A brilliantly plotted emotional roller-coaster

Book Review: Once Upon a Reunion

Author: Nithya Sashi

Rating: 4.5/5

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/2rNK5wK








It is difficult to restrict Nithya Sashi’s brilliant novel ‘Once Upon a Reunion’ to one genre. This is a fast-paced story that starts with a hint of romance and nostalgia and develops into an intense story of love and longing. And then, suddenly, a brisk dramatic twist wrapped in a persuasively written sub-plot turns the book into a sinister murder-mystery. The author’s intelligent play of language and plot is what I loved the most about this story.

When Nirmala, an IT professional, readies herself for a reunion with her high-school friends, she is excited as well as worried. The enthusiasm of catching-up with old friends and the inexplicable anxiety of meeting an ex-beau (she secretly pines for) take her on an emotional roller-coaster, which the author portrays beautifully. While friends Aarti and Indraneel insist that she join the gathering, Nirmala is excited and undecided. 

Nirmala’s character is built around the woes of a married woman burdened with the mundane pressures that dictate her guilt-filled life. The author handles the fluctuating degrees of complication in the life of her characters with the deftness of a seasoned writer.
Nirmala joins the reunion party but is horrified when Suresh, her ex-lover is found dead. I was pleasantly surprised and totally taken aback with the mystery element in the novel. The author plaits in the suspense neatly, making the narrative gripping.  The only bit that I wanted a wee bit more of in the book was the crime story. However, it ended a tad abruptly. Perhaps that’s how the author intended it to be. However, this sub-plot has the potential to be built into a full-fledged novel in itself. 

The characterisation is another key highlight of the book. Nirmala’s relationship with her husband Sreenivas, who is once loving and then erratic, is depicted well. The friendship, bitterness, follies, and dilemmas make the characters very realistic and grey. Nirmala’s feelings for Suresh seem overwhelming at times but establish the extreme emotions she feels for the men in her life. Through choicest use of metaphors, the author shows how Nirmala is mentally trapped between her past and present and headed towards an uncertain future.
I would love to read a full-blown crime-thriller novel from the author, primarily because of her sheer brilliance in building such an intricate plot. I was hooked to the book and finished it in one sitting. 

Highly recommended for all romance and thriller lovers.