Patel vividly portrays the many strata of Mumbai, from the streets to the slums to the upper echelons, through the eyes of a young woman seeking control of her own future.
... riveting ... With a captivating arc and solid character development, the story highlights the impact of greed in a poverty-stricken Mumbai. It’s a powerful debut.
... appealing ... Rakhi’s longing for a different future and Gauri’s desperate effort to keep her agency afloat make them vulnerable to two characters—vivid though stereotypical—who seem to offer an answer to their dreams: a well-connected Canadian intern bound for Harvard’s Kennedy School who takes an outsized interest in Rakhi’s life; and a fading Bollywood star, hoping to revive her career, who promises to lure big donors in exchange for becoming the 'public face' of the NGO ... A sharply drawn protagonist gives this novel power and zest.
