World’s Best Girlfriend Review: Themes, Emotional Depth, Characters, and More

Durjoy Datta, yet another, impresses his contemporary young-adult audience with a heart-throbbing love story in the novel “World’s Best Girlfriend”. Personally, the novel felt far more grounded than what the title suggests. Unlike cheesy romance stories, what I like about Datta’s writing is his portrayal of love and what happens when it collides with financial struggles, toxic relationships, and family responsibilities, all while navigating your career and adulthood. 

While some moments are emotional and dramatic, I found the protagonists relatable, caught up in their dreams and ambitions, and making choices that reflect the messy realities of real life rather than a perfect fairytale romance. It’s a perfect easy-to-read novel for beginners, which blends romance, ambition, and life, making it a worthwhile read for anyone who enjoys contemporary relationship fiction. 

Ahead, this article covers the World’s Best Girlfriend review, themes and character analysis, and writing style.

A Quick Synopsis of the Novel World’s Best Girlfriend 

“Minds don’t allow the heart to dream. The mind reminds us of fear and failure. Of hunger, dust, ashes, and humiliation.” 

World’s Best Girlfriend by Durjoy Datta presents a similar dichotomy between the mind and the heart. This novel captures the love story of Daksh, a rich guy with all the luxuries of life, and Aanchal, a middle-class girl with dreams and ambitions to succeed in life and secure admission to SRCC. Their paths crossed at a luxury resort in Andaman, leading to an emotional bond between the protagonists. 

However, caught up in a toxic relationship with Vicky, Aanchal decides to keep her bond with Daksh a secret. As soon as the seven days of the vacation are over, they are separated. But life had other plans, and their paths crossed once again after four years. This time, their life’s trajectory has changed 360 degrees. While Anchal is a successful person, Daksh is caught up in caring for his ailing father and little sister, struggling financially to make ends meet. 

With Aanchal still struggling in her abusive relationship with Vicky, will she be able to accept Daksh and begin her new life, or will fate have something else for them? 

Themes and Emotional Depth in Durjoy Datta’s Novel World’s Best Girlfriend 

The novel deals with multiple themes of relationships, friendships, and more. What stood out to me were the themes of abusive relationships and the complexity of Indian parents. 

Here are some themes that stood out to me: 

1. Abusive Relationships and Red Flags

Aanchal, despite being a successful, hardworking, and independent woman, was unable to identify the red flags in her boyfriend, Vicky. She was constantly gaslit, blackmailed, and belittled by him for the things he himself was not able to achieve. 

Her character is intentionally divisive, and her pursuit of a successful life at the cost of her relationships makes her the “worst” girlfriend. She was slighted into believing that she was the “worst girlfriend”, highlighting the result of toxic life choices. 

However, you need to read the novel to find out whether she was able to identify the green flags in Daksh or not. 

2. Complex Parental Relationships

What I really enjoy about Durjoy Datta’s books is his portrayal of Indian parents. He never tries to whitewash their image; instead, he portrays both sides: the orthodox and the liberal ones. 

While on the one hand, the novel shows the conversation between mother and son about his girlfriend, reflecting the openness with parents, on the other hand, it highlights the orthodoxy of Anchal’s parents, who consider only reputed professions, such as medical or engineering, worth making a career in. 

However, I liked how Aanchal’s brother wanted to pursue gaming and how Daksh supported him at great lengths. It must have resonated with the young-adult audience reading this novel today, who sacrificed their ambitions for a stable career. 

View on the Protagonists of the Novel World’s Best Girlfriend 

The protagonists of the novel World’s Best Girlfriend are Aanchal and Daksh. While they develop a strong emotional bond within the seven days of the Andaman trip, their relationship and the conversations put forward a realistic portrayal of the upper and middle-class divide, family responsibilities, complex relationships, and more, which offers an authentic feeling towards the characters. 

1. Aanchal 

Character Traits: Middle-class ambitious girl, caught in a toxic relationship, complex character, hardworking, and independent. 

In the novel, Aanchal is a middle-class girl, aiming to be successful and enter the world of the upper class. Personally, she is the most active yet complex character in the novel, torn between an abusive relationship with Vicky and a strong emotional connection with Daksh. As Datta himself likes to put forward, Aanchal was a difficult character to chart out because the decisions she takes in the novel are her own; she is independent, hardworking, and successful, yet unable to break off her relationship with Vicky. 

Although considered self-absorbed by other characters, she truly lacks the love he deserves from her family as well as her boyfriend, Vicky. Being academically gifted and successful in her career, she is constantly gaslighted and belittled by Vicky, who is unable to match her success. What I truly liked about Aanchal is that even though she’s considered selfish, she puts herself as a priority rather than her abusive relationship. 

2. Daksh 

Character Traits: Compassionate, Supporting, Belongs to a Privileged Class, Faces the Fate 

Daksh acts as an emotional anchor for Aanchal, consistently supporting her and her dreams, despite how selfish she can get sometimes. Daksh was an equally favourite character for me, who wore his heart on his sleeve, and never hesitated to stand by the people he cares about. One moment that specifically stood out to me was how Daksh encouraged Aanchal’s brother in his unconventional dream of pursuing a career in gaming.  

While initially he was portrayed as a privileged boy with no specific aim in his life, his fate took a 360-degree turn, and he was left caring for his ailing father and younger sister, while struggling financially, which I think also contributed to his being a responsible person. 

Personally, Aanchal’s behaviour and actions towards Daksh could have been better, but rather, we are presented with a bittersweet dynamic, where Daksh is always available for emotional support, but it is Aanchal’s self-absorbed behaviour that creates friction in their relationship, leaving it unsolved. 

Datta’s Writing Style in the Novel “World’s Best Girlfriend” 

Like Datta’s other novels, World’s Best Girlfriend follows a simple and conversational writing style. What adds depth to his writing is the use of everyday conversations, relatable situations, and fast-paced storytelling to make characters feel authentic. His appropriate use of everyday slang gives it a touch of reality, rather than an exaggerated picture-perfect novel.  

I also liked the way Datta creates emotional moments without making them feel forced; the narration flows smoothly, and the dialogue sounds realistic.

Here are some things that I liked about Datta’s writing style in the World’s Best Girlfriend: 

• Simple and Conversational Writing 
• Fast-Paced Storytelling 
• No Exaggerated Emotional Drama; Raw and Complex Emotions  
• Modern, Youth-Centric Narration 
• Use of Everyday Language and Slangs 

An Interesting Take On the Book’s Title: 

The title says World’s Worst Best Girlfriend, which made me think that Aanchal was never the “worst” girlfriend. She was manipulated into believing she was. Simply choosing her career and ambitions over relationships and prioritizing her dream does not make someone a bad partner. 

While the novel doesn’t emphasize why Aanchal was the best girlfriend as strongly as it could have, and some of her actions may be unjustifiable, it certainly doesn’t justify calling her “worst”.

Final Verdict: Is the World’s Best Girlfriend Worth Reading?

Yes, the novel “World’s Best Girlfriend” by Durjoy Datta is a must-read novel if you enjoy contemporary romance and fiction. The story is heartwarming and fast-paced, making it ideal for beginners. Not only does it deal with romance, but it also raises important topics, such as dealing with abusive relationships, navigating career, adulthood, and challenges associated with orthodox Indian parents. 

For me, the story was intriguing, and the best part, it leaves you on a cliffhanger, prompting readers to pick up the next sequel, “World’s Best Boyfriend”. The romance here feels pure and emotional rather than glamorous, while also allowing the readers to admire different relationships and supportive friendships, along with the struggles and challenges of making their own decisions in a typical Indian household. 

Positive Aspects of the Novel that Readers Will Enjoy: 

• Themes of Love, Ambition, Relationship, and Modern Dating 
• Pure Emotional Moments 
• Real-Life Issues 
• Career and Adulthood 

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