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Secrets and Lies
Product Description The Secret History meets Daddy's Girls as four old schoolfriends reunite after fifteen years in this sizzling blockbuster. You can't run away from your past! Anita, Zeba, Bubbles and Sam have a friendship that spans 20 years - a friendship born out of their years at a private girls' school in Delhi in the early Nineties. Beautiful, intelligent and secretive, they were the top clique; the girls that everyone wanted to impress - until the arrival of a newcomer to the school. 15-year-old Lily D'Souza is beautiful, gifted and acerbic and instantly threatens their superiority. Now, Anita, Sam and Bubbles live in London. Bubbles is the pampered but bored wife of a billionaire, Anita is a top journalist working for the BBC, whilst Sam tries hard to be a trophy wife for her corporate lawyer husband. Zeba remained in India, and now lives a life of unimaginable luxury as the world's reigning Bollywood queen. Called back to India for a reunion by their beloved school principal Mrs Lamb, the women must confront a secret that has haunted their adult lives. Lily's body was found on the night of their school prom and, for twenty years, the open verdict has shielded the fact that they may have had a hand in her death. But as they reunite in Delhi to find out the truth about what really happened that night, will their friendship stand the strain? Or are some things better left unsaid!?
416 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2009
10 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Jaishree Misra
16 books54 followersJaishree Misra is an Indian author whose debut novel Ancient Promises was published and sold worldwide by Penguin UK and became a major bestseller in India. It is now a prescribed text on several University BA Eng Literature courses.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 5, 2012
Book is interesting,but since i have read her ancient promises" at first,i feel one or the other characters willreflect"janaki"of that semi autobiographical novel in her many books after that..but the way she crafts teenage ventures and womanhood is excellent...
October 27, 2009
Two continents, 4 ladies and a letter which beckons them to re trace their childhood, a letter which takes them down to that dark corner of their lives which they wished never existed.
Zeba (reigning bollywood queen), Sam (a housewife in denial that her marriage might be on its last leg), Bubbles (wife of a multi millionaire leading an otherwise empty life) & Anita (a journalist & a single woman who has carved an identity which she had always dreamt of) have spent their growing years together & share a bond unlike others.
The book opens with them receiving a letter from the principle of their school. The letter reminds them of the fateful year when they had passed out. It also brings back the memory of Lily, the new student who without trying had upstaged each of these popular girls in some manner or the other. In no time Lily becomes the most hated student of the class. Things would have been normal & taken as teenage jealousy had Lily been not found dead on a fateful night!
Who killed her?
Did the girls hate her enough to kill her?
Was it really a murder?
Was her past catching up on her!!
The four friends ultimately decide to go back to their school & burn the ghosts of their past but do they manage to do that? Or will they unravel something which would change their lives forever?
You will have to read the book to know more.
The book traces the journey of each of these women from present to past. I absolutely loved the narration of the book. It takes you into the past and then throws you back in present. When you are in present you would yearn to know about what happened in the past & vice versa.
Each character has been well etched and gives you reason for their respective behavior, the book slowly but steadily traces the growth of each of the characters.
However the most frustrating thing about the book is the way the author leaves you with small details & keeps you waiting with baited breath as to what will happen next :D.
It briefly touches upon so many contemporary issues like being over worked, ignored, ego hassles, child sexual abuse, violence, infidelity, gay issues, and issues with in-laws etc.
My only problem with the book is its end. The way book moves you feel it is coming up for a wonderful climax but it doesn’t happen that ways. What could have been fantastic just fizzles out in the end.
I also wished that Lily’s character could have been explored a bit. She had a past which explains her present behavior but the past is touched upon very briefly. In fact the way the book ends it gives me a feeling that a sequel might be coming up. Lets see if that’s the case!!!
If I have to summarize the book I would say a chick-lit cum thriller cum suspense novel cum teenage romance cum bollywood masala cum contemporary issues makes this an immensely readable fare and a gripping page turner.
Here I must add that Indian Authors specialize in dishing out emotional stuff and rarely do we see them coming up with Page turner thrillers and in this case the author has surely succeeded.
Zeba (reigning bollywood queen), Sam (a housewife in denial that her marriage might be on its last leg), Bubbles (wife of a multi millionaire leading an otherwise empty life) & Anita (a journalist & a single woman who has carved an identity which she had always dreamt of) have spent their growing years together & share a bond unlike others.
The book opens with them receiving a letter from the principle of their school. The letter reminds them of the fateful year when they had passed out. It also brings back the memory of Lily, the new student who without trying had upstaged each of these popular girls in some manner or the other. In no time Lily becomes the most hated student of the class. Things would have been normal & taken as teenage jealousy had Lily been not found dead on a fateful night!
Who killed her?
Did the girls hate her enough to kill her?
Was it really a murder?
Was her past catching up on her!!
The four friends ultimately decide to go back to their school & burn the ghosts of their past but do they manage to do that? Or will they unravel something which would change their lives forever?
You will have to read the book to know more.
The book traces the journey of each of these women from present to past. I absolutely loved the narration of the book. It takes you into the past and then throws you back in present. When you are in present you would yearn to know about what happened in the past & vice versa.
Each character has been well etched and gives you reason for their respective behavior, the book slowly but steadily traces the growth of each of the characters.
However the most frustrating thing about the book is the way the author leaves you with small details & keeps you waiting with baited breath as to what will happen next :D.
It briefly touches upon so many contemporary issues like being over worked, ignored, ego hassles, child sexual abuse, violence, infidelity, gay issues, and issues with in-laws etc.
My only problem with the book is its end. The way book moves you feel it is coming up for a wonderful climax but it doesn’t happen that ways. What could have been fantastic just fizzles out in the end.
I also wished that Lily’s character could have been explored a bit. She had a past which explains her present behavior but the past is touched upon very briefly. In fact the way the book ends it gives me a feeling that a sequel might be coming up. Lets see if that’s the case!!!
If I have to summarize the book I would say a chick-lit cum thriller cum suspense novel cum teenage romance cum bollywood masala cum contemporary issues makes this an immensely readable fare and a gripping page turner.
Here I must add that Indian Authors specialize in dishing out emotional stuff and rarely do we see them coming up with Page turner thrillers and in this case the author has surely succeeded.
October 12, 2011
Ya I liked the book,contrary to what I rated it at first look,esp. the last chapters.Decent story and with lot of moral too.The novel is about 4 friends-girls,and their guilt ridden flashback from their school-days.It revolves around their lives and speaks of the common experiences of resentment and jealousy towards a new student which are common place in all schools.So the theme being universal one could sort of relate with it.
I liked the ease which which the author made the transition between narrating the two sub stories feel seamless.Great first-hand knowledge, into how life in a girls only school might be, was also pretty enlightening for me.But I still think the untold story of their headmistress would have been better or rather telling the story from Victoria Lamb's(their head mistress) point of view would have been better.
So overall a good experience from reading an altogether different story from what (little) I've read till now.The verses from A.E Houssmans poem were really beautiful and added charm to the story
I'll add this verse i think was written as Lilly's epitaph :
With rue my heart is laden
For golden friends I had,
For many a rose-lipt maiden
And many a lightfoot lad.
By brooks too broad for leaping
The lightfoot boys are laid;
The rose-lipt girls are sleeping
In fields where roses fade.
I liked the ease which which the author made the transition between narrating the two sub stories feel seamless.Great first-hand knowledge, into how life in a girls only school might be, was also pretty enlightening for me.But I still think the untold story of their headmistress would have been better or rather telling the story from Victoria Lamb's(their head mistress) point of view would have been better.
So overall a good experience from reading an altogether different story from what (little) I've read till now.The verses from A.E Houssmans poem were really beautiful and added charm to the story
I'll add this verse i think was written as Lilly's epitaph :
With rue my heart is laden
For golden friends I had,
For many a rose-lipt maiden
And many a lightfoot lad.
By brooks too broad for leaping
The lightfoot boys are laid;
The rose-lipt girls are sleeping
In fields where roses fade.
September 24, 2011
The story opens with 4 letters being dispatched by an old retiring school headmistress to her 4 best girls of class’93. Sam, self blaming housewife of a failing marriage. Bubbles, an unhappy wife of a multi millionaire. Anita, woman with high-flying career. Zeba, top actress of Bollywood. Once the letters received by the recipients, it strikes fear in them. The girls have taken a vow of silence not to talk about the incident which took place on the final day of their high-school. Lily, the new girl from their class found death in the school’s rose garden on the final day of school.
Although, it’s a chick-lit, but not a light read, the author has incorporated lots of issues into the story. Thriller, romance, infidelity, gay issues, child sexual abuse, work burden, marital problems & so on.
Overall, it’s a page turner & makes an interesting read.
Although, it’s a chick-lit, but not a light read, the author has incorporated lots of issues into the story. Thriller, romance, infidelity, gay issues, child sexual abuse, work burden, marital problems & so on.
Overall, it’s a page turner & makes an interesting read.
June 3, 2023
Secrets and Lies by Jaishree Misra
Sam, the trophy wife of a renowned lawyer in London, refuses to believe that her marriage will probably fall apart soon.
Zeba, the Bollywood queen, reigns over the hearts of millions in India.
Bubbles, who is married to blue blood and now lives in London, has settled into a rather empty life.
Anita, working at the BBC station, is craving her identity and journey.
The book opens with the principal of their alma mater sending out a letter to these women, asking them to catch up with her one last time before she retires.
It reminds them of their youth—that fateful year when something tragic happened.
It had happened to Lily D'Souza, a new girl in school who threatened their status quo, and before anything else could go wrong, Lily became the most hated person in their class.
Things were supposed to be normal—a touch of humanity with teenage jealousy had Lily not wound up dead on the night of their socials.
Who killed her?
Was she murdered?
These girls decide to finally land at their high school for some much-needed answers that could change their lives forever.
While this book seemed very interesting, I struggled to finish it. It got interesting at some points, but I was soon drawn out of the world etched in this book.
I will agree that this book touches on some serious subjects such as stressful work life, egotism, gay issues, infidelity, disagreement with the in-laws, the reality of the entertainment industry, and the list goes on. It's very modern for its time, so kudos for that.
While the narration is great, with the perfect juggle between the events of the past and present, somewhere, it felt like there were too many fillers that weren't required. It was mundane, and some of it seemed pretty unnecessary.
The characters were etched to the T, and their quirks made sense, but Lily's character could have been delved more into.
Not everything was well crafted, which makes the book feel half-baked and boring. The plot build-up was so strong that when the climax rolled around, everything fizzled out with a scream of disappointment.
I was totally bummed.
It was a very predictable storyline that anyone could have guessed within the first 150–200 pages of the book, so there was nothing new there.
I wish the author would have taken time to craft the story instead of focusing on the little details that were not necessary for the plot. I couldn't connect with the characters, so it didn't matter to me what happened to them.
I suppose it's a decent read for people who want to try a thriller book as a subgenre, but for someone who lives for a thriller, this book didn't make the cut for me.
I would say it's more of a chick-lit than a thriller, with other elements such as romance, contemporary issues, and a dash of mystery, but don't expect too much out of it.
I would rate it a good ⭐⭐⭐/5
You can find this book on Amazon if you want to buy and check it out yourself!
Sam, the trophy wife of a renowned lawyer in London, refuses to believe that her marriage will probably fall apart soon.
Zeba, the Bollywood queen, reigns over the hearts of millions in India.
Bubbles, who is married to blue blood and now lives in London, has settled into a rather empty life.
Anita, working at the BBC station, is craving her identity and journey.
The book opens with the principal of their alma mater sending out a letter to these women, asking them to catch up with her one last time before she retires.
It reminds them of their youth—that fateful year when something tragic happened.
It had happened to Lily D'Souza, a new girl in school who threatened their status quo, and before anything else could go wrong, Lily became the most hated person in their class.
Things were supposed to be normal—a touch of humanity with teenage jealousy had Lily not wound up dead on the night of their socials.
Who killed her?
Was she murdered?
These girls decide to finally land at their high school for some much-needed answers that could change their lives forever.
While this book seemed very interesting, I struggled to finish it. It got interesting at some points, but I was soon drawn out of the world etched in this book.
I will agree that this book touches on some serious subjects such as stressful work life, egotism, gay issues, infidelity, disagreement with the in-laws, the reality of the entertainment industry, and the list goes on. It's very modern for its time, so kudos for that.
While the narration is great, with the perfect juggle between the events of the past and present, somewhere, it felt like there were too many fillers that weren't required. It was mundane, and some of it seemed pretty unnecessary.
The characters were etched to the T, and their quirks made sense, but Lily's character could have been delved more into.
Not everything was well crafted, which makes the book feel half-baked and boring. The plot build-up was so strong that when the climax rolled around, everything fizzled out with a scream of disappointment.
I was totally bummed.
It was a very predictable storyline that anyone could have guessed within the first 150–200 pages of the book, so there was nothing new there.
I wish the author would have taken time to craft the story instead of focusing on the little details that were not necessary for the plot. I couldn't connect with the characters, so it didn't matter to me what happened to them.
I suppose it's a decent read for people who want to try a thriller book as a subgenre, but for someone who lives for a thriller, this book didn't make the cut for me.
I would say it's more of a chick-lit than a thriller, with other elements such as romance, contemporary issues, and a dash of mystery, but don't expect too much out of it.
I would rate it a good ⭐⭐⭐/5
You can find this book on Amazon if you want to buy and check it out yourself!
June 8, 2019
പുസ്തകം: രഹസ്യങ്ങളും നുണകളും
രചന: ജയ്ശ്രീ മിശ്ര
വിവർത്തനം: സാജിത എം
പ്രസാധനം: ഡിസി ബുക്ക്സ്
പേജ്: 366, വില : 225
ജയ്ശ്രീ മിശ്ര 2009-ൽ രചിച്ച നോവലാണിത്. സ്ത്രീകൾ കേന്ദ്രകഥാപാത്രങ്ങളാക്കി ആണ് ഈ പുസ്തകം രചിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്. ഈ പുസ്തകം എന്നെ വളരെയധികം ആകർഷിച്ചു. പുതിയ കാലഘട്ടത്തിൽ ഒരു കുടുംബത്തിൽ നടക്കുന്ന എല്ലാ കാര്യങ്ങളും ഈ നോവലിൽ പ്രതിപാദിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. പ്രധാനമായി ഈ നോവൽ പറയുന്നത് നാല് പെൺ സുഹൃത്തുക്കളുടെ കഥയാണ്- പരസ്പരം വളരെയധികം സ്നേഹിക്കുകയും മനസ്സിലാക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്ന നാലു സുഹൃത്തുക്കൾ.
15 വർഷങ്ങൾക്കു ശേഷം ഒത്തുകൂടുന്ന നാലു പെൺ സുഹൃത്തുക്കളുടെ കഥയാണിത്.സേബ, ബബ്ൾസ്, സാം, അനിത എന്നീ പെൺകുട്ടികൾ തൊണ്ണൂറുകളുടെ ആദ്യ കാലഘട്ടത്തിൽ ഡൽഹിയിലെ ഒരു പ്രൈവറ്റ് സ്കൂളിൽ ഒന്നിച്ചു പഠിച്ചവരാണ്. ലില്ലി ഡിസൂസ എന്ന പെൺകുട്ടിയുടെ വരവ് സ്കൂളിലെ അവരെ മേൽക്കോയ്മയ്ക്ക് ഇളക്കം വരുത്തി. മിസിസ് ലാംബ് എന്ന അവരുടെ അയർലൻഡ് സ്വദേശി സ്കൂൾ പ്രിൻസിപ്പൽ ആണ് ഇന്ത്യയിലേക്കുള്ള അവരുടെ ഒത്തുചേരലിന് ക്ഷണിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്.
ബബ്ൾസ്,സാം, അനിതയും വർഷങ്ങളായി ലണ്ടനിലാണ് താമസിക്കുന്നത്, സേബ ഇന്ത്യയിലും. ബബ്ൾസ് കോടീശ്വരനായ ഒരു ബിസിനസ്സുകാരനെ വിവാഹം കഴിച്ചു അർത്ഥശൂന്യമായ ഒരു ജീവിതം നയിക്കുന്നു. സാം തന്റെ ആത്മാഭിമാനം പണയം വെച്ച് ഭർത്താവിനോടൊപ്പം താമസിക്കുന്നു. അനിതയാകട്ടെ തന്റെ ആഗ്രഹത്തിന് ഒത്ത പങ്കാളിയോ, ജോലിയിൽ സംതൃപ്തിയോ ഇല്ലാതെ ജീവിക്കുന്നു.
ഇന്ത്യയിൽ താമസിക്കുന്ന സേബയാകട്ടെ, ഒരു പ്രശസ്തയായ സിനിമാനടിയായി മുംബൈയിൽ താമസിക്കുന്നു. ഈ നാല് സ്ത്രീകളുടെയും ജീവിതം മറ്റുള്ളവരുടെ മുൻപിൽ എല്ലാം തികഞ്ഞതാണെങ്കിലും, അവരെല്ലാം തന്നെ തികച്ചും മനസ്സുകൊണ്ട് അർത്ഥശൂന്യമായ ഒരു ജീവിതമാണ് നയിച്ചു പോന്നത്.
ആ നാലു സുഹൃത്തുക്കളുടെയും ജീവിതം മാറ്റിമറിച്ച സംഭവം ഉണ്ടായത് അവരുടെ ഡൽഹിയിലെ സ്കൂൾ കാലഘട്ടത്തിൽ തന്നെയാണ്. ലില്ലി ഡിസൂസ എന്ന പെൺകുട്ടിയുടെ മരണം ഈ നാല് പേരുടെയും ജീവിതത്തോട് ബന്ധപ്പെട്ടുകിടക്കുന്നു. തങ്ങളുടെ കൗമാരകാല ജീവിതത്തിലെ ഒരു രഹസ്യം അവരെ ഭയപ്പെടുത്ത��ന്നുണ്ട്. അതിന്റെ ഉത്തരം തേടിയാണ് 15 വർഷങ്ങൾക്കു ശേഷം അവര് ആ സ്കൂളിൽ ഒത്തുചേരാൻ പോകുന്നത്.
വളരെ താല്പര്യത്തോടെയാണ് ഈ പുസ്തകം വായിച്ചു തീർത്തത്. പല സ്ത്രീകളുടെയും ജീവിതത്തോട് ചേർന്നു നിൽക്കുന്ന കഥയാണിത്. ജയ്ശ്രീ മിശ്ര വളരെ മനോഹരമായാണ് ഈ നോവൽ എഴുതിയിരിക്കുന്നത്.☔️🌆
രചന: ജയ്ശ്രീ മിശ്ര
വിവർത്തനം: സാജിത എം
പ്രസാധനം: ഡിസി ബുക്ക്സ്
പേജ്: 366, വില : 225
ജയ്ശ്രീ മിശ്ര 2009-ൽ രചിച്ച നോവലാണിത്. സ്ത്രീകൾ കേന്ദ്രകഥാപാത്രങ്ങളാക്കി ആണ് ഈ പുസ്തകം രചിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്. ഈ പുസ്തകം എന്നെ വളരെയധികം ആകർഷിച്ചു. പുതിയ കാലഘട്ടത്തിൽ ഒരു കുടുംബത്തിൽ നടക്കുന്ന എല്ലാ കാര്യങ്ങളും ഈ നോവലിൽ പ്രതിപാദിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. പ്രധാനമായി ഈ നോവൽ പറയുന്നത് നാല് പെൺ സുഹൃത്തുക്കളുടെ കഥയാണ്- പരസ്പരം വളരെയധികം സ്നേഹിക്കുകയും മനസ്സിലാക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്ന നാലു സുഹൃത്തുക്കൾ.
15 വർഷങ്ങൾക്കു ശേഷം ഒത്തുകൂടുന്ന നാലു പെൺ സുഹൃത്തുക്കളുടെ കഥയാണിത്.സേബ, ബബ്ൾസ്, സാം, അനിത എന്നീ പെൺകുട്ടികൾ തൊണ്ണൂറുകളുടെ ആദ്യ കാലഘട്ടത്തിൽ ഡൽഹിയിലെ ഒരു പ്രൈവറ്റ് സ്കൂളിൽ ഒന്നിച്ചു പഠിച്ചവരാണ്. ലില്ലി ഡിസൂസ എന്ന പെൺകുട്ടിയുടെ വരവ് സ്കൂളിലെ അവരെ മേൽക്കോയ്മയ്ക്ക് ഇളക്കം വരുത്തി. മിസിസ് ലാംബ് എന്ന അവരുടെ അയർലൻഡ് സ്വദേശി സ്കൂൾ പ്രിൻസിപ്പൽ ആണ് ഇന്ത്യയിലേക്കുള്ള അവരുടെ ഒത്തുചേരലിന് ക്ഷണിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്.
ബബ്ൾസ്,സാം, അനിതയും വർഷങ്ങളായി ലണ്ടനിലാണ് താമസിക്കുന്നത്, സേബ ഇന്ത്യയിലും. ബബ്ൾസ് കോടീശ്വരനായ ഒരു ബിസിനസ്സുകാരനെ വിവാഹം കഴിച്ചു അർത്ഥശൂന്യമായ ഒരു ജീവിതം നയിക്കുന്നു. സാം തന്റെ ആത്മാഭിമാനം പണയം വെച്ച് ഭർത്താവിനോടൊപ്പം താമസിക്കുന്നു. അനിതയാകട്ടെ തന്റെ ആഗ്രഹത്തിന് ഒത്ത പങ്കാളിയോ, ജോലിയിൽ സംതൃപ്തിയോ ഇല്ലാതെ ജീവിക്കുന്നു.
ഇന്ത്യയിൽ താമസിക്കുന്ന സേബയാകട്ടെ, ഒരു പ്രശസ്തയായ സിനിമാനടിയായി മുംബൈയിൽ താമസിക്കുന്നു. ഈ നാല് സ്ത്രീകളുടെയും ജീവിതം മറ്റുള്ളവരുടെ മുൻപിൽ എല്ലാം തികഞ്ഞതാണെങ്കിലും, അവരെല്ലാം തന്നെ തികച്ചും മനസ്സുകൊണ്ട് അർത്ഥശൂന്യമായ ഒരു ജീവിതമാണ് നയിച്ചു പോന്നത്.
ആ നാലു സുഹൃത്തുക്കളുടെയും ജീവിതം മാറ്റിമറിച്ച സംഭവം ഉണ്ടായത് അവരുടെ ഡൽഹിയിലെ സ്കൂൾ കാലഘട്ടത്തിൽ തന്നെയാണ്. ലില്ലി ഡിസൂസ എന്ന പെൺകുട്ടിയുടെ മരണം ഈ നാല് പേരുടെയും ജീവിതത്തോട് ബന്ധപ്പെട്ടുകിടക്കുന്നു. തങ്ങളുടെ കൗമാരകാല ജീവിതത്തിലെ ഒരു രഹസ്യം അവരെ ഭയപ്പെടുത്ത��ന്നുണ്ട്. അതിന്റെ ഉത്തരം തേടിയാണ് 15 വർഷങ്ങൾക്കു ശേഷം അവര് ആ സ്കൂളിൽ ഒത്തുചേരാൻ പോകുന്നത്.
വളരെ താല്പര്യത്തോടെയാണ് ഈ പുസ്തകം വായിച്ചു തീർത്തത്. പല സ്ത്രീകളുടെയും ജീവിതത്തോട് ചേർന്നു നിൽക്കുന്ന കഥയാണിത്. ജയ്ശ്രീ മിശ്ര വളരെ മനോഹരമായാണ് ഈ നോവൽ എഴുതിയിരിക്കുന്നത്.☔️🌆
November 6, 2025
I've owned this book since my 16th birthday in 2010, I don't think I've ever read it until now..
The story alternates between 2008 and the early 1990s.
I got 36 pages in and I wasn't latching onto the story. I don't know if it was the descriptions to prove these woman were rich/or came from a line of wealth, or the somewhat vague description of why these woman were beckoned to their old school in another country.
For woman who are written in their 30s, yikes. A lot of body shaming and jealousy going on. Damn, I forgot how outdated 2000s books could get.
By page 100 I was starting to skim over pages. I got so bored reading about these woman. If their supposed to be returning to their school for a reunion that may/may not involve a death of a student, than why is this information so vague? Why do readers need to be bored to death about this narcissist characters?
"Cooters"!? Thank god it wasnt a sex scene.
Nearly 200 pages in and im still confused. There is hardly any mention of student death, it focuses solely on these woman, their love life and their struggles with the life of riches.
Hold up..so while Lily is just a blip in these woman's lives, her death is ultimately given a small chapter explanation of "it's a suicide." So, after all that..this book was a waste of time.
The story alternates between 2008 and the early 1990s.
I got 36 pages in and I wasn't latching onto the story. I don't know if it was the descriptions to prove these woman were rich/or came from a line of wealth, or the somewhat vague description of why these woman were beckoned to their old school in another country.
For woman who are written in their 30s, yikes. A lot of body shaming and jealousy going on. Damn, I forgot how outdated 2000s books could get.
By page 100 I was starting to skim over pages. I got so bored reading about these woman. If their supposed to be returning to their school for a reunion that may/may not involve a death of a student, than why is this information so vague? Why do readers need to be bored to death about this narcissist characters?
"Cooters"!? Thank god it wasnt a sex scene.
Nearly 200 pages in and im still confused. There is hardly any mention of student death, it focuses solely on these woman, their love life and their struggles with the life of riches.
Hold up..so while Lily is just a blip in these woman's lives, her death is ultimately given a small chapter explanation of "it's a suicide." So, after all that..this book was a waste of time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2021
The story is about the lives of 4 ladies who spent their schooling years together and have a past which is bothering them.
Samaira, Bubbles, Anita and Zeba, child hood friends have come up a long way after the school social 15-16 years ago which changed their life. They were girls bonded with each other until a new girl Lily arrives to join them for the final year.
The lives of each of the ladies, their ambitions, the sacrifices and adjustments they make forms the major part of the book. The last pages reveal the incidents of the past and how they meet together at their alma matar to fight the ghosts together.
The writing is simple with good language and nice use of literature. Overall a light read, more feminine but a decent story to keep the reader occupied.
Samaira, Bubbles, Anita and Zeba, child hood friends have come up a long way after the school social 15-16 years ago which changed their life. They were girls bonded with each other until a new girl Lily arrives to join them for the final year.
The lives of each of the ladies, their ambitions, the sacrifices and adjustments they make forms the major part of the book. The last pages reveal the incidents of the past and how they meet together at their alma matar to fight the ghosts together.
The writing is simple with good language and nice use of literature. Overall a light read, more feminine but a decent story to keep the reader occupied.
December 17, 2024
പതിനഞ്ചു വർഷങ്ങൾക്കു ശേഷം ഒത്തുകൂടുന്ന നാലു പെൺസുഹൃത്തുക്കളുടെ കഥയാണിത്. സേബ, ബബ്ൾസ്. സാം. അനിത എന്നീ പെൺകുട്ടികൾ തൊണ്ണൂറുകളുടെ ആദ്യകാലത്ത് ഡൽഹിയിലെ ഒരു സ്കൂളിൽ ഒന്നിച്ചു പഠിച്ചവരാണ്. ലില്ലി ഡിസൂസ യുടെ വരവ് സ്കൂളിലെ അവരുടെ മേല്ക്കോയ്മയ്ക്ക് ഇളക്കം വരുത്തി. മിസ്സിസ് ലാംപ് എന്ന അവരുടെ സ്കൂൾ പ്രിൻസിപ്പലാണ് ഇന്ത്യയിലേക്ക് ഈ ഒത്തുചേരലിന് അവരെ ക്ഷണിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്. ഇപ്പോൾ ലണ്ടനിൽ താമസിക്കുന്ന ബബ്ൾസും സാമും അനിതയും ഇന്ത്യയിലുള്ള സേബയും ഈ ഒത്തുചേരലിലെത്താൻ തീരുമാനിക്കുന്നു. തങ്ങളുടെ കൗമാരകാലജീവിതത്തിലെ ഒരു രഹസ്യം അവരെ ഭയപ്പെടുത്തുന്നുണ്ട്. അതിൻ്റെ ഉത്തരവുംകൂടി തേടിയാണ് അവരെത്തുന്നത്.
December 28, 2018
Similar to a previous book I’d read but with a different culture so it made it a great read. Basically there is a secret and the book takes you through each characters thoughts and lives both presently and in the past until it is revealed.
It was a great setting and I really like all the characters which could easily have been conceited but were charming and had real depth.
It was a great setting and I really like all the characters which could easily have been conceited but were charming and had real depth.
May 13, 2020
I liked the structure of the book. It was interesting how the threads from the present were interlaced with memories from the past and slowly-slowly the reader gets to see the whole picture, revealing in the end the whole truth. The story itself addresses many contemporary issues such as bullying, arranged marriage, family issues, etc.
January 24, 2018
I read this book more than 5 years ago yet keep thinking about it quite often. It was disturbing in some ways- esp the haroon episode... but it also perhaps left an impact more so because I belonged to an all girls school and quite imagined that’s how my batchmates would end up.
June 24, 2019
Delightfully trashy. After months of heady reading material, this was a welcome respite.
September 4, 2020
Ohhhh actually enjoyed this book. Lots of hidden secrets. Quite a dark and dismal book I guess you could say.
May 28, 2015
It’s a pity that the cover jacket and the name points to this being some kind of glorified chick lit, because it definitely isn’t that. It had put me off too on reading this for a while. But Jaishree Misra is a cut above the normal breed of popular writers of Indian fiction (for example, the MBA brigade) and displays a touching empathy for her eclectic characters that populate this novel with some fine and simple prose.
Bubbles, Sam and Anita are old school friends who ended up in London in their later years. While Bubbles is married to one of the richest Indian origin tycoons in London, Sameera is the increasingly perturbed wife of a hot shot lawyer who is feeling her grip on both her husband’s affections and her daughter loosen slowly. Anita is the only one of the three who has an independent career as a news journalist, but even she is beset by doubts about her choices in life and where she is going. Another old school friend, Zeba, is the reigning star in Bollywood and is setup in Mumbai, the enduring city of dreams for any small town Indian. A schemer in her own right, she has given up on most meaningful emotional connections to ride her way to the top of tinsel town.
However, an incident from their school days still haunts them with the specter of guilt for their perceived (even they aren’t sure) involvement in the death of a fellow student, Lily Collins that year. Lily’s guardian, the evergreen school principal, Miss Lamb, one day out of the blue sends them each a letter with a request to attend a reunion of her students in Delhi on the eve of her retirement. The women fidget and fret over what will be a first return to their alma mater after the tragic incidents of years ago. Will it be a chance to make peace with themselves or will their involvement in the death of Lily finally come to light?
Misra displays a fine instinct for assessing her characters mental state without passing much judgment on each of their personal turmoil and choices in life. For her, they are just human characters like the rest of us, each with their own scars and missteps of life. None of us are perfect and regrets do tend to pile up for most of us for words said, actions not done and the follies of youth. At the end of the day, the message she seems to pass is that – it’s never too late to move ahead and make something more or different of your life and the value of shared and deep bonds which stand the test of time. Stick with the people who you know care for you, because as the vagaries of life pass you by, those bonds may be the only things you can count on with any kind of surety of will.
Bubbles, Sam and Anita are old school friends who ended up in London in their later years. While Bubbles is married to one of the richest Indian origin tycoons in London, Sameera is the increasingly perturbed wife of a hot shot lawyer who is feeling her grip on both her husband’s affections and her daughter loosen slowly. Anita is the only one of the three who has an independent career as a news journalist, but even she is beset by doubts about her choices in life and where she is going. Another old school friend, Zeba, is the reigning star in Bollywood and is setup in Mumbai, the enduring city of dreams for any small town Indian. A schemer in her own right, she has given up on most meaningful emotional connections to ride her way to the top of tinsel town.
However, an incident from their school days still haunts them with the specter of guilt for their perceived (even they aren’t sure) involvement in the death of a fellow student, Lily Collins that year. Lily’s guardian, the evergreen school principal, Miss Lamb, one day out of the blue sends them each a letter with a request to attend a reunion of her students in Delhi on the eve of her retirement. The women fidget and fret over what will be a first return to their alma mater after the tragic incidents of years ago. Will it be a chance to make peace with themselves or will their involvement in the death of Lily finally come to light?
Misra displays a fine instinct for assessing her characters mental state without passing much judgment on each of their personal turmoil and choices in life. For her, they are just human characters like the rest of us, each with their own scars and missteps of life. None of us are perfect and regrets do tend to pile up for most of us for words said, actions not done and the follies of youth. At the end of the day, the message she seems to pass is that – it’s never too late to move ahead and make something more or different of your life and the value of shared and deep bonds which stand the test of time. Stick with the people who you know care for you, because as the vagaries of life pass you by, those bonds may be the only things you can count on with any kind of surety of will.
November 16, 2019
Pages : 406
Anita, Bubbles, Sam and Zeba were school friends based in Delhi during the early nineties, sharing affirmative bond and standing by one another during each odds of their lives. They were smart, pretty and secretive and the top clique, the girls that everyone wanted to impress. For the final year of their schooling, a new girl; Lily D'Souza arrived and they felt their superiority threatened by her charm, intelligence and acerbic. A tragedy occurred on the night of their school prom; Lily's dead body was found.
In present time; Anita, Bubbles and Sam live in London. Anita is working for BBC as a top journalist, Bubbles is the wife of a billionaire Indian businessman, leading luxurious lavish lifestyle, while Sam is trying hard to be a perfect trophy wife for her corporate lawyer husband. Zeba remains in Mumbai and succeeds to rule Bollywood through her exceptional skills.
One day the four of them have been called for a reunion by their school principal Ms. Victoria Lamb. They were frightened with the possibility that Ms Lamb must confront a secret that has haunted their lives. Lily's death and the open verdict have shielded the fact that they may have had a hand in her death.
It is a good story showcasing the value of friendship. The friendship remains in existence, but relations don't always stand at the test of time. Reasons behind Lily's mysterious death don't come out in a satisfactory manner.
The ending might prove to be appealing for the minimalists. The story weaves between the past and the present. Once it gives a feel of involvement in the past, the very next moment it seems difficult to connect with the present. At a certain point, the story becomes slow with lengthy description.
This one can be opted for a holiday. Just read with a flow of the story and don't expect much challenges.
"Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive...but to be young was very heaven." -J Mishra
"The more you love a memory, the stronger and stranger it is". - J Mishra
Anita, Bubbles, Sam and Zeba were school friends based in Delhi during the early nineties, sharing affirmative bond and standing by one another during each odds of their lives. They were smart, pretty and secretive and the top clique, the girls that everyone wanted to impress. For the final year of their schooling, a new girl; Lily D'Souza arrived and they felt their superiority threatened by her charm, intelligence and acerbic. A tragedy occurred on the night of their school prom; Lily's dead body was found.
In present time; Anita, Bubbles and Sam live in London. Anita is working for BBC as a top journalist, Bubbles is the wife of a billionaire Indian businessman, leading luxurious lavish lifestyle, while Sam is trying hard to be a perfect trophy wife for her corporate lawyer husband. Zeba remains in Mumbai and succeeds to rule Bollywood through her exceptional skills.
One day the four of them have been called for a reunion by their school principal Ms. Victoria Lamb. They were frightened with the possibility that Ms Lamb must confront a secret that has haunted their lives. Lily's death and the open verdict have shielded the fact that they may have had a hand in her death.
It is a good story showcasing the value of friendship. The friendship remains in existence, but relations don't always stand at the test of time. Reasons behind Lily's mysterious death don't come out in a satisfactory manner.
The ending might prove to be appealing for the minimalists. The story weaves between the past and the present. Once it gives a feel of involvement in the past, the very next moment it seems difficult to connect with the present. At a certain point, the story becomes slow with lengthy description.
This one can be opted for a holiday. Just read with a flow of the story and don't expect much challenges.
"Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive...but to be young was very heaven." -J Mishra
"The more you love a memory, the stronger and stranger it is". - J Mishra
November 21, 2017
The story is about four friends (Anita, Sam, Bubbles & Zeba) who studied in St. Judes, one of the famous schools of Delhi. The book opens with each one of them receiving a letter from their principal calling for a small reunion after fifteen years of passing out. The letter brings back fifteen years old memory of their high school. Most importantly the memory of Lily D'Souza, who died at the day of their formal. Each one of them has a hidden guilt knowing what actually happened that led to Lily's death.
May 2, 2017
Pleasant read following the title the girls in this all have secrets and to keep them they lie sometimes to others mostly to themselves. The secret involves the death of an unpopular new girl at their private school in India 15 years before. Collective guiltily thoughts bind them as they recollect before they return for a small reunion with their head teacher at her behest before she retires. She's waited a long time for the truth to be told.
December 20, 2012
my first book of this author. Liked the characterisation which was very authentic, the pace of story telling and the gradual unveiling of the secrets and lies. Also, the handling two different age groups was done quite nicely, the behaviour of girls in their teens (last year of school) and the middle age was consistent.
November 17, 2009
nothing great ...just a timepass read
January 20, 2013
engaging and reverting. an easy enjoyable read
Read
May 25, 2014#jaishree mishra is awesome ..
May 16, 2015
I picked this one up as a light read and it completely left me spellbound. I loved the characters, the plot, the twist in the tale...everything. Worth a read.
December 24, 2015
Just leave it alone.
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