What do you think?
Rate this book
I Wish We Weren't Related
After a shocking phone call from her mother, Reeva Mehta’s life starts to sound like the plot of a Bollywood drama. From the outlandishly funny author of 30 Things I Love About Myself comes a hilarious, heartwarming novel about love, family, and new beginnings.
Thirty-four-year-old Reeva thought her life couldn’t possibly get more complicated, until her semi-famous Bollywood mother calls to tell her that she’s been lying to her daughters for decades—the father they thought died thirty years ago has been alive this whole time. Only now he actually is dead. Worse? His dying wish was for Reeva and her sisters Sita and Jaya to attend his funeral prayers—which means spending a fortnight together at his house, surrounded by relatives they never knew existed.
Reeva already has more than enough going on in her life. She’s an overworked London lawyer, her hair is falling out due to stress-induced alopecia, she can’t decide if her new boyfriend, Nick, is really as wonderful as he appears to be, and her brand-new cat is playing hard to get (even for a cat). And now she has to spend two weeks with the sisters she hasn’t spoken to since Jaya stole her boyfriend and Sita took her side.
But as Reeva slowly learns more about their father and his life—with the help of his sister, aka her new, wise Satya Auntie—she starts to uncover the complicated truth of their past…and realizes she needs Jaya and Sita more than she ever could have imagined.
Thirty-four-year-old Reeva thought her life couldn’t possibly get more complicated, until her semi-famous Bollywood mother calls to tell her that she’s been lying to her daughters for decades—the father they thought died thirty years ago has been alive this whole time. Only now he actually is dead. Worse? His dying wish was for Reeva and her sisters Sita and Jaya to attend his funeral prayers—which means spending a fortnight together at his house, surrounded by relatives they never knew existed.
Reeva already has more than enough going on in her life. She’s an overworked London lawyer, her hair is falling out due to stress-induced alopecia, she can’t decide if her new boyfriend, Nick, is really as wonderful as he appears to be, and her brand-new cat is playing hard to get (even for a cat). And now she has to spend two weeks with the sisters she hasn’t spoken to since Jaya stole her boyfriend and Sita took her side.
But as Reeva slowly learns more about their father and his life—with the help of his sister, aka her new, wise Satya Auntie—she starts to uncover the complicated truth of their past…and realizes she needs Jaya and Sita more than she ever could have imagined.
448 pages, Paperback
First published July 11, 2023
13 people are currently reading
5725 people want to read
About the author
Radhika Sanghani
12 books264 followersI'm an author, journalist and screenwriter. My latest novel THIRTY THINGS I LOVE ABOUT MYSELF is coming out in January in the UK and US. I've also written two YA novels VIRGIN and NOT THAT EASY.
I'm a freelance journalist for publications like the Telegraph, Daily Mail, Grazia and Glamour. I'm also a body positive campaigner and founded the #sideprofileselfie movement. In my spare time, I also teach yoga and created a volunteer initiative to paint elderly ladies' nails for Age UK.
I'm a freelance journalist for publications like the Telegraph, Daily Mail, Grazia and Glamour. I'm also a body positive campaigner and founded the #sideprofileselfie movement. In my spare time, I also teach yoga and created a volunteer initiative to paint elderly ladies' nails for Age UK.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
July 11, 2023
Happy, uh, release day!
This was reviewed with a copy offered by Berkley through Netgalley; I Wish We Weren't Related will be out July 11th.
Disclaimer that this was one of those offerings directly from Berkley, not something I picked for myself - should've noticed it was labeled general fiction. This book was a bizarre mix of telenovela-worthy family drama, self-help manifesto, and mediocre womens fiction. It didn't even do any of the above particularly well; there's also a lengthy TW list I've attached to the end of my review.
First, the (minimal) good, because I believe in balanced reviews when I can manage them. It was quite refreshing to see Alopecia representation on-page. Main character Reeva and her sisters, each distinct millennial archetypes, were good vehicles to explore the issues plaguing the modern Indian diaspora. The writing included a few good observations and funny lines, and Sita's twin daughters were entertaining. I hadn't heard the term Gujarati before, and learned some more nuances to Indian religious practices.
But, and to play off the title - I wish I hadn't wasted my time on this. I found most characters hateful, not at all aided by the internalized racism flavoring the narrative (the protagonist even acknowledges her own on-page, lol), and they do absolutely despicable things to each other, which is all tidied up with some lame heart to hearts and forgiveness at the end, because they're family. Or Something. As a queer who has cut off most of my blood family, I am entirely off-put by narratives that push the "reconcile despite anything because we share blood" agenda. No.
The pacing is glacial, and the book is a lot of long conversations of emotional excavation and trauma resolution. This could be bearable, but there wasn't enough unf to even the mysterious faked-death plot to give the story some flavor. It literally reads like a self-help book for long, long passages, through which characters spill their guts, analyze complicated feelings about family, and even, in one scene, go through a very detailed hypnotherapy-slash-emotion counseling session. Maybe the writer used the manuscript to work through something, I don't know.
Also, just a lot of terrible stuff happens! It is a miserable book! The inciting incident for the whole plot is of course the paternal death, but there are other deaths, cringeworthy behavior, plus the rundown of various awful stuff the sisters did to each other in the past. Everyone here is making the worst decisions. The ending tries for a preachy, self-helpy optimistic tone, but this was simply an unpleasant book with little to redeem the time I spent on it. I saw other reviewers skimmed parts - golly, I wish I had.
Now for TWs. The most significant is for animal death and mention of violence towards animals. A major character has a misunderstanding that takes up significant on-page time, which leads to many horrible lines about cat killing, a cat being murdered, every awful turn of phrase you can imagine. And characters are flippant about this potential tragic, horrifying act, because it wasn't a human child. I was so tuned out by that point.
Other TWs include alcoholism, alcohol-fueled domestic violence towards a child, the aforementioned alopecia, a character dying of cancer, internalized racism (specifically mentions of colorism, among other stereotyping throughout). There is also a past cheating event committed between siblings which is alluded to a lot.
This was reviewed with a copy offered by Berkley through Netgalley; I Wish We Weren't Related will be out July 11th.
Disclaimer that this was one of those offerings directly from Berkley, not something I picked for myself - should've noticed it was labeled general fiction. This book was a bizarre mix of telenovela-worthy family drama, self-help manifesto, and mediocre womens fiction. It didn't even do any of the above particularly well; there's also a lengthy TW list I've attached to the end of my review.
First, the (minimal) good, because I believe in balanced reviews when I can manage them. It was quite refreshing to see Alopecia representation on-page. Main character Reeva and her sisters, each distinct millennial archetypes, were good vehicles to explore the issues plaguing the modern Indian diaspora. The writing included a few good observations and funny lines, and Sita's twin daughters were entertaining. I hadn't heard the term Gujarati before, and learned some more nuances to Indian religious practices.
But, and to play off the title - I wish I hadn't wasted my time on this. I found most characters hateful, not at all aided by the internalized racism flavoring the narrative (the protagonist even acknowledges her own on-page, lol), and they do absolutely despicable things to each other, which is all tidied up with some lame heart to hearts and forgiveness at the end, because they're family. Or Something. As a queer who has cut off most of my blood family, I am entirely off-put by narratives that push the "reconcile despite anything because we share blood" agenda. No.
The pacing is glacial, and the book is a lot of long conversations of emotional excavation and trauma resolution. This could be bearable, but there wasn't enough unf to even the mysterious faked-death plot to give the story some flavor. It literally reads like a self-help book for long, long passages, through which characters spill their guts, analyze complicated feelings about family, and even, in one scene, go through a very detailed hypnotherapy-slash-emotion counseling session. Maybe the writer used the manuscript to work through something, I don't know.
Also, just a lot of terrible stuff happens! It is a miserable book! The inciting incident for the whole plot is of course the paternal death, but there are other deaths, cringeworthy behavior, plus the rundown of various awful stuff the sisters did to each other in the past. Everyone here is making the worst decisions. The ending tries for a preachy, self-helpy optimistic tone, but this was simply an unpleasant book with little to redeem the time I spent on it. I saw other reviewers skimmed parts - golly, I wish I had.
Now for TWs. The most significant is for animal death and mention of violence towards animals. A major character has a misunderstanding that takes up significant on-page time, which leads to many horrible lines about cat killing, a cat being murdered, every awful turn of phrase you can imagine. And characters are flippant about this potential tragic, horrifying act, because it wasn't a human child. I was so tuned out by that point.
Other TWs include alcoholism, alcohol-fueled domestic violence towards a child, the aforementioned alopecia, a character dying of cancer, internalized racism (specifically mentions of colorism, among other stereotyping throughout). There is also a past cheating event committed between siblings which is alluded to a lot.
September 18, 2023
Reeva’s mum has been lying to her for years, her dad who she though was dead, has only recently passed away.
It’s up to Reeva and her sisters to uncover the complex truth about their father and why he was kept a secret for so long..
https://www.instagram.com/p/CuO4Tgory3Q/
So I don’t think I was fully the target audience for this book but I enjoyed it all the same. Pretty funny and annoying sibling rivalry that’s incredibly relatable.
Although, I gotta say there were some parts of the story that I thought were a bit irrelevant - felt like they were just thrown in to get the word count up.
There was one passage in the book that really irked me - talking about different shades of skin colour and how when protagonist visits India her relatives compared her sisters lighter skin tones to protagonist’s darker skin tone and that it “didn’t matter so much in England” - errrrr yes it does. Are you telling me you don’t get comments about skin tone in England?
Bit slow to start but held my intrigue as I wanted to find out how everything was resolved.
2.5 stars
It’s up to Reeva and her sisters to uncover the complex truth about their father and why he was kept a secret for so long..
https://www.instagram.com/p/CuO4Tgory3Q/
So I don’t think I was fully the target audience for this book but I enjoyed it all the same. Pretty funny and annoying sibling rivalry that’s incredibly relatable.
Although, I gotta say there were some parts of the story that I thought were a bit irrelevant - felt like they were just thrown in to get the word count up.
There was one passage in the book that really irked me - talking about different shades of skin colour and how when protagonist visits India her relatives compared her sisters lighter skin tones to protagonist’s darker skin tone and that it “didn’t matter so much in England” - errrrr yes it does. Are you telling me you don’t get comments about skin tone in England?
Bit slow to start but held my intrigue as I wanted to find out how everything was resolved.
2.5 stars
July 1, 2023
This one was a beautifully dramatic and fun read for me. Reeva is a very relatable character, she’s got her flaws but she owns them, and she stands up for those who can’t necessarily stand up for themselves. She’s got a lot of trauma to unpack and wade through, but she’s trying, she’s trying her best not to take that out on those around her (even if that’s sometimes avoidable). She’s doing her best to navigate her family dynamics alongside her inner demons and I wanted nothing more than to reach through the book and give her a big cuddle. Like I said, she’s a very relatable character, and she’s made me want to learn more about alopecia.
Thank you to Headline for sending me a proof of this one and having me on the blog tour.
Thank you to Headline for sending me a proof of this one and having me on the blog tour.
September 19, 2023
2 ⭐️
De laatste 40% van het boek heb ik me eigenlijk continu geërgerd. De grote onthulling waarom vader uit het leven van onze hoofdpersoon en haar zussen verdween, vond ik bij lange na niet zo shockerend als alle personen in dit boek. Opeens bleek dit een gigantisch onbewust, onverwerkt trauma te zijn. (Wat mij betreft is de opvoedingsstijl van moeder, a.k.a. totale emotionele verwaarlozing, veel erger. Maar daar wordt een beetje lollig over gedaan).
Wat betreft emoties vliegen we sowieso alle kanten op. Onze hoofdpersoon groeit de eerste helft van het boek steeds meer uit als zelfmedelijdende zenuwpees, om zich in de tweede helft van het boek te ontpoppen als zelfbewuste Dalai Lama. Zij vindt compassie en rust in zichzelf. Alle conflicten met de andere personages worden opgelost. De dialogen leken regelrecht uit een zelfhulpboek te komen. Traag en enorm repetitief. Mijn ogen rolden bijna uit mijn hoofd en ik kon niet wachten tot ik het boek uit had.
P.S. Er werden ook relaties/conflicten hersteld die de hoofdpersoon m.i. beter links had kunnen laten liggen. Onze love interest (wat is NL woord?) bijvoorbeeld. Man man man, deze gozer vertoonde de ene rode vlag na de andere. Maar nee hoor, na de openbaring als Dalai Lama berust alles opeens op totale miscommunicatie. Jaja... daar trap ik niet in.
P.S.S. Ik vind het ook behoorlijk ergerlijk dat een belangrijk side character (opnieuw, wat is NL woord?) zonder enige eerdere aanwijzing terminaal ziek blijkt te zijn, om zo te dienen als opstapje/eye-opener, zodat de hoofdpersoon zich kan ontwikkelen als Dalai Lama.
P.S.S.S. Ik heb eigenlijk nog een paar punten, maar ik voel de ergernis oplaaien.
Ik vind het lullig om iets af te kraken waar iemand uuurenlang werk in heeft zitten, maar dit boek is gewoon niet voor mij. Einde spreekbeurt.
De laatste 40% van het boek heb ik me eigenlijk continu geërgerd. De grote onthulling waarom vader uit het leven van onze hoofdpersoon en haar zussen verdween, vond ik bij lange na niet zo shockerend als alle personen in dit boek. Opeens bleek dit een gigantisch onbewust, onverwerkt trauma te zijn. (Wat mij betreft is de opvoedingsstijl van moeder, a.k.a. totale emotionele verwaarlozing, veel erger. Maar daar wordt een beetje lollig over gedaan).
Wat betreft emoties vliegen we sowieso alle kanten op. Onze hoofdpersoon groeit de eerste helft van het boek steeds meer uit als zelfmedelijdende zenuwpees, om zich in de tweede helft van het boek te ontpoppen als zelfbewuste Dalai Lama. Zij vindt compassie en rust in zichzelf. Alle conflicten met de andere personages worden opgelost. De dialogen leken regelrecht uit een zelfhulpboek te komen. Traag en enorm repetitief. Mijn ogen rolden bijna uit mijn hoofd en ik kon niet wachten tot ik het boek uit had.
P.S. Er werden ook relaties/conflicten hersteld die de hoofdpersoon m.i. beter links had kunnen laten liggen. Onze love interest (wat is NL woord?) bijvoorbeeld. Man man man, deze gozer vertoonde de ene rode vlag na de andere. Maar nee hoor, na de openbaring als Dalai Lama berust alles opeens op totale miscommunicatie. Jaja... daar trap ik niet in.
P.S.S. Ik vind het ook behoorlijk ergerlijk dat een belangrijk side character (opnieuw, wat is NL woord?) zonder enige eerdere aanwijzing terminaal ziek blijkt te zijn, om zo te dienen als opstapje/eye-opener, zodat de hoofdpersoon zich kan ontwikkelen als Dalai Lama.
P.S.S.S. Ik heb eigenlijk nog een paar punten, maar ik voel de ergernis oplaaien.
Ik vind het lullig om iets af te kraken waar iemand uuurenlang werk in heeft zitten, maar dit boek is gewoon niet voor mij. Einde spreekbeurt.
July 15, 2023
This was a funny, messy, big family drama that sees three estranged sisters forced to reunite when the father they thought was already dead actually dies.
Big shot divorce lawyer, Reeva hasn't talked to her sisters since one of them cheated on her with her ex and the other took her side. Now in order to receive her inheritance she has to spend 2 weeks honoring her father with her sisters in a series of South Asian funeral customs.
Moving and full of secrets, lies and reconciliations (although a touch too long imo). This book tackles some heavy topics, including an alcoholic father, and absentee parent, cheating and a relative dying of cancer. Reeva herself is also struggling with her worsening alopacia - a condition that sees her hair falling out.
Good on audio and perfect for fans of Nicola Marsh, Sonali Dev and Sanji Patel. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and prhaudio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review!
Big shot divorce lawyer, Reeva hasn't talked to her sisters since one of them cheated on her with her ex and the other took her side. Now in order to receive her inheritance she has to spend 2 weeks honoring her father with her sisters in a series of South Asian funeral customs.
Moving and full of secrets, lies and reconciliations (although a touch too long imo). This book tackles some heavy topics, including an alcoholic father, and absentee parent, cheating and a relative dying of cancer. Reeva herself is also struggling with her worsening alopacia - a condition that sees her hair falling out.
Good on audio and perfect for fans of Nicola Marsh, Sonali Dev and Sanji Patel. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and prhaudio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review!
May 12, 2023
Reeva Mehta’s life is a bit at a standstill. She is still astranged from her sisters and barely sees her super star mother. She is happy to work at a midlevel law firm as a midlevel partner.
Suddenly this all changes when she finds out that her father has just passed - the father that she had thought passed THIRTY YEARS AGO. He has requested in his will that his children come together and spend time in his home during his funeral prayers. This causes great stress to Reva and her alopecia acts up.
Can Reeva solve mystery of her father's 30 year disappearance? Wills he make up with her sisters? Finally solidify her relationship with the man she is dating? Make peace with her cat and her alopecia? Read more to find out! This was a fun novel but I found that everything didn't quite come together. Everything was VERY BIG and VERY DRAMATIC but not quite believable. However I did enjoy that sister issues and the boyfriend problems and had fun with the book. #IWishWeWerentRelated
Suddenly this all changes when she finds out that her father has just passed - the father that she had thought passed THIRTY YEARS AGO. He has requested in his will that his children come together and spend time in his home during his funeral prayers. This causes great stress to Reva and her alopecia acts up.
Can Reeva solve mystery of her father's 30 year disappearance? Wills he make up with her sisters? Finally solidify her relationship with the man she is dating? Make peace with her cat and her alopecia? Read more to find out! This was a fun novel but I found that everything didn't quite come together. Everything was VERY BIG and VERY DRAMATIC but not quite believable. However I did enjoy that sister issues and the boyfriend problems and had fun with the book. #IWishWeWerentRelated
June 26, 2023
This book was a lot. Not bad? Definitely not for me. There's a lot going on and most of it is really heavy with very little warning. A lot of drama, a lot of extreme emotion and angst that drags on and on but then everything is magically okay? It maybe could have been 100 pages shorter.
This story ended on forgiveness and that's fine but I didn't think it seemed realistic given the intensity of family fights and betrayals. Perhaps I'm just not a good person because I would never have spoken to any of these people again.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story ended on forgiveness and that's fine but I didn't think it seemed realistic given the intensity of family fights and betrayals. Perhaps I'm just not a good person because I would never have spoken to any of these people again.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 6, 2023
When Reeva's Mum calls to tell her that her Dad is dead, she doesn't really care. Because he died 30 years ago.
But apparently, it's all a lie. Despite her thriving career as a lawyer, fighting for people and knowing exactly the right thing to say at any time - she's lost for words. Her twice-dead father had one last request for her and her estranged sisters; to spend the next two weeks at his home, saying prayers and sorting his estate.
Her Bollywood Star Mother is conveniently unavailable in the mountains, so she's left alone miles from home with her two sisters who completely ruined her life the last time they spoke. She just needs to make it through these two weeks, so she can bury her Father and move on.
But could this be a chance to finally get answers? Not just about who their Father was, but everything else that has fractured their family over the years? Or will any hope of family be buried along with their Father.
"It's the same thing we've been talking about all this time with truth. The meaning of life is to be authentic. To live it all as yourself. To do what feels right for you. That's it."
Radhika Sanghani is a relatable, raw and riotously witty writer; and this follow-up to her debut adult novel is further proof that her voice is one that demands to be heard.
IWWWR is painfully real, full of heart and so funny in the most awkwardly relatable ways. Reeva is everything I want in a main character - someone boldly themselves, fierce, flawed, smart but not infallible. She's a fighter - for feminism, for equity, for others - but not for herself yet.
I absolutely adored the way her relationships and connections shone through - the stunning and meaningful friendships, the complicated histories with family, and of course my favourite character; the sassy and regal cat, Fluffy Panda.
The scene is set instantly - little details that draw us into her life and create a connection that propels the story forwards. We spend just a few short weeks with Reeva and her family, seeing little captured moments in this one time in her life that might seem insignificant alone, but weave together to show a journey of discovery and healing. It's messy, chaotic, almost absurd at times as tensions increase and drama takes over - but it was unflinchingly, awkwardly entertaining and wickedly clever the entire time.
Reeva's journey was bittersweet and heartwarming, devastating but beautiful. She had so much conflict not only with others but inside herself; internal colourism and misogyny, repressed anger, and a brutal inner critic with unrealistic expectations. All of this was eating her up inside and even when her trauma and turmoil made her lash out and make bad choices, I just wanted to hold her.
A beautifully sweeping story about love - between family, between strangers, and for ourselves.
But apparently, it's all a lie. Despite her thriving career as a lawyer, fighting for people and knowing exactly the right thing to say at any time - she's lost for words. Her twice-dead father had one last request for her and her estranged sisters; to spend the next two weeks at his home, saying prayers and sorting his estate.
Her Bollywood Star Mother is conveniently unavailable in the mountains, so she's left alone miles from home with her two sisters who completely ruined her life the last time they spoke. She just needs to make it through these two weeks, so she can bury her Father and move on.
But could this be a chance to finally get answers? Not just about who their Father was, but everything else that has fractured their family over the years? Or will any hope of family be buried along with their Father.
"It's the same thing we've been talking about all this time with truth. The meaning of life is to be authentic. To live it all as yourself. To do what feels right for you. That's it."
Radhika Sanghani is a relatable, raw and riotously witty writer; and this follow-up to her debut adult novel is further proof that her voice is one that demands to be heard.
IWWWR is painfully real, full of heart and so funny in the most awkwardly relatable ways. Reeva is everything I want in a main character - someone boldly themselves, fierce, flawed, smart but not infallible. She's a fighter - for feminism, for equity, for others - but not for herself yet.
I absolutely adored the way her relationships and connections shone through - the stunning and meaningful friendships, the complicated histories with family, and of course my favourite character; the sassy and regal cat, Fluffy Panda.
The scene is set instantly - little details that draw us into her life and create a connection that propels the story forwards. We spend just a few short weeks with Reeva and her family, seeing little captured moments in this one time in her life that might seem insignificant alone, but weave together to show a journey of discovery and healing. It's messy, chaotic, almost absurd at times as tensions increase and drama takes over - but it was unflinchingly, awkwardly entertaining and wickedly clever the entire time.
Reeva's journey was bittersweet and heartwarming, devastating but beautiful. She had so much conflict not only with others but inside herself; internal colourism and misogyny, repressed anger, and a brutal inner critic with unrealistic expectations. All of this was eating her up inside and even when her trauma and turmoil made her lash out and make bad choices, I just wanted to hold her.
A beautifully sweeping story about love - between family, between strangers, and for ourselves.
July 23, 2023
I Wish We Weren't Related was family drama on steroids.
The love of Reeva's life left her for her sister Jaya 4 years ago and her other sister Sita sided with Jaya. The sisters have been estranged ever since.
Their mom is a high maintenance Bollywood star, who loves to keep secrets. The biggest one being that their dad didn't die when Reeva was 5 as she led them to believe. He actually just died, and the sisters are thrust together for 2 weeks for prayers as they try to uncover the secrets of the past.
There is a lot of emotional trauma that Reeva needs to work through, and I really felt for her. I loved her story, her facing her past, moving on, and learning to be strong. And honest.
The audiobook was superbly done!
I do think it was a bit long in parts and would have been even better with a bit more editing to tighten it up.
The love of Reeva's life left her for her sister Jaya 4 years ago and her other sister Sita sided with Jaya. The sisters have been estranged ever since.
Their mom is a high maintenance Bollywood star, who loves to keep secrets. The biggest one being that their dad didn't die when Reeva was 5 as she led them to believe. He actually just died, and the sisters are thrust together for 2 weeks for prayers as they try to uncover the secrets of the past.
There is a lot of emotional trauma that Reeva needs to work through, and I really felt for her. I loved her story, her facing her past, moving on, and learning to be strong. And honest.
The audiobook was superbly done!
I do think it was a bit long in parts and would have been even better with a bit more editing to tighten it up.
September 20, 2023
written for those with (sick) mommy issues, (dead) daddy issues, and sibling estrangement. fun for the whole family!
critique: as an eldest, it didn’t feel like the protagonist was the oldest until 1/2-2/3 of the way through the book. her actions rarely made sense to me but she also still felt emotionally relatable and easily readable the whole time.
critique: as an eldest, it didn’t feel like the protagonist was the oldest until 1/2-2/3 of the way through the book. her actions rarely made sense to me but she also still felt emotionally relatable and easily readable the whole time.
June 6, 2025
I don’t think this book is 5 stars for everyone, but it’s a 5 stars for me. Reeva’s journey through the book had me invested and the learnings she faced taught me genuine lessons on real life. It felt like I was healing with her.
July 18, 2023
Awash with family drama too heavy for me, but readers who love sisterly dynamics will likely dig this spirited tale.
April 9, 2023
Complicated familial relationships. Healing from trauma. Alopecia representation. This book and the issues within it felt so real! Loved it!
August 24, 2023
This book was so sweet and heartfelt. Three sisters, who believed their father had died when they were young, are now told that he was alive all this time and has actually died. It sends all of them into a tailspin, especially because none of them have been speaking to each other. They must learn to get along in order to follow their father's wishes and give him the true Indian celebration their culture expects. It was funny and emotional, and I learned so much about the Indian culture and how they honor their dead. An emotional journey, for sure!
January 27, 2024
This was a cute read. A little repetitive in the middle, but overall a cute well written book and considering this book centers around a death and the mourning period, it was actually pretty funny. A family dramedy with Reeva the eldest sibling at the center who learns that her estranged dad dies (again) and then forced to "mourn" with her estranged sisters for two weeks. Essentially this focuses on Reeva finding her way and her truth in her relationships with her sisters, mom, and new love interest Jack. Her mom is just the unapologetic gem of the book in my opinion. So funny.
August 4, 2023
Such an amazing book. The words that come to my mind after reading this book : emotional , body positivity , knowing yourself , compassion , forgiveness , everyone’s journey is different , mercy , love yourself , forgive yourself , spirituality.
The book has its own flaws too but heeyyy doesn’t every book has its own flaws ?!
The book has its own flaws too but heeyyy doesn’t every book has its own flaws ?!
January 28, 2024
A solid read. Shoutout to Satya Auntie who I feel was a catalyst in the healing and character development of the Mehta sisters. The “big secret” did feel a little unrealistic at a point, but it came around and ending the story on beautiful note.
November 4, 2024
Cute family drama
September 22, 2025
Still going back and forth on how I feel about this one. On one hand, I kinda wanted Reeva to never speak to any of these people ever again. On the other hand, there were some really beautiful sections about forgiveness and what it means to build the life you want.
(Also, this is one of those cases where a book is muuuuuch heavier in subject matter than the illustrated cover suggests.)
(Also, this is one of those cases where a book is muuuuuch heavier in subject matter than the illustrated cover suggests.)
March 2, 2024
A really good, light read. It dealt with the complicated dynamics of family and with a nice dose of self-reflection. Everyone was very human in the sense not one person was perfect, so there were times you didn't root for anyone, but it was still an enjoyable read.
April 10, 2024
The way I absolutely loathe how loyalty to family that doesn’t deserve it trumps everything. Because in absolutely no way would I have sat around in a house with the sister that stole my boyfriend of nine or so years and had the audacity to get engaged to the man! What kind of sister send a man nudes and then turns around and makes herself the victim in the situation?? I hated her and the other sister who took her side. Because what do you mean just forgive her because we’re family what are you gonna do never talk to her again? Umm yes that’s exactly what’s going to happen.
Also, I wish my younger siblings would talk to me the way those two were talking to her! Treating her like she’s the reject when they’re both absolutely insane. It’s bad enough that the mother was the way she was but the fact that the people that are supposed to have that common ground with you treat you shitty and don’t expect you to stand up for yourself against them? Girl bye!
I don’t know if I had a loyalty to her because she is the main character, but the only person that deserved her grace was the auntie. I would’ve been absolutely fine with her never speaking or seeing them ever again. The best way for you to take care of yourself to get rid of the problems not let them make your feelings invalid. They let the hell out of this girl and then got mad when she lashed out. Because why shouldn’t she? This little bitch is pregnant by the man who was supposed to have that future with her, and just because you forced her to accept your apology that’s supposed to be gloss? I hope no one has family like This’s family is because I couldn’t imagine having to deal with the way she dealt with them for the longest.
I’ll give this for stars it made me feel some type of way about these people and I feel like that’s a good writer.
Also, I wish my younger siblings would talk to me the way those two were talking to her! Treating her like she’s the reject when they’re both absolutely insane. It’s bad enough that the mother was the way she was but the fact that the people that are supposed to have that common ground with you treat you shitty and don’t expect you to stand up for yourself against them? Girl bye!
I don’t know if I had a loyalty to her because she is the main character, but the only person that deserved her grace was the auntie. I would’ve been absolutely fine with her never speaking or seeing them ever again. The best way for you to take care of yourself to get rid of the problems not let them make your feelings invalid. They let the hell out of this girl and then got mad when she lashed out. Because why shouldn’t she? This little bitch is pregnant by the man who was supposed to have that future with her, and just because you forced her to accept your apology that’s supposed to be gloss? I hope no one has family like This’s family is because I couldn’t imagine having to deal with the way she dealt with them for the longest.
I’ll give this for stars it made me feel some type of way about these people and I feel like that’s a good writer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2023
Digital copy from Berkley and NetGalley in exchange for my review.
This is the story of sisters in their 30s who find out the father they were told died decades earlier only recently passed. His will states if they fail to go through the entire traditional grieving period they won’t receive their inheritance. Enter a multitude of family dynamics, grievances and everyday life issues. The novel is told in a breezy tone that belies some serious problems.
If you enjoy books about sisters with issues you might want to check it out. For me it was an okay read.
This is the story of sisters in their 30s who find out the father they were told died decades earlier only recently passed. His will states if they fail to go through the entire traditional grieving period they won’t receive their inheritance. Enter a multitude of family dynamics, grievances and everyday life issues. The novel is told in a breezy tone that belies some serious problems.
If you enjoy books about sisters with issues you might want to check it out. For me it was an okay read.
July 23, 2023
I really enjoyed the author’s previous book and was excited to get this book from the library the day it was released. It’s almost shocking that I picked up a book that took place almost entirely at a funeral but this book wasn’t solely sad. Sure, it’s an emotional read. And it’s very dramatic. But it was some very entertaining drama.
Reeva is shocked when her mother calls to say her dad has died. Reeva is mostly shocked because her mom told her that her dad died almost 30 years ago when Reeva was 5.
So, why her mother lie about Reeva’s father dying? There must be one heck of a good reason, right?
But it takes the majority of the book to uncover the reason. And I had a lot of this book left when I started it again this morning. I’d read maybe 30% of the book yesterday. But I was absolutely determined that I would finish this book today so I could find out the truth about father’s faked death.
In addition to finding out her dad has died (again?) she also finds out that she has to go stay at his house with her sisters for two entire weeks to do a full Indian mourning process. Reeva has a lot of issues with her sisters. She hasn’t talked to one sister in years, since her sister stole Reeva’s boyfriend.
And all three sisters must stay for the full two weeks or nobody inherits anything.
Being away for two weeks, and being away from the guy she’s dating is making her question their relationship too.
In addition to everything else, Reeva is losing her hair. She seems to have stress induced alopecia. She’s trying to keep this to herself.
Poor Reeva. My god the things she’s gone through. And she’s just expected to forgive everyone and move on. No wonder she’s so stressed out.
I thought this was well written. I feel like I took a real journey with Reeva. The characters felt real. Reeva’s anxiety, low self esteem and sadness could just be felt on the page.
I do want to point out as a content warning that there were some upsetting cat issues in the book. Reeva has nightmares about a cat getting hurt. I won’t say whether it actually happened or not, cause that would be kind of a big spoiler. But the nightmares in and of themselves are upsetting. As are her sisters’ attitudes about not worrying so much about “just a cat”.
I found Reeva and Nick’s relationship really interesting too. It felt more real and complex than a relationship is sometimes written in books. It’s a relationship with two (seemingly) real, flawed characters.
I enjoyed Reeva’s journey. Sometimes I felt like she forgave people that maybe didn’t deserve her forgiveness but I think we left her in a much better place than she was when we met her.
Reeva is shocked when her mother calls to say her dad has died. Reeva is mostly shocked because her mom told her that her dad died almost 30 years ago when Reeva was 5.
So, why her mother lie about Reeva’s father dying? There must be one heck of a good reason, right?
But it takes the majority of the book to uncover the reason. And I had a lot of this book left when I started it again this morning. I’d read maybe 30% of the book yesterday. But I was absolutely determined that I would finish this book today so I could find out the truth about father’s faked death.
In addition to finding out her dad has died (again?) she also finds out that she has to go stay at his house with her sisters for two entire weeks to do a full Indian mourning process. Reeva has a lot of issues with her sisters. She hasn’t talked to one sister in years, since her sister stole Reeva’s boyfriend.
And all three sisters must stay for the full two weeks or nobody inherits anything.
Being away for two weeks, and being away from the guy she’s dating is making her question their relationship too.
In addition to everything else, Reeva is losing her hair. She seems to have stress induced alopecia. She’s trying to keep this to herself.
Poor Reeva. My god the things she’s gone through. And she’s just expected to forgive everyone and move on. No wonder she’s so stressed out.
I thought this was well written. I feel like I took a real journey with Reeva. The characters felt real. Reeva’s anxiety, low self esteem and sadness could just be felt on the page.
I do want to point out as a content warning that there were some upsetting cat issues in the book. Reeva has nightmares about a cat getting hurt. I won’t say whether it actually happened or not, cause that would be kind of a big spoiler. But the nightmares in and of themselves are upsetting. As are her sisters’ attitudes about not worrying so much about “just a cat”.
I found Reeva and Nick’s relationship really interesting too. It felt more real and complex than a relationship is sometimes written in books. It’s a relationship with two (seemingly) real, flawed characters.
I enjoyed Reeva’s journey. Sometimes I felt like she forgave people that maybe didn’t deserve her forgiveness but I think we left her in a much better place than she was when we met her.
July 14, 2023
I Wish We Weren’t Related is a sweet, often humorous read about family dynamics and navigating challenging circumstances. Reeva, a 34-year-old woman, is estranged from her sisters due to a terrible event years ago that one of her sisters put her through. However, her world is turned upside down when her mother reveals a shocking secret – their father, whom Reeva believed had died when she was a child, has actually passed away just now! As if that weren’t enough, Reeva is obligated to spend 14 days mourning in her father’s house alongside her sisters.
What I particularly enjoyed about this book is Reeva’s strong character, her commitment to her career, and her independence. She is relatable and mostly likeable, although there were moments when she did get on my nerves. Unfortunately, the people surrounding her don’t do much to improve the situation! The guy she is seeing appears distant and rather unhelpful, while her sisters, though delivering some entertaining and humorous lines, treat Reeva poorly and prove to be toxic influences. In my opinion, Reeva shouldn’t have to tolerate their behaviour, regardless of their family ties.
The story itself is somewhat predictable, but the mystery surrounding why their parents pretended their father had died years ago kept me engaged throughout. Some parts felt a bit far-fetched and I think it could have been cut down by about 100 pages, but the book had plenty of heartwarming and entertaining moments. It was refreshing to have a setting outside of London and to explore different cultures. Additionally, the representation of alopecia was an interesting and welcome aspect.
Personally, I felt Reeva was too forgiving in many instances, but the ending will likely be a satisfying resolution for those who appreciate neatly wrapped-up conclusions. Overall, I found the book to be a pleasant read, but it didn’t strike me as anything particularly extraordinary.
What I particularly enjoyed about this book is Reeva’s strong character, her commitment to her career, and her independence. She is relatable and mostly likeable, although there were moments when she did get on my nerves. Unfortunately, the people surrounding her don’t do much to improve the situation! The guy she is seeing appears distant and rather unhelpful, while her sisters, though delivering some entertaining and humorous lines, treat Reeva poorly and prove to be toxic influences. In my opinion, Reeva shouldn’t have to tolerate their behaviour, regardless of their family ties.
The story itself is somewhat predictable, but the mystery surrounding why their parents pretended their father had died years ago kept me engaged throughout. Some parts felt a bit far-fetched and I think it could have been cut down by about 100 pages, but the book had plenty of heartwarming and entertaining moments. It was refreshing to have a setting outside of London and to explore different cultures. Additionally, the representation of alopecia was an interesting and welcome aspect.
Personally, I felt Reeva was too forgiving in many instances, but the ending will likely be a satisfying resolution for those who appreciate neatly wrapped-up conclusions. Overall, I found the book to be a pleasant read, but it didn’t strike me as anything particularly extraordinary.
August 26, 2023
I wish I loved this book.
This is my first ever book I've read by a Sindhi author, and it was so exciting to feel recognised between the pages, to feel seen by the little happenings and exposition that Sanghani created quite masterfully and in a nuanced fashion that I feel only a small corner of the world can truly resonate with. The relatability was by far my favorite aspect of this book.
Amongst other aspects I really appreciated were the characters and how they were built. Again, lots of nuance and complexity. These characters were simultaneously flawed, funny, and frustrating, and I loved it. In particular, Jaya was developed so well, that each bit of dialogue that was hers, was so hers. Saraswati was such a mom, and such a diva. Satya and Lakshmi were just the most badass characters to exist.
I just didn't really like Reeva, the main character, which brought down my rating of the book by a lot. She was definetly going through a lot, so I understand her actions, but her selfishness almost got in the way of storytelling. A major character , yet all we hear about is Reeva, Reeva, Reeva. If the supporting cast is going to be built up so well, we want to hear about them too.
To expand on this, the storytelling was just frustrating. There was a fascinating (albeit predictable) plot, and it had potential to be such a gripping page-turner. However, this was all but lost when Reeva goes through some speed-run development, and figures out how to be an adjusted adult in all but 3 chapters. As happy we are for her, there were no stakes. It felt simply inorganic and rushed, as though the storyline needed to be wrapped up by a certain word count.
I might not have loved this book, in part due to things like the storytelling and lack of logic at times, but I did love things about it, and I loved feeling seen and having my culture represented in a book with such specificity.
This is my first ever book I've read by a Sindhi author, and it was so exciting to feel recognised between the pages, to feel seen by the little happenings and exposition that Sanghani created quite masterfully and in a nuanced fashion that I feel only a small corner of the world can truly resonate with. The relatability was by far my favorite aspect of this book.
Amongst other aspects I really appreciated were the characters and how they were built. Again, lots of nuance and complexity. These characters were simultaneously flawed, funny, and frustrating, and I loved it. In particular, Jaya was developed so well, that each bit of dialogue that was hers, was so hers. Saraswati was such a mom, and such a diva. Satya and Lakshmi were just the most badass characters to exist.
I just didn't really like Reeva, the main character, which brought down my rating of the book by a lot. She was definetly going through a lot, so I understand her actions, but her selfishness almost got in the way of storytelling. A major character , yet all we hear about is Reeva, Reeva, Reeva. If the supporting cast is going to be built up so well, we want to hear about them too.
To expand on this, the storytelling was just frustrating. There was a fascinating (albeit predictable) plot, and it had potential to be such a gripping page-turner. However, this was all but lost when Reeva goes through some speed-run development, and figures out how to be an adjusted adult in all but 3 chapters. As happy we are for her, there were no stakes. It felt simply inorganic and rushed, as though the storyline needed to be wrapped up by a certain word count.
I might not have loved this book, in part due to things like the storytelling and lack of logic at times, but I did love things about it, and I loved feeling seen and having my culture represented in a book with such specificity.
July 28, 2023
"I Wish We Weren't Related" by Radhika Sanghani is an absolute gem of a novel that left me emotionally invested from start to finish. As a reader with Dominican roots, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the strong resonance between Indian culture and my own culture. The similarities in family values, traditions, and the sense of responsibility towards siblings struck a chord in my heart.
The main character, Reeva, may be the oldest sibling in her family, while I happen to be the youngest in mine, but I couldn't help but see myself in her struggles and her NEED to look out for her loved ones. The theme of family bonds and troubles really got me.
Reeva's battle with stress-induced alopecia was a powerful aspect of the story that deeply resonated with me personally. As someone who understands the pain of such a challenging condition, I was excited to see a main character who bravely confronts and copes with it. Radhika Sanghani's representation of this issue brought much-needed visibility to individuals facing similar challenges, and I am grateful for that.
Discovering the truth about her father's death after believing him to be gone for over two decades was an emotional rollercoaster that Reeva navigated by being a mess and then getting herself together. The impact of this revelation, especially when one doesn't have a relationship with their father, is something I could empathize with. The journey towards finding closure and healing was beautifully portrayed and felt deeply authentic.
One character who stole my heart was Satya Auntie. Her charisma, wit, and genuine care for her loved ones made her an endearing and unforgettable personality. I found myself laughing and crying with her throughout the story, and she quickly became my favorite as well!
The main character, Reeva, may be the oldest sibling in her family, while I happen to be the youngest in mine, but I couldn't help but see myself in her struggles and her NEED to look out for her loved ones. The theme of family bonds and troubles really got me.
Reeva's battle with stress-induced alopecia was a powerful aspect of the story that deeply resonated with me personally. As someone who understands the pain of such a challenging condition, I was excited to see a main character who bravely confronts and copes with it. Radhika Sanghani's representation of this issue brought much-needed visibility to individuals facing similar challenges, and I am grateful for that.
Discovering the truth about her father's death after believing him to be gone for over two decades was an emotional rollercoaster that Reeva navigated by being a mess and then getting herself together. The impact of this revelation, especially when one doesn't have a relationship with their father, is something I could empathize with. The journey towards finding closure and healing was beautifully portrayed and felt deeply authentic.
One character who stole my heart was Satya Auntie. Her charisma, wit, and genuine care for her loved ones made her an endearing and unforgettable personality. I found myself laughing and crying with her throughout the story, and she quickly became my favorite as well!
June 6, 2023
read for Reading Challenge Champs: TBR Knockout !
Prompt: Book that makes you sleep with the lights on
Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!
I stayed up late reading this. It was so quick and entertaining that I couldn’t put it down. And I wanted to know the family’s history. The writing was a beautiful balance of humour and many types of love (romance, familial) while also handling some darker and serious tones.
I appreciate how Reeva was more traditional with her lifestyle. She’s very much like me. I find that a lot of modern protagonists are pretty progressive so it was refreshing to read someone who still had “older” values like wanting marriage and kids. Although it was an interesting perspective for her to get called out on her values (personally attacked a bit there, but I loved it) and see her better understand other views.
The Inheritance Games wishes it was like this.Hot take from me, I know. I was definitely more invested in this family drama plot line here. Reeva’s family was way more interesting and developed which helped because I could differentiate them (an issue I sometimes have when books have big families and everyone is kind of the same). It was comforting to get to know everyone and see Reeva familiarize herself with her unknown family which fixing her bond with her sisters. And everyone had some sort of character development by the end of the book which was amazing.
Finding out the truth behind everything bumped it up to five stars. The way my jaw dropped …
Prompt: Book that makes you sleep with the lights on
Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!
I stayed up late reading this. It was so quick and entertaining that I couldn’t put it down. And I wanted to know the family’s history. The writing was a beautiful balance of humour and many types of love (romance, familial) while also handling some darker and serious tones.
I appreciate how Reeva was more traditional with her lifestyle. She’s very much like me. I find that a lot of modern protagonists are pretty progressive so it was refreshing to read someone who still had “older” values like wanting marriage and kids. Although it was an interesting perspective for her to get called out on her values (personally attacked a bit there, but I loved it) and see her better understand other views.
The Inheritance Games wishes it was like this.
Finding out the truth behind everything bumped it up to five stars. The way my jaw dropped …
July 7, 2023
After finding out the lie of a lifetime, Reeva gets stuck in her long estranged father's house with her two sisters for 2 whole weeks. Will they all make it through, or will the lies and secrets tear them even further apart.
Sanghani has brought to us a very interesting piece of literary fiction, diving deep into the family conflicts, death and grief, and the various relationships one can accumulate throughout a lifetime.
I don't know what I expected, but what we get here is a heartfelt story of 30 something Reeva who is struggling ith grief and trying so hard to get her life together after dealing with so much trauma. It was very powerful and a beautiful take on love, family and death. It may sound a little stiff when I say it like that, but I swear this book reads so easily. I got sucked into it and finished the whole thing in lethe weitwss than 24 hours. I was so captivated by Reeva, and wanted her to succeed and get everything my BOSS lady deserved, I just couldn't stop reading.
The writing was flowy, and the dash of dark humour perfection.
I did feel like the plot was a bit farfectched at times, but you know what, I was still here for it.
One thing I particularly appreciated was having a portrayal of an Indian-English family, and not only their customs, but also the relationship our MMC (who was born and raised in the UK) had with her roots, how she connected with her culture.
Overall, a great read about family dynamics and, well, how messed up everyone's family can be tbh. Definitely worth the read!
Thank you NetGalley, Headline and the author for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Sanghani has brought to us a very interesting piece of literary fiction, diving deep into the family conflicts, death and grief, and the various relationships one can accumulate throughout a lifetime.
I don't know what I expected, but what we get here is a heartfelt story of 30 something Reeva who is struggling ith grief and trying so hard to get her life together after dealing with so much trauma. It was very powerful and a beautiful take on love, family and death. It may sound a little stiff when I say it like that, but I swear this book reads so easily. I got sucked into it and finished the whole thing in lethe weitwss than 24 hours. I was so captivated by Reeva, and wanted her to succeed and get everything my BOSS lady deserved, I just couldn't stop reading.
The writing was flowy, and the dash of dark humour perfection.
I did feel like the plot was a bit farfectched at times, but you know what, I was still here for it.
One thing I particularly appreciated was having a portrayal of an Indian-English family, and not only their customs, but also the relationship our MMC (who was born and raised in the UK) had with her roots, how she connected with her culture.
Overall, a great read about family dynamics and, well, how messed up everyone's family can be tbh. Definitely worth the read!
Thank you NetGalley, Headline and the author for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and despite it centreing around death and a fourteen day morning period, it wasn't a sad depressing book. It felt quite life affirming and dealt with a few tricky topics, appropriately, and ultimately was about loving yourself.
At times I found Reeva really hard to connect to, but as the book went on and she actually started to work on herself, I found myself rooting for a lot.
I thought the story was a great concept, and really enjoyed getting to know the sisters that Reeva rarely sees or talks to anymore. And their mum is a larger than life character, and Reeva's nieces are adorable and have some of the best funny lines in the book
I was hooked on trying to find out what the big secret was that lead to Reeva's mum faking her husband's death for so many years. It's such a drastic thing to do, to cut a father off from his family, and the siblings came up with so many outlandish theories, as they started to learn about the father they never knew, after his real death.
I love books featuring characters from a different culture to my own, and really enjoyed learning more about the Mehta family and their family's religious death customs.
I especially loved the wisdom of the long last auntie, who was easily one of my favourite characters.
Very enjoyable, I had a good time reading this and will certainly be looking out for more by this author in the future.
Thank you to Headline and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
At times I found Reeva really hard to connect to, but as the book went on and she actually started to work on herself, I found myself rooting for a lot.
I thought the story was a great concept, and really enjoyed getting to know the sisters that Reeva rarely sees or talks to anymore. And their mum is a larger than life character, and Reeva's nieces are adorable and have some of the best funny lines in the book
I was hooked on trying to find out what the big secret was that lead to Reeva's mum faking her husband's death for so many years. It's such a drastic thing to do, to cut a father off from his family, and the siblings came up with so many outlandish theories, as they started to learn about the father they never knew, after his real death.
I love books featuring characters from a different culture to my own, and really enjoyed learning more about the Mehta family and their family's religious death customs.
I especially loved the wisdom of the long last auntie, who was easily one of my favourite characters.
Very enjoyable, I had a good time reading this and will certainly be looking out for more by this author in the future.
Thank you to Headline and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
July 19, 2023
I received a gifted galley of I WISH WE WEREN’T RELATED by Radhika Sanghanil for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, PRH Audio, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review!
I WISH WE WEREN’T RELATED follows Reeva, a young Indian woman whos life is turned upside down when her mother calls to let her know that her father has died. The complicated part of this is that Reeva and her sisters have long believed that their father was already dead.
Reeva and her sisters have complicated and strained relationships for various reasons, but her father’s last wish was for his daughters to attend his funeral prayers which means spending two weeks together. They take this time to explore their relationships with each other and try to get to know the father they never knew.
There were a lot of positives about this book. Reeva is dealing with a lot in her life (a new relationship, an ex who cheated on her with her sister, the mystery of why her parents faked her father’s death, and a stressful law career come first to mind) and all of this has led to stress-induced alopecia (hair loss). I think that the mental health component of this and Reeva’s journey of self-discovery was well done.
I did feel like the characters in this book were a bit tough to love a lot of the time. When I say that the relationships between sisters are strained, I really mean it. The best friend and the boyfriend are also adding more stress to Reeva’s life. This is a book where if you want messy family drama you’ll get plenty! This is a book that really relies on a failure to communicate (in a very intentional way) to keep the plot going.
I WISH WE WEREN’T RELATED follows Reeva, a young Indian woman whos life is turned upside down when her mother calls to let her know that her father has died. The complicated part of this is that Reeva and her sisters have long believed that their father was already dead.
Reeva and her sisters have complicated and strained relationships for various reasons, but her father’s last wish was for his daughters to attend his funeral prayers which means spending two weeks together. They take this time to explore their relationships with each other and try to get to know the father they never knew.
There were a lot of positives about this book. Reeva is dealing with a lot in her life (a new relationship, an ex who cheated on her with her sister, the mystery of why her parents faked her father’s death, and a stressful law career come first to mind) and all of this has led to stress-induced alopecia (hair loss). I think that the mental health component of this and Reeva’s journey of self-discovery was well done.
I did feel like the characters in this book were a bit tough to love a lot of the time. When I say that the relationships between sisters are strained, I really mean it. The best friend and the boyfriend are also adding more stress to Reeva’s life. This is a book where if you want messy family drama you’ll get plenty! This is a book that really relies on a failure to communicate (in a very intentional way) to keep the plot going.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews