What do you think?
Rate this book
Da
This is a story of love between a father and a son.
Inquisitive 13-year-old Ved’s entire universe is his adoptive father, Da. From cooking him the perfect biryani, to helping him navigate his first school dance and his first girlfriend, Da lets Ved be himself.
Fiercely loving and fiercely protective, their relationship harbours a secret that could destroy them both: Da is gay at a time when Section 377, a colonial law, makes homosexuality a crime. Beyond the law, vigilante gangs prowl the shadows, targeting those they deem ‘unnatural’ as Da and Ved’s happy existence grows ever more fragile.
Set in an Indian metropolis in 2013, Da is a tender story of a boy caught between devotion and fear, chronicling the everyday courage it takes to love someone the world refuses to accept.
'A beautifully cut gem of a novel. Ved’s unforgettable voice makes this story come to life in so many funny, moving and unexpected ways.’ - Mahesh Rao, Author of 'Half Light'
Inquisitive 13-year-old Ved’s entire universe is his adoptive father, Da. From cooking him the perfect biryani, to helping him navigate his first school dance and his first girlfriend, Da lets Ved be himself.
Fiercely loving and fiercely protective, their relationship harbours a secret that could destroy them both: Da is gay at a time when Section 377, a colonial law, makes homosexuality a crime. Beyond the law, vigilante gangs prowl the shadows, targeting those they deem ‘unnatural’ as Da and Ved’s happy existence grows ever more fragile.
Set in an Indian metropolis in 2013, Da is a tender story of a boy caught between devotion and fear, chronicling the everyday courage it takes to love someone the world refuses to accept.
'A beautifully cut gem of a novel. Ved’s unforgettable voice makes this story come to life in so many funny, moving and unexpected ways.’ - Mahesh Rao, Author of 'Half Light'
- GenresQueer
194 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2026
About the author
Arathi Menon
7 books19 followersArathi Menon is an author and columnist based in London. Her debut literary fiction novel was published by Fly on the Wall Press, UK and Picador, India. She completed her MA in Creative Writing (Prose Fiction) at the University of East Anglia. Her debut book, a memoir titled Leaving Home with Half a Fridge, was published by Pan Macmillan India. Her middle-grade mystery novel, A Thud in the Middle of the Night, was brought out by DC Books, Kerala, and later published by Yali Books, New York, under the title A Mystery at Lili Villa.
Her awards include the SI Leeds Literary Prize and Novel London. She has also been on numerous shortlists and longlists, including the BPA First Novel Award, Cinnamon Literary Award, Virginia Prize for Fiction, UA 100X100, FAB Prize, Ivan Juritz Prize and the Penguin WriteNow programme. She was part of a spoken word group installation at Tate Modern, London. You can find her on Instagram on https://www.instagram.com/arathimenon...
Her awards include the SI Leeds Literary Prize and Novel London. She has also been on numerous shortlists and longlists, including the BPA First Novel Award, Cinnamon Literary Award, Virginia Prize for Fiction, UA 100X100, FAB Prize, Ivan Juritz Prize and the Penguin WriteNow programme. She was part of a spoken word group installation at Tate Modern, London. You can find her on Instagram on https://www.instagram.com/arathimenon...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 16, 2026
A beautiful, important, but also heartbreaking story 💔 Seeing everything through the eyes of a 13-year old boy really gives the story an interesting perspective, which I really liked
June 21, 2026
Do not read this book unless you are prepared to ruin your life. I have never cried like that before.
June 2, 2026
It has been a long time since I cried this much over a book.
This moving coming-of-age tale follows 13-year-old Ved, a boy living in India with his adoptive father, Da, during a time where an old colonial law means that it is illegal to be gay. Through Ved, we explore what it means to explore your own identity and sexuality while being raised by a loved one who has to hide theirs.
The writing was earnest and convincing; it really struck me how important it is to have great communication with your children, especially at such a pivotal age in their lives. The way Ved processed things was sometimes sad, other times funny, and occasionally I felt annoyed with Da for the way he would act. But as the story deepens, we start to see just how much Da has to live with and we are reminded that he is a parent doing life for the first time too.
The love and devotion between father and son was touching, especially with everything they had to face. The author really drove home what stigma means, not just for those being stigmatised, but for loved ones and wider communities as well. I was absolutely heartbroken. Have tissues at the ready!
A poignant and compelling read.
This moving coming-of-age tale follows 13-year-old Ved, a boy living in India with his adoptive father, Da, during a time where an old colonial law means that it is illegal to be gay. Through Ved, we explore what it means to explore your own identity and sexuality while being raised by a loved one who has to hide theirs.
The writing was earnest and convincing; it really struck me how important it is to have great communication with your children, especially at such a pivotal age in their lives. The way Ved processed things was sometimes sad, other times funny, and occasionally I felt annoyed with Da for the way he would act. But as the story deepens, we start to see just how much Da has to live with and we are reminded that he is a parent doing life for the first time too.
The love and devotion between father and son was touching, especially with everything they had to face. The author really drove home what stigma means, not just for those being stigmatised, but for loved ones and wider communities as well. I was absolutely heartbroken. Have tissues at the ready!
A poignant and compelling read.
July 7, 2026
Loved this. Not to long, read it in a day. Very interesting perspective to take on the story, with a beautiful bittersweet message.
July 11, 2026
Soooooo beautiful and horrible
June 26, 2026
I’m in bits
June 22, 2026
So sad :(
When the book dedication is for “anyone who has suffered for love” you know you’re in for heartbreak. Despite that, the writing and the nuanced look at past South Asian culture and sexuality was really powerful.
When the book dedication is for “anyone who has suffered for love” you know you’re in for heartbreak. Despite that, the writing and the nuanced look at past South Asian culture and sexuality was really powerful.
June 24, 2026
3.5
Overall, it was a moving read, and at times it felt as if Menon took my personality and experiences and distributed them among the central characters. Nonetheless, I do think there were a few issues. The narration, especially at the beginning, felt quite metaphor-heavy, at once attempting to replicate a child's way of relating to the world but not committing to extending many of them (except for a few motifs). While they are soon a bit more paced out, I do wish there were better hints of increasing maturity in thinking.
My main gripe, however, is the almost isolationist treatment of Ved and the titular Da, which feels a bit amiss for 2013 India. While yep, homosexuality was illegal, by then there were many active groups and organisations pushing for LGBT+ rights and forming communities. Such a community is hinted at, but kept at a significant distance, with even Alok disappearing for most of the middle chunk of the novel, only to reappear at the end. It's as if Menon could not handle having more than two gay men within a section for too long without exploding. Had the characters been placed within a town or rural area, perhaps I would have been slightly more understanding (though the supposed conservative nature of such zones is much more fluid than commonly believed), but a metropolis? No way.
One could argue my criticism ignores that the lens is that of a child experiencing a coming-of-age, but in many ways, this coming-of-age is not entirely willing to truly examine what it means to be raised by a gay man at the time Section 377 was active. Also, it feels like Menon did her research to get her facts, but fails to account for the gap between legislation and its implementation, almost producing trauma porn at certain times. Consequently, this treatment seeps into the relationship between father and son. While there exists a cultural reticence between parents and children in India, it feels odd and unnecessarily stretched out here, given how the characters are shaped. Perhaps the text seeks to point to such contradictions, and there seem to be hints towards the closing, yet it does not do enough.
Nonetheless, the text attempts to examine dynamics underexplored within South Asian literature, and even if it is not successful in going beyond the tropes and dynamics that it draws on, it is still a worthwhile read.
Overall, it was a moving read, and at times it felt as if Menon took my personality and experiences and distributed them among the central characters. Nonetheless, I do think there were a few issues. The narration, especially at the beginning, felt quite metaphor-heavy, at once attempting to replicate a child's way of relating to the world but not committing to extending many of them (except for a few motifs). While they are soon a bit more paced out, I do wish there were better hints of increasing maturity in thinking.
My main gripe, however, is the almost isolationist treatment of Ved and the titular Da, which feels a bit amiss for 2013 India. While yep, homosexuality was illegal, by then there were many active groups and organisations pushing for LGBT+ rights and forming communities. Such a community is hinted at, but kept at a significant distance, with even Alok disappearing for most of the middle chunk of the novel, only to reappear at the end. It's as if Menon could not handle having more than two gay men within a section for too long without exploding. Had the characters been placed within a town or rural area, perhaps I would have been slightly more understanding (though the supposed conservative nature of such zones is much more fluid than commonly believed), but a metropolis? No way.
One could argue my criticism ignores that the lens is that of a child experiencing a coming-of-age, but in many ways, this coming-of-age is not entirely willing to truly examine what it means to be raised by a gay man at the time Section 377 was active. Also, it feels like Menon did her research to get her facts, but fails to account for the gap between legislation and its implementation, almost producing trauma porn at certain times. Consequently, this treatment seeps into the relationship between father and son. While there exists a cultural reticence between parents and children in India, it feels odd and unnecessarily stretched out here, given how the characters are shaped. Perhaps the text seeks to point to such contradictions, and there seem to be hints towards the closing, yet it does not do enough.
Nonetheless, the text attempts to examine dynamics underexplored within South Asian literature, and even if it is not successful in going beyond the tropes and dynamics that it draws on, it is still a worthwhile read.
July 17, 2026
‘He said Mama died giving birth to me. She had a choice and could have saved her life but she insisted on keeping me alive, this baby she would never see…’
Thirteen-year-old Ved discovers that his beloved Da, the man who has raised him, might be in love with another man. This throws Ved into confusion, especially as he's just learned that Da might be harbouring another secret: about the truth behind Ved's mother's death. But Ved remains fiercely protective of his Da. Besides, he has other prevailing concerns: upcoming exams, the demands of his peer group and the girl he is currently crushing on. However, a greater peril threatens Ved's world because this is 2013, when homosexuality is still a crime in India, and forces are at work to snatch Ved away from his Da forever.
Writing from the perspective of a much younger person is never easy; one must walk a constant tightrope between the character's natural naivety and their inner complexity. But given these constraints, AM manages quite well, placing us firmly in Ved's shoes and plunging us into the chaotic life of a teenager, its humour and pathos, where everything is intensely felt and endlessly questioned. The novel compassionately renders Ved's struggles, quirks, joys and desires even as it surges to a hard-hitting finale.
At its core, this is a story deeply concerned with our earnest desire to protect the ones we love. But it is also a timely reminder that the struggle for queer rights still has a long way to go. And with the setback to the fight for marriage equality in 2023 as well as the draconian amendments made to the Transgender Act in 2026, it is our duty to not become complacent about actively defending our hard-won rights.
(3.5 stars rounded up to 4)
Thirteen-year-old Ved discovers that his beloved Da, the man who has raised him, might be in love with another man. This throws Ved into confusion, especially as he's just learned that Da might be harbouring another secret: about the truth behind Ved's mother's death. But Ved remains fiercely protective of his Da. Besides, he has other prevailing concerns: upcoming exams, the demands of his peer group and the girl he is currently crushing on. However, a greater peril threatens Ved's world because this is 2013, when homosexuality is still a crime in India, and forces are at work to snatch Ved away from his Da forever.
Writing from the perspective of a much younger person is never easy; one must walk a constant tightrope between the character's natural naivety and their inner complexity. But given these constraints, AM manages quite well, placing us firmly in Ved's shoes and plunging us into the chaotic life of a teenager, its humour and pathos, where everything is intensely felt and endlessly questioned. The novel compassionately renders Ved's struggles, quirks, joys and desires even as it surges to a hard-hitting finale.
At its core, this is a story deeply concerned with our earnest desire to protect the ones we love. But it is also a timely reminder that the struggle for queer rights still has a long way to go. And with the setback to the fight for marriage equality in 2023 as well as the draconian amendments made to the Transgender Act in 2026, it is our duty to not become complacent about actively defending our hard-won rights.
(3.5 stars rounded up to 4)
June 24, 2026
This was both a heart warming and emotionally devastating read, exploring the relationship between Ved and his uncle, the man who cares for him and becomes much more than just an adoptive father, but parent, protector, mentor, and his emotional anchor.
With the point of view always being that of Ved, a thirteen year old boy struggling in that awkward in-between phase of not being a child, and not yet being an adult, the reader is very aware that everything we see is being filtered through his eyes, the author adeptly deploying his voice with authenticity. We as readers know his perception of his world is often selfish and immature, yet at the same time, it is also laden with the man his Da is bringing him up to be. His internal conflict is portrayed with such a searing honesty you cannot help but feel for him.
I was unaware of Indian history as regards the policing of sexual relationships, and didn't realise how it was only recently that the laws criminalising homosexuality had been repealed, but Ved's struggle to reconcile the goodness and love he sees in his Da, with his knowledge that he was gay is one of the real strengths of the story.
I read this book in less than 2 days, which is a testament to what a compelling read it is. Highly recommended.
With the point of view always being that of Ved, a thirteen year old boy struggling in that awkward in-between phase of not being a child, and not yet being an adult, the reader is very aware that everything we see is being filtered through his eyes, the author adeptly deploying his voice with authenticity. We as readers know his perception of his world is often selfish and immature, yet at the same time, it is also laden with the man his Da is bringing him up to be. His internal conflict is portrayed with such a searing honesty you cannot help but feel for him.
I was unaware of Indian history as regards the policing of sexual relationships, and didn't realise how it was only recently that the laws criminalising homosexuality had been repealed, but Ved's struggle to reconcile the goodness and love he sees in his Da, with his knowledge that he was gay is one of the real strengths of the story.
I read this book in less than 2 days, which is a testament to what a compelling read it is. Highly recommended.
June 26, 2026
Da is a rare find. Beautifully written, it completely transported me to another time and place, and tackled some really difficult topics with honesty and heart.
It had me laughing and crying within the same chapter. I became so invested in the characters that they felt like real people, and weeks after finishing the book I still find myself thinking about them.
A truly memorable read that stayed with me long after I turned the final page. If you're looking for a story that will make you feel every emotion, I can't recommend this enough.
It had me laughing and crying within the same chapter. I became so invested in the characters that they felt like real people, and weeks after finishing the book I still find myself thinking about them.
A truly memorable read that stayed with me long after I turned the final page. If you're looking for a story that will make you feel every emotion, I can't recommend this enough.
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 17, 2026Da is a rare kind of book. One that holds tragedy and humour in the same breath without letting either diminish the other. Arathi’s distinctive style has you moved by something deeply sad, and then laughing out loud just a breath later. That lightness doesn’t undercut the emotion and instead makes the harder thoughts easier to process and carry with you as a reader. A beautifully crafted book that feels both personal and universal.
June 23, 2026
I am so glad I picked up this book on a whim after seeing it. This is definitely the best book I have read this year and is in my top 3 of all time.
The relationship of Da and Ved was beautifully written. This book was a rollercoaster of a journey and makes me angry that the world is still like this in certain parts and that the voice of intolerance is still so loud.
The relationship of Da and Ved was beautifully written. This book was a rollercoaster of a journey and makes me angry that the world is still like this in certain parts and that the voice of intolerance is still so loud.
July 10, 2026
I think this book was a little bit wasted on me. I can see why it would resonate deeply with people and it addressed some key issues and some dark themes, but all I could focus on was how much the word “masturbation” was used, the fact I was hungry because it constantly talked about food and how super depressing the ending was ~ 2.5⭐️
Review of advance copy
I bought this book this weekend in a queer bookshop in London. Though it was rhe final day of the trip, I devoured this short book in a few hours.
The protagonist' voice is hilarious. The characters are rich and loveable.
10/10
The protagonist' voice is hilarious. The characters are rich and loveable.
10/10
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
i wish it were longer. i wanna see so much more of ved and da and alok and vamsi and...
July 11, 2026
Fabulous read, you finish the book and wish there were more. Hopefully the author will do a Ved as an Adult Novel soon.
July 15, 2026
What an assault on the emotions
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews