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Grown-Up Pose
A delightfully modern look at what happens for a young woman when tradition, dating, and independence collide, from acclaimed author Sonya Lalli. Adulting shouldn't be this hard. Especially in your thirties. Having been pressured by her tight-knit community to get married at a young age to her first serious boyfriend, Anu Desai is now on her own again and feels like she is starting from the beginning. But Anu doesn't have time to start over. Telling her parents that she was separating from her husband was the hardest thing she's ever done—and she's still dealing with the fallout. She has her young daughter to support and when she invests all of her savings into running her own yoga studio, the feelings of irresponsibility send Anu reeling. She'll be forced to look inside herself to learn what she truly wants.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2020
100 people are currently reading
6459 people want to read
About the author
Sonya Lalli
8 books799 followersSonya Lalli is a Canadian writer of Indian heritage. She studied law in her hometown of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and at Columbia University in New York City. She completed an MA in Creative Writing and Publishing at City University London in 2015, and currently works as a journalist at a legal magazine in London. She has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and loves travel, yoga, piano, reading and cocktail bartending.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 345 reviews
June 25, 2020
This is sweet, charming, emotional and also a motivational reading…
Growing up is not only a physical thing. You need to open yourself to grow mentally by experiencing new things, learning new life lessons, touching people’s lives. But it’s mostly about discovering who you are, what you want to do with your life and what makes you happy. So in my opinion Sonya Lalli chose a very good subject and work on the story of Anu Desai, still young and is imposed to believe that growing up means being responsible, building a family, obeying the rules of the society, doing what your family tells you. But at some part of her life, she understands that she is not happy with her marriage, prying eyes of her in laws. She feels trapped, depressed and wanting a divorce. So she leaves her husband and start dating with somebody else but she is not ready to tell this to her parents.
She is hanging out with her best two friends and criticized by them for being so predictable, over responsible. She never tried to discover herself and her hopes, dreams about the life but one day she takes a step into a yoga studio where she feels so peaceful and let the serenity capture her soul. And she takes a risk for the first time in her life and decides to buy the place.
So this book is about: awakening your soul, discovering yourself, rebuilding life. I enjoyed the idea and fast pacing of the book that helps you never lose your interest. And the ending was also satisfying. But I think the romance, emotional depth of the story were missing elements. Maybe this should be thought and classified as a women’s fiction because there are not much romantic parts and I couldn’t get attached to the characters and feel for them. The idea about a woman’s losing herself and experiencing the life to learn how to be real grown-up was great but when it comes to Anu’s story, she acts like she coincidentally finds everything about her life and I couldn’t get her emotional struggle, her pain, her anger or any other specific feeling that I could hold on. At some parts, I found her a little annoying.
I was expecting a little more and I have to admit this book served to my brain so well with its brilliant ideas but it didn’t serve to my heart and warm or melt it. I wanted something more to shake me to the core. I wish to read something more effective, angsty, riveting.
So I’m giving my solid 3 stars. It’s still fast, easy, soft women’s fiction reading.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this ARC in exchange my honest review.
Growing up is not only a physical thing. You need to open yourself to grow mentally by experiencing new things, learning new life lessons, touching people’s lives. But it’s mostly about discovering who you are, what you want to do with your life and what makes you happy. So in my opinion Sonya Lalli chose a very good subject and work on the story of Anu Desai, still young and is imposed to believe that growing up means being responsible, building a family, obeying the rules of the society, doing what your family tells you. But at some part of her life, she understands that she is not happy with her marriage, prying eyes of her in laws. She feels trapped, depressed and wanting a divorce. So she leaves her husband and start dating with somebody else but she is not ready to tell this to her parents.
She is hanging out with her best two friends and criticized by them for being so predictable, over responsible. She never tried to discover herself and her hopes, dreams about the life but one day she takes a step into a yoga studio where she feels so peaceful and let the serenity capture her soul. And she takes a risk for the first time in her life and decides to buy the place.
So this book is about: awakening your soul, discovering yourself, rebuilding life. I enjoyed the idea and fast pacing of the book that helps you never lose your interest. And the ending was also satisfying. But I think the romance, emotional depth of the story were missing elements. Maybe this should be thought and classified as a women’s fiction because there are not much romantic parts and I couldn’t get attached to the characters and feel for them. The idea about a woman’s losing herself and experiencing the life to learn how to be real grown-up was great but when it comes to Anu’s story, she acts like she coincidentally finds everything about her life and I couldn’t get her emotional struggle, her pain, her anger or any other specific feeling that I could hold on. At some parts, I found her a little annoying.
I was expecting a little more and I have to admit this book served to my brain so well with its brilliant ideas but it didn’t serve to my heart and warm or melt it. I wanted something more to shake me to the core. I wish to read something more effective, angsty, riveting.
So I’m giving my solid 3 stars. It’s still fast, easy, soft women’s fiction reading.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this ARC in exchange my honest review.
January 12, 2021
My problem with the book is that the main character is like a thirteen year old girl and it doesn't get better.
Nah, I just cannot feel the goodness, the romance, the feels. It's just too chatty. Of course, I had to expect that for such a book but I just cannot stand the drama of thirty year old adult women behaving like thirteen year olds getting too overexcited over touching and kissing right from the first chapter.
No, it didn't happen between the women😁
I love drama, I love romance, I love chicklit, but I don't like chatty kids in the form of adult characters. The writing just .... Ok. No more. I cannot do this. No.
Nah, I just cannot feel the goodness, the romance, the feels. It's just too chatty. Of course, I had to expect that for such a book but I just cannot stand the drama of thirty year old adult women behaving like thirteen year olds getting too overexcited over touching and kissing right from the first chapter.
No, it didn't happen between the women😁
I love drama, I love romance, I love chicklit, but I don't like chatty kids in the form of adult characters. The writing just .... Ok. No more. I cannot do this. No.
May 3, 2020
I should've DNFed. I wanted to read this for the desi rep, and that was pretty much all I liked. The writing was cringeworthy and referenced pop culture at random times (for example: the MC once says, "It's easier to just let it be." Then she smirks and says "Like the Beatles!" The book is full of odd tangents like that. It’s weird).
The pacing and plot were all over the place. Unlike the blurb’s emphasis, the yoga place isn’t that important. It was kinda just... there? I’m still not sure why it had to exist because the book didn’t need it. I’m not opposed to “heroine finds herself and what she really wants” stories because I do enjoy those books. But Anu’s epiphanies and desires jumped from plot thread to plot thread. By the end, I had no idea if she got what she was originally looking for. She was really unhappy for most of the book and decided to do new things: dating other guys, traveling, opening up a yoga studio (it was sooo financially irresponsible and she put zero thought into it. It just happened after she wandered into the place!).
Mild spoilers re: Anu's love life:
It’s possible that I'm not the best audience and YMMV. This just wasn't for me because I didn't think the romantic resolution was satisfactory. I'd recommend you read an excerpt to see where you stand.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The pacing and plot were all over the place. Unlike the blurb’s emphasis, the yoga place isn’t that important. It was kinda just... there? I’m still not sure why it had to exist because the book didn’t need it. I’m not opposed to “heroine finds herself and what she really wants” stories because I do enjoy those books. But Anu’s epiphanies and desires jumped from plot thread to plot thread. By the end, I had no idea if she got what she was originally looking for. She was really unhappy for most of the book and decided to do new things: dating other guys, traveling, opening up a yoga studio (it was sooo financially irresponsible and she put zero thought into it. It just happened after she wandered into the place!).
Mild spoilers re: Anu's love life:
It’s possible that I'm not the best audience and YMMV. This just wasn't for me because I didn't think the romantic resolution was satisfactory. I'd recommend you read an excerpt to see where you stand.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2020
I enjoyed Sonya Lalli’s first book, The Matchmaker’s List, and could not wait to read Grown-Up Pose.
Anu is in her thirties and is feeling the pressure to get married. She’s been married before, at a young age, due to the demands from her family and community. That marriage ended in divorce and Anu has a young daughter and her own yoga studio. Ahh, yoga!
Grown-Up Pose addresses some important issues, including finding oneself and juggling the demands of life, while also immersing the reader in an Indian American family. There were moments I heartily laughed (much needed!). Overall, Grown-Up Pose is a warmhearted, refreshing story, and this was a great time to read it!
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Anu is in her thirties and is feeling the pressure to get married. She’s been married before, at a young age, due to the demands from her family and community. That marriage ended in divorce and Anu has a young daughter and her own yoga studio. Ahh, yoga!
Grown-Up Pose addresses some important issues, including finding oneself and juggling the demands of life, while also immersing the reader in an Indian American family. There were moments I heartily laughed (much needed!). Overall, Grown-Up Pose is a warmhearted, refreshing story, and this was a great time to read it!
I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
April 16, 2020
Adulting is definitely overrated! Sonya Lalli has written a clever story full of heart and humor about the complexities of being an adult. Anu is in her 30s a wife, a mother, and a good daughter. But Anu isn’t sure this is what she wants, or that this is who she is. Was she so busy making everybody else happy and living up to cultural expectations that she forgot about herself? Then after she is tempted by another man at a work party, she begins to really question everything. What follows is a fun sometimes serious story about a woman who thought she was all grown up, trying to figure out what she wants to be when she finally really grows up.
This story was so relatable, I think we’ve all questioned our choices at one time or another. However I do have to say Anu was much more impetuous when it came to some decisions than I would be, especially for someone who seem to be so rigid when it came to the rules. There are some major life decisions that she came to rather quickly including separating from her husband and purchasing a yoga studio. Not going to lie the way she came about purchasing this yoga studio was bazaar at best. I did like the inclusion of yoga in the story, but I think it might have been less cluttered if the yoga storyline had not been included. What I really loved about the story and found very realistic was how Anu felt and acted after separating from her husband. I also really love the family dynamics both between her and her parents and her mother-in-law, especially when it came to cultural expectations. I also really liked her friends, but I have to admit I wish they were a little kinder to one another at times. I have some friends I am very sarcastic with, but it is also balanced out with kind words. All in all this was a very good story about figuring out what you really want out of life. Sweet, funny, emotional, with the perfect ending.
This book in emojis 🧘🏻♀️ 🍷 👩👧 💪🏻
*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
This story was so relatable, I think we’ve all questioned our choices at one time or another. However I do have to say Anu was much more impetuous when it came to some decisions than I would be, especially for someone who seem to be so rigid when it came to the rules. There are some major life decisions that she came to rather quickly including separating from her husband and purchasing a yoga studio. Not going to lie the way she came about purchasing this yoga studio was bazaar at best. I did like the inclusion of yoga in the story, but I think it might have been less cluttered if the yoga storyline had not been included. What I really loved about the story and found very realistic was how Anu felt and acted after separating from her husband. I also really love the family dynamics both between her and her parents and her mother-in-law, especially when it came to cultural expectations. I also really liked her friends, but I have to admit I wish they were a little kinder to one another at times. I have some friends I am very sarcastic with, but it is also balanced out with kind words. All in all this was a very good story about figuring out what you really want out of life. Sweet, funny, emotional, with the perfect ending.
This book in emojis 🧘🏻♀️ 🍷 👩👧 💪🏻
*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
April 19, 2020
After reading The Matchmaker’s List last year, Sonya Lalli became a must-read author for me. She writes these incredible contemporary fiction novels that explore the push and pull between tradition and modern life on Indian women. Her latest novel Grown-Up Pose is fresh, heart-warming, thought-provoking, and compulsively readable to the very last page.
I almost want to call this a coming of age book, but that would imply a main character in adolescence approaching adulthood. I think there needs to be a better genre to describe that transition from college through your early 30s. For many people (and our main character Anu), this is a period of time when our lives develop quickly and we don’t always get a chance to finish growing up.
Anu is an Indian woman living in Canada, and as the book opens she is nearly a year into a separation with her husband Neil, struggling to manage the co-parenting. Anu’s marriage happened the way good Indian marriages do—they met young (mere teenagers), courted, married young, and had a child. Anu has done everything right to be a good Indian daughter and wife. She does the cooking and cleaning, she became a nurse, and she does the bulk of the childcare duties.
Years into their marriage, Anu suddenly realizes how unhappy she is. She is in a job she isn’t passionate about, barely has any friends, and basically acts as a parent to both her daughter and her husband. Now during the separation, she has started dating someone new, but she’s not really getting the experiences she missed getting married so young.
On her journey to find herself, Anu finds herself purchasing a failing yoga studio, having some reckless nights out, and amidst all of the trial and errors, Anu may just come out of the other side finally able to be her best grown-up self.
One of the main themes of this book is the pressure put on Indian women, and really women in general, to be a certain type of person and make the right steps in life. In The Matchmaker’s List, we saw a woman who defied those early, now uncertain if she will be able to find the things she rejected as a young woman. In Grown-Up Pose, we see a woman who did everything she was supposed to and then a decade later she realizes she is going through the motions of a life she isn’t sure she wanted.
If we haven’t lived a little and made some mistakes, how can we ever know if we got the life we wanted?
A story full of ups and downs, laughs and heartfelt moments, and telling the story of a woman who was forced to grow up before she really lived.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.
I almost want to call this a coming of age book, but that would imply a main character in adolescence approaching adulthood. I think there needs to be a better genre to describe that transition from college through your early 30s. For many people (and our main character Anu), this is a period of time when our lives develop quickly and we don’t always get a chance to finish growing up.
Anu is an Indian woman living in Canada, and as the book opens she is nearly a year into a separation with her husband Neil, struggling to manage the co-parenting. Anu’s marriage happened the way good Indian marriages do—they met young (mere teenagers), courted, married young, and had a child. Anu has done everything right to be a good Indian daughter and wife. She does the cooking and cleaning, she became a nurse, and she does the bulk of the childcare duties.
Years into their marriage, Anu suddenly realizes how unhappy she is. She is in a job she isn’t passionate about, barely has any friends, and basically acts as a parent to both her daughter and her husband. Now during the separation, she has started dating someone new, but she’s not really getting the experiences she missed getting married so young.
On her journey to find herself, Anu finds herself purchasing a failing yoga studio, having some reckless nights out, and amidst all of the trial and errors, Anu may just come out of the other side finally able to be her best grown-up self.
One of the main themes of this book is the pressure put on Indian women, and really women in general, to be a certain type of person and make the right steps in life. In The Matchmaker’s List, we saw a woman who defied those early, now uncertain if she will be able to find the things she rejected as a young woman. In Grown-Up Pose, we see a woman who did everything she was supposed to and then a decade later she realizes she is going through the motions of a life she isn’t sure she wanted.
If we haven’t lived a little and made some mistakes, how can we ever know if we got the life we wanted?
A story full of ups and downs, laughs and heartfelt moments, and telling the story of a woman who was forced to grow up before she really lived.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.
March 26, 2020
I received an ARC from Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.
I love Sonya Lalli's books but if you didn't like The Matchmaker's List, this book might not be for you as it features similar themes and characters. Our main heroine is a mess despite her being a "grown-up" with a mortgage, a child, and a husband she takes very good care of. She has lost direction in what she wants to do, what she wants, and questions whether or not she missed out by only dating and marrying her husband. This book is about someone who makes mistakes, makes them again, and again, and again until she finally realizes maybe she should stop beating herself up and just learn from mistakes.
I totally get why this is a conflicting novel. It deals with frustrating situations and you're constantly bashing yourself on the head and asking why would you ever think that would be a plausible thing to do?! But it was still good to me. I trusted the novel to take me on this journey. I sympathized with our character who needed some space to figure it out and come out of the cloud she was stuck in.
Side note: I did not like her best friend, Jenny, and her other Yoga friend that I forgot the name of. They're snarky, rude, and wrong whenever they preached to Anu. I thought Anu would stand up for herself towards the end but nope, she believed in their words and blamed herself. Awful. Hated that part.
I also took a star off because the ending was a mess???? It just seemed like a last minute attempt at creating angst and making readers believe a happily ever after was not possible.
Overall, I still recommend this book!!
I love Sonya Lalli's books but if you didn't like The Matchmaker's List, this book might not be for you as it features similar themes and characters. Our main heroine is a mess despite her being a "grown-up" with a mortgage, a child, and a husband she takes very good care of. She has lost direction in what she wants to do, what she wants, and questions whether or not she missed out by only dating and marrying her husband. This book is about someone who makes mistakes, makes them again, and again, and again until she finally realizes maybe she should stop beating herself up and just learn from mistakes.
I totally get why this is a conflicting novel. It deals with frustrating situations and you're constantly bashing yourself on the head and asking why would you ever think that would be a plausible thing to do?! But it was still good to me. I trusted the novel to take me on this journey. I sympathized with our character who needed some space to figure it out and come out of the cloud she was stuck in.
Side note: I did not like her best friend, Jenny, and her other Yoga friend that I forgot the name of. They're snarky, rude, and wrong whenever they preached to Anu. I thought Anu would stand up for herself towards the end but nope, she believed in their words and blamed herself. Awful. Hated that part.
I also took a star off because the ending was a mess???? It just seemed like a last minute attempt at creating angst and making readers believe a happily ever after was not possible.
Overall, I still recommend this book!!
May 8, 2020
Rep: Punjabi mc & side characters
i have THOUGHTS
* i know it was supposed to be about a woman doing things for herself after a marriage where she feels like she's lost herself, but she goes so far in the other direction, and becomes so selfish, i couldn't like her at all
* what did neil do in the marriage that she didn't do herself as well? like both were behind it stagnating, but she was the one to hurt neil so why is she upset when he's (rightfully) upset with her
* the whole part where she literally says her daughter isn't enough for her and then goes and abandons her like? this is supposed to make me like her how???
* why would you make a 30 year old woman snog an 18 year old, why is this a choice you have made
* there's no real development on page of their second chance at romance, it's less that and more they try date other people and realise they gave up on their marriage prematurely, which wouldn't be so bad, but they still don't share the scenes which show them developing so they don't end up in the same place again
* the whole thing could have been solved if they had just talked to each other and that's the most annoying thing
i have THOUGHTS
* i know it was supposed to be about a woman doing things for herself after a marriage where she feels like she's lost herself, but she goes so far in the other direction, and becomes so selfish, i couldn't like her at all
* what did neil do in the marriage that she didn't do herself as well? like both were behind it stagnating, but she was the one to hurt neil so why is she upset when he's (rightfully) upset with her
* the whole part where she literally says her daughter isn't enough for her and then goes and abandons her like? this is supposed to make me like her how???
* why would you make a 30 year old woman snog an 18 year old, why is this a choice you have made
* there's no real development on page of their second chance at romance, it's less that and more they try date other people and realise they gave up on their marriage prematurely, which wouldn't be so bad, but they still don't share the scenes which show them developing so they don't end up in the same place again
* the whole thing could have been solved if they had just talked to each other and that's the most annoying thing
April 1, 2020
Song/s the book brought to mind: Hey Girl by Lady Gaga and Florence Welch
Grown-Up Pose by Sonya Lalli is such a fun book! I loved learning more about Indian culture and I could definitely see this as a movie.
I never did read The Matchmaker's List even though I own it, but I am going to be changing that shortly. Grown-Up Pose was https://www.thebookdrop.com/ Books For Bubbly selection for April and since I subscribe to it that's how I found out about this book. I excepted this to be a lighter read, and it was, but it was also on the serious side as well.
I loved Anu, and especially how flawed the characters are. This really spoke to me and made it more realistic. I may not be a mother, but I did understand her want to follow her dreams, the mistakes along the way, and being a wife to someone that at times drives you crazy. I think her marriage was relatable, although her friendships were a little odd to me since they were so mean to each other. I do appreciate sarcasm though and there was plenty of that!
I think there are plenty of things that are very relatable in Grown-Up Pose, and I was definitely able to connect with Anu and some of the pressures she felt. This book basically tells you it is ok to make mistakes and be a bit messy along the way and I really loved that. If you want something that is quick, heartfelt, and funny then I highly recommend reading Grown-Up Pose!
Grown-Up Pose by Sonya Lalli is such a fun book! I loved learning more about Indian culture and I could definitely see this as a movie.
I never did read The Matchmaker's List even though I own it, but I am going to be changing that shortly. Grown-Up Pose was https://www.thebookdrop.com/ Books For Bubbly selection for April and since I subscribe to it that's how I found out about this book. I excepted this to be a lighter read, and it was, but it was also on the serious side as well.
I loved Anu, and especially how flawed the characters are. This really spoke to me and made it more realistic. I may not be a mother, but I did understand her want to follow her dreams, the mistakes along the way, and being a wife to someone that at times drives you crazy. I think her marriage was relatable, although her friendships were a little odd to me since they were so mean to each other. I do appreciate sarcasm though and there was plenty of that!
I think there are plenty of things that are very relatable in Grown-Up Pose, and I was definitely able to connect with Anu and some of the pressures she felt. This book basically tells you it is ok to make mistakes and be a bit messy along the way and I really loved that. If you want something that is quick, heartfelt, and funny then I highly recommend reading Grown-Up Pose!
March 25, 2020
Anusha has always been the good Indian wife and daughter, never questioning her family’s demands or asking herself what she wants from her own life. But when she is tempted to kiss a coworker one night, she realizes she can’t stop ignoring her own unhappiness. She decides then and there to start following her heart, even if it leads her away from the comfortable life she’s created for herself.
MY THOUGHTS
Don’t let the cartoony cover fool you… This is actually a surprisingly serious (but hopeful) story about a woman trying to redefine herself after years of marriage and parenting have left her worn out, dissatisfied, and lost. The story line isn’t perfect; in fact, it’s downright clunky more times than it should be. Part of the problem is there are SO many issues packed in here: separation, divorce, friendship drama, dating after separation, one-night stands, travel abroad, small business issues, parenting woes, fights with parents, fights with in-laws, mental illness, and drug overdose. Did I get everything? Yeesh. It’s a lot, and it’s hard to cover all that without making the book feel like it’s jumping all over the place.
The other part of the problem is that it’s basically impossible to explore so many relationship dynamics at once and still do each one justice. Anusha’s relationship with her husband is mostly believable, but the ending is a little hard to accept. Her friendships struck me as odd, too, mostly because she and her girlfriends are SO mean to each other. Lots of catty comments between alleged besties means the relationships didn’t always ring true.
Still, I’m giving this book four stars because I relate to Anusha as a wife and mother, and I understand and appreciate her struggle to find balance, to find herself. I also like that this book focuses on an Indian family. It adds some diversity to my otherwise often humdrum reading lineup, and I enjoyed taking a peek into a different culture. Maybe I’m not supposed to boost my star rating for that, but I did.
Ultimately, this is a fast-moving and thoughtful look at one woman’s struggle to “be herself” while meeting the needs of so many other people in her life. I enjoyed it.
Big thank you to Net Galley and Berkley for the ARC! See more of my reviews at www.bugbugbooks.com.
MY THOUGHTS
Don’t let the cartoony cover fool you… This is actually a surprisingly serious (but hopeful) story about a woman trying to redefine herself after years of marriage and parenting have left her worn out, dissatisfied, and lost. The story line isn’t perfect; in fact, it’s downright clunky more times than it should be. Part of the problem is there are SO many issues packed in here: separation, divorce, friendship drama, dating after separation, one-night stands, travel abroad, small business issues, parenting woes, fights with parents, fights with in-laws, mental illness, and drug overdose. Did I get everything? Yeesh. It’s a lot, and it’s hard to cover all that without making the book feel like it’s jumping all over the place.
The other part of the problem is that it’s basically impossible to explore so many relationship dynamics at once and still do each one justice. Anusha’s relationship with her husband is mostly believable, but the ending is a little hard to accept. Her friendships struck me as odd, too, mostly because she and her girlfriends are SO mean to each other. Lots of catty comments between alleged besties means the relationships didn’t always ring true.
Still, I’m giving this book four stars because I relate to Anusha as a wife and mother, and I understand and appreciate her struggle to find balance, to find herself. I also like that this book focuses on an Indian family. It adds some diversity to my otherwise often humdrum reading lineup, and I enjoyed taking a peek into a different culture. Maybe I’m not supposed to boost my star rating for that, but I did.
Ultimately, this is a fast-moving and thoughtful look at one woman’s struggle to “be herself” while meeting the needs of so many other people in her life. I enjoyed it.
Big thank you to Net Galley and Berkley for the ARC! See more of my reviews at www.bugbugbooks.com.
October 5, 2019
It's a yikes from me.
July 27, 2020
3.5 stars - It was really good.
An enjoyable romance where the heroine has other important things in her life to figure out, so the plot is not solely focused on love interests. The characters were well fleshed out and I enjoyed watching the heroine find herself, albeit belatedly.
-------------------------------------------
First Sentence: Anu Desai tied her hair back with the elastic around her wrist and broke into a jog as she turned into the back alley.
Favorite Quote: In India, we have a saying. Loosely translated, it means...when you put gold in the fire, it shines. It’s hot, and it burns, but that is life’s experiences…. They will make you shine.
An enjoyable romance where the heroine has other important things in her life to figure out, so the plot is not solely focused on love interests. The characters were well fleshed out and I enjoyed watching the heroine find herself, albeit belatedly.
-------------------------------------------
First Sentence: Anu Desai tied her hair back with the elastic around her wrist and broke into a jog as she turned into the back alley.
Favorite Quote: In India, we have a saying. Loosely translated, it means...when you put gold in the fire, it shines. It’s hot, and it burns, but that is life’s experiences…. They will make you shine.
July 12, 2022
book, you is bad
March 27, 2020
When differing cultural practices collide
Traditional life expectations run into conflict for Anu Desai. A good girl who followed her family's strictures, and married the first serious boyfriend she had. The problem is that now she feels trapped. In effect she's painted herself into a corner and is kept there by her own and others expectations. Throughout this navel gazing Anu and her husband are growing away from each other. You could feel Anu's to some extent, self imposed cultural standards resulting from her traditional upbringing, causing her inner dissatisfaction.
So here she is with a husband, a young daughter and doting, traditional parents, reclaiming her friendships, and making a run for it.
Anu forges ahead, aided by her girlfriends, to claim her freedom and of course finding disappointment on the relationship level. There's a rather funny scene when she discovers her new interest wining and dining someone else. I applauded.
Her decision to follow her heart and buy a yoga studio comes with some interesting twists. Making it pay becomes even more complicated. Taking up the role of single parent comes with unforeseen complications and angst.
Coming full circle this is an interesting take on a coming of age novel when you're supposedly well beyond that time.
Not as satisfying a read as I'd hoped, but some interesting moments and cultural disconnects.
A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley
Traditional life expectations run into conflict for Anu Desai. A good girl who followed her family's strictures, and married the first serious boyfriend she had. The problem is that now she feels trapped. In effect she's painted herself into a corner and is kept there by her own and others expectations. Throughout this navel gazing Anu and her husband are growing away from each other. You could feel Anu's to some extent, self imposed cultural standards resulting from her traditional upbringing, causing her inner dissatisfaction.
So here she is with a husband, a young daughter and doting, traditional parents, reclaiming her friendships, and making a run for it.
Anu forges ahead, aided by her girlfriends, to claim her freedom and of course finding disappointment on the relationship level. There's a rather funny scene when she discovers her new interest wining and dining someone else. I applauded.
Her decision to follow her heart and buy a yoga studio comes with some interesting twists. Making it pay becomes even more complicated. Taking up the role of single parent comes with unforeseen complications and angst.
Coming full circle this is an interesting take on a coming of age novel when you're supposedly well beyond that time.
Not as satisfying a read as I'd hoped, but some interesting moments and cultural disconnects.
A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley
April 4, 2020
3.5 Stars
Review to come!
Review to come!
November 20, 2019
Grown-up Pose was a highly enjoyable novel that I would recommend to anyone who likes a good story, endearing narrator, and well-paced plotline. The story will be relatable to many who hit 30 and find themselves questioning the path they’ve chosen so far. This book is really about finding oneself and living an authentic life rather than making choices based on external expectations. However, that theme is explored in an accessible and enjoyable way - unlike some writers who feel the need to dramatize and catastrophize this kind of existential “crisis”, Lalli allows her protagonist (and her readers) to process these issues through a light-hearted, compassionate and often laugh-out-loud story. The book explores the protagonist’s relationships with friends and family, and these relationships are well-developed and compelling, but the most interesting is her relationship with herself. The yoga studio plotline is a vehicle for exploring that relationship and about learning how to centre oneself. This book is a page turner that had me hooked right from the start until the very end, and I highly recommend it.
November 6, 2019
It was a good read.
January 18, 2022
DNFing at 70%. I wanted to like this book so much, but I just didn’t. 😢 It was kind of cringey and unrealistic.
July 30, 2020
Really 3.5 stars. Ok! I can understand a lot of the opposing opinions of this book.
First off, Anusha and Neil. Yes, young sweethearts that got married young and ‘did the right thing’. They were both immature and this happens a lot in young cultural marriages. Many become stunted in their individual growth due to family pressures and demand. I liked that they both had to grow individually and separate.
Now, one of the jarring (in my mind) concepts was of the whole book and the characters themselves are calling their parents by their first name constantly. Almost no Indian child/ grown adult would do that (I understand the need since we have all three parents deeply in the story).
This book touches upon the Indian societal taboos of ‘what will people say’. 👍🏽
I liked how as Anusha at the end grew she came to understand her mom a bit more.
It was nice to seen Neil grow the f** up! And that Neil and Anusha came together again as individuals that are sensitive to the others needs. Instead of just Adding back the husband man child some men fall into.
So yea..... 🙃🙃
First off, Anusha and Neil. Yes, young sweethearts that got married young and ‘did the right thing’. They were both immature and this happens a lot in young cultural marriages. Many become stunted in their individual growth due to family pressures and demand. I liked that they both had to grow individually and separate.
Now, one of the jarring (in my mind) concepts was of the whole book and the characters themselves are calling their parents by their first name constantly. Almost no Indian child/ grown adult would do that (I understand the need since we have all three parents deeply in the story).
This book touches upon the Indian societal taboos of ‘what will people say’. 👍🏽
I liked how as Anusha at the end grew she came to understand her mom a bit more.
It was nice to seen Neil grow the f** up! And that Neil and Anusha came together again as individuals that are sensitive to the others needs. Instead of just Adding back the husband man child some men fall into.
So yea..... 🙃🙃
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2020
Damn. Maye it’s the quarantine, but this book was fantastic. It really took me back to a time where I could leave the house. Do you guys remember that? Traveling outside of one’s home/neighborhood/city/country? Wild. But forreal, there was a lot of travel and large group gatherings, which is nice. A lot of books have solitary characters who think a lot, which is often interesting, but not during a quarantine.
This book tackles serious topics like immigration, trauma, racism, cultural appropriation, adult relationships, accountability, etc. The book is funny, dramatic, emotional, and real. Sonya Lalli shows off her sharp wit and intelligence with her descriptions of gross hipster yoga studios and nightclub life.
Lalli, explores what happens when the good Indian girl (Anu) listens to her family who tells her:
“Yoga is a hobby, Anu, not a passion.”
“What kind of wife and mother teaches yoga?”
Anu realizes that her identity revolves around her husband, steady job, and a kid. So she leaves her husband and finally explores who she is. Chaos and self-discovery ensues.
Lalli is a writer coming out of Berkely Books that explores established relationships and how they function. This new wave that explores the highs and lows of relationships and how to balance your own autonomy.
This book tackles serious topics like immigration, trauma, racism, cultural appropriation, adult relationships, accountability, etc. The book is funny, dramatic, emotional, and real. Sonya Lalli shows off her sharp wit and intelligence with her descriptions of gross hipster yoga studios and nightclub life.
Lalli, explores what happens when the good Indian girl (Anu) listens to her family who tells her:
“Yoga is a hobby, Anu, not a passion.”
“What kind of wife and mother teaches yoga?”
Anu realizes that her identity revolves around her husband, steady job, and a kid. So she leaves her husband and finally explores who she is. Chaos and self-discovery ensues.
Lalli is a writer coming out of Berkely Books that explores established relationships and how they function. This new wave that explores the highs and lows of relationships and how to balance your own autonomy.
November 10, 2019
Overall reaction: Promising presence, less than stellar execution.
While this book isn't necessarily bad, the story does have a lack of focus. There are so many side characters that don't get enough development and end up coming off one dimensional; the reader is told how many of these characters are supposed to be, but there's a lack of on page support of this characterization (the best example being Anu's parents, who never come off as pressuring as they're made out to be). The plot also has a lack of direction with a number of semi-related side plots, making the ending unsatisfactory as the story lines were never really fleshed out. The book should've either been 100 pages longer to give everything the development it deserved, or cut some of the extraneous story lines and characters (specifically Imogen and the yoga studio plot line).
I think my biggest issue, however, is that the marketing of this book is very misleading. I went into this thinking it'd be about a woman purchasing and running a yoga studio when in actuality you could've removed that plot line and it hardly would've affected the main plot of the book. It's much more accurate to say it follows a woman trying to find herself and navigating being single for the first time as an adult.
While this book isn't necessarily bad, the story does have a lack of focus. There are so many side characters that don't get enough development and end up coming off one dimensional; the reader is told how many of these characters are supposed to be, but there's a lack of on page support of this characterization (the best example being Anu's parents, who never come off as pressuring as they're made out to be). The plot also has a lack of direction with a number of semi-related side plots, making the ending unsatisfactory as the story lines were never really fleshed out. The book should've either been 100 pages longer to give everything the development it deserved, or cut some of the extraneous story lines and characters (specifically Imogen and the yoga studio plot line).
I think my biggest issue, however, is that the marketing of this book is very misleading. I went into this thinking it'd be about a woman purchasing and running a yoga studio when in actuality you could've removed that plot line and it hardly would've affected the main plot of the book. It's much more accurate to say it follows a woman trying to find herself and navigating being single for the first time as an adult.
January 5, 2020
This book wasn’t the worst read and definitely isn’t a bad choice if you want something a little bit on the fluffier side, but it’s definitely got some issues with the amount of content in the book. I’ll keep it spoiler free since I got an ARC but there was too many side characters that felt underdeveloped/didn’t get enough time. The author should have added a few more chapters, or merged/cut a few characters so they didn’t feel so rushed and neglected.
I also think this book was marketed a bit oddly as her founding her yoga studio is honestly more secondary to Anu’s interpersonal relationships with her friends and family. It’s more of a backdrop for her to have interactions that could have happened truly anyplace else with roughly the same emotional impact.
Overall this wasn’t bad, and it’s probably worth a read if you like fluffy romance with just a bit of substance, but it does have some fairly obvious pacing/character issues. Grab it for some light escapism and a mostly feel-good plot but don’t set any crazy high expectations for its overall quality.
I also think this book was marketed a bit oddly as her founding her yoga studio is honestly more secondary to Anu’s interpersonal relationships with her friends and family. It’s more of a backdrop for her to have interactions that could have happened truly anyplace else with roughly the same emotional impact.
Overall this wasn’t bad, and it’s probably worth a read if you like fluffy romance with just a bit of substance, but it does have some fairly obvious pacing/character issues. Grab it for some light escapism and a mostly feel-good plot but don’t set any crazy high expectations for its overall quality.
March 31, 2020
The blurb for this book is very misleading - the yoga studio is a side plot at best, and Anu is a flake and a dilettante. She buys a business without doing any financial planning, then immediately leaves the country on a whim, leaving her 5 year old behind without explaining or telling her when she'll be back. Sure, she feels bad about it later on, but seriously, wtf?
She had legitimate grievances with her husband, but she never actually seems to have an adult conversation with him about what's bothering her. For that matter, she never has an adult conversation with anyone, as far as I can see, nor does she ever seem to do any actual *planning* - she just moves from whim to whim, without any thought for the long term. I was sympathetic with her at the start, but she just makes one bad choice after another, without really ever thinking about her daughter, and I dnf'd about 2/3 of the way through.
She had legitimate grievances with her husband, but she never actually seems to have an adult conversation with him about what's bothering her. For that matter, she never has an adult conversation with anyone, as far as I can see, nor does she ever seem to do any actual *planning* - she just moves from whim to whim, without any thought for the long term. I was sympathetic with her at the start, but she just makes one bad choice after another, without really ever thinking about her daughter, and I dnf'd about 2/3 of the way through.
June 13, 2020
ANOTHER crap book by this useless author (who is btw, a pretty terrible writer). At the core of this book is another white washed brown woman who generally rejects the Indian culture because of some toxic people. In this case, the protagonist is an irresponsible woman who randomly buys a yoga studio, separates from her husband, and goes on a London trip (LEAVING behind her young daughter) to “find herself” by having a random one night stand. None of this is inherently an issue (Anu’s husband is a useless man WHO KEEPS FORGETTING TO SHUT THE FRONT DOOR OF THE HOUSE - EVEN IN THE WINTER <— WTF?!), but the author’s abysmal writing skills leave the reader thoroughly disliking Anu and the other characters in the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2019
Really enjoyable book! I got swept up in Anu’s journey as she figured out who she was and what she wanted, and the conclusion was heartwarming and gave me all the feels. Highly recommend.
June 13, 2020
3.5 STARS - From the outside, it appears that Anu Desai is living the sweet life. But things are not always as they seem.
I loved Lalli's The Matchmaker's List last year so I couldn't wait to get my hands on Grown-Up Pose, a story about a woman's journey to self-discovery despite her many roles: as a wife, mother, daughter, friend and professional. I went into this story expecting a 'romance with a side of yoga' focus but instead got a contemporary fiction read that gave me a lot to think about.
Anu is a woman who has always been the 'good girl'; following the rules and putting others' needs before her own. Readers will sympathize with her as she finds herself unfulfilled, unhappy and in a life she's not sure she wants. So, she decides to take control of her life. As with The Matchmaker's List, I enjoyed how Lalli includes aspects of Indian culture and shows the struggle to balance cultural traditions and expectations within a changing, contemporary world. But I struggled to sympathize with Anu and a few of her compulsive and cringeworthy decisions. It was a hard go for a bit but thankfully, I found aspects of her character to connect with to get me through the rocky bits.
This was a sweet read that covers a lot of issues and will give readers food for thought but perhaps needed a bit more depth and could have benefited from smoother transitions between the often-changing time frames. But what surprised me about this book was that I didn't love the ending. Wha?! It was all happily ever after and a bag of chips kind of happiness but I reeeeally wanted Anu to end up with someone else. I didn't see that ending coming … and maybe that was the point. Hmm.
Overall, this is a lighthearted story with great diversity and a good message: just because you have many roles (mother, wife, daughter) and responsibilities does not mean you forfeit your dreams and individual identity. A message many people can take to heart.
I loved Lalli's The Matchmaker's List last year so I couldn't wait to get my hands on Grown-Up Pose, a story about a woman's journey to self-discovery despite her many roles: as a wife, mother, daughter, friend and professional. I went into this story expecting a 'romance with a side of yoga' focus but instead got a contemporary fiction read that gave me a lot to think about.
Anu is a woman who has always been the 'good girl'; following the rules and putting others' needs before her own. Readers will sympathize with her as she finds herself unfulfilled, unhappy and in a life she's not sure she wants. So, she decides to take control of her life. As with The Matchmaker's List, I enjoyed how Lalli includes aspects of Indian culture and shows the struggle to balance cultural traditions and expectations within a changing, contemporary world. But I struggled to sympathize with Anu and a few of her compulsive and cringeworthy decisions. It was a hard go for a bit but thankfully, I found aspects of her character to connect with to get me through the rocky bits.
This was a sweet read that covers a lot of issues and will give readers food for thought but perhaps needed a bit more depth and could have benefited from smoother transitions between the often-changing time frames. But what surprised me about this book was that I didn't love the ending. Wha?! It was all happily ever after and a bag of chips kind of happiness but I reeeeally wanted Anu to end up with someone else. I didn't see that ending coming … and maybe that was the point. Hmm.
Overall, this is a lighthearted story with great diversity and a good message: just because you have many roles (mother, wife, daughter) and responsibilities does not mean you forfeit your dreams and individual identity. A message many people can take to heart.
May 4, 2020
Kind of sweet and heartwarming, even while its main character made several questionable decisions as she spends a year after separating from her husband of twelve years trying to figure out who she is and what's important to her. I loved Anu's parents (despite their hovering constantly) and the place Anu and her mother Lakshmi end up by the end of the book.
May 20, 2020
Enjoyed the last book by Lalli so picked this one up thinking it would be a light read. However, this book is painful to read. Anu, a thirty something married mother of a child, needs to find herself and proceeds to walk out on her husband and indulges in a series of rash one night stands and affairs. While the route of self discovery is a noble one, the writing is utter chaos and Lalli goes back and forth in time without any structure. I finished this book since I had nothing else to read and libraries are closed due to the virus. Would not recommend this book, go out and take a walk instead
Want to read
December 20, 2019- desi rep
- tradition vs modernity
- diverse women
- tradition vs modernity
- diverse women
July 7, 2021
Anu was an emotional roller coaster. My goodness lol.
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