Book Review: He loves me not by Vrushali Telang
10 years ago Shaili Desai 2
He loves me not by Vrushali Telang is the story of Jimmy Cooper and Mehroo Nasarwanji, childhood friends (sweethearts doesn’t exactly seem to be the right word). I thought it was a chick lit and was looking forward to reading it as I was in the mood for one. However, it’s not really chick lit, it’s more of a contemporary novel, that everybody is writing (and reading) these days.
Honestly, the book doesn’t really start out very well. I don’t really know what irritates me about this novel, it’s like I expected that I would like this story but it fell short. Mehroo is a sad female who doesn’t quite have much self esteem or anything to go for her, really. She constantly obsesses about Jimmy deserving someone so much better. It is quite annoying especially when Jimmy is such a good for nothing guy. He is your typical guy next door who does not quite realize the value of everything important in life.
The story is a coming of age novel of both the characters, Jimmy and Mehroo. But much of it centers on Jimmy. The author tried to connect with the target segment of ‘young’ people by writing about hip lifestyles and at the same being sarcastic about some of the aspects of it. I liked some of the jokes she made, especially the one about Fifty Shades of Grey and about faking sexy. But, she seemed to be in a hurry to finish the novel.
The story does justify Jimmy’s coming of age to some extent but when it comes to Mehroo, the book is sadly deficient. At the start she’s such a depressing person and suddenly she’s changed into this soul who’s so much at peace with everything around herself. I suppose, most of us have been Mehroo at some point or the other in life, but how you come out of it to be a stronger person is what was lacking in the book.
On the whole, it’s a fast read with some very witty dialogues, a sarcastic view on ‘wannabe’ behavior among the rich and the upper middle class and endearing parsi characters. It also illustrates the disconnect between parents and children and how we desperately try to fit in. However, the author failed to develop Mehroo as a worthy character.
About the book: He loves me not | Vrushali Telang | Ebury Press – Random House India | Fiction | 232 pages | Rs. 199
Note: A copy of the book was provided by Random House India.
2 comments
Nish Sep 20, 2013 at 8:29 am
I got this book for review too and I think I liked it a lot more than you did, though I too feel that Mehroo’s transformation was just too abrupt.
ReplyShweta Sep 26, 2013 at 1:35 am
It looks like a quick read, but that cover does nothing to pique my interest. The plot however sounds like it does have potential but then execution too matters a lot.
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