Adolescence is that phase of life when you either feel like the queen bee or like a piece of rag and a total misfit. Adapting the latter as a definition of herself, Anu the protagonist believes that she is adopted! From boy troubles, to dealing with family drama and growing into a strong young adult, Anu from the book Hot Chocolate is Thicker than Blood by Rupa Gulab sets goals for every teenager.
When her aunt reveals that Disha her sister isn’t really her own, Anu instantly concludes that she’s adopted and that explained the lack of similarities between her and the family. Disha is perfect and is everything that Anu isn’t. She’s that idol elder sister who sets the bar too high for the younger one to compete. But, soon from being the idol daughter, Disha detours to a flamboyant lifestyle and takes up modelling as a career.
The role of the maid Parvathi didi managed to break the monotony of drama and added a bit of humour every once in a while. Anu’s journey from despising the site of history subject at school to turning her study sessions into a mini rap concert and finally excelling in the subject was one crazy roller coaster ride of emotions. Athena the one who made everything happen was the only character that remained a bit stable, calm and composed through the story line. From being the one to help Anu with history to advising her on patching up with Disha and being the cupid in bringing Anu and Sai together, Athena seems to live up to her name (referring to the Greek mythological character – Athena the goddess of wisdom.)
The story ends on a happy note, and the title made justice to the story as hot chocolate is what bonds the sisters than a biological connection.
This book is available in both paperback and audiobook format on the storytel app and the drawback of the latter is that in many places the voice over artiste’s intonations seemed a bit off and did not do much justice to the book.
The flow of the story seemed crisp and the plots were quick but, this much drama for a school going kid to face seems a bit too much but that is what makes the book worth the read! Hot Chocolate is Thicker than Blood isn’t one just for young adults but a good read for parents as well.
