2nd Book of 2026
There is always an excitement in reading one of your favourite authors trying a new genre. I remember feeling the same excitement when Chetan Bhagat, Ashwin Sanghi, and Amish Tripathi experimented with non-fiction, and I experienced a similar feeling when I saw Pranay’s update on social media about his attempt at a love story. I have finally finished reading his latest book, “Pune Junction,” which is around 270 pages long. It felt refreshing to read him writing a soft, emotional story after having read his dark and action-packed duologies and trilogies like The Lost World and The Kavaach series respectively.
Pranay’s writing style has been kept simple to cater to Gen-Z and young school- and college-going readers who do not enjoy complicated storytelling. This is a light read in terms of storyline and works perfectly as a travel companion or a relaxing weekend read. Pranay has structured the chapters interestingly—even though the timelines do not switch this time, the voice of narration does, as the story is told in the first person alternatively. The two main protagonists, Parth and Rucha, keep narrating their versions of the same storyline, with slight progression each time, which helps the reader move smoothly into the next scene.
The author has nicely created the setup of how a fresh college graduate enters the corporate world and finds everything new and different from his previous life. The way he describes the room of a bachelor employee, the habit of saving colleagues’ contacts names with company references, the new addiction to coffee, and how older employees prefer stepping outside the campus for tea or coffee despite free options at work—all these details feel relatable and authentic.
The characterization of both protagonists is well communicated. You get a clear glimpse of how anxious, nervous, and excited Parth is, while Rucha comes across as confident, ambitious, and a dreamer. Their initial interactions and subsequent dates are handled with restraint, without forcing unnecessary steamy scenes into the narrative. This shows Pranay’s confidence as a writer, as he avoids adding artificial elements merely to spice up the story. He works with a simple plot and builds the narration around it effectively. However, while reading the love story, you may be reminded of films like Saiyaara or Aashiqui 2, especially in the last one-third of the book where the setup feels quite similar. I personally wished the author had chosen a different direction, as it reduces the sense of freshness and makes it feel like another familiar love story.
While reading, I initially wondered why Pune as a city was repeatedly being brought into the conversations between the characters, but then it struck me that the title itself is based on the city. The author’s love for Pune is evident in the way he begins the journey from Shaniwar Wada and takes readers through different locations. However, I felt he could have explored the city more deeply by mentioning local cuisines and popular couple hotspots. That would have made the city feel more organically integrated into the love story rather than slightly forced in certain sections.
Talking about the drawbacks, I feel the simple storyline could have been comfortably wrapped up within 230–250 pages and did not necessarily require the current length. The author also needs to invest more in proofreading, as I noticed several typos and grammatical errors this time—something quite different from his earlier books, which were more polished. It felt as if the book went to print in a hurry. As mentioned earlier, the final section resembles several Bollywood films and books with similar storylines, making the ending somewhat predictable. I would rate this book 3.25 stars out of 5. Definitely not Pranay’s best work, but I am sure he will bounce back strongly with his next one. Do read it if you enjoy sweet and simple love stories.
Thanks!
WRITING BUDDHA
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