Such Big Dreams by Reema Patel is a debut novel set in India. This coming of age story resonated with me as I was immersed in a different culture and way of life. Very different from my upbringing. But I enjoyed reading about the struggles and triumphs. While this is not the typical book I would read, I did find it enjoyable and would recommend.

I truly enjoyed this debut novel by Reema Patel . Rakhi was a fierce young woman who never gave up on herself when tested over and over. I did find it difficult to try and follow along with all of the different Indian terms but I truly enjoyed the details that made it easier to picture the ins and outs of the Indian culture particularly in the slums.

The setting: Mumbai. Rakhi, a former street child, now works at Justice for All, a human rights law office--basically as an office assistant/peon. Her story [told in flashbacks], is horrific. She has no one save a neighbor and her young son, who live in the same slum. She still mourns for her best friend, Babloo, who had the same awful experience/life she did. Sent to Asha House, a school run by nuns, until she was "rescued" by Gauri Ma'am, the head of the office who had conditions for her employment and rules with an iron hand.

Other characters include Alex, a Canadian intern, who figures prominently in Rakhi's story [as do his relatives]. Rubina Mansoor, a fading former Bollywood star, who decides she will be the celebrity face of Justice for All, and sets in motion some plot twists. And Vivek, one of the lawyers at Rahki's workplace who I quite liked.

Suffice it to say I enjoyed this book immensely. A fast read. I loved Rakhi.

4.5. Not rounding up because towards the end of the book [no spoiler from me], I had a bit of a disconnect/disbelief/gap in a particular turn. Another complaint: although I love reading a book about a different culture [as one can learn so much--and I did get a deeper understanding of Indian life], a glossary would have been extremely helpful for all the foreign terms.

This is Patel's debut novel. I can't wait to see what she does next!

Shouts out to Net Galley and Ballantine Books for the ARC.

There were certainly elements of this book I admired. We get a dynamic sense of Mumbai, in its many iterations, and Patel naturally weaves these settings into a (sometimes literally) colorful mosaic.

Our protagonist, as well, struck the rights chords and turned out to be a worthy follow. She had just enough flaws to keep her relatable, with just enough grit and charm to keep us cheering her on.

Other elements of this novel I found severely lacking. The secondary characters are thin enough to be slipped under a doorway. The writing is pedestrian for the most part and suffers from contemporary flatness--there is no subtext, we only have text, every gesture or motivation clearly spelled out on the page. We wouldn't, of course, want to be trapped in that scary world of ambiguity.

The greatest sin was the lack of stakes throughout, leaving us with a sludgy, plodding storyline. This is a good novel to skim through on the beach, several drinks in, lulling you into an afternoon nap. Later, when someone asks you what the book is about, you can shrug your shoulders because you don't really remember and say, "lots of things." Then you can keep living your life, unburdened, as it should be.

This Is a stellar debut novel. I felt immersed in MC world and drama. It honestly made me extremely grateful for my life. I can not imagine living and surviving alone at the age of 7. The plot seemed a bit predictable only because most Indian movies I’ve seen use the same formula. That doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a great story to read. I was rooting for Rakhi from the start. She’s has spunk, wit and a caring heart.

This is a good book, but fell short in terms of character development for me. Overall a solid storyline and novel but not a new favorite.

this is a good story. it has most of the “right” ingredients - set the stage, huge build up, dramatic explosion where everything goes wrong, decent ending. i got the impression the author put a lot of thought and work into the story she wanted to tell, especially after reading the author’s note which details how the idea for the novel came about. i was a bit underwhelmed by the character development, especially Tazim and Babloo. with deeper character development, i would have felt so much more while reading. but i didn’t feel particularly moved by anything that happened. i also thought some of the main parts of the story were just left hanging but with more, they could have been really powerful components of the story.

really curious to see how this one will resonate with people.

Such Big Dreams by Reema Patel is a coming of age story set in the large city of Mumbai, India. Bamsari, at age seven, has lost her parents, been sent running from her uncle and ends up on the street. The sheer corruption of the government is like another character in this tale. I found this novel to be an enlightening take on the crushing poverty many Indians experience, even as other's flourish.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the ARC copy of Such Big Dreams by Reema Patel in exchange for my honest review. Such Big Dreams is a brilliant story told by Ratki;; a young Indian woman dealing with the haunting and traumatic memories of growing up homeless on the streets of Mumbai. This beautifully written book immerses the reader into the culture. experiencing class divisions, cuisine, human rights work and a cast of compelling and unforgettable characters. Ratki manages her way through her history of poverty, survival and starting again and again with resilience and the courage to follow her heart. I loved this book and even picked up a few delicious recipes to try out. Congratulations to Reema Patel for this excellent debut novel and thanks for this unforgettable learning experience.

A young woman rises from the streets, with dreams of moving beyond the slums of Mumbai, but learns that class divisions are hard to scale.

I loved the character Rakhi. After the death of her parents she ran away from a cruel uncle. As a child of the streets, she is welcomed into a gang of children lead by her perceived savior Babloo. After their involvement in a crime, Rakhi is sent to a school run by nuns where a lawyer for Justice For All discovers her and takes her on as a pet project.

Now an adult, Rakhi’s mentor treats her like a servant while offering hope for freedom and self-determination without trusting she is ready for them. Then, the Canadian Alex comes to intern at Justice For All. He notes Rakhi’s innate intelligence and pushes her to think for herself and reach for her dreams.

A series of events build to a dramatic conclusion. An aging movie star wants to rebrand herself and chooses Justice for All as her pet project. It could help the floundering NGO back on its feet. The star takes over control. Alex’s rich family will do anything to advance their business. Babloo reenters Rakhi’s life and she discovers he is not the hero she believed him to be. Rakhi is inspired to claim her future. It all leads to disaster.

A fantastic read, this immersive novel has great characters, a propelling story line, and insight into contemporary life in India.

I received a free egalley from the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A child who grew up on rhe streets of India is given a chance at a better life, but that chance comes with conditions. Her romanticized view of her prior life leads her to search for another street child who was pivotal in her childhood. She also meets a volunteer who shows her kindness. In the end, she faces betrayals and heartbreak but finds the strength to forge ahead on her own path for success.

A loving optimistic character--in the darkness of a desperate living situation where others have their own agendas, she creates light and hope.

This is the gritty side of Bombay. The one I’ve seen as I’ve walked along the streets to do some shopping or in a taxi going to visit friends or family. As an Indian who grew up in the US, I could appreciate how Alex was viewed by the locals. This is the India many complain about when they think about the dirty streets and beggar kids looking for any opportunity to put food in their stomach. But Rakhi/Bansari shows us the possibilities available to everyone if given the chance.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This begins at night, as the recurring sleep terrors for Rakhi, a woman in her early twenties whose nights are haunted by dreams engulfed in flames that leave her clutching her throat, gasping for air even as she navigates the thin veil from night terrors to reality. She follows the instructions she’s been given for the panic that strikes her each time. She looks around her room, naming each object, ending with the words she’s been instructed to reassure her that she is safe. She’s been doing this for eleven years. Not every night, although they used to be, and although they don’t recur nightly these days, they happen several times most weeks. What hasn’t changed is how real they feel each time.

As this begins, twenty-three year old Rakhi is living in the Behrampada, a seven acre slum in Mumbai, where leaky roofs, fights, and rats abound. When she can finally sleep through the noises as they abate, she’s grateful for nights of uninterrupted rest which help refuel her for her job working for a human rights law firm, and the executive director, Gauri Ma’am as she refers to her, who found her soon after she was separated from her best friend, and was sent to the Asha Home. When it was time for her to leave the Asha Home, she was eager to prove that she was worthy of the job that Gauri Ma’am had waiting for her.

As an assistant, Rakhi is talked down to and treated as if she is invisible by the interns working for the firm, until a new, Canadian, intern arrives. Alex, who is half Indian, will be headed to Harvard soon. Until then he wants to fully immerse himself in the culture, and see the ‘real’ India with Rakhi as his friend and guide.

Rakhi is haunted by her past, both the things that have happened to her over the years, as well as the things she’s done. As a result, she seems to feel to some degree undeserving of the life she’s made for herself, and at the same time, somewhat resentful of the way she is treated at work - as though she is unworthy of recognition. The only one who treats as a person is Alex, who believes in her - until he doesn’t.

Her journey begins with shattered dreams, and a realization of the cost of all these years spent on someone else’s dreams, instead of following her own. She needs to take a risk, and choose a new dream to follow, one that will allow her to take back her story, and her life.

A moving, and powerful debut of second chances, believing in yourself, and following your dreams.


Pub Date: 26 April 2022

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine / Ballantine Books

4.5⭐️ Reema Patel’s debut novel was so much more than I thought it would be! If you’re a fan of women’s fiction, and want a gripping and insightful story that transports you right to the streets of a third world country, this book is for you!

After losing her parents at age 7, and escaping from the home of her abusive uncle, Rakhi fled to Bombay, India where she grew up living in the streets and begging for food and money to get by. In her late teens, Gauri Verma, the director of a human rights law office, found Rakhi and took under her wings. She slowly taught Rakhi English and gave her an assistant job at her office, where Rakhi has been working for the past 6 years. She then meets Alex, a Harvard-bound intern from Canada, and he and Rakhi form an unlikely friendship. Alex encourages Rakhi to pursue college, which she never thought was possible, and as the story progresses, Rakhi's past and present coincide. 

I thought that Reema Patel did such a great job taking the reader through the "real India." It was eye-opening to learn about the class divide, living conditions in the slums and even the everyday commuter life. The descriptions were vivid, from the sights to smells to sounds, and the characters were well-developed, making Rakhi's life story feel totally plausible. The dialogue was well-written, especially when Rakhi and Alex were communicating in English, which Rakhi was not fluent in. Also, some powerful themes were embedded into the story that had me rooting for Rakhi despite some of the not so great choices she made earlier on. And the ending!! Wow!! There were so many different directions this book could have went, and while parts were emotional, I loved how it all wrapped up.

Read if interested in:
-Indian culture, customs and food 
-Poverty vs. privilege 
-Human rights work
-Flashback chapters 
-Second chances 

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review

I learned so much while reading this delightful novel. This was a very impressive debut novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I enjoyed this book due to the fact that I have read very little about India and the slums. I was rooting for Rakhi the whole book and was pleased that the ending was more true to life than a fairy tale ending. I was fascinated by the authors end notes depicting the slum fires as something that she based the books on.

I loved this vibrant, unique, and compelling story. The characters were fully fleshed and the strong writing made this a page turner. I can't wait to read this author's next work!

This is an extraordinary book which depicts the transformation of a young girl who was unruly at times making humorous remarks while addressing serious issues in the over-crowded area of Bombay, India.

Rakhi lost her parents instantly in a bus accident when she was seven years old. She was sent to live with her aunt and uncle who weren't pleased. To escape a harsh punishment by her uncle from something that wasn't her fault, she ran away as fast as she could to escape and ended up in a dangerous area of Bombay. A boy, Babloo, not much older than Rakhi, found her at the train station. She joined his group of homeless friends where she learned the art of begging. "We earn, we eat. That's it."

In her late teens, Gauri Verma, the executive director of Justice for All, took her under her wings and slowly taught her English words and how to assist in the office. Gauri was known as the biggest human rights lawyer not to be messed with. She was like a mother to Rakhi constantly giving her advice. She told her, "Dressing smart tells the world you think our work is valuable." Rakhi pretty much did whatever Gauri asked until one day when a new intern, Alex, from Toronto arrived and gave her some career advice. He was working on his master's degree at Harvard while staying in town for a few months with his wealthy relatives. He offered a tradeoff. He would help Rakhi learn better English; she would give him real tours of the city. He said, "I'd like to see the India you live in."

The book is told by Rakhi and jumps back to give readers a glimpse of her past. The Hindi words and phrases give a true essence of India which also made it a tad complicated at times without knowing the meanings. It would have been helpful to have a quick reference at the end. The story moved along nicely with distinctive characters. The book packs in some complex concerns with workplace relationships and the conditions of the poor people. "The government could end hunger and poverty but deliberately chooses not to." It made me feel a sense of great sadness yet hope for those that are able to dream big.

My thanks to Reema Patel, Ballantine Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this copy with an expected release date of April 26, 2022.

A beautiful and moving book about Rakhi, an office assistant at a small legal from who is tasked with helping a young Canadian through his internship. She was a street urchin and lives in a massive slum in Mumbai. As the story unfolds we learn more of her past and see her determination to improve herself in a society that wants only to hold her back.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this excellent book.

3.5, rounded up for a debut author.

Such Big Dreams is wrought with such vivid detail that it instantly transports you to a distant land that somehow still feels relatable. Reema Patel's words come alive off the page as she guides us through Rakhi's inner and outer worlds-- and there are many to navigate, as Rakhi travels between the social justice-oriented law firm where she works as an office assistant, her home in the slums of Mumbai, and the upper-crust world of pseudo-celebrities and do-gooder Ivy League interns. The environments are painted in stark contrast with one another, all of them possessing beauty and darkness in their own ways. The book is occasionally bleak and tedious, but it mirrors Rakhi's existence as a cog in the machine. The existential futility she experiences is exhausting, the constant sense of low-grade doom existing just beneath the surface of her every move. Upon reflection, the title is truly heartbreaking-- Rakhi's dreams aren't, in fact, so big as to be unachievable, at least not by Western standards. This is a young woman who aspires merely to rise out of poverty by going to school, possibly getting a job at a hotel. And yet, her dreams are enormous given her circumstances.
While I wouldn't say this is a particularly enjoyable book due to its subject matter, I would definitely recommend it for the cultural experience.