A romantic comedy novel from India
Kevin can make a whole room laugh. He is every guy's best friend and every girl's worst nightmare: a stand-up comedian who has never once heard a yes. This is his story, told from the strangest place possible, his own wedding day.
by Bhavik Sarkhedi and Suhana Bhambhani, published by Leadstart, 2022
Set 01 · The premise
There has been no significant change in the life of Kevin: a monotonous routine, an ordinary family, and miserably failing relationships. Until he finds out he is going through something abnormal, an existential crisis.
Kevin has always been a marvellous entertainer with a mysterious way of putting girls off. The talent in him grows creatively and abundantly, while his inability to impress a girl keeps pulling him down. So he does the only logical thing a heartbroken introvert can do: he takes his rejections, walks on stage, and turns them into stand-up comedy and rap.
The novel starts at his wedding and travels backwards through every no that built him: mocking friends, comparing parents, first crushes, a dog named Bruno, and open mics where the loneliest guy in the room becomes the funniest. Will Kevin ever get a chance in love? Will he become a successful stand-up comedian?
The Unproposed Guy is a homogeneous mixture of passion, determination, love, stand-up comedy, existential crisis, and a lot of sarcasm.
Set 02 · The cast
Funny with guys, creepy with girls, introvert on the street, killer on the stage. He realises he can be any guy's best friend, but he also seems to be every girl's worst nightmare. A born solo traveller with a dwelling mystery, waiting for one yes.
Already planning her own wedding the moment her brother is finally off the hook. Says what everyone else is thinking, usually mid-sentence.
The favoured first-born who arranges the caterers, the band, and the family's expectations. Kevin gets compared to him for almost everything.
The friends who gift glow-in-the-dark boxers on his wedding day and quote their own golden words. Marriage advice included, free of charge.
A day with a cappuccino, a girl named Cheryl, and a long ledger of rejections that slowly turns into stage material.
The friend who saved Kevin's life once. Some heroes have four legs and no punchlines.
Conservative beliefs, certain restrictions towards modern norms, and some favouritism between their children. Sound familiar?
Set 03 · Lines from the book
Every line below is printed in the novel. No paraphrasing, no punch-up. This is the voice you are buying.
Marriage is like a video game…starts off easy, then gets harder, and eventually you go online and find a way to escape.
Well, living alone is better than being left to live alone.
They say that the journey is more important than the destination, but those who have to walk alone, seldom see the beauty in long roads.
I left my bed to have coffee, black just because the milkman was on leave that day.
Fourteen I was back then, innocent fourteen, the age when the only Sunny I knew was Deol.
Instagram = I want to be with/like Snapchat
Snapchat = I am taken
Twitter = I am committed to 140 characters
Reddit = I am the origin of everything on the Internet
Quora = I think I am Reddit for Indians
Wikipedia = Sadly, I am slowly turning into Quora
Trust is an important part of a relationship, but it shouldn't be doled out blindly.
He drinks green tea, not just espresso. He likes all kinds of music, not just Despacito. He is funny, but he fails to show it to his girl.
Set 04 · First pages
"I do look good. Maybe…okay?" As his reflection shone in the mirror, Kevin murmured to himself. It was a big day for him as he was getting married. He took in a gulp of air and breathed out.
The early May sun peeked out of the white clouds. A pleasant breeze from the north rustled in through the window as sweet strains of wedding music drifted across the venue.
I can't believe it, I am finally getting married!
"Kevin, where are you lost? It's your wedding day!" His sister's voice floated in from somewhere nearby, already well aware of his state of mind.
He looked in the mirror again as he adjusted his hair, thinking that he looked odd, almost like having the legendary Captain Jack Sparrow at a formal cocktail party.
"Like the captain said, 'Close your eyes and pretend it's all a bad dream. That's how I get by.'" He muttered out loud.
The wedding has 186 more pages of history behind it. Continue on Kindle or preview free on Google Books.
Set 05 · The reviews
Every card below is a real, public reader review, quoted with name and date, linked at the wall's end. Nothing invented, nothing trimmed into flattery. One reviewer hated it too; that one is here as well, because real walls have that.
I enjoyed the novel. It is different because it offers a twisted tale with elements that you seldom find in modern novels. Kevin's life is a mirror to understand contemporary society and its ways. You will surely enjoy this tale of relationships and failures until realisation strikes Kevin and he decides to stand up for himself... and his choice.
Slow start, but once I hit chapter 5, I couldn't stop. I love "twisty turny" books with cute and fun elements. Unpredictable. There are some books when you finish, you just sit motionless with blank face, feeling speechless. That's what happened to me.
The authors have written the story of Kevin wonderfully... Read it and you will understand what makes this novel different and readable, as well as relatable.
A contemporary fiction added with the flavours of comic and satirical stuff written in the Chetan Bhagat style. It is a small book with easy language and you can easily read it over the weekend.
The tale at first seems to be a light easy going read. But only when you delve deeper into it, one realises the kind of life lessons it entails. All in all, a pretty relatable and fun read.
If you are bored of watching Netflix & Amazon Prime series then u can go for this book for some sort of entertainment. It made me laugh out loud with the amazing sarcasm & comedy. I thoroughly enjoyed it & I'm sure you would as well.
Written remarkably well and has wonderful character development. Authors Bhavik Sarkhedi and Suhana Bhambhani have created a truly unforgettable character in that of Kevin. It will tear your heart, but the hopeful, heart-warming, and beautiful conclusion will help you mend it.
"186-pages of misogynistic jokes and bland humor later, I am writing this review." One author-reviewer wanted her time back. 279 reviews sit on the wall; this one belongs on it too. Read her full take on Goodreads and decide for yourself.
kevin, just an ordinary guy, who is in search for the love she deserves. I'd say, at first I didn't connect, then I started liking the plot, I laughed a bit and then I was shocked.
A usual story of a guy in an unusual way. The authors switch the story in the time frame of the present and past very beautifully. The language of the book is very easy, fluent and lucid. This reading will not waste your time for sure.
This book is a perfect blend of humour and creativity. And the end of the book is amazing. The story is for both introverts, who will find the situations extremely relatable, and for extroverts, who can learn to acknowledge and sympathize.
Set 06 · The story behind the story
Bhavik starts writing The Unproposed Guy as a fictional character on a Medium blog, one funny story at a time, with a single thought: one day, pen it all down together as a wholesome story.
The neon cover goes public. The character now has a face, or rather, a microphone where a face should be.
"He is a fictional hero in the book; he is a real life hero in my life."
Leadstart Publishing (Inkstate imprint) publishes the novel, co-written with debut author Suhana Bhambhani. In Bhavik's words from the launch post:
"The Fictional Character who motivated me to 'Not Stop' no matter what. The Lame But Smart Character who told me 'Never Give Up' is finally here."
ThinkerViews and The Bookish Elf review it within weeks. Goodreads reviews start stacking up through the festival season and never quite stop.
303 ratings, 279 written reviews, 4 editions. The unproposed guy finally got his yes, from readers.
Set 07 · The authors
Bhavik Sarkhedi is a best-selling author, verified personal branding expert, award-winning digital marketer and SEO consultant. His work has been featured in esteemed publications such as The New York Times, Forbes, Fast Company, HuffPost, Indian Express, YourStory, Times of India, and Entrepreneur.com. Until June 2026, he has authored 21 books, including bestsellers like "The Unproposed Guy". He has written over 2000 articles for prominent outlets and has published several research papers on personal branding at the intersection of AI. He is currently co-founder of Ohh My Brand and Blushush, and previously founded Write Right, Estorytellers, Taletel, Bloggism, Kalam Kagaz and Dad of Ad. Forbes in 2025 mentioned him in the 'Top Personal Branding Experts' list.
Suhana Bhambhani is a former investment banker with an eminent zeal for writing. She gives her best writing in creative content and article scripting, and has delivered inventive content specialising in ghostwriting. The Unproposed Guy is her debut novel.
"Kevin's character is Bhavik's invention. His idea and my writing became a combination of our creativity and hard work, the result of which is The Unproposed Guy."
Set 08 · Inside the book
30 chapters run like open mic sets. Here is the board backstage, exactly as the table of contents bills them.
Chapter names as printed on the Google Books table of contents. The encore is not listed anywhere, on purpose.
Set 09 · Get the book
Also on Amazon UAE and other Amazon marketplaces. Paperback ISBN 978-9356107243 · Ebook ISBN 978-9356107250 · Publisher: Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd (Inkstate imprint), 5 July 2022.
Set 10 · Questions people ask
Some stories start with a no.
The good ones collect a few hundred.
One wedding. Thirty chapters. Every rejection that built the funniest guy in the room.