The Candid Life of Meena Dave

My husband is a native Bostonian, so when I discovered this novel takes place in the historic Back Bay neighborhood of the city, I was immediately intrigued.

The story follows Meena Dave, an orphan who has inherited an apartment from a woman she has never met. As she attempts to figure out their connection, she forms an unexpected friendship with a trio of meddling aunties who also live in the building and have been in each other’s lives since birth.

Through these women, Meena learns not just of her past, but of the importance of community, culture, and the sacrifices… show more.

This novel was a breath of fresh air, as it was the first novel I’d read centering Gujarati American characters without focusing mostly on their identity as immigrants. Namrata Patel tells a nuanced and entertaining story that fed my wanderlust because the main character is a photojournalist who trots the globe on her quest for the perfect shot…and where she can call home. As someone who has moved often in life and is passionate about visiting and learning about other countries and cultures, I’ve wrestled with the idea of where home is, and I really resonated with that sentiment in… show more.