Book Review: ’12 Years’ by Chetan Bhagat

Book Title: 12 Years: My Messed-up Love Story
Author: Chetan Bhagat
Publisher: Harper Fiction India
Number of Pages: 432
ISBN: 978-9369896875
Date Published: Oct. 1, 2025
Price: INR 275

Book Review

Chetan Bhagat’s “12 Years: My Messed-Up Love Story” comes across as simple yet striking, a tale that is more than just a romance. It reflects the pressures, flaws, and freedoms of modern relationships while capturing the conflicts of two people separated by a significant age gap. At its heart are Saket Khurana, a 33-year-old finance professional-turned-stand-up comic, and Payal Jain, a 21-year-old private equity professional. Their story explores not just love, but also self-discovery and the complicated dynamics that emerge when two contrasting personalities collide.

The narrative begins when Saket, recently divorced and still healing from a failed marriage in San Francisco, returns to India and meets Payal at a Mumbai comedy club. Their connection is instant, and what starts as friendship gradually deepens into romance. While Saket views the relationship as a second chance at love, Payal sees it as an adventurous exploration, a space to uncover hidden facets of herself. This delicate balance between a man carrying emotional baggage and a young woman testing her independence forms the emotional crux of the novel.

Stylistically, Bhagat keeps the story accessible and conversational. The plot is straightforward, even predictable at times, but the book’s charm lies in its narration and flow. The themes are expansive and deeply relevant—caste and pride, men’s mental health, societal and parental pressure, gender biases, money versus individuality, and the impact of social media on self-worth. By weaving these into an age-gap love story, Bhagat grounds his novel in the real and messy complexities of contemporary urban life, giving readers a mirror to issues often brushed aside.

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Ultimately, the novel does not depend on dramatic twists or shock value. Instead, it offers relatability through familiar struggles, everyday dilemmas, and the messy beauty of relationships. With its setting between Mumbai and Dubai, a compact set of characters, and Bhagat’s signature breezy style, “12 Years” feels like a modern-day Hum Tum with more serious undertones. For readers seeking a light yet meaningful story about love in today’s world, this book is a thoughtful, engaging pick.

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