Aastha Roy’s ‘Love Under Cover’ is a workplace romance that understands the appeal of familiar tropes without relying on them alone. At its heart, it is an enemies-to-lovers story, but it is equally about ambition, trust and the difficult choices people make when their dreams and their conscience pull them in opposite directions.
Ananya Tripathi is unemployed and broke. Living on her own in Mumbai, she is under mounting pressure to return home and settle into a life she doesn’t want. When a coveted job slips through her fingers, she accepts an offer that seems too good to refuse: become the assistant to the young COO, Jai Advani. The catch? She has to spy on him.
On the face of it, Jai is everything Ananya believes she should dislike. He’s privileged and impossible to read. But working alongside him, she realises she couldn’t have been more wrong. Long days together at work reveal someone driven by integrity, compassion and an unwavering sense of right and wrong. As professional friction gives way to undeniable chemistry, Ananya finds herself trapped between the secret she’s carrying and the man she’s falling for.
Roy’s biggest strength lies in her characterisation. Ananya is never reduced to being the romantic lead waiting for love to transform her life. She has dreams, insecurities and ambitions that exist independently of Jai, making her journey just as compelling as the romance itself. Jai, meanwhile, begins as the quintessential romance hero—wealthy, handsome and dependable—but Roy gradually peels back those layers to reveal his vulnerabilities, making him feel far more human than the archetype he initially appears to be.
The chemistry between the two leads develops organically, making every moment of banter and vulnerability feel earned. Their relationship is easy to root for, even as the looming secret hanging over them creates a constant sense of tension.
The supporting characters deserve equal credit. Rhea, Ananya’s flatmate and closest friend, brings warmth and authenticity, while Arjun helps flesh out the world beyond the central romance. They never feel like characters existing solely to move the plot forward. Instead, they make Ananya and Jai’s lives feel fuller and more believable.
The world-building is another pleasant surprise. The House of Advani feels like a company with its own identity, while its rivalry with Lehenga Bazaar adds texture to the narrative. Roy creates a workplace that feels lived in rather than merely serving as a backdrop for romantic encounters.
Structurally, the novel sticks to well-loved romance conventions. The enemies-to-lovers arc, workplace setting and dual perspectives are all familiar territory, yet Roy presents them with enough warmth and emotional sincerity to keep the story engaging. The alternating points of view work particularly well, allowing readers to understand Ananya and Jai’s fears, motivations and emotional journeys.
If the novel has one weakness, it is that Roy occasionally leans more towards telling than showing. A little more restraint would have made some emotional moments land with even greater impact.
Even so, Love Under Cover is an assured debut. It may not reinvent the workplace romance, but it succeeds because of its emotionally grounded characters, believable relationships and immersive world. In an increasingly crowded enemies-to-lovers space, Aastha Roy delivers a romance that feels heartfelt, satisfying and leaves you eager to see what she writes next.