I would in all fairness, probably give Keya Das's Second Act four and a half stars, because it isn't a perfect book for me, but that it isn't an option so I'm rounding up, because IT IS a really good book. The character in the title of the book is only seen in flashbacks; she died in a car accident several months after coming out to her parents and sister, an event that went badly. After Keya dies everyone that was close to her drifts away, like she was a sun holding the planets in orbit. Her parents, Shantanu and Chaitali, get divorced. Her mother remarries to another member of their Bengali community, and her dad drinks and falls apart. Her older sister Mitali rarely interacts with her parents beyond obligatory holiday appearances. But then one day Shantanu stumbles upon letters and a play of Keya's in the attic and Mitali's secretive boyfriend Neesh's suggests the play has potential. Mitali makes the suggestion of staging the play to her parents and grandmother and her father decides to help her proceed forward, along with some help from his new girlfriend Catherine, a woman he meets in the improv classes Mitali's gifted him for Christmas. With significant others that allow them to become happier, healthier people, Mitali and Shantanu recognize the value in processing their feelings about Keya, and bringing to life what amazing person she was through her play. They may even convince Chaitali to get on board, but they have one other person who needs to be a part of bringing The Elm Tree to life - Keya's high school girlfriend Pamela. The Elm Tree is autobiographical, telling a slightly fictionalized version of Keya and Pamela falling in love, and then breaking the news to their families. With Keya gone, and her parents never aware of Pamela's love for her, Pamela is faced with finally coming out to her family and finishing Priya and Kate's story, one Keya never had the opportunity to finish before she died. It's not entirely fair to say the book is fully about second chances, because Keya's family doesn't have a chance for a do-over to get things right with her. But it is a book about new beginnings, open-mindedness and forgiveness. Shantanu, Chaitali, Mitali and Pamela have been waking up every morning, but they haven't been living life to the fullest, and bringing Keya's story to life changes that for each of them. It also reconnects Neesh with someone from a past he's trying to move on from that will result in a moment of reckoning in his relationship with Mitali. This book also addresses the differences in acceptances in different generations, especially in a community with strong religious beliefs and culture. Shantanu has a difficult time accepting Keya's sexuality because it was strongly enforced by his own father that relations between the same sex were wrong. If he had been raised differently would his response to Keya have been different? Would things have been different if Keya hadn't of cut herself off from her family after their initial reactions, instead of giving them time to process her news and see things from her perspective? Learning something unexpected about someone you love can be really hard - and both supporting them and processing it can be a difficult tightrope walk to balance. This is a very thoughtful novel that examines these things and the fallout that can occur. A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a warm and sentimental story told from multiple points of view about a family dealing with regret and missed opportunities. The story is similar to Razoblade Tears but with a much more optimistic and hopeful tone. I loved the way Bengali culture was incorporated throughout the book. Even the most minor characters felt real, like a true balance of good and bad traits.

18 year old Keya tells her family she is gay and it isn’t received well. She dies shortly afterwards, leaving her family regretful about what they could have done to support her while she was alive. The story is very creative about how the family comes to celebrate Keya and deepen their understanding of each other. The secondary plot with Neesh and friends is a little weak, and it felt unresolved.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Everyone wishes for a second chance to make up for a mistake, but Keya Das' family doesn't have the opportunity. When 18-year0old Keya announces to her Indian family that she is gay, they have various, but totally unsatisfactory reactions. Her father Shantanu suggests counseling, her mother Chaitali dissolves into tears and her sister Mitali is furious that her sister did not confide in her. Keya storms out of the house and barely speaks to her family for many weeks. As they come to terms with her announcement, the family decides to discuss the matter with Keya and reconcile with her. Unfortunately she is killed in a car accident and they don't have the chance. After her death, they discover a copy of a play she had been writing and decide this would be the best way to honor Keya - staging the play. A warm, endearing novel about love, redemption and the strength of family.

Gorgeous, clever, sentimental, emotional redemption story. The novel tells the story of a Bengali family in New Jersey and the aftereffects of the accidental death of a teenage daughter on her parents and older sister. Other descriptions of the novel focus on the father as the main character, which I suppose is accurate, but the author also gives us a good look into the lives of the mother, grandmother, surviving daughter, and her eventual boyfriend. Everyone is very much imperfect, yet lovable somehow.

As a high school teacher, I often read fiction thinking about my students and to whom I can recommend the novel for independent reading. The narratives and themes in the novel are not only appropriate for high school students, but also culturally enriching.

This fine novel reveals a lot of potential in debut novelist Sopan Deb. Interestingly, Mr. Deb’s day job is sportswriter and contributor to the Culture section for The New York Times. Also intriguing is that he is writing about the life-changing effects of lesbian love on a family. Mr. Deb was born in Massachusetts to a Hindu family of Bengali origin and grew up in New Jersey. In the book, the featured family is also of Bengali origin, and I enjoyed learning about some of their customs.

At the heart of the novel, however, is the reaction of the Das family to young Keya’s brave coming out. Keya’s sister Mitali is the most accepting of Keya’s lesbianism. Her major objection is that now she is the one responsible for giving the parents (Shantanu and Chaitali) grandchildren. The parents’ reaction is not at all positive. Keya is shaken by this and soon after dies in a car accident (was it an accident?). This is not a spoiler as we learn about this very early on. Fallout occurs, leading to Shantanu and Chaitali’s divorce. Years later Shantanu finds a box in the attic, the contents of which affects him deeply. He goes into therapy and ultimately shares the box with Mitali and Keya’s lover Pamela. The remainder of the story is for you to read about.

I loved the storyline, which was just heartbreaking, but ultimately inspirational and heartwarming. I thought that the characters were well done but could have been fleshed out just a bit more in order to make me cry at the end. I also wanted to read the last act of Pamela’s play. My only other criticism is that the middle part about Neesh’s escapades went on a little too long for me. Otherwise, I think this was a wonderful debut effort by the author.

I recommend Keya Das’s Second Act to all fiction lovers. I see Mr. Deb has written a memoir. I plan to give that a go and will also keep an eye out for any subsequent novels he might have in him.

Many thanks to Net Galley, Simon & Schuster, and Mr. Sopan Deb for an advanced e-copy of the book. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

I really enjoyed this novel! I love the hope and optimism the story ultimately carries, that people are capable of change and that even in the face of devastation and what feels like rock bottom, there is a glimmer of light. Perfect book for right now.

Keya Das's Second Act
By Sopan Deb

This is a book about family, love, misunderstandings – and missed opportunities caused by generational and cultural differences. It is also a story of redemption. At first I found it slow going because of all the unfamiliar Bengali terms liberally used. I almost gave up, which would have been very unfortunate. I loved this book and am glad I hung in.

Keya Das, an 18 year old Bengali who is gay, dies in a car crash a short time after "coming out" to her family. The sorrow and guilt experienced by her parents has led them to divorce. Her sister and her grandmother feel that there was more they should have done. Her girlfriend Pamela has still not faced her grief nor told her religious family about her sexual orientation.

There is a secondary story line about Neesh, Sandeep, and Jared concerning making mistakes and the price that must be paid. All of these characters are very real and touch your heart.

I was surprised by the author's decision on how to end the story. Yet, I think he left the reader with much to consider. I would highly recommend this book.

This debut novel tackles the difficult situation of the death of a young woman after she comes out as gay to her family. The reader never meets Keya. She is already dead when the story begins. We see her in memories of her sister, father, mother and grandmother. We read the draft of a play she was writing.
The story is warm and moving. I loved these characters, who all too late regret the way they handled her announcement. As the father says to his therapist “I always thought I was open-minded. And then when something different came to my doorstep—-.” The family has fallen apart. The parents are divorced, the eldest daughter is estranged from her father. When her father finds a box with some love notes and the play, he attempts a reconciliation with his remaining daughter. Her new boyfriend, who has had a traumatic past of his own, suggests finishing and staging the play.
The story made me laugh and cry. It tells of taking chances, of redemption, of forgiving (ourselves and others). According to the author, it’s based on a true story, which makes it all the more poignant. I was glued to the story, wanting to see how it would end (and what ending Pamela would come up with for the play). And surprisingly, I felt the ending was perfect.
One small quibble. The author uses a lot of Bengali words without ever defining them and it wasn’t always apparent what they meant.
My thanks to Netgalley and Simon Schuster for an advance copy of this book.

Keya Das's Second Act is Sopan Deb's debut novel and a strong debut at that.

The story centers around an Indian-American family called the Das family, and the people associated with their lives. It is set in New Jersey, and right from the onset, we learn that something terrible has happened - over some time now - and each of the characters we meet are finding ways to move on. Some have moved on better than others, but all of them have a ways to go before they can truly let go of their past. The guilt and regret they each hold because of the "incident" have ruled over their lives in various ways...until they are gifted with an opportunity for healing and redemption, unexpectedly through the person they have lost (at least I saw it this way).

The characters are well-developed and relatable, heartbreak and family are the foundations on which this story was built, but there was as much healing as there was reminiscing & regret. At the end I was left with a hopeful, joyful heart and a renewed resolve to be good to my loved ones.

I really enjoyed the book, although I spent majority of it desperately going over whether or not I did anything regrettable to my own family members and also praying for their safety...because I won't lie - the general premise is centered around loss and how irrevocably it can change your life, and that is a hard premise to keep at the back of your mind as a reader. But humans are resilient and we can find joy in our grief and we can move on while remembering and paying homage to those we are leaving behind (or those who have left us behind). This story did a wonderful job to share just such a message with us readers.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster & NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

This was an interesting book with difficult family interactions and a lot of heart ache. I cheered for the individuals throughout the story. Things can’t be undone after the death of a daughter but people can be forgiven.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel breaks my heart. The story line is about a young woman who dies tragically after being rejected by her family. They come together years after her death to give honor to her work.

This story with multiple points of view from different family members, featured beautiful writing that highlighted an interesting family dynamic.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a free advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A story about family, love, loss, forgiveness, and redemption. A family’s attempt at repenting and trying to let go of the residual guilt that follows after losing their daughter and sister in an accident after a time of strife within the family (I really don’t understand how any parent can react with anything other than love and support after a child announces that they are “other” than straight, religion and culture be damned, my child, their happiness, and our relationship is more important to me than anything).

As you can tell, there were parts that were not to my liking. The cultural homophobia, and the backstory of a secondary character who is not a part of the family was confusing and a lot of book space was filled by this character.

I wasn’t the right reader for this, but I have no doubt that this well written debut will absolutely find its audience and I do look forward to reading Mr. Deb’s future works.

Having a gay child could be difficult for many parents, but it must have been especially hard for Keya’s parents. Never having dealt with Keya’s sexual orientation while she was alive, they now try to set it right after her death. A sad book because acceptance and reparation came to late for Keya.. Thank you to Simon and Schuster Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A very charming debut that explores themes of acceptance, forgiveness, and new beginnings through a delightful cast of characters. The ending left me wanting more, as I was truly invested in so many of the characters and how far they’ve come. I would have loved to read a hundred more pages to find out what happened next for each of them. Looking forward to more from Sopan Deb, as he clearly has a knack for creating characters we can all root for.

READ THIS BOOK.!
Sopan Deb’s beautifully conceived Bengali family drama offered everything I look for in a novel:
It engaged me from the first chapter;
The characters were so real I felt I could touch them;
I was experienced things through this book that I have not encountered in life; and,
I completed the book, but am still thinking about it.
This novel took me by surprise, touched me, upset me, and “ lifted me.”
It was simply wonderful.

Note: i did not find a glossary in my kindle version, but would have benefitted tremendously from one. The family terms and cultural celebrations were unfamiliar to me.
NETGALLEY PROVIDED ME A COMPLIMENTARY COPY OF THIS BOOK IN RETURN FOR A CANDID REVIEW

I had high hopes for this book and wanted to like it. Unfortunately it had such a slow start. I do not feel the synopsis does justice for what the book is about either. At a glance, you’d assume it’s a family putting on a play to honor their deceased daughter and sister.

There’s a lot of jumping around across years to understand character backgrounds. Most are very flat and story lines are thin. Time passes without any discussion or observation. Half of the book is dedicated to another character that is not part of the family. He’s awkward and it’s hard to understand how he fits into another character’s life.

Fans of Alexander McCall Smith may like this style of writing. There’s a lot that happens between the simplistic lines and a lot that must be taken at face value. This style is not for me, however. I want to fall into a book and feel connected with the characters. The story of redemption and overcoming grief is the real star of the show. And if you expect to celebrate the play’s success/outcome, manage your expectations now as the performance isn’t even part of the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. I found it to be very sad. Yes, it was beautifully written and a peak inside another culture, but the premise of family members trying to make themselves feel better about their bad reaction to the younger daughter coming out as gay struck me as sad. After the loss of a loved one is a terrible time to come to acceptance.

For a book that is about honoring a dead lesbian estranged from her family, the author of this book almost never actually uses those words. The book tiptoes around both the queer character and her death, and everything that her family and friends do is about making themselves feel better....by spending a ton of money to produce a play that the dead woman wrote with her girlfriend and endow a scholarship in her name. The characters start small and don't grow or learn or become compassionate; they just sigh a lot and happen to have connected and/or rich friends to throw money at their guilt. They even talk about throwing money at their guilt, but they don't talk much about the dead lesbian whose "second act" the events of the novel are supposed to be. Maybe that's the point; I don't know. What I do know is that if that's the point, then it isn't clear, and it the point is a feel-good book about honoring a woman who "passed" and "was they way she was," then it's a terrible, terrible book that perpetuates euphemistic, anti-queer language and indulges in the avoidance of talking about facts in factual ways.

This was a really sad but also heart warming story. Showing the choices we make can have devastating consequences but we can ultimately learn from them as well. I loved the cultural elements woven throughout the story telling too. It was a pleasure to read.