Scan barcode
ameenamohd's review against another edition
4.0
Woww....one of the best few Indian writters, worth reading.Loved the sense of humour in itt!!
Especially the Toinngggg!!And the romance...It's hard to compare between Battle of Bittora and The Zoya Factor...Got a huge crush on Nikhil as well as Zain <3
Especially the Toinngggg!!And the romance...It's hard to compare between Battle of Bittora and The Zoya Factor...Got a huge crush on Nikhil as well as Zain <3
new_universe's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
khateeje's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
vaishali26's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
rbharath's review against another edition
3.0
Zoya Singh Solanki was born at the precise time that India won the World cup in 1983. She seems to have a rare gift – she is a lucky charm to the team she hangs around with and supports. The Indian cricket team and the cricket board seems to believe this too, except the captain Nikhil Khoda. Zoya is an advertising executive and a period of absence is worked out such that she accompanies the Indian cricket team for the cricket world cup to Australia. Zoya is soon viewed as a kind of goddess, whose blessings are desperately needed for India to win. Zoya and Nikhil share for the most part an awkward and complex relationship. Well, Zoya herself is a complex character and quite unpredictable in many situations.
The book has a good dose of wit which makes you smile. The story is fairly weak though even if unusual in concept. Also, the book overdoes the silly stuff – a large number of weak incidents & jokes. There is a large sprinkling of hinglish, which unfortunately does not add much to the book and only feels odd at many places – lacking variety and fairly uni-dimensional.
Yet, a decent book for the first one by the author and worth a read.
The book has a good dose of wit which makes you smile. The story is fairly weak though even if unusual in concept. Also, the book overdoes the silly stuff – a large number of weak incidents & jokes. There is a large sprinkling of hinglish, which unfortunately does not add much to the book and only feels odd at many places – lacking variety and fairly uni-dimensional.
Yet, a decent book for the first one by the author and worth a read.
blue_fox13's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
singh_reads_kanwar2's review against another edition
3.0
This is story of Zoya and Indian cricket team who were constantly loosing there matches they need only a match to come back but things were not at its place Until one day Zoya had a lunch with team and that day become there lucky day and things started to sour as zoya fall for team captain , didn't entertain superstition of luck, but when co-incidence turnout wild , our protagonist fall in love with Zoya , Cricket some misunderstanding and things fall apart , its all over news and people were angry and what if they loose match and life changes . This book is an hilarious in many forms if you read it .
limrika's review against another edition
4.0
First thought after finishing the book??? Why the hell have I been missing on it?? Serves me right after not deciding to buy it all those years ago even when the kindly old uncle from my favorite book shop had suggested me to buy it.
After reading TPTG by Anuja Chauhan (and loving every sentence of it) I was hungry for more stuff by her and Zoya Factor did not disappoint me. The writer paints a very candid picture of romance, individuality and cricket (!) in a contemporary Indian middle class society. Yes! You can relate to the book! Zoya is awesome. She is not unlike yourself and you feel an instant liking to her, Nikhil is the guy who makes you go weak in the knees every time he does something-like breathing may be ;) , and the way she describes Indian cricket team you can't just not like the guys and can't help wondering which character is based on whom!
Now an important thing, if you are a hardcore grammar freak the language of the book may be a bit scandalous to you (hello Hinglish! ) but for once just be a sport and appreciate the humour in sentences like "what goes of your father" or "do you know what Standing I have in thee Society" :D
I loved every moment of it. The plot was brilliant. IT was fluid and not a single dull momoent to be scene.It was realistic and vivid. She did not make things idealistic or you know too perfect and I loved her for that. The book leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling (ahem) and makes you believe in romance. Almost.
Strongly recommend it!
Thank you for a wonderful book Anuja XOXO
After reading TPTG by Anuja Chauhan (and loving every sentence of it) I was hungry for more stuff by her and Zoya Factor did not disappoint me. The writer paints a very candid picture of romance, individuality and cricket (!) in a contemporary Indian middle class society. Yes! You can relate to the book! Zoya is awesome. She is not unlike yourself and you feel an instant liking to her, Nikhil is the guy who makes you go weak in the knees every time he does something-like breathing may be ;) , and the way she describes Indian cricket team you can't just not like the guys and can't help wondering which character is based on whom!
Now an important thing, if you are a hardcore grammar freak the language of the book may be a bit scandalous to you (hello Hinglish! ) but for once just be a sport and appreciate the humour in sentences like "what goes of your father" or "do you know what Standing I have in thee Society" :D
I loved every moment of it. The plot was brilliant. IT was fluid and not a single dull momoent to be scene.It was realistic and vivid. She did not make things idealistic or you know too perfect and I loved her for that. The book leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling (ahem) and makes you believe in romance. Almost.
Strongly recommend it!
Thank you for a wonderful book Anuja XOXO
look_whos_reading's review against another edition
5.0
Anuja Chauhan's brilliantly hilarious debut had me in tears. There are pages and lines I kept going back to just for the sheer joy of the inane way in which she writes.
I have been on a streak this year to read more "meaningful" books. Having said that, nothing could prepare me for the simple pleasure of reading something as mundane as a filmy love story full of puppy-like romantic gestures and a constant eruption of giggly, swooning teenage crushes.
All the characters in this book are lovable and cute - even the slightly negative ones (the villians in this love story). The protagonist Zoya's eccentric joint family, her brother Zoravar, her spunky friend Monita along with the agency nut Neelo. The Men in Blue (each I feel personally inspired from the real boys on the field) are a wonderful parade of cute butts, washboard chests, dimply smiles and copper curls.
Zoya Solanki and skipper Nikhil Khoda might just be some of the most memorable characters I have read. She is oblivious, stubborn and awkward. He is dark, brooding and cocky. A classic fantasy of boy and girl can't figure each other out, boy and girl are each other's throats, boy and girl are passionately in love. It is a heady and combustible duo - what fun! You just want to be Zoya (or most likely you were that girl at some time) and Nikhil - someone should just serve him on a platter already.
But enough about my rekindled romantic escapades, the book runs on an ordinary plot with predictable twists and turns and a much-deserved happy ending. Apart from the sporadic grammar typos that editing missed, the language used is simple and colloquial. I personally got into this story expecting it to be a one of those "Indian author who tries too hard" kind of books. However, it is clear that Anuja Chauhan has written for the Indian masses, for that segment in particular that is cool enough to bar hop while watching saas-bahu serials for guilty pleasures. Her metaphors have an evocative quality that ensures the story happens in a more real way to you. I'd go so far to say that anybody born in a middle class Indian household in the early 80's would feel it was written about them.
Nikhil's character however, is portrayed as a suave, contextually witty, smooth-talking 30 something guy compared to the other "sports quota" bumpkins on the team. My question: did the writer write perfect (and clever) English lines only for this guy so that Zoya could see him as desirable? So much so, that their romantic exchanges almost had a Mills&Boon ring to them.
In the end the typos and triteness of plot don't matter though - it's just pure delight to be swept off in a whirlwind romance and be in denial about your real, very plain life. They don't make them like that any more. Sigh!
I have been on a streak this year to read more "meaningful" books. Having said that, nothing could prepare me for the simple pleasure of reading something as mundane as a filmy love story full of puppy-like romantic gestures and a constant eruption of giggly, swooning teenage crushes.
All the characters in this book are lovable and cute - even the slightly negative ones (the villians in this love story). The protagonist Zoya's eccentric joint family, her brother Zoravar, her spunky friend Monita along with the agency nut Neelo. The Men in Blue (each I feel personally inspired from the real boys on the field) are a wonderful parade of cute butts, washboard chests, dimply smiles and copper curls.
Zoya Solanki and skipper Nikhil Khoda might just be some of the most memorable characters I have read. She is oblivious, stubborn and awkward. He is dark, brooding and cocky. A classic fantasy of boy and girl can't figure each other out, boy and girl are each other's throats, boy and girl are passionately in love. It is a heady and combustible duo - what fun! You just want to be Zoya (or most likely you were that girl at some time) and Nikhil - someone should just serve him on a platter already.
But enough about my rekindled romantic escapades, the book runs on an ordinary plot with predictable twists and turns and a much-deserved happy ending. Apart from the sporadic grammar typos that editing missed, the language used is simple and colloquial. I personally got into this story expecting it to be a one of those "Indian author who tries too hard" kind of books. However, it is clear that Anuja Chauhan has written for the Indian masses, for that segment in particular that is cool enough to bar hop while watching saas-bahu serials for guilty pleasures. Her metaphors have an evocative quality that ensures the story happens in a more real way to you. I'd go so far to say that anybody born in a middle class Indian household in the early 80's would feel it was written about them.
Nikhil's character however, is portrayed as a suave, contextually witty, smooth-talking 30 something guy compared to the other "sports quota" bumpkins on the team. My question: did the writer write perfect (and clever) English lines only for this guy so that Zoya could see him as desirable? So much so, that their romantic exchanges almost had a Mills&Boon ring to them.
In the end the typos and triteness of plot don't matter though - it's just pure delight to be swept off in a whirlwind romance and be in denial about your real, very plain life. They don't make them like that any more. Sigh!