The book When She Smiled is written by Ritoban Chakrabarti available for Rs.193 worldwide.
This is an honest book review
About the author:
Ritoban Chakrabarti is an author and entrepreneur. He has self-taught himself with skills like programming, designing and marketing and founded his marketing firm right after completing his graduation. When She Smiled is his debut novel that he self-published on 30th November 2014. It is a YA romance novel. Author is also an avid traveller and believes in living life without boundaries.
About the book:
Mrityunjoy Roy is a fifteen year old Bengali who has spent the last ten years of his life growing up in Shimla, India. While his family is completely academically oriented, he wants something more. Finally he meets Akanksha in school, who turns his world upside down with her gorgeous looks and mind boggling smile. As fate would have it, she joins his tuition, and thus begins the torrid year of puppy love, romance, heartbreak, tragedy, and self discovery. Set among the scenic Shivalik hills of Shimla when mobile phones and internet were non-existent, this is a story of how an average young teenager comes to terms with his destiny.
-Source: Book blurb
When She Smiled Book Review:
This book is set in Shimla of Himachal Pradesh. It is about a 15 years old Bengali boy called Mrityunjay. This is a sweet simple story of teenage love, set in the time when there were no internet and phones. The writing style of the author is simple and descriptive. Shimla is a beautiful hill station and author has described the beauty of the city so well. Let me share a fun fact, even my next book is set in Shimla. But for that, you have to wait a bit!
The story is predictable at many points but still beautiful to read. It did not feel exaggerated though sometimes the ‘gyan’ felt like too much. Despite this, it was engaging and kept me reading with interest till the end. Some stories are beautiful and we know the climax, for example the Aladdin or Snow White, but still we read it till the end. Something like this happened with this book too.
The characterization was okayish as at times I felt disconnected. Though, I believe the protagonist Mrityunjay was intentionally made naive and foolish, because that’s what teenagers do many times. The character of Akansha was also interesting. I really hated the teacher and Roy’s father.
All in all, it is a nice book to read in a winter night, light and easy!
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