Book Review: World's Best Ex Girlfriend

February, the month of love, automatically drives our minds to anything pink. When I saw this book on the “New Releases” rack at Crossroads, I immediately knew this would be my February Read.

From the back cover, I learned that this book is the 2^nd part of author Durjoy Datta’s “World’s Worst Best Girlfriend.” However, that did not hold me from buying the book, as having been well aware of the author’s popularity, I was sure I did not have to read the first part to better read the 2^nd. Although I hadn’t read any of his previous work, I was sure I would enjoy reading it.

About the Author

One of the most popular authors in India now, Durjoy Datta, is a name the readers of this generation enjoy the most. His previous works like “World’s Worst Best Boyfriend”, “If It’s Not Forever. It's Not Love”, and many others have been best sellers, even adapted to TV shows. While going through the list of books he has penned in such a short period, I noticed that the titles of his books are all quite amusing and attractive.

Synopsis

Daksh Dey and Aanchal Madan have been in a highly complicated relationship since they were teenagers. The saga of their budding teenage friendship and 43 days of romance, with some tragic endings and parting ways, are what the first book is about. This one starts 4 years after they part ways. Both Daksh and Aanchal are in Dubai to attend a wedding. Daksh juggles multiple responsibilities, both personal and professional. He also manages Gaurav, Aanchal’s brilliant celebrity gamer brother, who is an addict. The book spans their on-and-off romance over a decade amidst huge turbulences and drastic shifts in life that always lead them to loathe each other’s presence.

The Characters

The saying, "All’s well that ends well", fits right for this book, not in the literal sense, though, as it ends on a tragic note. But that tragedy determines the genuineness and power of Aanchal and Daksh’s love for each other. Anyone would take an instant liking to Daksh's character. He is a young man who likes to take responsibility for the people close to him. He is doting and caring, so much so that often, people find him too intimidating and controlling. Just like Aanchal did. Being a self-made achiever from a lower middle-class background, she is disciplined but independent enough to make big decisions without consulting her partner. One such huge decision by Aanchal, taken at the moment, makes Daksh feel betrayed. Both are stubborn and egoistic and hold their own most of the time, which leads to huge differences. Aanchal’s character may come across as extremely selfish, but until the end, it is better to not come to a conclusion. She is too strong to show her vulnerability, even to the man she loves to the moon and back.

What I Liked

The book is ideal for romantic book lovers of this generation. For me, it is sometimes too complicated to comprehend. However, what I related to the most was Daksh’s interaction with his much younger sister Rabbani, whom he single-handedly brought up after their mother’s demise. There is a portion where Daksh asks himself to be like Teflon, and every time Rabbani starts revolting and behaving badly toward him, it is quite funny and relatable for parents. It’s more amusing that I found a small parenting portion of a very serious and complicated love story to be the most enjoyable. My “mommy-mind” cannot think beyond that these days. The author’s smooth writing never confuses you with any incident that might have been mentioned in the first part. So, it can well-serve as a stand-alone read. I would not read the first part as teenage romances and heartbreaks do not interest me.