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Beguiled: A Real-Life Story of How a Woman Got Conned in Love
Geetanjali met Randeep Singh Taneja at a party in Chhatarpur Farms, New Delhi. He called himself 'Randy'. He flirted with her, she resisted. She was a single mother, a divorcee, and Randy was five years younger. They became friends, went for walks in Lodhi Garden, had coffee in Khan Market, and he asked her hand in marriage. She refused, he beguiled her, they fell in love, and she said yes.
The couple moved to London and this is where the first signs of trouble began. Away from all that was familiar to her, Geetanjali began to notice that Randy was not all that he claimed to be. Random phone calls from women who claimed to either be his wife or his girlfriend, a child who called him 'Papa', photographs of Randy with other women, multiple cell phones...and for all this he had reasonable explanations that left no room for doubt.
Geetanjali thought she knew her husband. That is until she didn't open his cell phone and find out about the many lives he was leading across the world.
This book is a dark, unputdownable story about a marriage gone wrong. It is a cautionary tale of how we may think we know someone when we really don't.
Beguiled is a true story.
The couple moved to London and this is where the first signs of trouble began. Away from all that was familiar to her, Geetanjali began to notice that Randy was not all that he claimed to be. Random phone calls from women who claimed to either be his wife or his girlfriend, a child who called him 'Papa', photographs of Randy with other women, multiple cell phones...and for all this he had reasonable explanations that left no room for doubt.
Geetanjali thought she knew her husband. That is until she didn't open his cell phone and find out about the many lives he was leading across the world.
This book is a dark, unputdownable story about a marriage gone wrong. It is a cautionary tale of how we may think we know someone when we really don't.
Beguiled is a true story.
248 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2022
3 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 26, 2024
"Beguiled" by Ruchika Soi is a gripping narrative that delves into the horrifying experiences of Gitanjali, a single mother whose life takes an extreme turn when she falls prey to the charms of Randeep Singh Taneja, also known as Randy. What starts as a pursuit of happiness and a better future in London with her new husband and child soon unravels into a nightmare of manipulation and deceit. Soi's portrayal of Gitanjali's vividly captures the insidious nature of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), shedding light on how seemingly normal individuals can harbor dark intentions beneath their false personalities. The author's meticulous research on NPD serves as a cautionary tale, urging readers to remain vigilant against such predatory behavior.
What sets "Beguiled" apart is its authenticity; this is not a work of fiction but a real-life account that resonates with raw emotion and startling revelations. Soi's storytelling keeps readers hooked from start to finish, compelling them to confront uncomfortable truths about the complexities of human relationships. As I delved deeper into the narrative, I found myself unable to tear away, driven by a strange curiosity to uncover the depths of Gitanjali's turmoil. Even after completing the book, its haunting impact lingered, prompting me to reflect on its profound message for days on end.
Through Gitanjali's journey, "Beguiled" serves as a stark reminder of how dreams of love and happiness can swiftly morph into a nightmare of manipulation and despair. Soi's insightful exploration of common behavioral patterns and their unforeseen consequences serves as a sobering reminder for anyone navigating the complexities of relationships. This book is not merely a tale of survival; it's a call to action for readers to recognize the signs of toxic dynamics and safeguard their well-being. With its unflinching portrayal of human vulnerability and resilience, "Beguiled" is a must read for sure.
What sets "Beguiled" apart is its authenticity; this is not a work of fiction but a real-life account that resonates with raw emotion and startling revelations. Soi's storytelling keeps readers hooked from start to finish, compelling them to confront uncomfortable truths about the complexities of human relationships. As I delved deeper into the narrative, I found myself unable to tear away, driven by a strange curiosity to uncover the depths of Gitanjali's turmoil. Even after completing the book, its haunting impact lingered, prompting me to reflect on its profound message for days on end.
Through Gitanjali's journey, "Beguiled" serves as a stark reminder of how dreams of love and happiness can swiftly morph into a nightmare of manipulation and despair. Soi's insightful exploration of common behavioral patterns and their unforeseen consequences serves as a sobering reminder for anyone navigating the complexities of relationships. This book is not merely a tale of survival; it's a call to action for readers to recognize the signs of toxic dynamics and safeguard their well-being. With its unflinching portrayal of human vulnerability and resilience, "Beguiled" is a must read for sure.
December 21, 2022
TW: 18+
An engaging psychological thriller about a woman married to a stranger. Yes. Like many Indian women, Geetanjali rushes into marrying Randeep because she knows a few things about him and her parents insist he is a good man. After marriage, she slowly discovers the web of lies she let herself into. Randeep or Randy is nothing like he told her. He is, in fact, worse than she ever thought.
The story deals with serious psychological themes and drug abuse. The author's writing style is good. She keeps us rooting for Geetanjali, our lead character. How Geetanjali moves from a young girl to a single mother to a woman afraid of nothing is brave and beautiful.
The story covers some of the deepest flaws of our Indian society like hurrying into marriage with any man who earns well, hiding childhood trauma or worse, denying the existence of mental health issues. No person deserves to grow up with their mental health unaddressed. If they do, it may be dangerous for their close ones.
If it is the author's personal story, I reiterate that my review is never about the author or her experiences. But as a novel, it may be helpful to people in abusive relationships, unable to understand if what is happening to them qualifies as abuse. For those who think they can 'fix' their partner's abusive behaviour.
There are a few logical loopholes and impractical things. Like, we don't know how exactly Geetanjali has money to live. Because we don't know what her job is or whether she has one.
Otherwise, I would suggest the book to anyone above 18, precisely for those interested in psychology.
An engaging psychological thriller about a woman married to a stranger. Yes. Like many Indian women, Geetanjali rushes into marrying Randeep because she knows a few things about him and her parents insist he is a good man. After marriage, she slowly discovers the web of lies she let herself into. Randeep or Randy is nothing like he told her. He is, in fact, worse than she ever thought.
The story deals with serious psychological themes and drug abuse. The author's writing style is good. She keeps us rooting for Geetanjali, our lead character. How Geetanjali moves from a young girl to a single mother to a woman afraid of nothing is brave and beautiful.
The story covers some of the deepest flaws of our Indian society like hurrying into marriage with any man who earns well, hiding childhood trauma or worse, denying the existence of mental health issues. No person deserves to grow up with their mental health unaddressed. If they do, it may be dangerous for their close ones.
If it is the author's personal story, I reiterate that my review is never about the author or her experiences. But as a novel, it may be helpful to people in abusive relationships, unable to understand if what is happening to them qualifies as abuse. For those who think they can 'fix' their partner's abusive behaviour.
There are a few logical loopholes and impractical things. Like, we don't know how exactly Geetanjali has money to live. Because we don't know what her job is or whether she has one.
Otherwise, I would suggest the book to anyone above 18, precisely for those interested in psychology.
April 11, 2022
Beguiled is a very brave book, not only because of its sensitive soul-baring subject, but also because it attempts to be many things at once - romance, thriller, and self-help book.
Though I found the last 30 odd pages quite divergent from the rest of the book, which was quite a page-turner up till that point, I do understand why the author felt it necessary to include them.
Beguiled is not a work of fiction looking for the reader's approval, it is instead a process of releasing the pain, anxiety and mental devastation the author suffered in her marriage. It is a work of catharsis, and must be read as such. Fortunately, it also works from a reader's perspective because I immediately thought of certain people in my life who would benefit from reading it, so they could identify and move out of similar relationships.
Even if you are not keen on 'woe-is-me' kind of books, Beguiled makes for an engaging and very quick read.
Kudos to Ruchika Soi for speaking her truth!
Though I found the last 30 odd pages quite divergent from the rest of the book, which was quite a page-turner up till that point, I do understand why the author felt it necessary to include them.
Beguiled is not a work of fiction looking for the reader's approval, it is instead a process of releasing the pain, anxiety and mental devastation the author suffered in her marriage. It is a work of catharsis, and must be read as such. Fortunately, it also works from a reader's perspective because I immediately thought of certain people in my life who would benefit from reading it, so they could identify and move out of similar relationships.
Even if you are not keen on 'woe-is-me' kind of books, Beguiled makes for an engaging and very quick read.
Kudos to Ruchika Soi for speaking her truth!
March 7, 2022
Is this what love can cost us? Can someone have so much disregard for others' feelings, lack of empathy and a sense of entitlement? So much? This book is so good it’s bad - it’s bad because it makes one realise we have psychopaths among us ruining lives for innocent people without being punished for their deeds and without any fear of consequences.
The writing is so immaculate that you don’t want to put the book down! Cheers to Ruchika Soi for her debut novel. Grab your copy today!
The writing is so immaculate that you don’t want to put the book down! Cheers to Ruchika Soi for her debut novel. Grab your copy today!
March 6, 2022
Well written, scary to the core, makes one wonder as to how many monsters are there around us, unknown and undetected.
April 19, 2024
It was a good read for me even though the writing style didn't match my preference and also I did not enjoy the ending.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews