Story based on Bollywood Struggles - The Stranger in Me Book Review

There are perks of reviewing books. Before that, I used to read a specific genre. But book blogging has exposed me to multiple genres and writing styles. In the last three years, I have been to a blind date with many books where I have been surprised. Almost 8 out of 10 times, I enjoyed those book thoroughly. Same was the case with "The Stranger in Me". I have been provided this book like a blind date(of course in exchange for an honest review). Again the book was a bigger surprise for me as I was expecting a mythological fiction from publishers. Well, we didn't lose heart as at the end of the day as a book blogger we need a book to read.

Book Blurb

One man. His three lives. One city. 

Amit is dead. Amit is alive. Amit is the superstar. Amit is a failed actor. Are there many men or just one man living different lives at different times? After 40 years, Amit wants to hark back to his youth and become a Bollywood hero. But Bombay is now Mumbai and he is no longer 20.

Does Amit have it in him to be the hero of his own story? Rocky, his flatmate, a struggling writer by day and bouncer by night, steps in as a messiah of sorts, along with Disha, the daughter of a renowned movie producer, who is madly in love with Rocky and believes all is fair in love, and Sasha, Amit’s best friend, a hippie stuck in the ’70s.

Chandni, the Bollywood siren of the ’70s, is still the reigning queen of Amit’s heart. With Amit back in the same city, will there be a reunion of two lost souls from another time? Will Amit achieve his Bollywood dream? Will Rocky pen a blockbuster? Will Disha win her love?

"The Stranger in Me" is a story of few struggling characters wanting to enter into the limelight of Bollywood. One of our protagonists is Amit. Amit tried in Bollywood in his younger days, but he didn't succeed. He went back to normal life and had it almost for 30 years. When he got retired from his professional and personal responsibilities he came back to Mumbai for another try as now he didn't have much to lose. He met a guy called Rocky on his first day of Mumbai. Rocky is our next protagonist, who had good looks and body. But he was not accepted by his family as none in his family looks so good. He wanted to become a writer (scriptwriter) but people wanted him to cast him instead of his scripts. Rocky took Amit as his co-tenant and then started a comical journey. Do read if you like to read books on Bollywood backstage.

The book is written with simple language and medium pace. It is an ideal pick for beginners. Don't worry, even seasonal readers can also read it. I would say they will enjoy it for sure. Three things I liked the most about the book

• The cover page. I cannot just ignore if I am window shopping it.
• Pranks by Amit. They are just funny and instant.
• Writing style. not too confusing.

Ratings

1. Cover - 4.5/5
2. Content - 4/5
3. Concept - 4/5
4. Overall - 4/5

Book can be found at Amazon & Flipkart

Review from other readers can be found at GoodReads