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Keya Das's Second Act
A poignant, heartwarming, and charmingly funny debut novel about how a discovered box in the attic leads one Bengali American family down a path toward understanding the importance of family, even when splintered.
Shantanu Das is living in the shadows of his past. In his fifties, he finds himself isolated from his traditional Bengali community after a devastating divorce from his wife, Chaitali; he hasn’t spoken to his eldest daughter Mitali in months; and most painfully, he lives each day with the regret that he didn’t accept his teenaged daughter Keya after she came out as gay. As the anniversary of Keya’s death approaches, Shantanu wakes up one morning utterly alone in his suburban New Jersey home and realizes it’s finally time to move on.
This is when Shantanu discovers a tucked-away box in the attic that could change everything. He calls Mitali and pleads with her to come home. She does so out of pity, not realizing that her life is about to shift.
Inside the box is an unfinished manuscript that Keya and her girlfriend were writing. It’s a surprising discovery that brings Keya to life briefly. But Neesh Desai, a new love interest for Mitali with regrets of his own, comes up with a wild idea, one that would give Keya more what if they are to stage the play? It could be an homage to Keya’s memory, and a way to make amends. But first, the Dases need to convince Pamela Moore, Keya’s girlfriend, to give her blessing. And they have to overcome ghosts from the past they haven’t met yet.
A story of redemption and righting the wrongs of the past, Keya Das’s Second Act is a warmly drawn homage to family, creativity, and second chances. Set in the vibrant world of Bengalis in the New Jersey suburbs, this debut novel is both poignant and, at times, a surprising hilarious testament to the unexpected ways we build family and find love, old and new.
Shantanu Das is living in the shadows of his past. In his fifties, he finds himself isolated from his traditional Bengali community after a devastating divorce from his wife, Chaitali; he hasn’t spoken to his eldest daughter Mitali in months; and most painfully, he lives each day with the regret that he didn’t accept his teenaged daughter Keya after she came out as gay. As the anniversary of Keya’s death approaches, Shantanu wakes up one morning utterly alone in his suburban New Jersey home and realizes it’s finally time to move on.
This is when Shantanu discovers a tucked-away box in the attic that could change everything. He calls Mitali and pleads with her to come home. She does so out of pity, not realizing that her life is about to shift.
Inside the box is an unfinished manuscript that Keya and her girlfriend were writing. It’s a surprising discovery that brings Keya to life briefly. But Neesh Desai, a new love interest for Mitali with regrets of his own, comes up with a wild idea, one that would give Keya more what if they are to stage the play? It could be an homage to Keya’s memory, and a way to make amends. But first, the Dases need to convince Pamela Moore, Keya’s girlfriend, to give her blessing. And they have to overcome ghosts from the past they haven’t met yet.
A story of redemption and righting the wrongs of the past, Keya Das’s Second Act is a warmly drawn homage to family, creativity, and second chances. Set in the vibrant world of Bengalis in the New Jersey suburbs, this debut novel is both poignant and, at times, a surprising hilarious testament to the unexpected ways we build family and find love, old and new.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published July 5, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 305 reviews
August 30, 2022
There is more to “Keya Das’s Second Act” than a simple domestic story of redemption and forgiveness. Author Sopan Deb brings the reader into the Bengali community and culture with his story of a family shattered by trauma, guilt, and grief.
Keya is the daughter of Shantanu and Chaitali, and sister to Mitali. Shortly after teenage Keya came out as gay to her family, she died in a tragic accident. Five years later, Shantanu and Chaitali are divorced and Chaitali has remarried. Mitali is estranged from Chaitali. Everyone is miserable.
Shantanu finds an unfinished manuscript that Keya and her girlfriend wrote about being gay and coming out. The basic plot of the novel follows the family coming to terms with how they handled that defining moment, and how they are trying to redeem themselves.
For me the beauty of the story is how stealthily Deb gains the reader’s empathy for all the main characters. The plot is not that clever, yet I became obsessed with the story. Deb adds a character, Mitali’s boyfriend, who at first seems to be a distraction, but ultimately becomes a significant character furthering the theme of acceptance and compassion. He made me shed a tear, and that’s rare!
I enjoyed it. There is subtle humor sprinkled in the first 2/3 of the book and then laugh-out-loud moments in the last third. Learning about the Bengali culture was a definite bonus. It’s a solid read.
Keya is the daughter of Shantanu and Chaitali, and sister to Mitali. Shortly after teenage Keya came out as gay to her family, she died in a tragic accident. Five years later, Shantanu and Chaitali are divorced and Chaitali has remarried. Mitali is estranged from Chaitali. Everyone is miserable.
Shantanu finds an unfinished manuscript that Keya and her girlfriend wrote about being gay and coming out. The basic plot of the novel follows the family coming to terms with how they handled that defining moment, and how they are trying to redeem themselves.
For me the beauty of the story is how stealthily Deb gains the reader’s empathy for all the main characters. The plot is not that clever, yet I became obsessed with the story. Deb adds a character, Mitali’s boyfriend, who at first seems to be a distraction, but ultimately becomes a significant character furthering the theme of acceptance and compassion. He made me shed a tear, and that’s rare!
I enjoyed it. There is subtle humor sprinkled in the first 2/3 of the book and then laugh-out-loud moments in the last third. Learning about the Bengali culture was a definite bonus. It’s a solid read.
May 14, 2022
This debut novel tackles the difficult situation of the death of a young woman after she comes out as gay to her family. The reader never meets Keya. She is already dead when the story begins. We see her in memories of her sister, father, mother and grandmother. We read the draft of a play she was writing.
The story is warm and moving. I loved these characters, who all too late regret the way they handled her announcement. As the father says to his therapist “I always thought I was open-minded. And then when something different came to my doorstep—-.” The family has fallen apart. The parents are divorced, the eldest daughter is estranged from her father. When her father finds a box with some love notes and the play, he attempts a reconciliation with his remaining daughter. Her new boyfriend, who has had a traumatic past of his own, suggests finishing and staging the play.
The story made me laugh and cry. It tells of taking chances, of redemption, of forgiving (ourselves and others). According to the author, it’s based on a true story, which makes it all the more poignant. I was glued to the story, wanting to see how it would end (and what ending Pamela would come up with for the play). And surprisingly, I felt the ending was perfect.
One small quibble. The author uses a lot of Bengali words without ever defining them and it wasn’t always apparent what they meant.
My thanks to Netgalley and Simon Schuster for an advance copy of this book.
The story is warm and moving. I loved these characters, who all too late regret the way they handled her announcement. As the father says to his therapist “I always thought I was open-minded. And then when something different came to my doorstep—-.” The family has fallen apart. The parents are divorced, the eldest daughter is estranged from her father. When her father finds a box with some love notes and the play, he attempts a reconciliation with his remaining daughter. Her new boyfriend, who has had a traumatic past of his own, suggests finishing and staging the play.
The story made me laugh and cry. It tells of taking chances, of redemption, of forgiving (ourselves and others). According to the author, it’s based on a true story, which makes it all the more poignant. I was glued to the story, wanting to see how it would end (and what ending Pamela would come up with for the play). And surprisingly, I felt the ending was perfect.
One small quibble. The author uses a lot of Bengali words without ever defining them and it wasn’t always apparent what they meant.
My thanks to Netgalley and Simon Schuster for an advance copy of this book.
July 5, 2022
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Sopan Deb for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 7.5!**
If this novel was a Friends episode, it would be called "The One Where Keya Doesn't Quite Get Her Due"
Keya Das's family is reeling, for a few reasons: they are Bengali, and Keya came out to them, leaving the family speechless. Before they could wrap their heads around this reality, Keya's gone, in a flash...for good. A tragic car accident takes her life, leaving the family grief stricken and their bond shattered. Shantanu has divorced from wife Chaitali, and their older daughter Mitali has moved forward with her own life, looking for love and happiness of her own.
A chance finding in the attic sparks Shantanu to revisit his emotions and try to draw his family close once more: Keya and her then girlfriend, Pamela, have written a play: more specifically, a play about the experience of coming out. Shantanu is no actor and not quite a thespian by any stretch, but luckily for him, daughter Mitali's new squeeze has some connections to the Broadway world and thinks the family can raise enough money to actually PRODUCE and put on the play, as an homage to what SHOULD have been.
Of course, this sounds simple enough to seasoned professionals, but to a family toting around back-breaking emotional baggage, Shantanu starts to wonder if this dream can TRULY become a reality. And more importantly, is Pamela even open to sharing such raw and emotional thoughts about her relationship with the world at large? Can Keya's family transform a haunting and harrowing memory into an opportunity to show her the love she so sorely deserved?
Sopan Deb is a sportswriter (something I didn't know until finishing this book) and honestly, it makes a lot of sense. I am very much the outlier in my opinion, but I did not connect with these characters whatsoever. For a book that was supposed to be "in honor" of Keya, we don't get to hear a thing from her. I understand her death is part of the story, but in order to have SOME emotional component that got me from A to B, it would have been very easy to have more solid flashbacks. There were small ones here and there, but they were caught in-between other sections almost randomly, and I felt the narrative lacked structure.
And then there's the dialogue: Oof. So many of the 'jokes' these characters tell were just...not funny. For instance, a character is referred to as "Daddy Dilbert" and we are supposed to find that hilarious.
...Other than the comic strip, I don't think I've ever found anything containing the word "Dilbert" to be hilarious.
This novel deals with some heavy topics, so I don't expect a laugh a minute experience by ANY means, but even during Shantanu's time attempting improv comedy (YIKES) I don't think I recorded a single laugh or even a smile. I figured this dynamic would help to balance out the sad subject matter, but I honestly didn't find it too sad either. The circumstances were, for sure, but nothing about Deb's writing was emotive for me. Most of the characters only seemed to care about Keya in reference to their own guilt, so it was hard to empathize with their situation.
Deb also intersperses this novel with LOTS of Bengali words...a trend that I seem to be finding in so many novels lately. Almost every time, no context is present, so you're left to guess or stop and look up a word (again) and hope the translation is close to what the author intended. I don't expect a glossary every time a word is unfamiliar, but context at least would be helpful. This didn't ruin the reading experience as it wasn't AS disruptive as it had been in other recent reads, but I still was a bit unclear on certain words after Googling, so that was a bit off-putting.
For a book that claims to be about a second act...don't expect a third. After all our characters go through, there isn't a clear ending and the book just sort of stops after lots of buildup. The second half was more engaging than the first half, but that stung all the more when I didn't get to find out what happened to any of these family members. I don't mind 'writing my own ending' in many cases, but in a book like this, some resolution (since ostensibly the WHOLE BOOK was supposed to be resolution) would have been wonderful.
As much as I wanted to give this one a standing ovation for its inspiration (from true life events!) and creativity, I still wish Keya had survived to write her own destiny...because much like the mile-a-minute lyrics from I'm Getting Married Today in Sondheim's musical Company...I'm not quite sure her family ever actually figured it out.
3.5 stars
If this novel was a Friends episode, it would be called "The One Where Keya Doesn't Quite Get Her Due"
Keya Das's family is reeling, for a few reasons: they are Bengali, and Keya came out to them, leaving the family speechless. Before they could wrap their heads around this reality, Keya's gone, in a flash...for good. A tragic car accident takes her life, leaving the family grief stricken and their bond shattered. Shantanu has divorced from wife Chaitali, and their older daughter Mitali has moved forward with her own life, looking for love and happiness of her own.
A chance finding in the attic sparks Shantanu to revisit his emotions and try to draw his family close once more: Keya and her then girlfriend, Pamela, have written a play: more specifically, a play about the experience of coming out. Shantanu is no actor and not quite a thespian by any stretch, but luckily for him, daughter Mitali's new squeeze has some connections to the Broadway world and thinks the family can raise enough money to actually PRODUCE and put on the play, as an homage to what SHOULD have been.
Of course, this sounds simple enough to seasoned professionals, but to a family toting around back-breaking emotional baggage, Shantanu starts to wonder if this dream can TRULY become a reality. And more importantly, is Pamela even open to sharing such raw and emotional thoughts about her relationship with the world at large? Can Keya's family transform a haunting and harrowing memory into an opportunity to show her the love she so sorely deserved?
Sopan Deb is a sportswriter (something I didn't know until finishing this book) and honestly, it makes a lot of sense. I am very much the outlier in my opinion, but I did not connect with these characters whatsoever. For a book that was supposed to be "in honor" of Keya, we don't get to hear a thing from her. I understand her death is part of the story, but in order to have SOME emotional component that got me from A to B, it would have been very easy to have more solid flashbacks. There were small ones here and there, but they were caught in-between other sections almost randomly, and I felt the narrative lacked structure.
And then there's the dialogue: Oof. So many of the 'jokes' these characters tell were just...not funny. For instance, a character is referred to as "Daddy Dilbert" and we are supposed to find that hilarious.
...Other than the comic strip, I don't think I've ever found anything containing the word "Dilbert" to be hilarious.
This novel deals with some heavy topics, so I don't expect a laugh a minute experience by ANY means, but even during Shantanu's time attempting improv comedy (YIKES) I don't think I recorded a single laugh or even a smile. I figured this dynamic would help to balance out the sad subject matter, but I honestly didn't find it too sad either. The circumstances were, for sure, but nothing about Deb's writing was emotive for me. Most of the characters only seemed to care about Keya in reference to their own guilt, so it was hard to empathize with their situation.
Deb also intersperses this novel with LOTS of Bengali words...a trend that I seem to be finding in so many novels lately. Almost every time, no context is present, so you're left to guess or stop and look up a word (again) and hope the translation is close to what the author intended. I don't expect a glossary every time a word is unfamiliar, but context at least would be helpful. This didn't ruin the reading experience as it wasn't AS disruptive as it had been in other recent reads, but I still was a bit unclear on certain words after Googling, so that was a bit off-putting.
For a book that claims to be about a second act...don't expect a third. After all our characters go through, there isn't a clear ending and the book just sort of stops after lots of buildup. The second half was more engaging than the first half, but that stung all the more when I didn't get to find out what happened to any of these family members. I don't mind 'writing my own ending' in many cases, but in a book like this, some resolution (since ostensibly the WHOLE BOOK was supposed to be resolution) would have been wonderful.
As much as I wanted to give this one a standing ovation for its inspiration (from true life events!) and creativity, I still wish Keya had survived to write her own destiny...because much like the mile-a-minute lyrics from I'm Getting Married Today in Sondheim's musical Company...I'm not quite sure her family ever actually figured it out.
3.5 stars
August 22, 2022
About the book: “A poignant, heartwarming, and charmingly funny debut novel about how a discovered box in the attic leads one Bengali American family down a path toward understanding the importance of family, even when splintered.”
When we meet the Dases, a Bengali family living in the New Jersey suburbs, they are each broken after the loss of their Keya, beloved daughter and sister, shortly after she shares with her family she is gay.
Shantanu and Chaitali’s marriage is shattered after the loss. Mitali, Keya’s sister, has her own scars. At the center of their pain is immense regret over how they handled Keya’s coming out.
The story builds to a beautiful and loving tribute in Keya’s memory, offering that redemption and hope are always possible.
I loved so much about this book. You can’t help but want to hug all the characters. They are each vividly real and fallible, and there’s so much warmth between them, even between the now divorced parents. I’m part of a family who has experienced the loss of a sibling/son, and the dynamic shifts are real, and I felt like they were sensitively captured here. I also enjoyed all the Bengali culture and customs shared.
Keya Das’s Second Act is a hopeful story of second chances and healing, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with these charming characters.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
When we meet the Dases, a Bengali family living in the New Jersey suburbs, they are each broken after the loss of their Keya, beloved daughter and sister, shortly after she shares with her family she is gay.
Shantanu and Chaitali’s marriage is shattered after the loss. Mitali, Keya’s sister, has her own scars. At the center of their pain is immense regret over how they handled Keya’s coming out.
The story builds to a beautiful and loving tribute in Keya’s memory, offering that redemption and hope are always possible.
I loved so much about this book. You can’t help but want to hug all the characters. They are each vividly real and fallible, and there’s so much warmth between them, even between the now divorced parents. I’m part of a family who has experienced the loss of a sibling/son, and the dynamic shifts are real, and I felt like they were sensitively captured here. I also enjoyed all the Bengali culture and customs shared.
Keya Das’s Second Act is a hopeful story of second chances and healing, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with these charming characters.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
January 31, 2022
Full disclosure: I've read this book multiple times and I know the author well, perhaps better than anyone.
I've been thinking quite a bit in recent years about grief, forgiveness and redemption. How we build bonds. How we break them. How we change.
From these thoughts came "Keya Das's Second Act." It's inspired by a true story and is based on the Bengali community with in New Jersey where I grew up. For those of you who believe in the healing power of art, much of this book has to do with theater - a love of mine. I went to a performing arts high school, took part in musicals in both high school and college, and as a writer at the New York Times, have written a great deal about Broadway (and Off Broadway!)
This was an extremely personal project. Almost every single character is named after a "mashi" or a "kaku" I had growing up (which essentially translates to aunt and uncle, but can be used to describe family friends).
Whether you like love stories, general fiction, good family dramas, etc., I hope there's something in this novel for everyone.
I've been thinking quite a bit in recent years about grief, forgiveness and redemption. How we build bonds. How we break them. How we change.
From these thoughts came "Keya Das's Second Act." It's inspired by a true story and is based on the Bengali community with in New Jersey where I grew up. For those of you who believe in the healing power of art, much of this book has to do with theater - a love of mine. I went to a performing arts high school, took part in musicals in both high school and college, and as a writer at the New York Times, have written a great deal about Broadway (and Off Broadway!)
This was an extremely personal project. Almost every single character is named after a "mashi" or a "kaku" I had growing up (which essentially translates to aunt and uncle, but can be used to describe family friends).
Whether you like love stories, general fiction, good family dramas, etc., I hope there's something in this novel for everyone.
May 22, 2022
This fine novel reveals a lot of potential in debut novelist Sopan Deb. Interestingly, Mr. Deb’s day job is sportswriter and contributor to the Culture section for The New York Times. Also intriguing is that he is writing about the life-changing effects of lesbian love on a family. Mr. Deb was born in Massachusetts to a Hindu family of Bengali origin and grew up in New Jersey. In the book, the featured family is also of Bengali origin, and I enjoyed learning about some of their customs.
At the heart of the novel, however, is the reaction of the Das family to young Keya’s brave coming out. Keya’s sister Mitali is the most accepting of Keya’s lesbianism. Her major objection is that now she is the one responsible for giving the parents (Shantanu and Chaitali) grandchildren. The parents’ reaction is not at all positive. Keya is shaken by this and soon after dies in a car accident (was it an accident?). This is not a spoiler as we learn about this very early on. Fallout occurs, leading to Shantanu and Chaitali’s divorce. Years later Shantanu finds a box in the attic, the contents of which affects him deeply. He goes into therapy and ultimately shares the box with Mitali and Keya’s lover Pamela. The remainder of the story is for you to read about.
I loved the storyline, which was just heartbreaking, but ultimately inspirational and heartwarming. I thought that the characters were well done but could have been fleshed out just a bit more in order to make me cry at the end. I also wanted to read the last act of Pamela’s play. My only other criticism is that the middle part about Neesh’s escapades went on a little too long for me. Otherwise, I think this was a wonderful debut effort by the author.
I recommend Keya Das’s Second Act to all fiction lovers. I see Mr. Deb has written a memoir. I plan to give that a go and will also keep an eye out for any subsequent novels he might have in him.
Many thanks to Net Galley, Simon & Schuster, and Mr. Sopan Deb for an advanced e-copy of the book. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
At the heart of the novel, however, is the reaction of the Das family to young Keya’s brave coming out. Keya’s sister Mitali is the most accepting of Keya’s lesbianism. Her major objection is that now she is the one responsible for giving the parents (Shantanu and Chaitali) grandchildren. The parents’ reaction is not at all positive. Keya is shaken by this and soon after dies in a car accident (was it an accident?). This is not a spoiler as we learn about this very early on. Fallout occurs, leading to Shantanu and Chaitali’s divorce. Years later Shantanu finds a box in the attic, the contents of which affects him deeply. He goes into therapy and ultimately shares the box with Mitali and Keya’s lover Pamela. The remainder of the story is for you to read about.
I loved the storyline, which was just heartbreaking, but ultimately inspirational and heartwarming. I thought that the characters were well done but could have been fleshed out just a bit more in order to make me cry at the end. I also wanted to read the last act of Pamela’s play. My only other criticism is that the middle part about Neesh’s escapades went on a little too long for me. Otherwise, I think this was a wonderful debut effort by the author.
I recommend Keya Das’s Second Act to all fiction lovers. I see Mr. Deb has written a memoir. I plan to give that a go and will also keep an eye out for any subsequent novels he might have in him.
Many thanks to Net Galley, Simon & Schuster, and Mr. Sopan Deb for an advanced e-copy of the book. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
July 3, 2022
4.5 stars
I've read many fiction books that deal with the subject of grief. This book gave somewhat of a unique outlook as it explored that topic. I was quite moved by this story and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
Shortly after teenager Keya Das came out as gay to her family, she died. As her Bengali American family members have mourned her loss, they also have lived with the fact they weren't accepting of Keya before her death. When Keya's father, Shantanu, discovers a box of her things in the attic, he comes up with an idea that could honor her memory.
I'm tearing up as I write this review because I loved the spirit and the message of the novel. We are all imperfect people and we sometimes have moments we regret and wish we could do over. What I liked about this story is it acknowledges that you can't always completely right a wrong. Perhaps though you have the opportunity to try to make things better. Each character the story follows offers an interesting perspective.
I can't do this book justice so do yourself a favor and read it. One of my favorite reads this year for sure.
Thank you Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
I've read many fiction books that deal with the subject of grief. This book gave somewhat of a unique outlook as it explored that topic. I was quite moved by this story and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
Shortly after teenager Keya Das came out as gay to her family, she died. As her Bengali American family members have mourned her loss, they also have lived with the fact they weren't accepting of Keya before her death. When Keya's father, Shantanu, discovers a box of her things in the attic, he comes up with an idea that could honor her memory.
I'm tearing up as I write this review because I loved the spirit and the message of the novel. We are all imperfect people and we sometimes have moments we regret and wish we could do over. What I liked about this story is it acknowledges that you can't always completely right a wrong. Perhaps though you have the opportunity to try to make things better. Each character the story follows offers an interesting perspective.
I can't do this book justice so do yourself a favor and read it. One of my favorite reads this year for sure.
Thank you Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advance copy! All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
June 30, 2022
*4.5 stars rounded up! This is an astonishingly good debut novel about a close-knit Bengali-American family which has begun to unravel after their teen daughter Keya 'comes out' to them. Her mother, father, older sister all react badly in that first shocking moment and unfortunately, as events unfold, they will have no opportunity to make amends to her. This story deals with their grief and the pursuit of redemption for their mistakes in a very unique way as they come together to produce a play begun by their daughter and her friend and love, Pamela.
Inspired by a true story and the New Jersey Bengali community in which the author was raised, his story is poignant and so touching, his characters, flawed yet real. I highly recommend this unique and well-written family drama from an author with a fresh voice and perspective.
NB: I received an arc of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Inspired by a true story and the New Jersey Bengali community in which the author was raised, his story is poignant and so touching, his characters, flawed yet real. I highly recommend this unique and well-written family drama from an author with a fresh voice and perspective.
NB: I received an arc of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
September 11, 2022
I decided to grab Keya Das's Second Act by Sopan Deb completely on a whim, and I'm so glad I got a chance to read this debut novel. I have been full of cover reads lately, so it should be clear that I picked this up because I saw and loved the cover without knowing what it was about. What I got was an emotional and funny story with quirky characters and pages chock-full of culture. I value learning about other cultures, and I loved my time with the characters and all of the things the book taught me about Bengali culture and customs. There is a lot of focus on loss and grief in these pages, and so many moments where I had tears in my eyes (honestly, even while writing this review), so I was glad that Deb was able to infuse some humor into the story as well. I felt for every single character, and I just wanted to give everyone a hug and assure them things would be alright.
There are multiple viewpoints in Keya Das's Second Act, so I would have enjoyed more than one narrator for the audiobook, but Ulka Simone Mohanty still knocked it out of the park. She was a great choice to be the voice of life to the characters, and I thought she did an excellent job of bringing out the emotion in the story as well. There were parts that ended up dragging for me a bit, and honestly, that is really the only thing that kept this from being a 5-star read for me. I saw that Deb also has a memoir out which I intend to check out, but I think he did an amazing job with his fiction debut. It is hard to properly communicate all of my feelings about this book, so just do yourself a favor and pick it up, especially if you like contemporary and literary fiction and stories about people processing grief and learning how to move on.
There are multiple viewpoints in Keya Das's Second Act, so I would have enjoyed more than one narrator for the audiobook, but Ulka Simone Mohanty still knocked it out of the park. She was a great choice to be the voice of life to the characters, and I thought she did an excellent job of bringing out the emotion in the story as well. There were parts that ended up dragging for me a bit, and honestly, that is really the only thing that kept this from being a 5-star read for me. I saw that Deb also has a memoir out which I intend to check out, but I think he did an amazing job with his fiction debut. It is hard to properly communicate all of my feelings about this book, so just do yourself a favor and pick it up, especially if you like contemporary and literary fiction and stories about people processing grief and learning how to move on.
July 20, 2022
I have been posting my frustrations with this book all through the reading process, and my GR friend James has indicated he is is rubbing his hands in excitement waiting for one of my passionate (some might say, unhinged) rants when I read a bad book. I fear I might disappoint James. The overall badness of this book definitely sparked a reaction, but it also left me with a sense of torpor. I am swimming in the muck of aggressive meh-ness. There is no passion. If this book were sex, t would not be hate sex, it would be "damn, I forgot to pay the water bill and I need to schedule a teeth cleaning and are-you-done-yet" sex.
I read this because I was committed to consuming a proper beach read. Though I am still working full-time, I spend several weeks most summers in Northern Michigan at the beach. One of the great joys of these summer getaways is walking down to the beach at the end of the workday and reading. I also spend many weekend days reading on the beach. Lots and lots of sitting and reading. As I have mentioned in other reviews, I am really bad at choosing beach reads. In recent years my favorite "Up North" (that is what we say in my original home state of MI) reads have been Matterhorn, Intimacies, and The Great Believers. All magnificent books, but not one a beach read. Don't get me wrong, I have read plenty of romance during this time too, but I am too vain to read those outside the confines of the house. So this year and last I forced myself to pack a couple true beach reads. I have now incontrovertibly established that I am really very bad at choosing beach reads. Last year I chose Last Summer at the Golden Hotel, and this year it was this piece of dross. (I did read Evie Drake Starts Over one year, so it is the exception that proves the rule -- it is a perfect beach read, but it stands alone.)
This book is about a Bengali family that belittles their teenage daughter/sister, the titular Keya, when she comes out as a lesbian, and then she dies (it is not clear if by suicide or accident) while they are still not speaking. Lots of grief and guilt and family fractures. Five years later they discover a box of Keya's things in the attic. In the box is a play Keya was writing. They set in motion a plan to ease their pain by producing the play. (This is all on the back cover but not in those words.) What is not on the back cover is that there is a significant secondary plot about the dead girl's sister's (Mitali) boyfriend (Nish) who did some bad things and is trying to rebuild his life. That plot merges with the central plot and the whole goes from bad to worse.
If these characters had been developed at all I am pretty sure I would hate every last one. I don't hate them because they are not people, they are constructs. They ARE the-many-faces-of-grief. It would be like hating a mall Santa. There is the father, Shantanu - an impassive, thoughtless. depressed, loveless, and friendless academic . who overnight, for no reason at all other than he takes an improv class, becomes an intuitive, risk-taking, articulate chick-magnet with an off the charts EQ. Next is the sister Mitali - lonely, loveless, friendless, hard-working ad content creator with the intellectual curiosity of a slug and a sense of humor to match. There is a mother who has remarried. I can remember neither her name nor the new hubby's name about 10 hours after finishing the book. Both are boring and new husband is rich (which figures into the story.) There is Nish. He is broke and friendless and has no interests other than drumming and also has Dark Secrets. He is Mitali's boyfriend because they are both lonely so they hook up. There are some secondary characters too, and the are even less developed than the main characters, and trust me when I say that seems impossible. The director of the play is the worst of a bad lot. It is a popular expression these days to say something is "cringe" and I don't know that I have ever read anything that more honors that colloquialism. This is not simply "cringeworthy". This character is certainly worthy of being cringed at. For me though, every time the director said anything I cringed reflexively, there was no decision of whether to cringe, no assessment of worthiness, the character was just one big cringe. If he had been better drawn I think he would have been repellant. The thing is, he is supposed to be comic relief I think. Oh, and there is dead-Keya's GF who is so underwritten that every time she showed up I thought, "one minute, who is Pamela again.?" Oh, and there is Shantanu's mother who does nothing but cook and say "chee chee chee." I could throw in a few other side characters, but it would not add much.
So after all that I imagine people are thinking this must be plot-driven. Not so much. I guess it is intended to be plot-driven? The central plot is as underwritten as the characters, and FWiW so completely absurd and improbable it could only work as parody, which was clearly not the intent. The main secondary plot was about Nich's bad life choices when he was young and how they set him on an unfortunate path. There is one single unquestionably dramatic and maybe-sad scene with Nich and his father which I think is supposed to explain his choices and it is so afterschool special it made me laugh. (It was the only time I did.)
If the writer had not worked as a culture writer for the New York Times I would have guessed he knew nothing at all about theater or music, and if he was not from a Bengali family I would have guessed he learned about them from reading or watching films. Whenever the grandmother showed up I felt like I was watching Bend it Like Beckham (a movie I love for the record) listening to the mothers chatter and say things like ""At least I taught her full Indian dinner. The rest is up to God." or "Lesbian? I thought she was a Pisces!" Everything in this book is so thin and wan most of the time, and so silly when he tries to color things in. Deb wrote what he knows, but it just doesn't feel like he knows it at all. 1.5 rounded up, but I am not sure why.
I read this because I was committed to consuming a proper beach read. Though I am still working full-time, I spend several weeks most summers in Northern Michigan at the beach. One of the great joys of these summer getaways is walking down to the beach at the end of the workday and reading. I also spend many weekend days reading on the beach. Lots and lots of sitting and reading. As I have mentioned in other reviews, I am really bad at choosing beach reads. In recent years my favorite "Up North" (that is what we say in my original home state of MI) reads have been Matterhorn, Intimacies, and The Great Believers. All magnificent books, but not one a beach read. Don't get me wrong, I have read plenty of romance during this time too, but I am too vain to read those outside the confines of the house. So this year and last I forced myself to pack a couple true beach reads. I have now incontrovertibly established that I am really very bad at choosing beach reads. Last year I chose Last Summer at the Golden Hotel, and this year it was this piece of dross. (I did read Evie Drake Starts Over one year, so it is the exception that proves the rule -- it is a perfect beach read, but it stands alone.)
This book is about a Bengali family that belittles their teenage daughter/sister, the titular Keya, when she comes out as a lesbian, and then she dies (it is not clear if by suicide or accident) while they are still not speaking. Lots of grief and guilt and family fractures. Five years later they discover a box of Keya's things in the attic. In the box is a play Keya was writing. They set in motion a plan to ease their pain by producing the play. (This is all on the back cover but not in those words.) What is not on the back cover is that there is a significant secondary plot about the dead girl's sister's (Mitali) boyfriend (Nish) who did some bad things and is trying to rebuild his life. That plot merges with the central plot and the whole goes from bad to worse.
If these characters had been developed at all I am pretty sure I would hate every last one. I don't hate them because they are not people, they are constructs. They ARE the-many-faces-of-grief. It would be like hating a mall Santa. There is the father, Shantanu - an impassive, thoughtless. depressed, loveless, and friendless academic . who overnight, for no reason at all other than he takes an improv class, becomes an intuitive, risk-taking, articulate chick-magnet with an off the charts EQ. Next is the sister Mitali - lonely, loveless, friendless, hard-working ad content creator with the intellectual curiosity of a slug and a sense of humor to match. There is a mother who has remarried. I can remember neither her name nor the new hubby's name about 10 hours after finishing the book. Both are boring and new husband is rich (which figures into the story.) There is Nish. He is broke and friendless and has no interests other than drumming and also has Dark Secrets. He is Mitali's boyfriend because they are both lonely so they hook up. There are some secondary characters too, and the are even less developed than the main characters, and trust me when I say that seems impossible. The director of the play is the worst of a bad lot. It is a popular expression these days to say something is "cringe" and I don't know that I have ever read anything that more honors that colloquialism. This is not simply "cringeworthy". This character is certainly worthy of being cringed at. For me though, every time the director said anything I cringed reflexively, there was no decision of whether to cringe, no assessment of worthiness, the character was just one big cringe. If he had been better drawn I think he would have been repellant. The thing is, he is supposed to be comic relief I think. Oh, and there is dead-Keya's GF who is so underwritten that every time she showed up I thought, "one minute, who is Pamela again.?" Oh, and there is Shantanu's mother who does nothing but cook and say "chee chee chee." I could throw in a few other side characters, but it would not add much.
So after all that I imagine people are thinking this must be plot-driven. Not so much. I guess it is intended to be plot-driven? The central plot is as underwritten as the characters, and FWiW so completely absurd and improbable it could only work as parody, which was clearly not the intent. The main secondary plot was about Nich's bad life choices when he was young and how they set him on an unfortunate path. There is one single unquestionably dramatic and maybe-sad scene with Nich and his father which I think is supposed to explain his choices and it is so afterschool special it made me laugh. (It was the only time I did.)
If the writer had not worked as a culture writer for the New York Times I would have guessed he knew nothing at all about theater or music, and if he was not from a Bengali family I would have guessed he learned about them from reading or watching films. Whenever the grandmother showed up I felt like I was watching Bend it Like Beckham (a movie I love for the record) listening to the mothers chatter and say things like ""At least I taught her full Indian dinner. The rest is up to God." or "Lesbian? I thought she was a Pisces!" Everything in this book is so thin and wan most of the time, and so silly when he tries to color things in. Deb wrote what he knows, but it just doesn't feel like he knows it at all. 1.5 rounded up, but I am not sure why.
December 28, 2022
A novel of redemption, second chances, and looking at people as they truly are. After the death of a child with whom they did not reconcile beforehand, we see the Das family attempt to pick up the pieces. Left with everything in fragments, they are finally forced to piece themselves and Keya’s memory back together, looking at the past, present, and future in new ways. This was a novel of remorse, regret, and fallings out, but also of self discovery and growth, of forgiveness and tolerance. Through its many ups and downs, Keya Das’s Second Act is a novel that serves as a call to love and accept one another in the moment; tomorrow is never promised, hold your loved ones close today.
July 10, 2022
This is a light*, summer read focusing on a Bengali-American family. The younger daughter tells her parents and her sister that she is gay, which shocks them. The book tells what happens afterwards.
I enjoyed the story and found it entertaining, although sometimes implausible. To me, the best parts had to do with the natural way their Bengali culture came through in the story (ie. food, language, community parties). I especially liked Kalpana, the family's wise grandmother and Shantanu, the father whose closed heart slowly opens.
*The book does look at issues of grief, yet does so with a light touch.
I enjoyed the story and found it entertaining, although sometimes implausible. To me, the best parts had to do with the natural way their Bengali culture came through in the story (ie. food, language, community parties). I especially liked Kalpana, the family's wise grandmother and Shantanu, the father whose closed heart slowly opens.
*The book does look at issues of grief, yet does so with a light touch.
July 9, 2022
Frustrating read. It started out so good and then the rest seventy percent was pure tiring losing focus on what the story is about.
The book tries to discuss grief, queer and homophobia that’s still a big challenging issue among conservative communities. Focus on too many characters and trying to bring in all kinds of issues spoiled the broth for me.
Well…. Moving on.
The book tries to discuss grief, queer and homophobia that’s still a big challenging issue among conservative communities. Focus on too many characters and trying to bring in all kinds of issues spoiled the broth for me.
Well…. Moving on.
November 4, 2022
This was a poignant story about forgiving yourself and finding the strength to move forward.
One day, much to the surprise of her Bengali parents and older sister, 18-year-old Keya came out to her family. Their reactions hurt, disappointed, and angered her, but they never found the opportunity to apologize to Keya, as she died shortly thereafter.
Years later, Keya's father Shantanu lives alone. His marriage is over and he doesn’t speak to his other daughter, Mitali, that often. One day he finds boxes in the attic, and one contains notes Keya wrote to her then-girlfriend as well as a play that the two young women had written.
When Mitali suggests that the family stage the play as a tribute to Keya, it is seen as a chance to make amends in a small way for the way Keya felt when she died. And as the production of the play progresses, it represents a chance for each of Keya's family members, who have been mired in grief and guilt for some time, to take tentative steps toward a new start as well.
This was a really well-told and emotionally rich story. I found myself really hooked on these characters and rooting for them to succeed. I felt like there was one thread, related to the man that Mitali is dating, which seemed extraneous and didn’t advance the story much, but I wasn’t too distracted by it.
Having grown up in the New Jersey suburbs, I loved the mention of lots of familiar places. I also was impressed that this is Sopan Deb’s debut novel and I look forward to seeing what comes next in his career.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
One day, much to the surprise of her Bengali parents and older sister, 18-year-old Keya came out to her family. Their reactions hurt, disappointed, and angered her, but they never found the opportunity to apologize to Keya, as she died shortly thereafter.
Years later, Keya's father Shantanu lives alone. His marriage is over and he doesn’t speak to his other daughter, Mitali, that often. One day he finds boxes in the attic, and one contains notes Keya wrote to her then-girlfriend as well as a play that the two young women had written.
When Mitali suggests that the family stage the play as a tribute to Keya, it is seen as a chance to make amends in a small way for the way Keya felt when she died. And as the production of the play progresses, it represents a chance for each of Keya's family members, who have been mired in grief and guilt for some time, to take tentative steps toward a new start as well.
This was a really well-told and emotionally rich story. I found myself really hooked on these characters and rooting for them to succeed. I felt like there was one thread, related to the man that Mitali is dating, which seemed extraneous and didn’t advance the story much, but I wasn’t too distracted by it.
Having grown up in the New Jersey suburbs, I loved the mention of lots of familiar places. I also was impressed that this is Sopan Deb’s debut novel and I look forward to seeing what comes next in his career.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.
July 23, 2022
This was great! Finally a book that nails grief, divorce, family dynamics, growth, self-reflection. It was all just done right! There was sentiment. There was humor. There was anger. But you still rooted for each character. Definitely tugged at the heartstrings. Great debut!
July 12, 2022
I was sent this book from Netgalley and went into it without really knowing what it was about. Keya comes out to her family and they don’t take it well. They stop speaking and before anyone could make amends, she ends up dying in a car accident. The Das’s are racked with guilt and grief. They find Keya’s play written with her high school girlfriend Pamela and decide to put it on to honor her.
I appreciate what this book tried to be but ultimately it didn’t deliver to what I expected. One thing that really bothered me was that, Keya’s sisters boyfriend Neesh is not an important character at all and he gets so much page time. I actually skimmed his multiple chapters. I don’t get why it was added and I think it took away from the story. I just think we needed more Keya and Pamela interactions from the past to kind of learn more about her.
2.5 rounding up, thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book and for being the first physical book I've read in awhile lol
I appreciate what this book tried to be but ultimately it didn’t deliver to what I expected. One thing that really bothered me was that, Keya’s sisters boyfriend Neesh is not an important character at all and he gets so much page time. I actually skimmed his multiple chapters. I don’t get why it was added and I think it took away from the story. I just think we needed more Keya and Pamela interactions from the past to kind of learn more about her.
2.5 rounding up, thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book and for being the first physical book I've read in awhile lol
February 10, 2022
Is it possible to overcome guilt, especially when it is the guilt of having failed one of your own? It is this gnawing sense of guilt that has torn apart the Bengali-American Das family in Keya Das’s Second Act by Sopan Deb.
Dr. Shantanu Das, a professor at Rutgers, has reached the point of no return. Divorced and living alone in his suburban flat in New Jersey, he has cut ties from the local Bengali community. His relationship with his eldest daughter Mitali is non-existent, as she refuses to return his calls or respond to his messages. To add to his resentment, his ex-wife Chaitali has moved on and has married Jahar, a Bengali widower. But it is Keya, his younger daughter’s death, which has pushed the man into destruction. A few days before her tragic death, Keya had come out to the family. Every day since her death, Shantanu has lived with regret for having failed as a parent, for he refused to accept her sexual identity. His wife and elder daughter are equally guilty of being unsupportive and denying love and support to Keya.
Keya’s death anniversary is looming closer and Shantanu realizes it is time to move on. He puts up their home on the market. A chance discovery in the attic causes emotional turmoil. He finds a box which belonged to Keya and is filled with notes, letters, and an unfinished manuscript Keya and her girlfriend Pamela had been working on. Glimpsing through the box, he feels Keya’s presence in his life once again.
Mitali’s boyfriend Neesh Desai comes up with a brilliant idea – using Keya’s unfinished manuscript and putting up a play–an homage to Keya, he says! As the Das family along with Neesh work on this plan, ghosts from the past come out tumbling, threatening to swallow everyone in their path.
This is Deb’s debut in fiction, yet it has the hallmark of a seasoned writer. His writing style is wonderful. I loved the manner in which he has developed the characters. The author mentions most of the characters are composites of people he has known in real life, and no wonder they feel so real!
Keya, the main character, despite not being physically present, continues to influence the story. Her presence is unmissable. She is in everybody’s thoughts, channeling their actions, helping them face their worst fears, and ultimately joining the broken parts. She is the balm and the glue of Das’s family. I liked the honest and heart-breaking manner in which the author has depicted the family’s inhibition, resistance, and finally acceptance.
It is vital to mention the character arc. I found it quite interesting how every character in this family drama grows. It is not a simple task when there are multiple characters involved. Kudos to the author for shouldering this humongous responsibility with finesse. The author has abandoned nobody and has ensured to give enough space and a meaningful resolution to every character’s story.
Another aspect I found endearing was the varied web of relationships tying the story together. The interactions between the various characters are warm, funny, sad, and angry; and holding them together is fierce love and longing, wafting like a soothing fragrance.
The ample sprinkling of Bangla makes the narration even more endearing and authentic; also, the Indian-Americanness reflecting in the thoughts and actions is hard to miss!
Keya Das’s Second Act is a well-written novel and a beautiful homage to familial bonding and second chances.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss+ for the ARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.
(4.5 /5)
BLOG
Dr. Shantanu Das, a professor at Rutgers, has reached the point of no return. Divorced and living alone in his suburban flat in New Jersey, he has cut ties from the local Bengali community. His relationship with his eldest daughter Mitali is non-existent, as she refuses to return his calls or respond to his messages. To add to his resentment, his ex-wife Chaitali has moved on and has married Jahar, a Bengali widower. But it is Keya, his younger daughter’s death, which has pushed the man into destruction. A few days before her tragic death, Keya had come out to the family. Every day since her death, Shantanu has lived with regret for having failed as a parent, for he refused to accept her sexual identity. His wife and elder daughter are equally guilty of being unsupportive and denying love and support to Keya.
Keya’s death anniversary is looming closer and Shantanu realizes it is time to move on. He puts up their home on the market. A chance discovery in the attic causes emotional turmoil. He finds a box which belonged to Keya and is filled with notes, letters, and an unfinished manuscript Keya and her girlfriend Pamela had been working on. Glimpsing through the box, he feels Keya’s presence in his life once again.
Mitali’s boyfriend Neesh Desai comes up with a brilliant idea – using Keya’s unfinished manuscript and putting up a play–an homage to Keya, he says! As the Das family along with Neesh work on this plan, ghosts from the past come out tumbling, threatening to swallow everyone in their path.
This is Deb’s debut in fiction, yet it has the hallmark of a seasoned writer. His writing style is wonderful. I loved the manner in which he has developed the characters. The author mentions most of the characters are composites of people he has known in real life, and no wonder they feel so real!
Keya, the main character, despite not being physically present, continues to influence the story. Her presence is unmissable. She is in everybody’s thoughts, channeling their actions, helping them face their worst fears, and ultimately joining the broken parts. She is the balm and the glue of Das’s family. I liked the honest and heart-breaking manner in which the author has depicted the family’s inhibition, resistance, and finally acceptance.
It is vital to mention the character arc. I found it quite interesting how every character in this family drama grows. It is not a simple task when there are multiple characters involved. Kudos to the author for shouldering this humongous responsibility with finesse. The author has abandoned nobody and has ensured to give enough space and a meaningful resolution to every character’s story.
Another aspect I found endearing was the varied web of relationships tying the story together. The interactions between the various characters are warm, funny, sad, and angry; and holding them together is fierce love and longing, wafting like a soothing fragrance.
The ample sprinkling of Bangla makes the narration even more endearing and authentic; also, the Indian-Americanness reflecting in the thoughts and actions is hard to miss!
Keya Das’s Second Act is a well-written novel and a beautiful homage to familial bonding and second chances.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster and Edelweiss+ for the ARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.
(4.5 /5)
BLOG
December 23, 2022
What I did: I picked up this book, knowing nothing about it, solely for the fact that Keya is my son's name.
What I got: A very touching story about family, love, loss, grief, regret, and absolution.
Totally worth the gamble.
What I got: A very touching story about family, love, loss, grief, regret, and absolution.
Totally worth the gamble.
June 22, 2022
There is so much I loved about this book. This is a story of a Bengali family struggling with grief after their daughter dies. The father, mother, and sister are also dealing with the heavy weight of guilt because none of them were not in a good relationship with the daughter/sister at the time of her death. The story deals with how they resolve this so they can move on from their grief and guilt. The best part of the book is how they do this because it is in a very unique way. I also loved that the ending is very open ended. You feel that all the main characters are in a much better place than they were at the beginning, but you can imagine for yourself how each character moves on from this point.
April 7, 2022
Any book with a plot that I have never read before gets extra credit from me. So creative and fun to read. The interweaving of different times and characters telling the story worked very well for me. I found the second half of the book even stronger than the first half.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 16, 2025
it was really good! i loved the concept of a family that was broken and stricken with grief fracturing until some great project brings them back together. i loved the characters and the growth and the way they learned to move on while being able to look back at the good things before their lives fell apart (since two were unable to move on and one moved on and refused to look back).
i think the reason i didn’t rank this a five or a 4.5 (even though grief stories are my jam) was because i thought the end wrapped up too quickly.
SPOILERS BELOW:
neesh getting fired at the end was crazy, neesh meeting sandeep’s dad who was mitali’s stepfather was crazy and these are all AMAZING climactic moments, but it happened way too close to the end before anything resolves. neesh is very sweet and i love his notecards and everything and his backstory is so sad but i don’t feel like we see him grow enough on the page necessarily because he still doesn’t learn to be more open? and i wish we could also see what he does for a job and how he moves forward and if we didn’t get to have that, then i wish we at the LEAST saw a bigger moment when mitali goes back to him and tells him to come to the show because i didn’t feel like we got the emotionality of that moment at all. a LOT of things happened off-screen at the end while in the beginning, we were super close to all of the cast (since it switched close third person pov to the entire main cast regularly) and it felt like i somehow knew them less at the end than i did in the beginning, which was unsatisfying. we didn’t see shantanu deciding to go to california (which kind of makes sense for him but doesn’t totally make sense with how scared he was to lose mitali) and we don’t see neesh call sandeep and yes that was for the reveal of him at the theater but it went on to make me feel like i missed a LOT of the action because sopan dev’s editor was like “okay buddy let’s wrap it up asap”.
it was good, don’t get me wrong. i really liked this book. but i would have liked to linger. even on pamela and if she felt like she reached backwards in time to find keya again. like we get a fraction of that on the VERY LAST PAGE but we didn’t even see her write the end of the play! i LIKED that we didn’t know if she picked a sad ending or a happy ending AND that we end the book when the curtains go up for the show, but i would have liked to see a section of pamela in her room struggling and she finds this (mysterious) note that gets revealed at the end (like it is currently) that makes her go AHA! and finish it.
i just feel a bit deprived and like it was rushed. a tad unsatisfying. i feel like there was no HOORAY moment after all of the shit hitting the fan and all the emotions that were so vibrant and vivid in the beginning (mostly through loneliness and grief) felt extremely muted by the end (even though it was happy and bittersweet). a lot of things get told to us but now shown, etc. etc.
it was good. i just think it could have been better.
i think the reason i didn’t rank this a five or a 4.5 (even though grief stories are my jam) was because i thought the end wrapped up too quickly.
SPOILERS BELOW:
neesh getting fired at the end was crazy, neesh meeting sandeep’s dad who was mitali’s stepfather was crazy and these are all AMAZING climactic moments, but it happened way too close to the end before anything resolves. neesh is very sweet and i love his notecards and everything and his backstory is so sad but i don’t feel like we see him grow enough on the page necessarily because he still doesn’t learn to be more open? and i wish we could also see what he does for a job and how he moves forward and if we didn’t get to have that, then i wish we at the LEAST saw a bigger moment when mitali goes back to him and tells him to come to the show because i didn’t feel like we got the emotionality of that moment at all. a LOT of things happened off-screen at the end while in the beginning, we were super close to all of the cast (since it switched close third person pov to the entire main cast regularly) and it felt like i somehow knew them less at the end than i did in the beginning, which was unsatisfying. we didn’t see shantanu deciding to go to california (which kind of makes sense for him but doesn’t totally make sense with how scared he was to lose mitali) and we don’t see neesh call sandeep and yes that was for the reveal of him at the theater but it went on to make me feel like i missed a LOT of the action because sopan dev’s editor was like “okay buddy let’s wrap it up asap”.
it was good, don’t get me wrong. i really liked this book. but i would have liked to linger. even on pamela and if she felt like she reached backwards in time to find keya again. like we get a fraction of that on the VERY LAST PAGE but we didn’t even see her write the end of the play! i LIKED that we didn’t know if she picked a sad ending or a happy ending AND that we end the book when the curtains go up for the show, but i would have liked to see a section of pamela in her room struggling and she finds this (mysterious) note that gets revealed at the end (like it is currently) that makes her go AHA! and finish it.
i just feel a bit deprived and like it was rushed. a tad unsatisfying. i feel like there was no HOORAY moment after all of the shit hitting the fan and all the emotions that were so vibrant and vivid in the beginning (mostly through loneliness and grief) felt extremely muted by the end (even though it was happy and bittersweet). a lot of things get told to us but now shown, etc. etc.
it was good. i just think it could have been better.
October 4, 2022
If you're looking for a novel that will stand out in your memory, may I suggest Keya Da's Second Act, written by Sopan Deb. This novel is every bit as heartwarming as it promised to be, if not more so.
Shantanu Das has been living with ghosts for years now. One could say he is used to it – but that isn't quite the truth. It's been years since he and his wife spoke to their eldest daughter – and given her death, that will never change.
When going through Keya's things, he finds a manuscript she had written but never released. Perhaps now is the time to honor her memory and to right the wrongs that haunt the family.
“What is peace but just another precursor to war?”
Keya Da's Second Act is quite an emotional read, so you better prepare yourself for what lies ahead. This book tackles many heavy subjects, predominantly grief, homophobia, and LGBT/what it takes to be an ally.
The thing I love the most about Keya Da's Second Act is the critical conversation this book brings up. We all know somebody who regrets an action in their past. Maybe they said something horrible. Or maybe they didn't back a friend the way they should have. Either way, they're carrying that weight now and are trying to find a way to make amends.
Most of us have the option to reach out and apologize to those we've done wrong. But sometimes that isn't possible – and it will never be possible. That is the situation our main character is in. He let homophobia and familial expectations get between him and his daughter, and her death removed any opportunity to make things right.
Well, not in a direct sense. He can still do something; it just won't be an apology that she can hear. That's what makes this story hit so hard. The loss, the regrets, the (admittedly late) determination to stand up and do something about it.
Thanks to Simon Schuster and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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Shantanu Das has been living with ghosts for years now. One could say he is used to it – but that isn't quite the truth. It's been years since he and his wife spoke to their eldest daughter – and given her death, that will never change.
When going through Keya's things, he finds a manuscript she had written but never released. Perhaps now is the time to honor her memory and to right the wrongs that haunt the family.
“What is peace but just another precursor to war?”
Keya Da's Second Act is quite an emotional read, so you better prepare yourself for what lies ahead. This book tackles many heavy subjects, predominantly grief, homophobia, and LGBT/what it takes to be an ally.
The thing I love the most about Keya Da's Second Act is the critical conversation this book brings up. We all know somebody who regrets an action in their past. Maybe they said something horrible. Or maybe they didn't back a friend the way they should have. Either way, they're carrying that weight now and are trying to find a way to make amends.
Most of us have the option to reach out and apologize to those we've done wrong. But sometimes that isn't possible – and it will never be possible. That is the situation our main character is in. He let homophobia and familial expectations get between him and his daughter, and her death removed any opportunity to make things right.
Well, not in a direct sense. He can still do something; it just won't be an apology that she can hear. That's what makes this story hit so hard. The loss, the regrets, the (admittedly late) determination to stand up and do something about it.
Thanks to Simon Schuster and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
August 25, 2022
*Actual rating: 4.5/5 stars*
A 2022 American Desi novel, and the literary debut of D.C. based political journalist and writer Sopan Deb, “The Second Act of Keya Das” is an emotional and poignant journey of grief, healing and family that are experienced from the lens of the Das family - Shantanu (father), Chaitali (mother), Mitali (sister) and Kaplana (grandmother) of Keya. But we also meet Jahar (second husband of Chaitali), Neesh (love interest of Mitali), Catherine (girlfriend of Shantanu) and Pamela (girlfriend of Keya) throughout the novel in a mixture of flashbacks and POVs in the book.
Keya had attempted to come out to her Indian Bengali family, to a very negative scenario from all members of the Das family (except Kaplana) and this cause Keya to to avoid her family for two ish years - until she died in a car accident which cause the Das family to implode. Five years after her death, Shantanu finds a play she wrote that is about Keya and Pamela, and this play (with its unfinished ending/second act) becomes the catalyst that changes the family and how they progress throughout the book in moving on from their initial stages of grief.
Overall it was a very powerful and comforting read, seeing many elements of my Bengali life (even from the lens of Hindu Indian Bengalis) being used to tell a story that was not similar to many of the American Desi stories that have appeared on the landscape.
Yet, there were moments that for caused some issues. Personally, I felt that that ending wasn’t what I expected or wanted, and left a few minor plot points unresolved or unclear. I also was at times just confused about Neesh and his overall placement in the story (along with so much of his backstory in the relation to the Das family) and finally, I was hoping that this story would also avoid some of the more convoluted parts of the American Desi storylines that we constantly see, but that also was not the case here.
Despite those flaws, the book does a fantastic job in breaking many stereotypes for American Desi, and also humanizes complex topics and themes to make this a memorable (and Bengali) read.
A 2022 American Desi novel, and the literary debut of D.C. based political journalist and writer Sopan Deb, “The Second Act of Keya Das” is an emotional and poignant journey of grief, healing and family that are experienced from the lens of the Das family - Shantanu (father), Chaitali (mother), Mitali (sister) and Kaplana (grandmother) of Keya. But we also meet Jahar (second husband of Chaitali), Neesh (love interest of Mitali), Catherine (girlfriend of Shantanu) and Pamela (girlfriend of Keya) throughout the novel in a mixture of flashbacks and POVs in the book.
Keya had attempted to come out to her Indian Bengali family, to a very negative scenario from all members of the Das family (except Kaplana) and this cause Keya to to avoid her family for two ish years - until she died in a car accident which cause the Das family to implode. Five years after her death, Shantanu finds a play she wrote that is about Keya and Pamela, and this play (with its unfinished ending/second act) becomes the catalyst that changes the family and how they progress throughout the book in moving on from their initial stages of grief.
Overall it was a very powerful and comforting read, seeing many elements of my Bengali life (even from the lens of Hindu Indian Bengalis) being used to tell a story that was not similar to many of the American Desi stories that have appeared on the landscape.
Yet, there were moments that for caused some issues. Personally, I felt that that ending wasn’t what I expected or wanted, and left a few minor plot points unresolved or unclear. I also was at times just confused about Neesh and his overall placement in the story (along with so much of his backstory in the relation to the Das family) and finally, I was hoping that this story would also avoid some of the more convoluted parts of the American Desi storylines that we constantly see, but that also was not the case here.
Despite those flaws, the book does a fantastic job in breaking many stereotypes for American Desi, and also humanizes complex topics and themes to make this a memorable (and Bengali) read.
Read
July 6, 2022Sopan Deb’s debut novel is a champion of disruption. Deb unveils the liberation of prioritizing love.
The Das’s are an Indian-American family from New Jersey. But when Keya Das comes out as gay, the seemingly progressive family regresses into traditional beliefs. When Keya dies in a tragic car accident, the family is overcome by their guilt and grief. They confront their pain and honor Keya’s life by producing a play that Keya and her girlfriend, Pamela, previously scripted.
One striking feature of this novel is character development. New characters are continuously introduced, yet none seem arbitrarily mentioned or superficial. I found Kalpana, the Das family’s paternal grandmother, to be the most memorable character. The Das girls affectionately call Kalpana shomadidi, which is fitting as her matriarchal love shines through when she accidentally discovers Keya’s sexuality, but chooses not to out her prematurely.
One observation is that the novel plays into the common trope of interracial same-sex love; Keya falls in love with Pamela, a white Christian classmate. While those deserve recognition and appreciation, it’s rare to read about inter-Indian same-sex couples.
Still, Deb holds inclusivity at the core of this book. I think Keya’s story aptly portrays the very specific challenge of being brown and queer in America: feeling encouraged to embrace your authentic self as it becomes celebrated in the United States, while being bound by a more traditional culture and community that won't readily accept who you are.
Whether you're struggling with your sexuality, dealing with the loss of a loved one, suffering from a family severance, or attempting to reconcile with regrets, there’s something to take away for everyone in Deb’s book.
The Das’s are an Indian-American family from New Jersey. But when Keya Das comes out as gay, the seemingly progressive family regresses into traditional beliefs. When Keya dies in a tragic car accident, the family is overcome by their guilt and grief. They confront their pain and honor Keya’s life by producing a play that Keya and her girlfriend, Pamela, previously scripted.
One striking feature of this novel is character development. New characters are continuously introduced, yet none seem arbitrarily mentioned or superficial. I found Kalpana, the Das family’s paternal grandmother, to be the most memorable character. The Das girls affectionately call Kalpana shomadidi, which is fitting as her matriarchal love shines through when she accidentally discovers Keya’s sexuality, but chooses not to out her prematurely.
One observation is that the novel plays into the common trope of interracial same-sex love; Keya falls in love with Pamela, a white Christian classmate. While those deserve recognition and appreciation, it’s rare to read about inter-Indian same-sex couples.
Still, Deb holds inclusivity at the core of this book. I think Keya’s story aptly portrays the very specific challenge of being brown and queer in America: feeling encouraged to embrace your authentic self as it becomes celebrated in the United States, while being bound by a more traditional culture and community that won't readily accept who you are.
Whether you're struggling with your sexuality, dealing with the loss of a loved one, suffering from a family severance, or attempting to reconcile with regrets, there’s something to take away for everyone in Deb’s book.
December 16, 2022
Shantanu Das is divorced, estranged from his oldest daughter, and mourning the loss of daughter Keya in a car accident. His grief is compounded because, shortly before her death, Keya came out to her family, and they didn't handle it well, mostly avoiding the topic while they were still coming to terms with it. When Shantanu discovers a box in the attic that contains a play that Keya and her girlfriend Pamela were writing together before her death, he shares the play and a plan is concocted to stage the play in Keya's honor and memory. Shantanu enlists his family and some outsiders who have their own reasons for joining the project, in need of possible redemption and forgiveness in their own lives. I enjoyed how each member of the family and project had their own reasons for becoming involved and their own processes and methods of healing. While Keya is the driving force that brings this group together, she is surprisingly absent as a character. I wanted a little more about who she was in life, and not just in the short glimpses of memory we get. I think that would have added even more to the impact of the novel.
July 6, 2022
Even having read the publisher's summary, I wasn't quite prepared for all that is this book. It is so much more than the simple story of trying to make peace with the past. Even though Keya is dead, her character plays a large role in the plot, and I wish it had been larger. I feel like many of the characters could have been filled in more, but that is probably me and not how most readers will feel having read the book. The characters felt real. I really enjoyed the awkwardness that they felt with each other and their push to produce Keya's play despite those feelings. While I don't feel like the wrongs of the past were righted (as the publisher's blurb says), Keya is still dead and died estranged from her family, I do feel like the sense of found extended family brought comfort to those she left behind. In whole, this was a sweet bittersweet book about holding dear those you love and accepting them for who they are. Always a good reminder and well shown in this story.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
June 20, 2022
Handling grief, especially when accompanied by guilt, is a daunting undertaking. In this novel, the reaction of Bengali parents to their daughter’s coming out as gay sparks a separation. When their daughter dies in a car accident, suddenly there is grief added to guilt. The author uses a play left behind by the daughter to drive the examination of how people mourn, deal with their loss, and eventually change and accept reality. I thought the storyline was very creative and well done as well as the exploration of the emotions the characters went through.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC to read and review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC to read and review.
August 1, 2022
I really enjoyed this debut family drama. I loved reading about the Das family and their friends. All the characters were very well developed and each of them added an extra layer to this story. While this is mainly a story exploring grief, it's also touching and optimistic. Unless you have a heart of stone, you will likely tear up a few times. The Das family will stick with me for a long time to come!
If this one isn't on your TBR yet, be sure to add it! Thanks to Simon for the gifted copy.
If this one isn't on your TBR yet, be sure to add it! Thanks to Simon for the gifted copy.
October 7, 2022
3 1/2 stars
I enjoyed this touching book which deals with some hefty topics: Death of a teen and the emotional aftermath for the various family members and best friend. The fallout from her death destroys her family as she knew it. Themes on feelings of loss, acceptance of people who are different, and missed opportunities to make things right.
The book seemed like an original to me and though it did have its flaws, it’s quite a debut novel for this NY Times reporter.
Side note- I struggled a bit with the Bengali words & names.
I enjoyed this touching book which deals with some hefty topics: Death of a teen and the emotional aftermath for the various family members and best friend. The fallout from her death destroys her family as she knew it. Themes on feelings of loss, acceptance of people who are different, and missed opportunities to make things right.
The book seemed like an original to me and though it did have its flaws, it’s quite a debut novel for this NY Times reporter.
Side note- I struggled a bit with the Bengali words & names.
July 4, 2022
Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the free book.
This is a story of how a family continues after the loss of their daughter and sister, Keya. While she is never alive in this story, her presence is threaded throughout in all of the ways her family is living or staying stagnant. After discovering her play, the family must decide what to do to honor her life. This is also a book about forgiveness and reconciliation. When Keya died, she was not in communication with her parents and sister because they did not accept her coming out, so they harbor so much guilt - and this book shows the journey of moving forward so well. It captures the complexities and hardships of a grieving family. I feel like the emotions in this book were portrayed so well. I could feel the guilt and grief of the Das family. I became thoroughly invested in this family's process of moving on.
I did struggle a bit with Neesh's POV and storyline. In the end, it felt incomplete.
This is a story of how a family continues after the loss of their daughter and sister, Keya. While she is never alive in this story, her presence is threaded throughout in all of the ways her family is living or staying stagnant. After discovering her play, the family must decide what to do to honor her life. This is also a book about forgiveness and reconciliation. When Keya died, she was not in communication with her parents and sister because they did not accept her coming out, so they harbor so much guilt - and this book shows the journey of moving forward so well. It captures the complexities and hardships of a grieving family. I feel like the emotions in this book were portrayed so well. I could feel the guilt and grief of the Das family. I became thoroughly invested in this family's process of moving on.
I did struggle a bit with Neesh's POV and storyline. In the end, it felt incomplete.
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