This was an interesting coming of age story about dealing with tragedy appreciating little moments in life. It provided a glimpse into Indian culture as well. Unfortunately, because of the short story format, it felt like one story among many. It seemed like a first chapter, leaving me to wish for the rest of the book.

"What's for you won't go by you."
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🎾Third Person POV
🎾Coming of age
🌳TW: Death, Grief
︵ ⊹ ︵⏜︵ ⊹ ︵୨୧︵ ⊹ ︵⏜︵ ⊹ ︵

Ravi is weighed down by the expectations from his parents when it comes to his future with talks about it being his destiny to follow his father's footsteps, in becoming a surgeon. However, that's not what he wants instead he dreams about playing professional tennis. Ravi exemplifies the experience of a child, not wanting to disappoint their parents and feeling like they have to keep a secret self. He connects his dreams being secret, to being like his brown skin, something he didn't have a choice in. Everything changes for Ravi when his father dies from a heart-attack.

Abscond shifts from a story of having secret dreams and being unable to tell his parents to a story of dealing with grief and sorrow. It shows that death can happen suddenly and it can be hard to make sense of it all. It was interesting and insightful to read the more cultural aspect and the rituals involved with death that is highlighted in the story. It's important to note Abraham Verghese handles the Indian culture with a lot of care and love throughout the story.

There's also an inherent sadness when Ravi sees his father after his death and thinks about the boy that his father had once been. Ravi reflects how his father was once a boy who nurtured dreams of being a surgeon and realized his dream, yet he won't be around anymore to see Ravi live his own ambitions. This all reflects the overall themes of the story, which is mortality and trying to seek one's true meaning in life. The death of his father, forces Ravi to grow up in an emotional sense and loses his sense of innocence. After his mom shares a person story and tries to connect to his grief, Ravi understands a secret self is unnecessary. Despite its short length, Abscond, handles Ravi's character development and arc wonderfully. It was a powerful moment with Ravi's realization that life is already hard enough and that he shouldn't be hung up on trying to please or displease others with his choices.

Abscond is a powerful piece that is both reflective and emotional. Abraham Verghese's writing style was very immersive with a slightly simple prose that focused heavily on depicting deeper emotions of the characters. It just felt like a very real depiction of the human experience. It urges the reader, to think about how do you deal with loss, when you're still young and how do you survive it. In the backdrop of the more heavy emotions, is a book about love and family; that emphasizes to enjoy every little moment with one another and take in the more beautiful aspects of life.

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories for the ARC.

a moving short tale about the inevitability of the passage of time, of family, and of life. it is beautifully written, but i do wish this was developed further in a longer format to connect emotionally with the characters in a deeper manner. i would have loved to read more, but still appreciated the story for what it was.

— all opinions are my own, and i thank netgalley and the author for providing me with an e-ARC for review.

Grief tears us apart, and if we're lucky, it brings us closer together—something the protagonist of this short story has to learn at far too young an age.

This is the first time I've read any of Verghese's work, though of course some of his books ("Cutting for Stone", "My Own Country") have long been on my radar. I'm intrigued by the timing here, and by the cultural nuance: This is set in 1960s New Jersey, but other than a lack of cell phones the setting wasn't really something that I noticed until after the fact. In retrospect, though, it adds some depth to Ravi's interactions with some of his neighbors and friends.

Without spoilers, I'll say that I'm cautious about books about this kind of grief these days, but a short story was about what I can sit with. But what I like best is the observations about the ways in which so many people do not know what to do with that grief, and it's sometimes the least likely people you'd expect who know how and when to lean in.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

What a poignant, thought provoking and moving story focusing on a close family, love and loss and the ways in which a young boy called Ravi along with his mother dealt with the sudden loss. This story had me intrigued from the start and was extremely immersive and emotional as a whole even though it was a novella. (The depiction of Indian culture was spot on the mark as well which enhanced my enjoyment of the story).
Thankyou to both Net galley and Amazon Original Stories for the opportunity to read this powerful story.

My Thoughts
What strikes you immediately about Abscond is not its plot—simple and familiar on the surface—but the emotional depth Verghese conjures from the ordinary. The story is quietly devastating, told in prose that is deceptively plain yet deeply moving. It's the kind of writing that doesn’t shout to be heard but sits with you in silence, heavy with unspoken truths.

This is a story about grief and growing up, about family and the small, almost invisible ways we hold each other up. A smile across a room, a laugh shared at the dinner table, the golden light filtering through the trees—Verghese lingers on these moments, reminding us that these are the fragments we cling to when everything else falls apart.

I found Verghese’s cultural sensibilities incredibly moving. He captures the subtleties of Indian family life—not through stereotypes, but through careful, affectionate observation.

What I appreciated most, though, is how the story doesn't try too hard to impress. It doesn't ask you to unravel symbols or search for hidden meanings. Instead, it invites you to feel—to let the story sit with you, gently shifting the way you see your own life. That, to me, is literature at its most powerful.

Who Should Read It?
= Readers who enjoy quiet, emotional narratives
= Fans of literary short stories with depth
- Anyone curious about Indian family dynamics and cultural nuance
- Those who find meaning in the little things

Final Verdict
Abscond may be short in length, but it’s vast in feeling. It’s the kind of story that reminds you of what really matters—how fleeting life is, and how sacred the small moments are. Just read it. Let it move you.

Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Original Stories for complimentary access to this short story. Abscond had a good opening scene, introducing Ravi, his mother, and his surgeon as they sit down for an early breakfast before Ravi's father's hospital shift. I think this story would have benefitted from a longer page count and some more time before the conflict is introduced for readers to familiarize themselves with the characters. This story lacked an emotional impact for me as I didn't feel connected to any of the characters. I did appreciate reading about the different culture and traditions, particularly in death. Ravi's mother expects Ravi to follow in his father's footsteps, despite his love for and skill in tennis. The comment about it being harder to become a professional athlete rather than a doctor did make me laugh. Unfortunately, this had a rather abrupt end that left me feeling dissatisfied.

A richly written short novel about loss. The writing is beautiful, especially in the way it captures the shock and weight of grief. I was very glad to read this ARC from NetGalley, as I’m already a fan of Abraham Verghese.

The story unfolds with a quiet sense of anticipation. His writing is almost poetic at times. The characters felt believable, and their emotional growth through their experience of loss really came through.

A moving exploration of grief, written with depth and care.

⭐⭐⭐.75

I first heard of Abraham Verghese through his bestselling novel The Covenant of Water. As someone intimidated by its size, I wasn’t quite ready to dive into such a hefty book. So, when I saw this short story available on NetGalley, I figured it would be the perfect way to experience his writing before making a bigger commitment and I didn’t hesitate to pick it up. After reading Abscond, I can safely say I’ll be picking up The Covenant of Water very soon. It may feel trivial to review a book that’s just 38 pages long, but Abscond carries a weight far beyond its page count.

This is a story about grief and family, about how quickly life can change, and how we must not take the small things for granted. On the surface, the story may seem ordinary, something that could happen to any of us. But Verghese’s writing elevates it into something deeply poignant. His words are simple, but they carry immense emotional weight. In that simplicity lies the power of this story, told with clarity, authenticity, and care. As an Indian reader, I loved how beautifully Verghese, who comes from an Indian background, captures the nuances of Indian culture. His attention to the smallest details made the story feel deeply familiar and intimate.

I won’t say much more, just read it. Abscond is a brief but powerful piece, and it won’t disappoint. It’s also a lovely read for anyone curious to learn a little about Indian culture. Sometimes, you don’t need to search for deeper meaning, sometimes, it’s enough to let a story gently move you. This is one of those stories.


Would I Recommend? Yes
For readers who like: healing, coming of age, historical

Thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories and Abraham Verghese for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Abscond by Abraham Verghese is a short poignant story about dreams, griefs, culture and traditions. Deeply moving.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Amazon Original Stories via Netgalley. This is my honest feedback

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Amazon original stories and the author for the copy.

3 ⭐

Abscond is a beautifully written, at times poetic, short story. The story follows Ravi a 13 year old tennis prodigy in the making, through grief and family drama.

The story was enjoyable overall, but I personally think it would've been better as a novel instead of a short story. I think it needed more space to explore the themes properly. The story still manages to show culture and tradition to the reader, it was nice to read about something so different from my own traditions and learn something new.

Anyone else need a palate cleanse between all the romantasy and romance books you've been reading? This is it! I read it as part of Amazon First Reads and received it on NetGalley as well! Out now!

This was such a wonderful novella. I've read previous books by the author and this one is completely different.

I loved the family set up and how close they were in the beginning. Loved the portrayal of grief and how different cultures and families came together to support the grieving.

This was such a breath of fresh air after reading a few much heavier books, and I would recommend it to anyone!

A very short, short story that I was hoping would touch on a little boys dreams of becoming a pro tennis player in an Indian household, but went a different direction. The writing was very good, yet the original direction of the plot would have been more meaningful, I think.

A beautifully written short story about family, grief, mourning rituals, and community. Verghese packs a lot into thirty-odd pages, but the story never feels like it's taking on too much.

Abscond is a poignant and beautifully written short story. In just a few pages, Abraham Verghese explores themes of grief, family, and growing up with surprising emotional depth. The writing is quiet and understated, but the story lingers. It’s touching, reflective, and a strong reminder of how even brief moments in life can have a lasting impact. This was my first time reading anything by Verghese and it was a moving introduction to his storytelling.

I have wanted to read something by Dr. Verghese, but had not gotten around to it yet. After reading this beautifully moving short story I will definitely move his work up on my TBR list. I was amazed by how much feeling and information can be put into such a short story. Heartbreaking and profound.

I received an ARC for free and gave my honest opinion voluntarily.




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Quite a lot packed into a very short short story with a great message.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the ARC of Abraham Verghese's short story, Abscond.

It's lovely to read anything of Verghese's in the between time of his larger works. In Abscond, Verghese shows he can pack as much a punch into 30 pages as he can into 700. His way of viewing the simplest acts of humanity, even in times of grief or growth, it what truly sets him apart as a master of his craft and one of the greatest literary voices of our time.

This was a beautiful vignette of the manifestations of unexpected grief, tidily tucked into 39 pages. This was my first time engaging with this author and has definitely convinced me to read their other pieces of work.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for providing an advanced copy for review.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

This might be a very short story but it's powerful and beautifully written. There is so much depth here. I will definitely check out more from this author.