I have so many thoughts with this book and they all begin with: WHAT A FUCKING PLOT!!!!
it did not disappoint!
I will be suggesting it and purchasing a finished copy!
Each character was hatable and lovable in their own ways..

I love stories that center around multiple people in a family facing a common shock. I found each of the characters to be deeply flawed and extremely human. I loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Late Bloomers is a charming story about an Indian-American family living in Texas and each having their own problems. I loved that each member of the family got their own story line and each of them were given good and bad qualities that made it sometimes hard to root for them. It was definitely character-driven more than plot-driven, and it was an interesting study into how this semi-broken family interacts with each other.

I loved the messy family drama and the character flaws -- despite everything, I was always rooting for them and hoping for only the best for each character. It was also fast-paced enough that I would consider it a quick read despite some of the heavier topics like divorce and family problems.

This was such a great read! I love that this book highlighted a story in South Asian culture that we just don’t get to read about often. The family divide is showcased in such a unique way here, and the struggles between identity and desire are beautifully portrayed. The story flows from one character to another with really great transitions and I felt like I could root for each member of the family. I especially appreciated the portrayal of the pressure to be successful in relationships as it was contrasted again the pressure to “look” successful to society. Would highly recommend!

what a treat! LATE BLOOMERS made me laugh & cry. I adore how vividly the characters come to life. The messiness and chaos is reminiscent of THE FORTUNES OF JADED WOMEN. A heartwarming & not too serious read for the summer :)

Really enjoyed this family story where everyone is having some issues haha! I love the message of never late than never and the multiple pov. I want to see this as a movie.

I absolutely loved reading this book! The story and the characters, wanting to see what happens next, what happens to them, and how the family members reconcile their differences, drove me to finish this novel in two days — only because I could not forestall sleep!

Late Bloomers is a novel about an Indian-American family: Mom, Dad, Son, and Daughter. Mom and Dad are immigrants from India, and after 36 years of marriage, they divorced. Son and Daughter are still trying to wrap their heads around that event, and accept that both parents are now exploring the world of Single Dating. Dad, in fact, is exploring the world of online dating, while Mum has gotten a job for the first time and is making new friends who may or may not have more romantic interests in her. Meanwhile, their eldest, Daughter Priya, is unhappily single-ish and caught in a tangled romantic loophole — and (horrors!) remains unmarried. Their son, a super successful lawyer in NYC, is married, partnered to an incredible woman, and the father of a bubbling infant. But, maybe that’s just the surface.

Indeed, surfaces and the depths they disguise is a major theme in this deliciously contemporary family drama. It revolves around traditional Indian motifs and cultural norms, but really, anyone can relate to the sentiments, concerns, emotional upheavals Late Bloomers brings to the fore. I loved that this focused on Indian-Americans, and the trials of living with a foot in two worlds. Indian culture was infused into the book, but in such a way as to tap into the universal experiences of people all over the world. Readers of all ethnic backgrounds will be able to relate to this novel and easily.

Varadarajan’s prose is smooth and natural, the characters live and breathe as if just inches away from us. We can feel their irritation, recognize it as an emotion we often feel – and often about those closest to us. Likewise, Varadarajan makes their love for one another palpable. These are people stumbling, bumbling, grasping at themselves and each other in the most lovable ways, trying to make sense of change in their lives.

For readers who love a bit of family drama, hilarious nonsense, and good endings, Late Bloomers is a fantastic read.

A lovely — and sometimes very funny — novel about second chances and what it means to be a family. Though I didn’t connect with the characters that much and I had a hard time liking most of them, I could see how they all were each struggling to find a “new normal” that was different than how they expected life to turn out for them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This book made me laugh and cry. Dealing with a later in life divorce, the characters find themselves navigating the dating scene and let the judgement and jealousy commence! Their children have their own issues, one dealing with infidelity and the other, a child out of wedlock...all things that are not normally and universally accepted in Indian culture. The writing is so good and I really wanted to like this book more, but I found the characters to be so self-centered and unlikable. It is a modern day family mess, but the characters attitudes made this one fall flat.

I absolutely couldn’t imagine starting life again after being married for over thirty years! I’d probably just hide in my room for the rest of my life. This study came right on time for me, because I saw a lot of myself in some of the characters. Starting new, learning things about yourself and accepting truths can be hard but it’s necessary.

Lata and Suresh are recent divorcees with two adult children, Priya and Nakeesh. They are navigating finding new companionship while their children struggle with their own relationship problems. This story is infused with just the right dose of humor and made me laugh out loud numerous times. But it is also serious while tackling separation and divorce , aging, and cultural differences. It tells the story of these Late Bloomers.

My only complaint is that it was a bit long and wanted a little something more to happen.

This book had all the emotions - humor, sadness, family drama. The characters were pretty well-written and flawed which I appreciated.

I really struggled to get into this one from the beginning. I wasn't connecting or even caring what happened with the characters, so I am moving on and won't be posting about the book on my platforms. Thank you for allowing my the chance to read it, and I'm sorry it didn't resonate with me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

❗️spoilers❗️

I had received a digital copy from Net Galley a while ago but only got to it recently and I wished that I read this sooner! As an adult, Indian child who’s parents recently divorced, this was quite an interesting and timely read. Overall, “Late Bloomers” was such a great story and I should’ve read this earlier! I plan on recommending this to my mom to read and do think other South Asians should read this. As I had many thoughts with the various characters, swipe through to take a look!
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The Writing -
You can’t say that this book is not original because I feel like every other South Asian story that I have read by an Indian American author always involves some Bollywood-esque arranged marriage situation. To add, I think [author name] wrote each character very well - she had me mad at them but also crying with them. With that, it was great that the main focus wasn’t on romantic love but just love in general - self love, family love, romantic love, etc.
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The Characters -
I liked that the family was South Indian mostly because I personally don’t know that many, if any, South Indian families that have a divorce in the family. With the characters, I was absolutely Team Lata and Team Nikesh. I fully blame Suresh for trying to play the hero to Mallika for everyone forgetting about Nikesh and his son’s birthday.
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Suresh - I immediately starting laughing when introduced to Suresh because of him lowering his age on his dating profile because that’s just such a brown thing! Many relatives back in India did this to keep working longer so it’s on brand. As for his character, Suresh was VERY annoying and I am on Lata’s side - for him to blame his wife for the actions of their adult daughter was ridiculous but sadly typical and not a shock.

Lata - Loved that a guy made her a mixtape and now I just want a guy to make one for me. I thought it was great for Lata to meet and befriend Deanna because she needed a friend who could push her out of her comfort zone. Reading about her interviewing for her library position did have me crying as I felt for her as she opened up. To add to that, I did full on cry when Lata found out about her friend being diagnosed with cancer.

Priya - Priya was the character that I liked the least. She was just such a hater and wanted everyone to be miserable because she was too. It was one thing for her to lash out at her parents, however, for her to make wildly horrendous comments to people she met (i.e. Deanna) was not okay. Priya looked like she enjoyed throwing others under the bus to escape her own problems which I suppose I should sympathize but I really couldn’t.

Nikesh - Damn, I really felt for Nikesh on many levels. For one, he finds out that his ex-girlfriend fell in love with someone else while she was still with him and honestly, that’s one of my many romantic fears. Beyond that, Nikesh clearly felt so isolated that he couldn’t talk to his parents about his life and couldn’t give them any attention because they were so focused on Priya. Essentially, he was neglected by his parents.

Mallika - Mallika was another character that I had little sympathy for and didn’t like. One of her many red flags was that she had a profile on dating sites, and lied that her husband died when in fact he was very much alive and in jail! She’s losing her house and with nowhere to go, she shows up at Suresh’s doorstep, a guy she went on ONE date with…She essentially moves in like it’s her home and has the audacity to add like she owns it when talking to Lata…who designed the home. She was too quick to insert herself into Suresh’s life and take advantage of this family situation.

Note to publisher: I will be posting this to my instagram soon but wanted to post my review here

LOVED this book!! Similar vibes to ALL ADULTS HERE by Emma Straub and also like the movie Crazy Stupid Love. It’s basically about how everyone is learning and imperfect, no matter how put together they appear. Loved how you really got to know each family member and feel for them in their own way. Would love to see this adapted to the screen!!

Thank you #Netgalley for this read.

This was a fun and at times stressful read following a family each going through their own changes and secrets. We have the father, newly divorced navigating the dating scene and getting tangled up in a messy situation. The mother, also learning how to be single, make friends and dating. The daughter, in a messy relationship, not happy with where she is in life and being constantly compared to others. And lastly, the son, a new father, living in New York, in a "relationship" with his boss who is too scared to share the truth with others. I loved part three of the book when all the characters come together and learn about each others situations.

Book was just meh. Way too much going on everywhere that I just couldn't find something to stick to to enjoy. Honestly kind of overwhelming.

The Raman family is full of late bloomers. Parents Suresh and Lara divorce after their decades-long arranged marriage, entering new phases of their lives. Suresh starts internet dating and Lata gets a job for the first time where she meets a jazz-loving professor. Daughter Priya is 35 and stuck in a relationship that appears to be going nowhere. Nikesh, a corporate lawyer, has a son, but lied to his family about a marriage that does not exist.

The writing is good and the characters each have individual voices that shine. Voice is so important and Varadarajan nails it. This was a fun, but serious family drama about meeting expectations and living life on your own terms.

When I say that generational trauma is real, I mean that...imagine being in an unhappy marriage for the sake of the kids and then going your separate ways when the kids are grown and sacrificing their sanity for no good reason. This book is SOOO relatable due to my understanding of my family's desire to present a "perfect" face to outsiders because the chinks in the armor cannot be seen. Some very good evidence that supports my feelings on therapy and how each person should be true to themselves is presented within this book.

#NetGalley #DeepVaradarajan #generationaltrauma #familydrama #mentalhealth #selfawareness

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This story starts with a Indian American couple who has gotten a divorce after 36 years in an arranged marriage. Suresh is trying out online dating but not having much luck and doesn't really understand why Lata wouldn't want to stay married. Lata has a job at a library and is figuring out her new found freedom and what she wants in life. They have two adult children - Nikesh and Priya. Nikesh seems to be picture perfect with both he and his wife having high paying, prestigious jobs and a nearly 1-year old baby. Yet, alot of it is a facade - his "wife" is his boss at work (and in life) and he hasn't told his parents that they're not married. Priya is in a relationship with a married man and at the same time looks down on her father pursuit of dating. Everything comes to a head when Suresh has a woman and her son living with him, Lata is going on her first date, Nikesh and his family are coming to visit for his son's first birthday and Priya has a surprise visitor at the party...all while the parents' "perfect" Indian friends watch the bedlam. This was a fun story of trying to find one's way and happiness...while also being a family.