I loved this book! It was so well written and to me a very interesting plot. It pulled at the heartstrings, what would you do if your young child was thrown in jail. But it went through everything going on with the siblings as well, it was rich and complex. I could not stop reading, I had to find out what happened. Looking forward to reading her other novels!

This book was written from the view of an Indian family. The husband and wife marry in India and come to California on a student visa. They were excited to be getting away from the caste system, the crowding and the lack of opportunities "to get ahead" in India. Much of their life is good but hardships exist. These are not the same kinds of problems that exist for those of us born in the US, to established US families. Could you imagine coming to America on a student visa and fearing that you may not be able to get another one? How about being detained at an airport after 911 because you look like a terrorist? As the family moves upward, the lives of the children also changes. When AJ is arrestedt, the entire family is disillusioned by the events that are put into motion. This book was a bit of a cultural shock for me. I received this digital ARC from NetGalley and Mariner Books. This review is my own.

I really liked this book and loved getting to know this family. I had a soft spot for all the kids, especially Deepa! There was a LOT going on in it….multiple side stories that I really wish were more fleshed out. This would make a great book club choice as there is SO much to talk about!!

The Shah family have recently moved to Pacific Hills, an exclusive community in Southern California. Two decades before, the parents came to America just after they were married in search of greater opportunities — and, with this move and their burgeoning company, they feel like they may have finally reached their dreams. But their three children, all born and raised in the United States, are each struggling in their own ways. One night, the youngest child, only 12 years old, is arrested. The impact of this shocking turn of events reshapes the relationship each member of the Shah family has to their community and each other, as it forces them to confront external and internal dynamics they had previously been able to ignore. This is a powerful story of family and belonging.

Highly recommended.

There is a lot to like about this! There are a lot of issues at play but the characters were well fleshed out and had their own motivation. I enjoyed the short chapters and misunderstandings. I think this would be great for book clubs! It reminds me of Angie Kim's writing.

(Thanks to @marinerbooks #gifted.) I was fully, 100% immersed in the first three quarters of 𝗔 𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗬 by Shilpi Somaya Gowda. This is a touching story of a successful, long-established Indian-American family living in an affluent Southern California community. On a seemingly normal Saturday evening, the family’s wires get crossed, and their 12-year old son Ajay unknowingly ends up at a place he shouldn’t be. He’s roughly arrested and hauled off to jail. Because he’s tall for his age and doesn’t communicate well, officers assume Ajay is older and he’s detained at an adult facility.⁣
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The rest of the story revolves around the trauma of the initial arrest and all the repercussions of the charges against Ajay. The family must deal with lawyers, judges, the press, both kind and cruel strangers, and one another. Even worse, they face assumptions and hate based on their ethnicity, something they’d easily overlooked in the model life they’d lived. All this rocks the family to its core and that’s really what made this story shine. Their pain, confusion, and sorrow were palpable.⁣
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Where the story fell down for me was in the last portion when things began to wrap up. The ending was just TOO neat and tidy. Every possible problem was resolved, too often in ways that felt inauthentic. The need to suspend disbelief should not be required in a literary fiction novel. In my opinion, 𝘈 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺 would have been better had some of its resolutions been more complex. It’s hard to rate when so much of the book worked, but that ending really disappointed me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

Thank you partner, bibliolifestyle & Mariner Books for the gifted copy.

On paper this felt like a book that I would really enjoy, but there was a lingering undertone that didn’t sit right with me. On one hand it does a good job commenting on police brutality, racism, classism and whataboutism. While on the other hand the story is told in a very ablest lens, using harmful and outdated diagnostic terms and “cure”/“be normal” rhetoric.

I hope that this book will continue to spark conversations and open eyes while also serving as a reminder that intersectionality is imperative for lasting change.

A Great Country was an excellent story. Reminiscent of Celeste Ng, this story follows two affluent families in Southern California whose lives are both turned upside down when the cops get involved. Told from multiple different voices, this story was jarring and riveting and I couldnt stop reading. So good!

A Great Country by Shilpi Somaya Gowda is an impactful story about family, race and politics.

This is the first novel I’ve read from Shilpi Somaya Gowda and I’m huge fan now! Her writing is really well done and engaging. She created both an interesting sense of place and the characters felt unique and real.

A Great Country is promoted for fans of Little Fires Everywhere and Such a Fun Age, and I think are exactly the right comps for this read. But it’s also distinct and stands on its own as well. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

A Great Country is a very well done novel that will certainly spark much discussion. I was engaged by this story and I’m so glad I picked it up. A fantastic book club read that will make you think about so much.

"A Great Country" by Shilpi Somaya Gowda is a poignant exploration of immigrant identity, family dynamics, and the complexities of life in America. The Shah parents immigrate to the United States, where they build a life and raise their three children. Rooted in the belief of the American Dream and the value of hard work, their world is shaken when their 12-year-old son, Ajay, is arrested, prompting them to question their place in their adopted country.

Against the backdrop of Pacific Hills, California, Gowda delves into themes of privilege, social class, race, and the myth of the model minority. The dynamic between the Shahs' two daughters adds depth to the story, with them each navigating their teenage years in contrasting ways — one daughter passionately engages in social activism, while the other seeks acceptance within their affluent community.

Through rich character development and thought-provoking storytelling, the author invites readers to reflect on the complexities of identity and belonging in contemporary America. "A Great Country" offers an insightful and nuanced examination of the immigrant experience and the challenges faced by marginalized communities.

Overall, "A Great Country" prompts important conversations about privilege, identity, and social justice. It offers an insightful exploration of these themes and I would recommend it for anyone interested in exploring and better understanding the complexities of the American experience.

4.5/5

A Great Country by Shilpi Somaya Gowda packs a powerful punch! Tackling topics such as racial bias and class divides, Gowda explores what it means to be the "model minority" in America. Sometimes, you can do everything right, and things still turn out all wrong.

After coming to the US for graduate school, Ashok Shah thought he was escaping the class issues prevalent in India. He and Priya have always made decisions based on giving their children the best lives possible. With his business flourishing and having just made the move to a more affluent neighborhood, Ashok felt his family was finally on the right track.

That is until one Saturday evening when Priya receives a call from the Orange County Jail. Their son Ajay has been arrested! In their rush to get to him, they struggle to understand what happened and why their son is in an adult facility when he's only twelve years old!

There are so many layers to A Great Country. As a mother, I identified with Priya's worries and concerns. Sometimes, it feels like we're always questioning our decisions, wondering if we're truly doing what's best. As a woman, it was encouraging to watch the enduring, heartfelt friendship between Priya and Archie, whom Priya met soon after settling in the US. That sense of support and community is so important in life. I also appreciated Gowda's exploration of the complex angles in the Shah family's story. It was eye-opening to read about issues I've never considered, such as the antiquated caste system in India and its carry-over in America.

I don't want to give anything away, but trust me, A Great Country is well worth the read! So many layers and so much to consider! It's available today and would be perfect for book clubs or buddy reads as there are a plethora of topics for discussion!

Read this if you like:
• Books that explore complex topics
• Strong female friendships
• Cultural heritage fiction

“A Great Country,” by Shilpi Somaya Gowda, Mariner Books, 256 pages, March 26, 2024.

Pacific Hills, California: Gated communities, ocean views, well-tended lawns, serene pools, and now the new home of Ashok and Priya Shah and their children Deepa, Maya and Ajay. The parents motto has always been work hard and don’t make waves.

Ajay Shah, 12, is in a jail cell. His parents, who are unaware of his arrest, are at a party at their friends, the Sharmas. They thought he was at the robotics lab at school. Deepa, who was supposed to pick up Maya and Ajay, is at a pro-immigration rally. The fallout from the arrest will shake each family member’s perception of themselves.

The story that follows is fairly predictable, as each family member comes to change their thinking over the course of the book. I didn’t connect with the characters and I think it gave too much detail of the lives of minor characters. The plot was inconsistent. This just wasn’t for me.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

I sat down to read A Great Country when my Internet went down for half a day. A Great Country was the perfect book to fill the time. Before I knew it, I had read the entire book. The novel is much stronger on plot than it is for its character development. The story - a family whose parents immigrated to the US from India two decades earlier is on its way to assimilating into an upscale predominantly white neighborhood when their young, 12-year old Ajay, is picked up by the police for flying his homemade drone over a local airport. Although undiagnosed, away is clearly "on the spectrum" and his dad turns to a wealthy fellow entrepreneur, also Indian, for help. In the end, though, it is old friends who provide the family with the support it needs while the case is taken up not only by the criminal justice system but by a group advocating for racial justice. The relationship between mom and the mother of a similarly-aged black boy who was murdered seems artificial, and the characters are not really explored in any depth, but most of this novel tells a realistic and important story of immigration, discrimination, and relationships, among other important topics. Recommended..

This is a fantastic book. Every Indian person who has emigrated to the USA or has family who has emigrated there will find that the story resonates with them. Ashok and Priya moved to USA in pursuit of the American dream. They believe that they have more or less achieved that on the professional front and are raising a family of three children in the plush neighborhood of Pacific Hills in California. The kids are all American born American citizens and Ashok and Priya have also obtained American citizenship. And the kids are inevitably growing up American no matter their exposure to Indian values and way of life at home. Despite all these efforts to become American, Ashok and Priya find that their brown skin sets them apart. When their younger son Ajay gets into an altercation with the police, the ingrained discrimination and prejudices become all the more apparent. The author has written the story in a very candid, very nuanced manner with a lot of attention to detail. What unfolds is a vivid picture of immigrant life in the great country, the USA. A must read. I loved it.

Thank you Netgalley, Mariner Books and Shilpi Somaya Gowda for the ARC

The Shah family came to the US 20 years earlier to escape the confines and prejudices of the Indian caste system so that they can succeed and create a new and better life for themselves and their children with hard work and education. They thought they had accomplished this after moving from Irvine to a newer and fancier neighborhood with gates, pools and home associations. However, one day their 12 year old neurodivergent son is arrested and roughed up by the police for playing with his drone by an airport because the police thought because of the color of his skin, that he could possibly be a terrorist. After this and the fallout, the Shahs come to realize that their fancier home and education cannot protect them from the US’ version of its hierarchical system, built with discrimination and historical disadvantages.

✨My Review✨

While the messages of this book were really interesting and thought provoking, I wish the characters had had more depth - I felt that each was more a symbol of a viewpoint than an actual person. Had each character been more developed and not as much there to carry through a point, this novel could have been really great. I thought how the author paralleled the caste system in India with the historical disadvantages of minorities in the US was excellent and so I still enjoyed the story and the message, I just kept wishing for a bit more.

3.75 stars (rounded up to 4)

Thank you to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the ARC to review

Ashok and Prima Shah are hard working Indian immigrants who have just moved their family to an affluent neighborhood as they pride themselves on how far they have come. Their oldest daughter Deepa is unhappy with the move and prefers the old neighborhood where there was more diversity and less pretentiousness. Middle daughter Maya has reinvented herself to fit in with her new peers and the youngest, Ajay just wants to fly his drones and build his Lego in peace.
When 12 yr old Ajay is arrested, their family is turned upside down as they navigate the systemic racism they have no choice to confront. Being a part of the model minority won't save them from their brown skin and the judgement of others, especially the law enforcement office who arrested their young son. Ashok and Priya also come to realize who their real friends and supporters are as they continue to assimilate themselves and their children in the US.
This book really hit home for me as I am also a brown skinned child of immigrants and part of the model minority. Many South Asians are quiet and submissive and just keep their heads down as to not attract attention as they assimilate and my experience growing up shared some of these similarities. An excellent read with a lot to think about.
Thank you to Mariner Books and Netgalley for an advance digital copy of this book.

A Great Country by Shilpi Somaya Gowda is a poignant and unforgettable novel.
Gowda touches on some pretty important topics here in this story.
The well crafted characters really had me hooked to the story, their journey was tough.
This is one of those books you sort of get swept up in, with its great storytelling this was an excellent read.

Thank You NetGalley and Mariner Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

An important and relevant book, the story was one I couldn’t put down. Priya and Ashok left India to find the American dream, moving to California, working hard and starting a family. Their youngest child, a 12 year old neurodivergent boy, is arrested by the police and mistreated. Charged with trespassing and other crimes after innocently testing out a homemade drone, Ajay spends six hours in an adult prison while his parents try to figure out what happened. Immediately the press jumps to conclusions, calling the Hindu family Muslim and questioning ties to jihadists, which was not at all what this hard working family was, but also opened their eyes to what prejudice and discrimination could exist, as it did in India, I highly recommend this fast moving story. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Shilpi Somaya Gowda, and Mariner Books for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

I liked this! A Great Country addresses many important topics regarding the current state of police and racial profiling from the perspective of an affected family. This book definitely had several thought-provoking scenarios, and I appreciated seeing the growth of each member of the Shah family. The characters were all rich, and ultimately, the story was well-developed. This is a short read that I flew through, and I do think the overall book could have benefitted from being a little longer. My biggest complaint was that it was very "tell, not show", which is not my favorite style of writing. It felt like Gowda would have each character come to this revelatory moment and then "tell" why exactly it was in a huge paragraph stating slightly-obvious things. It didn't detract from the novel or my enjoyment of it as a whole, but it made the book just feel a bit more amateur.

Thanks to NetGalley, BookClubGirl, and MarinerBooks for this copy of "A Great Country."

The story starts with 12-year-old Ajay in a jail cell, asking if he can talk to his parents. We're wondering why he's there and why his parents haven't been notified? We learn the details later and then he and his family are hounded by the press.

His parents have always believed that "good immigrants" work hard, play by the rules, and eventually get ahead. However, they learn that they have fled one strict hierarchy in India 20 years ago only to find another in the US.

The sad but realistic part is that everyone (law enforcement, parents, siblings) did what they felt was right at the time. Credit to author Gowda for making the family members so interesting and real and relatable as they struggle with social issues facing all of us.