The Way We Were Paperback – 15 September 2023

A mature indian romance that I've read in recent times. I would definitely recommend this, as it has everything you'd want in a romance novel❤️A compelling novel about friendship, love and second chance romance. The story is set against the vibrant backdrop of buzzing bangalore. It centres the lives of Myra Rai a prominent journalist who is almost engaged to Ravi Rao, a sole heir to a powerful political legacy and Andrew Brown, a headstrong political activist👩‍❤️‍👨Myra and Andrew are teenage friends whose lives take a turn when they meet again after many years and this time as colleagues. The author adds depth to the story by bringing in their family histories. The characters are well developed, especially the beautiful friendship shared between Myra and Chhaya which adds richness to the narrative.👭The story kept me engaged throughout with its raw emotions. The author's writing is simple yet captivating seamlessly combining friendship, emotional complexity and love.💛❤️

I think this book would work for you if you don't read it a romance. I love how carefully and well crafted story it was just not the story of Myra and Andrew but only Myra's

Book Name- “The Way We Were” 🍂Author- @praj_hegdePublisher- @hachette_indiaGenre- Romance FictionPages- 304.“Andrew’s fragrance filled the vehicle, and I inhaled it. It was like sitting in an oxygen cylinder. I felt the stain of healthy colour each time I took a breath.”This book is such a beautiful rom com fiction which you need to grab this winter. The main protagonist’s are- Myra and Andrew. Myra Rai’s unexpected journey as her ex-boyfriend Andrew Brown re-enters her life as the newspaper’s political editor. The story gracefully reaches into Myra’s relationships exploring themes of toxic friendships, romance, death and adoption. The author skilfully directs the difficulties of journalism, offering insights into the perplexities of the profession. The novel’s romantic essence connected with a mysterious return adds intensity to the plot creating an intriguing and emotionally deep narrative. I personally had a lot to annotate in the book and there were many stances in which I could find myself in Myra and her emotions. I also loved the mentioned bookstores located in Bangalore. One more highlight of the book is that the author shared a few other books that our protagonists, Myra and Andrew, recommended to us. The variations of toxic friendship and the intricacies of the journalism profession add layers of depth, making the novel a multifaceted and enriching read. The starting point from the office colleagues to Myra’s father to her childhood friends, everyone is etched out and adds more to the story. It gives feels through polka dots, newspaper articles, flower vases and an uncountable number of coffees, that kept me going. A perfect read for every romance lovers in this fall season.Review- 4.5

Prajwal Hegde’s The Way We Were is the perfect Bangalore autumn-winter read! Prajwal serves up an emotional roller coaster ride – with generous doses of wit, humour, tension, betrayal and heartbreak. The protagonists, Myra Rai and Andrew Brown, are both likeable and relatable. Most of the story unfolds in a newspaper office in Bangalore, a setting and a city that journalist-author Prajwal knows like the back of her hand and does complete justice to. The supporting characters are drawn out in great detail. The prim and proper Sudha, the wily Meena, the goofy Rajesh or the dependable Chhaya for example, add to the tension and relief of every scene. The unexpected climax is as heart-warming as the cuppa that‘s Myra’s favourite accessory. I enjoyed snuggling up and devouring this second-chance romance that’s beautiful poetry at times and smart, cutting prose at others.

The reason why Prajwal Hegde is respected as a sports journalist par excellence, is that she brings in unadulterated honesty to her copy with her uncanny knowledge of sport, while camouflaging her columns in a bouquet of skilful writing that allows her the freedom to play with words.In the world of fiction, the writer scores another significant victory after her exciting debut novel. She skilfully intersperses fiction with a fare dose of reality while creating a passionate love story - ’The Way We Were’ - that one can identify with through the true-to-life characters of central figures, Myra Rai, Andrew Brown and the supporting players in the form of Meena, Chaya and Sudha among others.There are shades of Prajwal Hegde in the heroine, Myra’s obsession with coffee as also in her weakness for pure, unadulterated romance that leaves the reader wanting more. Women may find the pink colour of the cover more compelling than men but then I have never judged the book by its cover and after a joyful read, would like to recommend this love story based in Bengaluru to all men who want to re-live a romantic interlude.

Prajwal Hegde is a skilled writer with excellent language skills and knows how to expertly weave a beautiful romance between the lead characters, the enigmatic and mysterious dreamboat, Andrew Brown and spirited curly haired and endearingly clumsy Myra. The lead pair has such a strong connection that often no words are needed for them to communicate with each other. What I loved most about the book was how I can see Indian value system and relationships captured so accurately. Myra's friendship with Chaya and obsession with coffee kept me smiling through the book. The constant presence of Myra's late mother was woven accurately and anyone who has lost a dear parent would be able to relate. A lovely book