A great book for white folks to read and reflect on but enjoyable for all. One of the best stories I've read so far this year, and a debut novel too

Angie is a young Indian girl who lives with her father Bobby. Bobby immigrated from India, and owns a rideshare company, and is doing his best to raise Angie as a single parent .Angie’s mom left years ago and has had no contact with Angie. Angie is an excellent swimmer and spends her summers going to the high school to practice since Bobby cannot afford private training with a club. Angie’s coach knows she is sneaking into the gym to practice, but let her know if she gets caught he will act as if he doesn’t know. Following her usual schedule Angie heads to school to practice and once on campus she see Chiara in the bleachers with several bags. Chiara is the new Black girl who Angie helped in swim class. While Angie isn’t really close to Chiara she does think she’s nice and is apprehensive about whether she should speak or not. Angie usually hangs out with her best friend Sam, but their relationship has been pretty strained lately and they haven’t been talking. After the swim Angie is leaving the school and sees Henry bleeding on the football field. Angie runs over to offer help and see Henry’s best friend Chris running back from chasing someone. Chris claims he chased the girl who stabbed Henry, but couldn’t catch her. Chris in hysterics tells Angie the girl was Chiara. Angie is confused because she never though Chiara could do something like this. As help arrives, so do the police and Angie starts getting questioned. Angie doesn’t know what happened and she doesn’t want to get Chriara in trouble, but could Chris be telling the truth.? Should she just tell them what Chris told her? A hunt is now on for Chiara and Angie knows the optics don’t look good and she just wants to do the right thing. As tension flare, secrets are revealed and racial divides are made. In the end everyone’s life will forever be changed


Thank you @sceneofthecrime @williammorrowbooks @netgalley for this ARC

Jain's compelling debut revolves around a high school stabbing in affluent Westchester County, N.Y. Angela Singh, a sophomore on her way to swim practice, discovers Henry McCleary bleeding and calls 911. The narrative unfolds from multiple perspectives, revealing a complex web of motives. Chiara Thomkins, a Black student accused of the crime, faces prejudice as details emerge about the incident. The story exposes hidden truths, including Henry's concealed involvement and his friend's mistreatment of Chiara. Angela's immigrant father, Babur, adds another layer of tension. Jain skillfully explores motivations, fears, and the distortion of truth in this gripping page-turner.

Babur Singh, known as "Bobby," a single parent and the owner of a budding Uber enterprise named "Move with Bobby," holds on to his dreams of climbing the ladder of American success. In an affluent New York suburb, he resides with his daughter Angie, a reserved teenager who finds solace only in the water, particularly when she's swimming.

One summer during her break, Angie stumbles upon a shocking scene. As she's walking home after a swim practice at the high school pool, she discovers Henry McCleary, a fellow student from a prominent, wealthy family, gravely injured and bleeding on the football field. The ensuing police investigation centers on Chiara Thompkins, a runaway Black girl who vanishes after the incident and is later revealed to be improperly enrolled in the public high school.

This event sends shockwaves through the community, unearthing uncomfortable truths about the lengths to which families will go to protect their interests. In the midst of a town torn apart by this tragedy, Angie must navigate conflicting narratives and confront her own sense of moral responsibility. Meanwhile, Babur's tireless efforts to shield Angie and safeguard his hard-fought assimilation into American society cloud his judgment, blurring the lines between right and wrong.

This book delves deep into weighty issues, addressing the pressing stigmas of our contemporary society. The author unflinchingly confronts challenging subjects, provoking contemplation of the story's unfolding events.

It's an enthralling page-turner, every line of which is richly descriptive and vital in propelling the plot's tension to greater heights. By shifting between the perspectives of various characters, the book provides a profound understanding of their thoughts, emotions, motivations, and inner conflicts. It's the kind of book you'd want everyone to read, but you'd also want them to approach it with an open mind to form their own opinions. Thus, I won't divulge too much, but I will say that this book is an absolute must-read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read a lot of great debuts this year, and there’s no denying that Our Best Intentions by Vibhuti Jain is one of the best. I was extremely impressed by this relevant, powerful, and timely story with it’s well-developed characters and steady plot. Angie Singh, an introverted teenager witnesses a tragic event on the school grounds during summer break. Her automatic response of being helpful and doing the right thing spirals into a “wrong place at the wrong time” situation. What follows is a series of events that greatly displays the depths that some parents will sink to in order to protect their children.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Criminal investigations
- Family drama and dynamics
- Father/daughter stories
- Suburban New York setting
- Insight on teenage behavior
- Themes of privilege, race, and class
- Stories about immigrant families

Fans of authors like Celeste Ng, Etaf Rum, and Angie Kim will eat this novel up. I also think that it would be perfect for book clubs as there’s so much to discuss, especially regarding racial bias and social injustice. I can’t wait to read more from Vibhuti Jain. I really dig her style of writing. 4.5/5 stars for Our Best Intentions!

The book kept me on the edge of my seat. I felt eager to learn more about the characters, their motivations. and how the story would unfold.

The book was an immersive debut novel that delves into the aftermath of a crime, unraveling layers of privilege, prejudice, and injustice within a privileged community. Against this backdrop, it presents a touching portrayal of the intricate relationship between an Indian father, Babur "Bobby" Singh, and his daughter, Angie, adding a relatable dimension to the narrative. Their journey through adversity not only underscores the strength of familial ties but also examines the challenges of assimilation between the two generations.

The novel invites readers to explore themes of race and class that permeate the lives of the characters, through a web of suspense and emotion. The portrayal of these issues within the context of a privileged community adds depth and nuance to the story, revealing hidden cracks and layers beneath the facade of a seemingly perfect neighborhood.

The author delves into discrimination between minority groups, showcasing how bias can exist even within marginalized communities. This multi-layered perspective was a very interesting take and something I had not seen done before. The author describes further details on how she came to include this perspective as a result of an interaction she had in the real world. Definitely read the epilogue!

I do wish there was deeper character development for characters like Chiara's sister, Chris, and Henry. Their stories remain somewhat unexplored, missing opportunities to enrich the narrative with a greater understanding of their choices. But I believe it was intentional as the absence of clear resolutions to some characters' stories mirrors real-world uncertainties. There is no ‘perfect ending’ where the bad guy is captured and society came together to do the ‘right thing’, mirroring unresolved issues in the real world. While some readers may desire more closure (myself included), the author’s choice to leave certain storylines open-ended (a reflection of life's gray areas) enhances the genuineness of the story.

Another critique is that the pacing is a bit slow (personal preference), but I recognize that it's a deliberate choice to thoroughly delve into certain topics. The depth comes at the cost of speed, but a slightly faster pace would have been nice.

Overall, the author deftly weaves a tapestry of societal issues that mirror the intricacies of the real world. Jain's willingness to embrace life's uncertainties and gray areas creates a narrative that resonates deeply, ultimately encouraging readers to embrace ambiguity as an integral part of the human narrative. While more extensive character development would have added to the story's depth, the book remains a powerful exploration of the intricate threads that connect us all and urged readers to confront their biases and engage with the complexities that shape our shared human experience. This book serves as a reminder that life often unfolds in shades of gray, leaving us with unanswered questions and unfinished journeys.

When Angie Singh witnesses a stabbing incident on school grounds after walking home from swim practice, their affluent suburban town is thrown out of normalcy. Add in that the accused is one of the schools only Black students, rumors start to run rampant and families do everything in their power to protect their own.

I really enjoyed this book. I felt angered, frustrated and hopeful throughout these pages. My favorite part was the exploration of the father-daughter relationship between Angie and Bobby, the struggles of each of these characters was visible and relatable for many reasons and their character growth was evident. However, there were several non-essential characters that I don’t think needed their own chapters, and almost distracted from the rest of the story. While there were heavy topics that were addressed (racism, classism, white privilege), I think that story could have delved deeper into some of them to really hit home.

I think that this was a really solid debut, with the writing really carving these characters out into lovable and complex beings, though I felt that the execution of some of the heavy themes fell flat. 3.5⭐️

This was an interesting saga about violence and its impact. It tackles a lot of big issues. I truly enjoyed it.

Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for letting me read this book.Although published as an adult book, this book about a stabbing at a high school will have crossover appeal for teens.

Right off the bat I want to make sure you are aware, Our Best Intentions, is a book that will bring you to your knees in tears. This book is very heavy and touches on many crucial stigmas that are current in our own time.

Vibhuti Jain, is a force to be reckoned with. This author does not hold back or shy away from tough subjects. This book made me stop in my tracks and really give some thought to what was taking place in the storyline.

This is the kind of book you want everyone to read but you also want them to go in blind and form their own opinion, therefore I am not going to say too much but I will tell you this book right here is a must read.

Teaser :

Babur “Bobby” Singh, single parent and owner of fledging Uber business “Move with Bobby,” remains ever hopeful about ascending the ladder of American success. He lives in an affluent suburb of New York with his daughter Angie, an introverted teenager who is uncomfortable in her own skin unless she’s swimming.

During summer break, Angie is walking home after training at the high school pool when she finds Henry McCleary, a classmate from a wealthy, prominent family, stabbed and bleeding on the football field. The police immediately focus their investigation on Chiara Thompkins, a runaway Black girl who disappears after the stabbing and—it’s later discovered—wasn’t properly enrolled in the public high school.

The incident sends shock waves through the community and reveals jarring truths about the lengths to which families will go to protect themselves. As the town fractures, Angie must navigate conflicting narratives and wrestle with her own moral culpability. Meanwhile, Babur’s painstaking efforts to shield Angie and protect his hard-earned efforts to assimilate overshadow his ability to see right from wrong.

Alternating between multiple perspectives, Our Best Intentions is a suspenseful drama about a father and daughter re-examining their familial bonds and place in the community. Both a gripping thriller and an intimate portrait of an immigrant family, Vibhuti Jain’s provocative debut explores how easily friendships, careers, communities, and individual lives can unravel when the toxicity of privilege and racial bias are exposed.

This debut novel had me SHOOK. The writing was beautifully crafted, and I read this SO quickly. Jain touches on so many important topics- including class, race, friendship, family. This read like a mystery but with the depth and character development/dynamics of an expertly crafted piece of litfic. Looking forward to Jain's next piece. 4 stars!

I was trying to figure out how to sum this up and here’s what I came up with. It’s part coming of age story, part suburban suspense, and in the thick of it is an immigrant family caught in the fray. Angie (formerly Anjali) is a high school swimmer who, after practice, finds Henry on the football field stabbed and bleeding. She’s seen and heard something, but now sure what exactly. Angie calls for help and then finds herself being questioned by the police to describe the events.
Henry is the son of affluent parents and Chiara, the accused assailant, is Black, very much the minority in the high school, and recently homeless.
This novel is told from multiple POVs over the course of a few weeks, and it’s so impactful. Angie has a lot happening in her home life, she’s trying to be the best swimmer she can be so she can get a scholarship, and she’s being pulled a lot of directions as this story progresses. It’s a brilliant debut, at times feels YA (probably because of the high school focus), but is a well written, thoughtful look at current social issues.
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Not as much of a mystery as I was hoping for it to be. Character-driven, suspense-filled story about a very bad thing that happened at a high school, and the bad things that followed. It was just fine for me.

Genre: Contemporary

Format: Audio

4🌟 - I liked it!

Coming-of-age story tackling important topics such as race, class, and privilege. This is one that would be great for fans of Such a Fun Age!

I was hooked from the very beginning, I couldn't put it down! It reminded me of such a fun age mixed with a thriller, it was definitely a page turner. The storyline is very much what would happen in today's world and covers class, race, and family.

I can't believe this is Jain's debut, I was really impressed! I'm excited to see what Jain writes next in the future and will definitely be reading it.

3.5 stars. A heart wrenching story about how one moment can catapult life in a completely different direction. Our Best Intentions is a strong debut, rife with the realities of race in America and how privilege can shield some from consequences.

Our Best Intentions is a debut novel about an Indian immigrant father, Barbur, raising his daughter, Angie, in the rich, suburban enclave of Westchester County, New York. As Angie returns from swim practice one summer day, she stumbles upon the remnants of a crime and becomes unwillingly involved by calling for help.

Our Best Intentions is complex exploration of race, class, and culture and the privilege they afford. The story dives into the struggles of navigating a culture and community outside your own, particularly from a first and second generation immigrant perspective. While there is a bit of mystery woven into the narrative, this novel falls much more in the literary fiction genre.

Our Best Intentions offers readers a narrative that feels like a firsthand biographical account. Told through multiple points of view, each character’s voice reflects their thoughts, feelings, and motivations. In this way, the story becomes immersive and emotional. I do think the ending could be stronger and provide more closure. Still, I was satisfied where Jain chose to end.

For a debut novel, I found Jain’s character development to be especially strong. Each narrator and character is distinct with their own internal conflicts. For me, Barbur was written perfectly. Despite not particularly liking some of his opinions or actions, Barbur was incredibly reminiscent of an Indian immigrant I know, from the things he said, felt, and understood to his treatment of mental health. Whether you know someone like the characters or not, Jain crafted characters that feel fully formed and familiar.

In Our Best Intentions, Jain’s writing does border on young adult at times. I think you could interpret this as a positive or a negative. On the positive side, that means Jain captured the voice of a teenager since several of the narrators are in high school. On the negative side, a lot of serious topics and deep issues are included in the story. However, the issues are not given the full depth and exploration they demand.

I struggled with Our Best Intentions but not because the book or writing was bad. Instead, Jain’s piercing insight, complex characters, and immersive writing struck a chord – one that happens to be sensitive.

The things that frustrated and enraged me in Our Best Intentions were not writing or plot issues that reflect poorly on the novel. Instead, the book was accurate and reflective of people, particularly BIPOC and immigrant individuals, living in white, wealthy communities. It was my personal history and familiarity with the situations and events the book presented that angered me and caused me stress. Our Best Intentions encapsulated all my negative academic and school experiences in one book plus those which I have not experienced but infuriate me nonetheless.

Overall, Our Best Intentions is a solid debut novel that explores hard-hitting, evocative topics through a strong story and robust characters. I definitely recommend it and look forward to Jain’s future books.

A beautiful and tragic story of children and parents, culture and class surrounding the life of Angie Singh, from a single parent home with a love of swimming and quiet. Her journey through high school is punctuated by a tragic event involving classmates that helps her understand her instincts and her father. The struggle with a peer group and parental love are both breathtaking and emotional. Very well done!

Author Vibhuti Jain’s debut novel, Our Best Intentions, tells a tragic tale of what happens when you make a mistake you can’t undo. Especially when others already think you’re trouble.

The story folds out from one fateful event — the stabbing of high school student Henry on the campus football field. The further the book progresses, the more we learn about the events leading up to and following the attack. Who did it? Why? And why is the town’s richest family — Henry’s parents — trying so hard to cover up the truth?

Throughout the novel, Jain offers viewpoints not from Henry, but from others involved in the incident — Angela, who found Henry on the field, as well as her father, who would do anything to protect her. Chris, who allegedly saw the attack. Didi, the alleged attacker’s cousin, and the school principal who wanted desperately to see Didi’s cousin Chiara succeed.

These alternating perspectives are essential to magnifying the story’s depth. This book isn’t about a boy attacked on a football field. It’s about a girl watching lies spread out of control. It’s about a boy whose biggest mistake will cost him nothing because he’s white and his best friend is rich. It’s about the ways privilege makes people feel powerful enough to manipulate those without it.

It’s about how some people will never reach their full potential for no reason other than they’re Black, or they come from less-than-ideal circumstances. Or because even those who genuinely want to help them don’t have the power to do that without facing repercussions.

The book is a raw, unapologetic look at the way marginalized groups are mistreated and misjudged — and the lengths rich white people will go to “protect” themselves from presumed threats to their well-being. Angela’s feelings of helplessness seeing another person of color under a completely different kind of attack and knowing her voice won’t change the narrative is the story of so many people trapped beneath the weight of others’ prejudice. Mabel, having faced her own challenges, tries to stand up for Chiara to no avail because the odds are already stacked against both of them.

Jain’s story does not sugar-coat reality. It takes time to build emotional foundations for each character — even Chris, who we’re supposed to hate despite his backstory. We come to understand why each character reacts the way they do to the incident. We see how everyone involved seemed to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, and that makes the book’s ending that much more impactful.

As a white person, this book really made me hate white people (and I hope it has the same effect on others like me who read it). When you view this story, you see people for who they really are, and the ones most in the wrong are the ones who think they’ve won in the end.


No one wins when someone ends up dead.