This debut novel follows a young woman's journey from surviving the unforgiving streets of India to an assistant for a human rights law office in Mumbai.

Sadly, the struggles of underprivileged communities are not unique to India, it's good to know more about the adversities and the lack of opportunities poor people face in order to empathize and to help make upward solutions available.

In this story, we witness the experiences and disappointments of transactional relationships as Rakhi ventures to find real connections, redemption, and a safe space in the world on her own terms.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine for an advanced copy of Such Big Dreams for my unbiased evaluation. 3 stars

Reema Patel’s debut novel, ‘Such Big Dreams’ is an immersive book that takes an unflinchingly honest look at systemic inequities and cultural norms. Through protagonist, Rakhi, the reader is given a glimpse at what growing up orphaned in the slums of Mumbai looks like, and what barriers to economic growth are present.

Told in first person present tense, with flashbacks interspersed throughout, this novel takes a little while to ramp up. But once it does, you won’t be able to put it down. This is a great read for someone who wants to broaden their horizons and experience a culture different than their own. And there are achingly universal elements that will speak to all, regardless.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Fantastic debut - Patel really brings to life the character of Rakhi, and her life in India. Rakhi is a child of the streets of Bombay, and has clawed her way up - just a little. But then Alex, the handsome intern from Canada arrives, and starts to convince Rakhi that she is underestimating herself, that she could go to college. But perhaps others ideas of what your life should be don't always match with your own ideas or expectations? Every character in this novel is ambitious in one way or another, and it's up to the reader to decide what type of person that makes each character.

"Rakhi is a twenty-three-year-old haunted by the grisly aftermath of an incident that led to the loss of her best friend eleven years ago. Constantly reminded she doesn't belong, Rakhi lives alone in a Mumbai slum, working as a lowly office assistant at Justice For All, a struggling human-rights law organization headed by the renowned lawyer who gave her a fresh start.

Fiercely intelligent and in possession of a sharp wit and an even sharper tongue, Rakhi is nobody's fool, even if she is underestimated by everyone around her. Rakhi's life isn't much, but she's managing. That is, until Rubina Mansoor, a fading former Bollywood starlet, tries to edge her way back into the spotlight by becoming a celebrity ambassador for Justice For All. Steering the organization into uncharted territories, she demands an internship for Alex, a young family friend from Canada and Harvard-bound graduate student. Ambitious, persistent, and naive, Alex persuades Rakhi to show him "the real" India. In exchange, he'll do something to further Rakhi's dreams in a transaction that seems harmless, at first.

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."

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book and read it quickly. The author's descriptions brought me back to India and its poverty, caste system, turmoil, overcrowding, danger, uniqueness, color, and vivid culture. Rakhi, the main character, is tough and very likable, with a subtle sense of humor and determination. Rakhi's story of growing up on the streets and turning her life around to make her way is filled with hope, resolve, and justice.

"Such Big Dreams" is a moving story about ambition, identity and survival from debut author Reema Patel. For fans of Adunni in "The Girl with the Louding Voice", you will find another unforgettable character in Rakhi, a woman fighting for her dreams and her place within the corruption and oppression in India. Simultaneously inspiring, heartbreaking and hopeful, "Such Big Dreams" shows us how a clever, tenacious former street child finally decides it’s time to live life on her own terms.

The story is told from Rakhi’s perspective and it only takes a few pages to fall in love with her spunk. She’s funny and sharp and although she keeps a lot of it to herself, it makes her more of an underdog character you’ll be cheering on. All the characters in the story are complex and well written—even the more loathsome ones. While there is a lot of humor involved, it is also uncomfortable because of the way so many treat Rakhi—taking advantage of her status, thinking she is a project for them to better or simply looking at her as a “peon” living in the slums. It makes her willingness to finally stand up for herself all the more compelling.

One thing I really enjoyed was the educational aspect to the story. There are portions of it that are loosely based on actual events and it’s like looking through a new lens in many parts of the book. Patel weaves in the corruption and moral compromises at every economic level that characters in the story make in order to survive within society. We get a great dose of Indian culture and terminology. Plus, we get a reality check when we see Rahki’s perspective of people who think they are helping her when they are actually contributing to her oppression.

There are parts that will break your heart. I especially loved the theme of friendship and what tragedies it may take to realize the people who love us most may not be the ones making the biggest show of it.

Ultimately this is a story about survival and Rahki’s determination to take back her power. By letting go of the things she once held dear and finally living life on her own terms, we get the story about one woman’s inspiring fight for redemption. 4.5 stars

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.