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5.0
emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I absolutely adored this collection of short stories! I wish I could include quotes in this review, but it's still an ARC at the moment, so I'll have to forgo them. But I need a physical copy of this book- when it comes out I'll be one of the first in line. If you've ever experienced dysfunction in your family or any kind of estrangement, this is the one for you. There's also ironic humor embedded in many of the stories- so it's not all sadness 😅

This collection gave me 3 things: 

(1) coming-of-age vibes (loss of innocence, self-discovery, reckoning with family drama/trauma),
(2) confirmation of the stress of not-knowing (either cultural ignorance or from living in poverty),
(3) and good ole mystery/suspense!!

My favorite stories were (almost all of them):
- The Bus
- Come With Me
- The Immigrant
- Summers of Waiting
- Lunch at Paddy's
- The Protocol 
- The Math of Living
- Best Possible Experience

I felt so connected with the stories and characters. Nishanth Injam paints an achingly honest picture of what it's like to struggle with family but also with oneself. Highly recommend this collection, and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. 

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