Wrong, for the right reasons

by Ritu Lalit

Shyamoli Verma’s timing is wrong. In her late twenties, she finds that her marriage is irrevocably broken. She comes back to her parents with her pre-teen son and an infant daughter, only to find that she is unwelcome.
Independent and brash, she decides to bring up her children and also get a divorce without any support from friends and family.
Written with wry self deprecating humour, this is the story of a divorced woman's quest for love and security.

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 18, 2014

About the author

I have written five fiction books and one nonfiction. The most well-known of my fiction books Wrong for the Right Reasons deals with the realistic theme of the life of a single mother raising her kids in today’s India. For my first non-fiction I have picked up a burning topic, of aged parents coping with being rejected by their adult children. I am a graduate with gold medal in English Literature and a postgraduate in English Literature from Delhi University she is a prolific writer whose short stories have been featured in the NCERT curriculum and in anthologies. She has also won many blogging awards. She can be found at these links
Website : www.ritulalit.com
Blog : http://blog.ritulalit.com/
Podcast : https://www.buzzsprout.com/1001188/ep...
Wikipedia Page : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritu_Lalit
Facebook Fan Page : https://www.facebook.com/RituLalitFan...
Facebook author page : https://www.facebook.com/Ritu-Lalit-1...
Twitter : @Ri2Lalit
Instagram : @ri2lalit

Reviews

[Sakshi Nanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Wrong, for the Right Reasons’ is one of the most real books you will read this season. It is Shyamoli’s story – as a young divorced woman, a single mother of two, a daughter struggling to break-free from an abusive mother and a person looking to walk on her own terms in a society which defines ‘respect’ in the most constricted of ways and hangs norms like nooses around the necks of single women. What is special about this book is what is seen as amiss in others – there are no sudden twists and turns, no army of characters and not even a flourish of a closure. It tells you a story keeping the sensational and the spectacular away, yet retaining the extraordinary within it, in the form of portrayal of relationships, streams of consciousness and the growth of the characters over the years that span the novel. One of my first doubts was about Shyamoli being too real to be made into a ‘heroine’ but by the time I had beta read the manuscript I had revised my idea. She is that exactly because she is life-like. And readers will be able to find a Shyamoli in their lives too. Isn’t that a wonderful thing in a book?

[Bindu Manoj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a regular follower Ritu's blog and having interacted with her on social media, I was a little disappointed when I started with the first chapter. Her usual punch seemed to be missing. And then, the story started and I could not put it down, literally. Loved the conversations and the thoughts of the protagonist, but my favourite character is Ketaki. Just loved the firebrand.
Now, to read more of Ritu's books :)

[Sundari Venkatraman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning was a mite slow and had me worried. But after a few pages the story picked up speed. We can loosely describe the book as a Family Drama.

It’s in first person and is from Shyamoli’s point of view. She leaves her husband Manav because he is having an affair with his childhood sweetheart Nimmi. Shyamoli goes back to her parents along with her young son Samar and baby daughter Ketaki aka Kitty. But her mother Malati Malhotra is dead set against a divorce to the point of burying her head deep in the sand and believing that it’s just a matter of time before her daughter goes back to her husband. Malati feels that divorce will bring shame on their family name and Shyamoli should just bury her husband’s infidelity under the carpet and go back to live with him.

Despite her father being a retired Judge, Shyamoli is stuck with finding her own lawyer to go ahead with the divorce proceedings.

The story is all about family relationships that have been beautifully portrayed. It’s about Malati’s lack of love for her girl child; Manav not giving a damn about paying for his kids’ upkeep; Uma’s betrayal and more. Shyamoli, despite her fear and timid nature, bounces back again and yet again.

And no, it doesn’t read like she’s a sorry character and the world’s worst things happen to her. Not at all! She’s just caught up in a society that frowns upon the woman taking the first step towards a divorce. Luckily for her, her father Gopal is a strong and silent support. The best thing that can happen to her is the appearance of Mamman Bozorg. No, I am not going to say anything else about this lady. Read the book to find out more.

The characters have been etched beautifully; so real; with a lot of white; black and many shades of grey in-between.

I loved the way Shyamoli gets her back on Uma and Roop’s betrayal. Kudos! It couldn’t have been better. Her relationship with Subodh is again so natural and realistic - two human beings coming together without any constraints. I did feel pity for Uma at the end of it all and it just goes to show the expertise in the author’s writing skills.

The turnabout by Shyamoli’s brother Varun was a complete shock. But I suppose it’s the truth in many homes in a country like India where Patriarchy reigns.

A definite THUMBS UP for the characterisation and story! I must congratulate Ritu Lalit on writing a wonderful family drama that made me laugh, cry, rejoice and sigh. At the end of it all, I can’t but admire Shyamoli for being a mother to her two children despite everything.

Disclaimer: I received a PDF copy of the book from the author in return for my honest review as part of the Blog Tour organised by The Book Club.

[Vishal · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The hardest lesson to learn is not that people you think you can't live without can live without you. The hardest lesson to learn is that sometimes to stay sane you have to give up the people you love. You have to cut them out of your life ruthlessly or they will destroy you."

First of all, I would like to thank author Ritu Lalit who sent me her book, 'Wrong, for the right reasons' to review. The author chooses a current theme, 'divorce' which is dreaded and scorned upon in our patriarchal society laden with human prejudices. When it comes to a single mother who has chosen to opt out of a marriage, she is looked down upon, aspersions cast on her character and name calling flying in all directions. 'Wrong, for the right reasons' starts with Shyamoli, a young mother who has two children. She has a tumultuous relationship with both her mother and daughter. As her life evolves, she find love on her way and a love-hate relationship with her childhood friend. Like a wounded tigress, she clenches her jaws to fight society and on her way, her near and dear ones, to protect her cubs.

Make no mistake, 'Wrong, for the right reasons' is not just about drama or emotional pangs but has a very humane touch, tongue-in-cheek humor that lifts the emotional burden off the readers' minds and hooks one from start-to-finish. At one glance 'Wrong, for the right reasons' is a compelling read and Ritu has a magnetic command over the narrative, language in this riveting tale. The plus point is that Ritu Lalit offers a brand new and refreshing concept, every chapter starts with a quote. It's pure and seductive writing. What's life without quotes?

Blurb:

Shyamoli Verma’s timing is wrong. In her late twenties, she finds that her marriage is irrevocably broken. She comes back to her parents with her pre-teen son and an infant daughter, only to find that she is unwelcome.
Independent and brash, she decides to bring up her children and also get a divorce without any support from friends and family.
-credit: Goodreads

Narration:

When I started reading Ritu Lalit's Wrong,for the right reasons, I thought that it would be another run-0f-the-mill divorce story and emotional hang out centering on the life of Shyamoli that took the upside down. But, I was delighted to discover the world of Shyamoli, a troubled relationship with her daughter (Kitty) and mother, emotional bond with son (Samar), a friend on whom she could rely (Subodh), friend-cum-foe (Uma), ex-husband (Manav) and someone like Gulpari who entered her life like an angel who stick like glue to her existence. The characters weaved in the book are so real and close to the humans we encounter in life. There are so many characters scripted in books that remain mirror images that we aspire to be but is confined to pages. Ritu's depiction of the life and struggle of Shyamoli comes alive as a character whose inner battles and struggle is the story of the woman we encounter in our daily lives. Shyamoli is no heroine but a common woman who has her inner strengths and weaknesses. She is very much today's woman.

Ritu Lalit deftly portrays the conditions of women through Shyamoli who is vulnerable at times, whether it's the equation with her friend Uma or the troubled relationship with her teenage daughter, Kitty, who will burst at any moment like pressure cooker. The forte of the book lies in the bond Shyamoli cements with son, Samar who discovers the pains of his mom in this path of self-discovery.

"This was so wrong, he was still a boy. He should have dreamed about making out with girls and becoming the latest pop singer or whatever teenagers aspired to do, not being his mother's support. My son, my gentle and reticent son who shied away from anger and emotion had been forced to witness her betrayal."

The sensitive touch that Ritu Lalit brings to this novel, lends credibility to the plot which you will find very hard to put down. Wrong for the right reasons is one of the rare books where the author gently touches a very serious issues by weaving characters you would relate to, their battle with life and where the main character is not justified at all. I couldn't put this one down. It's refreshing, endearing and for sure, the author's knows how to tap her audience. Light moments, there are plenty. Here is one author who is in sync with the language the young people speak and the palatable chemistry between the language of the characters and the average reader. Honesty, in-your-face yet so true to life.

"There is nothing complicated about life. To a crook everyone looks like a crook. To me, the world looks like a bowling alley, so that makes me one of the nine pins. Life can knock me down, but I will come to my feet again."

What's Not!

1. Somehow, I couldn't digest Shyamoli making out with the man (Roop) who cheated her of her hard earned money to seek vengeance. True, it's the author's creative space that I respect but it didn't gel too well with me.

2. As the book opens, Wrong for the right reasons starts slowly but, once it grips you, there is no looking back. Plus, the character Uma's love-hate relationship with Shyamoli leaves me confused at times. But, that's it. It's the author's creative call that I am not disputing.

Final Verdict

Ritu Lalit's Wrong for the Right reasons is the story of the everyday woman, the 'female' answer to Amol Palekar of the 80s movies, if I may say so. The quintessential woman whose path we will definitely cross on the busy roads, the metro or at work. The novel is a page turner weaved in a simplistic manner, there is no breath-taking climax, mind you, but told with a pure heart. Plus, the characters Gulpari, Manav, Kitty, Samar, Uma and Subodh are depicted with a human face, conveying the message, there is no right and wrong. It's a tale about a woman's battle, love, friendship, bond, passion and of course, humor. Who said that one cannot make believable characters and tell their stories of struggle in a light manner? Ask Ritu Lalit.

Wrong for the Right Reasons is a must-have on your shelf or kindle for it is the kind of story that will accompany you in life. Go and grab it for it will stay with you forever.

[Swathi Shenoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some kind of books, which are so magical that they weave fantasies in the mind of the readers and leave them wanting for more. Then there are some books, which gives you a reality check and bring you back to the present and rightly so, because fantasies are not the place to dwell for long. The book 'Wrong for the Right Reasons' is of the latter kind.

The book narrates the story of Shyamoli Verma, a divorced woman who is trying to find her footing in this world with two kids from her broken marriage. Life is not fair with a mother, who worries more about 'respect' than about her daughter's condition, friends who deceive and husband who is enjoying his days with his childhood sweetheart and hardly worried about Shyamoli's leaving. Thrown into a difficult situation, both children grow up beyond their ages while Shyamoli tries to do her best to keep them happy. The story goes on about how she handles all the difficulties life throws at her way and emerges as a successful person.

The story also deals with the troubles Shyamoli faces as she tries to bring up her kids single handedly. There are monetary problems, what with a husband who stops sending money for kids' school fees and mother, who refuses to stand by her daughter, hoping she would go back to her husband. But above all, there is hope. Hope that hard work might succeed and happy days may find their way back into life again.

Some parts of the story were predictable but again, it had to be. The story couldn't have been told in any other way to make it better. I loved how Shyamoli took revenge against Roop and Uma for their betrayal. But Varun's betrayal was the one that shocked me the most! I felt the last part where Ketaki runs off and the drama that unfolds was stretched a little but all is well that ends well. In this book, there are plots but there is also love. There are mistakes but there is also forgiveness. Sometimes wrong decisions have to be taken, but for right reasons.


The narration is gripping and the story engaging. More than engaging, the story is realistic. We all find situations like this in real life. The characters feel real, like someone we know from our own life and thus making the story more interesting. There are all kind of people in this novel - a best friend who stabs her friend in the back for money, people who try to take advantage of the weak, people who worry about society more than happiness of the dear ones. The stark reality of today's world is written without diluting anything or sugar coating the truth.

All in all, it was a good read. A welcome break from the regular love stories.

[Kiran Chaturvedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a very interesting story. I have not read anything on divorce and remaking a good life by Indian authors of late, so this was refreshing. This is an easy, absorbing and fresh read. I bought it and read it in one go. The story is always moving along with new twists and developments and something to hold the reader's interest all the time. The author packs in a lot without it getting monotonous or heavy. Baking is a passion of the main female protagonist and her growth as a baker entrepreneur goes along with her growth as a person. The Afghan refugees who come into her life as house help is also a refreshing element. And I love the bits in Dari language, as they make the story so real and unique. Never figured out the unfriendly friend but then I guess in fiction as in life there are all sorts of people. A story of a woman's path through a failed marriage, to her making her own place in life through a new business, and sorting out her relationships with her parents, siblings, own children, new partner and ex-husband and his new wife...all are dealt with in a light touch that still goes to the heart of things. There is no pontification. No drowning in sorrow and yet the poignancy of all that happens can be felt. Overall a light, feel good book, with a fresh message.

[Vinay Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: http://wp.me/p2J8yh-2IM

What works:

+ Realistic characters.
+ Engaging narration, simple straightforward plot, as with life
+ Some subtle humor to bring some lightness to an otherwise heavy plot

What doesn’t:

- A typo or two here and there; though not prominent enough to remember
- Ending to Ketaki’s character felt off. Would have liked to see it some other way

Not a one-time read, and it’s a good book.

[Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Regular reader of her blog,have read all her books but I can clearly say that this is her best work yet. The book connects at many levels and the characters are so beautifully defined. Struggle of a divorced woman who turns into her hobby of homebaking and cosmetics to deal with her situation. I think there is a bit of Ritu in the main character too. Quite enjoyed the book

[Shail Mohan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it from the word go. Good job, Ritu. If I didn't suck so much at writing reviews, I'd have written a detailed one for you. :)

[Inderpreet Uppal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ritu lalit is an accomplished author! Yes, she is already the author of a four books and this is her fifth. How does it matter? It doesn’t as but I mention it because I was very impressed with the flow of the book. Also, I plan to read the rest of them. :)

I like the language of the book, expressive and communicative. Easily read and still gets the message across. No need for a dictionary to read this one; it is just you and this lovely book.
Yes it does have a few repetitive scenes at times but they only emphasis the human nature. Aren’t we all like that? Repeating what we like fell sad or happy about; sharing the same story again and again. Don’t we end up telling the same tale yet one more time?

The book starts off as an ordinary enough read, a divorce is imminent and I thought it is just going to the typical ‘washing of dirty linen in public’ but I was in for a surprise. Yes, of course lots of gossip, speculations and assumptions are made; but you do know what happens when you make assumption? You make an ass of me and you!

So don’t assume anything about the book, the dirty linen is what are lives are made of, it’s simple everyday language is its strength, the struggles and hardships add to the weight of the story. Yes, sleeping around does happen and it is not a woman alone who does it, another person is also involved! It is not just a guy thing!
Shaymoli’s story could have been any woman’s story. A typical middle class lady; who is married off even before she can decide that whether this is the life she wants. That is what makes this book such a good read and one book that I recommend to all.

Ritu talks of all the things we love sweeping under the carpet! An indifferent husband, insolent parent, useless relatives and selfish siblings and friends all get their due in this story. Where does a lady go? Whom does she turn to?

Why I find her a winner even though she is a loser in the eyes of the society? Well, because she just does not care!! She walks out on a cheating lowlife; something most females find difficult to do even in an abusive relationship.

Her struggles are the same of any woman who tries to live a life with dignity. If a woman thinks of stepping away from a failed marriage the first step she faces is resistance from family – hers.
She manages to survive and makes a good life for her kids. Her story is about being strong even when she feels weak. To take a stand and stick to it. Many a woman would have given up rather than try to get even. Back stabbing friends and an abusive mother – two places we usually find comfort are lost to her but she makes do with what she gets.

An open relation with a married neighbour; don’t judge till you read his story! This relationship gives her more acceptance than from anyone except her son. Yes, another reason I liked the book was the sensible, kind son. Shyamoli must be doing something right for her son turned out the kind any mom would be proud. Yes, the daughter is a bit different but then when are sibling alike? You gotta read to know exactly how?

There is enough depth in the novel, about the nitty-gritty of getting a divorce, being the second choice of your loved ones and living life without the ones you love. I recommend Wrong, For The Right Reasons for its truth and faith in the power of a woman.

[Ahana Mukherjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author sent me the pdf of the book ‘Wrong for the Right Reasons’ and from the word go I was hooked onto it. It’s the story of Shyamoli Verma, divorced and saddled with two kids, who decides to face life full on, on her own terms. Ritu Lalit writes a passionate tale about the plight of a woman estranged from her husband, how not just the society but her own flesh and blood stand against her and creates obstacles on her path in every possible way.

The narrative is simple and the characters are very real. This is no flashy tale of an extraordinary woman who wants to fight the wrongs done to her. On the contrary it is a story about quite the ordinary Shyamoli, a self deprecative girl in her late twenties who is led by rather unfortunate circumstances to stand up for her children and intricately maneuver through the twists and turns that fate leaves in her way. Everyone she trusted, starting from her husband Manav, her friend Uma or even her mother Malati Malhotra; fells her down with their chicanery and duplicity. She gets support and strength from people who were not her own. The Afghan refugee, who takes shelter at her place, is a beacon of strength and rightly advices her everytime Shyamoli faces a cul de sac. Her relationship with Subodh too is a positive and authentic one. There is no teenage fling, no unreal expectation and both give each other the space and respect that is due to them.
What intrigues me most about Shyamoli’s tale is that she learns to shed her timidity and fights back because she has been betrayed by her very own; these characters have actually unlocked in her the persona she didn’t know she had. Had she not been egged by Uma and Roop, she would never have started the cosmetic company and the bakery neither would she have been able to market and present it professionally if the very same people did not try to cheat her in her own game. Had her mother not threatened to make her roofless she wouldn’t have taken the stance of going to the lawyer though it was her father who stood by her like a rock with his silent support. At the end even her brother’s reaction to her father’s will comes as not just a shock but also a learning money and property alienates even the closest of the relationships.
The only negative to the whole drama is that it gets a tad lengthy. Since there are no great twists to the tale, the narrative at the end becomes a little tedious in the end and perhaps the last few chapters could have just been shortened a bit.
Nevertheless, what is interesting is, at the end its Uma who finally does the friendly deed. Will not give away the details, it might become a spoiler. Ritu Lalit again brings out the greys in human character, despite being the unfriend she turns out to be the saviour.

[Smitha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read Ritu Lalit before, and have enjoyed her writing, although all her books I’ve read so far have been of the fantasy genre. ‘Wrong, for the Right Reasons’, sounded very interesting, and luckily for me, the Kindle edition was available on Amazon(UK).

Shyamoli Verna, a regular young woman, has gone back to her parents’ house. Which wouldn’t have been such a bad thing, had she not had two children in tow, and a broken down marriage with her. Of course, from her mother’s point of view, she had done everything for her daughter, by getting her married. Once married, it was the daughter’s responsibility to stay married. Adjust. Compromise. After all her husband doesn’t ‘beat’ her. A little infidelity? Surely women could overlook that!

Undeterred by her mother’s (and society in general) attitude, Shyamoli sets out to make a life for her and her two children.

It’s a fascinating book, a window to what a divorcee goes through in Indian society, a place where a married woman has the sole responsibility of keeping her marriage intact. The double standards and obstacles that a single woman has to encounter. The style of writing is very engaging. It helps that Shyamoli is a regular woman, with the same insecurities and inhibitions that most of us have. She is an easy protagonist to identify with, to relate to, and to cheer on. You want to see her succeed.

I particularly liked the well-etched out characters. Shyamoli, initially who had lost her confidence, who got road rolled by her mothers, to the Shyamoli who slowly regains her confidence and flair. Her son, and her wonderfully spirited daughter, Ketaki. I really liked that name, Ketaki (although that had nothing to do with liking the actual book :) )and absolutely loved the character of Ketaki. Spirited, exuberant, spunky! What a fun character she was! The various relationships well drawn out. The difficult relationship Shyamoli has with her mother, the complicated relationship she has with her daughter, the comfortable one with her son, they all felt so real, it could have been our neighbours, it could have been our relatives, it could have been us.

The Afghan element to the story was equally fascinating. I’m longing to find out from the author how she knows so much about the Afghan culture and language. To me, it added a unique and wonderful flavour to the book. A book I would easily rate a 4/5.

[Shilpa Garg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading Ritu for a long time now. I enjoy reading her blog and liked her first book too. When I got an opportunity to read her latest book, which is getting rave reviews, I HAD to read it. And the story grabbed my attention from the word go!

Wrong, For the Right Reasons is a story about a woman’s struggle to survive with her two children after walking out on her cheating husband. When Shyamoli along with her children Samar and Ketaki leaves her husband’s home, she leaves a lot of things behind… a steady income, stability and sheltered life, friends and even family. Her own parents especially her mother is not at all supportive of her decision. According to her, Shyamoli should go back and apologise to her husband as a divorcee has no respect and social status in the society. A chance meeting with an old childhood friend, Uma changes the path of her life. Uma helps Shyamoli to realize her true calling in life. Shyamoli resourcefully navigates a surprising avenue for making some money by baking cakes/breads and making oils/lotions at home. And that brings about some stability in life and pays the bills too. Life smiles once again on the small family but misfortunes find their way again in their life. The maternal fortitude displayed by Shyamoli helps the family grow strong through their life’s battles.

Wrong, For the Right Reasons is a powerful story of a woman who defies all odds and realizes her true identity, and succeeds. It sheds light on her pursuit to recover from life’s trials and tribulations, to grow and to keep loving when an avalanche of hatred and betrayals threaten her sanity. It is story where she rights her own situation without a knight in shining armour coming to her rescue.

What I liked about this book are a lot of things, actually. I liked the characters that are realistic, the story that is moving and inspirational and the writing style that is engaging and fluid. There are a few editing typos in the ebook version, but since the story was good so I skimmed past them,

Wrong, For the Right Reasons is a story that is not fiction. It is a story of real people with real horrors of life. It is a story of hardship, and endurance that inspires you to persist. It is a story that will stay with me for a ling time! A must read!

http://shilpaagarg.com/2015/02/wrong-...

[Nikita Jhanglani · Rating 4 out of 5]

That it is not perfect when it has no flaws, says everything/ every human who doles out tips for living a happy life. It is perfect when you accept the imperfect for what it is. Ritu gives out this message loud and clear in her story, Wrong, for the Right Reasons.

Ups and downs in life are no new news. When life goes up, clarity of mind and thought, hope, and the strength to look forward tags along. When it goes down, well that is when the real story begins. All hope, strength, and clarity move out to give space to people who define the "right" and the "wrong" for you. Everywhere you go, there'll be somebody twitching their nose in disgust over the choices you make.

What do you do then? You do what Shyamoli Gopal does. Falling down, she gets up again. Losing, she wins her battles. She lets go of those who don't have the courage to be with her, she holds them close who bring her heart hope.

With Shyamoli's story, Ritu inspires you to believe that it is you who defines the right and wrong of your life. You may not always make the right decision. But in making a decision, you get the courage to face the wrong and make it right; you get a sense of you.

Everything from the characters to the situations is relatable. Every nuance in the many relationships in the story is portrayed beautifully. I especially loved the way Ritu shows the bond that Shyamoli and Uma share. Gulpari is another one of my favorite people from the story. The characters of Samar and Ketaki are well-written; they are a consolation to your heart that undoubtedly goes out to Shyamoli.

This is a story touched my heart from the time I started reading it; it definitely is way better than most of the self-help gyaan that I've ever come across. Kudos on bringing out a lovely story Ritu.

[Rocismati Romance lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ritu Lalit has written a strong story in a very interesting way .The story is divided into two halves .The first half consists of the dark side or the sad phase of the protagonist and the second half consists of the light side or happy phase.
The emotions of the all the characters are very articulately depicted in an realistic and humorous manner . The Author writes from her heart. You can feel the emotions free flowing through the words; and they all reach a readers heart. I could feel Shyamoli's anguish and her sense of betrayal when her family and friends show their true color. She also projects her hopes and soaring spirits that she got through entrepreneurship and from her children's support .She has crafted every emotion with equal delicacy and intensity.
The book is a combination of heartaches, betrayal and hopes with lots of humor embedded in it.
Hats off to Ritu Lait for writing this mesmerizing tale .Thank you Ritu Lalit for this wonderful treat.
All the best.
This review is unbiased. Highly recommended read to all the book lovers.

[Asmit Rathod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi,

Good Evening Ritu Ji,

While waiting at the Singapore’s Changi Airport for my connecting flight to Australia, I finished reading your book “Wrong, for the right reasons.” I loved it. Though Shyamoli is a central character, I enjoyed Ketty the most, the girl who keeps eating her “esses”. Uma is another interesting character, bold and complex. The entire experience was wonderful which I underwent without a break, reading the book in one sitting.

I look forward to read more of you.

Thank you very much.

[Alcatraz Dey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrative makes you ponder over your perceptions. You can be in the story or observe it from far. The writing is wonderful and mature which is expected from a woman of her stature. Simple yet thought provoking. I'm amazed why authors like her are not in the mainstream Indian book market. It's time we highlight good literary work and it's owners.
A sure recommended read to all readers. Read it to know how to write a simple story in a beautiful manner

[Ranjani Mitra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The struggles of a Lone woman

A realistic take on a woman who decides to charter her life as per her own values. Her struggles are not hers alone, a reflection on the society and what entails for a woman to live her independent life.

[Rubina · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the beginning, Ritu Lalit draws us into the world of Shyamoli. She represents all those Indian women who leave their home after their marriage and steps into an unknown territory. Ritu Lalit had started the story very aptly by quoting lines from the famous Star Trek, "to boldly go where no man has gone before." It's just very ironic that today I use this quote – the day Capt. Spock has left us all to meet the Almighty.

As you travel along with Shyamoli, you feel the pain as she subjected to the insensitivity of her husband, Manav as he continues to have liaisons with his ex-girlfriend, Nimmi. The strange part was when instead of sympathizing with Shyamoli both the mother-in-law and her own mother did not support her. The mother-of-law I can understand, but what shocked me was the behavior of the mother. But then, come to think of it, it should not have shocked me. There are hundreds of such cases where a girl is literally considered an outsider as soon as she changes her surname. We would love to think that the trend is changing, but it isn't.

Relationships

I could relate to this story a lot. Many relationships have been at play in this small novel. The relationships between a mother and daughter, a son and a mother, amongst friends and between strangers. Shyamoli had a very tough relationship with the mother. Her yearning to please her mother is very heart wrenching. There is also a saying in India, 'there is no greater enemy of a woman then a woman herself' and this quote has been proven right every time a Shyamoli is born to a mother like hers. Ritu Lalit has brought out changing facets of ideologies that a woman has to face in her journey from being married to being divorced.

Each character that Shyamoli meets contributes to her growth. Whether it is Jaya auntie or her daughter, Uma. Another relationship which creeped me out was that of Shyamoli with her brother, Varun. How could such a simple relationship become so complex just because some amount of money is involved? Agreed, that like Shyamoli, I too am being naïve. But it does leave a feeling of distaste when you come across such relationships. Ritu Lalit on her part has done a wonderful job in giving every character a perfect role in her story.

The only thing that I found as a reader in this story was the number of characters in there. I understand the need for Gul's character but a mention of her relatives in such details was sometimes confusing. I won't call the characterizations misplaced but maybe a tad overdone.

Frenemy
I love this concept. Did Uma deserve what Shyamoli did to her? I'm not into moral policing. To some extent, Uma deserved everything that happened to her. But it did paint a tinge of grey shade on Shyamoli’s personality? However, I loved the way Ritu Lalit boldly presented Shyamoli at that point of time. Frankly speaking, presenting your protagonist in such a light takes guts.

Perspectives

This story will question your perspectives at every angle. Some may sympathize to what happened to the mother and some might sympathize of how Uma ended up with the looser. Some might call Shyamoli overambitious or a drama queen but whatever she did, she did with a lot of elegance.

Morality
There is much to learn from this story. It was not only a woman's struggle to provide a good home for her children but also about a woman searching for her feminism. Feminism is not something that makes you depended on others, take a placard and fight for your rights. To me it stands for the strength that drives you to face even the adverse situation. Shyamoli depicted every facet of feminism throughout the story. As daughter, a mother, a businessperson and a lover.

Humor
This style of writing is very humorous. Even though Shyamoli was going through a very bad phase, there was not a moment when I felt like pitying her. It was her sense of humor that made her face every situation.

"Prawpurly inbested," Mrs. Ghosh said, flustered by Mr.Singh's rapt gaze and stopped. She sipped some water and sand again, "properly invested, the sum is sufficient."

The above line, when I read suddenly, literally made me hear that dialect. Similarly, the whole story has a splatter of humor injected here and there.

Editing
This manuscript is not without flaws. A few punctuations here and there and a few errors with scenes have been noted. But one thing I have to mention here is from the time the blog tour has started and when other reviewers like Janaki Nagaraj have pointed this out, the author has made an attempt to correct those errors and informed the reviewers. This makes us feel good for at the end of the day the selling and marketing are just a very small part of writing. This makes all our reviews feel justified.

Read the full review @

http://www.rubinaramesh.com/2015/02/w...

[Bhavya · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thing about this story is, there is no prince charming who undoes the things her husband did. Shyamoli grows as a woman through the story and her children too change and evolve all the while fighting her own battles.
The characters in the story are very real and the challenges they face change them and that change is visible in their dialogues and attitudes. The story as a whole is quite moving and very poignant, relevant to the times we are living in. The book sort of makes us see what a divorced woman, a single woman has to go through to succeed in life and eke a living for her and the sake of her family that depends on her.
If you do like a real story with some strong women characters driving the plot, I’d say don’t miss reading Wrong, For The Right Reasons by Ritu Lalit.
Read the rest of the review here

[Ruchi More · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know Ritu ji as a blogger. I liked her first book A Bowlful of Butterflies and hence picked this up on Kindle.

Unlike other reviewers who find the first chapter slow, I quite liked the first chapter.

In the book, what works :
1. Characterisations of main and side characters.
2. Believability in the setting.
3. The dialogues and witty quotes.
4. The first half of the book entices even though there are no twists.

What doesn't work :
1. The timeline keeps changing randomly, which makes it difficult to know whether the character is talking about current happenings, happenings in the past or future.
2. Motivations of the negative characters.
3. The whole frenemy track.
4. The second half falters, the pace is too much to handle along with flashbacks. The ending looks abrupt, as if left for the next novel in the series.