Life is What You Make It
by Preeti Shenoy
Life is What You Make It by Preeti Shenoy is a contemporary Indian novel that follows Ankita, a bright, ambitious young woman whose life appears on track—she has good grades, loving parents, and a close circle of friends. She exchanges romantic letters with a childhood friend and later navigates college relationships, enjoying the usual mix of crushes, friendships, and ambitions that define late adolescence. On the surface, Ankita’s life looks like a familiar middle‑class success story, full of promise and possibility.
Gradually, however, her inner world starts to diverge sharply from that appearance. Ankita begins experiencing intense mood swings, bursts of energy, racing thoughts, and impulsive decisions, followed by crushing lows that she struggles to understand or control. Academic pressure, relationship conflicts, and unspoken emotional burdens add to the strain, and her behaviour becomes increasingly erratic, worrying the people around her. Eventually, a severe episode leads to a crisis that forces her family to seek psychiatric help, and Ankita is admitted to a mental health facility for treatment.
Inside the hospital, the narrative slows down and focuses on Ankita’s diagnosis, therapy, and the difficult work of accepting that she is dealing with a serious mental health condition rather than just “stress” or “overthinking.” The story sensitively depicts medication, counselling, and the stigma that often surrounds psychiatric care in Indian society, while showing how doctors and caregivers help Ankita stabilise and understand what is happening to her. Through this process, she confronts her own fears, denial, and shame, slowly learning that her illness does not define her entire identity.
As her condition improves, Ankita starts rebuilding her life with a new level of self‑awareness and responsibility. She learns to manage her triggers, accept the importance of ongoing care, and redefine what success means beyond grades, romance, or social approval. The later part of the novel is about cautious but hopeful reconstruction—pursuing creative interests, making healthier choices, and embracing the idea that the future is still open if she chooses to engage with it deliberately.
Overall, the full arc of “Life is What You Make It” turns a deeply personal mental health journey into an accessible, motivational story. It emphasises that anyone can face psychological struggles, that seeking help is a sign of strength, and that with treatment, support, and inner courage, it is possible to reclaim agency and shape a meaningful life despite serious setbacks.