Such Big Dreams is an impressive debut from Reema Patel, I loved the idea of indeed big dreams but how dreams are unmet or out of reach for many due to inequities, the caste system in indeed, and experiences with poverty and slums. This book was for me a fast engaging read, one that afforded me insights into a cultural and country I admittedly know little about, and helped to highlight themes on systemic barriers from face in this country. What stood out for me though are timeless and well loved themes on friendship and recognizing the developmental significance of friendship, this was well written and well developed, and a theme on learning, which I love to see placed within a book about dreams, barriers to success, and disparities.
I am grateful for the chance to be immersed in themes that are well developed and universal to many readers while also having a book that centered universal topics within a country and culture, and set of systems, that are newer to me.

Such Big Dreams is a debut that follows Rakhi, an orphan, former street kid, and now office assistant to a social justice law firm. While it started out slow, the back half of this novel really excelled. There's the study abroad office interns who are all too familiar, a corrupt government, influencers who want to look like they care about charity, and a former friend whose betrayal stings. After reading Behind The Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo years ago, this felt like coming back to a familiar, yet changing Bombay/Mumbai. Though it felt a little like everything happened all at once towards the end, I was still so sucked in by the complex characters and the intricacies of the lives they led, as well as the setting that Reema Patel describes ultra-realistically. Really liked and looking forward to seeing what Patel does next!

I have mixed feelings about this book. It was slow to start and when it finally got going everything happened at a dizzying pace. It is definitely a debut novel and has a lot of good parts but if I'm honest, I found it unsatisfying and underwhelming.

Such Big Dreams by Reema Patel. Pub Date: May 10, 2022. Rating: 3.5 stars. In this stunning debut, the author explores many aspects of India through the eyes of a young female who is navigating whatever life throws her way. Rakhi works in a law office called Justice for All and comes from the slums as a street child and develops into a woman who is earning a paycheck, albeit a small one. The reader is exposed to poverty, the slums, the rich, social justice issues, culture and lifestyle of the country of India. Rakhi is fierce and has so much potential. She is the perfect example of grit, desire and intuition. I learned a lot about India through the eyes of Rakhi. I always appreciate novels that take me to a different time and place while at the same time educate me on a culture I know little about. Read this novel if you like cultural fiction with a side of determination. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

A nice read in that it was quick and the setting is unique. The main character is well written and developed, but the supporting cast leaves me a bit wanting. I can see this appeal to many readers in its uniqueness and it will be a hit. For me, I thought it could have been a bit more developed in terms of characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the early read.

This debut novel follows a young woman's journey from surviving the unforgiving streets of India to an assistant for a human rights law office in Mumbai.

Sadly, the struggles of underprivileged communities are not unique to India, it's good to know more about the adversities and the lack of opportunities poor people face in order to empathize and to help make upward solutions available.

In this story, we witness the experiences and disappointments of transactional relationships as Rakhi ventures to find real connections, redemption, and a safe space in the world on her own terms.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine for an advanced copy of Such Big Dreams for my unbiased evaluation. 3 stars

Reema Patel’s debut novel, ‘Such Big Dreams’ is an immersive book that takes an unflinchingly honest look at systemic inequities and cultural norms. Through protagonist, Rakhi, the reader is given a glimpse at what growing up orphaned in the slums of Mumbai looks like, and what barriers to economic growth are present.

Told in first person present tense, with flashbacks interspersed throughout, this novel takes a little while to ramp up. But once it does, you won’t be able to put it down. This is a great read for someone who wants to broaden their horizons and experience a culture different than their own. And there are achingly universal elements that will speak to all, regardless.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Fantastic debut - Patel really brings to life the character of Rakhi, and her life in India. Rakhi is a child of the streets of Bombay, and has clawed her way up - just a little. But then Alex, the handsome intern from Canada arrives, and starts to convince Rakhi that she is underestimating herself, that she could go to college. But perhaps others ideas of what your life should be don't always match with your own ideas or expectations? Every character in this novel is ambitious in one way or another, and it's up to the reader to decide what type of person that makes each character.

"Rakhi is a twenty-three-year-old haunted by the grisly aftermath of an incident that led to the loss of her best friend eleven years ago. Constantly reminded she doesn't belong, Rakhi lives alone in a Mumbai slum, working as a lowly office assistant at Justice For All, a struggling human-rights law organization headed by the renowned lawyer who gave her a fresh start.

Fiercely intelligent and in possession of a sharp wit and an even sharper tongue, Rakhi is nobody's fool, even if she is underestimated by everyone around her. Rakhi's life isn't much, but she's managing. That is, until Rubina Mansoor, a fading former Bollywood starlet, tries to edge her way back into the spotlight by becoming a celebrity ambassador for Justice For All. Steering the organization into uncharted territories, she demands an internship for Alex, a young family friend from Canada and Harvard-bound graduate student. Ambitious, persistent, and naive, Alex persuades Rakhi to show him "the real" India. In exchange, he'll do something to further Rakhi's dreams in a transaction that seems harmless, at first.

As old guilt and new aspirations collide, everything Rakhi once knew to be true is set ablaze. And as the stakes mount, she will come face-to-face with the difficult choices and moral compromises that people make in order to survive, no matter the cost."

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book and read it quickly. The author's descriptions brought me back to India and its poverty, caste system, turmoil, overcrowding, danger, uniqueness, color, and vivid culture. Rakhi, the main character, is tough and very likable, with a subtle sense of humor and determination. Rakhi's story of growing up on the streets and turning her life around to make her way is filled with hope, resolve, and justice.

"Such Big Dreams" is a moving story about ambition, identity and survival from debut author Reema Patel. For fans of Adunni in "The Girl with the Louding Voice", you will find another unforgettable character in Rakhi, a woman fighting for her dreams and her place within the corruption and oppression in India. Simultaneously inspiring, heartbreaking and hopeful, "Such Big Dreams" shows us how a clever, tenacious former street child finally decides it’s time to live life on her own terms.

The story is told from Rakhi’s perspective and it only takes a few pages to fall in love with her spunk. She’s funny and sharp and although she keeps a lot of it to herself, it makes her more of an underdog character you’ll be cheering on. All the characters in the story are complex and well written—even the more loathsome ones. While there is a lot of humor involved, it is also uncomfortable because of the way so many treat Rakhi—taking advantage of her status, thinking she is a project for them to better or simply looking at her as a “peon” living in the slums. It makes her willingness to finally stand up for herself all the more compelling.

One thing I really enjoyed was the educational aspect to the story. There are portions of it that are loosely based on actual events and it’s like looking through a new lens in many parts of the book. Patel weaves in the corruption and moral compromises at every economic level that characters in the story make in order to survive within society. We get a great dose of Indian culture and terminology. Plus, we get a reality check when we see Rahki’s perspective of people who think they are helping her when they are actually contributing to her oppression.

There are parts that will break your heart. I especially loved the theme of friendship and what tragedies it may take to realize the people who love us most may not be the ones making the biggest show of it.

Ultimately this is a story about survival and Rahki’s determination to take back her power. By letting go of the things she once held dear and finally living life on her own terms, we get the story about one woman’s inspiring fight for redemption. 4.5 stars

A lot of telling and not a lot of showing. Much of this book is lightweight with a TON of trauma mentioned but shoved to the background and largely brushed over, leaving the book without the emotional heft it needs for me to be engaged. I’m sure, though, that it will be popular among a certain book club audience. NetGalley ARC due to be published April 26.

This was a riveting story about the complexities of relationships that we believe to be friendship but turn out to be transactions, the importance of persevering and finding one's self, and overcoming obstacles. I found this book to be a really interesting, well researched story that included difficult truths about societal conditions in India.

This book tells the story of Rakhi, who works as an office assistant at a nonprofit focused on human rights in Mumbai. Through her present day story and flashbacks to her previous life, readers learn how she went from living on the streets to being able to support herself. The author has captured life in modern day India and the class system that exists. Rakhi is a character readers will root for. This was a compelling story about resilience.

Such Big Dreams is a stunning debut from Reema Patel that takes you straight to the streets of Mumbai as you follow the young Rakhi's life. Rakhi is a young woman who works in an office role at an NGO called Justice for All. Earlier in her life, Rakhi experienced a traumatic series of events that led her to meet Gauri Ma'am, who later helped her land a job at Justice for All. This book follows Rakhi's life now in this office role with sprinkles of flashbacks to her earlier life. It explores the ways in which one's lived experiences and personal histories impact their relationships–both personally and professionally–while also depicting a fictionalized journey of a true, historical event in Mumbai.

I really enjoyed reading Such Big Dreams. It felt like a different choice than I'd normally pick up, but the cover is what initially drew me into wanting to learn more about this debut. I think the worldbuilding in this book helped paint a clear picture of what Rakhi's world is like, and it was easy to follow despite the different cultures followed in this book. The writing style definitely fits in with the typical contemporary depictions of things, as it tends to lean towards saying how things were instead of relying on the reader to make great inferences from the text to understand the passages. I say this not as a critique and more as an observation that some readers may or may not connect with. Another element I enjoyed about Such Big Dreams was the flashbacks, which is something I usually don't like to read in books. I think the flashbacks featured in Rakhi's story really helped the reader connect with our main character, and they were relevant, well-timed, and at the perfect length to keep the reader engaged while providing new context to help set the scene. I think Rahki was the perfect character to follow in this book, and her story was one I kept wanting to learn more about. On the other hand, sometimes it felt like the side characters were less developed, but I think this could also reflect the isolation and solitude Rakhi experiences in her character's journey. Patel did an artful job of leading the reader to envision Rakhi's life, and little elements like word choice and sentence structure made the character's voice shine through. At times, I did find myself wishing for a glossary for some of the terms, but it was usually easy to follow without one. My only main critique of this novel was the pacing. It felt very slow, especially in the beginning half of the book, so it took me a while to really become invested in the plot since it was so character-driven. If slower-paced, character-focused stories are your type of read, I'd definitely recommend this.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group's Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the copy of Such Big Dreams. Rakhi was such a great character! From her homeless childhood to her office assistant job she was engaging and likable and I rooted for her the whole book. I loved how she grew and learned to believe in herself, even though her coworkers looked down on her because of her low status job.
The story took some time to unfold, but I liked the dual timelines and how we slowly learned about the other characters. I couldn’t wait to find out what happens to Rakhi in the end, and this made the book a real page-turner for me. The writing really brought Bombay to life, so it was like a mini travelog.
If you want a story that is partly heartbreaking and partly triumphant, this is a great book for you.

Set in Bombay, India, this novel follows the life of Rakhi, a 23 year old woman working in a non-profit law office. Okay, that opening sentence sounds boring and this story is NOT boring at all. The narrative toggles between Rakhi's past and her present which echoes parts of her past. She was orphaned at a young age and found herself living on the streets of Bombay before being put in a girls home and being mentored by Gauri, the head lawyer for the non-profit organization. The descriptions of street life in India and the class differences are beautifully written. Rakhi is a savvy young woman navigating both worlds and she is a scrappy, savvy character whom you find yourself rooting for throughout the novel. I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

I liked the premise of this book, which is set in modern day Mumbai, India. I always enjoy reading and expanding my knowledge in regards to legal injustices in various parts of the world. This book covers events I had no idea existed, so for that I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn more about it.

The main character, a former street child, who is trying to better her life, has depth, and is admirable, flaws and all. However, one downfall for me with this book is the storyline loses my attention for most of the middle section and it was the last 25% that stood out the most to me. That's where it was beautiful and captivating and made reading this book all worth it. I'm glad I finished the book, so I could enjoy that ending.

**Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I am posting this review to my Goodreads account immediately and will post it to my Amazon & Instagram accounts upon publication.

Vibes of Slum Dog Millionaire, this story takes place in Mombai (Bombay) where a former street child is given a second chance to make it out of the slums. Rakhi is working in a law office as lacky, getting coffee and running copies and an all-around errand office girl. She is also in charge of helping out the international interns who come to add a notch to their CV’s by working at the human rights advocate law firm, Justice For All. Rakhi is smart but usually underestimated and overlooked by those in the office. Alex is the new intern, a privileged young man from Canada but with ties to a prominent Indian family. He enlists Rakhi’s help to learn the true India in exchange for helping her with a dream for her future. His “auntie” is a former Bollywood star who decides to partner with Justice For All as her new cause but with aspirations of reviving her career. Soon, Rakhi is conflicted with where she is heading and remaining true to who she is as she must decide at what cost does she want to make.

This book was a page turner, well written and descriptive that as a reader you are transported to the slums of Mumbai and walk along with Rakhi. One can’t but help to admire the tenacity and courage it takes for her to survive and thrive given the circumstances of her birth and the conditions that she finds herself in. How clueless the young Canadian intern was, oblivious to his privileged position that he could not even understand that others don’t have the same opportunities that he is familiar with. I did not like this character, but I expect that was the author’s intent to show that foreigners do come to have a taste and think that they understand what others lives are like as they watch from their guilded towers. I also liked that the author was realistic portraying the hypocrisy of the lawyer who fights for justice for all but yet adheres to keeping Rakhi in her place as a servant telling her she should be grateful not to expect to rise about her class. This was also a coming of age story for Rakhi, to learn to appreciate herself, believe in herself and celebrate who she is. She shows courage and fortitude. I wasn’t sure what to expect on this book, but I enjoyed it a lot and would recommend it to read.
What a great discussion a book club could have with this one.

Many thanks to #netgalley #suchbigdreams #reemapatel for the opportunity to red and review this book.

The book uses the character of Rakhi to compare and contrast life in Mumbai on the streets, in the slums, and in the upper echelons of Indian society. Using her experience one summer working for a human rights law firm in India, Ms. Patel weaves a rich narrative. The reader can actually see the streets, the treatment of the lower classes. And the description is made more vivid by the contrast with an intern from Canada.

I was honored to receive an advance copy of Such Big Dreams. Ms. Patel, It was such a joy to read Such Big Dreams. If you're reading this review, do yourself a favor and read this book!!

WOW! I loved this debut book from Reema Patel! I don't typically look to read stories filled with characters from other cultures, but this book caught my attention from the first pages, and I was totally enthralled with Rahki's life as an orphan on the streets of Bombay, and in her endeavors as a lowly aid in a legal office in India. I was so entrenched in the story that I could envision myself encountering the negativity and horrors of growing up homeless in an area of such filth and corruption.

This story begins a few years ago, and at the end of most chapters, a section is dedicated to the past, to Rahki and her friend, Babloo, and their survival as children living on the street, and their ultimate capture. It is incredibly well written and compelling - I finished the book in record time! I was hoping for a different ending, but after thinking about the epilogue, I decided that the finish was appropriate and perfect, and really, the ultimate path for a young Indian woman in Bombay.

Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Such Big Dreams.