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Once Upon A Crush
Once Upon a Crush is a contemporary romance novel about the thrills and pitfalls of an office romance.
Summary of the Book
Rayna De has a lot of things going for her. Not that they're necessarily going well, of course. Her thirties are approaching fast, and her boss could give Satan a run for his money. Her romance life, well, that's non-existent. When Devan Ahuja enters the workplace, Rayna quickly falls head over heels for him. She tries telling herself otherwise, that he's out of her league, but it doesn't work. Why would he look at her anyway? He does have a model-turned-actress for a girlfriend and they seem to be quite happy, what with the page three supplement articles which claim so. Her parents aren't helping, not in the least by waving the photographs of Sid Bose in her face, multi-zero salary package, three bedroom house et. al. Rayna thinks things couldn't get more confusing. She needs to think again, for fate has other plans.
About Kiran Manral
Kiran Manral is an Indian writer, blogger, media consultant and the founder of India Helps, a volunteer network which works with disaster victims. She has also worked with several publishing houses as a features writer and journalist.
A self-professed school gate mom, she lives in Mumbai with her family. She has also written Reluctant Detective.
Summary of the Book
Rayna De has a lot of things going for her. Not that they're necessarily going well, of course. Her thirties are approaching fast, and her boss could give Satan a run for his money. Her romance life, well, that's non-existent. When Devan Ahuja enters the workplace, Rayna quickly falls head over heels for him. She tries telling herself otherwise, that he's out of her league, but it doesn't work. Why would he look at her anyway? He does have a model-turned-actress for a girlfriend and they seem to be quite happy, what with the page three supplement articles which claim so. Her parents aren't helping, not in the least by waving the photographs of Sid Bose in her face, multi-zero salary package, three bedroom house et. al. Rayna thinks things couldn't get more confusing. She needs to think again, for fate has other plans.
About Kiran Manral
Kiran Manral is an Indian writer, blogger, media consultant and the founder of India Helps, a volunteer network which works with disaster victims. She has also worked with several publishing houses as a features writer and journalist.
A self-professed school gate mom, she lives in Mumbai with her family. She has also written Reluctant Detective.
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2014
2 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Kiran Manral
27Ìýbooks88ÌýfollowersAfter quitting her full-time journalist’s job when her son was born, Kiran became a mommy blogger, on the internet, with a remarkably original voice. She was a journalist at The Asian Age, The Times of India, features editor Cosmopolitan, India Cultural Lead and Trendspotter at Gartner Iconoculture, Senior Consultant at Vector Insights and Ideas Editor, SheThePeople.TV. Kiran is currently a celebrated Author and an independent research and media consultant.
She was shortlisted for the Femina Women Awards for Literary Contribution in 2017. The Indian Council of UN Relations (ICUNR) with the Ministry of Women and Children, Govt of India, awarded her the International Women’s Day Award 2018 for excellence in the field of writing. In 2021 she was awarded the Womennovator 1000 Women of Asia award. In 2022, she was named amongst the 75 Iconic Indian women in STEAM by Red Dot Foundation and Beyond Black, in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India, and British High Commission, New Delhi.
Her novella, Saving Maya, was long-listed for the 2018 Saboteur Award, supported by the Arts Council of England in the UK. The Kitty Party Murder was shortlisted for the Popular Choice award at the 2021 JK Papers TOI AutHER awards and has been optioned for a series.
Her other books include The Reluctant Detective, Once Upon A Crush, All Aboard, Karmic Kids-The Story of Parenting Nobody Told You, A Boy’s Guide to Growing Up, True Love Stories, 13 Steps to Bloody Good Parenting, Raising Kids with Hope and Wonder in Times of a Pandemic and Climate Change, More Things in Heaven and Earth, Rising 30 Women Who Changed India, Rising 2.0: 20 More Women Who Changed India, All Those Who Wander and The Moon in the Lining of her Skin.
She also has published short stories in various magazines, in acclaimed anthologies like Have A Safe Journey, Boo, The Best Asian Speculative Fiction 2018, Grandpa’s Tales, Magical Women, City of Screams, The Hachette Book of Indian Detective Fiction and Hell Hath No Fury.
Her nonfiction book, Karmic Kids: The Story of Parenting Nobody Told You, was listed amongst the top five books on parenting by Indian authors in 2015 by the Sunday Guardian.
The Face at the Window, released in 2016, was listed amongst the top 30 books written by women authors in 2016 by The Ladies Finger, as among the must read books by contemporary women authors by BuzzingBubs and received much critical acclaim. The Times of India stated that “Manral may have very well pioneered the "Himalayan Gothic" genre� with this book. Her novella, Saving Maya, was long listed for the 2018 Saboteur Awards, UK, supported by the Arts Council England, The Kitty Party Murder was shortlisted for the AutHER Awards 2020 Popular Choice Awards. The Face at the Window was long listed at Jio MAMI Word to Screen and showcased at the Singapore International Film Festival. Monster Complex listed her in their global list titled "Urban Fantasy Showcase: 100 Authors To Know and Their Works." Desi Blitz listed her amongst the top seven horror writers from India. Her book, The Face at the Window, was listed in HoneyKids Asia's list of top picks of Asian Horror books alongside books like Han Kang's The Vegetarian, and The Ring. Bookstr.com listed her amongst "6 Fascinating Asian and Pacific Islander Horror Authors."
She was shortlisted for the Femina Women Awards for Literary Contribution in 2017. The Indian Council of UN Relations (ICUNR) with the Ministry of Women and Children, Govt of India, awarded her the International Women’s Day Award 2018 for excellence in the field of writing. In 2021 she was awarded the Womennovator 1000 Women of Asia award. In 2022, she was named amongst the 75 Iconic Indian women in STEAM by Red Dot Foundation and Beyond Black, in collaboration with the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India, and British High Commission, New Delhi.
Her novella, Saving Maya, was long-listed for the 2018 Saboteur Award, supported by the Arts Council of England in the UK. The Kitty Party Murder was shortlisted for the Popular Choice award at the 2021 JK Papers TOI AutHER awards and has been optioned for a series.
Her other books include The Reluctant Detective, Once Upon A Crush, All Aboard, Karmic Kids-The Story of Parenting Nobody Told You, A Boy’s Guide to Growing Up, True Love Stories, 13 Steps to Bloody Good Parenting, Raising Kids with Hope and Wonder in Times of a Pandemic and Climate Change, More Things in Heaven and Earth, Rising 30 Women Who Changed India, Rising 2.0: 20 More Women Who Changed India, All Those Who Wander and The Moon in the Lining of her Skin.
She also has published short stories in various magazines, in acclaimed anthologies like Have A Safe Journey, Boo, The Best Asian Speculative Fiction 2018, Grandpa’s Tales, Magical Women, City of Screams, The Hachette Book of Indian Detective Fiction and Hell Hath No Fury.
Her nonfiction book, Karmic Kids: The Story of Parenting Nobody Told You, was listed amongst the top five books on parenting by Indian authors in 2015 by the Sunday Guardian.
The Face at the Window, released in 2016, was listed amongst the top 30 books written by women authors in 2016 by The Ladies Finger, as among the must read books by contemporary women authors by BuzzingBubs and received much critical acclaim. The Times of India stated that “Manral may have very well pioneered the "Himalayan Gothic" genre� with this book. Her novella, Saving Maya, was long listed for the 2018 Saboteur Awards, UK, supported by the Arts Council England, The Kitty Party Murder was shortlisted for the AutHER Awards 2020 Popular Choice Awards. The Face at the Window was long listed at Jio MAMI Word to Screen and showcased at the Singapore International Film Festival. Monster Complex listed her in their global list titled "Urban Fantasy Showcase: 100 Authors To Know and Their Works." Desi Blitz listed her amongst the top seven horror writers from India. Her book, The Face at the Window, was listed in HoneyKids Asia's list of top picks of Asian Horror books alongside books like Han Kang's The Vegetarian, and The Ring. Bookstr.com listed her amongst "6 Fascinating Asian and Pacific Islander Horror Authors."
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 17, 2017
Once Upon A Crush takes us on a journey that is Rayna De’s life. At twenty nine, she is stuck at a stagnant job with the devil himself for a boss, her love life is virtually non-existent and though she is still on the right side of thirty (not for long though) she feels her life is going nowhere � atleast nowhere near where she wants it to be. Then things start to happen. Her friend runs away from home for a break and puts up with her. A new face is added to her list of colleagues and while Devan Ahuja quickly baits her heart, he has a supermodel of a girlfriend and gives off mixed signals. To top it all, her family introduces her to a prospective groom � Sid, a poster boy for eligible bachelors. What does Rayna do? How do these twists change her life?
The plot is a recycled one� But don’t let that deter you from reading this book as the author narrates the story in a refreshingly straightforward manner and infused with doses of wit and humour. There are lots of drama and confusion going on in Rayna’s life that makes it a colourful story for us readers. But the best part is that Rayna herself is your girl next door whose life resembles yours. There’s no over the top situations or larger than life people involved and so it is easier to relate to� After all, for a certain period we all have had a crush in the forefront of our lives. But does Rayna end up with Devan or with Sid?? Read this book to find out.
Overall, a fast paced chic-lit that will claim about a couple of hours of reading time.
The plot is a recycled one� But don’t let that deter you from reading this book as the author narrates the story in a refreshingly straightforward manner and infused with doses of wit and humour. There are lots of drama and confusion going on in Rayna’s life that makes it a colourful story for us readers. But the best part is that Rayna herself is your girl next door whose life resembles yours. There’s no over the top situations or larger than life people involved and so it is easier to relate to� After all, for a certain period we all have had a crush in the forefront of our lives. But does Rayna end up with Devan or with Sid?? Read this book to find out.
Overall, a fast paced chic-lit that will claim about a couple of hours of reading time.
December 13, 2014
The writing revolves more around the circumstances and surroundings than the conversations. That's the thing that didn't made my kind interest towards its reading.
Though the concept was nice but I wish the rest of the book would've been paced enough and full of things like the last two chapters of this book, so that I would've been able to mark 3 stars at least.
Also for an elementary reader like me, the vocabulary used is not tempting but breaking the flow of reading.
Though the concept was nice but I wish the rest of the book would've been paced enough and full of things like the last two chapters of this book, so that I would've been able to mark 3 stars at least.
Also for an elementary reader like me, the vocabulary used is not tempting but breaking the flow of reading.
July 29, 2014
2.5 actually.
Loved certain bits, the visuals the author creates of the self-criticizing main character are really funny. This will make the feminists happy.
An open, uncertain 'queen' ish ending to the book. Feel good and a quick read.
I think I am going to follow this author.
Loved certain bits, the visuals the author creates of the self-criticizing main character are really funny. This will make the feminists happy.
An open, uncertain 'queen' ish ending to the book. Feel good and a quick read.
I think I am going to follow this author.
July 10, 2014
A very good book if you are looking for a no-nonsense light read with relative events. Must read. (3.5/5)
Full Review-
Full Review-
July 10, 2014
A very good book if you are looking for a no-nonsense light read with relative events. Must read. (3.5/5)
Full Review-
Full Review-
January 20, 2016
Too shallow a piece of writing.
October 2, 2019
Once upon a crush as the title itself is evidence of a yet another clichéd lovable romantic tale by Kiran Manral. The book’s storyline resonates with many independent working women living in another city different from their native ones to make a mark in a society majorly run by the patriarchs.
This is a story of a woman, Rayna De, the female protagonist, originally from Kolkata, working hard to earn her bread and butter in Mumbai, almost thirty, far beyond the marriageable age; as the society perceives it with no love interest around her, reeling her way through life (as most of us know how it is).
The story starts with Pixie aka Madhu Agarwal, who is Rayna’s best friend, her confidant, her partner in crime, her soul sister, decides to pay her a visit for a few days as she wants to take a break from this non-stop search for a perspective boy for her to get married to by her parents.
Rayna’s frustration about Aparajita (the evil boss woman), the indifferent and rude behaviour towards Rayna and the confused state of mind of a budding crush on a superior from another department, Deven Ahuja, simmers down a bit with the news of Pixie’s arrival. Her visit gives the two of them (Rayna & Pixie) many opportunities to rejoice moments of being socially active and not think about the problems at hand (at least that’s what they thought).
Rayna’s confusion increases further when the parents want her to meet a boy, Sudhendu Bose aka Sid, with a fancy job at a fund management firm settled in a classy home in one of the posh gated societies of South Mumbai. Sid is well mannered, chivalrous, he is the perfect definition of an eligible boy for marriage; every parent’s desire.
All of Rayna’s unanswered questions are answered as the story progresses further. Will she take any step and talk to Aparajita about her evilness? Pixie’s spending time with her will resolve anything? Should she for once without being fidgety around Deven, reveal about her huge crush on him? Will she listen to her heart or her parent’s heart to choose her life partner?
Once Upon A Crush is a book under the genre of Contemporary Fiction with 224 pages in total. I found the writing style of the Author, Kiran Manral, to be very imaginative and full with descriptions of the characters in detail. You would find various Hollywood famous movie references whilst you are engrossed in the story which makes it all the more interesting if you are a movie buff as I am.
June 10, 2023
2.5 stars. Couldn't really connect myself to the lead pair. The heroine seemed to be a little obnoxious. There seemed to be no concrete story in the entire book. It also lacked the element of anticipation and curiosity about what would happen next. Though, there were some hilarious dialogues which made it a little bearable.
May 23, 2017
Being the first book I read by Kiran Manral I was very impressed by her type of humor. It was a delightful read and I advise it to everybody that wants a good laugh with romance included.
April 16, 2016
Such an average read the romance is not enough and left much to be desired. One can definitely avoid this one unless you're a looking for a break from all the serious reads. Do yourself a favor go read Anuja Chauhan instead of this incomplete book.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
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