Book Review #17 Half Girlfriend by Chetan Bhagat

A book review by RIDLABCLASSICS on “HALF GIRLFRIEND” written by CHETAN BHAGAT.

Reviewed by Swapnodeep Banerjee

Sometimes, we get feelings for someone but we are unable to express our feelings to that person. Specially when you are from a so-called backward place and that person from a so-called high class, rich society. So, we just became a good friend with them with a fear in our mind that if somehow, they get to know about our feelings, they may leave us forever. But the relation i.e., the friendship gets complicated for us. And when we saw third person is trying to get closer with that person, we feel a pain in our heart. We want to express our feelings, but still we can’t accumulates enough courage to do that.

“HALF GIRLFRIEND” is a very cute and heart touchy love story of a boy from a backward and poor village from Dumraon, Bihar and a girl from Delhi. It is a complete package of love between a boy and girl in college with friendship, emotions, feelings for each other, a little bit of jealousy, conflict, pain, heartbreaking and reunion. Everything is in this story. The best thing about this book is even if you close you eyes you can clearly visualize things happening right in front of your eyes!! You feel as you are the main protagonist.

Madhav Jha, a state level basketball player from Bihar, went to study Sociology at St. Stephan’s college in Delhi. Being from Bihar, a backward state, he was not felling easy to speak in attractive proper English during his Interview. But somehow, he managed to answer the question he asked and got ready for his sports trial, as he applied for a sports quota. In the basketball ground he first met a tall and very beautiful girl named “R” in her back, playing basketball with college team. That was the trial for girls. Here he first met Riya Somani, the “R”. He gave her a little tip for her game. And their conversation started this way. From the first meet he realized that he was falling for her from the very first moments. Later they both got admission in the college and becomes very good friends. Madhav was not very easy to speak with her in English but Riya was very good in English and she chooses her subject as English (Hons) in the college. So, they started talking in Hindi. They came to watch movie together. They spend times in college together. One day Riya invited Madhav at her birthday party in her house. Here, for the first time, Madhav met Riya’s parents for the first time. he met her some other friends also. One of them is Rohan, who was getting closer to Riya and it made Madhav to be very jealous and he got angry with Rohan but didn’t say anything.

Later on, in a discussion with Riya about that party, Madhav finally manage to confess about what he actually feels for Riya. but Riya didn’t reply. She told that Madhav will get his answer next day as she need some time to think about it. Next day Riya didn’t come to the college as she was ill. Madhav send text messages to Riya and she invited to meet her at her place. Madhav visits Riya’s place to meet his sick friend. Here when he asked Riya about the proposal, she told that for her he is more than a friend, she said that she is his “Half-Girlfriend”. 

At the beginning, a tall man came to Chetan Bhagat with a hand written note book. The tall man was Madhav Jha. The note book was of Riya Somani, his ‘Half Girlfriend’. Madhav said that Riya is dead so he is unable to read these journals by his own. So, he wants Chetan Bhagat to read those. 

What is ‘Half Girlfriend’? More than a friend and less than a girlfriend? Or less more than a friend and more lesser than a girlfriend? How was the strength of this relationship? How much close were they? Why Madhav came to Chetan Bhagat with Riya’s Diary? Is really Riya dead? How? And how did Madhav got his diary? Riya completed the half way journey with Madhav, and what about the rest half? Had Madhav completed the rest with her ‘Half-Girlfriend’?

 To know the answer, you should grab your copy now. Best of luck reading this. You may find something, which you are searching for.