Author Subin Bhattarai’s third novel, Monsoon, has been launched amid a function held at the premises of Nepal Academy Hall in the Capital on Saturday. Following the great commercial success of his two previous novels, hundreds of fans and bibliophiles thronged to the venue despite the rains for Monsoon’s launch.

Author Bhattarai, whose first novel, Summer Love, was released in 2012, is a fan-favourite among young Nepali readers. The author, with his exuberant themes and readable prose and his depiction of young character that are easily relatable, has been compared by some critics to the bestselling Indian author Chetan Bhagat. Summer Love, following its massive success in the Nepali literary scene, was translated into English in August, 2015. The book was translated by Pratima Sharma.

His second book, a sequel to Summer Love-Saaya-was released in 2014. Although it failed to garner critical acclaim, went on to cement his legacy as one of the leading voices in Nepali young adult literature. Bhattarai also has an anthology of short stories, Kathaki Patra, to his credit.

Now the newly-released Monsoon is set to further establish Bhattarai as one of the more widely read authors currently writing in Nepali. The huge crowd gathered at the book’s launch stood testament. “While Summer Love and Saaya revolve around the love between two young collegians, in Monsoon, I have presented a slightly different and a more mature love affair,” Subin Bhattari, the author, has said. “I have also dealt with one-sided love affair in the new book. Monsoon can be taken as a metaphor for love, how love can be unpredictable and with ups and downs.”

The book was launched jointly by author himself and singer Pramod Kharel, who entertained the audience with some of his well-known hits, before the launch. The event was followed by a question-answer session, where the audience engaged in a discussion with the author. Sabina Karki, who hosted the show, also recited excerpts from the book.

The book has been published by Fineprint.