Too Good To Be True - Book Review

Too Good To Be True 

by Prajakta Koli 

Prajakta Koli, widely known by her online persona MostlySane, steps into the literary world with her debut novel Too Good To Be True. A romance wrapped in modern sensibilities, interlaced with humour, emotional tension, and self-discovery, this book aims to capture what it feels like to love, doubt, and hope in contemporary India. While the novel succeeds in some respects, it also stumbles in others. Let’s dive into what works, what doesn’t, and whether it’s worth a read.

 

Overview & Plot Summary

The story centers around Avani, a final-year law student who is deeply romantic at heart. She loves romance novels, idealised love stories, Fate, and grand gestures. Yet in her own life, things are messier. She works in a bookstore, juggles expectations, friendships, and her internal voice — the one that questions, doubts, and fears that Aman, the love interest, may just be too good to be true.

Aman Raina is introduced as handsome, successful, mature, and attentive — a foil to Avani’s trust issues and her cynicism about romantic ideals. The plot follows the classic will-they-won’t-they arc: Avani is drawn to Aman but keeps looking for cracks in his picture‐perfect image; Aman pursues her with patience, charm, and sincerity; both characters struggle with their own insecurities; their friends, family, and misunderstandings get entangled; and eventually, they must choose between illusion and reality.

The narration alternates between Avani’s first-person perspective and Aman’s point of view. Avani’s internal monologue, especially the little voice in her head (often in italics), plays a big role in giving us access to her fears and expectations.

 

What Works Well

1. Relatable Voice & Humor

One of the strongest points of the novel is its conversational tone. Avani’s voice is witty, self-aware, and prone to overthinking in ways many young readers may recognize. The humour — light sarcasm, moments of awkwardness, the kind of inner dialogue where one is nervous about what to say, yet can’t stop thinking — gives the book charm.

 

2. Exploring Expectations vs Reality

The novel does well in showing how romantic ideals (from books, movies, social media) influence how people see love, how they expect love to behave, and how that creates pressure. Avani’s comparisons between her life and the romance novels she reads are both endearing and painful, reminding readers that what we imagine often differs from what life delivers.

 

3. Mental Health & Emotional Honesty

There are moments when Too Good To Be True steps beyond being just a sweet romance. It touches on anxiety, fear of vulnerability, trust issues rooted in past experiences, and how self-denial can prolong emotional pain. These parts bring depth and resonate.

 

4. Strong Supporting Cast & Friendship Dynamics

The secondary characters—Avani’s friends, family, etc.—add flavor. They provide contrast to Avani’s sensibilities, offer emotional support, or sometimes complicate her decisions. They help make her internal conflict feel more supported by an external world.

 

5. Appeal to a Target Audience

For readers who enjoy light romance, especially Gen Z and millennials, those familiar with influencer culture, who love romance tropes but also want something with a little more emotional weight, this novel delivers. It is especially well suited to those who read romance novels for comfort, mood upliftment, and for seeing parts of themselves in romance.

 

What Doesn’t Work / Areas for Improvement

1. Predictability & Familiar Tropes

The book leans heavily on conventions: rich guy / middle class girl; the “perfect” boyfriend; the girl who doubts and tests; misunderstandings; grand romantic gestures; etc. These aren’t bad in themselves, but there’s little surprise in how many of them are used and how the plot follows the expected romance arc. For readers who want innovation in plot or a twist on the trope, the familiarity can feel like repetition.

 

2. Pacing & Depth

Some readers report that the story slows down in the middle sections. The emotional tension drags, or feels redundant. Also, certain potential conflicts (for example, Avani’s financial struggles, or deeper backstories) are introduced but not always fully explored. Aman’s work, motives, etc. sometimes remain vague, making it harder to ground the romance in everyday reality.

 

3. Character Distinction & Balance

• At times, Aman and Avani’s voices start sounding similar. The alternating perspectives are meant to give insight into both characters, but for some readers it becomes hard to remember whose point of view it is, especially when dialogues or internal monologues lack strong voice markers.
• Some side characters don't have much room to grow; they are functional but not fully dimensional. Occasionally, Avani’s friends are more caricatures than full‐characters.

 

4. Realism & Plausibility Issues

There are a few moments that pull the reader out due to unrealistic scenarios:

• Avani, a final year law student, renting a decent place in South Mumbai, hiring help, etc., while working a modest job at a bookstore—is plausible in fiction, but stretch for some.
• Some dialogues, romantic moments, or gestures feel idealised beyond everyday life. The characterization of Aman as “all perfect” for much of the book, until the tension arises, can read as too glossy. For some readers, this undermines believable growth.

 

5. Style Over Substance in Some Sections

Slang, modern references, pop culture, internet voice — these are used liberally. While that helps appeal to young readers and gives a lively tone, they sometimes come off as forced or excessive. Also, parts of the book rely more on telling (describing what characters feel or what events mean) rather than showing (letting the reader experience it via scenes). This results in some emotional moments feeling less visceral.

 

Overall Impressions

Too Good To Be True is a decent debut effort: heartfelt, readable, and with enough charm to leave many readers with a smile. It's not a groundbreaking romance by any stretch, but it's effective in its own way. What it does best is affirming that love can be messy, expectations are tough to manage, and sometimes believing in someone—even when scared—is part of the journey.

If I were to give it a rating, it lands somewhere in the 3 to 3.5 out of 5 stars range: more for its warmth and relatable character work than for plot originality or literary innovation.

Read more Kokoro 

 

Key Themes & Takeaways

• Romance tropes in modern Indian fiction: The rich boy / middle class girl; boy meets girl; misunderstanding; grand gestures; etc.
• Influencer turned author: Prajakta Koli’s background shapes expectations; fans may love the voice, others may critique polish.
• Voice & narrative style for Gen Z readers: Slang, internal monologues, social media culture, contemporary settings.
• Mental health, insecurities, love & reality: How past trauma and expectations affect relationships in fiction and in real life.
• Predictability vs comfort: Some readers want surprises, many others are satisfied with a familiar, feel-good romance.

 

What Kind of Reader Will Enjoy / Not Enjoy This Book

Who might enjoy it:

• Fans of romance novels who like swoony scenes, tension, and a satisfying ending.
• Readers who are comfortable with light drama and enjoy internal emotional journeys.
• Those who follow Prajakta Koli and enjoy her voice on social media; this gives an extra dimension of connection.
• People looking for a light, mood-lifting read rather than something heavy or experimental.

Who might be disappointed:

• Readers looking for strong plot twists, high suspense, or innovation in romantic fiction.
• Those who prefer deep character arcs with realistic, gritty backgrounds.
• Readers who dislike idealised characters or overly “perfect” love interests without layers.
• People sensitive to pacing: if you want every mid-section to maintain speed and surprise, you may feel some drag.

 

Comparisons & Context

• Some controversy has arisen among readers because parts of the plot, or even the blurb of Too Good To Be True, have been called out for similarities to Mismatched, the Netflix series in which Prajakta stars.
• The book occupies a similar space as many contemporary Indian romances by influencers or digital creators: approachable, modern, with a mix of traditional romance tropes and internet culture.
• In terms of style, it aligns with many young adult / new adult romance novels that emphasise dialogue, inner monologue, modern settings, and emotional realism (even if idealised).

 

Final Verdict

Too Good To Be True by Prajakta Koli is not perfect, but it’s not meant to be; it doesn’t try to be a literary masterpiece. It aims to be a feel-good romance with emotional resonance, and for many readers, it achieves that. It is a book best enjoyed if you’re prepared to suspend disbelief, accept certain tropes, and dive into the romance knowing it will follow familiar beats—but with a warm, humourous voice, and some honest moments about being afraid of trusting someone.

If you’re wondering whether to buy/read it: if you like romance, especially ones that mix comfort with emotional stakes, this is a good pick. If you want to see fresh innovation in genre, or deeply realistic romance, maybe temper expectations or look for something more unconventional.