Such Big Dreams is a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between personal aspirations and systemic inequalities. Patel's sharp prose and deep empathy for her characters make this novel a standout debut

This is an inspiration book. I was worried at first. But everything came together at the end. Great to see how one's life challenges can shape a person in a book.

“Such Big Dreams” is a gritty and realistic seeming portrayal of life in Mumbai for the poor or disadvantaged. Bansari/Rakhi has been somewhat lucky in that she has attracted the attention and patronage of a human rights lawyer (Gauri Verma or Gauri Ma'am), who has provided her with a job and some education. However, she is overlooked and underestimated, and her boss is all too ready to remind her where she came from and how much she owes her. A big part of her job involves assisting the foreign interns, who think they should be admired for being willing to “slum” with the poor but aren’t willing to gain more than a surface level understanding of what life is like for poor or lower-class Indians. The newest intern, Alex, takes an interest in Rakhi and seems genuinely interested in seeing her better herself, but when his comfort and security is threatened, he is quick to abandon her.

I appreciated that the author used Hindi words and phrases regularly in the book. That added authenticity to the story and helped demonstrate the contrast between the better off/better educated Indians and the foreign interns compared to the poor Indians. However, it would have been nice for the book to have included a translation guide in the front of the book. I don’t mind having to look up the occasional foreign word in a book, but I prefer not having to make it a habit in order to read and understand a book.

I really enjoyed Such Big Dreams by Reema Patel. My favorite aspect of the book was definitely Rakhi's character. She was so true to herself and seeing her grow and change over the course of the novel was great. However, it felt like the novel lacked real tension at times, and the plot could have been fleshed out more. That being said, the setting was very well done. I would give this book 4 stars.

Reema Patel does an amazing job bringing Mumbai to life for the reader. The class distinction, poverty, community in the slums and human rights are key to the story.
Rekhi starts out homeless surviving on the streets, but it’s obvious this girl is underestimated by everyone. She is befriended by an Intern Alex, who pushes her to go for her potential and live the life she wants. His naivety is astounding and could potentially become her downfall.

Very clever read! I will admit google was helpful with slang.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions in this review are my own.

Rahki, a former street child of Mumbai, seems content with her office assistant job at Justice for All until she makes friends with Alex, a Canadian intern who encourages her to dream bigger. However, as a friend thought lost returns and secrets from her past are revealed, Rahki has to decide who she wants to be and who in her life she can trust.

While Such Big Dreams by Reema Patel is a decent story, admittedly it was not for me.

A compelling look at inequality, ambition, and survival in modern Mumbai. The writing is vivid and immersive, and the main character’s moral struggles are complex and relatable. It’s both heartbreaking and hopeful, with no easy answers. Highly recommended for readers who like social issue fiction with heart.

This one is going to be a DNF unfortunately. I love the main character but the writing just isn't doing it for me and I don't want to force myself to read it.

I thought this was a really interesting premise - I hadn't heard of anything else like it. The writing was good and I whipped through it. Would recommend.

This was a heart-breaker!! A memorable and unforgettable read. This was a great page-turner of a read!

In this debut novel, Rakhi, a young woman who lives in a Mumbai slum and works as an office assistant at Justice For All, a human rights law organization, must reconcile with her past as she tries to follow her dreams and build a better life for herself. Rakhi immediately stands out as the main character in this book as I really liked her inner monologue and I loved that she stands up for herself in front of those who work in her office and think little of her because of her socioeconomic situation. Her past is revealed throughout the book as we learn about the incident that sets her on the path to working for the founder of Justice For All. When a new intern arrives from Canada and promises to help Rakhi build a better future, Rakhi gets a glimpse of what a bright future she could have.

I really liked the way this book was written. I really felt like I got to know Rakhi's character, what her motivations were, and the meaning behind her actions. It was a pretty slow paced book until about 80% when the book picks up and there is a lot of action until the end of the book. I feel like the pacing could have been a little better and a little bit more time spent on that last bit of the book. I have read other reviewers mention that there are a lot of Hindi words used throughout the book, and while that is the case and I knew what they meant, I feel like there are enough context clues given to infer the meaning of the words used (and most words are colloquial). The author's note is worth the read, especially as I didn't know the background to this story. I really liked having the added perspective.

Overall, I think this is a very solid debut. Rakhi's story is definitely worth the read and I would recommend this book. The pacing threw me off a little, but I did like the buildup to the final scenes of the book. I'm looking forward to reading more from Patel.

loved loved loved! Such a fantastic debut novel. I genuinely could not put it down. Patel’s writing is straightforward and evocative. Highly recommend.

Such Big Dreams follows Nima as she explores her cultural heritage, her family expectations, and her personal aspirations. I enjoyed both the characters and the writing. Patel examines identity, ambition, and the immigrant experience. This was a great debut. I look forward to hearing more from Reema Patel. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

After the unexpected death of her parents, Rahki is forced to live and survive on the streets in India. Life is pretty rough but finds some other young kids to help her navigate life on the street. That is, until tragedy strikes and Rahki finds herself in a home for girls. She is 'rescued' by a woman named Gauri Ma'am given she sees potential in Rahki and takes her under her wing. We find her as a young adult working for Justice For All, a lawyer firm run by Gauri that focuses on humanitarian efforts in India. Things again take a horrific turn for Rahki just as she is starting to think she has a chance to flourish again.

I went into this one completely blind and was pleasantly surprised. Admittedly, I started this a few times and ended up putting it down because it just wasn't what I wanted to read in that moment but I'm so glad I gave this one another chance. I work in IT at an Insurance Company and lead a team made up almost exclusively of developers from India. They are exceptionally kind and smart people but I've never been able to breach the professional relationship with them. Reading this book I now understand how awful and unjust things seem in certain parts of India. I knew there was a dramatic gap in the have and have nots but seeing it in such a way on the pages of this book was shocking to say the least. I know this is a work of fiction but also realize (especially reading the Author Note) that this is not far fetched at all. Entire living communities can be leveled to be built up again for those in a higher social standing. Children can be forced into the streets, women assaulted, thugs hired to do human trafficking or carry out other horrific crimes. I'm so pleased I took the time to read this and found I loved Rahki's character - even as flawed as she turned out to be. I felt like she was essentially a phoenix rising from the ashes of her unfortunate past. I loved how she was able to flourish in spite of the terrible hand she was dealt.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review!!!

There comes a time in everyone's life that you see what you want your life to be instead of living what has been left to you. Rakhi lives a half life. One half in the past, one half in the present. When a young man who has never wanted for anything asks a favor of her, she will see her worth weighed against the past and present she has been unable to reconcile.

Synopsis:

Rakhi is a 23 y/o haunted by the grisly aftermath of an incident that led to the loss of her best friend 11 yrs ago. Rakhi lives alone in a Mumbai slum, working as a lowly office assistant at Justice For All ("JFA"), a struggling human-rights law organization. Rakhi's life isn't much until Rubina Mansoor, a fading former Bollywood starlet, becomes a celebrity ambassador for JFA. Rubina demands an internship for Alex, a young family friend from Canada and Harvard-bound graduate student. Ambitious, persistent, and naïve, Alex persuades Rakhi to show him "the real" India. As old guilt and new aspirations collide, everything Rakhi once knew to be true is set ablaze. And as the stakes mount, she will come face-to-face with the difficult choices and moral compromises that people make in order to survive, no matter the cost.

Review:

This was an incredible read that looked at so many issues that still exist in India, and the world at large. The socio-economic differences in society, the world of nepotism, as well as the struggle at non-profits to do good while living in a capitalistic society. Rakhi is the perfect FMC - she's bright, aware of her status in the Mumbai class system and is always looking for a leg up. At the same time, you really feel for her as she lives through the trauma of having been a child living on the streets. This book is fiction, but I could imagine it being true in so many places around the world. There is suspense, drama, and just an overall intriguing, page-turning story! We were lucky enough to have Reema visit us at our neighbourhood book club to discuss this book!

DNF - 2.5 stars rounded up - well written, but not for me.

When I requested this book, I was really interested in reading about cultures other than my own, and was excited to get an understanding about what it might be like to live in Mumbai, having grown up extremely impoverished and spending time living on the street. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get it to it before I maxed out my capacity to read about complex stories about the harder parts of life. I think this book is well written, and I appreciate the level of detail of life in Mumbai.

Eleven. years ago Rakhi lost her best friend, and she is trying to find her way when Alex comes into her life offering up a harmless dream. Is this dream and the cost of it all too much for Rakhi?

Such Big Dreams by Reema Patel is a powerful debut novel that combines engaging storytelling with a deep exploration of societal issues. Its complex characters and vivid setting make it a memorable read, while its themes of resilience and redemption resonate long after the last page is turned.

If you’re into stories about strong, resilient women and the ups and downs of power and identity, "Such Big Dreams" by Reema Patel is definitely worth picking up. It’s a really engaging read that dives into the human experience with a lot of depth and thoughtfulness, while still keeping you hooked from start to finish.