Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Book Review: Spicy bites of Briyani

Reading a feminine romantic fiction brings a totally different feel from that of novels composed by masculine pens. It creates a light hearted ambience so like their character. This is a perfect romantic story with all needed spicy ingredients to bring out the masala of life.

Studied hard? Got the perfect job? Found the perfect mate? And Still Screwed up your life? Is it possible to do everything right in your life and still not be happy? Meet Sanjay, Aditi, Mayank and Jayshree. 

Sanjay is US-returned software millionaire determined to have an arranged marriage aftr slling his company and braking up with his two-timing girlfriends. 

Aditi is a commitment-phobic writer who cant figure out what her next book is about but has perfected the art of break-ups Manyank and Jayshree are the perfect couple. If only they werent dealing with rude relatives, killing deadlines, procreation pressures and those ultimate romance-killers... monotoy and boredom!

This light-hearted story traces the lives of these four successful, thirty-something friends who all come to the same conclusion... 

The hardest thing about having the perfect life is keeping it that way! 


The Spicy Bites of Biryani by Ms Ashwina Garg is a romance novel and I can definitely say a different story from the typical Indian love stories. The title is very catchy which comes with the tagline ‘because life needs little 'Masala'’. As the title says there is a mixed masala in the story to make it more Spicy. The story travels along the four characters Sanjay, Aditi. Mayank and Jayshree. Sanjay is a US returned software millionaire, who comes to India to have an arranged marriage with Indian girl and settle in India. After many failed proposals, he meets Aditi. Aditi, being an author, is struggling to make a story for her third novel. She lives life on her own terms and doesn’t give heed to what others think and feel about her. She also doesn’t believe in marriage. Sanjay and Aditi, who are so parallel, have common friends Mayank and Jayshree. Mayank and Jayshree both are married couple who had been together since past 6 years. They both had worked together and living well settled lives and trying to make their life happy and different by adding up Masala every day. They also help Sanjay in finding a perfect combo for him. Romance is found not only in Aditi and Sanjay's relation but also in the couple who have good amount of issues, which they handle well. Luckily not a predictable ending, it makes you want to know what's next? I wish not to reveal the plot here.

The book has been written brilliantly enough to make the readers get engaged with it. One of the most fantastic things about this book is the characterization. Even though it is Sanjay and Aditi in the lead role, the characters of Mayank and Jayshree were not any less than Mansur. Without these characters, so well built, I do not think that the story would have the same essence as it has now.      With the use of simple language, the author has succeeded to take the book to its destination.


Overall, I would say that Mrs. Ashwina Garg has done a commendable job in this book. Though the taste of the biryani she served changed as the story moved, it left no bitter aftertaste.  I would like to suggest all reader to read it if they are finding 'Masala' and experience the difference. It’s really spicy 'Biryani'. I rate it 4 out of 5.  I would also love to hear more from the author in her next book. 

About the Author
Ashwina Garg lives in Hyderabad with her husband and two kids. She studied accountancy and has worked as an entrepreneur, a German translator and a technical writer.

You can buy it from Flipkart and Amazon.

Happy Reading :-)

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