Late Bloomers
A Novel
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3.5 • 22 Ratings
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
An Indian American family is turned upside down when the parents split up thirty-six years into their arranged marriage in this “heartwarming journey of self-discovery” (Southern Living).
“Touching . . . both funny and moving—a family drama the entire family can enjoy.”—Reader’s Digest
A REAL SIMPLE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • LILLY’S LIBRARY PICK
"I have a soft spot for underdogs. And late bloomers. You’ve told me a lot of things about yourself, so let me tell you something about me."
After thirty-six years of a dutiful but unhappy arranged marriage, recently divorced Suresh and Lata Raman find themselves starting new paths in life. Suresh is trying to navigate the world of online dating on a website that caters to Indians and is striking out at every turn—until he meets a mysterious, devastatingly attractive younger woman who seems to be smitten with him. Lata is enjoying her newfound independence, but she's caught off guard when a professor in his early sixties starts to flirt with her.
Meanwhile, Suresh and Lata's daughter, Priya, thinks her father's online pursuits are distasteful even as she embarks upon a clandestine affair of her own. And their son, Nikesh, pretends at a seemingly perfect marriage with his law-firm colleague and their young son, but hides the truth of what his relationship really entails. Over the course of three weeks in August, the whole family will uncover one another's secrets, confront the limits of love and loyalty, and explore life's second chances.
Charming, funny, and moving, Late Bloomers introduces a delightful new voice in fiction with the story of four individuals trying to understand how to be happy in their own lives—and as a family.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
In her witty debut novel, Deepa Varadarajan introduces us to an Indian American family and their hilarious and heartrending quests for love and acceptance. After spending 36 years in an unhappy arranged marriage, Lata does the unthinkable—divorcing her husband and starting a career. Meanwhile, her now-ex-husband, Suresh, is obsessed with online dating; their daughter, Priya is having an affair with a married man; and their high-powered lawyer son, Nikesh, is married to someone who may not be the mother of his child. Late Bloomers takes us on an emotional roller coaster—and boy, is it fun! Each colorful character and their distinct way of looking at the world captivated us. This is one charming read.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Varadarajan debuts with an endearing exploration of an Indian American family's search for new beginnings. After 36 years, the Ramans call it quits on their arranged marriage. Lata moves into a condo and gets a job as a librarian, the allure of these first-time experiences outweighing the challenges of singlehood. Suresh, on the other hand, turns to internet dating. (For his profile, he shaves four years off his age, calling himself 55.)Meanwhile, their adult children navigate their own complicated lives. Nikesh, the star of the family with his perfect lawyer-wife, Denise, and their eight-month-old son, is hiding a secret about his relationship with Denise. His older sister, Priya, a history professor who's considered a problem child because she's unmarried and childless at 35, is hiding an affair with a man her parents would never approve of. Suresh meets an attractive woman too young for him, while Lata agrees to her first-ever date, but the accumulating secrets threaten to shake the family's foundations. Striking narration from each of the family members and believable character development add to Varadarajan's bold challenge to traditional South Asian conventions for a stringent life plan. These strong voices leave an indelible mark.
