Book Review: ‘Once Upon A Summer’ by Manjul Bajaj

Book Title: Once Upon A Summer
Author: Manjul Bajaj
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Number of Pages: 368
ISBN: 978-9369894970
Date Published: Jun. 27, 2025
Price: INR 346

Book Review

Set in 1906 against the lush backdrop of colonial Nainital, Manjul Bajaj’s “Once Upon A Summer” is a delicately crafted historical romance story. It follows the forbidden love between Madeline, a spirited young Englishwoman, and Azeem, her talented but socially marginalized Indian horse groom. Bajaj’s storytelling brings vibrancy to their world, infusing scenes with lyrical prose as horseback rides through pine forests and clandestine lessons under pear trees allow affection to blossom despite the rigid barriers of race and class. The novel’s inspiration from a true story lends an intimate authenticity to the romance, making it more than a mere period piece.

Beyond its central love story, the novel distinguishes itself by weaving together timelines and geographies. Bajaj deftly moves the narrative from colonial India to 1950s New York, where memories of Madeline and Azeem linger for characters a generation later. This multi-generational scope explores the ripple effects of love and longing, as well as the tenacity of memory. Secondary characters, such as Mariam—originally Meera, who converts from Hinduism to Christianity while serving as Madeline’s nanny—add intricate layers to the narrative, addressing issues of caste, conversion, and the status of women.

The book is notable for its restraint and quiet, observational tone. Bajaj’s writing never feels abrupt or overly dramatic, instead allowing the gentle passage of time and subtle shifts in relationships to carry the story. The nuanced portrayal of social divisions under colonial rule, including the fraught connections between British colonists and their Indian subjects, is handled with empathy and skill, providing both historical insight and emotional depth. Readers are transported fluidly through eras and continents with a narrative that never loses its coherence or emotional core.

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“Once Upon A Summer” is ultimately a meditation on the enduring power of love and the memory of its reach across generations. While it offers the comfort of a timeless romance, it also dares to ask how far love can trespass the boundaries society sets. Bajaj’s sensitive prose and the novel’s complex, interwoven stories make it a moving tribute to forbidden love and to the echoes it leaves behind, long after a summer has ended. Not to forget the beautiful cover page that is soothing!

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