Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2 (4.5 out of 5)
After spending years reviewing books at Deified Publication, I’ve noticed something interesting. The stories I remember most aren’t always the ones filled with dramatic twists or impossible coincidences. They’re usually the ones where ordinary people live ordinary lives, yet their emotions feel so familiar that I end up thinking about them days later.
That was my experience with Echoes Of You by Garima Ashok.
When I first began reading, I expected a gentle romance. The blurb promised memories, friendship, and the lingering effect some people leave on our lives. Those ingredients are common enough. But somewhere between Trisha carrying her sketchbook through the streets of Allahabad, Raj joking his way into her family’s house during a hectic moving day, and the slow evolution of a friendship that neither of them fully understood at first, I found myself becoming invested in people who felt believable rather than idealized.
What I appreciated most was that this novel doesn’t rush its relationships. It gives conversations room to breathe. It allows attraction to grow from familiarity instead of instant declarations. As someone who has edited and reviewed hundreds of manuscripts over the years, I know how difficult that balance is to achieve. Sometimes authors mistake slow pacing for emotional depth. Here, the slower rhythm usually works because it reflects the personalities of the characters rather than becoming a storytelling gimmick.
That doesn’t mean the novel is perfect. There were moments where I wished certain scenes had been trimmed slightly, especially when conversations circled similar emotions. Even then, I never felt disconnected from the people at the center of the story. That’s a credit to Garima Ashok’s ability to make Trisha and Raj feel like individuals you might genuinely know.
What the Book Is About
At its heart, Echoes Of You is a story about first love, growing up, heartbreak, healing, and understanding that life doesn’t always follow the path we imagine in our twenties.
The story begins in Allahabad, a city that almost becomes another character in the novel. Its narrow lanes, bustling markets, temple bells, old neighbourhoods, and familiar rhythms provide more than just a backdrop. They shape the personalities of the people living there.
Trisha is an artist by nature. She notices colours, textures, and details that others overlook. Raj is almost her opposite in the beginning. He’s cheerful, sociable, energetic, and has the sort of personality that naturally fills any gathering with laughter.
Their first meeting happens during Trisha’s family’s house shifting. I actually smiled during this sequence because it captures something many Indian readers will recognise immediately. Families are moving furniture, relatives are giving instructions, cartons seem endless, and then Raj appears carrying boxes with complete confidence, joking with everyone as though he already belongs there. Instead of trying to impress Trisha through dramatic gestures, he simply becomes useful. That felt refreshingly ordinary.
Their early interactions are built around playful conversations rather than grand romance. One of my favourite early moments comes when Raj notices Trisha treating her brushes almost like precious possessions. His teasing about protecting the brushes while she calmly replies that “brushes are paints” may sound like a small exchange, but it establishes their personalities beautifully. She’s composed and observant. He’s expressive and constantly looking for opportunities to make her smile.
As the chapters progress, those everyday interactions become the foundation of something much deeper.
The terrace scenes especially stood out to me. Trisha paints while Raj finds excuses to visit. Their conversations move naturally between art, imagination, family life, and dreams without feeling forced. Instead of relying on dramatic confessions, the novel lets affection develop through repeated meetings and increasing comfort with each other’s company.
That gradual progression reminded me of friendships I’ve seen become relationships in real life. Rarely does anyone realise the exact moment everything changes. It usually happens through countless ordinary afternoons.
Garima Ashok captures that feeling with genuine warmth.
What Stood Out to Me
The biggest strength of Echoes Of You is its emotional patience.
Modern romance novels often rush toward dramatic milestones because readers expect constant movement. This novel takes another approach. It spends considerable time allowing the reader to simply spend time with its characters.
Chapter Three illustrates this particularly well. Raj’s friends begin teasing him after noticing how differently he talks about Trisha. What could have become a predictable comedy sequence instead reveals something deeper about Raj himself. He struggles to explain exactly why she’s different. He talks about her smile, her sincerity, even the way she notices small things around her. His friends laugh, of course, but beneath the humour you can sense that Raj himself is slowly recognising feelings he hasn’t yet admitted.
That scene felt honest because people often understand their emotions only after trying unsuccessfully to explain them to someone else.
Another aspect I genuinely admired was Trisha’s identity as an artist.
Her sketchbook isn’t simply a hobby added to make her interesting. Art becomes the language through which she understands the world. Whether she’s noticing sunlight on rusted gates, sketching before moments disappear, or expressing emotions she cannot easily speak aloud, creativity becomes part of her personality instead of functioning as decoration.
I’ve read many novels where characters are labelled artists without their artistic perspective influencing the narrative. Here, it consistently shapes how Trisha experiences everyday life.
I also appreciated the way family relationships are written.
Neither Raj’s nor Trisha’s parents feel like background characters inserted only to move the plot forward. Their conversations, observations, and small moments of humour create the sense of real households. There’s a lovely sequence where Trisha’s mother notices subtle changes in her daughter’s happiness long before anyone says anything directly. Later, Raj’s mother also begins recognising what her son himself is only beginning to understand.
These moments give the novel emotional grounding because families aren’t treated as obstacles or stereotypes. They’re simply people who notice more than the younger generation assumes.
The writing itself leans toward a soft, reflective style. Some readers will enjoy that immediately. Others who prefer very fast moving plots may occasionally wish the narrative picked up speed. Personally, I found the slower rhythm suited the emotional focus of the story, although a little tightening in a few dialogue sections could have made certain chapters even stronger.
One chapter that lingered in my mind long after finishing it revolves around Raj helping Trisha see herself differently through her paintings. Instead of complimenting her appearance, he responds to the emotions inside her artwork. I thought that was a meaningful choice by the author because it shows affection growing through understanding rather than surface attraction.
Another memorable detail appears much later when Trisha begins rebuilding her life after heartbreak. Rather than presenting healing as a dramatic transformation, the novel allows it to happen through work, art, new friendships, and the gradual return of hope. That felt emotionally believable, and I respected the restraint Garima Ashok shows in writing those chapters.
The Emotional Core
What affected me most about Echoes Of You wasn’t the romance itself. It was the author’s understanding that love doesn’t always disappear simply because life changes direction.
There is a heartbreaking turning point when Raj finally tells Trisha that his parents have fixed his marriage. Even though the reader can sense this possibility approaching, the actual conversation still lands with surprising force. What makes the scene work isn’t raised voices or dramatic speeches. It’s the disappointment that comes from two people realising that love alone isn’t always enough to shape the future.
I found Trisha’s reaction especially believable. She isn’t angry simply because Raj is getting married. She’s hurt because, in her eyes, he accepted circumstances without fighting for the life they had imagined together. The emotional weight comes from everything that has happened before that moment. The terrace conversations, the shared laughter, the growing trust, and the dreams they built together suddenly feel fragile.
As an editor, I’ve seen many authors write heartbreak by making characters cry endlessly or speak in dramatic monologues. Garima Ashok avoids that trap. The emotions come through ordinary conversations and small decisions. Those moments often feel closer to real life than grand cinematic scenes.
Thankfully, the novel doesn’t stop with heartbreak.
One decision I admired was allowing Trisha to continue growing instead of freezing her life around a lost relationship. Years later, she has become an artist with exhibitions, professional confidence, and a life she has built through determination. She still remembers Raj, but those memories no longer control her future.
That is an important distinction.
Healing here isn’t presented as forgetting someone. It’s about making room for new experiences without denying what came before.
Aditya enters the story at exactly the right time. I appreciated that the author didn’t try to make him a “better Raj.” He’s simply a different person. His kindness is expressed through consistency rather than dramatic romance. He encourages Trisha’s work, respects her independence, and never asks her to erase her past in order to love again.
There’s one scene that genuinely made me smile. Aditya tells Trisha that ending something sometimes takes courage, but beginning again takes even more. It’s a simple thought, yet it perfectly captures the emotional direction of the second half of the novel.
Another chapter I found particularly satisfying is the return to Allahabad years later. Many novels avoid letting former lovers meet again because authors worry it will complicate the ending. Here, Garima Ashok embraces that complication.
When Raj and Trisha finally meet after years apart, neither of them behaves like strangers. Neither tries to recreate the past either. Instead, they speak with warmth, gratitude, and genuine happiness for each other’s lives. Their conversation feels mature because it accepts that love can change shape without disappearing completely.
That reunion is probably my favourite section of the novel.
The closing chapters, especially the art exhibition named Echoes of You, tie everything together beautifully. A young visitor asks Trisha who the girl in one of her paintings is, and her answer reflects the emotional maturity she has gained through every stage of her life. Rather than reducing love to one person or one chapter, she acknowledges everyone who has shaped her journey.
I think many readers will find themselves reflecting on their own past while reading these chapters.
Not because the situations are identical, but because almost everyone carries memories of people who influenced them in ways they didn’t fully understand at the time.
Who This Book Is For
If you’re looking for a romance packed with constant surprises, dramatic twists every few chapters, or fast paced suspense, this probably isn’t the novel you’re searching for.
However, if you enjoy character driven fiction where relationships develop gradually through conversations, shared routines, family interactions, and emotional honesty, Echoes Of You offers plenty to appreciate.
Readers who enjoy stories set in recognisable Indian cities will also find something special here. Allahabad isn’t merely mentioned as a location. Its streets, neighbourhoods, markets, riverfront, and atmosphere become part of the emotional landscape. As someone who enjoys novels rooted in real places, I found that aspect especially appealing.
Artists, writers, and creative readers may connect deeply with Trisha. Her habit of noticing colours, preserving moments through sketches, and processing emotions through creativity gives the novel an identity that feels distinct from many contemporary romances.
I also think readers who are slightly older will appreciate the second half more than younger audiences. There is wisdom in the way the novel handles moving forward after disappointment. It never argues that first love wasn’t meaningful. Instead, it suggests that life has room for more than one meaningful chapter.
That message feels especially relevant in 2026, when so many stories present love as either perfect or completely broken. Real life usually exists somewhere in between, and this novel understands that.
Final Thoughts
After finishing Echoes Of You, I found myself thinking less about individual plot points and more about the people who had lived through them.
Raj isn’t a flawless hero, and I don’t think he’s meant to be. He makes choices that many readers will question, perhaps even disagree with. Yet his affection for Trisha never feels dishonest. That complexity makes him far more interesting than a character who always says the right thing.
Trisha, on the other hand, became the emotional anchor of the novel for me. Watching her grow from a thoughtful young artist into a woman capable of embracing both memory and hope gives the story much of its emotional strength.
Garima Ashok writes with sincerity. She trusts ordinary conversations, familiar places, and believable relationships instead of relying on constant spectacle. That approach won’t appeal to every reader, but for those willing to settle into its rhythm, the emotional rewards are genuine.
If I had one small criticism, it would be that a handful of conversations revisit similar emotional ground and could have been slightly more concise. Tightening those sections would have given the narrative even greater momentum. Even so, that never overshadowed the heart of the story.
As Editor in Chief at Deified Publication, I’ve reviewed novels across many genres over the years. Some impress me with technical brilliance. Others surprise me with ambitious storytelling. Echoes Of You earned my appreciation for a different reason. It understands that love isn’t measured only by whether two people end up together. Sometimes the people we once loved help shape the person we eventually become.
That’s a message I genuinely believed by the time I reached the final page.
FAQs
Is Echoes Of You worth reading?
Yes, especially if you enjoy character driven romance that focuses on emotional growth instead of dramatic plot twists. The relationships feel believable, and the characters develop naturally over time.
What is Echoes Of You about?
The novel follows Trisha, an artist, and Raj, a cheerful young man whose friendship slowly grows into love in Allahabad. As life takes them in different directions, the story looks at love, heartbreak, healing, and the way meaningful relationships continue to shape us long after circumstances change.
Who should read Echoes Of You?
Readers who enjoy contemporary Indian romance, emotional fiction, coming of age stories, and novels centred on relationships and personal growth will likely appreciate this book. If you prefer stories driven by characters rather than action, this is a good choice.
Who is the author of Echoes Of You?
Garima Ashok is the author of Echoes Of You. Through this novel, she presents a heartfelt story rooted in everyday life, showing how ordinary moments can leave lasting impressions on the people who experience them.
Is Echoes Of You suitable for new readers of romance novels?
Yes. The writing is accessible, the story is easy to follow, and the emotional arc unfolds at a comfortable pace. It is a good introduction for readers who enjoy realistic romance grounded in family, friendship, and personal growth rather than fantasy or high drama.
With over 11 years of experience in the publishing industry, Priya Srivastava has become a trusted guide for hundreds of authors navigating the challenging path from manuscript to marketplace. As Editor-in-Chief of Deified Publications, she combines the precision of a publishing professional with the empathy of a mentor who truly understands the fears, hopes, and dreams of both first-time and seasoned writers.