The use of multiple POVs was a bit jarring at first, but as the book went on, I thought it made more sense and definitely suited the story. If you’re looking for a snapshot of life, this book will be for you!

Special thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy of Late Bloomers in exchange for an honest review

Late Bloomers tells the story of Suresh and Lata, and their two adult children, as they navigate divorce. Each character is portrayed as imperfect and flawed but yet sympathetic to the life they are given as they face a challenges both occur naturally and self-imposed.. I became so involved in the family's drama (reminded me of my own family) and growth across the novel. Overall, I found the story very heartwarming.

I'm so pleased that I took a chance on reading an advance copy of this debut novel, thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. The book exceeded my expectations. Over the course of the book, especially the 2nd half, I felt like I got to know the characters, and I appreciated being able to see the perspectives of both generations of this family. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot as well as the humor infused throughout the book. I think the book is more than "chick-lit" and actually would make a good choice for book discussion groups. I highly recommend this book and look forward to more from the author.

Raw and bighearted, Late Bloomers is about four individuals in an Indian-American family trying to reconcile who they are with who they thought they would turn out to be. The characters are flawed and complex, and miscommunication between them results in tense yet hilarious scenes that reminded me of Crazy Stupid Love. While occasionally outlandish, I enjoyed how Varadarajan weaves the story together through different perspectives and personalities, and I found the family dysfunction deeply relatable. Give this a read if you like introspective, fast paced writing and complex family dynamics with a splash of humor.

I’m not usually crazy about the use of multiple POV, it just doesn’t always flow well for me. The author really made it work in this story and I really enjoyed it. It all moves smoothly as it goes back and forth between characters. It makes for a family story I think we can all relate to, all the emotions, the misunderstandings, how hard we are on ourselves. I look forward to more from this author.

*** Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy of Late Bloomers in exchange for an honest review ***

A blend between the 2011 movie, Crazy Stupid Love, and the more recent streaming series, Never Have I Ever, Late Bloomers tells the story of Suresh and Lata, and their two adult children, as they navigate divorce. Each character is perfectly imperfect, flawed in their own way but still sympathetic as they are faced with a myriad of challenges (some occurring naturally, some self-imposed). I read this book in a single sitting, I was so involved in the family's drama and invested in the character's growth across the novel. Overall, I found the story heartwarming and big-hearted, a novel about forgiveness, growth, and family.

I wasn't expecting multiple voices and found it a bit jarring, but the varied characters held my interest, as did the evolving story. I would have preferred a single narrative, but maybe that is just me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC. What a great novel about an Indian family trying to figure out their lives. First, the parents are divorced and figuring out how to navigate post-divorce dating, especially in an Indian community that is made on arranged marriage and looks down on divorce. Then the kids, trying to figure out their lives, wants, and navigating their parents foray into dating.

This was almost a 5,
I have been exploring “ Desi American “ writing for the past few years. There is a comfort in seeing characters like you and those you grew up with in fiction but I have found most of these books to be lacking in character complexity and distinguishable nuances within the Indian culture. Most of them seem fit the stereotypical BS about Indian culture.
This one is pleasantly different and draws you in right away. It isn’t the deep philosophical stuff of A.Roy or J. Lahiri but a well crafted snap shot of an Indian American life that is relatable and entertaining.
SPOILERS:
The climax and ending are not as relatable or believable and the ending is rushed. However, the individual insight of the characters still makes this a time worthy book.

I love books with multiple narrators and this one does the shifting perspectives really well. The messiness of a family unit with loyalties and rivalries and mixed up emotions felt authentic and the characters are very real (as in genuinely flawed, but you get so into their stories that you end up sympathizing with them anyway). I also like how things aren't always neatly wrapped up or one way or the other as it felt more like real life.

The dynamics of Indian Americanness were so instantly recognizable to me in a way that was both funny and sometimes infuriating (in the sense that I got annoyed for the characters), and the disconnect between generations and immigrants and their children born here was also well captured.

Some of the non-narrator characters could have been more developed, but maybe that is an unfair comparison as we don't get to hear their thought process in the same way we do for the narrators. Regardless, this was a great read and I was sad when it was over because I wanted to spend more time with the narrators and loved the often unexpected humor.

I really enjoyed this family comedy-drama of a book. It was easy to connect to all of the characters, and to care about them. I wanted everyone to be happy, and I liked the way everything came to a head at a one-year old's birthday party.

There was a strong sense of family connection, but also everyone just trying to figure out their life. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Witty, refreshing and lighthearted, Late Bloomers is a sparkling debut novel from Varadarajan, all about love gone awry and finding second chances.

An Indian-American family, now living in Texas, contends with both familial and romantic relationships. Recently divorced Lata and Suresh attempt to start afresh in their fifties, while their children Priya and Nikesh have relationship issues of their own.

I really enjoyed the humor in this novel, and the unexpected twists in the family's relationships throughout. I mostly liked that the author speaks from each main character's voice, but sometimes the voices were similar enough that I forgot whose I was reading from. I was invested enough in the story that I finished it in a day.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Great book. Well developed characters that I really cared about throughout the book. The story line was very funny, read this book in 2 days. Thank you for my advance copy. I will recommend this book and this author to friends and family and will look forward to reading her next book.

This was basically everything I wanted it to be. I love a good literary fiction. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this in some book clubs.

This book is delightful and made me chuckle several times. I am impressed with the style of writing and was able to understand the quirks of almost all the characters. It beautifully captures the cultural divide between living in USA versus India and the challenges that come without a support system. So many of the experiences and emotions that the characters are going through with raising children, and dealing with loneliness in relationships are relatable. I look forward to more by this author.

Does anyone really have it all figured out? Late Bloomers is about an American Indian Family trying to figure out life, love, and all of the above. The book follows all four family members alternating each chapter so that you get each character's perspective. The novel starts out with Suresh, the dad, who has tried internet dating after his wife left him after 30 something years of marriage. Then we meet Lata, the ex-wife, who after devoting years of her life to her husband and her kids, is finally ready to follow her dreams and put herself first. We also meet Priya, the history professor daughter, who is worried that at 35 years old she will never get married and have kids. We also follow Nikesh the son, who seems like he has it all together with a 1 year old son and his wife Denise, only things aren't what they seem.

This is a novel that anyone can relate to. I liked the drama of the family and the new twists that kept coming up. There were also some moments where I laughed out loud. The fact that the novel is written with four different perspectives really added to the story and made the reader really care about this family. I was definitely rooting for every family member to come out on top. This was a great family drama novel!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for this advanced copy.

I loved this novel!I picked it in the hopes of finding an interesting story to entertain me for a day or two. But this was so much more. It’s a deep, thoughtful, often funny story about four members of a family, each dealing with real life, relatable questions about how to move forward and what sort of chances they’re willing to take. Multiple POV can be tricky, but Varadarajan nails it - the plot moves smoothly as it weaves back and forth between characters, and she uses the opportunity well to show how easily misunderstandings pop up, how hard we can be on ourselves…and how delusional some of us are in the way we choose to perceive things. I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time, and I look forward to more from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book.

Varadarjan's novel 'Late Bloomers' about an Indian American family trying to come to terms with the dysfunction in their own personal lives while navigating their complicated family life is perfectly heartfelt, witty, and realistic.

Late Bloomers follows parents Suresh and Lata after their thirty-six year marriage ended in divorce-- both of which dealing with the newfound, and sometimes unwanted, independence this brings. While Lata is enjoying her freedom, Suresh is trying to move on with dating apps to the chagrin of his daughter, Priya. Priya, along with her brother Nikesh, have their own relationship problems and ideas about their parents' divorce. Throughout the novel, secrets are revealed from everyone in the family-- but will these secrets coming to light make this family stronger or break them apart even further?

This novel is unlike one I have read before. With the rotating point of view, you get to understand the different layers of mistrust and lies that have built up around this family, as well as understanding each person's motivations. You see the real love the members have for one another, but understand and experience the circumstances that have caused them to drift apart. I chose this novel based on the title as I have found myself growing fonder of this 'late bloomer' memoir kind of genre, and this did not disappoint. Varadarajan does not shy away from writing in depth emotion and vulnerability for all the characters, nor does she shy away from realistically showing her characters making big mistakes. Overall, Late Bloomers really allows you to understand each of these people and feel as though you are learning with them. The ending was a bit too sitcom-like for me to give the full five stars but definitely worth the read if you enjoy this writing style and genre.

I was drawn to this book cover and sometimes picking a book based on a cover alone can be a bit disastrous. In this case though my instincts were right- the outside matches the inside. I really enjoyed this look at an Indian American family in Texas. I honestly don’t think I’ve read a family drama quite from this perspective before and I really loved it. We get a rotating cast of characters including the mom, dad brother and sister. The parents have separated after years of being married in an arranged marriage. Now each singleton is finding their way in the world. Their children are struggling too. I enjoyed each story, each up and down. The humor and warmth of this novel. I think this debut will make a bit of a splash come May. I wish it was tightened up a tad but overall really lovely.