Genre: Romance
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Pages: 240
Published: September 2019
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Summary:
‘People will leave. Even the good ones do. The music will stay.’ This is what life has taught Ragini. A struggling music composer who left the world of Hindustani classical music in Delhi to do her own kind of music in Bangalore, Ragini is impulsive, emotional and often a little lost. The typical creative type – or so Andrew thinks. The head honcho at a mega Pharma company, Andrew is half-British, half-Indian and a full-on ‘propah’ pain. Even if he’s gorgeous. The typical corporate type – or so Ragini thinks. He needs her to compose a song for the company’s silver jubilee. She needs him (well, just his project really) to be able to keep doing her music. They can definitely do without the sparks they set off in each other. Or the highs and lows and all the conflicting notes that being together seems to bring. Because love is off the table for him. And music is her only love. Can two stubborn people from such different worlds ever find harmony together?
Review:
Every once in a while, I enjoy reading a feel-good book. A book that is a palette cleanser between heavy-duty reads. Our Song by Milan Vohra fits the bill perfectly.
Let’s begin with the book cover. It is a beautifully designed concept of integrating the flowers and stems as music notes. It appealed to the designer in me. A far cry from the usual “cinch” romance book covers.
The book is a love story between a music composer slash singer Ragini and a corporate honcho Andrew. The story builds up as Ragini is hired by Andrew’s big shot pharmaceutical company to create their theme song for the silver jubilee celebration. Both characters have a lot of emotional baggage to deal with. How they come together is what the book is all about.
I am not particularly fond of the unemotional alpha male and the withering willow female trope. And thankfully the book did not follow along the lines. The characters are real. The situations, though, were a bit contrived at times. But then, most romances are larger than life.
The narrative and writing style makes it a breezy read. The author transports you to the hills of Kasauli and Shimla and back to the corporate jungle of Bangalore with effortless ease. I primarily enjoyed reading about Hindustani classical music. The author with her roots in music weaves a relatable story of patriarchy, the hard and fast rules and regulations, and how any digression is frowned upon in the world of classical music.
I wish the pacing was taut. It does slow down a few times. It was also a bit predictable towards the end with everything tied up in a neat bow. That said, I liked the book. It is a light read that you can pick up for the Holidays.
Hindustani classical music meets the aseptic corporate world. Our Song by @milanvohra Book Review #BohoPonderings #BookChatter Share on XOur Song by Milan Vohra is available for purchase at Amazon.
This review has been written as part of the Blogchatter Book Review Program. I received the review copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
About the author
Milan Vohra is best known as India’s first Mills & Boon author. Her first book ‘The Love Asana’ (Harlequin,2010) was a mega best seller in India and abroad. Her second book ‘Tick-tock we’re 30’, (Westland 2013) was another hugely popular romcom and has recently been acquired by a biggie studio for screen adaptation. Milan also writes short stories published by Penguin, HarperCollins, Unisun, Atta Galatta – in YA, women’s fiction and humour. Milan’s latest book ‘Our Song’ (HarperCollins, 2019) is a romance centred around music and the contrasting worlds of corporate life and that of a struggling composer. Milan Vohra is also an advertising professional and a big believer in doing what you love.