Overview
This is a Contemporary Indian Romance Fiction exploring themes of trust, healing, and second chances. It is more than a romance — it is a story of self-discovery, vulnerability, second chances, and the quiet ways people grow together. Set against the dreamy backdrop of Paris, this slow-burn love story will capture your heart completely.
Key Characters
| Character | Description |
|---|---|
| Amaira | An ambitious aspiring chef from Kolkata; fiery, independent, deeply committed to her dreams |
| Deven | A successful romance writer based in Paris; shy, introverted, gentle and deeply sensitive |
| Dadu (Grandfather) | Amaira’s beloved ailing grandfather whose dying wish set the entire story in motion |
Plot Summary
Part I — A Reluctant Beginning
Amaira, an aspiring chef, has always put her career first. Her ailing grandfather’s wish forces her into an arranged marriage with the shy and introverted Deven. Apple Books
For Amaira, this marriage is nothing more than a formal agreement — one that will end as soon as her grandfather passes. She makes it crystal clear to Deven that they are husband and wife in name only. Deven, despite being kind and patient, cannot break through Amaira’s emotional walls. Two strangers. One apartment. A marriage built on obligation, not love.
Part II — A New Life in Paris
Amaira joins a chef school in Paris while Deven begins working on his second book. Slowly, daily life begins to weave invisible threads between them. Goodreads
Deven notices the tiniest things Amaira loves — their shared laughter, the small gestures of care — all of which make them go from strangers to friends, and then slowly something more. Amaira pours her pain and dreams into her cooking. Deven pours his into his writing. Two separate worlds — slowly, quietly beginning to overlap. Goodreads
Part III — The Walls Begin to Crumble
The novel masterfully explores themes of forced marriage, cross-cultural identity, broken families, dreams, healing from emotional trauma, and the nuanced dynamics of marriage. Sameekshaa
Amaira begins to realize that Deven is everything she never expected — not dramatic, not loud — just a steady, patient presence who shows up for her in ways no one ever has. Deven, in turn, slowly falls for Amaira’s strength and vulnerability alike.
This is a book that promises vulnerability, emotional surrender, and the type of love that aches before it heals. Sameekshaa
Part IV — The Shocking Cliffhanger 😱
This book ends in a massive cliffhanger that leaves readers desperately yearning for the second book. Will Amaira choose to stay? Will Deven finally express his feelings? Will this marriage remain just an agreement — or transform into something beautiful and real? The book ends with these questions burning in your chest, with no answers. Just longing. Goodreads
Central Themes
| Theme | Deeper Meaning |
|---|---|
| Arranged Marriage vs. Love | Two people bound by agreement slowly discover what it truly means to belong to each other |
| Ambition vs. Vulnerability | Can Amaira’s passion for her career coexist with opening her heart to love? |
| Healing Through Connection | Both Amaira and Deven carry wounds; their presence quietly heals each other |
| Cultural Identity | The journey from Kolkata to Paris — two very different worlds colliding |
| Quiet Love | Not loud or dramatic — built on patience, small gestures, and trust |
Memorable Quotes
“When you love someone with all your heart, their pain becomes your pain… and you bleed through your soul.”
“It’s absolutely okay to take time off, but it’s not okay to let that time stretch on indefinitely.”
🔍 Hidden Facts Most People Don’t Know
1. This is Deblina’s First Fiction — But NOT Her First Book Deblina first self-published a poetry collection called “Knots” in 2019, followed by “My Black Rose” in 2021. This Thing Called Love is her debut work of fiction. The emotional depth you feel in every chapter comes from the pen of an already-practiced poet. That’s why the poetry woven into each chapter hits so differently! Amazon
2. She is a Student, Teacher AND Book Critic — All at Once Deblina is a student of English Literature by day, a passionate writer by night, and also a book critic and teacher of English. This means every page carries the perspective of a reader, a critic, and a teacher simultaneously — which is why the characters feel so layered and real. Amazon
3. A Kolkata Girl Writing Paris with Longing, Not Tourism Deblina was born and bred in Kolkata — the “City of Joy.” Amaira’s journey from Kolkata to Paris and her struggle to adjust is written from a genuine outsider’s longing — not a tourist’s guidebook. Every Paris scene quietly carries the homesickness of Kolkata within it. Amazon
4. It is a Duology — Many Readers Discovered This Only at the Cliffhanger! This is the first book in a duology — and many readers found out only when they hit that shocking ending and realized the story wasn’t over yet! The anticipation for Part 2 among readers is enormous. Sameekshaa
5. The Author’s Personal Confession Deblina herself has said: “I wrote This Thing Called Love to explore the quiet complexities of human connection — how two souls, broken in different ways, can still find solace in each other.” This is not just fiction — it is a personal declaration of belief in love itself. Deblinabhattacharyya
6. Poetry in Every Chapter — A Rare Literary Choice Each chapter contains poetry that makes the emotions linger long in your heart — an unusual and brave creative decision that gives this novel a completely unique identity. You are not just reading a story — you are living through it, verse by verse. Goodreads
Final Takeaway
This Thing Called Love is a story of love that is neither fast nor dramatic. It is soft, slow, and human — about patience, trust, and learning to understand someone completely. Amaira and Deven remind us that love is not one single moment — it is built across a thousand small ones, quietly, without fanfare. Goodreads
If you are looking for a heartwarming, slow-burn, arranged-marriage romance — this book is made for you. Just be prepared for that cliffhanger! 😭📚