It is with immense joy and admiration that I extend my warmest congratulations to Darsha S Nair for her remarkable win at the TRI Literary Awards Season 03 for her debut book, Maybe This is Love. At such a young age, Darsha has achieved what many writers spend a lifetime striving for — she has crafted a story that resonates deeply with the human heart, drawing readers into a world of emotions that feel both achingly familiar and beautifully unique. Her achievement is not only a personal triumph but also an inspiration to countless budding writers who dare to dream, create, and share their stories with the world.
A Journey Through Friendship, Love, and Time
Maybe This is Love is more than just a story about love; it is a tender exploration of friendship, change, and the bittersweet process of growing up. At its heart, the book follows the lives of Caleb, Lily, James, and Sophie, four friends bound by shared dreams, laughter, and an unspoken belief that their friendship was invincible. Darsha brilliantly captures the innocence and depth of such friendships — the ones we build in our early years, where every smile, every shared secret, and every late-night conversation feels like it will last forever.
However, as life often proves, even the strongest bonds can be tested by time, distance, and the choices we make. The book gracefully traces how life’s inevitable changes — new opportunities, diverging paths, and unspoken feelings — slowly begin to create a distance between these friends. Darsha’s writing evokes the universal experience of growing up and realizing that no matter how much we hold on, some relationships are destined to transform, fade, or remain etched in our memory as beautiful moments that cannot be recreated.
An Honest Portrayal of Change
One of the most striking aspects of Darsha’s storytelling is her ability to capture the silence between people — the unanswered messages, the fleeting encounters, and the unspoken emotions that define so many of our relationships. Through Caleb and Lily, she explores the delicate question that often lingers in our minds: Was it ever more than just friendship? Or was it simply a fleeting chapter that felt like love because it came at the right (or wrong) moment in time?
Darsha doesn’t provide easy answers — and that’s precisely what makes the book so powerful. Life, as she portrays it, is filled with moments of “almosts” and “maybes” — moments that are neither complete nor entirely lost, but exist as memories that shape who we are.
A Story That Feels Real
What makes Maybe This is Love particularly special is its authenticity. Darsha’s characters feel real, as if they are drawn from people we all know — the childhood friend we drifted away from, the person we secretly loved but never confessed to, the moments we replay in our minds long after they’ve passed. Her writing has a certain rawness, an unfiltered honesty that reflects her own young yet mature voice as a writer.
Even though the book is a work of fiction, one can sense that it is written with the emotional clarity of someone who truly understands the complexities of human connection. It is astonishing that Darsha, born in 2011, can write with such emotional depth and wisdom, crafting a narrative that speaks to readers across generations.
The Power of Simplicity
The beauty of Maybe This is Love lies not in a grand, complicated plot but in the simple, relatable moments of everyday life. Darsha reminds us that the most powerful stories are often built on small, intimate details — a glance, a message left unanswered, a shared laugh, or a memory that resurfaces years later.
Her language is poetic yet accessible. She doesn’t overcomplicate the narrative with unnecessary flourishes but instead lets the story breathe through its emotions. Each page feels like a whisper, urging you to pause, reflect, and remember your own friendships, heartbreaks, and growing pains.
Themes That Resonate
The book touches on themes that are timeless — friendship, first love, change, and memory. Yet Darsha brings a refreshing voice to these themes by writing from the perspective of someone who is both observing and experiencing these transitions in real-time.
The way she explores loss — not of people, but of moments and connections — is particularly moving. There is a quiet strength in her words as she reminds readers that sometimes, the people who leave us are never truly gone; they live on in our memories, our thoughts, and the choices we make long after they are no longer present in our lives.
The Author’s Unique Voice
Darsha’s personal background as a student, dancer, and quiet “scribbler of thoughts” shines through in her storytelling. There is a certain rhythm to her writing — almost like a dance, with moments of stillness and moments of movement, flowing naturally from one memory to the next. Her love for stories and her keen observations of life are evident in every line she writes.
What is even more inspiring is that Darsha wrote this book not as a means to chase success but as a way to give voice to the feelings and daydreams she couldn’t keep inside. That sincerity is what makes Maybe This is Love resonate so deeply. It doesn’t feel like a book written to impress; it feels like a book written to connect, to share, and to make readers feel understood.
Why the TRI Literary Awards Recognized This Book
It is no surprise that Maybe This is Love has been honored at the TRI Literary Awards Season 03. The book represents everything the award stands for — originality, emotional depth, and the ability to inspire readers.
Darsha’s work stands out not only because of her young age but because of the maturity and tenderness she brings to her storytelling. She has managed to create a book that is both a reflection of her own journey and a universal story about love and friendship that speaks to readers of all ages.
By choosing this book, the TRI Literary Awards celebrate a new generation of writers who are not afraid to express vulnerability, embrace creativity, and tell stories that truly matter.
Personal Reflections as a Reader
Reading Maybe This is Love was like revisiting my own past — the friendships I thought would never end, the conversations I wish I’d had, and the moments that still linger in my mind years later. Darsha’s words reminded me that it’s okay for relationships to change and for feelings to remain unspoken, as long as we carry their essence with us.
The book left me with a bittersweet ache — the kind of feeling you get after listening to a song that perfectly captures a moment you can’t get back. It’s rare for a debut author to create something that feels so deeply personal and yet so universally relatable.
A Bright Future Ahead
Darsha S Nair is undoubtedly a young author to watch. With her unique voice, emotional intelligence, and creative spirit, she has the potential to write many more books that will leave a lasting impact. Maybe This is Love is only the beginning of what I believe will be an extraordinary literary journey for her.
Here’s the collective feedback from the nine reviewers after reading Maybe This is Love by Darsha S Nair:
Prashant Sahu:
Maybe This is Love is a refreshing and heartfelt narrative that reminded me of the innocence and depth of teenage friendships. Darsha’s writing is sensitive and poignant, perfectly capturing the confusion and beauty of first love and the gradual shift in relationships as life moves forward. I was particularly impressed by how she weaved emotions into the story without making it overly dramatic — it felt real, relatable, and deeply moving.
Sameer Gudhate:
Darsha has a rare gift of understanding human emotions and translating them into words that flow effortlessly. The story of Caleb, Lily, James, and Sophie resonated with me because it felt like a reflection of friendships I once had — the ones that faded but never lost their place in my heart. The author’s ability to convey silence and unspoken feelings is remarkable.
Apeksha Gupta:
I was amazed by how such a young author could write with so much maturity and depth. Maybe This is Love is not just about friendship or first love; it’s about growing up, letting go, and cherishing the small, unforgettable moments that shape us. Each page carries a sense of nostalgia, making you pause and reflect on your own memories.
Akansha Sinha:
The story took me on an emotional roller coaster, bringing back memories of my own teenage years. I loved how Darsha portrayed the fragility of relationships, the fear of losing connections, and the hope that lingers even when people drift apart. It’s beautifully written, simple yet profound.
Glenville Asbhy:
What struck me most was the authenticity of the characters and how naturally the story unfolded. The emotions felt raw and unfiltered, which made the book an engaging read. Darsha’s storytelling reminded me of the quiet beauty found in everyday life — a reminder that the simplest moments often leave the deepest marks.
Pooja Sahu:
I couldn’t believe this book was written by someone so young. The narrative is full of warmth and sincerity, making you laugh, smile, and even tear up at times. The way Darsha described the bond between the characters felt so genuine that I could easily relate to them. Maybe This is Love is a gem that lingers in your mind long after you finish reading.
Versha Singh:
Darsha’s writing style is soft, almost lyrical, which made reading the book feel like listening to a heartfelt song. The way she explored unanswered questions and unspoken emotions between Caleb and Lily left me deeply moved. It’s a book that teaches you to embrace the beauty of fleeting moments.
Shivangi Yadav:
The book touched me in ways I didn’t expect. It’s rare to find a story that captures the bittersweet reality of growing up with such honesty. Darsha’s storytelling is both relatable and inspiring — it made me revisit the friendships and connections I’ve lost over time, and the memories I still hold dear.
Kavita Kaushik:
Maybe This is Love is a beautifully written story about the complexities of relationships and the subtle ways life changes us. I loved how Darsha didn’t try to give everything a “perfect” ending but left room for reflection and interpretation. It’s a stunning debut that speaks directly to the heart.
Final Words
Once again, congratulations to Darsha S Nair for winning the TRI Literary Awards 2025 (Season 03). Maybe This is Love is not just a story — it is a heartfelt exploration of growing up, of holding on and letting go, and of finding beauty in the moments that shape us.
As a reviewer, I can say without hesitation that this book is a gem — one that will remain with me for a long time. I highly recommend it to anyone who has ever loved, lost, or wondered about the “what ifs” in life.
