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The Candid Life of Meena Dave
10 hours, 31 minutes
A woman embarks on an unexpected journey into her past in an engrossing novel about identity, family secrets, and rediscovering the need to belong.
Meena Dave is a photojournalist and a nomad. She has no family, no permanent address, and no long-term attachments, preferring to observe the world at a distance through the lens of her camera. But Meena’s solitary life is turned upside down when she unexpectedly inherits an apartment in a Victorian brownstone in historic Back Bay, Boston.
Though Meena’s impulse is to sell it and keep moving, she decides to use her journalistic instinct to follow the story that landed her in the home of a stranger. It’s a mystery that comes with a series of hidden clues, a trio of meddling Indian aunties, and a handsome next-door neighbor. For Meena it’s a chance for newfound friendships, community, and culture she never thought possible. And a window into her past she never expected.
Now as everything unknown to Meena comes into focus, she must reconcile who she wants to be with who she really is.
A woman embarks on an unexpected journey into her past in an engrossing novel about identity, family secrets, and rediscovering the need to belong.
Meena Dave is a photojournalist and a nomad. She has no family, no permanent address, and no long-term attachments, preferring to observe the world at a distance through the lens of her camera. But Meena’s solitary life is turned upside down when she unexpectedly inherits an apartment in a Victorian brownstone in historic Back Bay, Boston.
Though Meena’s impulse is to sell it and keep moving, she decides to use her journalistic instinct to follow the story that landed her in the home of a stranger. It’s a mystery that comes with a series of hidden clues, a trio of meddling Indian aunties, and a handsome next-door neighbor. For Meena it’s a chance for newfound friendships, community, and culture she never thought possible. And a window into her past she never expected.
Now as everything unknown to Meena comes into focus, she must reconcile who she wants to be with who she really is.
Audiobook
First published June 1, 2022
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About the author
Namrata Patel
4 books374 followersNamrata Patel is an Indian American writer who resides in Boston. Her writing examines diaspora and dual-cultural identity among Indian Americans and explores this dynamic while also touching on the families we’re born with and those we choose. Namrata has lived in India, New Jersey, Spokane, London, and New York City and has been writing most of her adult life. For more information visit www.nampatel.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,575 reviews
June 2, 2022
I enjoyed this one much more than I was expecting! It was easy to fall into the story and get invested in Meena's journey. She is a photojournalist and lives a wanderlust life, but is also a loner. Her life is sidelined when she inherits a brownstone apartment from a complete stranger. She moves in and tries to sort out what she should do, stay or sell? Things change drastically when she learns about her past from neighbors and finds other clues while cleaning the apartment. Her own curiosity has her digging further.
A sentimental story that was an easy read. I learned about Indian tradition, food, and chai tea. You also get to learn about the buildings history, the "Aunties" , and the handsome man with the adorable puppy who lives across the hall.
A potpourri of character-driven, mystery, love story, heritage,confronting the past, little Hallmarkish. Great for when you need a break from the mayhem.
Prime First Reads for May 2022
A sentimental story that was an easy read. I learned about Indian tradition, food, and chai tea. You also get to learn about the buildings history, the "Aunties" , and the handsome man with the adorable puppy who lives across the hall.
A potpourri of character-driven, mystery, love story, heritage,confronting the past, little Hallmarkish. Great for when you need a break from the mayhem.
Prime First Reads for May 2022
November 4, 2022
this is a nice story about overcoming loneliness, finding family, and making a home. i cant say its the most exciting book, but its good enough for what it is. the characters are decent, the history of the house and its original owners is interesting, and the writing is easy to read.
i will say the ending is a bit… cold. i was expecting, just with the overall vibe of the rest of the book, for it to be a little more heartwarming. but i guess thats life? not every ending is perfect.
but from a cultural standpoint, i did find this to be a worthwhile read.
↠ 3 stars
i will say the ending is a bit… cold. i was expecting, just with the overall vibe of the rest of the book, for it to be a little more heartwarming. but i guess thats life? not every ending is perfect.
but from a cultural standpoint, i did find this to be a worthwhile read.
↠ 3 stars
December 3, 2022
This remind me of a Bollywood movie that I watched when a girl tries to find her mother among three women. It was entertaining.
July 22, 2022
Satisfying
To be honest, there's a bit of a twist at the end of this story that is refreshing. I dont want to spoil it for anyone so I won't say more than that. In general terms, this is a good story about love, pain and family and about finding what home means. Charming!
To be honest, there's a bit of a twist at the end of this story that is refreshing. I dont want to spoil it for anyone so I won't say more than that. In general terms, this is a good story about love, pain and family and about finding what home means. Charming!
December 16, 2022
At its heart, this novel is about cultural and personal identity and how we honor our past —and how we heal from it.
The Candid Life of Meena Dave is a debut and it shows: the writing and pacing are off in places. However, the characters made reading this a delight. This book deals with adoption, loss of parents, loneliness, work burnout and diaspora in a way that i found to be compelling.
Reading this book feels like sitting curled up on a park bench, with a hot cup of chai and fall leaves rustling in the breeze. This book smells like potpourri –clove, and cinnamon, ginger and vanilla. Patel has managed to create a book that is cozy, without being boring. This book is good for the soul and the mind. It reminded me that we should always be reflecting on ourselves and what we can work on: our communication with others, our reactions to disappointment, our relationship with ourselves. It is okay to be kind to ourselves. In a way, this work was therapeutic.
Meena Dave is an American. She was adopted by two white parents, and despite her brown skin, she has always identified more with her white American upbringing, not with her cultural identity as a brown woman. She has never really known how to respond to people who ask her what her ethnicity is or where her family comes from. At sixteen, she loses her parents, and is left adrift. She becomes a photojournalist, unable to make herself put down roots, unable to open her heart open to anyone. After losing her family, she hardened herself. Then she receives a mysterious inheritance: an apartment from a woman she has never met.
The story begins here, with Meena investigating her connection to The Engineer's House, a elegant building in Boston, where years ago Indian immigrants lived. Everyone in the house is descended from the original inhabitants, connected to a legacy that goes back generations. When someone dies, an apartment can only be left to a direct descendant. Meena doesn't belong, or does she? She begins to investigate her connection to the woman who left her the apartment. Hidden throughout the apartment are notes; slips of paper with notes, some revealing, some cutting.
"Advice to a young person from an old person:
1. Bravery isn’t in big battles; it is in small acts.
2. Once you are over the age of 30 you can no longer blame the past or your parents for the way you are. Fix yourself, it’s within your control.
3. There is always money in the banana stand. Sam has told me this is from a television program. What I infer from it is that subtext is often more telling than text."
Along the way she finds herself unwittingly putting down roots. She discovers that she wants to know more about her brown skin, about the traditions she doesn't know, the foods she hasn't had, the culture she hasn't been able to experience.
This is a sentimental story, it isn't flashy and there is not a big drama. This work is internal and the story revolves around Meena's emotional growth as she finally acknowledges her trauma, her pain, and her loneliness.
"Aloneness was a choice, but loneliness felt different. A disconnection from others that felt more like a condition of how she lived her life."
Diaspora and dual-cultural identity are at the forefront of this work, as Meena discovers more about Indian & Gujarati culture.
"A part of her wanted to dive in, embrace this chance to learn more, maybe even become a part of this group. The aunties would love to teach her how to cook, make chai, and do all the other things they did together. But she hesitated. Did exploring this part of her make her disloyal to the traditions she’d been raised in, the ones her parents had given her?"
She touches on the immigrant experience and on the immigration of Indians to America, the loneliness and isolation that they must have felt. I thought that Patel did a great job discussing this. As someone brought up in a white American home, Meena struggles to put her two identities together: The strong individualism favored in America with the traditionally collectivistic culture associated with Indian and Asian countries.
"I imagined how lonely it might have been for them to be so far away and in an unfamiliar place. Yet they came in groups, possibly finding their own community. I wanted to examine those themes along with what third-generation assimilation could look like. How would an individualistic culture affect a fundamentally collective one?"
"The immigrant experience lies on a continuum from those who immigrated recently to those who arrived hundreds of years ago."
In the introduction, Patel succinctly lays out her theme for this work and I believe she nails it:
"Identity is something most of us examine at some point in our lives. It is universal to feel comfortable or uncomfortable in our bodies, our skins, our commonness, and our otherness. It is Meena’s story; however, I believe it resonates with all of us who found ourselves untethered and discovered our anchors."
Across cultures, her story resonates.
The Candid Life of Meena Dave is a debut and it shows: the writing and pacing are off in places. However, the characters made reading this a delight. This book deals with adoption, loss of parents, loneliness, work burnout and diaspora in a way that i found to be compelling.
Reading this book feels like sitting curled up on a park bench, with a hot cup of chai and fall leaves rustling in the breeze. This book smells like potpourri –clove, and cinnamon, ginger and vanilla. Patel has managed to create a book that is cozy, without being boring. This book is good for the soul and the mind. It reminded me that we should always be reflecting on ourselves and what we can work on: our communication with others, our reactions to disappointment, our relationship with ourselves. It is okay to be kind to ourselves. In a way, this work was therapeutic.
Meena Dave is an American. She was adopted by two white parents, and despite her brown skin, she has always identified more with her white American upbringing, not with her cultural identity as a brown woman. She has never really known how to respond to people who ask her what her ethnicity is or where her family comes from. At sixteen, she loses her parents, and is left adrift. She becomes a photojournalist, unable to make herself put down roots, unable to open her heart open to anyone. After losing her family, she hardened herself. Then she receives a mysterious inheritance: an apartment from a woman she has never met.
The story begins here, with Meena investigating her connection to The Engineer's House, a elegant building in Boston, where years ago Indian immigrants lived. Everyone in the house is descended from the original inhabitants, connected to a legacy that goes back generations. When someone dies, an apartment can only be left to a direct descendant. Meena doesn't belong, or does she? She begins to investigate her connection to the woman who left her the apartment. Hidden throughout the apartment are notes; slips of paper with notes, some revealing, some cutting.
"Advice to a young person from an old person:
1. Bravery isn’t in big battles; it is in small acts.
2. Once you are over the age of 30 you can no longer blame the past or your parents for the way you are. Fix yourself, it’s within your control.
3. There is always money in the banana stand. Sam has told me this is from a television program. What I infer from it is that subtext is often more telling than text."
Along the way she finds herself unwittingly putting down roots. She discovers that she wants to know more about her brown skin, about the traditions she doesn't know, the foods she hasn't had, the culture she hasn't been able to experience.
This is a sentimental story, it isn't flashy and there is not a big drama. This work is internal and the story revolves around Meena's emotional growth as she finally acknowledges her trauma, her pain, and her loneliness.
"Aloneness was a choice, but loneliness felt different. A disconnection from others that felt more like a condition of how she lived her life."
Diaspora and dual-cultural identity are at the forefront of this work, as Meena discovers more about Indian & Gujarati culture.
"A part of her wanted to dive in, embrace this chance to learn more, maybe even become a part of this group. The aunties would love to teach her how to cook, make chai, and do all the other things they did together. But she hesitated. Did exploring this part of her make her disloyal to the traditions she’d been raised in, the ones her parents had given her?"
She touches on the immigrant experience and on the immigration of Indians to America, the loneliness and isolation that they must have felt. I thought that Patel did a great job discussing this. As someone brought up in a white American home, Meena struggles to put her two identities together: The strong individualism favored in America with the traditionally collectivistic culture associated with Indian and Asian countries.
"I imagined how lonely it might have been for them to be so far away and in an unfamiliar place. Yet they came in groups, possibly finding their own community. I wanted to examine those themes along with what third-generation assimilation could look like. How would an individualistic culture affect a fundamentally collective one?"
"The immigrant experience lies on a continuum from those who immigrated recently to those who arrived hundreds of years ago."
In the introduction, Patel succinctly lays out her theme for this work and I believe she nails it:
"Identity is something most of us examine at some point in our lives. It is universal to feel comfortable or uncomfortable in our bodies, our skins, our commonness, and our otherness. It is Meena’s story; however, I believe it resonates with all of us who found ourselves untethered and discovered our anchors."
Across cultures, her story resonates.
June 8, 2022
Sadly the more I thought about this book last night, the more I realized I could not give it 3 stars. That ending was so bad and I honestly wonder if Patel thought through how adopted kids would feel as well as biological parents. The whole story was sad in a way and I don’t think the real core things got addressed. No spoilers, but the whole let’s ignore this big secret thing is what started this whole book, so it’s not like this was a winning strategy that everyone seemed on board for. And I honestly felt sad/sorry for the character of Neha. We never get to “meet” her, but there’s a lot going on there that I would have loved the author to have delved into. And the overall idea behind the Engineer house is a good one, I don’t think I would be for anyone thinking they could gain access to my place anytime they wanted to either.
“The Candid Life of Meena Dave” follows Meena Dave. Meena is a photojournalist who has been on her own since she was 16. Her adopted parents died in an explosion and since then Meena has traveled the world, not settling down anywhere outside of her best friend’s place in London a few times a year. When Meena is told she has inherited a condo in a building in Boston she thinks there has to be a mistake. She doesn’t know anyone in Boston. But when Meena sees the home, and meets the women and their husbands that live there, Meena wonders if they have a connection to her biological parents. The woman who left Meena the home, Neha Patel, was a lover of words and also notes it seems. And in hidden places throughout the home she leaves Meena clues about her past. One big thing though is Meena cannot sell the home she is left to anyone outside of the building and she’s also limited about what she can do inside and outside the space. Meena at first wonders if she should just rent it out til she can come to a decision, but the women who live there all seem to have their own reasons for her to stay.
Meena is the central figure in the book so we see things through her lens. She finds herself slowly getting drawn into the “aunties” in the building along with her across the hallway neighbor, Sam. And though the burgeoning friendship/relationship with Sam was interesting, it was not enough to save the book.
The aunties were interesting, but two of them I outright disliked, and only really loved the one. And then you find out the history of the women with Neha and I don’t know. I think we are supposed to see this as a great way to live, but the nosiness and the barging in started to get on my nerves. I did like the history of Indians who migrated from India to settle in Boston though. I had no idea about that. Maybe that would have worked better? A historical fiction novel following these same characters, but 40-50 years earlier? To read about how this house came to be with the set up it has now?
I don’t want to get into spoilers, but I am still stunned at the ending of the book and wonder if there is a planned sequel or something. Because the way it ends falls flat and erases what it seemed the author was trying to set up. That Meena needs to fully embrace the family she has made through her life/travels, but also no more secrets.
“The Candid Life of Meena Dave” follows Meena Dave. Meena is a photojournalist who has been on her own since she was 16. Her adopted parents died in an explosion and since then Meena has traveled the world, not settling down anywhere outside of her best friend’s place in London a few times a year. When Meena is told she has inherited a condo in a building in Boston she thinks there has to be a mistake. She doesn’t know anyone in Boston. But when Meena sees the home, and meets the women and their husbands that live there, Meena wonders if they have a connection to her biological parents. The woman who left Meena the home, Neha Patel, was a lover of words and also notes it seems. And in hidden places throughout the home she leaves Meena clues about her past. One big thing though is Meena cannot sell the home she is left to anyone outside of the building and she’s also limited about what she can do inside and outside the space. Meena at first wonders if she should just rent it out til she can come to a decision, but the women who live there all seem to have their own reasons for her to stay.
Meena is the central figure in the book so we see things through her lens. She finds herself slowly getting drawn into the “aunties” in the building along with her across the hallway neighbor, Sam. And though the burgeoning friendship/relationship with Sam was interesting, it was not enough to save the book.
The aunties were interesting, but two of them I outright disliked, and only really loved the one. And then you find out the history of the women with Neha and I don’t know. I think we are supposed to see this as a great way to live, but the nosiness and the barging in started to get on my nerves. I did like the history of Indians who migrated from India to settle in Boston though. I had no idea about that. Maybe that would have worked better? A historical fiction novel following these same characters, but 40-50 years earlier? To read about how this house came to be with the set up it has now?
I don’t want to get into spoilers, but I am still stunned at the ending of the book and wonder if there is a planned sequel or something. Because the way it ends falls flat and erases what it seemed the author was trying to set up. That Meena needs to fully embrace the family she has made through her life/travels, but also no more secrets.
April 26, 2022
The Life of Meena Dave is a delightful and charming read about a woman’s journey to discover herself and her roots. It’s about identity, family, and finding a place you truly belong.
Patel has given us characters we can root for, especially the main character, who is relatable and flawed. It’s also got an intriguing and compelling romance to enjoy as well. All in all, I had to keep turning the page to find out the story’s resolution. And when the book ended, I was sad to leave it behind.
I recommend this book to people looking for a well-written women’s fiction book with a lot of heart.
Adaptation Recommendation: This would be a fantastic feature film!
Content Note: Some language, mild innuendo. PG/PG-13-like. The romance is behind closed doors.
Overall Rating: 4.5 (rounded up for GoodReads)
Romance Rating: 4
Disclosure: I received a free advanced copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions in the book review are my own.
(Note: I plan to post this on my blog: silverpetticoatreview.com on my next roundup list of book reviews.)
Patel has given us characters we can root for, especially the main character, who is relatable and flawed. It’s also got an intriguing and compelling romance to enjoy as well. All in all, I had to keep turning the page to find out the story’s resolution. And when the book ended, I was sad to leave it behind.
I recommend this book to people looking for a well-written women’s fiction book with a lot of heart.
Adaptation Recommendation: This would be a fantastic feature film!
Content Note: Some language, mild innuendo. PG/PG-13-like. The romance is behind closed doors.
Overall Rating: 4.5 (rounded up for GoodReads)
Romance Rating: 4
Disclosure: I received a free advanced copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions in the book review are my own.
(Note: I plan to post this on my blog: silverpetticoatreview.com on my next roundup list of book reviews.)
July 13, 2022
I liked it, didn't love it.
Writing was fine, if a little unexciting. Too many unnecessary fragments! Characters, plot and storyline were all predictable, but I had a lot of fun experiencing growing pains with independent Meena as she adjusted to her new, intrusive family! Don't even get me started on these characters' lack of boundaries 🤦♀️🤭
But the romance storyline was supersweet and kept me in the book, so there's that!
Also, I listened to this on Audible since it came free on Kindle Unlimited. I just have to say, I thought the narrator's tone was all wrong for the text, so it was an odd listening experience. If you can, read the book instead.
Rating 2.5 rounded up
Finished July 2022
Recommended for fans of contemporary pop fiction and contemporary pop romance, and readers interested in Indian and Indian-American voices and books representing diverse cultures
Writing was fine, if a little unexciting. Too many unnecessary fragments! Characters, plot and storyline were all predictable, but I had a lot of fun experiencing growing pains with independent Meena as she adjusted to her new, intrusive family! Don't even get me started on these characters' lack of boundaries 🤦♀️🤭
But the romance storyline was supersweet and kept me in the book, so there's that!
Also, I listened to this on Audible since it came free on Kindle Unlimited. I just have to say, I thought the narrator's tone was all wrong for the text, so it was an odd listening experience. If you can, read the book instead.
Rating 2.5 rounded up
Finished July 2022
Recommended for fans of contemporary pop fiction and contemporary pop romance, and readers interested in Indian and Indian-American voices and books representing diverse cultures
June 19, 2022
A very well-written story of a young woman who is only just beginning to find out where she sees herself in the world and how her journey pulls her into love.
Everything is very believable - the hopes, the reasons for frustration, the reasons for fleeing conflict and expectations, the reasons for coming home.
The love story is totally believable too, with Sam being a saint of a man, and the interfering but kind aunties are a lovely way to introduce the reader to some of the culture and expectations of a totally different way of looking at life.
A great read.
Everything is very believable - the hopes, the reasons for frustration, the reasons for fleeing conflict and expectations, the reasons for coming home.
The love story is totally believable too, with Sam being a saint of a man, and the interfering but kind aunties are a lovely way to introduce the reader to some of the culture and expectations of a totally different way of looking at life.
A great read.
June 17, 2022
2.5 stars, rounded down. Meena inherits a surprise apartment that comes with three strings attached: the pushy aunties who live in the building. Add in some mysterious notes and a sexy young neighbor and what do you have? A predictable, slowly drawn out novel with overly descriptive ramblings about settings, food, and feelings. This one just didn't do it for me. I was hoping for more of a puzzle with the hidden notes, and it just felt boring overall.
December 24, 2023
Very enjoyable story. Meena was so closed off because of circumstance and, even though she had no idea why a stranger had given her an apartment, it managed to change her life and give her a true home. Learning about the Indian culture in the way it was presented was pretty cool too. And there was Wally! Any book with a dog playing a pretty big role has to be a good one in my opinion. Very sweet story.
August 14, 2022
This is a book that on paper and after reading the synopsis I thought I would absolutely love.
A young woman inherits an apartment in a community building full of meddling Indian aunties and a handsome stranger with a troublesome dog. As someone who is adopted...Meena now has to come to terms with who might have left her the place and why? As she slowly learns more about her past and her culture she might learn to love and accept more about herself.
Overall I thought this had a really fun beginning. It seems like it is going to be full of heart warming moments full of found family and romance. However I found this one to be a little slow moving and the pacing was never quite what I wanted it to be. There wasn't nearly as much romance as I would have liked (and this is coming from someone who really enjoys womens fiction). Meena is a very stiff and off putting character who is hard to root for because she never lets anyone in.
I found the ending to almost be kind of sad and disappointing due to a certain turn of events. It just didn't end up being the heartwarming cultural experience I was looking for.
Ive been seeing a lot of good reviews for this one so I hope that my review doesn't lead you away if this is something you would like to try.
*totally closed door, and almost no language until the last few chapters and then all of a sudden the characters learn to use the F word freely. haha
A young woman inherits an apartment in a community building full of meddling Indian aunties and a handsome stranger with a troublesome dog. As someone who is adopted...Meena now has to come to terms with who might have left her the place and why? As she slowly learns more about her past and her culture she might learn to love and accept more about herself.
Overall I thought this had a really fun beginning. It seems like it is going to be full of heart warming moments full of found family and romance. However I found this one to be a little slow moving and the pacing was never quite what I wanted it to be. There wasn't nearly as much romance as I would have liked (and this is coming from someone who really enjoys womens fiction). Meena is a very stiff and off putting character who is hard to root for because she never lets anyone in.
I found the ending to almost be kind of sad and disappointing due to a certain turn of events. It just didn't end up being the heartwarming cultural experience I was looking for.
Ive been seeing a lot of good reviews for this one so I hope that my review doesn't lead you away if this is something you would like to try.
*totally closed door, and almost no language until the last few chapters and then all of a sudden the characters learn to use the F word freely. haha
May 11, 2022
Free Amazon Read for May. Super light and easy. Predictable and also cliche at times, but a likable, quick story that holds interest to the end.
September 5, 2022
I love chai tea and lattes. There’s just something about them that remind me of warmth and coziness and, especially, reading.
I was pleasantly surprised at just how much I liked this book; I’m so glad I chose it a couple of months ago as my monthly book from Amazon First Reads. Reading this novel was as cozy and heartwarming to me as sitting by the fireplace, under a snuggly blanket, drinking a chai (and reading, of course!).
The Candid Life of Meena Dave touches on a lot of topics, one of which I think is universal: identity. Meena is a photojournalist who travels the world, documenting stories and the lives of others, while she herself simply exists more than she truly lives. She’s been fiercely independent for many years until she’s unexpectedly left an apartment in Boston by someone she’s never met. From here Meena’s life changes dramatically as she tries to figure out who her benefactor was, what her connection was to Meena, and how Meena will choose to live moving forward. Along with the apartment itself comes a delightful cast of characters who also live in the building.
My response to reading this novel is an emotional one and I know this because I’m not judging it in the same way I’ve judged others. This was a debut for Patel and you can tell: the pacing was often uneven and dragged in areas, there was a decent amount of redundancy and repetition, the plot was fairly predictable, and the ending wasn’t tied up as nicely as I’d have liked, though with this last bit I’m hoping it was done purposely because I desperately want a sequel to see how things work out for Meena and her cohorts.
So, all said, could this book have benefited from more editing? Absolutely! Do I care? Unusually, not really, which speaks to how much I loved these characters and their stories. I was invested. I especially understood Meena and some of her personality traits because I share a couple with her. I do not know one part of my heritage, that of my biological paternal grandfather. Despite being loved and having strong family relationships myself, I know that it’s normal to want to know where you come from, WHO you come from. And, because of trauma I’ve experienced in my past, I know just how easy it is to build emotional walls in hopes of avoiding hurt and loss. I’ve had to work my way through this and it takes a lot of time and effort, so I felt for Meena as she went on her own journey. At the same time I am a white woman in America, so I say these things with the understanding that people of color in the U.S. face difficulties I can’t even imagine. Patel vividly paints the picture of what it’s like to live as an American while still holding onto one’s roots and the traditions of one’s culture.
While this book isn’t one of historical fiction, Patel is able to weave in some true history of both Boston and Indian Americans who came here to study in order to rebuild their country after gaining independence from the UK.
In the end, despite the issues that would normally drive me up a wall, I couldn’t help but really like this book. I sincerely hope for a sequel and think that, regardless, Patel shows a lot of promise as a writer. I’m eager to see what she does next.
I was pleasantly surprised at just how much I liked this book; I’m so glad I chose it a couple of months ago as my monthly book from Amazon First Reads. Reading this novel was as cozy and heartwarming to me as sitting by the fireplace, under a snuggly blanket, drinking a chai (and reading, of course!).
The Candid Life of Meena Dave touches on a lot of topics, one of which I think is universal: identity. Meena is a photojournalist who travels the world, documenting stories and the lives of others, while she herself simply exists more than she truly lives. She’s been fiercely independent for many years until she’s unexpectedly left an apartment in Boston by someone she’s never met. From here Meena’s life changes dramatically as she tries to figure out who her benefactor was, what her connection was to Meena, and how Meena will choose to live moving forward. Along with the apartment itself comes a delightful cast of characters who also live in the building.
My response to reading this novel is an emotional one and I know this because I’m not judging it in the same way I’ve judged others. This was a debut for Patel and you can tell: the pacing was often uneven and dragged in areas, there was a decent amount of redundancy and repetition, the plot was fairly predictable, and the ending wasn’t tied up as nicely as I’d have liked, though with this last bit I’m hoping it was done purposely because I desperately want a sequel to see how things work out for Meena and her cohorts.
So, all said, could this book have benefited from more editing? Absolutely! Do I care? Unusually, not really, which speaks to how much I loved these characters and their stories. I was invested. I especially understood Meena and some of her personality traits because I share a couple with her. I do not know one part of my heritage, that of my biological paternal grandfather. Despite being loved and having strong family relationships myself, I know that it’s normal to want to know where you come from, WHO you come from. And, because of trauma I’ve experienced in my past, I know just how easy it is to build emotional walls in hopes of avoiding hurt and loss. I’ve had to work my way through this and it takes a lot of time and effort, so I felt for Meena as she went on her own journey. At the same time I am a white woman in America, so I say these things with the understanding that people of color in the U.S. face difficulties I can’t even imagine. Patel vividly paints the picture of what it’s like to live as an American while still holding onto one’s roots and the traditions of one’s culture.
While this book isn’t one of historical fiction, Patel is able to weave in some true history of both Boston and Indian Americans who came here to study in order to rebuild their country after gaining independence from the UK.
In the end, despite the issues that would normally drive me up a wall, I couldn’t help but really like this book. I sincerely hope for a sequel and think that, regardless, Patel shows a lot of promise as a writer. I’m eager to see what she does next.
June 3, 2022
I was not expecting to like this one as much as I did, but I did, and I am so impressed with it! I adore the MC, Meena, and loved following her along on her journey.
This is a fun, fast, meaningful, charming, easy and enjoyable read whith likable characters that I became so invested in. Meena is a character that is so relatable to many of us, and I adore her! This almost felt like a Hallmark or Lifetime movie, but definitely in a good way! It is a mix of romance with a bit of mystery spun in as well. I really enjoyed this super fun and light read and am excited to read the authors next piece of work!
Thank you to @KayePublicity for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
This is a fun, fast, meaningful, charming, easy and enjoyable read whith likable characters that I became so invested in. Meena is a character that is so relatable to many of us, and I adore her! This almost felt like a Hallmark or Lifetime movie, but definitely in a good way! It is a mix of romance with a bit of mystery spun in as well. I really enjoyed this super fun and light read and am excited to read the authors next piece of work!
Thank you to @KayePublicity for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!
May 18, 2022
Meena Dave is a photojournalist, independent, solitary, and perpetually traveling from one assignment to another. When she unexpectedly inherits a Boston apartment from a stranger, Meena's curiosity, along with an enigmatic puzzle of riddles, and her winsome neighbor, have her staying in one place longer than she intended, as she tries to unravel the mystery and figure out what she wants for her future. This the story of finding one's roots and sense of belonging. The novel deals with emotional topics, such as: adoption, grief, loneliness, and the mixed yearnings for and entanglements of family, community, cultural identity, and heritage legacies.
Overall, the reading experience was (for me) uneven. The novel has thoughtful and meaningful themes, complicated and heartwarming characters/relationships, raw emotion, and something at stake. I admire Patel's willingness and ability to approach emotional topics, and to embrace not wholly likeable characters with sensitivity and empathy. Furthermore, the story touches on the little known history of early Indian immigration to Boston in connection with MIT, with a flavor and devotion to Indian-American culture in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood. Unfortunately, the writing was at times redundant and I predicted the plot twist fairly early on (though it was interesting enough to keep me reading to find out if I was correct). With such strong elements, the novel would have benefited from further development in both the writing and editing, in order to explore the tensions more immediately (with more showing, less telling) and without so much repetition. Since this is the author's debut novel, Patel has the potential toward growth in her next book.
I received this title as a Kindle First Read selection, May 2022.
Overall, the reading experience was (for me) uneven. The novel has thoughtful and meaningful themes, complicated and heartwarming characters/relationships, raw emotion, and something at stake. I admire Patel's willingness and ability to approach emotional topics, and to embrace not wholly likeable characters with sensitivity and empathy. Furthermore, the story touches on the little known history of early Indian immigration to Boston in connection with MIT, with a flavor and devotion to Indian-American culture in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood. Unfortunately, the writing was at times redundant and I predicted the plot twist fairly early on (though it was interesting enough to keep me reading to find out if I was correct). With such strong elements, the novel would have benefited from further development in both the writing and editing, in order to explore the tensions more immediately (with more showing, less telling) and without so much repetition. Since this is the author's debut novel, Patel has the potential toward growth in her next book.
I received this title as a Kindle First Read selection, May 2022.
June 12, 2022
I had so many hopes -- and high expectations, given the reviews -- for the Candid Life of Meena Dave. They were dashed.
I read virtually only (if not absolutely only) books by diverse authors because I appreciate the opportunity to learn perspectives and experiences that are otherwise unfamiliar to me. For example, in CLMD, I expected to learn more about Indian (North Indian? South Indian?) traditions, the tie of the traditions to history, and the exercise of the traditions today, but honestly, other than a few references to food that is available at any one of the dozens of delicious Indian (Southern? Northern?) restaurants near where I live, I learned nada. My time would have been better spent going on a dog walk with an Indian-American friend and asking her about her immigration story.
Basically, what we have here is a heteronormative romance among two privileged young millionaires who never experience anything meaningful together and share almost entirely only the fact that they are good looking "in an obvious way."
The main character Meena has an interesting yet not entirely believable backstory and no memories other than pithy statements stated by her adoptive parents. She had very difficult financial circumstances but we never learn how she got her way out of those, and when we first meet her, she has just inherited an apartment worth $3 million.
Let's be VERY clear: it is close to impossible in the US right now to go from poverty to $3 million. And it is even more impossible to do that if you are a member of a marginalized minority -- like, women, and like brown-skilled people, both of which the protagonist is. Yet, this is a story of the top 1/2% of all immigrants to the US -- the very few who come here with lots of money to buy a beautiful gigantic mansion large enough for six families in the most expensive neighborhoods of one of the most expensive cities in the USA.
The fact that the immigration experience usually involved poverty for the majority of immigrants to the US is not the subject of this book, which is fine. But it bothers me a little (even though I am not Indian-American) when Indian-Americans who very clearly obviously are from the very highest caste describe the Indian immigration experience as if their high caste immigration experience speaks for others. It was important for the aunties in this book, for example, that American majority culture knew that the Indian men who purchased the mansion where this book takes place, came to this country with wealth and caste privilege -- that instead of criticizing the class system in the USA, they argued that America's classism works fine for them, and they belong at the top.
Although I wholly recognize that the goal of this book was not to provide a thoughtful investigation into the experiences of privileged caste Indian-Americans, like, say, _Honor_. But the fact that these Indian-American aunties manage to live their lives without racism or sexism having even the smallest impact on them, and the fact that they seem to have zero LGBTQia+ friends and/or close relatives (not even in London!), and that all characters fit very nicely into the binary gender boxes that are anachronistic in 2022 .... well, I just wonder if this is the best that the author could do with this material. Too bad.
Which leaves this book merely as a heteronormative, anachronistic, shallow romance. if you like those, The Candid Life of Meena Dave is a great book for you.
I read virtually only (if not absolutely only) books by diverse authors because I appreciate the opportunity to learn perspectives and experiences that are otherwise unfamiliar to me. For example, in CLMD, I expected to learn more about Indian (North Indian? South Indian?) traditions, the tie of the traditions to history, and the exercise of the traditions today, but honestly, other than a few references to food that is available at any one of the dozens of delicious Indian (Southern? Northern?) restaurants near where I live, I learned nada. My time would have been better spent going on a dog walk with an Indian-American friend and asking her about her immigration story.
Basically, what we have here is a heteronormative romance among two privileged young millionaires who never experience anything meaningful together and share almost entirely only the fact that they are good looking "in an obvious way."
The main character Meena has an interesting yet not entirely believable backstory and no memories other than pithy statements stated by her adoptive parents. She had very difficult financial circumstances but we never learn how she got her way out of those, and when we first meet her, she has just inherited an apartment worth $3 million.
Let's be VERY clear: it is close to impossible in the US right now to go from poverty to $3 million. And it is even more impossible to do that if you are a member of a marginalized minority -- like, women, and like brown-skilled people, both of which the protagonist is. Yet, this is a story of the top 1/2% of all immigrants to the US -- the very few who come here with lots of money to buy a beautiful gigantic mansion large enough for six families in the most expensive neighborhoods of one of the most expensive cities in the USA.
The fact that the immigration experience usually involved poverty for the majority of immigrants to the US is not the subject of this book, which is fine. But it bothers me a little (even though I am not Indian-American) when Indian-Americans who very clearly obviously are from the very highest caste describe the Indian immigration experience as if their high caste immigration experience speaks for others. It was important for the aunties in this book, for example, that American majority culture knew that the Indian men who purchased the mansion where this book takes place, came to this country with wealth and caste privilege -- that instead of criticizing the class system in the USA, they argued that America's classism works fine for them, and they belong at the top.
Although I wholly recognize that the goal of this book was not to provide a thoughtful investigation into the experiences of privileged caste Indian-Americans, like, say, _Honor_. But the fact that these Indian-American aunties manage to live their lives without racism or sexism having even the smallest impact on them, and the fact that they seem to have zero LGBTQia+ friends and/or close relatives (not even in London!), and that all characters fit very nicely into the binary gender boxes that are anachronistic in 2022 .... well, I just wonder if this is the best that the author could do with this material. Too bad.
Which leaves this book merely as a heteronormative, anachronistic, shallow romance. if you like those, The Candid Life of Meena Dave is a great book for you.
August 12, 2022
This this this I mean I was totally taken by surprise with this book, like they said, totally unexpected a meet-cute moment I mean I really like it. I got this book I thought I was going to read something totally different but this was a very pleasant surprise.
I cried I got angry, and I laugh all the feelings you can feel with Meena Dave a photojournalist who spent her life moving around all over the world doing what she loves, taking pictures of things and moments that will inspire many others but still, she felt empty and alone no matter where she was, it was only to not let her mind think or see that she really was alone.
Meena never expected to inherit a home (Victorian brownstone) in Back Bay, Boston. a historical place that has a lot of secrets that will change her life forever.
I really enjoy the interaction of the Aunties with Meena even thou she was kind of apprehensive to let herself go and trust as in to trust all these new people that has to enter her time and space when she never wanted to have any company even less a property that will bring many questions and problems.
The Aunties were such a case, they had a lot of costumes Meena didn't understand, she didn't feel safe and didn't want to have interaction all the time, she felt somehow invaded and felt the need to maybe not to settle but hey life is weird or maybe we're weird and of coarse whatever Meena was feeling went to crazy hell when life brought these aunties and dogs and maybe a new guy that she will feel impossible not to fall in love.
Soneela Nankani was the Narrator who did an incredible job and brought so much to the story
overall this was good
I cried I got angry, and I laugh all the feelings you can feel with Meena Dave a photojournalist who spent her life moving around all over the world doing what she loves, taking pictures of things and moments that will inspire many others but still, she felt empty and alone no matter where she was, it was only to not let her mind think or see that she really was alone.
Meena never expected to inherit a home (Victorian brownstone) in Back Bay, Boston. a historical place that has a lot of secrets that will change her life forever.
I really enjoy the interaction of the Aunties with Meena even thou she was kind of apprehensive to let herself go and trust as in to trust all these new people that has to enter her time and space when she never wanted to have any company even less a property that will bring many questions and problems.
The Aunties were such a case, they had a lot of costumes Meena didn't understand, she didn't feel safe and didn't want to have interaction all the time, she felt somehow invaded and felt the need to maybe not to settle but hey life is weird or maybe we're weird and of coarse whatever Meena was feeling went to crazy hell when life brought these aunties and dogs and maybe a new guy that she will feel impossible not to fall in love.
Soneela Nankani was the Narrator who did an incredible job and brought so much to the story
overall this was good
March 25, 2024
I loved this book and fully engaged with the main character Meena. Her life is solitary - she has no family, no home, just a nomadic lifestyle following her successful career. Her life changes completely when she inherits an apartment and comes into contact with the aunties. New relationships, interesting dynamics and community become part of her life, and she is faced with life-changing choices. I literally couldn’t put this book down, I enjoyed it so much.
July 30, 2025
I definitely would have DNFed this if it wasn’t in audio format. I learned a few new things about the Indian culture and Sam was cute. That’s all the positive things I can say. It was just very boring and predictable. There’s a little character development, but not enough to make the story worthwhile.
January 13, 2023
What a thoughtful and unique story. Adoption, Boston, delightful Indian aunties, a rascally pup, a charming shared dwelling and just maybe finding love and a home. I would consider this family fiction and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a tiny bit of mystery in their tales of self-discovery.
Source: library print copy
Source: library print copy
May 19, 2025
I download a book from Amazon First Reads nearly every month but rarely get around to reading them. This was a good story so I’m glad I finally picked it up.
January 7, 2024
This was a sweet read about discovering your identity and finding your chosen family. Not the most exciting but cute.
June 3, 2022
Family is where we find it.
A feel good story about the family you pick to make your own and how one can get through anything with the right kind of support and love.
A feel good story about the family you pick to make your own and how one can get through anything with the right kind of support and love.
March 27, 2024
3.5 rounded up. This book gave a little bit of mystery, romance, culture and quite a bit of family drama. The mystery element wasn't the typical kind I'm used to, it wasn't scary or dangerous but more of a discovery. I enjoyed the different personalities among the aunties and Sam and even Meena's friends. This was a feel good read for me. It was pretty light with some sentimental family elements threaded throughout. I do feel like the end was lacking something. I listened to the audio and when I checked how much time I had left I was wondering how it was going to get wrapped up in under 10 minutes. Despite that I thought this was a good read.
September 4, 2023
“Aloneness was a choice, but loneliness felt different. A disconnection from others that felt more like a condition of how she lived her life.”
Enjoyed Meena’s story and journey as she figured out her past and present, belonging, family, friendships, and culture. I loved the Engineer’s House and the aunties there.
It was interesting learning a bit more about Indian culture and why some Indians migrated to America in the 1930s. I especially appreciated that this was overall clean (note, there was some swearing).
Enjoyed Meena’s story and journey as she figured out her past and present, belonging, family, friendships, and culture. I loved the Engineer’s House and the aunties there.
It was interesting learning a bit more about Indian culture and why some Indians migrated to America in the 1930s. I especially appreciated that this was overall clean (note, there was some swearing).
Read
May 6, 2022From the description and cover I thought this was going to be a romantic comedy, but it's more in the line of humorous but also heartfelt women's fiction. As that, it's really quite compelling, as we gradually get drawn into the weird (and arguably cruel) mystery left behind by the woman who left her entailed apartment to orphaned adoptee Meena Dave. What is her connection to this building? Does she really belong there, or anywhere? Along the way we are alternately enraged and entertained by some pretty distinctive Indian-American aunties. I really loved that part of the book; the romance I found a bit less persuasive. I'd recommend this to women's fiction readers as an interesting, fast-paced read with a good mystery and a warm heart. More so if you're interested in Indian immigrant culture in America and maybe Boston. If you only really want a romance, probably best to move along.
April 23, 2024
4 ⭐
A great debut by Namrata Patel.
Interesting learning about the Indian culture.
Thoughtful and meaningful concepts throughout.
Loved Meena 😊
Overall a good story about home/family life and love.
Would recommend 💕
A great debut by Namrata Patel.
Interesting learning about the Indian culture.
Thoughtful and meaningful concepts throughout.
Loved Meena 😊
Overall a good story about home/family life and love.
Would recommend 💕
September 13, 2024
Giving it 3.5 stars, was an easy and entertaining read and at times very cozy, but nehas ambiguous notes were a bit annoying. I liked that sabina came around at the end and decided to make sense of her past. I had a feeling sabina would be the mama. Tanvi and Uma were sweet. The romantic element was ok between Sam and Meena, at times very cheesy descriptions. Overall, it was fun to read and made me want to visit Boston
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2022
Coming to terms through copious amounts of notes with long drawn out distractions, isolation and wreckage to settle in a permanent substantial life change.
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