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When I Am with You: Enter the Valley of the Gods

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You can plan everything, but you can't plan with whom and when you'll fall in love, isn't it?
Aishwarya, at twenty-eight years, would rather be a single mother than trust the 'normal' family structure. In her new start-up, she wants to revolutionize childcare for young woman professionals-this is her ultimate goal. Plus, she's in a hurry to do it all. On her mind is the ambitious and good-looking Akshay, perfect genetic material, but he's not ready to be part of her plans. Yet.
In comes Dhiren, who has made and lost his money in cryptocurrency. He takes up the first floor of Aishwarya's nursery building and, by a queer coincidence, begins to work for her. Her friends Smriti and Vinny, as protective as mother hens, warn her against Dhiren. There is something that he's hiding along with his friend Neeraj-they just don't know what.
Things begin to take shape but really, it's just the beginning of a disaster. The only thing that can save them is what they don't want-love.
Crazy, quirky and so utterly romantic, this book is the ultimate relationship roller coaster!

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2022

82 people are currently reading
561 people want to read

About the author

Durjoy Datta

118 books3,426 followers

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5 stars
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143 (31%)
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41 (8%)
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17 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
Profile Image for Lev.
75 reviews5 followers
June 6, 2024
First of all, nothing I hate more than a surprise pregnancy trope.

And about the book...the starting was really slow but interesting. I liked the concept, i liked how characters were introduced.. flawed, ambitious.. made them look more relatable. The plot was a little dull but interesting. But as the story progresses it just gets annoying and boring. Except adil, neeraj and smiti... every character is annoying. Main characters are really unlikable. Even though it's a love story the lack of chemistry between main characters is very off putting.
I like the portrayal of Indian women's cricket team, and the dilemma the cricketers face once they have family.
I feel like the eding was too rushed. Like they are just fighting, then comes a surprise pregnancy and two pages later boom! suddenly they understand their love for each other and want to be with each other. Happy ending.
How does that even make sense?
Profile Image for Sarmistha.
215 reviews59 followers
October 29, 2022
A heady concoction of flawed characters, beautiful friendship,supporting love,second chances,betrayal, lies and secrets with a touch of unmissable reality greets you in the book When I am with you.
Aishwarya is a child whisperer who is working hard to complete her dream Cute Buttons and also taking firm steps to realise another cherished dream of her own.She meets Dhiren, a mysterious character with dark past and amazing cooking skills in her apartment building.The story is set into motion.As we move further into the story, secrets are unveiled like ghosts from the cold attic.

The slow burn romance grows on the reader.The spurts of dark humour, engaging banter and retorts between the characters keep one engaged to the story. Vinny, Smriti, Neeraj and Akshay are layered supporting characters who play important roles in the story.Loved the way, they showed your friends can be your family.

The author addressed an important issue - dysfunctional families and the effect of them of the future generation.It is a topic that is very rarely talked about.Through the characters, he points out there is a very fine line segregating right from wrong which needs to be tread carefully.

At times, few characters seem to be too controlling and over concerned which feels quite suffocating.

A treat for romance lovers.It's a heady concoction of emotions perfect as a travel companion or a weekend read.
Profile Image for Book_withquotes.
627 reviews21 followers
April 17, 2024
“When I Am with You” by Durjoy Datta is a captivating and unconventional love story that delves into the complexities of human relationships and the unpredictability of love. Aishwarya, a strong-willed woman with a vision to start her own nursery, finds herself at a crossroads in life. She’s determined to become a single mother and create a family structure that defies convention. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters Dhiren, a man with a mysterious past who’s hiding from the world. The story beautifully explores their journey, along with the intertwined lives of other supporting characters.

This novel is a refreshing approach to love and relationships, challenging societal norms as Aishwarya’s determination to become a single mother without being in a conventional relationship defies convention. Aishwarya and Dhiren are well-developed characters with depth and relatability. Their individual backgrounds and traumas add layers to their personalities, making them compelling protagonists. The book’s writing style is engaging and relatable, capturing the essence of everyday life, making it easy for readers to connect with the characters and their experiences.

The supporting characters, such as Smriti, Vinny, Neeraj, and Akshay, are portrayed as protective and caring friends. Their dynamics with Aishwarya and Dhiren add richness to the narrative, showing how friends can become like family. The novel addresses issues related to dysfunctional families and the impact of such backgrounds on individuals. It emphasizes the importance of healing and self-discovery in one’s journey to happiness. The ending of the book avoids the typical fairy-tale conclusion and instead provides a realistic and relatable ending that leaves an impression. While the plot may be somewhat predictable in parts, and there are moments where character actions may seem immature, “When I Am with You” remains a unique and engaging love story that challenges societal norms and explores the intricacies of unconventional relationships. Durjoy Datta’s storytelling invites readers to reflect on the complexities of love, the impact of family backgrounds, and the power of self-discovery on the journey to happiness. It’s a beautiful reminder that love can be found in unexpected places and that second chances can lead to something even more beautiful than the first.
Profile Image for Tanya Shrivastava.
17 reviews
August 23, 2022
RATING - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

@durjoydatta has done it again. Yet again another classic masterpiece.
It all started when Aishwarya and Dhiren moved into the same building. Dhiren has a shady past and he was on a runaway from his previous life , he even changed his name. But, things take turns when he meets Aishwarya, a realist, a petite girl with anime eyes who is about to open a pre school named " Cute Buttons" and She also wants to have a baby of her own through IVF (artificial insemination)without interference of any man in her life, without being married , without being in a relationship or anything per say. She doesn't believe in labels. She is a free spirit girl. She just wants to show up to her mother.
She immediately catches his attention. But, Dhiren is terrified if he gets too close to her maybe his dark identity will be revealed and Aishwarya will leave him.
But , the day Aishwarya finds out about Dhiren's previous life. She just couldn't believe it and she gets shattered, when she tries to confront Dhiren by calling him to ask whether what she got to know is true or not - someone else picks up the phone with extremely bad news which turns the lives of Dhiren and Aishwarya completely upside down. She rekindled connection with her ex-boyfriend but she was always in a dilemma as her heart only and only belonged to Dhiren.
I loved how a famous person was introduced in their life which was a turning point for their professional as well as personal life.
For me the only con was that a simple conversation would have been able to fix all their issues on time.
Profile Image for Maneesha Reddy.
132 reviews7 followers
December 20, 2023
I picked up this book thinking I can indulge into a cute lovely stories… like those days where u enjoy ur coffee and a romantic book which goes perfect with it.

Unfortunately, this book hasn’t made it. I just couldn’t read it after I hit like ~200pages. Terrible story line with very non attractive content.

I wonder how everyone liked it. But, definitely not my kind. And remember I love love stories :)
5 reviews
June 27, 2024
It’s a very easy smooth flowing story, one which never makes you want to keep the book down. It’s set in India, has a full cast of young, flawed, ambitious (and good looking) main characters with dreams and talents bigger than everyone else’s. Everything is so good that it is too good to be true. The girl is a kids’s whisperer, fantastic at planning a nursery, writes children story books which become instantly popular and is very good looking. She manages to not only make every guy fall in love with her but also the captain of the Indian Cricket Women Team. The guy is a game designer mastermind, insanely wealthy from cryptocurrency gain, cooks better meals than a Michelin star chef and is again, very good looking. The side guy is no less. He has one of the most heavily funded startups in the country, an offer from VC to live an uber luxurious life in the States, a perfect plan for his life and yes you guessed it right, very good looking. There are too many events in this book which have minuscule probability of happening in real life, making this story a true fantasy, but nonetheless an entertaining read. Even though the story and the characters are literally perfect and thus unbelievable or relatable, one thing you do take away from the book is how if you pour yourself in your mission or your work, you can make something amazing out of your life.
Profile Image for PRERANA MAHATA.
31 reviews
December 29, 2022
It was fast paced and light read , a kind of love story that entails friendship, unembellished romance, hiding secrets and many more emotions in between.
Profile Image for Shahitha .
128 reviews2 followers
March 20, 2023
𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐼 𝐴𝑚 𝑊𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑌𝑜𝑢 by Durjoy Datta
𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒎 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝒊𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒊𝒕 ?

Aishwarya is a charismatic, creative and compassionate 28-year-old who loved children and life-dream to build a nursery. Aishwarya named it "cute button". Aishwarya planned to impregnate herself with the help of IVF method and to raise the child all on her own. Not that she couldn't find a man, but the idea of symbolizing herself as a single mother who can raise a child alone with all the love and yet be successful.

Enters Dhiren Das, who has made money on cryptocurrency and has a past mystery, decides to hide from the outside world and finds a new place to stay at. Dhiren is very conscious of his identity and others finding out who he really is.

Both with childhood trauma's and prefer not to talk about it.

Aishwarya's bestfriend Vinny and Smriti doesn't let anything happen to Aishwarya and could do anything for her.

Neeraj is best friend of Dhiren and his business buddy.

Akshay is Aishwarya's ex boyfriend and is also her best friend.

Dhiren turns out to be a neighbour who lives on the top floor .Though Aishwarya and Dhiren had their differences at the beginning, slowly things started to get smoother between them. Aishwarya's dream of building cute buttons was almost shattered when the contractor asked for more money which was beyond Aishwarya's capacity. So she decides to build the nursery herself. On the other hand, Dhiren who avoids the outside world staying in his room, comes up lending a hand to help Aishwarya with building cute buttons. Aishwarya was proud when cute buttons got the shape of how she imagined them to be.

To no one's expectation, there had been a huge collapse at the house, Dhiren was trapped in it. Cute buttons were all gone. Whereas Dhiren's true identity came out, which made Aishwarya devastated for hiding the truth from her and the cute buttons being gone and losing her pregnancy, she merely lived so does Dhiren. It took Dhiren 8 months to walk again. Those 8 months were filled with excruciating pain and agony.

Fate played an important role in bringing Aishwarya and Dhiren together in the most amazingly unexpected ways we could imagine.

The author's writing style was so captivating and I loved the way they incorporated emotions into each character with twists at unexpected point and paid attention to tiny details, including reality check so uniquely.

The ending was so unexpected and satisfying.

I loved the book! I would personally request for a second part of this Book.
Profile Image for Pori Goswami.
138 reviews2 followers
December 28, 2024
Book Review: When I Am with You by Durjoy Datta

Durjoy Datta's When I Am with You is a contemporary romance that delves into the complexities of modern relationships, personal aspirations, and the lingering shadows of past traumas. Set against the vibrant backdrop of urban India, the novel introduces readers to Aishwarya and Dhiren, two individuals with distinct ambitions and guarded hearts.

Aishwarya, a 28-year-old entrepreneur, is determined to revolutionize childcare for young professional women through her startup. Disillusioned by traditional family structures due to her tumultuous past, she contemplates single motherhood via intrauterine insemination, seeking autonomy over her life choices. Her plans, however, are disrupted by the arrival of Dhiren, a mysterious man who has experienced both the highs and lows of cryptocurrency ventures. Taking up residence on the first floor of Aishwarya's nursery building, Dhiren becomes an unexpected collaborator in her business and, gradually, in her personal life.

Datta's portrayal of his protagonists is both nuanced and relatable. Aishwarya's fierce independence and Dhiren's enigmatic charm create a dynamic interplay, enriched by their shared experiences of familial dysfunction. Supporting characters, such as Aishwarya's protective friends Smriti and Vinny, and Dhiren's loyal companion Neeraj, add depth to the narrative, highlighting the significance of chosen families and friendships.

The novel's pacing is deliberate, allowing for a gradual exploration of character development and relational dynamics. While some readers may find the middle sections slower, this tempo mirrors the complexities and hesitations inherent in real-life relationships. The climax, though somewhat expedited, delivers a satisfying resolution that underscores the transformative power of love and acceptance.

Datta's writing is accessible, with moments of wit and emotional resonance. He adeptly addresses themes of self-discovery, the impact of past traumas, and the courage required to embrace vulnerability. The inclusion of contemporary elements, such as the challenges faced by women in professional settings and the nuances of modern parenting choices, adds relevance and depth to the story.

In conclusion, When I Am with You is a heartfelt exploration of love's unpredictability and the ways in which personal histories shape our present choices. Datta crafts a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, making it a commendable addition to contemporary Indian romance literature.

Rating: 4/5

Recommended for readers who enjoy: Contemporary romance, character-driven stories, and explorations of modern societal themes.
Profile Image for Preethika P.
102 reviews2 followers
June 30, 2023
Everything happens for a reason! Even when you make perfect plans to schedule your future, the turning events will make it disappear in seconds.

When Aishwarya decided to make her own family and her dream plan as a start, she was full of enthusiasm. Nothing stopped her from achieving her dream. When she was about to settle down, it happened, which totally collapsed her life.

When Dhiren settled for the apartment, he made a pact to disappear as far as he can. He lived with his bad past and tried to maintain a solace life. Until he met Aishwarya.

Aishwarya and Dhiren were two opposite poles who had different dreams in life. Aishwarya wanted to build a family without men and Dhiren had no intention in having a family. When they both met, is it a love at first sight or love at first ease we dont know. The instant connection made them to fix their lost puzzles in life. Dhiren slowly helped her to build her dream and she made him to feel better with her words and charms.

Friends are always chaotic. They always want the best for their best friend's life. Being a mama bear, Aishwarya took care of Smriti and Vinny like her lifeline and they both felt the same when it came to protect her from bad people. When the identity of Dhiren was exposed, both of them lost their dreams at the same time. Aishwarya lost her cute buttons and Dhiren almost lost his life and lost Aishwarya that moment.

Childhood traumas are real and the adulthood decision we make always impact that one way or other way. Both of them missed their parent's love and chose to settle for a life without love and compassion. We can't blame them and nothing can be pointed as a solution for it. It took them long enough to realize that its ok to forgive them and move on.

When Dhiren willingly donated everything to the charity to just be with Aishwarya, it warmed my heart. How cute! Isn't it want love is? Giving and sharing without expecting anything in return but love! It is a rollercoaster ride for me and thanks to my favourite author that I closed the book with a smile 😊😁
.
#raconteurpreethika #durjoydutta #wheniamwithyou #love #hate #loveislove #trauma #healing #lovestory
Profile Image for Keya Sears.
42 reviews
January 1, 2025
The buzz around this book, especially after that fun reel collab between Ravinder Singh and Durjoy Datta, was unreal. Ravinder, the eternal believer in love, and Durjoy, who thinks love is just an illusion crafted by writers, make an interesting pair. And honestly, this contrast made me even more curious about *What I Am With You*.

As I got into the book and reached the end, one thing became clear—love has this crazy way of fueling hope, even when it feels unrealistic. And somehow, that hope has the power to turn the impossible into reality.

For me, the most broken character in the story stole my heart. You know, the one who carries all the guilt, blaming themselves for everything, even when they shouldn't. I’ve always been drawn to characters like that—they remind us that there’s a difference between what we *did* and what we *could have done*.

This book truly lives up to being a relationship rollercoaster. It’s wild, quirky, emotional, and yet, so relatable. It explores everything—friendship, family, fanship, and relationships. What really stood out was how it compares the real world to the fiction we create in our minds. The post-breakup part, especially, hit hard. The mix of anger and that lingering desire to see them one last time—anyone who’s loved deeply will feel this.

It’s as relatable as it gets. For me, it was also inspiring—reminding me of two things:
(a) If you want something badly enough, the universe will conspire to help you get it. There will be highs and lows, but if you stick with it, you’ll get there.
(b) There’s someone out there for all of us. Even if we don’t believe it now or feel ready, when the time is right, things will fall into place.

The one thing that left me wanting more? That “I love you.” After such a heartfelt confession, I was hoping to hear it back. But hey, maybe that’s just me.

Oh, and how could I not mention the Shah Rukh Khan reference? If a book has an SRK nod, you *know* it’s going to have my attention.

And about that reel with Ravinder and Durjoy? Once you read the book, you might just figure out whose side you’re on.

Give this one a read—you won’t regret it!
Profile Image for Fairy Khimani.
2 reviews
November 29, 2022
*Spoilers Alert*

When I am with you is a a kind of a romance fiction that one would want to go and reread. It is not the typical kind of a love story where there is a Hero, a Heroine, and a Villain. It is definitely more than that. The story revolves around the girl Aishwarya who wants to be a single mother, open a kids nursery called cute buttons, and live her life away from her family and on her own terms. The character of Dhiren is very interesting and has a certain kind of suspense about his past life lingering around him always.

Some things that I absolutely loved about this books are :
1. It is not a typical love story.
2. It is very well written and has the tendency to keep the reader engaged.
3. It has various different characters with an interestingly descriptive amount of time given to each of them.
4. The sex scenes are very thoughtfully written, which makes the scenes seem almost real.
5. The whole idea and concept of the story has my whole heart to it. Every plot is elaborately written, not making the readers brain confused.
6. The climax was not all flowery and in slow motion. It was like a normal ending making it more realistic and relatable. Like any other story would end in real life.

Some things about the book that I didn't really approved of are :
1. The ending of the book kinda felt incomplete as there was no closure for all the other characters apart from Aishwarya and Dhiren. It was important to have a closure for other characters too as they played a very important role in the story.
2. The characters of Neeraj, Smriti and Vinny were not very much convincing. They were portraited to be the friends of the main character but at places I felt they were just being immature kids.
3. The overall plots were a little predictable.

Lastly, my rating for this book is a 4 stars out of 5. It is an amazing love story with a different concept. If you are a beginner in reading I would 10 on 10 recommend the books of Durjoy Datta in romance genre.
Profile Image for Nandani.
139 reviews1 follower
March 11, 2025
I dont have words for this book still will write a review.
The only good aspect was of betting app awareness but i feel in a way it was trying to justify it or make it seem normal.

The female protagonist was so selfish mean and unnecessarily trying to show as a good person (i think its the second book of this author which i read and it was the same females being too arrogant and not likeable at all) .

They tried to create an emotion for Aishwarya and her selfishness called ambition you will know why i wrote that once you read this book. She was so selfish i dont know why i never seem to like her even her friends were so weird and irritating made me hate such people.

The male character Dhiren he is also shown as a Bechara types person who faces problem but still make it through. His Obsession and love for Aishwarya seems offbeat honestly i dont see any chemistry nor logic in their story. His friend Dhiren character is somewhat bearable and nice.

The cricket scenario and how Women players dilemma and situations have been shown is also good but the whole scene of them hiring and getting attach to Aishwarya again was not fitting into the puzzle .

The ending proved how selfish Aishwarya was as when the guy Dhiren bought and rebuild her old demolished building where she wanted to open a day care and he wanted to do the same and she despite being in dilemma to either live in US with her current ex bf Akshay or be with her fling Dhiren. She chose him after seeing all this. I dont why such characters are always have options and all they have to do is select one.
The whole hook up concept of main characters A and D was not at all good to read it in fact shows how shallow relationships are nowadays.

If you are a fan read it otherwise skip it i am fed up of this author writing abusive words in full form with repetition the writing and story is not up to the mark.
Profile Image for Akanksha Gupta.
17 reviews1 follower
June 4, 2023
Book:- When I am with you
Author:- @durjoydatta
Genre:- Romance
Page count:-321
My rating:-⭐⭐⭐⭐

About Author 👇🏼
🌸 I am sure you know this very famous name in India He has writen many bestselling novels , screenwriter.
Durjoy has written many romance novels which are loved by readers
here are some of his best books 👇🏼
✨Till The Last Breath ✨ Wish I Could Tell You ✨
A Touch of Eternity ✨ World's Best Boyfriend ✨Our Impossible Love ✨The Girl of my Dreams ✨The Boy who Loved ✨The Boy with A Broken
And so on

About Book 👇🏼
🌸This one is my first book from the author and i enjoyed reading it somehow whole book keep me engage with beautiful writing style .
🌸The book starts with main characters Dhiren and Aishwarya they both moved in same building where Dhiren has something in his past because of he is hiding himself from world and came here n meet a girl who is beautiful,calm,loving where Aishwarya came here to fulfill her 2 most imp. dream opeing "cute buttom" kids nursery and having her own kid through IVF
🌸You Will also find Both of them have some childhood family trauma whereas when Aishwarya stared working on cute buttom by herself Dhiren came for her help and from their they stared falling for each other.
🌸I really like the way Aishwarya have 2most supportive friend Smriti and Vinny this 3 girls have quit strong friendship which took my attention through out a story
🌸when Vinny recognise Dhiren she get to know about the guy past and from that point everything turned out to be end.

overall beautiful love story where both dhiren and Aishwarya have good friends who always supported them in their Good time n bad time i really love the concept as shown
Profile Image for Manaswini Pradhan.
7 reviews2 followers
March 26, 2023
💠➡️I have just completed reading “WHEN I AM WITH YOU" and this is one of the best read so far. Let's now plung deep into the plot of the novel.
💠➡️The protagonist of the story are Dhiren and Aishwarya.They moved into a same building.Dhiren was staying in first floor and Aishwarya in the ground floor.
Dhiren had a shady past and he was on a runway from his previous life.On the other side Aishwarya is a headstrong, independent girl who is about to open a pre school named “Cute buttons".
💠➡️ Aishwarya receives assistance from Dhiren in shaping her dreams.They planted the first seed of friendship together but her friends smriti and Vinny, as protective as mother hens warn her against Dhiren.
💠➡️One day Vinny and smriti came to know the true identity of Dhiren that he is a fraud. Aishwarya couldn't believe it and tried to confront Dhiren by calling him to ask wheather what she got to know is true or not. Someone else picks up the call and tells the building branch of cute bottons collapsed. In that accident Dhiren became severely injured and again came to the limelight in news.What happened next?? Aishwarya's dreams of opening “cute bottons" became true or not?? Do read the tale to know more in detail..
💠➡️In this tale the best character “Dhiren" touched my heart who did everything to prove his love. Dhiren made her dream his own. He loved her selflessly and he deserved what he got at the end.. “their family"💕. And Neeraj is the true friend a guy could ever have. After finishing this story I felt sorry for Akshay,he too deserved a happy ending but overall an excellent story with truckload of love, friendship, heartbreaks and many more things..
💕📖Happy Reading....💕📚
2 reviews
September 1, 2022
Beautiful book! To be honest i was a little turned off by the names of the characters at first but I love them now that I have read the book. But as always, Durjoy Datta makes ordinary life seem magical. The story will always be so close to my heart. I love how it shows that second chances can be beautiful, even more than the first time. Dhiren is the sweetest character. It's beautiful how he progressed throughout the book. I just loved how Dhiren stood up for Aishwarya when her brother disrespected her and also how he was with her, supporting her through everything. I could imagine 'Cute Buttons', it felt like i was a part of it all. Dhiren and Neeraj are lovely together. That bond is End game for sure. I have a little problem with Vinny and Smriti, they were good friends but it felt like that was too much intrusion from their side. It was hard to connect with them towards the end. I read in some review about Adil's character being amazing and i was looking forward to it while reading and when i did come across it, i could see why. He is really funny , smart and sweet in a weird way. I loved how he tagged along with Aishwarya at the end and kept nagging her with questions. He was more a brother to her than her real one. Aishwarya and Dhiren's bond with their family showed how they were treated in a similar was but how they turned out to be so different people. It really is sad how our families can f**k us up in different ways.
The book was great overall, finished it in less than 2 days. I just feel that Dhiren deserved a better ending.
Profile Image for Cafephile Reads.
16 reviews
October 11, 2022
When i am with you by Durjoy dutta

💕💕💕💕💕/5

To start with,
It's a contemporary romance novel authored by a bestselling author @durjoydatta

It started off with a slow pace with me having no clear info regarding the characters but as the roller coaster took its actual pace i was like 'wow! this is what I love'.
It's a bit of cliché romance that make you enjoy the thrill of ups and downs.Its a relatable and realistic fiction that will keep you hooked up with it and even after finishing it i craved for a part 2.It is movie worthy i must mention!
Its stitched to contemporary romance yet it doesn't reside just there: it explores domestic realities, burden of existence, pressure to uphold societal norms alongwith a quirky philosophical touch of the protagonists' take on men and women.
Blooming from 'friendship turning into love',it roots deep into past traumas too.It even talks out humanly vices which are less talked about.
The strangest thing that happened was it is too much relatable!
It's a page turner & an undownputable spicy romance novel, u may want to finish it in one go.

You would love Dhiren and Aishwarya a lot, it's a bet!
Nothing much to be considered as CON!

Recommended to—
beginners👧🏽
those who want a light read of romance with breakup & patchup🫶🏼
those who wanna heal their emotional wreckage🥹
those who want to witness a new take on life🌅
those who crave for a heart warming ending🫀
those who like cricket🏏& gaming tech!🎮

Triggers—
Talks of human cruelty, abortions, abusive words, miscarriage, dark side of families, orthodoxical view about women,partiality between kids which is totally fine as that's today's reality!🥲

P.S. Both the cover and the complementary autograph of Durjoy sir i got are amazing!🔖
Profile Image for Mhonchumi Kikon.
122 reviews1 follower
September 27, 2022
Can you plan when to fall in love?
Bestseller author Durjoy Datta brings to us another captivating and classic love story- When I Am with You.
The plot of this book revolves around Aishwarya who at 28 would rather choose to be a single mom than jump into the norm of getting married and starting a family. She is smart, independent and ambitious. She is a free-spirited girl who is all set to start her own pre-school ‘cute button.’ Her wish is to revolutionise child care for young woman professionals- this is her ultimate goal.
On the other hand, she meets Dhiren who happened to be her neighbour. He has taken up the first floor above her nursery. Dhiren is the kind of guy you will feel mysterious about. He has a hidden past that he wouldn't openly discuss with anyone. Since they are in the same vicinity, Aishwarya is warned by her friends who think Dhiren is shady, and that she should keep an eye. But things take a turn once Dhiren’s truth is slowly unfolded. You would know if you read the book. This is a story of two adults trying to sort out their present while dealing with their past traumas.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, it did feel like it had a slow start, but it slowly took a grip on my interest. Overall, the book was sweet, quirky, romantic and a little bit cliche involved, but who doesn’t love a cliche love story, right?
Profile Image for Deamer.
562 reviews40 followers
December 8, 2022
Book 52 Review - When I Am with You by Durjoy Datta - Complex, messy love

Childhood trauma can leave the most impact behind even though intention behind the words spoken at that time, may not have been understood in the right way. This is always a conundrum, but parents also tend to forget that children can really be attuned to their parents' emotions as children are like clay yet to be set, so it does go both ways.

Aishwarya and Dhiren, the main characters of this book,are complicated but they are victims of childhood trauma but are also victims of family love, so they are stuck in the trap of pain(latter)and anger(former), which keeps holding them back for every choice they make, and the book narrates well how real their trauma is and how it has morphed into their personalities, especially when things get messier.

Like all books by Indian authors, the narration was raw, real, messy and complicated, which I loved because that's how real life is for us millenials.

It was an easy read as I got connected to instantly. The ending could have been a bit better as it felt rushed and it wasn't that satisfying.A few more pages could have ended it well, but all in all, a good book.

Next Book - The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon - Another boost of seratonin waiting to happen lol
15 reviews
July 12, 2023
"You can plan everything but you can't plan when and with whom you'll fall in love, isn't it?"

I love the concept of the book. Aishwarya, the young woman who wants to be a single mother and raise the child alone. Her dream of opening a child care center Cute Buttons is really cute and practical business idea.

The way Dhiren and Aishwarya became friends is really cute. The dedication they had while working for Cute Buttons. If only Dhiren had told Aishwarya everything about his past. Their chemistry is something else.

Smriti and Vinny are the girlfriends every girl needs in her life, eventhough they interefere a lot. And every guy needs a friend like Neeraj.

The fall of the ceiling was a misfortune, caused by Diren and Aishwarya's stupidly. But it made the story go on. The hardship they had go through after that.

The things about the Women's Cricket Team is our society's reality. How women have to think of her family even when she's working on the field.

It's nice how everything come together for a happy ending. Aishwarya getting a super awesome job, Dhiren creating a game and fate bringing them together. The moments they stealed were hott.

However the ending felt a little rushed. Ending could have been more beautiful with everyone's participation.

Overall a good book. It was fun throughout.
Profile Image for Eeshan Devalia.
23 reviews
February 12, 2023
One peculiarity of Durjoy Datta's stories is that, while you can guess how they will end, you can never guess how they will get there.
The promises made in I Am With You are the height of a relationship's roller coaster! Crazy, odd, and yet incredibly relatable to people with hearts like mine! The book reveals many facets and makes honest comparisons between the real world and the fictional world, which we can frequently relate to, including friendship, family, fandom, and relationships..

The protagonists of the tale are Dhiren Das and Aishwarya. Dhiren owns the first floor, while Aishwarya is the owner of the ground floor. Dhiren is a person with a shady past and is on the run, whereas Aishwarya is a strong, independent woman who dreams of opening "Cute Buttons." Aishwarya receives assistance from Dhiren in realising her dreams. Dhiren could have died in that incident, and they both laid blame on the other. Although their love story has taken many turns, they finally unite and even have a child! I liked how a famous person entered their lives, which was a pivotal moment in both their personal and professional lives.

Neeraj was a great character, but I felt bad for Akshay. He too merited a happy ending. Overall, a good tale with a tonne of drama, love, and laughter.

Profile Image for Tamanna.
5 reviews
November 16, 2022
From the beginning I liked everything, but towards the end a steep rush ruined all the fun, specially the intimacy part, I felt that this is the part what durjoy thinks every reader is waiting for, but he ruined the same love that he was portraying in a beautiful manner with such intensity with just a rushed sex. Was not expecting that. It should have done in a different and beautiful way. And the ending, what the hell was that. Why so quick. I felt, durjoy was himself bored with the length, without any further delay he just ends it. And other characters like vinny, smiriti and akshay were ignored. I hate such ending when you keep someone waiting, and that was exactly aishwarya did to akshay. He needed atleast an explanation, everyone does. And at moments, I felt like someone kept me hanging, which I hated the most. I liked almost every thing till dhiren and aishvarya met again. But after that it was all down the hill, all the fun was destroyed with an urge to end the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kidliomag .
1,424 reviews55 followers
September 19, 2022
When I Am With You is another endearing love story by bestselling author Durjoy Dutta, who writes on love, friendship, romance, and relationships.
This beautiful love story revolves around two protagonists Aishwarya, a headstrong single mother, and Dhiren, who deals in cryptocurrency. They both have their separate lives and plans, but definitely love was not on the chart. It's good to read how they crossed each other's paths unexpectedly, fell in love, and overcame all the trauma of their past lives.
Though overall, the story is not new, the characters and their conversations keep the reader engaged till the end. When I Am With You is a sweet love story with aspects of love, friendship, heartbreak, and entrepreneurship that anyone can read.
18 reviews
March 21, 2023
The story is not an usual romance one that you will expect it to be. It's different & beautiful. Here the male protagonist, Dhiren Das, who has a dark past, rent the first floor of the building to cover himself from the world, where as the female protagonist, Aishwarya Menon, has different perspective towards life, she always sees the positive that life has to offer & that's what makes her special. She has two gems in her life- Vinny and Smriti, who were her best friends and were always there for her in every situation. I really admire their friendship. But things started to take a turn when both Dhiren & Aishwarya met and spent time together. I learnt from this book that how much we may plan our life to be, but in the end life has plans for us✨
15 reviews
March 24, 2023
enemies to lover kinda vibes. i am proud to say i am veery much like aishwarya. her confidence, the way she cares her self is top notch. dhiren is classic brown delhi ka londa. haramigiri and his attitude, but he does has a soft heart. neeraj was great side kick. the story was another love story of two ppl falling in love when they don't really want to. the half end by my pov was fast paced. mtlb story ko bhagane ke liye. sabki sab was sahi and man! did i expect a spicy scene in it. it was like a bonus for me. it was welll written considering a male author wrote it. i don't wanna be misandrists and say that male author can't write romance books but my experience has not been good enough with male romance book.
Profile Image for Kritika Kashyap.
10 reviews
June 12, 2023
Once again Durjoy Datta has impressed us with his writing skills. This novel threw light on many aspects like if there is love then there is a need of expression. Sometimes instead of reverse attraction theory we look for similarities. And the most important love can change anyone, it makes them better than before (as I found in the case of Dhiren).
Talking about the overall novel, if you start reading once then it can be difficult for you to stop. The story is so engaging that you will not get satisfaction even after reading the last page, you will want to read it again and again. So beware already. Emotions like friendship and care of your friends have been depicted in a very promising manner. Really impressed with the characters. Once again a Big Hit by Durjoy Dutta.
Profile Image for Margaret.
58 reviews5 followers
October 2, 2025
3.5 stars, Aishwarya and Dhiren😍, the story started out strong, how they became friends, cooking and cricket, middle part was also okay. They are recovering, on their own but somehow I felt end could have been a lot better.

I don't want to give too much spoiler but there was no hug till 200 odd pages and suddenly without talking things through, they have sex. Last part was also bit rushed, when Aishwarya got pregnant.

I really wanted to give it 5 stars and practically finished it within a day but I just wish for a better ending, it's a hea but bit rushed. Also, I would have loved an epilogue. Thanks for the book @Durjoy Dutta, how you portrayed women cricket team and their struggles. Just a request, please rewrite not so rushed ending and release again.

Overall good book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Prakash Parasuraman.
70 reviews3 followers
November 6, 2022
When I am with you, is an emotional roller coaster. You can experience different emotions pop out at different junctures of the book, especially the heart broken part is well depicted. Even the emotional part is relatable at times.

One reason that the emotions are perfectly depicted, is the characterization. Each character is penned with perfection. Aishwarya, Dhiren and Neeraj are perfectly realistic. I really loved Neeraj’s character personally. You might want to have someone like Neeraj in your life to support you.

My detailed review: https://ekatha.in/2022/11/06/when-i-a...
1 review
June 19, 2024
Honestly this was my first durjoy dutta book and i am highly disappointed and bored.I don't recommend this book as first of all it was way slow paced almost till the middle of the book the story was not taking place and the ending was not how i wanted it felt rushed.The FC was such a headache and she will bore you out.This book was almost DND by me but still i completed it in morning and the ending just left me in anger and rushed. That's all i won't recommend or suggest you to read this book but still i gave it 2 stars cuz some lines/dialogues does touch you only some or else it deserves a 1 star rating
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