Book Review-Tea for two and a piece of cake by Preeti Shenoy

Title: Tea for two and a piece of cake.

Author: Preeti Shenoy

About the Story: After 8 years of marriage and two kids, when Nisha’s husband Samir calls her up and tells that their marriage is over because he has found love in a much younger woman, her world comes shattering down and breaks into pieces. The narration then goes into flashback and tells the beautiful love story of Nisha and Samir and how Nisha was swept off her feet by the suave and debonair Samir. After a short courtship period they get married only to realize that marriage in not always a happily-ever-after story.

After her separation with Samir, Nisha decides to live independently not wanting to accept Samir’s money. She shifts back into her old home, where she lived a lonely and sad childhood. Short of cash and facing a daunting task of bringing up her children single-handedly, Nisha wavers and goes into depression, introspecting on what exactly went wrong in her eight year old marriage, to which she had given her time, energy and her heart. 

As Nisha fights her battle alone, she develops feelings for her best friend, Akash, who is six years younger to her. Can Nisha find love again? Or will she be able to save her marriage and get back to Samir.

This is the story of the brave, courageous and a very discernible woman. A warm heart touching story.

My Review: There are some books that I read but don’t feel connected to the character, as in I can keep my emotions in check when I actually read it. And then there are some stories which take you on a roller-coaster ride, making you feel elated, sad, and teary-eyed, taking you along a journey of emotions.

And Tea for two and a piece of cake is clearly a book belonging to the latter category. An endearing story told in a simple, no-nonsense way which manages to touch a cord with its readers, it’s a book that most of us can relate to.

I loved the subtle messages that were implicitly adapted in the book. Look at this line- “sometimes it is those that we accept as our own that become our family. It does not matter if the bond is not sanctioned by law or society and not given a name like ‘husband and wife’” (taken from the book). How true and profound.

There were trivial things that I would have liked the author to have avoided in her narration, especially her tendency to kind of foretell what would happen in the book after a few chapters. Anyway it doesn’t take away the charm of this book.

Overall the book is a heartwarming, stirring story told in an earnest and warm narrative.

Verdict: Definite must-read, a warm, heartening story.

Rating: 4.5/5