"One Night Only by Saumyaa Vohra"
Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi
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| One Night Only by Saumyaa Vohra |
About the author:
Saumyaa Vohra is a writer and editor. She is currently Lifestyle Editor
at GQ India, and was previously Editorial Head at LBB Delhi and Features
Editor at Cosmopolitan India. Her work has appeared in various
publications, including several international GQ editions, Vogue Italia,
Hindu, Hindustan Times Brunch, Outlook and Condé Nast’s queer magazine
Them. She is fun to hang out with, despite her penchant for bad British
panel shows, boxing classes, baking needlessly elaborate desserts and
cats that don’t love her back.
Saumyaa is bisexual and an unflinching feminist – even when it’s
terribly inconvenient and not particularly cute – and somehow still
manages to maintain a sense of humour and several unburnt bras.
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Saumyaa Vohra
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Instagram: @saumyaavohra
GQ India: GQ India Saumyaa Vohra
Disclaimer: This review is only intended for initiating discussions. The
opinions and views presented in this article are my own and do not
reflect anything about the book's author.
REVIEW
One Night Only is a tantalizing and mood-lifting
contemporary fiction transporting the readers to the
journey of four friends rediscovering the power of
sisterhood on a girls' trip to Goa after one of them—a
'serial monogamist'—gets dumped by her long-term
boyfriend. Set against a backdrop of pulsating nightlife,
exquisite cuisine, and endless possibilities, the book
travels the roller-coaster arc of the friendship (I'll
take it as a main character here), where life-changing and
meaningful one-night stand stories are unearthed from the
archives in the pursuit of understanding each other and
themselves, their needs and wants, ambitions, and
insecurities. The narrative boldly embraces sex-positive
(as Meenakshi suggests in her editorial review) ethos,
fostering an environment where sexual exploration and
empowered self-expression ignite a sense of liberation and
self-discovery.
Apart from the little spicy friendship dynamics, the book
explores their relationships with their partners and their
views on relations of all kinds, from marriage to open
relationships and being friends with an ex. One Night Only
is also one of the best hosts of bisexual representation,
with a healthy discourse that thoughtfully dismantles
myths and misconceptions about bisexuality, celebrating
diverse identities and experiences. Goa is another
significant subject as characters reminisce about their
Goa memories tinged with bittersweet nostalgia and how it
has transformed over the years. Out of all the characters,
I could relate most with Rubani, and if you've read the
book, you'd know how much I needed this book. Lol.
It's an escapist read, detached from the world and only
focusing on the fierce foursome, as people often do when
on a break. It'd be a fantastic read if you are looking
for a break. I liked how Saumyaa enveloped the book with
an open-ended ending and a profound climactic story that
surpassed all others in delivering the message. It
explores unconventional territory while deftly navigating
the waters of reality. Thankfully, it did not veer too far
into conventionality to be dismissed lightly but rather
challenged readers to engage with the complexities woven
throughout the pages.
Happy Reading!
Are you on Instagram and Goodreads? Let's connect!
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Will see you in the next post. Till then buh-bye. Take Care. Peace.
☮
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