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Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5)
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction, Romance

Book Review:
Preeti Shenoy's ''The Rule Breakers'' is an emotional and engaging read that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt trapped by circumstance and longed to break free. It's a story about love, loss, family, and the difficult choices we make in the search for happiness. The novel follows Veda, a young woman with dreams as big as the Himalayan hills she calls home. But her dreams are abruptly put on hold when her family arranges her marriage. Suddenly, she is transplanted from her idyllic life in Joshimath to a drab existence in Pune, trapped in a loveless marriage with a disinterested husband and a manipulative mother-in-law. Shenoy does a wonderful job of conveying Veda's suffocation, her loneliness, and the slow erosion of her spirit. What makes the book compelling is Veda's journey. She is not a passive victim; she chafes against the meaninglessness of her life and eventually finds the strength to carve out her own path. The novel asks a central question: does she achieve her liberation by breaking society's rules, or by following them in a way that leads to a different kind of fulfillment? The answer is nuanced and thought-provoking. Shenoy's writing is accessible and heartfelt. She creates characters that feel real, and she tackles difficult subjects with sensitivity and grace. While the plot may follow some familiar beats of the genre, the emotional journey is authentic and deeply felt. ''The Rule Breakers'' is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a reminder that it's never too late to fight for your own happiness. A satisfying and uplifting read.