Blurb: Oindrilla Roy, also known by her friends as Oinks among several other nicknames, is having a lousy week. Cook, maid, driver, all (help) have deserted her. At work, her boss, Hawkeye, is making her life miserable. Her cousin Ankita seems to have got involved in some mess at college and needs her intervention. Her best friend Sweety Chopra is running amok with her own set of shenanigans inadvertently involving Oinks.
It is then that Vivek Rao makes an unexpected entry back into her life. After years. Even before she has had time to get over the previous heartbreak. But somehow, right now, his presence does not seem to be a bad thing. Vivek is still annoying but how did that scrawny-looking thing become this hunk? One to lust for? He also seems to like her even now (maybe). Or maybe not. Nevertheless, Vivek seems to be helping her by being there. With the many issues that haunt Oinks and demand her attention, and given her penchant for saying and doing just the wrong thing at the most inappropriate time, will this renewed contact blossom into something more? Or will it simply fizzle out?
by Harini Srinivasan
Book: The Ex Factor
Author: Harini Srinivasan
Harini Srinivasan’s The Ex Factor is a roller coaster journey of Oindrilla Roy that spans for a couple of days through a chaotic web of complicated relationships, heartbreak, and modern-age love. With its witty narrative, and relatable scenarios, and a generous dose of humor, this romantic comedy is a delightful read that offers a dive into the Bengali family of Oindrilla Roy and her complexity in forming human connections.
The story follows the life of Oindrilla Roy, a girl surrounded by tons of mis-happenings and drama in her life caused by her family, friends, and ex-boyfriend. She finds herself in the middle of a multitude of emotions once she unintentionally bumps into her ex-boyfriend. With her best friend, Sweety, coming out and the cloud of trouble over her cousin sister, Ankita, Oindrilla enters Shillong for her three-month on-site work, only to be met with more surprises to add to her turmoil basket. The narrative beautifully captures the emotional turmoil that ensues as Oindrilla navigates through memories of her past relationship with Vivek while trying to forge a new, platonic connection with her ex.
The author’s writing style is engaging and conversational, allowing readers to easily immerse themselves in the plot and be alongside Oindrilla during her adventurous journey. The characters are well-developed and exaggerated with everyone adding trouble to the protagonist’s life.
While the comedic situations provide plenty of laughs, the story also delves into the complexities of dealing with past relationships and the fear of vulnerability. Adding a layer of resonance to the overall narrative is its witty humour and Oindrilla’s perspective on handling her situation.
However, there are moments when the plot leans into predictable rom-com tropes, which is a turnoff for readers seeking more innovative storytelling. Additionally, some secondary characters could have been given more depth to enhance their impact on the story. Since the story is narrated in first person, the perspective of secondary characters isn’t given due consideration for their actions.
I didn’t find the protagonist’s character real as for most of it, she was making a drama out of the crisis. Instead of doing the obvious, she intentionally invited trouble at most times. For instance, Oindrilla seeks Vivek’s help to contact Ankita from an unknown number, despite her ignoring and pushing him away since the very beginning while she had her good friends Aparna and Rajat around at the same time. Moreover, Ankita’s story was just an adjunct to the main story and didn’t connect with Oindrilla’s. It was just providing an extra plot to the overall narrative to increase the length of the story.
The attitude of Oindrilla’s mother also seemed out of place. She never considered Oindrilla as a daughter as much as she considered her two dogs as her own. She always seemed to be very loud and irritated by her daughter and just gave her orders on what to do. Oindrilla and Vivek’s bond remained baffling in the start as both were pushing each other away on different occasions and in an uncanny manner.
In conclusion, The Ex Factor is an enjoyable rom-com that strikes a balance between hilarity and heartfelt moments. It’s a book that reminds us of the messiness and beauty of human relationships, while also highlighting the importance of personal growth and self-discovery.
My Rating
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