A lot of telling and not a lot of showing. Much of this book is lightweight with a TON of trauma mentioned but shoved to the background and largely brushed over, leaving the book without the emotional heft it needs for me to be engaged. I’m sure, though, that it will be popular among a certain book club audience. NetGalley ARC due to be published April 26.

This was a riveting story about the complexities of relationships that we believe to be friendship but turn out to be transactions, the importance of persevering and finding one's self, and overcoming obstacles. I found this book to be a really interesting, well researched story that included difficult truths about societal conditions in India.

This book tells the story of Rakhi, who works as an office assistant at a nonprofit focused on human rights in Mumbai. Through her present day story and flashbacks to her previous life, readers learn how she went from living on the streets to being able to support herself. The author has captured life in modern day India and the class system that exists. Rakhi is a character readers will root for. This was a compelling story about resilience.

Such Big Dreams is a stunning debut from Reema Patel that takes you straight to the streets of Mumbai as you follow the young Rakhi's life. Rakhi is a young woman who works in an office role at an NGO called Justice for All. Earlier in her life, Rakhi experienced a traumatic series of events that led her to meet Gauri Ma'am, who later helped her land a job at Justice for All. This book follows Rakhi's life now in this office role with sprinkles of flashbacks to her earlier life. It explores the ways in which one's lived experiences and personal histories impact their relationships–both personally and professionally–while also depicting a fictionalized journey of a true, historical event in Mumbai.

I really enjoyed reading Such Big Dreams. It felt like a different choice than I'd normally pick up, but the cover is what initially drew me into wanting to learn more about this debut. I think the worldbuilding in this book helped paint a clear picture of what Rakhi's world is like, and it was easy to follow despite the different cultures followed in this book. The writing style definitely fits in with the typical contemporary depictions of things, as it tends to lean towards saying how things were instead of relying on the reader to make great inferences from the text to understand the passages. I say this not as a critique and more as an observation that some readers may or may not connect with. Another element I enjoyed about Such Big Dreams was the flashbacks, which is something I usually don't like to read in books. I think the flashbacks featured in Rakhi's story really helped the reader connect with our main character, and they were relevant, well-timed, and at the perfect length to keep the reader engaged while providing new context to help set the scene. I think Rahki was the perfect character to follow in this book, and her story was one I kept wanting to learn more about. On the other hand, sometimes it felt like the side characters were less developed, but I think this could also reflect the isolation and solitude Rakhi experiences in her character's journey. Patel did an artful job of leading the reader to envision Rakhi's life, and little elements like word choice and sentence structure made the character's voice shine through. At times, I did find myself wishing for a glossary for some of the terms, but it was usually easy to follow without one. My only main critique of this novel was the pacing. It felt very slow, especially in the beginning half of the book, so it took me a while to really become invested in the plot since it was so character-driven. If slower-paced, character-focused stories are your type of read, I'd definitely recommend this.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group's Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the copy of Such Big Dreams. Rakhi was such a great character! From her homeless childhood to her office assistant job she was engaging and likable and I rooted for her the whole book. I loved how she grew and learned to believe in herself, even though her coworkers looked down on her because of her low status job.
The story took some time to unfold, but I liked the dual timelines and how we slowly learned about the other characters. I couldn’t wait to find out what happens to Rakhi in the end, and this made the book a real page-turner for me. The writing really brought Bombay to life, so it was like a mini travelog.
If you want a story that is partly heartbreaking and partly triumphant, this is a great book for you.

Set in Bombay, India, this novel follows the life of Rakhi, a 23 year old woman working in a non-profit law office. Okay, that opening sentence sounds boring and this story is NOT boring at all. The narrative toggles between Rakhi's past and her present which echoes parts of her past. She was orphaned at a young age and found herself living on the streets of Bombay before being put in a girls home and being mentored by Gauri, the head lawyer for the non-profit organization. The descriptions of street life in India and the class differences are beautifully written. Rakhi is a savvy young woman navigating both worlds and she is a scrappy, savvy character whom you find yourself rooting for throughout the novel. I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

I liked the premise of this book, which is set in modern day Mumbai, India. I always enjoy reading and expanding my knowledge in regards to legal injustices in various parts of the world. This book covers events I had no idea existed, so for that I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn more about it.

The main character, a former street child, who is trying to better her life, has depth, and is admirable, flaws and all. However, one downfall for me with this book is the storyline loses my attention for most of the middle section and it was the last 25% that stood out the most to me. That's where it was beautiful and captivating and made reading this book all worth it. I'm glad I finished the book, so I could enjoy that ending.

**Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I am posting this review to my Goodreads account immediately and will post it to my Amazon & Instagram accounts upon publication.

Vibes of Slum Dog Millionaire, this story takes place in Mombai (Bombay) where a former street child is given a second chance to make it out of the slums. Rakhi is working in a law office as lacky, getting coffee and running copies and an all-around errand office girl. She is also in charge of helping out the international interns who come to add a notch to their CV’s by working at the human rights advocate law firm, Justice For All. Rakhi is smart but usually underestimated and overlooked by those in the office. Alex is the new intern, a privileged young man from Canada but with ties to a prominent Indian family. He enlists Rakhi’s help to learn the true India in exchange for helping her with a dream for her future. His “auntie” is a former Bollywood star who decides to partner with Justice For All as her new cause but with aspirations of reviving her career. Soon, Rakhi is conflicted with where she is heading and remaining true to who she is as she must decide at what cost does she want to make.

This book was a page turner, well written and descriptive that as a reader you are transported to the slums of Mumbai and walk along with Rakhi. One can’t but help to admire the tenacity and courage it takes for her to survive and thrive given the circumstances of her birth and the conditions that she finds herself in. How clueless the young Canadian intern was, oblivious to his privileged position that he could not even understand that others don’t have the same opportunities that he is familiar with. I did not like this character, but I expect that was the author’s intent to show that foreigners do come to have a taste and think that they understand what others lives are like as they watch from their guilded towers. I also liked that the author was realistic portraying the hypocrisy of the lawyer who fights for justice for all but yet adheres to keeping Rakhi in her place as a servant telling her she should be grateful not to expect to rise about her class. This was also a coming of age story for Rakhi, to learn to appreciate herself, believe in herself and celebrate who she is. She shows courage and fortitude. I wasn’t sure what to expect on this book, but I enjoyed it a lot and would recommend it to read.
What a great discussion a book club could have with this one.

Many thanks to #netgalley #suchbigdreams #reemapatel for the opportunity to red and review this book.

The book uses the character of Rakhi to compare and contrast life in Mumbai on the streets, in the slums, and in the upper echelons of Indian society. Using her experience one summer working for a human rights law firm in India, Ms. Patel weaves a rich narrative. The reader can actually see the streets, the treatment of the lower classes. And the description is made more vivid by the contrast with an intern from Canada.

I was honored to receive an advance copy of Such Big Dreams. Ms. Patel, It was such a joy to read Such Big Dreams. If you're reading this review, do yourself a favor and read this book!!

WOW! I loved this debut book from Reema Patel! I don't typically look to read stories filled with characters from other cultures, but this book caught my attention from the first pages, and I was totally enthralled with Rahki's life as an orphan on the streets of Bombay, and in her endeavors as a lowly aid in a legal office in India. I was so entrenched in the story that I could envision myself encountering the negativity and horrors of growing up homeless in an area of such filth and corruption.

This story begins a few years ago, and at the end of most chapters, a section is dedicated to the past, to Rahki and her friend, Babloo, and their survival as children living on the street, and their ultimate capture. It is incredibly well written and compelling - I finished the book in record time! I was hoping for a different ending, but after thinking about the epilogue, I decided that the finish was appropriate and perfect, and really, the ultimate path for a young Indian woman in Bombay.

Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Such Big Dreams.

Name of Book: Such Big Dreams
Author: Reema Patel, Debut Author
Genre: Cultural ~ Historical Fiction
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group ~ Ballantine
Pub Date: April 26, 2022
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5 Stars!

Story begin with Rakhi waking up from the terror a fire ~ she has this terror several times a week as it actually happened to her.
Rakhi now twenty-three years old but grew up living in Behrampada a slum area of Mumba/Bombay, she is currently working as an office assistant with ‘Justice for All’ a human rights legal advocacy firm. At the firm she meets Alex who wants Rakhi to show him the real India before he leave to attend Harvard.

Story had me curious!
Plus To me the ‘Cherry on top’ of a great read are the Author’s Acknowledgements ~ and/or Author’s Notes; usually always are an enjoyable/insight into the motivation for the story.
Reema Patel does not disappoint. In her ‘Author’s Note’s’ she tells us her inspiration and curiosity about the fires.

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group ~ Ballantine for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 26, 2022.

*I received an advance copy of this book through Net Galley. (Thank you!)

"Such Big Dreams" is an incredible novel of growth, persistence, challenge, acceptance, relationships, and more, set amid the backdrop of Bombay, India, from slums to NGOs to high-rise buildings. Reema Patel gives us a unique view of the life of Rahki (nee Bansari), a young Indian girl who has lived many different lives in a relatively short time period.

The only thing that jarred me a bit was the seemingly large gap in tap from the ending to the epilogue. While the epilogue was nice, I feel we jumped too far ahead without enough explanation between the two, and it tied things up a little too nicely.

As another reader so perfectly said in their review, "Such Big Dreams is a heart-wrenching debut book that shows the resilience of the human spirit in the toughest circumstances. It's an emotional read that touches the deepest part of your soul."

Such Big Dreams is a strong debut novel from Reema Patel. When she is seven, the main character, Rakhi, runs away from relatives who don't want her when she is orphaned. She ends up living on the streets of Bombay with a small group of abandoned children for five years until she is sent to a school for girls. Guari Ma'am, a human rights lawyer, encourages Rakhi and promises to hires her in an entry level position when she is released from the school at 18.

The vast difference in power between the privileged wealthy and famous in India and the poor who have little or no opportunities becomes increasingly apparent. Trapped by the rigid caste system, Rakhi lives in a tiny room in a slum and only has one friend. She performs menial tasks at work and after five years is considered the lowest person in the law firm, even lower than the short-term, unpaid interns.

Although this story sounds depressing, it is interesting and inspiring. Rakhi is encouraged by a new intern who is at the firm for a few months due to his wealthy family's connections. Rakhi becomes more confident, relies on her street survival skills during a crisis, and ultimately makes decisions about how she lives her life. This book is definitely worth reading.

I requested to read and review this book for free from Ballantine Books. I honestly wasn't to sure about this book when I started first reading. But I am so glad that I didn't stop. This book is a powerful story about redemption, forgiveness, starting over. Rakhi is a women that has been through so much but hasn't given up. This story is about her life and how she never gave up. Can someone honestly say what they would do when your whole world crumbles around you and the rose colored glasses come off. This for any type of reader and can be read anywhere.

So much sadness, this story hurt my heart, although the main character persevered through out it all. The descriptive conditions and scenery is excellent and pulls the reader into the heart of poverty in all its variants. So much disappointment does not tamp the spirit of Rakhi, who throughout this story does her best to move on and ultimately affects the lives of others around her with hard found generosity. . Good debut book. A definite addition to your TBR list.

This review will be posted on April 20, 2022 to: https://instagram.com/amandas.bookshelf

It was beautiful to be in Rakhi's head as I read this. She is such a resilient character who goes through tremendous growth over the course of the novel. I rooted so hard for her to not just have a happy ending, but to grow into the person she was always meant to be and to (finally) live life on her own terms. Bombay/Mumbai was an important character in the novel because the city defined so much of Rakhi's life. It was alive and defined so vividly. The lingering effects of colonialism and the caste system is infused in every part of the city and the country. I don't know too much about these topics other than elementary facts, but it was fascinating to learn about them indirectly by reading about Rakhi's life and the scenes of Bombay/Mumbai. #SuchBigDreams Rating: 😊 / really liked it
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This book is scheduled for publication on May 10, 2022. Thank you Ballantine Books and @randomhouse for providing me this digital ARC via @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

First off, I'd like to start by saying that this was such a great debut book by this author! Loved the visuals that author gives us. Such vivid visuals! Secondly, I loved the main character development and her growth! And lastly, this book was hard for me to put down! Just, WOW

I just finished this book and know that I will be continuing to think about it for quite a while. This was such an interesting journey into India, it's customs and it's injustices.

The story revolves around a feisty and street-smart homeless girl, turned office worker named Rahki, who reminisces about her prior years throughout this book. While fleeing from her father, Rahki became a child of the streets of India. She quickly met a young homeless boy, Babloo, who folded her into his group. After a devastating incident, she ends up in an orphanage run by nuns. She is introduced to Gauri, a social justice lawyer, who sees unrealized potential in Rahki and commits to hiring Rahki to work in her office and set her life on the right path. Although Gauri seems to have the best of intentions, she is controlling, and requires and expects much from Rahki.

The story explores the vastly different class systems in India. The law firm that Gauri runs has a big case involving the destruction of one slum area. Money always seeming to be behind so many of the many unfair situations discussed. Rahki builds a friendship with a summer intern from the US who leads her to believe that she achieve more. Which then begs the question, what is more? The measure of success and/or happiness is so different for everyone.

A life fraught with so much loss and destitution, I loved that Rakhi finally found her own sense of self. She was a master at picking herself up and starting over. She had no choice other than that. I really enjoyed becoming ensconced in the city of Bombay (although I definitely think that my claustrophobia would NOT do well there) and this story. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballentine for the ARC to read and review.

Rakhi, orphaned, lives on the streets of Bombay, running with a gang of other children who survive by stealing. A judge sends her to a strict girls’ home where she is eventually liberated by a do-gooder activist lawyer who gives her a menial position in her legal office. It is Alex, a Canadian office intern, who spends time with her and encourages her to advance past this position. She has spent years searching for Babloo, her street companion. Through her flashbacks we see the troubled life she shared with him. Now living in a slum on low wages, she witnesses the hypocrisy of her employer who dismisses the integrity of the law firm to cater to so-called celebrities who have the money she needs. The rights of women and the poor which she publicly espouses seem not so important when the truth is presented to her. Reema Patel depicts a sad and lonely existence for Rakhi. As her story progresses, many people turn against her. She is a character I want to succeed, despite all opposing forces.

“Such Big Dreams” is the story of Rakhi. She is a young woman living on the streets of Mumbai who goes to work for an woman she calls Gaudí Ma’am. This lady takes her off the streets and gives her a job as n office assistant in her NGO Justice for All. There she meets an Indian intern living in Canada who interns at the firm. He is related to a has-been actress who is partnering with the NGO to raise their profile and help slums like the one Rahki lives in. A series of events take place that put Rahki back on the streets, the difference being that this time she’s there on her own terms.

I want to thank NetGalley for providing the ARC for this book. I was hoping to enjoy it much more than I actually did, since I enjoy books set in India like The Henna Artist. However, this story dragged on a bit too much for my taste.