Kannada actor Sudharani Govardhan unveils the book
Author Neer Ya’s debut novel Vanilla Hour explores love, trauma and second chances
Bengaluru
Author and creative technologist Neer Ya has released her debut work of fiction, Vanilla Hour, a genre-blending literary novel that traverses continents and timelines to examine love, loss, trauma and the resilience required to begin again.
Set across two distinct periods—Delhi in 2008 and Tokyo in 2025—the novel follows the life of Dr. Nandini Yadav, a respected geochemist who has rebuilt her world after enduring severe personal trauma.
Now living in Japan with her teenage daughter Aani, Nandini is part of an unconventional but supportive family that includes her ex-husband Karan and his wife Yuki. Despite the apparent stability, the past continues to intrude through memories of a brutal assault and the mysterious disappearance of her first love, Anoop Krishnamurthy, nearly two decades earlier.
The narrative intensifies when a college reunion in Goa brings Nandini face-to-face with Anoop, reopening old wounds and unresolved questions, including those surrounding Aani’s paternity. The story takes a darker turn with the re-emergence of Alan, the man linked to Nandini’s trauma, and revelations about Anoop’s own past, including years spent in forced servitude to a Jakarta-based crime syndicate.
As threats mount and buried truths surface, Vanilla Hour weaves emotional depth with suspense, culminating in a high-stakes climax when Aani uncovers the truth about her origins and finds herself in grave danger. The novel probes complex questions about the nature of family, the cost of silence, and whether the past can ever truly be escaped.
Speaking about the book, Neer Ya said Vanilla Hour was written for “those who carry love and loss side by side,” inviting readers to find echoes of their own stories within its pages.
Neer Ya, a former journalist with The Times of India and currently a professional in digital and AI leadership with an international bank in Hong Kong, marks her entry into fiction with this release. Vanilla Hour is now available online.