A newly-divorced couple try to navigate dating and other life challenges after decades of marriage. Their adult children alternate between wringing their hands over their parents’ missteps and their own hardships. Debut author Deepa Varadarajan gives readers a small taste of life as a member of an Indian American family with a narrative that, at times, can’t decide who it’s target audience is in her first book Late Bloomers.

After more than 35 years of marriage, to the total shock of their friends and the utter dismay of their children, Lata and Suresh Raman have gotten a divorce. For Lata, the decision is a relief. She no longer has to tolerate her husband’s belittlement and his complete disregard of her as an equal partner. Wanting to be completely free from anything that was a part of her former married life, Lata lets Suresh stay in their home while she moves to a condo not far away in their small Texas town.

Lata gets a job at the local library and finds herself getting along with her new coworkers extremely well, particularly twenty-something Deanna. The young woman needs quite a bit of mothering, which Lata is more than happy to do now that her own children are out of the house.

Three hours away in Austin, Lata and Suresh’s older child, Priya, is wavering about her own love life. Her parents don’t know she’s having an affair with a married man who swears he cares about her and can’t live without her but who also, apparently, can’t live without his wife. Every time Priya presses him to leave his marriage, he answers, “It’s complicated.”

How complicated can it be, Priya wonders. Her parents didn’t have any trouble splitting up, and now her dad is even trying to meet women online. Priya finds her father’s latest attempts at companionship embarrassing and tells him so.

Her younger brother, Nikesh, is more easy-going on their father. Maybe it’s because Nikesh knows firsthand how hard it is to maintain a relationship. He and his boss definitely didn’t plan to get pregnant, but when she came to him and said she was going to raise the child with or without him Nikesh knew he wanted to be a part of his child’s life. The three live together in New York City, a seemingly perfect family on the outside while Nikesh knows the truth on the inside. His parents think he and his girlfriend are married. With both his parents trying to find their way again, Nikesh doesn’t think now is the best time to tell the truth.

These days Suresh feels out his depth with relationships. Every woman he’s met on the dating websites has lied about something. The white lies he doesn’t mind; it’s the whoppers he can’t fathom. Why bother telling blatant untruths about one’s self when all of those things will immediately come to light when they meet? Before the end of his marriage, Suresh felt like he didn’t understand his own wife. It seems more and more, though, that he’s having trouble understanding women in general.

With the first birthday of Nikesh’s son coming up, the members of the Raman family will have to figure out a way to get past their personal hangups and hide their secrets even better. The family ecosystem was shaken once with Suresh and Lata’s divorce. Another disaster might cause everything to come crashing down on top of them.

Author Deepa Varadarajan does an adequate job of representing the Indian-American family, although at times her representation feels somewhat generic. Non-Indian readers may be satisfied with the occasional mention of an Indian dish or an exhortation in a different language. Indian-American readers, however, might come away disappointed that the fact that the Raman family is South Indian feels almost incidental. The Ramans, in fact, could be any Indian family and the story would still, more or less, progress the same. The narrative isn’t sure which way to pivot, at times trying to cater to one audience or the other.

Also, while the four characters think of one another frequently, the alternating chapters in their points of view isolate them from one another. At times the book almost functions like a collection of novellas rather than a single cohesive book. The biggest weakness of the novel, however, is the dialogue. Filled with information dumps, the dialogue sometimes sounds more like something from a cheesy made-for-television movie rather than actual heartfelt conversations between people on difficult subjects.

Those unfamiliar with broad Indian culture and customs might want to check this one out.

Writing style was strong but I don’t think this book was for me. The characters were all so unlikeable, which I’m sure was by design! The book could’ve been shorter.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Families are messy, especially this one. The parents divorced and the kids are keeping secrets from each other.
When they all collide at Lata’s apartment, it was like a scene out of a sitcom.
I felt the most empathy for Suresh, he seemed quite lost and lonely as well as pretty desperate.
Lata seemed annoyed for most of the book.
Priya made a big hole for herself and I had my doubts about Kinesh’s future with Denise.
There are heartwarming moments and amusing parts.
The ending left me in limbo without resolving how does it all end up?

This was a story about a modern Indian family in Texas steeped in Indian tradition. The parents are in their 60’s and divorce after 36 years, while the adult children navigate adulthood, relationships, and life. The pov’s rotate between each of the four family members. Hilarity ensues as the parents attempt dating.

I enjoyed this portrait of a dysfunctional family. It had its funny moments and it had heart. I didn’t find myself connecting to the characters much and didn’t feel sympathy for them. I would’ve liked to see things more wrapped up at the end, though, it ended a bit abruptly.

After over 30 years of an arranged marriage, Suresh and Lata decide to get divorced. Suresh feels abandoned. Lata feels like they just grew further and further apart as the years went on. Both decide to navigate the American dating scene, while still keeping their Indian culture in mind. Meanwhile, their children are experiencing troubles in the dating scene. Priya is having an affair with a married man. While Nikesh is pretending to be married to the mother of his child.

I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Deepa Varadarajan does an excellent job of developing the characters through alternating POVs throughout the book. The alternating POVs allow the reader to understand each family member’s perspective and reasoning for their actions throughout the story. My favorite character was Lata because she seemed like a real person anyone would know. Her reflections on her life seemed genuine as she decided what kind of life she wanted for herself. This was a very enjoyable read, the perfect combination of humorous and emotional. I recommend it to anyone that likes realistic fiction. 4/5 stars.

Welcome to the newest author of what I consider beach read books: entertaining but doesn’t work the brain too hard. I enjoyed the characters, mostly. The plot was thin but that’s a beach read for ya. Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this book did not grab me as much as I had hoped, given the subject matter. This might be more my current readerly preoccupations than anything else. The novel is certainly well-crafted, and I enjoyed the humor and irony. I will recommend it, of course, and I may even revisit it later in the year. Thank you for the review copy.

This debut novel is a character-driven look at a somewhat dysfunctional Indian-American family. It’s told from the alternating points of view of all four family members - the parents who have recently divorced after many decades in their arranged marriage, and their two kids, who each have their own issues as well.

Despite all the issues all of the characters are facing, this is a novel that doesn’t forget to put the “fun” in dysfunctional, as there are a lot of funny, even farcical moments as well, along with all the family and relationship drama. An enjoyable read.

3.5 This story was enjoyable, overall. It was a good description of what can happen in a family when the parents divorce, and I really liked how it showed it from an Indian background.

That being said, the story felt predictable at times and I became a little bit bored towards the end.

I really dislike when it feels like I’m doing a takedown of a book, especially by a debut author, but sometimes it just can’t be helped. 𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗕𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗦 by Deepa Varadarajan was a book with a great premise: the parents in an Indian American family split up 36 years into their arranged marriage. They’re reeling, trying to figure out their new lives, and so are their two adult children. Everyone is a hot mess! Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, for me the execution just didn’t live up to the idea for a host of reasons.⁣⁣⁣
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* Characters were not well-developed and instead felt like caricatures. This included the four in the family and the far too many side characters. None garnered my sympathy.⁣⁣
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* There were too many storylines which created too many ridiculous/unlikely plot points.⁣⁣⁣
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* Every single chapter relied on tangents that had nothing substantial to do with the story. (I started skipping those.) ⁣⁣
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* The ending was not just unlikely, but so out there it made me question, “I read the entire book for this?” At the same time, it was very buttoned up, very neat and tidy.⁣⁣⁣
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While I appreciated getting to know an Indian American family and some of the characteristics distinct to their culture, as I read I couldn’t help wondering (over and over) where the editor was. It felt like that key piece of this book’s development was missing. Sometimes too many ideas just end up being a muddled mess and unfortunately that’s what I got with 𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴.⁣⁣ 2.5 stars
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Thanks to #randomhousetrade for an ARC of #LateBloomers.

Late Bloomers narrates the aftermath of Suresh and Lata’s divorce after thirty-six years in an unhappily, arranged marriage. The story is narrated by Suresh, Lata, and their two adult children, Priya and Nikesh. I found the way Deepa Varadarajan portrayed each unique perspective fascinating. Every character in Late Bloomers exhibits deep insecurities. The rawness and complexity of their family dynamic drew me into the story. The characters weren’t always likable, but I felt they were relatable. The story is propelled forward by the question of whether any of the family members will find happiness. I kept hoping that each family member would discover the gift they had in their own family. I’m not usually one to like character studies, so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this one.

Read this if you like:
-family dramas/character studies with alternating POV’s
-realistic portrayals of the complexity of adult parents and adult children relationships
-Contemporary own-voices narratives


Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for the advanced reader’s copy.

This one is a bit of a slow-burn to start and took me about the first 100 pages to get invested in, but from that point on it became quite engaging and entertaining. The characters take time to warm to, but be assured you will find them and their a-typical antics endearing by the end, even the minor characters are memorable. A well done debut for this author, I will definitely look forward to future novels.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5 / 5 stars

💕You might like this book if:
🔹 you like books that touch on multicultural differences
🔹 you like characters who do not have it all figured out
🔹 you enjoy mix-ups, unexpected situations, moments of chaos, and some laugh-out-loud absurdities

A huge thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse for providing me with a digital ARC in return for an honest review.

Enjoyable book about a family trying to survive a divorce later in life, as well as all the secrets they are hiding from each other. I enjoyed the characters (although they could be frustrating at times). The book ends on a hopeful note. It's a pleasant read.

This was an interesting story.

I was engaged throughout the book. The revolving perspectives from each of the four main characters were done well. I didn’t feel like I needed a break from any of them. Some of the situations this family get themselves in are awkward and gave me secondhand embarrassment.

What I struggled with bit was the fact that the narrative relied heavily on bad communication which was frustrating for me as the reader. I just wanted to shake them all and tell them to just talk to each other. I also didn’t find the characters inherently likable. Not that I need likable characters to enjoy a book but I would have like to be able to connect to this family in some way.

Overall, the writing and some of the observations of this disjointed family were worth the read. I would like to see what else this author has to offer in the future to see if it’s more of a homer for me.

Late Bloomers is a charming, heart-warming, and funny book. Impressive debut that tells the story of the parents’ divorce and how it impacts the family. With themes of loyalty, love, coming of age this story kept me engaged throughout. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

After thirty-six years of a dutiful but unhappy arranged marriage, recently divorced Suresh and Lata Raman find themselves starting new paths in life. Suresh is trying to navigate the world of online dating on a website that caters to Indians and is striking out at every turn—until he meets a mysterious, devastatingly attractive younger woman who seems to be smitten with him. Lata is enjoying her newfound independence, but she's caught off guard when a professor in his early sixties starts to flirt with her.
Meanwhile, Suresh and Lata's daughter, Priya, thinks her father's online pursuits are distasteful even as she embarks upon a clandestine affair of her own. And their son, Nikesh, pretends at a seemingly perfect marriage with his law-firm colleague and their young son, but hides the truth of what his relationship really entails. Over the course of three weeks in August, the whole family will uncover one another's secrets, confront the limits of love and loyalty, and explore life's second chances.

Posted on Instagram @carolinehoppereads Book 33…Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan. Thank you to @randomhouse for an early copy via @netgalley but since I cannot seem to read on my kindle lately 🤷🏻‍♀️, I actually listened to this one on audio. I thought the narration was perfect and I really enjoyed this story!

An arranged marriage with the couple originally moving to America from India has resulted in a divorce 36 years later. Their two children, born in the USA, are now all grown up and this story uses the viewpoints of these four characters to tell their hot mess story. As with all messy family dramas, a little truthful communication could solve a lot. But that would be no fun to read about!

The parents have lived their lives in terms of their culture expectations while their kids live by the American expectations. And now they are all struggling to live the life they want or think they want. I thought it was funny at times, but also had some heart felt moments. I found this to be the perfect audio book to just have fun with a little substance….brain candy. I definitely recommend you throw this one in “your ears” for your summer reading. 🎧 📚

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Late Bloomers is the perfect book for the late bloomers of the world. Why? Because it helps you see that you aren’t alone in that aspect, but also that it’s okay to let go of the past and try new things. And it is also okay to hold onto things from the past as long as you can see how things have changed around you.

Lata is a woman who was pushed into an arranged marriage, as that is how it was done for her family. She had dreams of her own, but she put them away for her family. Now that the kids are older and her parents have both passed away, she is ready to start living for herself. And who can blame her?

Suresh is a man who worked hard to provide for his family. He thought his wife was happy, as he gave her the things she asked for. When she decides she wants a divorce, it’s time for him to reconsider his past.

Priya is a woman who has always tried to be the perfect daughter. While she has an established career, she still feels like she’s disappointing her parents. Why? Because she doesn’t have a family of her own, like so many of her peers. Is it too late for her to find her happiness?

Nikesh has a great career, a lovely wife, and a beautiful baby boy. What’s he got to be unhappy about?

While in different places in their lives, the four are all in the same place and trying to figure out what’s next!

The story unfolds over a matter of weeks, and it is difficult to follow the timeline as no set-in-stone dates are mentioned, only that it is August. Following along with each perspective is easy, as the chapters switch between characters but are labeled with the name of the person you are following.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan, and hope she writes more fiction.

I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. While there are a lot of fun hijinks and situations, the four main characters often fell flat for me. I ended up finding myself much more captivated by the side characters in each of their stories. I appreciated that each character was complicated but the timeline didn't give much time for growth in each character. There are a lot of good moments, but I just ultimately needed more.

Late Bloomers is a wonderful love story about…divorce and family dysfunction! It’s humorous and touching, filled with rites of passages which can occur at any age. But even though the relationships are tumultuous, the main feeling you get is there is always love.

Suresh and Lata were married over 30 years ag0. It was an arranged marriage. They spent their first day as man and wife at the movies. But, through the years, they have learned to accept each other, even though they both see the flaws in the other. They have raised two children who are now adults, Priya a teacher and Nikesh, a lawyer.

At some point, Lata decides she needs her space form Suresh and wants to live a life she never had. Suresh does not understand Lata’s decision but accepts his wife’s wishes. They divorce and Lata moves into an apartment and Suresh keeps the house.

Lata begins a job at a college library where a professor begins to show her attention. She has never even had a boyfriend, so she is confused and guilty as to what to do. It does not help that the person giving her advice is a young girl she works with. Suresh on the other hand has begun dating at the aga of 60. He is on a dating app and is not very savvy at reading cues the women give him.

Along with these changes, what they have yet to discover, and possibly would freak out about if they do, Priya is in an unorthodox relationship and smokes, both of which they absolutely would not approve, and Nikesh who lives with Denise and their son Alok are not married although his parents think they are. Nikesh can’t seem to make the commitment as he pines for an old girlfriend.

With Alok’s first birthday coming and a party being planned at the house, what should be a happy event inevitably turns into a disaster with secrets coming out of the woodwork. And it is at this time the whole family must choose a new path, both together and separately as they all must make choices which will change futures. They must create a new version of their family, for the sake of all of them. They must find it in their hearts to love each other and those who love them.

Late Bloomers is adorably funny and heartwarming even though it might take this old-fashioned family a bit of time to step into a new wonderful future together.

Thank you #NetGalley #RandomHouse #DeepaVaradarajan #LateBloomers for the advanced copy.