I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

I loved this book - a real family story - messy in all the right ways - no matter the ethnic background - we are all a mess.

After enduring 36 years of an arranged marriage and two children, Suresh & Lata have called it quits. The story picks up after their divorce - Suresh is trying out and not succeeding at online dating, and Lata is adjusting to not having Suresh to attend to. Suresh is hot to find a new woman, even though at age 60, he feels he might have missed his shot. Lata is enjoying holding a job for the first time in her life and trying to navigate life on her own.

Their two children - Priya - daughter who is a professor and carrying on an affair as a mistress - is starting to wonder if she should make a change. Their son, Nikesh, has a big secret - he is NOT married to the mother of his child after telling his parents they were. Oh, the secrets!!

As everything comes to a head at the grandson's birthday party - can they find the desire to pull together and give each other a second chance?

Did I mention already how much I really enjoyed this book??

I want to give this book 4++ stars, it's so good! It's fun and full of characters who have faults and are still worth caring about.

The Ramans are an Indian-American family at a crossroads. Suresh and Lata are newly divorced after a 30+ year marriage and are finding their new lives as single adults. Their adult children are going through their own grown-up relationship problems. And everyone is trying to keep the illusion of having it all together.

It could be sad, and sometimes there are bittersweet moments, but mostly it's about relatable people and situations. The author shows the lighter side of things, like Suresh who wants to date an Indian woman, but has to travel hours just to find a woman whom they don't know.

This is definitely a book to read when you need to feel better. I guarantee you'll smile.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The whole book in one sentence.

Indian parents don’t teach kids about sex, things go down and parents don’t like each other.

It’s not that interesting, it’s a book about every typical Indian family.

this was a wonderful family novel that depicts current issues we all face. Moving. I loved the writing style. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

This book is a riot! I loved all the miscommunication and the fresh commentary on Indian familial values and beliefs. I purchased a copy for myself.

Heartfelt and funny. I enjoyed the multiple POVs in this intergenerational story trying to navigate the modern dating world.

Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan is a solid debut that covers themes of family drama and secrets. Readers are introduced to the Raman family as they navigate post-divorce dating life and the ways in which they hide their true selves from each other and how they might find their ways back to each other.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

In this book we get a ringside seat at what is happening behind doors in the Raman family. The parent’s married has ended and they are both dating again. The children are untruthful about their own lives and trying to keep up an image of happiness and wholeness. But when they come together to celebrate the grandson, everything hits the fan. Some parts are funny, some are tragic, some a just humorous, some a little confusing. But overall a good story and it shows the importance of just being honest to save a lot of heartache.

This book is cute, sad, funny, etc. it was a pretty decent book. I enjoyed the exploration of adult struggles and relationships. Thanks for the review copy.

After enduring a thirty-six-year-long arranged marriage that ended in divorce, Suresh and Lata Raman find themselves embarking on new chapters in their lives. Suresh, navigating the realm of online dating tailored for Indians, encounters a series of unsuccessful attempts until he encounters a mysteriously attractive younger woman who appears enamoured with him. Lata, revelling in her newfound independence, is taken aback when a professor in his early sixties begins to flirt with her.

Simultaneously, their daughter, Priya, disapproves of her father's online escapades while engaging in a clandestine affair. Their son, Nikesh, projects an illusion of marital perfection with his law firm colleague and their young son but conceals the true nature of his relationship. Over three weeks in August, the entire family will unravel each other's secrets, confront the boundaries of love and loyalty, and explore the prospect of second chances in life. This story unfolds with moments of cuteness, sadness, and even humour. It provides an authentic portrayal of a typical American family grappling with a late-in-life divorce, encompassing curious ex-spouses, first dates after decades of marriage, online dating, and adult children still playing roles from their youth around their parents. While not groundbreaking, it is an enjoyable and easy read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy! Late Bloomers is a story that follows the lives of a family dealing with changing relationships. I was excited to jump into this novel, it is a different pace than what I'm used to. I think that the author successfully depicted an honest look at a dysfunctional family. While I think that the topics covered within this book are relatable I had difficulty getting through this book because none of the characters spoke to me. Our reader's groups/book clubs will have fun discussing this book, but I'm not sure that I will pick it up again.

Late Bloomers was in an interesting story. Some of the characters were easier to identify with then others; the father was hard to figure out. The story is about a family where everyone has their own issues but in the end one knows that it will all work out. There were some funny parts, some parts were not very believable and others when one wonders why that even happened. This book is an easy read.

I struggled to get into this book - I can't put my finger on why but I barely made it past the first couple chapters. I will try again!

A decent debut. I was expecting a lot more unique plot & character development than I got. The premise of the book was exciting, and it is definitely a decent debut attempt. However, I feel like the topic/situation on hand could have taken this book to another level, but instead it tried to do too many things and didn't quite manage them all.

This was a pretty good little family drama. Parents and two grown children, each going through their own problems, trying to make it seem like they have everything all figured out. It will all come to the surface and they will need each other to get through it all.
I enjoyed this one quite a bit. It's relatable and wholesome with some great moments. I just don't know how memorable it will be. I hope it is because I enjoyed it!

This book was alright, but I had trouble getting through it. The writing was quite literal and I just don't like first-person POVs in general. I felt like it really played into stereotypes, especially in the beginning, and while it does give a great set-up for character development, I didn't feel like the characters developed all that much. But caveat: I'm not South Asian, this book did not touch on themes that are close to home, and I'm definitely not the target audience.

An arranged marriage that has lasted 36 years has produced a lovely family, but when this marriage breaks apart all hell breaks loose. Secrets, love and loyalty are the cornerstone in this one. I would love to see it as a tv series!
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Thank you #randomhouse and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

The captivating story and well-developed characters kept me engrossed, making it impossible for me to put the novel down. I managed to finish it in just two days, staying up late because I couldn't resist finding out what happens next!

Late Bloomers tells the story of an Indian-American family consisting of a mother, father, son, and daughter. After 36 years of marriage, the parents divorce, leaving the son and daughter struggling to come to terms with this significant event. Both parents venture into the world of dating, with the father exploring online dating while the mother, for the first time, finds a job and makes new friends who may or may not have romantic interests in her. As for the eldest daughter, Priya, she finds herself caught in a complicated romantic situation and remains unmarried, which causes her distress. On the other hand, the son, a successful lawyer in New York City, is happily married and a proud father. But there is more beneath the surface.

The novel beautifully explores the themes of appearances and hidden depths, incorporating traditional Indian motifs and cultural norms. However, these themes are relatable to people from all walks of life, making it easy for readers of any background to connect with the story. I appreciated the way Indian culture was woven into the narrative, creating a unique blend that resonates universally.

Varadarajan's writing style is seamless and authentic, breathing life into the characters. Their emotions, including irritation and love, are palpable and relatable. The characters stumble and fumble through their lives, trying to make sense of the changes they face, which makes them endearing and lovable.

Late Bloomers is a delightful read for those who enjoy family dramas, comical moments, and satisfying endings. It offers a fantastic blend of entertaining storytelling and genuine emotions that will leave readers of all backgrounds feeling connected to the characters and their journey.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan.
This book was a lighter read dealing with family drama, but throwing in humor and outrageous circumstance to keep the reader engaged. Told from the perspectives of all the family members, the reader is able to gain insight into the thoughts and feelings of each character. I found it interesting how each character had different opinions about life events, which is so often true in real life.