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Lallan Sweets
Family Drama(40 percent), Love Story( 30 percent), Heart Warming( 100 percent)
It is 1995. Tara Taneja lives in the small town of Siyaka, running Ultimate Mathematics Tuition Centre and working for Lalaji, her grandfather, at Lallan Sweets, his famous sweet shop. The laddoos sold at the shop are made using a secret family recipe that contains a magic ingredient known only to Lalaji.
When Lalaji chooses to retire, he decides that Lallan Sweets will not be inherited but earned. He devises a quest for his three grandchildren-Tara, Rohit and Mohit-to discover the magic ingredient. Whoever finds it first will get to run the shop.
It helps that Tara's long-time crush and neighbour, fun-loving and good-natured Nikku Sabharwal, returns to Siyaka after years. He joins Tara in her pursuit to outsmart her cousins. As the quest takes them from Mathura to Ludhiana, they must battle old secrets, family legacies and unexpected dangers. Yet, the toughest part will be acknowledging their feelings for each other. Will this journey bring them together or lead to a bittersweet end?
It is 1995. Tara Taneja lives in the small town of Siyaka, running Ultimate Mathematics Tuition Centre and working for Lalaji, her grandfather, at Lallan Sweets, his famous sweet shop. The laddoos sold at the shop are made using a secret family recipe that contains a magic ingredient known only to Lalaji.
When Lalaji chooses to retire, he decides that Lallan Sweets will not be inherited but earned. He devises a quest for his three grandchildren-Tara, Rohit and Mohit-to discover the magic ingredient. Whoever finds it first will get to run the shop.
It helps that Tara's long-time crush and neighbour, fun-loving and good-natured Nikku Sabharwal, returns to Siyaka after years. He joins Tara in her pursuit to outsmart her cousins. As the quest takes them from Mathura to Ludhiana, they must battle old secrets, family legacies and unexpected dangers. Yet, the toughest part will be acknowledging their feelings for each other. Will this journey bring them together or lead to a bittersweet end?
288 pages, Paperback
First published July 8, 2020
229 people are currently reading
2909 people want to read
About the author
Srishti Chaudhary
5 books190 followersDive 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 467 reviews
April 24, 2025
Noble concept. Poor execution.
Can't lie, this had all the makings of a great fluffy Bollywood-like rom-com. The 1995 setting. A fictional small town. A spirited, bubbly protagonist. Road trips, romance, and good food!
What could go wrong?
A lot, apparently. A nearly 300-page book should not feel like a 500-page slog to get through. That too for a novel with such a light, whimsical story to tell. The prose is juvenile and utterly underwritten, and the world-building is shallow, to say the least. I understand the intention of keeping it sweet and simple. To create a silly, accessible universe that demands little out of its audience in the long run. But things do not play out accordingly.
The book demands one crucial thing from its reader. And that's patience. Lots of it. The hunt for the elusive magic ingredient of 'Lallan ke Laddoo' acts as a proper McGuffin of sorts. The beating heart of a sweeping desi romantic adventure, if you may. But the quest in itself is padded with interminable fillers. Half of it makes little sense. All that patience you invest, all that meandering around, is repaid through awfully unsatisfactory payoffs. A breed of eventual answers that almost makes one mimic a desi aunty and exclaim "hein?" out loud!
And then there's Tara and Nikhil, our favourite dumdums...
The conversations and the exchanges, featuring our alleged cutie patooties, read out like fanfics I'd pen back in tenth grade or so. They lack visible chemistry. The friends-to-lovers arc feels forced in hindsight. And the proximity doesn't really make a reader root for them wholeheartedly. Making the two, the human personification of an undercooked dish served prematurely. Something that can also be implied about the (apparently) vintage world surrounding our pair, which barely feels old enough, barring the desperate reminder every now and then.
Lots of telling, very little showing in this one, kids. But that should be fine in itself, considering the simple nature of it all. Right?
Only then do you realise that the author is a 'Lady Shri Ram' alumni with creative writing acumen from the University of Edinburgh. That shifts things into perspective. By this, I do not mean to be pretentious and argue that one should commit solely to writing literary fiction and aim for those lofty critical awards. But I simply expect greater cohesion and planning from a published author of such stature. That's all. No hate, otherwise.
It has its moments, for sure. Tara's need to prove the patriarchal household wrong in lieu of an actual father figure was a cause that I really empathised with.
But that was simply not enough to salvage this wonky, sinking ship that felt more like a hopeless attempt at being aesthetically cosy than a feel-good triumph that I hoped it'd be. Instead of 'Lallan Sweets', the book should have been named 'Siyaka mein Siyappa'. Seeing how it nearly sent me into a dreaded reading slump and left me short-charged with its repeated penchant for grand anticlimaxes. It does teach you a lesson, though. Not all that glitters turns out to be gold. Colourful covers, all be damned.
Call me the fun police all you want, but you've been warned.
(1.75/5 || November-December, 2023)
Can't lie, this had all the makings of a great fluffy Bollywood-like rom-com. The 1995 setting. A fictional small town. A spirited, bubbly protagonist. Road trips, romance, and good food!
What could go wrong?
A lot, apparently. A nearly 300-page book should not feel like a 500-page slog to get through. That too for a novel with such a light, whimsical story to tell. The prose is juvenile and utterly underwritten, and the world-building is shallow, to say the least. I understand the intention of keeping it sweet and simple. To create a silly, accessible universe that demands little out of its audience in the long run. But things do not play out accordingly.
The book demands one crucial thing from its reader. And that's patience. Lots of it. The hunt for the elusive magic ingredient of 'Lallan ke Laddoo' acts as a proper McGuffin of sorts. The beating heart of a sweeping desi romantic adventure, if you may. But the quest in itself is padded with interminable fillers. Half of it makes little sense. All that patience you invest, all that meandering around, is repaid through awfully unsatisfactory payoffs. A breed of eventual answers that almost makes one mimic a desi aunty and exclaim "hein?" out loud!
And then there's Tara and Nikhil, our favourite dumdums...
The conversations and the exchanges, featuring our alleged cutie patooties, read out like fanfics I'd pen back in tenth grade or so. They lack visible chemistry. The friends-to-lovers arc feels forced in hindsight. And the proximity doesn't really make a reader root for them wholeheartedly. Making the two, the human personification of an undercooked dish served prematurely. Something that can also be implied about the (apparently) vintage world surrounding our pair, which barely feels old enough, barring the desperate reminder every now and then.
Lots of telling, very little showing in this one, kids. But that should be fine in itself, considering the simple nature of it all. Right?
Only then do you realise that the author is a 'Lady Shri Ram' alumni with creative writing acumen from the University of Edinburgh. That shifts things into perspective. By this, I do not mean to be pretentious and argue that one should commit solely to writing literary fiction and aim for those lofty critical awards. But I simply expect greater cohesion and planning from a published author of such stature. That's all. No hate, otherwise.
It has its moments, for sure. Tara's need to prove the patriarchal household wrong in lieu of an actual father figure was a cause that I really empathised with.
But that was simply not enough to salvage this wonky, sinking ship that felt more like a hopeless attempt at being aesthetically cosy than a feel-good triumph that I hoped it'd be. Instead of 'Lallan Sweets', the book should have been named 'Siyaka mein Siyappa'. Seeing how it nearly sent me into a dreaded reading slump and left me short-charged with its repeated penchant for grand anticlimaxes. It does teach you a lesson, though. Not all that glitters turns out to be gold. Colourful covers, all be damned.
Call me the fun police all you want, but you've been warned.
(1.75/5 || November-December, 2023)
January 17, 2026
⭐️4.5
This book felt like a warm cup of chai on a slow evening – comforting, cozy, and full of heart!!🫶🏼
Lallan Sweets honestly feels like one of those books where the author couldn’t live a dream she dreamed in real life, so she poured it into the story instead ,just to feel it a little. And you can really feel that while reading it. She lived vicariously through our protagonist Taru.
Okay, let’s talk about the characters :-
𝐓α𝗋α 𝐓α𐓣𝖾𝗃α - Our protagonist, she was such a lit. That determination to become an independent girl, actually having dreams and ready for all the adventures she could be in.That’s the girl we all would like to relate,right?
𝐍𝗂𝗄ku 𝐒αᑲɦα𝗋ωαᥣ - well what’s there to talk about our Nikku, he was a jerk when they were in Delhi but at the end he came to her and I really liked that they got separated in delhi, because that last adventure in Chandigarh and Ludhiana was all Taru needed.
𝐑ⱺɦ𝗂𝗍 α𐓣ᑯ 𝐌ⱺɦ𝗂𝗍 - could’ve been the best brothers,
if only family drama hadn’t messed things up.
Classic desi home energy, right?
Well the story wouldn’t have been this great if not for the adventures they had, and it was all because of 𝐋αᥣα𝗃𝗂. Started from Mathura to Agra (classic) and then to Bareilly( “Jhumka gira re, Bareilly ke bazaar mein…”) and Delhi’s Chandni Chowk , Chandigarh and then our final destination Ludhiana.
𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭??
And here comes the star of the show
ᴛ̲ʜ̲ᴇ̲ ̲ᴍ̲ᴀ̲ɢ̲ɪ̲ᴄ̲ ̲ɪ̲ɴ̲ɢ̲ʀ̲ᴇ̲ᴅ̲ɪ̲ᴇ̲ɴ̲ᴛ̲ - when Taru thought ~ Our love and care is the magic ingredient ~ ,nothing could have justified the part of magic ingredient more than this. Yes it lied in home all the way. Such a beautiful end to this beautiful book. Also at the end I liked how all the three got to inherit(earned) 𝐋αᥣᥣα𐓣 𝐒ω𝖾𝖾𝗍𝗌.
This book? It warmed my soul. Felt like a tight hug on a bad day.♾️💟
This book felt like a warm cup of chai on a slow evening – comforting, cozy, and full of heart!!🫶🏼
Lallan Sweets honestly feels like one of those books where the author couldn’t live a dream she dreamed in real life, so she poured it into the story instead ,just to feel it a little. And you can really feel that while reading it. She lived vicariously through our protagonist Taru.
Okay, let’s talk about the characters :-
𝐓α𝗋α 𝐓α𐓣𝖾𝗃α - Our protagonist, she was such a lit. That determination to become an independent girl, actually having dreams and ready for all the adventures she could be in.That’s the girl we all would like to relate,right?
𝐍𝗂𝗄ku 𝐒αᑲɦα𝗋ωαᥣ - well what’s there to talk about our Nikku, he was a jerk when they were in Delhi but at the end he came to her and I really liked that they got separated in delhi, because that last adventure in Chandigarh and Ludhiana was all Taru needed.
𝐑ⱺɦ𝗂𝗍 α𐓣ᑯ 𝐌ⱺɦ𝗂𝗍 - could’ve been the best brothers,
if only family drama hadn’t messed things up.
Classic desi home energy, right?
Well the story wouldn’t have been this great if not for the adventures they had, and it was all because of 𝐋αᥣα𝗃𝗂. Started from Mathura to Agra (classic) and then to Bareilly( “Jhumka gira re, Bareilly ke bazaar mein…”) and Delhi’s Chandni Chowk , Chandigarh and then our final destination Ludhiana.
𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭??
And here comes the star of the show
ᴛ̲ʜ̲ᴇ̲ ̲ᴍ̲ᴀ̲ɢ̲ɪ̲ᴄ̲ ̲ɪ̲ɴ̲ɢ̲ʀ̲ᴇ̲ᴅ̲ɪ̲ᴇ̲ɴ̲ᴛ̲ - when Taru thought ~ Our love and care is the magic ingredient ~ ,nothing could have justified the part of magic ingredient more than this. Yes it lied in home all the way. Such a beautiful end to this beautiful book. Also at the end I liked how all the three got to inherit(earned) 𝐋αᥣᥣα𐓣 𝐒ω𝖾𝖾𝗍𝗌.
This book? It warmed my soul. Felt like a tight hug on a bad day.♾️💟
April 5, 2025
ೃ⁀➷
“1995 Called—and It Doesn’t Know These People Either”
This book is set in INDIA (point to be noted, your honour) in 1995… or at least that’s what it claims. Because somehow, the characters act like they’ve been plucked straight out of 2025. ONS ? A 75-year-old grandpa getting remarried to his “one true love”? Parents being totally chill about their kids going on mixed-gender trips? I’m not saying it’s impossible—but it definitely gave off major “this is how it would happen in my Wattpad story” energy. Honestly, it felt like the author spun a wheel of years and just landed on 1995 for the vibes.
It almost felt like the author was thinking, “You weren’t even alive in 1995, so how would you know?” And sure, I wasn’t. But not being born in a certain era doesn’t erase common sense. I wasn’t around during World War II either, but if someone wrote about soldiers texting their crushes on WhatsApp, I’d still know something was off. This didn’t feel like 1995—it felt like today’s drama with a 90s Instagram filter slapped on.
♥️➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶♥️
Tara ೃ⁀➷
Our leading lady. Sweetie, cheating on your boyfriend with two different guys and not even telling him because he’s moving away? That’s not personal growth—that’s a red flag waving on top of a moving train. And she doesn’t even apologize? She just floats through the story with “main character of a Netflix drama” energy. It was giving more delulu than development.
♥️➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶♥️
Nikku ೃ⁀➷
Let’s talk about the male lead—Nikhil, aka Nikku. I genuinely thought Nikku was his full name and kept giggling every time he appeared. When I finally realized it was a nickname, I had a whole identity crisis. No hate to the name, but now you understand why I was mentally beatboxing every time he entered a scene.
♥️➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶♥️
Tara and Nikku together ೃ⁀➷
Together? They gave off serious “we’ll break up before the honeymoon suite is even booked” energy. The romance didn’t feel earned—it felt like a series of plot points held together by vibes and vibes alone.
♥️➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶♥️
That said, I did finish the book. It was unnecessarily long, but chaotic enough to keep me curious. I originally rated it 3 stars because I genuinely wanted to support the author. I even re-read a few parts hoping I could justify bumping it up to a 4… but instead, I ended up lowering it to 2. The more I thought about it, the more it just unraveled.
And to the author—I’m really sorry for the critical review. I know how much effort, time, and heart go into writing a book. I genuinely wish the best for your future projects.
And honestly? I just hope my next read is a full-on 5-star—for both my peace of mind and the author’s
♥️➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶♥️
“1995 Called—and It Doesn’t Know These People Either”
This book is set in INDIA (point to be noted, your honour) in 1995… or at least that’s what it claims. Because somehow, the characters act like they’ve been plucked straight out of 2025. ONS ? A 75-year-old grandpa getting remarried to his “one true love”? Parents being totally chill about their kids going on mixed-gender trips? I’m not saying it’s impossible—but it definitely gave off major “this is how it would happen in my Wattpad story” energy. Honestly, it felt like the author spun a wheel of years and just landed on 1995 for the vibes.
It almost felt like the author was thinking, “You weren’t even alive in 1995, so how would you know?” And sure, I wasn’t. But not being born in a certain era doesn’t erase common sense. I wasn’t around during World War II either, but if someone wrote about soldiers texting their crushes on WhatsApp, I’d still know something was off. This didn’t feel like 1995—it felt like today’s drama with a 90s Instagram filter slapped on.
♥️➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶♥️
Tara ೃ⁀➷
Our leading lady. Sweetie, cheating on your boyfriend with two different guys and not even telling him because he’s moving away? That’s not personal growth—that’s a red flag waving on top of a moving train. And she doesn’t even apologize? She just floats through the story with “main character of a Netflix drama” energy. It was giving more delulu than development.
♥️➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶♥️
Nikku ೃ⁀➷
Let’s talk about the male lead—Nikhil, aka Nikku. I genuinely thought Nikku was his full name and kept giggling every time he appeared. When I finally realized it was a nickname, I had a whole identity crisis. No hate to the name, but now you understand why I was mentally beatboxing every time he entered a scene.
♥️➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶♥️
Tara and Nikku together ೃ⁀➷
Together? They gave off serious “we’ll break up before the honeymoon suite is even booked” energy. The romance didn’t feel earned—it felt like a series of plot points held together by vibes and vibes alone.
♥️➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶♥️
That said, I did finish the book. It was unnecessarily long, but chaotic enough to keep me curious. I originally rated it 3 stars because I genuinely wanted to support the author. I even re-read a few parts hoping I could justify bumping it up to a 4… but instead, I ended up lowering it to 2. The more I thought about it, the more it just unraveled.
And to the author—I’m really sorry for the critical review. I know how much effort, time, and heart go into writing a book. I genuinely wish the best for your future projects.
And honestly? I just hope my next read is a full-on 5-star—for both my peace of mind and the author’s
♥️➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶♥️
July 30, 2020
Setting :
1995, small town of Siyaka
Tara runs a tuition centre called The Ultimate Mathematics Tuition Centre. When her grandfather Lalaji is thinking of retiring, he says the family shop Lallan Sweets will not be inherited but has to be earned. This puts the new generation—Tara joined by her friend, and cousins Mohit and Rohit on a journey to find the secret of Lallan Sweets' famous laddoos. Thus follow journeys between cities chasing Lalaji's clues.
We also see Tara's uncle asking her to get married, joint family politics, falling in love, road journey, heists, intern work at other sweet shops etc.
What I liked?
The nostalgia of Bollywood songs. 90's kids will love the book for the many songs, and movie references. Pop songs, Shahrukh Khan, all that.
Loved the pacing and flow between the chapters. I though Srishti C does a very good job at this. You are always expecting something—what next. And the scenes are often funny mingled with deeper thoughts about single women, ambitious women, finding your heart's desire, trust etc when you think deeper.
What I wasn't sure about
- What happened to the students at Ultimate Mathematics tuition centre? Since the book begins with the tuition centre and Tara's dream about growing it and becoming self sufficient, I wished it had more mentions later on in the book.
- Finding secret ingredient immediately puts you in the KungFu Panda movie mode as a reader. While this is neither a good or bad thing, I was happy with the plot developments, cultural nuances and character traits explored in the book. But this fact was at the back of my head from page 1.
Recommended for a breezy stay-in read that might even make you listen to old favourite songs.
--
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1995, small town of Siyaka
Tara runs a tuition centre called The Ultimate Mathematics Tuition Centre. When her grandfather Lalaji is thinking of retiring, he says the family shop Lallan Sweets will not be inherited but has to be earned. This puts the new generation—Tara joined by her friend, and cousins Mohit and Rohit on a journey to find the secret of Lallan Sweets' famous laddoos. Thus follow journeys between cities chasing Lalaji's clues.
We also see Tara's uncle asking her to get married, joint family politics, falling in love, road journey, heists, intern work at other sweet shops etc.
What I liked?
The nostalgia of Bollywood songs. 90's kids will love the book for the many songs, and movie references. Pop songs, Shahrukh Khan, all that.
Loved the pacing and flow between the chapters. I though Srishti C does a very good job at this. You are always expecting something—what next. And the scenes are often funny mingled with deeper thoughts about single women, ambitious women, finding your heart's desire, trust etc when you think deeper.
What I wasn't sure about
- What happened to the students at Ultimate Mathematics tuition centre? Since the book begins with the tuition centre and Tara's dream about growing it and becoming self sufficient, I wished it had more mentions later on in the book.
- Finding secret ingredient immediately puts you in the KungFu Panda movie mode as a reader. While this is neither a good or bad thing, I was happy with the plot developments, cultural nuances and character traits explored in the book. But this fact was at the back of my head from page 1.
Recommended for a breezy stay-in read that might even make you listen to old favourite songs.
--
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest
October 23, 2024
Lallan sweets was an underrated gem for me and I love books which I can read in one or two sittings which doesn’t weigh me down too much. Lallan sweets just like its name, was sweet and a cute, happy read.
~
Tara, our protagonist runs Ultimate mathematics tuition centre at Siyaka. Her grandfather, Lalaji is retiring and thinking of passing his sweetshop to his grandchildren. There’s one difference, they would have to earn their inheritance so they understand the value of it. Here begins a thrilling and exciting journey which takes us through haunted havelis, Taj Mahal at night, drug busts, wedding crashes and so much more. It doesn’t make you bored and you are always wondering, what next?
~
These days, I crave simplicity in stories and sometimes, sometimes I don’t want to read books where there is too much “read between the lines” and literal pretentiousness. It’ll take you down a nostalgic lane, if you grew up in the 90s in a small town in India, you’ll instantly be drawn to the book. I love reading about the pre internet, pre cell phones slow burn romance and this was just perfect for me.
~
There’s also the Indian family drama, and a road trip. The nostalgia of the 90s, IndiPop, Shahrukh Khan and the unlimited 90s Indian references. It all wrapped up nicely and I am a sucker for happy endings. Definitely a sweet book to get lost into, I highly recommend you read this gem.
4.5🌟
~
Tara, our protagonist runs Ultimate mathematics tuition centre at Siyaka. Her grandfather, Lalaji is retiring and thinking of passing his sweetshop to his grandchildren. There’s one difference, they would have to earn their inheritance so they understand the value of it. Here begins a thrilling and exciting journey which takes us through haunted havelis, Taj Mahal at night, drug busts, wedding crashes and so much more. It doesn’t make you bored and you are always wondering, what next?
~
These days, I crave simplicity in stories and sometimes, sometimes I don’t want to read books where there is too much “read between the lines” and literal pretentiousness. It’ll take you down a nostalgic lane, if you grew up in the 90s in a small town in India, you’ll instantly be drawn to the book. I love reading about the pre internet, pre cell phones slow burn romance and this was just perfect for me.
~
There’s also the Indian family drama, and a road trip. The nostalgia of the 90s, IndiPop, Shahrukh Khan and the unlimited 90s Indian references. It all wrapped up nicely and I am a sucker for happy endings. Definitely a sweet book to get lost into, I highly recommend you read this gem.
4.5🌟
January 9, 2025
The recurring theme of two childhood friends falling in love in the end saddens me, especially in societies like India, where a very trivial question of whether men and women can be just friends is often significant. Stories like these, marketed as "cozy" and "fun," perpetuate the casual crossing of friendship boundaries, presenting it as the ultimate romantic ideal. It reflects a lack of emphasis on moral boundaries, something many of us weren't taught as children.
Beyond this, the story revolves around a quest to uncover the secret ingredient in Lallan's sweets. It’s a light, simple read, suitable for beginners not expecting much depth.
Probably wont be picking up any cozy reads again inspired from the instagram.
Beyond this, the story revolves around a quest to uncover the secret ingredient in Lallan's sweets. It’s a light, simple read, suitable for beginners not expecting much depth.
Probably wont be picking up any cozy reads again inspired from the instagram.
June 27, 2024
Felt like a Wattpad story written by an author whose first language isn't English.
November 6, 2025
3 stars 🌟
So, Lallan Sweets is about a our MC Tara and her family sweet shop, set in a fictional village in 1990s India, where their grandfather Lalaji sends Tara and her cousins on a quest to find the secret ingredient in their bestselling ladoo.
This book has become pretty popular over the past few years so I was curious to give it a try, and unfortunately it kind of sucked. The concept and characters were decent enough, but the published book was full of grammatical errors and poor writing and I was honestly expecting better. I also don't really care for the romance, as I cant root for characters who claim they want to be together but aren't loyal to one another. I also just found it borderline unbelievable that an unmaried girl and boy were roming around together in 1990s India, but maybe thats just me. The secret ingredient was also quite easy to guess for me. 3 stars for a decent effort and because it was fast pased enough I read it in a day. Also the cover is gorgeous!
Reviewed on 4th November 2025
DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.
How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite
So, Lallan Sweets is about a our MC Tara and her family sweet shop, set in a fictional village in 1990s India, where their grandfather Lalaji sends Tara and her cousins on a quest to find the secret ingredient in their bestselling ladoo.
This book has become pretty popular over the past few years so I was curious to give it a try, and unfortunately it kind of sucked. The concept and characters were decent enough, but the published book was full of grammatical errors and poor writing and I was honestly expecting better. I also don't really care for the romance, as I cant root for characters who claim they want to be together but aren't loyal to one another. I also just found it borderline unbelievable that an unmaried girl and boy were roming around together in 1990s India, but maybe thats just me. The secret ingredient was also quite easy to guess for me. 3 stars for a decent effort and because it was fast pased enough I read it in a day. Also the cover is gorgeous!
Reviewed on 4th November 2025
DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.
How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite
November 16, 2020
Unexpected gem! I love me a read-in-a-single-sitting book, and Lallan Sweets was a gripping, sweet, joyous, and dramatic ride. For real tho, this book has all the ingredients to be a hit Bollywood movie.
The story is rather adventurous and takes you across many cities in India (with the anchor being the small town of Siyaka), a slow romance brews amidst, and many events unfurl (haunted havelis to drug busts to wedding crashes to lots more...) - all a quest to find the 'secret ingredient' to the famous laddoos at Lallan Sweets. The humor is understated but shines throughout, and the writing is controlled and impactful. If you're looking for a story written by an Indian author, set in the India you know (& perhaps inhabit), and want to spruce up your weekend ~~ pick this up. I promise minimal regrets.
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Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story is rather adventurous and takes you across many cities in India (with the anchor being the small town of Siyaka), a slow romance brews amidst, and many events unfurl (haunted havelis to drug busts to wedding crashes to lots more...) - all a quest to find the 'secret ingredient' to the famous laddoos at Lallan Sweets. The humor is understated but shines throughout, and the writing is controlled and impactful. If you're looking for a story written by an Indian author, set in the India you know (& perhaps inhabit), and want to spruce up your weekend ~~ pick this up. I promise minimal regrets.
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Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 18, 2020
A fairly good read. Although the plot was good but somehow the language missed to convey the feel. Although I would call it a fast read, but at the same time I was waiting for it to finish. Nothing to hold on to or to fall back upon.
July 10, 2020
Lallan Sweets by Srishti Chaudhary set in a small town called, Siyaka and about the family of Lalaji, who is in lead to acquire the famous and oldest sweet shop "Lallan Sweets", as Lalaji is getting old.
Set in 1995, Tara Taneja (Taru) is set on a journey to find out the magic ingredient in the ladoos of the famous sweet shop "Lallan Sweets". At the same time comes his long lost crush and childhood friend Nikhil Sabarwal (Nikku), who joins her in this quest.
The book is a beautiful journey of these people, to find themselves and their love along the journey. Along with this, Tara is competing against her cousin brother - Rohit & Mohit, in order to inherit the sweet shop. The book is beautifully written.
This book will give you lots of family drama, finding love, and laughter. It's a heartwarming story. But I must say, the ending was quite expected (atleast by me), but overall I liked the message sent across the book. The characters are pretty good. I enjoyed reading the book.
Set in 1995, Tara Taneja (Taru) is set on a journey to find out the magic ingredient in the ladoos of the famous sweet shop "Lallan Sweets". At the same time comes his long lost crush and childhood friend Nikhil Sabarwal (Nikku), who joins her in this quest.
The book is a beautiful journey of these people, to find themselves and their love along the journey. Along with this, Tara is competing against her cousin brother - Rohit & Mohit, in order to inherit the sweet shop. The book is beautifully written.
This book will give you lots of family drama, finding love, and laughter. It's a heartwarming story. But I must say, the ending was quite expected (atleast by me), but overall I liked the message sent across the book. The characters are pretty good. I enjoyed reading the book.
October 14, 2020
A fun relaxing read after such a long time!
Tara Taneja handles her grandfather's famous "Lallan Sweets". The entire family has curious about the magic ingredient in the Laddoo yet Lallaji their grandfather refuses to say it to anyone who doesn't earn it. Hence Tara sets out on a quest with her school crush to find out what the ingredient actually is.
It's a quick and easy read, perfect for anyone looking for a light read. There's enough mix of all kinds of emotions within the family and is definitely relatable to a great extent. Tara's character stands for herself even in the early 90s. Since the whole story is set in the 90s, theres a lot of backdrop of the 90s in terms of movies, songs and other references so someone who has actually been through thr same might be able to relate to it
Tara Taneja handles her grandfather's famous "Lallan Sweets". The entire family has curious about the magic ingredient in the Laddoo yet Lallaji their grandfather refuses to say it to anyone who doesn't earn it. Hence Tara sets out on a quest with her school crush to find out what the ingredient actually is.
It's a quick and easy read, perfect for anyone looking for a light read. There's enough mix of all kinds of emotions within the family and is definitely relatable to a great extent. Tara's character stands for herself even in the early 90s. Since the whole story is set in the 90s, theres a lot of backdrop of the 90s in terms of movies, songs and other references so someone who has actually been through thr same might be able to relate to it
October 1, 2024
I expected a lot more(as I read a few great reviews) and the book seems to be trying to be something great but it still falls short. All in all, it was fine, but that's all it was.
October 7, 2021
Read a feel good, fun and bollywood-y book after ages and absolutely loved it❤️
'Lallan Sweets' is the story of your next door girl, Tara Taneja, who is struggling to create her place in the patriarchal society of 1995.
Her grandfather, Lalaji, is looking to pass on the family business 'Lallan sweets' to an heir, but the heir needs to earn the shop by completing a bunch of filmy tasks.
Adding to the problem that Tara is competing against boys, is the fact that she is struggling to sort her feelings for her childhood crush, Nikku.
Like I said, it's a happy and feel good book! But it goes beyond entertainment too.
Constant fighting and defending and proving yourself makes you vulnerable, doesn't it? And in that moment of vulnerability, we let down our guard. In that moment of vulnerability, a simple smile, the tiniest gesture of help and the mildest of sweet comments make us melt down. And that is when people strike.
And oh how stupid we feel later!
The same thing happened with our Tara. But Tara, I would just repeat my motto to you - you weren't stupid, you just believed that everyone has a good heart...
Coming back to the story - it was literally a trip down the memory lane, all with its mentions of Poppins, Campa and SRK.
So just go ahead and read the book! Get lost in the aromas of laddoos, samosas and kachoris!
'Lallan Sweets' is the story of your next door girl, Tara Taneja, who is struggling to create her place in the patriarchal society of 1995.
Her grandfather, Lalaji, is looking to pass on the family business 'Lallan sweets' to an heir, but the heir needs to earn the shop by completing a bunch of filmy tasks.
Adding to the problem that Tara is competing against boys, is the fact that she is struggling to sort her feelings for her childhood crush, Nikku.
Like I said, it's a happy and feel good book! But it goes beyond entertainment too.
Constant fighting and defending and proving yourself makes you vulnerable, doesn't it? And in that moment of vulnerability, we let down our guard. In that moment of vulnerability, a simple smile, the tiniest gesture of help and the mildest of sweet comments make us melt down. And that is when people strike.
And oh how stupid we feel later!
The same thing happened with our Tara. But Tara, I would just repeat my motto to you - you weren't stupid, you just believed that everyone has a good heart...
Coming back to the story - it was literally a trip down the memory lane, all with its mentions of Poppins, Campa and SRK.
So just go ahead and read the book! Get lost in the aromas of laddoos, samosas and kachoris!
August 31, 2025
I heard this book on Audible. I did like the narration, although too much at times.
This book was all across the gram last year and I had kept it on my TBR until now.
Its the first book by the author and if I had to title this review, it would be 90's Bollywood Flashback.
The story is set in Siyaka, a small fictional town and the name says it all. Lallan sweets is owned by Tara Tanejas grand father. After a family bickering, he decides to send the siblings rohit, mohit and Tara on a quest across few North Indian States. Tara is joined by her bestie Niku on this trip.
There are quite a number of references to Bollywood songs, food which will make you drool and tiny bit of suspense.
The story flows seamlessly and you can imagine watching some movie. But it kind of drags a bit in some places. My rating would be 2.5 to a 3 for this.
If you like Desi - Indian -romcoms this book is for you.
I do plan to read the other books by the author sometime in the future.
This book was all across the gram last year and I had kept it on my TBR until now.
Its the first book by the author and if I had to title this review, it would be 90's Bollywood Flashback.
The story is set in Siyaka, a small fictional town and the name says it all. Lallan sweets is owned by Tara Tanejas grand father. After a family bickering, he decides to send the siblings rohit, mohit and Tara on a quest across few North Indian States. Tara is joined by her bestie Niku on this trip.
There are quite a number of references to Bollywood songs, food which will make you drool and tiny bit of suspense.
The story flows seamlessly and you can imagine watching some movie. But it kind of drags a bit in some places. My rating would be 2.5 to a 3 for this.
If you like Desi - Indian -romcoms this book is for you.
I do plan to read the other books by the author sometime in the future.
April 28, 2025
If you are looking for a perfect desi rom con, don’t walk run to grab Lallan Sweets🏃🏻♀️ It is such a sweet and heartwarming story. I really liked how simple yet emotional the writing was. The characters felt very real, and the small-town vibe was captured beautifully. It’s one of those books that just makes you smile and feel good while reading. If you enjoy stories about family, relationships, and a bit of nostalgia, you should definitely give this one a try!
August 25, 2025
3.75 Stars!!!
This book is like a cute Bollywood movie that doesn't make full sense but you enjoy it anyway.
The book delivered on what I expected off of it - cozy, cute, Bollywood movie vibes, a fun time.
I really liked the concept of the book, going on a quest to find the magic ingredient to inherit Lallan Sweets shop.
The older characters, Lalaji (Lallan) and Bauji (Lallan's old friend) added some charm to the story.
Liked the characters. Tara's determination to prove herself when all her family did was try to pull her down. Even Mohit & Rohit evolved really well.
I felt that all the characters were sort of surface level. I would have liked to know more especially about Nikku.
I had sort of guessed the magic ingredient and felt a little underwhelming but Lalaji's happy ending was a nice surprise.
I feel like we didn't get to see much of the chemistry between the main couple. It was told and not shown. Like they went from being little awkward to staring/looking at each other but then suddenly to kissing each other casually. Huh? May be if this was a movie, there would be a song where we would see the chemistry instead of the characters actually talking/interacting. This book certainly could be a Bollywood movie.
Regardless, I was still shipping these two together. Even though I felt that we didn't know much about Nikku.
His declaration of love was a little underwhelming though. Like, are we sure he is not going to leave for somewhere again? Tara would try her best to make it work I am sure but Nikku I am not so sure about. But then, I am overthinking and it's not that deep. 😁🥴
This book is nostalgia, coziness and good vibes. I enjoyed my time reading this and want to read other works from this author. Very good palate cleanser book. Sweet story to read when your mind is busy.
This book is like a cute Bollywood movie that doesn't make full sense but you enjoy it anyway.
The book delivered on what I expected off of it - cozy, cute, Bollywood movie vibes, a fun time.
I really liked the concept of the book, going on a quest to find the magic ingredient to inherit Lallan Sweets shop.
The older characters, Lalaji (Lallan) and Bauji (Lallan's old friend) added some charm to the story.
Liked the characters. Tara's determination to prove herself when all her family did was try to pull her down. Even Mohit & Rohit evolved really well.
I felt that all the characters were sort of surface level. I would have liked to know more especially about Nikku.
I had sort of guessed the magic ingredient and felt a little underwhelming but Lalaji's happy ending was a nice surprise.
I feel like we didn't get to see much of the chemistry between the main couple. It was told and not shown. Like they went from being little awkward to staring/looking at each other but then suddenly to kissing each other casually. Huh? May be if this was a movie, there would be a song where we would see the chemistry instead of the characters actually talking/interacting. This book certainly could be a Bollywood movie.
Regardless, I was still shipping these two together. Even though I felt that we didn't know much about Nikku.
His declaration of love was a little underwhelming though. Like, are we sure he is not going to leave for somewhere again? Tara would try her best to make it work I am sure but Nikku I am not so sure about. But then, I am overthinking and it's not that deep. 😁🥴
This book is nostalgia, coziness and good vibes. I enjoyed my time reading this and want to read other works from this author. Very good palate cleanser book. Sweet story to read when your mind is busy.
August 15, 2025
The book was good and fast read,
Story revolves around Tara mainly in back days around the time 1995.
The Lallan sweets famous sweet shop in siyaka,mainly they are famous for there Laddoos.Now the question arises in family who will manage Lallan sweets after the grandfather,his grandsons Mohit & Rohit or his granddaughter Tara.To make this fair and square grandfather give them a quest whoever wins this will get to manage Lallan sweets,the quest is about finding the secret ingredient to make laddoos.
Where she was in odd because Rohit & Mohit were together in this,she was alone but Nikku her childhood friend who was back from Bangalore to his after really long time offered a hand and decided to tag along with her in this journey.
I really loved the tension and cute banter between Tara & Nikku.I loved the part the most where they entered Taj Mahal that was so reckless & raw and then because of that one thing how everything went spiraling in their journey.
This book will get you back to your childhood days ,where there were no fancy cellphones,internet & everything was of 10rs ,40rs & the famous game was kho-kho. If there was cellphone I don’t think this quest would have been so interesting like sending letters to give them hint & if Tara had cellphone she would have broken up with Sahil in one sec before kissing Nikku.
Don’t ask me about end it shocked me & I got answers why lalaji often went missing without informing anyone where he goes.
Story revolves around Tara mainly in back days around the time 1995.
The Lallan sweets famous sweet shop in siyaka,mainly they are famous for there Laddoos.Now the question arises in family who will manage Lallan sweets after the grandfather,his grandsons Mohit & Rohit or his granddaughter Tara.To make this fair and square grandfather give them a quest whoever wins this will get to manage Lallan sweets,the quest is about finding the secret ingredient to make laddoos.
Where she was in odd because Rohit & Mohit were together in this,she was alone but Nikku her childhood friend who was back from Bangalore to his after really long time offered a hand and decided to tag along with her in this journey.
I really loved the tension and cute banter between Tara & Nikku.I loved the part the most where they entered Taj Mahal that was so reckless & raw and then because of that one thing how everything went spiraling in their journey.
This book will get you back to your childhood days ,where there were no fancy cellphones,internet & everything was of 10rs ,40rs & the famous game was kho-kho. If there was cellphone I don’t think this quest would have been so interesting like sending letters to give them hint & if Tara had cellphone she would have broken up with Sahil in one sec before kissing Nikku.
Don’t ask me about end it shocked me & I got answers why lalaji often went missing without informing anyone where he goes.
April 20, 2025
If I had been a movie director, I wouldn’t even look for ideas to create a movie after reading a book like Lallan Sweets.
Set in the 1990s, Tara Taneja lives in a fictional Siyaka with her grandfather Lallan, fondly known as Lalaji, uncle’s family and her mother. The protagonist runs Ultimate Mathematics Tuition Center simultaneously helping her family in their family sweet shop Lallana Sweets of preparing mind boggling lades, an Indian sweet. But his famous lades have a secret ingredient that makes them mouth-watering & perhaps famous.
Lalaji sends his grandchildren on a quest to discover the secret ingredient that makes the ladoos famous just for the sake of making his grandchildren worthy of continuing the shop and not just by inheritance. She ventures into this adventurous quest with her childhood friend and crush, fun-loving & family trusted Nikhil Sabharwal who supports her.
This book is an acknowledgment towards adventures, family rivalries, unspoken secrets and deep unfathomable emotions.
Srishti Chaudhary gifts us a major craving for sweets and food in general. I’m in awe of her imagination to build a book of this decree. Her writing is lucid and fast paced but there’s no extravasation of a certain incident. The author shows her crisps planning the situations of drama and humor just like the apt quantity of salt in a sweet dish. The most pleasing and satisfying fact of the book is that the story devours upon the main characters and the aim of the book i.e. the search for secret ingredients remains constant all throughout. I’m sure Srishti would be a really keen traveler and observer to produce a book that has specks of human relationships, thinking and surroundings that are deep rooted to the city’s tradition in the 90s times.
I never imagined that I would get a sense of relaxation and thrill when I started reading the book. I was hooked on the adventures. The circumstances and challenges that Taru and Nikku faced were no less than typical Bollywood movies for me. I devoted a lot of guilty reading to this book and then if you ask me if it’s worth the time or not it’s meaningless.
Taking references from Bollywood especially from Shah Rukh Khan Movies and songs melted my heart a bit faster with its mention. The 90s era is totally felt and it did take me back in time when my mother described the 90s.
Overall a wholesome read of love, family, excitement and warmth that gives you a cozy essence of the December winters. I would recommend it to all as it was a light read after literally reading continuous romantic books back to back. I’m glad I finished this book this year and didn’t wait for 2021. Perhaps, it feels special as I share the same month of release of my book as this book, both released in the month of July.
Set in the 1990s, Tara Taneja lives in a fictional Siyaka with her grandfather Lallan, fondly known as Lalaji, uncle’s family and her mother. The protagonist runs Ultimate Mathematics Tuition Center simultaneously helping her family in their family sweet shop Lallana Sweets of preparing mind boggling lades, an Indian sweet. But his famous lades have a secret ingredient that makes them mouth-watering & perhaps famous.
Lalaji sends his grandchildren on a quest to discover the secret ingredient that makes the ladoos famous just for the sake of making his grandchildren worthy of continuing the shop and not just by inheritance. She ventures into this adventurous quest with her childhood friend and crush, fun-loving & family trusted Nikhil Sabharwal who supports her.
This book is an acknowledgment towards adventures, family rivalries, unspoken secrets and deep unfathomable emotions.
Srishti Chaudhary gifts us a major craving for sweets and food in general. I’m in awe of her imagination to build a book of this decree. Her writing is lucid and fast paced but there’s no extravasation of a certain incident. The author shows her crisps planning the situations of drama and humor just like the apt quantity of salt in a sweet dish. The most pleasing and satisfying fact of the book is that the story devours upon the main characters and the aim of the book i.e. the search for secret ingredients remains constant all throughout. I’m sure Srishti would be a really keen traveler and observer to produce a book that has specks of human relationships, thinking and surroundings that are deep rooted to the city’s tradition in the 90s times.
I never imagined that I would get a sense of relaxation and thrill when I started reading the book. I was hooked on the adventures. The circumstances and challenges that Taru and Nikku faced were no less than typical Bollywood movies for me. I devoted a lot of guilty reading to this book and then if you ask me if it’s worth the time or not it’s meaningless.
Taking references from Bollywood especially from Shah Rukh Khan Movies and songs melted my heart a bit faster with its mention. The 90s era is totally felt and it did take me back in time when my mother described the 90s.
Overall a wholesome read of love, family, excitement and warmth that gives you a cozy essence of the December winters. I would recommend it to all as it was a light read after literally reading continuous romantic books back to back. I’m glad I finished this book this year and didn’t wait for 2021. Perhaps, it feels special as I share the same month of release of my book as this book, both released in the month of July.
August 1, 2020
Lallan Sweets, the sweet shop as the title suggests is what the book runs all around or rather, their magic ingredient. Tara’s grandfather, Lalaji chooses to retire and in order to decide the inheritance, organizes a quest for his grandkids, Tara, Rohit and Mohit to find the magic ingredient for their laddoos. Tara along with her more than a ‘childhood friend’ Nikku who has returned to Siyaka goes on the quest to look for the magic ingredient. Will she be able to find it before Rohit and Mohit? Will sparks fly between Nikku and Tara? Read the book to find out.
The book is inclined towards narration over description which made it engaging for me. There was not one moment when I stopped reading it. I read the entire book in one go. I was hooked to the narration and the plot. Being set in 1995 in the small town of Siyaka, the writing contained lots of nostalgic things and incidents which make the reader more attached to the book. The language used in the writing is lucid. The character development has been done well. My favourite character was Nikku for his humour. His dialogues made me laugh and lighten up and that made me enjoy the book even more. The writing style will pull you in and won’t let you leave. The story runs through an appropriate and moderate pace. I enjoyed the little quirks I was able to find of India. It was well concluded and had a perfect mix of family drama, humour and seriousness. To top it off, the cover and the book title have been appropriately selected. What I would’ve loved to read more of would be Tara and the Ultimate Mathematics Tuition Centre.
Lallan Sweets is a light, easy read and is recommended to those who want to have a good time and feel the 90s nostalgia.
The book is inclined towards narration over description which made it engaging for me. There was not one moment when I stopped reading it. I read the entire book in one go. I was hooked to the narration and the plot. Being set in 1995 in the small town of Siyaka, the writing contained lots of nostalgic things and incidents which make the reader more attached to the book. The language used in the writing is lucid. The character development has been done well. My favourite character was Nikku for his humour. His dialogues made me laugh and lighten up and that made me enjoy the book even more. The writing style will pull you in and won’t let you leave. The story runs through an appropriate and moderate pace. I enjoyed the little quirks I was able to find of India. It was well concluded and had a perfect mix of family drama, humour and seriousness. To top it off, the cover and the book title have been appropriately selected. What I would’ve loved to read more of would be Tara and the Ultimate Mathematics Tuition Centre.
Lallan Sweets is a light, easy read and is recommended to those who want to have a good time and feel the 90s nostalgia.
June 17, 2021
With the sweetness of Sweets, Lallan Sweets is full of drama just like a Bollywood movie. I can always count on @death.of.the.author work and her books have been my favourite. Be it once upon a curfew, or Lallan Sweets, each of them has a unique touch of mystery and Love.
Lallan Sweets by @death.of.the.author published by @penguinindia is a perfect book that you are going to enjoy. It's a Journey of Tara, Rohit, Mohit and Nikku on the search of the secret ingredient that is added in Lallan ke ladoos which made Lallan Sweets famous in the small town of Siyaka.
The return of Nikku, Tara's longtime childhood crush, added a mystery to the quest. Filled with an interesting plot of Fun and Twists, Lallan Sweets is one such roller-coaster ride that you will enjoy. Back to the 90s with the dance on song Bolo Ta Ra Ra Ra Ra and the charm of SRK and DDLJ, Lalaji sets his Grandchildren on a quest with different clues at different locations.
As it is said, it's more about the journey and not the destination, This quest is one such which Lalaji wants his grandchildren to experience. I loved the narration of the story. It's fresh, intriguing and full of fun. The author makes the readers curious with every step that Tara takes, to win the quest.
Lil did Tara knew, this quest is going to change her life and earn a friend for life. With the layers of Family love and politics, Siblings Rivalry, friendship, loss and love, Srishti takes us to the lanes of Siyaka, Mathura, Chandigarh and Delhi. I loved how she weaved the story with the pinch of love and the reasons Lalaji shared, every time she finished the task.
The witty writing style and the well-developed characters keep the readers hooked throughout.
Lallan Sweets by @death.of.the.author published by @penguinindia is a perfect book that you are going to enjoy. It's a Journey of Tara, Rohit, Mohit and Nikku on the search of the secret ingredient that is added in Lallan ke ladoos which made Lallan Sweets famous in the small town of Siyaka.
The return of Nikku, Tara's longtime childhood crush, added a mystery to the quest. Filled with an interesting plot of Fun and Twists, Lallan Sweets is one such roller-coaster ride that you will enjoy. Back to the 90s with the dance on song Bolo Ta Ra Ra Ra Ra and the charm of SRK and DDLJ, Lalaji sets his Grandchildren on a quest with different clues at different locations.
As it is said, it's more about the journey and not the destination, This quest is one such which Lalaji wants his grandchildren to experience. I loved the narration of the story. It's fresh, intriguing and full of fun. The author makes the readers curious with every step that Tara takes, to win the quest.
Lil did Tara knew, this quest is going to change her life and earn a friend for life. With the layers of Family love and politics, Siblings Rivalry, friendship, loss and love, Srishti takes us to the lanes of Siyaka, Mathura, Chandigarh and Delhi. I loved how she weaved the story with the pinch of love and the reasons Lalaji shared, every time she finished the task.
The witty writing style and the well-developed characters keep the readers hooked throughout.
November 6, 2020
The book was such a fun read! I honestly loved it because of its simplicity, and all the light-hearted moments it had. The story has just the right pace. It starts off by giving us a background check about Tara and the sweetshop. We get eventually get introduced to the other characters in Tara's life - her supportive mother, an irritating pair of uncle and aunt who are eyeing Lallan Sweets as well, a pair of competitive cousins, and also a good-for-nothing boyfriend. Then enters Nikku - the best friend. As we get accustomed to a diverse comical cast of individuals, our Tara goes on an adventure (or should I say misadventure) that spans across 250+ pages. But never did it feel stretched out. It was just the right amount of story that I needed.
Lallan Sweets will always be one of those book that I'll keep recommending people who ask for light book recommendations. Not only is it just the right book for you to take on a beach to read, it also comes with Tara and Nikku's friendship that literally is goals (later you'll get to know this friendship becomes more than a friendship *winks*). And wait, it also comes with the perfect picturesque descriptions of the various places Tara and Nikku go. I mean I never thought I'd get to clearly imagine how the Taj Mahal looks at night while reading a book!
Read my review at https://www.diaryofabookgirl.in/2020/...
Lallan Sweets will always be one of those book that I'll keep recommending people who ask for light book recommendations. Not only is it just the right book for you to take on a beach to read, it also comes with Tara and Nikku's friendship that literally is goals (later you'll get to know this friendship becomes more than a friendship *winks*). And wait, it also comes with the perfect picturesque descriptions of the various places Tara and Nikku go. I mean I never thought I'd get to clearly imagine how the Taj Mahal looks at night while reading a book!
Read my review at https://www.diaryofabookgirl.in/2020/...
January 15, 2025
If being in a bollywood movie were a book it would be Lallan sweets by Srishti Chaudhary. This book has it all. Being chased by the police? Check. Going on a quest? Check. Driving a stolen car? Check. Being kidnapped? Check.
We follow the story of Tara Taneja, who lives in the small town of Siyaka. She runs a Mathematics tution centre and helps at her grandfather Lalaji's sweets shop, Lallan Sweets, alongside her brothers rohit and mohit. The laddoos at Lallan Sweets has a magic ingredient only known to lalaji. The catch? The one who finds the secret ingredient will get to run Lallan sweets.
There are books that you fly through, and this was one of them. It reminded me so much of early bollywood, and all the mentions of mithai made me want to visit a sweet shop (i have a really sweet tooth). The story is beautifully written, and Tara as a character is so relatable- someone who is ambitious and doesn't let anyone pull her down just because she is a woman. I loved Nikhil and Tara's bond- it was so cute.
Overall a beautiful book and highly recommended if you're looking for something fun and sweet.
We follow the story of Tara Taneja, who lives in the small town of Siyaka. She runs a Mathematics tution centre and helps at her grandfather Lalaji's sweets shop, Lallan Sweets, alongside her brothers rohit and mohit. The laddoos at Lallan Sweets has a magic ingredient only known to lalaji. The catch? The one who finds the secret ingredient will get to run Lallan sweets.
There are books that you fly through, and this was one of them. It reminded me so much of early bollywood, and all the mentions of mithai made me want to visit a sweet shop (i have a really sweet tooth). The story is beautifully written, and Tara as a character is so relatable- someone who is ambitious and doesn't let anyone pull her down just because she is a woman. I loved Nikhil and Tara's bond- it was so cute.
Overall a beautiful book and highly recommended if you're looking for something fun and sweet.
December 19, 2024
This put me in a reading slump. I really wanted to love this book because I am a sucker for 90s India vibes! Be it friendships, relationships, food, infrastructure, etc. But I just couldn’t connect with the characters and the plot at all. The story did not tie well in the end and the quests did not make any sense. I would loved the book if the author had a flashback story associated with each quest making it more meaningful and interesting. But that was not the case. The quest did not feel personal at all. There were so many themes that the author could have explored and discussed.
Also, the romance was very frustrating and a total red flag.
2 stars is just for the 90s India setting.
Also, the romance was very frustrating and a total red flag.
2 stars is just for the 90s India setting.
March 1, 2025
It's a good read. I occasionally give books a 4 because I wish to read them again. There were plenty, but I only found a few that drew my attention and were noted:
it doesn’t matter where you are, it matters who you are with
you think everything there is to know is already known? There are worlds and knowledge . . . passed down from generation to generation . . . there are crafts well-hidden . . . you will never know what happens there because there are some things you will never know . . .
it doesn’t matter where you are, it matters who you are with
you think everything there is to know is already known? There are worlds and knowledge . . . passed down from generation to generation . . . there are crafts well-hidden . . . you will never know what happens there because there are some things you will never know . . .
May 25, 2025
One of my easy reads of 2025. Having born in the latter half of the 90s listening and reading about how transportation was from kinetic (I have been a fan of it when I used to ride with my mum's friend while on holidays), to campa colas , std booths, buses and trains . Long drives are nowhere simpler compared to the present .
Lallan Sweets is set in a fictional town of Siyaka and how the reins of the sweets get passed on to the next generation within the Taneja household. It ticks all emotional boxes and travels the width of North india to be precise. it's a delight to get to know how the major cities of now was in the 90s. How Tara Taneja naviagtes the treasure hunt and self discovers when she is thrown in throes of life for the reins of lallan Sweets is not just a competition but a journey she wouldn't have ot any other way.
I found the whole premise of Lallan sweets so nice and cozy to say the least. How the adventure started weaving through most visited to less known cities of the past makes me really want to visit the places .
In all I found, this to be my perfect comeback after a reading slump. If you are on the lookout for a laidback read any weekend then give it a go guys.
Lallan Sweets is set in a fictional town of Siyaka and how the reins of the sweets get passed on to the next generation within the Taneja household. It ticks all emotional boxes and travels the width of North india to be precise. it's a delight to get to know how the major cities of now was in the 90s. How Tara Taneja naviagtes the treasure hunt and self discovers when she is thrown in throes of life for the reins of lallan Sweets is not just a competition but a journey she wouldn't have ot any other way.
I found the whole premise of Lallan sweets so nice and cozy to say the least. How the adventure started weaving through most visited to less known cities of the past makes me really want to visit the places .
In all I found, this to be my perfect comeback after a reading slump. If you are on the lookout for a laidback read any weekend then give it a go guys.
August 6, 2020
As I took the first bite of Srishti Chaudhary’s Lallan Sweets, my mouth flooded with tastes unimaginable. Tastes that took me to the lanes of memories of the 90s.
There was not a kid, who did not listen to Alisha Chinai’s ‘Made In India’ or, sing relentlessly, however, loud or tuneless the song sounded out of their mouth. And playing the song ‘Ice Ice Baby’ in every party was a norm. And a fight was always eminent between friends while playing a game of gotis (Marbles).
Oh what days they were... Golden. Unforgettable.
But then the novel ‘Lallan Sweets’ wasn’t only about ‘Made In India’ or playing Gotis. No. It was about a quest that Tara and her cousins had to take in order to find a secret magical ingredient that made Lallan Sweets so famous in a quaint town of Siyaka, where our story is set.
And now you wonder, what the quest is all about? Well, the quest is all about earning the ownership of the famous shop Lallan Sweets.
And now the question arises will Tara or one of her cousins be able to complete the guest?
Well, for that you have to read this book😀
I must say, Author Srishti is one hell of a talented and beautiful writer. Her narration is as delectable as my favourite ‘Besan ka laddoo’ made by my mom. While reading it, I was lost in the explosion of words that were filled with flavours and memories. She knew the exact amount of flavours to use to bind us, the readers to the story.
Ah! I now regret not reading her earlier book ‘Once upon a Curfew’ which I heard is equally an immersive experience. But now I am surely going to read it one day. And that one day be better sooner than later.😂
Overall, this is a novel beautifully written and worth reading. And I wouldn’t mind it revisiting it again. I, hence, recommend this book highly to you all.
There was not a kid, who did not listen to Alisha Chinai’s ‘Made In India’ or, sing relentlessly, however, loud or tuneless the song sounded out of their mouth. And playing the song ‘Ice Ice Baby’ in every party was a norm. And a fight was always eminent between friends while playing a game of gotis (Marbles).
Oh what days they were... Golden. Unforgettable.
But then the novel ‘Lallan Sweets’ wasn’t only about ‘Made In India’ or playing Gotis. No. It was about a quest that Tara and her cousins had to take in order to find a secret magical ingredient that made Lallan Sweets so famous in a quaint town of Siyaka, where our story is set.
And now you wonder, what the quest is all about? Well, the quest is all about earning the ownership of the famous shop Lallan Sweets.
And now the question arises will Tara or one of her cousins be able to complete the guest?
Well, for that you have to read this book😀
I must say, Author Srishti is one hell of a talented and beautiful writer. Her narration is as delectable as my favourite ‘Besan ka laddoo’ made by my mom. While reading it, I was lost in the explosion of words that were filled with flavours and memories. She knew the exact amount of flavours to use to bind us, the readers to the story.
Ah! I now regret not reading her earlier book ‘Once upon a Curfew’ which I heard is equally an immersive experience. But now I am surely going to read it one day. And that one day be better sooner than later.😂
Overall, this is a novel beautifully written and worth reading. And I wouldn’t mind it revisiting it again. I, hence, recommend this book highly to you all.
March 11, 2025
You are missing out on some really good Indian writing if you haven’t read Lallan Sweets. This is easily my highest rated book by an Indian author this year. It changed my perception that a comfort read needs to be solely a romantic comedy that gives you butterflies. I have never felt this represented, this understood, this relevant while reading a book! The small-town girl inside me felt so satiated and I badly need more such non-cringe Indian writing to read ASAP. Also, this book is as close it can get to feeling like you’re watching a movie – so much action & adventure, such smooth storytelling and not relying solely on the romantic plot to carry the story – a chef’s kiss for real. I surely have a new favourite Indian Author and I can’t wait to read once upon a curfew soon.
October 12, 2025
A solid 4.5-star read!
If you ask me to review Lallan Sweets in one line, I’d say, “A book that’ll leave you happy yet a little empty when you finish it after all the chaos that happened inside it.”
In the beginning, I was expecting a cute little love story set in a small city like Siyaka, but not even once did I imagine it would have this much chaos, laughter, and research. Srishti has poured so much humour and effort into this story, making it engaging right till the end. From the simple mention of the magic ingredient and Lallan ke Laddoos to Taru and Nikku spending weeks in different cities - each city described so vividly - the journey to finding that secret ingredient was such a delight.
Thank you, Srishti, for sending this gem my way. I’ll always be grateful! 💛
If you ask me to review Lallan Sweets in one line, I’d say, “A book that’ll leave you happy yet a little empty when you finish it after all the chaos that happened inside it.”
In the beginning, I was expecting a cute little love story set in a small city like Siyaka, but not even once did I imagine it would have this much chaos, laughter, and research. Srishti has poured so much humour and effort into this story, making it engaging right till the end. From the simple mention of the magic ingredient and Lallan ke Laddoos to Taru and Nikku spending weeks in different cities - each city described so vividly - the journey to finding that secret ingredient was such a delight.
Thank you, Srishti, for sending this gem my way. I’ll always be grateful! 💛
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