I really really enjoyed reading this book, so much so that I finished it in a day. The concept is so much fun, and the fact that the leads are Indian makes it much more relatable to me than other stories in the same vein. I loved that Lata is such a complex character too, by taking “the other Lata’s” place, you know what she’s doing is wrong but you actively find yourself rooting for her, which is compliments of good writing.

I’ve read Kirthana Ramisetti’s other books also, and I think I liked this one the best. I would LOVE to see this adapted on screen, it’s made for it!

THE OTHER LATA was a fun and twisty ride which explores the complex nature between the haves and have nots. Between the author’s ability to create likable unlikable female characters and the setting of high society New York City, this book was a great read that not only has a bit of mystery, but makes you think.

What I love about this author is her ability to write about people who are morally grey and humanly flawed, but ultimately their motives and their actions are more multifaceted as being right or wrong. Lata, the FMC, is a complex character who is benefitting from another and doing some pretty ethically icky things. But the author does such a great job with her character that you find yourself rooting for her rather than condemning her.

And the book is a fun mix of mystery, character centered narrative, and deep critique at the absurdities of the wealthy. I didn’t know where it was going, and that was refreshing. And all the while, New York City serves as the background to facilitate all these aspects. I think that they are done well where they seamlessly work together to create the central story.

This is a really interesting novel about race, class, and womanhood. If you like morally ambiguous female characters, New York City settings, character development, and some twists, read this.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Would you step into someone else’s life if you were invited?

When Lata Murthy keeps receiving emails addressed to her – but not her, just someone with the same name – she decides to accept the invitations. What harm could it do? Committing to a year of yes, Lata begins her Cinderella journey into the world of socialites and wealthy influencers. It’s a dream come true until Other Lata comes on the scene.

I enjoyed this book for what it was – entertainment – but some of the parts felt a little over the top and forced. I started finding myself irritated with Other Lata, who was making some seriously dangerous and illegal demands. Nevertheless, it was a fun book that satisfies your cravings for what it’s like to be wrapped up in a world of want, desire and envy.

Thank you to Kirthana Ramisetti, Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for a gifted digital copy for an honest review.

This was a fun, fast-paced romp through the lives of the wealthy in New York. When Lata Murthy starts getting swanky invitations meant for another, richer, Lata Murthy, she decides to add some excitement to her life and start attending the events. She makes friends and embraces the good life, but as we know, lies always eventually start to fall. While there were a few questions that were never answered, there were many things I didn't see coming. I really enjoyed this and look forward to more by this author! Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advance digital copy!

Kirthana Ramisetti's "The Other Lata" is a highly entertaining high-society romp that deftly blends humor, identity, and social commentary.

The story follows Lata Murthy, a down-on-her-luck trivia company employee in Connecticut who stumbles upon a life-changing opportunity through a case of mistaken identity. Accidentally receiving invitations meant for her mysterious and glamorous namesake—a Mumbai-born heiress—Lata is drawn into a whirlwind of wealth, deception, and escapades.

The plot is a delightful mix of comedy and tension, and Ramisetti maintains an enjoyable momentum as Lata's double life grows increasingly elaborate and precarious. The impending threat of her facade unraveling adds an undercurrent of suspense that keeps readers hooked, even as they revel in the character's audacious exploits.

What truly makes the novel shine are its vivid and dynamic characters. Lata is a wonderfully flawed and relatable protagonist, whose desperation, resourcefulness, and wit make her both endearing and frustrating. The supporting cast of fashion designers, models, and socialites adds flair and intrigue, while the enigmatic Other Lata looms as a tantalizing presence throughout the story. Their contrasting lives serve as a fascinating lens through which issues of class, identity, and ambition are explored.

Ramisetti's humor sparkles on every page and the mix of wit and heartfelt moments makes for an immensely satisfying reading experience. "The Other Lata" is a joy to read, blending comedy and drama in a way that leaves you laughing, cringing, and reflecting on the cost of reinvention.

I loved the Confessions of a Shopaholic vibes this had going on. But just like with that the lying keeps me so on edge and anxious.

I think this is going to be a popular beach read this year because it is fun with a little mystery and also some depth.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think I’m in the minority of readers for whom this book fell flat. I (maybe not-so-secretly) enjoy reading about the “rich lifestyle” and hidden lives of the rich, but Lata’s impostering really got under my skin. She often flashes back to the Indian-conservative life she had growing up and uses it to contrast the life she lives now, full of designer labels and credit card debt. The premise for her discovering the high-fashion life — a prom date who purchased an Armani gown for her…who does this?! — in addition to other situations that cropped up throughout the book (like the antics the Other Lata forced on her) made the story not only improbable but also practically-unreadable for me.

The story wanted to resemble Anna Delvey’s journey, but with heart, and it just didn’t work for me. Would be good for someone more interested in this lifestyle who is able to turn off the cynicism. I enjoyed the author’s debut (Dava Sastry’s Last Day) and will still continue reading her work.

It’s one thing to have imposter syndrome. It’s totally another to actually BE an imposter.

Lata Murthy knew she shouldn’t have opened the email that appeared in her mailbox. She didn’t know anyone who could possibly have invited her to such a prestigious event. But Lata opened it. Then she compounded the situation by attending.

The nerve! What if the “real” intended guest also attended? Hi, Lata; I’m Lata?

Our Lata gets increasingly bold and attends more and more. She finds new friends among the other guests. Then Lata is trapped by a mysterious correspondent who has been stalking her. The story takes off like a rocket and doesn’t slow down until it resolves at the end.

I liked Lata. She had her problems but that made her seem real.

The author, Kirthana Ramisetti, was new to me. After reading “The Other Lata” I would like to read her other books.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader’s copy. This is my honest review.

This hooked me IMMEDIATELY! I absolutely LOVED Kirthana's writing voice. She writes like I think and like I talk, she writes about things that are relevant and really relatable. I loved all the pop culture references or city references or lingo references, it really made the book real for me. There were a lot of characters, however, they were all really well written that I could tell them all apart. I also loved being able to see more into Indian/Indian-American culture and how there can be biases, just like in other cultures. This is something I experience myself with my own culture. There were a few slow parts and I wish we had more interaction with the Rajeev romance storyline, I wanted something to really hold onto.

However, I really enjoyed this one and I look forward to more from this author!

Thank you Net Galley and Grand Central Publishing for the arc.

First read by this author.

I thought it was just okay. The very beginning and a few chapters in afterwards had me excited. “Poor” Lata was a vibe, realistic and fun. As the story started moving towards the middle the pace seemed to drag. While also having a lot going on that could have possibly been cut out. Things got a little interesting when “Rich” Lata came on the scene. Good getting insight on her. I liked the titling of the chapters. Maybe someone more fashion forward would love this book. Wish it would have stayed light, fun, with that exciting feeling throughout.

Fast paced book that was okay. It was a fun read but just didn't resonate with maybe because I'm just didn't care about that rich lifestyle.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

In The Other Lata, Lata receives email invites addressed to someone with her name but who has a much more glamorous lifestyle. One day, she says yes to one of these invites, which sends her world into a tailspin. This novel was so entertaining and loaded with personal growth.

The Other Lata is an addicting novel about what it means to find yourself when everyone around you has so much more. In this novel, Lata Murthy, a girl from New Jersey who now lives in New York, decides to respond to an email where she's mistaken for a Mumbai socialite. After attending a party pretending to be "the other Lata", this quickly snowballs as our main character finds friends and a sort of belonging with her new life, which she has no means to keep up. Not to mention, the woman she's impersonating is NOT happy and wants Lata to pay.

Overall, I LOVED this novel! It's the first book by Kirthana that I've fully read and you can bet I'll be reading her other novels that are already on my shelf. I enjoyed the way she balanced the Indian American experience and the feelings that come with not being one of the majority. When she describes how Lata was overlooked and how easy it was for her to pass as another woman with the same name, it's an experience that as an Indian American I resonate with.

While I wish we got to explore her family dynamics deeper and her friendship with Mimi, I appreciated the novel's focus on Lata's struggles and how she got to the place she was at by the end of the book. I loved the ending of the book as well as how Kirthana brought the character there, in a way that felt completely normal and authentic.

This was an enjoyable, addicting, and easy read and I gave it 4.5/5 stars. Thank you to Hachette Book Group, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This is the story of a young woman of Indian ethnicity, living a broke and unfulfilled life in New York City, whose world is turned upside down after she mistakenly receives — and accepts — an exclusive invitation meant for someone else with the same name. The “real” Lata Murthy, known as the elusive “Mumbai Princess,” is a generous donor and a fixture at high-society fundraisers attended by New York’s wealthiest elites.

Our protagonist (or perhaps antagonist?) steps into this glamorous identity, quickly embedding herself into a core circle of wealthy friends and spending the summer racking up debt in her desperate attempts to look the part of a wealthy socialite. Her elaborate deception leads to a swanky new apartment, a prestigious job, and even a new romance — until the day she receives a message from the other Lata Murthy, who’s ready to call her bluff.

What follows is a slow, calculated unraveling of the imposter’s fragile house of cards, all orchestrated by the real Lata herself. The question is: when all is said and done, which Lata Murthy will be left standing?

I found this book both entertaining and engaging. It kept me hooked as I anxiously wondered how it would all end. Despite her flaws, the main character was surprisingly likable, which made her story all the more compelling.

I love this author’s books, so was excited to read this one. The Other Lata is pretty fast paced, and a quick read. I loved the concept and truly didn’t know what to anticipate, so it kept me on my toes! Although I enjoyed the book, the time jumps often confused me. I would likely recommend the author’s other books to this one, but still, pretty enjoyable if you’re looking for something fun and fast paced.

Thanks to Netgalley & Grand Central Publishing for the E-ARC! Beautiful story & writing style. Great characters. Will definitely read another from this author.

Lata Murthy, 33, living in NYC, stuck in a dead end job, finds herself on the receiving end of fabulous party invites, meant for socialite Lata Murthy, who splits her time between Mumbai and New York.
Intriguing story, fun seeing it come together, I just wish the dialogue wasn’t so stilted?

Fun little fast paced book! I'd never read this author before, so this was my introduction.. It was a little humorous and wrapped up nicely.

This is a very fast paced fiction book in which a struggling Indian New Yorker impersonates a rich socialite that looks similar to her. The fmc goes by Lati and becomes friends with people in the rich group. Someone pitched it as Gossip girl with Bollywood vibes and I would say yes the rich wealthy lifestyle of GG and the the fmc heritage and Indian culture. The fmc did get very hooked to the presence and when the original Lati found out it brought a tension to the book. There is also a mini romance plot that was cute. Overall this is fun and lighthearted, it doesn’t go very deep into the characters but is good for getting out of a slump. Thanks to grand central for this arc for an honest review.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the digital ARC!

This book was a pleasant surprise for me. It was a fun and quick read for the weekend. Lata is just a girl (lol) and came up on a once in a lifetime opportunity when life was getting a bit bland. Was it ethical? Maybe not, but it was a good time. This book was full of chaos, but it was a good time. Even though Lata is literally in her 30s, this book felt very coming of age to me. I always enjoy reading stories about people in their late 20 and early 30s because even though we're technically adults, we're still figuring things out. Sometimes that means making questionable choices. I wouldn't make some of the choices she made, even if they benefited her at times (until it didn't), but I can't say I don't understand why she would. This was a very heartwarming story and romance between Lata and Rajeev was cute. Overall, a very fun time.