Title : Wake Up, Girl!

Author : Niharika Jindal

Publisher : Bloomsbury

Blurb as on Goodreads:

Naina is back from America, after four years of living on her own. A natural rebel, she has had some fairly life-altering experiences which Mum and Dad would not approve of at all if they get to know. But will her spirit and her stand be enough to fight the forces of parental pressure and heckling aunties baying for her nuptials?

Back in the bosom of her conservative family, Naina cannot even begin to imagine the turn her life is going to take. It’s wedding season, and she must now be married. Because every self-respecting upper-middle-class family in India do that, right? Marriage at the ‘right age’ to the ‘right family’…whether she likes it or not.

Naina’s worst nightmares are about to come true. What hits her within a week of being at home completely changes her world and her life as she embarks on a journey that will define her and provide her with an education that only life can.

Ayaan, Rohan, Akshay, Shiven. Who will it be? Will she even have a shot at romance, being with someone she loves, irrespective of his caste, respectability or bank balance? She will have to summon all the chutzpah within to fight for herself. For her notions of love and living.

Will she succeed? Like a chrysalis unfolding, will Naina, too, emerge with her wings unscathed?

My Take:

Twenty-two years old Naina Bansal was back home from Boston after graduation and living on her own for four years. Now her parents want her to get married. So far everything in her life, right from which course she had to take, where she had to pursue her higher education, what dress she had to wear on the bride seeing ceremony and which groom she should marry were all designated by her parents.

She had always acquiesced everything her parents imposed on her. Realising how she had been influenced by the strong personalities around her, for the first time in her life she wanted to stand for her decision and fight for what she really wants in her life.

Firstly, I would like to thank Niharika for picking up the not much talked about subject, yet what had been experienced by most of the girls in India as the theme for her debut book. I must say that the author had very well reflected the issue that exists almost in every Indian family.

Our parents’ mindset on the concept of getting married at the right age to the right family, an upper-middle-class perspective, parental pressure on the marriage and how much of control parents have over their children’s lives had been presented very realistically.

I believe that a proper character development lies on how much of impact a certain character leaves on you. In that way, Naina Bansal will wake your inner self and make you realize how important it is to stand for your decision and fight for what you really want.

The relatable plot, simple language and the author’s brilliant narration made the book even more interesting. I just loved those satirical inner voices of Naina. A true page-turner. I would recommend this book to everyone.

My rating: 3.5/5

Purchase Link: Amazon Paperback | Amazon Kindle