Likened to TV shows such as Scandal and House of Cards, readers will love Rahul Kanakia’s deliciously twisted contemporary YA novel.
Enter: Reshma Kapoor. She is a college counsellor’s dream. She’s the top-ranked senior at her ultra-competitive Silicon Valley high school, with a spotless academic record and a long roster of extra-curriculars. But there are plenty of perfect students in the country, and if Reshma wants to get into Stanford, and into med school after that, she needs the hook to beat them all.
What’s a habitual over-achiever to do? Land herself a literary agent, of course. Which is exactly what Reshma does after agent Linda Montrose spots an article she wrote for Huffington Post. Linda wants to represent Reshma, and, with her new agent’s help scoring a book deal, Reshma knows she’ll finally have the key to Stanford. But she’s convinced no one would want to read a novel about a study machine like her. To make herself a more relatable protagonist, she must start doing all the regular American girl stuff she normally ignores…
Reshma Kapoor is not your average heroic protagonist but one that more likely resembles Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter series and Holden Caulfield from J. D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye. She is the ultimate character you’ll literally love to hate.
“I’m your protagonist – Reshma Kapoor – and if you have the free time to read this book, then you’re probably nothing like me.”
Nowadays, most of us don’t want a typically pure and well-rounded protagonist anymore, who is perfectly moral and kind in all situations. Our society has become increasingly sceptical over the years and we want books to reflect our desire for those previously unexplored grey areas in people. We want someone who has a touch of brazenness, audacity and resilience, and maybe doesn’t always do the politically correct or moral thing in every circumstance – and that is exactly what Reshma Koopar is. She won’t disappoint. Her no-nonsense attitude and single minded focus on her goals will drive you to fall in love with her admirably strong and unpredictable character.
Enter Title Here is a cross between a novel and a diary, with extracts of emails included that create a unique narrative. If you want something that breaks the conventional rules of storytelling and portrays a different kind of heroine then you’ve found your pot of gold. Not to mention something refreshingly new in the world of YA fiction, treating you to an endearingly bizarre and extraordinary read.
Enter Title Here by Rahul Kanakia is published by Disney-Hyperion and releases on 3rd August 2017 (£8.99, p/b, 352pp, 9781484734063)