Sameer Gudhate presents the Book Review of Lovestruck and Confused by Harini Srinivasan

Have you ever crushed on someone so hard that your friend started a full-blown investigation just to protect you? No? Well, welcome to Priya Kaushik’s world — where love is complicated, friends are suspicious, and detectives are accidentally dragged into rom-com chaos.

Harini Srinivasan is back, and this time she’s ditched ancient mysteries for modern mayhem. Known for her historical whodunnit The Curse of Anuganga and the breezy rom-com The Ex Factor, Harini shows us that she can make readers chuckle just as easily as she can make them chase clues. In Lovestruck and Confused, she tosses a handful of quirky characters into a blender of love, confusion, and paan masala — yes, really — and serves up a frothy romantic comedy that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Priya Kaushik is your average twenty-something, juggling life, work, and her questionable taste in men. Her latest obsession? A man she spots in a paan masala ad (we’ve all had stranger crushes). But her best friend Tanya isn’t having it — she’s that friend, the overprotective one who hires a detective to check out the guy. Enter Sanjay Dhamija, a detective who’s not exactly thrilled about his new assignment. Meanwhile, another woman, Sowmya, is also sniffing around Nitin, our ad-star, worried that her brother is spiraling.

Is Nitin a family man playing dress-up? A wannabe actor with a shady past? Or just a guy caught in a bizarre twist of fate? As Priya and Nitin’s paths cross, sparks fly — but not without enough drama to fuel a whole season of your favorite soap.

Harini’s writing is witty, casual, and conversational — it’s like sitting with a friend over chai while they spill the latest gossip, complete with raised eyebrows and dramatic pauses. Her use of short, crisp dialogues and internal monologues keeps the tone light and snappy. This isn’t a book that wants you to overthink — it wants you to laugh, cringe a little, and smile a lot.

Priya is relatable in all her flawed, dreamy glory. Her instant infatuation with Nitin might seem over the top, but haven’t we all been there — caught up in someone’s charm, logic be damned? Nitin’s jealousy, though mild, is oddly endearing, and the way Tanya and Sowmya end up unintentionally fueling the chaos is pure entertainment. They aren’t just side characters; they’re the comic lifeline of the book.

The plot, like life, is a bit chaotic — and that’s both its charm and its challenge. With multiple characters throwing in their suspicions and a detective who’s clearly in over his head, the narrative juggles threads that sometimes tangle more than twist. Still, Harini ties it all together with a feel-good ending that makes you forgive the bumpy ride.

At its core, the book nudges us with a timeless message — assumptions are the root of all confusion. In relationships, careers, or just daily life, jumping to conclusions without a conversation can spiral into full-blown madness. It’s a reminder to ask, not assume. And that love? Love often blooms in the most unexpected — and hilariously awkward — circumstances.

I laughed out loud more than once (especially during Tanya’s sabotage missions). I winced when Priya’s heart swayed and cheered when things finally fell into place. The book is not trying to be profound — it’s here to lighten your mood, and in that, it delivers perfectly.

Strong character voices, a zany premise, and dialogues that feel ripped out of real-life banter are the highlights here. Tanya, in particular, is a riot. She’s the kind of friend who might be a nightmare in the moment, but you’d thank her later (maybe).

Too many characters can make the story feel like a crowd at times. Some threads take a bit too long to untangle. The plot does meander, and you might need a mental map to track who’s doing what. But even when it gets messy, it’s a fun mess.

This book felt like watching a lighthearted rom-com on a rainy weekend — not heavy, not too deep, just right to warm the soul. The chaos felt familiar (maybe a little like my own friends' group), and it left me smiling. If you enjoy books that don’t take themselves too seriously but still sneak in a message or two, you’ll love this one.

Lovestruck and Confused is a breezy, fun-filled ride with just the right amount of drama, humor, and heart. It's messy in all the ways real love stories can be — with interfering friends, miscommunications, and all the hilarity in between. Grab it if you need a break from intense reads or just want to believe, again, that love can survive a good mystery.

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