Book: Was I Ever Enough?
Author: Yash Ranjit Jain
Genre: Heartbreak, Emotional, Self-Discovery
First Published: 2025
Pages: ~260
I just finished reading Was I Ever Enough? by Ranjit Jain.
Again, I picked up this book after watching so many reels on Instagram promoting it as an “Indian Bestseller.” Honestly, I don’t know how to rate this book. It is not a bad read. At the same time, it is not that great either. I would just call it a decent, one-time read. Sometimes, I feel many young Indian writers are influenced by Bollywood-style love stories.
More than love, this story is about heartbreak. A relationship that didn’t last. And the kind of emotional trauma that comes when something ends without proper closure. It talks about those unanswered questions we carry for a long time. That part felt so real to me. Because in real life, not every relationship ends with clarity. Sometimes it just ends, and we are left thinking what went wrong.
The story revolves around three main characters — Vivaan, Myra, and Advika.
Vivaan, who broke up with Myra, is still stuck in his past. Even after two years, he is not able to move on. He keeps going back to old memories. And confused about whether he still loves Myra or if it is just a “why me” feeling. According to him, there were no proper reasons given for the breakup, which hurt him even more. Especially because she was someone he loved deeply, someone for whom he even wrote a book.
Now, he is spending time with Advika, a new friend in his life. But one unexpected meeting with Myra at a railway station brings everything back – the pain, the confusion, and all the feelings he thought he had moved on from. Vivaan goes back into the same loop again, searching for answers in the past.
On the other side is Myra. She is portrayed as a perfect, beautiful girl in the beginning. Maybe she did love Vivaan once. But she never really gives him clarity or closure before the breakup. While Vivaan is still hoping for things to work out, Myra has already moved on with someone else. It feels like she has accepted the end, while Vivaan is still trying to understand it.
Then comes Advika, my favourite character in this story.
She is a happy, positive person who genuinely wishes good for others. She stands by Vivaan during his lowest phase, listens to him, supports him, and tries to bring him out of his past. She was there on his bad days. He cried on her shoulder. She made him laugh. She loved him truly, even after knowing his past.
At one point, I really thought the story would have a happy ending. But it doesn’t.
Vivaan is not ready to accept Advika. He is not ready for any commitment after what he went through with Myra. Somewhere, he is still holding on to his past. That is where the real confusion lies — whether it is love, attachment, or just the fear of letting go.
Advika never forced him to love her back. She never demanded commitment. She just loved him quietly. Even after being close for two years, Vivaan is unable to accept her. She keeps hoping that one day he will understand her love. But in the end, she chooses to step back when she starts breaking inside.
One thing I noticed in this novel is different from other usual love stories. When a relationship doesn’t work out, most of the time we blame the other person. But here, the protagonist thinks differently. Instead of blaming only the other person, he keeps asking himself, “Was I ever enough? Where did I go wrong?”
That felt honest to me. Because sometimes, we don’t get answers from others. We keep questioning ourselves.
Personally, I liked Advika’s character more than Vivaan. In fact, I feel she is the real protagonist of this story. She tried to heal him, stood by him, and gave him all the care he needed. Without expecting anything in return. For me, she felt like an angel in his life. But even she reaches a point where she has to let go.
As the title suggests, Vivaan keeps asking himself — Was I ever enough for Myra?
And later, after being rejected, even Advika starts questioning — Was I ever enough for Vivaan?
That is the core of this story. Instead of blaming each other, both of them end up questioning themselves — Were we ever enough? Were we even right for each other?
What worked for me
The emotions are simple and relatable. It shows how heartbreak can stay with a person for a long time. And how sometimes, even if a good person comes into your life, you are just not ready to accept them. Some parts really hit, especially if you have gone through something similar. That constant feeling of “Was I not enough?” is something many people can relate to.
What did not work for me
At the same time, I had a few issues with the book.
First, the writing style. There are too many em dashes, and at some point, it started feeling repetitive and slightly AI-like.
Second, the depth. The story had good potential, but it lacked depth. It felt more like reading someone’s personal thoughts rather than a strong, well-developed novel.
Third, the overall feel. In many places, it felt like a teenage love story — a bit overdramatic, a bit confused, and not very strong in terms of structure.
Also, in recent days, I have seen a lot of hype for such books on Instagram. But after reading them, I feel many are over-promoted and under-delivered. Overall, I didn’t hate the book. But I didn’t feel deeply connected either. Yes, the theme is relatable. Yes, the emotions are real. But something was missing.
And even after finishing the book, one question stays —Was it really love… or just the inability to let go?
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