Over the years, your support has made Women’s Web the leading resource for women in India. Now, it is our turn to ask, how can we make this even more useful for you? Please take our short 5 minute questionnaire – your feedback is important to us!
For fans of the romantic fiction genre, here comes author Andaleeb Wajid's Only You, tale of love, of second chances, of true love finding its way.
For fans of the romantic fiction genre, here comes author Andaleeb Wajid’s Only You, tale of love, of second chances, of true love finding its way.
Only You, by Andaleeb Wajid, is a warm, fuzzy and sensuous love story. Only You is a beautiful romantic story, not only for the smitten, but even for those who tread with caution on the path of love. It is not easy to write a romantic page turner, especially when love stories have become clichéd. The boy-meets-girl trope is overdone, but Only You is a book you wouldn’t want to miss, for the actual romance starts ‘after’.
This is the fifth book in the author’s Destination Wedding series. I’ve not read any of the previous books in the series, but that didn’t negatively impact my reading experience too much. (Only in certain places was I a little lost with few characters, but it has piqued my interest enough to read about them.) The book can be enjoyed as a standalone novel, despite being part of a series.
Love – is it always at first sight, or does it caress the soul in unseen, unhurried whispers and find a place in the heart? Is there a second chance at love?
The plot centers around Ghazal Ahmed. At 25, she is no more prized marriage material. And to make matters worse, she walks with a slight limp. Though Ghazal is an educated and a gainfully employed woman, her liberties are curtailed. Her parents’ conservative views clash with her modern thinking. In an attempt to bring her estranged family together, she agrees to an arranged marriage just after seeing the boy’s photo. Hamdaan Ali, a divorcee is her match. The marriage, a union of two damaged goods!
But the marriage ignites a love, and opens a world of unexperienced feeling and sensations for both. The love scenes are steamy and passionate, minus erotica. It’s pure passion, and certainly a treat to the senses!
I loved the way the author has sketched the characters. None of them are ‘perfect,’ they all have their flaws, but their tiny imperfections make them closer to reality, and connect with the readers. Ghazal is a strong protagonist, who doesn’t let her physical disability define her dreams. She gives her all for her loved ones. It’s hard not to fall in love with her!
Khalil and Kimmy, are the brother and sister-in-law every girl would love to have. This duo stole my heart with their loving, caring, and supportive attitude towards Ghazal. Her relationship with her mother is strained, bordering on an absence of love. She feels more at home in her in-laws’ place, than she has ever felt in her childhood home.
Only You is a short read, and I could have easily finished it in less than two hours. But I deliberately prolonged the reading, because I wanted to savour it, and relish the experience for as long as I could.
Andaleeb’s writing style is simple, yet deep and touching. Having loved this book, I am definitely picking up the rest of the books in this series!
Love, romance, jealousy, scandal, fights, drama – Only You has all the spices, and that too in the perfect proportion!
Previously published here.
Photo by Mukesh Mohanty from Pexels
read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
Freelance or full-time, which is a better mode of work for you? Here are the pros and cons, from someone who has been-there-done-that.
For women who are restarting their careers after marriage, motherhood, or any other personal reasons, freelance work is an excellent avenue to consider. I think I’m qualified to make this statement because I’ve been there, done that.
When we had to shift from Chennai to Bangalore because of my personal situation, I was both excited and anxious; excited about the new pastures I was going to explore, and anxious that it should all work out well for us; for me, my husband, and our daughter (5 years old then).
Bangalore welcomed us with open arms and there has been no looking back since. I had just completed a corporate training course a month before moving to Bangalore, and was looking at new opportunities.
Most of us dislike being called aunty because of the problematic meanings attached to it. But isn't it time we accept growing old with grace?
Recently, during one of those deep, thoughtful conversations with my 3 y.o, I ended a sentence with “…like those aunty types.” I quickly clicked my tongue. I changed the topic and did everything in my hands to make her forget those last few words.
I sat down with a cup of coffee and drilled myself about how the phrase ‘aunty-type’ entered my lingo. I have been hearing this word ‘aunty’ a lot these days, because people are addressing me so.
Almost a year ago, I was traveling in a heavily-crowded bus and a college girl asked me “Aunty, can you please hold my bag?” It was the first time and I was first shocked and later offended. Then I thought about why I felt so.