CHARACTERS: 3/5
WRITING STYLE: 3/5
CLIMAX: 3.5/5
ENTERTAINMENT QUOTIENT: 3/5
The moment you see this book, Shadi on Toes, you will be surprised.
The reason is that this book has been co-authored by a husband and wife duo and after reading the book I can safely say that their chemistry is surely a good one.
Payal Sareen Reddy works in the financial services industry whereas Ashoka Bala Reddy is a creative genius who works for an animation company.
Though I have had had the pleasure of reading quite a number of co-authored books, this is truly one of a kind.
Shadi on Toes on the outset is a pure chick-lit but in hindsight, it sure has a message for us all.
The story is about three girls – Riya, Preeti and the narrator who land up together in a PG hostel in Mumbai, where each of them had come to make their dreams come true.
As the days go by they soon realize that they have become fast friends and they thus decide to share a flat. All three have their own issues and problems with most of them revolving around men and marriage.
Among the three Riya has an uncanny habit of landing up in the most number of marriage-related troubles and thus this book documents all her adventures from speed dating on a railway station to temporarily dating a supposed criminal.
The writing style of the authors is such that you feel that you are an audience to the narrator and the story is being read out to you.
There is no plot in the literal sense as overall the book feels rather like a diary or a conversation than a story but I guess by keeping it that way the authors have managed to deliver just what they had intended to.
The beauty of the book comes out in that way and that indeed is commendable for first-time authors.
For lovers of chick-lit, Shadi on Toes will prove to a boon because it has just the right blend of romance, drama, thrill, adventure and masala.
For most women in the marriageable age bracket this will also come out as something extremely relatable and believable for most of them would have been through some such experiences for sure.
The characters of Riya, Preeti and Anurag are all very charming and they easily leave a footprint on the reader’s mind.
The climax is surprisingly fresh and unexpected and leaves the reader with a happy note. It is beautifully conceived and very well delivered and I must say I was quite impressed.
Overall, Shadi on Toes was a pleasant read – fun-filled and humorous and I recommend it to all my readers. As for the authors, their writing style is not their strongest forte from a literary point of view but they surely score in terms of entertainment quotient.
That being said, I wish them all the very best for the success of Shadi on Toes and look forward to reading more of their work in future.