Title: The Ex Factor

Author: Harini Srinivasan

Genre: Fiction/Romantic Comedy

Number of pages: 192

Publisher: Om Books International

Disclaimer: You would love this book even more if you happen to be a Bengali or closely related to one! I mean the 'typical' temperament of a Bengali household is so aptly depicted that the story would crack you up at multiple situations. I actually started digging in more about Harini to know how did she so accurately depict a Bengali family because I was pretty sure that she isn't one. And then all my queries were solved at the end in 'Acknowledgements', where she thanks her colleague/friend and she is a Bong! Also learned that she has a handful of Bongs in the acknowledgements, which sums up how she is so well versed with their lifestyle! That's a beauty of an intelligent writer...they make you believe everything and give you a sense of belongingness in their narrative!

Coming to the story, Oindrilla or Oinks is a messed up girl, emotionally. Professionally she is sincere and intelligent (just like a diligent Bong girl). The title does reveal that the story has got something to do with an Ex but it takes quite some time to understand who and how and where as the story unfolds.

Oinks work in Gurugram and is resides in Vasant Kunj which again is such a relatability factor for Delhiites like me because it feels so enjoyable to be visualizing she with her friends hanging out in Cyber Hub and all. I was literally transported to my college times. 

Though Oinks dreads office and her 'Hawkeyed' Boss, she is one of the most sincere employees of her organization and hence get posted in Shillong for a short period on an important project. The journey to Shillong via her hometown Kolkata, along with her mother is quite eventful; as you can anticipate. Not only she bumps into her Ex, but her cousin, who also happens to be her soul sister runs into trouble! And things are not even smooth back in Delhi either, where she learns that her best friend is bisexual; that too with someone she really can't stand!

Things take a really interesting turn in Shillong when she learns more about her senior colleague, her Ex too joins the project and a long time good friend/colleague starts exhibiting romantic feelings for her! And then hell breaks loose when her cousin goes missing and her best friend elopes with her same sex partner and arrives in Shillong; and she is held accountable in both these controversial cases!

Would she fall for her good looking Pahadi colleague or would she rekindle the romance with her dark and handsome Ex?

I don't want to reveal any spoilers here but would like to sign off by saying that the ending is kind of predictable as you would have wanted the same!

Although there is one thing that has left me wondering in the recent Indian romcoms I have read. I am not a prude and don't want to sound judgmental; but this is something that has been bewildering me. Are the millennial girls way sexually forward? Or have I been living under a rock? I mean lots of body count and pre marital sex; are these things mundane now? Seems like I have been brought up too conservatively (I only look modern 😂) and so have been my friends!

I read this book at quite a low phase in my life and my mood was instantly uplifted and I devoured this cute, funny story is 3 days; which is really fast as I am the primary caregiver of 5 kids 😂 

Go, grab this copy now! 

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