Girl in a Million- Book Review

Girl in a Million by Anitha Padanattil

Genre: General Fiction, Indian Author

Girl in a Million is a book of childhood, friendships, bonds that break, bonds that stay, loss of innocence, loss of lives, and much more. It is a bittersweet story where the narration moves between the past and present to give readers a glimpse into the life of Sagarika and her gang of friends from school. 

What connects them? What binds them despite the differences? What makes them lean on each other even after drifting apart for years? You’ll find the answers to these questions and more.

As the title highlights, the book primarily deals with the life of Sagarika and why she was christened girl in a million.

The narrative shifts and alters between different POVs, with Sagarika’s being the primary voice. We see things from her perspective, in bits and pieces, as we continue to piece together the past and present.

The narrative is mellow and takes time to establish itself. Once you get into the flow, the book becomes easier to read. The author’s vocab seems to be the highlight of the book, though readers like me don’t have to get annoyed by the extensive use of Tharoorish language. The author balances it well, making the narration appear seamless.

As you would have guessed from the blurb, there is darkness surrounding our leading lady. What is it, and will she be able to come out from it? You’ll have to read the book to know.