12 Years: My Messed-up Love Story by Chetan Bhagat

 12 Years: My Messed-up Love Story by Chetan Bhagat

I am a firm follower of Chetan Bhagat as I started my reading journey through his books. Today when I get to know that he is launching his new book. I was unstoppable and I picked up my copy at the earliest. 

In 12 Years: My Messed-up Love Story, a thirty-three-year-old divorced stand-up comedian and a twenty-one-year-old rising star in private equity have a relationship that society would quickly discount. This story's main source of tension and heartbeat is the twelve-year age difference.

The narrative poses a central query that permeates all love tales: how can one determine whether someone is "the one," particularly when all the signs point to the contrary? Through Saket Khurana and Payal Jain, two people who shouldn't work on paper but develop unmistakable chemistry in real life, Bhagat addresses this common conundrum.

Saket and Payal's romance grows organically as they talk on window ledges, have midnight snacks at the beach, and share vulnerable moments. Their bond is not based on great gestures, but on understanding, acceptance, and the simple magic of being present with one another.

Bhagat maintains his characteristic conversational approach, which has made him India's best-selling English-language novelist. The text flows smoothly, making the work accessible to readers of all demographics. Sentences are clear, conversation flows naturally, and the tempo keeps the pages turning. The author uses contemporary references—Instagram influencers, private equity deals, and Dubai's opulent lifestyle—to root the story in modern India.

It's messy, confusing, painful, and ultimately hopeful—just like true love. Bhagat succeeds in crafting characters that make errors, harm each other, grow apart, and eventually reunite not because destiny demands it, but because they choose each other despite all odds.

The plot is straightforward but interesting, with plenty of humour, drama, and memorable moments. Some scenes are clichéd and unrealistic, but that's part of the appeal, like seeing a Bollywood romance that knows precisely what it is.

The book delves at profoundly ingrained topics in Indian society, including the oppressive weight of societal expectations, generational strife, class and caste divisions, social media facades, and gender injustice. The repeating thought of "log kya kahenge" (what will people say) serves as a haunting refrain, demonstrating how parents may destroy their children's pleasure while believing themselves that they are doing the right thing.

I appreciated how they overcome everyone's perception of their love as nothing more than lust--an older man's fantasy about a younger lady and a young woman's obsession with someone older, stable, and confident. But, beyond the surface, there's always been something more between Saket and Payal--an unspoken understanding, a magnetic pull that neither can explain or deny.

Their bond extends beyond physical attraction; it is oddly genuine, making their struggle to be together all the more intriguing. Even though the timing of their relationship was not ideal at first, their sentiments remained strong.

What genuinely astonished me was how her parents treated her: manipulative, emotionally abusive, and blatantly hypocritical. They were more concerned with image and social position than with her education, career, and achievement. Even after everything falls apart, they exhibit no guilt or self-awareness. Their son, who has performed worse by every metric, is nonetheless the golden child simply because he is "the son" for the most part.

The book also skilfully addresses the toxic aspect of social media via Payal's friend Akanksha, who curates the ideal online life for approval. Payal's parents view her "picture-perfect" marriage as ideal, despite the fact that it is shallow and theatrical. It's a stinging commentary on how individuals only present the polished parts of their lives online, obscuring the chaos.

The second half of the story gets more interesting as Saket rebuilds his life and crosses paths again.I appreciated how they get to know each other's worth in their life.

Overall, "12 Years My Messed Up Love Story" is more than just a romance; it's also a social mirror. It discusses desire, difference, and the guts to advocate for love that does not conform to the world's "normal."

Purchase here .

This review is for the Blogchatter review program.

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