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A Promise Unspoken : A story of second chances
Escape to the picturesque beauty of Kerala as you travel on this sweet journey of love with Maanasa and Varun.
An unspoken promise made in the heat of the moment! Is that enough to sustain a relationship? Or, does it need to be spelled out in words?
Maanasa, a young architect moves out of her family home in pursuit of independence.
Varun, a doctor with an unlucky past leads a solitary life.
They meet by chance after two years and find themselves drawn to each other, with a rapidity neither of them expected. Friendship soon blossoms into love.
But he’s failed in love once before and she’s never been in love.
When two such individuals come together from different backgrounds, obviously demands and expectations rise.
At the start of their relationship, their unspoken words had promised love and commitment to each other. But when unforeseen obstacles arise in their path, will that promise act as the cement that binds them for life, or will it prove to be the crack that threatens to break them asunder.
Will his insecurities get the better of him?
Will her inexperience mislead him?
Together, will these negatives apply the force that will work to tear them apart?
An unspoken promise made in the heat of the moment! Is that enough to sustain a relationship? Or, does it need to be spelled out in words?
Maanasa, a young architect moves out of her family home in pursuit of independence.
Varun, a doctor with an unlucky past leads a solitary life.
They meet by chance after two years and find themselves drawn to each other, with a rapidity neither of them expected. Friendship soon blossoms into love.
But he’s failed in love once before and she’s never been in love.
When two such individuals come together from different backgrounds, obviously demands and expectations rise.
At the start of their relationship, their unspoken words had promised love and commitment to each other. But when unforeseen obstacles arise in their path, will that promise act as the cement that binds them for life, or will it prove to be the crack that threatens to break them asunder.
Will his insecurities get the better of him?
Will her inexperience mislead him?
Together, will these negatives apply the force that will work to tear them apart?
154 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 9, 2021
6 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Archana Devdas
1 book22 followersArchana Devdas is an Architect working in a MNC with a career spanning more than a decade and a half. An avid reader since childhood, books have always had a special place in her heart. Always wishing to write a story of her own creation, it is only now that she has attempted to venture into fiction writing with her first book 'A Promise Unspoken'.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 24, 2022
Who doesn't like second chances? – A Promise unspoken is a journey of young Maanasa and Varun. Kerala itself is a beautiful land. If you don’t fall in love with the picturesque landscapes of Kerala, then you are not living. The writing has captured Kerala’s backdrops and especially food in Kochi is amazing. Story unravels when Maanasa gets a little freedom from her parents to go to Kochi for a new job. As every young girl in India, staying away from parents avoiding marriage for a brief period of time is a bliss!!!. Varun on the other hand, is moving on from his past and yearning for a second chance. Will they succeed? What makes this story stand out? For me it was a pleasant read. Not only that, the writing takes you to Kochi literally. It also conveys the mental struggle of two individuals going through their own pain under different circumstances, yet they are in love. This book entices me to take the next vacation in Kochi. No doubt. As a debut author Archana has made an impact in the world of creativity. No doubt.
April 11, 2021
A promise unspoken – Written by Archana Devadas. The story is about a young girl named Maanasa. She completes her degree in Architect Engineering. Her parents plan for her marriage and starts looking for a good alliance. Maanasa somehow manages to get a decent job at Kochi , Kerala as an Architect at “ Studio 1 Architects. Her parents allow her to shift to Kerala based on her assurance to agree for marriage after one year of completion of work. Maanasa is slowly getting adjusted to her new atmosphere. One day she accidently meets Varun at a coffee shop. Varun is working as a doctor in a nearby hospital. Varun is Maanasa’s cousin Arjun’s friend, and they already met in a year back. It was a total surprise for Maanasa and they exchange their mobile numbers. Varun is attracted to her innocence and cuteness.
Varun is holding some secrets within but gradually they both attracted to each other. But life is complicated, and trouble starts in their life. Maanasa’s parents arranges another alliance for her.
The book is having lot of fun. It gives a glimpse of Kerala’s natural beauty. The boat jetty and surrounding places, temples etc.
If you pick up this book wanting to read a touching, but very entertaining story, you've come to the right place. However even through the most painful and ugly times, there's a healing power to love. This story left me emotionally drained but on the most amazing book high you can imagine. It was a powerful journey that showed how even after the worst possible devastation, love can always find a way. Every single moment while reading this book, I was feeling something, and feeling it strongly. It was thrilling, mysterious, alluring, emotional, it was everything in the exact perfect balance.
From the start, it was clear that we were not seeing the full picture, so each scene gave us another piece of the puzzle that was Varun’s past. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! Her characterizations are consistently outstanding, and she has such a beautiful way with words.
This book perfectly captures the feeling of first love - and I don't mean the starry rainbows and butterflies of the beginning of a relationship, I mean the soul-deep, rooted-in-your-heart depths of first love... To any readers out there who haven't yet read this and are on the fence, I say go for it!!!! The whole story is a giant mess. Expect that. Just ride it out and enjoy the craziness!
Varun is holding some secrets within but gradually they both attracted to each other. But life is complicated, and trouble starts in their life. Maanasa’s parents arranges another alliance for her.
The book is having lot of fun. It gives a glimpse of Kerala’s natural beauty. The boat jetty and surrounding places, temples etc.
If you pick up this book wanting to read a touching, but very entertaining story, you've come to the right place. However even through the most painful and ugly times, there's a healing power to love. This story left me emotionally drained but on the most amazing book high you can imagine. It was a powerful journey that showed how even after the worst possible devastation, love can always find a way. Every single moment while reading this book, I was feeling something, and feeling it strongly. It was thrilling, mysterious, alluring, emotional, it was everything in the exact perfect balance.
From the start, it was clear that we were not seeing the full picture, so each scene gave us another piece of the puzzle that was Varun’s past. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! Her characterizations are consistently outstanding, and she has such a beautiful way with words.
This book perfectly captures the feeling of first love - and I don't mean the starry rainbows and butterflies of the beginning of a relationship, I mean the soul-deep, rooted-in-your-heart depths of first love... To any readers out there who haven't yet read this and are on the fence, I say go for it!!!! The whole story is a giant mess. Expect that. Just ride it out and enjoy the craziness!
January 3, 2023
Storyline:
Maanasa is 25 and has asked for a year's time from her parents before they bug her about marriage. Like every Indian girl in her 20s, she wants to live on her own, with neither parents nor a partner, for atleast a few years. She meets Varun, who is her cousin's friend at Kochi. They get along quite well but Varun, who was earlier cheated, has his own problems with marriage. What transpires further between these two and how they end up together forms the rest of the story.
What I liked:
The writing style of the author is efficient and impressive for a debut. That's the reason the book is brief and can be completed in one sitting. The author doesn't add any unnecessary scenes or cheesy stuff in the name of romance. The emphasis is totally on the two main leads and the side characters, i.e., friends and family are given only as much importance as they should. Even when there are any descriptions given, they don't seem boring or excessive at any point. The vocabulary is simple and suitable for beginners.
The characters of Maanasa, Neethi and Navya are extremely relatable. The author rightly talks about the issues faced by women like wedding pressure, denial from the family towards moving away from home or being independent and the importance of having one's own career. In that context, I love all the female characters of the book. Maanasa's family is also portrayed well as the typical middle-class South-Indian family.
What I didn't like:
Initially, I loved the story and the two leads, Maanasa and Varun. I found their conversations and situations practical and probably relatable for 25 year-olds today. In fact, I loved both the main leads.
But as the story progressed, it became yet another filmy one. I could easily predict what was going to happen next. Because most romance movies and stories carry the same string of events. So much that I didn't like the lead characters by the end of it.
Conclusion:
For a brilliant writing and editing work done, I wish the ending was better. The male lead does something unacceptable and we are supposed to forgive it immediately. Why?
The book is worth a read because the story is extremely simple. The vocabulary is easy for beginners to go with. Also, it doesn't take much time.
I received a review copy of the book.
Maanasa is 25 and has asked for a year's time from her parents before they bug her about marriage. Like every Indian girl in her 20s, she wants to live on her own, with neither parents nor a partner, for atleast a few years. She meets Varun, who is her cousin's friend at Kochi. They get along quite well but Varun, who was earlier cheated, has his own problems with marriage. What transpires further between these two and how they end up together forms the rest of the story.
What I liked:
The writing style of the author is efficient and impressive for a debut. That's the reason the book is brief and can be completed in one sitting. The author doesn't add any unnecessary scenes or cheesy stuff in the name of romance. The emphasis is totally on the two main leads and the side characters, i.e., friends and family are given only as much importance as they should. Even when there are any descriptions given, they don't seem boring or excessive at any point. The vocabulary is simple and suitable for beginners.
The characters of Maanasa, Neethi and Navya are extremely relatable. The author rightly talks about the issues faced by women like wedding pressure, denial from the family towards moving away from home or being independent and the importance of having one's own career. In that context, I love all the female characters of the book. Maanasa's family is also portrayed well as the typical middle-class South-Indian family.
What I didn't like:
Initially, I loved the story and the two leads, Maanasa and Varun. I found their conversations and situations practical and probably relatable for 25 year-olds today. In fact, I loved both the main leads.
But as the story progressed, it became yet another filmy one. I could easily predict what was going to happen next. Because most romance movies and stories carry the same string of events. So much that I didn't like the lead characters by the end of it.
Conclusion:
For a brilliant writing and editing work done, I wish the ending was better. The male lead does something unacceptable and we are supposed to forgive it immediately. Why?
The book is worth a read because the story is extremely simple. The vocabulary is easy for beginners to go with. Also, it doesn't take much time.
I received a review copy of the book.
November 14, 2022
I'm not a huge romance fan but when I get a chance to read a good one I have to question myself if I really am or not.. This book was an enjoyable to say the least. A good read for a cold winter night!
April 30, 2021
This is a predictable love story between Manasa and Varun set in the southern city of Kochi, Kerala.
Manasa has just moved to Kochi with a one year freedom lease from her parents. Freedom to live independently and to take her own decisions before her parents find her a suitable alliance and marry her off. And truly I'm proud of Manasa to be able to stand her ground and get that one year. Indian parents are extremely protective of their daughters and to pull off a coup like this, Manasa must have pulled in some very serious punches. I'm so proud of you Manasa ,but that's it her charachter is so wavering I'm not sure what to make of her. Why would she move back to her home town? why didn't she pick a more neutral place where the onslaught of relatives would be minimal? And that brings us back to her parents. I hated their manipulating a cousin to get a prospective alliance introduced to her. What happened to the one year promise? How can it be OK for parents to renege on their good word? Man, I would have thrown the mother of all tantrums. Her reaction is so placid, its contradictory to the girl who fought for her independence.
And herein lies the major lacking - it lacks the big fat Indian family. Where are they? How is it the parents haven't enlisted every 3rd cousin and aunt to call on her and check on her. The absence of human interaction makes this Promise Unspoken a very robotic, uninvolved book. Their love story seems to be stuck in some sort of a bubble. Its unreal, the non interference of parents, siblings and /or friends. The story really picks up with the intro of Arjun and Mahesh. You know , we parents are just as concerned for our sons. He has absolutely no connect with any other human except Manasa? Really?
The interactions between Varun and Manasa too are very minimal- just revolving around food and basic messages involving their whereabouts. Varun has been in a serious relationship before and has been jilted at the altar. So, where are all the mental comparisons between the 2 girlfriends? Where are the small acts that cements their feeling for each other? Its all so teen all holding hands and being possessive - its strange considering both are in their late 20's. And this brings us to Varun. I couldn't like him at all . He's a MS London returned. And he's also a cerified MCP. My god he's actually drooling at her for wearing a sleeveless top. Seriously? Didn't you see less in London? The religious comment on his ex wasn't in good taste either. You are a doctor so how does it matter if your ex was a Christian or Hindu? Is that why Manasa is better? He's also very immature, and insecure.
This book mentions and dismisses 2 largest banes faced by most Indian young women. Dusky skin colour and jatakam dosham or irregularities in a horoscope. we have all grown up listening to how we don't match up - we are either too dark, too skinny, not very modern too behenjee etc the list is endless. Add a horoscope dosham and that girl is seriously fighting a losing battle. So, for Ms Devdas to mention it and dismiss it without a thought is disappointing. Describing the girls skin colour - not accepted in 21st century. The change comes from us - we need to stand up and reject prevalent existing antiquarian beliefs. I would have appreciated this book more if Neeti too had her HEA. Why didn't Manasa and Varun try and fix her up? No unmarried doctor friends left?
For a book written in the second decade of the 21st century, the actual thought and essence of the book is extremely antiquarian. And this is the main reason for me giving it a low rating. As stories go its terribly cliched but its her first book, so I'm willing to overlook it. The language is heavy and verbose. Its also very one dimensional without involvement form other family members. One can have the book in 2 POVs but its a community and there's always someone. Its said it not a marriage between 2 people but 2 families.
Thank you Archana for providing me with the copy of your book. It was an honour.
Recommended : Sure definitely. This is a debut book and hopefully next time around Ms.Devdas will stand up for the right even in a love story.
Manasa has just moved to Kochi with a one year freedom lease from her parents. Freedom to live independently and to take her own decisions before her parents find her a suitable alliance and marry her off. And truly I'm proud of Manasa to be able to stand her ground and get that one year. Indian parents are extremely protective of their daughters and to pull off a coup like this, Manasa must have pulled in some very serious punches. I'm so proud of you Manasa ,but that's it her charachter is so wavering I'm not sure what to make of her. Why would she move back to her home town? why didn't she pick a more neutral place where the onslaught of relatives would be minimal? And that brings us back to her parents. I hated their manipulating a cousin to get a prospective alliance introduced to her. What happened to the one year promise? How can it be OK for parents to renege on their good word? Man, I would have thrown the mother of all tantrums. Her reaction is so placid, its contradictory to the girl who fought for her independence.
And herein lies the major lacking - it lacks the big fat Indian family. Where are they? How is it the parents haven't enlisted every 3rd cousin and aunt to call on her and check on her. The absence of human interaction makes this Promise Unspoken a very robotic, uninvolved book. Their love story seems to be stuck in some sort of a bubble. Its unreal, the non interference of parents, siblings and /or friends. The story really picks up with the intro of Arjun and Mahesh. You know , we parents are just as concerned for our sons. He has absolutely no connect with any other human except Manasa? Really?
The interactions between Varun and Manasa too are very minimal- just revolving around food and basic messages involving their whereabouts. Varun has been in a serious relationship before and has been jilted at the altar. So, where are all the mental comparisons between the 2 girlfriends? Where are the small acts that cements their feeling for each other? Its all so teen all holding hands and being possessive - its strange considering both are in their late 20's. And this brings us to Varun. I couldn't like him at all . He's a MS London returned. And he's also a cerified MCP. My god he's actually drooling at her for wearing a sleeveless top. Seriously? Didn't you see less in London? The religious comment on his ex wasn't in good taste either. You are a doctor so how does it matter if your ex was a Christian or Hindu? Is that why Manasa is better? He's also very immature, and insecure.
This book mentions and dismisses 2 largest banes faced by most Indian young women. Dusky skin colour and jatakam dosham or irregularities in a horoscope. we have all grown up listening to how we don't match up - we are either too dark, too skinny, not very modern too behenjee etc the list is endless. Add a horoscope dosham and that girl is seriously fighting a losing battle. So, for Ms Devdas to mention it and dismiss it without a thought is disappointing. Describing the girls skin colour - not accepted in 21st century. The change comes from us - we need to stand up and reject prevalent existing antiquarian beliefs. I would have appreciated this book more if Neeti too had her HEA. Why didn't Manasa and Varun try and fix her up? No unmarried doctor friends left?
For a book written in the second decade of the 21st century, the actual thought and essence of the book is extremely antiquarian. And this is the main reason for me giving it a low rating. As stories go its terribly cliched but its her first book, so I'm willing to overlook it. The language is heavy and verbose. Its also very one dimensional without involvement form other family members. One can have the book in 2 POVs but its a community and there's always someone. Its said it not a marriage between 2 people but 2 families.
Thank you Archana for providing me with the copy of your book. It was an honour.
Recommended : Sure definitely. This is a debut book and hopefully next time around Ms.Devdas will stand up for the right even in a love story.
June 9, 2021
This story revolves around a girl who leaves her life in Mumbai in order to experience freedom, and a boy who lost love once and is yearning for romance again. The characters in this book are very relatable, setting is ideal, the plot is a bit predictable but nevertheless a romantic one. And the style of writing is simple. The narrative style switches between both the character's POV and this helps the reader understand the difference in their emotions clearly. Yes, the story is clichè but what makes it delightful to read is that it's very raw and real. Their's no unnecessary drama.
Recommended ✅
Recommended ✅
December 20, 2022
I have read a few American romance novels. This is the first time I picked up an Indian one. I sort of expected it to be a run-of-the-mill Bollywood-style page-filler, but was pleasantly surprised.
The basic storyline is very simple: tragically-suffering macho hero meets uber-feminine heroine. It is a short novel, so I don't want to give anything away. It is written in an alternating first-person POV style, which I found pretty interesting. I guess it also helped the story flow organically. You get a good insight into the lead characters' thinking - that is, their hopes, dreams, fears, even the two of them second-guessing each other's actions. If you haven't ready any novels in this style of narration, definitely try this one.
There are no evil villains, jarring plot twists etc., which is good. Also, the story flows in a linear fashion. That is, no unnecessary flashbacks, jumping back and forth between themes etc. It just goes day by day, week by week. I found it to be easy to read and follow. This is supposed to be a feel-good romance novel, so the tone is just right. I am a sucker for clean romance with lovable characters !!!
There aren't that many characters either. My favorite is the heroine Maanasa. She comes across as the sweet girl-next-door type, that is if the girl next door is a supermodel !!! There are many tidbits about Kerala, where the story takes place. Although I enjoyed these, I didn't particularly find them adding anything to the story either. But, no biggie.
All in all, I would say, this is the perfect comfort food on a lazy, cozy day. Would recommend.
I got a free copy of the book, with no obligation to respond. The review is entirely voluntary.
The basic storyline is very simple: tragically-suffering macho hero meets uber-feminine heroine. It is a short novel, so I don't want to give anything away. It is written in an alternating first-person POV style, which I found pretty interesting. I guess it also helped the story flow organically. You get a good insight into the lead characters' thinking - that is, their hopes, dreams, fears, even the two of them second-guessing each other's actions. If you haven't ready any novels in this style of narration, definitely try this one.
There are no evil villains, jarring plot twists etc., which is good. Also, the story flows in a linear fashion. That is, no unnecessary flashbacks, jumping back and forth between themes etc. It just goes day by day, week by week. I found it to be easy to read and follow. This is supposed to be a feel-good romance novel, so the tone is just right. I am a sucker for clean romance with lovable characters !!!
There aren't that many characters either. My favorite is the heroine Maanasa. She comes across as the sweet girl-next-door type, that is if the girl next door is a supermodel !!! There are many tidbits about Kerala, where the story takes place. Although I enjoyed these, I didn't particularly find them adding anything to the story either. But, no biggie.
All in all, I would say, this is the perfect comfort food on a lazy, cozy day. Would recommend.
I got a free copy of the book, with no obligation to respond. The review is entirely voluntary.
March 21, 2021
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
25 year-old Maanasa has led a sheltered life in Mumbai, and has well-intentioned parents set on arranging her marriage. After graduation she negotiates a year to find her own feet in the world, and moves to Kochi in India’s Kerela state. Soon after she starts her position in an architect firm, she bumps into her cousin’s friend. Varun is a doctor who had been jilted at the alter two years ago, and hasn’t dated since. Like Maanasa, he moved to Kochi to escape his mother’s matchmaking attempts.
Maanasa has never been in a relationship before, but she can be insightful about relationships, which makes her a likable character. Varun is attracted by her honesty and enjoys her company. At times Varun can be frustrating, and I didn’t like all his actions. However, all people have their flaws, including those in fiction.
The book’s main focus is how they navigate that tricky period between friendship to something more, and there are loads of miscommunications. It all culminates during an event that takes place over the weekend. The book has a satisfying ending.
As an American, I found it interesting to read about the pressures facing a young woman and how she navigates life on her own. The food descriptions were wonderful; make sure you have your favorite Indian restaurant on speed dial before you read.
Kochi is a major port city which was once important for spice trading. The author uses some of its sites as the setting for their numerous dates.
This slow build story is a quick read. Overall, I rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
25 year-old Maanasa has led a sheltered life in Mumbai, and has well-intentioned parents set on arranging her marriage. After graduation she negotiates a year to find her own feet in the world, and moves to Kochi in India’s Kerela state. Soon after she starts her position in an architect firm, she bumps into her cousin’s friend. Varun is a doctor who had been jilted at the alter two years ago, and hasn’t dated since. Like Maanasa, he moved to Kochi to escape his mother’s matchmaking attempts.
Maanasa has never been in a relationship before, but she can be insightful about relationships, which makes her a likable character. Varun is attracted by her honesty and enjoys her company. At times Varun can be frustrating, and I didn’t like all his actions. However, all people have their flaws, including those in fiction.
The book’s main focus is how they navigate that tricky period between friendship to something more, and there are loads of miscommunications. It all culminates during an event that takes place over the weekend. The book has a satisfying ending.
As an American, I found it interesting to read about the pressures facing a young woman and how she navigates life on her own. The food descriptions were wonderful; make sure you have your favorite Indian restaurant on speed dial before you read.
Kochi is a major port city which was once important for spice trading. The author uses some of its sites as the setting for their numerous dates.
This slow build story is a quick read. Overall, I rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
April 20, 2021
I liked this book for its simple and sweet love story.
Maanasa, a Keralite girl, brought up in Bombay, an architect, moved to Cochin for a job. Here she met Dr. Varun, a friend of her close cousin Arjun. They had met two years ago at Arjun’s marriage and went along well as friends. Varun was, then engaged with a girl Diana, who broke up her relationship with him for one other guy. Maanasa liked him from the very beginning, but could not think beyond friendship as he was engaged. Now she came to know about the breakup and the suffering of Varun caused by this.
Maanasas and Varun again became friends and gradually their friendship turned into love.
But there happened some incident, which brought their relationship to a point of breakup. What happens next? You will enjoy more by reading the story.
What did not go well personally with me in this story was the compartmental narration/ changes in point of view. Which disturbed the flow. Sometimes I had to look back to see, who was telling his or her story.
Kochinites will love this book as its story runs in and around the city. The others will enjoy the story and along with it learn about the Cochin city and Kerala Culture,
I will like to particularly mention that there is something for pet lovers too in this book. The author has written some scenes, with a pet dog rocket, which are quite vivid and entertaining.
I am inclined to award 4/5 marks/stars to this story.
Maanasa, a Keralite girl, brought up in Bombay, an architect, moved to Cochin for a job. Here she met Dr. Varun, a friend of her close cousin Arjun. They had met two years ago at Arjun’s marriage and went along well as friends. Varun was, then engaged with a girl Diana, who broke up her relationship with him for one other guy. Maanasa liked him from the very beginning, but could not think beyond friendship as he was engaged. Now she came to know about the breakup and the suffering of Varun caused by this.
Maanasas and Varun again became friends and gradually their friendship turned into love.
But there happened some incident, which brought their relationship to a point of breakup. What happens next? You will enjoy more by reading the story.
What did not go well personally with me in this story was the compartmental narration/ changes in point of view. Which disturbed the flow. Sometimes I had to look back to see, who was telling his or her story.
Kochinites will love this book as its story runs in and around the city. The others will enjoy the story and along with it learn about the Cochin city and Kerala Culture,
I will like to particularly mention that there is something for pet lovers too in this book. The author has written some scenes, with a pet dog rocket, which are quite vivid and entertaining.
I am inclined to award 4/5 marks/stars to this story.
May 29, 2021
A Promise Unspoken is a Romantic story that revolves around our protagonist Maanasa and doctor Varun.
Maanasa an architect ,who travels to Kochi from Mumbai to work In "Studio 1 Architects" is excited about her job, new city and above all , having given the freedom of staying independently by her parents after giving her assurance of getting married a year later .
Ready to take her journey of life forward in a city she knew nothing about, as she is trying to get adjusted to the new environment, Maanasa meets an old friend Varun, a doctor practicing in a hospital in kochi. The scenic beauty and the romantic setup of kerala demands some romance. Enters our Cupid who strikes an arrow at the young friends , love blossoms and sets the stage for them to experience the feeling of being in love.... what happens next forms the story.
What I liked?
The descriptive narration of food, places and culture of kerala is so good that u want to visit the place once.
Being a dog lover I liked enjoyed the scenes with Rocket the pet dog.
The twists and turns kept me hooked though it was a predictable plot.
What didn't go well with me?
Despite the book being narrated in 2 POVs I couldn't get myself involved in the plot completely.
I felt the character of Varun lacked depth.
My Verdict
A good one time read.
Thank you Archana for the review copy....
Maanasa an architect ,who travels to Kochi from Mumbai to work In "Studio 1 Architects" is excited about her job, new city and above all , having given the freedom of staying independently by her parents after giving her assurance of getting married a year later .
Ready to take her journey of life forward in a city she knew nothing about, as she is trying to get adjusted to the new environment, Maanasa meets an old friend Varun, a doctor practicing in a hospital in kochi. The scenic beauty and the romantic setup of kerala demands some romance. Enters our Cupid who strikes an arrow at the young friends , love blossoms and sets the stage for them to experience the feeling of being in love.... what happens next forms the story.
What I liked?
The descriptive narration of food, places and culture of kerala is so good that u want to visit the place once.
Being a dog lover I liked enjoyed the scenes with Rocket the pet dog.
The twists and turns kept me hooked though it was a predictable plot.
What didn't go well with me?
Despite the book being narrated in 2 POVs I couldn't get myself involved in the plot completely.
I felt the character of Varun lacked depth.
My Verdict
A good one time read.
Thank you Archana for the review copy....
April 8, 2021
Budding romance in God's Own Country
Who wouldn't want to read a budding romance set in the picturesque state of Kerala, God's Own Country?
Join Maanasa and Varun on a sweet journey of love, friendship, and an exploration of Kochi along with its delectable and varied cuisine.
The characters in this book are very relatable (a girl who leaves her life in Mumbai in order to experience freedom, and a boy who's lost in love and is yearning for romance again), the setting is ideal, the plot is a bit predictable but nevertheless a romantic one. And the style of writing is simple. The narrative style switches between both the character's POV and this helps the reader understand the difference in their emotions clearly.
What I most loved about this book is its enticing descriptions of the food and culture of Kerala. I almost wanted to leave everything and travel to Kochi just so I could taste the Oondas, Murukku, Filter Coffee, Pappadams, and Aapams.
Congratulations Archana on your debut and wishing you all the luck for your future books.
Who wouldn't want to read a budding romance set in the picturesque state of Kerala, God's Own Country?
Join Maanasa and Varun on a sweet journey of love, friendship, and an exploration of Kochi along with its delectable and varied cuisine.
The characters in this book are very relatable (a girl who leaves her life in Mumbai in order to experience freedom, and a boy who's lost in love and is yearning for romance again), the setting is ideal, the plot is a bit predictable but nevertheless a romantic one. And the style of writing is simple. The narrative style switches between both the character's POV and this helps the reader understand the difference in their emotions clearly.
What I most loved about this book is its enticing descriptions of the food and culture of Kerala. I almost wanted to leave everything and travel to Kochi just so I could taste the Oondas, Murukku, Filter Coffee, Pappadams, and Aapams.
Congratulations Archana on your debut and wishing you all the luck for your future books.
April 20, 2021
When I started to read it, I immediately connected with the story. Having being lived with parents all my life, how I wish I could get that freedom to pursue a life away from home. Maanasa is a girl next door, simple and shy. The cute love story between Maanu and Varun is beautiful and relatable. The writing by the debut author Archana is lucid. The pace of the story is medium and the emotions of the lead characters, so pure. After a long while, I read a love story this cute. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to read more from the author.
May 26, 2021
A Promis Unspoken by Archana Devdas.
Genre : Romance
A sweet romance about first love and second chance. Maanasa an architect from Mumbai moves to Kochi to gain some independence from her family meets her cousin's best friend Varun after two years. She is surprised to see the once happy and carefree guy hiding behind a stern mask. Will Varun ever trust love again? Will Maanasa dare to give love a chance? Read this beautiful book that not only is romantic but engrosses the reader with the culture of Kerala. I rate this book 5 stars. Can wait for the next novel from Archana Devas.
Genre : Romance
A sweet romance about first love and second chance. Maanasa an architect from Mumbai moves to Kochi to gain some independence from her family meets her cousin's best friend Varun after two years. She is surprised to see the once happy and carefree guy hiding behind a stern mask. Will Varun ever trust love again? Will Maanasa dare to give love a chance? Read this beautiful book that not only is romantic but engrosses the reader with the culture of Kerala. I rate this book 5 stars. Can wait for the next novel from Archana Devas.
April 18, 2021
It is quite a predictable love story but worth reading.
Manasa -The girl has just moved to Kochi after living a sheltered life in Mumbai and is experiencing some freedom.
Varun - The boy had been jilted at the alter two years ago, and hasn’t dated since.
The story- It is the usual boy meets the girl with some romantic moments and loads of miscommunication.
The writing is simple. This is worth trying out.
Manasa -The girl has just moved to Kochi after living a sheltered life in Mumbai and is experiencing some freedom.
Varun - The boy had been jilted at the alter two years ago, and hasn’t dated since.
The story- It is the usual boy meets the girl with some romantic moments and loads of miscommunication.
The writing is simple. This is worth trying out.
May 15, 2022
A promise unspoken by Archana - Read it in one sitting. A very practical, no nonsense, cute love story. I liked it for what it was. With no unnecessary turns and twists or movie style cliches, the story goes on a steady pace revolving around Maanasa and Varun. Manasa's yearning for independence and Varun's yearning for dependence twist together to bring an interesting love story.
Do give it a read.
Do give it a read.
October 4, 2022
A smooth read with good flow. The story was, however, uncomplicated, with a somewhat predictable ending.
November 23, 2022
Not often have I come across romance stories that represent characters belonging to cultures similar to mine. 'A Promise Unspoken' became that very story with a freshness while retaining the very essence of romance novels. Reading this was a true delight!
Varun and Maanasa are instantly likeable characters. I love how they both have layers to their personalities stemming from their pasts that resonate with the audience. Maanu is hoping for a taste of independence as she joins a firm as an architect, and her ambitious streak is something I relate to a lot! Her friend and roommate, Neethi, is such a fun character to read about as well! She's the one playing cupid and I absolutely love her for it! Archana delivers subtle nuances in sub characters as well, such as Neethi's conflicts with her parents, with such grace.
With the first few chapters written from Maanu's POV, I was immediately looking forward to reading Varun's side of things and I can say that the writer never disappoints! He's been through a heartbreak (and a brutal one at that) and has thus lost faith in love and chooses to lead life solely with the intention to work. What I really liked was the backstory to these two together; Varun and Maanasa were friends who'd lost touch in between and reconnected after years. While nothing happened back then, their admiration for each other shone and continued to grow into feelings of love as they spent more time together.
I particularly enjoyed the gradual progression of feelings to love between the two characters. The journey to discovering new emotions about one another was not spurred from physical intimacy per se, but was fueled by slow and sweet affections. I adored how both Varun and Maanu were shy and hesitant towards feelings of love. Whether it be their first "date" at the temple, her profusely blushing reaction to seeing him shirtless, his first admission of love being a soft kiss to her hand or their sweet sleepovers and cuddles, every single nuance written by Archana brought a yearning for more! These were details I hadn't seen in romance novels for a while and I hadn't realized how much I'd craved it until I read it here!
In addition to these subtle nuances, other shades of love, such as longing, jealousy and angst were also explored well here. Varun had literally courted Maanasa like a queen, falling hard in love with her despite earlier stating his detachment from the emotion altogether. He yearns for her presence, texts her, wishes her goodnight and cares with abandon for her! When he finds out from his best friend and her cousin that she's received a marriage proposal from someone else, it kills him as much as he wants to kill the prospective groom. The lingering tension, the bouts of fury and frustration and inner emotional turmoils of both characters have been delved into so well, especially with dual POVs. He thinks she's resisting his advances because she doesn't have feelings for him, rather for Mahesh, the other guy. Only, she's dressing up to the dinner, completely unaware of this marriage proposal, only for him! Aww!
I loved how Maanu is headstrong in expressing her opinions and standing her ground, even if she's shy in matters of love. When she breaks off her proposal and confronts Varun instead, misunderstandings give rise to every secret they'd harbored, every emotion they'd nurtured for one another. When he realizes how he's messed things up and let jealousy get the worst of him, he grovels for her forgiveness (which is another favorite trope of mine 🙈).
HEA is the best ending a romance novel can have, and Varun and Maanasa share that too! I absolutely loved Archana's vivid descriptions and her flair for writing various emotions in great detail! Can't wait to read more from her!
Varun and Maanasa are instantly likeable characters. I love how they both have layers to their personalities stemming from their pasts that resonate with the audience. Maanu is hoping for a taste of independence as she joins a firm as an architect, and her ambitious streak is something I relate to a lot! Her friend and roommate, Neethi, is such a fun character to read about as well! She's the one playing cupid and I absolutely love her for it! Archana delivers subtle nuances in sub characters as well, such as Neethi's conflicts with her parents, with such grace.
With the first few chapters written from Maanu's POV, I was immediately looking forward to reading Varun's side of things and I can say that the writer never disappoints! He's been through a heartbreak (and a brutal one at that) and has thus lost faith in love and chooses to lead life solely with the intention to work. What I really liked was the backstory to these two together; Varun and Maanasa were friends who'd lost touch in between and reconnected after years. While nothing happened back then, their admiration for each other shone and continued to grow into feelings of love as they spent more time together.
I particularly enjoyed the gradual progression of feelings to love between the two characters. The journey to discovering new emotions about one another was not spurred from physical intimacy per se, but was fueled by slow and sweet affections. I adored how both Varun and Maanu were shy and hesitant towards feelings of love. Whether it be their first "date" at the temple, her profusely blushing reaction to seeing him shirtless, his first admission of love being a soft kiss to her hand or their sweet sleepovers and cuddles, every single nuance written by Archana brought a yearning for more! These were details I hadn't seen in romance novels for a while and I hadn't realized how much I'd craved it until I read it here!
In addition to these subtle nuances, other shades of love, such as longing, jealousy and angst were also explored well here. Varun had literally courted Maanasa like a queen, falling hard in love with her despite earlier stating his detachment from the emotion altogether. He yearns for her presence, texts her, wishes her goodnight and cares with abandon for her! When he finds out from his best friend and her cousin that she's received a marriage proposal from someone else, it kills him as much as he wants to kill the prospective groom. The lingering tension, the bouts of fury and frustration and inner emotional turmoils of both characters have been delved into so well, especially with dual POVs. He thinks she's resisting his advances because she doesn't have feelings for him, rather for Mahesh, the other guy. Only, she's dressing up to the dinner, completely unaware of this marriage proposal, only for him! Aww!
I loved how Maanu is headstrong in expressing her opinions and standing her ground, even if she's shy in matters of love. When she breaks off her proposal and confronts Varun instead, misunderstandings give rise to every secret they'd harbored, every emotion they'd nurtured for one another. When he realizes how he's messed things up and let jealousy get the worst of him, he grovels for her forgiveness (which is another favorite trope of mine 🙈).
HEA is the best ending a romance novel can have, and Varun and Maanasa share that too! I absolutely loved Archana's vivid descriptions and her flair for writing various emotions in great detail! Can't wait to read more from her!
June 27, 2021
As any author would be, I'm partial to my own book, especially since its the very first time I've attempted to write. Hence, 5 stars from my side!
To all readers who have chosen to read this one, a big thank you for selecting my book to read out of millions out there. Really hope you enjoy it and would spare a few minutes to leave your honest reviews on this page.
Thanks again and enjoy the book!
To all readers who have chosen to read this one, a big thank you for selecting my book to read out of millions out there. Really hope you enjoy it and would spare a few minutes to leave your honest reviews on this page.
Thanks again and enjoy the book!
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