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Love in the Time of Affluenza
“He never wants to touch me any longer, Natasha. It's like he's impotent or something.”
“That's not impotence, that's just what being married is like!”
Raising three beautiful children in her beautiful Bombay home with her aristocratic husband of 15 years – every bit the prince you read about in fairy tales – Natasha has it all. But when her closest friend drops the bombshell that she's isn't entirely fulfilled by her family and is having an affair, Natasha begins to ask some difficult questions about her own seemingly perfect life.
From the bestselling author Shunali Shroff comes a novel about being a wife, a mother and the woman you used to be before that.
“That's not impotence, that's just what being married is like!”
Raising three beautiful children in her beautiful Bombay home with her aristocratic husband of 15 years – every bit the prince you read about in fairy tales – Natasha has it all. But when her closest friend drops the bombshell that she's isn't entirely fulfilled by her family and is having an affair, Natasha begins to ask some difficult questions about her own seemingly perfect life.
From the bestselling author Shunali Shroff comes a novel about being a wife, a mother and the woman you used to be before that.
296 pages, Paperback
Published July 10, 2019
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May 13, 2020
I have always wanted a sneak-peek into the lives of ultra rich. Human beings are such that the unknown almost always ignites curiousity. The imagination of my brain, however, instead of thinking about unravelling the secrets of universe, had long confined itself to a lifestyle I have been alien to. When I first came to know about Shunali Khullar Shroff's Love in the Time of Affluenza, I knew I had to read this book to satisfy my curiousity. I was not disappointed but I think my one-sided imagination of the rich having it all has altered a bit.
The book is from the perspective of Natasha, who, while being a mother of three, is trying to figure out her life. The greatest unfairness of life for her is that her hair is turning grey even though she has been good. My fascination for rich people was such that I thought they must be living their life in such a way that they do not have to worry about anything in the world, unlike me who would think for hours even when I need something basic. Now I know better. Not having to think before buying something is not the end of problem(s) in this world. There are myriad others and being insensitive towards those other problems is wrong to say the least.
Shunali's writing is suffused with humour which is an element that would turn me off from any narration if it is not properly executed. This book, however, was a page-turner for me because of its humour accompanied by its subtle satire of everyday life of the rich in Mumbai. My only problem with this book was not because of the author's writing skill (or lack thereof). It was because of the editor's shortcomings which left me in a quandary what to take from the book and what not to.
Also on Instagram.
The book is from the perspective of Natasha, who, while being a mother of three, is trying to figure out her life. The greatest unfairness of life for her is that her hair is turning grey even though she has been good. My fascination for rich people was such that I thought they must be living their life in such a way that they do not have to worry about anything in the world, unlike me who would think for hours even when I need something basic. Now I know better. Not having to think before buying something is not the end of problem(s) in this world. There are myriad others and being insensitive towards those other problems is wrong to say the least.
Shunali's writing is suffused with humour which is an element that would turn me off from any narration if it is not properly executed. This book, however, was a page-turner for me because of its humour accompanied by its subtle satire of everyday life of the rich in Mumbai. My only problem with this book was not because of the author's writing skill (or lack thereof). It was because of the editor's shortcomings which left me in a quandary what to take from the book and what not to.
Also on Instagram.
August 16, 2019
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Natasha Singh, a mother of three and a (very) talented writer, married to a prince named Varun Singh is finally going through something that others might call a midlife crisis. Or not exactly but it's definitely something of the sort. She has been going through this since some time, actually. Managing everyone in the house while her beloved husband has no time for her—that has been hard on her. And it intensifies when she finds out that Varun's best friend (and business partner)'s wife who is also her great friend, Trisha, is having an affair with Gumeet from Delhi. It's horrible because every time Trisha tries to validate her affair, Natasha feels like she is talking about Natasha's marriage instead of her own. Not that Natasha would ever do something like this. No, no. She's loyal.
Things are hard for her already but they take another southern turn when the affair is finally out in the open. Because apparently, for everyone, it is Natasha's fault that Trisha is having an affair. I don't even want to go into how irrational that is. However, my usage of the word "irrational" here doesn't signify that I find the book irrational. No, in fact, whatever Shroff wrote about is quite true. People are irrational that way (especially those Indians who I know) and they can very well say such stuff out loud. It is definitely realistic, albeit irrational.
The reason why I wasn't a fan of this book was because no matter what I tried, I just couldn't myself to fall in love with Natasha. Yes, she had her troubles, she had her issues and she was rather strong in trying to deal with all of them. I appreciate the way she was standing up for herself throughout. But the way she was narrating everything—it was like there was an annoying voice at the back of my mind all the time that I was reading this book. That was how much she bothered me. Believe it or not, I was really annoyed by her, too.
It often happens, actually. People write such brilliant novels from the point of view of a non-interesting person (because in a way, she isn't that interesting) and they try really hard to make her sound interesting. However, that character simply ends up being way too annoying. Sometimes, though, the character is indeed interesting but the way she is presented makes her annoying. I guess my only point here is that Natasha seemed to be trying too hard. And that's not something I'm a fan of.
Natasha Singh, a mother of three and a (very) talented writer, married to a prince named Varun Singh is finally going through something that others might call a midlife crisis. Or not exactly but it's definitely something of the sort. She has been going through this since some time, actually. Managing everyone in the house while her beloved husband has no time for her—that has been hard on her. And it intensifies when she finds out that Varun's best friend (and business partner)'s wife who is also her great friend, Trisha, is having an affair with Gumeet from Delhi. It's horrible because every time Trisha tries to validate her affair, Natasha feels like she is talking about Natasha's marriage instead of her own. Not that Natasha would ever do something like this. No, no. She's loyal.
Things are hard for her already but they take another southern turn when the affair is finally out in the open. Because apparently, for everyone, it is Natasha's fault that Trisha is having an affair. I don't even want to go into how irrational that is. However, my usage of the word "irrational" here doesn't signify that I find the book irrational. No, in fact, whatever Shroff wrote about is quite true. People are irrational that way (especially those Indians who I know) and they can very well say such stuff out loud. It is definitely realistic, albeit irrational.
The reason why I wasn't a fan of this book was because no matter what I tried, I just couldn't myself to fall in love with Natasha. Yes, she had her troubles, she had her issues and she was rather strong in trying to deal with all of them. I appreciate the way she was standing up for herself throughout. But the way she was narrating everything—it was like there was an annoying voice at the back of my mind all the time that I was reading this book. That was how much she bothered me. Believe it or not, I was really annoyed by her, too.
It often happens, actually. People write such brilliant novels from the point of view of a non-interesting person (because in a way, she isn't that interesting) and they try really hard to make her sound interesting. However, that character simply ends up being way too annoying. Sometimes, though, the character is indeed interesting but the way she is presented makes her annoying. I guess my only point here is that Natasha seemed to be trying too hard. And that's not something I'm a fan of.
August 23, 2019
Natasha- the beautiful wife to an aristocratic Prince (an actual prince) spends her days juggling between her three kids, husband and her day job. She is a columnist and writes passionately about her everyday life. She draws inspiration from simpler things and believes in making everyone’s life brighter and easier. But when she finds her closest friend Trisha(and her husband’s best friend’s wife) fooling around with another man, she makes sure to point out how unfair and unethical it is to have an extramarital affair. But this particular conversation triggers something in her and she starts evaluating her relationship with Varun through a fine-tooth comb.
Shroff’s hilarious and sarcastic narrative is what holds this story together, Natasha’s not-so-subtle observations of day to day life, her description of her mother-in-law and the expectations that are put on her upon being married to a ‘Royal’ family, her life dealing with toddler tantrums and a husband who is always a bit too busy and finally her association with affluent families and the ‘designer’ choices she gets to make, turns this into an entertaining and chucklesome read.
The life of a house-wife, that the author so efficiently points out is that of hard work and sacrifices. Natasha’s ‘troubled’ marriage has a lot to do with her involvement in everyday activities in running the house, finally causing a dent in her marriage. But as Natasha goes through these changes in her mind, she feels scared about her situation because she believed that it was perfect and fit into a set of definitions of what a marriage should be. Simultaneously, she is worried about her obligations towards her husband and struggles to choose if she should reveal her friend’s infidelity and invite a conversation she doesn’t want to have.
‘Love in the Time of Affluenza’ transports us to the rich sections of Urban-Mumbai and what actually transpires behind all the glam and glitz. I wanted the story to be more than an affair and a reflection of sorts, but I did enjoy the narration and everything that came with it. Shroff’s parallels from the works of other writers such as Anais Nin, Sylvia Plath and characters like Lalu Prasad Yadav and Donald Trump, turns this into a relatable and witty read. Very Indian at heart, ‘Love in the Time..’ is a story you can binge on and be left thoroughly entertained. Just keep an open mind and stay away from this one if you find rich people to be show-offs and snobbish.
Shroff’s hilarious and sarcastic narrative is what holds this story together, Natasha’s not-so-subtle observations of day to day life, her description of her mother-in-law and the expectations that are put on her upon being married to a ‘Royal’ family, her life dealing with toddler tantrums and a husband who is always a bit too busy and finally her association with affluent families and the ‘designer’ choices she gets to make, turns this into an entertaining and chucklesome read.
The life of a house-wife, that the author so efficiently points out is that of hard work and sacrifices. Natasha’s ‘troubled’ marriage has a lot to do with her involvement in everyday activities in running the house, finally causing a dent in her marriage. But as Natasha goes through these changes in her mind, she feels scared about her situation because she believed that it was perfect and fit into a set of definitions of what a marriage should be. Simultaneously, she is worried about her obligations towards her husband and struggles to choose if she should reveal her friend’s infidelity and invite a conversation she doesn’t want to have.
‘Love in the Time of Affluenza’ transports us to the rich sections of Urban-Mumbai and what actually transpires behind all the glam and glitz. I wanted the story to be more than an affair and a reflection of sorts, but I did enjoy the narration and everything that came with it. Shroff’s parallels from the works of other writers such as Anais Nin, Sylvia Plath and characters like Lalu Prasad Yadav and Donald Trump, turns this into a relatable and witty read. Very Indian at heart, ‘Love in the Time..’ is a story you can binge on and be left thoroughly entertained. Just keep an open mind and stay away from this one if you find rich people to be show-offs and snobbish.
September 23, 2019
Title: Love In The Time Of Affluenza
Author: Shunali Khullar Shroff
Publisher: Bloomsbury
My rating: 4/5
My Take :
Love in the time of Affluenza gives us an insight into the lives of Mumbai’s rich Indians and their luxurious lifestyles and lavish parties. The story focuses on the three women Natasha Singh, Trisha and Nafisa. Natasha was a columnist and a homemaker who had sacrificed her career to raise her three children. It was her best friend Trisha’s loveless marriage life that made Natasha question about her own seemingly perfect life.
Being a homemaker is the toughest job. Sadly, not many acknowledge or appreciate it and Varun (Natasha’s husband) is no exception. A married women’s day to day life and responsibility as a wife, mother and most importantly as a homemaker had been very realistically delineated through Natasha’s character.
All a woman wants from her man is respect, understanding and a little bit of appreciation. But men mostly devotes himself to work and fails to give his time and attention to his woman which often results in discontentment and loveless marriage life. That’s what happened in Trisha’s life. But aren’t woman supposed to be proud of her responsible husband and supports him by taking care of the family while he works around the clock?
Among the three kids of Natasha, Ria was my favourite and the sibling fights between Sumer and Ria reminds me of my little sister and our old days. How we used to fight and how she whines and complains about me when our dad comes late at night after work just like how Ria did. I think it’s the real-life incidents and situations that the author presented here made the characters more relatable.
It seems most of the people liked the email conversations shared between Natasha and Riyad. Maybe I could have enjoyed it too if Natasha was 20 years old, but unfortunately, she was 40 and a mother of three which made me dislike their part.
The write-ups at the beginning of every chapter was quite impactful. Natasha’s inner voice is one thing that would make you laugh out loud without being conscious of the surrounding. The relatable characters, simple language and the author’s brilliant narration made this book an interesting read.
I would like to thank Bloomsbury India for providing me with a copy of the book.
Author: Shunali Khullar Shroff
Publisher: Bloomsbury
My rating: 4/5
My Take :
Love in the time of Affluenza gives us an insight into the lives of Mumbai’s rich Indians and their luxurious lifestyles and lavish parties. The story focuses on the three women Natasha Singh, Trisha and Nafisa. Natasha was a columnist and a homemaker who had sacrificed her career to raise her three children. It was her best friend Trisha’s loveless marriage life that made Natasha question about her own seemingly perfect life.
Being a homemaker is the toughest job. Sadly, not many acknowledge or appreciate it and Varun (Natasha’s husband) is no exception. A married women’s day to day life and responsibility as a wife, mother and most importantly as a homemaker had been very realistically delineated through Natasha’s character.
All a woman wants from her man is respect, understanding and a little bit of appreciation. But men mostly devotes himself to work and fails to give his time and attention to his woman which often results in discontentment and loveless marriage life. That’s what happened in Trisha’s life. But aren’t woman supposed to be proud of her responsible husband and supports him by taking care of the family while he works around the clock?
Among the three kids of Natasha, Ria was my favourite and the sibling fights between Sumer and Ria reminds me of my little sister and our old days. How we used to fight and how she whines and complains about me when our dad comes late at night after work just like how Ria did. I think it’s the real-life incidents and situations that the author presented here made the characters more relatable.
It seems most of the people liked the email conversations shared between Natasha and Riyad. Maybe I could have enjoyed it too if Natasha was 20 years old, but unfortunately, she was 40 and a mother of three which made me dislike their part.
The write-ups at the beginning of every chapter was quite impactful. Natasha’s inner voice is one thing that would make you laugh out loud without being conscious of the surrounding. The relatable characters, simple language and the author’s brilliant narration made this book an interesting read.
I would like to thank Bloomsbury India for providing me with a copy of the book.
September 4, 2019
Love In The Time Of Affluenza is the story of Natasha Singh who is a mother of three children, a wife of an ambitious man, a columnist. Living her normal, high standard life, Natasha is any cliche housewife who has given up her life for her family and love but an incident with her closest friend involved, gives her a new perspective towards life. Who is she without all these things defining her? What does love mean to her? What is it that she really wants? Is she actually herself?
The title is relevant, witty, catchy, nice. The cover is classy, attractive, yet not relevant with the content of the book.
The language is okay. The writing style is very simple, no thrill, no feel. There is a deeper conversation that the book is trying to initiate, but does not do it up to the mark due to the stretched narration of a mini plot.
The content majorly includes the rant of Natasha - her jealousy, her wishes, her struggles. She is trying hard to be acknowledged, and fighting a battle with herself to know what she really wants. Is it her kids, is it her job, is it the attention of her husband or a praise from a mother-in-law? While the book does make you question yourself at some points, where you begin to connect with the character, it instantly gets cut off by another rant. The story moves too slowly and you may feel bored way before you are able to connect with the book.
Honestly speaking, I had huge huge huge expectations from this book. The cover, the title, the blurb, and of course, the hype, made me want this book badly. But, cutting the crap, I’m disappointed. The subject of the book is so interesting that I actually wanted to dive into this kind of a story too, where I thought I will explore Natasha’s life and either have a fulfilling story or a good experience reading or at least some lessons - I got none. I kept waiting, at least for a good ending, and at some places the book did match my hopes but it was too, too, too less. Therefore, I only recommend this read to the ones who want to kill time somehow.
The title is relevant, witty, catchy, nice. The cover is classy, attractive, yet not relevant with the content of the book.
The language is okay. The writing style is very simple, no thrill, no feel. There is a deeper conversation that the book is trying to initiate, but does not do it up to the mark due to the stretched narration of a mini plot.
The content majorly includes the rant of Natasha - her jealousy, her wishes, her struggles. She is trying hard to be acknowledged, and fighting a battle with herself to know what she really wants. Is it her kids, is it her job, is it the attention of her husband or a praise from a mother-in-law? While the book does make you question yourself at some points, where you begin to connect with the character, it instantly gets cut off by another rant. The story moves too slowly and you may feel bored way before you are able to connect with the book.
Honestly speaking, I had huge huge huge expectations from this book. The cover, the title, the blurb, and of course, the hype, made me want this book badly. But, cutting the crap, I’m disappointed. The subject of the book is so interesting that I actually wanted to dive into this kind of a story too, where I thought I will explore Natasha’s life and either have a fulfilling story or a good experience reading or at least some lessons - I got none. I kept waiting, at least for a good ending, and at some places the book did match my hopes but it was too, too, too less. Therefore, I only recommend this read to the ones who want to kill time somehow.
August 13, 2019
Love in the Time of Affluenza by Shunali Khullar Shroff is a fiction work.
About the story:
The story whirls around protagonist Natasha, mom of three children married to a Prince who is leading an aristocratic life in Mumbai.
She has a close friend named Trisha who indulges herself in an affair with an unknown person makes both their life miserable.
What happens next? Will Natasha be able to prove herself as innocent? Will Trisha be a threat in Natasha’s life? How does Natasha outgrow from this ultimatum? lies the suspense of the story.
About the book:
The story is fast pacing and more engaging with lively events. As a Mom each woman has more responsibility and takes care of the entire family without any expectations. Our author has portrayed this aspect very beautifully through Natasha’s character that makes us feel heart touching.
A woman may play a role of a mom, daughter, wife yet first and foremost she is human. Like every other human, woman as their own desire and needs. Handling things between relationship and self-thoughts always contradicts and yet they suppress things for family’s wellbeing.
This book depicts how the society goes with all its do’s and don’ts and how as a human we tackle and overcome the hurdles that we face in our life.
The conflict between Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is quite humorous and it happens in everyone’s life were the son remains neutral as always. Natasha as a woman beautifully plays her role and achieves even her career facing hard situation yet outgrows from it.
This is a beautiful read and I would like to recommend this to readers who loves to read a fast pacing book filled with emotions, joy and sorrow.
My rating is 4/5 star for this fiction work.
About the story:
The story whirls around protagonist Natasha, mom of three children married to a Prince who is leading an aristocratic life in Mumbai.
She has a close friend named Trisha who indulges herself in an affair with an unknown person makes both their life miserable.
What happens next? Will Natasha be able to prove herself as innocent? Will Trisha be a threat in Natasha’s life? How does Natasha outgrow from this ultimatum? lies the suspense of the story.
About the book:
The story is fast pacing and more engaging with lively events. As a Mom each woman has more responsibility and takes care of the entire family without any expectations. Our author has portrayed this aspect very beautifully through Natasha’s character that makes us feel heart touching.
A woman may play a role of a mom, daughter, wife yet first and foremost she is human. Like every other human, woman as their own desire and needs. Handling things between relationship and self-thoughts always contradicts and yet they suppress things for family’s wellbeing.
This book depicts how the society goes with all its do’s and don’ts and how as a human we tackle and overcome the hurdles that we face in our life.
The conflict between Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is quite humorous and it happens in everyone’s life were the son remains neutral as always. Natasha as a woman beautifully plays her role and achieves even her career facing hard situation yet outgrows from it.
This is a beautiful read and I would like to recommend this to readers who loves to read a fast pacing book filled with emotions, joy and sorrow.
My rating is 4/5 star for this fiction work.
July 21, 2019
Title: Love in the Time of Affluenza
Author: Shunali Khullar Shroff
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Genre: Contemporary
Format: Paperback
Language: English
No. of pages: 292
My review:
A book that provides a glimpse into the lives of the ultra-rich in urban Mumbai, Love in the Time of Affluenza was a fun, and witty read. While most may simply categorize it into the light and frivolous, this book comes with its practical depth – one so many women across the country will find similar!
Natasha Singh is a woman who is very relatable. As a mother, she shows us (who are not mothers yet) the point of view from a mother’s side and it is definitely not so easy. Kids can be really annoying sometimes (I am definitely experienced as I have a younger brother) but most of all, placating the kids after a fight is the worst. I loved how the author has made the book so very relatable! When Ria puts on more waterworks as the father (Natasha’s husband, Prince Varun) arrives, it is a scene out of my everyday life. I am a daddy’s girl too and well, to b honest, for a daughter, fathers are way easier to manipulate, aren’t they?
We see Natasha grappling with the sudden scenario of cheating and infidelity when her friend Trisha’s affair is discovered by her. So many times in life, we find ourselves struggling between two rights – whether to respect the confidences of a friend or to tell the truth outright to the people they are hurting. Even without the exact same scenario, this is a dreadful situation we have found ourselves in time too many, to be honest!
And then comes the mother-in-law! That is one serious Hiroshima-Nagasaki situation in itself. Natasha’s interactions with the Rani are funny, and sometimes really frustrating. It really makes us think about the age-old adage – a woman is another woman’s worst enemy. Is there any truth to it?
In the very beginning of the book itself, Natasha, as she is being ordered about by the cook, wonders if she is working for him or vice versa. Now that situation is one we all are suffering from! And well, men are such chauvinists sometimes! Even when they love you, that streak of caveman attitude seems to erupt and take over their otherwise oaky-ish thinking.
Being an avid fan of Sex and the City, I did find similarities between Carrie Bradshaw and our Natasha. The beginning of every chapter is a writeup by her, as she works as a columnist. These writeups are quite impactful and make us think these words over. The writing was full of humor and irony, and I for one (among many others) am a fan of Shroff’s writing. The literary (and other references) to Anais Nin, Sylvia Plath, Anna Karenina, Picasso, Lalu Prasad Yadav (you so need to read this book!), Uri Geller, etc. were on point! Shroff has masterfully blended the wit and philosophy, displayed them through various (almost) stereotyped characters and provided a work, which is light, and funny and relatable, but at the same time, full of deep and impactful thoughts.
Verdict:
It was a great read, and now my mum is reading it too! I rate it 4/5 stars!
Author: Shunali Khullar Shroff
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Genre: Contemporary
Format: Paperback
Language: English
No. of pages: 292
My review:
A book that provides a glimpse into the lives of the ultra-rich in urban Mumbai, Love in the Time of Affluenza was a fun, and witty read. While most may simply categorize it into the light and frivolous, this book comes with its practical depth – one so many women across the country will find similar!
Natasha Singh is a woman who is very relatable. As a mother, she shows us (who are not mothers yet) the point of view from a mother’s side and it is definitely not so easy. Kids can be really annoying sometimes (I am definitely experienced as I have a younger brother) but most of all, placating the kids after a fight is the worst. I loved how the author has made the book so very relatable! When Ria puts on more waterworks as the father (Natasha’s husband, Prince Varun) arrives, it is a scene out of my everyday life. I am a daddy’s girl too and well, to b honest, for a daughter, fathers are way easier to manipulate, aren’t they?
We see Natasha grappling with the sudden scenario of cheating and infidelity when her friend Trisha’s affair is discovered by her. So many times in life, we find ourselves struggling between two rights – whether to respect the confidences of a friend or to tell the truth outright to the people they are hurting. Even without the exact same scenario, this is a dreadful situation we have found ourselves in time too many, to be honest!
And then comes the mother-in-law! That is one serious Hiroshima-Nagasaki situation in itself. Natasha’s interactions with the Rani are funny, and sometimes really frustrating. It really makes us think about the age-old adage – a woman is another woman’s worst enemy. Is there any truth to it?
In the very beginning of the book itself, Natasha, as she is being ordered about by the cook, wonders if she is working for him or vice versa. Now that situation is one we all are suffering from! And well, men are such chauvinists sometimes! Even when they love you, that streak of caveman attitude seems to erupt and take over their otherwise oaky-ish thinking.
Being an avid fan of Sex and the City, I did find similarities between Carrie Bradshaw and our Natasha. The beginning of every chapter is a writeup by her, as she works as a columnist. These writeups are quite impactful and make us think these words over. The writing was full of humor and irony, and I for one (among many others) am a fan of Shroff’s writing. The literary (and other references) to Anais Nin, Sylvia Plath, Anna Karenina, Picasso, Lalu Prasad Yadav (you so need to read this book!), Uri Geller, etc. were on point! Shroff has masterfully blended the wit and philosophy, displayed them through various (almost) stereotyped characters and provided a work, which is light, and funny and relatable, but at the same time, full of deep and impactful thoughts.
Verdict:
It was a great read, and now my mum is reading it too! I rate it 4/5 stars!
November 25, 2019
It's a story of Natasha , a freelance copy writer and Mom. Will she able to find out time for herself? How will her life change when she’ll again do what she love?.
Married to a prince, will she able to keep things in control?.
The Plot of the story is interesting with twists and turns. I loved the storyline of the book. The way the author portrayed emotions is commendable. The writing style of the author is witty and lucid keeping the reader hooked throughout.
The pace of the story is too slow. I found it a bit tedious as some scenes were too exaggerated.
But the twists and dialogue, the drama kept Me invested in the book.
Overall it’s a good light read, but a bit tedious one.
Married to a prince, will she able to keep things in control?.
The Plot of the story is interesting with twists and turns. I loved the storyline of the book. The way the author portrayed emotions is commendable. The writing style of the author is witty and lucid keeping the reader hooked throughout.
The pace of the story is too slow. I found it a bit tedious as some scenes were too exaggerated.
But the twists and dialogue, the drama kept Me invested in the book.
Overall it’s a good light read, but a bit tedious one.
July 15, 2019
Love in the time of Affluenza.
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Thank you @bloomsburyindia for the copy.
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It's not easy being a homemaker. It makes it all the more difficult if you have three toddlers to take care of. Ask the protagonist Natasha, if you'd want to. Being married to an Aristocratic Prince and working as a freelance journalist/writer, she has her hands full. Her life is lavish as she drowns in designer clothes and affluent companies. Her life is entertaining as she writes down about her children's tantrums, her husband's indifference and her friend's affair. Read more to know how she handles it all.
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Natasha is a witty woman who happens to be a columnist. She takes inspiration from things that happen around her and writes it down. Her marriage seems to be going steady with her Prince charming Varun, when suddenly it all seems an effort. Her friend Trisha starts having an affair with another married man as Natasha gets caught up in it. Trisha is married to Varun's friend and Natasha can't help but struggle amidst all the drama. It strains her relationship with Varun. Things aren't easy for a woman of her status who has to maintain a perfect social class so as not to raise suspicion. She also ends up having a crush on the actor she goes to interview. Pick up the book to know what Natasha would do next.
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The book is humourous as she explains about her evil mother-in-law, her growing-up children, her childish husband and her straying best friend. The plot is simple and seems a bit slow. The characters are all from rich families who have the world served on their platters. They are snobby, attention seeking and spend money like it's water. I wish there was more to the story instead of focusing just on the affair. The story did not seem to move inspite of reaching half of the novel. It had a very funnybones air to it but somewhere fell short of impressing me. A good one-time light read.
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Rating - 3/5.
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Thank you @bloomsburyindia for the copy.
~
It's not easy being a homemaker. It makes it all the more difficult if you have three toddlers to take care of. Ask the protagonist Natasha, if you'd want to. Being married to an Aristocratic Prince and working as a freelance journalist/writer, she has her hands full. Her life is lavish as she drowns in designer clothes and affluent companies. Her life is entertaining as she writes down about her children's tantrums, her husband's indifference and her friend's affair. Read more to know how she handles it all.
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Natasha is a witty woman who happens to be a columnist. She takes inspiration from things that happen around her and writes it down. Her marriage seems to be going steady with her Prince charming Varun, when suddenly it all seems an effort. Her friend Trisha starts having an affair with another married man as Natasha gets caught up in it. Trisha is married to Varun's friend and Natasha can't help but struggle amidst all the drama. It strains her relationship with Varun. Things aren't easy for a woman of her status who has to maintain a perfect social class so as not to raise suspicion. She also ends up having a crush on the actor she goes to interview. Pick up the book to know what Natasha would do next.
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The book is humourous as she explains about her evil mother-in-law, her growing-up children, her childish husband and her straying best friend. The plot is simple and seems a bit slow. The characters are all from rich families who have the world served on their platters. They are snobby, attention seeking and spend money like it's water. I wish there was more to the story instead of focusing just on the affair. The story did not seem to move inspite of reaching half of the novel. It had a very funnybones air to it but somewhere fell short of impressing me. A good one-time light read.
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Rating - 3/5.
September 15, 2019
Title: Love in the Time of Affluenza
Author: Shunali Khullar Shroff
Length: 289 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury India
Genre: Fiction, Relationships
My rating: 4.5/5
Summary:
The story belongs to Natasha Singh, a housewife, mother of 3 and also a freelance writer. It’s her journey and how she deals with various relationships in her life.
My Take:
I won this book as a part of giveaway contest and I am so happy that I did. This book is a wonderful book depicting complexity in simple relationships viz Husband-Wife, Mother-Kids, Friends, Mother in Law-Daughter in Law etc.
The book is a very fast paced one while keeping readers glued on whats coming up next. Characterizations are amazingly distinct. One can actually visualise the characters and their surroundings. The descriptions are vivid and crisp.
The instances narrated are very real and for a while you’ll ponder if the book is actually the work of Fiction or is a Non-fiction. The feelings of the characters are so very relatable. Some places make you laugh heartily while some create the adrenaline rush.
The end of the book is so apt and leaves you content and happy. It beautifully summarises what we want from a relationship in our lives. We all require a person who understands us which if missing, we start looking out for love outside.
There are a lot of Hindi dialogues in the book which are not given a translation. Though for Indians it wouldn’t matter much but for global readers this might be a bit of a put off and hence have not given this book a perfect rating.
Overall an amazing book on relationships.
Author: Shunali Khullar Shroff
Length: 289 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury India
Genre: Fiction, Relationships
My rating: 4.5/5
Summary:
The story belongs to Natasha Singh, a housewife, mother of 3 and also a freelance writer. It’s her journey and how she deals with various relationships in her life.
My Take:
I won this book as a part of giveaway contest and I am so happy that I did. This book is a wonderful book depicting complexity in simple relationships viz Husband-Wife, Mother-Kids, Friends, Mother in Law-Daughter in Law etc.
The book is a very fast paced one while keeping readers glued on whats coming up next. Characterizations are amazingly distinct. One can actually visualise the characters and their surroundings. The descriptions are vivid and crisp.
The instances narrated are very real and for a while you’ll ponder if the book is actually the work of Fiction or is a Non-fiction. The feelings of the characters are so very relatable. Some places make you laugh heartily while some create the adrenaline rush.
The end of the book is so apt and leaves you content and happy. It beautifully summarises what we want from a relationship in our lives. We all require a person who understands us which if missing, we start looking out for love outside.
There are a lot of Hindi dialogues in the book which are not given a translation. Though for Indians it wouldn’t matter much but for global readers this might be a bit of a put off and hence have not given this book a perfect rating.
Overall an amazing book on relationships.
July 31, 2019
A multi-layered, contemporary study of the mind of the privileged urban woman, presented in a witty and engaging storytelling.
July 15, 2021
3.5/5
Natasha Singh married to a Prince Varun Singh (Actual Prince), mother of three children and a column writer in a magazine. She is always struggling between taking care of her children, maintaining her house, writing consistently for the column, tolerating her mother in law and getting online shopping therapy.
But her crazy world turns upside down the moment she saw her best friend Trisha having an extra marital affair. Now she is torn between the dilemma whether to share this news with Trisha's husband Nakul who is also a best friend and partner of Varun or to leave the matter and let it take its course.
Among all of this what she didn't plan are the doubts regarding her own marriage. Is she and Varun lost their spark? Will she do the same if time comes? Are marriages only last a certain time?
Review-
Fair Warning - If you hate reading about rich, brat and snobby people this book is not for you.
I love the culture and world the author created in this book. People with rich pockets still dealing with average household problems. You connect with them, relate with them but in another instant they start talking about brands, parties and social status which is just a concept for you.
Natasha is a character which most of the Indian married women would relate to. Juggling between children, work and society is as common as it gets. The problems and doubts which she has regarding her marriage is one thing which we experience atleast once in our marriage. But I agree the solution is not something which we can afford or even think about it.
It has a perfect amount of craziness, fun, glitz and glamour to hook you from the start till the end. The environment and surrounding of uber rich people is as amusing and interesting as it gets.
I would specially like to mention the mother in law of Natasha aka Rani Devi Kumari. She is as typical as any mother in law in any Indian series. I loved her wittiness and sassiness but at the same time I hate her for her views and opinions in general.
This book also depicts the struggle every women face after marriage whether working or not and the role of husband and also of father in every marriage. Women are expected to handle everything while men can get away by doing the bare minimum. The reason being is the ultimate answer because you are a mother or you are the women of the house.
This book does not necessarily give you answers to all the patriarchal problems but it helps you to feel normal by seeing that even rich people are the same from the core. This is a fun, witty and a very amusing book to read. You will not be able to put down without reading it whole.
Natasha Singh married to a Prince Varun Singh (Actual Prince), mother of three children and a column writer in a magazine. She is always struggling between taking care of her children, maintaining her house, writing consistently for the column, tolerating her mother in law and getting online shopping therapy.
But her crazy world turns upside down the moment she saw her best friend Trisha having an extra marital affair. Now she is torn between the dilemma whether to share this news with Trisha's husband Nakul who is also a best friend and partner of Varun or to leave the matter and let it take its course.
Among all of this what she didn't plan are the doubts regarding her own marriage. Is she and Varun lost their spark? Will she do the same if time comes? Are marriages only last a certain time?
Review-
Fair Warning - If you hate reading about rich, brat and snobby people this book is not for you.
I love the culture and world the author created in this book. People with rich pockets still dealing with average household problems. You connect with them, relate with them but in another instant they start talking about brands, parties and social status which is just a concept for you.
Natasha is a character which most of the Indian married women would relate to. Juggling between children, work and society is as common as it gets. The problems and doubts which she has regarding her marriage is one thing which we experience atleast once in our marriage. But I agree the solution is not something which we can afford or even think about it.
It has a perfect amount of craziness, fun, glitz and glamour to hook you from the start till the end. The environment and surrounding of uber rich people is as amusing and interesting as it gets.
I would specially like to mention the mother in law of Natasha aka Rani Devi Kumari. She is as typical as any mother in law in any Indian series. I loved her wittiness and sassiness but at the same time I hate her for her views and opinions in general.
This book also depicts the struggle every women face after marriage whether working or not and the role of husband and also of father in every marriage. Women are expected to handle everything while men can get away by doing the bare minimum. The reason being is the ultimate answer because you are a mother or you are the women of the house.
This book does not necessarily give you answers to all the patriarchal problems but it helps you to feel normal by seeing that even rich people are the same from the core. This is a fun, witty and a very amusing book to read. You will not be able to put down without reading it whole.
August 24, 2019
Love in the Time of Affluenza by Shunali Khullar Shroff
About the Book
Natasha is a columnist , mother of three children and wife of a Prince Varun . She is a kind person and try to get inspiration from everyone and makes life better . But things start to take a wrong direction when she gets to know about her friend , Trisha's extra martial affair . Trisha is the wife of Varun's best friend.
Natasha tries to fix Trisha's marriage life . But that affair unfolds the truth of the relation between Natasha and Varun . She tries to take her job seriously . And it gives her a chance to meet a famous director with whom she feels connected.
My views
The author has nicely picturized the lives of rich in Mumbai
I love it how she has portraited the lives of house wives
The way she has discussed about the marriage and relationship through Natasha is admirable
I don't want to give a spoiler, but I expected a better ending .
December 8, 2021
I found Love in the time of Affluenza to be very witty and fun to consume, but also extremely insightful. The novel showcases the lives of the ultra wealthy in India, allowing us to see the vast privileges that are not given to the rest of Indian society. However, we also get to peek in and glance at their trivialities and shortcomings which show that they're not so different from you and I. While laden with humorous remarks from the main character, the book also tackles more serious themes of inequality between men and women. Overall, a great read.
July 25, 2023
28th Book of 2023
With this one, I am done reading 3rd book in row written by Indian female authors. After Koral Dasgupta and Preeti Shenoy, I tried my hands on Shunali Khullar Shroff’s “Love in the Time of Affluenza”. This 292-pages book published by Bloomsbury is a wonderful take on the life of riches living in the prominent societies of Mumbai. It is always a fascination to know what happens with people who live in abundance of money - how is their life different from ours and what kind of struggles they go through. This book talks about the protagonist- Natasha and all the other characters closely associated with her.
Shunali, through her protagonist, speaks about the challenges that every person has to deal after marriage. We always discuss about how divorces have become a regular phenomenon and don’t take a minute to blame it on the rich society living around us for making this as common as having babies after marriage. The book discusses about how Natasha falls into a dilemma when she finds her best friend, Trisha, cheating on her husband. She wishes to break the news to Trisha’s husband- Nakul as well as to her husband- Varun as both the men are friends as well as business partners. She decides to maintain silence but the whole scenario makes her question about her own life and marriage. Here onwards, Shunali has been able to make us relate with her at all twists and turns. Natasha takes almost the same decision that any person would have taken but its impact makes us think about our own perception of what we had done in her situation.
Shunali makes us think about why marriages become boring after a point of time. She speaks of how women are expected to take efficient care of both – home and work together without faulting whereas men, conveniently, choose to be busy at work without giving much prominence to their family. She also raises a concern about how parenting is expected to be a full-time job for a mother whereas father is unapologetic for not being in touch with his children and their basic needs. She highlights how a man is always sandwiched between his wife and mother and has to balance off the situation between both of them. She has also highlighted on the responsibilities of a man to be a good-earner which is often taken granted by housewives.
I am glad the way Shroff has discussed about extra-marital affair in her story. Initially, it does sound immoral even from the way the protagonist of the book perceives it but author makes no mistake in signifying how it becomes the only choice for the person who is not even receiving bare minimum from their partner. This part of the book makes us a little uncomfortable but makes us question the reality of our modern lives where it’s so easy to find a new person to enjoy the missing part of our marriage with them or even end up falling in love without any guilt or shame. Authoress has also managed the Natasha’s part here onwards and didn’t let the story end up on the predictable path but gives it a good turn and make us feel good as a reader.
Shunali’s writing style is interesting which is filled with appropriate ingredients of detailing and specifications that helps us understand the ambience and aura of a scene and imagine everything as it’s happening with one of our acquaintances. The characters are nicely crafted as it helps us relate with all the protagonist’s friends and family members. We are able to understand their mindset and personality quite easily to know how they would interact in any scenario. This helps the book become a perfect page-turner as we wish to read how they’ll react and respond to Natasha when she’ll discuss certain scenarios or happenings with them. I wish if author could have avoided mentioning few characters in the initial pages of the book who didn’t have much to do with the story as it consumes our mind in remembering their names and references.
Shunali’s humour and sarcasm are the USPs of her writing as it is really wonderful and heartening to read about certain self-talk that the protagonist does with herself and her expressions when she deals with moments where she finds herself not responding in an idealistic way. Even the dialogues written while the characters converse with each other in light and tough situations are scripted mindfully as it makes us smile while reading them. I am impressed with the way Shunali has spoken about a married woman’s ordeals who belongs to a rich society - without being preachy or imparting modern woke feminism which is thrown everywhere these days - where even wrongs of a woman is always right whereas a man is wrong even for raising his voice on a legit concern.
Overall, this is indeed an entertaining book. I will rate it 4.5* out of 5.
Thanks!
WRITING BUDDHA
With this one, I am done reading 3rd book in row written by Indian female authors. After Koral Dasgupta and Preeti Shenoy, I tried my hands on Shunali Khullar Shroff’s “Love in the Time of Affluenza”. This 292-pages book published by Bloomsbury is a wonderful take on the life of riches living in the prominent societies of Mumbai. It is always a fascination to know what happens with people who live in abundance of money - how is their life different from ours and what kind of struggles they go through. This book talks about the protagonist- Natasha and all the other characters closely associated with her.
Shunali, through her protagonist, speaks about the challenges that every person has to deal after marriage. We always discuss about how divorces have become a regular phenomenon and don’t take a minute to blame it on the rich society living around us for making this as common as having babies after marriage. The book discusses about how Natasha falls into a dilemma when she finds her best friend, Trisha, cheating on her husband. She wishes to break the news to Trisha’s husband- Nakul as well as to her husband- Varun as both the men are friends as well as business partners. She decides to maintain silence but the whole scenario makes her question about her own life and marriage. Here onwards, Shunali has been able to make us relate with her at all twists and turns. Natasha takes almost the same decision that any person would have taken but its impact makes us think about our own perception of what we had done in her situation.
Shunali makes us think about why marriages become boring after a point of time. She speaks of how women are expected to take efficient care of both – home and work together without faulting whereas men, conveniently, choose to be busy at work without giving much prominence to their family. She also raises a concern about how parenting is expected to be a full-time job for a mother whereas father is unapologetic for not being in touch with his children and their basic needs. She highlights how a man is always sandwiched between his wife and mother and has to balance off the situation between both of them. She has also highlighted on the responsibilities of a man to be a good-earner which is often taken granted by housewives.
I am glad the way Shroff has discussed about extra-marital affair in her story. Initially, it does sound immoral even from the way the protagonist of the book perceives it but author makes no mistake in signifying how it becomes the only choice for the person who is not even receiving bare minimum from their partner. This part of the book makes us a little uncomfortable but makes us question the reality of our modern lives where it’s so easy to find a new person to enjoy the missing part of our marriage with them or even end up falling in love without any guilt or shame. Authoress has also managed the Natasha’s part here onwards and didn’t let the story end up on the predictable path but gives it a good turn and make us feel good as a reader.
Shunali’s writing style is interesting which is filled with appropriate ingredients of detailing and specifications that helps us understand the ambience and aura of a scene and imagine everything as it’s happening with one of our acquaintances. The characters are nicely crafted as it helps us relate with all the protagonist’s friends and family members. We are able to understand their mindset and personality quite easily to know how they would interact in any scenario. This helps the book become a perfect page-turner as we wish to read how they’ll react and respond to Natasha when she’ll discuss certain scenarios or happenings with them. I wish if author could have avoided mentioning few characters in the initial pages of the book who didn’t have much to do with the story as it consumes our mind in remembering their names and references.
Shunali’s humour and sarcasm are the USPs of her writing as it is really wonderful and heartening to read about certain self-talk that the protagonist does with herself and her expressions when she deals with moments where she finds herself not responding in an idealistic way. Even the dialogues written while the characters converse with each other in light and tough situations are scripted mindfully as it makes us smile while reading them. I am impressed with the way Shunali has spoken about a married woman’s ordeals who belongs to a rich society - without being preachy or imparting modern woke feminism which is thrown everywhere these days - where even wrongs of a woman is always right whereas a man is wrong even for raising his voice on a legit concern.
Overall, this is indeed an entertaining book. I will rate it 4.5* out of 5.
Thanks!
WRITING BUDDHA
April 7, 2020
Full review on my blog:
https://blog.medhaapps.com/2019/09/bo...
Natasha is happily married to Varun, a present-day crown prince but who instead loves being a busy banker. After having three kids, Natasha’s career and ambition took a backstage taking care of kids and family. Her work as a freelance writer for a magazine is the only thing that keeps her sane in middle of taunts by her mother-in-law and forever demanding husband and kids. While her articles are realistic and point out what women really want in their life, she is herself skeptical to take up a full-time job out of fear of neglecting family.
Natasha’s life takes an unexpected turn when she finds about the extra-marital affair her family friend Trisha is having. As she is torn between her loyalty for Trisha’s husband Nakul who is also Varun’s business partner and between Trisha who seems to be truly happy in this relationship than in her marriage, will this change friendships and relationships forever forms the rest of the story.
The title is catchy so is the cover; though the story is set against the backdrop of affluent families who are Page3 regulars also, a majority of young woman will be able to relate to Natasha’s life. I personally loved the pieces that Natasha publishes as some of them serve as good food-for-thought. The story is interesting in the first half as the reader gets to know about Natasha, her family, friends and about Trisha and her affair. However, the point of conflict gets weaker as the story progresses and the second half suffers due to some sequences getting dragged.
With better editing, the story could have been more appealing. That said, this book had been my comfort read on all those occasions when I wanted a light and entertaining read. Natasha’s life situations and problems may not be critical or life threatening but it would be unfair to ignore the constant judgement that woman at different financial levels go through.
Pick this one if you like light and fun reads, centered majorly about woman characters.
https://blog.medhaapps.com/2019/09/bo...
Natasha is happily married to Varun, a present-day crown prince but who instead loves being a busy banker. After having three kids, Natasha’s career and ambition took a backstage taking care of kids and family. Her work as a freelance writer for a magazine is the only thing that keeps her sane in middle of taunts by her mother-in-law and forever demanding husband and kids. While her articles are realistic and point out what women really want in their life, she is herself skeptical to take up a full-time job out of fear of neglecting family.
Natasha’s life takes an unexpected turn when she finds about the extra-marital affair her family friend Trisha is having. As she is torn between her loyalty for Trisha’s husband Nakul who is also Varun’s business partner and between Trisha who seems to be truly happy in this relationship than in her marriage, will this change friendships and relationships forever forms the rest of the story.
The title is catchy so is the cover; though the story is set against the backdrop of affluent families who are Page3 regulars also, a majority of young woman will be able to relate to Natasha’s life. I personally loved the pieces that Natasha publishes as some of them serve as good food-for-thought. The story is interesting in the first half as the reader gets to know about Natasha, her family, friends and about Trisha and her affair. However, the point of conflict gets weaker as the story progresses and the second half suffers due to some sequences getting dragged.
With better editing, the story could have been more appealing. That said, this book had been my comfort read on all those occasions when I wanted a light and entertaining read. Natasha’s life situations and problems may not be critical or life threatening but it would be unfair to ignore the constant judgement that woman at different financial levels go through.
Pick this one if you like light and fun reads, centered majorly about woman characters.
August 22, 2021
Love in the time of affluenza:
Oh, but rich people have it so easy!
Have you often caught yourself assuming that affluence or being rich could shields you from all the quandaries of life? Love in the affluenza is one such book, which will change the narrative we hold for the upper-class people. As Leo Tolstoy put it-"All happy families resemble one another, but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
So, what if rich people don't have the troubles that keep them up tonight as their basic needs are met. They have their share of struggles: loneliness, adultery, imposter syndrome. As a society, we have outsourced our endeavours and basic chores which leave us with more time to address our inner demons.
Natasha, our protagonist and an erstwhile journalist has wishfully given her financial autonomy for her kids and husband. She thinks it is something that heralds a marriage. Her world toppled over when faced with the nefarious truth of Trisha, her best friend's adultery. Despite her efforts to dissuade Trisha, Natasha has to keep their secret only later to change her perspective when stuck in a similar situation.
This book is the story for every person who wants an insight into the psyche of a modern woman.
Oh, but rich people have it so easy!
Have you often caught yourself assuming that affluence or being rich could shields you from all the quandaries of life? Love in the affluenza is one such book, which will change the narrative we hold for the upper-class people. As Leo Tolstoy put it-"All happy families resemble one another, but each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
So, what if rich people don't have the troubles that keep them up tonight as their basic needs are met. They have their share of struggles: loneliness, adultery, imposter syndrome. As a society, we have outsourced our endeavours and basic chores which leave us with more time to address our inner demons.
Natasha, our protagonist and an erstwhile journalist has wishfully given her financial autonomy for her kids and husband. She thinks it is something that heralds a marriage. Her world toppled over when faced with the nefarious truth of Trisha, her best friend's adultery. Despite her efforts to dissuade Trisha, Natasha has to keep their secret only later to change her perspective when stuck in a similar situation.
This book is the story for every person who wants an insight into the psyche of a modern woman.
April 19, 2020
Yet again, this is the story of a career woman who has given up on it to look after her family. However, she is secretly affected by the lack of appreciation from their part. Her husband Varun is also busy with his work and other commitments, and this makes Natasha feel insecure. When Natasha discovers a secret about her friend Trisha, it makes her rethink her own life. It is great to see two female leads and a plot that revolves around them, but their friendship is not something that I can endorse as a healthy one. The theme is a cliché that has been written about in a lot of books, and there is nothing new that this book could add to it. The characters in this book belong to the affluent parts of South Bombay, and we can get a glimpse of their loaded life. It has some tongue-in-cheek humour which I did enjoy. What I did not like at all is the author’s way of justification of infidelity using some weak arguments and a weaker storyline. The book started on a high note, but towards the end, it fizzled out.
December 31, 2019
"Love in the time of Affluenza" is a fun and breezy read. Shunali in this book has given many peculiar perceptions and glimpses of lives of Bombay women. Hilarious and satirically written this book will turn out to be relatable to many women out there.
.
.
Natasha is a profound writer living a sumptuous life, raising three children with her husband Varun Singh, owner of an artitectural firm. But when one of her friend Trisha encloses about her affair Natasha starts questioning about her life and if she is really happy with her husband. .
.
I found second half of the book to be much more engrossing than the initial half. The lavish and extravagant lifestyle of higher class posh families is well depicted in the book. You'll find many insightful messages between the witty lines by the author. Grab a copy of this amusing book for a light and risible read.
.
.
Natasha is a profound writer living a sumptuous life, raising three children with her husband Varun Singh, owner of an artitectural firm. But when one of her friend Trisha encloses about her affair Natasha starts questioning about her life and if she is really happy with her husband. .
.
I found second half of the book to be much more engrossing than the initial half. The lavish and extravagant lifestyle of higher class posh families is well depicted in the book. You'll find many insightful messages between the witty lines by the author. Grab a copy of this amusing book for a light and risible read.
April 7, 2020
One of my guests left me this book and I decided to read it as an easy read for distraction when I am a vitctired and dont want to ready something heavier! The book describes the life of a rich but bored Indian housewife who become confidante in her friend's affair and who almost ends up having her own affair with another man as she realizes how boring her own marriage has become. It is a good read but rather predictable and cliched. I had wished some more twists and surprises in order to make it more interesting. But it is a more typical "women can not have it all" read set in an Indian context which is often a bit ridiculous as it features Bombay Hoght Society. So the author drones on about clothes, parties and polo matches. All in all I did finish it and it had some good and funny parts. I would probably not pick another book by this author however!
August 23, 2022
First things first - please do not believe any blurb/review that compares this book to 'Crazy Rich Asians'.
The biting satire is totally missing.
The writing is clever and funny, but there's very little plotline or story, which is highly frustrating.
I enjoyed guessing the IRL equivalents of some of the characters (most of which couldn't be more obvious) and the first half of the book which involves skirting around the an extra-marital affair.
Not a single male character is interesting, especially the two useless husbands - Varun and Nakul. Both sound extremely tiresome to be around and it isn't surprising that both have bored wives.
The author is probably better off writing gossip columns than full length books.
The biting satire is totally missing.
The writing is clever and funny, but there's very little plotline or story, which is highly frustrating.
I enjoyed guessing the IRL equivalents of some of the characters (most of which couldn't be more obvious) and the first half of the book which involves skirting around the an extra-marital affair.
Not a single male character is interesting, especially the two useless husbands - Varun and Nakul. Both sound extremely tiresome to be around and it isn't surprising that both have bored wives.
The author is probably better off writing gossip columns than full length books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2019
💜"All work and no pay makes a house wife"
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🙎Book Name : Love in the Time of Affluenza
🙎Author Name: Shunali Khullar Shroff
.
☘️The story is about Natasha Singh, a housewife, mother of 3 children and also a freelance writer. She had sacrificed her successful career just to be with her children. Life was going smoothly until she got to know the extra marital affair of her best friend. She tried to make her friend understand about the consequences but all was in vain. Her friend's secret affects her personal life and her relation with her husband. What happened next?? How she will balance her life while working full time??
.
🍁The author has nicely portrayed the life of a housewife. House wifes staying at home doesn't mean that they don't have any work to do.Women are making so much sacrifices and hardwork just to take care of their children. In return they want love,some time and care. Men can't even manage their life and kids without wife even for 2days.
🍁Author's super funny and sarcastic narrative make the story more strong. I love Natasha’s observations of day to day life, her description of her mother-in-law and the expectations of being married to a ‘Royal’ family, dealing with children's tantrums and a royal husband who is always busy, her association with affluent families ,her parties with her friend Nafisa all makes an entertaining read.
🍁Each chapter of the book starts with a motivating and emotional message which discuss some important points like sex education, gender equality, women's freedom, homosexuality etc.
🍁All women can relate to this story. Maid,driver, Gardner or cook; every day one of the other takes leave and makes Natasha's life more complex. The e-mail conversations were the funniest part of the book.
🍁Language is lucid. The upscale SOBO(South Bombay),Bandra, Bollywood, Royals and High-end fashion brands, high level parties and culture of Mumbai described by author is precise.
.
🙎Book Name : Love in the Time of Affluenza
🙎Author Name: Shunali Khullar Shroff
.
☘️The story is about Natasha Singh, a housewife, mother of 3 children and also a freelance writer. She had sacrificed her successful career just to be with her children. Life was going smoothly until she got to know the extra marital affair of her best friend. She tried to make her friend understand about the consequences but all was in vain. Her friend's secret affects her personal life and her relation with her husband. What happened next?? How she will balance her life while working full time??
.
🍁The author has nicely portrayed the life of a housewife. House wifes staying at home doesn't mean that they don't have any work to do.Women are making so much sacrifices and hardwork just to take care of their children. In return they want love,some time and care. Men can't even manage their life and kids without wife even for 2days.
🍁Author's super funny and sarcastic narrative make the story more strong. I love Natasha’s observations of day to day life, her description of her mother-in-law and the expectations of being married to a ‘Royal’ family, dealing with children's tantrums and a royal husband who is always busy, her association with affluent families ,her parties with her friend Nafisa all makes an entertaining read.
🍁Each chapter of the book starts with a motivating and emotional message which discuss some important points like sex education, gender equality, women's freedom, homosexuality etc.
🍁All women can relate to this story. Maid,driver, Gardner or cook; every day one of the other takes leave and makes Natasha's life more complex. The e-mail conversations were the funniest part of the book.
🍁Language is lucid. The upscale SOBO(South Bombay),Bandra, Bollywood, Royals and High-end fashion brands, high level parties and culture of Mumbai described by author is precise.
August 3, 2020
Just right amount of Pampering , humour and socital commentary...
Absolute fun Read !! (Much needed one at it !!)
this hooked me up to the book:
He gets this look on his face, you see, when I make a mistake – it’s this little knowing smile. I adore my Varun, don’t get me wrong, but that little my-wife-is-such-a-flake smile of his makes me want to claw his eyes out.
Absolute fun Read !! (Much needed one at it !!)
this hooked me up to the book:
He gets this look on his face, you see, when I make a mistake – it’s this little knowing smile. I adore my Varun, don’t get me wrong, but that little my-wife-is-such-a-flake smile of his makes me want to claw his eyes out.
March 12, 2021
Such a fun ride! I laughed so much. Needed something like this to see me through these trying times. It deserves a 4 star but I've given it a 5 because of how low I was feeling before I picked this book up and what it did to improve my mood.
April 22, 2020
I am maybe biased ... I was missing home (Mumbai) and this was just perfect.. also amidst the lockdown I wanted a light read. I thoroughly enjoyed this rom-com.
July 27, 2020
I found Love in the Time of Alffluenza riveting and a rather honest and humorous take on Mumbai’s outrageously wealthy. A 5 star read for sure, an absolute gem of a book
February 2, 2021
Recommendation from Kevin Kwan, author of the "Crazy Rich Asians" trilogy. It was an interesting read but the story was not as exhilarating as I expected.
April 27, 2021
Don’t know why But i actually enjoyed reading this high class society affair, daily chores in the life of royal and how always woman are blamed for their mistakes and man are forgiven all the time ? It is good to go book especially when someone is in quarantine
February 16, 2022
I will never know why I wasted my time on this book.
I give up after reading about 30% of it on my Kindle.
I give up after reading about 30% of it on my Kindle.
February 17, 2022
A fun read about relations and expectations.
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