evilanchovy's review against another edition
5.0
I really loved this novel. The book contains magical realism, but I would say that overall it tips more toward realism, which I like. I grew up in the suburbs and am just a year or two younger than the main characters, so the first part of this book made me nostalgic in a way that many 90s/Y2K period pieces do not.
rocomama's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
fromsarahsbooknook's review against another edition
2.0
This book was not for me, but it might be for you. Even though the book wasn’t quite to my taste, I thought the ending was beautiful and very satisfying.
Content warnings for suicide and drug use.
Content warnings for suicide and drug use.
lilamaee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
cashoe8's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
leung3356's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
anishaaa's review against another edition
3.0
I think this shows a realistic look at a 1st generation upper middle class Indian-American community in the first half of the book. It might lean a little stereotypical, but considering it's pretty close to my lived experience, I'm okay with it.
The main character is insufferable; It works here but I was annoyed at him throughout. I would have liked the book to focus on Anita instead. The story loves to mention the three generations of strong women, but is still told from a man's point of view.
I couldn't really get into the second half, and the ending felt rushed. I had to listen to Chapter 11 twice in order to understand what was going on.
Still, worth a read, especially if you're Asian American, or love stories about the Indian diaspora. The narrator pronounced everything correctly (to my limited knowledge), and was wonderful.
The main character is insufferable; It works here but I was annoyed at him throughout. I would have liked the book to focus on Anita instead. The story loves to mention the three generations of strong women, but is still told from a man's point of view.
I couldn't really get into the second half, and the ending felt rushed. I had to listen to Chapter 11 twice in order to understand what was going on.
Still, worth a read, especially if you're Asian American, or love stories about the Indian diaspora. The narrator pronounced everything correctly (to my limited knowledge), and was wonderful.
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
I was enjoying this a lot until it got too dark for me about halfway through... I found it too painful to just go on reading after a pivotal event in the middle of the book. This is told in first-person from the point of view of a teen boy in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, the son of immigrants from India who is making sense of a world his parents don't see or understand the way he does. I enjoyed the touch of magical realism, and I enjoyed the narrator's voice very much. Still, I couldn't finish it.
karty_v's review against another edition
DNF @ 38%
Idk if it was too slow or I just couldn't get into the story... It's written beautifully but not for me.
Idk if it was too slow or I just couldn't get into the story... It's written beautifully but not for me.