Perfect Advisor

by JOY GARG

How could you define a perfect man? Well Ray Singhania is all about perfection- a perfect brother, a perfect businessman , a perfect friend and most of all a PERFECT ADVISOR.

103 pages, Paperback

Published May 4, 2019

Reviews

[Naman Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book does not take more than 2 hours... even if you are a reader with average speed. However, if you read it to find out the threads of fiction, you may take some time. I did. Read it twice. Once to get the overview of the story and the second time to find out what it was. It was, as others pointed, a one-man show – Ray Singhania. Ray's personality is too magnanimous to be a humane one! He appears like a other worldly gargantuan brilliance embodying a worldly human form.
Joy could not give me proper measures to actually understand Ray's personality when pitted against those with his abilities. All the instances in the story felt like ensuring Ray wins the bought hands down... though it is fun to read, it feels like Bollywood dry-dream with no one to match the guy! Sunny Deol beating a gathering or 200!

The writing is good. Constructing emotional responses is something Joy has done well. However, the story seems to be written in a haste and it could be denser, deeper and more diverse to accommodate serious readers. Right now, it is like a superhero story you can enjoy in pieces.

[Shivani Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. I will say so even if I know there are certain limitations to this quick and compelling read story. In other words, it is a charming yet flawed novel that blends many different elements together. Ray Singhania is a compelling protagonist. His perfection, as observed by the storyteller during many episodes involving Ray, shines through the storyline. His brilliance is envied by others. However, at times, it all appears artificial and superimposed against all the odds... imagine calling someone a trillionaire in India? That too a very young?

Still, with every superficial aspect considered, the novel does have a compelling pull about you. You feel you need to read it to learn what Ray Singhania does in various situations. It is unreal, you know, in the very beginning itself... and yet you want to know more. That's the storytelling of a young author for you!

[Ravi Gupta · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book’s humour and emotional moments, particularly Ray’s bond with Hope, his sister, are the highlights of the storyline. Joy Garg’s Perfect Advisor is an entertaining and emotionally rich story about Ray Singhania, a man who excels in every role. His intelligence and moral clarity drive the narrative, but his flawlessness can make him hard to relate to. True... how can you imagine a person who seldom puts a foot wrong?

Intuition and convenient (read expected) plot resolutions can feel contrived and limiting the ambit of the narrative. To add to the flaws, the secondary characters lack depth, and the revenge subplot (revealed towards the end) is underdeveloped. Despite these flaws, the book’s exploration of justice, family, and goodwill makes it a compelling read, perfect for fans of character-driven stories with a moral core.

[Saket Niranjan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would rather put it out as a youthful expression of an ideal man who could be an idol to many... Ray Singhania – the guy who doesn't exhibit any flaws, even if you try to find it with your microscopic critical lens. He can settle property disputes like a star. He can solve mysteries. He can dismantle a corporate facade and locate the real injustice in hours... he can do anything that you would have otherwise imagined to do only in dreams. However, this stormy brilliance and a perfectly crafted aura around Ray's face might deter readers from doing anything else other thane enjoying this story... and that's why the author might have written it, right?
It is to be savoured and enjoyed... read within an hour or two. That's it. Put criticism aside as it was just the debut attempt by the young author. :)

[Vidyananda Jha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect Advisor is a delightful mix of humour, emotion, and moral lessons. Ray Singhania is a captivating protagonist—intelligent, resourceful, and deeply moral. His bond with his sister, Hope, adds warmth to the story. While the book excels in emotional depth and descriptive writing, some plot resolutions feel too convenient, and Ray’s perfection can make him less relatable. The humour keeps the narrative light, but tonal shifts between serious and light-hearted moments can be jarring. Overall, it’s an engaging read, though it could benefit from more nuanced secondary characters and tighter plot development.
(PS: The last chapter felt like a hint for something to come or just an incomplete...)

[Agastya Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the sheer pace of the novel... it is like turning pages of chapters involving the life of Ray Singhania... and cracks the puzzles like this – a punch in the air and bang! JOY Garg's writing is like a précis... a summary of Ray Singhania's brilliance and nothing between Ray and the reader. In such an attempt, the author, seemingly new and inspired, rather than matured and realised, dwarfs other characters and may risk making the novella monotonous for many readers (I noticed other readers' opinions). However, the writer does have potential and the future works may come up balanced.
Still gave it 5 stars! Why? I liked the visual appeal of imagining Ray Singhania with a smug on his face... veering through the path... pushing problems and puzzles like nothing.

[Payal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The character of Ray Singhania is the pole star in this story who can overthrow governments... I hope you get the symbolism. He is smart, handsome, talented, crafty and perfect in every possible sense. The narrator seems to be in awe of his 'idol'.
Story has various parts and in each, you see Ray outsmarting his adversaries and coming on the top of every challenging situation. It feels good... after reading some sentimental and dramatic works recently, I liked the idea of some quick-fix solutions guy who does entertain you. Well-written in parts, as far as critical assessment goes. DO I recommend it? Yes, if you have an hour or two on a weekend, you will love it!

[Misha Kapoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked it up today... was a Sunday and I had an hour as suggested by the person who recommended me this book... and believe me, It was something different. An experience you would remember for some time. Ray Singhania's attitude in solving problems and his chemistry with Hope, his sister and his bossmanship with his employees... everything in the novella, too short to be read quickly, is a superfast experience that passes away too quickly, it seems. The author may have created this one-manship-plot to pose Ray Singhania as some superhero and he has succeeded. However, the story appears to be incomplete and people may be wondering what the Super Singhania is up to after four years!

[Nakshatra Mishra · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was truly a one hour read as someone told me while recommending this novella. The writing was simplistic, focused on a character and designed around his personality to show him in the spotlight. Ray Singhania is the man of the hour... if I call this an hour long novel. His quick-thinking, astute reasoning and minute attention leave their impression on the storyline. Though the imbalance in protagonist and antagonists of the novel might not make it a logically developing storyline, it is like those high-end corporate drama where you see the protagonist navigating through a challenging journey to reach to the top.

[Parakastha Mishra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with other readers. It is a 2-hour novella, at max!
Once you begin reading it, you encounter Ray Singhania – and you are eclipsed by his gigantic personality and know-it-all attitude. He can solve problems after problems and that's what happens in the story. His sister is Hope and she has her fair share of witty exchanges with the trillionaire brother. Other than that, the novel does offer a respite in learning about the 'idol' personality of the perfect advisor who can solve everything. Interesting? You can say so. Satisfying? You will have to find your answers by reading it.