Hidden Husband - Book Review

Title: Hidden Husband 

Author: Shikha Kaul

Publisher: Gargi Publishers

ISBN: 9789384382070

Number of Pages: 239

Price: 195 [INR]

Genre: Fiction

The Blurb:

Aisha is trapped in her own secret which makes her life hell.

Her love for Raghav is true. But hailing from two very different cultures is the basis of their continued friction. Aisha is a Punjabi girl from Gurgaon and Raghav a Bihari from Ranchi. Raghav’s family will certainly not accept a girl from outside their community. And yet, he continues giving her false hopes through his efforts and promises.

And then they take a step which entangles her life further.

Will she manage to come out of this quandary or must she continue to live in her self-created web? Explore her journey that makes her realise the atrocities being committed on women in the Indian society and the tough decisions she must take, keeping her most loved ones oblivious to everything happening in her life.

My Review:

       When I first heard about the book, the title 'Hidden Husband' stirred a strange curiosity in me. What might it actually mean? May be it is a story about adultery or extra marital affair was my first guess. But I was wrong. I couldn't have been far off the mark. The author Shikha Kaul has managed to write a brilliant debut which is far from being predictable. It is a book which will draw you right inside from the very beginning and keeps you engaged till the very ending.

       Aisha, the female protagonist of this novel, is a strong woman. She is a HR of a company and little did she expect to find her soulmate in one of the candidates she interviewed on a rather normal working day. Raghav, tall and handsome, manages to capture her heart and both are madly in love for each other. But things aren't easy for lovers in India and so it is for Aisha and Raghav. Aisha being from another community, Raghav's family is strictly against their love. The young couple take a drastic step after which there is only tests and more tests for them. Will they be able to cross each hurdle in their path and remain together till the end? Or will the pressure be too much that love will finally die? Read this amazing novel by Shikha to find out what happens in the end.

Things I Liked:

• The story was unique and it kept me on the edge. I wanted to know the reason behind Raghav's behavior which was a big question mark. Questions like 'Is he sincere?', 'Will they make it?' kept me glued to the story.
• The articulation is eloquent. The pace was neither too fast nor too slow.
• It wasn't just the main story that grabbed the lime light; there were many other major issues which is entwined with the story line. The author's views about these makes the story all more interesting. These views made me like Aisha more.
• Aisha was a strong reason herself why I liked the story so much. She is one of my favorite female protagonists.
• I liked the way the author has ended the story. It was like 'so we come to a full circle'. Any other ending wouldn't have been this good. A perfect start and a perfect ending makes this novel a brilliant read.
• Last but not the least, the editing was good. This, according to me, is a major factor for making any novel successful. 

Verdict:

       If you are looking for something good to read over the weekend, pick this book. Not only is it a good read, it will also give lots of food for your thoughts. Highly Recommended!

My Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars!

Until the next review,

Keep Reading :)

Love,

Starry Eyed Reader :)