Thank you to the author, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My apologies for the delay in posting this review, I had a bit too much going on.

This story centers on a young woman who finds herself at the threshold of choosing between her identity and her family. She has been firmly pushed into a role as a spice healer by her mother and grandmother, when all she wants to do is see the world. After finding a mysterious old letter in the attic, she realizes that she has to unravel her grandmother’s and mother’s secrets to free herself from their crushing expectations and learn who she really is.

There are lots of heavy themes hidden in this book: abandonment issues, societal stigma, cultural appropriation, the traps that social media can set, and more. This is a fast and easy read, and the relationships between the three women of different generations are the linchpin, reflecting the complexities many of us face in our own lives with the people we love: contradictory and messy relationships built on a strong foundation of love. The romance element is puzzling, not well developed and much too rushed.

More than family secrets, this story is about a woman in her early thirties still trying to find herself. All her life, she was taught to continue the family tradition of spice healers, ayurveda. Although Tulsi always did what was expected of her without giving it much thought. And now she's approaching her final test. Either the tradition continues or ends with her. Scared to disappoint her family, Tulsi is facing a big dilemma. She doesn't want the same life her mother and grandmother had, especially when it seems such a lonely life.

When Tulsi finds a letter from her grandmother, speaking of a long-ago betrayal, she sees it as a door to her family's past. One that always brings so much sorrow to both women. Tulsi starts to uncover secrets and old wounds she's determined to help mend. And in the process, she might discover her life's true purpose.

The family dynamics are, in a word, complex. There is a lot of love that often clashes with tradition and expectations. In particular, Tulsi's grandmother can be very stubborn in her views of the world, work, granddaughter, and past. And that becomes the biggest opposing force against Tulsi. She realises how much she allows her family to be in their ways without questioning it and how that strips away a part of her identity. All those secrets have a cost, and it might be Tulsi.

The story reflects a lot on family relations, old views, how traditions and fates can suppress and be unfair, and how past trauma affects present relationships. There's also a big emphasis on dealing with what is out of our control. The story doesn't follow only the growth of the main character. Her mother and grandmother also have a bit of learning to do as well.

While Tulsi might not know what she wants to do with her life, she shows a lot of emotional maturity. She becomes the mediator in her family's healing process. And even in the romantic relationship that starts to bloom on the side, she isn't afraid to show herself, even if that means babbling to fill in any awkwardness. The romance never overpowers the main story. It's a helper. An outsider perspective that helps Tulsi become even more assured of herself.

Every mystery or new character introduced had a very clear purpose. Once you get familiar with the story, it's obvious where the plot is going. However, the stars of the show are the characters and their relationships. So, it doesn't matter if the plot is predictable because it's only creating opportunities for Tulsi to grow and discover herself.

I had a lovely time reading this book even when Tulsi's grandmother was so uncooperative or their lives took a turn for the worse. I adored following Tulsi and witnessing her journey to discover herself as an individual, her place in her family and her family's traditions. It's a hopeful and loving story where everything works out for the best. And sometimes that's exactly what you need.

Tulsi lives and works with her mother, Devi and grandmother, Aruna. They own the store where they use the spices and herbs to treat health concerns of their clients. Tulsi hides her competence in hope of leaving and exploring the world. As the book progresses, the secrets of long ago are slowly revealed to Tulsi (as the title promises).

The thing about Namrata Patel’s THE CURIOUS SECRETS OF YESTERDAY is that you’re going to be hungry the entire time you’re reading it. This cozy book featuring a family-owned spice shop and a neighboring restaurant, not to mention countless cups of warm tea, is an inviting and enjoyable read. The plot is simple, and fairly predictable, but sometimes that’s okay. The romance felt like an unnecessary addition to what was a lovely story about family and the gifts (and burdens ) we inherit. The very best parts of the book were the moments between multiple generations.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union for the advance copy. All opinions are entirely my own.

This is a great book for a person who loves all the gossip. The story itself is set up as a mini mystery that is being unraveled while the main character is trying to navigate between two worlds- That of her immigrant grandmother and her modern day experience and the consequences of both. While she's uncovering all sorts of family secrets and truths, she's also seeing how the past has affected her life beyond what anyone intended. It's a wonderfully written story and covers a lot of ground intellectually.

#arc
#netgalley
#thecurioussecretsofyesterday

This book really didn’t work for me.

I had really high hopes for this book based on its synopsis, and the rich history of spice healing that was the book’s premise was really interesting and culturally rich. I also liked the themes of multigenerational family dynamics that weaved into the story, but that’s about where the positive aspects of the book ended for me.

The plot was molasses-slow and I was slogging through it for much of the time. And the writing style felt really odd to me, and some weird sentences pulled me out of the story completely; like “surrounded by the smell of garbage,” “like popping a blister,” and “like vomiting thumbtacks.” And the writing was such that I questioned whether it was supposed to sound historical or contemporary. It was just odd. I found the story to be boring, underdeveloped, and poorly written. It was juvenile almost.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. THE CURIOUS SECRETS OF YESTERDAY is out now.

The Curious secrets of yesterday, it's an interesting enough story that I could finish it. There were a couple plot points that weren't explained and given a context of. Other than that it's a story of 3 women, 3 generations and their choices of following and foregoing their legacy.

The story of three Indian origin women, all single, all dedicated to the art and more particularly the science of spices. The effective use of which can balance the ills of the body, help us mentally and generally be good to all. Tulsi the youngest woman is the only person who can carry this heritage forward, but she finds herself at a crossroads in her life. She doubts that she wants spices to be her sole focus in life, which is how it is for her mother and grandmother. She wants to broaden her life, find romance. Both older women are reticent in the extreme about partners and I found it strange that Tulsi brought up in Salem, never questioned who or from where her father was.

When secrets did come out, the trend of the story changed. Family dynamics changed drastically adding layers to what was a very closed family unit. Romance entered too but it was always secondary and did not change the thrust of the story. Family and secrets and how past influences the present. There was a social media hype which added a minor layer to the story.

Setting in Salem was unusual with the city’s history.

"That's a five-star book" was my first thought after finishing the last words in Namrata Patel's latest book, The Curious Secrets Of Yesterday.

Three generations of women are wrapped in a story of intergenerational trauma and family expectations while managing their spice shop and their individual lives.

This book is full of culture, warmth, and love. The kind of love that is familiar, protective, and always wanting what's best for its family. The kind of love that surrounds you even as you forge your own path. This is a calm and patient love.

Patel's writing is straightforward and beautiful, full of tangible characters, and with a real sense of home.

Simply put: Patel wrote a feeling in book form.

Icing on the (spice) cake:
-food forward
-beyond relatable
-found family
-Lucas, the perfect book boyfriend

PS this audiobook is incredibly well done!

What's your last five-star book?

Thank you NetGalley, Kaye Publicity and Lake Union Publishing for the complimentary copies to read and review.

I was not enraptured by the book. The plot was a bit messy and dragged on. Could not really finish the book 25% in.

The Curious Secrets of Yesterday by Namrata Patel was a wonderful journey through family dynamics, culture, and self-exploration that keeps you hooked till the very end.
The novel expertly navigates through family drama, secrets, friendships, and growth, showcasing Poppy's resilience in the face of challenges. The pacing is well-balanced, allowing the reader to savor the unfolding of the story while maintaining a sense of anticipation.
It was very easy to relate to because everyone struggles with family pressures and figuring out what they want to do in life.
It was a really enjoyable read that I highly recommend.

Thank You NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

THE CURIOUS SECRETS OF YESTERDAY by Namrata Patel follow the adventures and evolution of Tulsi within the rigid hierarchical expectations of her mother and grandmother and the wider, expansive possibilities in the environment around her. Expected to carry on the family business of a spice shop in Salem, Massachusetts, Tulsi finds herself attracted to the business rather than the matter of healing using spices, ultimately defying her heritage and traditions in order to define herself for herself and live the life that she begins to imagine possible when a new business owner attracts her family's interest and she finds herself thinking and acting in unsanctioned and unexpected ways. While the language was stilted and off-putting at times, I did enjoy Tulsi's evolution from frustrated obedience to curious actor and the characters themselves. While I enjoyed the progression of the story, I didn't feel surprised by events, but at times like the plot was rushed or slower than it needed to be. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

I really loved the multi-generational, matrilineal nature of this story. I liked all of our characters and I wanted more. I wanted to see a little more about how the Salem and Chicago family melded together. We got a lot, I just wanted more. All that to say, I am proud of Tulsi. I felt the ended was a little rushed, but that has to do with the fact that I was greedy so for us to get a yearlong time jump was a little shocking because I felt that there was a lot of development that was left off the page.

All that to say, I highly recommend this book to all my fellow bookworms.

The Curious Secrets of Yesterday by Namrata Patel is a story of finding oneself and following their dreams.

Tulsi, a resident of Salem, of Indian descent, helps her mom and grandmother with their spice store Rasa. Rasa is not just any other spice store, but their spices heal. Both her mom and grandmother are ayurvedic healers. Tulsi wants to explore her options, though, and doesn't want to follow in their footsteps. One day, a stranger visits their shop, and Tulsi's life changes. For better or worse, though?

What I liked about this book is Tulsi's exploration of what she wants. Even after the secrets are revealed, she sticks to her roots. I did enjoy some aspects of the book. The only thing I had a problem with was that in some places, the story felt rushed, and some arcs were not required at all. Overall, it was a good book where three generations of strong women are trying to continue their family legacy.

Tulsi works with her mother and grandmother in their family owned spice shop. She is expected to take over the family business after passing a test but that is not the life she wants.

The book focussed a lot on family dynamics which was well done. The writing is simple with a rich storyline and characters that are wonderfully flawed. I enjoyed the commentry about Ayurveda practices that while they did not belong to one particular culture it is important to have a real knowlege to make true use of the spices and blends. The story was a bit slow to start but once it got going, it kept me interested.

With themes of family lineage, cultural appropriation, finding love while finding oneself, it was a compelling read - one best enjoyed while sipping on masala chai.

Thank you @netgalley and @lakeunionpublishing for a digital ARC to read and review.

this story had a promising plot that was executed poorly. It just wasn't interesting. However, I'm sure there are people out there who may relate to Tulsi, feeling the pressure to do as their parental figures wish, so maybe they'll like it! While the author failed to capture my utmost interest, I think there are still certain plot points that were done well.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the read.

This book had a great concept and the writing was easy, but I felt it was a bit slow in spots throughout. It was dragging a bit too much to captivate my interest and motivation. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed the premise!

This is an incredibly lovely story about coming into yourself and finding out who you want to be. And how that's not always the easiest thing to do when you've grown up in an enmeshed family where you've been made to feel responsible for everybody's welfare.

I liked the flow of the story and that the main focus was on the dynamics between Tulsi and her family members. I felt for her, and I was happy that she found Lucas and Ash. Until she met them, I don't think that anyone saw her or even gave consideration to what she wanted.

This isn't a story with overly dramatic twists and turns or big romantic gestures. But it was very real, and I could feel the love and care that was there underneath all the hurt.

In the end, Tulsi does find out what works for her, and I was happy that the family was able to (emotionally) grow together.

Thirty year old Tulsi belongs to a matriarchal family. Her grandmother Aruna and mother Devi run a specialist spice healing store called Rasa in Salem.

Her grandmother continuously pressurizes her to learn about spices but Tulsi has no interest in actual spice healing and prefers the management side of the business. This is where the characters got quite irritating. Aruna was so set in her ways. She is stubborn and selfish. All her conversations related to her business and how Tusli would take it over one day. Aruna and Devi are both emotionally manipulative. Devi is a bit of a door mat and always seems to avoid answering Tulsi's questions.

In this set up, Tulsi feels suffocated. She never went to college but knows that she needs other options - but what? This book is about Tulsi's self-discovery and standing up for herself.

Along comes Lucas who opens up a cafe next door. The elder two women immediately tell Tulsi that she and Lucas would be a good match without Tusli even meeting him first. After Lucas and Tulsi do meet, the chemistry is almost none existent and rushed.

An old friend of Devi's suddenly turns up and this becomes a turning point in Tulsi's life.

Overall, The Curious Secrets of Yesterday was an okay read.

Family secrets and lies about in this novel about Tulsi. She doesn't want to join the family business but she does want to know the family story. It's nicely atmospheric. And there's a little romance. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. An easy read.