Cute and fun. I enjoyed the read. It's been awhile since I read it. I'm unsure why I didn't post the review before but I remember that I enjoyed the book.

I loved this book! It was an interesting look at modern India with fantastic characters. I can't wait to read the author's new book when it is released.

Thank you for the chance to review this book, however, unfortunately, I was unable to read and review this title before it was archived.

This was probably my favourite book of 2017. I just couldn’t stop reading it. It was fun, fascinating, exotic and happy.

Funny, unique story that kept me engaged. The writing was breezy but clear, and the story moved along quickly enough to keep me interested. It is a very nice vacation or beach read.

The Windfall by Diksha Basu is about an Indian couple - Mr. and Mrs. Jha - who are middle class until the husband sells a very lucrative business, and suddenly - windfall! They move to an upper-class neighborhood and explore what it's like to fit in with a place where it matters what country club you belong to. I thought it would be whimsical and funny, and if not thought-provoking, at least entertaining. I love exploring other cultures through novels, but this one fell flat for me. The characters felt two-dimensional. The men in the story felt like caricatures of rich people, and the women, while slightly deeper and more sensible, still left me wanting more character development. There is little plot, or drive to the story, and the most memorable event comes out of left field toward the end of book. The story is well written, it's just not my cup of tea.

This is an interesting look at what happens when the Jha family, having lived in close quarters with neighbors for many years suddenly come into a very large sum of money thanks to Mr. Jha's sale of his internet website business and decides to move his family to the wealthy part of Delhi-kind of a combination of "movin on up" and the grass is always greener. Mrs. Jha is unhappy about the move-misses her friends and her "normal " life. However her husband will not be deterred-he buys a big house, and wants to fill it with everything that will indicate his wealth-including having a guard, butler and maid. He befriends his neighbor and is deeply engaged in trying to keep up with them and impress them until one night he commits analmost unforgivable gaffe that could be his undoing. In the meanwhile their son gets kicked out of grad school in the U.S. and gives up his true love in order to return home to live with his parents and try to please them rather than himself. To quote Mrs. Jha-"new beginnings can be difficult but nice" as they settle into their new surroundings and begin to make a new life. A very enjoyable read and an honest look at how sudden affluence can affect a family in both good and bad ways.

I was so excited to be approved for The Windfall. It sounded right up my alley and I was right! I don't read enough cultural books, which is odd because I love learning so much about different cultures. I don't know a whole lot about India and their culture, but I felt like this book was so well written and I was easily educated about the country as well as enjoyed a really great story at the same time. You really learn so much about the Jha's as individuals and as a family as they navigate this new life now that they have come into a lot of money. There were so many laugh out loud moments and it was a cute and lighthearted read. Very entertaining as well as a bit educational in the process. I overall thoroughly enjoyed this book so much.

The Windfall by Diksha Basu proves that no matter the culture everyone is focused on "keeping up with the Joneses". Mr.and Mrs. Jha are embarking on a new life thanks to the sale of Mr. Jha's company. They are moving from their tiny apartment to a new higher end neighborhood. I enjoyed the characters and how similar the problems are to those here in America. It is a nice reminder that people are basically the same. I found the characters realistic and therefore likable. Each had flaws, and I enjoyed how the relationships evolved throughout the book.

Mr. Jha has sold his website and has more money than he could ever imagine. He is moving his family out of their New Delhi housing complex and into a chi-chi neighborhood with gates and guards and private clubs. It is quite amusing to see how Anil and Bindu struggle to fit into their new milieu, as their son also tries to make his way in his MBA program in NY. A light summer read.

Thank you to Crown Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of Diksha Basu's novel, The Windfall, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT - Anil Jha worked hard for many years and has sold his technology invention for a very large sum of money, allowing him to purchase a mansion in a wealthy suburb in India. As they prepare to leave their modest middle-class neighborhood, a neighborhood where they raised their son and where they have formed strong friendships, the Jha's struggle to reveal their recent windfall to their neighbors. Will they find a home in their new neighborhood or will their windfall adversely affect their lives?

LIKE- Basu's characters and tone remind me of books from one of my favorite authors: Alexander McCall Smith. Like Smith, Basu is a keen observer of human nature. She uses this skill to pin-point her character's flaws and fears, often using these weakness in humorous scenarios.

For example, there is a continuous battle between Anil and his wealthy neighbor, Mr. Chopra. The battle is subtle and internal, with each man fearing what the other might be thinking about the other's wealth and status. It becomes increasingly absurd, even to the point of their bragging that they are so rich that their adult sons do not need to work. These are men that have built their fortune through hard work, and yet, they see it as a source of pride that they can afford for their children to be lazy. Anil is even okay with the idea that his son, Rupak, has been expelled from a college that he was attending in America. Anil twists the story of Rupak's expulsion to fit the new narrative of their lives. Rupak is ashamed to have been expelled and is baffled by his father's easy going attitude.

I liked the glimpse of different social tiers in India. It seems like a lot of the stories set in India, both novels and films, that make it to the US market, show the poverty and struggle. It was a nice change to show middle-class and wealthy characters. I liked the sense of community that the Jha family experienced in their middle-class neighborhood. It reminded me of the townhouse complex where I grew up, which connected me to the story. 

DISLIKE- The Windfall is social satire and although it makes a poignant statement and is often very humorous, the nature of the story plays close to the surface. Although it is clear that what the characters say or do, is often the opposite of how they truly feel ( for example Anil's struggle to prove his new wealth), I wish the story had dove a little deeper. 

RECOMMEND- Yes. The Windfall is very humorous and filled with delightful characters. I look forward to reading future novels by Diksha Basu.

I didn't find myself interested in the male perspective of this story, so I stopped reading it.

Light comedy, light romance, light book in general. Adjusting to having much more wealth than they can imagine, a New Delhi family are challenged to keep up with their new neighbors. Light reading for summer time.

A thoroughly satisfying social and class satire set in Delhi, "The Windfall" tells the story of a family grappling with newfound wealth and attempting to find their place in their new suburban life. Marriage and parenting adult children are portrayed in such an honest way, and the descriptions of ostentatious expenditures are described with just the right balance of vulnerability and humor.

I loved the dialogue between the Chopra and Jha couples and cheered for Rupak as he attempted to figure out his true identity and path in life. My favorite character in the whole book, though, was Mrs. Ray - her quest for happiness as a young widow is so touching and authentic.

I highly recommend this 6/27 title from Diksha Basu to anyone looking for a witty and smart commentary on class and culture in India and the US.

Thanks to Net Galley for the digital review copy - all opinions are my own.

It is every entrepreneur’s dream to have their creation sell for a boatload of money. For Mr. Jha the dream comes true when his website is bought for $20 million—the kind of money that changes lives. For Jha and his wife it means finally moving from the cramped apartment in Delhi they’ve lived in for twenty-five years to a beautiful new home in an upscale neighborhood. Their son Rupak is already attending a college in the U.S. to get his MBA so it feels as if all their hard work is paying off. Of course, nothing is that simple and in The Windfall, Diksha Basu plays a diverse cast of characters against the traditional norms of Indian society for a novel that transcends culture and resonates with humor and warmth.

Mr. and Mrs. Jha aren’t the only two people impacted by the change in their fortunes. Rupak is having too much fun with his unlimited checking account and blonde American girlfriend to focus on getting his degree and even after he flunks out, his father doesn’t seem to care. Closer to home the Jhas are dealing with two sets of neighbors—those they’re leaving behind and those who will be next door. Mr. Jha is anxious to jettison his old neighbors and get started on outdoing the new neighbors, the Chopras. To this end, he shops compulsively, buying a Swarovski studded couch and contemplating putting in a pool, even though he doesn’t swim. Finally, there is Reema, Mrs. Jha’s best friend. A woman whose husband died while she was young, but who is still relegated to the rigid role of widow, meaning love and companionship are not considered appropriate.

It wasn't even a question of dashed dreams for her; she realized now that she simply had no more dreams.

Basu takes the expected trope of spendthrift, out-of-control wife and shifts it onto the husbands in The Windfall. Mr. Jha and Mr. Chopra go to ridiculous lengths to showcase their wealth, culminating in conversations that disparage their sons to inflate their own egos. The boys (young men in their twenties) are ‘completely useless, but thankfully, I have enough money to support him forever.’ The men are cringe-worthy in their desire to prove themselves as so wealthy no one in their family needs to work. But while Mr. Jha is buying everything he sees to proclaim his newfound status, it is Mrs. Jha who is the novel’s ballast. She is not sure that moving from a crowded neighborhood where everyone knows and helps each other to one where each house has so much land you can’t even see your neighbors is a good thing. She has no interest in trading in her traditional saris for clothing with designer labels. And once they’ve moved she is lonely in a fully staffed house with an isolated kitchen that she is not supposed to use.

Through her characters Basu weaves a tale that wonderfully defies genre. The moneyed aspects and social climbing feel like Kevin Kwan’s Crazy Rich Asians novels, except that here the wealth is new and the striving to spend it turns sad. It’s the Indian version of the Clampetts as they head to Beverley Hills with their oil money. The absurd lengths the characters go to to flaunt their wealth feels like satire, but the novel also remains grounded in the not-so-funny aspects of traditional Indian culture as the old ways rub up against the new ways. Throughout it all, Basu strikes the perfect balance between humor and tenderness, blending compassion with comedy and making The Windfall delightfully fresh reading.

This is a funny yet sad look at how the nouveau riche try to adjust to their new social status. It seems the very rich also have insecurities like the rest of us in their search for belonging.

An entertaining look at the challenges for the Jha family after moving from the poorer side of town to the wealthy part of Delhi. Mr. Jha sells a website for millions, which uproots his family and their entire way of life. Mr. Jha becomes obsessed with fitting in, while his wife remains grounded, upset with this constant keeping up with the Jones mentality. Their son flunks out of his American MBA program, and the Jha family faces their new reality. I really enjoyed the peak into this part of Indian culture, while the humor of the story made it endearing. A fun read, with my favorite character Mrs. Ray, a modern Indian widow who is Mrs. Jha's friend.

A light but charming novel about a middle-class Indian family who abruptly become fabulously wealthy when the father sells a website he developed. Mr and Mrs Jha – middle-aged, comfortable, traditional – decide to move from their old family apartment in East Delhi to a brand-new mansion in Gurgaon; the American equivalent might be a couple selling their Queens apartment to set up in a McMansion in Silicon Valley. This, of course, leads to cultural clashes both funny and sad, from broken ties with old friends to an ever-escalating game of financial one-upmanship with the new neighbors. Meanwhile, their son Rupak is attempting to acquire a MBA from an American university. "From Cornell", the elder Jhas like to say at first, when they're showing off their upward mobility; "from the nearby Ithaca College", they say later, when it becomes clear that having a failure of a son is even more of an indication of wealth – after all, only the really rich can support useless offspring! Rupak himself strives to chose between two romantic possibilities: the white Elizabeth (Rupak assumes his parents would never approve of him dating an American, while Mr Jha secretly longs for a white daughter-in-law to humblebrag about) or the Indian Serena (who, despite being the niece of a family friend and fellow Delhite, culturally comes from ivory-tower artists who are possibly even more foreign than the Americans).

None of the characters are particularly three-dimensional, but then, it's not really that sort of book; it's more interested in recognizing certain real-life types of people and having a gentle laugh at them than exploring the deep personal ramifications of sudden wealth. It's also an excellent book for Westerners despite being set almost entirely in India. Basu has a subtle but deft hand at explaining various cultural allusions without exoticifying them. For example, at one point Serena sends a joking text to Rupak:
Have you seen all the places in Collegetown charging $5 or more for turmeric milk? Good old haldi doodh that our mothers make every day. Forget banking, that should be your next big business idea—something from our childhood at marked-up prices. I’m thinking Maggi Ramen. Wait, that might actually be a good idea.
Look at that! Providing a translation and context for "haldi doodh" in very naturalistic-sounding dialogue, adding "Ramen" to the brand-name "Maggi" so that it becomes something recognizable even to someone who's never been to India, and all without alienating a reader who's already familiar with both. It's such a minor thing to point out, but I noticed Basu doing this work in several places, and I'm very impressed at how she manages to speak to two audiences at once.

Anyway! It's fun, it's breezy, and it's not too serious: I recommend it.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1990179809

Read via NetGalley ARC: The novel focuses on the Jha family, as Mr. Jha sells a successful website he designed so that the family can move up in society by making the move from Mayur Palli in East Delhi to the more elite Gurgaon. The transition is fraught with stress from telling the Mayur Palli neighbors about the impending move, to choosing the proper furniture and car. The pressure of keeping up with the new neighbors is palpable, and Basu adds lovely touches of humor to the story and to the characters she brings to life. Readers can't help but find a warm place their hearts for the characters. The neighbors in Mayur Palli are endearing and down to earth. Mrs. Ray is genuine and relatable, highlighting the tension between tradition and modernism, just as the Jhas represent that same tension between middle and upper class and Rupak emphasizes the differences between life, work, love, and school in America and India. In the end, the emphasis lands on being genuine, loving family, appreciating friends, and embracing adventure regardless of money, tradition, and the expectations of others. This was a fun read, but it had deep underlying themes as well that encourage thought and provide perspective on life and the pressure to be something we may not be in this world. I highly recommend it and will definitely recommend it to others.

Hilarious debut novel! The characters all evolved through personal challenges, developing even amidst life's detours. This book provides insightful commentary about the human spirit.