Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Deeply felt and well rounded, Deepa Varadarajan's debut novel Late Bloomers is a beautiful read. Capturing a few months in the wake of Suresh and Lata's divorce, Varadarajan ruminates about what it means to be a family, especially when we are pushed out of what is normal. What do you say, for example, when you find out that your daughter is dating a married man or your son never married his wife? What do you say when your divorced mother starts dating? Varadarajan approaches each of these situations with humor and warmth, redeeming her characters' worst flaws. Definitely a light hearted read to pull you put that reading slump!

This book really just took me for a ride. I loved the build up, the character development, and the writing. I would definitely read more from this author!

The premise of this book caught my attention. A couple separates nearly 40 years after their arranged marriage. Thought provoking and emotional, The Late Bloomers was a fascinating read. Well written and evenly paced. It would make for a great book club pick.

This was an enjoyable read!

There’s family drama and everyone is keeping at least one secret from the rest of the family. The characters are flawed, which makes you love them and be frustrated with them at the same time.

I think I loved Lata the most. I would get so annoyed with the rest of the family being mostly okay with Suresh’s internet dating, but when Lata decides to try for a second chance at love, everyone’s all weird about it? Like let my girl Lata live her life on her own after a divorce, please. She was clearly the one taking care of everything before and she deserved to have some fun.

If you love a family drama, with chapters told from each family member’s POV, I’d recommend this one! It’s fun, not too dark or anything, and a quick read.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of Deepa Varadarajan’s LATE BLOOMERS.

This story follows the four members of the Raman family - newly divorced couple (Lata and Suresh), and their adult children (Priya and Nikesh). All four are dealing with their own problems and struggles.

[DNF @ 20%] Admittedly, I did not get very far into the story, but I just had no interest in continuing. I did not feel even remotely engaged with any of the characters or interested in finding out what happens to them.

I really enjoyed Varadarajan’s writing style - easy flowing text that was easy to follow. I loved that she maintained the cultural authenticity of Lata and Suresh and how she captured the American-born reality of Priya and Nikesh, but, while their flaws are definitely part of their character traits, no one really stood out as likeable, redeemable, or memorable. The entire story is based on poor communication and dishonesty with oneself - tropes I just don’t have the patience for.

I would consider reading more of Varadarajan’s fiction, but I still need to be convinced that her character development is not her actual writing style.

Deepa Varadarajan's "Late Bloomers" is an engaging story that explores the complicated lives of a divorced couple and their adult children as they navigate the intricacies of self-discovery later in life. This book is a delight that resonates with readers on several levels thanks to its well-crafted characters, clever narrative, and profound everyday topics. 

One of the distinctive features of "Late Bloomers" is author Deepa Varadarajan's ability to develop realistic and relatable characters. Their problems, doubts, and aspirations are depicted in a way that makes readers empathize, allowing us to invest in their emotional journey. Varadarajan illustrates the complexities of interpersonal relationships with authenticity, emphasizing the obstacles that develop in friendships, family dynamics, and romantic partnerships.

"Late Bloomers" is a novel that will have a lasting effect on readers due to its evocative style and relatable topics. It is a must-read for everyone who enjoys heartfelt stories about the complexity of family.

What can I say about this book? Was it the best book ever? No. Was it entertaining? Yes. Was it funny? Sure in a lot of places. Were the characters interesting? They definitely had their moments.

My biggest criticism about this book is actually probably my jaded reader nature that literally asks, why don’t these supposed adults grow the F up? The 35 year old daughter, yeah maybe sleeping with a married man IS a bad idea. The 28 year old clearly pampered son, why yes, lying to your parents about having married the older woman you knocked up is lame and no wonder she doubts your maturity. Oh and don’t get me started on dad Suresh. A man of just about 60 who can’t get his head out of his own ass and see that he is the center of all his problems. Lata was ok and honestly she’s the only one that showed ANY growth from beginning to end of the story:

So sure, it’s a fun enough read with a decent touch of social and cultural Indian flavor. But you may just want to slap these people too.

DNFing this as I have no interest in continuing. The storyline isn't catching my attention at all and I have so many books on my TBR that it's not worth it to continue. Thanks anyway for the ARC!! Hopefully others love this more.

Funny, heartfelt, multi-generational family story about love, loss, divorce, and self-discovery. Each character was well-developed. No one has it all figured out and we watch as each characters works to get closer to that goal.

This book was a fun read. In this family of 4, everyone has secrets they hide from the other family members. Then all secrets are revealed, all at once. The author sets the scene for the reveal, and when everything comes crushing down you cannot look away. The characters are well formed and interesting in their own way. It took me some time to warm up to Priya. I found her selfish and very judgemental. Suresh's dating adventures were funny. You cannot help but feel bad for the guy. Lata, the mom, was the character I identified with the most. The author has astute observations about long marriages and immigrant life.

The tone of this book is light and witty. I thought it was a good and heartfelt family drama. 3.75stars

After 36 years of being unhappy married (in an arranged marriage) Suresh and Lata finally decide to divorce. Lags gets a job as a librarian and loves going to work, while Suresh dips his toes in the online dating pool - to no avail at first. Everything comes to a head when the divorcées and their kids, Nikesv and Priya come together to celebrate Nikesh’s sons birthday, and hilarity ensues. I found the banter and dialogue to be laugh out loud funny. The author expertly crafted characters that anyone in any family can relate to. I thought the multiple POVs were done well, and while it might not have been my favorite family dramedy of all time, I thoroughly enjoyed this story of family roles, love, growing out of love, and second chances.

Sweet, funny story about a divorced Indian couple and their mix-ups and misconceptions about their adult children's lives -- and the mix-ups and misconceptions their children have about their lives. Very enjoyable!

Late Bloomers is a story of a family that has it all together – until it doesn’t. Lata and Suresh have been married for 36 years from an arranged marriage and when Lata decides she’s unhappy and wants a divorce, a lot of family secrets start to emerge.

Varadarajan’s writing is often funny, heartbreaking and relatable all at once. I enjoyed their narratives on challenging and breaking down cultural norms and constructs. This is a very human novel with understanding and growth at its core. It’s the perfect read for fans of family dramas and sagas.

Fantastic debut!

This is not my typical genre, so what a pleasant surprise to find such an enjoyable read. Told from the viewpoints of the four members of an Indian-American family, this story reads like a fun sit-com or movie. What seems, at first glance, to be a quick, light read, turns out to have real substance. Issues of divorce, sibling rivalry, honesty, communication, starting over…all weighty topics…are deftly handled with humor and insight.

The Raman family is trying to make lives for themselves. Lata and Suresh have divorced after thirty-six years of an arranged marriage in which Lata never felt happy. She's now living on her own, and working in a university library. Lata feels maternal towards her young coworker, but finds she needs advice from the young woman when a professor takes interest in her, giving Lata a CD of some of his favourite jazz pieces.

Meanwhile Suresh is discovering the pain of online dating, travelling outside of town to meet with widows and divorcees (so none of the Raman friends know what he's up to). He grows frustrated with the artifice he finds amongst his dates, and is surprised to feel a connection to his latest date, a widow some years younger than him.

Priya and Nikesh, the Raman kids, are lying to themselves and to their parents about their own lives and relationships. Priya is in an affair with a married man, while Nikesh still hasn't told his parents that he and his partner Denise are unmarried, despite having a baby, Alok, together.

When the Raman kids converge on their family home because of a plan to host Alok's first year birthday party there, lots of secrets and lies come to light.

Deepa Varadarajan does a great job putting us in all four characters' heads, and deals with lots of topics: divorce and how it affects the family, roles of wives and husbands in South Asian culture, starting over after divorce, perfectionism, trying to define oneself as an adult while dealing with parental expectations, infidelity, online dating, and building a life as an immigrant in a land that if not outright hostile is not always welcoming.

The whole Raman family is a mess, lying to each other, while trying to maintain a façade for each other. That things were bound to come out at the family gathering is inevitable, and exacerbated by the stresses they're all feeling dealing with their own lives and mistakes post the divorce.

The story is amusing, sad, a little melodramatic, believable, and ultimately a little hopeful. Everyone feels lighter and more likely to be able to move forward now. I liked how the messiness was portrayed and thought the writing was great.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Random House Publishing Group - Random House for this ARC in exchange for my review.

The notion that new love and self-discovery is for the young is an old and tired view. In Late Bloomers, the author blasts that idea to bits, showing that there will always be ways in which we grow and change as we age. That romance, companionship, and adventure are all still available no matter where you are in your journey.

Choosing an older, divorced couple and their two children to depict the highs and lows of relationships and the ways in which society's hangups affects our behaviours yielded a funny and endearing story.

Lata and Suresh who now must traverse the dicey world of dating for older people, Priya who must discover what she really wants from her relationship and life, and Nikesh with his secret and indecision regarding moving forward both personally and professionally.

It did become frustrating seeing them waffle and continue to refuse to share the most vulnerable parts of themselves, while also being selfish and judgemental. I think it took too long for them all to open up and communicate clearly and honestly about all their insecurities and shortcomings.

Thanks to Random House and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Late Bloomers is a multigenerational tale that asks the question, what happens when an arranged marriage falls apart decades after it starts? Varadarajan introduces us to Lata, Suresh, Nikesh, and Priya, a family brought together by a traditional arranged marriage and torn apart decades later when the parents divorce. I loved how the author just jumps into all of these messy flawed characters, rotating chapters between each of them as they explore their own lives in the context of their family and try to make a go at doing the right thing, whatever that may be. I loved each of these characters. Varadarajan does a great job of fleshing out each of them into individuals following their own path, sort of together, sort of not. Their journey together was funny, heartwarming, exacerbating, and wonderful. I imagine bookclubs loving this.

What a great first novel, I can't wait to read more from Deepa Varadarajan!

I really liked this multi-perspective take on family and love. It was immersive culturally and I felt like these were friends and people I knew. I love when we get to know a few characters and so this really surprised me in how well it was done (not easy to do)! My only critique is that the end would be sorted out a little differently, but that is just a personal taste!!

Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan is an ambitious family drama debut. Suresh and Lara Raman are divorcing after thirty-six years of marriage and getting out there to explore more. We see their experiences as they dive into the world of dating and how it affects their kids, who have their own dating and love experiences to contend with.

Overall I thought this was a very unique and engaging novel - I enjoyed the writing and would highly recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC - Late Bloomers is out now!

I received an early ecopy of this book from Netgalley. It sounded interesting, but I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I don’t know a lot about Indian culture, but I’m always curious to learn. The nice thing about this book is that incidental clues are sprinkled in—foods and how they convey caring, the arranged marriage of the parents, family still in India, aunties and uncles and the close ties to family/friends, the expectations, and so forth—nothing new, really, but nothing to cause confusion either. I understood the struggles and concerns of all of the characters; there are some things that all people share. Lies are an underlying theme in the entire book. How do we view the lies of others as compared to the lies we tell others? Or the lies we tell ourselves? To one extent or another, we all tell lies, and this book explores the way that this family—mother, father, daughter, son—hoard their secrets, judge others (and themselves), lie to others (and themselves), yet ultimately, love one another. Told in the past tense, it switches between POVs until they all end up in the same place viewing identical circumstances from different perspectives.

The book starts with Suresh, the father, and closing the loop, it ends with him too. I’d say he’s really the star of this story. His self-absorbed, judgmental outlook is amusing right from the start. Since his unwanted divorce from Lata, he has been trying to find love through the internet and laments the fact that all of these women he meets are liars. They lie about previous marriages, having kids, what they did for work, even their favorite foods. And he differentiates those lies from what he calls RTDs, reasonable deviations from the truth—like your approximate height or weight, and “active was only an accurate description if it included toenail-clipping while watching CNN in my carpeted den.” Because it’s acceptable when he lies.

The thing is, Suresh is constantly making rash judgments about people and some of them are just ridiculous. During one date with a widowed woman, he sees a picture of her with her husband and wonders if she’s really widowed or divorced. Because of his facial expression, he wonders if the husband abandoned her after their daughter had an illegitimate baby. Or maybe he was “a drunkard who gambled away their life savings, leaving Pinky with nothing but this shabby two-bedroom apartment and its paint-peeling walls, worn carpet and cheap, plastic-covered couch.”

Suresh rattles around in the house where Lata left him and death is becoming a closer reality day by day. He’s retired, has never lived alone or taken care of himself, and he doesn’t know what to do with himself. He’s not old, almost sixty, but he’s far from young, and he’s not even middle-aged anymore. “Death wasn’t some glimmer in the distance, assured but out of reach like the moon. It was close now—a porchlight right outside my house, casting its somber glow on my daily steps.” As I approach 60, myself, I must admit, this statement was a punch in the gut.

Lata was always unhappy with Suresh, but the marriage had been arranged by their parents so she stayed with him for 36 years. He wasn’t a bad man, but she eventually realized that being married to a “not bad” man who made you unhappy was no excuse for staying there. Now single, she is embarrassed and extremely uncomfortable when a professor at the college where she works expresses interest in her. She has never dated in her life. She is a ball of anxiety, wanting to take a chance, but afraid of everything that might go wrong. She tells herself all of the reasons why she can’t or shouldn’t go on a date with him, but every time she is faced with the opportunity to bow out, the part of her that wants to take a chance pushes her to do it. And, she tries to keep it a secret, almost lying to her best friend about her potential love interest for fear of being judged.

Priya, 35 years old, is the oldest child of Suresh and Lata. They’re not close, but it becomes apparent this is mostly because Priya is hiding the truth from them. She is in love with a married man and fears he will never leave his wife, even though he tells her he loves her too. Priya never saw true affection between her parents so she doesn’t know how to have a healthy relationship, herself. But as she allows Ashish to see things she might ordinarily hide from other people, like her choice to read trashy magazines in the privacy of her own home, observing: “Dating a liar paradoxically created incentives for honesty—well, about the trivial things anyway.”

She’s exhausted from living a half-life, not having the family she wants, not telling her parents what’s truly going on in her life, and feeling alone and destined to always be that way. As she inspects the circles under her eyes one night, noticing how old she is becoming, she fears that “...one day, I’ll wake up to find that the haggard, drunken, overworked face I’d gone to sleep with wasn’t just some temporary aberration, but my actual face. My aging, sagging, late-thirties face.” Ouch.

Nikesh is a hapless simulacrum of his father. He has a little boy about to turn one year old, a beautiful, successful woman whom his parents think is his wife, and a successful career of his own as a lawyer with the same firm as Denise. But he’s always screwing things up with her, and the reader sees him doing the same kinds of things as his father did with Lata. He promises himself he’ll be a better father, but he hasn’t had any role models to know how to be a better partner. But one of his thoughts really made me laugh because, without ever examining it, I think I may have had the same thought myself. While watching Denise sleep one night, “I pictured a maze of neurons behind Denise’s sleeping face (though, in my mind, neurons resembled sperm because I had no idea what actual neurons looked like).”

Luckily, there are brief respites of comic relief. It might be a simple phrase, like when Nikesh calls Priya and gets her voicemail which conveys irritation, and he thinks, “it was the auditory equivalent of an eye roll.” Then, there’s when Priya uses the bathroom in a bar and reads the graffiti on the wall: “I FEEL IN LOVE WITH HALF A HEART.” Almost panicking as it reaches too close to home, she looks at another slogan and sees: “DEREK IS A DILDO.” Balance regained, she breathes a sigh of relief. It wasn’t a sign, after all.

Suresh is always good for a laugh, as he seems to be clueless about the way society works and how to interact with it. He asks a stranger a sensible question about why the apartments are not numbered in a more logical order and her response is, “Got me.” Then, he spins out, thinking: “Got me? Got her what? Was I to consider this the current vernacular for I don’t know and I don’t care and I’ve never bothered to find out.” The horror.

There’s a scene told from Priya’s POV that is so funny, I won’t even try to relay it here. In chapter 26, the entire family finds themselves in Lata’s apartment under absurd circumstances and Priya uses the situation to define the word “awkward.” It far exceeds awkward, and her droll take on it is hysterical.

We end again with Suresh’s POV, musing on the nature of truth and lies, fact and fiction. “...I guess we’re all guilty of telling untruths—if not to one another, then to ourselves… Most of the time, what we thought of as truth was threaded with self-serving distortions.” To me, the message is clear: We all lie, but we’re all doing the best that we can (based on our histories), and we should offer one another grace as often as possible.