The writing is easy to read, the plot is easy to follow, and the story itself feels incredibly relatable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC.

Such a great coming of age story! I really enjoyed meeting Durga and her whole family. An authentic and emotional coming of age story that pulled me in.

I wish I could read this again for the first time.

SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS:
This book follows Durga, a woman who was born and raised in India with traditional parents and 4 siblings, who moves to Ireland to work for a technology company. She falls in love with Jacob, but their secret 2-year relationship comes to an end when she decides not to invite him to her sister's wedding back in India for fear that he won't be accepted by her family. Following their breakup, Durga finds herself mentally battling between her newfound understanding of being a modern woman and the pressures of her upbringing and cultural expectations.

Isn't it funny how life sometimes gives you exactly what you need in a turbulent or emotionally difficult time in your life? This book was the serendipity I needed - giving me the extra push I needed to make a drastic but positive change in my life. I found so much meaning in this book, and it helped me process a lot of my own feelings and recent life changes while indirectly relating to and sympathizing so much with Durga and her grief. The relationships were so complex yet relatable, and the character development throughout was just so satisfying and hopeful. This book made me feel so seen. Highly, highly recommend.

Thank you to @netgalley + @randomhouse for the ARC, and to @dishabossy for this beautiful coming-of-age story releasing on May 6, 2025!

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: coming-of-age, self-discovery, romance, contemporary fiction
Trigger warnings: grief, death of a loved one, domestic violence, complex family dynamics

This is a sweet book that explores the Hindu myth of Durga and Kali--one pure of heart and one her alter ego. It begins with protagonist Durga who has moved from India to Ireland and lives with flatmate and best friend, Joy. Joy's brother Jacob has been Durga's on-again, off-again boyfriend and something tragic happens just as Durga meets another man walking on the beach. But she must soon travel to India for a wedding and is worried that her traditional parents will attempt an arranged marriage for her so she's reluctant to go. She does and everything that transpires after that just proves that no matter where you are you are always home with family!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

A coming of age story centered around India born and raised Durga. She’s leaving home to begin her independent life in Cork, Ireland. She rents an apartment but the cost isn’t manageable for a single person so advertises for a roommate. Joy is the first person to come and immediately tells Durga that she will not only take the apartment but will cook and do all the cleaning. Thus begins a strong friendship that will be tested by heartbreaking circumstances. Durga finds herself in a 2 year loving relationship with Joy’s brother but is reluctant to bring him home to her sister’s wedding because he is black and believes that her family will not accept him. Because Durga refuses to bring him they break up but are both miserable because they are deeply in love. Going home can be difficult because your memories are of your life as a child and the family dynamic of adulthood is quite different. This story has complicated and sometimes misunderstood family relationships. Worth a read although at times I found myself frustrated wanting Durga to get on with life.
This ARC was provided by Random House Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Such a great coming of age story! I really enjoyed
meeting Durga and her whole family through this story. Such an authentic and emotional coming of age tale that pulled at my heartstrings.

Also the cover is/was beautiful!

This novel beautifully explores themes of cultural identity, family traditions, love, friendship, and personal growth—all told with a mix of humor, heartbreak, and warmth.

Durga, the youngest of three Indian daughters, is named after a Hindu goddess symbolizing purity and strength. Her parents hope she will embody these virtues as she forges her own path. When she moves to Ireland for a promising job, she embraces her independence, forming close friendships and even falling for her flatmate’s brother. However, when she returns to India for her sister’s wedding, she hesitates to bring her new friends along, fearing her family won’t accept them. It’s only later that she realizes she underestimated both her parents and the deep value of family.

I enjoyed this book—it’s an engaging and thoughtful read. At times, it felt geared toward a younger audience, with some decisions left unexplored in depth, but I’d still recommend it to readers who enjoy stories about personal growth and cultural transitions.

This is a beautifully layered and empowering story of self-discovery and transformation. At its heart is Durga, an unassuming middle child from a loving but stifling Calcutta family who unexpectedly becomes the first to break free from the expectations and limitations that have long defined her. In Ireland, far from the familiar, Durga steps into a world of endless possibilities, and readers are invited to join her on a journey of growth, heartbreak, and self-realization.

Durga’s transformation is deeply compelling. Her initial timidity and self-doubt are relatable, and her journey to reclaim her identity feels authentic and hard-won. The relationships she forges in Ireland—especially with Jacob and Joy—are vibrant and dynamic, highlighting the complexity of love and friendship and the courage it takes to navigate both. Her relationship with Jacob is particularly poignant, a reminder of how love can teach us about ourselves even when it doesn’t last.

Durga’s struggle to balance her newfound independence with her ties to home and family creates a rich tension that many readers will recognize. The goddess Kali's invocation serves as a powerful metaphor for Durga’s ultimate empowerment, reminding us that bravery and transformation often come from within.

With evocative prose and deeply human characters, this novel explores what it means to carve out one’s own path.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not generally a fan of cozy novels, things that are touching and that explore family dynamics…except if there is some murder or mayhem involved. For some reason, I found myself with Disha Bose’s new book I Will Blossom Anyways (thanks to Random House-Ballantine and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review).

The story revolves around a young woman named Durga, originally from India. She has left her family behind, and moved to Ireland to be out on her own. Along the way, the story explores family, friends, interracial relationships, grief – it’s a LOT! IMO it might have been better for me if there had been just a touch LESS going on. Not sure if this is an issue with editing? In any case, it is well-written and I will definitely look for more by Ms. Bose. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I Will Blossom Anyway is a wonderful coming of age novel by Disha Bose.

Durga reminded me a little of myself—I was the only one in my close-knit family to move far away, which is what Durga does when she leaves India to work for a tech company in Ireland. Hence, I identified with trying to find oneself and dismissing the trappings of one’s upbringing.

The author does an excellent job of establishing Dugra’s connections to her Indian family. Durga makes several stumbles as she settles into her new home. I found her relationship with Jacob less intriguing. I also found that there was a lot going on in this novel, so it was hard to stay focused. I had to put it down and restart it a couple of times.

Overall, if you hang on, the resolution will be worth it. I just wanted to see more growth on Durga’s part with such a premise.

Three and a half out of five stars.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a chance to read this novel.

This book explores themes of self identity as Durga navigates life in a foreign country, away from the traditions (and family) she was raised with. While I love the overall theme of the book - finding one’s self - it felt as if there was a lot going on simultaneously. So it was hard to keep my attention.

I really enjoyed this romance and the what will she do plot. (No spoilers). Thank you so much for the early opportunity to read this one early. I am grateful!

I loved this book. It was cute and cozy, comforting and touching! I did like how the themes of growth, family, love, and relationships are covered in this book. I do enjoy this authors writing style, I will be keeping an eye out for more!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I Will Blossom Anyways is a promising book by author Disha Bose. It centers around Durga, a young woman living in Cork after leaving her family in India to live life on her own terms. The story has so much potential exploring interracial relationships, complex family dynamics, grief, and friendship. My biggest knock, and the reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, is that it almost felt like there was too much going on at once. I understand the thought process, but I think with a little bit of editing, the execution could be awesome! Overall, great read!

My positive feeling towards this book started with the lovely green cover. The author quickly draws the reader into Durga's life in Ireland. She shows you what a a close family can be, even when they live miles apart. She shows you what true friendship can be, even when it is severely tested. She shows you what love can be, even when both come from very different cultures, backgrounds and experiences. The author did a wonderful job making the reader understand Durga's life, in two very diverse countries, India and Ireland, often through the food of both nations.

The title was fitting...and to be honest, titles are not always fitting to the book (IMHO).

I would highly recommend this book to my friends, book club members and in the GoodReads community. Thank you NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. 4.25!!

#IWillBlossomAnyway #NetGalley

Beautiful cover drew me into this read which sounded interesting. A heroine caught between two different countries, India and Ireland.

The title and premise seemed to suggest a growth in Durga. It happened, I think but not to the point the reader will appreciate her journey.

Found scenes set in India as she interacts with her immediate family and potential much more intriguing than her relationship with the Irish siblings, Joy and Jacob. Not a fan of her treatment of Luke.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Random House Publishing Group Ballantine via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I adored this book - it is totally different from Disha Bose’s previous novel, which I also enjoyed, and I was impressed at her range. I found Durga’s growth inspiring and the ultimate message of self-love quite moving.

This book is a beautiful and heartfelt coming-of-age story that completely stole my heart. What I loved most about this book was how Durga evolves. Her transformation isn’t just about finding love, it’s about finding herself. The writing is so rich, and the emotional depth of this story really hit me. It’s a perfect balance of lighthearted moments and deeply reflective ones, making Durga’s journey of navigating different worlds feel both personal and universal. This is a story that reminds you of the power of choice, self-love, and the beauty in the mess of life. I absolutely loved reading it, and would highly be recommending it too.

Thank you Random House Publishing for the ARC.

I loved this book. Admittedly, I started it based off the title and cover only. I had no other context. However, the flow of the story and the character developments were great. It's fiction but has enough realistic elements that tap into certain emotions. I really enjoyed Durga's navigation of life after heartbreak. This was the type of read that I needed at this point in my life. I can't wait to read more from this author and to gift this book to some friends.

I enjoyed Bose's novel about what it means to be a woman anywhere in the world today. Her characters were well crafted, and the story was quick to get lost in. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.