I tried to get into this book, but I just couldn’t. I didn’t find the characters interesting. I went back to it a few times, but finally had to give up.

BOOK REVIEW ALERT – Review, Recommendation, Rating & Opinion are my own.

This book is a captivating exploration of family dynamics, personal growth, and the complexities of starting anew at different stages of life. Set in the vibrant and diverse backdrop of Texas, this novel presents an engaging narrative that intertwines humor, poignancy, and the rich tapestry of Indian-American culture.

The story revolves around the Rao family, particularly the recently divorced Suresh and his ex-wife Lata, who are trying to navigate their lives after their separation. Suresh, a retired professor, finds himself in the unfamiliar territory of online dating, while Lata, a homemaker who spent decades focusing on her family, decides to pursue her passion for art.

Their adult children, Priya and Nikesh, are also facing their own challenges. Priya is dealing with a failing marriage and the pressures of being a perfect daughter, while Nikesh struggles with his career and personal identity. As each member of the family embarks on their individual journeys, they discover that it’s never too late to redefine oneself and find new paths to happiness.

Rating – 4.0/5 Stars
Recommendation – High

The Author’s writing is both evocative and accessible, blending humor with emotional depth. Her prose is rich with cultural references and vivid descriptions that bring the setting and characters to life. The dialogue is authentic and engaging, reflecting the complexities of family relationships and personal introspection.

“Late Bloomers” is a heartwarming and insightful novel that resonates with readers on multiple levels. Deepa Varadarajan has crafted a story that is both specific in its cultural context and universal in its themes of growth, resilience, and the enduring power of family. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking a thoughtful and uplifting tale of personal reinvention and the unexpected joys of starting anew.

Late Bloomers is about the fallout in an Indian-American family when the parents split up after 36 years of an arranged marriage. As the parents dive into the world of online dating and romantic flirtation at an older age.

Both heartfelt and humorous, this book touches on universal challenges of families.

I rate this book 4 stars. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book.

This was cute, sad, and even hilarious at times. I feel it was a true depiction of a typical American family dealing with a later in life divorce which includes curious (aka jealous) ex spouses, first dates after 30+ years of marriage, online dating, and adult kids still playing the roles of their younger selves around their parents. It was an easy, quick read. I wasn’t blown away, but it was enjoyable.

Not the usual kind of book I expect about a desi family, so it was a nice surprise. I liked that the author covered quite relatable but also not really found frequently in south Asian media themes like infidelity, online dating, children out of wedlock, divorce in old age etc. Overall a pleasant enough read but not really memorable after a while.

The four members of the Raman family provide the reader with a glimpse into their lives. At first, they are separated, each living their own life– but as the narrative progresses, they come together and have to spend time with each other as a quartet for the first time in many years. Furthermore, they are all keeping secrets from each other. Some are relatively benign and others are more serious.

I found myself captivated by each character’s story arc. While some were not particularly likeable at times, I never found myself bored by a chapter and/or wishing I could move on to the next character’s storyline. That said, if I had to pick a favourite, I would have to go with Lata, who is considering dating for the first time in her life (her marriage was arranged) and has no idea how to proceed with finding love after her divorce.

I don’t want to diminish the power of the written word: this is an amazing debut, but I would love to see this book made into a limited series on a streaming network. There’s plenty of melodrama, and the characters are all fully fleshed out and have plausible motivations that fuel their actions and interactions with the people in their respective narratives.

I would absolutely recommend Late Bloomers. I loved not knowing what was going to happen next or how the others would react to secrets being revealed. I am looking forward to reading more from Varadarajan in the future.


I received a digital ARC of this book from Random House/NetGalley

DNF. I just couldn’t get into this book. I really wanted to enjoy this book as a POC I enjoy reading about other cultures, however these characters were just too weak for me. They had no backbone and everyone acted naive. I get that in some cultures being a more submissive type is part of the culture, but for every character even the American born kids to be so unsure of themselves was just not something I could get into.

I thought this was funny, a little snarky, and filed with family drama. I wish the characters had been more likeable and that the story itself fleshed out more, but it was an enjoyable read for sure. I would read this author again.

"Late Bloomers" by Deepa Varadarajan was alright. I liked the premise of the novel but ultimately didn't really enjoy it. I found the characters selfish and honestly didn't see much growth by the end. I'm not sure if I had difficulty relating to them because of my age, race, culture, experiences in life or for some other reason. Someone else could love it. But, it wasn't for me.

Thank you to netgalley for giving me access to a free arc of this book. Funny and tender, this had me clutching my chest from laughing so hard.

Started off strong but didn't finish. I plan on picking it back up in the future and trying again. Thank you for the opportunity.

3.5 rounded to 4 because I appreciate the flawed characters and realistic ending
Suresh and Lata divorced after 36 years of marriage and now are navigating dating, just like their children Priya and Nikesh. Each character experiences their new normal a bit differently with plenty of missteps and victories along the way. And they each deal with regrets and navigate their new normal while interacting with each other.
The story contains plenty of Indian culture, including arranged marriages, food and relationship customs. Although I'm not Indian, I could relate to the feelings, motivations and actions of each character.
I really like the realness of each character. They're flawed humans. And the story doesn't feature a fairy tale ending, which I really like because life is messy and perfect for second chances and late bloomers!

These types of stories are literally made for me. I resonate so being a late bloomer so I was really looking forward to reading and this did not disappoint. One of my favorites Ive read in a while! Felt all the emotions.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

I loved this book - a real family story - messy in all the right ways - no matter the ethnic background - we are all a mess.

After enduring 36 years of an arranged marriage and two children, Suresh & Lata have called it quits. The story picks up after their divorce - Suresh is trying out and not succeeding at online dating, and Lata is adjusting to not having Suresh to attend to. Suresh is hot to find a new woman, even though at age 60, he feels he might have missed his shot. Lata is enjoying holding a job for the first time in her life and trying to navigate life on her own.

Their two children - Priya - daughter who is a professor and carrying on an affair as a mistress - is starting to wonder if she should make a change. Their son, Nikesh, has a big secret - he is NOT married to the mother of his child after telling his parents they were. Oh, the secrets!!

As everything comes to a head at the grandson's birthday party - can they find the desire to pull together and give each other a second chance?

Did I mention already how much I really enjoyed this book??

I want to give this book 4++ stars, it's so good! It's fun and full of characters who have faults and are still worth caring about.

The Ramans are an Indian-American family at a crossroads. Suresh and Lata are newly divorced after a 30+ year marriage and are finding their new lives as single adults. Their adult children are going through their own grown-up relationship problems. And everyone is trying to keep the illusion of having it all together.

It could be sad, and sometimes there are bittersweet moments, but mostly it's about relatable people and situations. The author shows the lighter side of things, like Suresh who wants to date an Indian woman, but has to travel hours just to find a woman whom they don't know.

This is definitely a book to read when you need to feel better. I guarantee you'll smile.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The whole book in one sentence.

Indian parents don’t teach kids about sex, things go down and parents don’t like each other.

It’s not that interesting, it’s a book about every typical Indian family.

this was a wonderful family novel that depicts current issues we all face. Moving. I loved the writing style. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

This book is a riot! I loved all the miscommunication and the fresh commentary on Indian familial values and beliefs. I purchased a copy for myself.

Heartfelt and funny. I enjoyed the multiple POVs in this intergenerational story trying to navigate the modern dating world.

Late Bloomers by Deepa Varadarajan is a solid debut that covers themes of family drama and secrets. Readers are introduced to the Raman family as they navigate post-divorce dating life and the ways in which they hide their true selves from each other and how they might find their ways back to each other.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.