Book Review: The Candid Life of Meena Dave

I was excited to win two books in one week recently from Goodreads giveaways! I had been entering the giveaways several times and was beginning to wonder if I was wasting my time. Sure enough, I ended up with two books which I gave a 5 star rating to! One of them was ‘The Candid Life of Meena Dave’. I was intrigued with the cover which showed a photographer. I consider myself a photographer, so I thought it’d be a fun read. Also, I saw in the synopsis that the book was set in Boston, my favorite city in New England.

Synopsis:

A woman embarks on an unexpected journey into her past in an engrossing novel about identity, family secrets, and rediscovering the need to belong.

Meena Dave is a photojournalist and a nomad. She has no family, no permanent address, and no long-term attachments, preferring to observe the world at a distance through the lens of her camera. But Meena’s solitary life is turned upside down when she unexpectedly inherits an apartment in a Victorian brownstone in historic Back Bay, Boston.

Though Meena’s impulse is to sell it and keep moving, she decides to use her journalistic instinct to follow the story that landed her in the home of a stranger. It’s a mystery that comes with a series of hidden clues, a trio of meddling Indian aunties, and a handsome next-door neighbor. For Meena it’s a chance for newfound friendships, community, and culture she never thought possible. And a window into her past she never expected.

Now as everything unknown to Meena comes into focus, she must reconcile who she wants to be with who she really is.

Review:

I found this to be a comfort book! I curled up on the couch and binge read it in a day. I enjoyed following Meena Dave along on her journey of finding her identity within the Indian culture. I could relate to Meena in the sense of finding where we belong. The writing of this book was so beautifully executed. She described the Indian meals/celebration so well that I felt like I was right back in my college days. I was fortunate to attend a university with a large diversity, which included Indian Americans. I remember the smell of the delicious Indian cuisine! I also felt like I was right there as part of the apartment family. I was constantly entertained with the aunties. A wonderful read, that I will pick up again from time to time!

The Candid Life of Meena Dave will be released on June 1st.

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and Goodreads Giveaway for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.