Review

“Yeah, she is lightning in a shot glass. Because lightning in a shot glass is more of a miracle than lightning in a bottle. You are the same. The two of you make the most everyday things feel exciting.”

And that’s exactly what this book did for me – it lit up the ordinary and reminded me that miracles often hide in the smallest moments we choose to pay attention to.

If there’s one book that stayed with me through my sick days, it’s this. If there’s one book I couldn’t stop recommending to my friends over the last few days, it’s this one. It kept me awake because it was intense, interesting, and full of heart. And honestly, part of the fun was discussing the characters with my friends – finding bits of Aalo or Meera in the people around us, and in ourselves. This book is honest; it reminds you of the boundaries we forget to draw, shows you what finding your purpose can look like, what being independent truly means, and what it takes to change the course of your own story. It teaches you what it means to take control, to fight for someone else, and to stop your heart from falling again and again. It’s a book that lingers, one that moves something in you long after you close it.

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Some books don’t just stay with you; they take you over completely. For me, that book was Lightning in a Shot Glass by Deepanjana Pal. Rich, layered, witty, and soaked in the spirit of Mumbai, it’s a novel I couldn’t stop reading or recommending. It kept me company on sick days and had me discussing it endlessly with friends. It’s an ode to romance and the city’s restless magic. This is a book that blends humour with heartbreak, independence with desire, and the chaos of everyday Mumbai with moments of clarity that feel almost cinematic.

At its core, it follows Aalo and Meera, two women standing at very different crossroads of life, yet connected by similar confusions of love, ambition, identity, and the unpredictability of a city that never pauses. The plot is engaging from the very beginning, and with each event, the story gets more exciting, revealing new shades of who these characters are and what they are running toward or away from. Aalo, unsure of what she truly wants from life, accidentally steps into a situation that brings Zeb, a photojournalist, into her world. Before she realises it, a connection forms, gentle, unexpected, and undeniable. Their equation is tender, messy, and beautifully unpredictable. Meera, a journalist, is living through a quiet but intense midlife crisis. She doesn’t know whether to give Jeet, a much younger man who brings spark, passion, and honesty, a real chance at love or to keep what they shared as just a fleeting moment. Her emotional turmoil is raw, shaped by ambition, vulnerability, age, and the invisible expectations society places on women. And just when her career reaches the position she always aimed for, she’s forced to pause and wonder: Can she hold her ground in a male-dominated newsroom? Can she create change and still do what she loves?

And threaded through both their journeys is the heart of the book,  their fearless circle of girlfriends, a group that stands by them with unwavering loyalty. This tight-knit gang is their chosen family, showing up without being asked, comforting, teasing, challenging, and steadying them through every messy moment. Their bond brings warmth, laughter, chaos, and depth, making the story feel wonderfully lived-in. The book doesn’t just explore relationships; it pulls us into the ethical and chaotic newsroom where Meera works, the nonprofit world where Aalo navigates workshops, fundraising, and emotional labour, Zeb’s world as a photojournalist chasing stories, and Jeet’s journey as a newcomer finding his way through Mumbai’s dreams. Mumbai itself becomes a character here. The city that never sleeps, yet somehow makes room for every dream and every pause.

Deepanjana Pal’s writing is rich, sharp, witty, and brilliantly observant. The plot is crisp, the narrative immersive, and the tone light yet emotionally resonant. The story flows effortlessly, weaving through friendships, newsroom politics, personal failures, romantic confusion, and the small joys and pains that make up everyday life. Each chapter peels back a new layer of the characters, making them feel flawed, relatable, and deeply human. You’ll find laughter, heartbreak, confidence, confusion, romance, loss, and rediscovery, all stitched together with the steady strength of friendship.

The characters are brilliantly developed. Aalo and Meera stand out with their flaws and strengths, Zeb and Jeet bring charm and depth, and their group of fearlessly loyal girlfriends forms the beating heart of the book. This tight-knit gang truly becomes their chosen family, showing up with honesty, humour, warmth, chaos, and unwavering support. And then there is Mumbai. The city is not just a backdrop; it’s a living character – restless, vibrant, chaotic, and full of heart and hope. Deepanjana captures its pulse with astonishing clarity, making you feel its rush, its dreams, and its quiet corners.

The climax ties everything together beautifully – emotional, sharp, thoughtful. The kind of ending that lingers long after the book is closed. The storytelling is unputdownable, and honestly, the book deserves a Bollywood film or web-series adaptation. Lightning in a Shot Glass is a fun, flavourful read with depth and warmth, the kind that leaves you smiling long after you turn the last page. If you’re looking for something light, spicy, emotional, and soaked in Mumbai’s heartbeat, this book is a must-must read. Truly unputdownable.

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