In "Mercy and Grace," Anoop Judge's compelling narrative spans continents, following protagonist Gia Kumari as she embarks on a transformative journey from the confines of a Delhi orphanage to the vibrant streets of San Francisco.

At twenty-one, Gia seizes the opportunity presented by an unexpected invitation from Sonia Shah, offering an internship at her weddings and events company. As she immerses herself in her new surroundings, America becomes a beacon of hope and possibility for Gia. From her first job to her reunion with her long-lost uncle, Mohammed Khan, and her blossoming romance with Sonia's stepson, Adi, every moment is tinged with excitement and discovery. Yet, beneath the surface of this newfound happiness lies a haunting family secret that threatens to unravel everything Gia holds dear. As she grapples with the weight of her tragic past and the web of lies that shroud it, Gia must confront her demons and find the strength to forgive.

While the storytelling is rich and vibrant, the plot occasionally succumbs to overly convenient twists that strain believability, disrupting the narrative's natural flow. It could have benefitted from tighter editing that would have enhanced its impact by addressing the occasional lapses in narrative coherence. However, the novel does remain compelling throughout, offering poignant insight and engaging characters, making it a worthwhile read.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I was intrigued by the description of this book and excited to read my copy. It did not disappoint! The dual timelines made the story move quickly. I also found myself engaged in the culture portrayal and learned a lot.

A lovely read. Took a little while to get into but well worth it in the end. Enjoyed the storytelling using the 2 different timelines. I think I saw the twist coming but it was handled well. It could have been overly sentimental but it was dealt with in a realistic manner.

I always enjoy when books introduce me to cultures or history outside of my own little bubble. In this case, it was the tension between Hindus and Muslims in India, which I didn't really know much about before. This was an emotional read, and Gia was one of those main characters that you can't help but root for.

The one complaint I would have about this book would be that the romance subplot could have been fleshed out more. I feel like it happened really fast, and we didn't really get much development on page. Overall though, I enjoyed this and would recommend.

Gia has found herself aging out of the orphan system in India and must leave the only home she’s ever known. She finds herself boarding a plane to California, reconnecting with her uncle and landing a job as an event planner. Her life seems too good to be true.

Told in dual timelines – one in present day San Francisco and one set 25 years in the past during the Hindu-Muslim culture wars in India – the author touches on several sensitive topics, including different religious beliefs and abandonment issues. This was well done and has you rooting for Gia to find her place in the world.

Thank you to Anoop Judge, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of the book for an honest review.

Having to leaving her orphanage home in New Delhi, Gia finds herself homeless until she receives an invitation to act as an intern at a event and wedding planner in San Francisco. Her adventure begins and all does not turn out as she thought, but there is hope. Well written and recommended.

A really interesting story of self-discovery and family history - the muslim-hindu conflicts/riots in India are something I don't really know a lot about, and I think Judge touched on them respectfully, but also in a really engaging way.

Gia's story is so poignant, and almost a modern day cinderella - I found her a really well written character.

My only issue is that some moments very much seemed too good to be true, and whilst I know it's a work of fiction, it did take me out of it somewhat.

REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
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In recent news in India, I keep seeing riots or fights between Muslims and Hindus. In India's history, most of the most bloody events in the country are always about deaths of hundreds of Muslims. That being said, this is the first time that I'll read a first-time experience (kinda)of the 'fights' between Hindus and Muslims.
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I really liked the author's portrayal of all the main characters, especially Gia. My heart broke for her for what she went through, and she was the biggest victim. I'm not trying to make the traumas of others seem light, but there was a child involved, a child all alone in the world, they should have done something, anything!
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I have a lot to say, but I'm trying not to give any spoilers. Gia is definitely a better person than I am because I would not have easily forgiven Her easily(let's call her this). I totally understood her leaving Gia because she was in a difficult situation, but she should have gone back to her and her sister, who literally risked her life to save hers when her life was much much better.
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For Muhammad, I understood his trauma, but it would have been lessened if he had talked to his family about what he went through. But I'm glad he was there for Gia in the little way he could.
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I didn't like how fast this book was, the family secrets were revealed too fast, and Gia's romance was wayyy too fast.
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But, this book was amazing, and I'm glad I read it. It has a beautiful storyline and wonderful characters

IT's always a pleasure to read a book from a perspective that we don't usually get. In Anoop Judge's "Mercy and Grace," she looks at a young Indian woman who leaves India to find a job (and her true identity) in the U.S. As an orphan in India, she has to leave to uncover some truths. It's in the U.S. that she finds a new family, and she discovers the truth about her past. Gia is such a likeable character that I became engrossed in finding out the truth about her. I wanted her to succeed because she was so vibrant and well-written. I found the idea of accepting hard truths to be something that readers will understand. If the plot points can sometimes border on the predictable, the prose and the character of Gia make up for those moments. A recommendation.

Thank you to the author, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This engrossing story is told in two parallel timelines, one in present day California and one 25 years ago, during the horrific Hindu-Muslim culture wars that took place in India. The author tells the story of Gia, an Indian orphan that is aging out of the orphanage, the only home she has ever known, when she unexpectedly is given the chance of a lifetime, with a job at an event agency in California. She ascribes this good luck to a recently discovered uncle, but things turn out very differently. The story has emotional resonance and the characters come alive, but there are a few too many "too good to be true" developments that pulled me out of the flow of the story. Overall, well worth a read, but the story would have profited from a bit more editing and filling out the abrupt and inexplicable twists and turns.

I received this advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This was a really interesting and well written novel! I truly enjoyed the surprises and twists of the plot throughout the story, pitting a plucky orphan against America the modern and beautiful, with a few unexpected twists thrown in. I highly recommend this novel!

A story of family secrets lies, and conflict. Gia was abandoned as a baby, left at an orphanage, Now 21, she's been offered a chance to work for Sonia in San Francisco. It's a giant leap to be sure but there's something more here, Judge does a nice job with her characters and with giving the reader a sense of the religious conflict at the time of Gia's birth. This moves between POVs and back and forth in time and while there are few surprises along the way, the ending was. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

I really enjoyed this book, especially the bouncing between different perspectives. I particularly enjoyed the exploration of history and different religious beliefs in this book.
It was really well put together and I will definitely be interested in reading other books written by this author.

Mercy and Grace is a poignant and precious family drama spread over several generations and several countries. The back-and-forth perspectives from the past and current share the history as well as the new situations while the family evolves. This is a pleasant book that I enjoyed reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I had a a hard time starting this but when I did, I couldn't stop. I got hooked. This follows Gia a orphan abandoned by her mother during riots between religions Muslim and Hinduism in the 1970's. To Marry a Hindu when your a Muslim was forbidden. That's what made the book interesting to me. Exploring other nationalities and their religious beliefs. This book talks about abandonment, Love and especially forgiveness. I would read more from this Author. The book was beautifully written.

Gia Kumari’s life is about to change. She has been offered a job in the United States. Gia Kumari makes the trip from Delphi to San Francisco. She has led a life devoid of family in India, living in an orphanage. Gia arrives in the United States, with a job promised to her by a stranger named Sonia Shah as an assistant at a wedding and event planning company. Gia arrives in the United States excited for her new job and life. She is impressed and overwhelmed by the sights and sounds that she is exposed to in her new home. While Gia is happily acclimating to life in the United States, she has no idea of the terrible secrets that will come to light about her childhood and past. Will Gia overcome these secrets or succumb to them? What will be gained and what may be lost? This book is heartfelt, emotional, and bittersweet. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

The book takes readers on an emotional journey as Gia Kumari, a young woman leaving behind her past in Delhi, embarks on a new chapter of her life in San Francisco. With an invitation to work at a weddings and events company, Gia discovers love, family, and the bittersweet complexities of her own history. Roshan Ali masterfully crafts a tale of self-discovery, blending romance, secrets, and the power of forgiveness. The characters come alive with their quirks and vulnerabilities, making them relatable and endearing. As Gia unravels the mysteries of her past, readers will be captivated by the heartfelt narrative and the depth of emotions it evokes. "Firsts" is a beautiful and poignant novel that reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for prerelease copy of book for honest review. I really got into this book and enjoy it after the first couple of chapters. The book was well written and character development was good . I wish the ending were better. I felt Sonia should have told Gia more detail of why she had no choice but to give her up. We got the happily ever after, but it was too abrupt.

Gia was a very likable character in Mercy and Grace. I feel that her story resounds with countless people across the globe having parents from different cultures. I’m glad that Anoop Judge ended this book on a happy note but didn’t reach so far as to make it a happily ever after. The reality is that life doesn’t always turn out the way you want it to.
The book does a great job of exposing snips of culture that anyone with interest can google to learn more about. Writing a book that tells an engaging story and teaches about culture(s) is always a win in my opinion.

3.5/5 Mercy and Grace is the orphanage where Gia was raised in India. Gia is invited to move to San Francisco to work for a wedding planning company. Once in the United States Gia is introduced to family she never knew about and learns the events of her birth. My favorite is her uncle Mohammed. He's still dealing with trauma from the past but is as open and honest as he can be with Gia. Sonia is Gia's boss. Sonia has made some bad decisions, a lot of them are very selfish so it's hard to feel for the situation she now sees herself in. Gia is a character you want to cheer for, you want to see her succeed and find the family base she seems to be seeking.