Celebrating Pride with LGBTQIA-owned small businesses. Shop now.
Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
$4.99 with 50 percent savings
Print List Price: $9.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Ruchira Khanna
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

R.S.V.P.: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Ruchira Khanna (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 47 ratings
Jay Sethi, an Indian-born American, has lived with the consequences of a torn family since a teenager. After facing the effects of unrequited love and unpaid credit card bills, he settles in a small town in California from where he embarks on a cruise with his canine best friend, Yogi. Jay is shipwrecked and washed ashore on an island. It is there he realizes the importance of love and the salvation in letting go.
Will Jay be able to make up for the time he has lost?
Will the broken bridges and the seemingly permanent goodbyes remain that way?
RSVP: A novel explores the lines between reality and illusion and the significance of family.
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    315 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    August 7, 2018
  5. File size
    428 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07G4HV63L
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 7, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 428 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 315 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 47 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Ruchira Khanna

Ruchira Khanna

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Ruchira Khanna draws inspiration from the issues that stalk our minds, she addresses such matters through her tales of fiction. Her character's undergo a contemplative arc she hopes her readers will, which is why they classify each of her novels as, "one that will make you ponder."

She blogs at Abracabadra which has been featured as "Top Blog" for three years. Many of her write-ups have been published on LifeHack, HubPages to name a few.

She can be found at:

https://twitter.com/abracabadra01

www.ruchirakhanna.com

https://www.facebook.com/RuchiraKhanna01/

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
47 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book worth reading, with one mentioning it's about finding one's way through hardships. The character development receives positive feedback.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

ReadabilityCharacter development
8 customers mention "Readability"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and worth their time, with one customer noting it's a great story about finding one's way through hardships.

"...Still, it kept my attention and at the end made me think of life and how to balance my life with family responsibility." Read more

"...Something we can all relate to. This is not only a great book to read, but a great one to discuss in a group or give as a gift." Read more

"I really enjoyed this book, BUT I will say the way it was written made it a bit hard for me to really get into it at first but once I got used to..." Read more

"I haven’t read any of Ruchira’s book before. I enjoyed this book very much. It was about love and the loss of such love...." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book.

"...The story focuses more on character development rather than plot points which is ok but you still need to lean on a strong plot but that doesn't..." Read more

"...It was about love and the loss of such love. Jay was a great character in the story...." Read more

"Loved the journey of the protagonist and how he goes about embracing his past. A heartwarming read!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Angie's reads
    4.0 out of 5 stars Find your heart
    Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I found this book slow to start and the language is purely vernacular. But I found this point endearing, knowing many people with Indian accents I could really hear the voices. The formal language is true to form.
    I adored the funny quirky dog Yogi and as he had his own voice and thoughts. I usually wouldn't agree with a dog having a voice but this time I will give it a pass because we all can see what the pups are thinking most times.
    The story focuses more on character development rather than plot points which is ok but you still need to lean on a strong plot but that doesn't start until way into the book. Still, it kept my attention and at the end made me think of life and how to balance my life with family responsibility.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Charli Mills
    5.0 out of 5 stars Uplifting Story of a First Gen American with a Dog
    Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    From the beginning, you know the dog will be a central figure and in the end, he's what compels our unlikely hero to find the elixir to his own life. The quirky language will grow on you and remind you that English has the capacity to welcome many different languages to its fold. To me, it's a central point of what makes Ruchira Khanna's novels authentic. I feel immersed in the lives of her characters and to date, Jay has become my favorite. He has much to learn on his journey, but with his dog at his side, he starts to make the better choices for his own happiness. Something we can all relate to. This is not only a great book to read, but a great one to discuss in a group or give as a gift.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Rae Reads Too
    4.0 out of 5 stars Learning to find his own happiness!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this book, BUT I will say the way it was written made it a bit hard for me to really get into it at first but once I got used to the writing style it became fluid for me! It also really didn't read as a chapter book for me, maybe because of how it was written. Either way you have Jay who is a 1st generation american, he is the owner of a tea store. Immediately I could tell that Yogi was going to be my favorite character..I love animals! Not only did this book show me how hard some immigrants/non-americans have it when they come to this country and how they have to try to keep their cultures among all the other cultures they are immersed in.
    I was a bit miffed by Gina, it was almost as if she were taking advantage of Jay since he was the one that was working in the shop and she was using him for her masters.
    I know how it feels to really be struggling to find out how to achieve your own happiness so this was a great book depicting his journey.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Shopper
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
    Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I haven’t read any of Ruchira’s book before. I enjoyed this book very much. It was about love and the loss of such love. Jay was a great character in the story. It took a few pages to get use to the style of writing of Ruchira, but after I got into it I found it great. Very compelling and worth the read. Great job. I will look forward to reading more of her books.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Vivek Chaudhri
    4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Read!!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A great story! the relationship between Yogi and Jay has been described beautifully in the story. For a reason, dogs are considered as men's best friend. The captions at the beginning of each chapter is a nice addition. Overall a great read. The font size could have been a bit bigger for easy reading though.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Rubina Ramesh
    4.0 out of 5 stars will make you think
    Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2018
    Ruchira Khanna's R.S.V.P intrigued me. The title and the cover of the page suggested a tranquility that I was searching for at that moment. Having read her books earlier, like Choices and Voyages, I was ready for some heavy, contemplative reads. I generally avoid these kinds of books since I need to lighten my mind with books and not go into a thinking spree. But I am glad I picked up this book.

    Coming to the story, it started off a bit slow with the introduction of Jay and his dog Yogi. Jay is a loner, sort of, if his chats with the delivery man are not taken into consideration. He has been ditched by his girlfriend and has lost all his love for life. Enter his cousin Gina who pushes him towards his Life and he decides to go on a cruise - only with Yogi. Life again takes a turn when he is shipwrecked and lands up on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, on an island, where money has no value.

    Open wounds are healed, emotional scratches are looked into, relationships and their meaning are contemplated upon. Try as I might, I couldn't help asking a few questions to myself as I read along. To this extent, my friends too started asking me about my mood swings. Ruchira Khanna has a way of dwelling on the small issues of life that we often overlook.

    Analysing the relationships in this book, I could divide them into that of a brother and sister, friends, mother, and son and one that you have with your pet. Different perspectives make a man behave differently. Ms. Khanna has a very good way of analyzing different moods of a human being and that can be applied to all of us. One eg. When someone ditches you, you tend to cling more to material things. That is what happened to Jay when Sasha leaves him. I found this statement very thought-provoking. Such minute things in life, we often neglect.

    Coming to the characterizations, Ms. Khanna has taken a few creative liberties. Especially with Yogi. But the bond she has managed to create between the canine and his master is applaudable. I would have loved to see the less dramatism where the swimming scene was concerned but when I see my Fluffy, I just want to hug all the dogs in this world. So they can do anything they want, I really don't care as long as they are loved. Ms. Khanna is going to win many hearts just because of the way she has portrayed Yogi.

    The relationship between Gina and Jay is another one worth pondering. While I would say Matt was Jay's conscious, Gina was definitely his anchor to Life. Well brought out in every scene. The quotes at the beginning of each chapter are like a treasure hunt and I started looking forward to what the next chapter will bring.

    Having said that, Ms. Khanna has a tendency to incline towards telling rather than showing. Sometimes I wanted to see a scene, feel the anger or the pain that the characters were feeling. The liberal usage of adverbs with every feeling didn't do much to my imagination. Another thing which could be avoided is mass actions. Everyone behaving the same way at a certain point in time. Not everyone can gasp together nor turn to look wide eyes at that the same point of time.

    Overall this book is a must read for those who like reading about Life and thinking about Life. I loved it. I loved thinking about my friendships, I even forgave my editors for making my miserable. I forgave a friend of mine who invited me to a party, canceled the party and forgot to tell me. She had the privilege of seeing me in all my make up glory. So Ms. Khanna, I have a lot to thank you for.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • V. Babcock
    5.0 out of 5 stars Immersed me in another life
    Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    At first the language and syntax made it hard for this Yank to read this book. But once I got the hang of it, the author’s use of Indian American vernacular immersed me in Jay’s story. This is a great book about finding your way through hardships and what’s really important in life. It also gave me a fascinating glimpse at what it’s like to be a 1st generation American. The book is full of truthful and moving experiences in a refreshing way.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Mags Gooden
    4.0 out of 5 stars A tale of growth and redemption
    Reviewed in Canada on February 13, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This was an interesting story, told at times in a way that was difficult to understand because of the English of the narrator. Once you get used to it though it is reminiscent in some ways of Robinson Crueso, if he was first gen American. Both Jay and his cousin Gina will learn that there is more to life than what they have, but only with courage will they achieve it.
    Report
  • Yuvika Sinha
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good read for looking at life in a new way.
    Reviewed in India on May 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    RSVP by Ruchira Khanna is a one of a kind story.

    Jay, the protagonist, is in a really tough place. Things have gotten as bad for him as they ever could be. He lost someone close to his heart, one he looked up to. Also, he loses the so-called love of his life when his girlfriend leaves him. Coming from a broken family, he has no hope to look up to and he spirals into a whirl of despair.

    Things change when he accidentally lands on a voyage that lands him shipwrecked and thrown on a secluded island with his faithful companion, Yogi the doggy. Then starts the journey of self-love, perspective changes and self-reflection.

    I liked the character of Yogi, who is there every step of the way for Jay as the wonderful, faithful dog he is. He is there when Jay falls, to pick him up, to give him a moral boost. Truly it can be said that without him, Jay would have been in a tight mess and most probably would have given up long ago.

    I liked the part when Gina was introduced in the story. The way a casual day at the store was depicted, how Gina's character was introduced, describing her various faces. I also liked how she was blunt about her reason for being in the shop and one could easily palpate the tension between them, adding to a layer of mystery. However, as the story progressed I was left in splits about her character.

    The word building was good and interesting to read. Broadly speaking, the first part was a bit slow and the second part focused more on the self-healing, reflection and self-discovery vibes.
    This was not my first read by the author and I must say that I was amazed. I will be waiting for the upcoming reads.

    The title was apt and the cover complemented the vibes of the story. A good read for looking at life in a new way
    Report
  • Angie from Brighton
    3.0 out of 5 stars good story
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 26, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I had trouble reading this book due to my obsessive editing brain. However the story moved along nicely to a satisfactory ending and shows how Jay overcame his problems. I don't think I have ever read a book that is sometimes told through a dog's viewpoint, and that amused me.
    Report
  • Dr. Monidipa Dutta
    5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended
    Reviewed in India on May 28, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5/5)

    "RSVP" by Ruchira Khanna is a poignant and heartfelt novel that delves into the complexities of family, love, and the transformative power of letting go. Set against the backdrop of Jay Sethi's life, an Indian-born American struggling with the repercussions of a fractured family, this book takes readers on an emotional journey of self-discovery and second chances.

    The story follows Jay as he navigates the consequences of unrequited love and mounting financial struggles. Seeking solace and a fresh start, he settles in a quaint California town with his loyal canine companion, Yogi. However, fate has other plans for him when he finds himself shipwrecked and washed ashore on a remote island. It is in this unexpected twist of destiny that Jay begins to unravel the significance of love, forgiveness, and the power of embracing the present moment.

    One of the notable strengths of this novel lies in the beautifully drawn characters that populate its pages. Jay Sethi, the protagonist, is a relatable and sympathetic figure, whose journey of self-reflection and growth resonates deeply with readers. Through his eyes, we witness the weight of his past choices and the longing to make amends for lost time. The supporting characters, both on the island and in Jay's life, are equally well-developed, adding depth and complexity to the narrative. Their interactions and relationships create a tapestry of human emotions, exploring themes of regret, forgiveness, and the enduring bonds of family.

    Ruchira Khanna's writing style is engaging and evocative, effortlessly immersing readers in the settings and emotions of the story. The prose is descriptive yet accessible, allowing for a seamless reading experience. The author masterfully explores the blurred boundaries between reality and illusion, drawing readers into Jay's world and making them question the nature of perception and truth.

    While the book cover may appear simplistic at first glance, it perfectly captures the essence of the story within. Its subdued colors and the image hint at the themes of fractured relationships and the potential for healing and rebuilding.

    "RSVP" tackles profound themes with grace and sensitivity. It explores the importance of embracing love, forgiveness, and the power of letting go of the past. Through Jay's journey, the author invites readers to reflect on their own lives, reminding us of the transformative potential in embracing the present and making amends for past mistakes.

    The only minor critique of the book is that certain sections could have been further developed, particularly in terms of delving deeper into the emotional landscapes of the characters. However, this does not significantly detract from the overall impact of the narrative.

    In conclusion, "RSVP" is a captivating and soul-stirring novel that navigates the intricacies of love, family, and redemption. Ruchira Khanna's storytelling prowess shines through, creating a world that is both relatable and inspiring. With its well-drawn characters, evocative prose, and thought-provoking themes, this book is a heartfelt exploration of second chances and the enduring power of love.
    Report
  • ctkenye
    2.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't read it
    Reviewed in Canada on April 30, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I have read similar works before in writing workshops. Fortunately, this time, I had no obligation to finish it, so I didn't. I think I bailed on page 5.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report