This heartwarming novel felt like Fredrick Bachman meets Jhumpa Lahiri. A group of oddballs come together following the unexpected death of teen Keya Das to put on the play she wrote. Through the process, the multigenerational group heals old wounds and binds together.

This novel worked on many levels. The group is filled with individuals who break out of the prescribed model minority roles. The deceased Keya was gay. Following her death, her Bengali American parents divorce. Mitali is dating Neesh, a rehearsal space employee who can barely make rent. Throughout the novel, each character makes bad choices at some points and is forced to live with them. But the story is redemptive—it’s never too late to change.

Another thing I liked about the novel was the redeeming power of art. Within India, Bengalis are known for their artistic achievements. However in the United States, especially, many first generation Indian American parents shun careers in the arts. Still, each character is rejuvenated by their connection to art in some way.

The characters in this story are well-developed, and the pacing works. The only thing I didn’t like about this book was the handling of the ending, but I don’t want to spoil by saying more.

Still, this will be the hug of a novel that all those with regrets about the past can enjoy this summer. Thanks to NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this novel immensely, especially the story of how Keya’s family came together with her girlfriend to produce her play off-Broadway. The background story on Neesh was a bit distracting for me, though. I liked the subtle transformation through the book of Keya’s sister and parents.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Keya Das's Second Act is a book about a grieving family who find healing by producing a play that their deceased daughter c0-wrote about her experience and her teenage years. I didn't know what to expect from this book, but I thought it was really well written and emotional, and it really stuck with me.
I really enjoyed how this book focused on so many different characters, especially the different generations of a family. We get the perspective of Shantanu, a father whose daughter passed away in a car accident five years prior, and Mitali, the older sister of the daughter who died, most prominently, but the other characters have their own perspectives as well. I really liked those two characters the most - I think I could have used less of Neesh if I'm being honest. He was a fine character and he was the motivating force for the play, but I didn't care about him like I did the Das family.
I thought that the Das family felt so real. I enjoyed reading about the Bengali-American family and community, and I loved hearing about their connections and their relationships with one another, especially with them all struggling with the tragic loss of Keya. I liked the way the play drew them all together, and I really liked the fact that Keya was such a strong part of the story, even though she had passed away five years before the story began.
The writing of this book was beautiful, and it was hard to put down because I just wanted to keep reading. The snippets of the play that Keya and Pamela wrote were truly beautiful, I usually find myself cringing at pieces of writing within books, but I really did like these bits.
I'm probably going to be recommending this book a lot - I really enjoyed it!

Shantanu Das, a professor of archaeology at Rutgers, discovers an opened box in his attic that belonged to his now deceased younger daughter, Keya. This discovery opens carefully sealed crevices of guilt and sorrow within him; guilt of not accepting his daughter when she came out as gay to him, sorrow of his estrangement and eventual divorce from his wife and the breakdown of his relationship with his elder daughter, Mitali. He discovers a play that Keya and her girlfriend Pamela were writing. A wild idea from Neesh, Mitali’s boyfriend, of staging this play, might bring back Keya to life, albeit briefly. But maybe this could give all of them an opportunity to overcome ghosts from the past. Or it could throw them further into the clutches of despair.

After a long time, I read a book that was unputdownable. The engrossing story of Das family will make you scratch your own family secrets. What stood out to me was that while the story did take a lot of mysterious turns, it was never devoid of a tender dash of sensitivity. Deb fully appreciates the absence of black and white demarcation as far as some issues are concerned and he allows his characters to gracefully struggle with this ambiguity. The end product is a beautiful, yet heartbreaking tale of how sometimes second chances are the life boats that a gasping man desperately needs.

Deb shines out as a sensitive and astute writer of the Indian diaspora in America, although I am convinced he could write about any matter with adequate deftness. Comparisons with Jhumpa Lahiri and while natural, they are unnecessary. The overall topic may be the same, but Deb asks some very difficult answers. He goes beyond the cliché issues of “tiger parenting” and Ivy League admissions to homosexuality and divorce, topics that are still quite untouchable amount the first or even second generation immigrants, even though they are some of the most educated individuals in the society. We still have a long way to go.

This is a book about a grieving family finding healing through a play their deceased daughter co-wrote. When Keya comes out to her Bengali-American family, they do not react well, They do not have the chance to make amends before she dies. Keya's death leaves them reeling. When they find the play in a box in the attic, Mitali's (Keya's sister) boyfriend, Neesh, encourages her to stage the play. I enjoyed the chapters that dealt with Key's family, but I was less engaged with the chapters about Neesh's background. It explains why he wanted to stage the play, but I don't know that was enough to devote so much time to it, I understand why the author ended the book where she did, but I thought it needed a little more.

Multi POV family stories are my #1 favorite sub genre, and this family's reckoning with their past and grief, the ways they're isolated from and reconnect with each other, the instances where they each carry their regret with them AND build new love and risk and art into their lives totally swept me away. The shared project and the characters it brings in are pitch-perfect.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Shantanu is having a tough year. His daughter Keya who was gay died almost a year ago. When going through some things in the attic he finds some writings done by Keya. This brings up strong memories of his daughter. I liked the honesty and emotions that thus book conveyed.

I really enjoyed his memoir which clearly influenced this book. I was a little put off by the author reviewing it himself on GoodReads but read it anyway because I did like his first book. I love books about families and family drama that cover a wide range of ages and this didn't disappoint. I liked that the family was Bengali American because we don't hear as much about their experiences and everyday life as we should. It was a little fantastical--suddenly deciding to stage a play?? But it was done with sweet intentions and after reading his memoir I can see why he would want to think about this sort of family disconnect and want a fantasy version of connection.

When I first started reading I was a bit confused on what was going on. But once I got the characters straight I enjoyed this look into a family past and how it shapes their future.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

I absolutely loved the book. It was a heart-breaking and heart-warming story of a broken family trying to find their way back to each other, while also seeking redemption and purpose. I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you to the publisher and author for this advance copy. This book follows an Indian American family in New Jersey. I loved the plot and where the author was going with this story. The characters were portrayed well and the whole book flowed very well. Highly recommend

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

Available July 5th 2022

Keya Das's Second Act is a remarkable work of fiction. With all the pathos and timing of an Indian drama series, the story follows the Das family, a group of Indian Americans living in New Jersey. When Shantanu Das finds his younger daughter's secret play in the attic, he is forced to reckon with a past he had thought he had left behind. in time, the family faces fears and dreams they had held onto for so long. One of the many things I admired about this book is the way Deb uses Bangla without transliterating the language. It is rare and beautifully done. The characters have so much depth that you almost wish they were real people you could call. This is a feel-good novel that will make you want to spend more time with your family!