Reviews

My only issue with this book is that it should have been longer. This could have easily been 200 or 300 more pages. I loved this book and I wanted to spend more time with the characters.

jwinchell's review against another edition

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4.0

I love YA that shows young people crossing borders, navigating cultures and identities, and making sense of the worlds they inhabit. This was a beautiful multi-generational tale of Bengali-American women doing all of the above as they make their own ways with and despite family expectations. Recommended.

rachelbookdragon's review against another edition

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4.0

4.5 stars. This book made me laugh throughout and feel wistful at the end, not wanting it to end. I’m embarrassed to say how long this book has been on my TBR, since before it was even published. I knew I’d love it and I was right. It was the perfect intergenerational story, transcending three generations as they moved to America and balanced their Indian/Bengali heritage with what it means to be an American.

Five voices were highlighted, hearing the story from their perspective, and instantly drawing you in as a reader as their hopes, dreams, and fears play out over the years as you see their lives and the lives of their children unfold over decades from the 70s to 9/11 and beyond.

I really enjoyed the storytelling and the magic of coming of age, strong women changing the world and exploring their passion, and love overcoming challenges and expectations. The discussions of grief, being mixed race, and becoming American while not losing your identity were all strong subjects.

I recommend this historical fiction story for anyone who loves exploring generations within a family and seeing character growth over time and a bit of falling in love.

bsmorris's review against another edition

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4.0

I really enjoyed the style and alternative points of view in this novel. The characters were varied and interesting and sympathetic. The story focuses on three generations of a Bengali-American family, spending part of the novel on each generation. My only complaint is that the characters were so likable that I wish I could have read an entire novel on each one.

booksaremyfavorite's review

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4.0

Really enjoyed the characters and their development over time. Sweet story that dealt with the complexities of identity and belonging as well as family relationships. I look forward to reading more by this author.

reneesmith's review against another edition

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5.0

A heartwarming coming-of-age story. Five Indian women, family members over three generations, explore the unique aspects of identity as they figure out where they fit in the American story. A gently told story filled with grace & humor. A gem.

theresab93's review against another edition

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3.0

As an Own Voices novel, I admire how Perkins captured Indian culture and family values, but the story arc just lacked a bit of heart and care. It's very "snapshot" story telling, weeks, months, even years would be between each chapter that it became hard to really grasp onto these characters. Since the next time we would see them, for example, Character A has now broken up with boyfriend that she started dating last chapter but we have no idea why, leaving the reader feeling quite distant from these characters in general

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