The Girl He Left Behind - Book Review

Title: The Girl He Left Behind 

Author: Shilpa Suraj

Publisher: Harlequin India Pvt. Ltd.

ISBN: 978-93-5106-494-7

Number of Pages: 180

Price: 150 [INR]

Genre: Romance

The Blurb:

Can he win her back?

Romantic fiction editor Sia Sharma knows that life is not about happily ever after. The only guy she had loved had left her six years back.

Suddenly Ryan Mathur is back in town as a hot shot entrepreneur. His advertising firm has been hired to create the marketing campaign for Sia's publishing company, but Ryan has only one thing on his mind: to win back the only woman he ever loved.

But feisty Sia has other plans and is determined to make him pay. The harder Ryan tries to win her over, the further she strays. Ryan seems to be everywhere she goes, and her bestselling romance author, the sultry Nisha Malik, joins the fray to pursue Ryan. It's not long before Sia realizes she still has feeling for him.

Will Sia let Ryan back into her life again? And will Ryan ever win back the girl he left behind?

My Review:

       After reading Rescued by Love by Shilpa Suraj as a part of 'The Book Club' blog tour, the first thing I did was to search the other novels written by her. The Girl He Left Behind has been on my wishlist ever since. I would have read it sooner but (no) thanks to flipkart for they don't deliver this book to my location! I got lucky recently and won this book as a part of a giveaway the author had conducted on her birthday. And that too a signed copy! Yay!! I am happy happy :) And did I like the book? Well, the review will tell you that ;)

Characters:

       Meet Sia Sharma, Romantic fiction editor of Trends Now. In her late twenties, Sia is trying hard to put her past behind and move on with her life. Scarred from her broken marriage, Sia isn't ready to let anyone in her life again. Her days are spent at the office, working and chatting with her best friend Minty while her lone times are spent missing the only guy she ever loved - Ryan.

       Meet Ryan Mathur, the hotshot entrepreneur, who at the age of 28 had put 'Hope' on the global map and made it a company to watch out for on the national scene. Success becomes him and he has achieved everything he dreamt of. But he isn't happy. Though Ryan has carved out a successful career, his heart still beats for the girl he left behind - Sia.

Plot:

       How is one supposed to stay calm when the love of their suddenly make a reappearance in their life after six long years? Sia has no idea! She is totally freaked out when one fine morning she discovers Ryan standing in her driveway like he belonged right there! Just when she is recovering from the shock of seeing Ryan back in town, she finds out that his advertising agency is hired by her publishing company and she is supposed to work close with him for the next few weeks. Ryan isn't making it easy for her by the way he keeps pursuing her. But she couldn't let him in - not after all that happened in the past six years.

      Ryan is back in town after six years and he couldn't take Sia off his mind, no matter how hard he tries. Leaving was a mistake but what would you do when you find out that your whole life itself was a mistake? Now that he is back, Ryan has only one thing on his mind - to get Sia back. But the harder he tries, the further she resists. There is something about Sia's past that is bothering her, which he cannot put a finger on.

      They both love each other but still they deny it. But as the attraction grows, will they finally give in to their love? Will Sia be able to let go of the ghosts of her past and give Ryan a second chance? Will Ryan be able to convince Sia that he still loves her? Will there be a happily ever after or are they meant to part ways again? 

Things that Worked:

        I loved the characters. They all seem very real. The way Shilpa has described him, I couldn't help but fall for Ryan Mathur. Reading it, I felt like I was standing there and watching the story happen in real. I so wanted to shake Sia and Ryan and make them see reason! I wanted them to know how much the other persom loved them! I just couldn't wait for the happily ever after to approach soon. And when it did (with a little drama like it happens in bollywood) I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

       The story line is engaging and well articulated. It draws the reader right in from the very beginning. The language is simple. The narration is gripping and you just cannot put the book down until you finish reading it. I also loved the light humor which is weaved in the story. It definitely earned a few brownie points.

Things that didn't Work:

       Save for the few (very few) typos, there is nothing about this book that I didn't like! It was perfect!

Verdict:

       A well brewed romance story with a touch of humor that keeps the readers hooked. I just loved reading this book! I had started it late at night and couldn't put it down till I finished reading it. It was 4 am when I finished it! The book certainly had me hooked right from page 1! Recommended to all romance lovers; no second thoughts! 

My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Until the next review,

Keep Reading :)

Love,

Swathi :)