Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
I firmly believe that every woman needs a slut phase. I said what I said. Now I’m going to explain it. When I say slut phase, what I really mean is starting to figure out who you are, what you want in life and especially what you don’t want in life. Experimenting with sex, flirting with different hobbies and activities and establishing what your passion in life is. Anu Desi has never had her slut phase or an experimental phase. She’s always been the good girl, whose followed her close-knit Indian family’s expectations to the letter. She married the first boy she ever kissed, Neil, in her early twenties while going through nursing school and quickly became pregnant. With her illusions about her relationship as popped as the balloon at a 5 year old’s birthday party, she asks her husband for a separation and finds herself in a serious relationship with a white man. When she catches the white man cheating at the club (“These white man are dangerous,” has never been SO real, thank you Pocahontas), she goes on a journey to discover who she really is and what her passion really lies. I LOVED this book. I loved the messages behind it: that in order to be happy with your life, you have to first be happy with yourself. I loved that romance was in the book but it wasn’t the entire point of the book. I loved learning about Indian culture and I loved learning more about yoga. This book may have inspired me to take a yoga class but we’ll see.
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Tik Tok | You can find my review here.
As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
Going into Grown-Up Pose blindly and optimistic was the best decision I could have made when reading it. This is such a special, sweet, read that brightened up my day. For a moment, I was mostly in it for the cover design and how shallow I am when it comes down to illustrated covers. Yet, within only a few pages, Sonya Lalli had me hooked and completely engrossed in Grown-Up Pose. This is definitely a book that is more than just another beautiful cover.
At this stage in my life--well enough into adulthood, yet not quite feeling as such--books like Grown-Up Pose really hit the right marks for me. Right time, right book. Coming of age stories can be hit or miss sometimes, and they come in all genres and ages. Most of the time, I lack a personal connection with them. Lately, though, more and more voices have been presenting themselves in fiction that feel organic and true to life--this is one of those voices.
Grown-Up Pose is a refreshing sort of story in its diversity, honesty and optimism. Lalli never fails to tug a smile upon my lips and the pacing of Grown-Up Pose is quick and sharp. Stories that feature flawed characters coming into their own, changing their life and taking newfound risks are always a soft spot for me.
The characters are wonderful; realistic in their flaws, errors, and what not. Sometimes you want to shake some sense into them, other times you want to high five them. Lalli writes Grown-Up Pose in a way that feels nearly fluffy, but not quite cheesy. The story itself gave me many warm and fuzzies. I found myself rooting for our leading lady, Anu.
Ultimately, there's so much goodness in Grown-Up Pose. Easy to read, intelligent and charming, this upbeat story keeps the pages turning. Grown-Up Pose is all about starting over, discovering who you were always meant to be, and growing up.
As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
Going into Grown-Up Pose blindly and optimistic was the best decision I could have made when reading it. This is such a special, sweet, read that brightened up my day. For a moment, I was mostly in it for the cover design and how shallow I am when it comes down to illustrated covers. Yet, within only a few pages, Sonya Lalli had me hooked and completely engrossed in Grown-Up Pose. This is definitely a book that is more than just another beautiful cover.
At this stage in my life--well enough into adulthood, yet not quite feeling as such--books like Grown-Up Pose really hit the right marks for me. Right time, right book. Coming of age stories can be hit or miss sometimes, and they come in all genres and ages. Most of the time, I lack a personal connection with them. Lately, though, more and more voices have been presenting themselves in fiction that feel organic and true to life--this is one of those voices.
Grown-Up Pose is a refreshing sort of story in its diversity, honesty and optimism. Lalli never fails to tug a smile upon my lips and the pacing of Grown-Up Pose is quick and sharp. Stories that feature flawed characters coming into their own, changing their life and taking newfound risks are always a soft spot for me.
The characters are wonderful; realistic in their flaws, errors, and what not. Sometimes you want to shake some sense into them, other times you want to high five them. Lalli writes Grown-Up Pose in a way that feels nearly fluffy, but not quite cheesy. The story itself gave me many warm and fuzzies. I found myself rooting for our leading lady, Anu.
Ultimately, there's so much goodness in Grown-Up Pose. Easy to read, intelligent and charming, this upbeat story keeps the pages turning. Grown-Up Pose is all about starting over, discovering who you were always meant to be, and growing up.
Spoiler alert
Wanted to like it - but just meh. The mc’s relationship progression and story arc with her parents is the most compelling aspect, all her other interactions and decisions lead me to find her quite unlikeable and very flat yet somehow inconsistent as a character. The drama around the ambiguous OD was ridiculous (1. mc would have had her address on file for payroll / then real-in part? Come on. 2. The degree/description of addiction does not make sense at all within the story and action etc. and like... doesn’t really advance the plot even though it seems to be one of the major catalysts of the book?)
Secondary characters were mostly very one-note but the parents were so fantastic!
Some great bits and pieces but overall just meh - that said, it was a great 2 day “beach read / chick lit” read in between heavier/headier reads and sometimes that’s just what you need!
Wanted to like it - but just meh. The mc’s relationship progression and story arc with her parents is the most compelling aspect, all her other interactions and decisions lead me to find her quite unlikeable and very flat yet somehow inconsistent as a character. The drama around the ambiguous OD was ridiculous (1. mc would have had her address on file for payroll / then real-in part? Come on. 2. The degree/description of addiction does not make sense at all within the story and action etc. and like... doesn’t really advance the plot even though it seems to be one of the major catalysts of the book?)
Secondary characters were mostly very one-note but the parents were so fantastic!
Some great bits and pieces but overall just meh - that said, it was a great 2 day “beach read / chick lit” read in between heavier/headier reads and sometimes that’s just what you need!
A fun, fast read. It's a little hard to empathize with a character who does things like buying a yoga studio or traipsing around Europe on a whim, but Anu's personal life and internal struggles are relatable. I do love a story where the female lead has issues in her life, attempts to fix them, realizes she doesn't know how to fix them, realizes she's not even sure what issues she's trying to fix, and then decides to keep trying anyway.
The writing is engaging and well-paced, and the characters are entertaining, if not always believable. The ending is a bit too perfect for me, but it's still satisfying.
The writing is engaging and well-paced, and the characters are entertaining, if not always believable. The ending is a bit too perfect for me, but it's still satisfying.
this was lovely and i‘m glad it ended how it did, but i didn’t quite warm to the characters. 3.5
Damn. Maye it’s the quarantine, but this book was fantastic. It really took me back to a time where I could leave the house. Do you guys remember that? Traveling outside of one’s home/neighborhood/city/country? Wild. But forreal, there was a lot of travel and large group gatherings, which is nice. A lot of books have solitary characters who think a lot, which is often interesting, but not during a quarantine.
This book tackles serious topics like immigration, trauma, racism, cultural appropriation, adult relationships, accountability, etc. The book is funny, dramatic, emotional, and real. Sonya Lalli shows off her sharp wit and intelligence with her descriptions of gross hipster yoga studios and nightclub life.
Lalli, explores what happens when the good Indian girl (Anu) listens to her family who tells her:
“Yoga is a hobby, Anu, not a passion.”
“What kind of wife and mother teaches yoga?”
Anu realizes that her identity revolves around her husband, steady job, and a kid. So she leaves her husband and finally explores who she is. Chaos and self-discovery ensues.
Lalli is a writer coming out of Berkely Books that explores established relationships and how they function. This new wave that explores the highs and lows of relationships and how to balance your own autonomy.
This book tackles serious topics like immigration, trauma, racism, cultural appropriation, adult relationships, accountability, etc. The book is funny, dramatic, emotional, and real. Sonya Lalli shows off her sharp wit and intelligence with her descriptions of gross hipster yoga studios and nightclub life.
Lalli, explores what happens when the good Indian girl (Anu) listens to her family who tells her:
“Yoga is a hobby, Anu, not a passion.”
“What kind of wife and mother teaches yoga?”
Anu realizes that her identity revolves around her husband, steady job, and a kid. So she leaves her husband and finally explores who she is. Chaos and self-discovery ensues.
Lalli is a writer coming out of Berkely Books that explores established relationships and how they function. This new wave that explores the highs and lows of relationships and how to balance your own autonomy.
After the author’s last wonderful book, I’m disappointed by this one.
Maybe because it takes place in Vancouver instead of Toronto? Who knows.
I couldn’t help but feel like the protagonist was 13 years old instead of 30 - she stayed stagnant to me. I felt myself rooting for a lesbian plot twist the whole time but alas, no such luck.
Maybe because it takes place in Vancouver instead of Toronto? Who knows.
I couldn’t help but feel like the protagonist was 13 years old instead of 30 - she stayed stagnant to me. I felt myself rooting for a lesbian plot twist the whole time but alas, no such luck.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-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
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes