Thank you to NetGalley for my first arc in exchange for an honest review.
Overall Rating: 3/5 Stars.
Plot: 3.5/5.
Characters: 4/5 for the main character, 2/5 for side characters.
Romance: 2.5/5; friends to lover but it was rushed – definitely not the focus of the book.
Spice: 0/5

PLOT - An enjoyable read with a very cool premise of a spice shop and a family tradition to work there and become spice healers, and our main character, Tulsi, who never had the opportunity to figure herself out and what she wanted from her life.
The plot leaves you wondering about the ‘potential curse’ (which I must admit I hoped was the case and was slightly disappointed that the whole conflict was just about a lie her family kept from MC) and is focused a lot on family dynamics.

ROMANCE - the romance was definitely a secondary focus and, although I liked the guy, his character was left very unexplored and the romance between him and Tulsi was very rushed. I think the romance should have been either completely removed or given more space and time to develop.
Additionally, I could not understand why they liked each other. the only conversations they had were about the tragic things that happened in their lives or their families. And sometime it even felt like each of them was trying to one up each other in who had it worse (you might not notice it at all; but once I realised that sometimes one would say something about their family, someone leaving or some tragic event and the other would counter with ‘yeah, my family does …’ instead of actually trying to talk about the experience the other one had. And it was a little annoying and after it happened a few times, I couldn’t stop noticing it. That being said, im pretty sure it was always Tulsi who did that).
They never had nice, chill moments together. It was always talking about issues or finding oneself and never just two people enjoying each other’s company. At the beginning the guy cooked for her once and it was so cute but since then, it was just deep conversations. I also feel like Tulsi didn’t take charge of what she wanted until she was reassured by the love interest that it was OK to do what she wanted, and only then was she confident enough to do it.
Additionally, Tulsi would think of him as quite a vital part of her life very early on.
“He didn’t just take her breath away, he became the air she needed” as much as I loved this sweet line, there was not enough relationship building between the characters to warren these sorts of feelings.

FAMILY DYNAMICS – I love complex family dynamics and how we can watch side characters getting redemption arc in becoming better people. But this was not really the case here. Tulsi’s family were honestly awful. An emotionally unavailable mother who would cry or walk away every time her daughter would ask the most basic questions. She made every situation about how she felt and poor Tulsi felt guilty to do anything because of how it would affect her mother emotionally. We saw a daughter being the more mature of the duo.
And the grandmother? F**k me. she was awful. She was controlling and manipulating. She even screamed out when Tulsi would do something she didn’t like or basically call the main character incompetent (not in that word) for not learning as fast as she wanted her to or not wanting the future she planned out for her. She would go as far as to basically pressure Tulsi to just have a kid that the grandmother can start teaching about the spices, with the first guy that was available and then leave the guy and not to seek romantic relationships. I hated her but what I hated the most was the fact that throughout the whole book, people lie, manipulate and mistreat Tulsi all the time and we are left watching her having to be the adult and mitigating all the situations.
Even squabbles between other people and her family were always dealt with by Tulsi, like giving her mom the advice on how to repair a relationship with a man whom she kept her pregnancy and his daughter from, or scheduling a lunch for her two grandmothers to talk out their issues (who used to be friends and are not anymore). Like she was constantly surrounded by narcissistic people, and she was the one coming to rescue and reason.
Also, when her whole life was turned upside down, she was left still feeling guilty if anyone spoke badly of her mother and grandmother and it felt very toxic – like the years of their narcissism caused Tulsi to feel the need to be overprotecting over them.

The character I loved the most was Ash. He was written very well, and I loved seeing him get a ‘happy ending’. And, unlike her family, he actually steps up and takes some charge.

I, personally, think that this book suffered from trying to do too much.
• We have the plot of Tulsi wanting more from her life
• as well as her having to deal with all the lies that were kept from her (literally believing her father had died),
• while at the same time have complex family dynamics between pretty much everyone in her family,
• a fake social media account that spread fake information about the shop as well as having to unpack who did it (which also didn’t hit hard because we didn’t have the time to establish that character well)
• AND 2 romances that were underdeveloped (and its odd to say but the rekindling of the romance between her mother and the father who didn’t know of his own daughter’s existence, was the better of the two).

I think by the end of the book I just felt bad for Tulsi. Everyone treated her questionably her whole time, preventing her from doing anything she wanted because they had other plans for her. she missed out on her extended family because of the lies and deceit that benefited the mother and mostly the grandmother (she was the real issue of the book). To the point that when she decides to do one thing for herself, and her love interest is like ‘go ahead I will wait’ I felt happy for her even though that should have been how she was treated anyways.
Because of her family emotional control and unavailability, Tulsi is left to think she ought to be grateful and happy when others show her basic human decency,

That being said, if the book focused on one or two of the plot point and took more time to develop them, this could have been a great book. But it was trying to do too many things in a far too short of a book.

This lighthearted family drama was an interesting dive into an Indian family of women that treasured their independence but each had hidden secrets that they were fighting to keep. This was also a novel about forgiveness and choosing what decisions are right for your own life.

Tulsi, who is thirty years old, is still being pressured by her mother and grandmother to keep their family traditions. She is discontent and wants something more for her life. Struggling with becoming her own person but not letting down the family that depends on her, she seeks comfort in the arms of the new deli owner next door.

I enjoyed learning about the Indian culture and about the multitude of uses of the different spices spoken about in this book.

Thank you Net Galley and Brilliance Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy and I look forward to recommending this when published on June 1, 2024. #NetGalley #TheCuriousSecretsOfYesterday

Review of “The Curious Secrets of Yesterday”

By: Namrata Patel

Available June 1/2024

Check it Out on Goodreads!!

Disclaimer: Please note that I received an Audio ARC from NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“The Curious Secrets of Yesterday” by Namrata Patel is a delightful journey through family dynamics, traditions, and self-discovery that keeps you hooked till the very end.

Patel’s storytelling immediately draws you in, blending mystery, romance, and family drama seamlessly. As Tulsi delves deeper into her family’s history, you can’t help but feel invested in her journey of understanding and growth.

The dynamic between Tulsi, her mother, and grandmother adds depth and warmth to the narrative, making the characters feel like old friends. Their interactions are filled with humor, love, and relatable moments that tug at your heartstrings. Throughout the book, you’ll find yourself experiencing a whirlwind of emotions alongside Tulsi. From frustration with her half-sisters to moments of empathy and understanding, Patel’s writing captures the complexity of human relationships with authenticity and grace.

“The Curious Secrets of Yesterday” is more than just a story—it’s a heartfelt exploration of love, forgiveness, and finding one’s place in the world. With its compelling characters and engaging plot, this book is a must-read for anyone in search of a captivating and meaningful read. Namrata Patel has crafted a truly special novel that lingers in your heart long after you’ve turned the last page.

Get it at…

📗 - Hard Copy -📗

Your Local Canadian Book Seller

Indigo

Amazon Canada

📱 - Digital - 📱

Kobo - (Not Available at Time of Review)

Kindle

🎧 - Audio - 🎧

Audible

Libro.FM - (Not Available at Time of Review)

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this audio.

I loved this book!! It started off a bit slow but it picked up and enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

I loved this book. It's about finding your own path in life, whether it's following tradition or striking out on your own. It's timeless and beautifully written. The narrator for the audiobook was wonderful.