The Vibrant Years: A Novel Paperback – December 1, 2022

A wonderful book, I read it all in one go. I loved the characters and I loved the insight on how an Indian- descent living in the sunny side of the US brings old-world traditional thinking into their different world and manages the blend. The trials, the briefs and the joys are believable and make the characters come alive.

I almost put this book down; I’m glad I didn’t! The story is a slow starter as the author builds the background and develops the characters. It is the story of Cully, her mother Aly, and her grandmother Bindu. Each woman is facing a life altering situation and their strength is their love and support for each other. As they move forward and deal with life’s curve balls, each woman must face her own fears and dreams. All three are forced to find their true feelings and motivations creating growth. I thought this was a beautifully told story with a range of emotions and humor. Definitely worth the read!

Absolutely loved this book. All the characters, story telling ,language Wonderfully written. Definitely recommend it. I have Read all her books.

This is a rom-com with a thoughtful perspective – what it means to live life on your own terms.It’s the story of three generations of Indian women in one family who are determined to find the answer to that question for themselves. They are at different stages in life, each dealing with their own issues, but they often lean on each other for advice, support, and friendship. They each have the desire to be independent, yet also to find true love.All three are a bit nonconformist: Bindu is a grandmother who after years of going along with what was expected of her, finally reclaims her identity. Daughter-in-law Aly continues to chase her dreams. When she finally realizes her employer will never give her the big break, she takes matters into her own hands. Granddaughter Cullie is a coding wizard who has created an app that helps millions of people suffering from anxiety. When the app’s availability is threatened, she uses her incredible tech skills to negotiate for herself.The novel begins as Bindu, Aly and Cullie experiment with the world of online dating in the interest of helping Cullie create a new and revolutionary app.I have read other Sonali Dev novels that I liked better and must admit this one was disappointing. I just didn’t enjoy the plot as it alternated between the farcical comedy of online dating and the overly dramatic secret of Bindu’s hidden past. Many of the characters have secrets, or at least information they aren’t sharing, which creates tension but not in a good way. I grew impatient to have everyone explain themselves, and the resolutions were not surprising or satisfying to me. The writing was skillful, but the story could have been tightened up.Nonetheless, I agree with Mindy Kaling’s description of this timely rom-com “about a group of underestimated and unrepresented women demanding respect and embracing their most authentic selves, who support and lift each other up through difficult times.”

I loved reading about women who find themselves! Finding strength, purpose and love for each other and within themselves. Good read

I started reading this before and thought it wasn’t worth my time. I tried again and it took me a few chapters before I was hooked. The story and family was nothing like me, but it was totally like me. The structure of the book unfolded and the parts all fit together. What a joy.

This is such great complex female characters, you can't but fall in love with. Def a good beach vacation book.

Three generations of women grapple with bad life choices, limiting fears and personal crises while trying to support each other."She always said loving yourself is a foundational requirement of knowing how to love anyone else and that most meanness in the world comes from self-loathing."Sixty-five year-old Bindu Desai inherits a million dollars from a man she had known when she was a young actress in India, whom she has kept secret from her family. Telling no one how she is able to afford it, Bindu moves into an upscale retirement community in Florida where she rebels against a group of sneering busybodies and meets some interesting men she enjoys dating. While Bindu settles into life on the beautiful coast, her ex-daughter-in-law Aly is fighting for the chance to make her mark at the news station where she works, and is sad that Bindu has moved out of her apartment. Aly's daughter and Bindu's grand daughter Cullie is a tech-genius but needs new inspiration in order to maintain control of her creative work. All three women have suffered from a previous heartbreak and are ready to create the vibrant and unconventional lives they envision.I enjoyed these characters, the cultural flourishes and the fun descriptions of life in a retirement community. Sometimes the narrative was a touch melodramatic, but the story was engaging and I read it quickly."Managing your energy and your assets was the key to aging right."Hardcover 316 pages, Audiobook 11 hours.

It is a book that i will read over and over again, as it is filled with gems of wisdom and loving characters, that i want to meet again and again.

I really enjoyed this amazing book which covers three generations of women. The story made me laugh,think and tear up!Bindu,Aly and Cullie are amazing!Looking forward to read more books from you Sonali.

The vibrant years is a beautiful book, it will have meaning for all ages, female or male, I've loved every bit of it, been surprised, cried, laughed and been thoughtful, it explores feelings in such a way that you feel as if the writer can see into your soul. I highly recommend it to anyone, whether you are a reader of fact or fiction.

I love that one of the main characters is a sexy, free-spirited older Asian-American woman. Most grandmothers are portrayed as wise, grumpy or fun, but never as an individual.This story shines a light on the challenges women have faced and continue to face in their personal and professional lives, in a heart warming way. I loved following the journey of these three women and how they met their challenges with cynicism, humour and strength.

I chose this book as a complimentary Amazon pick. I doubt I would have chosen it as a buy. I was very pleasantly surprised how well it was written and how nicely the story flowed. I will read this author again.