Review of 'Everyone Has a Story': A Disappointing Rom-Com with Flaws

I recently picked up the novel ldquo;Everyone Has a Storyrdquo; with high hopes, but my expectations were quickly dashed. This book is a prime example of a story that, despite its marketing hype, falls short of its potential. Letrsquo;s dive into the details and highlight the shortcomings that rendered this rom-com a letdown.

Marketing vs. Reality

It all started with a line that immediately caught my attention: ldquo;I was so excited I was vibrating on my chair. rdquo; This line, taken verbatim from the novel, set a tone of anticipation and excitement. However, the reality was far from what I imagined. The book is a case study in how a well-crafted marketing campaign can mislead potential readers.

The biggest irony is that ldquo;Everyone Has a Storyrdquo; doesnrsquo;t have a story. The narrative is predictable, unimaginative, and frustratingly disposable. Despite it being an Amazon bestseller, my experience reading the book was one of disappointment, if not frustration. Far from the emotional impact that made me cry, I found the book lacking any substance to elicit such a visceral response.

A Stilted Story Arc

The plot revolves around a boy named Kabir and a girl named Nisha. There are additional characters like Vivan, who serves as a rich friend in the story. The premise is simple: we follow the love story between Kabir and Nisha, with their mutual friend Vivan playing a crucial role.

The synopsis of their story is as follows: Kabir is broken due to a past love. Nisha is bubbly and optimistic. Kabir leaves, and Nisha becomes depressed. Kabir then realizes his love and returns, only to find Nisha angry at his absence. A series of dramatic events unfold where Nisha falls into a coma, and Kabir confesses his love while she lies in this condition. Eventually, Nisha wakes up, and Kabir reveals his troubled past.

While the plot may seem straightforward, the execution is disjointed and poorly written. The story is predictable to the point of being boring. There are no surprising plot twists, no character development, and most importantly, no emotional depth. The drama is shallow and contrived, making it hard to engage with the characters or the narrative.

Flooding with Mantra-Like Quotes

Each page is peppered with quotes that appear to be pulled out of thin air, almost like platitudes. For instance, a common theme throughout the book is the following motivational quote: ldquo;When you open yourself up to the possibilities, miracles can happen.rdquo; This mantra-like repetition is tiresome and feels forced. It doesnrsquo;t add any value to the story and instead distracts from the weak narrative that is being presented.

Another issue is the inconsistent dialogue. Some scenes feature dialogue that reads smoothly and fits the characters, while others feel awkwardly transposed from another language. For example, a line that translates to English word-for-word from Hindi feels jarring and out of place. These inconsistencies break the immersion and make the story feel less believable.

No Subtle Development and Understated Reveal

The book fails to develop the characters in a manner that builds emotional depth. Instead, it feels like the author rushed through major plot points to meet a deadline or to hit certain narrative beats. For instance, if Vivan had such a strong flashback, the author should have teased the reader with hints in the first half of the book. Instead, it comes across as a forced narrative device.

In the latter part of the book, Vivan travels to France and meets an old man. While this scene is supposed to add depth to the character, the writing is lacking. The French accent is inconsistent, and the dialogue feels awkward and translated. These inconsistencies further detract from the narrative and call into question the authorrsquo;s attention to detail.

A Deeper Analysis of the Characters

The characters in this novel are as unrealistic as they are frustrating. They act differently in different situations, leading to an inconsistent portrayal of their personalities. For example, Kabir and Nisharsquo;s behavior changes drastically throughout the book. This inconsistency makes it hard to connect with the characters and emotionally engage with their story.

Whatrsquo;s more, the resolution is abrupt, leaving the reader feeling unsatisfied. Kabir returns to Nisha in France and rushes to a publisher to meet her. But instead of resolving their story, he simply says hi and the narrative sputters to an end. This is a letdown and doesnrsquo;t do justice to the build-up of the story.

Conclusion: A Disappointing Experience

Overall, ldquo;Everyone Has a Storyrdquo; is a book that falls well short of its potential. It lacks the emotional depth, character development, and plot intricacies that make a good novel. While marketing can make a book popular, it cannot change the fact that the story lacks substance and is poorly written.

My advice is to avoid reading this book unless you are looking for a quick, disposable read that doesnrsquo;t require much engagement. Alternatively, you might want to explore Indian cringe serials, which may be a better use of your time, even if itrsquo;s for a shorter duration. At least, yoursquo;ll avoid wasting 2.5 hours on this book.