THE VIBRANT YEARS - SONALI DESAI
4.5⭐
PLOT - 65 yr old Bindu Desai inherits a million dollars being absolutely unaware but it could expose her shameful mistake from rhe past.
She quickly spends it to buy a condo in a posh retirement community on Florida.
This decision comes asa shock to Ally her daughter in law whom she shares her home with post Allys divorce with her son. Ally is fighting for her segment at the local news station after worked for many years.
Allys daughter Cullie is at the brink of loosing her business which made her a tech star and inorder to save it she has to come up with a new idea.
The 3 generation of Desai women now hv to support each other and come out triumphant.

MY THOUGHTS
I loved this character driven story where these women face real lufe problems , how they hv each others back and face the challenges ahead.
I love sonalis writing style it sucks you in the story..there is great character development, enough family drama along with a hint of mystery ,great humour with her Bollywood reference and in this case a special mention to Goan food.
Highly recommended this one. Available in KU.

3.5 The Vibrant Years is a multi-generation and multi POV story of 3 Indian women in the U.S. I enjoyed the differing POVs as it lent to really getting to know each character individually. I also liked how being there for each other is a common theme and that resonated deeply. I did find it drawn out at times and it read much slower than it should have. Thank you to NetGalley and Mindy's Book Studio for an e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion. The Vibrant Years is now available.

Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy. I really enjoyed reading this book and loved learning more about the three generations of women and their bond together.

The story is character-driven, and all three women have been fleshed out beautifully. They are strong, and resilient, with unwavering love, respect, and loyalty toward each other. The best part of the story is the bond between these women, and how they have each other’s back always. Binji is truly the star of this book, adding vibrance to the story.
Each chapter starts with a quote written by Oscar Seth, and since we are unaware of Seth’s identity and role in the story for a long time, it adds an element of mystery to the narration.
The narration is through alternating POVs of the three main characters. In my opinion, it works perfectly well. I could see each character from close quarters and be a part of their story instead of witnessing it from a distance.
Dev has given sufficient space to all three characters. We get to know their backstories, heartbreaks, challenges, and struggles to keep going despite all adversities.
The author has handled many profound themes in this novel including physical acts of intimacy in senior adults. Family dynamics, dating challenges, divorce, strained marriages, and professional struggles are a few of the major themes.
The pace is a little slow in the beginning, and the story is a little predictable. I couldn’t enjoy the parts revolving around dating. I found it a bit irritating, strange, and predictable as all of them ended as disasters.
Also, I would have loved to see a better resolution to Aly’s professional issues.
Though the story is set in the US and revolves around an Indian-American family, surprisingly it is not written mainly for a western audience.
The Vibrant Years is a well-written family drama interspersed with humour and emotional moments.

I really wanted to like this, but I couldn't get into it. Still, this book is an interesting and relatable multi-generational character study.

Thank you for NetGalley and Mindy's Book Studio for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this story about three generations of Desai women- the ways they manage their ambitions in a world designed to beat them down, the love they share, their self-discovery.

I love these characters and laughed reading about their online dating experiences. Their stories came together in surprising and satisfying ways.

First of all, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have this copy. The Vibrant Years is a standalone novel following the story of three women who unite with one another.

There are some incredibly heartwarming moments in this book when we are following the characters way into their self discovery and I loved seeing the POVs of these women throughout this story. Each character brings a different view and perspective to the story. The only complaint I have about this book is the pacing and sometimes i get a little confused, but other than that it was perfect. THE GIRL POWER IN THIS BOOK AND THE UNITY IS PERFECT! I also adore how every woman had a different age and status - it really helped to distinguish the characters and make the story all the more heart-warming.

I haven't read any other books by Sonali Dev before and this has convinced me to pick up more of her work!

This is the first title that Mindy Kaling is publishing. Those who enjoy Ms. Kaling and those who like Sonali Dev’s novels will be happy to give this title a look.

I enjoyed Ms. Dev’s novels that were retellings of Jane Austen stories. I also liked this book but, honestly, just a tiny bit less. It tells the story of three related women who represent three generations. The oldest, Bindu, has received an inheritance that raises some issues from her past. She uses her newfound money to move into a retirement community. How will she fare there when not everyone, at least initially, wants to accept her. Aly, next generation wise, is fighting for her place as a TV reporter. She has been blocked for years. She is Bindu’s daughter in law. Youngest, Cully, Aly’s daughter, has developed an app to help those with anxiety. Now a company wants to charge for this app that Cully believes should be given to people at no cost.

So, here are three women, all of whom are related, all of whom are at turning points, and all of whom may need to stand up for themselves. Find out how they fare in this novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mindy’s Book Studio for this title. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars! I enjoyed each of the perspectives of the three different women in this story when it came to family, self-discovery, and generational differences. It was written in a way where you really felt like you were along for the ride on each of their journeys. Thank you so much to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for my honest review!

Sonali Dev is a phenomenal writer. I really felt immersed in the family relationship.

There is a tight bond between Indian (the country) grandmother, her daughter-in-law and her granddaughter. They all have different (and unique) strengths. I love how the story unraveled.

Even though I have read several books with Indian settings, I still feel like it is a unique topic. The Vibrant Years really drew me in and made me feel welcomed into the story. What a wonderful experience. Thank you Sonali Dev.

And Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review the advance read copy in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Sonali Dev the author and Mindy's Book Studio the publisher.

Filing under Best of 2023 on my shelf as I hope it will be a GoodReads Readers choice candidate next year.

RATING: 4/5 stars

SHORT SUMMARY:
The Vibrant Years is all about three generations of women overcoming their personal issues, and the conditioning of the society of what and how women should be as they faced it head-on. Bindu, the grandmother, mysteriously inherits millions of dollars where she spent it on buying a condo in a posh retirement community. Prior of her moving in that fancy condo, Bindu was sharing a home together with Aly, her ex-daughter in law and a journalist, even after her divorce with her son. Cullie, the granddaughter, is a genius tech wizard who created apps that help people, but changes in her work forced her to make a huge decision by pitching a dating app to the investors just to save her previous app. Cullie never had a proper and real date, so she seek help from her grandmother and her mother as they navigated their own path to living their own life in their own terms, and love along the way.

WHAT DIDN'T WORK WITH ME:
• Pacing is somewhat inconsistent in some parts, wherein it sometimes feels like it’s dragging, and some chapters are just fillers.
• Sometimes I feel like there’s a lot of going on and I’m getting confused because I feel like I’m reading two different books at the same time, specifically, Bindu’s past and the main storyline.
• Foreshadowing could have done a bit better, because I feel like there’s a much giveaway in the beginning parts of the story. It felt a bit short and underwhelming when Bindu’s past is finally revealed because it’s too predictable.

WHAT I LIKED THE MOST:
• I like the switching of the POV because we really get to know the characters well.
• The three women being there for each other despite of the status, age, and their way of thinking of things is so uplifting and empowering. That’s well-written here.
• I love the mini plot twists in the story, and I can’t remember how many times I giggled and laughed out loud in some parts of the story. Their dates are so iconic!

FINAL THOUGHTS:
This is the first book I’ve read from Sonali Dev, so I don’t have anything to compare to from her previous works. But I really liked this book. Bindu is now living in her own true colors, and she doesn’t want it to be the way of a world, and I love her for that. She’s my favorite Desai woman out of them. Aly is an ambitious woman who’s now finally fighting for her dreams. Cullie is so kind-hearted and wonderful person, and she’s now getting wiser with love. There are a lot of personal and social issues tackled so beautifully in this book, and how the Desai women overcame it is so inspiring. I believe The Vibrant Years is more about a journey to self-discovery, than finding love from other people. Because just like what Bindu said, “What we find attractive about people says more about us than about them.” And I guess that this pretty sums up what this book wanted to tell the world.

Hilarious. Unique. Entertaining. This story of three generations of women was a great read! I have read Somali Dev in the past and always find the books to be good. Thanks #NetGalley #MindysBookStudio

The Vibrant Years is a saga of the lives and loves of the Desai women: 64 year old Binji, her daugher 47 year old Aly, and granddaughter, 25 year old Cullie. All come together to support Binji as a crisis occurs to disrupt her life in her new retirement village. Bindu is the star of this show, in more ways than one. Her large, vibrant personality bursts through the pages and you want to get to know her better and be part of her inner circle. She's the force that keeps the family together through love, loss, job displacement, and work politics. Bindu always stresses that her girls should live their lives 'on their terms'. But is Bindu practicing what she preaches?
She has a secret from her teenage years that could ruin everything she has worked so hard to build, but circumstances soon bring it to light and the way the family deals with the situation brings them closer together and reveals hidden strengths they didn't know they had. This book is about following your dreams, doing things you're scared of, and supporting others to do the same. It's about the sacrifices you make for your family so they can have the dreams you could not. You'll fall in love with these characters and root for the success of each of their endeavors as they find love and pursue their dreams.

My favorite thing about Sonali Dev is how she writes family. It's intriguing yet relatable and really just draws you into her stories. Here we follow a multigenerational family as they navigate sudden deaths, career plateaus, and the general chaos that is dating in the modern era. I found myself relating most to Cullie as a fellow coder and anxiety sufferer, but also because we're the closest in age. Bindu is easily the most fun character though! It's a very enjoyable book overall, leaning more towards family drama and women's fiction.

*Thank you to Mindy's Book Studio and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Well-written story about the lives, secrets and relationships of three women in an Indian-American family. All three characters were interesting and I enjoyed seeing the story through each of their viewpoints. The pacing was good although the middle part slowed somewhat. This was a very enjoyable read that touched on Indian culture, mental health and self-belief. Good fulfilling ending!

4.5/5
Bindu is shocked to find out she has inherited money, but when she finds out who it’s from, she is quick to spend it on a condo to avoid questions of who it’s from. Her life goes from more predictable living with her daughter-in-law, Aly, to living more in this new community. After a disaster of a foray into the dating world, Bindu relies on the support of her Aly and her granddaughter, Cullie. They all agree to help Cullie with a new dating app but dipping into the dating pool.

I thought this book started out a little slow, but after Bindu, Aly, and Cullie are reunited and together in one area, it was sooo good. Their relationship is so great, and I found moments of true hilarity throughout the book. I felt like it was a great mix of humor with true relationships. I would definitely recommend this one!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book by Sonali Dev. This is both insightful and fun. This is story of three women. 60 something year old Bindu (grandmother), 47 year old Aly (mother) and 25 year old Cullie. The three women are at kind of crossroads in their lives. They lean on each other to navigate through their problems. I loved how she portrayed a women’s identity…it sometimes get mussed up playing wife, mother and other roles.

Read if you like:
👩🏼 Women's Fiction
🌍 Reading Diversely
👵🏼 Multi-Generational Stories
🇮🇳 Indian Culture

I love, love, love that Mindy has her own imprint and that she has published Sonja as one of her authors! I have Sonja’s Jane Austin Reimaginings sitting on my shelves and this one has made it so I can’t wait to go back and read her backlog.

This one is a touching story of living in America as part of a multigenerational family from India and what love means.

If you are interested in the cross section of the Indian culture and romance/love I highly recommend checking this one out!

The three Indian-American women in this book were all at times strong, emotionally vulnerable, and looking to find their place in the world. Binju was a loving grandmother to Callie, an app creator looking to find her soulmate. Callie’s parents were divorced but Binju rejected her son Ashish for her daughter-in-law, Aly. Binju’s past was full of secrets, which explained her marriage and how she lived her life up until this point. When the secrets threaten to be revealed, relationships shift. There are moments of humor, of sadness, and of understanding how a women’s role has evolved. I love Sonali Dev’s books and this one is one not to be missed. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

A touching multigenerational novel. I like these kinds of stories because they mix different age groups to add more flavor to the book.
My favorite character was Bindu. I loved that she embraced life and didn’t care what people thought. She had a past secret to overcome, but in the end she deals with it.
Aly and Cullie’s stories were interesting but not as compelling as Bindu’s.
Don’t let others define your life, that’s only for you to determine.