Saya by Subin Bhattarai – Book Summary & Review
Saya Book Summary and Review: Subin Bhattarai's Sequel to Summer Love
Saya (साया) is the 2014 sequel to Summer Love, and it does one simple but bold thing: it hands the story to the girl who was silent in the first book. If you finished Summer Love thinking "Saya can't possibly be the villain," this novel is Subin Bhattarai's answer. Below you will find a full chapter-style summary, the characters, the themes, how readers actually rated the book, and my honest review.
Quick Answer: Is Saya Worth Reading?
Yes, if you loved Summer Love and want closure. Readers on Goodreads rate it 3.49 out of 5 across 1,526 ratings, which is respectable but clearly below the first book's reputation. It answers the questions the first book left open, but many readers feel the second half drags. Treat it as a closure read, not a standalone novel.
Saya at a Glance
| Book | Saya (साया) |
| Author | Subin Bhattarai |
| Series | Summer Love #2 (sequel) |
| Language | Nepali |
| Genre | Romance, contemporary fiction |
| Publisher | Fine Print |
| Published | September 2014 (Bhadra 2071 B.S.) |
| Pages | About 227 to 250, depending on the edition |
| Goodreads rating | 3.49 / 5 (1,526 ratings) |
| Narration | Several viewpoints: the narrator, Saya, Atit and Susmita |
Do You Need to Read Summer Love First?
Yes. Saya is built on the events of the first book, and its whole point is to correct them. Without that context, the emotional payoff of seeing Saya's side will be much weaker. If you have not read it yet, start with my Summer Love book summary and then come back here.
Main Characters
The heroine. Silent in Summer Love, she now tells her own story and explains why she pulled away from Atit.
Saya's partner. Emotional, loyal and often self-destructive when he feels abandoned.
Atit's colleague in Dhangadhi. Her closeness to Atit becomes the turning point of the misunderstanding.
An NRN introduced to Saya through her sister, and the family's preferred match.
The narrator who listens to everyone and helps untangle the story.
The pressure of family and society, the biggest obstacle to the couple.
Saya Book Summary (Full Plot, Spoilers)
Here is the story in eight steps, followed by the detailed summary.
Saya reads Summer Love and sees herself painted as the one who ditched Atit.
She meets the writer and explains Norway, Sujan and Susmita.
Silence, drinking and a move to Norway to demand answers.
The writer travels to Dhangadhi and hears the third side.
Susmita apologises and the couple reunite in Norway.
Atit's family welcomes Saya; her family pushes Sujan.
Saya's parents discover the marriage in Norway and cut her off.
Her father relents and the couple marry again with family present.
Saya Discovers Summer Love
After Summer Love became a hit in Nepal, a friend mentions the book to Saya. When she reads it, she realises it is the story of her own life, and that the book gives her a negative role. She is furious that readers now think she ditched Atit. Once she returns to Nepal from Norway, she calls the writer and they meet in a cafe so she can tell her version.
Saya's Side of the Story
Saya tells the writer that the first book was only part of the truth. She did not ignore Atit because she stopped loving him. His behaviour was emotionally exhausting her while she was alone in Norway. During a visit to her sister in England, she shared her secret marriage to Atit. Her sister advised her that if her parents would never accept the relationship, there was little reason to continue. She introduced Saya to an NRN friend named Sujan, hoping a match the family approved of would settle things. Saya agreed to meet him. Sujan had a good personality, but Saya still loved Atit and could not bring herself to cheat on him.
Atit, meanwhile, could not reach her for a week and was becoming more worried. She had not told him about England, and he later saw her photos from there on Facebook. When Saya returned to Norway, she found many unanswered messages from him and replied. Then she noticed that Atit and Susmita seemed very close, so she called Susmita directly. Susmita told her that Atit was happy and that the two were travelling together. Pushed to be honest, she admitted that they had become physically involved. Saya was heartbroken, told Atit nothing, and simply started ignoring him.
Atit Follows Her to Norway
Atit had no idea why the relationship was collapsing. Missing Saya badly, he started drinking, had a painful video call with her and tore up everything that reminded him of her. Susmita comforted him and told him to move on. A year later, Atit applied for a study visa to Norway, partly to get the answers Saya would not give. He told his boss and friends, collected some money and flew out. His family cried on the phone because he was leaving without even meeting them.
Saya warned him not to expect any help from her, but finding another Nepali in Norway was not hard, and the two eventually met. Atit kept asking what had happened to them, and Saya kept staying silent. Finally, hurt and angry, Atit blurted out the truth about Susmita himself. Saya, who already knew, still did not respond, and they drifted apart.
The Writer Meets Susmita
The writer feels the story is still incomplete without Susmita, so he flies to Dhangadhi. Atit's old office tells him she has left, and he eventually finds her working as a cashier at a bank. She has read Summer Love too. Susmita admits she developed feelings for Atit and wanted him for herself. When Saya called, she hinted that Atit was happy and had moved on. When Saya asked to speak to Atit, Susmita said he was busy. She felt jealous whenever Atit spoke about his endless love for Saya, and she acted selfishly. She agrees to tell Saya the truth and travels to Kathmandu.
At a cafe, Susmita explains what really happened in a way that shows it was not entirely Atit's fault, and apologises to Saya. Saya and Atit reconcile and return to Norway, deciding to build their life there without telling their parents yet. They thank the writer for bringing them back together.
Meeting the Parents and the Sujan Problem
The next year they return to Nepal. Atit tells his parents he is already married, and they ask to meet his wife. Saya is warmly welcomed and Atit's mother gives her a Tilhari, the necklace worn by married women. Atit's father gently tells her that she should also tell her own parents. When Saya reaches home, Sujan is waiting; her parents invited him hoping to arrange the match. She goes on a date with him, Atit calls at that moment, and Saya tells Sujan everything. Sujan leaves. The novel also includes a friends' trip to Goa before the couple head back to Norway.
The Tilhari Is Discovered
Months later, Saya's parents decide to visit her in Norway. They do not know she lives with Atit, so he and his belongings move out for a few days. But her parents find the Tilhari and realise she is married. They return to Nepal furious and stop talking to her. Saya slips into depression, stops eating and withdraws. Atit calls her parents and blames them for her condition. Eventually, Saya decides to go back to her family and agree to marry the man they choose.
The Ending: Acceptance
Alone in Norway, Atit stops eating and waits out the days in despair. Two days in, Saya calls from Nepal and asks him to come and meet her parents. He books a ticket straight away. When Saya sees how unwell he looks, she feeds him first. Her father tells him they did not understand how things stood, and that all they want is for the two to be happy and marry again to complete the rituals. Her father also admits that his objection to an inter-caste marriage came mostly from social pressure. They marry again with friends and family present and live happily ever after.
Saya Book Review
What Saya Does Well
- It answers the questions. The first book left obvious gaps, and this one fills them for Saya, Susmita and Atit.
- Believable self-justification. One Goodreads reader praised how Saya and Susmita each explain their own choices, showing how people avoid seeing their own mistakes.
- An honest social backdrop. Inter-caste marriage and family pressure are still real problems for many young Nepali couples, which is why many readers feel the story is close to their own.
- Emotional language. Even critical readers admit the writing style and some individual lines are strong.
Where Saya Struggles
- The mystery resolves early. Several readers say the real tension is gone by roughly the one-third mark, and the rest feels like extended aftermath.
- Repetition. Atit's heartbreak is a repeat of the first book, so it hits less hard the second time.
- Avoidable conflict. A common complaint is that a lot of the pain comes from characters not simply talking to each other.
- Written for demand. Some reviewers feel it was written because fans and publishers asked for a sequel, not because the story needed one.
- A less relatable world. One reviewer noted that Summer Love felt like ordinary young people's lives, while Saya moves among characters who travel abroad and fly within Nepal easily.
How Readers Rated It (Goodreads)
Source: Goodreads community ratings, 3.49 average from 1,526 ratings (checked October 2026). Half of all readers gave it 4 or 5 stars, but there is a large middle and a vocal critical minority.
Saya vs Summer Love
| Summer Love | Saya | |
|---|---|---|
| Perspective | Atit's | Saya, with Atit and Susmita also heard |
| Main question | Why did Saya leave? | Can they overcome family and society? |
| Mood | Youthful, nostalgic, heartbreak | Emotional, psychological, more family drama |
| Ending | Open and unresolved | Resolved and happy |
| Reader reaction | Widely loved | Divided, but valued for closure |
Key Themes
- Two sides to every story. The central idea is that Atit and Saya each lived a different version of the same events.
- Family versus love. Saya is forced to choose between her partner and her parents, and the novel shows why neither choice feels clean.
- Inter-caste marriage. The father's admission near the end shows that the objection was driven by social image more than personal dislike.
- Silence and miscommunication. Nearly every crisis in the book grows because someone did not speak up.
- Distance and loneliness. Living abroad adds to the loneliness that pushes both characters into poor decisions.
My Verdict
Saya works best as a companion piece. Reading it right after Summer Love gives a more complete picture and makes you rethink who was at fault. As a standalone novel it is weaker, and the second half repeats emotional beats the first book had already used. I would rate it 3.5 out of 5, in line with the wider reader average: worth reading for closure and for Saya's voice, but not as strong as the original.
Who might not: readers who want a fast, tightly plotted story, or who dislike repeated misunderstandings.
Where to Buy Saya
Saya is available as a paperback from Fine Print. When I checked in October 2026, Biblionepal listed it at Rs. 350 and in stock, with delivery inside and outside the valley and in-store pickup at Thamel, Kathmandu. Prices and stock change, so confirm on the store page. Buying an authentic copy supports the author and publisher. You can also look through my guide to free Nepali books in PDF and my collection of Nepali book reviews for what to read next.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saya
Is Saya a sequel to Summer Love?
Yes. Saya is the second book in the Summer Love series by Subin Bhattarai and continues the story from Saya's point of view.
Do I have to read Summer Love before Saya?
It is strongly recommended. Saya keeps referring to events from the first book, and its main purpose is to correct and complete them.
Who wrote Saya and who published it?
Subin Bhattarai wrote it and Fine Print published it in 2014. It was launched at Nepal Academy in Kamaladi, Kathmandu.
How many pages is Saya?
Listings vary by edition, from about 227 pages on Goodreads to about 250 on Biblionepal.
Does Saya have a happy ending?
Yes. After a long conflict with her parents, Saya and Atit marry again with both families present.
Is Saya better than Summer Love?
Most readers say no. Saya is valued for its closure and Saya's perspective, but the first book is generally considered more emotionally effective.
What is the Goodreads rating of Saya?
Saya has an average rating of 3.49 out of 5 from 1,526 ratings on Goodreads, as checked in October 2026.
Final Thoughts
Saya succeeds at its main job: it gives Saya a voice and shows that the story Atit told was only half the picture. It is not perfect, and readers are split on whether it needed to be written, but if Summer Love stayed with you, this book will finally let you close that chapter. If you liked it, read my other Nepali book reviews for your next pick, and tell me in the comments: did Saya change how you saw Atit's story?
