12 Years : My Messed-up Love Story by Chetan Bhagat

12 Years : My Messed-up Love Story is a bold, messy, and entertaining and dramatic age gap Indian romance that dives deep into love, guilt, and the stranglehold of Indian societal expectations.

Synopsis

The blockbuster new love story by Chetan Bhagat.

He’s 33. She’s 21.

He’s a struggling stand-up comic. She’s a rising star in private equity.

He’s divorced. She’s never had a boyfriend.

He’s Punjabi. She’s from a conservative Jain family.

They shouldn’t be together. But they can’t stay apart.

Welcome to 12 My Messed-Up Love Story.

Saket and Payal couldn’t be more different-age, background, beliefs. Yet, they’re drawn to each other in ways they can’t explain. Is it just chemistry, or something deeper? Is it madness and lust, or is it love?

Unputdownable and thoroughly entertaining, 12 Years tries to answer the eternal How do you know if someone is the one – especially when everything says they’re not?

From India’s top-selling writer Chetan Bhagat comes a powerful new love story that will make you laugh, cry and rethink everything you know about love.

Review

12 Years: My Messed-Up Love Story is an entertaining, dramatic age gap Indian romance that follows the story of Saket Khurana, a 33-year-old divorcee who moves to Mumbai for a fresh start and to pursue his passion for stand-up comedy. During his very first performance, he meets Payal Jain, a 22-year-old woman working at an equity firm, and sparks fly instantly.

Their chemistry is undeniable, their connection effortless. They click on every level except the ones that matter most to society- religion, background, and, of course, their age difference. But the biggest roadblock isn’t them; it’s Payal’s parents who are deeply orthodox Jains and control every aspect of her life, refusing to let her live on her own terms.

It was interesting to see if Saket and Payal can overcome these hurdles, stand against family and tradition, and fight for love that’s anything but easy.

Now, this book has found itself wrapped in controversy for its age-gap element. Some readers have gone as far as calling it “creepy,” comparing it to an adult man preying on a child. Honestly? That’s an exaggeration. I’ve seen much worse examples of age-gap romances being romanticized and no one bats an eye.

Payal, for her part, is mature in most aspects- her job, her worldview, her independence -except when it comes to love and sex, which is less about her immaturity and more about the guilt instilled in her since childhood that “a relationship before marriage is sinful.” Yes, the book includes spicy, kinky scenes in the first hundred pages or so, but they’re not graphic or exploitative. They fit the story’s tone and characters.

It’s been a long time since I picked up a book by this author, yet the writing still feels effortless. The plot is simple but engaging, filled with humor, drama, and moments that strike a chord. Some parts are clichéd and a bit far-fetched, but that’s also part of the charm, like watching a Bollywood romance that knows exactly what it is.

The book explores themes that are deeply rooted in Indian society- the suffocating weight of societal expectations, generational conflict, class and caste divides, social media facades, and gender inequality. The recurring mindset of “log kya kahenge” (what will people say) runs like a haunting refrain, showing how parents can destroy their children’s happiness while convincing themselves they’re doing the right thing.

Payal is a typical modern heroine: smart, capable, and ambitious. She works in a prestigious equity firm, handles high-stakes decisions, and thrives professionally- yet she’s completely powerless when it comes to her family. Her parents’ control over her life is suffocating, and like many Indian women raised to obey and never question authority, she struggles to assert herself. Watching her internal tug-of-war between duty and happiness is both frustrating and relatable. It takes her far too long to realize that you can’t make your parents happy if it means destroying your own life in the process.

Saket, on the other hand, is a layered and relatable character. He’s been through hell- a failed marriage that drained him emotionally and financially, and a relationship with Payal that left him hollow and disillusioned. His fears, insecurities, and broken trust in love are believable. What annoyed me, though, was how long he stayed emotionally stuck, even after a decade. He sure needed a therapy but like most men he leaned towards alcohol, work, and meaningless flings. It’s realistic, sure, but frustrating to read.

Chemistry between Saket and Payal is undeniable, their connection effortless. The romance itself isn’t groundbreaking, but they click on every level. It’s emotionally engaging. It has that imperfect, chaotic energy of real relationships.

I liked how they overcame everyone’s judgement about their love that their relationship is nothing more than lust- an older man’s fantasy about a younger woman and a young woman’s infatuation with someone older, stable, and confident. But underneath the surface, there’s always been something deeper between Saket and Payal- an unspoken understanding, a magnetic pull that neither of them can rationalize or deny.

Their connection goes beyond physical attraction; it’s inexplicably real, which makes their struggle to be together all the more compelling. Even though timing of their relaionship wasn’t right in the beginning, the feelings never died.

What truly shocked me was how her parents treated her. They were manipulative, emotionally abusive, and hypocritical to the bone. Her education, job, and success meant nothing to them compared to their obsession with image and social standing. Even after everything falls apart, they show no guilt, no self-awareness. Their son, who’s done worse by every metric, remains the golden child simply because he’s “the son” for most part.

The book also cleverly touches on the toxic side of social media through Payal’s friend Akanksha, who curates the perfect online life for validation. Her “picture-perfect” marriage becomes an ideal in Payal’s parents’ eyes, despite being shallow and performative. It’s a sharp commentary on how people only show the polished fragments of their lives online, hiding the chaos beneath the filters.

The second part of the story is where things get more interesting- Saket rebuilding his life, crossing paths with Payal again, and confronting the ghosts of their past. The story is primarily told from Saket’s perspective, but Payal’s POV in this section adds a refreshing balance. It doesn’t fully redeem her in my eyes, she still should’ve stood up for herself sooner, but it gives her dimension.

The final part ties everything together beautifully. Saket finally understands what happiness means to him, while Payal learns to choose her own joy, even if it means defying everything she was raised to believe. The last scenes- his stand-up performance and the heartfelt proposal -feel cinematic and tender, wrapping the messy chaos of their story in the right amount of closure.

While this isn’t a flawless five-star romance, it’s still an enjoyable and emotionally layered one. It leans heavily on familiar tropes and Bollywood-style melodrama, but it works with author’s trademark style. If you enjoy modern Indian romances that blend passion, family drama, and emotional realism, 12 Years: My Messed-Up Love Story will keep you hooked from start to finish.

What to expect:
33-year-old comedian
21-year-old finance girl
Age-gap romance
Mumbai setting
Orthodox parents drama
Society’s judgment
Realistic emotional mess
Relatable Characters
Guilt, rebellion & heartbreak
Chemistry that refuses to die
Humor and entertainment

What might not work:
Cookie cutter side characters
Limited character growth
Cliched family drama

Book Links

Goodreads | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Have you read any of this or any book by the same author?
What was your favorite age gap romance?

Just in case you missed,,,

• The Fallen and The Kiss of Dusk (Crowns of Nyaxia #4) by Carissa Broadbent
• A Girl A Tiger and A Very Strange Story by Paro Anand – Stunning and layered fiction for kids age 10+
• Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books by Hwang Bo-Reum

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