“From Twinkle, With Love” by Sandhya Menon tells the story of Twinkle Mehra, a sixteen-year-old aspiring filmmaker who writes letters to her favorite female directors. These letters provide a window into Twinkle’s life, covering her friendships, family dynamics, romantic interests, and her dreams in filmmaking. Twinkle is a relatable character with an engaging and enjoyable story. When thinking of light, fun summer reads, this book immediately comes to mind.
The Plot
Twinkle is dealing with the fallout from her best friend Maddie drifting away to join a popular group that doesn’t like Twinkle. She also navigates issues at home with her quirky grandmother and emotionally distant mother. In her love life, Twinkle has always been infatuated with Neil Roy. However, as she spends more time with Neil’s twin brother, Sahil, she starts developing feelings for him too. Adding to the mix, Twinkle has a secret admirer.
Twinkle and Sahil decide to make a gender-swapped version of Dracula for the Midsummer Nights Arts Festival, bringing together a diverse group of people and introducing new friendships. Tensions rise as the identity of Twinkle’s secret admirer is revealed, and some harsh cast interviews push Twinkle to reflect on who she wants to become in this charming coming-of-age tale.
The Characters
Twinkle Mehra is a shy Indian-American girl with lots of emotions she feels unable to share. Throughout the novel, she grows into a more assertive young woman. Although Twinkle can be rude and unsympathetic at times, her reactions are understandable. Her letters to directors give readers in-depth insights into her thoughts and the typical issues faced by sixteen-year-old girls. Twinkle is also often oblivious to the attention of boys.
Sahil Roy, the other main character, is half-Indian and Neil’s twin brother. He struggles with feelings of envy due to his brother’s fame as a swimmer. Unlike Twinkle’s family, his is wealthier and more laid-back. Through his texts with friends, we get to know Sahil’s easy-going nature, determination, and longstanding crush on Twinkle. He is a supportive friend who helps Twinkle come out of her shell.
The Romance
Twinkle and Sahil form a solid high school romance. They work well together as friends and as a producer-director duo, eventually realizing they could be a great couple too. Both are driven and determined to find their voices in a world that doesn’t always listen. As with many contemporary romances, misunderstandings and conflicts arise, making the resolution even sweeter.
Final Thoughts
If you enjoy light and fun coming-of-age stories that touch on female filmmaking and finding one’s voice, “From Twinkle, With Love” is worth a read. The story balances humor and seriousness beautifully, and Twinkle is a character you’ll find yourself rooting for.
Adaptation Recommendation
A movie adaptation of “From Twinkle, With Love” would be delightful, especially with its focus on filmmaking. Twinkle’s film sounded so charming that I wished I could watch it in real life. Casting the right actress to portray Twinkle’s transformation would be crucial. Ensuring the emails and messages are effectively shared on screen would be another important element, as they are central to the story. Sandhya Menon should definitely be involved in any film adaptation, considering her close connection to the material.
This would be a PG movie with some partying and mild language. Have you read “From Twinkle, With Love”? Who would you cast? Share your thoughts!
