems to feel threatened by every woman who so much as breathes near her. Inspiring!

By the middle, the story starts tasting like plain oatmeal: technically edible, but absolutely nothing to look forward to. Honestly, with a bit more effort, it could’ve been much better.

[Hetvi Savla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much build up in the first 2 parts, making it mundane. The main action has little space at the end...

I secretly wanted her to end up with her fiancé, but the author painted him as a grey guy which was a turn off 😭

[P · Rating 2 out of 5]

for a book that focused so much on development (character, story, plot), the ending was too abrupt and therefore vague! what was the point of her dupatta...

[Shahanaz Bhuiyan · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are too many stories similar type. I also found the characters lacked depth.

[arpita♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet Indu, a dreamer girl living in the 1970s Delhi. When Indu inherits a flat along with her sister, she dreams of opening a library for only women there. But it's not that easy, she learns when you try to give women a space of their own, the society stands in its path like a thorn. Indu fights with her brother in law, her adamant will to not step back surprises everyone.

In this fight of her, she finds Rana, a young law student who came to Delhi with the dream of becoming a lawyer. Though Indu detests Rana at first, soon his easy out going nature and continuous teasing and flirting grows on her. She finds him beside her in opening the library. Together, they vibe on Old Bollywood songs, talk about Rajesh Khanna. Their love story starts in the realm of the library where they start to write their own story.

But soon the dangerous political situation of India creates a turbulence in their life. They find each other against their own personal ideologies. On top of that, Indu's fiance Rajat comes back from London. With Rana, Indu forgets about her own unavoidable marriage with someone who's like a stranger to her. Though Rana and Indu, knowing the situation, tries to maintain a friendly relationship, can they go against their hearts?

The book is fresh, free, felt like sipping tea in a windy afternoon. The writing, the banters between the characters, the whole set up amazed me. The concept of women's library in the timeline when people weren't so modernised, deserves appreciation.

The book was going really good till part 2, but then the plot line changed and it became totally political which offed me a bit. Wish the political disturbance part was less. Other than that, loved Indu and Rana! I need a Rana too who'll give me jasmines to tuck in my braids 😭❤️‍🩹

[Nayab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bumping up the rating because I am still thinking about it.

[Rashida Dula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its is refreshing read about Delhi in the 70’s, set against the backdrop of emergency when Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister.

The lead, Indira Narayan born in an elite family, starts a library for women in a flat that her grandmother has passed on to her and her sister, to give women space to themselves. Indira’s plan become concrete on meeting Rana, a young lawyer. The story ahead shows the success of the library attracting an active participation from the young and old, changes during the turmoil period, repercussions of Indira’s actions on her sister’s marriage, and the attraction and love being built between Indira and Rana, in the absence of her fiance.

-The author has given shape and features to the characters in the story.
-Simple language, with enlightening dialogues between Indira and Rana. Funny punches by the driver.
-Hint of the Bollywood superstar Rajesh Khanna.
-The story covers the topics of women empowerment, individuality, privacy, and love.
-The author could have detailed the ‘emergency period’ .

[Jayant Uppal · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read so many books that become bestsellers. Well, its best not to name those writers, because the market is quite foolish. Once Upon a Curfew is a perfect story that portrays nostalgia. Delhi has been described beautifully with a lot of detail. The topic is sensitive and I pat the writer's back for being courageous to choose a topic of Emergency. The story is intriguing for many reasons. It's a writer's delight to read this book, because the writer has created a world for writers. There are crucial topics of Women Empowerment, individuality, privacy and of course Love. But, thank god not shady college romance. It is evident that the writer has put in a lot of hard work and made sure the Indian readership has been catered well. You will not get bored, for each page is extremely gripping and has an air of creativity, suspense and drama. Before I end this review, I would definitely say that this is a Movie Material. Great work Srishti Chaudhary, can't wait for more dramatic and gripping stories from you.

[GenevieveAudrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a cute enough read.

Delhi during Indira Gandhi's premiership. We have another Indira as our protagonist, navigating life in Delhi.

Sadly, I couldn't like Indu. She alternated between impressing me with her bold ideas (like starting the library for women and going to bat against her brother-in-law to use Nani's apartment the way she wanted to). But she also made me cringe with her stuck up, elitist viewpoints and her cluelessness in getting her library up and running as well. Indu seemed overly conscious of her status in society and how others didn't fit there. I can't say I liked the way she toyed with Rana either.

Tbh, I'd like to see a book on Indu's sister, Amita. She had more guts and gumption than Indu did.

I get that this was meant to be a light and easy read but the weighty theme of the Indian Emergency seemed superficial and lacked depth here.

The ending seemed rushed and unsatisfying.

And finally, how much can a woman fiddle with her dupatta? 😏

[Mansi Mudgal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of Once upon a Curfew is this; our heroine is from an affluent background in a 1970s India, she starts a library for women in a flat that was left to her by her grandmother to give women space to be themselves, take a breather, read, study, pursue hobbies and have a room(s) to call their own.
Helping her with this endeavour is an enigmatic man, add to all of this an absentee fiancé in Britain waiting to marry our heroine.... oh! And Indian Emergency of course.
The book is fast paced with a flavour for Indian politics during Indira Gandhi’s time; what was missing for me was more the Emergency, a somewhat realistic outlook to the issues that plagued India then and also a female protagonist who wasn’t so naive; this is something that put a damper on an otherwise fun read.

[kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of those books that make you forget that you're reading. a vintage love story.

Its 1974, Indu inherits her grandmother’s flat and sees it as a chance to create her own library & exclusively for women. Her parents, of course, think it’s a temporary hobby just to keep her busy until Rajat, her fiancé studying in London, comes back.
But then she meets Rana, a lawyer with a golden heart (i confirm). As he helps Indu bring her vision to life, their days are filled with laughter, teasing, and countless Rajesh Khanna movie nights.

*dramatic music*
and then everything changes. Emergency is declared, Rana is drawn into dangerous waters, and Rajat suddenly returns, determined to claim his place in Indu’s life. Now, Indu needs to decide not only between two very different men but also the kind of life she truly wants to lead.

🤍🤍🤍🤍🌸

Set in the 70s, this book will take you on a journey back in time of the timeless cinema, purani Delhi vibes, Indian politics and old school romance... overall a very aesthetically pleasing book that I look forward to re-read. 

Idk how to explain it, but I can just smell the scenery Srishti brings to life in this book, its nostalgic and comforting. As an old Bollywood fan, the desi aesthetics hit just right. 
I love the feeling of nostalgia in my books and  BOOKS inside my books. This one came into my life at the perfect time and I loved every bit of it with all my heart.

Indu was fierce, relatable, bold, passionate for books and oh so beautiful. Dreaming of opening a women only library along with constant conflict of heart and mind, she sure was relatable. Rana was the kind of manly man who also had a gentle side...exactly the kind of balance we all crave. He is my new book boyfriend, just putting it right there. The family dynamics, post independence air, banter and romance, everything felt balanced. 

This book is the perfect gift for those old-school romantics and Rajesh Khanna fans!!

I advise you to make a hot cup of chai and enjoy this book while soaking in the winter sun on your balcony 📖🌸☕🍃

[Krishna Sudheer]

i dont think i can rate it now, I'm dnfing it after part 1. I think I'd come back to it later when I crave indian writing in this mode. Characters are all very lively and plot is also going strong. But i have a feeling how this would end, and i feel like im forcing myself to watch an old Hindi film. Which totally a vibe.

[Girija (thesacredwhispers) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

[Bloph · Rating 4 out of 5]

an actually good desi romance???

[Srishti ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once Upon a Curfew by Srishti Chaudhary is like stepping into a time machine and landing straight in 1974, an era filled with Rajesh Khanna movies, retro vibes, and a Delhi that feels beautifully alive. 😍

In this charming story, we meet Indu, a young woman with a big dream to open a women-only library. But chasing this dream isn’t easy, especially in a time when societal expectations and politics weigh heavy. Along the way, Indu crosses paths with Rana, a flirtatious and witty aspiring lawyer whose playful teasing slowly begins to win her over.

Meanwhile, Indu’s fiancé is away in London, completing his studies, which adds another layer of conflict to her journey. Just as Indu starts finding her way, the turbulent political climate of India stirs up danger, forcing her to make a heart wrenching choice between love and a marriage arranged by her family.

The book felt like a breath of fresh air! 🌸
I absolutely adored the Indu-Rana banter and the rich, nostalgic setting and beautiful old songs. While the first part felt a little slow, the second half swept me away with its adventure and drama, it quickly became unputdownable!

Overall, this story is a perfect mix of romance, nostalgia, and political intrigue. The drama, the plot twists, the beautiful writing and everything came together so well. ✨

[Riri · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5✨

As someone who studied political science in school and is very familiar with the setting this book is based in, this was an okay read at best.

Rana was the best part of the book. Not only is he an amazing man romantically, he also had his heart in the right place and was not scared to speak up for what he believed in. It was very refreshing to see from a male character in a female led book. It was also cute to see how smitten he was with Indu. The feelings obviously came from a place of how different she was to him. That feeling of loving their love doesn’t last long though because of how Indu is characterized. I’ll talk about that below. And the cherry on top is that he is also the best friend anyone could ask for. The whole package, for real.

Indu was a naive and snobbish upper class girl personified. She was so far removed from reality it was painful. And that was great because I was excited to see her character development and how she would change over time. Sadly, I did not get what I had hoped for. Even after spending almost all of her time with Rana and also getting associated with Fawad, she remained the entitled little princess. The end of part 2 and the first few chapters of part 3 were especially hard to read because this poor man was trying his best to explain everything to her and she was unable to see passed anything but herself. The fact that Natty understood Rana and his situation better than her was just sad.

Because of all this, Indu to be honest, was a character that became quite unlikeable to me after a point. And even though their bond was well written sometimes, I honestly stopped rooting for them after her behavior. Like I said before, the feelings you have for their love story don’t last long and that’s because I don’t understand why Rana is in love with her beyond mere fascination for how different she is from him. That started his feelings sure, but why would he fall so deep for someone whose political and social ideologies are so different from him? Why does he love someone who does not understand even the teeniest bit of what his best friend is going through? Why does he love someone who can’t respect him and his friendships? The book never answers these questions In hindsight, Runjhun was a much better suited partner for him even though she also ruined it by her views on the partition. But I felt like that was just an easy out for the author to end that relationship and make her look bad.

If it was the author’s intention to have Indu be a representation of the naive upper class, she succeeded beautifully. I just prefer characters I read to have some sort of character development/arc.

Now that my rant about Indu is over, let's talk about other issues I had with the book. One of my biggest pet peeves is when authors introduce character or plot points which never reach fruition. What happened to Esha and her studies? She was whisked away to get married at 13 and that was such a great area to explore after having so much focus on her throughout part 2. How did Amita's divorce come to be? We know what hit the final nail in the coffin but the lead up to that is so bad that her getting divorced is just meh and does not even have me happy for her. How did their father turn against everything he believed in, in the span of 5 pages? There was more to explore there for sure. And the end??? We are led to believe that this is a high stakes situation but the solution comes up so quick and easy, the payoff does not have any impact. Every character from Amita, Fawad and Rana deserved to have more written about them after everything was sorted. Indu ending up getting back together (were they even together at all in the first place?) with her "Rajesh Khanna" in the way she did was a little too convenient. I think the issue was with focusing what parts needed more and what could have been cut in half.

I usually don't rant so much on my reviews but I was left wanting for more from everything.

[Shweta Rai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book transported me to the Retro times made of Ambassadors , Rajesh Khanna & women becoming increasingly aware of themselves ! A good happy read

[Tiyasha Chaudhury · Rating 4 out of 5]

QOTD: Do you like reading vintage/retro love stories or contemporary love stories?
I personally prefer vintage love stories more than I prefer contemporaries.
.
Once Upon a Curfew is a beautiful book about the protagonist Indu (short for Indira) a classic feminist in the new era after independence, who is adamant to her choices and is a fanatic of Rajesh Khanna.

This book revolves around her urge to stand against all the odds. She was willed a flat by her grandmother and she decided that she would transform it into a library for women of all ages who had been neglected a chance to seek education besides their monotonous lifestyle.

She meets Rana who helps her set up the library days after she had said yes to her engagement with Rajat, and falls for him. While Rajat being in London and Rana being with her, there comes a time where freedom to speech, freedom to express and freedom to press and media being snatched away also welcomes Rajat in Delhi and Indu now has a choice to make.

I really appreciate the author for not rushing into the love part soon because most contemporary writers do that and I really loved all the vintage tints this book gave me.
The plot was beautifully written and the storytelling was apt. Never did I feel anywhere that the story telling was exaggerating or loathing, it all felt as if I'm living in this book and looking through binoculars.
The story felt real because the past was showcased into it and that's what I loved the most about it. I'd really love to see a movie portrayal of this book because people deserve more classic romance stories.
.
A special note of thanks to @death.of.the.author for sending me the piece of her heart. The book is truly beautiful and one of my best reads of 2019.

[Monika Sadhwani · Rating 2 out of 5]

After a long time, I finished a book. Not because I loved it, but because I really wanted to move on from this one to something else.

This book slowed me down, and not in a reflective or immersive way. I had heard a lot of buzz around it, so my expectations were fairly high. Unfortunately, the story never really picked up for me. The narrative felt stretched, the pacing painfully slow, and the romance often crossed into cringe rather than charm.

Also, for a book titled Once Upon a Curfew, there is surprisingly no curfew in the story at all, which only added to the disconnect.

If I’m being fair, the last 30 or so pages were the only part that held my attention and made some sense of the build-up. Until then, it felt like waiting for something to happen that mostly didn’t.

This might work for readers who enjoy very slow-burn romance, but it wasn’t for me. I finished it purely to close the chapter, literally and mentally, and move on to better reads.

[Annie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 not that good both characters were very annoying at one point but yeah anyways

[Annapoorni · Rating 3 out of 5]

What would you do if a leader or celebrity you admired, did something that goes against your ideologies?

Set during the Emergency period, Once Upon A Curfew by @death.of.the.author takes on a tall task.
I loved what the author set out to in the first few pages of the book- give agency to women and a means and the physical space to exercise that agency.
Many a time, financial dependence culls female agency. Many a time a woman's financial assets are an easy target for the men innthe family, thus defeating the very purpose. Kudos to Indu and Amita(from the book) for standing their ground on this.
Indu is literally the poster child for the 'Beti hi jaan hai, beti hi shaan hai' campaign advocating the 'education for girls'. She even sets up a library and a space where women can gather and have some 'me-time'.

I love how Bollywood movies and songs add atmosphere and provide a more fun periodic setting to the book.

Where the book lost me!
The book is set in a library. Would have loved more of that!
Indu comes across as a spoilt and condescending person. For all her advocacy, she really doesn't do and achieve much, and definitely not for girls and women from all strata.Indu speaks about Change always starting from a place of privilege.Ahem, what change!?
Her modernity and broad mindedness are not convincing, mainly because she comes across as contradictory. Humans are complex and contradictory, I get that. But given that the novel spans more than a year, I expected some resolutions.
The plot spirals through a maze and gets lost in it. I really would have liked to know more about how the Emergency affected daily lives, or did it at all? Indu speaks as of it didn't affect her life much, till she got involved with some activists. There is mention of press restrictions, arrests, forced sterilization...but just the tip of the iceberg.
My main bone to pick with the book is, there was so much potential- in setting, in characters, in plot, and it seems wasted.

P.S- something I absolutely loved here- that cover, Illustrated by Neelim Aryan!

[Sudeshna Panigrahi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A library, a dynamic love story in making, some typical family drama, a fierce heroine who is all set to change her life as she wants to live and a charming hero who is always there for our heroine, sounds interesting doesn't it?
A library romance is all I am in for.
This is the story that Srishti weaves through the book. It is a beautiful and refreshing story with an engaging plot that unfolds taking it's sweet time and makes you smile as a reader. The timeline goes back to the days of Emergency in India in 1975 and the story sprawls through the socio-political horizon of that time blended in a beautiful romance.

Indu, our protagonist sets off to create a library for women in a flat that she and her sister inherited from their grandmother and by a library she doesn't only mean a space to read books. She means it as safe space for women to take time out for themselves aside from the humdrum of mundane daily lives. A safe space to grow, discuss, learn and be themselves for a while in the whole day. Supporting Indu in her endeavors and dreams, enters our charming lead, Rana. He is the perfect rom-com hero you can imagine who is funny, witty, loving and caring.

Not only the cute fun banter between them and the drama and romance, but the story also touches upon the scenes of Emergency and how that impacted lives back then. It also envelopes a section on the Indo-Pak Partition and how women most importantly suffered of it.
There are multiple shades of love, of care, and one would certainly feel good while flipping through the pages. The writing style is very refreshing and the inculcation of Bollywood references with Rajesh Khanna were so cute to read.

You will get a shot of every emotion in the book and you will smile ear to ear. Grab it and have a great time reading this beautiful book.