Indian Romance Ravinder Singh Debut Novel Bestseller True Story Must-Read

I Too Had a Love Story — Book Overview, Summary & Themes Ravinder Singh · Penguin Random House India · First Published 2008

Author: Ravinder Singh Publisher: Srishti Publishers (2008) · Republished by Penguin Metro Reads (2012) Genre: Contemporary Romance · Autobiographical Fiction · Emotional Fiction
2008First Published
242Pages
1M+Copies Sold
DebutNovel
Find a Copy on BookMandee →
I Too Had a Love Story
Ravinder Singh
❤️ 1M+ Copies Sold
First Published 2008

I Too Had a Love Story — In Short

I Too Had a Love Story is Ravinder Singh's debut novel — and the book that launched one of India's most beloved contemporary romance writing careers. Based on a true story from the author's own life, it is the tender, heartbreaking account of Ravin and Khushi — two people who find each other on a matrimonial site, fall deeply in love, and prepare to begin a life together. But destiny has other plans. The novel has sold over a million copies, remained on bestseller lists for years, and continues to be one of the most widely read and widely gifted books in India's used-book ecosystem.
✍️
A True Story — Written by the Man Who Lived It
Ravinder Singh wrote this novel as a personal tribute to Khushi, his real-life fiancée who passed away just days before their engagement. The foreword is written by N.R. Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys — a testament to the book's emotional and cultural resonance from the very beginning.

What Is I Too Had a Love Story About?

The novel follows Ravin — a software engineer, much like the author himself — who signs up on a matrimonial website at the insistence of his family. There, he meets Khushi, and what begins as cautious correspondence quickly blossoms into a deep, joyful love story filled with late-night calls, family introductions, and plans for a shared future.

Both families are delighted. The engagement is planned. Everything feels right. And then, in a single devastating turn, everything changes. Khushi passes away suddenly — and Ravin is left with only memories, unanswered questions, and a grief too large for silence.

The novel is Singh's attempt to process that loss — and to honour the love story that ended before it could truly begin. It is written simply, without literary flourish, in a voice that feels like a letter from a friend rather than a book by a stranger. That intimacy is precisely what made it resonate with millions.

💡 The book remained on Indian bestseller lists for over six years after its first publication — and was republished by Penguin Metro Reads in 2012, reaching an even wider readership.

Key Themes in I Too Had a Love Story

Love & Loss — At its heart, a story about what it means to love someone completely and lose them before you ever truly had them
Modern Indian Romance — Love that begins online, through a matrimonial site, navigating family expectations and long-distance connection
Grief & Remembrance — The quiet, everyday reality of grief after sudden loss — and writing as a way of holding on
Family & Belonging — The role of families in shaping love stories in India — their joy, their approval, and their shared devastation
Fate & Acceptance — A quiet grappling with the idea that some stories are not meant to have happy endings — and that they are no less real for it
Courage of Vulnerability — The act of sharing personal grief publicly — and the unexpected community that forms around shared pain

Main Characters

  • Ravin — The narrator and protagonist, based on the author himself; a software engineer who falls in love through a matrimonial site and writes this book as a tribute
  • Khushi — Ravin's fiancée; warm, loving, and full of life — her presence lights up every page she is on, making her absence all the more devastating
  • Ravin's friends — His close-knit group of college friends who encourage him, celebrate with him, and stand by him through the grief that follows
  • Their families — Both families play a central role in the story — their approval and joy are woven into the romance, making the eventual tragedy feel shared rather than solitary

Why Should You Read I Too Had a Love Story?

  • It is one of the most emotionally honest debut novels in Indian publishing — written not for commercial success but out of personal necessity
  • The language is simple and warm — it reads like a conversation, not a performance
  • It captures what modern Indian romance actually feels like — matrimonial sites, WhatsApp calls, family visits, and the quiet joy of planning a future together
  • A short, powerful read that can be finished in a single sitting — and stays with you long after
  • One of the most gifted and shared books in India — a reliable choice when you want to give someone a book that will make them feel something
  • The perfect starting point if you are new to Indian contemporary fiction

About the Author — Ravinder Singh

Ravinder Singh was born on 4 February 1982 in Kolkata and grew up in Burla, Odisha. After completing his MBA from the Indian School of Business, he worked at Infosys and then Microsoft as a Senior Programme Manager. I Too Had a Love Story was his first book — written not as a career move but as an act of grief and remembrance.

The book's success transformed his life. He left his corporate career and has since published over a dozen novels and anthologies, selling more than 3.5 million copies in total. He also founded Black Ink, a publishing venture dedicated to discovering and supporting debut Indian authors — a full-circle act of giving back.

📖 Ravinder Singh is one of the few Indian authors whose entire back catalogue — not just one title — remains in active circulation in the used-book market. Once readers discover him through this debut, they almost always read more.

Key Facts About This Book

Author Ravinder Singh
First Published 2008
Original Publisher Srishti Publishers
Republished By Penguin Metro Reads (2012)
ISBN 978-0143418764
Pages 242
Language English
Based On The author's real-life love story

Genre & Category

Contemporary Romance Autobiographical Fiction Indian Fiction Emotional Fiction Love & Loss Debut Novel

If You Liked This, You Might Also Enjoy

📖
Can Love Happen Twice?
Ravinder Singh
📖
Like It Happened Yesterday
Ravinder Singh
📖
2 States
Chetan Bhagat
📖
Someone Like You
Durjoy Datta
📖
It Happens for a Reason
Preeti Shenoy
📖
Will You Still Love Me?
Ravinder Singh

Explore More on BookMandee

For Readers & Book Sellers
Have a Copy of I Too Had a Love Story to Sell?
BookMandee is India's growing marketplace for used books. If you own a copy of I Too Had a Love Story — whether it's well-loved, barely read, or a copy someone gifted you — list it on BookMandee and connect it with a reader looking for exactly this.

Books that move people deserve to keep moving. Give yours a second home.
✓ Free to list ✓ Reach readers across India ✓ Set your own price ✓ Books find new homes, not landfills
List Your Copy on BookMandee →
Takes just a few minutes · No commitment required
For Authors
Are You an Author? Get Your Work Discovered on BookMandee
BookMandee is building a connected literary ecosystem where readers discover books through context, themes, and meaningful pathways — not just search bars. If you are a published or independent author, getting listed on BookMandee connects your work to readers already exploring the kind of stories you tell.

Whether you write romance, literary fiction, regional literature, non-fiction, poetry, or emerging forms — there's a place for your voice here.
✓ Connected author profile ✓ Genre & theme discoverability ✓ Long-term literary visibility ✓ Open to all writing journeys
Open to independent authors, poets, traditionally published writers, regional voices, and emerging storytellers

FAQs About I Too Had a Love Story

It is a semi-autobiographical love story about Ravin and Khushi — two people who find each other on a matrimonial site and fall in love. Just as they prepare to begin their life together, Khushi passes away suddenly. The novel is based on the author's real-life experience and is written as a tribute to the woman he loved and lost.
Yes. The novel is based on a true event from Ravinder Singh's own life. Khushi was his real-life fiancée who passed away days before their engagement. The author wrote the book as a way of processing his grief and sharing their story with the world.
The foreword was written by N.R. Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys — a significant endorsement that added credibility and visibility to the debut novel and helped it find a wide readership from the outset.
The book was first published in 2008 by Srishti Publishers. It was subsequently republished in 2012 by Penguin Metro Reads (an imprint of Penguin Random House India), which brought it to an even wider national audience.
Yes. Ravinder Singh wrote a sequel titled Can Love Happen Twice? (2011), which continues Ravin's story — exploring whether he can find love again after the devastating loss of Khushi. It was also a bestseller and is often read immediately after this debut.
At 242 pages with short chapters and simple, accessible writing, most readers finish the book in one sitting of 3–4 hours, or comfortably over a weekend. It is ideal for commuters, occasional readers, and anyone looking for a quick but emotionally resonant read.

The information provided on this page is for general informational and educational purposes only. BookMandee does not claim ownership of any original content, book titles, covers, or associated intellectual property related to authors, books, or publishers mentioned.

All trademarks, book titles, author names, publisher names, and related content are the property of their respective owners and are used strictly for identification and informational purposes.

BookMandee operates as a marketplace where users list books for resale. Availability, pricing, and condition of listed books may vary and are determined by individual users on the platform.

If you are a rights holder and have any concerns regarding the content on this page, contact us for resolution or email us at official.bookmandee@gmail.com.